Back in March, tattoo artist Celeste from the Built 4 Speed Tattoo shop in Orlando, FL posted a photo of the \’wendigo\’ tattoo she was putting on the former NXT Women\’s Champion.
The wendigo is a \”mythological man-eating creature or evil spirit\” from the folklore of the First Nations Algonquian tribes, according to Wikipedia.
Celeste posted an updated look at the new ink, which has come a long way since our first look a few months ago.
You can see Rhea Ripley\’s new wendigo tattoo in the Instagram post embedded below. The post has a ton of positive comments. We agree with those sentiments – this looks absolutely badass.
All Elite Wrestling is back tonight with an all-new edition of AEW Dynamite on TNT.
AEW has a strong card booked as they look to capitalize off last week\’s spike in viewership. The following items are scheduled for tonight\’s edition of AEW Dynamite:
\”The American Nightmare\” Cody will defend the TNT Championship for the first time against Jungle Boy. The Jurassic Express star won a battle royal last week to earn the title shot.
AEW\’s Tag Team Champion are back in action together. Kenny Omega & Adam Page will defend the gold against Jimmy Havoc and Kip Sabian.
Inner Circle leader Chris Jericho will face Colt Cabana.
Brian Cage will be in action. \”The Machine\” will have Taz in his corner as he looks to stack up another win. Cage won the Casino Ladder Match at Double or Nothing and challenges AEW World Champion Jon Moxley at Fyter Fest some time this summer.
Big Swole looks to climb the ranks of the AEW women\’s division against former champion Nyla Rose.
Finally, Cash Wheeler and Dax Harwood will sit down with Tony Schiavone for their first interview since joining All Elite Wrestling. Why has FTR come to AEW? Will they be allies or opponents of the Young Bucks?
Don\’t expect to see Hulk Hogan or his ex-wife Linda at an AEW event any time soon.
Linda Hogan posted tweeted a message Tuesday afternoon that many are calling racist. In response to the ongoing protests about George Floyd\’s death and police brutality towards African Americans, she tweeted:
\”watching the looting , it’s all afro Americans, not sure how robbing and stealing set the record straight but if they want to be heard they need to be civilized.\”
The tweet has since been deleted, but not before it made waves online and trended worldwide. AEW President Tony Khan was among the people who did not take kindly to Linda Hogan\’s viewpoint.
Tony Khan replied to Linda and informed her she is now prohibited from attending AEW shows. In doing so, Khan also revealed that her ex-husband, Hulk, is also on the banned list.
You’ve now joined your husband in being banned from all AEW shows. Congratulations.
Hulk Hogan was persona-non-grata for a few years in WWE as a result of his 2015 racism scandal, but was welcomed back with open arms by the promotion late 2018.
Jaxson Ryker is getting major pushback from his fellow WWE Superstars for a tweet supporting United States President Donald Trump.
There have been mass protests across the United States over the past week following the police killing of George Floyd. On Monday, Washington D.C. police prayed tear gas at protesters who were demonstrating on Lafayette Park near the White House.
In a public address on Monday, President Trump warned the public to expect more decisive force if cities and states do not take \’necessary action\’ themselves.
\”If a city or state refuses to take the actions that are necessary to defend the life and property of their residents, then I will deploy the United States military and quickly solve the problem for them,\” Trump said.
Shortly after the incident at Lafayette Park, Ryker posted a message on Twitter praising President Trump and proclaiming, \”God bless America.\”
Jaxson Ryker, a US Marine Corps veteran, wrestles on SmackDown as part of the Forgotten Sons faction with Wesley Blake and Steve Cutler.
Backlash to Jaxson Ryker\’s Tweet
Jaxson Ryker\’s tweet has been wide repudiation from WWE Superstars, including his Forgotten Sons partner Steve Cutler. Cutler issued the following statement on Twitter:
\”Although I am part of a tag team while I wrestle, I am my own person with my own thoughts and beliefs. It pains me to see what’s going on in the world. I fought for the freedom of our country and ALL of the people who live here. It shouldn’t matter your race or however you identify, we are ALL human beings and ALL deserve to be equal. #JusticeForGeorgeFloyd\”
Kevin Owens, Dave Bautista, Sami Zayn and Ricochet, as well as AEW stars Adam \”Hangman\” Page, Joey Janela and others, have also spoken out against Jaxson Ryker.
The freedom you speak of entitles you to speak your mind all you want. I’m not here to argue that. I just really need to tell you that I think you pushing your shitty wrestling catchphrase as all of this is happening is absolutely fucking pathetic.
I’m thankful you posted this because I’m now aware of what you stand for. When black brothers and sisters are crying, you praise someone that refuses to acknowledge their hurt. https://t.co/O4xm5L3Rpl
I get you’re a “bad guy” on tv. And I’m HOPING that’s all this is. Even then, that ain’t it. But if this is actually your true thoughts – I’ll be really sad, man. ? https://t.co/9unml5rsiY
Kairi Sane has released photos of the head injury she sustained at the hands of Nia Jax.
