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.

Randy Orton vs. Kevin Owens, two title matches added to WWE Crown Jewel

Posted on by Ethan Renner

Randy Orton vs. Kevin Owens, plus Women’s Tag Team and United States title matches have been added to WWE Crown Jewel.

Orton opened Friday’s WWE SmackDown by calling out Paul “Triple H” Levesque and demanding a match with Owens at Crown Jewel set for next Saturday, November 2.

Triple H declined Orton’s offer noting that this version of Owens is different and more dangerous than any Orton has faced before. Orton insisted, and Triple H relented, making the match for the PLE official.

The United States Championship will also be on the line at Crown Jewel in a triple threat match.

US Champion LA Knight was the guest referee for the finale of the best-of-seven series between Andrade and Carmelo Hayes on Friday’s SmackDown, with the match ending in a no contest after Knight hit both competitors with his BFT finisher. SmackDown GM Nick Aldis made the triple threat official later in the show.

Bianca Belair and Jade Cargill will also defend their Women’s Tag Team titles at Crown Jewel in a four-way.

Aldis, Raw GM Adam Pearce, and NXT GM Ava announced a fatal four-way title match for Crown Jewel in a backstage segment on Friday’s SmackDown, with Belair and Cargill defending against NXT’s Lash Legend and Jakara Jackson, IYO SKY and Kairi Sane, and Chelsea Green and Piper Niven.

The updated Crown Jewel lineup:

WWE Crown Jewel, Saturday, November 2, 1 p.m. Eastern time on Peacock —

  • Crown Jewel Championship: Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes vs. World Heavyweight Champion Gunther
  • Crown Jewel Championship: WWE Women’s Champion Nia Jax vs. Women’s World Champion Liv Morgan
  • WWE United States Champion LA Knight defends against Andrade & Carmelo Hayes in a triple threat
  • WWE Women’s Tag Team Champions Bianca Belair & Jade Cargill defend against Lash Legend & Jakara Jackson, IYO SKY & Kairi Sane, and Chelsea Green & Piper Niven in a four-way
  • Randy Orton vs. Kevin Owens
  • Seth Rollins vs. Bronson Reed

Motor City Machine Guns win WWE Tag Team titles

Posted on by Ethan Renner

The Motor City Machine Guns are the new WWE Tag Team Champions.

Alex Shelley and Chris Sabin defeated The Bloodline’s Tama Tonga and Tonga Loa in the main event of Friday’s WWE SmackDown at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York in their third match in the promotion.

MCMG defeated DIY in a number one contender’s match on Friday’s SmackDown, then were confronted by The Bloodline’s Solo Sikoa, Jacob Fatu, Tonga, and Loa. SmackDown GM Nick Aldis then signed an impromptu Tag Team title match main event for the show.

Roman Reigns, Jey Uso, and Jimmy Uso all intervened on MCMG’s behalf during the bout to negate the interference from The Bloodline. After a ref bump, it was Jey’s interference that led to MCMG hitting Skull & Bones for the victory.

In the post-match, The Usos reunited as Roman Reigns looked on from the aisle.

MCMG’s title win puts an exclamation point on one of the most storied tag team careers in the history of pro wrestling, as Shelley & Sabin have now won tag team gold in WWE, TNA, NJPW, and ROH.

Our full report from Friday’s SmackDown is available here.

WWE’s Damian Priest stars in New York Yankees World Series hype video

Posted on by Ethan Renner

WWE’s Damian Priest has starred in a hype video for the New York Yankees ahead of their 2024 World Series appearance.

In a video posted to the Yankees’ digital media channels on Thursday, Priest stars as the narrator of a video hyping the Yankees ahead of their World Series matchup with the Los Angeles Dodgers. The video was posted with the caption:

“Ready for Battle.”

A former WWE World Heavyweight Champion, Priest was born in New York and spent some of his childhood living in The Bronx where Yankee Stadium is located.

