ITV in the UK has announced schedule changes for the weekly AEW Dynamite show.
It was announced last week that the two-hour AEW Dynamite show would air on Sunday mornings at 8:20am, followed by a one-hour highlight show on Monday nights at 11:45pm. This led to a significant amount of backlash from fans, who weren’t satisfied with the Sunday morning timeslot, and being forced to wait several days before they could watch the weekly AEW show, which airs on Wednesday nights on TNT.
ITV announced today that the full two-hour Dynamite show will be available for viewing on the ITV Hub at 7pm on Thursdays, beginning tomorrow. Dynamite will then air at 11:20pm on ITV4 on Friday nights. The Sunday morning timeslot will also stay, as will the Monday night one-hour highlight show.
ITV will also air AEW pay-per-views live, beginning with Full Gear on November 9.
Ring of Honor star Bandido underwent knee surgery yesterday, according to PWInsider.
Bandido wasn’t medically cleared to wrestle at Death Before Dishonor Fallout because of a knee injury. He was supposed to be in the ROH Final Battle Number One Contender Tournament but was replaced by PJ Black.
WWE Chief Brand Officer Stephanie McMahon is making the media rounds this week to promote Friday’s big WWE SmackDown FOX premiere from the Staples Center in Los Angeles. As seen below, McMahon appeared on FS1’s First Things First program earlier today, with hosts Cris Carter, Nick Wright and Jenna Wolfe.
Stephanie was asked what the new FOX partnership means for WWE, and how exciting this time of year is for them. She said the partnership has been years in the making, if not destined to be, and the two companies are a perfect match.
“Words really can’t describe how excited we are,” Stephanie said. “This is a partnership that I think has been many, many years in the making, if not destined to be. FOX is the best at live television, the best at sports, the best at events, and I like to think that WWE is the same. So, we’re, I think, a perfect match. A perfect tag team, if you will.”
Carter noted how WWE has done a great job at re-branding, and asked Stephanie how to explain WWE to newcomers to try and generate more interest in Friday’s show, and why they should tune in. Stephanie said fans tuning in for the first time will see something they’ve never seen before, a true spectacle.
“They’re going to see something that they’ve never seen before,” she said. “It truly is a spectacle and it is the best combination of sports and entertainment. So, you break down the storytelling piece – it’s no different than anything else that’s out there. It’s protagonist vs. antagonist, with conflict resolution. The only difference is our conflicts are settled inside a 20×20 foot ring, with some of the greatest live action that you can see, in any sport or entertainment property.”
Stephanie and Triple H currently have three daughters together – 13 year old Aurora Rose, 11 year old Murphy Claire, and 9 year old Vaughn Evelyn. Carter asked Stephanie if she would encourage their daughters to get involved with the business once they were of age, and that’s when she revealed that Aurora has already started training for an in-ring career one day.
“My oldest daughter has already started training,” Stephanie revealed. “And I would encourage them to follow their passion, you know, whatever they believe in, as long as they work hard at it. I believe in a strong work ethic and I believe they can do anything in the world they wanna do, but they’re gonna have to believe in themselves and work hard.”
Stephanie also promoted The Rock’s big return to TV on Friday’s SmackDown FOX premiere, which will also be the SmackDown 20th Anniversary special.
“Absolutely, The Rock is going to be there on Friday, on Friday Night SmackDown,” she said. “This Friday, live on FOX at 8pm ET, and he’s going to layeth the smacketh down on the entire audience. I can’t wait to see what he’s going to do.”
Finally, Stephanie was asked if she plans on making a return to the ring.
“Well, I can’t give that away,” she laughed. “Anything can happen in WWE. Mother – daughter tag team? No, it’s not… but maybe.”
The hosts ended the interview by welcoming Stephanie and WWE to the FOX family. She said it’s her privilege to be a part of the family. She also talked about WWE changing the women’s division during the Women’s Revolution, female Superstars headlining WrestleMania 35, and more during the interview.
TSN has officially announced that AEW Dynamite will air each week on that network, live at 8pm ET on Wednesday nights.
TSN and TSN Direct subscribers can watch the weekly AEW Dynamite show on all streaming platforms, and on the network’s 5 national TV feeds.
