In this WrestleTalk News, more details on Sasha Banks’ first non-WWE experience, Claudio
Castagnoli aka Cesaro reveals why he didn’t resign with WWE and Oli will be here reviewing
AEW Fyter Fest.
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The former Sasha Banks, aka Mercedes Varnado’s sudden reappearance into the spotlight after
lying low since her reported WWE release has become quite the talking point this last week.
Not only was she announced for the Chicago Comic and Entertainment Expo, C2E2, with nary
a hint of WWE mentioned in the advertising - you may know her from ‘in the ring’
and Star Wars.
But now Fightful Select have found out some more details that seemingly point to her taking
the rest of the year out of wrestling.
After she was announced for C2E2 many wrestling conventions reportedly reached out in order
to book her, but were told that she would only be taking non-wrestling related bookings
until January 1st 2023.
Now obviously WWE haven’t actually confirmed that she has been released, they’ve just
quietly been deleting all mention of her, much more mature.
But one promoter that Fightful spoke to said they “can’t imagine her not being released
at this point” as her representatives definitely quoted a ‘firm, specific rate’ when asked
to book her.
Fightfull said that they couldn’t confirm whether not accepting wrestling bookings is
a personal preference or something contractual, but they’ve exhausted their sources in order
to try and find out.
Sasha’s not the only one though who was shadow released by WWE, her tag team partner
Naomi has also been the quiet heave ho according to all the rumors.
Naomi hasn’t done anything as extreme as sign up to a convention but she did put out
a tweet that seemed quite pointed at the WWE experience.
Writing: “Anything that cost you your peace is too expensive - unknown”
Much like Sasha, Naomi has also removed all WWE affiliation from her social media presence.
Sort of sticking with the theme of WWE releases Claudio Castagnoli, aka Cesaro, quietly let
his WWE contract expire back in February before arriving in AEW at last month’s Forbidden
Door.
In a new interview with Sports Illustrated Claudio revealed that he made the decision
to leave WWE after being left off of the Royal Rumble show despite being healthy.
He said: “It can be hard to take the high road, but that’s the road I am going to
take, All the memories, they matter.
I’m grateful for everything I have accomplished and I’m grateful for all those opportunities.
And they make me work so much harder to get where I want to be.
Definitely sticking with the theme of WWE releases, let’s talk Keith Lee, who caused
a stir this week when he tweeted that he had received some “less than stellar news”
on Tuesday.
Many assumed that something had happened which could cause him not to compete on last night’s
Dynamite.
Instead he did and won the AEW Tag Team Championships alongside Swerve Strickland - YES - more on
that on a bit.
He also dedicated the win to his friend in Texas who was recently diagnosed with stage
four colon cancer.
Telling the crowd in Georgia after the show “this is more than just a victory for me”
“This sir, is a victory for you, and a statement of my god-damn love!”
Keith Lee is honestly a top shelf human being.
Send some love to him and his buddy.
Now it’s time for my review of AEW Dynamite Fyter Fest... in about 5 minutes.
The special Fyter Fest (whisper) episode opened on Orange Cassidy taking on the fighting,
freshly crowned TNT Champion Wardlow.
How can Cassidy possibly compete?
By having the Best Friends immediately cheat.
But Trent and Chucky are such goofballs, their inexperienced cheating just came off as charming,
with Chuckie trying to slide Cassidy a chainsaw.
And Warlow had Danhausen scouted, pulling him from under the ring in a ‘you think
I’m an idiot’ kind of way.
For me, this was a perfect blend of comedy and action that somehow stayed competitive
without undermining Wardlow’s monster appeal.
And Cassidy’s final Beach Break near fall actually had me on the edge of my seat, before
Wardlow countered his Orange Punch into one powerbomb to win.
Wardlow is a difficult champion to book.
His previous appeal was a) the underdog henchman, or 2) all-dominating monster.
Now you can’t get away with either of those, this was a great first instalment of continuing
his winning momentum, while still delivering a compelling match.
Guys, I think PAC got locked out when you closed the Forbidden Door last month.
He’s stuck in England beating Shota Umino in Rev Pro.
Chris Jericho cut a serious, non-JAS promo on Eddie Kingston, saying their barbwire deathmatch
next week, now with added bonus shark cage stipulation for a limited time only!
Will be against his Painmaker gimmick.
Which isn’t as threatening as Jericho thinks it is.
I know how to strike fear in the heart of Eddie Kingston.
My little hat.
Ooo I’ve got a little hat on!
This was a solid, effective promo though, getting over how Jericho has beaten up all
of Kingston’s friends, and how this will be the final fight, thank god.
Eddie then shouted for 30 seconds in a retort promo backstage.