Monday\’s WWE Raw was taped last week from the Performance Center in Orlando, FL. Word got out last week that Sane suffered a nasty head injury during the tapings.
As seen last night on Raw, Nia Jax threw Kairi Sane head first into the metal steps at ringside. The match was stopped and Sane received medical attention. Sane was deemed capable of continuing, despite a gash on her forehead. You can see the spot in question in the tweet embedded below:
The match was edited for television to omit the medical stoppage. Nia Jax got the victory.
Kairi Sane posted photos of the head wound on Twitter. She included a caption addressing Nia Jax that reads:
\”You are strong. I have lost to you many times. I am small and you think I\’m weak. However, you can never beat my heart. I will get back up again.\”
You are strong. I have lost to you many times. I am small and you may think I’m weak. However, you can never beat my heart. I will get back up again. #WWERawpic.twitter.com/leXMwuiifO
Tully Blanchard is not satisfied with protégé Shawn Spears\’ lack of ambition. A video was released on Monday featuring the Four Horsemen legend mercilessly berating him.
Blanchard took Spears under his wing last summer. Spears has had mixed success. His AEW record is 5-8 this year. In recent months, Spears has been conducting a search to find the perfect tag team partner. The search was fruitless.
Blanchard says the search is over and they are moving on. \”What I\’ve seen in the last couple of months, Shawn, has changed my thought process,\” said Blanchard. He thought they had synergy and thought the same way.
Things took a weird turn for this duo last weekend at AEW Double or Nothing. Spears wrestled to Dustin Rhodes. He lost the match, but that wasn\’t the worst part. During the bout, Spears\’ pants were ripped off to reveal a photo of Tully Blanchard\’s face on the crotch. Blanchard was watching the PPV at home with friends. Awkward!
Blanchard screamed, \”In what freakin\’ world did you think that was funny? That\’s not what my legacy is going to be Shawn, I promise you that!\” He challenged Spears to reach deep inside himself, dig something out of his heart and think about the legacy he wants to leave.
Watch Tully Blanchard prove he is still one of the best talkers in all of professional wrestling in the video below:
FTR Takes Notice
AEW newcomers FTR liked what they saw. Cash Wheeler and Dax Harwood tweeted a response. Wheeler said Spears is \’so good\’ but \”just needs a little help.\” Harwood wants to see more of this on AEW Dynamite.
Chris DeJoseph was released by WWE this week, as first reported by Dave Meltzer at f4wonline. He served as one of the lead writers of Friday Night SmackDown.
Some outlets have speculated the departure was a cost-cutting measure related to COVID-19, but that is not the case. DeJoseph was let go Thursday due to inappropriate conduct and remarks during a backstage meeting.
DeJoseph worked closely with Executive Director Bruce Prichard, but it was WWE boss Vince McMahon who made the call to fire him. McMahon was said to be irate over DeJoseph\’s \”highly unprofessional\” behavior.
In addition to this incident, we\’re told that people who worked closely with Chris DeJoseph felt he was struggling to keep up with WWE\’s grueling schedule.
Major League Wrestling has announced the launch of a new weekly digital series, MLW Pulp Fusion.
Pulp Fusion is billed as a spinoff to Fusion. The show will act as a \”creative bridge\” while live events are on hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
MLW CEO Court Bauer commented on the new project in a statement sent in to SEScoops.com.
\”Pulp Fusion serves as the creative tissue that connects what happened to the league and its athletes in the wake of the shocking conclusion of the May 9th episode of MLW FUSION,\” said MLW CEO Court Bauer. \”Along the way fans will learn what\’s ahead as they take a wildly unique dive into the world of MLW each and every week.\”
Wrestling fans get a candid look world of MLW with a spotlight on the athletes and rivalries of the fight league. The first episode is now live on MLW\’s YouTube channel.
MLW Pulp Fusion (Episode 1)
Check out the premiere episode below. This week, we check in with The Dynasty, Mance Warner, \”Filthy\” Tom Lawlor, Konnan, LA Park, Injustice and many more.
WWE legend The Undertaker was Peter Rosenberg\’s guest on this week\’s edition of the Cheap Heat Podcast on ESPN Radio.
They discussed a wide variety of topics during the conversation, including the Last Ride docu-series, working with Hulk Hogan, the Montreal Screwjob and much more.
They started off by talking about the creation of The Undertaker character and his first meetings with Vince McMahon in 1990.
The Undertaker says he was impressed by Vince McMahon\’s early vision for the gimmick. He also recalls envisioning the Undertaker character being similar to horror movie icons like Freddie Kruger and Jason Voorhees.
The Undertaker\’s Early Character Development
\”[Vince] brings me up to Connecticut, we meet and he\’s got storyboards of what he thinks this character is, and it\’s just like, wow, this is really cool. It\’s really different. Immediately, my mind is just spinning. I\’m thinking, Freddie Kruger, Michael Myers and Jason Voorhees – all these super villains that are in these slasher movies. But then I\’m also trying to figure out how it applies to professional wrestling. Originally, he gave me the likeness and then a lot of it was put in my hands to develop.\”
The Undertaker says it took him some time to flesh out the character. At the time, he was known as a big guy who was athletic and could move around the quickly. It took him some time to settle in to the slow, plodding menace he\’d eventually develop into.
