The professional wrestling world is infinitely more interesting when companies collaborate with one another. This has been evident with AEW's ongoing partnership with New Japan Pro Wrestling, CMLL, and now STARDOM. WWE has stepped up their game under the new regime across both NXT and the main roster. Earlier this year, Charlie Dempsey was sent to Japan to compete in AJPW which was a huge shock given WWE has often shunned participation with other brands.

Then at the Royal Rumble TNA's Jordynne Grace, the current Knockouts World Champion, made her debut. Since then, she's appeared in NXT and will challenge Roxanne Perez for the NXT Women's Championship. It doesn't seem like that partnership will be over anytime soon, as there are reports that other collaborations between the two companies could be in the works.

But two companies that have never worked together are AEW and WWE. AEW President Tony Khan has gone on record in the past stating he'd be "open" to working with WWE as it's not something that's really been done. "Who knows? It's something I would certainly be open to, and I think it's an interesting thing for the future," Khan said on the WTF with Marc Maron Podcast. "It's not something that's ever really been done. They've kind of existed in their own space. We are working with a lot of wrestling promotions, and at times they've done stuff like that. But it would be a really interesting thing to see at some point."

Recently, Khan spoke to Comicbook about a possible talent exchange between the two if WWE were to come knocking, to which Khan said it's an "interesting thought" and that it would "depend on the circumstance."

An AEW x WWE Crossover -- More Likely Than Ever? Swerve Strickland Thinks So

Now the AEW World Champion Swerve Strickland has given his thoughts on a potential working relationship with WWE. Before signing with AEW in 2022, he was part of the Hit Row stable in WWE for two years. "If there's ever a time it could happen, now is more likely than it's ever been," Strickland explained on the Bootleg Kev podcast. "I don't think either person is opposed, but if there's ever a time, as far as Tony Khan and Triple H, I don't think there's ever been a time that's more likely than now. The percentages went from 0.04 to like, maybe 2.4, and that's more than we've ever gotten."

Strickland will next defend the AEW World Championship at Forbidden Door against Will Ospreay who won the title shot in a Forbidden Door Casino Gauntlet match. He is the current International Champion, having won the title at Double or Nothing from Roderick Strong.

Stay tuned to Comicbook for updates on AEW and WWE.

AEW's next pay-per-view event, Forbidden Door, will be live from the UBS Arena in New York City later this month. For the past three years, AEW has partnered with New Japan Pro Wrestling to put on a mega event between both companies that provides some of the most mind-bending dream matches possible. This year, another promotion will enter the fold -- STARDOM. AEW has expressed interest in working with the all-women's promotion in the past but it hasn't ever worked out. Earlier this year, STARDOM co-founder Rossy Ogawa was terminated from his contract by Bushiroad and not long after he started his own company with several of STARDOM's top stars, Marigold.

Over the past few weeks, several STARDOM stars have appeared on AEW television, including Mina Shirakawa. Last night, Storm laid out the challenge to the Artist of STARDOM Champion who has a deep connection to Storm's protege, Mariah May. The rising AEW star was once part of Club Venus with Shirakawa where they held the Goddesses of STARDOM Championship.

"Hello, STARDOM, this is your AEW Women's World Champion and STARDOM legend "Timeless" Toni Storm and this is my trusty protege and STARDOM legend, Ms. Mariah May," Storm said in a backstage promo. "Mina-san, I see you've been at AEW when I've not been around but I've been watching you. Oh, I've been watching you," said Storm. "You do not need to knock, you do not need to ring the doorbell, because I have opened the forbidden door and I want you. Don't worry, any friend of Mariah's is a friend of mine. I just want to see what kind of woman you really are."

At STARDOM's June 2 show, Mina accepted the AEW Women's World Champion's challenge. "Toni Storm, you want me? Everyone wants me. Oh I'm so busy busy busy busy busy busy busy," Mina said post-match. Later on in her comments, she talks about how she's the first mentor of Mariah May. "I am the first mentor of Mariah and best friend and best partner, right? So, I'm coming for you Toni every time, everywhere, so Toni Storm ... chin up, tits out, and watch out for me."

?6.2?????????!!?

?????????????!??????????????????????????????????????!??????????????????????!???????!?

???????????????!https://t.co/F9VkkLaqnN#STARDOM pic.twitter.com/6CA02BFy08

-- ??????STARDOM (@wwr_stardom) June 2, 2024

STORM has a decorated past with STARDOM herself as a former World of STARDOM Champion. STORM was STARDOM from 2016 until 2019 when she made the move to the United States to join WWE. In April, STORM defeated another STARDOM star, AZM, in a championship defense but her match with Mina may be the most important of her reign so far. May has been forced to choose between her two mentors and as seen on AEW and ROH television, she doesn't seem keen on giving up her relationship with Mina at all. As May rises in the ranks of the women's division, she's been quietly building her case to eventually be the one to take the title from Storm.

Sierra. Hotel. India. Echo. Lima. Delta. Shield.

It's been over a decade since WWE debuted a faction of three misfits that would become known as The Shield. Roman Reigns, Seth Rollins and Dean Ambrose (AEW's Jon Moxley) quickly took the wrestling world by storm with their controversial appearance at Survivor Series in November 2012. Decked out in black tactical gear and slicked back wet hair, they'd go on to become one of the most dominating stables in recent WWE history (and perhaps of all time if you'd like to debate it). When the ragtag group of young wrestlers burst onto the scene in WWE they disrupted the status quo, defeating some of the company's giants at the time -- Randy Orton, John Cena, CM Punk, Batista, Triple H -- they quickly cemented themselves as a viable threat not just with their in-ring work, but their moody backstage promos.

On June 2, 2014 all of that changed. "The Hounds of Justice" who fans had come to know and love were no longer a group of brothers. Instead, they would turn into bitter enemies for years. Everybody remembers where they were when Rollins' chair shot on WWE Raw cracked and echoed off of Reigns' back, sending him to the mat on his knees. Ambrose, with wild eyes, staring at his fellow Shield member's betrayal in shock, quickly getting clobbered with it himself. And then there's Rollins, standing tall over his former Shield mates alongside Triple H and Orton. After that moment Rollins was a made man, catapulting to the top as the company's shiny new toy.

I'll admit that as a 14 year old, I was torn up about The Shield breakup as a self-proclaimed "Shield girlie." There was nothing that anybody could have told me at that point in my angsty teenage years that would make it better, I was in mourning. I thought that was it for me and wrestling. But that's when wrestling is at its best -- when it makes you feel something. It's hard to quantify just how much of a ripple effect that heel turn had on their careers and the wrestling industry as a whole, but 10 years later one thing remains -- Reigns, Rollins and Moxley are still on top of the professional wrestling world.

That statement is crazy in itself because of all the peaks and valleys each man has gone through in their careers. Prior to Reigns solidifying himself as one of the greatest to ever step between the ropes, he wasn't the best talker and his moveset was fairly limited, but WWE was determined to make him a big deal. This was much to the dismay of the audiences who would oftentimes boo him into silence and chant about how much he sucks. Ambrose often got the rotten end of the stick post-Shield, but even then he still won his first and only World Championship in WWE back in 2016 and held several other championships during his tenure.

Assessing the Wrestling Landscape 10 Years After The Shield's Breakup

I don't think it's wrong to say The Shield is one of the best things WWE has produced in the last decade given how heavily they relied on WWE legends and blink-and-you'll-miss-it women's matches in an often troubled era of Vince McMahon. If it wasn't for the breakup, they wouldn't be three of the most respected and decorated wrestlers that are still active. Reigns just finished up the run of his career as one of the longest-reigning champions ever and how he's transitioning to Hollywood. 10 years ago, that wouldn't even sound possible give where he was in his career at the time. His legacy as "The Tribal Chief" not only brought a whole new set of fans to WWE, but during the pandemic, he continued to level up each week and eventually became wrestling's largest attraction.

After one final reunion with his Shield mates, Ambrose departed WWE in 2019 to join a new start-up wrestling promotion that promised to be an alternative to the sports-giant that has had a grasp on wrestling for over seven decades. Known as AEW, they had the biggest independent wrestlers on the scene at the time in the Young Bucks and Kenny Omega behind them but they really started picking up steam when just weeks after leaving WWE, Ambrose debuted in AEW as Jon Moxley at Double or Nothing, setting the wrestling world ablaze.

Moxley has since become AEW's Ace -- whenever they are in trouble, he's there to pick up the pieces and steer the ship back on course. When he left WWE he barely even scratched the surface of what he can do, but now five years into his AEW career and 20 years of wrestling total, he's just reaching his peak as a performer. As a three-time AEW World Champion, he now sits on top of the mountain in New Japan Pro Wrestling as the IWGP World Heavyweight Champion. His success outside of the WWE bubble has proven to all that came after him that it is possible to thrive without the corporate machine behind you -- all you have to do is bet on yourself.

Rollins has consistently given all of himself to wrestling. Despite the earliest depictions of his WWE character being "selfish" the man behind the persona is everything but. In every match he's in, he helps his opponents shine as one of the most selfless acts in wrestling today. Since 2015 when he won his first World Championship in what has become known as "The Heist of the Century," he's been a team player doing what's expected of him no matter what.

With Reigns taking more and more time away from the ring over the last year, WWE needed a new champion, one that reflects the current ethos of WWE. Rollins once again stepped up to the plate to win the World Heavyweight Championship, carrying WWE for nearly an entire year. He elevated a brand new title that was consistently looked down upon as the "second-rate" championship by fans and his peers in their promos. By the end of his reign, he had not only made an entire title mean something, he passed the torch to the new face of WWE in Cody Rhodes (on one leg, mind you).

The more things change, the more they truly stay the same. The fact that these three men have had the odds stacked against them throughout their careers but have still risen to the occasion every time proves just why, 10 years on, The Shield dismantling isn't what broke them -- it's what made them.

All eyes have been on Dominik Mysterio since King & Queen of the Ring thanks to his unexpected kiss with Liv Morgan, but truthfully Mysterio has had people talking long before that. Whether it was his continued relationship with Mami Rhea Ripley or his heated rivalry with his father Rey, Dominik is always getting a reaction. That was also true when fans started noticing a pattern in regards to his Judgement Day teammate Finn Balor, as in several different celebrations with the group Mysterio could be seen hitting Balor, and Balor was always surprised. That led some to wonder if this was part of a storyline or just accidental, and ComicBook had the chance to finally ask Mysterio what was really happening.

"Dude, those are all genuine accidents, I swear. And I think that's what makes it so funny. If you notice this, I think it was last week or two weeks ago when we were out in the ring and we all hugged. I made sure after we all hugged, I looked at him and I was like, you good? He's like, yeah, I'm good," Mysterio said.

Mysterio wouldn't have even known it was happening if social media hadn't started picking up on it either, because Balor never told him. "Because really, I don't mean to hit him, man. It kind of just happens. It's an accident. And I think the best part about it is, he doesn't tell me that I'm doing it. He's like, it's almost like a dad. He kind of just lets it happen because he knows that I'm not doing it on purpose or he's like, I don't know what he thinks. I just think he likes me too much to not say anything or he's being too nice about it. But yeah, he never said anything to me up until the last one where he was like, hey, do we have an issue here? Those are all accidents, I swear," Mysterio said.

The Judgment Day have been through a lot over the past year, with internal conflicts, losses of Championships, winning new Championships, new members, and unexpected injuries being just a few. It's been an unforgettable experience for Mysterio, and he counts himself as blessed to have been a part of this group during this journey.

"Man, it's been a hell of a ride. And it gets me emotional talking about it because they really do mean so much to me. All of them. Rhea, Damien, Finn, especially JD man coming in there a little bit late, but he's been with us for the past couple of months. But it's all been so special," Mysterio said. "I don't know who's done it. Especially just the diversity of the group to how the group started to where we are now. And it's just like no one does it like Judgment Day. And it's like the amount of segments we're on for TV, the amount of things that we do, it's pretty surreal, man. And I'm very blessed to have been a part of this and just continue this journey with them. It's been a wild ride, man, and I'm very thankful."

Clash at the Castle Card

• World Heavyweight Championship Match: Damian Priest (C) vs. Drew McIntyre
• WWE Women's Championship Match: Bayley (C) vs. Piper Niven

WWE's Clash at the Castle takes place in Glasgow, Scotland on June 15th, and will stream live on Peacock at 2 PM EST.

What do you want to see next for the Judgement Day and Dominik Mysterio? You can talk all things wrestling with me on Threads and Twitter @mattaguilarcb!

William Regal recently reunited with his fellow Blackpool Combat Club stablemates.

The WWE Hall of Famer shared a quick snap to his social media this afternoon of himself, Wheeler Yuta and Claudio Castagnoli smiling at Madison Square Garden for the US Darts Masters. Regal departed AEW at the end 2022, expressing a desire to work with his son Charlie Dempsey who is part of the NXT brand. At the time, he was wrapped up in storyline that had been building between the BCC, so in an effort to make his departure as cohesive as possible, Regal turned on the group on his way out, shocking many fans. He explained that his turn was for a number of reasons, but mostly because he wanted to teach the BCC their final lesson, that you always must remain one step ahead of your opponent and have eyes in the back of your head.

Regal then returned to WWE in a new role but was unable to appear on WWE programming for a year, per the terms of his agreement with AEW President Tony Khan. At the beginning of 2024 Regal made his long-awaited return to television to help announce Ava Raine as NXT's new General Manager.

In the early 2000s, Regal, though still an active wrestler at the time, became acting general manager of WWE Raw when he won a battle royal. In the early years of NXT, Regal acted as a "pro" to various "rookie" wrestlers but when the brand began to find its own identity, Regal became known as the NXT General Manager. He had been an integral part of the show for eight years but was let go in 2022 in a round of talent cuts. In those years, Regal became synonymous with the NXT brand though his release ended his over two decade tenure with the WWE.

Yuta told Comicbook last July that despite Regal leaving AEW, they all still keep in touch with him. "It's definitely weird that he's not with us physically at the shows, but he's definitely always with us in the lessons that he taught us and all the tools he gave us going forward." This is the first time Yuta has been spotted since an injury he suffered in January. He was slated to appear at a scheduled match for the BCC in CMLL in March against Blue Panther, M?stico, Volador Jr., and Ultimo Guerrero, but was unable to make it.

Check out the sweet photo of Regal with his former BCC crew below.

The BCC at the @OfficialPDC at MSG. pic.twitter.com/UeH7Xi8tyR

-- William Regal (@RealKingRegal) June 1, 2024

Stay tuned to Comicbook for updates on Regal and WWE.

Tonight's WWE SmackDown featured more fallout from King & Queen of the Ring and highlighted the new Queen of SmackDown Nia Jax, but much of the attention was focused on AJ Styles. After his loss to Cody Rhodes at Backlash, Styles has been trying to get another shot at the Title, and it seemed that after failing to secure that shot, Styles was stepping away from the ring. As you might have surmised, that didn't happen, and Rhodes ended up getting brutally attacked, but that was just one of several standout moments from the episode, and we're here to recap the big events and reveal what stood out as the best and worst moments of the night.

BEST MOMENTS:

Queen Nia: All hail Queen Nia, because she is absolutely rolling with the crown. Nia defeating fan-favorite Lyra Valkyria was certainly a shock for some at Queen of the Ring, but if tonight is any indication, she is going to flourish in the royal role. The aura Nia's projecting seems effortless, and she's found a brilliant mix of lighthearted lethality that just works. I didn't expect to be so taken with this, but if Nia gets some real time with this iteration of her persona, this could be a lot of fun.

Battle of the Microphone: You know what's a golden ticket idea? Getting two of WWE's best talkers together and igniting a feud, and WWE is doing just that with Carmelo Hayes vs LA Knight. Knight has become a WWE fave and has continually shown himself to be a top-tier talker, while Hayes is one of WWE's brightest prospects for his skills in the ring as well as on the mic. As you might imagine, these two have no issues delivering barbs back and forth, and it's letting both superstars shine every time they interact. Tonight was no different, and once the rivalry moves to the ring, it should only get better.

