Tag: AEW

AEW Dynamite Preview 8/3/22

Tonight’s AEW Dynamite from Columbus, OH.

The following line-up is announced for tonight:

  • Chris Jericho vs. Wheeler Yuta (*If Yuta wins, he gets Jericho’s title shot against AEW Interim World Champion Jon Moxley)
  • Christian Cage vs. Matt Hardy
  • Jay Lethal vs. Orange Cassidy
  • Dumpster Match: The Acclaimed vs. Gunn Club
  • Thunderstorm (AEW Women’s Champion Thunder Rosa & Toni Storm) vs. Dr. Britt Baker & Jamie Hayter
  • Powerhouse Hobbs will be in action
  • The Undisputed Elite is back
  • We hear from AEW Interim World Champion Jon Moxley

AEW Announces Expansion Of Its Talent Relations And Development Team

AEW made a big announcement Wednesday morning, as owner Tony Khan revealed that four familiar names have been appointed to new talent and developmental-related positions in the company. These include a new face who hadn’t previously been in the AEW fold, as Impact Wrestling veteran Madison Rayne has been hired to help coach the women’s division. In addition, QT Marshall has been named Vice President of Show and Creative Coordination, Tony Schiavone will be a Senior Producer and Special Advisor to Talent, Pat Buck is now the VP of Talent Development, and Christopher Daniels will maintain his role as Manager of Talent Relations. The full press release is below:

AEW ANNOUNCES EXPANSION OF TALENT RELATIONS AND DEVELOPMENT TEAM — Roles for Sonjay Dutt, QT Marshall, Pat Buck and Tony Schiavone will Increase Under Expanded Talent Relations Team; Madison Rayne Joining to Coach Women’s Division

August 3, 2022 – AEW CEO, GM and Head of Creative Tony Khan announced an expansion to AEW’s talent relations team with the promotions of key staff members including Sonjay Dutt, QT Marshall, Pat Buck and Tony Schiavone. In addition, Madison Rayne will join AEW as a coach in the women’s division. As AEW continues its meteoric rise, the expanded talent relations team will strengthen the infrastructure required to facilitate the development, health and safety of AEW’s outstanding roster.

The following promotions and additions are effective immediately: Sonjay Dutt (Retesh Bhalla) has been promoted to Vice President of Production and Creative Coordination. In this role, he will coordinate communication of AEW storylines, liaise between post-production and key staff to maintain content workflow, produce ancillary content and mentor new producers. Dutt joined AEW in 2021, bringing more than 20 years of experience in professional wrestling – both in-ring and as a producer – and continues to serve on-screen as manager to Satnam Singh and Jay Lethal.

QT Marshall (Michael Cuellari) has been promoted to Vice President of Show and Creative Coordination. He will help to manage show elements including planning programs and storylines, character development, overseeing extras and live event logistics coordination. Marshall, an AEW original with more than 20 years of experience, will continue to wrestle as the leader of The Factory with Anthony Ogogo, Nick Comoroto, Aaron Solo and Cole Karter.

Pat Buck (Pat Buckridge) has been promoted to Vice President of Talent Development. In this position, he will liaise with talent and production, oversee all coaches, provide input on matches and promos, and lead the talent relations team. Buck brings nearly two decades of experience serving wrestling promotions as a talent, trainer, producer and promoter.

Tony Schiavone has been promoted to Senior Producer and Special Advisor to Talent. In this capacity, he will work directly with talent as part of the Talent Relations team. Schiavone is one of AEW’s most tenured members and has nearly 40 years of experience, with an iconic voice that has guided fans through professional wrestling’s most incredible moments.

Madison Rayne (Ashley Nichole Lomberger) will join AEW as a coach in the women’s division, and kick-off her new role tonight in her hometown of Columbus, Ohio. Madison has competed in numerous professional wrestling promotions where she has held multiple championship titles, including 5-time Women’s World Champion. She has more than 15 years of experience in professional wrestling, and is also a proud mom to a daughter.

