Sunday, November 1, 2026
NEWS

MUCH More On CM Punk To AEW, Including What Made Him Sign

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Call them perks. On Friday night, CM Punk made his AEW debut, marking his first major wrestling appearance in seven and a half years. That is going to get people talking, just like Punk having his first match set for All Out against Darby Allin. Fans have been waiting for Punk to come back to wrestling for a long time and now we know a lot more about how we got here. According to Fightful.com, Punk spoke at a media scrum after this week’s edition of Rampage where he revealed some new details on his contract. Punk would not go into the full details of his deal, but said that he was there for the long term, with AEW President Tony Khan confirming that Punk was with the company full time and long term. There is no word on how many matches Punk is expected to wrestle a year. In addition, Punk spoke about how he and Khan had gotten to know each other over the last year and a half or so. Punk wanted to know Khan himself and was not looking for specific money or amount of matches. He also w..

NEWS

NXT Will Not Be Making This Major Change

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There is a new future. There are a lot of problems in WWE today, but a lack of content is not one of them. WWE has more television programming than it knows what to do with, which can create quite a few options. Since there are multiple ways to present wrestling on television, WWE can mix it up a bit. Now we know one thing that they will not be trying for the time being. Earlier this month, reports began to emerge that major changes were coming to NXT. One of the biggest was that the show was going to be taped far more often than presented live. According to the Wrestling Observer Newsletter, there are no plans for NXT to become mainly a taped show. NXT will be taped in advance for the next few weeks due to upgrades being made to the WWE Performance Center. The August 24, August 31 and September 7 episodes will be taped in advance but live episodes will resume on September 14. NXT could work live or taped. Check out how things have been going in recent months: [This post contains vi..

NEWS

Summerslam 2021 Preview, Predictions And Thoughts

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You actually can’t say that we’re back to normal with this Summerslam as this is anything but normal. In addition to being in an NFL stadium for the first time ever, the show is also on a Saturday, which is really throwing me off. At the same time, this is probably the biggest Summerslam of all time and they have the main event to match. I’m interested in this one so let’s get to it. United States Title: Sheamus(c) vs. Damian Priest It’s a relief just to see Priest in this spot. I wasn’t sure what he was going to do once he got put into the zombie match earlier this year, but at least he is getting something more important on the major show. At the same time you have Sheamus, who has more than earned this spot as he is still one of the more dependable midcarders in the company over the last few years. It worked before: [This post contains video, click to play] I’ll go with Priest winning the title, though I can’t shake the idea that Sheamus retains here. Sheamus has held the title ..

NEWS

Another “Major” Name Coming To AEW (Other Than Daniel Bryan)

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One more? The biggest wrestling story of the weekend so far has been CM Punk making his AEW debut. That is the kind of thing that can offer a heck of a shakeup and that seems to have been the case so far. What makes this even more interesting is the fact that Punk might not be the only big name coming to AEW. It seems that we know the second name, but what if there was a third? In addition to Punk, Daniel Bryan is expected to debut for AEW at some point in the near future. According to the Wrestling Observer Newsletter, sources close to AEW have said that another major acquisition was coming, in addition to Punk and Bryan. There is no word on who this is or when they would be debuting. The discussion came after a mention of Ric Flair possibly coming to AEW, though it is not clear if he would be the third acquisition. This could be a few people. Check out some great AEW debuts: [This post contains video, click to play] [This post contains video, click to play] [This post contains..

NEWS

WWE Announces Celebrity Guest For Monday Night Raw

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There’s always room for more. Celebrities have been a part of the wrestling world for a long time now and that is always going to be the case. Bringing in someone who is a known name outside of the wrestling world is going to get some extra attention on the wrestling show, at least in theory, and that is what WWE is betting on for next week’s Monday Night Raw. This week on SmackDown, WWE announced that internet celebrity, podcaster and boxer Logan Paul will be appearing on next week’s Monday Night Raw as the guest on MoistTV. Paul has a history with WWE, as he has made an appearance on SmackDown and at this year’s WrestleMania 37 during a match between Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn. Owens gave Paul a Stunner after the match. This could be good. Check out what Paul has done in WWE and what he is getting into: [This post contains video, click to play] [This post contains video, click to play] [This post contains video, click to play] Opinion: Paul is a good example of someone who mi..

