Former WWE World Heavyweight Champion Paul Wight has now reportedly re-signed a new contract with AEW.
Wight, currently a backstage presence in AEW, has now decided to extend his stay with the promotion, as per a report from Fightful Select. According to sources close to Fightful Select, Wight’s contract with the company was set to expire earlier this year. However, it is now believed that he agreed to a new deal to stay with AEW. Although Fightful has not yet learned the contract length, it is believed he is firmly under contract.
Wight had previously expressed his interest in staying with AEW in his final few years. Despite not having retired completely, Paul last wrestled in 2024 and is currently undergoing a weight loss transformation.
The 54-year-old joined AEW in 2021 and is now reportedly set to stay with the promotion for the next few years at least.
“So, when I look at our AEW roster, even though he’s not a younger cat, he’s still somebody that I’ve had respect for a long time – Kenny Omega. I think Kenny is one I would think ‘man, I would love to either tag with Kenny or to compete against Kenny’. I would love to have a great heel run and work Darby. I mean, that would be ridiculous. Cause I could sling Darby’s guts all over the place. Even the old school one where I slammed Rey (Mysterio) into the ring post when he was tied to the stretcher. I can only imagine the carnage I could do with Darby.”
Paul Wight discussed his acromegaly diagnosis and surgery that saved his life.
In an interview with High Performance, Wight talked about his visit to the Mayo Clinic when he was at University, and the doctor informing him about the acromegaly diagnosis.
“I was 19. I went my whole life, I thought I was just gifted because I had incredible endurance. I ate whatever I wanted. I could run all day, and strong and all that. Then, I went to Wichita State, and the doctor there had worked at the Mayo Clinic and was familiar with (it). He looked at my hands, and there’s different things. Like the roof of my mouth is very high, jawline, sinuses, and stuff like that.”
“He says, ‘I think you have acromegaly.’ I’m like, ‘What?’ Then, within a week, I was at the Mayo Clinic, and they’re telling me they got to do this pituitary surgery. What, I had a tumor? This is why I’m this way? I would have been big anyway. I would have been probably 6’7″, 6’8″, anyway, because my family’s big so I didn’t, I got the benefits of it, but I didn’t have a lot of the trauma that a lot of people that get acromegaly go through because they weren’t made to be bigger people. So they really got the bad end of the deal for the bone growth and other problems.”
He further highlighted that the doctors warned him of life expectancy until the age of 45 and advised him to undergo surgery.
“That was just a figure that I was told because I almost didn’t get the surgery. They were telling me, ‘Well, if you don’t get this surgery, you’ll probably be dead by the time you’re 45.’ Because this will shut down, this will happen. I remember thinking like, ‘45’s a long time away. I don’t know.’ I mean, you know, I’m going to start my sophomore season at Wichita State. I don’t know. Maybe I should just, you know, not get the surgery. And I remember my sister was very adamant at the time. No, you’re getting the surgery.”
Wight was associated with WWE for a little more than two decades with multiple runs in the company. He signed with AEW in 2021 where he was a commentator for Dark. Wight has also been working on his physique transformation in his time away, and is already hopeful of an in-ring return soon.
Pushing past my comfort zone. I’m really happy with myself. I’m definitely not the same guy I was. #progress#gymwork#fitgiant pic.twitter.com/e1hD36UmIE
Paul Wight is working to get in better shape so he can return to the AEW ring and have some more fun before retirement.
Appearing on a new episode of Insight with Chris Van Vliet, the former Big Show said he feels like he’s behind the eight ball because of all the surgeries he’s had. Since 2018-2019, there’s been an operation almost every year — and all of those came with rehab and recovery processes that Wight had to go through. But he’s doing well now and hopes an AEW in-ring return is in his future.
“I’m feeling real good. I think my main thing now is, I understand there’s a short window left. And listen, I’m not in any way, shape or form delusional that I’m going to go out and compete for championships and pull the wagon. Those days are done,” Wight said. “And you have to [understand] reality. And also in fairness to the younger talent that’s digging and striving now, they don’t need to see my ass every week, taking up TV time and ring time.
“There’s nothing I can do that’s going to make my career any bigger or better. All I can do is enjoy some of the last years that I have under contract with AEW, and hopefully have some fun with some of the younger talent, and teach them some of the lessons that have been passed down to me. And just have a little bit of fun. I’m in a really good spot. I’ve got a good boss that believes in me, supports me, and gives me an opportunity to be a part of the business I love.”
To make that in-ring return a reality, Wight knows he has to be in good enough physical shape that he’s enhancing the product rather than taking away from it. He has already lost a significant amount of weight and wants to lose 36 more pounds.
“I think for me to get back in the ring and compete, I’m going to have to be a certain level,” Wight said. “I’ll never be what I was. I’ve got two fake knees and two hips. The proprioception is different. The connection between your joints is different. You feel different as an athlete. So I have to accept — what am I now? And does that enhance the product that I’m doing? Sure, I’m smart enough and old enough. There are certain things that I can do that will still give a little kickback to nostalgia, will still look like a big dangerous giant that is my character, and teach. But at the same time, if it looks like, ‘Oh, put a bullet in,’ well, I’m not going to do that. So that’s what all this hard work now is. Okay, what’s the one thing that I can really control? That’s conditioning and weight. I don’t need to be 500 pounds anymore. I need to be about 350. I’m 386 right now.”