Christopher Daniels, an AEW original who brings more than 30 years of industry experience, will continue to serve as Manager of Talent Relations. The Talent Relations team will also remain in close contact with AEW’s Legal and Talent Resources team – led by Margaret Stalvey, Chris Peck and Megha Parekh – who help to support the physical and mental health, safety and security of talent. AEW is also committed to supporting talent beyond the ring, and offers access to world-class physicians, trainers and mental health clinicians.

The news comes in the wake of reports of tension behind the scenes in AEW, as former Ring of Honor World Champion Jonathan Gresham demanded his release from the company, citing lack of communication with Khan. Meanwhile, WWE has also seen a recent shake-up in the talent relations department in the form of Paul Levesque, fka Triple H, whose ascendency has already paid dividends in the form of the returning Dakota Kai.

Source: Wrestling Inc.

AEW Releases Tons Of Details About Their Upcoming Video Game

All Elite Wrestling’s debut console game is coming, and a plethora of features have been officially revealed after the details appeared to be leaked almost 24 hours earlier.

THQ Nordic GmbH and YUKE’s — who have both had played a part in creating WWE’s games in the past — have joined forces to create “AEW: Fight Forever.” The game is slated to be released later this year, according to Amazon. Former AEW World Champion and current AEW EVP Kenny Omega, who had a major hand in bringing the game to life, said in the press release published today by THQ Nordic that he told “Tony Khan to let me help assemble the best gaming team on the planet, to make the best wrestling game ever,” and now, we can take a look at some of those pieces he has assembled.

The game is said to have an “arcade feel that first won wrestling gamer hearts more than two decades ago.” The release is also set to feature “innovative, tandem offensive moves,” as well as online co-op wrestling “going completely next level with Tag Team matches that feature sequences of team maneuvers performed with simple commands.” In addition, gamers will be able to utilize a “long roster of the most popular AEW wrestlers” and play a “deep career mode.” “Create-a-wrestler” will be a feature in the game and the use of  “signature AEW arenas, multiple match types and even some good ol’ fashioned, unsanctioned fun” will be selectable.

And speaking of “multiple match types,” a list of the options available to play have been officially disclosed: Singles Matches, Tag-Team, 3-Way, 4-Way, Ladder Matches, Casino Battle Royale, Falls Count Anywhere, Unsanctioned Lights Out (allows use of weapons), and Exploding Barbed Wire Death matches. A handful of customization modes will be available, in addition to “create-a-wrestler,” including: Custom Move-Sets, Custom Entrances, Customs Teams, and Custom Arenas. It has also been revealed that Leaderboards and Online Multiplayer will be features when the game is released.

YUKE’s president and CEO Yukinori Taniguchi noted in the press release that he was “gratified and excited to have the opportunity to work with AEW,” while Reinhard Pollice of THQ Nordic praised Omega, saying that his “incredible vision for AEW: Fight Forever is informed by his wrestling pedigree both inside the ring and on the controller.”

The forthcoming game will be available to play on PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, PC and Nintendo® Switch and is now available for pre-order in major markets.

Source: Wrestling Inc.

Backstage News On Ric Flair’s Health After Last Match

Ric Flair is reportedly “doing great” despite getting bloodied and taking several bumps in his final match Sunday evening.

According to PWInsider, two doctors were waiting for the 73-year-old Flair the second he returned to the locker room after his match. A person who spoke to The Nature Boy after the medical evaluation provided a positive update, noting that Flair was perfectly fine. The report added that Flair was “obviously spent after the bout” and was saying he was “starving and wanted to go out and eat.” During his farewell speech, Flair told Tony Schiavone he was going to party with Kid Rock at the musician’s bar in Nashville, TN.

Fans were understandably concerned for Flair’s health after watching him take several bumps, especially towards the closing stages of the match. Furthermore, Flair appeared to be gasping for air midway through the bout, and one could notice that Andrade El Idolo, Jeff Jarrett and Jay Lethal tried to buy him time so he could catch his breath.

