In this WrestleTalk News, FTR teases one last run, Cody Rhodes posts about CM Punk, Triple
H’s plan to take over the world and more…
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And because it’s Halloween today, if you do, I’m going to show you the scariest,
most horrifying wrestling images of the year.
After getting engaged last year, Sheamus wed Isabella Revilla on Saturday.
And of course for a day centred around a commitment to lifelong love, the main thing we want to
know is: which AEW wrestlers were there, oh my god, Sheamus is a WWE contracted wrestler,
and AEW people will be there.
CJ Perry, the former Lana in WWE, has shared photos with the other guests, AEW’s Claudio
Castignoli standing alongside WWE’s Best Lynch and Seth Rollins, and another of Miro
with Damien Priest, Naomi and Matt Riddle.
Sheamus was written off SmackDown two weeks ago with a Bloodline beat down to give him
time off for his wedding.
You’re exposing the business, love.
One topic of conversation amongst the wrestling guests, and, let’s be honest, all of wrestling
YouTube for the last seven weeks, was probably CM Punk.
Following the backstage shoot brawl between Punk and the Elite, which led to the suspension
of all involved, AEW appears to have concluded their investigation, ultimately siding with
Kenny Omega and the Young Bucks.
Punk’s close friend Ace Steel was reportedly released by AEW from his backstage role, and
the Elite got their first return promo tease on last Wednesday’s Dynamite.
Alongside all this, Punk and AEW are reportedly discussing a buyout of his contract.
Many have looked for similarities and connections between the Punk and Elite controversy, and
AEW’s other year defining incident: the departure of Cody Rhodes, a top AEW star,
co-executive vice-president and one of the founders of the promotion, to return to WWE
back in April.
All sides are keeping very tight lipped about why Cody really wanted out from WWE.
Preceding Cody’s departure, there were rumours that he had fallen out with the Elite.
There was also speculation that big name stars like Punk and Bryan Danielson joining the
company had pushed Rhodes down the pecking order.
Claims that Cody himself has now directly responded to on Twitter:
“I didn’t leave because of the Bucks/Kenny.
I’m forever bonded to those men over what we created and I remain very proud of it,
and I didn’t leave because of/or have issues with Punk.
We got along.
Not money, not booking, just a personal issue and my wanting to go for the big one.”
While the ‘personal issue’ is mysteriously vague, and the position of WWE as ‘the big
one’ is a bit of a neg at AEW, the Bucks replied to Cody’s post with a photo of him,
the Bucks and Kenny before their first AEW show - suggesting they are on good terms.
Which is more than you can probably say for them and Punk…
Aside from one Instagram story post from Punk being excited for the release of Blade of
the 47 Ronin - a Netflix movie which was written by his wife AJ Mendez [IMAGE] - he’s issued
no public comment on anything.
So instead, let’s have a look at his mate’s social media!
The reportedly released Ace Steel, who was allegedly involved in the backstage brawl,
has posted his own Instagram story with the caption:
“The moment you put a stop to people taking advantage of you and disrespecting you, is
when they define you as difficult, selfish, or crazy.
Manipulators hate boundaries.”
This comes following last week’s report that Chris Jericho had confronted Punk backstage
following the brawl and called him a “locker room cancer”.
Unsurprisingly, it seems that Punk’s camp is unhappy with the investigation finding
in favour of the Elite.
How they’ll respond beyond indirect social media posts is unknown, but it could range
from further legal issues, or potentially jumping ship to WWE.
The most recent update on the latter is that as of last week, there have been no talks
between WWE and Punk.
Which you would think makes sense, as Punk’s AEW contract might legally prevent that from
happening.
And, as we all know, WWE are super respectful of AEW contracts.
But who needs CM Punk, the company’s biggest ever pay-per-view, TV, live event and merchandise
selling draw?
AEW has Mike Tyson now.
What is it with this company and people who bite people?
Last Friday’s episode of Rampage announced that boxing legend Mike Tyson will appear
on this week’s show as a guest commentator.
This comes after several appearances for the promotion since May 2020.
But according to PWInsider, this latest appearance won’t be a one-off, and he’s agreed to
multiple appearances.
Tyson and Jericho have long wanted to work a program together, so this could be that
storyline finally happening.
But also, what about all those Ring of Honor guys?
Fightful is reporting that Josh Woods, Bandido, Matt Taven, Mike Bennett and Maria Kanellis
“were also offered or signed to full-time deals” by AEW.
But several of the ROH stars who’ve recently appeared on AEW programming are still “completely
free agents” - including Cheeseburger, who wrestled on the AEW Zero Hour pre-show, and
former ROH World Champion Dalton Castle, who fought Jericho on Dynamite two weeks ago in
an excellent match.