\”It took me a couple times out to realize, well, this isn\’t going to work for what I envisioned for this character. I had to slow down some of my pace and some of my athleticism. Then i figured out, \’I\’m going to go really slow and then I\’m gonna bang and blow it out of the water and catch people off guard with it, just like they do in the movies.\’ So i\’m trying to figure out all those elements of how to make it work in a wrestling ring.\”
Proving WCW Wrong
Before he joined the WWF in 1990, The Undertaker was working in WCW as \”Mean\” Mark Callus. At the time, The Undertaker felt like WCW was a better fit for him than the cartoonish WWF. When his WCW contract expired in the summer of 1990, he became very discouraged. WCW refused to offer him a pay increase. The reality of the situation got worse when WCW officials told him nobody would pay to see him wrestle.
The Undertaker used that negative experience as motivation. As The Undertaker character was taking shape, he thought about how he could differentiate himself from the rest of the WWF\’s main event stars.
\”There were so many over-the-top characters already [in the WWF],\” he began. \”Everything was over the top. So I was trying to figure out how am I going to separate myself from what everybody else is doing? How do you stand out with all these already established performers?\”
\”Vince had had that [Undertaker] character for a while,\” he said. \”He just didn\’t have the right guy that he felt could do it. I guess he needed somebody big that didn\’t have much personality (laughs). Here I come stumbling in on that. So I got lucky there.\”
\”When [WCW] told me that nobody would ever pay to see me, you can imagine the size chip that went on my shoulder. It was like, \”Ok, screw you guys, you will regret the day that you didn\’t sign me.\” It\’s so crazy how things work out. If they [WCW] would have given me a little extra cheese, that\’s where I wanted to be. I didn\’t know any better, but I figured I was a more mainstream wrestler, that\’s where WCW was at the time. Vince had all these different characters, and that didn\’t really seem to suit where I wanted to be. I wanted to be there with Flair and Arn and all those guys. That just seemed to fit my outlook on wrestling.\”
Undertaker says he wasn\’t asking WCW for a big raise and would have stayed for a small pay bump.
\” Beleive me, I wasn\’t asking for the Lex Luger deal or the Road Warrior deal. It was a little extra cheese. \’Nobody\’s gonna pay money to see you. We\’re gonna give you the same deal.\’ I\’m like, \’OK, writing is on the wall. They didn\’t even put me up a little.\’\”
Getting in to the WWF
The Undertaker says Paul Heyman and Bruce Prichard are the two men responsible for getting his foot in the door with Vince McMahon.
\”So, Paul [Heyman] is managing me at the time that this all came about. Paul Heyman and Bruce Prichard are close. So Paul and Bruce were talking and Bruce was working on Vince. I guess Bruce had finally gotten Vince to agree to watch the Great American Bash [match] that I had with Lex Luger. Maybe a week before that, I really screwed up my hip in match. So I can barely move. But i know i\’ve gotta go out and do something. So Vince watches the pay-per-view and says, \’Yeah he\’s ok, nothing special.\’ But Bruce said, \’Does it matter that he can barely walk going into that?\’ That grabbed Vince\’s attention a little bit. Bruce kept working on Vince until finally I got a meeting.\”
\”We Don\’t Have Anything For You\”
Vince McMahon wound up canceling the first meeting he had scheduled with The Undertaker. This was right around the time Brutus Beefcake was badly injured during a parasailing accident. Expecting that his meeting with Vince McMahon would go well, he already gave notice to WCW that he was leaving.
\”So now I\’m basically working down there, they think I have a contract, I\’m working in WCW without a contract. We finally went to the Meadowlands [Arena] I think, the next morning i had a meeting at [Vince\’s] house. Even then, I went in thinking, I got this. I had the meeting, maybe two hours i spent with Bruce and Vince and JJ Dillon and Pat Patterson. I have this meeting and think i\’m being impressive and charming. At the end of the meeting Vince looks at me and goes, \’We don\’t really have anything right now.\’ (laughs). I already gave my notice thinking, I\’ve got the meeting, the job\’s in the bag, Ive already given my notice down at WCW.\”
When asked if Vince McMahon was ribbing him, The Undertaker doesn\’t think so. He legitimately thinks Vince just wasn\’t ready to integrate him into WWE storylines yet.
\”[Vince] didn\’t have anything. He\’s like, \’Well, maybe after Mania we\’ll have some slots opening up. I was like \’Ok, well, thank you, I appreciate your time\’ and out the door I went. They did within a few weeks call me and said \’Hey, Hogan\’s doing this movie out in LA.\’ They wanted me to go read for it [Suburban Commando]. I read for the movie and got the part, the worst movie ever. It was awful, it was truly awful. But you know, that kept me busy for a little while. Then finally, I got a call [to debut at Survivor Series 1990.]