The World Series kicks off with Game 1 on Friday with the Dodgers hosting the Yankees in the first game of the best of seven series. The Yankees are in the World Series for the first time since 2009, while the Dodgers return to the Fall Classic for the fourth time in the past eight seasons.

Both teams in this year’s World Series rank in the top three in player payroll according to Cot’s Baseball Contracts.

The Priest video is embedded below.

Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. EVIL official for NJPW Wrestle Kingdom 19

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The first match is official for NJPW’s biggest show of the year in the Tokyo Dome on January 4, 2025.

After all-time great and company president Hiroshi Tanahashi was challenged to a Wrestle Kingdom bout by EVIL earlier this week, NJPW has officially announced the bout in a website post and news release.

At King of Pro-Wrestling earlier this month, Tanahashi made the surprise announcement that he will be stepping away from the ring effective January 4, 2026 with his retirement match planned for Wrestle Kingdom 20. EVIL then stated his intention to retire “The Ace” ahead of time and threw down the gauntlet for the Tokyo Dome.

The Wrestle Kingdom 19 lineup remains in flux after the 2024 G1 Climax winner Zack Sabre Jr. cashed in his IWGP World Heavyweight title shot at KOPW instead of waiting for the Tokyo Dome and Wrestle Kingdom as has been tradition.

The Wrestle Dynasty event on January 5 also set for the Tokyo Dome further clouds the forecast for the Wrestle Kingdom card, as all of NJPW’s partner promotions being included in that event opens the possibility of a lot of interpromotional dream matches.

The card so far for NJPW Wrestle Kingdom 19 set for Saturday, January 4, 2025:

  • Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. EVIL

FTR vs. LFI added to AEW Collision

Posted on by Ethan Renner

A second match has been added to the lineup for the Saturday, October 26 AEW Collision.

AEW’s Tony Khan has revealed another match set for Saturday’s Collision, a tag team encounter featuring FTR’s Dax Harwood & Cash Wheeler vs. La Faccion Ingobernable’s Rush & Dralistico.

The AEW CEO wrote in a social media post:

“This Saturday Night, 10/26 Cedar Rapids, IA 8pm ET / 7pm CT on @tntdrama Saturday Night #AEWCollision

LFI @rushtoroblanco/@DRALISTICO_LFI vs FTR @DaxFTR/ @CashWheelerFTR

After their altercation last week following LFI’s win, RUSH + Dralistico collide vs FTR on TNT this Saturday!“

The tag team bout is the second match announced late Thursday for Saturday’s lineup, joining a Ricochet vs. Lio Rush singles battle.

Cedar Rapids, Iowa hosts this Saturday’s Collision event. The show airs at 8 p.m. Eastern time on TNT.

The announced card for the Saturday, October 26 AEW Collision:

  • Ricochet vs. Lio Rush
  • FTR (Dax Harwood & Cash Wheeler) vs. La Faccion Ingobernable (Rush & Dralistico)

NXT talent announced for TNA Bound for Glory pre-show match

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WWE NXT will have a presence at Saturday’s TNA Bound for Glory event.

A tag team contest has been announced for the Countdown to Bound for Glory pre-show set for this Saturday, October 26 featuring Xia Brookside teaming with NXT’s Brinley Reece against Ash by Elegance and the former Heather Reckless, renamed Heather by Elegance during Thursday’s TNA Impact episode.

In addition to the new match for the pre-show, two spots were filled in the Call Your Shot Gauntlet for Saturday’s pay-per-view, with AJ Francis securing the final spot in the gauntlet, and Frankie Kazarian stuck with the opening slot.