AJ Styles Fakes Out Everyone: A superstar teasing retirement only to reveal that isn't happening isn't new, so it's up to the superstar and the production to convey that it's an actual possibility and get past the viewer's innate disbelief. AJ Styles managed to do just that in the final segment of SmackDown, and while it took WWE hammering the point home throughout the night to initially sway me, Styles and Rhodes (seriously, he was almost crying at one point) managed to get it over the finish line by the segment's end, making the fake-out hit even harder. The brutality of the attack also helped, and now we get to continue a feud that will certainly deliver another fantastic battle in the ring. Well done Styles, well done.

WORST MOMENTS:

Missing Stars: There were a few SmackDown staples missing in action tonight, including Tiffany Stratton, and Randy Orton, and their presence was missed. That said, WWE did use the opportunity to shine a light on some other superstars, but even a brief cameo or segment to move their stories along would have been welcome, a lot like what WWE did with Bianca Belair, Jade Cargill, and Indi Hartwell.

Andrade Repeat: I'm incredibly happy to have Andrade on SmackDown now, though I was a bit disappointed to see him instantly put in a story with Legado Del Fantasma that involved being recruited. It just seems like we've seen that storyline a few times, and it has the potential to go a similar route that The LWO went with betrayals and the forming of new teams. The Angel aspect is interesting and is keeping me hooked, but hopefully, there's a twist to the usual formula in the future to keep this fresh.

Apollo's Loss: It's a shame that Andrade's win (which to be clear, he absolutely needed) came at the expense of Apollo Crews and his big return to SmackDown. Crews is someone who needs to be built back up, and a loss, even a distraction one, doesn't do him any favors. He's got a match next week against Angel, and perhaps Andrade will interfere to score Crews the win, but even then it's not like Crews is getting much shine from that, as the story is about Angel and Andrade. Hopefully Crews gets some more integral story or momentum in the near future.

HIGHLIGHTS OF THE NIGHT:

Queen of the Ring Makes Strong Impression: Nia Jax's demeanor and overall aura in the opening segment really solidified how good this character can be, which is even more impressive when people like Bayley, Chelsea Green, and Piper Niven all get involved in a segment without overshadowing Jax in any way. The Niven angle of possibly being Champ adds an interesting wrinkle as well, and Green was aces across the board tonight.

At the start of the show, Jax put the crown on her head and had something to share with the crowd (which unleashed you suck chants). "Let's get the facts straight. It's a fact that I am your Queen of the Ring! And as your Queen, I get a title shot at SummerSlam, so Bayley? Your queen is demanding your pretense in her ring right now," Jax said.

Bayley was more than happy to meet Jax in the ring, but she didn't make it there, as Chelsea Green and Piper Niven ambushed her and threw her into the barricade. Niven threw her into the opposite wall and then threw her into the ring, and while she fought back, she couldn't overcome the numbers game. That said, Jax wasn't very happy to see them, and Green had some words to share with the Queen. "By the time SummerSlam rolls around, your new Women's Champion is going to be my sweet pea spicy margarita Piper Niven," Green told Jax.

"I don't give a damn who the Champion is, because I'm going to annihilate her regardless," Jax said. "In a later segment, Bayley was being checked on, and despite her shoulder pain, she was going to be ready for a match later, and she would have Naomi's help. They would get their match later, but it would be Green and Niven walking away with the win.

Paul Heyman Teases Turn on the New Bloodline: One of the other more intriguing segments during the night was one involving Paul Heyman and The Bloodline. While he still has the Title of wise man, Solo Sikoa isn't really listening to Heyman these days, and that shows in who he has recruited to be in the faction in Roman Reigns' absence.

Heyman tried to appeal to Kevin Owens and tell him to think of his own safety by not antagonizing The Bloodline. Owens wasn't buying that Heyman was concerned for him, and in trying to convince Owens, Heyman started to voice his issues and concerns with the current group, revealing one key detail that Roman had actually denied Tama Tonga and Tonga Loa's inclusion in the Bloodline previously.

Heyman called them thugs and the word criminals was then thrown around. Heyman said before that Roman respected Owens, as did The Usos, even though they viewed him as an enemy. These people don't respect Owens at all and only want to hurt him, and Heyman got so frustrated that he threw the microphone toward Owens accidentally. He even said that he wished Roman was there, so it would seem a turn of some sort might be happening sooner than later for Heyman.

SMACKDOWN UPDATED RESULTS:

• Tommaso Ciampa def. Austin Theory
• Andrade def. Apollo Crews
• The Bloodline (Tama Tonga and Tonga Loa) def. The Street Profits
• Chelsea Green and Piper Niven def. Bayley and Naomi

NEXT WEEK'S SMACKDOWN CARD:

• Jade Cargill vs. Indi Hartwell
• Johnny Gargano vs. Grayson Waller
• Apollo Crews vs. Angel
• Solo Sikoa Annoints Tonga Loa

What did you think of SmackDown tonight? You can talk all things wrestling with me on Threads and Twitter @mattaguilarcb!

Things haven't been going AJ Styles' way lately, though that hasn't stopped him from delivering classics in the ring even in losing efforts. That led to a discussion between Styles and Nick Aldis, and tonight Styles had clearly made a decision, indicating that he was considering retirement. That continued to be a theme all throughout the episode, leading to the ending segment where he gave every indication he was walking away to be with his family more. He then brought out Cody Rhodes and told him he delivered one of his favorite matches of his career, but then things turned, with Styles brutally attacking Rhodes and making it clear he wasn't leaving. He proceeded to destroy Rhodes and hit a painful Styles Clash to cap off SmackDown.

Styles headed to the ring and said, "I gotta tell ya, I've been thinking of what Nick Aldis said over the past week. I've dwelled on it. If I wanted another opportunity at Cody Rhodes for the Title I'd have to go to the back of the line. He's doing his job, I understand that, and I dwelled on this, I thought about this all week, and I'm going to be honest with you guys, I just can't do that at this point in time in my career. At this point in time in my life, I just can't do that. I have been doing this for over 2 decades. I've been busting my body in these rings. Blood, sweat, tears, all over the world, you better believe it."

[MESSAGE SENT]#SmackDown pic.twitter.com/icgPSOCYou

-- WWE on FOX (@WWEonFOX) June 1, 2024

"So that I could become phenomenal, but this past week my son graduated high school. And I got to be there. We had his graduation party at my house, and it was beautiful, so many friends and family were there. And it was at that point clarity hit me in the head. How many of these have I missed? So instead of being the phenomenal AJ Styles, maybe I stay at home and be a phenomenal father," Styles said.

"Gallows. Anderson. Come here. I couldn't have done this without you. I love you. You guys are better than friends. You are my brothers, so if we have to do this one last time, let's do it right," Styles said before a Too Sweet. "But before I go, Cody I whispered something in your ear. I asked if you didn't mind coming out here when I called you. Well, Cody, now's the time."

Rhodes came out to the ring and looked emotional, as did Styles. "So before I came out here to do what I gotta do, I just wanted to look you in the eyes, face to face, and tell you I had one of the greatest matches I've ever had at Leone, France. The crowd was electric, and if I was going to have one last match that would be it, but just so you know, this is still the house that AJ Styles built. And I called you out here to hand you the keys," Styles said.

"We have only ever exchanged one text message between each other. After our match at Backlash I wanted to know if you were okay, and your response was, I'm all good little bro," Rhodes said. "I could say a lot about the decision you've made, but what's more important is that I say this on behalf of myself and a locker room you are a big bro for, thank you very much AJ Styles."

Styles celebrated around the ring with Rhodes, who lifted his arms up, but then Styles finally showed his true intent and clotheslined Rhodes. The Good Brothers kept security away as Styles destroyed Rhodes, slamming him into the steel steps and then the barricade before hitting a Styles Clash off the stairs and onto the floor. So Styles is clearly not retiring, and we are probably headed to a rematch sooner than later.

What did you think of the segment? You can talk all things wrestling with me on Threads and Twitter @mattaguilarcb!

The Tribal Chief has been seen in WWE since his momentous match against Cody Rhodes at WrestleMania 40, but that hasn't stopped The Bloodline from moving forward. How effective that's been kind of depends on who you ask, and as the weeks go by the wise man Paul Heyman can be seen becoming more and more frustrated with the direction the faction is taking. This frustration boiled over during tonight's SmackDown, as Heyman vented to Kevin Owens as he pleaded for him to leave The Bloodline alone, calling the new recruits thugs as the word criminals also got thrown around. He also told the crowd that he wanted Roman Reigns back just about more than anyone, indicating that Heyman could be close to a defection and turn on The Bloodline.

In a backstage segment, The Bloodline had a tense meeting, where Heyman offered his council, only to be shrugged off by Sikoa. Sikoa then said they had Cody in check without him even knowing it, while Heyman asked who he meant by "we". Heyman also asked about the violent people Sikoa had been recruiting, but Sikoa then set Tonga and Loa to take care of Kevin Owens.

Should @FightOwensFight take @HeymanHustle's advice?#SmackDown pic.twitter.com/NXz9cl9wy8

-- WWE on FOX (@WWEonFOX) June 1, 2024

Owens then had a promo in the ring, and Owens actually called The Bloodline out, and that brought Heyman to the ring. Heyman then said that there wasn't a person there who wanted Roman Reigns back more than he did after Roman chants filled the arena. Heyman then said that Roman turned down every new member Sikoa has recruited in the Bloodline because of what they would do and the effect they would have on the group, calling them sadistic thugs. Heyman then said they were looking for any excuse to take Owens out, and he pleaded with Owens to not antagonize them anymore.

Owens wasn't buying it though, and while he wasn't sure what this act was about, he knew it wasn't real. Owens went through all the things The Bloodline did to him over the past few years, and he's still here. Owens then said they were all done by people he respected, but this group is not, and he doesn't respect them.

Heyman then continued to get more upset, asking why doesn't anyone listen to him, and he accidentally threw the mic down and hit Owens. Owens threatened him but that drew Sikoa, Tonga, and Loa out, and then the Street Profits came out and provided backup, and a brawl broke out. An actual match followed, and The Bloodline would emerge victorious, much to the dismay of the Street Profits, Owens, and Heyman.

Do you think Heyman is about to turn on The Bloodline? You can talk all things wrestling with me on Threads and Twitter @mattaguilarcb!

WWE's Charlotte Flair (real name Ashley Fliehr) may not be actively wrestling right now, but she's keeping herself book and busy with her latest project, an indie horror You Lose You Die from director Carlos 'Spiff TV' Suarez. She shared the news on her social media earlier this month, writing, "So incredibly excited to be apart of this movie? You'll be in for a treat ???."

Charlotte Flair's Horror Debut

According to Deadline, You Lose You Die follows Mr. Fantastik (Freddy Rodriguez), a sociopathic tech expert who runs a show on the dark web with two other individuals that are just like him. Played by Flair and Anthony Alvarez respectively, Ms. Perfect and Mr. Creep host thousands of viewers who vote on what the prisoners will participate in. If the prisoners lose, the viewers are able to vote on what weapons will be used to kill them.

Flair today shared a first look image of her character on social media which shows her covered in blood. She's posing with her blonde hair slicked back in a bun while wearing a black patent leather bodysuit.

? ? pic.twitter.com/hgocyVEadP

-- Charlotte Flair (@MsCharlotteWWE) May 31, 2024

Flair was injured back in December during a match with Asuka on WWE SmackDown. After coming down off the ropes, she injured her ACL, MCL, and Meniscus. The devastating injury has kept her off television since as she has been recovering from the injuries. Although it would take a normal athlete around nine months to come back from something that severe, Flair has been consistently providing updates on her recovery that make it appear that the genetically superior wrestler will be back in the fold sooner than expected.

Flair made her Hollywood acting debut in 2017 with Psych: The Movie as Heather Rockwear. Since then she's only acted in one other project, Peacock's Punky Brewster series playing herself. Flair isn't the only WWE Superstar making a transition over to the big screen. Former Undisputed WWE Universal Champion Roman Reigns is currently in production on a film starring Seth Rogen, Keanu Reeves and Keke Palmer. The current Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes will make his return to acting in The Naked Gun reboot.

During a recent episode of Busted Open Radio, Ric Flair provided an update on his daughter and opened up about her filming You Lose You Die. ""It's been great. She's making a movie and all right now with my good friend Smith. She's over in Santa Domingo. It's been on her bucket list to make a movie, and it looks like it's going to be a pretty good deal," Flair said. "But, her recovery is just unbelievable. She attacked it from day one. Regardless of what she's doing, she still works out twice a day."

Stay tuned to Comicbook for updates on You Lose You Die, Flair, and WWE.

Netflix had some unfortunate news to share today, as it turns out the much anticpated battle between Mike Tyson and Jake Paul will have to wait a bit longer to become a reality. The announcement was made by Netflix and Most Valuable Promotions, revealing that after a follow-up consultation on a recent ulcer flare up, the recommendation is for Tyson to only do minimal to light training over the next few weeks. After that, he can return to full training with no limitations, but both Paul and Tyson are in agreement that both of them need to have equal training tome to prepare for the fight, so the fight is being postponed to later in the year.

The official statement from Most Valuable Promotions reads, "Both Mike and Jake are in agreement that it is only fair to ensure that both athletes have equal training mite to prepare for this important match and are able to compete at the highest level. The health and well-being of athletes is our top priority, and we fully support Mike in taking the necessary time to allow him to perform at the level he expects of himself."

The statement continues, reading, "Mike is expected to return to his full training schedule in the coming weeks and is eager to get back in the ring. MVP anticipates rescheduling the match to later this year at AT&T Stadium, and we look forward to an exciting and well-prepared contest between these two exceptional athletes. The new date of the fight will be announced by next Friday, June 7th."

"I want to thank my fans around the world for their support and understanding during this time. Unfortunately, due to my ulcer flare-up, I have been advised by my doctor to lighten my training for a few weeks to rest and recover," Tyson said. "My body is in better overall shape than it has been since the 1990s and I will be back to my full training schedule soon. Jake Paul, this may have bought you some time, but in the end you will still be knocked out and out of boxing for good. I appreciate everyone's patience and can't wait to deliver an unforgettable performance later this year."

"I fully support postponing the event so Mike Tyson has no excuses come fight night," Paul said. "My fans know I don't want to face Iron Mike at anything but his best, but let there be no mistake - when he steps into the ring with me, I will be ready to claim my W with a sensational finish. Paul vs Tyson will be one for the ages, and I promise to bring my best for this once-in-a-lifetime matchup."

The good news is that the match is still expected to take place at AT&T Stadium, and all purchased tickets for the fight will be honored for the new date. Purchasers don't have to do anything to keep their current tickets and seats, though for those who are unable to attend the new date, they are eligible for a refund at their original point of purchase.

Over the past few years WWE has increased its amount of Premium Live Events that take place overseas which has proven incredibly successful. It allows them to tap into markets they haven't before, especially on a wide scale. In 2024 alone, WWE has traveled to Australia for Elimination Chamber, France for WWE Backlash and Saudi Arabia for King and Queen of the Ring. In just a few weeks they'll head to Scotland for the country's first PLE where Drew McIntyre will challenge Damian Priest for the World Heavyweight Championship. While WWE's 2024 PLE schedule is set in stone, WWE Hall of Famer Rey Mysterio would like to see the sports giant travel to Mexico in the next three years.

"I'm hoping that it happens in the next three years. I think my people deserve something as good as a PLE. I'm truly hoping," Mysterio told Bleacher Report. "We have a huge stadium over there, Estadio Azteca, which I believe is being remodeled this year. I think the fans would go crazy. Mexico has always been an incredible crowd for wrestling and what better than to pay it off with WWE coming over there and giving them something as special as a PLE?"

WWE's Latin representation only continues to rise with the likes of the LWO and Legado Del Fantasma leading the charge on both main roster brands. But they're not on television to fill a quota, they're given meaningful storylines including both Priest and Bayley -- of Puerto Rican and Mexican-American descent, respectively -- as they are currently the company's world champions. Throughout WWE's vast history, they've never traveled to Mexico for a PLE. The wrestling heritage in Mexico is incredibly important and many of the professional wrestling world's greatest stars have wrestled in companies like AAA and CMLL.

