Major Update Regarding Austin Aries’ Status With Impact Wrestling Following Controversial BFG Finish

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Last night Impact Wrestling ended their biggest PPV of the year, Bound For Glory, by crowning a new Impact Wrestling Champion in Johnny Impact. Johnny captured the title by defeating Austin Aries in a match that was the culmination of a controversial and heated feud. Including Aries taking personal shots at Johnny’s wife, Taya Valkyrie, on Twitter.

Almost immediately after being pinned Aries leapt to his feet, stepped out of the ring, yelled a profanity at Don Callis and left while flipping off the crowd. It was a bizarre scene that left many at home, and in the ring, scratching their heads. Was this real? Or part of some outside the box story?

Bryan Alvarez notes in the latest episode of Wrestling Observer Live that Aries has, “gone home,” and will not be attending the Impact Wrestling TV tapings today, or tomorrow. Since Impact tapes weeks, sometimes months, in advance this means that Aries will not be included on Impact Wrestling TV for as long as the tapings are set to run.

To the best of Alvarez’s knowledge Aries has not been fired by Impact Wrestling. This led Alvarez to speculate that while aspects of the feud may have been real, Aries and Johnny are likely working together now. With that said, the press conference brawl that the two engaged in before BFG does appear to have gotten, “a little out of control.” Including one of the sponsors being pushed to the ground in the fracas. Apparently, Anthem and the sponsors had issues with how that press conference went down.

Source: WrestlingINC

Pro Wrestling Sheet reports that Aries’ Impact Wrestling contracted allegedly ended at Bound For Glory.

Producer Petey Williams talked about everything surrounding the incident on the newest episode of Petey’s Wrestling Perspective Podcast that dropped on Monday. During the show, Williams revealed he was the agent for Aries vs. Impact and called everything in the production truck.

In regards to the finish of the match, Williams added: “Austin Aries’ contract is done. That’s all I’ll say. That match was his last match under contract with Impact.” Petey also claims Aries confirmed his contract status during a backstage conversation after the event where the wrestler explained he wouldn’t be at the next set of TV tapings.

For what it’s worth, Pro Wrestling Sheet spoke with multiple sources in the company following the incident who claim the no-sell moment was legit … not scripted.

Aries returned to Impact in early 2018 following his exit from WWE.

Listen to the FULL EPISODE HERE.

Source: Pro Wrestling Sheet

WWE RAW Preview 10/15/18

Tonight’s WWE RAW will take place from the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia as the road to Evolution and Crown Jewel continues.

* Will The Brothers of Destruction respond to D-Generation X?

* Seth Rollins to battle Drew McIntyre in a WWE World Cup Qualifying Match

* Dean Ambrose to take on Dolph Ziggler in a WWE World Cup Qualifying Match

* Ronda Rousey to address last week’s ambush by The Bella Twins

* The all-new, all-aggressive Bobby Lashley

John Oliver Verbally Batters WWE Over Saudi Arabia Deal

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Last Week Tonight’s John Oliver isn’t someone to mince words, and after the incident involving the alleged kidnapping and murder of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi was brought to light last week, the Crown Prince and the Saudi Government have found themselves in the eye of the storm. CNN also reported that most of the news outlets that agreed to cover a high-profile business conference in Saudi Arabia have pulled out following the revelation, and John Oliver, in the most recent episode of HBO’s Last Week Tonight put WWE on blast for their hesitancy in doing the same.

As earlier reported, WWE released a statement to the media that they were monitoring the situation in Saudi Arabia before making a decision about WWE Crown Jewel, but reports have since emerged that the company has decided to go ahead with their original plans.

John Oliver, while discussing the Crown Prince’s PR push to attract businesses and change the world’s perception of Saudi Arabia, mentioned the working relationship between Saudi Arabia and the WWE.

“They held their first of many events there back in April”, Oliver stated before continuing, “And audiences around the world were treated to wall-to-wall propaganda about the new Saudi Arabia, including a video showing women happily driving, men dancing, and tourist destination beauty shots, as well as constant excited announcements throughout the broadcast.

“It seems that WWE is as overtly pro-Saudi Arabia as it is lately homoerotic, which is to say intensely.”

You can find the portion of the episode where John Oliver talks about WWE below:

You can see the whole video by clicking here. Video contains foul language.

Source: WrestlingINC

U.S. Senators Raise Concerns Over WWE Crown Jewel

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Four U.S. senators are speaking out in a new article about WWE‘s involvement with the Saudi Arabian government, with one suggesting the President’s administration get involved before Crown Jewel.

