After getting their surprise contract offers last Friday at an indie event in Lewiston, Maine, Alec Price and Jordan Oliver were officially given #AllElite status by AEW head Tony Khan Wednesday.
Shortly after the duo fell in defeat to FTR in their Dynamite debuts, Khan took to X to share the news and the graphic.
AEW World Champion MJF presented the offers after MJF defended his title against Price at Limitless Wrestling’s Limitless Rumble last Friday. Price later said in an interview he had no idea that was going to happen and “cried my eyes out.”
Price and Oliver have been teaming in GCW and are currently their Tag Team Champions for the third time. It’s unclear how long they will remain working in GCW and various indies.
The 27-year-old Price, a Massachussetts native, has been a pro since 2017 and has held several indie titles. He had made four Ring of Honor appearances, three of them with Oliver, and two AEW appearances, losing in a pair of 2024 tag team squash matches on Rampage (Leo Sparrow, Richard Holliday). The Holliday match against LFI was newsworthy due to the physicality after the match that got Rush legitimately suspended for two months.
The 26-year-old Oliver is a New York native and a pro since 2016. He has also held his share of indie titles and has appeared for GCW, MLW, DEFY and ROH as a singles wrestler. Before Wednesday, he appeared for AEW once before, losing to Jay Lethal in an August 2025 dark match.
After MJF defended the AEW World Championship at an indie event in Lewiston, Maine, tonight, he revealed AEW was offering contracts to his opponent, Alec Price, and Price’s tag team partner, Jordan Oliver.
After defeating Price at Limitless Wrestling’s Limitless Rumble show, MJF cut a promo asking the fans if they wanted Price and Oliver to be pro wrestlers or sports entertainers. He then declared that as World champion, he had a lot of say in AEW.
“So my boss called me, and he said ‘Max, I want you to put Alec Price to the test, and see if he deserves to be elite,” Friedman explained. “He said Max, I want you to watch Jordan Oliver, and let me know if he has what it takes to be elite. Boys, are you ready to be part of AEW or f*cking what?”
In an uncharacteristic move, Friedman approached the two and shook their hands and embraced them … and then immediately reminded viewers that he is still MJF.
“But let me make something very clear to you, you piece of sh*t,” he warned. “Let me make something clear to both of you. Do not mistake my kindness for weakness. If you [inaudible] my championship ever again, I will kill you where you stand” before delivering his usual catchphrase.
Price, 27, is an eight-year pro from Boston, Massachusetts; Oliver, 26, is from Newburgh, New York, and has been wrestling for nine years. Most of their matches have been with GCW, but they have wrestled as a team three times in Ring of Honor in recent months, losing to The Swirl, the Death Riders, and CRU.
On Monday (November 27), AEW filed a trademark for “East West Express,” which is the name of Nick Wayne & Jordan Oliver’s tag team on the indies. Wayne has been signed to AEW since 2022 and made his debut for the company this July. Oliver has never wrestled for AEW.
The trademark is for “entertainment services, namely, live appearances by a group or individual professional wrestlers.”
Word Mark: EAST WEST EXPRESS
Goods and Services: IC 025. US 039 022. G & S: Bandanas; Beanies; Hats; Shirts; Sweatshirts; Tank tops; T-shirts
IC 041. US 107 100 101. G & S: Entertainment services, namely, live appearances by a group or individual professional wrestlers; Entertainment services, namely, televised appearances by a group or individual professional wrestlers; Entertainment services, namely, wrestling exhibits and performances by a professional wrestler and entertainer
Wayne & Oliver are former GCW Tag Team Champions. They held the titles together from March of this year until losing them in August.
Nick Wayne is set to make his NJPW debut next month at the All Star Junior Festival USA.
As announced by NJPW and confirmed by Wayne on social media, the 18-year-old phenom will wrestle his first match for the promotion in Philadelphia at the 2300 Arena at the All Star Jr. Festival USA pay-per-view on Saturday, August 19, teaming with Jordan Oliver against Mao, and NJPW stalwart El Desperado.
