Author: Ethan Renner

An F4WOnline Editor since 2019, Ethan has been covering wrestling and MMA since 2011. He has hosted The Wrestling Life Podcast since 2014, and is a former Baltimore Sun TV/Tribune Media contributor. He is also a Baltimore Ravens and Baltimore Orioles fan.

AJ Francis to challenge for TNA World title at Final Resolution

Posted on by Ethan Renner

AJ Francis challenging Nic Nemeth for the TNA World Championship is one of five new matches official for the December 13 Final Resolution special on TNA Plus.

Francis challenged Nemeth to a World title match for Final Resolution on Thursday’s TNA Impact, and authority figure Santino Marella made the bout official for December 13.

Three more title matches, plus a number one contender’s match are also official for Final Resolution.

Knockouts World Champion Masha Slamovich will defend her title against Tasha Steelz at Final Resolution in another new bout announced during Thursday’s Impact.

The rivalry between The System and The Hardys will also continue on December 13, with The Hsrdys defending the Tag Team titles against Brian Myers & Eddie Edwards in a tables match.

After winning a number one contender’s match on Impact, KUSHIDA is next in line to challenge Moose for the TNA X-Division Championship, and that match has also been added to Final Resolution.

Rounding out the new match announcements, a four-way will decide the next number one contender to the TNA World title, with Joe Hendry vs. Josh Alexander vs. Steve Maclin vs. Mike Santana.

The Final Resolution card for Friday, December 13:

  • TNA World Champion Nic Nemeth defends against AJ Francis
  • TNA Knockouts World Champion Masha Slamovich defends against Tasha Steelz
  • TNA Tag Team Champions The Hardys (Matt & Jeff Hardy) defend against The System (Brian Myers & Eddie Edwards) in a tables match
  • TNA X-Division Champion Moose defends against KUSHIDA
  • TNA World title number one contender’s match: Joe Hendry vs. Mike Santana vs. Steve Maclin vs. Josh Alexander

Penta El Zero Miedo removed from AEW roster page

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Penta El Zero Miedo is no onger listed on the roster page on AEW’s website.

As first pointed out by Fightful, Penta’s image has been removed from AEW’s roster on their website, indicating that the Lucha Libre standout has hit free agency. An earlier Fightful report indicated that Penta became a free agent officially sometime around December 1.

Penta is believed to be bound for WWE, as Lucha Libre Online reported earlier this year that the star was about to hit free agency, and that WWE had interest in both Penta and his brother Rey Fenix.

Neither Penta not Fenix has wrestled for AEW since July, with the reported internal belief that both are headed to WWE as soon as they are contractually able. Fenix has missed significant time due to injury in his AEW tenure, and is expected to have that time added on to his contract.

As The Lucha Bros, Penta and Fenix have been part of the AEW roster since its launch in 2019. The duo are former AEW Tag Team Champions, AEW Trios Champions alongside PAC, and Fenix is a former AEW International Champion.

Spoiler: Chris Jericho’s ROH Final Battle challenger revealed

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Chris Jericho’s ROH World title challenger at Final Battle has been revealed.

Matt Cardona made a surprise appearance at Wednesday night’s Ring of Honor TV and AEW Dynamite taping in Fishers, Indiana to confront Jericho and challenge him to an ROH World title match at Final Battle on December 20.

The challenge came on a TV Time with Chris Jericho segment taped for Ring of Honor TV following Wednesday’s live Dynamite episode. In the segment, Jericho was accompanied by Bryan Keith, noting that Big Bill was in Nepal studying.

Notes on the segment from our Jim Valley:

Chris Jericho came out with Bryan Keith. Chris Jericho said Big Bill was sent to Nepal to study the lessons of The Learning Tree.

Chris says at Final Battle he wants to face someone from New York. He lists, among others, Tony Soprano, Frank Sinatra and Johnny Rodz.

Out comes Matt Cardona. 

