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.

Danielson vs. Okada double title match set for AEW Dynamite fifth anniversary

Posted on by Ethan Renner

Bryan Danielson wants to face Kazuchika Okada one more time as his Final Countdown continues.

Danielson issued a challenge to Okada for a World title match at this Wednesday’s AEW Dynamite fifth anniversary show. Danielson posted the promo with the challenge to his social media accounts Monday night.

AEW later confirmed the bout, with the added twist that Okada’s Continental Championship will also be on the line, but only for the first 20 minutes of the bout, as Continental title bouts have 20-minute time limits, while World title bouts have 60-minute time limits.

Danielson defending the AEW World title against Jon Moxley has already been announced for WrestleDream on Saturday, October 12, and Danielson must retire after his next loss, seemingly telegraphing the finish to the Okada match.

Danielson commented:

“Once and for all, we’ll see who’s the best”

Danielson’s promo:

https://twitter.com/bryandanielson/status/1840961130447192140

The current card for the Wednesday, October 2 AEW Dynamite 5th anniversary episode from Pittsburgh:

  • AEW World Champion Bryan Danielson defends against Kazuchika Okada (Okada’s Continental Championship is on the line for the first 20 minutes)
  • AEW International Champion Will Ospreay defends against Ricochet
  • Dr. Britt Baker, D.M.D. vs. Serena Deeb
  • Hangman Page vs. Juice Robinson

Gunther vs. Sami Zayn World title match booked for next WWE Raw

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Three matches are official for the October 7 WWE Raw, including a World Heavyweight title bout and an Intercontinental Championship tilt.

After weeks of teasing the match, WWE made it official during Monday’s Raw that Gunther will defend the World Heavyweight Championship against Sami Zayn on the Monday, October 7 episode.

Zayn ended Gunther’s record Intercontinental title reign with a win at WrestleMania 40 earlier this year to allow him to stake claim to a title match, plus defeated Gunther’s ally Ludwig Kaiser on the September 23 Raw.

The Intercontinental title is also on the line on next week’s Raw, with Jey Uso defending against Xavier Woods.

A Donnybrook match is also official for next week’s episode, with Sheamus and Pete Dunne squaring off in the no holds barred stipulation bout.

The announced lineup for the Monday, October 7 WWE Raw:

  • World Heavyweight Champion Gunther defends against Sami Zayn
  • WWE Intercontinental Champion Jey Uso defends against Xavier Woods
  • Donnybrook match: Sheamus vs. Pete Dunne

WWE Hall of Famer Pete Rose passes away

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Major League Baseball’s all-time leader in hits, and a member of the celebrity wing of the WWE Hall of Fame, Pete Rose has passed away.

Rose, 83, died Monday in Clark County Nevada according to reports. The County medical examiner states in a statement to the Associated Press that Rose’s cause and manner of death have yet to be determined.

In WWE, Rose was a comedy foil for Kane, appearing at three consecutive WrestleManias from 1998 to 2000 in a recurring bit where Kane would attack Rose. Rose was part of the WWE Hall of Fame Class of 2004, the first member of the promotion’s celebrity wing of the Hall of Fame. He would return for cameo appearances through the years, including serving as Raw host during WWE’s guest host era in 2010.

In baseball, Rose played parts of 24 seasons with the Cincinnati Reds, Montreal Expos, and Philadelphia Phillies from 1963 to 1986, finishing his career with 4,256 hits, the most in baseball history. In addition to the record for hits, Rose is also the all-time MLB leader in games played, plate appearances, and at-bats.

Rose was issued a lifetime ban from baseball by commissioner Bart Giamatti in 1989 after an investigation revealed that Rose had placed bets on baseball while he was a player-manager for the Reds. The WWE Hall of Fame induction was something of a publicity stunt as Rose lobbied to be reinstated to MLB and for Hall of Fame consideration.

Toni Storm to make CMLL debut next month

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Toni Storm is set to make her CMLL debut.

CMLL announced in a new social media post that Storm will debut for the promotion at their Friday, October 11 Arena Mexico event in challenging La Catalina.