Wayne called the debut “a dream come true,” and noted that teaming with Oliver was special, tweeting:
New Japan Pro Wrestling debut. A dream come true. And i’m doing it with my brother, @TheJordanOIiver
Wayne & Oliver vs. Desperado & Mao is the first match officially announced for the All Star Jr. Festival USA. The event will air on NJPW World pay-per-view. An NJPW card with the All Star Jr. Festival branding was also run in Japan in March of this year.
MLW has reportedly released another member of its roster.
PWInsider reported today that Jordan Oliver was released by MLW on Wednesday. Bu Ku Dao, Beastman, and Leo Brien were also released by the company earlier this week, with PWInsider reporting that they were released as part of an MLW edict to cut some of the roster in an effort to shorten the promotion’s television tapings.
Oliver was aligned with Myron Reed as part of MLW’s Injustice stable. They had recently been feuding with 5150.
Oliver last wrestled for MLW at the promotion’s Battle Riot tapings this July. He took part in the 40-man Battle Riot match and teamed with Reed in a loss against 5150 (Rivera & Slice Boogie). 5150 also attacked Injustice in an angle on MLW Fusion Alpha earlier this month.
On an episode of MLW Fusion this March, Oliver unsuccessfully challenged for the MLW World Heavyweight Championship against then-champion Jacob Fatu.
Oliver faced Nick Wayne at Game Changer Wrestling’s War Ready show in Los Angeles last Saturday.
Two championship matches are set for the Wednesday, March 3 episode of MLW Fusion.
MLW has announced that MLW World Heavyweight Champion Jacob Fatu will defend his title against Jordan Oliver on the March 3 edition of Fusion. Fatu’s Contra Unit stablemates Simon Gotch & Daivari will also challenge for Los Parks’ MLW Tag Team titles on that episode.
Fatu attacked Injustice (Oliver & Myron Reed) as they came to the ring to face Gotch & Daivari on this week’s Fusion. The match never got underway as a brawl between Contra Unit and Injustice broke out. Reed took out Contra Unit with a dive to the outside, then Reed gave Fatu a superkick in the ring and Oliver jumped off the middle rope and hit a cutter on Fatu. Reed called Oliver the next MLW World Heavyweight Champion and Oliver said he wants Fatu’s title.
Fatu has been MLW World Heavyweight Champion since July 2019.
Los Parks (LA Park & El Hijo de LA Park) won the MLW Tag Team titles from Marshall & Ross Von Erich last month. In storyline, Salina de la Renta was the executive producer of that Fusion episode and made Tom Lawlor the special guest referee. Lawlor favored Los Parks throughout the match.
“Filthy Island” is the theme of next week’s MLW Fusion. An Aztec Jungle Fight with Mil Muertes facing Savio Vega has been added to that show. It will also feature Low Ki vs. King Mo in a no holds barred fight, Rocky Romero in action, and Dominic Garrini vs. “Mauna Loa.” Team Filthy claimed that Mauna Loa is a 14-time Polynesian Pacific Champion.
We’ve got a double issue of the Observer out this week with notes on how President Biden’s new policies on international travel will affect wrestlers and fighters from different countries.
Also in this issue:
The new WrestleMania plans, including how the Super Bowl plays into it, the time frame for the shows for both nights, the inside hopes for attendance and how the dynamic is different this year as to what gets announced. We also look at the decision making in regards to Dallas and Los Angeles, update the Royal Rumble and also have notes on match plans.
Coverage of Impact Hard to Kill, with notes on the key angles, the departure of Madison Rayne, Taya Valkyrie and Ethan Page, Page’s scathing words after his departure, plus match-by-match coverage with star ratings and poll results.
Dwayne Johnson’s new TV show about his life, new WWE signees, Dusty Rhodes men’s and women’s tournament, Kofi Kingston talks his injury, WWE television personality gets an ESPN TV show, A.J. Styles talks retirement, lawsuit update, where wrestling shows ranked with network sports, who is looking for new entrance music, what aspect of WWE’s major events are they trying to sell, why Raw will have two very tough dates for competition soon, as well as the most-watched shows of the past week on the WWE Network.
Coverage of both UFC shows over the past week and the story behind Max Holloway’s setting records.