In the past, there have been talks to bring WWE itself to Mexico and Japan much like the NXT U.K. brand. Though the U.K. sector is now defunct, WWE still has its finger on the pulse of wrestling everywhere, so working with promotions within Mexico is likely not out of the question. Years ago, The Wrestling Observer reported that WWE had been in talks with CMLL following the passing of Paco Alonso. At the time, WWE allegedly tried to purchase CMLL to begin their integration, but the deal fell through.

Stay tuned to Comicbook for updates on WWE.

It's contract season in WWE as many top superstars who signed deals back in 2019 have either re-signed with the company or their contracts are set to expire imminently. In the case of talent like Seth Rollins and Drew McIntyre, they both recently re-signed lucrative deals. McIntyre's came shortly after WrestleMania 40 when there was a lot of uncertainty about the status of his contract.

Elsewhere though, former WWE Women's World Champion Becky Lynch's contract is set to expire this weekend and if she hasn't yet signed a new one that would make her a free agent. Fightful Select and PWN Viper have learned that the high-flying Ricochet's contract is set to expire this summer.

Ricochet's run in WWE hasn't always presented him to his full capabilities, but when he gets a chance to shine he proves why he deserves the opportunity. He's been with WWE since 2018 and has become a multi-time champion during his six years with the company. Currently, Ricochet is the inaugural WWE Speed Champion which he won back in April. According to Fightful's report, discussions have begun between both sides to retain the former United States Champion.

The Wrestling Observer previously reported that Ricochet signed a five-year deal back in 2019. With over two decades of wrestling experience under his belt, Ricochet has wrestled for many of the world's most notable wrestling promotions, including New Japan Pro Wrestling, Dragon Gate, PWG, Lucha Underground, and RevPro.

One of Ricochet's greatest rivals, current AEW International Champion Will Ospreay, recently told Comicbook that he wants to see him make the jump to AEW. According to Ospreay, he's frustrated with Ricochet's booking in WWE and he wants people to "remember who he is."

"I don't know how much longer he has got in his contract, but I think it might be up soon, man, I don't know. I want him to know that there are people here that genuinely appreciate his work and I want to wrestle him again. I want him back here," Ospreay added. "I want him to know that there isn't a bar. You are the f--king bar."

Comicbook will continue to monitor WWE's contract situation and deliver updates as they come.

On Tuesday night's episode of WWE NXT, fans were in for a few surprises -- first, chart-topping female rapper Sexyy Red made an appearance to help unveil the NXT North American Women's Championship and reveal she's hosting NXT's upcoming PLE. Then the current TNA Knockouts World Champion Jordynne Grace reappeared to put her name into the bucket against Roxanne Perez and a former AEW wrestler made their shocking debut.

Ethan Page was recently quietly let go from AEW as fans noticed he no longer appeared on AEW's roster page. Although typically when someone pops up on WWE television it means they've signed a contract, Page has indicated that he remains a free agent. Shawn Michaels, the head of NXT's creative, opened up about how his debut came together, revealing that it was a "last minute thing" in an interview with Adrian Hernandez. "We're talking about big stuff. Of course, All Ego Ethan Page," Michaels said. "A lot of questions still that I have to get answered on that one because that was kind of a last minute thing."

"For us at NXT, it's always been about finding the best performers and best wrestlers we can find, but also cultivating our own," Michaels added when asked about the philosophy behind signing NXT talent. "No different then, even though it put me at odds with people when I was younger, this business is a little something for everybody. People always want to narrow everything down to one way of doing things. I've never done this job that way. What you like might not be something the person next to you likes. What I like is not the same as what others like. It's about having variety. It's certainly the philosophy that I've had and Hunter [Triple H] has. We just want to bring the best sports entertainment we can for everybody watching it. We want to put on banger after banger, fantastic wrestling matches. If we can have one that is entertaining in one way or a different way. The more open you are on different ideas and different creative possibilities, for us, putting ourselves in the seat of the fans. Hunter and I, at our core, are wrestling fans. That's certainly all we're trying to do. The possible matchups, these are all things we've thought out. Why not see if it's possible to see how many we can make happen. Can't hurt to give it a try" (h/t: Fightful).

Stay tuned for more on Ethan Page's contract situation and WWE.

"Ms. Grant has consented to a request by the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York to stay her case against Mr. McMahon, WWE and Mr. Laurinaitis, pursuant to a pending non-public investigation," said Ann Callis, Attorney for Janel Grant in a statement provided to Comicbook. "We will cooperate with all appropriate next steps."

Back in January, Grant filed a lawsuit against McMahon and Laurinaitis and WWE, accusing them of sexual abuse and trafficking. In one instance, Grant alleges that McMahon shared explicit photos of her with other WWE employees and people outside of the company. Per the lawsuit, Grant was pressured to resign from the WWE and forced to sign an NDA shortly before a "major financial deadline" for the company.

The suit claims Grant agreed to a $3 million settlement in exchange for signing an NDA back in 2022, but McMahon refused to make payments after the first installment. A spokesperson for McMahon at the time explained that the lawsuit was "replete with lies, obscene made-up instances that never occurred and a vindictive distortion of the truth. He will vigorously defend himself."

When initial allegations were levied against the former CEO and Chairman of WWE in 2022, he briefly retired from his position. Allegedly, McMahon paid millions of dollars to former WWE employees in order to keep alleged affairs and alleged sexual misconduct quiet. He was then the subject of an investigation by WWE's Board of Directors and once it was "substantially complete," Paul "Triple H" Levesque was appointed WWE's CCO while Stephanie McMahon and Nick Khan were momentarily named Co-CEOs.

McMahon returned to WWE last January despite an objection from the Board of Directors who believed that while government investigations into McMahon's conduct by the U.S. Attorney's Office and SEC were pending, it "would not be prudent from a shareholder value perspective." He instead became the Executive Chairman of the Board where he remained to help initiate a sale of WWE. The sale successfully went through in September of 2023, merging with the UFC to create the $21.4 billion sports giant known as TKO. McMahon has since resigned from TKO/WWE entirely following the allegations brought forth by Ms. Grant.

In February, a statement from Laurinaitis' legal team claimed that he was a "victim" of McMahon's "power [and] control." He retracted that statement in May when he filed to fight the allegations together with McMahon.

NWA owner Billy Corgan has a list of wrestlers he believes will become household names. Billy Corgan purchased the National Wrestling Alliance back in 2017, helping to bring the fledging company back to prominence with the revival of the NWA Worlds Championship, along with securing a television deal for his new reality show Billy Corgan's Adventures in Carnyland. Some iconic wrestlers have stepped foot in an NWA ring over the years, and there's a new crop of wrestlers looking to make a name for themselves. As far as names that fans should keep an eye out for, Corgan has a pretty impressive list.

Speaking to ComicBook while promoting Billy Corgan's Adventures in Carnyland, NWA owner Billy Corgan ran down the names of NWA wrestlers he thinks will be household names within five years. "Joe Alonzo, Kenzie Paige, Kerry Morton, Alex Taylor, Carson Drake, Kylie Paige, Kenzie's sister... I think we have in the neighborhood of 7-10 young talents who all have the capability to take it up to the next level," Corgan said. "Of course, when they do take it up to the higher level, I want them standing in an NWA ring. And that's why we made such a big commitment to younger talent, because I want to be there as they mature from the first stage of their wrestling career to the second stage."

He added, "Symbiotically, I want them to help the NWA grow, and in exchange, I want to help them grow as talent. If you look at who's scouting for us... Jazz, Patt Kenney, Dr. Tom Pritchard, Homicide... we've got some serious people who can look at a talent in the ring and maybe see something I can't see. I'm very grateful to them because our farm system is really starting to see the NWA turn into a new era."

You can watch the interview in the player above.

Billy Corgan comments on chance of NXT/NWA crossover

With WWE's NXT moving from USA Network to The CW this year, and Billy Corgan's Adventures in Carnyland also airing on CW, it's time to wonder if there could ever be a cross-promotional event between the two. Corgan says it's something he'd love to see happen.

"I would love that. With NXT coming [to The CW], we respect that. WWE is a huge, huge company. We've seen recently where they are reaching out to some independents," Corgan told ComicBook. "They worked recently, of course, with TNA. I would love to work with the WWE but we don't sort of thinking on it in the sense like we're waiting for the phone to ring, but I would love to work with them."

WWE has embraced the greater wrestling world since the Triple H regime took power. TNA Knockouts Champion Jordynne Grace wrestled at WWE Royal Rumble. Shinsuke Nakamura competed in a one-off match for Pro Wrestling NOAH. Karl Anderson was able to finish his NJPW commitments, including a match at NJPW Wrestle Kingdom 17, while on an active WWE contract.

"I've certainly interacted with them through the years, both before I was in wrestling and then of course, now being in wrestling," Corgan said of his relationship with WWE. "They've always treated me great. I have nothing bad to say about them. They're a class organization through and through as far as how they treat people like myself. My experience has been so positive. I have nothing but good feelings towards them."

Billy Corgan's Adventures in Carnyland is now streaming on The CW App.

The main event of tonight's AEW Dynamite was the anticipated Forbidden Door Casino Gauntlet match, which would include a host of stars from AEW, New Japan, and CMLL stars vying for a shot at the AEW Championship. The match lived up to the billing, with surprise names in the mix that no one expected, including Lio Rush and Hechicero. Will Ospreay was also featured, as was Orange Cassidy, who was still hurt from the attack earlier in the show. The two would collide in the match's epic finale, with Ospreay avoiding a pin and capping off the night with a huge win by pinning Cassidy. Ospreay will now face Swerve Strickland for his AEW Championship at Forbidden Door.

Jay White and PAC hit the ring first, and PAC was instantly the aggressor, keeping White pinned to the mat by using his jacket before throwing the Bang Bang Gang leader to the floor. PAC threw White into the barricade and then slammed him into another one, and he continued to connect with big offense as he threw White back to the floor with a flip over the ropes.

THE BILLY GOAT DID IT!

Will Ospreay will challenge #AEW World Champion Swerve Strickland at #ForbiddenDoor on June 30th!

Watch #AEWDynamite LIVE on TBS!@WillOspreay | @SwerveConfident pic.twitter.com/Ywzbx7Eelf

-- All Elite Wrestling (@AEW) May 30, 2024

White finally got to his feet and got some offense in and then Mistico entered the match. Mistico knocked both White and PAC to the floor and then leaped off the top turnbuckle and knocked them to the floor once more. White tried to halt his momentum by attempting to take off his mask, but he was unsuccessful. White then jumped outside and slammed PAC into the barricade before turning back to Mistico, but PAC threw White outside of the ring to the floor to break up a cover attempt.

Mistico clocked White with kicks to the head and went for a pin, but White kicked out of it. PAC looked to punish Jay on the outside, stomping on him numerous times, and then the fourth and final member of the match was finally revealed to be Will Ospreay. Ospreay hit a big slam on Mistico, and then Ospreay came face to face with Jay White. Ospreay then sent White reeling but that almost led to a roll-up win by PAC. Mistico then collided with both PAC and Ospreay, and that led to the next man in the match making their way to the ring, which was revealed to be Shota Umino. Umino went on a tear, clearing the ring except for Ospreay, and the two stars collided with an array of offense before White broke it up.

White then connected with vicious chops on Umino and Ospreay, which led to the next person in the match. That was none other than Claudio Castagnoli, who connected with uppercuts and stomps as he chased Jay White around the ring. Claudio even clotheslined Ospreay on his way back into the ring, but White would break up a pin attempt. Castagnoli then hooked White in the swing, and he did the same thing to Ospreay.

Castagnoli then collided with Umino and they traded uppercuts. Castagnoli waited in the ring for the next person, and it was revealed to be Lio Rush. Rush and Castagnoli traded offense but Rush made it all but impossible for Claudio to get a hit in. Then Orange Cassidy came in, despite being brutally beaten earlier in the night by Trent.

Cassidy was ready to go, but the attack certainly had an effect on him. That led to a face-off with Ospreay, but White broke that up and delivered a slam to Ospreay that knocked him out of the fight. Next in was Hechicero, who wiped out everyone with an impressive array of moves and went for a submission on Ospreay. Cassidy tried to pin him but he came right back and sent Ospreay out of the ring. Mistico was back in the mix but then Juice Robinson got involved and helped White get the better of Cassidy. Ospreay was back in and went for the storm breaker but Cassidy reversed it and almost pinned him. Osprey then got the big slam and the win, and will now face Swerve Strickland for the AEW Championship at Forbidden Door.

What did you think of the match? You can talk all things wrestling with me on Threads and Twitter @mattaguilarcb!

Adam Copeland successfully retained the TNT Championship at AEW Double or Nothing, defeating Malakai Black in an absolutely devastating Barbed Wire Cage Match. Unfortunately, that gruesome match came at a great cost to the champ. Copeland revealed after Double or Nothing that he fractured his tibia during the match, putting him on crutches and requiring the iconic wrestler to undergo another surgery.

After that announcement, it was clear that Copeland would have to vacate his TNT Championship while he recovered from the injury. That means a new TNT Champion is going to be crowned, and the latest episode of AEW Dynamite revealed exactly how the new title-holder will be determined.

Initially, EVPs Matthew and Nicholas Jackson came out into the ring during Dynamite and announced that they were stripping Copeland of his title. They then revealed that they'd be giving the TNT Championship to Jack Perry, another member of The Elite, after he pinned Bryan Danielson during the Anarchy in the Arena match at Double or Nothing. Fortunately for the rest of the AEW roster that wants a shot at that title, Christopher Daniels saved the day.

While the Jacksons fired Daniels a few weeks ago, he arrived on Wednesday night with news that Tony Khan had personally hired him to become a new, temporary EVP, making decisions and announcements in his absence. That means Daniels is essentially the mouthpiece for Khan at the moment, and he revealed the new plan for the TNT Championship.

The next few weeks will feature a series of qualifying matches on AEW shows. The winners will earn a spot in the TNT Championship bout at Forbidden Door at the end of June, which will be a ladder match to determine the new champion.

AEW Double or Nothing Results

• AEW World Championship: Swerve Strickland (c) vs. Christian Cage

• AEW TBS Championship: Willow Nightingale (c) vs. Mercedes Mon?

• Anarchy in the Arena: The Elite (The Young Bucks, Kazuchika Okada, Jack Perry) vs. Team AEW (FTR, Bryan Danielson, Darby Allin)

• AEW TNT Championship - Barbed Wire Cage Match: Adam Copeland (c) vs. Malakai Black

• AEW Women's Championship: "Timeless" Toni Storm (c) vs. Serena Deeb

• AEW International Championship: Roderick Strong (c) vs. Will Ospreay

• Unified Trios Championships: Bullet Club Gold (c) vs. Death Triangle

• FTW Championship: Chris Jericho (c) vs. HOOK vs. Katsuyori Shibata

• Trent Beretta vs. Orange Cassidy

• IWGP World Heavyweight Championship Eliminator Match: Jon Moxley (c) vs. Konosuke Takeshita

Mercedes Mone didn't have to wait long to receive her next Championship challenger, as after winning the TBS Championship at Double or Nothing, she received her first post-title opponent on tonight's AEW Dynamite. Mone would find out that it was Skye Blue who attacked her earlier this year, and Blue called out Mone for a shot at the TBS Championship. That match happened tonight as well, and Blue certainly gave Mone a run for her money. Mone would ultimately come away with the win, but she then received her next challenge in New Japan Strong Women's Champion Stephanie Vaquer.

Skye went for a strike but Mone countered and then slammed Blue into several turnbuckles. An arm drag and a dropkick followed, but Blue kicked out of the pin attempt quickly. Mone threw Blue to the other side of the ring with a hurricanrana, and then a Meteora connected and drove Blue to the floor. Mone went for another pin, but Blue kicked out.

