AEW’s Amanda Huber recently posted heartfelt comments regarding Tony Khan, Cody Rhodes, Eric Rowan, Tay Melo and Maxwell Jacob Friedman.
December 26 was the five-year anniversary of Amanda’s husband, Jon Huber aka Brodie Lee/Luke Harper’s passing. Amanda Huber noted on social media that she had never seen the tribute show AEW put on after Brodie Lee’s passing, but decided to do so on Friday.
She wrote that seeing Rowan on the tribute show was an amazing surprise.
“Seeing @ErickRedBeard at the tribute show was the most amazing surprise and completely unexpected. I didn’t know he was there until I walked into the trailer. Forever thankful that he was a part of the show.”
Huber said that backstage at the tribute show, MJF stayed in character when interacting with her children. MJF then continued to do so on social media after her post.
“As much as a piece of shit @The_MJF is, I’ll never forget the tribute show. He was his terrible self to Brodie all day. When everyone else was extra nice, Max stayed horrible. Why? Because Max knew how much Brodie loved wrestling. He knew he needed that escape. That ability to enjoy the thing he loved more than anything in the world. It also made it extra gratifying when Brodie finally hit him 💜”
MJF responded to Huber with, “Second that kid turns 18 he’s FUCKED.”
Huber also posted about Tay Melo’s connection with Brodie Jr. and that Melo is now a mother herself.
“The tribute show is where our connection with @taymelo started and I’m so thankful for the road our relationship has taken. From her connecting with Brodie to seeing her become the most amazing mom possible. Beyond thankful for her 💜”
“I’ll never be able to put into words how much I appreciate Cody. He drove 6 hours the day after Christmas to be there when I told Brodie. He was own of the few people who got to see Jon. He took Brodie to fly kites as I said goodbye. He promised to show up for our family and he’s stood by it. He goes out of his way to always be good to my family. His bond with Brodie is so incredibly special. He’s the perfect example for the boys. He’s passionate, hard working, and loyal. He shows up for his people, not just when it’s convenient for him. He’s someone I’m lucky to call our friend. I’m beyond thankful for his friendship and bringing the Hubers into the Rhodes family.”
After finishing the tribute show, Huber sent a message to Tony Khan:
“Thank you @TonyKhan for putting on the most beautiful pro wrestling show I’ve ever watched. It’s taken me 5 years to watch this but it’s been worth it. In the 5 years Jon has been gone I’ve been lucky enough to be in the @AEW family. Getting to travel with this amazing company and work for someone like Tony. Someone so passionate about wrestling but also so thoughtful. The care and love he puts into AEW everyday is never lost on me. I can’t say enough good and how incredible it is. It’s been such a wild road the last 5 years. The highs and lows and the twists and turns. I’m thankful for it all. Especially how beautiful it is that I get to work in a business I’ve dreamed of being in my whole life. Tune in to World’s End tomorrow and support this beautiful crazy world of pro wrestling 💛🖤 Ok. I’m going to finish crying and get to sleep. Thank you everyone for all the love, kind words, and messages today. 💜🖤”
Huber’s social media posts are below:
I’ve never been able to bring myself to watch the tribute show.
I figured tonight would be the time to give it a shot.
Hearing the wonderful things everyone said about him is really beautiful 🥹❤️
I’ll never be able to put into words how much I appreciate Cody.
He drove 6 hours the day after Christmas to be there when I told Brodie. He was own of the few people who got to see Jon. He took Brodie to fly kites as I said goodbye. He promised to show up for our family and… pic.twitter.com/LRXQJNEpxi
The tribute show is where our connection with @taymelo started and I’m so thankful for the road our relationship has taken. From her connecting with Brodie to seeing her become the most amazing mom possible.
Seeing @ErickRedBeard at the tribute show was the most amazing surprise and completely unexpected. I didn’t know he was there until I walked into the trailer.
December 26 marks five years since the death of Brodie Lee, a champion wrestler and beloved figure in the industry.
Lee (Jon Huber) passed away at 41 years old on this day in 2020 after battling a rare lung disease. His wife Amanda Huber — now a community outreach coordinator for AEW — posted a touching tribute today, writing that five years is especially tough because it feels like the next milestone. She wishes that she could have even one more hour with Lee to thank him for the life they built and to show him how amazing their two sons, Brodie Jr. and Nolan, are.
