The latest WWE and AEW News and Results
Image: AEW
On a new Wrestling Weekly, we are looking ahead to the future.
Can Nigel McGuinness pull off the upset against his greatest rival in Bryan Danielson at next week’s AEW Grand Slam? We’ll make the case for that result and more as we look ahead to the show, and discuss all the talk about the WBD TV rights deal.
Plus, Les Thatcher & I look ahead to what’s been announced for this Monday’s WWE Raw and all the happenings there this week.
Thanks for listening and have a great weekend~!
Jim Ross is making the trip to New York for AEW Grand Slam 2024.
Ross announced on his Grilling JR podcast that he’ll be doing commentary at AEW Grand Slam next Wednesday (September 25). Though Ross isn’t sure how much or the show he’ll be calling, he’s excited that his AEW commentary schedule is getting more aggressive.
“I was told yesterday that I’m doing the Arthur Ashe event, which is going to always be fun. It’s a unique setting, unique surroundings. So I’m looking forward to that. Should be good — loaded card,” Ross said. “A lot of talent on this card.”
Grand Slam is a special episode of Dynamite that’s taken place from Arthur Ashe Stadium in Queens every September since 2021. In addition to the live Dynamite episode, this year’s event will include a taping for AEW Collision.
“I’m not sure how much of it I’m doing, but I think I’m doing more than normal,” the 72-year-old Ross said. “And then I’m going to go to Seattle and call the pay-per-view. And so I think my schedule is getting more aggressive and I’m going to be used more it seems like. And I’m ready for it, I’m excited about it. So — all good buddy. I love doing the live calls and still it’s in my blood. I still enjoy it. I still get fired up for doing it. It means something to me. At this stage of my game, you know, you never know when you’re going to do your last one. So I’m pumped up about that.”
Since signing a contract extension with AEW earlier this year, Ross’ role has been providing commentary at AEW PPV events. Jon Moxley vs. Darby Allin at Dynamite Grand Slam will determine Bryan Danielson’s AEW World Championship challenger for WrestleDream. The PPV is being held in Tacoma, Washington on Saturday, October 12.
During Sunday’s AEW x NJPW Forbidden Door, AEW officially announced both the date and ticket presale info for September’s Grand Slam.
The show will once again emanate from Arthur Ashe Stadium in Queens, New York, on Wednesday, September 25th. Per usual, they will air a live Dynamite and in a change, they will tape a two-hour Collision after the show as opposed to a two-hour Rampage.
The presale has kicked off already for fans in attendance at the UBS Arena on Long Island and will run through this Tuesday at midnight. The AEW website officially lists the pre-sale as starting on July 16th with a public on-sale date of July 18th.
This will be the fourth-such event at the famed tennis stadium: all in September.
The first one was held in 2021 with a featured bout between Kenny Omega and Bryan Danielson in addition to CM Punk’s first televised match since his departure from WWE nearly a decade prior. The event drew over 20,000 fans.
The second show was held in 2022 and featured Danielson vs. Jon Moxley for the then-vacant AEW World title, drawing nearly 14,000 fans.
Last year’s Grand Slam brought in 11,000 fans for a show that featured MJF defending his then-World title against Samoa Joe and then-ROH World Champion Claudio Castagnoli defending his title against Eddie Kingston.
A Ticketmaster listing may have revealed the date for AEW Grand Slam 2024.
The listing, which has since been taken down, stated that AEW is scheduled to make its return to Arthur Ashe Stadium in New York City on Wednesday, September 25. The show would include a live Dynamite episode as well as a taping for that week’s Collision. The listing did not provide a date for when tickets would be going on sale.
Grand Slam has been an annual September tradition for AEW since 2021. If the listing proves to be correct, this will be the first time Collision has been part of Grand Slam. Rampage was taped in conjunction with Dynamite at Arthur Ashe Stadium each of the past three years.
Arthur Ashe Stadium is located in Queens and hosts the US Open tennis tournament every year.
Originally, AEW was planning to hold Forbidden Door at Arthur Ashe Stadium this year, but that didn’t end up coming to fruition. The Forbidden Door pay-per-view is instead taking place at UBS Arena in Long Island this Sunday (June 30).