Is #NJPW Strong Women's Champion Stephanie Vaquer calling her shot against #TBS Champion Mercedes Mon??!

Watch #AEWDynamite LIVE on TBS!@Steph_Vaquer | @MercedesVarnado pic.twitter.com/XIzmLS2s14

-- All Elite Wrestling (@AEW) May 30, 2024

Blue turned things around and knocked the Champion off her feet, and Blue returned the favor from earlier with slams into the turnbuckle. Blue stayed aggressive, clubbing Mone in the back with a forearm shot and then locking in a hold to keep her grounded. Mone was able to counter that and connect with a dropkick to the side of the head, but Blue came back with a dropkick of her own that floored the Champ.

A pin attempt followed but Mone kicked out. Mone was able to get some momentum with a knee strike and followed it with a backstabber into a cover, but Blue kicked out of the pin. Blue responded with a vicious kick to the head, but then Mone reversed a move and sent the challenger reeling. Blue slammed Mone down face-first to the mat and went for a pin, but Mone managed to kick out of the cover.

Mone reversed a move and then the two stars traded kicks, but Mone revised a move and hit the Mone Maker into a pin. That was enough for the win, but Mone didn't get a chance to really enjoy it, as New Japan Strong Women's Champion Stephanie Vaquer came out to face down Mone. While there were few words exchanged, both stars held up their Championships and made it clear that a battle for those Titles was likely on the way.

The place for that to happen would obviously be Forbidden Door, and with that pay-per-view not so far away, this match will likely get cemented sooner rather than later. For now it's not official, but hopefully that will change soon.

As for Forbidden Door, the future is bright for the pay-per-view, which has in the past been limited in some ways due to unfortunate injuries. That's had an effect on past dream matches, and while there are certainly injuries at the moment that will keep some stars out of the mix (Kenny Omega, Eddie Kingston, and Adam Copeland for instance), there are a host of stars that are ready to go, including Swerve Strickland, Toni Storm, Mercedes Mone, The Elite, Bryan Danielson, Jon Moxley, and more.

What did you think of the match? You can talk all things wrestling with me on Threads and Twitter @mattaguilarcb!

All Elite Wrestling and Warner Bros. Discovery's exclusive negotiating window is on the clock. Earlier this week, it was reported that WBD has until July to land a deal with AEW without having to bid against other potential suitors. AEW's broadcast partnership with WBD began in Fall 2019 with the launch of AEW Dynamite and has expanded in content volume since, as both AEW Rampage and AEW Collision have been added to WBD networks TBS and TNT's weekly slates. While specifics surrounding AEW and WBD's negotiations have been kept close to the vest, it was recently reported that AEW President Tony Khan is "disappointed" by the current offer on the table.

Warner Bros. Discovery Executives Attend AEW Dynamite

Warner Bros. Discovery is getting an up-close look at the AEW product tonight.

As reported by PWInsider, a "contingent" of Warner Bros. Discovery executives and staff members are attending tonight's AEW Dynamite from Los Angeles's KIA Forum. One notable name amongst the executive ensemble is Associate General Manager and Senior Vice President, Programming & Operations, TNT, TBS, and truTV Sam Linsky. Linsky is said to be a "big champion" for AEW throughout the company's five years under the WBD umbrella.

AEW's media rights deal with WBD expires at the end of the year. With WBD set to lose NBA games after this season, there is belief that the media conglomerate will look to fill that basketball void by putting an added emphasis on its other live sporting asset, that being AEW.

One way that could come to be is by bringing AEW content to WBD's streaming service, Max. Fans have long pushed for Max to not only host AEW's content library, but also livestream its monthly pay-per-views.

"Something I would be really excited about would be bringing AEW to Max," AEW President Tony Khan said earlier this year. "We've talked about it, it just needs to make sense for everybody. I think when we find a streaming home for AEW, that's going to be a long-term plan, and given that we're up at the end of this year, I think one of the reasons I've wanted to wait is I think when we get the streaming contract figured out, it should be a long-term solution."

Stay tuned to ComicBook for updates on AEW and WBD's negotiations.

Drew McIntyre is finally getting his WWE World Heavyweight Championship rematch. After defeating Seth Rollins to capture the prize at WWE WrestleMania 40, McIntyre taunted rival CM Punk, who provided guest commentary during the match. Punk responded by attacking McIntyre with his triceps brace, leaving the Scottish Warrior prone to a Money in the Bank cash-in from Damian Priest. Priest has reigned with the title ever since while McIntyre has been obsessed with taking down Punk, who remains shelved with a triceps injury. During this time, McIntyre himself suffered an elbow injury, forcing him to step away from the ring for the short term.

Earlier this month on WWE Monday Night Raw, Priest promised McIntyre a WWE World Heavyweight Championship match as soon as he is cleared. WWE Chief Content Officer Paul "Triple H" Levesque has since announced that McIntyre is cleared for competition and has made Priest vs. McIntyre official for the WWE Clash at the Castle premium live event next month in McIntyre's home country of Scotland.

WWE Spoils Clash at the Castle Main Event?

Home country advantage might not be a thing for Drew McIntyre next month.

Taking to social media, the official Madison Square Garden account revealed that the June 28th edition of WWE SmackDown will host a WWE World Heavyweight Championship match between titleholder Damian Priest and Jey Uso. It is unclear as to if this advertised bout will happen on the broadcast or will be exclusive for the fans in attendance as a dark match.

JUST ANNOUNCED! From Monday Night RAW see Damian Priest vs. Jey Uso live in a World Heavyweight Championship Match at Friday Night SmackDown on Fri, Jun 28 at The Garden!

?: https://t.co/AXrETv9a0b pic.twitter.com/HIxbTOpTdC

-- MSG (@TheGarden) May 28, 2024

Regardless of who gets to see the match, the stipulation suggests that Priest will retain his WWE World Heavyweight Championship at WWE Clash at the Castle on June 15th. This has led to speculation that CM Punk will cost McIntyre the win again, much like he did at both WWE WrestleMania 40 and on the WWE Monday Night Raw the next day in a WWE World Heavyweight Championship No.1 Contender's Match.

That said, the golden asterisk with all professional wrestling is that card is subject to change. That could mean that Priest vs. Uso on the June 28th WWE SmackDown is just a standard singles match, rekindling their rivalry from WWE Backlash earlier this year, or it will be pivoted to McIntyre vs. Uso with McIntyre's newly-won WWE World Heavyweight Championship on the line.

WWE Clash at the Castle goes down on Saturday, June 15th.

Ethan Page stunned the wrestling world on Tuesday. Over the past couple of weeks, members of The Meta-Four had been taken out backstage, and given the group's feud with NXT Champion Trick Williams, all eyes looked to Trick as the top suspect. The Meta-Four's Lash Legend, Trick's real-life partner, confronted him about the attacks in an effort to clear his name. As the two were speaking, the lights went out, and when they came back on, Ethan Page was laying waste to Trick. This marked Page's first televised appearance inside a wrestling ring in months, as he had last been seen competing for AEW and Ring of Honor this past winter.

Ethan Page Claims Free Agent Status Following NXT Debut

Is All Ego under WWE contract?

Taking to social media, Ethan Page addressed his WWE NXT debut, gloating about the social reach his shock appearance had.

"Millions of views across all social platforms. That's pretty heavy," Page said. "I'd even say that's a bit of buying power for Ethan Page."

pic.twitter.com/XEdS4moa1v

-- "All Ego" Ethan Page (@OfficialEGO) May 29, 2024

That "buying power" is related to Page's wrestling future, as the former AEW star claims he is still a free agent.

"Contrary to popular belief, Ethan Page is not signed to any company or any contract," Page continued. "I'm going to just assume that Trick Williams would love to get a little payback and revenge on Ethan Page. NXT, I'm going to leave this one to you. Ball is in your court. All Ego is all ears. I'm going to assume someone in that company has my number. I'll wait for the call."

Page quietly left AEW earlier this spring, as he was officially removed from the AEW roster page on May 2nd. He had reportedly been looking to move on from AEW as far back as February. Despite this video claiming otherwise, PWInsider reports that Page is in fact on a WWE contract and was at the WWE Performance Center last week "under the cover of extreme darkness."

Page spent three years with AEW, initially debuting at AEW Revolution 2021. He was a regular victim of start-stop booking, as he would occasionally be put in high-profile spots, such as wrestling Sting in his first traditional in-ring match in six years or being hand-picked by MJF in the formation of The Firm, but these moments never materialized into momentum. Page's final AEW match came against Kenny Omega on a December 2023 edition of AEW Collision. That match was also Omega's final contest before taking a leave of absence to recover from diverticulitis.

Will Ospreay may be a relative newcomer to the AEW locker room, but he is all too familiar with many of his fellow roster members. The Aerial Assassin spent years on the British independent circuit not far from AEW Women's Champion Toni Storm, danced to "Uptown Funk" with AEW World Champion Swerve Strickland, and even bested former AEW International Champion Roderick Strong nine years before beating him for that very title at AEW Double or Nothing. While most of his past with the AEW roster is looked upon fondly, the same cannot be said for Ospreay's pre-AEW relationship with Kenny Omega.

Prior to signing with AEW in November 2023, Ospreay was engaged in a bitter social media beef with the Best Bout Machine. Omega criticized Ospreay for not being able to fill the void he left in New Japan Pro Wrestling as the company's top gaijin, despite the fact that much of Ospreay's years in that position were spent during the COVID-19 pandemic were crowds were limited in capacity and restrained in cheering ability.

Ospreay and Omega's Twitter fingers turned to trigger fingers at NJPW Wrestle Kingdom 17 in a critically-acclaimed contest that saw Omega leave with the victory. Ospreay got his victory back six months later at AEW x NJPW Forbidden Door 2023. Omega is currently out of action battling diverticulitis, leaving any potential plans to conclude the trilogy on the back burner for now.

Will Ospreay On Sharing a Locker Room With Kenny Omega

The Aerial Assassin and The Cleaner have kept their distance.

When asked by ComicBook's Liam Crowley if he had spoken to Kenny Omega since officially signing with AEW, Will Ospreay responded bluntly.

"No," Ospreay said. "I don't want to."

Crowley expressed hope that the next time the two cross paths will be in the squared circle, which Ospreay noted will come with violence.

"Yeah, well, any opportunity I get to pave that little c--t's head in," Ospreay added. "Anytime, mate, any f--king time."

Omega last appeared on AEW programming on the May 1st edition of AEW Dynamite, cutting an emotional promo about his current health condition and the risks of getting back in the ring. He was attacked by The Elite and has been written out of programming to undergo surgery for his diverticulitis. Ospreay currently reigns with the AEW International Championship and is undefeated since joining the company full-time this past March.

WWE's streak of extending its main event talents' contracts comes to an end this week. After successfully landing new deals with WWE World Heavyweight Champion Damian Priest, Seth Rollins, Finn Balor, and Drew McIntyre, WWE was unable to come to terms with Becky Lynch before her current contract expires at the end of this month. Lynch lost the WWE Women's World Championship at WWE King and Queen of the Ring as well as her subsequent title rematch this week on WWE Monday Night Raw. She is now expected to take a break from wrestling entirely, as she reportedly will not put pen to paper on a new wrestling contract, regardless of the company, for some time.

Chris Jericho Speaks on Becky Lynch's Free Agency

Even if her intention is to stay with WWE, the possibility alone of Becky Lynch taking her talents elsewhere has stirred conversation within the wrestling industry.

Speaking to TMZ Sports, AEW star Chris Jericho weighed in on Lynch's free agency, noting her contract status is news to him.

"I don't. I just found out. You probably know more than I do," Jericho said. "Once again, the speculation of it is the best part. Whether it happens or doesn't happen, it doesn't matter that the buzz about it is there."

Jericho is an AEW original, having joined the company immediately upon its inception. Beyond what he does with AEW in the ring, he has seen the effect that the start-up has had on the wrestling industry as a whole.

"The best thing that ever happened to pro wrestling in the modern era was AEW existing," Jericho continued. "My dad played for the NHL for ten years. He was playing for the New York Rangers in 1972. Bobby Hull signed with the WHA and got a million dollars to jump from the NHL. And what did that do? It raised everybody's salaries."

Lynch is expected to stay with WWE, as her husband Seth Rollins recently re-signed a multi-year deal with the company, and the pair's parental status has many believing they will want to continue working the same schedule. That's not to say AEW won't make a play for Lynch, as speculation has already sizzled that AEW President Tony Khan's pocketbooks are deep enough to offer Lynch the largest contract in women's wrestling history.

"Five years ago, Becky would have no other options. [I'm] not saying that she's coming, but there is an option," Jericho added. "Who knows what could happen? No one thought that I would come to AEW, no one thought that Moxley would come, or Bryan Danielson, or Adam Cole, or any of these guys that have come over. It's exciting for the fans and it's exciting for the wrestlers and the talent because now, suddenly, there's a bidding war that benefits us."

All Elite Wrestling is set to lose another veteran backstage presence. Days after WWE Hall of Famer Mark Henry revealed that he will not be renewing his AEW contract when it expires later this month, wrestling legend Arn Anderson shared the same sentiment. Anderson is essentially an AEW original, having debuted at the first AEW All Out in 2019 to help fend off former stablemate Tully Blanchard and ensure a fair fight between Cody Rhodes and Shawn Spears. Anderson went on to sign with AEW and hold an on-screen role as Rhodes's "head coach," serving as the American Nightmare's manager throughout his AEW run.

When Rhodes left AEW in January 2022, Anderson's role reduced drastically. He would occasionally pop up to support his son, Brock Anderson, before Brock quietly exited AEW last October. Now, Anderson announced that he is departing the company when his deal expires this Friday.

"I just wanted to say thank you to Tony Khan," Anderson said on his ARN podcast. "Believe it or not, the 31st is the last day on my contract. I just want to say thank you. I appreciate everything. That goes to everybody that works there. All my friends, Tony Schiavone, JR, all those guys, all the talent. [Dean Malenko], obviously, Billy Gunn, all that crew. [Jerry Lynn]. Everybody was great. So I just want to say thank you and see you down the road."

Anderson's wrestling future is uncertain, but the timing of his release coincidentally aligns with recent notable comments from Rhodes.

"I don't know, maybe I'm looking for the classic wrestling manager to join me on this title reign," Rhodes said in an interview just last week. "I don't know who that is or what that is but it just felt like I wouldn't mind someone to holler the stuff that you just did.

"One of the reasons I liked having Arn Anderson around was the same reason I would have loved to have my dad around me," Rhodes continued. "It was nice to have a guy over my shoulder say what you just said and say we're not apologizing for greatness where mediocrity loves company and we're not joining that company. It was nice to have that voice in your ear."

Stay tuned to ComicBook for updates on Anderson's wrestling status and his potential reunion with Rhodes in WWE.

The prohibited portal has been opened. This past Tuesday on WWE NXT, TNA Knockouts Champion Jordynne Grace was revealed to be NXT Women's Champion Roxanne Perez's next challenger, as the two will do battle for the white and gold's prize at NXT Battleground on June 9th. While Grace is somewhat of a familiar face to WWE audiences, having competed in the Women's Royal Rumble in January, her WWE NXT appearance was no less unprecedented. Surprises are to be expected at WWE Royal Rumble and the sheer volume of them often leaves each individual entrant with only a minute or two to showcase. Grace's NXT appearance and upcoming match puts a full spotlight on not just her, but TNA as a whole.

More TNA x WWE Collaborations Expected

Jordynne Grace's WWE NXT debut was just the beginning.

As reported by PWInsider, the TNA Knockouts Champion's match at NXT Battleground next month "will not be the only collaboration" between WWE and TNA "in the days ahead." There is said to be a belief that there will be NXT representation in some form on future TNA events.

Grace's WWE NXT appearance caught the attention of just about the entire TNA roster, as many of the promotion's top stars took to social to express interest in following Grace through the prohibited portal.

"WWE NXT yall need one of the best tag teams in the world or??" former TNA Tag Team Champion Chris Bey wrote alongside a gif of himself and tag partner Ace Austin.

