Here's your wrestling news for September 24th, 2022.
And we're kicking off today with SmackDown as the war
between drew McIntyre and Karrion Kross was in full effect
this week after weeks of being tormented by the former
NXT champion MacIntyre challenged Kross to a strap match
at extreme rules and the match has been made official.
While MacIntyre seemed to be squashing Kross.
When they came to blows, things quickly changed when Scarlet stepped
in and it was Kross who locked in a sleeper on the Ex WWE champion
Kross versus MacIntyre at extreme rules will be a physical match.
But the big question WWE has to answer is who needs the win more?
A big win for Kross is practically essential.
Given that he only just returned and is rumored
to fee facing Roman reigns for the undisputed
WWE universal championship at survivor series.
On the other hand, MacIntyre also needs a big win.
As after coming up short at clash of the castle, the latest
of a series of setbacks for him, he could do with a victory.
Ultimately, it seems like Kross needs the win more.
If the plan is for him to face Roman rains at survivor series.
So it wouldn't be surprising to see him walk out of extreme rules.
As the Victor SmackDown also saw Sami Zayn's storyline
with the bloodline continue, arguably the best thing in WWE
today, there was a tense moment on SmackDown this week when
he acknowledged Roman rains, only for the reigning done
disputed WWE universal champion to question what he was doing.
When rains demanded Sammy remove his
shirt, which was ripped off him by Jay USO.
It seemed his time with the group was over, but in a twist reins
revealed that Zane was officially the honorary Uce Solo Sikoa.
On the other hand, became the enforcer of the bloodline, his new
role, confirming that he'll be sticking on SmackDown moving forward.
The crowd loves Sami Zayn and the storyline as shown by the
response to Zane being possibly kicked out of the group.
And it's just a matter of time before he turns face
in what will be one of the biggest moments of 2022.
Now for over a week, WWE has teased something that fans have deemed
the white rabbit due to the use of the song by Jefferson airplane.
These bizarre segments that have happened at WWE live events and
off camera have had fans believing it is the return of bra Wyatt.
And now the man himself has added more fuel to that speculation
prior to last night, SmackDown Wyatt like day 2019 tweet by the
late Brody Lee reading tomorrow, there will be more of us Wyatt
didn't return to smack down as some had hoped, but the YouTube
channel ES news did post a video of Wyatt working out in a ring
and he looks to be in great shape ahead of his rumored return.
At this point, it seems to be just a matter of time before Wyatt
is back in a WWE ring and we'll have to keep following the white
rabbit no matter where it takes fans next earlier this month, Malachi
black left AEW after having his initial request to be let go denied.
After asking again, black was granted a conditional release from
the promotion, but he's not the only wrestler who's wanting out.
According to wrestling observer newsletter.
Dave Meltzer reported that besides black, there were
other AEW stars who recently asked for the releases, but
it was not named who exactly it was also not stated why
exactly these other wrestlers has to be let go, though.
We imagined that the recent issues within the company, as well
as some talent, struggling to get TV time played a factor.
In the past, Tony Khan said he opposed the idea of releasing talent,
like WWE saying he opt to just let contracts naturally expire.
AEW has lost multiple names over 20,
22, most notably black and Cody Rhode.
And it remains to be seen who else
could be out of the promotion very soon.
At one point it was reported that black had plans
for a lengthy hiatus, if not permanent hiatus from
wrestling, but that no longer appears to be the case.
Instead black recently competed at an indie event and there
have been rumors that he has been gunning for a WWE return.
For some time in the observer, it was noted that WWE has spoken
to black, but the big news is that they spoke to him while he was
under contract with AEW we can't say for certain that whatever
black and WWE's representative discuss led to him asking for his
release, but it's certainly notable how things have lined up.
As if that's not enough, the observer ads that WWE has also
spoken to other AEW talents, including people who are still under
contract in a talent wide meeting last month, Tony Khan and Chris
Jericho spoke about the danger of contract tampering, but it seems
some stars at AEW can't resist the temptation of hearing what
WWE is offering WWE spoke to several wrestlers at AEW and we now
know some of the names that the promotion has sent feelers to.
Sean Ross SAP of spiteful notes that in addition
to black, WWE tried to gauge whether cash Wheeler
and Dax Harwood were interested in a WWE return.
Despite them having a long time left their AEW contracts SAP
also notes that WWE had made numerous efforts to resign FTR under
the Vince McMan regime, but they ultimately decided to join AEW.
FTR.
Aren't the only ones on WWE's radar though, as Swrve Strickland
was also contacted by WWE, presumably for him to return as part of
hit row, the report added that a name from AEW who had been with
the company since the start was reached out to by WWE in August.
So the next few months could see a lot of
changes to the rosters of both companies.
One name who plans on staying with AEW for the long term is
Chris Jericho who captured the ring of honor world championship.
This week.