Flair appeared to get busted open after Karen Jarrett handed her high heel to her husband, who proceeded to strike Flair with the foreign object. Jarrett then slammed Flair’s head onto the barricade, which led to Megan Flair confronting Karen. During this sequence, Lethal continued to beat down on Flair, causing him to start bleeding from the forehead.

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The match eventually ended with Flair applying his signature figure-four leglock on Jeff Jarrett as referee David Miller counted to three. Prior to the finish, Andrade pulled Flair out of harm’s way as Jarrett accidentally hit his tag partner, Lethal, with a guitar shot. This was followed by Conrad Thompson throwing a pair of brass knuckles to Andrade, who proceeded to strike Jarrett.

A few more highlights from Ric Flair’s swansong can be seen below.

https://twitter.com/FiteTV/status/1553920335732424704
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https://twitter.com/FiteTV/status/1553918719121833984
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Source: Wrestling Inc.

AEW Rampage “Fight For The Fallen” Preview 7/29/22

A big weekend for Jay Lethal kicks off with a marquee match on tonight’s episode of “AEW Rampage” “Fight for the Fallen.

Lethal will team with the 7′ 2″ giant Satnam Singh and Sonjay Dutt for a six-man tag team match against Orange Cassidy and Best Friends.

An even higher profile match for Lethal is just days away. He will be part of the main event of Ric Flair’s Last Match event coming up on Sunday. Lethal will team with Jeff Jarrett to take on Flair and Andrade El Idolo.

The following lineup is announced for tonight’s “Rampage”:

  • Jay Lethal, Satnam Singh & Sonjay Dutt vs. Orange Cassidy & Best Friends (Chuck Taylor & Trent Beretta)
  • Lee Moriarty vs. Matt Sydal
  • Ethan Page vs. Leon Ruffin
  • The Acclaimed music video
  • We hear from Ring of Honor World Champion Claudio Castagnoli
https://twitter.com/AEW/status/1552852915236347904

AEW Introduces Trios Titles, Champs To Be Crowned At All Out

AEW will hold a tournament to crown its first-ever Trios Champions at All Out 2022.

AEW has announced that it will crown the first-ever All Elite Wrestling Trios Champions. The inaugural championship team will be decided via a tournament that will culminate at All Out, which goes down on September 4 at the Now Arena in the Chicago suburb of Hoffman Estates.

The announcement was made by the AEW Dynamite announce team of Jim Ross, Excalibur, and Taz on last nights edition of AEW Dynamite on TBS, during which the three championship belts were also unveiled.

https://twitter.com/AEW/status/1552450803998285825

AEW Dynamite “Fight For The Fallen” Preview 7/27/2022

Three title matches and some major returns are set for tonight’s special Fight For The Fallen episode of “AEW Dynamite”.

Bryan Danielson will return to in-ring action for the first time since AEW’s Double Or Nothing pay-per-view last May. An undisclosed injury has kept Danielson sidelined and forced him to bow out of a match against Zack Sabre Jr. at the Forbidden Door pay-per-view. Danielson is set to face Daniel Garcia tonight in the latest clash between the Blackpool Combat Club and the Jericho Appreciation Society.

The following line-up is announced for tonight:

  • AEW Interim World Championship Match: Rush vs. Jon Moxley (c)
  • AEW Women’s World Championship Match: Miyu Yamashita vs. Thunder Rosa (c)
  • FTW Championship Match: Danhausen vs. Ricky Starks
  • Bryan Danielson vs. Daniel Garcia
  • Dante Martin vs. Sammy Guevara
  • 2-On-1 Match: AEW World Tag Team Champion Swerve Strickland vs. Mark Sterling & Tony Nese
  • We hear from Jungle Boy

Nick Wayne Gives Update After Being Detained In Bomb Threat Investigation

Nick Wayne provided an update this evening via Twitter after news of he and his mother were detained due to a potential bomb threat.

Wayne tweeted, “Made it back to Seattle I appreciate all of you for everything.”

