AEW Dynamite featured a legendary surprise tonight, May 7, 2025, as ECW original Rhino made his debut for the promotion. The \”Man Beast\” arrived to challenge Nick Wayne for the ROH World Television Championship.
Unfortunately for the veteran powerhouse, his first outing in an AEW ring ended swiftly. Wayne secured a quick pinfall victory over Rhino using the Killswitch finisher made famous by his mentor Christian Cage.
This marked Wayne\’s second successful defense of the ROH World Television Championship. While Rhino came up short in his AEW debut, his appearance adds him to a notable list of former ECW standouts who have graced an AEW ring, following names like Rob Van Dam, Sabu, and Raven.
Furthermore, fellow ECW alumni Jerry Lynn and Taz remain integral parts of AEW, serving in prominent backstage and commentary roles, respectively. Despite the loss, Rhino looks ahead to another championship opportunity; he is scheduled to challenge NWA World Heavyweight Champion Thomas Latimer at the NWA Crockett Cup event on May 17th. Rhino\’s Dynamite appearance provided a nostalgic moment for long-time fans and added another layer of veteran presence to the AEW landscape.
Rhino is a true legend of the wrestling business, and it appears his future could be with All Elite Wrestling. Recently, the Man Beast from Detroit, Michigan has been making media appearances for Tony Khan\’s promotion, generating excitement among fans about a potential \”All-Elite\” future.
The veteran has spoken to several news outlets, including CBS Detroit, FOX2 News, 101 WRIF, and WXYZ Detroit, sharing his insights on AEW and the professional wrestling landscape. With decades of experience across WWE, ECW, and TNA Wrestling, Rhino brings valuable perspective to discussions about the industry.
These media appearances come ahead of Rhino\’s upcoming AEW debut. The wrestling legend will appear on the May 7 edition of AEW Dynamite as well as the May 10 edition of AEW Collision. These appearances follow Rhino\’s departure from TNA Wrestling in late 2024.
With Rhino sharing his thoughts ahead of his AEW arrival, fans should expect that his appearances this week might signal not just a one-off visit, but the beginning of something significant.
TNA Hall of Famer Rhino has announced that his 5-year run with the company will be coming to an end this week.
The wrestling veteran made the announcement on Facebook, revealing that his match with Ryan Nemeth during the December 14 Impact TV tapings from Atlanta, GA will be his last match for the promotion:
“Tomorrow is my last day with TNA Wrestling. I am wrestling Ryan Nemeth. It will most likely be the last time EVER I will wrestle in a TNA ring. If you can make it to Center Stage in Atlanta, come and be part of this 5-year chapter of my life and our journey. Thank you to all of the amazing wrestling fans for your support. I’m not done wrestling but TNA and I have parted ways. ?”
Rhino\’s second run with TNA started with a surprise appearance at Slammiversary XVII in 2019, while he was still under WWE contract. He would go on to sign a contract with the company after getting his release from the Endeavor-owned promotion.
During his second run, the hardcore veteran has not won any singles titles in the company. Though he has held the tag titles multiple times, having reigns with Heath Slater and Joe Doering.
The former ECW star was inducted into the 2024 TNA Hall of Fame at Bound For Glory alongside TNA co-founder Bob Ryder in October this year.
Since 2012, TNA Wrestling has welcomed some of its premier stars into its Hall of Fame with Sting, Kurt Angle, Jeff Jarrett, and Abyss all receiving the honor. This year, the \’Man-Beast\’ Rhino will receive his spot in the TNA Hall of Fame alongside Bob Ryder.
BREAKING: Rhino and Bob Ryder will be inducted into the TNA Hall of Fame at Countdown to Bound For Glory on October 26 from the Wayne State University Fieldhouse in Detroit, MI!
Rhino joined TNA Wrestling in July 2005, just over a month after exiting WWE following that year\’s One Night Stand pay-per-view. At that year\’s Bound for Glory, Rhino would reach the top of the mountain, dethroning Jeff Jarrett as NWA World Heavyweight Champion. Rhino is also a two-time TNA World Tag Team Champion and won the 2008 Turkey Bowl contest.
