News & Interesting Developments:

-QT Marshall is set to leave AEW. Thanks Tony Khan and says he enjoyed the work he did there, but that they aren’t going in the direction they were in 2019 and says it's his chance to go “All In!” QT will have fulfilled all obligations and duties by the end of 2023. A big factor in this decision was the usage of his character on TV and in the ring. It was reported CM Punk, when he was with AEW, said he didn't understand “QTV” (QT Marshall’s talk show type segment) and said he thought it didn't have a place on Dynamite, so Khan cut it. Khan has since taken full responsibility and blame for the decision but it still has seemed to have hit QT’s morale. Nothing yet known about his intentions after AEW, and we probably won't know anything until after his current contract ends.

-Swerve on his Texas Deathmatch with “Hangman” Adam Page, says in an interview with TMZ Sports, "That’s what AEW was built on. Pushing boundaries, doing things that other places just couldn’t do, or are not able to do. You’re not able to see that anywhere else. The fact that it was done, it makes people [go], ‘I don’t believe you. I gotta go see this for myself.’ That’s what that was. We pushed boundaries." This was the most accurate statement on AEW’s identity I’ve probably read. AEW was built on being different and offering every style of wrestling while also being more progressive in their ideas, more willing to take risks and push boundaries.

-WWE is finalizing and seeming to get ready to officially announce their new TV deals. Levesque and Nick Khan have been in Los Angeles, the home of all the major TV networks that are in the running to buy RAW. Dave Meltzer confirmed the announcement will be soon. There were rumors that Warner Bros Discovery were the highest bidder; but that was denied by Dave Meltzer on the Wrestling Observer this week. Currently all we know is who is interested in RAW, the idea and report from Meltzer claimed FX was highest chance with Netflix, USA, WBD, Amazon we’re all being talked about. WWE has already secured the deal for NXT with them moving to the CW, and for Smackdown, who will most likely be moving over to the USA network with RAW looking to leave the network.

-Although business seems to be going up in WWE, more corporate layoffs were reported on Friday, December 1st. Back in September during the closing of the merger with TKO, over 100 corporate employees and some talent were released and this seems like the next and possible final round of staff layoffs. Fans online were quick to criticize the layoffs, stating Christmas was only 24 days. Some mentioned this as despicable behavior and I have to agree. Although this is business, and it just happens to be unfortunate due to circumstances beyond any of the former staff's control.

-AEW: Dynamite on 11/29 ratings are out, 858k/0.29 in 18-49. This beating the WWE: NXT TV on 11/28, 659k/0.18; and Friday’s WWE: Smackdown on 11/24, 789k/0.24. AEW: Collision and Rampage ratings from 11/25 also came out, AEW: Rampage was on right before Collision for 3 hours of programming. The Rampage hour drew 264k/0.08, and Collision drew 317k/0.09. WWE: Raw on Monday night, 11/27, drew 1.88M/0.65.

-AEW is expecting to gross around $175M by the end of the year in revenue. The new TV deal negotiation will help their net profits but we won’t know more until that happens.

-Ronda Rousey made her ROH debut last week teaming with Marina Shafir against Billie Starkz and Athena. This was the second meeting between the teams, first being at Wrestling Revolver - Revolver Unreal Event. Their match in ROH main evented the show and was very good, better than their first match, and about 3 minutes longer as well. Many fans, and I as well, thought this would lead to her signing with AEW/ROH. It would definitely help her improve and hone the craft and art of pro-wrestling. In a recent interview with TMZ however, she was asked whether or not she would be officially signing a contract, she said “No, no, I don’t think so,” and, “…just trying to be home with the family, and be a full-time mom.”

-Ric Flair released a statement supposedly in response to the feedback from his signing with AEW, and the promo he gave on Wednesday's AEW: Rampage taping. Flair said he was tired of all the negativity while he’s trying to have fun and retire alongside one of his good friends. Says he appreciates Tony Khan but is willing to step down if he is embarrassing the company, or showing them in a bad light. My stance is, whatever your feelings on Flair are as a person outside of TV, should be kept separate from his current work. The aforementioned promo that was cut, was indeed in bad taste, we are unaware if it’ll even air. I believe Flair genuinely meant no harm and was being sarcastic, but it was not received well. Many on social media are not over his past antics 30 years ago. Current wrestlers and talent responded to Flair's post including Miro, who said, “Stop reading the dirt sheets. They are poison and they do not represent the fans.”