Chris says, If it isn’t Zack…” and Cardona grabs the mic and says “Zack is dead. The man who’s going to beat you at Final Battle is Matt Cardona”

“Nice hat!” as Matt knocked Jericho’s cowboy hat off his head and backed out of the ring and down the aisle to end the segment.

Cardona last wrestled for AEW in March on Collision as a surprise challenger for then-TNT Champion Adam Copeland.

Jericho defending the ROH World title against Cardona is the second match official for the Honor Club special set for Friday, December 20. ROH Women’s TV Champion Red Velvet defending her title against Leyla Hirsch is already official for the show.

Bandido return vignette airs on AEW Dynamite

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Bandido is on his way back to AEW.

A return vignette for the star aired during Wednesday’s AEW Dynamite episode, signaling his imminent return to the promotion after 18 months on the shelf.

The 29-year-old Bandido suffered a wrist injury in June 2023 and underwent surgery to repair the injury that month. A second surgery was then deemed necessary after the wrist did not heal properly, with the star undergoing his second surgery for the injury in December 2023.

We reported at the end of October that Bandido had been backstage at an AEW event and was ready to return.

After a standout international career including CMLL in Mexico and a legacy-defining rivalry with Hiromu Takahashi in NJPW, Bandido officially signed with AEW in November 2022, reportedly turning down a WWE offer to sign with the company.

The vignette from Wednesday’s AEW Dynamite can be seen in the embedded video below. Our full report from Wednesday’s episode is here.

Final wrestlers qualify for WWE NXT Deadline Iron Survivor Challenge

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The final spots in Saturday’s Iron Survivor Challenge were secured during Tuesday’s WWE NXT episode.

Eddy Thorpe and Wren Sinclair won their respective last chance four-way qualifiers to advance to the men’s and women’s Iron Survivor Challenge matches set for Saturday’s WWE NXT Deadline PLE.

Thorpe defeated Axiom, Lexis King, and Cedric Alexander in a qualifying match on Tuesday’s show to seemingly secure his place in Saturday’s Iron Survivor Challenge. As NXT went off the air, however, Thorpe was show laid out backstage, seemingly putting his status for Saturday in doubt.

Sinclair defeated Cora Jade, Jaida Parker, and Kelani Jordan in her qualifying bout to advance to the Iron Survivor Challenge at Deadline.

The finalized card for the Saturday, December 7 WWE NXT Deadline. The show streams beginning a 7 p.m. Eastern time on Peacock:

  • NXT Champion Trick Williams defends against Ridge Holland
  • Men’s Iron Survivor Challenge: Je’Von Evans vs. Nathan Frazer vs. Wes Lee vs. Ethan Page vs. Eddy Thorpe
  • Women’s Iron Survivor Challenge: Giulia vs. Stephanie Vaquer vs. Zaria vs. Sol Ruca vs. Wren Sinclair
  • NXT Tag Team Champions Nathan Frazer & Axiom defend against Tavion Heights & Myles Borne
  • NXT Underground: Jaida Parker vs. Lola Vice

Two new matches booked for WWE NXT Deadline

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An NXT Underground match, plus a Tag Team title bout have been added to Saturday’s WWE NXT Deadline card.

After weeks of back and forth, Jaida Parker will take on Lola Vice in an NXT Underground match at Deadline. The announcement was made during a segment on Tuesday’s WWE NXT, where Parker demanded the match. Parker also laid Vice out during their confrontation on Tuesday’s show:

The NXT Tag Team titles will also be up for grabs at Deadline.

No Quarter Catch Crew’s Tavion Heights and Myles Borne won a number one contender’s battle royal on Tuesday’s episode to earn the right to challenge Nathan Frazer and Axiom for the NXT Tag Team Championship at Saturday’s PLE.