Storm is on hiatus from AEW after dropping the Women’s World Championship to Mariah May at All In last month. In her time away, Storm will perform on today’s Stardom event in a tag team bout with Mina Shirakawa, and Storm will challenge Mayu Iwatani for the IWGP Women’s Championship on next Saturday’s Stardom event in Nagoya.

Storm is one of only two wrestlers to hold the AEW Women’s World Championship on more than one occasion, as both Storm and Hikaru Shida are three-time champions. Storm trails only Shida for most days spent as AEW Women’s World Champion in the five-year history of the title.

CMLL’s announcement video is in the embedded post below.

Bianca Belair & Jade Cargill to host WWE Bad Blood

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The October 5 WWE Bad Blood PLE in Atlanta will have a pair of hosts in the Women’s Tag Team Champions.

WWE revealed during Friday’s SmackDown that Women’s Tag Team Champions Bianca Belair & Jade Cargill will serve as hosts for next Saturday’s Bad Blood event.

A hype video for the hosts aired during Friday’s SmackDown:

Five matches are currently official for next Saturday’s show at State Farm Arena in Atlanta, with a Gunther vs. Sami Zayn World Heavyweight title match also teased for the event, though not yet officially announced.

WWE Bad Blood, Saturday, October 5, 6 p.m. Eastern time on Peacock/WWE Network —

  • Hell in a Cell match: CM Punk vs. Drew McIntyre
  • Roman Reigns & Cody Rhodes vs. Solo Sikoa & Jacob Fatu
  • WWE Women’s World Champion Liv Morgan defends against Rhea Ripley
  • WWE Women’s Champion Nia Jax defends against Bayley
  • Damian Priest vs. Finn Balor
  • WWE Women’s Tag Team Champions Bianca Belair & Jade Cargill host

AJ Styles to return on next WWE SmackDown

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AJ Styles will return to WWE on next week’s SmackDown.

Styles will return to WWE television next Friday for the first time since losing an I Quit match to Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes at Clash at the Castle in June. In the interim, Styles traveled to NOAH in July for a match in Japan against Naomichi Marufuji, plus took part in WWE’s tour of Japan in late July. He also wrestled on WWE’s August European tour.

In addition to the return of Styles, Naomi will face Tiffany Stratton on next Friday’s SmackDown after a backstage confrontation between the two on this week’s episode.

Already announced for next week are a dumpster match with Chelsea Green vs. Michin, plus a three-way ladder match for the WWE Tag Team titles with The Bloodline vs. DIY vs. The Street Profits.

The Friday, October 4 WWE SmackDown is the go-home show for next Saturday’s Bad Blood PLE.

Next week’s SmackDown lineup:

  • AJ Styles returns
  • Triple threat ladder match: WWE Tag Team Champions Tama Tonga & Tonga Loa defend against Johnny Gargano & Tommaso Ciampa, and Montez Ford & Angelo Dawkins
  • Dumpster match: Chelsea Green vs. Michin
  • Naomi vs. Tiffany Stratton

The Hardys vs. ABC set for next TNA Impact

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Three matches are set for next week’s TNA Impact, including a Hardys vs. ABC tag team bout.

Matt Hardy & Jeff Hardy will team against ABC’s Ace Austin & Chris Bey on the Thursday, October 3 TNA Impact episode as the build to the promotion’s biggest show of the year — Bound for Glory on October 26 — continues.

In another tag team contest set for next week’s episode, Steve Maclin & Eric Young will square off against Judas Icarus & Travis Williams.

WWE NXT will continue to have a presence on Impact on next week’s card in the form of a Knockouts division trios match, as Jordynne Grace teams with Masha Slamovich and NXT’s Sol Ruca against Tasha Steelz, Rosemary, and NXT’s Wendy Choo.

Also announced for next Thursday’s show, Ash by Elegance will provide a makeover to new Knockout signee Heather Reckless.

The card for the Thursday, October 3 TNA Impact:

  • Matt Hardy & Jeff Hardy vs. Ace Austin & Chris Bey
  • Steve Maclin & Eric Young vs. Judas Icarus & Travis Williams
  • Jordynne Grace, Masha Slamovich & Sol Ruca vs. Tasha Steelz, Rosemary & Wendy Choo
  • Ash by Elegance gives Heather Reckless a makeover

Joe Hendry challenging for TNA World title at Bound for Glory

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The first two matches are set for TNA Bound for Glory on October 26, both title bouts.