Chris Jericho says the stage is set for boxing legend Mike Tyson to compete inside an AEW ring. \”Iron\” Mike and his entourage of UFC legends have garnered mainstream attention for their brawl with the Inner Circle on this week\’s AEW Dynamite.
During the discussion, Jericho said it was amazing to have Mike Tyson in AEW. He called the chaotic brawl was the perfect chance to re-introduce Tyson to wrestling fans and pave the way for additional appearances.
\”It was totally wild and woolly,\” Jericho said. \”It just shows that now more than ever Iron Mike Tyson is someone who\’s very buzz-worthy.\”
Mike Tyson has been hinting at a return to the boxing ring. The 53-year-old has released several training videos to the amazement of fight fans across the world. Jericho says Tyson is in great mental and physical shape. He wants to be in the spotlight gain and AEW has the buzz Tyson is looking to latch on to.
Mike Tyson in AEW
Chris Jericho was asked directly if we will see Mike Tyson is able and to compete inside an AEW ring. Le Champion responded in typical Jericho fashion.
\”It\’s not up to him, that\’s up to me,\” he said. \”Of course, he\’s capable. Wrestling is all shapes and sizes and there\’s a lot of different ways to do it. If he\’s agreeable to doing something with us, then we work to his strengths and eliminate his weaknesses that\’s what wrestling\’s all about.\”
A wrestling match involving Mike Tyson would require a lot of smoke and mirrors. Even if Tyson is heavily protected and simply throws a few of his signature knockout punches, a special attraction bout of this magnitude could be major business for AEW.
Visit DigitalSpy to read their full interview with Chris Jericho.
AEW and NXT are both advertising strong lineups for this week\’s programming. AEW is coming off Saturday\’s Double or Nothing pay-per-view. Dynamite will feature PPV fallout and a special appearance from \”Iron\” Mike Tyson. NXT has a steel cage main event with Kurt Angle as guest referee.
AEW Dynamite is live from Daily\’s Place Amphitheater in Jacksonville, Florida. In addition to Double or Nothing fallout, we\’ve got:
\”Iron\” Mike Tyson appears live. AEW has yet to confirm Tyson\’s role.
A Battle Royal will be held to determine the #1 contender to Cody\’s new AEW TNT Championship. The title match takes place next week, June 3rd.
The Young Bucks & \”Broken\” Matt Hardy team up against Joey Janela & Private Party.
The Inner Circle will host a Pep Rally. The faction is never short on pep, but they need a morale boost after losing the Stadium Stampede match to The Elite at Double or Nothing.
AEW World Champion Jon Moxley will appear.
New AEW Women\’s Champion Hikaru Shida will be in action.
Dr. Britt Baker will address her injury status. According to AEW\’s Dr. Sampson, Baker fractured her tibia and tore her LCL in her right knee last week on Dynamite.
NXT takes place from the WWE Performance Center in Orlando, FL.
The main event will see a Steel Cage match between Matt Riddle and Timothy Thatcher. WWE Hall of Famer Kurt Angle will be on hand to serve as the special guest referee for this encounter. Riddle is leaving NXT soon and joining SmackDown.
NXT Women\’s Champion Charlotte and an unnamed partner of her choosing will face Rhea Ripley and Io Shirai in tag team action.
Drake Maverick vs. Jake Atlas vs KUSHIDA will determine the winer of the Group A block in the ongoing Cruiserweight round robin tournament. The winner faces El Hijo del Fanasma in the finals. to crown a new NXT Cruiserweight Champion.
NXT Champion Adam Cole will have a \”live negotiation\” with NXT General Manager William Regal regarding Velveteen Dream.
Cody Rhodes became the first man to hold the AEW TNT Championship by defeating Lance Archer at Double or Nothing this past weekend.
Boxing legend Mike Tyson was on hand to present the championship belt to Cody. It was a historic moment that is etched in the history books. Iron Mike will appear live on Wednesday\’s AEW Dynamite on TNT.
Fresh off his appearance at AEW’s Double or Nothing Pay Per View, Iron @MikeTyson will make his #AEWDynamite debut LIVE THIS WED, May 27th at 8/7c on TNT!
AEW released a \’first look\’ at the TNT Championship prior to Double or Nothing. Early impressions from opinionated wrestling fans were mixed. During the pay-per-view, AEW commentators revealed that the belt was \”incomplete,\” with production slowed down as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.
AEW\’s TNT Championship (v1)
The AEW TNT Championship belt was created by belt maker RED Leather. The company put out the following statement addressing the belt\’s \’in progress\’ design:
\”Unfortunately due to Covid-19 the platers I used are working on skeleton crews and can only work on respirators / emergency equipment. Once regular business resumes this belt will get some much needed highlights in nickel and gold as well as a relief TNT logo.\”
During the AEW Double or Nothing post-show media scrum, Cody reiterated that the belt is still in progress and a final version will be unveiled as early as this coming week.