"I had a shot at your cruiserweight title. I should return the favor...," TNA X-Division Champion Mustafa Ali responded to WWE's Cedric Alexander.

The beginning of this supposed working relationship between WWE and TNA began at WWE Royal Rumble in January, when Grace appeared in the titular women's battle royal.

"I got a call from (then TNA President) Scott [D'Amore]. They had called him and asked him if they could loan me for the Women's Royal Rumble. He had asked me if I want to do it, and obviously I'm not going to say no. That's a huge event, huge opportunity," Grace told ComicBook in an interview earlier this year. "[Triple H and I] didn't chat, but we did have an introduction very briefly, and then I had shot him a text saying thank you afterwards, and he thanked me. Neither one of us are trying to get in trouble in the legal aspect of those kind of things. It was more of a, 'Thank you for being here.'"

WWE has loosened the locks on its own forbidden door. Since Paul "Triple H" Levesque took the reins as WWE Chief Content Officer, the global leader in sports-entertainment has been open and willing to send its talent to other promotions for one-off matches. Shinsuke Nakamura squared off against The Great Muta during his retirement tour in Pro Wrestling NOAH. NXT's Charlie Dempsey competed in a couple of contests for All-Japan Pro Wrestling. Shayna Baszler showed off her cage-fighting roots during WWE WrestleMania 40 weekend when she fought at GCW Bloodsport. The crossovers have also gone the other way, as TNA Knockouts Champion Jordynne Grace entered the Women's Royal Rumble this past January.

While Grace's WWE Royal Rumble participation aligned with the premium live event's surprise nature, her return to WWE is what really came off as unprecedented. Grace, still reigning as TNA Knockouts Champion, made a shock appearance on WWE NXT and was announced as NXT Women's Champion Roxanne Perez's next challenger.

Jordynne Grace Releases Forbidden Door-Inspired Shirt

Jordynne Grace is having fun with the circumstances surrounding her WWE return.

Sharing on social media, the TNA Knockouts Champion revealed that she has released a "prohibited portal" shirt, with the aforementioned aliterated words in the WrestleMania font.

"Prohibited portal" is a parody of the "forbidden door" terminology AEW coined to describe when it crosses over with other companies, namely New Japan Pro Wrestling. It is also the name of a culminating crossover pay-per-view, AEW x NJPW Forbidden Door, which is an annual event in June.

One person who does not care for the "forbidden door" terminology is WWE Chief Content Officer Paul "Triple H" Levesque. Speaking at the WWE Royal Rumble post-show press conference, Triple H praised Grace while dismissing the "stupid and silly" crossover term.

"I want to thank [TNA] for allowing her to be here and allowing her to participate in the Royal Rumble. I thought she had a spectacular showing tonight. She's an amazing talent. It's exciting to be able to branch out," Triple H said. "I'm not going to use all the cliche terms about what door people go through or anything like that because it's stupid and silly. Partnerships and opportunities like this come along for some people once in a lifetime. I'm glad she had that opportunity. It's well deserved, she's an incredible talent."

Grace makes her singles WWE debut next Tuesday, June 4th on WWE NXT.

WWE NXT was loaded with surprises tonight, including the reveal that TNA Knockouts Champion Jordynne Grace would be challenging Roxanne Perez for the NXT Women's Championship. It was safe to assume that Jordynne would be the biggest surprise of the night, but NXT had one more stunning moment up its sleeve, which it saved for the final moments of the episode. In the ending segment, Trick Williams was confronted by Lash Legend over the attacks on the Meta-Four, but before he could respond to her question, he was attacked by a new addition to the roster, which was shockingly former AEW star Ethan Page.

After Williams and Je'Von Evans got some key help from Sexyy Red to take down Gallus, Legend headed to the ring to ask Williams if he was really behind the attacks on Noam Dar and Oro Mensah. Williams was about to respond, but then the lights went out. When they came back on, Williams and Legend looked at each other to see what happened, but the crowd was already reacting to someone else heading to the ring.

OH. MY. GOD. @OfficialEGO just took out @_trickwilliams ?#WWENXT pic.twitter.com/KcI1bRKc5J

-- WWE (@WWE) May 29, 2024

The attacker then shoved Williams down to the ground and started attacking him, unleashing an array of strikes on the Champion. Page then revealed he was the one behind the string of attacks, saying, "Hey Trick, I took out Noam. i took out Oro." Williams got himself to the corner turnbuckle while Page spoke to the camera, saying, "Woop that Trick? Yeah, I'm about to."

Page then charged across the ring and delivered a vicious knee to the side of Williams' head, leaving him knocked out. The crowd started chanting "Ethan Page" as the episode came to a close, so the NXT crowd already knows who All Ego is, though this was a rough introduction for the NXT Champion.

With only one more week until NXT Battleground, we could be looking at who Williams will face for the Title, though it may be too soon for that to happen if NXT wants to build this feud into a bigger rivalry. Even if Williams isn't battling Page for the Title at Battleground, we could see Page having some sort of involvement in the match, but we'll have to wait and see. In the meantime, you can find the updated card for NXT Battleground below.

NXT Battleground Updated Card:

• NXT Battleground Host: Sexyy Red
• NXT Women's Championship Match: Roxanne Perez (C) vs. Jordynne Grace (C)
• NXT North American Championship Triple Threat Match: Oba Femi (C) vs Wes Lee vs Joe Coffey
• NXT Women's North American Championship Ladder Match: Sol Ruca vs Lash Legend vs Fallon Henley vs Jaida Parker vs Michin vs Kelani Jordan
• NXT Tag Team Championships Match: Axiom and Nathan Frazer (C) vs. The Good Brothers
• NXT Underground Match: Lola Vice vs Shayna Baszler

NXT Battleground takes place at the UFC Apex on June 9th.

What did you think of Ethan Page's NXT debut? You can talk all things wrestling with me on Threads and Twitter @mattaguilarcb!

WWE NXT Women's Champion Roxanne Perez was not too happy about having to wait to find out who she would be facing at NXT Battleground, and she made that fact known once she got to the ring tonight. Perez stated that she is the first NXT Women's Champion in some time to value the Title and not use it as a stepping stone, and she kept yelling at NXT General Manager Ava Raine to reveal her opponent. Raine did just that, and you won't believe who it is either, as Raine revealed Perez will be facing the TNA Knockouts Champion herself Jordynne Grace at NXT Battleground.

Perez had enough of waiting to find out her opponent and revealed the one thing her and Raine agree on. "As the face of the NXT Women's Division, the best Women's Division in all of wrestling, the only thing me and Ava can agree on," Perez said. "I deserve to be treated better. But okay Ava, you don't want to give me the respect I deserve? Who the hell is it going to be Ava?"

IT'S JORDYNNE GRACE!!!@JordynneGrace will be @roxanne_wwe's opponent at #NXTBattleground ?#WWENXT pic.twitter.com/vFzvsyyTCu

-- WWE (@WWE) May 29, 2024

Raine came to the ring and addressed the Champion, telling her she never said she wasn't a great Champion, but doesn't love the pity party Perez has been having since winning. Raine then finally revealed who Perez's opponent at Battleground will be, and no one saw TNA Knockouts Champion Jordynne Grace walking out to the ring to answer the call. Everyone was shocked, and so was Perez, but the Champ quickly adapted and got in Grace's face once she hit the ring.

Grace then introduced herself properly. "Some of you may remember me from the Rumble this year, but if you don't, let me officially introduce myself. I'm the TNA Knockouts Champion, Jordynne Grace. Now, Roxanne, you are a great Champion. You have built your name here in NXT the same as I have in TNA," Grace said as she held her Title over her shoulder.

"But I'm curious, who do you think has built the stronger foundation? I want to find out," Grace said. "So at Battleground, I'm going to be challenging you for your NXT Women's Championship, and I'm fully prepared to leave Las Vegas a double champion." Perez didn't back down at all, but with Grace being her opponent, she will have her toughest challenge to date by far at Battleground.

As for the rest of the card, it's starting to solidify, with several Title matches already in the mix. It's not known if Trick Williams will defend his NXT Championship at the premium live event just yet, but it would be odd for him to miss out on such a big event. There's one more week to go, so odds are we'll find out his match next week. You can find the updated card below.

NXT Battleground Updated Card:

• NXT Battleground Host: Sexyy Red
• NXT Women's Championship Match: Roxanne Perez (C) vs. Jordynne Grace (C)
• NXT North American Championship Triple Threat Match: Oba Femi (C) vs Wes Lee vs Joe Coffey
• NXT Women's North American Championship Ladder Match: Sol Ruca vs Lash Legend vs Fallon Henley vs Jaida Parker vs TBD vs TBD
• NXT Underground Match: Lola Vice vs Shayna Baszler

NXT Battleground takes place at the UFC Apex on June 9th.

What have you thought of NXT so far? You can talk all things wrestling with me on Threads and Twitter @mattaguilarcb!

WWE NXT is in the midst of its NXT Women's North American Championship tournament, but to this point, no one had actually seen what the new Championship looked like. That all changed on tonight's episode of NXT, but WWE didn't just reveal the Title in ordinary fashion. Instead, NXT General Manager Ava Raine invited fan-favorite rapper Sexyy Red to introduce the new Championship in style. Not only that, but WWE also revealed that Red's involvement with NXT isn't ending just yet, as she will be the host of NXT Battleground. You can check out the new Women's North American Championship below.

Raine invited Red out to the ring and let her do the honors of unveiling the new Championship. The Championship is impressive too, trading the reddish brown of the belt for a bright white. This sets off the red stones and red globe in the center, which are each surrounded with gold.

The host of #NXTBattleground ?

Unveiling the NEW NXT Women's North American Title ?

Fighting off @TatumPaxley?!?@SexyyRed314_ is making herself right at home tonight on #WWENXT!! pic.twitter.com/Be4x2l5oSX

-- WWE (@WWE) May 29, 2024

The original Title has black in the backdrop of the globe to help it pop, while the other elements are all gold. This can't help but pop on screen, and it is rather fitting that it also has red elements to go with the person who debuted it to the world. Speaking of Red, she was clearly having a great time, and even got her own Titantron entrance before heading to the ring, and the crowd was happy to see her make her WWE debut.

The ceremony to introduce the Championship was cut short though thanks to Tatum Paxley, who had been sneaking around the ring looking for a chance to take it. She gave it her best shot, but Red wasn't letting go of it, and she held on until Michin could jump in the ring and provide some reinforcements.

Michin and Paxley were battling it out to be included in the NXT Women's North American Championship Ladder Match, which will take place at NXT Battleground. Heading into tonight, there were only two spots left, with the match currently including Sol Ruca, Lash Legend, Fallon Henley, and Jaida Parker. You can check out the current card for NXT Battleground below.

NXT Battleground Card (So Far)

• NXT Battleground Host: Sexyy Red
• NXT Women's Championship Match: Roxanne Perez (C) vs. TBA
• NXT North American Championship Triple Threat Match: Oba Femi (C) vs Wes Lee vs Joe Coffey
• NXT Women's North American Championship Ladder Match: Sol Ruca vs Lash Legend vs Fallon Henley vs Jaida Parker vs TBD vs TBD
• NXT Underground Match: Lola Vice vs Shayna Baszler

NXT Battleground takes place at the UFC Apex on June 9th.

What have you thought of NXT so far? You can talk all things wrestling with me on Threads and Twitter @mattaguilarcb!

The old school Maxwell Jacob Friedman has returned. This past weekend at AEW Double or Nothing, MJF made his first televised appearance of 2023, ending a five-month hiatus from programming and setting his sights on former friend Adam Cole. MJF and Cole tagged together throughout the back half of 2023 and cemented themselves as AEW's most popular act during that time. While MJF and Cole's comedic vignettes and tag bouts were over with the crowd, many began to criticize the hokey antics after Cole injured his ankle, as by that point momentum on the angle entirely had stalled.

After laying out Cole with a low blow and a brainbuster, MJF declared that he is done with the "friendship and kangaroo kicks," emphasizing that he is once again fueled by hate, hate, hate.

MJF's Past, Present and Future Teased During AEW Return

Outside of the deliberate words MJF uttered to the MGM Grand Garden Arena, the self-proclaimed generation talent's comeback was littered with Easter eggs.

Prior to his music hitting, a vignette aired that showed a POV shot walking into MJF's trophy room. Among his career collection are two notable mementos: a Nightmare Family jacket and a chain-link dog collar.

The Nightmare Family jacket is the zip-up he wore during the first few months of AEW's existence when he was working under the tutelage of Cody Rhodes. The current WWE Champion was MJF's first real feud in AEW.

The chain-link dog collar is item that tethered MJF and CM Punk during their hellacious encounter at AEW Revolution 2022. MJF and Punk's five-month rivalry is largely considered to be the best feud in AEW history.

The subtleties continued when MJF appeared before the live crowd, specifically with where he emerged from. MJF walked out of the left tunnel, a passage reserved for heels. Babyfaces like Will Ospreay, Hook, and Serena Deeb all walked out of the right tunnel during AEW Double or Nothing. There are no coincidences when it comes to MJF's presentation, and this moment could be a precursor to him returning to the dark side before long.

More evidence in this character evolution comes in MJF's tron graphics. The beige and maroon Burberry print faded to grey and white as he walked onto the stage.

When he did show face, MJF was wearing a leather and jean jacket, an homage to Triple H. MJF has long proclaimed his admiration for the WWE Chief Content Officer and has previously paid tribute to his "reign of terror" look during his AEW World Championship run.

MJF is expected to appear on AEW Dynamite when it airs this Wednesday, May 29th at 8 PM ET on TBS.

Adam Copeland went to war with Malakai Black at AEW Double or Nothing. Four years after the wrestler formerly known as Edge name-dropped Black as a desired future opponent on WWE Monday Night Raw, the Rated-R Superstar got the chance to mix it up with the House of Black leader inside a barbed wire steel cage. This hellacious encounter featured a number of death-defying spots, including one culminating stunt that saw Copeland take to the skies. As Black was laid prone on a table with barbed wire on his chest, Copeland leapt from the top of the cage to strike. While he appeared to go for a splash on the initial jump, Copeland seemed to pivot mid-air to avoid colliding his chest with the barbed wire, resulting in him landing awkwardly on his feet.

Copeland would go on to win the match thanks to an assist from former tag partner Gangrel but was clearly banged up leaving the squared circle.

Adam Copeland Requiring Surgery For AEW Injury

Adam Copeland is injured.

Taking to social media, the current AEW TNT Champion announced that he fractured his tibia during his AEW Double or Nothing match against Malakai Black. The injury will require surgery. Copeland did not speculate on his recovery timetable, noting he wants to enjoy the rest of his week with his family.

You can watch Copeland's full announcement video below...

Howdy! pic.twitter.com/kKGH7xx55S

-- Adam Copeland (@RatedRCope) May 28, 2024

Will Adam Copeland Miss AEW ALL IN: London?

Surgically-repaired tibias typically take 3-6 months to heal. Even if the 50-year-old Copeland is on the faster end of recovery, he would not make the August 25th date of AEW ALL IN: London.

While his Wembley Stadium status is not necessarily final either way, his status as champion is likely cemented. AEW has crowned an Interim AEW TNT Champion in the past when a lineal titleholder is only shelved for one month. With Copeland set to miss the summer, it is extremely probable that AEW will vacate the prize and crown a new champion at some point in the coming weeks.

This is Copeland's second major injury since returning to the ring in January 2020 after nine years on the shelf. Copeland tore his triceps in May 2020 and was out of action with that injury until January 2021.

Stay tuned to ComicBook for updates on Copeland's recovery and his AEW future.

The clock is ticking for All Elite Wrestling and Warner Bros. Discovery. Just months into the start-up's launch in 2019, AEW landed a broadcast contract with the company then known as WarnerMedia. The initial deal made WBD's TNT the home of AEW's flagship show, AEW Dynamite, upon its launch that fall. In the five years since then, AEW has expanded the terms of its contract with WBD, adding two more weekly in-ring products in the form of AEW Rampage and AEW Collision as well as axing YouTube developmental shows AEW Dark and AEW Dark: Elevation to give WBD the exclusive distribution rights to all of AEW's wrestling shows. This contractual restructuring did not come with any extension terms, as AEW and WBD's initial five-year agreement is still set to expire at the end of 2024.