Wight admits that he did not treat his body well when he was younger, partaking in bad habits like eating poorly and smoking. At 54, he has already lived a longer life than he expected to. He is eight years older than Andre the Giant was when he died. The work Wight is doing in the gym is so he can live as long as possible.
November 2023 was the last time Wight competed in an AEW ring. If he does get the chance to return, having fun will be the focus, not writing a storybook ending for his career.
“I know there’s a big current thing where everybody wants to write their story, which I’m so sick of hearing. Not everybody gets a story,” Wight said. “I may not get a story. I may not get a retirement match. I’m very real about this of — I have to do certain things and hold myself accountable to get to a position so that I can compete for fun. For no other reason other than I want to have fun in the ring.”
Wight has also contributed to AEW in roles like commentary and community outreach. Whenever his time in the ring is over, Wight sees himself as someone who is better suited to mentoring young talent rather than actually training them.
“Unless there’s a bunch of giants around that need coaching. Listen, there are great talents that are great at coaching,” Wight said. “I don’t see myself as a trainer. To me, Billy Gunn is a great trainer. He understands the mechanics and is really good at teaching. He’s amazing at teaching.
“I’m more like grandpa. I tell some good stories, make you laugh, and the hazards of don’t do this and don’t do that.”
Recognizing the Big Show vs. Floyd Mayweather angle was miscast, WWE changed direction on the 3/10 three-hour Raw from Milwaukee with a double turn.
They also played upon how the UFC audience was and how their audience wanted it, making it an us vs. them angle, and trying to make it like it was a semi-shoot, and to a degree, part of what was on television was.
Mayweather played complete heel, acting like an arrogant punk instead of a fake smiley-faced character of the week before. He dressed in a T-shirt, with shades and gaudy jewelry, playing the arrogant rich guy. Show played the role as the WWE representative, which he should have been all along, including bringing out basically everyone on the roster who isn’t booked on Wrestlemania to be his seconds against Mayweather, who has his entourage as his second. The two sides had a big brawl, the level of realism depends on which version you choose to believe.
Floyd Mayweather Jr. was the surprise celebrity who will appear at Wrestlemania this year after shooting an angle where he appeared to break the nose and bloody up the face of Big Show at No Way Out on 2/17 in Las Vegas.
Although Show appeared on television with his nose taped up, and a slow motion replay of the punches show Mayweather Jr. really connected with them, and an elbow cracked the nose, we’re told by a company source that the angle went exactly as rehearsed and scripted the night before and that Show didn’t suffer a broken nose.
The card is shaping up as Randy Orton vs. John Cena vs. HHH for the WWE title, Edge vs. Undertaker for the world title, an eight-man Money In the Bank ladder match (Mr. Kennedy, Shelton Benjamin and Jeff Hardy in, and likely for guys like Chris Jericho and perhaps MVP and Matt Hardy if the latter two aren’t wrestling each other), a Ric Flair match (possibly Shawn Michaels), Mayweather vs. Show, and likely something with Fit Finlay vs. JBL, perhaps a tag with Finlay & Hornswoggle vs. JBL & Vince McMahon.
As part of the post-WWE podcast tour, AEW broadcaster and eventual wrestler Paul Wight went into details about when he knew his WWE career was coming to an end, being turned down at bringing in Justin Bieber for a SummerSlam match, and how his AEW deal came together in 15 minutes.
Appearing on both Talk is Jericho this week and Oral Sessions with Renee Paquette last week, Wight said the writing was on the wall for him roughly five years ago when he was told by a “higher up” that wasn’t Vince McMahon that he would never main event a WrestleMania or a pay-per-view and would only be used to get over NXT talent. That was after he had worked hard to rehab from hip surgeries and infections.
He started contract negotiations with WWE’s Mark Carrano and while the money was ok, the terms and length of the deal (a year) were light. He felt like they were pushing him into a Legends contract, but given how they treat Hall of Famers, he had no interest, bringing up turning them down on Randy Orton piefacing him onto a chair during a Raw segment. He felt like they wanted to use his notoriety to do media and community work but take his passion away from him in the ring.
He reiterated several times that he wasn’t bitter about his WWE run, saying he made a good living but was sad he couldn’t do all he could as he never felt like WWE took advantage of his recognizability and size.
“I went from not being able to tell stories to becoming a seven foot enhancement talent,” he said.
Wight recalled a story about wanting to use the Big Show brand to create a online Big Show Burger company with Wolfgang Puck helping out, a venture that would have expanded into food trucks at WrestleMania. He was surprised by the reaction he received when he brought that up, saying WWE wanted seven figures up front, seven figures 18 months later and a large percentage of the profits.
He also went into details about working out a deal with Justin Bieber and his manager Scooter Braun that would have seen the megastar appear in a six-man tag team match at SummerSlam alongside he and John Cena against the Wyatts. However, decision makers told him they didn’t see how Justin Bieber would related to their audience. He said they “jacked’ Braun around for two weeks on money before Braun moved on. Jericho then told a story of how WWE had a chance to bring in Will Ferrell for a WrestleMania moment, but they wouldn’t pay an appearance fee that would have gone to his charity.