Five years.
This year seems heavier. Five seems like the next milestone. At first it was making it thru the first hour you were gone. Then the first day. First week. First month. Six months. First year.
This year seems heavier. Five seems like the next milestone. At first it was making it thru the first hour you were gone. Then the first day. First week. First month. Six months. First year.
Five seems like the next milestone.
I still remember it like it was yesterday. I can close my eyes and walk thru the whole day. Waking up that morning in the hotel and knowing it was going to be over. Taking in the walk from the hotel to the hospital. Walking into the room with Big Hero 6 playing. Seeing my incredible nursing staff (including one who wasn’t supposed to be there but came in so I wasn’t alone) Watching our friends filter thru. Going thru the worst moment of my life telling Brodie. Walking back to the hospital knowing it was the last time. The sounds the family made when they walked into the room and saw him for the first time. Holding his hand as he let go. My nurses holding me in that moment. Cleaning up the room I essentially lived in for months. Getting texts of Brodie flying kites on the beach with @CodyRhodes Taking in the sunset on my final walk back to the hotel. Sitting in the hotel room trying to come up with the words to put out to the public that he was gone.
I know I said this recently but I’d give almost anything to have just another hour. For you to see the amazing people the boys have grown into. To see how smart and funny Nolan is. To see how passionate Brodie is. To talk to them both and realize how lucky we were to be parents to such amazing little boys. Also to thank you for giving me them. Thank you for teaching me so much about myself over the years. For bringing me into your amazing family. Just to thank you for everything.
I wish I had more words for this.
I miss your laugh. I miss the way you’d make me laugh. I miss watching you play with the kids. I miss watching you nap with the dogs. I miss texting you unflattering pictures of Ham. I miss you putting over my cooking. I miss thousands of little things and micro moments where I’m reminded of the hole you left.
I love you forever. Thank you for making me the luckiest
Brodie Lee Jr. has the option of joining AEW as a wrestler when he turns 18 years old. He’s been training to potentially follow in his late father’s footsteps, including working with Natalya and TJ Wilson (Tyson Kidd) at their Dungeon facility.
WWE wrestler Erick Rowan — Lee’s tag team partner and Wyatt Family stablemate — also took a moment today to remember his late “brother.”
Grief is a funny thing. It’s something that never goes away. Some days are good, filled with emotional memories, some not so good, filled with frustration. People can leave a lasting impression on others either for the bad or the good. JON was the latter. Can’t think of one… pic.twitter.com/Jj2kGNAhGM
Grief is a funny thing. It’s something that never goes away. Some days are good, filled with emotional memories, some not so good, filled with frustration. People can leave a lasting impression on others either for the bad or the good. JON was the latter. Can’t think of one person who had a bad thing to say about the wrestler, the father, the husband, or the man. He was the foundation of what I myself hope to be. 5 years has passed since we last talked on this physical realm. But you are part of my heart always. Love you forever brother…..
Lee’s final match took place for AEW in October 2020. He was a TNT Champion for the promotion and held multiple titles during his WWE career, but the most important thing to him in life was being a good father.
“I guess if I had a goal in life, it was to be as good of a dad as my dad,” Lee said in a 2018 video for WWE. “And I think I’m on my way.”
Rickey Shane Page announced that he is no longer under MLW contract: “My time at @MLW was super special to me. Worked with great people. Learned so much. Truly grateful for the experience huge thank you to the whole team. I have a new skill set and I’m ready to work. Time to thrive. [email protected] for any and all business inquiries. Let’s go!”
Amanda Huber says that if Brodie Lee could see his son perform as Negative One in AEW, he would be “just bubbling over the moon.”
Jon Huber (Brodie Lee) passed away on December 26, 2020, of a rare lung condition. Following a tribute show in his father’s honor, Brodie Huber (Negative One, Brody Lee Jr.) has become an official member of The Dark Order and regularly appears on AEW programming.
Brodie and Amanda Huber spoke with Men’s Health about the relationship they’ve had with AEW ever since Jon’s passing. Brodie Jr. also spoke about the tribute show held in honor of his father and being given the TNT Championship belt by Tony Khan.
