Wrestling Observer Live with Bryan Alvarez and Mike Sempervive is back with tons to talk about including the Vince McMahon Netflix series, tons of news notes surrounding it, AEW Grand Slam line-ups for the next week, NXT thoughts from Tuesday, and tons more. A fun show as always so check it out~!
Tag: AEW grand slam
Tony Khan ‘absolutely’ wants to keep AEW Grand Slam going in New York
Image: AEW
Despite a Grand Slam event on tap for Australia next year, AEW head Tony Khan is still invested in bringing the event back to Queens, New York, as well.
Talking to WFAN to publicize tonight’s Grand Slam from Arthur Ashe Stadium, Khan ended any speculation that the annual September event wouldn’t return — at least at some point.
“We’re going to keep having great shows in New York. Grand Slam…I absolutely want to keep here. We have a great thing going with Arthur Ashe Stadium and I want to keep that relationship,” Khan said, later definitively saying “I still want to do Grand Slam in New York.”
In August, AEW announced Grand Slam Australia — a stadium show to be held in Brisbane in mid-February which marks the company’s debut in that country.
Initially debuting in 2021, Grand Slam — the company’s first-ever stadium show — drew over 20,000 fans but has ticked down in attendance in every subsequent year. That, in addition to the Australia show announcement, added to speculation they may take a break from the famed tennis stadium.
During the interview, he also called Grand Slam their “biggest show of the year” despite the presence of All In.
Here’s some additional notes and quotes from Khan’s talk:
- When asked if AEW has been “financially successful,” Khan gave a look indicating it was but didn’t provide any details.
- He said AEW was “the biggest challenger brand in sports” and the biggest second/challenger league since the AFL.
- In talking about how people could watch their product, the Max streaming service came up and Khan said, “Our stuff is not on Max…yet.”
- Khan talked around backstage drama, equating it to similar situations in sports.
Lucha libre three-way match set for AEW Collision Grand Slam
A three-way lucha libre match featuring the return of Dralistico is set for Saturday’s AEW Collision.
AEW announced Monday night that a match celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month between The Beast Mortos, Hologram, and Dralistico would take place at AEW Grand Slam on Wednesday. It will be taped for Collision, which airs this Saturday.
“As we celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month, don’t miss AEW live in New York this Wednesday!,” AEW wrote on X.
This is the first time Dralistico is wrestling for AEW in 2024. His last match for the company was at Full Gear 2023 last November, losing a tag team ladder match for the AEW Tag Team titles.
The Beast Mortos and Hologram regularly wrestle on AEW Collision. They last wrestled against each other on last week’s show, where Hologram & The Conglomeration defeated Mortos and The Premier Athletes.
AEW Dynamite Grand Slam, Wednesday, September 25 —
- AEW World Champion Bryan Danielson vs. Nigel McGuinness in a non-title match
- Jon Moxley vs. Darby Allin for Allin’s AEW World title shot
- AEW Tag Team Champions The Young Bucks (Matthew & Nicholas Jackson) defend against Will Ospreay & Kyle Fletcher
- AEW Women’s World Champion Mariah May defends against Yuka Sakazaki
- Prince Nana to provide an update on Swerve Strickland
- FTW Champion Hook defends against Roderick Strong
Announced for AEW Collision Grand Slam:
- Tornado trios match: Chris Jericho, Big Bill, and Bryan Keith vs. Orange Cassidy, Kyle O’Reilly, and Mark Briscoe
- Saraya vs. Jamie Hayter in a Saraya’s Rules match
- Lumberjack strap match: Hangman Page vs. Jeff Jarrett
- AEW Continental title eliminator match: Kazuchika Okada vs. Sammy Guevara
- Hologram vs. The Beast Mortos vs. Dralistico
- MxM Collection to reveal what they did to Max Caster’s jacket
Unspecified whether it is Dynamite or Collision:
- AEW Trios Champions Claudio Castagnoli, PAC & Wheeler Yuta defend against TBD
Hangman Page vs. Jeff Jarrett lumberjack strap match to air on AEW Collision Grand Slam
Hangman Page vs. Jeff Jarrett will air on this week’s episode of Collision.
A video aired on Saturday’s show with Jarrett challenging Page to a lumberjack strap match at Grand Slam. While the segment didn’t specify whether the show would air on Dynamite or Collision, AEW has since posted to social media that it will be part of Saturday’s lineup.