He brought up the potential of an angle with Paul “HHH” Levesque based off a staredown they had on the Raw stage that he felt could have played out in the ring, but was told other than knocking Levesque out, there wasn’t any interest in doing it.
He loved his Netflix show experience, but said he didn’t get to negotiate any of the terms as that was handled by WWE and joked that he didn’t even get a parking space on the set. He was forced to park in a visitors’ lot and a golf cart would come get him.
After his contract was free and clear, his first conversation was an in-person meeting with Tony Khan that ran three hours late at night. Afterward, they talked three or four times on the phone for hours at a time before he drove up to Jacksonville on an off week to watch Dynamite and eat dinner with Khan. After 15 minutes, the deal was done and was the easiest negotiation of his career. He told Khan that he wanted to wrestle but also do color commentary as that’s how he sees his career eventually going in, similar to Gorilla Monsoon.
While he never talked to McMahon during his negotiations, the WWE chairman called him when the AEW deal was done — the first time they had spoken in six months. He said McMahon congratulated him and said he would do great for AEW. There’s no animosity or heat between them, but he said he knew things had changed over the last year when McMahon started calling him “Paul” as opposed to “Show.”
Rey Fenix vs. Lance Archer for a spot in the Face of the Revolution ladder match headlines tonight’s AEW Dynamite.
Archer and Fenix have teamed in recent weeks, but find themselves on opposite sides of a singles bout tonight. The winner will earn a spot in the ladder match at the March 7 Revolution PPV.
More information on the signing of Paul Wight and the new AEW Dark: Elevation show will be delivered.
The AEW Women’s World title eliminator tournament continues this evening with a Britt Baker vs. Nyla Rose quarterfinal match. The winner will face the winner of Sunday’s Riho vs. Thunder Rosa match on March 1 on AEW’s YouTube channel.
Jon Moxley will take on “The Hollywood Hunk” Ryan Nemeth.
Hangman Page will face Isiah Kassidy. Kassidy and tag partner Marq Quen are aligned with Matt Hardy, Page’s opponent at Revolution.
A Sting appearance has been advertised. Sting took a powerbomb from Team Taz’s Brian Cage on last week’s Dynamite. Cage and Starks will also be in action against Brian Pillman Jr. and Griff Garrison.
A sit-down interview with Miro, Kip Sabian and Penelope Ford conducted by Tony Schiavone has been announced for the show.
Following up on last week’s angle where Brandon Cutler tried to save The Young Bucks from an Inner Circle attack, Cutler will face Jake Hager.
Our live coverage begins at 8 p.m. Eastern time.
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Show Recap —
Before the match, a brief Nemeth promo aired.
Jon Moxley defeated Ryan Nemeth
Moxley immediately shrugged off a grapple attempt and slapped Nemeth down. He laid in crossface strikes but fell victim to a cross chop and knees. Moxley came back with a backdrop suplex before turning his attention to Nemeth’s right hand with stomps and wrenches.
Nemeth took some chops but fought back with a dropkick. Moxley was unfazed and hit the Paradigm Shift out of nowhere for the decisive victory.
– After the match, Moxley grabbed a chair and a mic and sat down in the middle of the ring. He said that since he lost the AEW championship, he’s known that he’ll do whatever it takes to get it back.
He asked what images come to mind when you hear the words “Exploding Barbed Wire Deathmatch.” Fire, blood, burns, torture, agony, and vintage Japanese wrestling magazines. Do they make you feel revolted and disgusted? Or do you get a sick thrill?
Moxley said he’s addicted to being in this ring and laying his soul bare each and every night. The thought of the exploding barbed wire deathmatch is too attractive, it pulls him in. Omega followed a long, sad line of guys that tried to take him out, but win, lose, or draw, everyone watching will know that Moxley gave everything he had. If it comes to an end on pay-per-view, then that’s a hell of a way to go out.
That was one of Moxley’s best promos yet in AEW, which is saying something, considering he’s the Wrestler of the Year.
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A video package recapped Moxley and Omega’s feud.
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They played last week’s video where the upcoming Archer-Fénix match was announced.
Even though they had great chemistry, Archer said that he’ll easily beat Fénix next week. Fénix shot back in Spanish, saying Archer was the worst partner he ever had, and then they brawled.
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The Young Bucks took a photo with their parents in front of a truck with their images on it.
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Taz joined commentary for this match.
Team Taz (Ricky Starks & Brian Cage) defeated Varsity Blonds (Griff Garrison & Brian Pillman Jr.)
The Blonds controlled Starks early on until a drop-down tripped Starks out of the ring. Pillman followed it up with a nice diving dropkick for two. Pillman tried to follow it up, but Starks knocked him off on a springboard attempt and then Cage powerbombed him into the ring post ahead of the break.
Team Taz controlled the action throughout the commercial, isolating Pillman on their side of the ring. Starks landed a missile dropkick for two before tagging in Cage. Starks hit a cheap shot on Garrison, but the misdirection allowed Garrison to get the hot tag.