The finalized card for the Saturday, December 7 WWE NXT Deadline:

  • NXT Champion Trick Williams defends against Ridge Holland
  • Men’s Iron Survivor Challenge: Je’Von Evans vs. Nathan Frazer vs. Wes Lee vs. Ethan Page vs. Eddy Thorpe
  • Women’s Iron Survivor Challenge: Giulia vs. Stephanie Vaquer vs. Zaria vs. Sol Ruca vs. Wren Sinclair
  • NXT Tag Team Champions Nathan Frazer & Axiom defend against Tavion Heights & Myles Borne
  • NXT Underground: Jaida Parker vs. Lola Vice

Anna Jay vs. Penelope Ford added to AEW Dynamite

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A new match is set for the Wednesday, December 4 AEW Dynamite.

AEW’s Tony Khan revealed in a social media post Monday night that he has signed Anna Jay vs. Penelope Ford for this week’s Dynamite. AEW’s owner wrote:

Jay is coming off a win over Deonna Purrazzo on the Full Gear Zero Hour pre-show on November 23. Prior to that, Jay was involved in a three-match series against Women’s World Champion Mariah May, including a win in a title eliminator bout, and twice challenging for the Women’s World title in November.

Ford made her in-ring AEW return in October after two years out of action in the promotion, and is 1-2 since returning.

Six matches are now set for this week’s AEW Dynamite. The updated card:

  • Dynamite Dozen battle royal
  • PAC vs. Jay White
  • Swerve Strickland vs. Max Caster
  • Anna Jay vs. Penelope Ford
  • Continental Classic Gold League: Claudio Castagnoli vs. Brody King
  • Continental Classic Blue League: Kyle Fletcher vs. Shelton Benjamin

Rhea Ripley vs. Raquel Rodriguez one of three matches announced for next WWE Raw

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Rhea Ripley’s issues with The Judgment Day will continue on next week’s WWE Raw in one of three matches announced for the show.

Ripley will take on The Judgment Day’s Raquel Rodriguez next week following an angle on this week’s episode where Rodriguez threw Ripley into the announce table eye-first. Ripley has just returned from an orbital bone injury.

The Women’s Intercontinental Championship tournament also continues on next week’s Raw with a quarterfinals tripe threat matchup. It will be Lyra Valkyria vs. Ivy Nile vs. Zelina Vega next week with a spot in the semifinals on the line.

An eight-man tag team match is also set for next week as the feud between The Wyatt Sicks and The Final Testament continues. Final Testament’s Karrion Kross, Akam, Rezar, and The Miz, with Scarlett in their corner, will face Bo Dallas, Dexter Lumis, Joe Gacy, and Erick Rowan, with Nikki Cross in the Wyatt Sicks’ corner.

Raw GM Adam Pearce also revealed that he will discuss The Judgment Day’s next Tag Team title defense with Finn Balor on next week’s episode. Balor and McDonagh hold the World Tag Team titles.

The announced lineup for next week’s Raw:

  • Rhea Ripley vs. Raquel Rodriguez
  • Women’s Intercontinental Championship tournament quarterfinals: Lyra Valkyria vs. Ivy Nile vs. Zelina Vega
  • Wyatt Sicks (Bo Dallas, Joe Gacy, Erick Rowan & Dexter Lumis) w/Nikki Cross vs. Final Testament (Karrion Kross, Akam, Rezar & The Miz) w/Scarlett

Gunther vs. Finn Balor title match set for WWE Saturday Night’s Main Event

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Gunther will defend his World Heavyweight Championship against Finn Balor of The Judgment Day at WWE Saturday Night’s Main Event.

The new World title match was made official for the Saturday, December 14 event in a backstage segment on Monday’s Raw by GM Adam Pearce.

Balor attacked Gunther on Monday’s Raw after Gunther defeated Balor’s Judgment Day comrade Dominik Mysterio, laying the champ out with multiple double stomps off the top rope.

Pearce also intimated that Balor will have to defend the World Tag Team titles with JD McDonagh on the card, saying that he will discuss Balor’s other title match with him on next week’s Raw.

Cody Rhodes defending the Undisputed WWE Championship against Kevin Owens is already official for SNME, plus Liv Morgan defending the Women’s World Championship against IYO SKY was added to the lineup during Monday’s Raw.