“#AEWCollision GRAND SLAM Arthur Ashe Stadium, NY WEDNESDAY 9/25 See it LIVE before it airs SATURDAY Lumberjack Strap Match @RealJeffJarrett has had ENOUGH of Hangman Adam Page’s attacks against anyone in his way, so The Last Outlaw challenged Hangman to a Lumberjack Strap Match!”
AEW Dynamite Grand Slam, Wednesday, September 25 —
- AEW World Champion Bryan Danielson vs. Nigel McGuinness in a non-title match
- Jon Moxley vs. Darby Allin for Allin’s AEW World title shot
- AEW Tag Team Champions The Young Bucks (Matthew & Nicholas Jackson) defend against Will Ospreay & Kyle Fletcher
- AEW Women’s World Champion Mariah May defends against Yuka Sakazaki
- FTW Champion Hook defends against Roderick Strong
Announced for AEW Collision Grand Slam:
- Tornado trios match: Chris Jericho, Big Bill, and Bryan Keith vs. Orange Cassidy, Kyle O’Reilly, and Mark Briscoe
- Saraya vs. Jamie Hayter in a Saraya’s Rules match
- Lumberjack strap match: Hangman Page vs. Jeff Jarrett
- AEW Continental title eliminator match: Kazuchika Okada vs. Sammy Guevara
- MxM Collection to reveal what they did to Max Caster’s jacket
Unspecified whether it is Dynamite or Collision:
- AEW Trios Champions Claudio Castagnoli, PAC & Wheeler Yuta defend against TBD
Wrestling Observer Live: WWE does cinema, AEW Grand Slam preview
I am back with a brand-new Sunday edition of Wrestling Observer Live, talking about all the latest news in wrestling.
I follow up on the ongoing story about the new TV rights deal between AEW and WBD, specifically developments from the Puck News report that the agreement is supposed to be around $170 million.
I also discuss Friday’s WWE SmackDown and the cinematic presentation of the confrontation between Roman Reigns and Cody Rhodes on the football field at Georgia Tech. Will this become commonplace
I also wonder where all the star power is when it comes to AEW Collision and preview Wednesday’s Grand Slam which I’ll be in attendance for.
Click here to listen or watch on YouTube below:
Three matches added to AEW Dynamite & Collision Grand Slam
New matches have been added to AEW Dynamite & Collision Grand Slam.
Jeff Jarrett will meet Hangman Page in a lumberjack strap match in which the lumberjacks at ringside, which will include the Bang Bang Gang, Dark Order, The Conglomeration, Satnam Singh, and Jay Lethal, will be able to use straps. On Collision, Jarrett promised that there would be no syringes or cinder blocks, he would go with what he grew up with.
After retaining the ROH Tag Team titles against The Kingdom on Saturday, Guevara called his shot, saying he wanted a title eliminator match at Grand Slam against Continental Champion Kazuchika Okada. He hoped that if he won, he would challenge Okada for the title at AEW’s five-year anniversary show on October 2.
Two matches were confirmed for Collision Grand Slam, which will air next Saturday. Chris Jericho, Big Bill, and Bryan Keith will take on The Conglomeration’s Mark Briscoe, Kyle O’Reilly, and Orange Cassidy in a tornado trios match. Since losing at All In, Jericho has honed in on Cassidy and the rest of the Conglomeration. After losing to Cassidy on Dynamite, Jericho and the Learning Tree responded by attacking The Conglomeration on Rampage.
After issuing the challenge on Rampage, it was confirmed that Saraya will meet Jamie Hayter in a Saraya’s rules match on next week’s Collision. In a backstage promo during Saturday’s show, Harley Cameron read off a list of rules for the match, making it clear Saraya has the advantage.
MxM Collection will also reveal what they have done with Max Caster’s jacket.
AEW Dynamite & Collision Grand Slam, Wednesday, September 25 —
- AEW World Champion Bryan Danielson vs. Nigel McGuinness in a non-title match
- Jon Moxley vs. Darby Allin for Allin’s AEW World title shot
- AEW Tag Team Champions The Young Bucks (Matthew & Nicholas Jackson) defend against Will Ospreay & Kyle Fletcher
- AEW Women’s World Champion Mariah May defends against Yuka Sakazaki
- AEW Trios Champions Claudio Castagnoli, PAC & Wheeler Yuta defend against TBD
- FTW Champion Hook defends against Roderick Strong
- Lumberjack strap match: Hangman Page vs. Jeff Jarrett
- AEW Continental title eliminator match: Kazuchika Okada vs. Sammy Guevara
Announced for AEW Collision Grand Slam:
- Tornado trios match: Chris Jericho, Big Bill, and Bryan Keith vs. Orange Cassidy, Kyle O’Reilly, and Mark Briscoe
- Saraya vs. Jamie Hayter in a Saraya’s Rules match
- MxM Collection to reveal what they did to Max Caster’s jacket
Saraya vs. Jamie Hayter in a Saraya’s rules match set for AEW Grand Slam
A new match is set for next week’s AEW Grand Slam.