Bound for Glory begins with the Countdown show at 6:45 p.m. Eastern time on Saturday on TNA’s digital media channels, with the pay-per-view portion of the card kicking off at 8 p.m. Eastern. The final card:

  • TNA World Champion Nic Nemeth defends against Joe Hendry w/Frankie Kazarian as special guest referee
  • TNA Knockouts World Champion Jordynne Grace defends against Masha Slamovich
  • Full Metal Mayhem for the TNA Tag Team Championship: ABC vs. The Hardys vs. The System
  • Monster’s Ball match for the TNA Digital Media and International Wrestling Championships: PCO defends against Matt Cardona
  • TNA X-Division Champion Mike Bailey defends against El Hijo del Vikingo
  • TNA Knockouts Tag Team Champion Spitfire defend against Wendy Choo & Rosemary
  • Call Your Shot gauntlet match — AJ Francis enters last, Frankie Kazarian enters first
  • Moose vs. Mike Santana
  • Josh Alexander vs. Steve Maclin
  • Bob Ryder & Rhino inducted into the TNA Hall of Fame
  • Countdown to Bound for Glory: Xia Brookside & Brinley Reece vs. Ash by Elegance & Heather by Elegance

Ricochet vs. Lio Rush set for AEW Collision

Posted on by Ethan Renner

The first match is set for Saturday’s AEW Collision and it features a matchup of two of the industry’s best high-flyers.

AEW’s Tony Khan announced in a social media post Thursday night that Ricochet vs. Lio Rush is set for the Saturday, October 26 AEW Collision.

Khan wrote:

“This Saturday Night, 10/26 Cedar Rapids, IA 8pm ET / 7pm CT on @tntdrama Saturday Night #AEWCollision Ricochet vs. Lio Rush 2 of wrestling’s greatest athletes collide Saturday:

@KingRicochet vs @IamLioRush for the first time in AEW! LIVE this Saturday on TNT at 8pm ET/7pm CT!”

Saturday’s bout will be the ninth for Ricochet since joining AEW and debuting at All In in the Casino Gauntlet match. He scored a win over AR Fox on last week’s Collision episode, then faced Nick Wayne on Wednesday in a match taped for this Friday’s AEW Rampage.

The announced card for the Saturday, October 26 AEW Rampage:

  • Ricochet vs. Lio Rush

MJF to face Adam Cole or Roderick Strong at AEW Full Gear

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MJF will do battle with either Adam Cole or Roderick Strong at the November 23 AEW Full Gear PPV.

The match for the pay-per-view was set up during a segment on Wednesday’s AEW Dynamite where Cole reunited with The Undisputed Kingdom in the ring. Cole and Strong agreed that they both want to get their hands on MJF, but MJF interrupted with a promo on the video wall.

MJF stated in his promo that he is not going to appear on an AEW show until Full Gear, but that between Cole and Strong, the first to win three matches will get to face the former AEW World Champion at Full Gear.

Cole will make his in-ring return on next week’s Fright Night Dynamite for his first match in over a year after suffering an ankle injury at Dynamite Grand Slam last September.

The lineup so far for AEW Full Gear on Saturday, November 23:

  • MJF vs. Adam Cole or Roderick Strong

Jamie Hayter vs. Penelope Ford set for November 6 AEW Dynamite

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Jamie Hayter and Penelope Ford will square off on the Wednesday, November 6 AEW Dynamite.

The new match for that show was announced during this week’s Dynamite. Ford made her AEW return at Dynamite Title Tuesday earlier this month, hitting Hayter with a chair and costing her a number one contender’s match.

Ford has been sidelined due to an undisclosed injury for over a year. She last wrestled for DDT in February 2023, with her last AEW match coming in October 2022. Ford and Kip Sabian opened up about their miscarriage last year, including the aftermath where Ford had to undergo emergency surgery to treat a fibroid the size of a cantaloupe.

Hayter made her own return to AEW in August after missing more than year with her own injury situation.

The announced card to this point for the Wednesday, November 6 AEW Dynamite:

  • Jamie Hayter vs. Penelope Ford

Adam Cole in-ring return, Tag Team title match added to AEW Fright Night Dynamite

Posted on by Ethan Renner

Adam Cole will return to the ring for his first match in over a year on the October 30 AEW Fright Night Dynamite.