Show Recaps:

AEW: Dynamite

Dynamite was a very great show, it felt like a return to what AEW does best, professional wrestling. On social media the opinion is skewed with many false narratives getting traction. The next 3-4 weeks of shows will be centered around the Continental Classic and the American Triple Crown Championship; but AEW and Tony Khan I think have done a great job about not overshadowing the other stories being told. The women deserve more TV time which is a mostly universal opinion. They’ve done good things with the TBS and TNT titles making them more relevant and prominently featured on TV, with quality stories and engaging characters behind them. Toni Storm being AEW Women's World Champion is a good call but I think AEW needs to do a better job of explaining and developing the Mariah May and Storm story. 

 

Bryan Danielson starts off the show coming out to be on commentary for the night. Continuing the Continental Classic with action in the Gold League, Jon Moxley Vs Jay Lethal are first. They Trade takedowns and Let’s go Moxley chants ring out. Jay put on a Figure 4 but they rolled each other out of the ring. Lethal hits a topé and plays the crowd, he goes for another but Moxley counters and taunts him then hits a topé of his own. Back in the ring,  Lethal hits a dragon Screw and a short-elbow drop off the top rope for a near fall. Lethal starts targeting the leg with offense and leg holds trying to strengthen the effectiveness of his patented figure 4. Moxley tries to turn the match around countering and hitting a cutter, but Lethal stays in control and puts Moxley on the top rope and hits a dragon screw. Moxley baits in Lethal and counters with Hard strikes which immediately leads to drilling strikes signaling the start of the ending. Lethal counters the death-rider and hits the Lethal Combo for 2. Targeting leg again by slamming mox’s knee on the floor, they trade falls and Mox is seemingly in control; springs up from the corner but Lethal counters with a roll-up and Mox counters into his own pin but lethal turns it into a figure 4. Mox escapes and baits Lethal again, playing that he's exhausted but hits a stock piledriver for a nice false finish; but immediately into the rear-naked choke and eventually locks the arm. Lethal has to tap. 

 

Eddie Kingston Pre-Recorded promo from collision airs. Says no one deserves anything and everything is earned and Tony didn't put any scrubs in this tournament, says he's got Bryan (Danielson) next, and he's not going to be behind the 8-ball. Says he will give it all he's got. Bryan Danielson cuts a quick response promo since he's on commentary. Says he's not behind the 8 ball and that he's coming to win, and coming to be the first AEW Triple Crown Champion. We cut to backstage with Tony Schiavone and he announced Greensboro, NC is the location for Revolution 2024. It'll be on Sunday, March 3rd, in Greensboro Coliseum. Sting and Flair give some words and we head back to the ring.

 

 Rush Vs Briscoe is up next. Both men are searching for their first points as they’ve both lost all their previous matches. They start off hot. Briscoe hits a back suplex onto the barricade and then a diving elbow drop from the apron; Tazz makes note to say shades of “Cactus Jack”. Rush hits a German suplex and super- kick combo, Briscoe bounces off the ropes and hits debilitating lariat. Keeps the offense going and is in full control, stalking and teasing Rush. Briscoe, with strikes in the corner, but Rush counters and whips Mark into the corner and beats him down. Rush steps back for a running move but it gets countered by Briscoe. Rush stays in control though, puts on a cloverleaf figure-4 leg-lock. Both men duel chops and taunt each other. Briscoe hits an exploder, Rush hits a belly to belly in the corner. Rush steps back and sprints for Briscoe in the corner again, but is countered again with a spear by Briscoe for 2. Then neck breaker for 2. Rush countered Jay-Driller, Briscoe counters with an enziguri taking both men to the apron. They trade chops on the apron, Rush takes advantage and kind of botches the counter but gets a “Holy Shit!” chant from the crowd. Rush kicks out of Froggy bottom bomb for 2. Rush counters the Jay-Driller again and takes down Briscoe in the corner with a hard elbow then hits his signature diving senton for the win. And gets his first 3 points in the Continental Classic as well. Briscoe remains with 0. 