William Steakin from the Independent Journal Review spoke with members of Congress on Thursday to get their opinions on the upcoming event in Saudi Arabia.

For those unaware, Washington Post columnist Jamal Khashoggi was reportedly assassinated in the Saudi consulate in Turkey last week. The team of people who allegedly murdered him reportedly dismembered his body with a bonesaw at the order of the highest levels of the Royal Court.

According to CNN, Turkish authorities have audio and visual evidence which proves this.

Senator Chris Murphy from Connecticut told IRJ, “I’d hope that they [WWE] would be rethinking their relationship with the kingdom especially with respect to events coming up in the next weeks…”

“Private enterprise is private enterprise, different than a governmental entity,” Senator Bob Menendez from New Jersey told the Independent Review Journal. “But because [Linda McMahon] is part of the president’s cabinet, it falls into the grey area where the administration really should give it some thought and maybe even prevail upon them not doing it.”

As we previously reported, Crown Jewel is the second event following a lucrative long-term deal between WWE and the Saudi General Sports Authority. During the first event, Greatest Royal Rumble, a propaganda-like advertisement aired praising the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

Senator Chris Coons from Delaware told IRJ that WWE should be “taking a hard look” at this partnership and controversial Senator Lindsey Graham said “there should be a pause.”

WWE released a statement on Thursday which states they are “monitoring” the situation.

Source: Pro Wrestling Sheet

Bray Wyatt Returns On-Line With Demonic Tweets, Teases 2 Mysterious Characters

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Former WWE Champion Bray Wyatt has returned to Twitter with the following bizarre messages:

https://twitter.com/WWEBrayWyatt/status/1051603056440283137

https://twitter.com/WWEBrayWyatt/status/1051605273725595648

https://twitter.com/WWEBrayWyatt/status/1051606074539814912

https://twitter.com/WWEBrayWyatt/status/1051606614912962561

Wyatt has not posted on Twitter in over a month. In his last tweet on September 6th he noted, “I’m going away now. To find myself. But when I am back, I want you all to remember things like this, that make me do the things I do.” Before that tweet Wyatt had been teasing something “new” that would include his “thoughts unfiltered”.

It’s possible that these tweets could be the beginning of a new story that reintroduces Wyatt to WWE TV. Before vanishing on-line Wyatt had been one half of the WWE RAW Tag Team Champions The Deleters of Worlds, with Matt Hardy. Hardy has been forced to exit the ring due to back and pelvis issues leaving Wyatt on his own again.

The tweets definitely tease, possibly, two new characters: whoever is being exorcized and the mysterious Dr. M. Whether these characters are new or variations of existing Superstars is yet to be seen.

Source: WrestlingINC

Impact Wrestling Bound For Glory 2018 Results

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Matt Sydal & Ethan Page vs. Rich Swann & Willie Mack – Rich Swann & Willie Mack

Eli Drake Open Challenge: Eli Drake vs. James Ellsworth – Winner: Eli Drake

Drake gets on the mic and said he want something more than that, he wanted hall of fame material! Out comes Abyss! The two end up brawling in the ring, Abyss goes out and grabs a table, sets it up in the ring, nearly puts Drake through it. Drake fights back, looks to drop down on the table through Abyss, but Abyss grabs him by the throat and chokeslams him through the table. (transcript from WrestlingINC)

Impact Knockouts Championship: (C) Tessa Blanchard vs. Taya Valkyrie – Winner: Tessa Blanchard

Eddie Edwards vs. Moose – Winner: Eddie Edwards via DQ

Accompanied by three women, Moose (in a very silver jacket) heads to the ring. Edwards rolls out to the ring with a kendo stick, momentarily chasing Moose out of the ring. Edwards nails the boston knee party early on, but doesn’t go for the cover. He instead goes for his kendo stick and Killer Kross attacks from the crowd. Referee calls the match. Kross tosses Edwards in the ring and Moose continues to hammer away on him. Moos with a weak pump kick on Edwards and out comes Tommy Dream with a kendo stick. He smacks both Kross and Moose out of the ring, grabs a mic and tells the two guys they don’t know where they are. Dreamer says the crowd isn’t going stand for a finish like that and calls for the bell to be rung! (transcript from WrestlingINC)

No DQ Tornado Tag Match – Tommy Dreamer & Eddie Edwards vs. Mosse & Killer Kross – Winners: Tommy Dreamer & Eddie Edwards

