AEW’s women’s division is about to get a serious injection of talent.
WWE went hard when it came to releasing wrestlers last year. More than 80 people were wished well in their future endeavors by the time 2021 was all said and done. Some of those wrestlers have since found work elsewhere, whether that be in AEW, Impact Wrestling, or by booking dates on the independent circuit. However, there are still a number of released stars who remain unattached.
One of those unattached stars will presumably find a home in AEW before the end of today. It was revealed on Rampage last week that The Bunny will face off against a mystery opponent tonight on Dynamite. The Bunny and the new signing will do battle in the first qualifier for AEW’s upcoming Owen Hart tournaments.
Speculation on who exactly tonight’s new signing will be has been rife, and a frontrunner has emerged with less than 24 hours to go. According to Fightful Select, Toni Storm has been in talks with AEW and is very close to signing a deal. Apparently multiple AEW stars have been pushing for Khan to make Storm All Elite, and even if she isn’t the wrestler making her debut tonight, she will likely be a part of AEW very soon.
Right behind Storm is Ember Moon who is also reported to have been speaking extensively with AEW. Moon, who now goes by Athena, doesn’t appear to be as close to signing a deal as Storm, but there is a chance she’s the one who debuts tonight. Athena has been picking up a number of indie bookings in the meantime, marking her return to the ring for the first time since leaving WWE by losing to AEW’s Thunder Rosa.
Even though some fans are calling for AEW to slow down when it comes to new signings, the promotion definitely needs to continue bolstering its women’s division. The addition of Moon and Storm would add a lot of experience and depth to the division if Khan can get those signings over the line. Other free agents we could see debut on Dynamite a few hours from now include Tegan Nox and Mia Yim.
WWE is reportedly bringing in Shane McMahon for WrestleMania 38 this weekend.
Two months after an abrupt exit from WWE, it sounds like Shane McMahon will be back for WrestleMania 38 weekend.
As previously noted, McMahon left the WWE following reports that he garnered plenty of backstage heat for largely booking the men’s Royal Rumble match around himself. It was reported that Shane was involved in disagreementts with Vince McMahon and the match winner, Brock Lesnar.
According to a report from Mike Johnson of PWInsider.com, the company will bring in Shane O’Mac for WrestleMania 38 this weekend. The show will be held at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas on Saturday and Sunday. At this time, there are 14 matches on the card. Johnson added that there isn’t any “word at this time” if McMahon will actually appear at WrestleMania 38, but he will be in Arlington for the event.
On this week’s episode of Raw, Vince McMahon promised Seth Rollins a match at WrestleMania Saturday. However, an opponent will not be announced until the day of the show. So it’s easy to speculate that Rollins will go one-one-one with the 52-year-old wrestling legend.
But it has been reported that Rollins will actually face Cody Rhodes, who apparently signed a deal to return to WWE earlier this month. If Rollins were to face McMahon at WrestleMania, it would make sense for Cody to make his highly-anticipated return on the post-WrestleMania edition of Raw.
Shane McMahon has wrestled at five of the last six WrestleMania events. He didn’t compete at WrestleMania 36, which was pre-taped with no fans in attendance because of the COVID-19 pandemic. It certianly wouldn’t be a surprise if WWE brought in Shane for a match, be it against Rollins or another superstar.
McMahon faced The Undertaker at WrestleMania 32, AJ Styles at WrestleMania 33, Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn (a tag team bout with Daniel Bryan), at WrestleMania 34, The Miz at WrestleMania 35 and Braun Strowman at WrestleMania 37 a year ago.
We are very sad to learn that Logan Roettger, a pro wrestler who also styled many WWE performers at his salon in Tampa, Florida, passed away due to a car accident on March 23. He was only 28 at the time of his death.
Roettger known as Logan Legit performed for World Wrestling Alliance (a indie promotion in Indiana, Kentucky, and Tennessee).
Wrestling promoter Chris Waddell said Roettger left his home Wednesday, March 23, 2022. Unfortunately, he was in an accident en route and was taken to a hospital in Nashville, Roettger, where he passed away.
“We spent all day with him yesterday [Thursday], and his parents flew in from Florida,” said Waddell in a video shared to Facebook. “Logan was full of life and every time he stepped in the locker room — every time — he made it a better place, a more enjoyable place,” said Waddell.
“He became the best of us, he really was Logan to me was not only my partner, but he was my best friend. He gave me tools inside to let people know who I was, who I am, and just to be a better person overall, we are broken, we are sad, I feel so, so much pain for his mom and dad.”