 

We cut to backstage to hear from Ms Toni Storm, fun promo but needed more, will probably hear more from her later in the week. 

 

MJF comes out and cuts a promo putting over Samoa Joe who is his opponent at AEW: World's End in Long Island. Says he respects Joe because of what he's done for the industry and because he knows Joe believes in AEW and isn’t there for a check which he respects. MJF says he remembers when he first saw TNA, and the athleticism, the wrestling they had, was unlike anything he’d ever seen. He said even though he wasn't a world champion in WWE or had a chance to be, he proved alternatives matter and that you can be big without it (WWE) and anything Joe did for wrestling is bigger than the WWE World title. Says without Joe there is no AEW, “Thank you Joe!” chants ring out. MJF says however, he's been here since day 1, and has helped build AEW brick by brick, “MJF!” Chants, he says he did it by beating every top guy, but he hasn’t beaten Samoa Joe. “Dec 30 isn't about Joe's legacy, it's about mine–and  if I can outlast the final boss in this sport, one more time.” Screen goes black, Spotlights flash all over the ring. Masked men hold MJF, looking to attack him. Joe comes out of nowhere and saves him, because no one will get their hands on MJF before Joe does. Feed cuts out and stays black for around 15 seconds, then some words type out on the black screen, “will you face the unknown Samoa Joe and MJF in a tag match?” MJF accepts the match for next week, for Joe and his behalf, because he wants to reveal the masked men. Schiavone says whoever is the devil can apparently control their broadcast. 

 

Wardlow Vs AR Fox is next. Fox tries some aerial offense with some topé suicidas, Wardlow catches Fox on the third and slams him on the apron. When both get in the ring, the bell finally sounds, Crowd chants “WARDLOW” just like the “GOLDBERG” chants of old. Wardlow takes over for most of the beginning until Fox counters and is able to hit a 450 but Wardlow kicks at 1. Manhandles Fox into a deadlift Powerbomb, and then another. Wardlow then hits a swanton from the top, and finally looks to end with a Jack-up Powerbomb; but ref ends it before Wardlow can pin. Another Wardlow squash but the winning decision was different here.

 

 6-man tag between The Hardy's/Brother Zay, Vs Top Flight/Action Andretti. A returning Dante Martin after a miracle clearance joins his brother and seemingly new member of the brother/brother tag-team. Match starts with Andretti Vs Matt. Simple beginning stuff, Matt tags Jeff and they do a classic team sequence. Hardy puts on a headlock and they go through a counter sequence ending in taunts. Jeff tags Zay, Action tags Darius, both men fresh and hot. Top Flight comes out on top. Coming back from commercial the Hardy’s ended up in control. After simple and classic sequences from both teams, they bring up the pace and Dante gets a near fall but Zay is able to tag in Hardy who tries to hit a side effect on Dante but is countered. Dante wanted to check on Darius but got caught and all three on the other side took over and hit a triple Powerbomb on top flight. Teams counter moves and finishers but in the end Dante gets the final move and final pin in his miracle comeback return. Komander and vikingo vs Top Flight tease. 

 

Next was Emi Sakura Vs Julia Hart for the AEW TBS title. Emi taunts Julia but Julia isn't having any of it and takes over with some light offense of kicks and strikes. Sakura retaliates with some punches but Julia leads her to the ropes and knocks Sakura to her knees and roundhouse kicks her while she leans on the ropes. They head to the outside and Sakura counters and lands a running crossbody onto Julia onto the outside steps. Sakura brings Hart back into the ring and hits an inverted neck breaker for 2. Machine gun chopes by Sakura in the corner. Julia tries to counter but gets knocked down hard. Sakura puts Julia in a double-underhook piledriver position, and turns to show each side of the arena, Julia hanging upside down,  before turning it into a back-breaker instead. Hart tries to counter with some offense but gets dropped by the challenger. Hart eventually counters into a submission and Sakura taps but Ref tells Julia she can only win by pinfall. Julia hits a moonsault press and covers for 3 to retain the title. 

