I’m Pete Quinnell, welcome to the WrestleTalk News.
Every time WrestleMania rolls around to a multiple of 10, there’s normally a bit more
effort put into those shows to give fans what they want with memorable moments.
10 had one of the better opening matches in WrestleMania history, a big win at the end
and an iconic match in the middle, 20 had…well at the time it was feel good, 30 obviously
had the story of Daniel Bryan and now next year we’ve got WrestleMania 40.
In Roman numerals it’s even XL - WrestleMania Extra Large!
What huge, amazing match could they have lined up for next year?
Hulk Hogan vs Shane McMahon obviously.
Hulk Hogan appeared on The MMA Hour with Ariel Helwani, where he said that prior to WrestleMania
39, Shane McMahon contacted him to ask if he had one more match in his body.
Unfortunately, or fortunately depending on your viewpoint, Hogan said his back isn’t
what it used to be, because yknow, he’s like 70 years old.
Backs are hard to maintain, should get some tips from Raquel Rodriguez.
But unfortunately, or fortunately depending on your viewpoint, Hogan then said he’s
hoping to be ready for a retirement match next year, so if all the stars align, we’ve
got ourselves a Mania main event right there brother.
Apparently Shane told him that he doesn’t need to bump, Shane can just run at him and
bump for him, and honestly that sounds absolutely hilarious I’d love to see it.
Our actual top story today is of course that AEW Collision’s debut show was confirmed
to be in the United Center in Chicago on last night’s Dynamite, which all but confirms
that Chicken McNugget Punk will be in attendance for the show already.
If we ever needed more confirmation though, Dave Meltzer has weighed in to say that Punk
will absolutely be there, noting that there was a final meeting between Punk and Tony
Khan that “went well” and that “there are a number of other issues worked out including
an agreement that nobody will speak publicly on the brawl after All Out last year.”
Sounds very secretive, nobody will speak publicly on it, like it’s Voldemort or something.
The PPV-Who-Shall-Not-Be-Named.
This would obviously include a resolution regarding Ace Steel, who was reportedly the
sticking point in their discussions up to this point, who Meltzer reports “has been
under a deal for "many weeks" and that he will be working from home as part of the arrangement”.
There was also the report recently of Punk being served legal documents, with the implication
that if Punk didn’t go along with AEW’s demands, then they would pursue further action.
Fightful Select has spoken on this report since, with their report noting “some documents
were sent to Punk to be signed”, but while the exact nature of the documents may be unclear,
there was reportedly an indication that “covered speaking about certain subjects, disparagement
clauses, and ensuring he appears at scheduled television dates, largely to protect AEW in
several situations.”
Meanwhile, in WWE there might be talent cuts coming soon.
Fun.
A source has reportedly told WrestleVotes that there is set to be a “minor batch”
of releases prior to July 1st, which coincidentally is the same date as Money in the Bank.
Fightful Select has noted in addition to this that as of WrestleMania weekend, Nick Khan
reportedly told the WWE roster that they didn’t plan on making any cuts to their onscreen
talent.
Of course that was at the start of April so things could have changed by then.
And that doesn’t include the reported cuts to employees that are set to come about courtesy
of the merger with UFC under Endeavour.
Stay tuned.
And now before we head to Oli, we’ve got
a special message from…Turbo Jack.
Good luck.
And because it’s my review of AEW Dynamite, you know what that means…
Orange Cassidy is defending his AEW International Championship to open the show.
Apart from last week, Wardlow had a promo.
But in general that observation works.
Cassidy defended this week against Aussie Open’s Kyle Fletcher, who had attacked Orange
backstage two weeks ago.
Kyle was explosive from the start, the high intensity style of his faction mate Will Ospreay
all over him.
Which mostly means he lands on his neck a lot of the time.
A Cassidy kickout after a Tombstone Piledriver immediately into a spinning jumping Tombstone
Piledriver- Undertaker is turning in his grave right now.
Which is where he sleeps every night after a hard day saving tigers.
-Orange eeked out another victory with a technical pin.
I never believed he’d lose, with his months long storyline building towards the 21 Man
Blackjack Battle Royal defence at the pay-per-view on Sunday, but this was still so much fun.
Speaking of the Battle Royal, Starks said he’ll be focusing on that at Double or Nothing,
when Bullet Club GOOOOOOOOOLD attacked him.
FTR cut an in-ring promo on Team TNA, calling them just a bunch of rejects from TNA, and
even suggesting Dixie Carter could be the next All Elite signing.
DON’T SPEAK THESE THINGS INTO EXISTENCE, DAX.
Mark Briscoe came down, rightfully wanting an answer on how Dax was able to execute a
perfect piiledriver on him while blinded last week, and wouldn’t accept Harwood’s apology
- slapping him in the face.