Outside TNA, Rhino is known for being the final ECW Champion of the original promotion, where he also held the World TV Championship twice. In WWE, Rhino held the Hardcore title three times, the WCW U.S. Championship once, and was one-half of the inaugural WWE SmackDown Tag Team Champions.
Bob Ryder
Concerned over WWE\’s monopoly of wrestling in the U.S. following the demise of WCW and ECW, Ryder co-founded TNA Wrestling in 2002 alongside Jeff and Jerry Jarrett. Ryder was TNA\’s first employee and became the company\’s longest-tenured employee in history as he remained with TNA until his passing in 2020. During his tenure, Ryder held several roles with the company, including working as the Director of Travel Operations.
Before co-founding TNA, Ryder proved himself for years as an innovator in the wrestling media. At WrestleMania 11, Ryder became the person to conduct an online interview for the WWF when he fired questions as opponents Shawn Michaels and Diesel. In a statement after his passing, TNA referred to him as \”the heart and soul of the promotion.\” Eric Young, a friend of Ryder\’s will induct and receive the honor on his behalf.
Rhino and Ryder will be inducted as part of the Countdown to Bound for Glory on October 26, from Wayne State University Fieldhouse in Detroit, MI (Rhino\’s hometown.) Stay tuned to SEScoops for the latest from Bound for Glory including live results and breaking news.
The Feb. 16 episode of Impact Wrestling aired on AXS TV at 8 PM EST/5 PM PT.
This episode of Impact Wrestling saw Rich Swann take on Kenny King. The match was teased on Feb. 9 when Swann confronted King in a backstage segment. Tonight\’s show also had Chris Bey vs. Kushida and more qualifying matches to determine who will be in a Fatal-Four-Way match at No Surrender. One of the matches tonight is Steve Maclin vs. Rhino. The winner of the Fatal-Four-Way match will be the number one contender for the Impact World Championship.
Impact Wrestling also aired on their Youtube channel for Impact Insider subscribers. The company offers a monthly subscription to watch weekly episodes on Youtube for $1.49. However, it aired at 8:30 PM ET/5:30 PM PT.
If you would like more results for this week’s events in wrestling, please check back on our results section.
Impact Wrestling Results (2/16)
The show starts with a tribute to Jerry Jarrett, followed by a video package of last week\’s episode.
The match starts with Kushida and Chris Bey exchanging holds, with Kushida getting the best of his opponent. Bey tricks Kushida in a test of strength and starts to gain offense. However, Bey tried to Irish Whip Kushida into the ropes and got caught with a Springboard Back Elbow, which takes him out of the ring. Kushida follows him outside and jumps from the ring apron with a knee strike onto Bey\’s left arm.
He rolls Bey back into the ring and starts working on Bey\’s arm. Kushida starts to dominate the match by focusing on Bey\’s arm. Bey rolls to the outside, and Kushida tries to land another knee strike from the ring apron but gets caught with a kick to the gut. Bey tries to capitalize, but they both land a Clothesline simultaneously. They lay on the floor outside the ring and both get into the ring at the count of nine to beat the countout. Back in the ring, they both exchange forearm strikes, until Bey gets the better of Kushida.
Bey starts to take control of the match and lands a Torture Rack Neck Breaker for a two-count. He tries to go for a Brainbuster on Kushida, but his opponent blocks it. Kushida starts to rally back after he catches Bey with a Rolling Thunder Kick to the face. Bey rolls out of the ring, but Kushida does a Senton dive from the top rope to the floor on Bey.
Kushida rolls Bey back into the ring and tries to lock in a Guillotine, but his opponent fights out of it. However, Bey got caught with a Dropkick to the left arm. Kushida tries to lock in a Kimura, but Bey gets out of the hold and lands a Springboard Leg Drop to the back of Kushida\’s head for a two-count. The finish comes when Kushida puts Bey in the Kimura lock but transitions to a Small Package for the win.
Tommy Dreamer and Bully Ray to Have Live Busted Open Show at No Surrender
We get a backstage segment with Bully Ray and Tommy Dreamer, with Santino Marella as the mediator. Marella proposes that Dreamer and Ray have a live episode of Busted Open live at No Surrender. Dreamer says he will let bygones be bygones, but Ray agrees as long as Dreamer leaves Impact Wrestling. They both get into an argument until Marella says they can talk it out at No Surrender. They argue again about who gets to talk first at No Surrender, but Marella says that they will have a beat the clock challenge match next week to determine who will speak first.
