Tag: Rhino

Rhino Makes Surprise AEW Debut in Hometown, Faces Nick Wayne for ROH TV Title

AEW fans were treated to a blast from the past on this week’s Dynamite, as former WWE and ECW star Rhino made a surprise debut — and in his hometown of Detroit, no less. The veteran powerhouse answered an open challenge for the Ring of Honor World Television Championship, setting up an unexpected showdown with rising star Nick Wayne.

The match was hyped with a cryptic tease that Wayne would face “someone from Christian Cage’s past,” adding fuel to the ongoing drama within the Patriarchy. The mystery opponent turned out to be none other than Rhino, a man whose early career was closely linked with Cage’s. Commentary was quick to remind fans that the two were once “inseparable,” making Rhino’s appearance even more compelling given Cage’s current on-screen persona.

Rhino brought his trademark intensity to the match, initially brushing off Wayne’s offense with brute strength. But the young champion showed resilience, eventually chopping the bigger man down. Outside interference nearly swung the tide — Kip Sabian jumped on the apron to distract the referee while Cage tried to trip Rhino. However, the veteran wasn’t fooled and held his own for a bit longer.

Ultimately, Wayne capitalized on the chaos and landed the Killswitch — a move notably tied to Cage himself — to retain the title.

Post-match, the Patriarchy entered the ring to celebrate, but in true Christian Cage fashion, the celebration came with a dose of passive aggression. Cage went to present Wayne with the championship belt, only to let it fall deliberately to the mat instead of placing it around Wayne’s waist — a subtle but pointed gesture that continues to build the tension in their uneasy alliance.

This unexpected moment not only brought Rhino into the AEW fold for the first time but also added another layer of intrigue to the slow-burn storyline between Christian Cage and Nick Wayne.

Could this be the beginning of a longer run for Rhino in AEW or just a one-night pop for the hometown crowd? Time will tell.

TNA Faces Major Roster Shake-Up As Multiple Stars Are Exiting The Company

TNA Wrestling is entering 2024 with some significant changes, as the company prepares for a wave of talent departures. Following Final Resolution and the most recent TNA Impact tapings, several key names appear to be closing out their runs with the promotion, signaling a major shake-up for the roster heading into the new year.

KUSHIDA Nearing the End of His TNA Run

One of the most notable names preparing to exit is Japanese star KUSHIDA. According to Fightful Select, KUSHIDA is currently wrapping up his last contracted run with TNA. While he’s been a prominent part of the promotion, KUSHIDA’s primary focus seems to be shifting back to New Japan Pro Wrestling (NJPW), where he and Kevin Knight are the current IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Champions. The duo will defend their titles at Wrestle Kingdom 19 on January 4, a clear indicator that NJPW will become his main priority moving forward.

KUSHIDA’s exit will leave a void in TNA’s international presence, as his blend of technical precision and high-flying style has been a key highlight for fans over the past year.

Trent Seven Officially Departs

Another international talent saying farewell is Trent Seven. Reports from PWInsider confirm that Seven has wrapped up his time with TNA, placing him alongside his Speedball Mountain partner “Speedball” Mike Bailey in the free-agent pool. Seven’s departure marks the end of his brief but impactful run with the company, where he delivered standout performances both as a singles competitor and in tag team action.

Jade Chung and Josh Alexander Eye Free Agency

Behind the scenes, Jade Chung has also exited TNA. Chung, who served as a ring announcer and on-screen personality, has officially confirmed her departure, a move supported by her husband, Josh Alexander. Interestingly, Alexander—one of TNA’s top stars and a former World Champion—could also be testing the waters of free agency in the near future. His potential departure would be a major blow to TNA, as Alexander has been a cornerstone of the promotion over the last several years.

Other Big Names on the Move

These exits join a growing list of talent either leaving TNA or reportedly considering their next steps. Among them:

  • Rhino, a TNA Hall of Famer, recently wrestled his final match at the latest Impact tapings, marking the end of an era. On the latest edition of Wrestling Observer Radio, Dave Meltzer reported that talent was asked to take a pay cut, which factored into Rhino’s exit. He said, “One of the things that happened was a lot of the talent was asked to take pay cuts, I don’t know how many, that was among the reasons Rhino left. So he left. His last match would have been on Saturday.”
  • AJ Francis (formerly known as Top Dolla in WWE) will become a free agent unless he receives a new contract offer before the year’s end.
  • Jordynne Grace, one of TNA’s most decorated Knockouts Champions, is rumored to be WWE-bound once her contract officially expires. Grace’s potential move to WWE has been a hot topic, given her star power and dominance in the Knockouts division.

What’s Next for TNA?

While the departures mark the end of an era for many familiar faces, TNA has long been a company that thrives on reinvention. The upcoming months will likely focus on rebuilding and introducing new talent to fill the gaps left behind. With stars like KUSHIDA, Trent Seven, and Jordynne Grace making waves across wrestling’s global landscape, TNA’s roster shake-up could serve as an opportunity for emerging talent to rise to the occasion.