AEW "Disappointed" By Warner Bros. Discovery's TV Rights Offer

AEW and Warner Bros. Discovery's negotiations remain in early stages.

As reported by Puck's Matt Beloni, AEW President Tony Khan is "disappointed" by WBD's current offer for AEW's media rights. Khan is said to be aware that WBD's recent loss of NBA basketball broadcasts gives AEW more leverage, as WBD will be looking to fill its live sports void while also reinvesting in the live sports assets it already has. WBD maintains an exclusive negotiating window with AEW until July.

Khan has waxed poetic about his relationship with WBD for years and has often emphasized his desire to expand to streaming. Khan has long had conversations with WBD about getting AEW content on WBD's streaming service, Max, but that possibility is outside the scope of AEW's current contract. Those contractual limitations are why plans to stream AEW ALL IN: London 2023 on Max fell through.

"We'll have to see. We're actively negotiating right now, and at that point we'll be deep in the conversations," Khan told ComicBook when asked if AEW ALL IN: London 2024 edition will be on a streaming service. "It's hard to say this year. When we find a streaming home for AEW, that's going to be a long-term plan. Given that we're up at the end of this year, I think one of the reasons I've wanted to wait is I think when we get the streaming contract figured out, it should be a long-term solution for the fans."

Stay tuned to ComicBook for updates on AEW's media rights future.

Becky Lynch's wrestling future is uncertain. Like many other top talents within WWE, it was well-documented that Lynch's contract was set to expire shortly after WWE WrestleMania 40. While Drew McIntyre, Finn Balor, Damian Priest, and even Lynch's husband Seth Rollins were all able to come to terms on new deals in recent months, the WWE WrestleMania 35 main-eventer did not. It became extra evident that things were coming down to the wire when Lynch dropped the WWE Women's World Championship to Liv Morgan at WWE King and Queen of the Ring, as that loss ended her reign at just 33 days.

Becky Lynch Becomes Free Agent This Week

What's next for Big Time Becks?

As reported by PWTorch, Becky Lynch has still not renewed her WWE contract, which expires later this week. She is expected to become a free agent and take a "hiatus" from professional wrestling entirely, not unlike what Johnny Gargano did when his previous WWE contract expired in December 2021.

It was added that Lynch is "not going to AEW imminently." It's unclear as to if Lynch would even entertain an offer from AEW, but if one came her way, she would not put pen to paper for quite some time. Regardless of the AEW factor, PWTorch adds that a colleague of Lynch's is "confident" that Lynch and WWE will work out a deal, especially with the factor of her husband Seth Rollins recently signing a long-time extension with WWE.

That's not to say that AEW will not make a play for her. Sean Ross Sapp of Fightful Select speculated that he anticipates Lynch to be offered "the biggest contract in women's wrestling history" by both WWE and AEW within the next week.

Lynch getting top dollar comes on the heels of Mercedes Mon?'s massive AEW payday earlier this year. While no numbers have been confirmed, the former Sasha Banks is reportedly making $5 million dollars per year with Tony Khan's company.

Lynch has been a full-time WWE superstar for over a decade. She signed with WWE in 2013 on a developmental deal and quickly cemented herself as one of NXT's top players, becoming a cornerstone of the women's revolution happening on the black and gold brand. She was the slowest of the Four Horsewomen (Lynch, Banks, Charlotte Flair, Bayley) to achieve main roster success but once she hit her stride in 2018 she arguably lapped all of her counterparts. She is the only woman in WWE history who can claim victory in a WWE WrestleMania Sunday main event.

Stay tuned to ComicBook for updates on Lynch's wrestling future.

Back in February, WWE superstar Shotzi was injured in an NXT title match against Lyra Valkyria at an NXT taping. The match was stopped so she could be attended to and it was later revealed that she ended up tearing her ACL. The injury will keep her on the shelf for nine months, but in the meantime, she's taking the time to heal nagging injuries that have bothered her for years.

"I tore my ACL which means I will be out of action for about 9 months," she wrote in a statement. "Thank you to everyone who has checked up on me. I am so sorry if I haven't responded. I am just extremely devastated and angry. Some of you know, I have been through a lot the last few years and it has been so hard to keep up with what I think is expected of me and honestly my mental health had been at an all time low."

This week, Shotzi took to her Instagram account to reveal that she will be getting stem cells in her back for an injury she says she suffered two and a half years ago. "In Mexico to finally get the stem cells I have been wanting since I hurt my back 2 and 1/2 years ago! Realizing that my knee injury is giving me the opportunity to finally heal my back has been a huge silver lining," she wrote. "Thank you @rejuvstem Thank you Universe. I am forever grateful. Here is to wrestling pain free when I come back! But first coconuts and cenotes!"

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Ash Urbanski (@shotziwwe)

Back in December Shotzi and her partner tied the knot in an intimate ceremony in Las Vegas ahead of a WWE live event. After their ceremony, Shotzi realized that she had to be at the show to wrestle but because she didn't have her gear she wrestled in her wedding dress instead. Prior to her injury, it seemed like former NXT Women's Tag Team Champion was finally beginning to regain some momentum in the women's division.

In 2022 she earned a title shot for the women's champion held by Ronda Rousey at the time but after her loss at Survivor Series that November, she was relatively absent from television. That was of course until she briefly paired up with Charlotte Flair on SmackDown before her unfortunate injury, joining forces with Flair, Bianca Belair and Becky Lynch for WarGames, which Lynch's team won.

Comicbook continues to wish Shotzi well in her recovery.

At WWE King and Queen of the Ring, Becky Lynch defended the Women's World Championship against Liv Morgan. Although Lynch was confident in her abilities to win against Morgan, the former women's champion was more determined than ever to win her second singles title in WWE. Morgan, who returned at this year's Royal Rumble, is currently on her "revenge tour," adamant on taking everything away from Rhea Ripley (currently shelved on injury) -- but that doesn't mean it excludes Lynch.

Lynch would lose the championship due to some shady interference from Judgment Day's Dominik Mysterio. Though Mysterio looked innocent in his attempt to help Lynch retain so Morgan wouldn't win, it backfired on him. In addition, Morgan has been spotted backstage recently with his signature purple bandana in her pocket. On tonight's WWE Raw, more teases about Morgan possibly joining the stable took place, as she was spotted chit-chatting with JD McDonagh and Mysterio was nowhere to be found for most of the night.

Lynch looked to regain the title on Raw which was set in a steel cage. Though it's not the first time Lynch has been in an environment involving a cage -- her latest being against WWE Hall of Famer Trish Stratus at WWE Payback last September -- this time, there are added stakes.

Tonight's edition of Raw officially marks Lynch's last night on the red brand under her current contract. According to reports from Fightful Select, Lynch still hasn't signed a new contract, meaning she will become a free agent on June 1. That doesn't necessarily mean there's cause for worry considering her husband Seth Rollins just re-signed with a huge deal, she's also made it clear that there's no reason she shouldn't be offered exactly what she feels she's worth. It seems much more likely that the decorated women's champion will likely be taking a break for the time being to return to huge applause sometime in the distant future.

"The last contract I signed was three years ago. I was coming back after having my kid," Lynch said on The Breakfast Club. "When I left, I left on top. It's one of those things where, sometimes in a male dominated sport, we're historically like, 'Thank you. Thank you for that. I don't want to make any waves.' It was one of those things where I was like, 'No, I deserve this.'

There is no reason why I should not be getting paid the same as a top guy. Because of my gender? No. You can put me in any main event. You can put me in any main event and it makes sense. I've proved that time and time again. So, compensate me fairly, please. It is that thing of having to ask for more. 'I'm so grateful that you're paying me more than we used to be paid, but still I need more.' You're always pushing that barrier. It's come a long way and I love to see it."

The environment was new for her opponent, however, as Morgan had never been in a steel cage match. Lynch is never one to back down from a fight and she sure didn't tonight, however it was the outside interference that cost her the match once again. When Mysterio flanked by the rest of the Judgment Day came to sneakily watch the match ringside, Braun Strowman chased JD and Finn Balor around the ring. While this was happening, Lynch attempted an escape out of the door but Strowman bulldozed him and knocked him into the door, which trapped Lynch in and knocked her out, allowing Morgan to pick up the win. Post-match, Morgan kissed Mysterio for helping her win.

OH. MY. GOD. ???????#WWERaw pic.twitter.com/FVOnLCjtSl

-- WWE (@WWE) May 28, 2024

AEW's roster has been plagued by injuries over the last six months to a year that has sidelined many of its top stars. Kenny Omega has been absent since December with diverticulitis which he just recently underwent surgery for while Adam Cole is still rehabbing his injured ankle that he hurt in a freak accident on his way to the ring. Former AEW Women's World Champion Jamie Hayter, has been absent for the last year since her title loss to Toni Storm at Double or Nothing.

One name that's been shelved for the last year not due to injury is Tay Melo. She wrestled her last match last March but her last AEW match took place in January of 2023. She announced her pregnancy shortly afterward at Double or Nothing during Guevara's match against MJF, Jack Perry and Darby Allin. In November she and Sammy Guevara welcomed their first child together.

Melo has recently begun teasing a return to the ring with videos and photos of herself training. This has led many to wondering when exactly Melo will be ready to get back into the ring, especially with all the new opportunities in the women's division. However, don't get your hopes up just yet because according to Melo, there are "a couple more months" until she's cleared. With summer just around the corner, this provides ample opportunities for Melo's return. AEW All In will return to London in August but AEW All Out will come just two weeks later.

Melo first debuted in AEW back in 2020 making her one of the AEW originals of the women's division. During her AEW run, she has had a pretty solid singles career but some of her best work has been in the "TayJay" tag team with Anna Jay. One of the standout matches of her career took place in December of 2021 on Rampage when Melo and Jay went up against The Bunny and Penelope Ford in a street fight. At the time, it pushed the limits of what was considered "taboo" in women's wrestling, seeing them bleed everywhere and use ultra violence. That match led to at least one street fight match a year for the women, which just so happened to be Melo's last match before maternity leave. Although she has yet to win a title in AEW, she is a former AAA World Mixed Tag Team Champion with Guevara, holding the championships for eight months.

MJF has a score to settle with Adam Cole. The self-proclaimed generational talent returned to AEW at AEW Double or Nothing and set his sights on his former friend, striking him with a low blow and a brainbuster. Cole is partially responsible for MJF losing the AEW World Championship at AEW Worlds End this past December, a loss that ended his record-setting title reign at 406 days. When it comes to getting his hands back on that prize, current AEW World Champion Swerve Strickland teased that MJF has some work to do before he is willing to give him a title match.

This past December, MJF spoke with ComicBook and shared high praise for Swerve, applauding his ability to transcend the squared circle.

"I think Shane Strickland has all the momentum in the world. He used to not be very good at talking. He's clearly proven that's not the case anymore," MJF said. "He is broken outside of the proverbial glass bubble of professional wrestling fandom and has become a part of cultural zeitgeist. There are names that I would like to add to my hit list as far as guys that I got to be inside the squared circle with, whether it be bumping microphones or bumping 'em in the f--king ring with my fist. Strickland is one of them."

Days before this interview, MJF confronted Swerve at his locker room when he suspected that Swerve and his then-faction Mogul Embassy were behind the devil mask attacks on him. That segment drew big praise from fans, as many likened their first encounter as a premonition to what awaits down the line.

"A feud between me and Shane Strickland is absolutely massive. I think if me and him, that was just a taste that three minutes of us talking backstage, imagine us in the ring in front of thousands of people, whether that's on the microphone or bell to bell," MJF continued. "I think that does numbers and I think that sells merch and sells tickets. I'm a massive fan of Shane Strickland as a professional wrestler. As a human being? I think he's a little b---h."

While MJF and Swerve Strickland are on the younger side of the business, they have both been in the game long enough to be considered veterans. As a result, both have leveled up drastically since joining AEW, and MJF has noticed.

"What I like most about Shane is he's like me. We both very easily could have rested on our laurels and on our God-given ability," MJF said. "My God-given ability was my gift of gab. He's God-given ability was his athleticism. We've both managed to upgrade by working on our weaknesses until they became strengths. I respect him for that.

"This is coming from one of the best promos in the history of the business, me, and I don't think that that's an unfair thing to say as I've cut some of the most legendary promos this sport has ever seen: I think Shane Strickland is on my level as far as talking goes," MJF added. "Is he on my level in the ring? No. I'd love a chance to prove that I would beat him. I think I'd beat him pretty handedly. I think it'd be a very fun match for the fans because it's something that the fans want to see. He's still a b---h, though."

AEW returns to programming this Wednesday, May 29th with AEW Dynamite on TBS at 8 PM ET.

Maxwell Jacob Friedman is back. Early in the AEW Double or Nothing pay-per-view broadcast, Adam Cole made a surprise appearance to run down the Las Vegas crowd. The Undisputed Kingdom leader's promo was interrupted by a vignette that took a POV shot through MJF's trophy room, culminating in the longest-reigning AEW World Champion's music hitting and the man himself emerging from the entranceway. MJF would coerce Cole into an embrace before hitting him with a low blow and a brain buster to send him packing. The MGM Grand Garden Arena erupted throughout, applauding the self-proclaimed generational talent as he declared he had re-signed with AEW.

This was MJF's first AEW appearance since losing the AEW World Championship at AEW Worlds End in December 2023. While his original AEW contract had expired on January 1st, he had reportedly quietly signed an extension long before then and was actually away from the company to heal up a number of injuries.

Swerve Strickland Addresses MJF's AEW Return

The landscape of AEW has changed drastically during The Devil's absence.

Speaking during the AEW Double or Nothing post-show press conference, AEW World Champion Swerve Strickland addressed MJF's return to the company.

"While you were gone, I was building. I was building and making this place a fortress," Swerve said. "You can come in. I'm not saying you can't challenge for the World Championship, but you have work to do. Just like I had work to do. You have work to do. Show me something. This isn't the same All Elite Wrestling from when you left. It's up to Maxwell Jacob to figure out where he fits right now. I'm not going to make it easy."

Swerve and MJF previously teased feuding with one another during the lead up to AEW Worlds End, as MJF questioned if Swerve and his then-faction Mogul Embassy was behind the devil mask attacks on him. At that time, MJF was AEW World Champion and was in the midst of the longest reign in that title's history.

In a past interview with ComicBook, MJF spoke highly of Swerve, expressing big interest in having a program with him.

"A feud between me and Swerve Strickland is absolutely massive," MJF said in December 2023. "I think Swerve Strickland has all the momentum in the world. He used to not be very good at talking. He's clearly proven that's not the case anymore. His theme music, I think has over a million plays on Spotify. He has broken outside of the proverbial glass bubble of professional wrestling fandom and has become a part of cultural zeitgeist. I think if me and him, that was just a taste that three minutes of us talking backstage, imagine us in the ring in front of thousands of people, whether that's on the microphone or bell to bell. I think that does numbers and I think that sells merch and sells tickets."

AEW returns to television this Wednesday, May 29th with AEW Dynamite on TBS at 8 PM ET.

All Elite Wrestling's roster goes far deeper than just active competitors. Since launching in 2019, AEW has employed a number of former wrestlers in coaching and producing roles, a move that gave the young company decades-worth of in-ring knowledge from the jump. Top talent from yesteryear like Billy Gunn, Dean Malenko, and Jerry Lynn were among the earliest signings to fulfill such backstage positions. Since then, notable names from across the independent circuit like Jimmy Jacobs and Kevin Matthews have rounded out the behind-the-scenes personnel. Occasionally these producers and coaches would appear on television, evident by Gunn's recurring in-ring role alongside The Acclaimed.

One of those talents that would pop in on broadcasts was Mark Henry. The WWE Hall of Famer joined AEW in 2021 and primarily served as a backstage correspondent for AEW Rampage. Henry also served as a mentor to the AEW roster, working with stars like Powerhouse Hobbs, Action Andretti, and Jade Cargill.