Steve Maclin vs. Rhino No Surrender Qualifying Match
The match starts with Rhino and Maclin locking up, with Rhino getting the advantage. Rhino holds on to Maclin\’s wrist until he gets caught with a back elbow. Maclin lands a Knife Edge Chop to Rhino in the corner, but it makes Rhino mad, and he hits a Shoulder Block on Maclin. Maclin tries to land a Suplex, but Rhino reverses and lands his Suplex, followed by an Arm Drag. Rhino tries to go for the Gore, but Maclin rolls to the outside.
Rhino tries to follow Maclin outside the ring but gets outsmarted by his opponent. Maclin slams Rhino\’s arm into the ring post as we cut to a commercial break. When we return from the commercial break, Maclin completely controls the match in the ring.
Maclin tries to go for a Top Rope Headbutt on his opponent but misses it. After the mistake, Rhino starts to rally back in the match. He hits Maclin in the gut in the corner, followed by a Belly to Belly Slam for a two-count. Maclin responds by hitting Rhino with several forearm strikes, but Rhino catches him with a Spinebuster. Rhino tries to hit Maclin with a Gore, but misses it. Maclin responds by hitting the Gore on Rhino for a two count. The finish comes when Maclin lands the Wake Up Call(Rhino\’s tag team partner Heath Slater finisher) for the win.
The match starts with Zicky Dice distracting Barry Horowitz, so Johnny Swinger attacks his opponent\’s left knee. Swinger starts to work beat down Horowitz in the corner until he misses a shoulder strike. Horowitz starts taking offense to Swinger, hitting him with several European Uppercuts in the corner. He lands a Headbutt on Swinger and starts to taunt to the crowd. Swinger rakes his opponents eyes and starts to go for a Neckbreaker, until former WCW talent The Demon comes out to distract Swinger. Horowitz takes advantage and gets the Schoolboy pin for the win.
We get a backstage interview with Moose. He talks about what happened last week with Joe Hendry and says, \”He doesn\’t get humiliated; he gets even.\” We cut to a commercial break.
After the commercial break, Moose starts busting a car in the parking lot that he believes is Hendry\’s. However, it turns out to be Marella\’s car. Marella announces that it will be Moose vs. Hendry for the Digital Media Championship at No Surrender.
Heath Slater vs. Eddie Edwards No Surrender Qualifying Match
The match starts with Eddie Edwards putting Heath Slater in a Head Lock until he gets thrown to the ropes and taken down with a Shoulder Block. Slater hits a Clothesline on Edwards to take him outside of the ring. He followed the move by diving on Edwards from the ring apron with a Senton.
Slater rolls Edwards back into the ring. As he tries to enter the ring, Edwards hits Slater to keep him out of the ring and does Suicide Dive onto Slater. Edwards rolls Slater back into the ring and starts to take control of the match. He beats down Slater for a few minutes until he gets caught with a Leg Lariat. Slater starts rallying back into the match and lands a Powerslam on Edwards for a two-count. He goes for The Wake Up Call, but Edwards blocks it. However, Slater lands a Spinebuster on Edwards for a two-count.
Slater goes to the top rope but gets stopped by Edwards. Edwards lands a Superplex on Slater, followed by a Tiger Driver for a two-count. The finish comes when Edwards goes for the Die Hard Driver but gets distracted by PCO music. Slater hits his finisher to get the win.
After the match, PCO comes from behind Edwards in the ring and starts attacking him. PCO lands a Reverse DDT and goes to the top rope, but Edwards rolls out of the ring to escape.
We get a backstage segment with The Design and Sami Callihan. Deaner says that Yuya Uemura and Frankie Kazarian challenged two members of The Design to match next week. Deaner tells Callihan that they both will go against Uemura and Kazarian on the next episode of Impact Wrestling.
We get another backstage segment with Father James Mitchell and The Hex. The Hex challenged The Death Dollz to a title match at No Surrender.