A story on the life of Paul Varelans, an early star of UFC and MMA around the world, as well as his different forays with four different pro wrestling companies as well as his infamous angle with Taz in ECW. For the first time, Missy Hyatt talks publicly about the situation plus comments from all involved. We look at the tournament days of UFC, crazy street fights, and much more.
A story on the life of Guy Hauray, the voice of WWF in France for a generation.
A story on famous carnival shooter and pro wrestler Dick Cardinal, who was the oldest living pro wrestler at the time of his death.
History of the biggest draws in pro wrestling each year from 1916 to 2020, including what wrestlers were No. 1 for the most years.
Win-loss record of every WWE talent in 2020 including who wrestled the most dates, who never lost, who never won and more.
Television ratings of the past week, segment-by-segment numbers for the past two weeks on Wednesday, who was watching in different age groups, how different segments did on Raw & Smackdown.
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MONDAY NEWS UPDATE
Bryan and I will be back tonight with Wrestling Observer Radio with the main story being the WWE/Peacock Network deal. I’ve been in contact with people all day regarding the story and tonight’s show, besides covering Raw and the other news, will be mostly a Q&A on the deal. If you’ve got any questions, send them for tonight’s show to [email protected]
Alberto Rodriguez’s (Alberto El Patron) trial for aggravated kidnapping and four counts of sexual assault that was scheduled to begin today was moved to 5/3. A conviction will be difficult because the accuser apologized to him on social media which appeared at the time was her recanting her story.
Raw tonight is headlined by a face-off with Drew McIntyre, who has recovered from COVID and wrestled on the Friday taping for India, and Bill Goldberg. Asuka vs. Alexa Bliss for the women’s title, Charlotte Flair vs. Shayna Baszler and Matt Riddle in a gauntlet facing Shelton Benjamin, Cedric Alexander and MVP, and if he wins, gets a shot at Bobby Lashley for the U.S. title is on the show. They will also likely announce most of Sunday’s Rumble since this is the last Raw show prior to the PPV.
WWE
The Superstar Spectacle, designed for India, airs at 9:30 a.m. on the WWE Network
Rey Mysterio & Ricochet & Diishar Shanky & Giant Zanjeer vs. Dolph Ziggler & King Corbin & Shinsuke Nakamura & Cesaro
A.J. Styles vs. Jeet Rama
Charlotte Flair & Sareena Sandhu vs. Bayley & Natalya
Finn Balor vs; Guru Raaj
Drew McIntyre & Indu Sher vs. Jinder Mahal & Singh Brothers
I don’t expect him on TV, but Paul Heyman is at Raw today. Heyman is in charge of Bill Goldberg’s promos so he most likely is there to work on whatever Goldberg is doing on tonight’s show. Since there is no storyline relationship, it would make no sense for him to appear on the air.
UFC
SportsBetting.ag is listing a lot of MMA odds. For Conor McGregor’s next opponent:
Nate Diaz +200
Dustin Poirier +300
Justin Gaethje +400
Tony Ferguson +600
Jorge Masvidal +800
Michael Chandler +1000
Charles Oliveira +1200
For Dustin Poirier’s next opponent
Michael Chandler +150
Charles Oliveira +250
Conor McGregor +450
Khabib Nurmagomedov +600
Nate Diaz +800
Justin Gaethje +1400
Tony Ferguson +1400
UFC lightweight champion on 12/31/21
Dustin Poirier +200
Michael Chandler +300
Charles Oliviera +400
Khabib Nurmagomedov +450
Conor McGregor +800
Justin Gaethje +1200
Tony Ferguson +2500
Nate Diaz +5000
Nik Lentz, after his loss of Movsar Evloev via split decision Saturday, announced his retirement due to vision issues. His claim of having lost 40 percent of his vision and realized he couldn’t compete at a high level leads to a lot of questions that need to be asked about commissions and UFC allowing him to fight in the first place with that level of vision issues.
OTHER NOTES
It looks like Will Ospreay’s match with Satoshi Kojima on Saturday in Nagoya will be no DQ based on what happened in today’s Ospreay & Great O’Khan vs. Kojima & Hiroyoshi Tenzan match.
The Wrestling Estate just posted an exclusive report on independent wrestling running shows during the pandemic with three promoters explaining how their business has been and two explaining why they haven’t run.