According to RED Leather, the following is \”nearly exact to what the final belt will be.\”
AEW TNT Championship render: \”Nearly exact\” to the final design, according to RED Leather
A Battle Royal will be held this week on AEW Dynamite to determine the #1 contender to Cody\’s AEW World Championship.
Discussion: What do you think of the updated version of the AEW TNT Championship belt?
A retirement ceremony for Rey Mysterio will be held next week on WWE RAW.
The 45-year-old veteran has been an active pro wrestler since debuting in 1989. He joined WWE in 2002 and is considered by many to be one of the greatest luchadores of all time.
Ric Flair remains part of the WWE Universe. The Nature Boy revealed on Thursday that he has signed a new contract with WWE.
He declared on Twitter, \”Limousine Riding, Jet Flying, Styling and Profiling … Then, Now, Forever With WWE! WOOOOO!\”
Flair tweeted a photo of his signature on the contract, along with the bronze statue he was honored with during WrestleMania weekend back in 2017.
Recently, there were reports that Flair and Sting had become free agents. Despite WWE letting go over two dozen people last month as part of drastic cost cutting measures, it\’s clear the company did not want Flair appearing elsewhere.
AEW Executive Vice President Cody took part in a media briefing Thursday afternoon to promote Saturday\’s Double or Nothing pay-per-view.
Cody faces Lance Archer at the show to crown the first-ever AEW TNT Champion.
Here are some highlights and full audio from the ~45-minute call:
It has been an honor to continue working during the COVID-19 pandemic. He takes a lot of pride in providing a \’bright spot\’ for fans during this difficult time.
The final card for AEW Double or Nothing is approximately 90% of what they had planned back in March before the world changed. Not a lot changed on the creative side as a result of COVID-19.
What is Cody\’s mindset, as a performer and an EVP, going into the second annual Double or Nothing? Cody said his mindset heading into the second year of AEW is self awareness. They are all evolving. The mindset is to continue making Double or Nothing destination programming. Without live crowds, there is less instant feedback.
Cody said it\’s an honor to be in the finals of the TNT Championship tournament. Cody said Warner/Turner requested the creation of the belt, which he thinks might be a first.
He ran down the card again, touting the selling points for each match. Cody said he\’s particularly looking forward to MJF vs. Jungle Boy. Said they remind him of a young Steve Austin and Dustin Rhodes, in that they are young guys vying to be the next big thing.
He loves the challenge of their current working environment. It can be a nightmare for the athletes, but they\’re \”sharpened their swords\” and are becoming even more well-rounded performers.
They don\’t yet know what rules will govern the TNT Championship. It might be a workhorse title, it might have certain stipulations about how often it will be defended. \”We\’ll see how it goes.\” Cody has not even seen the belt.
When asked about what it\’s been like working at Daily\’s Place the past few weeks, Cody loves the venue. \”There are a lot of tools in the sandbox.\” He\’s enjoyed the sunsets and the wind that are present in the open-air amphitheater. They have a lot of contingencies in place when the rest of the country opens up. If they wrestled at Daily\’s Place for the foreseeable future, he\’d have no problem with that.
The current plan is to stay in one spot, Jacksonville, for their tapings, even if other states allow sports events without crowds. This minimizes health risks and is easier all-around. Cody said there are other decision makers who have input over this, but that\’s his preference.
Has AEW had to make any adjustments during the COVID-19 pandemic that he can see carrying over once things get back to normal? Cody says he can see handshakes behind the scenes going away. The locker room is like a brotherhood and they take each others lives into their hands. It\’s customary to shake hands and thank your opponent for your match and keeping you safe. That might be a thing of the past.
They have been very fortunate to have nobody test positive COVID-19.
Are there any advantages/positives to having shows without fans in attendance? The overlying advantage is that you\’re really tested as a performer and a competitor. Aside from that, they miss the fans dearly. Every aspect of a really good wrestling match plays off the crowd.
Regarding Mike Tyson\’s involvement, Cody said he was at last year\’s Double or Nothing. Over the course of the last year, Tyson has become a \’hardcore\’ AEW fan. Mike Tyson presenting the TNT Championship this Saturday night was one of the last creative elements they finalized for the show.
Will we see the TNT Championship belt before Saturday night? There has been talk of the belt being seen before the pay-per-view, but his personal preference is for us to see it live for the first time at the show.
When asked about who he sees as the next breakout star in AEW, Cody named MJF, as much as he doesn\’t like Max as a person. He also named Sammy Guevara as an incredibly special talent, as well as Hikaru Shida and Wardlow.
Cody said that having wrestlers and staff sitting at ringside has helped a great deal with the overall ambiance of the show. The last thing you ever want is silence.
Cody reiterated that all of the scheduled shows from the past couple months have been postponed, not canceled. Their plans to tour internationally might be delayed, but they will get there.
Is \”Broken\” Matt Hardy an official member of The Elite? \”Matt Hardy is wonderful,\” he began. Last night at Dynamite, Matt was talking to the younger talent and he loved to see the veteran taking the young guys under his wing. As for The Elite, Cody said The Elite is the original. The OG\’s. The Elite is Kenny Omega, Matt & Nick Jackson. Then there\’s the \’expanded universe\’ of the Elite, which includes himself Hangman Page, Marty Scurll and Matt Hardy, to his estimation. At the end of the day, Kenny and the Bucks decide who is considered Elite.