He wasn’t on Team TNA’s side either, hilariously pushing each member as he walked up the ramp
Including sell of the night from Jeff Jarrett If he only he could’ve sold gold as well
as wrestling moves…
And confronted his boy Jay Lethal at the top, saying he’s getting tired of this bull s-word
- neatly keeping Mark’s special guest referee allegiances a mystery.
The House of Black then defended their trios titles against AR Fox, Metalik and Blake Christian
- with the opponent’s chosen rule being one man in, one man out tag rules.
No, not the entry policy for your local nightclub.
Too many men, too many men.
But a tactical use of lucha libre conditions.
Another important addition was a speckled lighting effect on the crowd, rather than
plunging the entire audience into darkness - which received criticism in the first Open
House match.
I like both, but it’s nice to see a company listen to its fans.
How about that Support WrestleTalk bumper at the start of this video by the way.
Let’s get a cheap pop for that in the comments!
The House of Black looked awesome, making the most of the no rope breaks rule, and winning
via triple submission.
I’m really enjoying the Open House presentation.
It makes House of Black feel distinctly special from the rest of the card, like they have
their own pocket dimension within AEW.
MJF cut an in-ring promo building up the rest of his Four Pillars opponents, while also
saying he’s better than them.
But he’s bored of the competition in this place now, and he brought up his contract
expiration again, now we’re six months away from the deal he definitely hasn’t re-signed.
Darby came out to challenge him in the ring, so Max kicked him in the balls, with Sammy
running down for the babyface save - even though nobody likes him - and Jungle Boy getting
to stand tall with the title after laying out MJF on the ramp.
This wasn’t a hot go-home angle.
Taya Valkyrie got some winning momentum for her TBS title shot against Jade Cargill on
Sunday, beating a Dynamite debuting Lady Frost.
Tony Khan then made his latest huge, levelling up, next week in Winnipeg, in partnership
with Warner Bros Discovery, we’re so excited about Shazam: Fury of the Gods announcement…
I’m being glib, but my heart was genuinely in my throat as he was re-going over all the
Collision venues he’d already announced - like Regina, South Carolina!
- when he revealed the first episode will take place at the United Centre in Chicago!
I cheered, the crowd cheered.
And they also booed.
Now we know CM Punk is all but returning, we can finally move onto the next part of
that problem - what if half your audience don’t want him to.
But let’s not get carried away.
There’s only one man who can truly confirm if CM Punk 100% has returned to AEW.
WrestleTalk’s CM Punk Return correspondent Brian Children.
Brian - has CM Punk returned to wrestling?
BRIAN: Nope.
OLI: Dammit, well.
Ok.
Keep on looking.
BRIAN: How long do you want me on this assignment?
OLI: Until he comes back on our screens Brian.
Obviously.
BRIAN: Oli, I do need to sleep.
OLI: Not my problem, Brian.
BRIAN: I'm so tired, and I miss my family.
OLI: I doubt they miss you.
BRIAN: I haven't eaten in four days.
OLI: Plenty more to go before you starve then.
BRIAN: Please, please let me go.
OLI: That’s all from Brian!
Chris Jericho and Adam Cole then signed a contract for their unsanctioned match at Double
or Nothing, where even though Cole cut a great, fiery, blue eyed babyface revenge promo…
I was still worried he was going to turn heel on Roderick Strong standing next to him.
And to even the J.A.S.
numbers game, Cole has got someone to be in his corner…
Sabu.
In 2023.
That’s a terrible idea.
Sabu came down and immediately threw a chair at the heels.
Even Cole and Strong looked a bit uneasy being around him.
An odd, shoe-horned in choice, way out of place for such an intimate rivalry.
This turned into a match of Strong vs Daniel Garcia - a bit of a low-key dream match for
me.
It was really well wrestled, but wasn’t given enough time for the crowd to get fully
into their style of match, and Strong ended up winning relatively easily.
Willow Nightingale got an adorable video package on how she’s the new New Japan Strong Women’s
Champion.
Hopefully she gets a push off the back of this.
And the main event was a terrifically fun ROH Tag Team Title match, of the Lucha Bros
defending against Claudio Castignoli and Wheeler Yuta - after Claudio had pinned Fenix in Double
Jeopardy.
Everything about this match ruled.
From the Lucha Bros’ dives to Bryan Danielson’s William Regal name dropping commentary.
Penta and Fenix vs the Blackpool Combat Club made for a wonderful melting pot of styles.
The finish was well booked too, when the Young Bucks held onto Claudio’s legs from under
the ring, stopping him breaking up the pin on Yuta and costing them the match.
The Bucks ran off through the crowd as Mox screamed Sunday will be the most violent match
ever.