logo
Former WWE Superstar To Make AEW Debut

Former WWE Superstar To Make AEW Debut

Newsweek06-05-2025

Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources.
Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content.
In his home state of Michigan, wrestling legend Rhyno is slated to appear at upcoming All Elite Wrestling and Ring of Honor television tapings. At the same time, AEW unveiled a stacked card for its next Dynamite episode.
AEW announced via social media that the Detroit native and former ECW World Champion, Rhyno, will make an appearance during the company's TV tapings in Detroit on May 7th and May 8th, 2025.
"The Man Beast" RHINO will appear LIVE in Detroit at the Masonic Temple Theatre
Wednesday 5/7 and Thursday 5/8
When AEW + @RingOfHonor return to the Motor City!
Get your tickets NOW at https://t.co/UN1cNj1kQq pic.twitter.com/V9z4dxdt6j — All Elite Wrestling (@AEW) May 5, 2025
While it wasn't specified if "The War Machine" will see in-ring action, his presence is sure to excite the Michigan fanbase. Rhyno, who also held the NWA Worlds Heavyweight Championship, became a free agent after departing TNA Wrestling in December 2024.
Following his AEW/ROH appearance, he is scheduled to challenge NWA Champion Thom Latimer at the Crockett Cup on May 17th. Rhyno joins a list of former ECW standouts like Rob Van Dam, Sabu, and Raven who have appeared for AEW.
Jerry Lynn and Taz hold prominent backstage and commentary roles, respectively. This news comes as AEW recently announced plans for a residency at the famed 2300 Arena (formerly ECW Arena) in Philadelphia.
Looking ahead to the next episode of AEW Dynamite, several high-profile matches and segments have been confirmed. In a blockbuster trios match, The Young Bucks (Matthew & Nicholas Jackson) will team with Ricochet to face the formidable alliance of Swerve Strickland, "Speedball" Mike Bailey, and Mark Briscoe.
This encounter stems from The Elite costing Strickland the AEW World Championship at Dynasty, with tensions further escalating after The Elite's eight-man tag team victory last week over a team that included Bailey and Briscoe.
This photo shows AEW owner Tony Khan on April 20, 2022, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Khan spoke with Newsweek recently about the company coming to New York City for a large event.
This photo shows AEW owner Tony Khan on April 20, 2022, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Khan spoke with Newsweek recently about the company coming to New York City for a large event.
AEW
More news: WWE News: Steve Austin Reveals Real-Life Vince McMahon Confrontation
Another heated rivalry sees Samoa Joe go one-on-one with Claudio Castagnoli. Joe has been embroiled in a bitter feud with members of the Blackpool Combat Club, and Castagnoli intensified matters by viciously attacking Katsuyori Shibata on a previous episode. This match serves as a crucial prelude to the steel cage match between Joe and Jon Moxley scheduled for May 14th.
Additionally, former AEW Women's World Champion Jamie Hayter will have an exclusive sit-down interview with Renee Paquette. Hayter has her sights set on Mercedes Moné and the finals of the Owen Hart Foundation Tournament at Double or Nothing. This path could potentially lead her to a confrontation with current AEW Women's World Champion Toni Storm at All In later this year.
More WWE News:
For more on WWE, head to Newsweek Sports.

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Pro wrestling star Shotzi Blackheart's sultry reason for AEW interest
Pro wrestling star Shotzi Blackheart's sultry reason for AEW interest

Fox News

time6 hours ago

  • Fox News

Pro wrestling star Shotzi Blackheart's sultry reason for AEW interest

Shotzi Blackheart will be featured in several independent pro wrestling shows over the next few months after she departed WWE following roughly six years with the company. She appeared on "The Ariel Helwani Show" on Tuesday and discussed the promotions she would be interested in joining as she attempts to find a full-time home. She mentioned that she loved All Elite Wrestling (AEW) and Total Nonstop Action wrestling and watches their programming. She explained why AEW would be her preference if she had a choice. "For so many reasons," she said. "I love their freedom. I have a lot of friends there who are doing really awesome things. I've heard many stories of how (AEW co-owner) Tony (Khan) treats talent. I do love that he really cares for his talent – that is super important to me. "And like, hot girls get to make out with each other, so, like, that's cool." For what it's worth on Shotzi's latter point, AEW stars Toni Storm and Mina Shirakawa shared a kiss after their match at Double or Nothing last month. Storm faces Mercedes Moné for the AEW Women's Championship at All In next month. Shotzi, whose real name is Ashley Urbanski, also made clear she loved working for WWE and was only unhappy when she wasn't being used. "I mean, I would love to be back at WWE," she said. "I loved working there. I didn't love not working there. It was only when I wasn't being used that I was unhappy, but anytime I was being used, good time – love the locker room, loved everyone I was working for. That's just it. I just don't want to go back and not work." Shotzi attempted to join WWE through the company's "Tough Enough" challenge in 2015. IT wasn't until 2019 that she joined the NXT brand and worked her way to the main roster. She was an NXT women's tag-team champion with Embar Moon, who wrestles as Athena in the AEW-affiliated Ring of Honor. She was also named the 2020 NXT Breakout Star of the Year. Follow Fox News Digital's sports coverage on X and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.