Saraya and Jamie Hayter will meet in a match where Saraya makes the rules. Saraya attempted to interfere as Harley Cameron was wrestling Hikaru Shida on Rampage. That caused Hayter to run out and run her off, allowing Shida to pick up the win. After the match, Saraya said she was tired of Hayter not leaving her alone and challenged Hayter to a Saraya’s Rules match at next week’s AEW Grand Slam.
Hayter said all she’s wanted to do is kick Saraya’s ass, and she’ll see her in New York. It wasn’t made clear if the match would be on the Dynamite or Collision portion of the event.
After being gone for over a year, Hayter returned at All In last month, laying out Saraya. Since then, Hayter has focused on taking out both members of the Outcasts, laying out Cameron with an elbow shot on last week’s Rampage.
AEW Dynamite & Collision Grand Slam, Wednesday, September 25 —
- AEW World Champion Bryan Danielson vs. Nigel McGuinness in a non-title match
- Jon Moxley vs. Darby Allin for Allin’s AEW World title shot
- AEW Tag Team Champions The Young Bucks (Matthew & Nicholas Jackson) defend against Will Ospreay & Kyle Fletcher
- AEW Women’s World Champion Mariah May defends against Yuka Sakazaki
- AEW Trios Champions Claudio Castagnoli, PAC & Wheeler Yuta defend against TBD
- FTW Champion Hook defends against Roderick Strong
- Saraya vs. Jamie Hayter in a Saraya’s Rules match
Fight Game: The new Mega Powers & AEW Grand Slam preview
John LaRocca and I are back to talk about the major topics in the world of wrestling on this week’s Fight Game Podcast. We recorded this show live on the free F4W YouTube channel which you can watch below.
We kicked off with our Thumbs Up/Thumbs Down winners and losers of the week before going through our Top Five topics which included:
- The new Mega Powers in WWE (Roman Reigns and Cody Rhodes)
- CM Punk’s money promo on this past Monday’s Raw
- Jey Uso and Bron Breakker fitting perfectly into their roles
- Bianca Belair and IYO SKY having a tremendously fun match
- NXT building for their CW shows
- All of the pro wrestling content on Netflix
We also previewed next week’s AEW Grand Slam.
Click Here to Listen (sub needed)
Jim Ross doing commentary for AEW Grand Slam
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.
Trios title open challenge added to AEW Grand Slam
Image: AEW
Even with their recent issues, the team of Claudio Castagnoli, PAC and Wheeler Yuta will defend their AEW Trios titles as part of next week’s AEW Grand Slam from Queens, New York, in an open challenge.
In a backstage segment filmed last week, Castagnoli, PAC and Jon Moxley didn’t back down from their recent attack on Bryan Danielson at All Out — one that Yuta recoiled at and had to be held back from as it was happening. PAC told Yuta it was time for him to get back to work while Castagnoli said he wasn’t mad at Yuta, but was disappointed.
Moxley then addressed Yuta and said it was up to him whether or not he showed up to defend the titles and that he was allowed to leave the team if he wanted. He said it’s a lot of Yuta for handle, but he believes Yuta has the strength inside “to do the right thing” and look himself in the mirror to ask himself if he is the man they taught him to be.
Yuta was later interviewed by Alex Marvez where he said he’s been distracted lately with the whole situation, later forgetting his Trios title belt and mistaking next Wednesday for WrestleDream. He said that despite all that, he has fought too hard and for too long to become a champion and will be there at Arthur Ashe Stadium.
Three potential contenders were seemingly taken out during Dynamite when Private Party & Komander were decimated by Moxley, Castagnoli and Marina Shafir with Moxley taking a hammer to Isiah Kassidy’s hand. Kassidy and Marq Quen had called out the former Blackpool Combat Club earlier on the show after last Wednesday’s attack.