“For many, many years, Canada has been home not only to some of the most legendary wrestlers ever, both past and present, but also to some of the most knowledgeable and passionate fans anywhere in the world today,” said AEW President and CEO Tony Khan in a press release. “I’m thrilled that we are teaming with TSN to show AEW DYNAMITE live in Canada. TSN has great history broadcasting wrestling, and I know they will be a great partner for AEW and our fans.”
Its now confirmed that AEW Dynamite will air live in Canada and the United States each week, on TSN and TNT. It will also air in the UK on ITV4, on Sunday mornings at 8am. AEW is working to have ITV air Dynamite live, but the updated deal has not been announced. It was also announced that Fite.TV will offer an AEW Plus package, which allows international viewers to stream the show live for $4.99 per month.
Below is the official announcement from TSN with full details:
TSN Announces New Partnership with ALL ELITE WRESTLING, Becoming the Canadian Home of Weekly Series AEW DYNAMITE, Beginning October 2– AEW DYNAMITE is headlined by Canadian wrestling superstars Chris Jericho, Kenny Omega, Shawn Spears, Allie, and more –
TORONTO (October 1, 2019) – TSN announced today a partnership with the new professional wrestling promotion ALL ELITE WRESTLING (AEW) to deliver live coverage of the weekly live wrestling show, AEW DYNAMITE, kicking off Wednesday, Oct. 2 at the famed Capital One Arena in Washington, D.C.
TSN and TSN Direct subscribers can watch the all-new AEW DYNAMITE every Wednesday at 8 p.m. ET on TSN’s digital streaming platforms, including TSN.ca and the TSN app, and on the network’s five national television feeds (subject to final scheduling confirmation). TSN’s AEW DYNAMITE schedule for the month of October is as follows:
* Wednesday, Oct. 2: 8 p.m. ET on TSN.ca, the TSN app, and TSN2
* Wednesday, Oct. 9: 8 p.m. ET on TSN.ca, the TSN app, and TSN2
* Wednesday, Oct. 16: 8 p.m. ET on TSN.ca, the TSN app, and TSN2
* Wednesday, Oct. 23: 8 p.m. ET on TSN.ca, the TSN app, and TSN2
* Wednesday, Oct. 30: 8 p.m. ET on TSN.ca, the TSN app, and TSN3
Among the featured wrestlers competing in AEW’s highly anticipated, action-packed matches are Canadian superstars Chris Jericho, the inaugural and current AEW World Champion; and Kenny Omega, the subject of the acclaimed, fan-favourite documentary OMEGA MAN: A WRESTLING LOVE STORY, part of TSN’s award-winning series ENGRAVED ON A NATION.
“For many, many years, Canada has been home not only to some of the most legendary wrestlers ever, both past and present, but also to some of the most knowledgeable and passionate fans anywhere in the world today,” said Tony Khan, CEO of AEW. “I’m thrilled that we are teaming with TSN to show AEW DYNAMITE live in Canada. TSN has great history broadcasting wrestling, and I know they will be a great partner for AEW and our fans.”
“We were overwhelmed with fans’ outpouring of support for our OMEGA MAN documentary earlier this year, and that incredible response has primed TSN to showcase Kenny Omega and the rest of AEW’s high-octane talent for fans across the country,” said Shawn Redmond, Vice-President, Discovery and TSN. “AEW DYNAMITE is headlined by two Canadian mega-stars alongside a growing roster of must-see wrestlers, and we’re very excited to deliver the wrestling world’s game-changing new series to TSN subscribers.”
AEW also features members of The Elite (Cody and Brandi Rhodes, Matt and Nick Jackson, and Hangman Adam Page) as well as Jon Moxley, Nyla Rose, Awesome Kong, and Dustin Rhodes, with renowned wrestling commentator Jim Ross calling the action.
TSN’s coverage of AEW DYNAMITE is also available for on-demand viewing to TSN and TSN Direct subscribers via TSN.ca/Live and the TSN app.
On this Wednesday’s AEW Dynamite, it will be The Young Bucks and Kenny Omega vs. AEW World Champion Chris Jericho and two mystery partners.
AEW announced that Jericho’s partners will be revealed on tonight’s Countdown to AEW Dynamite at 8 pm ET on TNT. In the video below, Jericho called for his partners, but both were blurred out, although they did look like Santana & Ortiz (fka Impact Wrestling’s LAX).