Garrison ran wild, concluding with a great tope on Cage to the floor. Pillman landed a springboard clothesline and then the Blonds hit a doomsday dropkick for two. The Blonds were cut off with a spear from Starks and a spinebuster from Cage, who finished Pillman off with the Drill Claw.
– After the match, the lights went out and a video played of Darby Allin emerging from the body bag. Sting’s music then played, and he made his entrance with a body bag in tow. Sting opened the bag and it was HOOK inside.
Sting then pointed at the rafters, and Allin zip-lined into the ring as the two beat down Cage and Starks. We got vintage Sting, hitting the Stinger Splash and the Scorpion Death Drop. Sting and Allin stood tall as Team Taz licked their wounds.
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Tony Schiavone interviewed Kip Sabian, Penelope Ford, & Miro about the wedding. Sabian was mad that this interview is even taking place, because Orange Cassidy and Chuck Taylor ruined the wedding.
Miro said that he wants to wrestle Cassidy, but Chuck (Charles) is a different story. He said that Charles can come back to him and be his butler, but the interview was interrupted with a note asking if Miro and Sabian would wrestle them at Revolution. Miro said it was childish and challenged Charles to be a man before chewing up the note.
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Jake Hager defeated Brandon Cutler
No Inner Circle with Hager for this one. Cutler surprised Hager at the bell with some right hands, but Hager used his strength to hit a wheelbarrow German suplex. After hitting a second, Hager continued the beatdown with a big boot. The Hager bomb followed, but Hager wouldn’t cover.
Cutler landed a couple kicks to make a comeback and sent Hager to the floor. He followed it up with a tope suicida and a tope con hilo, but Hager caught him on a springboard upon re-entry with a powerslam. Hager then flattened Cutler with a running lariat for the quick victory.
– Santana, Ortiz, and Wardlow ran out after the match and beat down Cutler. The Young Bucks made the save and grabbed a mic. Matt said they didn’t have to wait until Revolution and demanded that MJF and Chris Jericho come out to the ring right here, right now.
Jericho’s music hit, but it was a ruse, as they appeared on the video board. It was revealed that they had attacked Papa Buck, who was busted open. They then threw him into the truck from earlier, smearing blood all over images of the Bucks. Jericho said they better call a doctor, and they’d see the Bucks at Revolution. The Bucks ran in to make the save and Matt nearly caught up to Jericho and MJF, but they sped away in a vehicle.
After the commercial break, they loaded Papa Buck into an ambulance.
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A video played hyping next week’s Cody Rhodes & Red Velvet vs. Shaquille O’Neal & Jade Cargill match.
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Hangman Page defeated Isiah Kassidy (w/ Matt Hardy & The Hybrid2)
This was a long match and a nice showcase for Kassidy, who looked good in a major singles contest.
Page attacked Kassidy before the bell and laid in hard shots right away. He caught a running crossbody and tossed Kassidy with a fallaway slam. Kassidy used evasive maneuvers to take advantage when Page tried to pursue, but Page regained control with a lariat.
Kassidy booted Page and went for a second-rope move, but Page returned the favor with a boot of his own. Page then landed a plancha and clotheslined Kassidy into the crowd. He set up to powerbomb Kassidy into a ringside table, but Kassidy escaped into the ring. A TH2 distraction allowed Hardy to send Page into the ring post.
John Silver and Alex Reynolds ran out to plead Page’s case, and the official ejected Hardy from ringside. Kassidy still had control, however, beating down Page in the corner. Kassidy maintained control through a commercial.
Back from break, Kassidy had been targeting Page’s right arm. Page wrenched Kassidy’s arm through the rope, but Kassidy caught him with a forearm on the Buckshot Lariat attempt. Page sprung in with a rolling elbow for two. Kassidy hit a cyclone kick, but Page came back with a Death Valley Driver.
Kassidy avoided the sliding lariat but fell victim to a brainbuster for another near fall. Kassidy caught a boot and hit a sequence of moves that concluded with a reverse hurricanrana for two. Immediately after the pin, Kassidy tried to apply an armbar, but Page reached the ropes.
Page attempted his springboard lariat, but Kassidy countered it by pulling his arm into the ropes. Kassidy then went for a springboard destroyer, but Page caught it and hit the Deadeye for the pin.
– After the match, Hardy cut a promo over the P.A. and said he’d hurt the Dark Order that Page cares so much about. He emerged from the ramp with Alan “5” Angels in tow and tossed him through a ringside table.
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Alex Marvez caught up to Kenny Omega and Don Callis, who were in the process of building something called a “Moxley extermination chamber.” Omega got excited about the violence and sent Marvez out of there.
This didn’t really work, because they made the baffling production decision to have deafeningly loud saws going at the same time Omega was trying to speak.
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They recapped Monday’s AEW Women’s Eliminator Tournament matches.
AEW Women’s Eliminator Tournament Second Round: Nyla Rose defeated Dr. Britt Baker, D.M.D.
They both worked really hard but this wasn’t good. Some of the near falls at the end worked but the Rebel interference is terrible, go-away heat.