NEWS

REVIEW: Monday Nitro – May 29, 2000: Ric Flair Turns 16

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Welcome to KB’s Old School (and New School) Reviews. I’ve been reviewing wrestling shows for over twelve years now and have reviewed over 6,000 shows. Every Monday, Wednesday and Friday, I’ll be posting a new review here on Wrestlingrumors.net. It could be anything from modern WWE to old school to indies to anything in between. Note that I rate using letters instead of stars and I don’t rate matches under three minutes as really, how good or bad can something that short be? Monday Nitro #245 Date: May 29, 2000 Location: E Center, Salt Lake City, Utah Commentators: Scott Hudson, Mark Madden, Tony Schiavone So Kevin Nash is World Champion again after winning a triple threat match over Jeff Jarrett and Scott Steiner last week on Thunder. Jarrett had been awarded/won the title (it’s still not clear) two days before after Ric Flair had it vacated earlier tonight after winning it the week before. That’s about a fourth of the title changes this year and that’s all you need to know about WCW..

NEWS

So Long: WWE Moving Out Of Longtime Venue

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Make sure to get your stuff. The last year and a half has been a heck of a ride for WWE television. The start of the Coronavirus pandemic caused the promotion to be stuck in Florida for well over a year, with the television shows being filmed in various locations called the Thunderdome. WWE had previous longstanding locations as well, but now one of them is off the list. According to the Wrestling Observer Newsletter, WWE’s relationship with Full Sail University in Winter Park, Florida has come to an end. Instead of taping NXT television from the venue, WWE will instead be upgrading the Performance Center and running the show from there. WWE is considering adding new lighting and color to the Performance Center to make it stand out more. NXT first aired at Full Sail in March 2012 and stayed at the facility until October 2020. The place was special. Check out some of NXT’s time at Full Sail University: [This post contains video, click to play] [This post contains video, click to pl..

NEWS

Anyone Seen Her? Update On Asuka’s WWE TV Status

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Where was she again? With so many talented wrestlers on the WWE roster, it can be easy to forget where one of them is from time to time. What makes it worse is that sometimes those wrestlers will disappear for longer than usual and it takes a bit to remember how long they have been gone. That is the case with one of the better stars on Monday Night Raw and now we know something about them. Asuka has not wrestled for WWE in over a month, last competing in the women’s Money in the Bank ladder match at Money In The Bank on July 18. According to the Wrestling Observer Newsletter, Asuka is not injured and has simply not been used. Asuka was present at recent Monday Night Raw tapings but left early when she was not going to be used on the show. There must be something for her to do. Check out what WWE is leaving on the sidelines: [This post contains video, click to play] [This post contains video, click to play] [This post contains video, click to play] Opinion: This is one of those..

NEWS

Opinion: CM Punk & AEW – Historically Awesome Goosebumps and Harsh Reality

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He’s back. And he’s All Elite. After much anticipation and many rumors regarding his status, CM Punk made his long-expected AEW debut tonight on Rampage. In front of 15,000 fans in the United Center in Chicago, Punk provided all of us with one of the coolest and special moments in the history of professional wrestling. [This post contains video, click to play] A couple of disclaimers before you continue: If you’ve read any of my opinion pieces in the past or heard me on various podcasts, such as The Pipebomb and The Hoots Podcast, you know that I cannot stand both CM Punk or AEW. I am on record saying that I think that Phil Brooks is a sniveling, whining baby who only cares about getting himself over and getting paid, and couldn’t give a damn about the people who made him a star. Also, I think that as a wrestling company, AEW is a complete joke and has done nothing but create a parody of professional wrestling. The Elite has managed to convince a wrestling mark billionaire that th..

NEWS

CM Punk In AEW: The Best Fit In The World

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CM Punk is officially All Elite. Punk’s AEW debut came on the August 20 edition of Rampage, in front of his hometown crowd in Chicago, Illinois. The man once called The Second City Saint came out to his trademark Cult of Personality entrance music, while the United Center crowd roared its approval. Punk’s arrival in AEW was one of the worst kept secrets in pro wrestling. The company had been hinting at Punk’s signing over the past several weeks, leading to an explosion of fan speculation online. Now that speculation is over. CM Punk is back and he’s with a company that is absolutely the right fit for him. Welcome to the team…@CMPunk is #AllElite!#AEWRampage pic.twitter.com/aGxq9uHA6S — All Elite Wrestling (@AEW) August 21, 2021 Punk And The Pipebomb Punk’s Rampage: First Dance promo was exactly what it needed to be and then some. He thanked the fans for their support and acknowledged that he heard their chants over the past seven years. Punk also said that he never wanted to leave ..

