Tag: AEW

AEW Has Reportedly Made NXT’s Adam Cole A Contract Offer

As Adam Cole’s NXT contract nears its end, AEW has reportedly approached the highly sought after Superstar with an offer.

AEW has reportedly made Adam Cole a contract offer as the former NXT Champion’s current WWE contract is set to expire after SummerSlam weekend.

Adam Cole’s time in NXT might be coming to an end. That would normally mean a call-up to the main roster. For Cole, it appears to mean that starting from the night after NXT TakeOver 36, he will no longer be a WWE Superstar. According to Wrestling Observer Newsletter, AEW has already offered Cole a contract.

The report also reveals Cole has still been negotiating a potential new deal with NXT as recently as the middle of this week. However, the former leader of the Undisputed Era is yet to strike a deal with either company. Cole’s contract actually came to an end in July. However, he signed a one-month extension, apparently so he can wrestle Kyle O’Reilly in a rubber match at TakeOver 36.

If Cole does decide to stay in NXT, it’s unclear what exactly there is left for him on the brand. NXT has been built as a brand in which wrestlers achieve all they can and then move on, preferably to either Raw or SmackDown rather than AEW. Cole has already been NXT Champion multiple times, UE has broken up, and there aren’t that many big opponents left in NXT that he hasn’t already faced.

In AEW, on the other hand, there’s a whole new slate of opponents and challenges waiting for him. Not to mention his girlfriend, current AEW Women’s Champion Britt Baker, and a number of other close friends he worked with prior to signing with NXT. Cole can even debut for AEW as soon as he wants after TakeOver 36. Since his contract is expiring, he won’t be subject to a non-compete clause.

That means Cole could turn up on Dynamite three days after TakeOver, the third episode of Rampage two days after that, or perhaps even at All Out in the first week of September. It’s going to be a fascinating period in Cole’s career the days and weeks after TakeOver. Not to mention the additional contract headache for NXT that is Pete Dunne. Apparently, The Bruiserweight’s contract is also nearing its end.

Source: TheSportster

Former WWE Superstar Ruby Riott (Ruby Soho) Is Expected To Sign With AEW

Former WWE Superstar Ruby Riott, who now goes by Ruby Soho, is expected to sign with AEW once her non-compete runs out.

Ruby Riott is expected to sign with AEW once her 90-day non-compete clause with WWE comes to an end.

WWE has released a lot of people so far in 2021. More than 40 of them so far with Bray Wyatt and Ric Flair being shown the door over the course of the last few days. Some of those released have already found landing spots elsewhere, such as Andrade and Chelsea Green. A number of others are still waiting for their non-compete clauses to come to an end, or may just be weighing up their options.

One of those waiting for their non-compete to come to an end is Ruby Riott. Well, the Superstar formerly known as Ruby Riott. She will now be called Ruby Soho going forward, reportedly with the blessing of  Rancid, the band who sings the song of the same name. She might even be able to use the track as her entrance whenever she wrestles next.

As for where that might be, according to Fightful Select (via WrestleTalk) Soho’s most likely landing spot is AEW. While the two parties can’t strike a deal until Soho’s time with WWE is officially over, which will be after the non-compete expires, apparently, once that time has passed fans can expect to see her become All Elite.

While AEW has been criticized for picking up a lot of the wrestlers WWE has released over the course of the past 18 months, Soho might be one of the wisest pick-ups so far. No element of AEW has been criticized more during its first two years than its women’s division. It is well on its way to improving that part of its promotion via the likes of Britt Baker and Thunder Rosa, adding Soho to the mix will further it even more.

Source: The Sportster

AEW Dynamite Homecoming Preview 8/4/21

Tonight’s AEW Dynamite: Homecoming episode airs on TNT from Daily’s Place in Jacksonville, Florida.

* Chris Jericho vs. Juventud Guerrera (The 5 Labours of Jericho: Chapter 3 — Jericho must win the match with a top rope move)

* Miro (c) vs. Lee Johnson (AEW TNT Championship)

* Malakai Black vs. Cody Rhodes

* The Bunny vs. Leyla Hirsch (Winner gets a shot at the NWA Women’s World Championship)

* Christian Cage with Jungle Boy vs. The Blade with Matt Hardy

* 2.0 (Matt Lee and Jeff Parker) and Daniel Garcia vs. Jon Moxley, Darby Allin, and Eddie Kingston

Former WWE Tag Team To Debut On AEW Dynamite Tonight

Former WWE NXT Superstars Ever-Rise are set to debut on AEW Dynamite tonight.

