Tag: AEW

Tony Khan Confirms ‘Forbidden Door’ Wrestler Will Make AEW Debut On Dynamite

AEW president Tony Khan has promised that a mystery wrestler will make his AEW debut on the February 9 edition of Dynamite.

Immediately following Friday’s edition of AEW Rampage, the company’s president Tony Khan took to Twitter to announce that another wrestler would soon be walking through AEW’s forbidden door … and would slam the door shut after signing an AEW contract.

“The Forbidden Door can be opened for anyone from any wrestling promotion in the world, whether or not it’s a company [AEW] is on good terms with, even if it’s someone from a company that’s open for business,” Khan wrote. “They’re also welcome to slam the door in the face of their prior company.”

The wording of Khan’s tweet left many fans confused, although he provided additional details in a follow-up tweet. Khan seems to be using the Forbidden Door analogy to describe a free agent acquisition, which probably means the new signing is another ex-WWE performer.

 The 90-day non-compete clause if several former WWE Superstars are due to expire imminently, or have very recently expired. Keith Lee, Karrion Kross, Ember Moon and Nia Jax are now all free to sign elsewhere, although the chances of Tony Khan being interested in Nia Jax’s services are extremely slim.

Khan also revealed that the new signing would go one-on-one with Isiah Kassidy in a Face of the Revolution qualifying match, the winner of which will be awarded a spot in the Face of the Revolution Ladder Match at AEW Revolution on March 6. This fact strongly suggests that the new acquisition is a man, so Keith Lee, arguably the hottest free agent in the industry, is a safe bet.

Source: TheSportster

Brian Kendrick Was Pulled From AEW Dynamite After Abhorrent Comments Resurface

Brian Kendrick’s planned AEW debut was canceled after comments he made regarding dangerous conspiracy theories resurfaced.

Brian Kendrick did not appear on last week’s AEW Dynamite.

On Wednesday, February 2, wrestling journalist David Bixenspan shone a light on offensive remarks Kendrick had publicly made in the past. In some footage recorded in 2011, Kendrick can be seen discussing dangerous antisemitic conspiracy theories. In another interview, Kendrick claimed that the number of Jewish people murdered by Nazis during the Holocaust is much lower than the consensus would suggest. This claim is, of course, total and utter bullshit and only a bigot with a severe case of brain worms would buy into it.

https://twitter.com/davidbix/status/1488956369822785536

AEW boss Tony Khan took to Twitter shortly before Dynamite to announce that Kendrick had been pulled from the show.

“We’ve been made aware of abhorrent & offensive comments made in the past by Brian Kendrick,” TK wrote. “There’s no room in AEW for the views expressed by Brian. We think it’s best for all that Brian be pulled from tonight’s card as we gather more info. We’ll announce a replacement bout ASAP.”

The canceled match with Jon Moxley would have been Kendrick’s first since October 2020 when he teamed up with Mansoor to defeat Ever-Rise (no known as 2point0 in AEW) on WWE 205 Live. As you might recall, Kendrick seemingly announced his retirement back in April 2021 in a video filmed at the Performance Center and posted to WWE’s YouTube channel.

Brian Kendrick has issued an apology, of sorts, after antisemitic comments he made in the past resurfaced.

“I apologize for all the hurt and embarrassment I have caused with my words. These are not my beliefs and never were beliefs of mine, and I crossed the line,” Kendrick tweeted on Wednesday, February 2.

“I spread the most vile comments without thinking of the damage it would cause,” he added in a follow-up tweet. “I will live with this regret for the rest of my life. I am truly sorry for the pain I have caused.”

Source: TheSportster

AEW Dynamite Preview 2/2/22

Tonight’s AEW Dynamite on TBS will air live from the Wintrust Arena in Chicago, Illinois. This week’s AEW Rampage on TNT will also be taped tonight in Chicago.

AEW has announced the following line-up for tonight:

* Brian Kendrick debuts vs. Jon Moxley

* Malakai Black and Brody King vs. PAC and Penta El Zero Miedo

* Ruby Soho vs. Nyla Rose

* CM Punk vs. MJF

Brian Kendrick Set For AEW Debut, Will Face Jon Moxley On Dynamite

Weeks after parting ways with WWE, pro-wrestling veteran Brian Kendrick will make his AEW debut on this week’s edition of Dynamite.