Cole will go one-on-one with Buddy Matthews next week after Matthews issued a challenge to Cole and the two had a backstage confrontation on this week’s Dynamite.

It will be the first match for Cole since last September after he suffered an ankle injury jumping off the stage at last year’s Dynamite Grand Slam.

The Cole bout is one of two new matches for next Wednesday’s Dynamite added to the lineup during this week’s episode.

Private Party & Daniel Garcia defeated The Young Bucks & Jack Perry in a trios match in this week’s Dynamite main event, then Private Party challenged The Young Bucks to a Tag Team Championship rematch from WrestleDream on next week’s Dynamite. The Bucks refused until Isiah Kassidy proposed the stipulation that Private Party will disband forever unless they win the titles, at which point they accepted the match for next week.

Already announced for next week’s special Fright Night Dynamite are Swerve Strickland vs. Shelton Benjamin, plus Kamille taking on Kris Statlander.

The updated card for AEW Fright Night Dynamite set for Wednesday, October 30:

  • Adam Cole vs. Buddy Matthews
  • AEW Tag Team Champions The Young Bucks defend against Private Party — Private Party must disband if they lose
  • Swerve Strickland vs. Shelton Benjamin
  • Kris Statlander vs. Kamille

Three new matches added to NJPW Fighting Spirit Unleashed

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An NJPW Strong Openweight Tag Team title match is one of three new bouts set for the November 8 Fighting Spirit Unleashed PPV.

NJPW revealed three new bouts for the Friday, November 8 show on Tuesday evening, including TMDK’s Shane Haste & Mikey Nicholls defending the Strong Tag Team titles against James Drake & Zack Gibson of Grizzled Young Veterans.

The participants are also set for the four-way to decide the new number one contender to Mercedes Mone’s NJPW Strong Women’s Championship, with Anna Jay, Trish Adora, Hazuki, and Koguma squaring off for a future title shot.

Also added to the card, Fred Rosser and Tom Lawlor of Dirty Work will battle Jorel Nelson and Royce Isaacs of the West Coast Wrecking Crew in a two-out-of-three falls tag team contest.

The updated lineup for the Friday, November 8 Fighting Spirit Unleashed event streaming on NJPW World as a pay-per-view:

  • NJPW Strong Openweight Champion Gabe Kidd defends against Kosei Fujita
  • NJPW Strong Tag Team Champions TMDK (Shane Haste & Mikey Nicholls) defend against Grizzled Young Veterans (James Drake & Zack Gibson)
  • Mustafa Ali vs. Lio Rush
  • KENTA vs. Ryohei Oiwa
  • David Finlay vs. Kevin Knight
  • Two-out-of-three falls: Dirty Work (Fred Rosser & Tom Lawlor) vs. West Coast Wrecking Crew (Jorel Nelson & Royce Isaacs)
  • NJPW Strong Women’s Championship number one contender’s match: Anna Jay vs. Trish Adora vs. Hazuki vs. Koguma

New matches announced for WWE NXT Halloween Havoc

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Two new matches are set for Sunday’s WWE NXT Halloween Havoc PLE.

Added to the lineup, NXT Women’s North American Champion Kelani Jordan will defend her title against a member of Fatal Influence (Jacy Jayne, Fallon Henley, Jazmyn Nyx) in a spinner’s choice match as the shenanigans surrounding the Spin the Wheel, Make the Deal matches at Halloween Havoc continue.

Jordan is the only wrestler to hold the Women’s North American title since its inception earlier this year.

In a grudge match also newly added to Sunday’s event, Chase U’s Andre Chase will battle Ridge Holland in an ambulance match. Holland turned against Chase and put him out of action at the No Mercy PLE last month.