As seen below, AEW has announced that Matt Lee (fka Matt Martel) and Jeff Parker (fka Chase Parker) are now going by 2.0, and have joined the company. They will debut tonight on the Homecoming edition of Dynamite on TNT, which airs live from Daily’s Place in Jacksonville.

2.0 have aligned with Daniel Garcia, and will go up against Jon Moxley, Darby Allin and Eddie Kingston in six-man action tomorrow night.

2.0, known as 3.0 before signing with WWE in January 2019, were released from the company back on June 25. They had developed a following of fans on social media, and were endorsed by various WWE Superstars, including Kevin Owens. Ever-Rise worked the weekly NXT show at times, but also had several appearances on WWE 205 Live.

Source: Wrestling Inc.

AEW Star Frankie Kazarian Appeared On Impact Wrestling, Six-man Tag Team Match Set For Next Week

AEW star Frankie Kazarian will make his seven-year in-ring return to Impact Wrestling next week.

Kazarian will be joining Sami Callihan and Eddie Edwards in a massive six-man tag team match against The Elite (Impact World Champion Kenny Omega and the Impact World Tag Team Champions The Good Brothers).

“The Elite Hunter” made his return on tonight’s show after The Elite went down to the ring to call out Impact Management for making a No. 1 Contender Battle Royal that’s set for two weeks from now. The winner of the event will face Omega for his World Championship at Emergence.

During Callis’ monologue, Sami Callihan interrupted him and announced that not only will he participate in this Battle Royal, but he also spoke with Executive Vice President Scott D’Amore about setting up this six-man main event for next week. Outraged by this power move, The Elite were met with a major beatdown by Frankie Kazarian, who attacked them from behind.

At Slammiversary, Callihan and Omega squared off in the main event for the Impact World Championship. Omega won by the skin of his teeth when he hit the One-Winged Angel during their No Disqualification matchup.

As mentioned above, Impact will bring Emergence back next month. At this event, Omega will defend his Impact World Championship against the Battle Royal winner.

Last year, Emergence was a two-night event that saw The Motor City Machine Guns (Chris Sabin and Alex Shelley) retain their Impact World Tag Team Titles against  The North (Ethan Page and Josh Alexander) on Night One. Then, on Night Two, Deonna Purrazzo retained her Knockouts Championship against Jordynne Grace in the company’s first-ever 30-Minute Iron Woman Match.

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Source: Wrestling Inc.

AEW Seemingly Teases CM Punk After United Center Announcement

On tonight’s AEW Dynamite: Fight for the Fallen, Tony Schiavone announced AEW is headed to the United Center in Chicago on August 20 for AEW Rampage: First Dance. Tickets go on sale this Monday, August 2. The announcement led to loud “CM Punk” chants from the crowd.

AEW filed to trademark “The First Dance”, which is a play on The Last Dance documentary on Michael Jordan and the famous 1990’s Chicago Bulls. Punk also took to Instagram to post the song “Sirius” by the Alan Parsons Project, which was the entrance song for the 90’s Bulls, leading to speculation that “The First Dance” trademark is related to him.

AEW is also holding three shows in Chicago in September: September 1 for Dynamite, September 3 for Rampage, and September 5 for All Out. All three events are at the NOW Arena.

Right after that announcement, Darby Allin was interviewed and said he’s been around lot of people who say they are the greatest ever in wrestling. The only place to prove that is AEW, “even if you think you’re the best in the world.” Obviously, a reference to CM Punk’s catchphrase. As noted, Punk has been rumored to be heading to AEW.

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Source: Wrestling Inc.

Hiroshi Tanahashi Issues Challenge For IWGP US Title On Dynamite

NJPW star Hiroshi Tanahashi appeared via video on tonight’s AEW Dynamite: Fight for the Fallen.

Tanahashi said he’s won many championships in his career, but the IWGP US Championship has thus eluded him.

Tanahashi said the winner of the match between the current champion, Lance Archer, and NJPW star Hikuleo will face him next. A date has yet to be announced, however the match will take place in Japan. Archer won the title last week in a Texas Deathmatch against Jon Moxley.

Archer won last night’s match and commentary noted he’ll travel to NJPW so Tanahashi can challenge for the title. No word on when that will happen.

Source: Wrestling Inc.