Rose overpowered Baker with body slams at the start. Baker threw a fit at ringside, knocking things over, and upon re-entering the ring, Rose crushed her with a Samoan Drop and a press slam. Baker rolled to the floor again, but was playing possum as she pulled Rose’s shoulder into the post.
Baker continued to target Rose’s arm during the break. She also pulled off the turnbuckle pad. Once back, Rose hit a superplex, but Baker countered the follow-up with a suplex into the corner. Baker laid in forearms but was downed with strikes from Rose. Rose climbed the ropes, but was distracted by Rebel, so Rose flattened her with a uranage.
The distraction wasn’t enough for Baker to take advantage as Rose hit a neckbreaker for two. Baker booted Rose and got the surgical glove from Rebel, but ran into a chokeslam. Rebel entered the ring and fell victim to a cannonball, but Baker took advantage and attempted to apply the Lockjaw. After a long fight, Rose powered out with a slam for two.
Rose messed with the turnbuckle pad, and the distractoin allowed Baker to roll Rose up for two. Baker then laid in thrust kicks and hit a crucifix bomb for a close two. Rose fought her way out of the Lockjaw again and starched Baker with a right hand before hitting the Beast Bomb, but Baker kicked out.
Baker missed a superkick and Rose hit a second Beast Bomb for the win. She will face the winner of Riho vs. Thunder Rosa this Sunday.
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Next week on Dynamite:
Cody Rhodes & Red Velvet vs. Shaquille O’Neal & Jade Cargill
FTR & Tully Blanchard vs. Jurassic Express
AEW Women’s Eliminator Tournament Finals
Paul Wight will speak
Dark Order (Evil Uno, Stu Grayson, John Silver, Alex Reynolds, & Alan Angels) vs. Matt Hardy, Private Party, & The Hybrid2
Preston “10” Vance vs. Max Caster for a spot in the Revolution ladder match
Revolution card:
Hikaru Shida (c) vs. Women’s tournament winner
Hangman Page vs. Matt Hardy
Team Taz vs. Sting & Darby Allin
Casino Tag Team Royale
Miro & Kip Sabian vs. Orange Cassidy & Chuck Taylor
Young Bucks (c) vs. MJF & Chris Jericho
Kenny Omega (c) vs. Jon Moxley in an Exploding Barbed Wire Deathmatch
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Lance Archer (w/ Jake Roberts) defeated Rey Fénix
This was a disappointing match. It wasn’t bad, and in fact was spectacular at times, but it felt more like a collection of athletic moves than a cohesive wrestling match.
The winner of this match receives a spot in the Revolution ladder match for a TNT Championship shot.
They had a mildly awkward choreographed exchange at the bell before Fénix downed Archer with a tijeras. Archer countered a handspring kick and just slapped Fénix down. Fénix sent Archer to the floor and hit his crazy tope suicida, landing in the crowd.
Fénix tried to follow it up, but Roberrts knocked Fénix off the top rope as the official checked on Archer. Fénix then barely made it to Archer on a dive off the stage. He tried to lay in strikes on the floor, but Archer overpowered him with big chops.
During the break, Fénix avoided a charging move from Archer, who went headfirst into the post. Archer regained control by battering the luchador with strong right hands. Fénix tried to fight back with chops, but Archer shrugged them off and powerslammed Fénix on the apron.
Archer continued the beatdown on the floor with a flipping senton into the barricade. Back in the ring, Archer flattened Fénix with a release vertical suplex. Fénix fought out of Blackout and hit a tiger feint kick to Archer’s abdomen, following it up with a diving foot stomp, which sent Archer to the mat.
Fénix couldn’t capitalize, so Archer crushed him with a release German. He followed it up with his spectacular rope-walk moonsault for two. Fénix tried to fight back with chops but was speared into the corner by Archer. Archer walked into a boot and took a gamenguiri before Fénix walked the ropes and landed a kick for two.
Archer avoided a moonsault but Fénix seamlessly transitioned into a cutter for two. Archer popped up and hit a fisherman’s buster for two. He tried for a top-rope chokeslam, but Fénix countered it into a Spanish Fly for a close near fall. Fénix laid in strikes but ran right into a pounce. Archer chokeslammed Fénix for a close near fall as we ran up against television time.
As we neared the time-limit draw, Archer hit Blackout to win and advance to Revolution.
Former WWE and WCW World Champion Paul “Big Show” Wight is the newest addition to the AEW roster.
AEW announced on Wednesday that Wight has signed a long-term deal with the company. It was stated that Wight will have an “extensive role” within AEW. In addition to returning to the ring, Wight will be a commentator for AEW’s new show “AEW Dark: Elevation.”
AEW Dark: Elevation will air on AEW’s YouTube channel at 7 p.m. Eastern time on Mondays. The new show is taking place in addition to AEW Dark, which will still air on Tuesdays. AEW Dark: Elevation “will showcase AEW’s established and rising stars, as well as the top independent wrestlers within the industry, competing against each other in the ring in pursuit of wins.”
AEW noted that more information about AEW Dark: Elevation and Wight’s signing will be announced on tonight’s Dynamite. That will include Wight’s commentary partner for AEW Dark: Elevation being revealed.