It’s unclear if the bout will be on Dynamite or saved for Collision which is also being taped that night.
Here’s the current lineup for Grand Slam Dynamite:
- AEW World Champion Bryan Danielson vs. Nigel McGuinness in a non-title match
- Jon Moxley vs. Darby Allin for Allin’s AEW World title shot
- AEW Tag Team Champions The Young Bucks (Matthew & Nicholas Jackson) defend against Will Ospreay & Kyle Fletcher
Here’s what has also been announced for that night:
- AEW Trios Champions Claudio Castagnoli, PAC & Wheeler Yuta defend against TBD
- FTW Champion Hook defends against Roderick Strong
Hook vs. Roderick Strong FTW title match announced for AEW Grand Slam
In a match set in motion several weeks ago, FTW Champion Hook will defend his ceremonial title against Roderick Strong at this month’s AEW Grand Slam from Arthur Ashe Stadium in Queens, New York.
The match was confirmed during Saturday’s AEW Collision after Hook issued the challenge on this past Wednesday’s Dynamite.
Things first began to bubble up between these two in an eight-man tag team match on the August 28th Dynamite when Hook pinned Strong but his foot was under the ropes as he did.
As of this point, it’s unclear if the bout is on tap for the Dynamite portion of the show or the Collision that will be taped afterward.
Hook regained the belt at August’s All In. This will be the first defense of the title.
Here’s the current lineup for Wednesday, September 25th:
- AEW World Champion Bryan Danielson vs. Nigel McGuinness in a non-title match
- Jon Moxley vs. Darby Allin for Allin’s AEW World title shot
- AEW Tag Team Champions The Young Bucks (Matthew & Nicholas Jackson) defend against Will Ospreay & Kyle Fletcher
- FTW Champion Hook defends against Roderick Strong
Wrestling Observer Radio: The fallout from All Out, AEW on Max?
Dave Meltzer and I are back with Wrestling Observer Radio going over the big stories in the latest issue of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter.
Click here to listen (sub needed) or watch on YouTube (video sub needed)
Here are some of the topics we covered:
- AEW on WBD’s Max streaming service?
- The possibility of an AEW show on a Fox network
- Chair shots in wrestling
- AEW Grand Slam changes
- All Out PPV business
- AEW TV ratings
- SmackDown returning to USA and Raw heading on Netflix
- CMLL’s 91st Anniversary show
- UFC 306 preview
- “The Wrestler” with Verne Gagne and Ed Asner
Click here to listen (sub needed) or watch on YouTube (video sub needed)
Wrestling Weekly: AEW All Out thoughts & the road to Grand Slam
Image: AEW
On this week’s Wrestling Weekly, it’s all about last Saturday’s AEW All Out and the subsequent road to this month’s Grand Slam with a match we can’t wait to see, regardless of how we got there.
Also, we talk about enhancement talents and whether doing that work for the big groups can hinder their ability to be seen as stars in the future.
We do talk some WWE at the onset, looking ahead at tonight’s WWE SmackDown, Bret Hart’s appearance on Raw, and the rest of what’s happening these days.
Thanks for listening and have a great weekend~!
Fight Game: AEW Grand Slam shakeup
It’s Friday and that means it’s time for a new episode of The Fight Game podcast.
John LaRocca is out this week with a family engagement, so Scott Edwards, also known as Scott. E. Wrestling, joined me to talk about the big stories in wrestling — also available for free on our YouTube channel and embedded below.
We kicked off with our Thumbs Up/Thumbs Down winners and losers of the week before going through our Top Five topics which included:
- Our report card for AEW All Out
- Thoughts on the shakeup to AEW Grand Slam featuring two new main events
- An early look at the WWE Bad Blood card
- Scott’s thoughts on how Giulia and Mariah May have done so far in NXT and AEW
- What’s hot in joshi wrestling right now
Click Here to Listen (sub needed)
You can also check out the latest episode to Scott’s podcast, The Five Star Joshi Show.
Wrestling Observer Live: Dynamite, Grand Slam, AEW TV deal, MR. THOMAS!
Wrestling Observer Live with Bryan Alvarez and Mike Sempervive is back with tons to talk about including notes from Dynamite and the build to Grand Slam, the AEW television deal, all of the big news, plus Mr. Thomas, formerly BLASTER MCMASSIVE, joins us to talk a fun MLW show this coming weekend. A fun show as always so check it out~!