Wrestling News & Rumors

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The Sheets:

Originally Posted by Observer Dustin Rhodes has signed a contract extension with AEW. AEW issued a press release announcing the news today. It's a multi-year extension, though the exact length of the deal wasn't revealed. Dustin will be an in-ring wrestler for AEW and is also joining their coaching staff as a promo coach and match producer.

Originally Posted by Observer ROH has confirmed the first four participants for their number one contender's tournament. It was announced today that Dalton Castle, Jay Lethal, Kenny King, and Marty Scurll will be participating in the eight-man, single-elimination tournament. The other four wrestlers for it will be announced tomorrow. ROH wrote that the bracket will be revealed on Monday (September 2). The winner of the tournament will challenge for the ROH World Championship at Final Battle, which is taking place at the UMBC Event Center in Baltimore, Maryland on Friday, December 13. Matt Taven currently holds the title.

Originally Posted by Observer Australian wrestler Shazza McKenzie will be taking part in the Casino Battle Royale at All Out. On Twitter today, AEW confirmed McKenzie as the latest entrant for the match. It's taking place on Saturday's All Out pre-show and will feature 21 wrestlers in total.

Originally Posted by PWI WWE have applied to trademark Breezango and The Outliers. Also of note: After proclaiming earlier this month that Adam Cole never used his name prior to joining WWE (which was obviously factually incorrect) and could never use it if he were to leave WWE, WWE sent the following to the United States Patent and Trademark Office: "The Applicant would like to correct information that was provided in the previously filed response. Applicant wishes to advise the Examining Attorney that the “name” in the mark does indeed identify a stage name or professional nickname. Mr. Austin Jenkins that is referred to in the Examiner’s Office Action did actually use this fictional character name prior to working with Applicant and can use this name if he were to cease working with Applicant. Accordingly, attached to this response is the required Consent, which has been signed by Mr. Jenkins."

Originally Posted by Observer Newsletter It's not clear whether Pac has signed a long-term deal with the company. Those in the company said that Pac was not booked for an angle on the show. But it had been known they were talking with him about coming in ever since they knew the date he was going to lose the Open the Dream Gate title. Pac and AEW had a five-date deal but not a full-time deal, and the match in England against Hangman Page that AEW released on YouTube was one of those dates. There has been an attempt to get him to sign a full-time deal but he's been very loyal to Dragon Gate. Pac was heavily speculated to be one of Chris Jericho's mystery partners for the first TV show in a six-man tag against Omega & The Young Bucks, but LAX has also been speculated on for that role. But if a deal was made with him, the idea was likely for him to make a surprise debut, but the circumstances were necessary that they needed a top guy for the match and he was the best name for the spot.

Originally Posted by Observer Newsletter Double or Nothing did about 111,000 buys on PPV worldwide between streaming and television, a record for a pro wrestling promotion without television. So that would be the goal here to see if they can maintain that. Losing Omega vs. Moxley hurts somewhat since PPV is usually a late decision, but it also only makes the match bigger when they do it next. The show will be unopposed. But the same day there are two shows a few hours earlier that are head-to-head, NXT UK Takeover on WWE Network and NJPW Royal Quest from London on FITE.

Originally Posted by Observer Because of the Olympics in 2020, which takes place in August and most of the key arenas will be used, the decision has been made to move G-1 to the fall next year There is a going on behind-the-scenes regarding TV-Asahi, which has an ownership stake in New Japan (Bushiroad is the primary owner) and is partners with New Japan World. Apparently the issue is FITE getting the live broadcasts for the Melbourne and London shows. For Melbourne, we were told it was a situation where they weren't equipped to handle the technical end and FITE was, and thus FITE got the live broadcast. I don't know why London is on FITE but the New Japan World subscribers in many cases were wondering why the J Cup shows weren't on.

Originally Posted by Observer Newsletter Lance Archer noted being unsigned with New Japan. I can't imagine, given the dearth of guys his size who can work at the level he can (like, basically nobody) that WWE or AEW wouldn't want him. The only negative I can see is he's 42 and traditionally big guys don't have the longevity athletically, but he also seems to be the exception to the rule

Originally Posted by Observer Newsletter Billy Corgan's NWA announced more details on its first set of TV tapings. We don't know if this will be a weekly Internet series, as they have talked about, or actual television. the tapings will be on 9/30 and 10/1 in Atlanta at the Georgia Public Broadcasting Studios, so it'll be the return of studio wrestling with a 100 seat capacity. They announced that multiple former NWA champions would be brought to the first tapings. Of the legendary enduring champions, really the only ones alive are The Funk Brothers and Ric Flair, and Flair I can't see doing it even though he lives in Atlanta. Terry Funk hasn't been traveling due to health issues. Dory I could see doing it. There are shorter term guys like Ron Garvin and Tommy Rich who are around, and all the post 1991 guys. Nick Aldis as world champion, James Storm as National champion, Allysin Kay as women's champion, plus Eli Drake and Ricky Starks are announced. Joe Galli was announced as the lead announcer.