“It’s been amazing to watch what AEW has built in just a couple of years,” Wight said in a press release. “AEW Dark is an incredible platform to hone the skills of up-and-coming wrestlers, but I also love that established AEW talent can build out their personalities and showcase themselves in new ways on Dark. It’s no exaggeration when they say that AEW is boundless.”
“Paul Wight is one of the most recognizable and impressive professional athletes in the world,” AEW CEO, GM, and Head of Creative. Tony Khan said “He wanted to come to AEW because he believes that we’re the best promotion in wrestling, and we believe that he has a lot to offer us, both in the ring as a wrestler, and also outside the ring as a commentator, host and ambassador for AEW.”
“Paul is one of the most experienced stars in all of wrestling, and he’s eager to work with our diverse roster,” added Khan. “He can benefit and guide our young talent with his mentorship, and his expert commentary on AEW Dark: Elevation will educate and entertain our fans, and also educate the younger wrestlers on the roster. Furthermore, Paul enters AEW as a licensed wrestler, and he’s very much looking forward to studying our talent firsthand from the commentary desk in preparation for his return to the ring!”
Wight had most recently appeared on WWE programming at Raw Legends Night last month. He last wrestled for WWE in July 2020.
Randy Orton ambushed Shawn Michaels, Ric Flair, Big Show, and Christian in the show-closing angle of last night’s Raw.
After all four legends got involved in his ambulance match against WWE Champion Drew McIntyre at Clash of Champions, Orton laid them out at the end of last night’s Raw. Orton was disguised as a janitor until entering the Legends’ Lounge that Michaels, Flair, Big Show, and Christian were playing poker in. Orton put on night vision goggles, turned off the lights, and laid out Michaels, Flair, Big Show, and Christian with a steel chair.
McIntyre opened last night’s Raw alongside Michaels, Flair, Big Show, and Christian. They were interrupted by Orton, with Orton warning McIntyre that things between them aren’t over until he says they are. Orton said he’ll be given another title match because he’s Randy Orton. Orton then left the arena before appearing again at the end of the night.
McIntyre issued an open challenge last night to anyone who hasn’t challenged him for the WWE Championship before. It led to McIntyre retaining his title against the returning Robert Roode in last night’s main event.
– After retaining his title against Randy Orton in their ambulance match at Clash of Champions, WWE Champion Drew McIntyre will kick off tonight’s show. He’ll be joined by Shawn Michaels, Ric Flair, Big Show, and Christian for the segment. Michaels, Big Show, and Christian all got involved in McIntyre and Orton’s match at Sunday’s pay-per-view and got revenge against Orton for past attacks on them. Flair also drove the ambulance away after McIntyre won.
McIntyre hit a Claymore on Orton and put him in the ambulance near the end of their match last night. But instead of closing the door, McIntyre hit a punt on Orton. McIntyre then closed the door to get the win.
– Jerry Lawler will host a King’s Court segment with the Mysterio family as his guests on tonight’s Raw. Last week, Seth Rollins taunted the Mysterios by trying to claim that Rey Mysterio’s daughter Aalyah isn’t his. Rollins showed video of Aalyah checking on Murphy after his steel cage match against Dominick Mysterio on Raw the previous week. Rollins said that doesn’t look like something a Mysterio would do.
Aalyah got angry at her father for calling her young and naive. Murphy then tried to comfort Aalyah backstage and apologized if he’s done anything to hurt her.
– Kevin Owens and Aleister Black will face off again on Raw tonight. Owens defeated Black on Raw two weeks ago, getting the win by hitting a stunner when the lights flickered. Black then attacked Owens during a KO Show segment on Raw last Monday and drove Owens crotch-first into the ring post three times.
In a rematch from Clash of Champions, tonight’s Raw will also feature Asuka defending her Raw Women’s Championship against Zelina Vega.
Randy Orton and Big Show are set to face off, but it won’t be at Sunday’s Extreme Rules pay-per-view.
Orton vs. Big Show in an unsanctioned match has been announced for Raw next Monday (July 20). That was set up by a challenge that Orton issued to Big Show on Raw tonight.
Big Show has been feuding with Orton since Orton took out Edge and Christian. On tonight’s Raw, there was a backstage segment where Ric Flair told Big Show he’s picking a fight he can’t win. Big Show said Orton was facing one of their friends in R-Truth tonight and asked Flair if he’s willing to sacrifice his friendships so Orton can be the Legend Killer.
Orton then cut a promo saying that — along with Flair — Edge, Christian, and Big Show were part of his handful of friends in professional wrestling. But Edge couldn’t trust that Orton knew what was best for him, Christian had to defend Edge’s honor and face Orton in their unsanctioned match, and Big Show would rather avenge Edge and Christian than maintain his friendship with Orton.
Orton quickly defeated R-Truth with the RKO in their match. He went to punt Truth after, but Big Show came out to make the save. Orton said Truth’s name wasn’t on the punt kick list, but Big Show’s is. Orton challenged him to an unsanctioned match next Monday and Big Show accepted. Orton then bailed when Big Show went after him.
This will be the first time Mysterio has wrestled since the angle where his eye was attacked by Rollins in May.