Former WWE Star Wants To Join AEW
Former WWE Star Wants To Join AEW

Newsweek

time6 hours ago

  • Newsweek

Former WWE Star Wants To Join AEW

Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Recently released WWE star Shotzi has named AEW as her preferred destination, citing the company's creative freedom and the reputation of its president, Tony Khan, as key factors. In a candid interview on The Ariel Helwani Show, Shotzi discussed her future after her WWE contract was not renewed in May. While she would be open to a return to WWE, she made it clear that AEW is her top choice for a new home. Why AEW Is Her Preference Shotzi explained that her desire to join AEW comes from a place of wanting creative freedom and a supportive environment. She also named several dream opponents she would love to face in the promotion. "I love TNA, I love AEW... AEW is my preference," Shotzi stated. "I love their freedom, I have a lot of friends there who are doing really awesome things. I've heard many stories of how Tony Khan treats talent. So, yeah, I do love that he really cares for his talent. That is super important to me." More news: WWE News: Steve Austin Reveals Real-Life Vince McMahon Confrontation When asked who she would want to face, she immediately named the ROH Women's World Champion. "First thing that comes to mind, Athena. I think that she's so awesome. I honestly think that she's the best women's wrestler in the world," she said. DORTMUND, GERMANY - NOVEMBER 01: Natalya competes in the ring against Shotzi during the WWE Live Show at Westfalenhalle on November 1, 2022 in Dortmund, Germany. DORTMUND, GERMANY - NOVEMBER 01: Natalya competes in the ring against Shotzi during the WWE Live Show at Westfalenhalle on November 1, 2022 in Dortmund, Germany. On Her WWE Release And Potential Return Shotzi was let go by WWE shortly after returning from a torn ACL that kept her out of action for most of 2024. She admitted that being released after working hard to come back from such a major injury was difficult. "When you're going through such a huge injury like that... you hope that, 'Well, if I work really hard and come back even better, maybe I'll get rewarded,'" she said. "But unfortunately for me, I was let go." She believes the reason for her release was simple. "WWE doesn't owe me anything. That's showbiz, right? They just didn't think that I was money and that's okay. I can take that." As for a potential return to the company, she is open to it, but with one major condition. "I would love to be back at WWE. I loved working there. I didn't love not working there, you know what I'm saying? It was only when I wasn't being used that I was unhappy," she explained. More WWE News: For more on WWE, head to Newsweek Sports.

Mariah May's New WWE Name Has A Hidden Meaning
Mariah May's New WWE Name Has A Hidden Meaning

Newsweek

time7 hours ago

  • Newsweek

Mariah May's New WWE Name Has A Hidden Meaning

Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Former AEW Women's World Champion Mariah May has officially arrived in WWE NXT and has been given a new name. On the June 10th episode of NXT, it was revealed in a stylish vignette that she will now be known as Blake Monroe. The video package was styled like an old Hollywood newsreel, playing up her nickname, "The Glamour," before unveiling the new name. This came one week after her surprise debut on the June 3rd edition of NXT. During her debut, she immediately confronted NXT Women's Champion Jacy Jayne, signaling her intent to go straight to the top of the division. A Championship-Winning Run In AEW Monroe's arrival in WWE comes after a highly successful run in All Elite Wrestling, where she was one of the most featured stars in the women's division. She debuted in late 2023 as the protege of "Timeless" Toni Storm, a partnership that became a central storyline on AEW programming. Their story eventually evolved into a heated rivalry, which saw Monroe defeat Storm to capture the AEW Women's World Championship in front of her home country crowd at the All In event at Wembley Stadium in August 2024. In addition to her world title reign, she also won the 2024 Women's Owen Hart Foundation Tournament. TOKYO, JAPAN - JULY 23: Mariah May enters the ring during the Women's Pro-Wrestling "Stardom" at Ota City General Gymnasium on July 23, 2023 in Tokyo, Japan. TOKYO, JAPAN - JULY 23: Mariah May enters the ring during the Women's Pro-Wrestling "Stardom" at Ota City General Gymnasium on July 23, 2023 in Tokyo, Japan. More news: WWE News: Steve Austin Reveals Real-Life Vince McMahon Confrontation A New Start In NXT After her AEW contract expired, Monroe signed a multi-year deal with WWE, making her one of the biggest free-agent signings of the year. Her rebranding as Blake Monroe marks a fresh start as she begins her journey in the WWE system. Monroe is already being positioned as a major star for the NXT brand. It was recently announced that she has signed with the prestigious Paradigm Talent Agency for outside representation. She joins a roster that includes other top WWE names like CM Punk and Drew McIntyre. She is scheduled to have her official NXT contract signing on next week's episode, likely escalating her new feud with Jacy Jayne. It will be interesting to see if May wins the title in her first outing to get a title shot or if WWE will wait for her to win gold. She will likely be called up to the main roster in the next few months. More WWE News: For more on WWE, head to Newsweek Sports.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into the world of global news and events? Download our app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store