Mark Henry Departing AEW

Mark Henry's AEW tenure is set to end imminently.

Speaking on Busted Open Radio, Henry revealed that he will be exiting AEW when his contract expires on May 28th.

"My impending contract status has reached an end. My contract with AEW is set to expire tomorrow, the 28th. I wanted to address that matter. Tony Khan said at the press conference that he was very happy and proud of what we did together and I feel the exact same way," Henry said. "I appreciate everything that happened at AEW with Tony Khan and the Khan family. I had a great experience."

Henry noted that his reason for leaving boils down to wanting to dedicate more time and attention to his website and his Remarkable brand. He added that the decision to leave is mutual and he will always be a phone call away for any AEW stars that want to hit him up for advice.

"It's been nothing but positive. I've done my best to help as many people as I've could. There are still some things that I wanted to help with that I didn't get to finish, but those people have my phone number and anytime that they need to call me, I'm available for them," Henry added. "I am not leaving pro wrestling. I'm going to take some time to work on some projects and I'm going to come back again in full force because that's what I do."

The closing match of this year's AEW Double or Nothing saw The Elite (The Young Bucks, Continental Champion Kazuchika Okada and Jack Perry -- against Team AEW (Bryan Danielson, FTR, and Darby Allin) face off in an Anarchy in the Arena match. As is typical with this sort of match stipulation, it was absolute madness from start to finish. Allin was a fill in for Eddie Kingston who was recently injured during a match. However, Allin was hit by a bus mere weeks ago and had been battling with injuries prior to that. Nonetheless, the man who's bones are made of steel showed up with a flamethrower and all to try and help steer his team to victory.

Before the bell could ring, Team AEW surprise attacked The Elite while Allin's music hit the speakers and he made his way down the ramp. They paid homage to years past with the music playing on loop, only this year it started off with Allin's theme, the Young Bucks instructed the team to cut it and play their music, and Danielson got them to play "The Final Countdown." While Team AEW were beating down The Elite, the fans were chanting as if they were at a Europe concert.

Jack Perry has GONE TOO FAR!!!

Order #AEWDoN on PPV right now!
?: https://t.co/MpmTCyHt8n
?: https://t.co/GTkwK7GBIn@TonyKhan | @boy_myth_legend pic.twitter.com/FyF6bKT35v

-- All Elite Wrestling (@AEW) May 27, 2024

As the match progressed, Danielson was throw into the Double or Nothing poker chips, Allin was hit by a vehicle, Perry was waterboarded in an ice water bucket and then set on fire, and Allin was hung from the ceiling. Additionally, the Young Bucks couldn't go a match without making their shoes into a weapon, but this time it just so happened to be their Reebok shoe collaboration that releases tomorrow through Champs Sports.

Just unbelievable behavior from the EVPs.

Order #AEWDoN on PPV right now!
?: https://t.co/MpmTCyHt8n
?: https://t.co/GTkwK7GBIn@youngbucks | @darbyallin pic.twitter.com/DDR0Q7eysY

-- All Elite Wrestling (@AEW) May 27, 2024

Decked out in tacks similar to their All Out Travis Scott x Fragment Jordan 1's they used against the Lucha Bros. in 2021, they superkicked Allin with the shoes while the blood was rushing to his head. In an act of retaliation, Danielson got ahold of Matthew Jackson's shoe -- which typically spells disaster for The Bucks. If you're unfamiliar with the "Matt Jackson shoe lore," any time Jackson has lost his shoe in a match, they've lost. That wasn't the case this time though, as Perry made the save for the team and helped them pick up a win.

It's clear that at this time nobody can stop The Elite, but with AEW World Champion Swerve Strickland wrapped into the story and presumably Hangman Adam Page, it'll be interesting to see how things play out over the next few months. Not only that, they attacked an injured Kenny Omega who revealed he recently underwent surgery, so when he comes back, he'll no doubt have his sights set on The Elite.

AEW Double or Nothing Results

• AEW World Championship: Swerve Strickland (c) vs. Christian Cage

• AEW TBS Championship: Willow Nightingale (c) vs. Mercedes Mon?

• Anarchy in the Arena: The Elite (The Young Bucks, Kazuchika Okada, Jack Perry) vs. Team AEW (FTR, Bryan Danielson, Darby Allin)

• AEW TNT Championship - Barbed Wire Cage Match: Adam Copeland (c) vs. Malakai Black

• AEW Women's Championship: "Timeless" Toni Storm (c) vs. Serena Deeb

• AEW International Championship: Roderick Strong (c) vs. Will Ospreay

• Unified Trios Championships: Bullet Club Gold (c) vs. Death Triangle

• FTW Championship: Chris Jericho (c) vs. HOOK vs. Katsuyori Shibata

• Trent Beretta vs. Orange Cassidy

• IWGP World Heavyweight Championship Eliminator Match: Jon Moxley (c) vs. Konosuke Takeshita

At AEW Double or Nothing Mercedes Mon? competed in her AEW in-ring debut which has been building since AEW Big Business in March. Prior to her AEW debut, Mon? had gotten injured in the NJPW STRONG Women's Championship tournament final. against Willow Nightingale The ankle injury would keep her out of the ring for nearly a year but it didn't stop her from teasing her eventually return to wrestling.

Last August, she popped up in London for AEW All In which was her first appearance in the company. She'd begun posting footage of herself training to get back into the ring late last year and word of her possible return to WWE made headlines. Those talks eventually dissolved, as she'd essentially be advertised for Big Business without it being directly stated.

The 2023 Owen Hart Cup winner Nightingale won the TBS Championship back at AEW Dynasty from Julia Hart, her first singles championship in AEW. Though she's only held the title a month, it's been a long-time coming for the star who has spent the last few years building a strong relationship with the AEW audience. The match starts out incredibly competitive between the two, but after giving chase, Mon? stomps her ankle, perhaps getting a little revenge for her injury! Willow stands strong and even gains control with a shinbreaker followed by an inverted cloverleaf swing.

Mercedes Mon? is still in this fight!

Order #AEWDoN on PPV right now!

?: https://t.co/MpmTCyHt8n
?: https://t.co/GTkwK7GBIn@willowwrestles | @MercedesVarnado pic.twitter.com/yV2bS7pu1N

-- All Elite Wrestling (@AEW) May 27, 2024

Kris Statlander and Stokely Hathaway, who came to the ring with Nightingale, run interference but play it off like they're trying to help Nightingale. Nightingale hits her Doctor Bomb finisher on Mon? but because the referee is distracted, she's unable to get the pinfall. Unfortunately, this interference is exactly what costs the champion because Mon? hits the Mon? Maker for the win.

After the match, Hathaway berates Nightingale for the loss which causes Statlander to push him back and help escort an injured Nightingale to the back. As the make their way up the ramp, Statlander hits Nightingale and knocks her to the floor. She rips her friendship bracelet off and throws it on top of Nightingale and then hits a discus lariat to really cement the turn.

Willow Nightingale just lost the TBS Title...now this?!

Order #AEWDoN on PPV right now!

?: https://t.co/MpmTCyHt8n
?: https://t.co/GTkwK7GBIn@willowwrestles | @callmekrisstat | @StokelyHathaway pic.twitter.com/XNmIp2HOKn

-- All Elite Wrestling (@AEW) May 27, 2024

AEW Double or Nothing Results

1. AEW World Championship: Swerve Strickland (c) vs. Christian Cage

2. AEW TBS Championship: Willow Nightingale (c) vs. Mercedes Mon?

3. Anarchy in the Arena: The Elite (The Young Bucks, Kazuchika Okada, Jack Perry) vs. Team AEW (FTR, Bryan Danielson, Darby Allin)

4. AEW TNT Championship - Barbed Wire Cage Match: Adam Copeland (c) vs. Malakai Black

5. AEW Women's Championship: "Timeless" Toni Storm (c) vs. Serena Deeb

6. AEW International Championship: Roderick Strong (c) vs. Will Ospreay

7. Unified Trios Championships: Bullet Club Gold (c) vs. Death Triangle

8. FTW Championship: Chris Jericho (c) vs. HOOK vs. Katsuyori Shibata

9. Trent Beretta vs. Orange Cassidy

10. IWGP World Heavyweight Championship Eliminator Match: Jon Moxley (c) vs. Konosuke Takeshita

At AEW Double or Nothing, Adam Copeland defended the TNT Championship against the leader of the House of Black, Malakai Black. The match has become personal for the champion who had his wedding ring stolen from him. On the final AEW Dynamite before Double or Nothing, Copeland surprised Black with the return of The Brood bath -- associated with Copeland's time in WWE's Attitude Era alongside Gangrel and Christian. Copeland continued this with his Double or Nothing entrance, returning to his Brood roots. The last time he used The Brood entrance was at WrestleMania 39, his final WrestleMania before exiting WWE last fall.

The Double or Nothing title match was fought in a steel cage, and there was nowhere for either man to run. It started off hot as they both dueled with steel chairs. It doesn't take long for either men to bleed, as Copeland's smooshes Black's head into the barbed wire while Black gets some revenge but doing the same with a barbed wire bat. Copeland grabs the bat to swing at Black and just like that the Rated R Superstar is in control of things but Black is able to kick his legs out from under him and take things over. He goes for the avalanche power bomb into the Black Mass but Copeland counters knowing that could spell the end for him. Copeland binds the challenger to a table with the barbed wire and ascends to the top of the cage. He jumps off with an elbow drop straight through the table.

Copeland from the top of the cage!

Order #AEWDoN on PPV right now!

?: https://t.co/MpmTCyHt8n
?: https://t.co/GTkwK7GBIn@RatedRCope | @MalakaiBlxck pic.twitter.com/zmuvn6BkGD

-- All Elite Wrestling (@AEW) May 27, 2024

When things get back in the ring, the rest of the House of Black -- Buddy Matthews and Brody King -- make their way to the ring. Because it's no disqualification, they can easily overpower the champion and bring gold back to their faction. At first it looks like they may have actually turned on Black to join Copeland but they were just baiting him, continuing with a three-on-one assault of the champion. The lights in the arena turn red and music starts to play which confuses the House of Black. Through the ring, Gangrel pops out and hits an Impaler DDT on King and Matthews. Black stops him in his tracks with a Black Mass but Copeland hits the spear, still covered in barbed wire. Copeland wins the match due to submission with a barbed wire cross-face move.

AEW Double or Nothing Results

• AEW World Championship: Swerve Strickland (c) vs. Christian Cage

• AEW TBS Championship: Willow Nightingale (c) vs. Mercedes Mon?

• Anarchy in the Arena: The Elite (The Young Bucks, Kazuchika Okada, Jack Perry) vs. Team AEW (FTR, Bryan Danielson, Darby Allin)

• AEW TNT Championship - Barbed Wire Cage Match: Adam Copeland (c) vs. Malakai Black

• AEW Women's Championship: "Timeless" Toni Storm (c) vs. Serena Deeb

• AEW International Championship: Roderick Strong (c) vs. Will Ospreay

• Unified Trios Championships: Bullet Club Gold (c) vs. Death Triangle

• FTW Championship: Chris Jericho (c) vs. HOOK vs. Katsuyori Shibata

• Trent Beretta vs. Orange Cassidy

• IWGP World Heavyweight Championship Eliminator Match: Jon Moxley (c) vs. Konosuke Takeshita

"The Rated R Superstar" Adam Copeland went back to his roots during his TNT title defense at AEW Double or Nothing. Copeland has been on a tear since debuting in AEW, culminating in his second TNT Championship against his former friend, Christian Cage, in an "I Quit" match on AEW Dynamite in March. But as every champion knows, there are always contenders around every corner. Next up for Adam Copeland is Malakai Black and the House of Black, who are trying to bring out a darker part of Copeland. Unfortunately for the House of Black, that's exactly what Adam Copeland did with an old school Brood entrance.

As the lights went down low for the TNT Championship match between champion Adam Copeland and challenger Malakai Black, a red rosy hue was the only color that could be seen in the arena. After the music started to build, Adam Copeland rose through the floor, just like he used to do as part of The Brood in WWE alongside Gangrel and Christian. "The fires of Hell can't contain #TNT Champion Adam Copeland, but let's see if a BARBED WIRE STEEL CAGE can as he faces off against #HouseOfBlack's Malakai Black!" the official All Elite Wrestling account on X (formerly Twitter) wrote. Thanks to help from his Brood associate Gangrel, Copeland was able to retain his TNT title. You can check out Adam Copeland's Brood entrance below.

The fires of Hell can't contain #TNT Champion Adam Copeland, but let's see if a BARBED WIRE STEEL CAGE can as he faces off against #HouseOfBlack's Malakai Black!

Order #AEWDoN on PPV right now!

?: https://t.co/MpmTCyHt8n
?: https://t.co/GTkwK7GBIn@RatedRCope | @MalakaiBlxck pic.twitter.com/GNwPTsCc7n

-- All Elite Wrestling (@AEW) May 27, 2024

Adam Copeland reflects on "I Quit" match against Christian Cage

"About Dynamite on Wednesday. When I first came back to wrestling back at the 2020 Rumble this was the match I always wanted to get to," Adam Copeland wrote on Instagram. "Face to face with @christian4peeps in our hometown 40 years after we first met. @aew made that possible. And Toronto you came out in force to have fun. I hope you did. Sure sounded like it and I'll never forget it. Ever. As a kid this night was the kind of scenario I dreamed about in art class. If you dream hard enough, even if it takes 40 years, it can happen. So without further ado....AND NEW TNT Champion!"

AEW Double or Nothing Results

• AEW World Championship: Swerve Strickland (c) vs. Christian Cage

• AEW TBS Championship: Willow Nightingale (c) vs. Mercedes Mon?

• Anarchy in the Arena: The Elite (The Young Bucks, Kazuchika Okada, Jack Perry) vs. Team AEW (FTR, Bryan Danielson, Darby Allin)

• AEW TNT Championship - Barbed Wire Cage Match: Adam Copeland (c) vs. Malakai Black

• AEW Women's Championship: "Timeless" Toni Storm (c) vs. Serena Deeb

• AEW International Championship: Roderick Strong (c) vs. Will Ospreay

• Unified Trios Championships: Bullet Club Gold (c) vs. Death Triangle

• FTW Championship: Chris Jericho (c) vs. HOOK vs. Katsuyori Shibata

• Trent Beretta vs. Orange Cassidy

• IWGP World Heavyweight Championship Eliminator Match: Jon Moxley (c) vs. Konosuke Takeshita

Juice Robinson made his return to an AEW ring tonight at Double or Nothing to help the Bang Bang Gang retain their Unified World Trios Championship. One could say that the Unified World Trios match was a reunion on both sides of the ring, as the Death Triangle was reunited again, with The Lucha Brothers joining PAC against the champions, the Bang Bang Gang (Austin Gunn, Colten Gunn, and Jay White). Also known as Bullet Club Gold, they defeated The Acclaimed at AEW Dynasty to combine the ROH Six-Man and AEW Trios titles. Though they've been down one member, they got some much-needed help from the returning Juice Robinson to retain their titles Sunday night.

The Unified World Trios match between the Bang Bang Gang and Death Triangle at AEW Double or Nothing ended when ROCK HARD Juice Robinson tripped PAC on the turnbuckle, causing him to fall and then get hit with a Blade Runner by Jay White for the 1-2-3 pin. Juice Robinson has been out of action since the end of 2023 as he recovered from back surgery. This extends the Unified World Trios Championship reign for the Bang Bang Gang, and opens the question of who will be the next challengers for the titles? Will Death Triangle get a rematch, or will one of the other Trios teams step up?

ROCK HARD Juice Robinson from out of nowhere!

Order #AEWDoN on PPV right now!