The five-match lineup for the Sunday, October 27 WWE NXT Halloween Havoc event:

  • NXT Champion Trick Williams defends against Ethan Page in a Devil’s Playground match
  • NXT North American Champion Tony D’Angelo defends against Oba Femi in a Tables, Ladders & Scares match
  • Roxanne Perez & Cora Jade vs. Giulia & Stephanie Vaquer
  • Andre Chase vs. Ridge Holland in an ambulance match
  • NXT Women’s North American Champion Kelani Jordan defends against a member of Fatal Influence (Fallon Henley, Jacy Jayne, Jazmyn Nyx) in a spinner’s choice match

Tag Team title contender’s tournament finals booked for next WWE Raw

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The finals of a tournament to crown new number one contenders to the World Tag Team titles are set for next week’s WWE Raw.

The New Day’s Xavier Woods & Kofi Kingston, plus LWO’s Rey Mysterio & Dragon Lee advanced to the finals with victories on Monday’s Raw, and will face Erik & Ivar of The War Raiders in a triple threat match next week to decide which team will challenge Finn Balor & JD McDonagh for the World Tag Team Championship.

The New Day defeated Authors of Pain on Raw to advance, while Mysterio & Lee defeated American Made’s Brutus Creed & Julius Creed to move on to the finals.

A singles match for next week’s Raw was also teased during Monday’s episode, with Raw GM Adam Pearce suggesting that he will pit Dominik Mysterio against a former World Champion on the show.

The lineup for the Monday, October 28 WWE Raw:

  • World Tag Team Championship contender’s tournament finals: The New Day vs. The War Raiders vs. Rey Mysterio & Dragon Lee
  • Dominik Mysterio vs. a former World Champion

Jon Moxley appearance set for AEW Dynamite

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World Champion Jon Moxley is set to appear on Wednesday’s AEW Dynamite.

AEW announced in a social media post Monday that Moxley will be in Salt Lake City on Wednesday, October 23 for this week’s Dynamite:

In addition to Moxley’s appearance, seven segments are set for Wednesday’s Dynamite.

ROH World Champion Mark Briscoe will defend against Chris Jericho in a ladder war on Dynamite, plus The Elite will face Private Party and Daniel Garcia in trios action.

Sammy Guevara facing Shelton Benjamin, plus Queen Aminata vs. Kamille are also set for Wednesday’s show.

Hook will confront Taz’s attacker on Dynamite, House of Black will be in action, plus Kyle Fletcher will speak on Wednesday’s program.

The lineup for the Wednesday, October 23 AEW Dynamite:

  • AEW World Champion Jon Moxley appears
  • ROH World Champion Mark Briscoe defends against Chris Jericho in a Ladder War match
  • The Elite (Young Bucks and Jack Perry) vs. Daniel Garcia & Private Party (Marq Quen and Isiah Kassidy)
  • Sammy Guevara vs. Shelton Benjamin
  • Kamille vs. Queen Aminata
  • House of Black in action
  • Hook confronts Taz’s attacker(s)
  • We’ll hear from Kyle Fletcher

Seth Rollins vs. Bronson Reed added to WWE Crown Jewel

Posted on by Ethan Renner

Seth Rollins and Bronson Reed will go one-on-one at WWE Crown Jewel.

After they brawled throughout the arena to kick off Monday’s WWE Raw, it was announced that Rollins and Reed will square off at the Crown Jewel PLE set for Saturday, November 2.

Reed attacked Rollins on Raw in August to put him out of action for several weeks. Rollins then returned on the September 30 Raw and cost Reed his Last Monster Standing match against Braun Strowman.

A face-to-face between the two was advertised for Monday’s Raw, then Raw GM Adam Pearce made the match for Crown Jewel official after the arena brawl.

Three matches have been announced for Crown Jewel. The lineup so far:

WWE Crown Jewel, Saturday, November 2, 1 p.m. Eastern time on Peacock —

  • Crown Jewel Championship: Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes vs. World Heavyweight Champion Gunther
  • Crown Jewel Championship: WWE Women’s Champion Nia Jax vs. Women’s World Champion Liv Morgan
  • Seth Rollins vs. Bronson Reed