In this WrestleTalk News, one of AEW’s biggest stars could be leaving the company, WWE are
delighted with how Raw XXX went, some former WWE stars are less than delighted with how
Raw XXX went, and more…
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Another day, another whisper about contracts in AEW and when/if they might be up soon - and
this time we’re talking about one of AEW’s biggest stars… in terms of mass.
Last year, there was a brief period it looked like Brian Cage might be done with the company,
having been off TV for a few months as his contract with the company came up.
Cage was said to be “pleasantly surprised” when AEW higher ups triggered the option to
extend his contract for another year and in that time he’s got a better showing with
sporadic appearances on Dynamite and Rampage, but putting more of a shift in on the Ring
of Honor side of the business.
But a year goes quick these days, even quicker in the past few, I blinked in 2019 and now
its 2023, and that means Cage’s contract is up again.
This comes from a report from Fightful Select which claims that Cage;s contract is set to
expire in the coming weeks unless he can come to an agreement on a new deal with AE-DUB.
At the minute that would maybe be wise considering he is currently an ROH Six-Man Tag Team Champion
alongside Gates of Agony as The Embassy.
Cage debuted for the brand back in April last year at Supercard of Honor, before winning
the six man titles at December’s Final Battle.
While he’s doing better in Khan’s company there has reportedly been some interest from
the other side of the fence as according to Fightful feelers have been sent out to WWE
to gauge the company’s interest in bringing the Swolverine in - though it’s unknown
whether there is any interest from either side.
If WWE did get him they’d have to use him though, can’t have him sat in catering you’d
be out of chicken and rice so quickly.
Maybe it’s a good time to approach WWE though, as the company are currently riding high on
the success of Monday’s Raw Is XXX episode and the reliable nostalgia pops as a load
of legends came to play.
And you might want to pop on your rose-tinted reading glasses once more to get a load of
the viewing figures for Monday’s show!
Brandon Thurston of Wrestlenomics reported that Raw averaged 2,344,000 viewers across
its three hour runtime with 908,000 of those being in that delicious 18-49 demo that advertisers
love.
The high-value merchandise.
I’ve been reading the Promised Neverland, this all sounds like demon talk.
Thurston suggested that the commercial free first our of the show would likely have discouraged
channel surfing, keeping those viewing figures high for the runtime.
It’s good news for WWE, delicious for demons and doubly good for WWE because according
to Thurston the total viewership is the highest since February 17th 2020 and it’s the best
key demo number, a 0.70, since April 6th 2020.
It has now been just over a week since the wrestling world learned of the tragic passing
of ROH tag team champion Jay Briscoe at the age of just 38.
There has understandably been a huge outpouring of love from the wrestling community for the
Briscoe family, and thankfully there has been a lot of positive news regarding the conditions
of Jay’s daughters Gracie and Jayleigh, both of whom were in the car at the time of
the tragic accident.
While there was an outpouring of support for Jay’s family, it’s fair to say there was
an equal outpouring of anger towards Warner Bros Discovery, the company which owns TBS,
the channel which airs AEW.
Neither of the Briscoe brothers had been allowed to wrestle on AEW shows which is said to be
due to some homophobic comments made by Jay several years ago, something the vast majority
of people say Jay has since atoned for many times over.
According to reports last week, Tony Khan and co wanted to make last week’s AEW Dynamite
a Jay Briscoe tribute show, but Warner Bros Discovery blocked this plan as they still
did not want any focus on the Briscoes.
Thankfully, the company has suddenly changed its mind, with Dave Meltzer confirming AEW
was now allowed to use Mark Briscoe on upcoming shows, and also that AEW will be able to honour
Jay Briscoe on tonight’s episode of Dynamite.
AEW has already capitalised on Warner Bros Discovery’s change of heart, and have booked
Mark Briscoe in a match against former ROH World Champion Jay Lethal.
It will be Mark’s AEW debut, and his first match since his brother’s passing.
Speaking on the Battleground podcast, AEW President Tony Khan revealed it was Mark and
Jay Lethal who requested the match.
He said: “It’s going to be a great match to honor
a great man.
These two men requested this match, Wednesday would be the 39th birthday of the late, great
Jay Briscoe.
“His longtime friend and rival, Jay Lethal, and his brother, Mark Briscoe, wanted to have
this match to honor the legacy of Jay Briscoe and I fought hard to make it happen and I’m
really excited about the match.”