In addition to working as an independent talent, Roettger occasionally styled many WWE and NXT superstars at his salon in Tampa, Florida. He was also the WWA National Champion.
Waddell spoke to the WWA fans, noting that as Legit, Roettger “understood how to connect” with the audience, and drew fans and fan loyalty, and was the most popular wrestler in the company. “He lived for performing for you.”
Roettger was born October 14, 1993, and was from Posey County, Indiana, and resided in and around Evansville for most of his life.
In 2019, he started wrestling, and worked as a manager, and rose to become WWA National champion, despite his smaller size.
“Logan was full of life and every time he stepped in the locker room — every time — he made it a better place, a more enjoyable place,” said Waddell. “He became the best of us, he really was.”
“Logan to me was not only my partner, but he was my best friend. He gave me tools inside to let people know who I was, who I am, and just to be a better person overall,” said Waddell. “We are broken, we are sad, I feel so, so much pain for his mom and dad.”
Late on Friday, Waddell shared more memories of Roettger with SlamWrestling.
“We met through online dating and had our first date at a WWE house show at the Ford Center [in Evansville] in May 2019,” said Waddell. “Logan helped me build up the courage to come out as bisexual.”
“Logan and I started dating and he quickly told me about his passion for wrestling. He immediately wanted to manage, thinking he was too small to compete, but fell in love with the performance as soon as he stepped in front of our crowd,” said Waddell, who has been a wrestler and promoter for 15 years. “He started wrestling and was amazingly talented. He won our 2021 Most Loved year-end award in December and loved his fans and the industry so much.”
According to Waddell, the WWA promotion became much more “progressive and inclusive” thanks to Roettger.
By trade, Roettger was a hairdresser, after studying at TSPA Evansville Beauty School, in Indiana.
Kelsey Boles was a classmate, and they graduated at the same time. They have remained friends. She recalled Roettger excitedly letting her know when WWE wrestlers came in to get their hair done, when he worked at Monaco Salon in Tampa, Florida. “Pro women wrestlers (WWE I’m pretty sure) would come get their hair done and he was shocked and so excited that he was in a salon where they get their hair done at,” she recalled via text. “He got to do a few of the girls’ hair before. His favorite women’s wrestler at the time was Carmella.”
“He always loved wrestling,” added Boles. “He would tell me he would watch wrestling all the time growing up and still to this day did. Him and I went to a couple WWE shows together as well.”
At the time of his death, Roettger was associated with the JuniperJade Salon in Evansville.
There were many who shared their memories of wrestling Logan Legit online.
“Thank you for allowing me the opportunity to work with him. Probably the easiest match I ever had. He was my first opponent in my return to the WWA,” posted Paul Rickard.
Ian Matthew Harper had a longer post:
I always loved goofing around with Logan at shows while we were waiting on matches or segments. I’m still processing that when I go to the building, Logan isn’t going to be there to give me a hug and say something catty about the sweatpants and flip flops combo I’m usually wearing. I only got the pleasure of being involved in a handful of segments or matches with Logan including being slapped, stomping on him for real in my first battle royal on accident (that he regularly reminded me of), and finding any excuse to diss each other in front of the fans. My favorite was the last tag match I wrestled. I had a ruptured disc in my back and took a week off, but before then was my most recent WWA show and it included me managing Bo Brady and Alex Beretta against Logan Legit and CCW (Chris). We acted like buffoons that entire match and made it feel like the old Saturday morning wrestling you’d watch where the bad guys always got their comeuppance and tan away like scolded dogs. I’m blessed to have had my last memory with Logan being an entertaining one with him standing tall.
Jones Nation was one of Roettger’s wrestling trainers, and later an opponent. “When I first saw Logan he showed up before an Evansville show. I went over and introduced myself and had small talk. He was very nervous but excited to start his journey into professional wrestling. Thus the heel manager Logan Legit was born. He instantly had a knack for working the crowd,” wrote Nation. “Logan had a interest in starting to train to be a wrestler. Myself and others would teach him the ways of the business.”
Munchie Gonzalez also shared his memories: “I can’t really put much words into how appreciative I was to have you in my life. We trained together. You were involved in my first match and helped me gain confidence when I had none in myself to perform. You were one of the first to welcome me back with open arms when I came back. You were always available at 2 am in the morning to talk to when I needed someone. You were the best of us and I will miss you everyday.”
