This AEW twist created plenty of intrigue — now they have to capitalize
The end of last week's 'Dynamite,' which made it the longest-running wrestling show ever on the Turner networks, felt a little bit like a re-creation — on a lesser but more logical scale — of Lex Luger defeating 'Hollywood' Hulk Hogan for the world championship in WCW August 1997.
It was the first time the WCW locker room got to celebrate a big win over the nWo, just like AEW did last Wednesday when Samoa Joe, Katsuyori Shibata and 'Powerhouse' Hobbs defeated the Death Riders for the Trios Championships last Wednesday. It got a huge reaction from the Boston crowd and really came off as an important and feel-good moment.
You also saw Swerve Strickland neutralize the Young Bucks' attempt to help the Death Riders as that feud grows, while Willow Nightingale took out Marina Shafir. The battle lines are clearly being drawn.
3 From Left: Jon Moxley, Claudio Castagnoli and Wheeler Yuta of the Death Riders on April 16, 2025.
Ryan Loco
Like Luger putting Hogan in the Torture Rack, we got Samoa Joe putting AEW world champion Jon Moxley to sleep in the Coquina Clutch. It earned Joe an AEW championship match against Moxley after the Death Riders threw a temper tantrum on 'Collision' that only elevated the moment more.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
15 hours ago
- Yahoo
BTS Members RM and V Discharged from Mandatory Korea Military Service Ahead of Band Reunion
BTS members RM and V have completed their mandatory military service in South Korea The K-pop stars were discharged on Tuesday, June 10, and welcomed by fans, some whom flew in internationally to celebrate their service The boy band is expected to reunite in 2025BTS members RM and V are heading home. The K-pop singers completed their mandatory military service in South Korea and were discharged on Tuesday, June 10, per NBC. The 18-month commitment prevented the group from performing and touring since 2023. The K-pop stars were welcomed with a saxophone performance and salutes upon their discharge, per the BBC. RM (whose full name is Kim Namjoon), 30, served as a private in the military band unit. Meanwhile, V (whose full name is Kim Taehyung), 29, served in the special forces unit as a sergeant. Their mandatory service began in December 2023. is now available in the Apple App Store! Download it now for the most binge-worthy celeb content, exclusive video clips, astrology updates and more! Fans gathered at the band's agency Hybe's office in Seoul to welcome them back, with some fans flying in from out of the country to celebrate. "Now, I'm ready to hit the ground running again as RM of BTS. Thank you to everyone who waited and looked after us," RM said to fans upon their return. V said that the obligatory army commitment gave him "time for me to reset both physically and mentally." "I really want to run to ARMY as soon as I can. Thank you for waiting for us during our military service," the singer added. V also asked fans to "wait just a little longer" for the rest of the band members to be discharged for a proper BTS reunion, the BBC reported. In South Korea, it is mandated that all able-bodied men aged 18-28 must serve between 18 and 21 months in the military. Other BTS members J-Hope and Jin wrapped up their military commitment in 2024. Jimin, Suga, and Jung Kook are still completing their mandatory military service but are expected to be released later this month, per the Associated Press. BTS, whose name is Bangtan Sonyeondan (which roughly translated to Bulletproof Boys) formed in 2013 and has been nominated for five Grammy Awards. They've had six No. 1 hits on the Billboard Hot 100 list, including "Butter" and Dynamite," the latter which has spent 32 weeks on the charts. Read the original article on People
Forbes
15 hours ago
- Forbes
WBD Split Will Affect AEW, But Nobody Knows How
Warner Bros Discovery (WBD) announced its long-anticipated split as the conglomerate will now be divided into two companies: WBD Global Networks and WBD Streaming & Studios. Shares jumped 9% shortly after news of the split broke on Monday, but dipped 3% by afternoon trading. '[The WBD split] is probably happening a little quicker than people thought was going to be the case. But now it's out there, and I think indicative of continuing change, continuing transformation that's going on in our business,' said WBD CEO David Zaslav on an investor call. Zaslav will be running the Streaming & Studios arm. WBD CFO Gunnar Wiedenfels will run Global Networks, which is shouldering the majority of WBD's $37 billion debt. These two pillars of power (Zaslav and Wiedenfels) and their assessment of AEW will be the most important dynamic headed into an uncertain AEW negotiation period in 2026. AEW, along with countless WBD properties, will be greatly affected by the WBD split. There's no way it won't be. But with plans still influx, it's too early to tell how this will affect AEW. 