Jericho has been with the company since day one and has seen a
lot go down, including the recent controversy related to cm, punk.
Speaking to GQ magazine Jericho addressed the recent issues
within AEW and believes that the bad days are in the past.
Without getting into specifics.
It happens all the time.
That's one of the things about being around as
long as I have you just recalibrate and you focus
on the positives, we're not gonna miss a beat.
We're gonna go on and become bigger and
better and stronger than ever with cm.
Punk's future with AEW unclear and the elite serving suspensions.
This is now a golden opportunity for some
of AEW's younger, newer stars to step.
There's still no word on when AEW's top names will be
back, but the company is going strong without them.
And if Jericho is right, this rough period
is over, at least for the time being.
Roman reigns has dominated the WWE as world
champion ruling over his kingdom with an iron fist.
The tribal chief unified the WWE and universal championships
at WrestleMania and has dispatched of all comers since then.
But there will be a time when he will
lose the gold speaking to NBC sports.
Boston recently, WWE superstar, ricochet gave
his prediction as to who will be the one.
And while he didn't put himself forward,
ricochet's choice is a lot more, uh, electrify.
The rock, just the best of the world.
Who else is it gonna be?
You know what I mean?
The rock is just, I mean, I don't even know what to say.
What can you say he can do anything he wants to
ricochets comments are certainly interesting as well.
Rumors have suggested a rock versus rain's
match for WrestleMania 39 next year.
This is the first occurrence of a
current day superstar, other than rains.
Speaking about the match as if it's a guarantee.
The rock has cleared the first quarter of his 2023 movie filming
schedule leading to more speculation that he will be stepping
in the ring with his cousin, but whether the great one will be
the next undisputed WWE universal champion, only time can tell
in August Kurt Angle returned to Monday night raw in Pittsburgh
and seemed to have a blast in front of the WWE universe.
Again, Kurt was part of a segment involving both
the alpha academy and the street profits, but
there could be something even bigger in the works.
During an appearance on the Wrassingh show, the Olympic gold medalist
was asked about signing with AEW and said he wouldn't forge a deal
with Tony Khan, as it would interfere with his current WWE contract.
Given that Kurt was part of the 2020 releases.
It's unclear exactly what deal he has, but he added that.
He's been talking about maybe doing something at WrestleMania.
Fans have forgotten that angle's last match came
back at WrestleMania 35 with a loss to Baron Corbin.
An opponent that many felt was the wrong call
for the Olympians departure from the ring.
Whether Kurt wrestles at next year's event just
makes an appearance or doesn't show up at all.
Only time can tell for sure, but there's something going on
big enough to keep the former WWE world champion away from AEW.
We've certainly heard a lot as of late about wrestlers
returning to the ring, as it's not just Kurt who is expected
to lace up his boots again, it was reported last week
that Ricky Steamboat will compete for the first time in 12
years, this November and Rick flair recently commented that
hearing Steamboat's news makes him want to wrestle again.
Now hack saw Jim Duggan has weighed in about his own
career, but don't count on him running the ropes.
Speaking to wrestling, ink Duggan refused the idea
of having one more match, joking that he's lucky
he doesn't pull a hamstring getting off the couch.
The first ever Royal rumble winner recently completed a much more
serious battle as he defeated cancer for the second time in August.
So we can't exactly blame hacks offer, taking it easy.
Despite what other legends are saying over to AEW now, and part
of what makes MJF work is how he refuses to break character.
Even when far away from the ring.
Many fans have been on the receiving end of MJF,
scathing barbs online as he's no fan of theirs.
While speaking to Brandon Walker on wrestling, MJF,
trash wrestling, Twitter, calling them out by saying,
my problem with wrestling Twitter is it's not real life.
You guys will put people over on there
that are garbage at fucking wrestling.
Aren't good at talking are good at nothing, but they post funny
videos online and you're like, that's the guy, someone sign him.
It's stupid.
Then there's the other flip side.
You need to be watching NJPW CMLL, because this
guy, you guys are watching clips and being like
this guy's one of the top 10 wrestlers in the world.
They are not despite his comments about fans, many people
in the AEW audience can't help, but love to hate MJF
MJ F's future looks to only get better from here.
And we're ending today with more news from SmackDown and the
continuation on the road to crown jewel, but things didn't end when
the show had finished in a dark match made event, Intercontinental
champion Gunther, and his subordinates, Ludwig Kaiser and Giovanni
Vinci took on the trio of the street prophets in Shinsuke Nakamura.
Gour the confrontation with Nakamura early in the
about, but he ultimately decided to tag himself out.
After an intense back and forth, it was Nakamura who got the win,
hitting a Kinshasa on Ludwig Kaiser , and pinning him for the victory.
This certainly won't please.
The leader of Imperium who no doubt have some form of
punishment for Kaiser and Vinci after this dark match to defeat.