The latest WWE and AEW News and Results
On this week’s Wrestling Weekly, Les Thatcher and I talk Paul Wight’s move to AEW, Jon Moxley winning the Wrestling Observer Wrestler of the Year award, and a big reason it can be difficult to get characters that aren’t purely babyfaces or heels over with the wrestling audience.
Thanks for listening and have a great weekend~!
Announced on Wednesday’s Dynamite, Paul Wight and Tony Schiavone will be the announce team for AEW Dark: Elevation when it premieres on March 15th.
The show will air every Monday on YouTube at 7 PM Eastern.
The announcement of a new show came this morning, along with the news of Wight’s signing with the company. Wight will make his first AEW appearance on next week’s Dynamite which will also feature the AEW in-ring debut of Shaquille O’Neal and Jade Cargill against Cody Rhodes and Red Velvet.
According to the press release, the show 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 Dark: Elevation will also maintain continuity with AEW DYNAMITE, AEW Dark, AEW pay-per-view shows and streaming events, with wins and losses factoring into each wrestler’s ranking in the company.”
The new show is not the one that has been proposed for WarnerMedia which is still scheduled to debut sometime in 2021.
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:
Revolution card:
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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.
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WON NEWSLETTER: February 22, 2021 Observer Newsletter: Death of Tom Cole, NXT TakeOver review
The death of Tom Cole this week takes us back to one of the most sordid pro wrestling stories of the last 50 years, which involved media heavyweights at the time like Phil Donahue, Larry King, Geraldo Rivera and Phil Mushnick. It’s the lead story of a new double issue of the Observer.
We look at the story and its tragic end this past week and all the key characters involved. We look at Cole’s death, what exactly happened to him, different media appearances at the time, the WWF first settling his case, the unique plans for the Phil Donahue show, at the time the leading daytime talk show in the U.S. with a gigantic audience and how Vince McMahon planned the show and why it never transpired the way it was planned. Cole’s memories of what happened, and things that triggered his past including a first suicide attempt that few knew about. This is a major piece of wrestling history that has been largely hidden except from those who were around at the time.
Also in this issue:
NXT Takeover show with match-by-match coverage, star ratings and poll results of what undoubtedly will be considered among the best shows of 2021.
WWE not offering raises and promotions and how that went down this past week, as well as a look at WWE performer salaries if they were paid the same percentage as sports stars or even UFC fighters, Lacey Evans’ pregnancy, a pilot for a new WWE Network show filmed, the attempt to re-litigate the concussion case and its likely outcome, injury updates, details of a number of different people having signed new deals, who they are and their background, notes on how many saw Sasha Banks start the Daytona 500, Finn Balor talks staying in NXT, TV show with WWE stars as guests, WWE & AEW international TV ratings and how last week’s shows did compared to other sports, another celebrity training to appear in WWE rings, upcoming TV matches, a what ever happened to, current company value and the most-watched shows of the past week on the WWE Network.
Gina Carano and her social media posts that cost her a television series was was to be built around her, her new affiliation, and the situation with Ariel Helwani, Dana White and ESPN as well as media criticism of ESPN for how they handled the situation.
UFC 258 with match-by-match coverage and all the business news.
How Keiji Muto became one of the oldest world champions in history, why NOAH made the move, a look at NOAH today after its biggest show in many years.
WWE social media regulations for its talent, what is and isn’t allowed.
Debut episode of “Young Rock,” its ratings, and what was real, nor real and in between about the stories with a look at early women wrestling promoters, Rocky Johnson, Peter Maivia, Lia Maivia and Dwayne Johnson growing up.
Second night of New Japan’s New Beginning in Hiroshima..
Television ratings of the past week, including 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 and more.
ORDERING INFO: Order the print Wrestling Observer right now and get it delivered via mail, by sending your name, address, Visa or Master Card number and an expiration date to [email protected] or by going to www.paypal.com directing funds to [email protected].
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AEW continues to add to its weekly broadcast lineup, announcing a new show called AEW Dark: Elevation that will air on Mondays on YouTube starting at 7 PM Eastern.
The announcement was paired with their other big announcement that Paul Wight (aka Big Show in WWE) has signed a long-term deal with the company and will be a commentator on the show in addition to in-ring action.
Neither a logo or a start date was announced, but more information was promised for Wednesday’s Dynamite.
From the release, 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 Dark: Elevation will also maintain continuity with AEW DYNAMITE, AEW Dark, AEW pay-per-view shows and streaming events, with wins and losses factoring into each wrestler’s ranking in the company.”
On Twitter, Tony Khan said that Elevation is not the third show they have been discussing for a WarnerMedia property and that another show will ineed debut at some point in 2021.
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.