“Holding the belt that my dad held, just to be in that moment, was … it was definitely … it was hard,” he said.
“I want to be just like him,” Brodie continued to say of his father. He also noted that when he’s older he wants to grow a big, bushy beard just like him too.
Amanda also fired back at critics who accuse AEW of exploiting Brodie Jr. by having him on shows. She said that the company has handled everything with “such grace and such kindness.”
“I personally don’t feel like they’ve exploited him, or taken advantage of us. Everything’s always felt to me like it’s done with nothing but love. I think people are skeptical and pessimistic and assume that it’s a lot more sinister than it is,” she continued.
Brodie Lee had said previously that he didn’t want his sons to be wrestlers. Amanda says that he would probably be ‘over the moon’ if he could see Brodie Lee Jr. in AEW, however.
“He would tell you he absolutely hates it,” she said. “But I could tell you that deep down, in his heart, he would be just bubbling over the moon.”
Brodie Lee Jr. also spoke about how he thinks his father would feel about him being involved in wrestling and carrying on his legacy.
“I bet if he was here, he would probably change his mind,” he said. “He just wanted me to be happy. If he were here, to have him see me be in the happiest place, me being in the happiest mood, I feel like that would brighten up his day.”
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MONDAY NEWS UPDATE
Bryan and I will be back tonight talking about Jimmy Rave, Jon Huber, Wrestler of the Year as well as tonight’s Raw. You can also send questions to the show to [email protected].
Today would have been the 10th anniversary for Jon and Amanda Huber. We are also just weeks from the first anniversary of Jon’s death. Amanda wrote a story about her life with Jon that I would label must read.
We’re looking for reports from St. Paul tonight for Raw with anything not on the live show, such as Main Event or dark matches. We are also doing polls on UFC 269 and ROH Final Battle, so you can leave a thumbs up, thumbs down or thumb s in the middle along with a best and worst match to [email protected]
Raw is unknown tonight past Bobby Lashley will be doing an interview, Bianca Belair faces Doudrop in a match and Maryse returns. The Mysterios vs,. Street Profits match for a tag title shot scheduled for tonight is off. WWE said that there were injuries to both teams and the match would be rescheduled. Montez Ford was injured. Announced for dark matches are Becky Lynch vs. Bianca Belair for the women’s title and Big E vs. Kevin Owens vs. Bobby Lashley vs. Seth Rollins for the WWE title.
The competition tonight is the Los Angeles Rams vs. St. Louis Cardinals which, based on one team being 8-4 and the other being 10-2, should be significant competition.
For tonight’s show, they are moving people who were in the upper decks down in front of the camera. There were still a lot of seats in front of the camera not sold so they will have to be moving people and perhaps papering. They’ve also dropped prices although that is part of normal procedure is they start out with very expensive prices, and get the hardcores to buy the best seats early, and then drop prices near the show to try and drive late buys based on discounting.
For Friday ratings, Smackdown did 2,142,000 viewers and 0.50 in 18-49. Rampage did 503,000 viewers and 0.18 (tag title match did 0.22 and 601,000).
Showbuzz Daily hasn’t been updated today. The ratings are out so it could be a one day thing, but after that disappearance for months, you wonder every time as there is no message regarding it.
Sports Business Journal listed the WWE threesome of Nick Khan,Vince McMahon and Stephanie McMahon in their list of the top ten most influential sports executives. The top ten were listed more as a category with WWE in the top ten listing those three. Others in the top ten included ESPN, NBC Sports Group, Amazon, CBS Sports, Fox Sports and Warner Media/Turner Spots.
Bellator announced a title unification with heavyweight champion Ryan Bader (28-7,1 no contest) vs. Valentin Moldasky (11-1), the interim champion, taking place on 1/29 in Phoenix, which is head-to-head with the Royal Rumble. Also announced for that show is Darrion Caldwell vs. Enique Barzola.
WWE
WWE is doing two-for-one tickets for shows in Orlando and Jacksonville on 12/27.