The updated card for WWE Saturday Night’s Main Event, airing Saturday, December 14 at 8 p.m. Eastern time on NBC:

  • Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes defends against Kevin Owens
  • World Heavyweight Champion Gunther defends against Finn Balor
  • Women’s World Champion Liv Morgan defends against IYO SKY

Tag team match added to NJPW Strong Style Evolved

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A new tag team match is set for NJPW Strong Style Evolved.

Los Ingoberables de Japon’s Hiromu Takahashi and Titan will team against United Empire’s HENARE and Jakob Austin Young at Strong Style Evolved. NJPW announced the new bout for the Sunday, December 15 event in a social media post Monday night.

Nine matches are now official for the Sunday, December 15 event. The show will stream live on NJPW World at 7:30 p.m. Eastern time. The lineup:

  • NJPW Strong Women’s Champion Mercedes Mone defends against Hazuki
  • NJPW Strong Openweight Champion Gabe Kidd defends against Ryohei Oiwa
  • NJPW Strong Tag Team Champions Grizzled Young Veterans (James Drake & Zack Gibson) defend against West Coast Wrecking Crew (Jorel Nelson & Royce Isaacs)
  • Jack Perry & Konosuke Takeshita vs. Shingo Takagi & Yota Tsuji
  • Hiromu Takahashi & Titan vs. HENARE & Jakob Austin Young
  • TJP vs. Kevin Knight vs. Kosei Fujita vs. Clark Connors
  • Lio Rush vs. Hechicero
  • Mina Shirakawa vs. Johnnie Robbie
  • Matt Vandagriff vs. Zane Jay

Women’s World Championship match booked for WWE Saturday Night’s Main Event

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The Women’s World Championship will be on the line at WWE Saturday Night’s Main Event on December 14.

As revealed during Monday’s Raw, Women’s World Champion Liv Morgan will defend her title against IYO SKY at Saturday Night’s Main Event set for Saturday, December 14.

Morgan and SKY were on opposite sides of the women’s WarGames match at last Saturday’s Survivor Series, with Morgan pinned by Rhea Ripley.

On Monday’s Raw, Morgan and Raquel Rodriguez defeated SKY and Kairi Sane in tag team action, then continued to attack the losing team after the match. Ripley ran in to save, but was sent face-first into the announce table, selling the orbital injury that kept Ripley sidelined for months.

Cody Rhodes defending the Undisputed WWE Championship against Kevin Owens is the other bout currently set for the return of Saturday Night’s Main Event to NBC.

The announced card to this point:

WWE Saturday Night’s Main Event, Saturday, December 14, 8 p.m. Eastern time on NBC —

  • Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes defends against Kevin Owens
  • Women’s World Champion Liv Morgan defends against IYO SKY

Bayley replacing Jade Cargill in WWE Survivor Series WarGames

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Jade Cargill is out, Bayley is in.

As officially announced on Friday’s WWE SmackDown, Bayley will replace Jade Cargill in the women’s WarGames match set for Saturday’s Survivor Series PLE.

Cargill, who may or may not actually be injured, was taken out of the match with an injury angle on last week’s SmackDown. Bayley then helped Bianca Belair defeat Nia Jax on Monday’s Raw to earn Belair’s team the order of entry advantage in Saturday’s match.

Bayley fought alongside her team on Friday’s SmackDown as a confrontation between the two teams led to a brawl around the arena.