Dave Meltzer has reported that — after his deal expired — Mysterio is currently working without a WWE contract. Meltzer noted that there was a plan for Mysterio to face Rollins in an “eye for an eye” match at Extreme Rules, though that has yet to be announced.
WWE has announced three matches and a segment that will be airing on tonight’s episode of Raw.
United States Champion Apollo Crews vs. MVP in a non-title match, The Viking Raiders vs. Andrade & Angel Garza, and Akira Tozawa defending the 24/7 Championship against R-Truth are set for the episode.
WWE has also announced that Big Show and Ric Flair will appear on tonight’s Raw. Big Show confronted Randy Orton and Flair last week during the segment where Flair was anointing Orton as the greatest wrestler ever.
Crews defeated Shelton Benjamin in non-title matches on Raw each of the past two weeks. MVP has been trying to recruit Crews and there was a VIP Lounge segment with the two of them last week. MVP mentioned his previous 343-day reign as United States Champion and said that — whether Crews likes it or not — the US title is coming back home to him where it belongs.
A distraction by MVP allowed Benjamin to attack Crews before their match last week. After the match, Bobby Lashley put Crews in a full nelson.
Tozawa won the 24/7 title from R-Truth last week after MVP and Lashley took out Tozawa’s ninjas and Lashley put Truth in the full nelson.
The Street Profits retained their Raw Tag Team titles against The Viking Raiders on last Monday’s show. Andrade & Garza attacked The Street Profits after until The Viking Raiders made the save.
Tonight’s Raw was supposed to be taped last Friday, but the tapings for the show were pushed back to Saturday. It was confirmed last week that multiple people in WWE have tested positive for COVID-19.
Tonight’s show will feature a double contract signing for Drew McIntyre vs. Dolph Ziggler for the WWE Championship and Asuka vs. Sasha Banks for the Raw Women’s Championship at Extreme Rules. The contract signing will be hosted by Samoa Joe and will feature all of the participants in the ring at the same time. The feud between Seth Rollins and Rey Mysterio will also continue tonight.
Drew McIntyre’s first title defense as WWE Champion aired on the Raw after WrestleMania.
In storyline, the title defense actually took place shortly after the second night of WrestleMania 36 went off the air. WWE hyped throughout Raw that they would be showing video of what happened in the aftermath of McIntyre’s win. It featured McIntyre returning to the ring for an interview about defeating Brock Lesnar. He was then confronted by Big Show.
Big Show tried to goad McIntyre into a match, but McIntyre — who had just faced Lesnar — said there was nothing Big Show could say to convince McIntyre to fight him that night. Big Show then slapped him instead, leading to the match starting.
Big Show hit a chokeslam on McIntyre near the end of the match, but McIntyre kicked out. McIntyre then dodged a knockout punch and hit the Claymore to retain his title.
A look at next year’s WrestleMania in Los Angeles is the lead story in the new issue of the Observer. We look at the back story, regarding why the city wanted it in 2021 and WWE wanted it in 2022 and how the compromise was made. We note deals of the new stadium, attendance, the legit all-time company attendance record, , notes from the press conference and a look back at the previous WrestleMania in Los Angeles.
Also covered in the new issue:
2019 WWE business rundown in every category, what was up, what was down, how much the new television deals added in this year’s fourth quarter, why there is uncertainty about stock analysts about the company, and TV deals late in renewing,. We look at how badly the value of the company has dropped of late, what analysts are saying right now and what they are has to be done to get the company value back up.
Roster expansion, why production costs are so much higher, the decline over the past year in both network and PPV revenue, the arena business, the NXT house show business, merchandise, licensing, as well as a look at the company’s revenue and profits annually dating back to 1994.
More on the firing of Michelle Wilson and George Barrios from WWE, return of John Cena, Three more new members of WWE Hall of Fame, Becky Lynch talks pay, what wrestler looks to be leaving, future of MVP in WWE, UK ratings, most-watched shows on WWE Network and details of the weekend main roster and NXT arena events with business notes, results and highlights.
New Japan’s next show in Madison Square Garden, who are the key players and more dates for this year’s G-1 tournament.
Full coverage of New Beginning in Osaka, with business and creative notes, notes on all the upcoming title matches around the world, the latest angles, plus match-by-match coverage with star ratings and poll results.
XFL’s first week of television, the good, the bad, the TV deals and what it needs to stay at to be successful, plus live attendance and why the chances of survival are very different from the first time.
WWE Super Showdown, and Elimination Chamber shows.
Full coverage of UFC 247, with the background on the show, business notes, match-by-match coverage and poll results.
Regarding the Wednesday numbers, we’ve got full details, demos that each side won, how every segment did and what match ended up as the difference maker.
Full coverage of all the WWE and AEW television shows from the past week.
In-depth looks at the ratings of all the major shows, the key demos and quarters for AEW and WWE, what happened head-to-head and what can be learned from them.
Results of all the major pro wrestling events around the world over the past week.
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SUNDAY NEWS UPDATE
We’re looking for reports from the WWE show last night in Eugene, OR, Warrior Wrestling last night in Chicago, WWE tonight in Kennewick, WA and the OTT show in Dublin yesterday to [email protected]. We’re also looking for your thoughts on the NXT Takeover show tonight, with a thumbs up, thumbs down or thumbs in the middle along with a best and worst match to [email protected].