Earlier this month, Jericho mentioned that he filmed some segments with Santana & Ortiz, following All Out, adding to speculation that they will be Jericho’s mystery partners.
Below is the current lineup for AEW’s TV debut:
* Adam Page vs. PAC
* Jon Moxley appears live
* Cody Rhodes vs. Sammy Guevara
* The Young Bucks and Kenny Omega vs. AEW World Champion Chris Jericho and two mystery partners
* Nyla Rose vs. Riho to crown the first-ever AEW Women’s Champion
* MJF vs. Brandon Cutler
Dave Meltzer and Bryan Alvarez of Wrestling Observer Radio give their thoughts on the new changes to WWE RAW, including the updated set and the new commentary team.
Meltzer thought that Jerry “The King” Lawler stole the show amongst the RAW announce team that includes Vic Josesph and Dio Maddin. He said Lawler was very strong in getting over the angles.
All Elite Wrestling has announced a multi-year partnership with retail chain Hot Topic.
Beginning on Wednesday, October 2, AEW merchandise will be available at Hot Topic stores in the US and Canada. The launch coincides with the debut episode of AEW: Dynamite on TNT.
“It’s a pleasure to bring the relationship that The Elite has forged with Hot Topic over the past several years to the AEW family,” AEW’s Chief Marketing and Merchandising Officer Dana Massie said in a press release earlier today.
“This was one of the easiest decisions to make, and the timing also perfectly coincides with our debut on TNT this Wednesday, October 2. I’m confident our partnership with Hot Topic will grow even further and expand to new offerings and opportunities for wrestling fans across the board.”
Watch The Young Bucks talk about the new partnership in the video below.
WWE has announced a big Team Flair vs. Team Hogan ten-man tag match for WWE Crown Jewel 2019 in Saudi Arabia.
WWE Hall of Famers Ric Flair and Hulk Hogan will be the two coaches for the teams. Hogan’s Team Captain is WWE Universal Champion Seth Rollins, while Randy Orton will be the Team Captain for Team Flair. The match was announced during MizTV on tonight’s RAW season premiere.
Crown Jewel 2019, which will air on the WWE Network, will take place on Halloween, Thursday, October 31, from the King Fahd International Stadium in Riyadh. Others advertised for the event are The Undertaker, Brock Lesnar, WWE Champion Kofi Kingston, WWE United States Champion AJ Styles, Roman Reigns, Big E, Xavier Woods, “The Fiend” Bray Wyatt, Braun Strowman, Rey Mysterio and Mansoor Al-Shehail.
Crown Jewel 2019 will be a part of “Riyadh Season” that runs from October 15 through December 15. The Saudis will be holding 11 festivals during these two months, as a way to boost domestic and international tourism in the country, and Crown Jewel will be a part of the festivals. This will be WWE’s fourth big event under their ten-year deal with the Saudi General Sports Authority.
Regarding the Team Hogan vs. Team Flair match, Orton and Rollins will announce their partners over the next few weeks. Rusev will be on Team Hogan while King Baron Corbin is on Team Flair.
WWE Raw this week ended with the returns of Bobby Lashley and Lana whose surprise appearance together included an uncomfortably long steamy makeout session.
This week’s Raw was originally scheduled to feature Seth Rollins vs. Rey Mysterio in the main event. Mysterio and his son Dominick was taken out by Brock Lesnar at the top of show and was later replaced by Rusev.
Mid-way through the match, while cutting to commercial, a limousine was shown pulling up.
The match ultimately came to a no-contest ending when Lashley’s music hit and he hit the stage to taunt Rusev. Moments later, Lana joined Bobby onstage and they started their long steamy kissing session as Lana’s husband Rusev watched from the ring.
Finally … The Rock has confirmed he’ll appear on FOX this week for the premiere of SmackDown.
The Great One made the much-anticipated announcement via Twitter and it was announced on last night’s RAW.
“FINALLY…I come back home to my [WWE] universe,” The Rock wrote, before vowing to buy everyone a tequila after the show.
Friday Night SmackDown will celebrate the 20th anniversary of the blue brand in just a few days. The Rock will be joined in the Staples Center by fellow WWE legends such as Hulk Hogan, Sting, Mick Foley, Booker T, Ric Flair, Goldberg and Lita.