Order AEW Double or Nothing now at BR Live (US) and FITE.TV (International).
The Casino Ladder Match is sure to be one of the standout matches of Saturday\’s AEW Double or Nothing pay-per-view.
Multi-man ladder matches are always exciting affairs. Money in the Bank is one of WWE\’s most popular events for good reason. The stakes will be high this weekend. Similar to Money in the Bank, the winner of AEW\’s first Casino Ladder Match will earn the right to challenge the AEW World Champion at a future date.
Below, you\’ll find a full breakdown of the rules and confirmed participants.
Casino Ladder Match Rules
AEW commentator Excalibur ran down the rules of the match on this week\’s edition of AEW Dark. The rules are as follows:
There will be a poker chip hanging above the ring.
Two competitors will begin the match.
Every 90 seconds, a new competitor will join.
The winner is the first man to retrieve the poker chip.
Excalibur teased that the match could end before all 9 participants have entered, but this rule has not been explicitly stated.
Participants
The Casino Ladder Match will feature nine participants, one of whose identity will remain a mystery until he joins the match.
Darby Allin
Orange Cassidy
Colt Cabana
Rey Fenix
Scorpio Sky
Frankie Kazarian
Kip Sabian
Luchasaurus
Mystery Participant
Discussion: Who do you think will be the Mystery Participant? Let us know in the comments section.
All Elite Wrestling returns tonight with an all-new episode of AEW Dynamite on TNT.
Top matches signed for the card include \”Broken\” Matt Hardy vs. Sammy Guevara and Rey Fenix vs. Orange Cassidy. Also in action will be AEW World Champion Jon Moxley, Maxwell J. Friedman and Women\’s Champion Nyla Rose.
AEW Dynamite Preview (5/20)
The following items are advertised for tonight\’s show from Daily\’s Place Amphitheater in Jacksonville, FL:
AEW World Champion Jon Moxley vs. 10 of the Dark Order
Orange Cassidy vs. Rey Fenix
\”Broken\” Matt Hardy vs. Sammy Guevara
MJF (with Wardlow) vs. Marko Stunt (with Luchasaurus & Jungle Boy)
Women\’s Champion Nyla Rose & Britt Baker vs. Hikaru Shida & Kris Statlander
Plus, there will be a face-to-face meeting with Jake Roberts and Arn Anderson. The legends will discuss their clients, Lance Archer and Cody, vying for the TNT Championship at Double or Nothing.
Join us here after the show for our weekly Results & Takeaways feature.
AEW will crown the first TNT Champion this Saturday night at Double or Nothing.
Cody will battle Lance Archer in the finals of the championship tournament to determine which man\’s name will be etched in the history books as the inaugural champion. Boxing legend \”Iron\” Mike Tyson will be on hand to present the new title belt to the winner.
Cody is currently ranked #1 in AEW\’s Men\’s Singles division. Lance Archer is ranked #2.
Until this week, AEW had yet to address how the new TNT Championship will affect the weekly rankings. Will there be separate rankings for the World Championship and the TNT Championship, or will the top 5 rankings cover both prizes?
TNT Championship\’s Impact on AEW Rankings
AEW fan @LoneJobber posed this question to AEW President Tony Khan on Monday. Khan acknowledged this was a good question and shed some light on the situation. According to Tony Khan, AEW will maintain the same singular Top 5 rankings format once the TNT Championship is introduced. The two champions will be ranked atop the Top 5.
Good question. It’ll be a similar format, but going forward we’ll have the 2 male singles champions ranked at the top above the Top 5.
Expect to hear more about the rules governing the AEW TNT Championship in the weeks ahead. We will soon find out if the TNT title has different stipulations than the AEW World Championship, such as the champion being required to defend the gold on television under certain time restraints (ie. every week, every month, etc.).
Roman Reigns recently got some new tattoo work done on his back.
The former WWE Champion been out of action since April, when he decided to pull out of the main event of WrestleMania just days before the event. He is taking time off due to concerns related to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Reigns has talked about wanting to look after his family, including his young children and pregnant wife, as a primary reason for taking time off from WWE.
On Tuesday, tattoo artist Michael Fatutoa posted a video on TikTok showing off Roman Reigns\’ new ink. As seen below, the back tattoo is an extension of his tribal tattoo that covers his chest, left arm and shoulder.
Richard Holliday has signed a new multi-year contract extension with Major League Wrestling (MLW).
The news comes on the heels of MLW CEO Court Bauer revealing on social media that an \”aggressive competitor\” tried signing away two top MLW performers.
Bauer commented on Holliday re-signing in a press release sent in to SEScoops.