The Brian Kendrick is about to perform inside an AEW ring for the very first time! On Tuesday, February 1 — one week after it was reported that Kendrick had requested his WWE release — AEW announced that the veteran wrestler would go one-on-one with former AEW Champion Jon Moxley on the February 2 edition of AEW Dynamite on TBS.

Wednesday’s match will be Kendrick’s first since October 2020 when he teamed up with Mansoor to defeat Ever-Rise (no known as 2point0 in AEW) on 205 Live. As you might recall, Kendrick seemingly announced his retirement back in April 2021 in a video filmed at the Performance Center and posted to WWE’s YouTube channel.

“Initially the idea of producing seemed like a good – not a retirement plan – but the next best thing to wrestling,” Kendrick explained during the clip. “It turns out it’s just as rewarding, in different ways. I love every bit of it. It’s a whole new way of looking at wrestling for me.”

Following the announcement, Kendrick began working at the WWE Performance Center as a coach/producer and occasionally appeared on-screen during NXT. Kendrick was briefly involved in a storyline with Harland (Parker Bordeaux) which was cut short as a result of a COVID-19 outbreak that affected several WWE staff.

Interestingly, Kendrick is a longtime friend and associate of AEW star Bryan Danielson, who has recently been teasing a match with Jon Moxley. Danielson and Kendrick were both students at The Shawn Michaels Wrestling Academy in 1999 and came up in the independent scene together.

On the January 21 edition of AEW Rampage, Danielson sarcastically congratulated Moxley on his victory over Ethan Page. On the January 28 edition of Rampage, Danielson was shown backstage watching Mox’s match with Anthony Bowens. A Danielson vs. Moxley feud seems inevitable at this point … whether Brian Kendrick gets involved or not remains to be seen.

Source: TheSportster

AEW Rampage Beach Break Championship Friday Preview

Tonight’s AEW Rampage episode on TNT will be the special Championship Friday Beach Break edition, taped earlier this week from the Wolstein Center in Cleveland, OH.

* Jon Moxley vs. Anthony Bowens

* AAA World Tag Team Champions FTR vs. Brock Anderson and Lee Johnson

* AEW TBS Champion Jade Cargill defends against Julia Hart

* AEW World Tag Team Champions Jurassic Express defend against Private Party

Matt Hardy Comments On Jeff Hardy’s Renewed Pro Wrestling Passion

AEW star Matt Hardy recently spoke with the Wrestling Perspective Podcast about how easy it is to get back into the groove with Jeff Hardy. For him, when it comes to teaming up, it is just like riding a bike. He also revealed that Jeff is excited about his future within the wrestling business following his WWE release.

“I’ll be honest, when it comes to myself and Jeff teaming up and being The Hardy Boyz, it’s like riding a bike,” he said. “You just get back on and you just start pedaling and it’s business as usual. That’s one thing that’s really cool, knowing that I have literally been there since this guy was born, you know, his whole life.

“So we really know each other inside and out and it’s going to be fun. You know Jeff’s excitement and passion for wrestling have been so renewed now that he has this new horizon in front of him. I’m very excited about that.”

Matt Hardy also provided a tease about the future of The Hardy Boyz as a tag team. Without giving away any official details, he did claim that 2022 will be good for both him and his brother.

“Without going too much into detail, I am very excited to where 2022 is going to take The Hardy Boyz,” he said. “I feel like it’s going to be a great year for both Matt and Jeff.”

While there have been rumors of Jeff joining Matt in AEW, their first official match has already been announced. The Hardy Boyz will be getting back into the ring on March 12, 2022, for Big Time Wrestling. Additional dates are set to be announced soon, but that has yet to happen.

Source: Wrestling Inc. with credit to Wrestling Perspective Podcast 

Danhausen Signs With AEW, Debuts At Dynamite Beach Break

Former Ring Of Honor star Danhausen is officially ALL ELITE!

After months of teases, Danhausen is officially ALL ELITE! The former Ring Of Honor star made his AEW debut last night at Dynamite Beach Break and was confirmed as an official member of the roster shortly afterward by Tony Khan.