?: https://t.co/MpmTCyHt8n
?: https://t.co/GTkwK7GBIn@JayWhiteNZ | @theaustingunn | @coltengunn | @BASTARDPAC | @PENTAELZEROM | @ReyFenixMx pic.twitter.com/eBvY7nWOin

-- All Elite Wrestling (@AEW) May 27, 2024

MJF returns at AEW Double or Nothing 2024

Juice Robinson isn't the only star to make a triumphant return at AEW Double or Nothing. After being sidelined with a slew of injuries, MJF returned to confront Adam Cole, his former friend and tag team partner. MJF has been off television since December when he lost the AEW World Championship to Samoa Joe at AEW Worlds End. He reportedly suffered an injury back at Full Gear in November that would restult in him popping his hip back into place. It was also revealed that he aggravated his shoulder during the bout against the Bang Bang Gang's Jay White. He laid low for a few months but reappeared last month when fans snapped pictures of him in a sling. The day before, reports of him needing surgery were released as his physical therapy wasn't working.

"Unlike Adam Cole and all those shmucks in the back: I don't need a New Japan or a Vince McMahon to make MJF because MJF made MJF," Friedman said in his fiery return promo. "So when it comes to the salt of the earth -- back to your regularly scheduled programming, folks. No more 'haha's,' no more friendships, no more kangaroo kicks, no more bulls--t. Back to being driven by what I am driven by best and I ain't talking love -- I'm talking hate, hate, hate. And when your boy's driven by hate? Nobody's safe."

Toward the end of his speech, he lifts his pant leg to reveal a tattoo on the back of his leg which says "bet on yourself" with the AEW Double or Nothing poker chip. He turns to speak into th camera, "When it comes to MJF in AEW, you can call me the wolf of wrestling -- because I'm not f---ing leaving!

AEW Double or Nothing Results

• AEW World Championship: Swerve Strickland (c) vs. Christian Cage

• AEW TBS Championship: Willow Nightingale (c) vs. Mercedes Mon?

• Anarchy in the Arena: The Elite (The Young Bucks, Kazuchika Okada, Jack Perry) vs. Team AEW (FTR, Bryan Danielson, Darby Allin)

• AEW TNT Championship - Barbed Wire Cage Match: Adam Copeland (c) vs. Malakai Black

• AEW Women's Championship: "Timeless" Toni Storm (c) vs. Serena Deeb

• AEW International Championship: Roderick Strong (c) vs. Will Ospreay

• Unified Trios Championships: Bullet Club Gold (c) vs. Death Triangle

• FTW Championship: Chris Jericho (c) vs. HOOK vs. Katsuyori Shibata

• Trent Beretta vs. Orange Cassidy

• IWGP World Heavyweight Championship Eliminator Match: Jon Moxley (c) vs. Konosuke Takeshita

Following Will Ospreay's title win at AEW Double or Nothing, Adam Cole returned to speak to the fans in Las Vegas. Very quickly into his speech about how he's the devil, the lights dimmed and MJF's instrumental music hit. A video is shown on the screen of a long hallway but at the end of it is the classic Burberry scarf. Two hands hold up ripped halves of a photo of MJF and Adam Cole and if it wasn't clear before, MJF is back. But to solidify that, his real music hits and he makes his way to the ring to confront Cole. He quickly takes him out with a low blow and puts an end his whole "devil" shtick right then and there.

Recent reports indicated that MJF may be closer to an in-ring return than previously thought. He hasn't been seen on television since December when he lost the AEW World Championship to Samoa Joe at AEW Worlds End. He reportedly suffered an injury back at Full Gear in November that would end in him popping his hip back into place. It was also revealed that he aggravated his shoulder during the bout against the Bang Bang Gang's Jay White. He laid low for a few months but reappeared last month where fans snapped pictures of him in a sling. The day before, reports of him needing surgery released as his physical therapy wasn't working.

"Unlike Adam Cole and all those shmucks in the back: I don't need a New Japan or a Vince McMahon to make MJF because MJF made MJF," Friedman said in his fiery return promo. "So when it comes to the salt of the earth -- back to your regularly scheduled programming, folks. No more 'haha's,' no more friendships, no more kangaroo kicks, no more bulls--t. Back to being driven by what I am driven by best and I ain't talking love -- I'm talking hate, hate, hate. And when your boy's driven by hate? Nobody's safe."

MJF is back AND HE'S GOING NOWHERE!

Order #AEWDoN on PPV right now!

?: https://t.co/MpmTCyHt8n
?: https://t.co/GTkwK7GBIn@The_MJF pic.twitter.com/lrg0sliJlW

-- All Elite Wrestling (@AEW) May 27, 2024

Toward the end of his speech, he lifts his pant leg to reveal a tattoo on the back of his leg which says "bet on yourself" with the AEW Double or Nothing poker chip. He turns to speak into th camera, "When it comes to MJF in AEW, you can call me the wolf of wrestling -- because I'm not f---ing leaving!

MJF is forever ALL ELITE. His new tattoo "Bet on yourself" pic.twitter.com/HmO8Wc8F5Z

-- Dark Puroresu Flowsion (@PuroresuFlow) May 27, 2024

AEW Double or Nothing Results

• AEW World Championship: Swerve Strickland (c) vs. Christian Cage

• AEW TBS Championship: Willow Nightingale (c) vs. Mercedes Mon?

• Anarchy in the Arena: The Elite (The Young Bucks, Kazuchika Okada, Jack Perry) vs. Team AEW (FTR, Bryan Danielson, Darby Allin)

• AEW TNT Championship - Barbed Wire Cage Match: Adam Copeland (c) vs. Malakai Black

• AEW Women's Championship: "Timeless" Toni Storm (c) vs. Serena Deeb

• AEW International Championship: Roderick Strong (c) vs. Will Ospreay

• Unified Trios Championships: Bullet Club Gold (c) vs. Death Triangle

• FTW Championship: Chris Jericho (c) vs. HOOK vs. Katsuyori Shibata

• Trent Beretta vs. Orange Cassidy

• IWGP World Heavyweight Championship Eliminator Match: Jon Moxley (c) vs. Konosuke Takeshita

In the opening match of AEW Double or Nothing, the International Champion Roderick Strong went one-on-one with Will Ospreay for the first time in seven years. Ospreay has quickly become one of AEW's greats with many of the current crop of top guys out injured. Ospreay had the first match of his AEW career at Revolution back in March where he defeated Konosuke Takeshita. Strong, meanwhile, has been competing in one of the best conditions of his career since his return from injury. Strong won the International Championship at Revolution and has only defended it one other time -- against his former Undisputed Elite stablemate Kyle O'Reilly at AEW Dynasty.

Early on into the match it seemed as though Ospreay might take the title early. He attempted to sneak up on Strong with a Hidden Blade but the Undisputed Kingdom stopped him in his tracks. Ospreay spent the next few minutes battling the group as they tried to get involved and provide a distraction for Strong to retain. That didn't happen, though, as the intensity of the match only got higher. At one point, Strong hits Ospreay's chest with heavy and loud chops. They are both down in the center of the ring, They began trading blows as Strong goes for the Styles Clash but Ospreay counters.

He hits the Oscutter off the ropes but is unable to capitalize quickly, which allows Strong a second to collect himself. Don Callis gets involved to give Ospreay encouragement and tells him to go for the Tiger Driver 98, the move Osprey vowed to retire after what happened to Danielson. When he considers it, he just can't pull himself to do it, so the match continues. Ospreay then hits the Hidden Blade out of nowhere and follows it up with the Stormbreaker for the win.

Is Ospreay going to use the Tiger Driver?!

Order #AEWDoN on PPV right now!

?: https://t.co/MpmTCyHt8n
?: https://t.co/GTkwK7GBIn@WillOspreay | @RoderickStrong | @TheDonCallis pic.twitter.com/KZfEqQgMN5

-- All Elite Wrestling (@AEW) May 27, 2024

"I still feel like I was learning the trade," Ospreay reflected to ComicBook about his in-ring history with Strong. "If you watched those matches, I didn't win the match, I just survived it personally. Now is the point where I'm a fully grown man. I have all these accolades under my belt. Roderick is without doubt one of the best wrestlers in the world today. He's a Ring of Honor legend, he's a wrestling legend, and he's now entering this new stratosphere of who he is as a professional wrestler. Now finally I feel like I'm at my peak and he's at his peak, and we're going to probably put on one of the best matches on that card."

For the past three years AEW has partnered with the Owen Hart Foundation and Martha Hart to honor the legacy of Owen with the Owen Hart Cup Tournament. During the inaugural tournament, Adam Cole and Britt Baker walked away the winners while TBS Champion Willow Nightingale and Ricky Starks won last year. Up until this point the tournament didn't have any stakes other than a beautiful shiny belt to add to their collection, however this year that's set to change.

During AEW Double or Nothing on the fifth anniversary of AEW, AEW President Tony Khan and Hart made a huge special announcement to the fans in Las Vegas. This year the tournament is set to return but with it being the 25th anniversary of the Owen Hart Foundation, they wanted to raise the stakes even higher. The winners of the men's and the women's tournaments will earn a future World Championship opportunity at AEW All In this August in London. Though it's unclear when the tournament will kick off, the finals will conclude when AEW heads to Calgary, Alberta this July 10.

In a recent interview with The Calgary Sun, Hart confirmed the date of the finals and reiterated that she trusts AEW with the legacy of her late husband. "I trust AEW to highlight, promote, and honour Owen's wrestling legacy," she said. "We are now working together to ensure that legacy continues."

Ahead of the inaugural tournament, current FTW Champion Chris Jericho told Comicbook that the tournament was a "passion project" for him.

"It was a passion project for me and obviously for Martha (Hart) and Tony. We worked on it for a long time, about a year and a half, to put the deal together and figure out what we wanted to do," he said. "I just knew I wanted Owen's legacy to be something positive and something great as far as wrestling goes, rather than just be dwelling on his death. That's the main reason why we all wanted this to happen, so we can celebrate Owen Hart's career and the contributions that he made. He was a pioneer."

Stay tuned to Comicbook for updates on this year's Owen Hart Cup Tournaments and AEW.

AEW Double or Nothing Card

• AEW World Championship: Swerve Strickland (c) vs. Christian Cage

• AEW TBS Championship: Willow Nightingale (c) vs. Mercedes Mon?

• Anarchy in the Arena: The Elite (The Young Bucks, Kazuchika Okada, Jack Perry) vs. Team AEW (FTR, Bryan Danielson, Darby Allin)

• AEW TNT Championship - Barbed Wire Cage Match: Adam Copeland (c) vs. Malakai Black

• AEW Women's Championship: "Timeless" Toni Storm (c) vs. Serena Deeb

• AEW International Championship: Roderick Strong (c) vs. Will Ospreay

• Unified Trios Championships: Bullet Club Gold (c) vs. Death Triangle

• FTW Championship: Chris Jericho (c) vs. HOOK vs. Katsuyori Shibata

• Trent Beretta vs. Orange Cassidy

• IWGP World Heavyweight Championship Eliminator Match: Jon Moxley (c) vs. Konosuke Takeshita

During WWE's trip to Saudi Arabia for King and Queen of the Ring, the company announced that it will be making its return for the second show in Saudi Arabia this year for Crown Jewel on November 2. The event, which was created as part of WWE's huge ten-year deal with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, has been taking place since 2018. At last year's event, Seth Rollins defeated Drew McIntyre to retain the World Heavyweight Championship and John Cena returned for a match against The Bloodline's Solo Sikoa.

At King and Queen of the Ring, the winners of both the King and Queen tournaments were crowned and they will go on to have a title shot at WWE SummerSlam in Cleveland this August. Not only that, a new Women's World Champion was crowned due to the assistance of Judgment Day member Dominik Mysterio. Becky Lynch looks to regain the title on next week's WWE Raw where she will enact her rematch clause that's built into her WWE contract.

Elsewhere, Sami Zayn retained the Intercontinental Championship that he won back at WrestleMania against Chad Gable and Bronson Reed. Ahead of the show WWE Women's Tag Team Champions Bianca Belair and Jade Cargill had a title defense against Candice LeRae and Indi Hartwell which was made official on last night's SmackDown. retaining the championships in their first defense since winning at WWE Backlash. "The American Nightmare" looked to put away United States Champion Logan Paul which he did, despite the usual dirty tactics from Paul who used the brass knuckles on Rhodes when he promised not to.

WWE x Saudi Arabia: Soon to be Expanded?

It was recently revealed by the TKO President that WWE is looking to expand their relationship with Saudi Arabia by bringing more events to the region. Now more than half-way through their 10-year deal, alongside Crown Jewel, WWE has hosted both the Elimination Chamber and Night of Champions in Jeddah. The deal is said to be expanded upon in the next six to 12 months as WWE President Nick Khan is leading the discussions on behalf of the sports giant.

WWE's partnership with Saudi Arabia comes at a time where they are looking to expand to more markets overseas and host PLE's in said areas. One of those markets is Glasgow, Scotland for Clash at the Castle in June. There, Damian Priest will defend the World Heavyweight Championship against Scotland's own Drew McIntyre. WWE just got back from France for WWE Backlash and will soon head to Berlin for Bash in Berlin and Toronto for Money in the Bank.

WWE King and Queen of the Ring Results

• Women's World Championship: Becky Lynch (c) vs. Liv Morgan
• Intercontinental Championship: Sami Zayn (c) vs. Chad Gable vs. Bronson Reed
• Queen of the Ring finals: Lyra Valkyria vs. Nia Jax
• King of the Ring finals: Gunther vs. Randy Orton
• Undisputed WWE Championship: Cody Rhodes (c) vs. United States Champion Logan Paul
• Women's Tag Team Championships: Bianca Belair & Jade Cargill (c) vs. Candice LeRae & Indi Hartwell

The King and Queen of the Ring PLE officially crowned the winners of both the King and Queen tournaments. While Nia Jax took the crown from recent main roster call-up Lyra Valkyria, Randy Orton and Gunther went to war to cement themselves as one of the greats. This year's tournament marks the first since 2021 where the first Queen was also crowned. That year, Xavier Woods won the tournament and while he was supposed to be in this year's tournament, his New Day stablemate Kofi Kingston ended up replacing him.

The match starts off hot between two of WWE's greats. The Viper eventuality gains momentary control and tries to put The Ring General away early with an RKO but Gunther scouts it and prevents that from happening. Orton comes back at him with hard hits which Gunther answers with a chop of his own that sends Orton to the mat. Gunther locks in the London Dungeon but shifts to a wrist lock as Orton squirms out of the holds.

Vintage Orton ?#WWEKingAndQueen pic.twitter.com/3j4r7fDkuz

-- WWE (@WWE) May 25, 2024

Orton gets the better of Gunther, but it's clear that Gunther's dominance might be becoming too much. When Orton eventually does hit the RKO, Gunther smartly rolls under the ropes so that he can't be pinned. The fight has now moved to the outside where Orton hits the former Intercontinental Champion with a huge back body drop. When things move back into the ring, Orton is scrambling desperately to win the match. He hits another RKO but Gunther kicks out and locks in a crucifix for the win.

WWE announced that this year's tournaments wouldn't just be for a shiny crown. Instead, they've added stakes that will give the winners a title shot at this year's SummerSlam in Cleveland, Ohio. Since Gunther is on the red brand, he will face Damian Priest for the World Heavyweight Championship while Jax will face Bayley, should both of the champions remain the titleholders through the summer. That will be tested for Priest who will go up against McIntyre at Clash at the Castle in June. McIntyre won the World Heavyweight Championship at WrestleMania 40. from Seth Rollins but was quickly defeated by Priest who cashed in his Money in the Bank contract. Priest agreed to a rematch on last week's WWE Raw.

WWE King and Queen of the Ring Results

• Women's World Championship: Becky Lynch (c) vs. Liv Morgan
• Intercontinental Championship: Sami Zayn (c) vs. Chad Gable vs. Bronson Reed
• Queen of the Ring finals: Lyra Valkyria vs. Nia Jax
• King of the Ring finals: Gunther vs. Randy Orton
• Undisputed WWE Championship: Cody Rhodes (c) vs. United States Champion Logan Paul
• Women's Tag Team Championships: Bianca Belair & Jade Cargill (c) vs. Candice LeRae & Indi Hartwell