The finalized lineup for the Saturday, November 30 WWE Survivor Series which streams on Peacock beginning at 6 p.m. Eastern time:

  • Men’s WarGames: Roman Reigns, CM Punk, Jey Uso, Jimmy Uso & Sami Zayn vs. Solo Sikoa, Jacob Fatu, Tama Tonga, Tonga Loa & Bronson Reed
  • Women’s WarGames: Rhea Ripley, Bianca Belair, Bayley, IYO SKY & Naomi vs. Liv Morgan, Nia Jax, Tiffany Stratton, Raquel Rodriguez & Candice LeRae
  • World Heavyweight Champion Gunther defends against Damian Priest
  • Intercontinental Champion Bron Breakker defends against Sheamus & Ludwig Kaiser in a triple threat
  • United States Champion LA Knight defends against Shinsuke Nakamura

The New Bloodline earn WarGames advantage for WWE Survivor Series

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Solo Sikoa’s New Bloodline will have the order of entry advantage over the OG Bloodline at WWE Survivor Series.

Jacob Fatu defeated Jey Uso in the main event of Friday’s taped WWE SmackDown to earn the man advantage for Saturday, November 30th’s Survivor Series WarGames match. Fatu used a Samoan Drop through the announce table and a top rope moonsault to defeat Uso.

Sikoa’s Bloodline (Sikoa, Fatu, Tama Tonga, Tonga Loa) and Bronson Reed will team against Roman Reigns and the OG Bloodline (Reigns, Jey Uso, Jimmy Uso, Sami Zayn) and CM Punk in the men’s WarGames match at Saturday’s PLE. The show begins at 6 p.m. Eastern time on Peacock with a two-hour pre-show beginning at 4 p.m. Eastern.

The lineup for the 38th annual WWE Survivor Series:

  • Men’s WarGames: Roman Reigns, CM Punk, Jey Uso, Jimmy Uso & Sami Zayn vs. Solo Sikoa, Jacob Fatu, Tama Tonga, Tonga Loa & Bronson Reed
  • Women’s WarGames: Rhea Ripley, Bianca Belair, Bayley, IYO SKY & Naomi vs. Liv Morgan, Nia Jax, Tiffany Stratton, Raquel Rodriguez & Candice LeRae
  • World Heavyweight Champion Gunther defends against Damian Priest
  • Intercontinental Champion Bron Breakker defends against Sheamus & Ludwig Kaiser in a triple threat
  • United States Champion LA Knight defends against Shinsuke Nakamura

Mercedes Mone and Kamille split on AEW Dynamite

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The CEO needs a new bodyguard following the events of Wednesday’s AEW Dynamite.

TBS Champion Mercedes Mone and her bodyguard Kamille split on Wednesday’s Dynamite in Chicago in the aftermath of Mone’s title defense over Kris Statlander at Saturday’s Full Gear pay-per-view.

Mone and Kamille were welcomed to the Dynamite stage by Tony Schiavone on Wednesday’s episode for a Mone title celebration. Mone announced that she was there to celebrate in spite of Kamille not being able to do anything right, a reference to a botched distraction during Saturday’s match.

As the TBS Champion was winding up to fire Kamille, the bodyguard took the mic and said that Mone couldn’t fire her because she quits.

Kamille debuted for AEW in July and was added to the Mone act as the bodyguard. Mone made her AEW debut in March at Dynamite Big Business, then had her first match for the promotion in May at the Double or Nothing pay-per-view, defeating Willow Nightingale for the TBS title.

Deonna Purrazzo to make CMLL debut in December, Toni Storm & PAC set for action

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AEW’s Deonna Purrazzo will make her CMLL debut on December 13, the promotion has announced.

CMLL revealed Wednesday night the Purrazzo will be part of the Friday, December 13 card at Arena Mexico on a night where several AEW talent will be part of the action.

Purrazzo will face La Catalina in her debut match in a one-on-one matchup. The new match represents a change to the December 13 card, as originally Toni Storm and Red Velvet were to face La Catalina and Tessa Blanchard in tag team action.

Storm will no longer appear on the December 13 show according to CMLL, with Red Velvet now set to team with Viva Van against La Jarochita and Lluvia in a tag bout.

Other AEW talent set for the December 13 CMLL event include Claudio Castagnoli, who faces Hechicero in singles competition, plus PAC will take on Volador Jr. on the show.

Purrazzo has wrestled in Mexico before for both AAA and The Crash.