WWA presented: WWAisLEGIT (Fandemonium 2022) on Saturday, March, 26, 2022, at Veterans Memorial Coliseum (Evansville, IN).
WWE Hall of Famers The Bella Twins, Nikki and Brie Bella, took to their YouTube Channel earlier today and gave an update about their WrestleMania 38 status.
According to Nikki, the duo is definitely going to be in Dallas this weekend and they are especially looking forward to the Hall of Fame ceremony.
“So yeah, actually we will be in Dallas because Brie and I will definitely be attending the Hall of Fame this year, which is right after SmackDown on Friday. When The Undertaker is getting inducted, you definitely show up. So, I’m so excited to see The Undertaker to get inducted, to be there in person for it.
“We actually get the opportunity to be there in person. I love that Vince McMahon is inducting him. I just can’t wait to hear the speeches, but it’s the Undertaker so I feel like it’s going to have some really cool production to it.
“Sharmell, congratulations! I am so proud that you are going to be in the WWE Hall of Fame, that is so amazing. Always have loved everything that she’s done. And to think Booker is going to be the one to induct her? Wow, what a night to be a married couple.”
Nikki Bella also took the time to express her excitement for Vader being inducted into this year’s Hall of Fame. It’s important to note that though she says she is excited for Vader to be at The Hall of Fame to tell stories from his career, Vader won’t personally be at the ceremony as he passed away in 2018 at the age of 63.
“And I’m also so excited that the WWE Universe will be welcoming Vader into the Hall of Fame. I always get excited for men of that generation to come to the Hall of Fame because they have the most incredible stories we’ve never heard,” she said. “And I always love when those men take the stage, and the women, and from that era of wrestling that was so iconic and so historic. So I’m really excited for Vader to be inducted into the Hall of Fame and just to have his presence there and hear his speeches.”
Nikki even teases toward the end of the video that The Bellas may even get into a bit of action at this year’s WrestleMania. After making their in-ring return at The Royal Rumble this year, it would be interesting to see if the duo has a longer run in the works.
“As far as action that weekend, well, the world of WWE, things change every day so just keep tuning in for that. And of course, I think we’ll be meeting a lot of you whether it’s virtually, or on panels, you will see Brie and I at some point in Dallas.”
Source: Wrestling Inc. with credit to The Bella Twins YouTube Channel
The Stand & Deliver go-home edition of WWE NXT 2.0 will air live tonight from the WWE Performance Center in Orlando, Florida with the final build for Saturday’s big event in Dallas, Texas.
Tony Khan was reportedly unhappy with MJF following the latter’s interview with Ariel Helwani.
AEW’s locker room may not be as harmonious as it seems on the surface.
According to a recent Fightful Select report, AEW president Tony Khan got into a “heated argument” with MJF following the latter’s controversial conversation with Ariel Helwani on The Ariel Helwani Show last week. TK reportedly chastised one of his company’s most exciting young stars for failing to obtain permission from AEW’s media department before participating in the interview.
During his aforementioned appearance on The Ariel Helwani Show, MJF opened up about his AEW contract status. When asked if he would consider signing an extension to his current AEW deal MJF said there was “no chance” of that happening. He then specified that it would have to be “an absolutely astronomical number” and even then he likely wouldn’t sign because he wants to test the market.
Per Fightful, AEW sources said there would not have been an issue with the content of the MJF/Helwani interview if the wrestler has gone through the proper channels prior to the interview taking place.
In the same interview, MJF complimented WWE’s revamped developmental program NXT 2.0. “There’s so many charisma machines on that program. There is. I don’t know why you’re laughing,” MJF gushed as Helwani chuckled at his suspiciously excessive praise. “They had a make out competition this past Tuesday. Gripping television.”
UPDATE:
In an update from Dave Meltzer of The Wrestling Observer, the issues that arose between Khan and MJF “are now said to be settled.”
Meltzer noted that although the story is true, “there was no fight” or physical altercation between MJF and Khan.
During the interview, MJF confirmed that his AEW contract expires on January 1, 2024, and admitted that he’s not afraid to “stir the pot” until then.
“So when you’re as talented, as over, and as much of a draw as me, if I want to I can bite off Tony Khan’s fingers. He knows where his bread is buttered,” MJF said. “And if that offends somebody in the locker room, which I know it does, oh well, cry about it. Get more over than me. Oh wait, that’s right, you can’t. Because I’m literally the best talker in the business, and one of the best wrestlers in the history of the business bell to bell.”
MJF emphasized that he’d end up “wherever the money is” after his AEW contract expires in 2024.