While Mark is yet to make a public statement since the death of his brother, family friend
Josh Wharton spoke on a Facebook live stream about the continuing improvement of the condition
of Jay’s daughters, and noted that he had spoken to Mark on the phone.
Wharton noted the incredible resilience of Mark so soon after losing his brother, and
how Mark’s faith has remained strong despite the tragedy.
Sticking with AEW and the famously outspoken Dax Harwood has claimed he was paid “bottom
dollar” by WWE during his main roster run with the company.
Speaking on the FTR Podcast, Dax said that while couldn’t speak for tag partner Cash
Wheeler, he at least felt he was paid very little, at least in relation to other main
roster stars.
He said: "Our contracts were the very bottom dollar..I'll
tell you mine.
I don't know about Cash's, but our first contract for the main roster was $125,000, $150,000,
$175,000 across the three years and that was it, you know."
While to most of us it’d be lovely to be paid that much, you have to take into account
that hotel, food and travel expenses are all paid for by the wrestlers.
WWE stars are typically on the road four or five times a week depending on the house show
schedule, so those numbers really start to add up.
Imagine working for a company where $175,000 a year was bottom dollar.
While Raw XXX is being hailed as a huge success for WWE, it’s fair to say that not everyone
was entirely thrilled with the show, with arguably the two most vocal critics being
former Divas champions the Bella Twins.
Luke noted in yesterday’s news video that the Bellas had decided not to be on the show,
and in a new update, the twins have claimed WWE never had plans for them, so they didn’t
feel like there would be a lot of point in showing up.
Speaking on Instagram Live, Nikki Bella revealed the sisters had been hoping to appear on the
show, especially as the pair are currently promoting their new reality show, Nikki Bella
Says I Do.
Nikki appeared to be trying to play down any reports of heat between herself, Brie and
WWE, and as is often the way of things, did her best to blame wrestling media for misleading
everyone, because that’s just what we do.
Despite trying to play down reports of heat, Nikki, who shortly after Raw XXX had blasted
WWE for not using enough women on the show, thanked fans for their support of women’s
wrestling.
She said: “I love the fans for sticking up for women.
There are so many crybabies, ‘Oh they just whine.’
Let me tell you why people get upset.
This is speaking on behalf of the majority of women.
“‘Oh, they always make it about them.’
No, just because we speak up, we’re not making it about ourselves.
It’s about the women from the very beginning to the ones that are there.
I understand why so many people are upset, especially our fans, when it’s something
like Raw 30.”
She went on to name the stars who made her a wrestling fan, like Beth Phoenix, Candice
Michelle, Melina and Mickie James, which was perhaps a suggestion as to who WWE could have
had on the show.
As we saw on Monday night, the only women’s legend on the show was Alundra Blayze, who
was seen playing poker backstage.
What a way to highlight women’s wrestling and its contribution to Raw.
It is interesting to note that while Nikki and Brie claim WWE never had plans for them
to be at the show, Sean Ross Sapp of Fightful Select claims WWE did have plans, but an audible
was called after the twins failed to show up at the taping.
If Sean’s report is accurate, it won’t have been the only women’s segment canceled
at the last minute, as it’s been widely reported Becky Lynch’s steel cage match
with Bayley was dropped from the show due to the Sami Zayn tribal court segment going
long.
Sticking with the subject of popular women’s wrestlers who have heat with WWE, it seems
that everyone and their mums wants Mercedes Mone, the former Sasha Banks, in their wrestling
company.
Mone is set to make her return to the ring at New Japan Pro Wrestling’s Battle in the
Valley on February 18 against another former WWE star Kairi Sane, who is the current IWGP
Women’s Champion.
However, Dave Meltzer has noted previously that Mone is only scheduled to have a few
matches in NJPW, and where she goes after that is anyone’s guess.
One guess, or hope rather, comes from Mickie James, who has made it very clear she would
love to see Mone in IMPACT Wrestling.
Speaking to Ella Jay of SEScoops, James said: “I’m excited for her.
The world is her oyster.
She can literally do whatever she wants.
I think any company would benefit from having her on their roster.
“I’ve never had a singles match with Sasha.
I would really, really love to have a singles match with Mercedes.
I love her.
I have so much love and respect for her.
I think she’s incredible.
“She can go test herself against whoever she wants to and show up everywhere.
That’s what I hope, she shows up everywhere.
Come on over to IMPACT.”
Many still expect Mercedes to show up in AEW once her run with NJPW finishes.
If only AEW had some kind of money-related PPV in May.