Coming up - the alleged real reason behind a WWE star firing, a confrontation with Triple
H backstage, a top AEW star injured and more.
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But before we get into any of that, All Elite Wrestling have been rumbled.
They’ve long been considered a bastion of long term logical storytelling, but following
PAC’s return promo on this week’s Dynamite, where he said he’s gone crazy locked down
by himself, Reddit user WobbyTheMan has exposed this as a lie:
On the post ‘Major flaw in AEW storyline’, Wobby reveals: Pac has NOT in fact been by
himself the past 7 months.
I live near him and seen him both in a supermarket, and walking a dog with someone else.
I hope somebody got fired for that blunder!”
AEW, you’re exposing the business.
But at least you’re providing a safe, alternative place to work for out-of-work wrestlers.
Because Miro, the former Rusev, has made some incredibly serious accusations for why WWE
fired him earlier this year.
Back in April, WWE released or furloughed a reported 40% of its workforce, including
big name wrestlers like Kurt Angle, Luke Gallows and Karl Anderson, and Rusev.
The company claimed they were cutting costs because of the pandemic.
Which was later exposed as a pretty hollow claim, when WWE issued record breaking revenue
and profits in the two quarters that followed, making 2020 one of their best money-making
years ever.
Which is why Miro has alleged on Talk Is Jericho there was another reason behind WWE letting
him go: “I was getting some of the boys around because
we were not okay about how everybody was treated in the pandemic situation.
We felt scared to go to work, and once again, it was probably ten of us talking, somebody
leaked it to the office.
From us 10 people that were talking, somebody leaked it to the office and to the dirt sheets,
and once that happened, I knew right away they’re gonna fire me because they’re
going to blame it all on me of course because I’m the guy, but it doesn’t matter.”
“They fired me.
I lashed out because I think we’re on the path of doing something good because I do
want to protect the boys.
We all wanted to protect the boys and the girls.
That didn’t work out, and that’s why I felt like they cut me underneath because I
was just so angry man.”
This is an incredibly serious allegation.
If Miro was considered an employee of WWE, which wrestlers arguably are, firing him for
trying to protect his colleagues could be considered wrongful termination - as employees
are protected when whistleblowing or trying to join a union.
It must be said that WWE have put in place rigorous COVID safety precautions in recent
months, but during those early days, Miro and others had every right to be scared - with
several reported outbreaks in the company.
Rusev was also involved in a reported contract dispute since the previous Summer, even being
taken off TV during his Bobby Lashley feud until it could be resolved - so WWE could
argue that is why he was released.
And another wrestler in the company has reportedly challenged Triple H over how they’re being
used…
Xia Li joined the NXT Performance Center in January 2017 to become the first ever Chinese
woman to wrestle for WWE.
She competed in both Mae Young Classics, cameoed in the 2019 women’s Royal Rumble match,
and has since been a semi-regular on NXT TV - most recently turning heel by attacking
Kacy Catanzaro.
It’s the first substantial character beat she’s been given since signing three years
ago, and Fightful Select is reporting that’s because she confronted Triple H backstage
about how she was being booked.
Because Li is also a kickboxer, who got herself an amateur fight last month [IG IMAGE].
But when WWE officials found out about the event just days before she was set to compete
- when Li and others started promoting it online - they pulled her from the show.
Fightful writes this made Li “upset” and feel WWE “wasn’t giving her respect.”
Out of frustration for not being hardly used on TV after years with the company, she “went
directly to Triple H to express that she felt ready for an opportunity.”
Triple H, just like Vince McMahon, was impressed by her initiative and has started featuring
her more on TV, although she hasn’t won a match since April.
It’s understandable that WWE would want to pull Li during the pandemic, not wanting
their performers to risk bringing the virus back to the Performance Center.
But according to Sean Ross Sapp, NXT wrestlers aren’t under the same strict limitations
as main roster stars - with NXT being exempt “for now” from WWE’s takeover of various
wrestlers’ Twitch and Cameo accounts.
It’s those sorts of company perks that WWE can convince indie wrestlers to sign contracts.
Come to WWE!
Where else can you allegedly be fired for trying to make the workplace safer, hopefully
one day perform on morally compromised shows in Saudi Arabia, and sign over ownership of
your real name.
But even with contract clauses Robert Johnson would turn down, many wrestlers are still
signing WWE contracts in the talent war with AEW.