Which raises two questions: why doesn’t Eddie get longer promos?
And if Eddie was there, why didn’t he try to murder Jericho?
Moxley made Takeshita tap in an excellent, hard-hitting violent match - which, going
by WWE’s Championship Contenders rules, means Takeshita definitely gets a shot at
the title now.
AEW are doing a fantastic job building up Mox with weekly battles.
Taz had a very effective line asking what CM Punk must be feeling watching this at home,
making their inevitable clash feel like one of the biggest matches in company history.
I would like a proper storyline for Mox’s own before Punk comes back though.
Otherwise this does just feel like filler, rather than a proper reign to invest in.
The House of Black cut a promo on Darby Allin.
Buddy Matthews sure looks different.
Now it’s time for…
Christian’s Inappropriate Line of the Week.
Luchasaurus was taking on Griff Garrison.
Which meant you better believe Christian’s going to make fun of someone’s dead dad!
The cheapest of heat reaction got diminishing returns this week on Brian Pillman Jr, possibly
because MJF did far worse in their feud last year.
Luchasaurus squashed Griff Garrison because he looks like Jungle Boy, as though Christian
is training his dog to attack anyone who looks like him on sight, and then they wiped out
both Varsity Blondes putting them through the timekeeper’s table.
—ADBREAK— PATREON BUMPER: The Venerable Jesse Venable
& "The Cleaner" Kenny Shah Oh my god Angelo Parker’s got a knife!
AEW announced this year’s All Out for September 4th from NOW Arena in Chicago.
We can just make this CM Punk wrestling return an annual thing too at this point.
I will not cry this time.
The Dark Order got Hangman Page to join them in a trios match against the House of Black
for Rampage.
This feels like a step backwards for Page, who was the top champion in the company just
six weeks ago.
He was texting someone at the start of his interview.
I can’t wait for that spot to be paid off in a year’s time on BTE.
Claudio Castignoli beat Jake Hager in a clash of the Real Americans, which was no good,
because they didn’t do a single We The People tease.
Claudio’s usual spots of uppercuts and big swings were super over, but for me his gimmick
needs more depth beyond ‘I’m so happy to be in AEW!’
He’s a Blackpool Combat Club member, but I’m not getting the same dingy violent tone
from him as the rest of the faction.
We got a recap of Thunder Rosa losing overseas to Miyu Yamashita to set up a title match
in AEW.
Way to book your champion in another promotion.
And then Britt Baker and Jamie Hayter trash talked Thunder Storm.
Don’t you dare introduce women’s tag belts, Tony.
Serena Deeb made Anna Jay tap in her hometown, which was a very WWE way to get heat on the
heel.
I love watching Deeb wrestle.
Mercedez Martinez made the save to stop the continued beatdown, building their ROH title
match.
Interestingly, after someone pointed out on Reddit that Tay Conti has only wrestled one
AEW match since teaming with Sammy Guevarra four months ago, comparing that to the 55
matches she wrestled in AEW last year, she seemingly started a storyline with Anna Jay
backstage - where they’ll either feud or team.
Because Dark Order is totally fine and here to stay forever.
Jade Cargill still doesn’t trust her new baddie.
Jay Lethal cut the same promo on Samoa Joe he’s been doing for six weeks.
And the main event saw an excellent three way tag title match between the Young Bucks
vs Swerve in our Glory vs Team Taz - which I was excited for even though it was super
predictable.
And then it wasn’t even super predictable.
Shockingly, Swerve Strickland and Keith Lee are the new AEW tag team champions!
The action was fantastic.
Keith Lee not going down in a superkick party.
Nick Jackson and Ricky Starks walking the ropes at the same time.
Crazy near falls at the end with last millisecond saves.
The match was excellent, and the outcome was a really fun surprise.
But once the shock settles, you do find yourself going.
Wait, what?
The Bucks’ tag title reign is now the shortest in company history.
They were transitional champions, which feels like a missed opportunity with the super clash
against FTR.
I love Strickland and Lee, but their time to win was five months ago at Revolution.
I’ve not been into their tension storyline, and the tease of Swerve turning on Lee in
this match made him look stupid.
And if you are going to do the shock title change, I feel like Team Taz were the ones
to go with.
Hobbs has improved so much.
Starks has carried entire Rampage feuds on his back since the start of this year.
We got swerved, literally, but for me, before I see how it plays out, this was the third
best option.
What did you think of Dynamite?
Let me know in the comments.
This was a superb in-ring episode, with three excellent matches.
The storyline booking is still leaving me a bit cold right now though, with several
champions and top stars without a compelling direction.
This week’s Dynamite is 80%.
Apparently all is not well behind the scenes in AEW though.
Watch on to learn more.