Former WCW Star Juventud Guerrera Revealed As Chris Jericho’s Next Labour Opponent

On next week’s edition of AEW Dynamite, Chris Jericho will face his former WCW colleague Juventud Guerrera for the first time in 22 years.

Lucha Libre legend Juventud Guerrera will appear on TNT for the first time in 20 years and make his All Elite Wrestling debut when he goes one-on-one with his former WCW colleague Chris Jericho on next week’s episode of Dynamite.

Guerrera’s imminent arrival was announced by MJF following the main event of this week’s Fight For The Fallen edition of AEW’s flagship show.

Chris Jericho had just defeated Nick Gage in the second of five matches that he must win in order to be granted a grudge match against his bitter enemy/former protege, MJF. In what is being referred to as “The Labours Of Jericho,” MJF chooses all of Jericho’s opponents and decides the stipulation of each match. Last week, Jericho defeated “The Chairman” Shawn Spears in a match in which Spears could legally use a steel chair, but Jericho could not.

At the end of this week’s Dynamite, Jericho was sat in the ring drenched his own blood having just won a deathmatch against a man who specializes in them. After the bell, an irate MJF, who had been on commentary throughout the match, leaped from his seat, grabbed a microphone, and revealed next week’s stipulation: to win the match, Jericho must hit his final move off of the top rope.

MJF then reminded Jericho of a moment the two men shared while exchanging insults during a 2019 edition of Dynamite. During that encounter, Jericho implied that MJF was conceived after his parents watched Jericho beat up Juventud Guerrera on WCW Nitro. Guerrera was then announced as Jericho’s opponent next week.

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Juventud Guerrera (real name, Eduardo Aníbal González Hernández) began his wrestling career in 1992 in his native Mexico. Guererra made his WCW debut on August 26, 1996 edition of Monday Nitro, and became the promotion’s Cruiserweight Champion soon after.

Chris Jericho last wrestled Juventud Guerrera shared a ring together 28 times during their time in WCW. They last faced each other on the February 18, 1999, edition of WCW Thunder.

Juventud Guerrera Talks Losing His Mask, Wrestling With Chris Jericho

Source: The Sportster

AEW Dynamite ‘Fight For The Fallen’ Preview 7/28/21

Tonight’s AEW Dynamite Fight For The Fallen episode airs on TNT from the Bojangles Center in Charlotte, North Carolina.

* The Elite vs. Hangman Page and Dark Order (10 Man Elimination Tag)

* The Painmaker Chris Jericho vs. Nick Gage (The 5 Labours of Jericho: Chapter 2, No Rules Match)

* Lance Archer (c) with Jake The Snake Roberts vs. Hikuleo (IWGP US Title)

* Santana and Ortiz with Konnan vs. FTR with Tully Blanchard

* Christian Cage, Jungle Boy and Luchasaurus vs. H.F.O with Matt Hardy

AEW’s Britt Baker Vows To Continue Working Despite Suffering Legitimate Injury

AEW Women’s Champion Britt Baker has revealed that she sustained a legitimate broken wrist during her match with Nyla Rose on the July 21 Dynamite.

All Elite Wrestling Women’s Champion Britt Baker has revealed that she suffered a broken wrist during her match with Nyla Rose on the most recent Fyter Fest edition of Dynamite, which went down in Dallas on Wednesday, July 21.

On Friday night, Baker took to social media to share a photograph of herself alongside mixed martial artist Paige VanZant. In the image, Baker is wearing a hefty-looking cast on her right forearm.

“With [Paige VanZant],” Baker captioned the image. “And oh yeah, I retained the title on Wednesday night at [AEW Dynamite] with a broken wrist,” she added.

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Baker claimed that despite the injury, she wouldn’t be taking any time off. Whether or not this means she intends to wrestle with a broken wrist remains to be seen, as it’s possible she will just continue to appear on AEW programming without participating in any matches.

Baker’s no stranger working while injured. As you might recall, she continued to appear in weekly Dynamite segments despite suffering an anterior lateral tibial fracture, a partial lateral collateral ligament tear, and a small degree tendon tear during a tag match on an episode of Dynamite in May of last year. Ironically, that match also featured the aforementioned Nyla Rose, although Rose was Baker’s tag partner that night, not her opponent.

Following her 2020 injury, Baker appeared regularly on Dynamite in a wheelchair and cut promos on her colleagues in the AEW women’s division.

Source: The Sportster