Masha Slamovich dominates the match from the start. Alisha would try to get her offense in but would get shut down. The finish comes when Slamovich lands the Snowplow for a quick win.
After the match, Slamovich puts Alisha in a Rear Naked Choke, but James enters the ring to stop her. James tries to go after Slamovich but gets caught in a Rear Naked Choke. Three Referees enter the ring to get her off of James. Slamovich leaves the ring and watches James as she tries to recover from the attack.
We get a backstage segment with Crazzy Steve challenging X Division Champion Trey Miguel to a Monster\’s Ball match.
We get another backstage segment with Marella, Jonathan Gresham, Speedball Mike Bailey, and Dirty Dango. Marella announces that Bailey and Gresham will have a match at No Surrender. Dango suggests to Marella that Gresham and Bailey take on the Motor City Machine Guns on next week\’s episode of Impact Wrestling. Marella agrees to have the tag match next week.
The match starts with both wrestlers trying to get the better of each other with strikes. However, King caught Swann with a back elbow. He tries to run after Swann but misses and goes to the ring apron. King tries to throw a punch and misses, which lead to Swann kicking him in the face. While King is outside the ring, Swann dives from the ring apron onto King.
Swann rolls King back into the ring and starts to control the match. He Irish Whips King to the corner and does a running elbow strike on him. Swann maintains dominance over the King until he gets caught with Snake Eyes as Swann runs toward King in the corner. King follows up the move with a big Clothesline for a two count. Swann tries to regain momentum, but his opponent catches him in a Spinning Back Breaker. King tries to continue his offense. However, Swann lands a DDT on King as we go to commercial break.
We return from a commercial break with Swann in control until King lands a Spinebuster for a two-count. They exchange moves as both try to get the upper hand. However, Swann lands a Poison Rana on King for a two count. He follows up the action with three hard Spinning Side Kicks to the stomach of King.
He goes for a fourth kick, but King catches his opponent in a Single Boston Crab. However, Swann can get to the ropes to break the hold. They both get to their feet and exchange strikes until they simultaneously catch each other with a kick. The match\’s finish comes when Swann catches King in a Small Package for the win.
After the match, King attacks Swann from behind. He goes outside the ring for a steel chair, but Josh Alexander makes the save. The Impact World Champion takes the chair from King. Swann goes for the Superkick to King but accidentally hits Alexander. The show ends with King escaping with Swann looking at Alexander as he is in the corner.
The Jan. 26 episode of Impact Wrestling aired on AXS TV at 8 PM ET/5 PM PT.
This episode featured a main event between Sami Callihan, Eddie Edwards, Rich Swann, Rhino, Moose, and Chris Sabin in a Golden Six Shooter match. It is a six way elimination match. The winner of the match will challenge Josh Alexander for the Impact World Championship at No Surrender on Feb. 24. This week’s episode also aired on their Youtube channel for Impact Insider subscribers. Impact Wrestling offers a monthly subscription to watch weekly episodes on Youtube for $1.49.
If you would like more results for this week’s events in wrestling, please check back on our results section.
• Miguel vs Jackson – X Division Title • Death Dollz vs Shaw & ??? – Knockouts Tag Team Titles • Major Players vs Ace & Bey • Golden 6 Shooter – winner faces Josh Alexander for the IMPACT World Title at #NoSurrender#IMPACTWrestlingpic.twitter.com/1jEl37RBBZ
(C)Trey Miguel vs. Mike Jackson- X Division Championship Match
The match started with both Miguel and Jackson exchanging holds and going for quick pinfalls. Miguel tries to go for a handshake and punches Jackson in the face. The champion starts to control the match by working on the arm. Miguel goes for a Springboard Moonsault but misses. Jackson pulls his straps down and tries to fire back, but Miguel stops him.
The action goes to the outside, where Miguel misses a Clothesline to Jackson and hits the ring post. Jackson brings the champion back to the ring and goes Old School. He tries to walk over the ring ropes and hit Miguel\’s arm but gets hit in the stomach. Miguel takes back control of the match. The finish came when Miguel landed the Lighting Spiral on Jackson.
After the match, Crazy Steve and Black Taurus confront Miguel, but the champion runs away in the crowd.