'You don't know what's good or bad,' said Dave Meltzer on 'Wrestling Observer Radio,' in a vague—if not obvious—outlook. Meltzer, who has had his own issues with AEW numbers, was inclined to believe AEW adds an additional 500,000 viewers on Max. These estimates came from a now dubious report from BJ Bethel of SEScoops, and were addressed by Tony Khan himself. 'I thought that was a really exciting report for AEW and very consistent with everything we've been told,' Khan said. 'While the numbers are being kept close to the vest, we're one of the top sports streaming shows and that report was consistent with what I've heard.' While nobody knows what the actual numbers are, Zaslav's comments on Monday's investor call seemed to throw cold water on AEW's viewership on Max being significant. 'Inside the U.S., sports has been less critical,' said Zaslav. 'It's viewed, but it hasn't been a real driver for us.' Alex Sherman of CNBC interpreted Zaslav's comments about sports being 'less critical' to be a possible strategy shift for the WBD when it comes to airing live sports. Zaslav went on to note that HBO Max viewership accounts for for 25% of programming spun off from the WBD networks. This means AEW, which is not part of TNT Sports though is currently listed on Max's sports page, would fall well below the 500,000 additional viewers on Max. AEW Dynamite's highest viewership of 2025 was 682,000 average viewers on May 14. There will be a lot of intangibles that will determine how AEW will navigate through yet another volatile period for WBD. But, outside of garden-variety speculation, nobody knows anything. 'If AEW is doing really good in late 2026, I think they're pretty safe. If [AEW] is doing bad, it wouldn't be good,' said Meltzer, once again stating the obvious. 'It could be great, depending on different factors. It could be terrible, depending on different factors,' said an increasingly vague Meltzer. Gunnar Wiedenfels, currently the CFO of WBD, is set to become the the President and CEO of WBD Global Networks. David Zaslav is considered an ally of AEW after overseeing negotiations for AEW's massive new TV deal with WBD last year. AEW is expected to work with both companies in negotiating a new deal come 2026. Wiedenfels will now have influence on AEW's future as the head of Global Networks since AEW airs on TNT and TBS where it is consumed significantly more than it is on streaming. Of note, Wiedenfels is known for 'finding new ways to cut old costs.' There's know way of knowing which company is the 'good' company and which is the 'bad' company, but in reading the tea leaves, the fact that Global Networks will carry most of the $37 billion debt is a red flag for AEW. Pro wrestling is an acquired taste, so will Wiedenfels share the same warm and fuzzy feelings that David Zaslav seemed to have for AEW or will Wiedenfels be closer to alleged WCW-killer Jamie Kellner during the AOL/Time Warner merger? David Zaslav has had a tumultuous tenure as CEO of a struggling WBD brand. Zaslav oversaw the disaster that was CNN+, the abomination that was Joker 2, the departure of the NBA and a litany of lingering movie and network cancellations. WBD shareholders recently voted against Zaslav's $52 million pay package in what Variety called a 'symbolic rebuke.' To say David Zaslav is a polarizing executive would be an understatement. Further complicating matters for AEW, Zaslav is one of AEW's biggest allies. Tony Khan lovingly referred to the WBD CEO as 'Mr. Zaslav' when discussing their negotiations last year. There have been a lot of casualties and changes in recent years for WBD. If Mr. Zaslav's position as CEO becomes another casualty during these uncertain times, the future of AEW on WBD will be equally as uncertain. AEW is not part of the TNT Sports umbrella (it's part of WBD Entertainment), but it is listed under WBD's sports page. As WBD continues to categorize content under Global Networks and Streaming & Studios, which branch is AEW most likely to fall under? AEW airs on both television and streaming, but both will be negotiated as part of its new deal. This is one of the many complexities that will go a long way in deciding just