AEW
AEW has shows on 2/16 at the Nashville Municipal Auditorium and 2/23 in Bridgeport,CT at the Webster Bank Arena (the same arena WWE uses). Presales for both shows are Thursday and the general public on sale will be Friday. They are also putting tickets on sale for Rampage and the Revolution PPV on 3/4 and 3/6 in Orlando on Thursday for the presale and Friday for the general public. With it being a small arena, the PPV tickets should go quick. That’s not to say they will for sure because Orlando is overloaded with wrestling.
Cody Rhodes and Amanda Huber are doing a Toys for Tots benefit on Wednesday and with a donation get a “Winter is Coming” print.
Going sneaker shopping with the Young Bucks on the show Sneaker Shopping, as they talk about losing a pair of Dior Jordan 1s, starting the trend of wrestlers wearing sneakers, and covering a pair of Travis Scott Fragment Jordan 1s with tacks for a match. (thanks to John Walaszek)
AEW Dark Elevation tonight:
Tony Nese vs. Alex Reynolds
Red Velvet & Kris Statlander vs. Nikki Duke & Tina San Antonio
Thunder Rosa vs. Gabbi Ortiz
Gunn Club vs. Joey Sweets & Antonio Zambrano & Jack Tomlinson
Emi Sakura vs. Notorious Mimi
Santana & Ortiz vs. Mike Verna & Anthony Gagnone managed b Prince Nana
Anthony Ogogo vs. Jaden Matthew
OTHER NOTES
Nick Dinsmore is putting together a “Eugene Retirement tour: The Last Call: One more Go Round.” He would like to work anywhere possible. He’s living in the Sioux Falls, SD area. For information contact him at [email protected]
Warrior Wrestling from yesterday in Tinley Park, IL: Aramis b Demonic Flamita to keep the Lucha title, Sam Adonis b Matt Taven, Fuego del Sol b Carlos Romo, Dante Martin b Joey Janela, Sky Blue won four-way over Gringo Loco, Axel Rico and Billie Starkz, Thunder Rose b Mercedes Martinez to retain the women’s title (people raved about this one), Will Ospreay won the Warrior title in a three-way over Blake Christian and champion Trey Miguel. Ospreay said he would be bringing the belt to the Tokyo Dome (thanks to Dave Gould)
Damage Inc. on Saturday night in Rockford, IL before about 200 fans: Kyzlyle & Mongo b Meathooks O’Bannon & Kavan O’Reilly to win the tag titles, Bryan Harley (dress as Santa Claus) b Norman Frankenstein (dressed as The Grinch), Masked Marauder b Nikki Vendetta, Rhino b Scott Spade, Chase Stevens & Micah Taylor b Moondog Maynard & Axel Abreyo, Masada & Axel Rico b Cody James & Chris Miller, James Storm retained Damage title over Eric Priest via DQ setting up a cage match in February. Randy Savage’s former girlfriend Gorgeous George and Bobcat managed Maynard and Abreyo and turned on them. (thanks to Mike Korn)
AEW today announced the signing of Amanda Huber as part of their community outreach program.
Cody Rhodes announced the signing on social media this afternoon, writing: “GREAT day – Please welcome @MandaLHuber to The Community Outreach Team. @TonyKhan has placed her on the best team as we approach each community AEW performs in and make strides to do good when the cameras are on…and more importantly, when they’re off. Welcome Amanda!”
“Words can’t express how happy I am right now,” Huber wrote on Twitter. “The ability to be a part of @AEW and work with the communities is legitimately a dream job. Thank you @TonyKhan @CodyRhodes @TheBrandiRhodes @youngbucks @KennyOmegamanX”.
Huber is the wife of Jon Huber, who was best known as Brodie Lee in AEW and Luke Harper in WWE. He passed away on December 26 of last year at the age of 41 due to idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis.
The Huber’s son, Brodie, regularly appears on AEW television as -1 and is often seen in segments with The Dark Order, the stable that his father was the leader of.
When Dynamite aired in Rochester, New York on September 29, Amanda Huber appeared on-screen and instructed Evil Uno to return to the ring and help The Dark Order and Orange Cassidy defeat The Hardy Family Office. This helped Evil Uno mend his differences with the rest of the Dark Order, who ended up defeating the HFO in a sixteen-man tag team match. Brodie Lee was from Rochester and was originally supposed to debut in his hometown before the COVID-19 pandemic started.