We get a backstage interview with Impact World Champion Josh Alexander. He says no matter who wins the Golden six shooter match; he\’ll remind him why he is the champion. Steve Maclin confronts Alexander and teases a match between them in the future.
The Good Hands (Josh Hotch & John Skyler) vs. Kushida & Kevin Knight
Kevin Knight and John Skyler start the match. Knight controls the arm of Skyler and tags Kushida in the match. Both Kushida and Knight start to focus on the arm of Skyler. The match turns when Skyler tags in Hotch, and they start taking control of it. Hotch brings Kushida to his teammate\’s corner and tags Skyler back in. Skyler lands a cheap shot on Knight and The Good Hands land a Rolling German Suplex/ Jackknife pin combo on Kushida for a two count.
The Good Hands tried another tag team move, but Kushida countered and tagged in Knight. Knight and Kushida start to take control of the match. Kushida blind tags in the match and picks up Hotch over his head for Knight to hit a Dropkick. Kushida locks in the Kimura lock on Hotch to win the match.
We get a backstage segment between Mickie James and Jordynne Grace. Grace wants another opportunity at the Impact Knockout Championship.
(C)Death Dollz(Jessicka & Taya Valkyrie) vs. Gisele Shaw & Tara- Impact Knockout Tag Team Championship
Taya Valkyrie and Tara start the match, but Gisele Shaw blind-tags Tara. The Death Dollz start to take offense to Shaw after Jessicka tags in. Jessicka lands several kicks on Shaw and tries to go for a leg drop but misses. Shaw follows up by landing a Running Uppercut to Jessicka in the corner. The fans start chanting for Tara, but Shaw refuses to tag her. Jessicka tags in Valkyrie, who rallies a comeback.
Jai Vadal trips Valkyrie as she runs to the ropes near him. Rosemary hits a Spear on Vidal to take Vidal out of the match. Shaw lands Tara\’s signature move, the Spider web, for a two count. Shaw teases like she\’ll tag Tara in but denies her. Tara enters the ring to confront Shaw. They get into an argument until Shaw pushes Tara. Tara responds by landing the Widow\’s Peak on Shaw. Tara leaves the match and the Death Dollz hit the Death Driver on Shaw to win the match.
We get a backstage segment between Santino Marella and Dave LaGreca. Bully Ray stops them while talking and asks Marella why he isn\’t in the Golden 6 Shooter Match. Ray threatens Marella after he gets denied again from being involved in the match. LaGreca tells Marella that he should get Tommy Dreamer to go against Ray.
We get a backstage interview with Tasha Steelz and Savannah Evans. Steelz talks about last week\’s tag team match and says James didn\’t defeat her one-on-one. Steelz also teases a split between her and Evans as a group.
The Major Players(Brian Myers & Matt Cardona)vs. The Bullet Club (Ace Austin and Chris Bey)
Matt Cardona and Chris Bey start the match by exchanging holds. Bey gets the better of Cardona and tags Ace Austin in. The Bullet Club lands several tag team moves on Cardona and Brian Myers to take control of the match. Cardona and Myers escape to the outside of the ring. Austin does a dive to the outside on The Major Players. Austin tries to put the legal Myers back in the ring but gets attacked by Cardona.
Cardona tags in the match to take the offense to Austin. The Major Players tagged in and out of the match to dominate Austin. Myers taunted Bey and got caught with a kick from Austin. Bey gets tagged, and he takes the offense to Cardona, who is tagged in. However, Myers distracts Bey for Cardona to land a hard Clothesline. He follows it up by hitting the running boot to Bey in the corner. Myers tag in to land a Top Rope Elbow Drop for a two-count.
Myers tags in Cardona to go for another tag team move, but Bey takes them both out. Bey tags in Austin, and the finish comes when Austin locks in a weird pin on Cardona for the win.
After the match, Joe Hendry comes out to accept Cardona\’s challenge for the Digital Media Championship.
Jonathan Gresham takes control early against Sheldon Jean. He locks in an Ankle Lock, but Jean gets to the ropes. Jean tries to get some offense in, but Gresham counters every move. The finish comes when Gresham hyperextends Jean knee and hits hit him in the back of the head with an elbow to win.