As reported, the flight traveling from Frankfurt, Germany, to Seattle, Washington, was diverted when a bomb threat was written on a bathroom mirror. A decision was made for the plane to be diverted to Keflavik, Iceland, where the entire passenger manifest were detained.

It was reported that Wayne’s mother was interrogated for “quite some time” due to the fact that she had an item of make-up that could have been used to write the bomb threat in the bathroom.

The 17-year-old was in London, England for Progress Chapter 136: 24/7, where he defeated Robbie X in his debut match.

This weekend for Starrcast V in Nashville, TN, Wayne will be facing Alex Zayne at GCW: The People Vs. GCW and on the card for Ric Flair’s Last Match event, Wayne is set to face Jonathan Gresham, Konosuke Takeshita, and Alan Angels in a fatal four-way match.

AEW had signed Wayne back in February 2022 and is set to make his debut when he turns 18.

Source: Wrestling Inc.

17-Year Old Prodigy Nick Wayne Reportedly Detained In Bomb Threat Investigation

It was set to be a trip that 17-year-old prodigy Nick Wayne would never forget — venturing across the pond for the first time to perform in the United Kingdom. However, after a serious incident took place on his flight home, it will be a jaunt to remember for somewhat less expected reasons.

Wayne, along with his mother, became suspects in a potential bomb threat aboard their flight back to the United States, according to Wrestling Observer Radio. The flight, traveling from Frankfurt, Germany,to Seattle, Washington, was diverted when a bomb threat was written on a bathroom mirror. A decision was made for the plane to be diverted to Keflavik, Iceland, where the entire passenger manifest were detained, with their luggage and personal items being thoroughly searched by local authorities.

According to the Observer report, Wayne’s mother was interrogated for “quite some time” due to the fact that she had an item of make-up that could have been used to write the bomb threat in the bathroom. Wayne’s mother was said to have been “in a panic” by the whole ordeal while being detained.

The airplane, operated by Condor, was passing over Greenland at 36,000 feet, according to FlightRadar24, when the threat was discovered. It was said passengers were allowed to use bathrooms, but were not allowed to charge their phones during the process. It was noted by AirLive that an aircraft was sent later that night for the passengers to resume their journey. As of this writing, it is unclear if the passengers are still being detained, or if they have already been sent on their way across the Atlantic. Notably, Wayne retweeted a tweet this morning, which could suggest that the situation has eased somewhat.

Wayne was in the United Kingdom performing for Progress Wrestling in London, England, where he defeated Robbie X in a one-on-one match. The young upstart, who signed for All Elite Wrestling earlier this year, will also be in action this weekend during Starrcast in Nashville, TN, taking on Alex Zayne at GCW: The People vs. GCW this Friday night.

Source: Wrestling Inc.

Update On Tully Blanchard’s AEW/ROH Status

There is an update on Tully Blanchard’s AEW/ROH status following ROH Death Before Dishonor.

According to Fightful Select, it looks like Blanchard will not be moving forward with AEW or ROH.

There were conflicting reasons behind Blanchard not appearing on Death Before Dishonor. Fightful was told that his prison ministry group was cited as the reason why he wasn’t there.

Talent and staff that inquired about Blanchard’s whereabouts were told that he was “effectively gone” from ROH and isn’t figured into plans moving forward.

During Saturday’s ROH Death Before Dishonor, it was revealed that Prince Nana had purchased Tully Blanchard Enterprises and was renamed The Embassy. The Embassy was Prince Nana’s original group in 2004. The current Embassy includes Gates of Agony (Toa Liona & Kaun), Brian Cage, & Jonathan Gresham.

Tully Blanchard Enterprises was first formed at the ROH Supercard of Honor with Gates of Agony and Cage. Gresham joined the group on the July 8 edition of AEW Rampage after he left Lee Moriarty in the ring with Gates of Agony. Before the group, Blanchard was the manager of the current ROH World Tag Team Champions FTR.

Source: Wrestling Inc.