For fans, the biggest question remains: Who will step up to lead TNA into 2024? As the promotion enters a new chapter, one thing’s for sure—change is coming, and all eyes will be on TNA to see how they adapt in the year ahead.

ECW Legends Appeared At Last Night’s WWE NXT Show In Philly At The 2300 Arena

In a special episode last night of WWE NXT at the old ECW Arena (2300 Arena) in Philadelphia, PA, several ECW legends appeared on the show.

The Dudley Boyz reunited as Bubba Ray joined Trick Williams against Ethan Page and Ridge Holland, with D-Von providing a table for a big spot. Elsewhere, Tony D’Angelo defended his North American Title against Nunzio, settling an in-ring misunderstanding. Rob Van Dam also got involved, helping Je’Von Evans overcome Wes Lee after Lee tried to take out RVD backstage. Jaida Parker defeated Lola Vice in a hardcore match with Dawn Marie as the guest referee. Rhyno/Rhino delivered his signature Gore to Robert Stone during the segment where NXT GM Ava announced the NXT PLE Deadline. Plus the Queen of Extreme Francine made an appearance, sitting near ringside.

Rhino and Bob Ryder To Be Inducted Into TNA Wrestling Hall of Fame

TNA Wrestling has announced that Rhino and Bob Ryder will be the 2024 inductees into the TNA Wrestling Hall of Fame. The ceremony happens on the Countdown to Bound for Glory special on October 26, ahead of the PPV itself.

TNA Wrestling Announces Rhino & Bob Ryder As 2024 Inductees Into The TNA Wrestling Hall of Fame

TNA Wrestling confirmed that former multi-time champion Rhino and company co-founder Bob Ryder will be inducted into the TNA Wrestling Hall of Fame, as first announced today by Busted Open on SiriusXM.

The official ceremony for the Class of 2024 will coincide with Bound For Glory weekend in Detroit, Michigan and air live during the BFG Pre-Show.

The showcase event of the year for TNA Wrestling, Bound For Glory, is Saturday, October 26, at the Wayne State University Fieldhouse in Detroit. Then, on Sunday, October 27, the stars of TNA Wrestling will be back in action at the Wayne State University Fieldhouse, with all matches taped for future episodes of the company’s flagship weekly TV show, iMPACT!, which airs every Thursday night on AXS TV.

Former two-time World Champion and four-time World Tag Team Champion Eric Young will induct and accept on behalf of his longtime friend, Bob Ryder. EY also was a TNA World Tag Team Champion with Rhino.

RHINO

Detroit-native Rhino has been wrestling professionally for almost 30 years and been a singles and tag-team champion. Rhino made his TNA debut in 2005 and at that year’s Bound For Glory, Rhino won the NWA World Heavyweight Championship. His GORE-filled career also has included two reigns with the TNA World Tag Team Championship. Rhino’s lengthy career has included stints in ECW and WWE, with multiple singles and tag-team championship reigns.

BOB RYDER

A former pro wrestling journalist, Bob Ryder was a pioneer in the online wrestling community as the head of Prodigy’s pro wrestling area. He founded 1Wrestling.com and was the webmaster for ECW’s website. He worked for WCW during the Monday Night War era and co-hosted the popular WCW Live with Jeremy Borash. He co-founded TNA Wrestling and was its first employee and the longest-tenured employee in history, employed from its launch in 2002 until his death in 2020. Ryder held multiple backstage positions for TNA, including director of travel operations.

All the TNA superstars are scheduled to appear in Detroit, including Nic Nemeth, Jordynne Grace, Jeff & Matt Hardy, Mike Santana, Frankie Kazarian and Ash By Elegance. Also confirmed to appear in Detroit: ABC (Ace Austin & Chris Bey), The Rascalz (Trey Miguel & Zachary Wentz), Moose, Brian Myers, Matt Cardona, Eddie Edwards, Josh Alexander, Eric Young, Alisha Edwards, Masha Slamovich, Jake Something, Xia Brookside, Santino Marella and PCO, among others.

Tommy Dreamer & Rhino To Appear At This Weeks TNA Impact Tapings

Tommy Dreamer & Rhino

 

TNA reports on their website that Tommy Dreamer is headed to New York for this weeks Impact tapings. Last week Dreamer unleashed speach from his heart that was one of the most talked about moments of recent memory even leading to Tommy Dreamer trending worldwide on Twitter. As you recall the speech ended with an embrace between him & Dixie Carter then she kneed him between the legs & EC3 jumping him & tossing him from the ring.

 

Dreamer’s hardcore cohort Rhino will also be appearing at the Impact tapings in NYC this week. What do these 2 ECW legends have in store for Impact?