Impact teases matchups for next week.
The Bullet Club (Ace Austin & Chris Bey) will face Kushida and Kevin Knight.
Giselle Shaw try to get her revenge against Tara in a singles match.
Moose and Rhino clear the ring of the other opponents. They both start exchanging Shoulder Blocks until Moose racks the eyes of Rhino. Moose tries to capitalize but gets caught with a clothesline by Rhino. Chris Sabin takes out Rhino momentarily with a Running Shoulder Block. Sami Callihan enters the ring and lands an Exploder Suplex on Sabin. However, Sabin gets the momentum back by countering a move from Callihan and dives to the outside on Moose.
Each opponent starts landing their moves on each other in the ring until it\’s down to Rhino and Callihan. Rhino starts to beat down Callihan until Moose surprises him with a Spear. Before Moose can cover, Callihan kicks him in the face and pins Rhino to eliminate him. We go on a commercial break.
After the break, Moose is in control of the match. Eddie Edwards tries to attack Moose but gets caught in the Urinage. Sabin hits a Tornado DDT on Moose to stop his dominance. Callihan enters back in the ring to attack Sabin. However, Sabin outsmarts him. Edwards tries to attack Sabin but hits Callihan. Sabin grabs Edwards and runs up Callihan\’s chest to land a Tornado DDT on Edwards.
Sabin tries to go after Callihan but gets countered by him. The action in the match continues to go back and forth with all opponents. The subsequent elimination comes when PCO distracts Edwards and Sabin puts Edwards in a cradle pin to eliminate him.
Moose enters the ring to attack Sabin. He overpowers Sabin until he gets caught with an Enzuigiri in the corner. Sabin tries to land another Tornado DDT, but Moose avoids it and hits a Spear on Sabin to eliminate him. We go to commercial break.
We return from a commercial break with Moose, Callihan, and Swann exchanging offense. Swann lands a Springboard Cutter on Callihan to make him roll out of the ring. Moose turns his attention to Swann and starts to focus on his leg. He gets overconfident and tries to pick up Swann from his leg, but Moose gets caught in a roll-up to get eliminated. The Design comes to the ring, and Cody Deaner tells Callihan he has to beat Swann.
Callihan and Swann exchange offense until Swann hits his opponent with a spinning kick to the face. Swann gets the win after landing a 450 Splash from the middle rope.
The Design beats down Swann, and Deaner tries to make Callihan attack Swann. However, Yuya Uemura, Franke Kazarian & Josh Alexander come out to save Swann.
Rhino, the former WWE star currently performing on Impact Wrestling has plans to wrestle for at least another 5 years before finally hanging up his boots and transitioning to a behind-the-scenes role as a producer.
Rhino is enjoying his time in Impact Wrestling after having a long-lasting career in the ring. He is celebrating 27 years in pro wrestling and discussed his longevity in the industry while appearing on the podcast The Angle. He also discussed how long he expects to see himself competing full-time in the ring and what his plans are afterwards.
Rhino said he isn\’t planning to return anytime soon and he has a lot of time left in the business. When asked who he would like to face before his eventual retirement, Rhino named Kevin Owens.
Speaking on the podcast, Rhino said, \”I would really like to… I don\’t know why Kevin Owens\’ name just popped in my head. Probably because I am here in Philly, and I am talking to you from Philly.
\”I’m at that point where I’m starting to, you know, [be] less in the ring and more behind the scenes in phase and that’s one of the beauties I love about Impact. One of the many beauties is that I can start producing. So, and then hopefully I can get, God willing, five more years out of in the ring full time. I would definitely like to do one of my last shows at the arena. Hopefully, I have the ability to be the one to choose whether to walk away,\” Rhino said.
Rhino has had a long career in wrestling, starting from ECW. He won the ECW World Heavyweight Championship and the ECW Television Championship, being the last champion to hold both titles. He would then go on to work for the WWE and was involved in The Invasion storyline. He stayed with the company until 2005 and then worked with TNA and won the NWA World Heavyweight Championship.