Castle is one of my favourites, so I find it baffling AEW haven’t signed him to a
deal - particularly after his Dynamite showing, and the fact he holds one of the ROH Trios
Championship belts.
If I was Triple H right now, I’d be doing everything I could do lure Castle away.
But then again, perhaps Triple H is too busy trying to take over the world…
Two weeks ago I pitched to you all my wrestling conspiracy theory.
Karl Anderson was going to keep wrestling for New Japan up until January as their Never
Openweight champion, despite now having returned to WWE.
Rey Mysterio sent a video message to AAA.
And something about Sasha Banks wrestling Kairi Sane for the New Japan women’s belt.
Maybe I got carried away with that one.
I said that Triple H’s whole gimmick is being the cerebral assassin.
He’s not going to pull crazy, in-your-face stunts like Vince.
He’s going to slowly chip away at your credibility and turn all of those closest to you against
you.
And he’s got a NXT defeat sized chip on his shoulder.
And he’s got his sights on AEW.
My theory was that Triple H is going to subtly open up WWE’s borders to work with more
wrestling promotions around the world.
This is in direct contrast to Vince’s isolationist approach.
Doing so would neuter one of AEW’s main unique selling points: that it is the promotion
that plays well with others, and is rewarded with talent sharing opportunities.
Following NWA president Billy Corgan confirming last week that he had held talks with WWE
about the two promotions working together, and while “it didn’t go anywhere”, he
remains “optimistic”, WWE themselves have now announced a hugely uncharacteristic wrestler
loan to Pro Wrestling NOAH.
As part of Japanese wrestling legend The Great Muta’s retirement tour, WWE star Shinsuke
Nakamura will wrestle him on Pro Wrestling NOAH’s big New Year’s day show.
Nakamura himself tweeted the news, and then posted: “This is miracle.”
It’s a stunning change of direction for WWE, and potentially lays the groundwork for
any number of talent loans to other promotions.
Rey Mysterio wrestling a match in AAA, for instance.
Gunther competing in the G1, yes please.
It’s Triple H’s wrestling boot in the forbidden door, possibly a way to pry out
Tony Khan.
Pro Wrestling NOAH has a working relationship with New Japan, meaning WWE wouldn’t annoy
New Japan either.
Particularly as the Karl Anderson situation appears to have been resolved.
He will defend his Never Openweight title in the promotion, but not at his double booking
with Crown Jewel this Saturday.
Instead, New Japan have announced Bullet Club’s Yujiro Takahashi will replace him.
Anderson is expected to defend his title in New Japan over the next two months.
It’ll make January 4th’s WrestleKingdom show a uniquely interesting event - potentially
having AEW and WWE wrestlers on the same card, some representing the same global, promotion-spanning
faction the Bullet Club.
AEW’s FTR will be making their Japan debut for New Japan this Saturday in Osaka, and
their IWGP Heavyweight Tag Team Championship contenders have now been announced as The
United Empire’s Great O-Khan and Jeff Cobb.
FTR won those belts from the United Empire back at June’s Forbidden Door show, when
FTR pinned Trent and Rocky Romero.
But amidst this, with FTR on the most successful title run of their careers, holding the top
tag championships of three different promotions, their AEW ascent has stalled - never getting
the dream ‘for all the belts’ third match with the Bucks, and being kept out of the
AEW tag title picture because of the organic rise of the Acclaimed.
They most recently lost a No. 1 contenders match on Wednesday’s Dynamite.
Following this, Dax Harwood has posted an oddly foreboding message on Instagram:
“All we’ve ever wanted to do in life was be a professional wrestler.
Height, body-type, accent, life situations, we had all of it against us.
Now, we leave a body of work I think we can be proud of.
When we started this journey in 2014, we tried to make sure we were always different from
the everyone else wrestling currently.
We also wanted to work so hard that eventually we’d go down as one of the greatest tag
teams to ever do it.
I’m not sure if we have reached that, but we’ll damn sure keep trying.
Thank y’all for going on this journey with us.
Not sure where the next few years will take us, but I can’t wait for One Last Run.
Top Guys, out.
🐐 💩” It potentially teases FTR splitting up - with
Dax and Cash having accomplished everything you can as a tag team in wrestling.
Both have dabbled in singles competition this year to great effect.
Or it could signal the end of their AEW run.
Back in April, it was reported that WWE had interest in bringing FTR back.
You’d think that’s only intensified since Triple H, their NXT daddy and lover of tag
team wrestling, now heads up the company’s creative.
FTR’s AEW deals were reportedly extended for a year option, meaning they will become
free agents in the Summer.
Do you think FTR would return to WWE?
Let me know in the comments.
Bray Wyatt’s latest gimmick is the hottest thing in wrestling right now.
But what about his first main roster character?
Watch how Adam Blampied would’ve booked Cult Leader Bray Wyatt now…