Joe Hendry defeated Frankie Kazarian in a number one contender’s match on Thursday’s TNA Impact to punch his ticket to the main event of Bound for Glory where he will challenge Nic Nemeth for the TNA World Championship at the company’s biggest show of the year.

Kazarian initially had the contender’s match won via underhanded tactics, but authority figure Santino Marella and World Champion Nemeth ordered the bout restarted:

Another title match is official for the biggest TNA show of the year on Saturday, October 26.

In a double title bout, Matt Cardona will challenge PCO for the TNA Digital Media Championship and the International Wrestling title at Bound for Glory in a Monster’s Ball match.

Cardona and PCO have feuded for months over Steph De Lander, who was set to marry PCO until Cardona interrupted the ceremony.

The card to this point for the Saturday, October 26 TNA Bound for Glory pay-per-view:

  • TNA World Champion Nic Nemeth defends against Joe Hendry
  • Monster’s Ball match: TNA Digital Media and International Wrestling Champion PCO defends against Matt Cardona

NJPW releases teaser for Kenny Omega-Hiroshi Tanahashi meeting

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NJPW has released a teaser for a new video featuring a meeting between NJPW president Hiroshi Tanahashi and Kenny Omega.

In a social media post late Wednesday, NJPW unveiled a trailer for a video titled “Hiroshi Tanahashi X Kenny Omega Reunion,” with a “coming soon” tag:

The video plays off the real-life history between the two, noting that Tanahashi and Omega squared off in the Wrestle Kingdom main event in 2019 in what would be Omega’s final match as a full-time member of the NJPW roster. Tanahashi defeated Omega to win the IWGP Heavyweight Championship in the match as Omega was on his way to AEW.

The social media post used a Wrestle Dynasty hashtag, perhaps hinting at Omega’s involvement in that event set for January 5, 2025 in the Tokyo Dome. NJPW, CMLL, AEW, ROH, and Stardom will all have a presence on the Wrestle Dynasty show.

Omega is currently out of action after undergoing surgery to treat a life-threatening bout with diverticulitis.

Britt Baker vs. Serena Deeb official for AEW Dynamite fifth anniversary

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Britt Baker will return to the ring for the first time since All In on next week’s AEW Dynamite fifth anniversary against Serena Deeb.

After Baker’s in-ring return was first announced during last week’s Collision episode and Deeb issued a challenge to Baker later in the same show, the new match for next week’s fifth anniversary edition of Dynamite was confirmed during Wednesday night’s Grand Slam telecast.

Baker missed over ten months of action from September 2023 to July of this year before she returned to feud with TBS Champion Mercedes Mone. Baker was victorious in two tune-up matches on Dynamite and Collision before the Mone match at All In on August 25, 2024, where Mercedes retained her title with a win. Baker has not wrestled since.

AEW International Champion Will Ospreay defending against Ricochet is the other match official for next week’s Dynamite fifth anniversary episode on Wednesday, October 2. The lineup:

  • AEW International Champion Will Ospreay defends against Ricochet
  • Britt Baker vs. Serena Deeb

Hook retires FTW title at AEW Dynamite Grand Slam

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The FTW Championship has been retired.

Hook defended the FTW title against Roderick Strong at Wednesday night’s AEW Dynamite Grand Slam in Queens, New York, then retired the title after the contest.

After defeating Roderick Strong to retain the Championship, Hook was interviewed by Tony Schiavone, where he announced the title’s retirement, effective immediately.

Hook then presented the title belt to his father Taz at the commentary desk, and the two embraced.

Taz created the FTW title in ECW in the 1990s, then revived the belt in 2020 in AEW when he was at the helm of the Team Taz stable, presenting the Championship to Brian Cage. Chris Jericho, Ricky Starks, and Jack Perry also held the title during its post-2020 revival.

The FTW Championship has been regularly defended in AEW ever since, with Hook eclipsing his father’s record for most title reigns at three. Hook also held the title for more days than any other wrestler.

Our live coverage of AEW Dynamite Grand Slam is ongoing here.