TJP & Bu Ku Dao vs. Violence is Forever with the winners getting a shot at tag champs L.A. Park & El Hijo de L.A. Park joins Savio Vega vs. Richard Holliday in a strap match on MLW on Wednesday night at 7 p.m. on YouTube.
Salahdine Parnasse (14-0-1) puts his KSW featherweight title up against Daniel Torres (11-4) in the main event of the KSW show on 1/30 in Lodz, France available at www.KSWTV.com
ROH TV this week has Shane Taylor & The Soldiers of Savagery vs. Jonathan Gresham & Jay Lethal & Tracy Wlliams, plus Dalton Castle vs. Josh Woods in a Pure Rules match.
Tony Deppen vs. Jordan Oliver in an Iron Man challenge match will be part of the GCW Fight Forever show, a 24-hour streaming event. The show is about getting donations for talent that hasn’t been able to work much during COVID.
Wrestling Observer Live with Bryan Alvarez and Mike Sempervive is back with tons to talk about today including the line-ups for AEW and NXT tonight, Impact with Kenny Omega next week, RAW ratings, and then Jordan Oliver joins us to talk GCW this weekend and tons more!
A third match for MLW Kings of Colosseum is now official as Simon Gotch vs. Jordan Oliver was announced Tuesday.
The show will air on YouTube and their various streaming partners on Wednesday, January 6th, at 7 PM Eastern.
Oliver’s Injustice faction has been feuding with Gotch’s CONTRA group for most of the year with Gotch choking out Oliver during a September edition of their Pulp Fiction segments. Oliver challenged Gotch to a match several weeks ago during a Fusion promo segment which will be their first ever match against each other.
The Colosseum event will also feature Oliver’s teammate and Middleweight Champion Myron Reed vs. the debuting Lio Rush and National Openweight Champion Alexander Hammerstone vs. Mads Krugger in another grudge match.
This will mark Oliver’s in-ring debut since MLW’s November restart while this will be Gotch’s second match as he teamed with World Champion Jacob Fatu in a losing effort to Tag Team Champions The Von Erichs.
A tag match is the latest addition to the card for MLW’s Fightland tapings.
It was announced today that Injustice’s Jordan Oliver & Kotto Brazil will face Puma King & Gringo Loco at Fightland. The tapings are taking place at the 2300 Arena in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on Saturday, February 1.
MLW hyped that both teams are jockeying for contention in their tag team division. Ross & Marshall Von Erich are the current MLW Tag Team Champions.
As part of the relationship between MLW and Lucha Libre AAA, Puma King is one of the AAA wrestlers that will be in action at Fightland.
Here’s the updated card for the show:
MLW World Heavyweight Champion Jacob Fatu defending against CIMA
Tom Lawlor vs. Killer Kross
MLW National Openweight Champion Alexander Hammerstone defending against T-Hawk
Davey Boy Smith Jr. vs. Erick Stevens
Brian Pillman Jr. vs. Jimmy Havoc (w/ Priscilla Kelly)
Injustice (Jordan Oliver & Kotto Brazil) vs. Puma King & Gringo Loco
A six-man tag match is the latest addition to the card for MLW’s first pay-per-view.
MLW announced today that Gringo Loco, Puma King & Septimo Dragon will team against Injustice (Myron Reed, Jordan Oliver & Kotto Brazil) at Saturday Night SuperFight. The PPV is taking place at Cicero Stadium in Cicero, Illinois on November 2.
In storyline, Gringo Loco has found two partners to help him out in his feud against Injustice. Injustice is a stable that thinks MLW referees and officials are against them.
Saturday Night SuperFight will be available on traditional PPV and Fite TV. Here’s the updated lineup for the show:
MLW World Heavyweight Champion Jacob Fatu defending against LA Park in a no DQ match
MLW Middleweight Champion Teddy Hart defending against Austin Aries
Tom Lawlor vs. Timothy Thatcher
MLW National Openweight Champion Alexander Hammerstone defending against Davey Boy Smith Jr.
Gringo Loco, Puma King & Septimo Dragon vs. Injustice (Myron Reed, Jordan Oliver & Kotto Brazil)