how valuable AEW is to WBD as a whole. AEW's partnership with WBD has been a literal lifesaver. If it wasn't for WBD signing the promotion to a multimillion-dollar contract shortly before the pandemic, AEW may have closed its doors when the world shut down. AEW's latest deal with WBD gave it the longevity and finances it needs to compete with WWE as a national promotion. But WBD has become a chameleon of a conglomerate. One day it's Warner Bros., the next it merges with Discovery. One day it's WBD, the next day it splits into two different companies. The constant changes and restructurings from within WBD could be its own HBO documentary. Such instability only hurts an upstart promotion like AEW. Similarly, is AEW a good fit for WBD? WBD figures to make a lot of cost cuts as part of its looming split. Will Gunnar Wiedenfels decide that AEW's 2028 option (which will be north of $185 million) is worth paying? Will this be re-negotiated? Will it be dropped altogether? One of AEW's biggest drivers for revenue is pay-per-view. AEW has ran into a myriad of issues in finding a stable PPV provider. AEW PPVs were discontinued on B/R Network last year. AEW is not expected to move forward with Triller, which is on the verge of delisting on NASDAQ. AEW recently partnered with Amazon Prime as it continues to play the waiting game with HBO Max, which is expected to eventually become the main distributor of AEW PPVs in the United States. "Max is still going to be a great home to AEW pay-per-view," Khan said on an AEW Revolution media call in March. 'It's not a technology that's been a part of the Max service previously before AEW landed on this great platform, Max. We're very excited to have AEW TV streaming on Max every week. I can't wait to have the upcoming AEW pay-per-views there in the future.' More than five months into AEW's new deal, however, there has been no indication that HBO Max has made any progress on this model. Given all the changes that have been made, and will continue to be made with WBD's executive musical chairs, AEW shouldn't hold my breath for an HBO Max PPV model.
Newsweek
17 hours ago
- Newsweek
Released 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. Former WWE star Nixon Newell, previously known as Tegan Nox, recently expressed a strong desire to join All Elite Wrestling but revealed she does not believe the company is currently interested in signing her. After being released from her WWE contract in November 2024, Newell has been navigating free agency. During an interview on the Wrestling in the Middle podcast (H/T to she was direct about her interest in working for AEW. "I would love to go there. There's so many people there that I want to wrestle," Newell stated. She specifically mentioned wanting to renew her old rivalry with a top AEW star. "I really want to tangle with Toni Storm again. I wrestled Toni, yes, many years on the Indies. So I'd like to, you know, revisit that," she said. Despite her enthusiasm for potential dream matches, Newell was candid about her perception of AEW's interest in her as a free agent. More news: WWE News: Steve Austin Reveals Real-Life Vince McMahon Confrontation "So I am more than willing, AEW, to talk about some stuff," she said, before adding a dose of reality. "As far as I know, I don't think there's an interest from them, which is a shame. But I would love to go there." HOUSTON, TEXAS - MARCH 11: Sami Zayn talks to the crowd after winning his match during WWE Monday Night RAW at Toyota Center on March 11, 2024 in Houston, Texas. HOUSTON, TEXAS - MARCH 11: Sami Zayn talks to the crowd after winning his match during WWE Monday Night RAW at Toyota Center on March 11, 2024 in Houston, Texas. Alex BierensNewell signed with WWE in 2017, having runs in both NXT UK and NXT before being called up to the main roster in July 2021 as Shotzi's tag team partner. Plagued by significant injuries early in her WWE tenure, her career never reached the heights many had predicted. Now a free agent, Newell says her main goal is to get back in the ring consistently and prove what she can do. She also named ROH and TNA as other promotions on her "bucket list." "I want to wrestle everywhere and anywhere at this point," she affirmed. "I gotta show people that I can do what I do best, and I just need the opportunity to be able to show people." Nox is a talented wrestler who huch to offer to other promotions. Hopefully, she can find work soon. WWE had her shelved on the main roster near the end of her tenure. More WWE News: For more on WWE, head to Newsweek Sports.