Originally Posted by Observer Newsletter Regarding any idea of running on Mondays down the line, Tony Khan has said that he'd never go against the NFL, and that's four months of the year on Mondays

Originally Posted by Observer Newsletter At one point the scheduled first show on TNT was to be an introduction special and PPV hype show, similar to what UFC has done, which would have aired on 8/30, the night before All Out. It was never announced and evidently with the schedule listing "Supernatural" in the time slot it was talked about for, it doesn’t look like it’s happening. I was on the TNT schedule at one point. Nobody in AEW had said a word about it of late There was at least last week still talk of an introduction special to promote the debut on the network but has been announced on that front either

Originally Posted by Observer Newsletter Regarding Kenny Omega's DDT appearance on 11/3, his contract allows him to work Japan provided it doesn't interfere with an AEW date. Nobody knows big picture. He was offered a match with DDT on their big show and took it. The reality is that New Japan has not called him to offer him any dates, unlike with Chris Jericho and Jon Moxley. At one point, when Dallas got off to a slow start, there was at least talk of calling him but they never did, and even if they did, it was in the U.S. and would likely not be allowed. It's just like everything with NJPW and AEW in the sense that from the outside everyone knows they can be mutually very beneficial to each other but there's no movement as best we can tell of anything happening. It is notable that New Japan is not sending talent as much to ROH but that's because they look to be running the U.S. more on their own. AEW's policy, as shown by the AAA situation, is they are glad to work with AAA, will send their top guys to AAA's big shows in Mexico, but not in the U.S

Originally Posted by Observer Newsletter Testimony regarding UFC pay brought up a few notable things. Between September 1, 2011 and August 31, 2017, all the UFC fighters combined made $626 million. All the WWE wrestlers combined made about $400 million. During that same period, Floyd Mayweather made $638 million. A lot of WWE talent is paying attention to this case. People realize that if the plaintiffs win (which I still can't fully understand how this would happen), there is virtually no difference between UFC and WWE within their respective markets from a history standpoint and there is probably more of a history of WWE holding down competition and underpaying talent as a percentage of revenue than against UFC. While WWE and UFC talent is underpaid compared to the revenues generated, that isn't illegal and the talent signed deals. They can unionize and do collective bargaining. If they don't, I don't see how a court case can rule against the companies for getting people to sign for less money and to increase profits, because whatever you think of it, whether it's WalMart, or whatever, these companies are hardly unique in that structure. A lot of talent in NXT have seen that AEW and ROH are offering a lot more money and better working schedules. WWE is renegotiating deals and bumping some NXT talent up in pay

Originally Posted by Fightful Daniel Bryan hopes to see a trio of top Mexican wrestlers make the jump to WWE. While Bryan was in Colombia for a WWE Live Event in Bogota, he spoke to Super Luchas and was asked about which three Mexican wrestlers he would love to see go to WWE. After Bryan initially mentioned the likes of Negro Casas and Blue Panther, he changed his answer to three more modern grapplers: Rush, Bandido and Dragon Lee, all of whom wrestle for either New Japan Pro Wrestling or Ring of Honor outside of Mexico. "It's tough to pick because my favorites are now too old to go to WWE. I could aay, 'Wait a moment, I want Negro Casas in WWE' or something like that. I love Blue Panther, I love Negro Casas. The first time I saw him wrestle was like back in 1987 but he is incredible. In 2019, it still looks impressive. I have a ton of respect for them but thinking about guys that could potentially make the jump now to WWE, I would say someone like Rush. I think someone like Bandido would make it big as well as Dragon Lee," Bryan said.

Originally Posted by Fightful Following his victory in the Super J-Cup, El Phantasmo called Will Ospreay the "Autistic Assassin," playing off Ospreay's "Aerial Assassin" nickname. For obvious reasons, the comment drew backlash from those in attendance, leading to ELP issuing an apology. "I'd like to address my actions after winning the Super J Cup this past (weekend).... In the heat of the moment I called Will Ospreay "The Autistic Assassin" and I want to say sorry to anyone that was offended by my comment. It was uncalled for on my behalf and you deserve better. Looking back I wish I didn't say it, I promise it wasn't scripted, it was an unnecessary way of getting cheap [heat] and I genuinely apologize if you were hurt by my words. I've never been comfortable on the mic, the inexperience showed and I promise to do better going forward. Sincerely, ELP"

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