Janel Grant’s attorney issues statement on ‘Mr. McMahon’ docuseries

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Janel Grant’s attorney has issued a statement regarding the Mr. McMahon docuseries released today on Netflix.

Grant has filed a lawsuit against former WWE chairman Vince McMahon, former WWE talent relations head John Laurinaitis, and WWE accusing McMahon of sexual assault and human trafficking of Grant.

The statement from Grant’s attorney Ann Callis reads:

“The ‘Mr. McMahon’ docuseries makes it clear there is no difference between Vince McMahon’s on-air persona and his true self, they are one and the same. His “character” – known for violent outbursts, sexual deviance, and manipulation – is the real Vince McMahon and exactly what Janel Grant experienced behind closed doors at WWE for years.

While the docuseries put McMahon’s obsession with power and control on full display, it only scratches the surface of his criminal behavior and it fails to tell the full story of his abuse, sexual assault, and human trafficking of Ms. Grant. She deserves the opportunity to tell her story, on her own time, and in her own way. We look forward to her day in court and to seeing McMahon at last held accountable for his actions.”

North American title match set for October 8 WWE NXT

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Oba Femi and Tony D’Angelo will run it back in a North American title match on the October 8 edition of WWE NXT.

In a rematch from the No Mercy PLE earlier this month, Femi will defend his North American Championship against D’Angelo on the Tuesday, October 8 WWE NXT episode on The CW.

Before Femi and D’Angelo square off in the ring in St. Louis, the duo will appear on next week’s CW premiere episode as guests of The Miz on the Miz TV talk show segment.

The October 8 show is set for suburban St. Louis and will also feature a special appearance from Randy Orton. Orton, a St. Louis native, will take on Je’Von Evans in singles competition on the show.

The card so far for the October 8 WWE NXT episode:

  • Randy Orton vs. Je’Von Evans
  • WWE NXT North American Champion Oba Femi defends against Tony D’Angelo

Tag team match added to WWE NXT CW premiere

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A new match is set for the WWE NXT premiere episode on The CW.

NXT GM Ava announced during this week’s show that Jaida Parker & Lola Vice will team against two members of Fatal Influence on the Tuesday, October 1 episode, the first to air on The CW.

Fallon Henley, Jazmyn Nyx, and Jacy Jayne comprise the Fatal Influence trio who will operate under Freebird rules for the contest.

The Miz’s Miz TV guests have also been revealed for the CW premiere.

NXT North American Champion Oba Femi and his rival Tony D’Angelo will be The Miz’s guests on next week’s episode. Those two will square off for the North American title on the October 8 show.

Allstate Arena in suburban Chicago will host next week’s show.

The current lineup for the Tuesday, October 1 WWE NXT premiere episode on The CW:

  • NXT Champion Ethan Page defends against Trick Williams with CM Punk as guest referee
  • NXT Women’s Champion Roxanne Perez defends against Giulia
  • Street fight: Wes Lee vs. Zachary Wentz
  • WWE Women’s Tag Team Champions Bianca Belair & Jade Cargill appear
  • The Miz hosts Miz TV with guests Oba Femi & Tony D’Angelo
  • Jaida Parker & Lola Vice vs. Two members of Fatal Influence

‘Last Monster Standing’ match booked for next WWE Raw

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Bronson Reed and Braun Strowman will continue their feud with a stipulation match on the September 30 WWE Raw.

The wild brawls between Strowman and Reed of recent weeks on Raw will continue with a Last Monster Standing bout on next week’s Raw. The match was officially announced on this week’s episode after Strowman disrupted a Miz vs. Reed match by attacking Reed.

Two more bouts are also official for the Monday, September 30 Raw.

As tension between Kofi Kingston and Xavier Woods of The New Day continues to build, the tag team partners will be in action in separate singles matches on next week’s episode.

Woods will face WWE Hall of Famer Rey Mysterio on next week’s show, while Kingston will take on American Made’s Chad Gable. Julius and Brutus Creed of American Made defeated The New Day in tag team action on this week’s Raw.

The announced card for the Monday, September 30 WWE Raw:

  • Last Monster Standing: Bronson Reed vs. Braun Strowman
  • Rey Mysterio vs. Xavier Woods
  • Kofi Kingston vs. Chad Gable