Rhino would return to WWE in 2015 and worked in NXT as a veteran. He would then be promoted to the main roster and on his time in SmackDown, he would become the inaugural SmackDown Tag Team Champion with Heath Slater. He left WWE again in 2019 and has been working in Impact Wrestling since then.
It looks like Rhino is staying in Impact Wrestling.
PWInsider is reporting that Rhino has re-signed with the promotion. The terms of the new deal have not been revealed. Rhino\’s previous deal with Impact Wrestling began back in 2019 after he made the decision to leave WWE.
During an interview with Sporting News back in 2019, Rhino explained why he chose Impact as his landing spot.
“It’s a company on the right path for almost two years,” Rhino said when asked what signing with Impact meant to him. “They have been moving in a direction where wrestling fans want a company to go in terms of letting the talent be the talent, having bookers booking the matches on the card as opposed to writers.
“I think a lot of fans are drawn to a promotion like that. Not speaking against other promotions, but other promotions are doing it differently because they’re very successful. But I think there’s a niche where you have to let talent be talent and have enough talent where it’s not drowned out too much and where you don’t have enough TV time and run enough shows to use them. It’s up to the talent, whether to sink or swim. And Impact because guys have more control when their contracts are up.”
Rhino has had success with Impact. Back when the promotion was called TNA Wrestling, he captured the NWA World Heavyweight Championship. He also won tag team gold in the company alongside members of Violent By Design.
Tonight\’s episode of Impact Wrestling saw a title change as Rhino and Joe Doering from Violent By Design defeated FinJuice to become the new Impact Wrestling tag team champions.
The main event of this week\’s episode of the weekly show saw the team of Juice Robinson & David Finlay successfully defending their title against the duo of Ace Austin and Madman Fulton.
However, after the bout, VBD leader Eric Young announced that they were going to cash in Rhino\’s Call Your Shot Trophy, leading to the champions defending their titles the second time in the night.
The ending to this match saw Doering hitting Robinson with a massive lariat while Rhino crushed Finlay with a Gore. Doering then picked up a pin fall victory for his team, making them the new champions.
FinJuice had won the tag team titles in March earlier this year. They had defeated Doc Gallows & Karl Anderson, The Good Brothers at the Sacrifice PPV.
Rhino had won the Call Your Shot Trophy in a 20-wrestler intergender gauntlet match at last year\’s Bound For Glory event in October. He had last eliminated Sami Callihan to win the match.
This wasn\’t the only big news coming out of the show and the company also announced the arrival of a former IWGP heavyweight champion for next week. You can check out their announcement here.
Former WWE Superstar Rhino was a recent guest on Chris Jericho\’s podcast, Talk Is Jericho. During the course of their conversation, Rhino addressed his final run with WWE and how he managed to keep his wrestling name upon leaving the promotion.
\”My last run in WWE was for three years, a three-year contract, and I\’m thinking, \’Okay, well wh wasn\’t it more successful?\’ When I was going in, I didn\’t go in with enough steam. So anyways I\’m like, \’Well, okay, what was wrong, what did I do wrong?\’ And I think what it was is I was working so hard on the campaign, not just on knocking on doors, you have to file with the campaign finance committee and all that stuff, so there\’s a lot of detailed work trying t get your message there and all that stuff, and then getting ready for one opponent and the next round.\”
He reflected on the mistakes of his final run with WWE before noting that he still enjoyed it as he got to work with Heath Slater. Rhino stated that despite this, he wished he could have had a more successful experience. For him, that doesn\’t necessarily translate to being on TV more as he mentioned coaching others and working more behind the scenes.
Keeping The Rhino Name
Turning his attention to how he managed to keep the ring name \’Rhino,\’ the former Superstar recalled the different names WWE once tried to pitch him, including \”Mary.\”
\”They were kicking around different ideas, Juggernaut was one. The worst one Edge said was Mary and he goes, \’Yeah, he kept the best one and the worst one.\’ They didn\’t have me sign R-h-y-n-o over to them but when they re-signed me, I think it was 2002, they re-signed me a year early, and they had in there signing over r-h-i-n-o and r-h-y-n-o. And I said I\’ll sign over r-h-y-n-o because you guys did the homework and all that stuff but I\’m not signing over the one with an \’i\’ and they go, \’Okay, no problem.\’\”