“Richard has become a staple of MLW and its telecasts, helping to lead the charge in representing the league as a world class homegrown athlete.\” said Bauer. \”He is a dynastic competitor with qualities you seldom find. MLW is ecstatic to continue to feature Richard Holliday for years to come.\”
Holliday was nearing free agency and admits he gave some consideration to testing the waters on the open market. \”MLW checked all of the boxes in terms of opportunity, presentation, creative process, and upwards mobility. Other offers were presented, and of course taken into consideration, but remaining with MLW felt like the best decision for me.\”
Richard Holliday made his debut for MLW in 2018. He is a founding member of the Dynasty faction and a former MLW tag team champion with former MLW star Maxwell Jacob Friedman. He\’s the reigning Caribbean Heavyweight Champion.
We\’ll provide an update when MLW goes public with the other wrestler they re-signed despite a big money offer from that \’aggressive competitor.\’
Mikey Rukus, music producer for All Elite Wrestling, took part in a Reddit AMA (\’Ask Me Anything\’ over the weekend). Rukus is responsible for some of the most recognizable themes in AEW.
His credits include the opening themes for AEW Dynamite, Double or Nothing and Revolution, as well as talent such as the Inner Circle, Best Friends, Broken Matt Hardy, the Dark Order, Lucha Bros, PAC, Jake Hager, Bret Hart, Jake Roberts and many more.
Theme music is a vital component of the presentation of talent and events. Hearing the first few seconds of the music for Dynamite or Best Friends sets the mood and connects you to emotions the company and performers are looking to impart.
Here are some highlights of what Rukus said about:
Creating the theme for AEW Dynamite
Rukus explained that he was given the guideline that the Dynamite theme had to grab viewers in the first 20 seconds, then segue to \’background\’ music once the frame cuts to the live arena and pans the crowd.
\”I was told that we had 20 seconds to get our point across for an opening graphic, then the shot would go to the live arena, So there needed to be the right type of tempo to say the right thing and then repeat it to drive it home within that 20 second window. The rest of the song was built around that.\”
He continued, \”[His band] No One Hero went into the studio and recorded it quickly, and it was mixed/produced by Bill Leverty, guitarist of the legendary rock band Firehouse.\”
You can listen to the finished product here:
Creating the Inner Circle\’s theme on short notice
Mikey Rukus has had a few occasions where he had to produce a piece of music on short notice. The song currently used by the Inner Circle faction is an example of this. Rukus says he received a text message from QT Marshall late one afternoon saying he needed to whip something up immediately.
\”QT texts \’Did you ever make a song for the Inner Circle\’…I replied \’You guys told me to wait lol, when do you need it by\’ he said \’Tonight haha\’, mind you it was 430PM. I said holy shit.
Then I get a text that said \’Chris wants you to tell HIM what you think the Inner Circle Theme should sound like\’ so I said \’Well the leader is a rocker, so its rock music, but with all of them coming out, the music needs to be a slower tempo, as they all walk out slowly selling their arrogance\’ QT texts back and said \’OK Chris said make it happen\’ SO I sped my ass home and by 630pm I sent it over. Then QT calls and says \”Chris says he wants something at the top like \’Innnnner Cirrrrcle\’ and we are good, he said its strong, its edgy, its obnoxious, its perfect\’….then I fainted :D\”
Wrestlers Having Input on Their Themes
Chris Jericho had input on the Inner Circle\’s theme, but is that the case for everybody? Mikey Rukus said \”any and all\” wrestlers get the opportunity to provide input.
\”Any ideas they have even after the theme is considered done, we can go back and touch up,\” he said.
Rukus emphasized that many of the themes just need time to click. He compared this to buying a new pair of shoes. \”It takes time for the talent to get used to it, learning their own spots on how they want to utilize it, and it takes time for the fans to get used to them.\”
Jim Johnston
Longtime wrestling fans know that Jim Johnston is considered the godfather of wrestling theme music. Rukus has great admiration for him and hopes to leave a legacy that stands the test of time like Johnston\’s.
\”I love his work. Always have. The fans go out of their way to tell me that I will never be as good as him, and they try to force me into his shadow. I just keep doing me. Hopefully 20 years from now I hope to have left at least a fraction of the footprint that he left.
Visit Reddit.com to read more from this Q&A session with Mikey Rukus.
Professional basketball star Enes Kanter says he plans to accept an offer to wrestle for WWE when he retires from the NBA.
Kanter spoke with Shams Charania of Stadium on Wednesday and revealed he plans to become a WWE Superstar one day. The 6\’11\” is a huge pro wrestling fan, a certified Paul Heyman Guy and is a former WWE 24/7 Champion.
At 27 years old, Kanter is planning to play in the NBA for 6 or 7 more years before transitioning to the squared circle.
You can see Enes Kanter talking about his plans to join WWE in the video embedded below, courtesy of Stadium:
Celtics center @EnesKanter told our NBA Insider @ShamsCharania he has been offered WWE deal and plans to accept after career.
Kanter also discussed his public approach with his native Turkey, Russell Westbrook's policy for opponents and more. pic.twitter.com/gOvZhfYGae
Kanter has already taken steps to achieve his dream of becoming a pro wrestler. He has trained in the ring on several occasions. Last summer, The Score released footage of Kanter training in the ring with Diamond Dallas Page.