Post-match, Kross chokes Edwards and Moose hits a spear. They take him out and hit double powerbomb on the edge of the apron. (transcript from WrestlingINC)

oVe Rules Match: oVe (Dave Crist, Jake Crist & Sami Callihan) vs. Pentagon Jr., Fenix & Brian Cage – Winners: oVe

Concrete Jungle Death Match: LAX (Satana, Ortiz & Konnan) vs. The OGz (Hernandez, Homicide & King) – Winners: LAX

Allie agree to make a deal with James Mitchell to be sent to Su Yung’s undead realm to find Kiera Hogan. Allie ends up going into a coffin and then bumping into Mitchell, he reminds her that if she sees her soul, it stays with him, so no touching. Allie (with an small ax) heads through a creepy building. She hears a noise and looks around, an undead bride shows up and starts choking her. Allie smacks her with the butt end of the ax and then with the ax itself. Allie bumps into another bride and jacks her up with ax to, blood splatters all over the place.

She ends up finding her soul, but ends up moving on from it. She finds a coffin where Kiera Hogan is at. From behind is Su Yung with a big ax of her own. Yung welcomes Allie and takes a swing, Allie blocks it, then dodges another couple swings. Yung finally drops Allie, chokes her, and takes the mini ax. Yung goes for a swing as Allie block it, but Yung locks in the mandible claw on her. Allie looks to be fading, Yung pulls out a knife and Allie suddenly wakes up and whacks Yung in the neck with the mini ax.

Allie wakes Hogan up and gets her out of the coffin. Hogan is out of it as Allie leads her back to the exit. They can’t get the coffin open though and Mitchell shows up. He laughs and says he promised to let Allie in, but didn’t say anything about letting her out. Yung and the brides show up again and close in, but Rosemary shows up and fights them off. “Hi, Bunny. You shouldn’t be here.” Rosemary helps them open the coffin, but Yung shows up again. Rosemary fights her off in a cosmic battle! Hogan and Allie get in the coffin and are able to make it back. Allie wants to go back, Hogan say no, but Allie yells at her and doesn’t look to be 100% alright have selling her soul.

(transcript from WrestlingINC)

Impact World Championship: (C) Austin Aries vs. Johnny Impact – Winner and new Impact World Champion: Johnny Impact

Impact Wrestling Bound For Glory 10/14/18

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Impact Wrestling Bound For Glory pay-per-view from the Melrose Ballroom, New York City, New York – Sunday, October 14 – 8PM ET/5PM PT

Impact World Championship: (C) Austin Aries vs. Johnny Impact

Concrete Jungle Death Match: LAX (Satana, Ortiz & Konnan) vs. The OGz (Hernandez, Homicide & King)

Impact Knockouts Championship: (C) Tessa Blanchard vs. Taya Valkyrie

oVe Rules Match: oVe (Dave Crist, Jake Crist & Sami Callihan) vs. Pentagon Jr., Fenix & Brian Cage

Eddie Edwards vs. Moose

Matt Sydal & Ethan Page vs. Rich Swann & Willie Mack

Eli Drake Open Challenge

Allie enters Su Yung’s Undead Realm

 

On Saturday night October 13, at 8PM ET, Father Jim Mitchell will induct Abyss into the Impact Wrestling Hall of Fame. It can be seen live on Twitch – twitch.tv/ImpactWrestling

Will Chris Jericho’s Cruise Be Streamed?

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Fite.tv announced they will be streaming ROH “Sea of Honor” tournament matches and the Alpha Club (Chris Jericho and The Young Bucks) vs. Bullet Club (Cody Rhodes, Marty Scurll, and Kenny Omega) on November 3 at 8pm ET for $24.99. Chris Jericho’s cruise will be sailing from Miami, Florida to Naussau, Bahamas on October 27-31. In the video below, Jericho said he’s been constantly asked if fans will be able to watch matches from his cruise and confirmed they will be able to so through Fite.

Source: WrestlingINC

New Time Slot Revealed For Impact Wrestling On Pop TV

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Impact Wrestling will begin airing at 10pm ET on Pop TV later this month, according to PWInsider. The next episode will air at 8pm ET with a 10pm replay but the following week will see the time slot change on October 25. This will be a permanent time slot change, moving the company out of primetime viewing. Pop officials reportedly informed Impact of the change earlier this week.

Source: WrestlingINC