 

Adam Copeland challenged Christian Cage for the TNT title earlier this week. Cage was scheduled to respond to the Montreal title challenge. He comes out and calls Adam to come out for him. After some persuasion he doesn’t come out and Cage stumbles. Says he really wants to speak to him, and if he doesn’t come out, he’ll come to him. Copeland comes out. Security guarded Cage, but he tells them to leave. Commentary calls Cage a ring general. Cage mentions the challenge and says they wont make it and Copeland immediately knocks out Cage and says, “Nice try dumbass, and says go f**k yourself”, referencing Cage’s remark to Copeland weeks before. The F*** by Copeland was uncensored on TV, fine if given is expected to be upwards of $325k.

 

Lastly, was the AEW: Dynamite main event, featuring action in the gold league of the Continental Classic, between Swerve Strickland and Jay White. Both men have won their previous bouts in the Classic. Crowd chants “Whose house? Swerve’s House!” while both men stare down and eventually lock up, leading each other in the corner. They take it to the outside and throw each other into the barricade. Swerve tries to do another barricade shot but White counters and whips SS into the barricade again. In the ring White chops swerve in the corner a few times. Swerve counters with a boot and chops White on the ropes. They end up on the outside again and Swerve throws white into the crowd then goes for a swerve stop off the apron onto the back of White. Tries to bring white in the ring but white counters quickly with a DDT while Swerve was coming in. White yells “Whose House!” and crowd chants “swerves house!” They do this a couple times. White takes it to the outside this time and Swerve comes out on top again and counters with a back breaker and a running boot off the apron. Back in the ring, White counters with an exploder out onto the floor and whips him into the steel steps only for a 1 count. White immediately puts on a hold targeting the shoulder. Teases the crowd again. Locks in another hold, this time with a double underhook on the arms. Swerve tries to counter but Jay swings Swerve down by his hair, Swerve gets right back up and chops him twice. I loved all the sequences in this match, it was almost over done, but i think it was the perfect match for its length. Very good match. White hits a back suplex for 2. Swerve hits a back suplex of his own and hits some hard looking left and right hands. Swerve showcases some of his amazing athleticism and rolling movement sequences getting a 2 count. Crowd is also loving this match. White hits a Flatliner, a deadlift German, Swerve retaliates though with a corkscrew lariat. Both men in the middle of the ring trade strikes, Swerve comes out on top but White tackles his knee taking him down and hits a uranagi for 2. White has a Sleeper hold on, swerve tries to counter but White puts on the fujiwara armbar. Swerve rolls through and does joint manipulation, bending White's arms back, and then doing his signature kick while in the hold, basically destroying White's arm. Then Swerve hits another Killshot to the back of the head for the 3, and the 3 points. I’d go ****¼ for this bout. Easily a match of the week contender.

 

ROH TV

Ring of Honor TV, taped on 11/22, had a great turnout of 5,066. The show aired to the public on Honor Club on 11/30. Better show than previous weeks and sticks to the current formula of Ring of Honor. It showcases many younger, and underdeveloped stars, while also featuring many veteran talent to help guide and train the new. Decent wrestling this week, subpar to some other weekly shows they’ve produced this year, but still entertaining and announced the Women’s World Championship match with Billie Starkz turning on Athena. Year long story of the classic prodigy vs teacher storyline. The turn came off of Athena naming Lexy Nair as the Valedictorian of her academy, M.I.T (Minion In Training). Seems like the women will also be main eventing the upcoming ROH PPV event, Final Battle, in Garland, TX. Hometown crowd for Athena and with Eddie Kingston seemingly not defending the ROH world title as it is being unified and on the line during the Continental Classic. The biggest stories going into the PPV are, the aforementioned Women’s feud, the tag title uncertainty, and the vacant TV title being crowned.

 

Impact Wrestling TV

Impact Wrestling aired an IPWF (Impact Wrestling Provincial Federation) throwback show. The IPWF is a “promotion” where the Impact Wrestling talent wrestle under alter-egos and everything aesthetically, down to commentary and story, is all different. Like a different universe in the Impact Wrestling world. Honestly a super entertaining comedy show. I really enjoyed most of the show and laughed at all the absurdities. Wrestling wise wasn’t up to par but it wasn’t supposed to be. Impact Wrestling is in the middle of their final stretch under the Impact banner. Starting in 2024, they will be returning to the TNA branding. We’re still unsure what will all come with that.

Tournament Standings around the world

AEW Continental Classic

 

 

 

NJPW: WORLD TAG LEAGUE