It all went down at the Wolstein Center in Cleveland, Ohio on Wednesday, January 26 for AEW’s third annual Beach Break-themed edition of its weekly flagship show on TBS. During the Lights Out main event between Adam Cole and Orange Cassidy, Cole tried to pull a steel chair out from underneath the ring … but there was no chair, only a very evil man by the name of Danhausen. Danhausen emerged from under the ring and pointed at Cole, who was visibly baffled. AEW’s newest acquisition then hobbled up the ramp and disappeared.

https://twitter.com/AEW/status/1486530869368086529

If you’re unfamiliar with his work, Danhausen is a spooky-looking guy with demonic face paint and an extravagant cape who walks around carrying either a cartoonish sack of “human money” or a regular jar filled with human teeth — or both! Danhausen speaks in an exaggerated high-pitched voice which sounds like a cross between Mark Hammil’s Joker and Conan O’Brien, from whom the artist behind Danhausen admits to drawing inspiration.

Danhausen’s addition means that CM Punk is no longer the only man on the AEW roster who uses the GTS as a finisher. Danhausen adopted the move for himself, but not before asking both Punk (and KENTA’s) permission.

“So as Danhausen saw it, CM Punk, wonderful fellow, gave Danhausen the GTS as his finisher. Then Kenta got a little angry at him, but then said he doesn’t care who uses it besides CM Punk,” Danhausen said on an episode of Renee Paquette’s Oral Session’s Podcast. “So Danhausen got two blessings as far as he can see it, CM Punk and Kentahausen… Even named it Very Nice, Very Kneevil.”

Source: TheSportster

AEW Dynamite Beach Break Preview 1/26/22

The 2022 Beach Break edition of AEW Dynamite on TBS will air live tonight from the Wolstein Center in Cleveland, Ohio.

* CM Punk will speak

* AEW Women’s World Champion Britt Baker will speak

* Red Velvet vs. Leyla Hirsch

* The Inner Circle’s Chris Jericho, Santana and Ortiz vs Daniel Garcia and 2point0

* Lights Out Unsanctioned Match: Adam Cole vs. Orange Cassidy

* Ladder Match: AEW TNT Champion Cody Rhodes vs. Interim AEW TNT Champion Sammy Guevara

AEW Rampage Preview 1/21/22

Tonight’s AEW Rampage on TNT will be a live show from the Entertainment & Sports Arena in Washington, DC.

* Hook vs. Serpentico

* The Young Bucks vs. Roppongi Vice (Trent Beretta and Rocky Romero)

* AEW TBS Champion Jade Cargill defends against Anna Jay

* Jon Moxley vs. Ethan Page

Cody Rhodes Delivers Fiery Promo On AEW Dynamite, Takes Shots At WALTER Name Change

Last night’s AEW Dynamite featured a segment where the TNT Champion Cody Rhodes came out to the ring and set up a large ladder. He then delivered a promo where he started by bringing up CM Punk’s pipebomb promo when he was still with WWE, and how Punk’s return is the greatest of the decade. He pointed out that despite mentioning working with ROH and NJPW when he leaves WWE, Punk never actually did that. Cody, however, did make those dreams a reality.

He claims that he is the one that built the forbidden door before it was ever recognized as a term. He also talks about how things have gone off the rails since he left AEW two weeks ago to recover from COVID, pointing to the “Wednesday Night Wars” almost repeating themselves when The Young Bucks and ReDRagon almost came to blows last week.

He says that Undisputed Era is just developmental talent from WWE, and he also brought up WALTER’s name change, referring to him as Gunner McGillicuddy after his name was changed to Gunther Stark. This also recalls another name change WWE did in the past when they named Joseph Henning Jr. “Michael McGillicuddy” before deeming him Curtis Axel in WWE.

Cody talked a bit about Malakai Black and his new stable member, Brody King. He criticized Brody for coming into the company and keeping that name because of the legacy it holds with Brodie Lee. He also says that years in the future when Negative 1/Brodie Jr. is ready to compete, he’ll be there to claim his name.

He says the TNT Championship has been built on a great foundation of champions like Brodie, Sammy Guevara, Miro, and others, but people don’t give it the same respect because it doesn’t have the word “World” in the title. He explains how now that there is an interim TNT Champion in Sammy Guevara, the two men need to compete to determine who the Undisputed TNT Champion is.

He says Tony Khan sent him a contract in the mail, though it wasn’t the contract he was looking for — likely referring to reports that Cody is now a free agent in AEW. Tony apparently proposed a ladder match on next week’s AEW Dynamite to finally determine the undisputed TNT champion of AEW, which Cody accepts.

You can see highlights from the segment below:

Source: Wrestling Inc.