In December, TMZ cameras caught up with the Boston Celtics center. At that time, he said he\’s spoken with WWE CEO Vince McMahon and Triple H about joining WWE one day.
All Elite Wrestling is back tonight with an all-new episode of AEW Dynamite on TNT.
AEW\’s next pay-per-view, Double or Nothing, takes place in less than two weeks on Saturday, May 23rd. This week\’s Dynamite is set to advance company storylines leading in to the event.
You can order Double or Nothing now at B/R Live & FITE.TV (Outside the US)
The following items are advertised for AEW Dynamite:
Kenny Omega & \”Broken Matt Hardy\” vs. Santana and Ortiz
Chris Jericho vs. \”Pineapple Pete\” Suge D
The Exalted One Brodie Lee vs. Christopher Daniels
Hikaru Shida vs. Penelope Ford vs. Britt Baker vs. Kris Statlander. AEW has teased this match has \’Championship Implications,\’ so the winner will probably face Nyla Rose for the AEW Women\’s title at Double or Nothing.
Jurassic Express (Jungle Boy & Luchasaurus) w/Marko Stunt vs. Best Friends (Chuck Taylor & Trent) w/Orange Cassidy.
MJF returns to action after recovering from multiple serious injuries.
Jon Moxley looks to reclaim possession of the AEW World Championship from Brodie Lee, who stole it last week.
Lance Archer and Jake Roberts will speak. Archer faces Cody at Double or Nothing in the tournament finals to crown the first AEW TNT Champion.
AEW will also unveil the rules of the Casino Ladder Match at Double or Nothing. The winner of this match earns a shot at the AEW World Championship.
Sting could be the next wrestling legend to appear for All Elite Wrestling (AEW). Or not.
As of this writing, the topic of Sting in an AEW ring should be considered speculation. That said, let\’s take a look at some of the clues that have some people thinking this is more than just rumor and innuendo.
The prevailing rumor is that Sting will appear at AEW Double or Nothing later this month for presentation of AEW\’s new TNT Championship title. Cody and Lance Archer square off at the pay-per-view to crown the first champion. Sting\’s role would be similar to that of Bret Hart at last year\’s Double or Nothing. The Hitman was on hand last May to present the AEW World Championship at the company\’s inaugural pay-per-view. The title was won by Chris Jericho that night and is currently held by Jon Moxley.
During a recent episode of AEW\’s Road to Double Or Nothing YouTube series, we got a look inside the boardroom of AEW offices. As we\’ve seen in previous Road To episodes, a series of pending tasks were displayed on a conference room whiteboard. Some of the items are innocuous inside jokes, but you can clearly see below that AEW is teasing that somebody notable will be on hand to present the new championship title.
Who presents the TNT title?
Sting has been active on social media lately. He still follows pro wrestling and often tweets about WWE shows. Last week, he commented that it\’s good to see Jake Roberts looking healthy and back on national television in a prominent role. The two worked together in WCW during the early 1990\’s.
Over the weekend, a fan on Twitter asked Lance Archer which wrestler, past or present, he\’d want to step in the ring with. Archer named (and tagged) Sting. Coincidentally, Archer is in that TNT tournament final match against Cody at Double or Nothing.
Sting responded that he\’s glad to see Archer getting a \’much deserved shot\’ in All Elite Wrestling. Cody took notice.
WWE and Mattel are set to release a new line of action figures, Legends Series 7. The latest line of figures was set to include Sting, Bobby \”The Brain\” Heenan, Greg Valentine and Razor Ramon. They will be available at Target stores and are scheduled to ship July 26th.
Sting\’s figure has been pulled from Legends Series 7. According to the Major Wrestling Figure Podcast (hosted by Matt Cardona and Brian Myers), Mattel put out the following statement about Sting\’s figure being pulled:
\”Due to circumstances beyond our control Sting needed to be removed from Legends Series 7. We\’ll look to include this figure in a future wave if he becomes available to us again.\”
Target was taking pre-orders on the Sting figure over the weekend, so the timing is certainly last-minute. Check out Cody\’s reply to the news.
Join us here later tonight for our WWE RAW Results & Takeaways immediately after the show.
WWE is advertising the following items for tonight\’s broadcast:
WWE RAW Preview (5/11)
The Man to confront The Empress
Asuka climbed the corporate ladder atop WWE Headquarters and won the Women\’s Money in the Bank contract. RAW Women\’s Champion Becky Lynch, of course, took notice. WWE says Becky Lynch will confront Asuka to address her MITB victory.
The WrestleMania feud between Edge and Randy Orton continues. Both Superstars will be at Raw tonight. WWE is teasing, \’the hunter is being the hunted\’ as the Viper looks to slither away from the Rated R Superstar.
The rivalry between Raw Tag Team Champions The Street Profits and The Viking Raiders is heating up after the Raiders scored a non-title win over the champs last week.
The teams have been jousting on social media over the past few days.
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