Following UK standout Ben Carter signing with WWE last month, and AEW announcing Max Caster
and Anthony Bowens were All Elite this week, Fightful is reporting WWE have reached out
to several people who have featured on AEW Dark shows - where unsigned wrestlers are
given a chance to prove themselves.
Apparently WWE are also looking at New Japan’s Strong talent too.
‘Strong’ being the name of the show.
Not just whether they can make Braun Strowman feel like a baby again.
Like indie star Alex Zayne who’s been featured on Strong this year, with Fightful reporting
WWE are interested in him at the same time Zayne has announced his final independent
date will be at this Sunday’s Game Changer Wrestling So Much Fun show.
AEW did manage one victory this week, though, pulling in 717,000 viewers to NXT’s 610,000.
This is a huge drop off from NXT’s 876,000 they drew for last week’s Halloween Havoc
- and down for both shows with the ratings and normal life steamroller that is the US
Presidential election.
But AEW have found themselves with an injury to one of their top stars going into this
Saturday’s pay-per-view.
Bryan Alvarez revealed on Wrestling Observer Radio that the Young Bucks’ Matt Jackson
suffered a legit leg injury in July this year during the falls counts anywhere Dynamite
match against Butcher and the Blade - in a spot where he did a flying elbow off the stage.
He’s been working through a “partially torn MCL and a thinning of the ACL” ever
since - which he’s now worked into the story with FTR by having them Pilmanise his ankle
two weeks ago.
The Bucks have wrestled multiple times on TV since then and Jackson himself has tweeted
he’s been medically cleared to compete this Saturday against the Bore Horseman - BURN!
- but a thinning ACL sounds like a ticking time bomb of an injury.
As FTR told us at WrestleTalk themselves in our interview with them on Wrestle2 - do go
and check that out - they think their Full Gear build against the Bucks could have been
better.
And now Cody has admitted on yesterday’s media call that the sudden stipulation, that
if the Bucks lose, they can never challenge for the tag titles in AEW ever again, is a
“bad idea” - saying “Maybe they did not learn from my experience, but that's wrestling
for you.
That's a wrestler.
We're bullheaded, and we are how we are” in a potential blend of kayfabe and shoot.
But it seems to have worked for making the result difficult to predict - as the latest
betting odds have the Bucks and FTR tied.
Elsewhere on the show, Moxley, Cody and Shida are the favourites to retain against Eddie
Kingston, Darby Allin and Nyla Rose.
MJF and Matt Hardy are expected to beat Jericho and Sammy Guevarra.
And Kenny Omega is the big favourite to beat Hangman Page and become the AEW World title’s
number one contender.
Cody hasn’t been so self-reflective on AEW’s heavily criticised women’s division, though,
saying the fault of their lacklustre Women’s Championship feud is on… you people, as
paraphrased by Sean Ross Sapp: “Cody tells Bell to Belles that he's not
disappointed in the Shida/Nyla build.
He says wrestling fans have been conditioned to believe that an invisible camera and someone
taking a last piece of cake in catering start a feud.
AEW will not have a war and peace build to everything”
I would argue there is a sweet spot between a backstage food fight and a 1,225 page novel
War and Peace when booking your pro wrestling stories.
Especially, you know, for your women’s championship while you’re pushing a subscription service
specifically for female wrestling fans.
AEW have so much talent, they’ve also announced a special episode of Dark for tonight for
WWE scouts’ viewing pleasure - featuring Ricky Starks, Big Swole, Evil Uno and Stu
Grayon.
But while AEW Full Gear is stacked, our WrestleTalk Full Jam watchalong party will be even more…
jammed.
Because I am defending my Jam that Jampionship against Luke Warm Luke Owen.
And to ensure he doesn’t cheat me out of my precious big red again, El Fakidor Laurie
Blake will be the special guest referee - who will challenge us to special Polls on a Pole
matches throughout the stream for extra points.
And I already have a one point lead, because I made the best chop sound on yesterday’s
AEW podcast.
In your face Luke, you’re a vegetarian!
Set your remind for our AEW Full Gear live reactions by clicking the video on the right!
And check out Brock Lesnar’s new look by clicking the video below that!
Remember, you can compete against us all in predictions by joining our Patreon and entering
the WrestleLeague!
I’ve been Mr Davis, your forever Jam that Jampion.