Here's more wrestling news for August 20th, 2022.
And we're kicking off this afternoon with AEW as cm punk
had a lot to say this week, going off script to Barry
hangman, Adam Page, who he knew wouldn't be on the show.
It's been reported that the reigning AEW world
champion had been difficult backstage as well
with some of the company believing he could quit.
It turns out that punk isn't the only issue behind the scenes.
As in the wrestling observer, Dave Meltzer reports that a ton of
backstage drama involving many of the top guys that has gotten
much worse in recent weeks, Meltzer suggested that Tony Khan may
have no other choice than to organize a sit down meeting with
everyone, to air everything out before things get any worse.
Adding, it feels like a number of people
are close to their breaking point.
If things don't get settled.
Meltzer didn't name, which stars are close to their breaking points,
but there are some educated guesses that can be made in recent weeks.
We've seen both Miro, Andrade El Idolo, like tweets claiming
they had things better when working for WWEand between that
punks actions this week, and more tension with top guys
backstage, the honeymoon period is truly over for Tony Khan.
One name who AEW fans haven't seen in a while is MJF
who cut a scathing promo on the company in June based
off his many real life grievances with the company.
And it culminated with him begging Tony Khan to fire him.
Khan didn't fire MJF, but he did pull the salt of the
earth from all programming and promotional material.
And there's been no word of MJF on TV for months.
Now though it appears that cooler heads have prevailed
as the wrestling observer newsletter reports that MJF
isn't just expected back, but he's expected back on TV.
Soon.
The report adds that negotiations for a new AEWTV
deal are set to begin within a couple of months.
So the company is wanting to boost its TV
ratings with its biggest stars, including MJF.
After ratings took a dip due to several stars, being out with
injuries, including cm, punk, Kenny omega, and Brian Danielson.
It'll be all hands on deck for AEW to be as
popular as possible ahead of negotiations.
There's no exact confirmation on how soon MJF will be returning, but
with a huge title unification match set for next week's dynamite, we
could be meor days away from an impactful return in the main event.
Seen by MJF.
Now WWE has been part of more than it's fair share of lawsuits
and has been dealing with a suit from a cyclist for some time.
Now, cyclist Jackson Parsons is suing WWEafter his bicycle
collided with a WWE van in Tampa, back in July, 2019.
And there's been an update in the case.
According to PW insider, the Florida middle district
court will hear the trial on February 6th, 2023,
nearly two years after Parsons filed the suit.
Parsons alleges that WWE bears responsibility as a WWE employee.
Gaton Thomas, who was driving the van at the time
though, WWE's legal filings have described Thomas as
an independent contract at the time of the incident.
Parsons's claim that the accident left him with physical
injuries, pain, and suffering disability, and the inability
and loss of the capacity to lead and enjoy a normal life
inconvenience, disfigurement scarring, and mental anguish.
We'll keep following this case for further updates.
SmackDown news.
Now, as this week's show aired from Montreal, Quebec, Canada,
the hometown of Sami zane, the former Intercontinental
and NXT champion was certainly a focal point of the show.
And that didn't end when the cameras stopped.
Rolling.
After the show, Zane and the crowd were surprised by an
appearance from Kevin Owens and the two had some fun in the ring.
At first Owens said that Zane is too good to be quote anybody's
bitch referencing Sammy's program with Roman rains and claimed he'd
only take it back when Zane gets his balls back at one point, RAW's
riddle made an appearance trying to get the two to hug, which the
friends slash occasional arrivals eventually, albeit reluctantly did.
Slightly breaking K FBE Owen spoke about his real life friendship
with Zane and how it was Zane who convinced him to join WWE.
Earning a thank you Sammy from the crowd.
It was certainly a feel good segment to send the crowd
home happy and judging by how things are playing out on TV.
We might not have to wait much longer to see Owens
and Zane on the same page in front of the camera.
Now, WWE is always on the hunt for terms that they can trademark.
And now a new phrase is going to be used by the company.
Fipiteful reports.
The WWE filed a trademark for the term damage control and
that the filing was made earlier this week on August 16th.
There's no clear word on what the trademark will be
used for as the filing covers the standard aspects of
a WWE trademark filing, whatever it is, WWE now has the
rights to the term damage control and pro wrestling.
So we'll have to see what they use it for.
Over the clash of the castle.
Now, as the card for the September 3rd event is coming
together and we'll see an incredible physical Intercontinental
championship match on this week, smack down a fatal five
way between happy Corbin, Shamus, Sammy Zane madcap Moss,
and Rick ricochet was made to determine the challenger.
And it was the Irishman who got the win.
Now Shamus will compete for the Intercontinental
title against Gunther and what will be the first title
events at a premium live event since WrestleMania 27.
If Shamus wins the title in Cardiff, he
will also complete the grand slam a journey.
He began back in December, 2009 with his WWE title, win over John
Cena, but don't expect Gunther to make this easier next month.
For much of his time running WWEVince McMohan
demanded that the promos for superstars be written
word for word and recited by the talent on screen.
These scripted promos have often been hated by fans who
believe that they come across as flat and uninspired,
especially compared to the unscripted promos of years.
Prior this week, former WWE writer, Brian Goertz
discussed the practice of scripted promos and explained
that one of wrestling's greatest ever talkers in
inadvertently led McMohan, banning unscripted, promos.
There might have been an incident at Madison square garden.
Once when Rick flair went off script that got vince a little heated
about what he had said and said dammit, from then on, I need to
know what every single talent is going to be saying out there
that was in Madison square garden with lots of corporate sponsors.
And when he said that he has made virgins bleed,
there was, there was a noticeable shift in the
amount of approval process growing from that point.
With McMohan gone.
It's been reported that WWE is doing
away with heavily scripted promos.
And these superstars have certainly seemed more passionate on the mic.
As of late, this is just one of several
changes made since McMohan's retirement.
But for fans who hated scripted promos, you have Ric flair
to blame and we're ending today with Rick's daughter,
Charlotte flair, who was at one time best friends
with Becky Lynch, but that was a very long time ago.
Nowadays, the pair are very distant after a
series of fallings out over several years.
And now the two are far from friends in a video to promote
her upcoming appearance on the broken skull sessions.
Flair was asked to give one word about her former friend
and had some interesting verbiage asked to describe Lynch
in one word, flare said character seemingly implying
that the person fan See is far from the real Becky Lynch.
Flaire had far more complimentary things for other
superstars, calling Leeta teacher live Morgan, the
future and Rhonda Rousey legit, but it's clear that
she and Lynch are still nowhere close to making amends.