NEWS

VIDEO: Major Stipulation Added To John Cena vs. Roman Reigns At Summerslam

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It’s on the line. We are less than a day away from Summerslam and the card is ready to go. It would be a little bit surprising to see another match added to the show at the last minute, but that doesn’t mean things can’t be added. That was on display this week on SmackDown, as a stipulation was added to the biggest match on the show and things are a bit different. This week’s SmackDown ended with a face to face meeting between John Cena and Roman Reigns about their Universal Title match at Summerslam. Reigns said that he was so confident that he would win that he was willing to put his WWE career on the line in the match. Cena accepted the new stipulation to end the show and the stipulation was made official. This is a big one. Check out the showdown, plus how we got to this point: [This post contains video, click to play] [This post contains video, click to play] [This post contains video, click to play] Opinion: I’m not sure how much this was needed, as it more or less guara..

NEWS

VIDEO: CM Punk Makes AEW Debut, First Match Set

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Surprise? There are more than a few ways to tell a story in wrestling and one of the lesser used ideas is to more or less tell everyone what is coming. It isn’t something you see very often but if it works, it can work out really well. If it is something that people have been wanting to see for a very long time, that makes it even better. That was the case this week on television. CM Punk made his AEW debut during this week’s edition of Rampage. Punk spoke about how he had left professional wrestling when he signed with WWE but now he is back. While sitting in the same position he used in the Pipebomb promo, Punk talked about how he is here for the new generation and to settle some scores. Punk called out Darby Allin, who was in the rafters, for a match at All Out, which was later made official. After getting ready to leave, Punk told the fans that everyone was getting an ice cream bar as they left the arena. This was Punk’s first appearance on a major wrestling show since 2014, when..

NEWS

AEW Rampage Results – August 20, 2021 (First Dance)

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Rampage Date: August 20, 2021 Location: United Center, Chicago, Illinois Commentators: Jim Ross, Mark Henry, Excalibur, Taz So this is a weird show as there is a big surprise, but everyone knows exactly what it is going to be. AEW has all but said what is going to happen here and that just leaves the question of how it goes down. There are a few ways to do that and I’m rather excited about what is going to happen. Let’s get to it. Opening sequence. The crowd is already changing for CM PUNK…..and here he is to open the show. Punk takes his time getting to the ring and is clearly shaken up by this. Punk even dives over the barricade into the crowd and hugs a lot of people at ringside. After a break, Punk says you know how to make a guy feel like Britt Baker in Pittsburgh. Punk says he’s winging this and while he can’t get to everything tonight, he has a lot of time on Wednesdays, Fridays and four Saturdays/Sundays a year. One important thing: if any of his decisions have ever made an..

NEWS

SmackDown Live Coverage And Results – August 20, 2021

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Smackdown Date: August 20, 2021 Location: Footprint Center, Phoenix, Arizona Commentators: Pat McAfee, Michael Cole It’s the go home show for Summerslam and for once, the show is actually tomorrow night. I wouldn’t expect much in the way of wrestling tonight, but the talking should be more than enough to make something interesting. John Cena and Roman Reigns are here and that should be about all you need. Let’s get to it. Here is Edge to get things going. After a video on Edge vs. Seth Rollins, Edge is sitting in a chair to talk about how Rolling teased stomping him back in 2014. Edge knows that the stomp could end his career and his way of life. It’s true that Rollins is an all time talent, but Rollins has driven him to a place where his blood runs black. Edge can see clearly on this day, and he knows that he has to break and humble Rollins. At Summerslam, Edge is going to burn him down. Dominik Mysterio is all fired up but Rey Mysterio wants him to calm down and stay focused. That..

NEWS

WWE President Says Company “Open For Business” On Being Sold

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You mean that could happen? Despite it not being as popular as it once was, it is hard to argue against WWE being the most powerful wrestling promotion in the world. The company has more money than it knows what to do with and that has been the case for a very long time now. That being said, nothing lasts forever, and a major change seems like it could happen one day. WWE President Nick Khan appeared on the Recode Media podcast and said that WWE would be willing to participate in a discussion about selling the company n the future. Khan made it clear that WWE is not actively looking for a buyer or putting itself on the market but they are open for business on anything and everything. WWE has been primarily owned by Vince McMahon since he purchased the company from his father in 1982. WWE has sold things before. Check out some of their selling points in history: [This post contains video, click to play] [This post contains video, click to play] [This post contains video, click to..