Bryan and I will be back tonight talking Takeover and the latest wrestling news. You can send questions to the show to [email protected].
Our F4W/WON Convention will take place once again in Las Vegas this year during Double or Nothing weekend. More information can be found here.
Takeover tonight in Portland has:
Adam Cole vs. Tommaso Ciampa for NXT title
Johnny Gargano vs. Finn Balor
Rhea Ripley vs. Bianca Belair for women’s title
Bobby Fish & Kyle O’Reilly vs. Matt Riddle & Pete Dunne for tag titles
Keith Lee vs. Dominik Dijakovic for North American title
Tegan Nox vs. Dakota Kai street fight
On paper this show looks super. Lee vs. Dijakovic has the potential to be incredible and the tag title match, Gargano vs. Balor and Cole vs. Ciampa almost can’t help but be great. One would think they’d also try and shoot some angles for Wednesday and do a surprise intro or two.
Both Tito Ortiz and Simone Johnson have been training of late at the PC.
On the weekend Google searches, nothing from pro wrestling made the list. For today at this moment, Diego Sanchez was No. 4 with 50,000, largely due to Conor McGregor mentioning him, and Caleb Plant, a boxer, was No. 8 with 20,000. For yesterday, UFC was No. 12 at 50,000. For Friday, boxer Ryan Garcia was No.8 at 200,000 and Tyson Fury was No. 10 at 100,000.
WWE
Raw tomorrow night is from Everett, WA, has Randy Orton vs. Matt Hardy, Bobby Lashley & Angel Garza vs. Rusev & Humberto Carrillo and Big Show is scheduled to be there (not advertised at this point).
Friday’s RevPro show in London will go up on their service tomorrow morning U.K. time. That’s where Will Ospreay beat Zack Sabre Jr. to win the British title.
PWA iPPV from last night in Australia: Big Fudge b Dazza, Mikey Broderick won over Carter Deems, Silvio and Tree Hugger Luchi, Madison Eagles b Matty Wahlberg, Jack Bonza & Kingley b Jimmy Townsend & William Preston, Sam Osborne b Adam Hoffman, Ricky South b Mat Diamond, Ricky South b Headhunter Rig, Ricky South b Caveman Ugg-COR, Paris De Silva b Michael Spencer, AJ & Rhys Angel b Concrete Davidson & Shazza McKenzie, Jessica Troy b Steph DeLander (thanks to Kevin Chiat)
NEW from last night in New Bethany, CT: Jake Manning b Brian Anthony, Keith Youngblood b NEW champ Dan Maff-DQ, Facebook champ Christian Casanova D Flip Gordon 15:00, Bear Country & Richard Holiday b Chris Battle & Mike Gamble & Dexter Loux, Traevon Jordan & Jaylen Brandyn b Aiden Aggro & Danger Kid, Wrecking Ball Legursky b Mike Verna, JT Dunn b Sledge, Brad Hollister b Brett Ryan Gosselin (thanks to Nick Mahmood)
SICW from last night in East Carondelet, IL: War Machine b Richard Shaw, Billy McNeil b Jake Prater, Frankie D b Kowalski-DQ, Steve Fender b Bobby D, Ax Allwardt b Damian Blade-DQ, Mauler McDarby b Chris Kade, Gary Jackson & Gil Rogers b Ken Kasa & Christopher Hargas, Ricky Cruz b CurtisWylde with Tito Santana as referee (thanks to Patrick Brandmeyer)
EVE runs 3/7 at the Resistance Gallery in Bethnal Green, London, UK. It will air live on FITE TV. Jazzy Gabert returns as Alpha Female to face Rhia O’Reilly. Gisele Shaw also faces Sammii Jayne, plus Holidead vs. Kasey. Session Moth Martina from ROH will also be there.
Stardom from today in Tokyo: Jamie Hayter b Hina, Momo Watanabe & AZM b Hana Kimura & Rina, Jungle Kyona & Itsuki Hoshino b Leo Onozaki (retirement match) & Saya Iida, Giulia & Maika b Konami & Leyla Hirsch, Natsuko Tora & Saki Kashima & Bea Priestley & Natsu Sumire & Zoey Skye b Mayu Iwatani & Arisa Hoshiki & Riho & Tam Nakano & Starlight Kid, Utami Hayashishita b Saya Kamitani to keep the Future of Stardom title, although she then vacated the title.
Ultimate Championship Wrestling from last night in Bay City, MI: Nick Green b John E. Bravo, Adrian Chase & Alex Little & Brandon Marcinko b Nate Bock & Kyle Barrett in 3 on 2, Ingrid Isley b Kexy Blakk, Tommy Dreamer b Lawrence Jeter, Rohit Raju b Cousin Jake, Brooklyn Brawler & Bry Sullivan b Kurt Hendik & Kodiak K Fabio Morocco, El Ridiculoso b Billy Ray Daniels in a ladder match. Sgt. Slaughter was a special guest and the show sold out. (thanks to Leonard Brand)
A story on former wrestler Patric Tanaka, who is now training wrestlers in Fargo, ND.