It’s officially WrestleMania week and WWE will kick things off with the go-home Raw a few hours from now. Later in the week we’ll have SmackDown, Stand & Deliver, and, of course, WrestleMania. There will also be the Hall Of Fame ceremony on Friday night during which a number of former WWE Superstars will be honored and added to WWE’s Hall, including The Undertaker and Vader.
This year’s class is smaller than usual, and it seems the final inductees into the 2022 class have now been revealed, and they might be the most surprising so far. As first revealed David Shoemaker via The Ringer, and confirmed shortly after by WWE, iconic WCW tag team The Steiner Brothers will become WWE Hall Of Famers this Friday, presumably rounding out the 2022 class.
The Steiners are widely regarded as one of the best tag teams of all time by many wrestling fans. The two competed together in WWE during the early ’90s, winning tag team gold twice. However, it was under WCW’s banner that Rick and Scott arguably did their best work. The brothers won the promotion’s Tag Team Championships seven times and the US Tag Titles once, really cementing their legacy in WCW.
That Rick and Scott will be Hall Of Famers by the end of this week is further evidence that no bridge between WWE and a former Superstar is ever burned for good. After a tainted run as a singles star in WWE 20 years ago, Scott Steiner has had nothing but bad things to say about the company ever since. Big Poppa Pump even described the HOF as a joke that only exists in Vince McMahon’s mind once. Clearly, he has had a change of heart.
Perhaps the change of heart has been inspired by the success of Bron Breakker. Rick Steiner’s son has rocketed to NXT fame over the past six months, winning and then losing the brand’s top prize in that time. Rick even celebrated with his son after the cameras were off when Breakker won the title. It will be fun to hear what they have to say when they’re inducted later this week.
The Steiner Brothers will be inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame’s Class of 2022. As first announced by David Shoemaker on TheRinger.com, Rick & Scott Steiner will be enshrined in the hallowed hall during the 2022 WWE Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony as part of WrestleMania Week.
The WWE Hall of Fame at a ceremony will take place this Friday, April 1 at American Airlines Center in Dallas as part of WrestleMania Week. The event will stream live exclusively on Peacock in the U.S. and WWE Network everywhere else. In addition, for the first time in history, WWE will present both Friday Night SmackDown and the 2022 WWE Hall of Fame Ceremony live on the same night at American Airlines Center, giving all fans in attendance an unprecedented opportunity to witness both events for one price. Tickets for the special 2-for-1 SmackDown + Hall of Fameare now available via Ticketmaster.
The most successful of tag teams must be completely in synch and possess an ability to almost read each other’s thoughts. Arguable no one can find that level of connection better than family. Enter celebrated University of Michigan alumni Rick Steiner and Scott Steiner, sibling competitors who donned on the headgear (and/or mullet) and introduced an innovative in-ring style that helped them fight their way to the top of the mountain.
The Steiner Brothers first joined forces in 1989 and grew to become the face of tag team excellence as one of sports-entertainment’s most celebrated tag teams. Together, Rick and Scott lit up NWA Mid-Atlantic and NWA/WCW where they used their impressive mix of amateur and professional wrestling to capture the WCW Tag Team Titles seven times and the United States Tag Team Titles once. Their success was not entirely limited to the Atlanta-based organization, however. During their brief time in WWE in the early ’90s, the pair quickly made history by appearing on the first episode of Monday Night Raw in 1993, battling The Headshrinkers on The Grandest Stage of Them All at WrestleMania IX and winning the WWE Tag Team Championship twice. Following a short tenure with ECW in 1995, The Steiners then returned to WCW in 1996 and their impact was undeniable as they battled elite opposition like Harlem Heat and The Outsiders for the WCW Tag Team Titles.
Don’t miss when The Steiners take their place in sports-entertainment history during the 2022 WWE Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony this Friday, streaming live exclusively on Peacock in the U.S. and WWE Network everywhere else.
Tonight’s AEW Rampage was taped earlier this week from the HEB Center in Cedar Park, Texas and will air on TNT at 10/9C.
Dustin Rhodes vs. Lance Archer Alan “5” Angels & 10 vs. reDRagon Nyla Rose In Action QT Marshall Certificate of Accomplishment to Hook FTW Championship Match: Ricky Starks (c) vs. Swerve Stricklan
Tonight’s WWE NXT Level Up was taped at the WWE Performance Center in Orlando, Florida and will be streaming at 10/9 C on Peacock in the United States and on WWE Network everywhere else!
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