NEWS

WWE Tried To Get These Three Celebrities For Summerslam

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What could have been. There is a long history of wrestling interacting with more mainstream celebrities. It makes sense for the two worlds to come together as it can be interesting to see how things go. WWE has done this several times over the decades and continue to do so to this day. They were trying to do the same for this year’s Summerslam but it did not exactly work out. Despite its efforts, WWE will not be able to bring in three celebrities for Summerslam. According to PWInsider.com, WWE was hoping to have Mike Tyson narrate the opening video to the show, which will focus on Roman Reigns vs. John Cena. There is no word on if WWE will be able to land another celebrity to narrate the video. Tyson is a WWE Hall of Famer, who has also appeared for AEW. According to Fightful Select, WWE was also hoping to bring in Megan Thee Stallion and Cardi B for the show but neither will be attending. WWE wanted Megan Thee Stallion to appear in some capacity with Bianca Belair but was told that ..

NEWS

VIDEO: MVP Makes A Special Announcement

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It’s something else. There are some very talented wrestlers in WWE today and some of them have a set of skills outside of the ring. While you might not get to see them every time, the rare glimpses that you get to see can often make you want more. This time around, we are going to get to hear another sample of a WWE star’s abilities outside of the ring. Monday Night Raw star MVP has announced that he will be releasing a new single, called Still Balling, on Friday August 20. The song will include content from MVP’s collaborator Dwayne Swayze. It will be available across all platforms. MVP has dabbled in music over the years, with first single, Holla To Da World, being released in 2011. His song Return Of The Ronin served as his Impact Wrestling theme song. MVP has done some music before. Check out the announcement, what he has done in the studio and in the ring: [This post contains video, click to play] [This post contains video, click to play] [This post contains video, click to ..

NEWS

Ric Flair Confirmed For Very Special Wrestling Appearance This Month

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Woo indeed. There are very few wrestlers who have been around for as long as Ric Flair. While some might not be as fond of his as others, there is no way to deny the level of impact and success that Flair has had over the years. He has worked just about everywhere at one point or another and will likely wind up in AEW sooner than later. However, he is going to be heading back home as well. The NWA has announced that Flair will be appearing at the NWA 73rd Anniversary Show on Sunday August 29 in St. Louis, Missouri. This comes after the NWA extended an offer for Flair to appear at the event, which Flair has accepted. There is no word on what he will be doing at the show. Flair is at least a ten time NWA World Champion (depending on which reigns are being counted) and held the title over 3,000 days combined. I think you can call him a legend. Check out the announcement plus some of Flair’s classic NWA moments: [This post contains video, click to play] [This post contains video, clic..

NEWS

Backstage News On What Caused WWE To Release Bray Wyatt

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You don’t want to be on his bad side. While he might not be what he once was, there is no one in the wrestling world on the level of Vince McMahon. After being in power for the better part of forty years, McMahon is still the most powerful person in the industry. Anything he decides can change wrestling, including the careers of individual wrestlers. That was the case with a recently released star. Former WWE producer Freddie Prinze Jr. discussed Bray Wyatt’s issues in WWE during an appearance on the Ringer Wrestling Podcast. Prinze Jr. said that Wyatt had issues with McMahon and Kevin Dunn, which led to his departure from the company. The problem came from McMahon and Dunn seeing Wyatt one way and Wyatt seeing himself in another. This is said to be what led to Goldberg defeating Wyatt at Super Showdown in 2020. Wyatt was ultimately released from WWE in June, with his most recent match being a loss to Randy Orton at WrestleMania 37. This was a big loss for WWE. Check out what Wyatt h..

NEWS

There Is An Explanation For Scarlett’s Absence From WWE TV

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At least it’s a reason. WWE has made some interesting decisions when it comes to bringing up their wrestlers from NXT. It has not made a lot of sense a good bit of the time, as WWE seems to be out of their minds at times. However, that is not always the case as sometimes you will find out the reason behind WWE’s moves. That is the case this time around and it is some not so great news. Back in July, NXT Champion Karrion Kross debuted on Monday Night Raw and immediately lost to Jeff Hardy. This was not the only bad thing for Kross, who was also missing his signature entrance but also his valet Scarlett. The two had been a regular pairing in NXT but now she was nowhere to be seen. Scarlett has yet to debut and is not in NXT either. There is a reason for that. According to PWInsider Elite Audio, Scarlett is not cleared to appear on WWE television for reasons that are not clear. It is unknown if Scarlett has a medical issue or what is specifically wrong with her. There is no word on when..