Former AEW coach Sarah Stock has posted several comments critical of the promotion.
Stock made a series of posts over the last several days accusing AEW of mismanagement. Earlier this week, she responded to a post by Tiara James, who has wrestled a handful of times with Ring of Honor, by insinuating that AEW’s Amanda Huber may have had something to do with her being “sidelined” by the promotion.
“Another one falls victim to the hand of Hysterical Huber. Tiara, if you’ve ever felt sidelined at @aew, it’s not you. I promise,” Stock wrote to James.
Huber and Stock clashed online in October when Stock was publicly critical of the Darby Allin vs. Jon Moxley match at WrestleDream.
In particular, Stock has been critical of changes AEW has made to its HR department. She wrote:
“Corruption and negligence are running UNCHECKED at @aew There is so much more than this. Receipts are coming. Anyone who doesn’t want to listen, stop listening. I don’t care. In the meantime, TALENT AND COMPANY SAFETY CONTINUES TO BE PUT AT RISK, to line the pockets of Kosha and Manzione. Of all the departments to eliminate…🙄”
Stock continued:
“I’m calling out corruption. Hi, Karen “Fibber” Bibber and Chris “Not A” Man-zione 👋🏻 Sleep tight.”
“Oops, forgot to tag them. It’s @the_real_manzo and I can’t find Karen’s handle; probably disappeared publicly out of embarrassment for her grand flop of a ‘greatest accomplishment’ in @aew: renaming ‘Human Resources’ to ‘People & Culture’. 🙄😅 You go, girl! Earn that paycheck!”
Stock continued to tag AEW’s Chris Manzione:
“I’d like some clarification, please @the_real_manzo. How many mental health-related ‘issues’ are @aew wrestlers permitted per year before they start getting charged? We’ve been directed to you for answers. Thanks!”
“Has Manzione explained yet how the decision was made to replace an extremely qualified, diverse, and beloved team of mental health professionals with a 3rd-party booking app? Karen From Not-HR places the blame on talent, saying they asked for “more accessibility”. That’s the biggest joke of this entire fiasco. Please talk us through it, @the_real_manzo”
Asked if she thinks she’ll get a response, Stock responded:
“I’m not sure why he wouldn’t! The new mental health “program” he implemented (eliminated) surely benefits TALENT and STAFF! You’d think the man in charge would be excited to come online and clear up any misunderstandings. The floor is yours, @the_real_manzo!”
Stock also criticized how AEW handles the booking of its talent from Mexico:
“Here’s how @koshairby and @aew took care of 🇲🇽 Mexican talent: to save 💰 on flights home btwn Dynamite and Collision, they’d fly in Mexican talent on Tues and keep them in the country until Sunday, no per diem, no food allowance, and ONLY ONE DAY/WEEK AT HOME WITH THEIR FAMILY. I was furious when I found out. I addressed the insanity and immorality of that with Kosha, but, ‘Then I’d have to do it for everyone.’”
Stock was also critical of AEW’s production meetings:
“Only a small specialized niche of professionals will understand how disastrous this is, but @aew doesn’t have production meetings, either. Poor Mansury, pro of pros, trying to get a minimum of 2 live shows each week on the air with next-to-zero information, and a whole roster and staff even more in the dark as 8 pm Wednesday hits.”
“The meeting: Q-Tip texts the coaches. We’re in TK’s office. In comes Swerve or Mox or Darby or Christian or Jericho or Edge or anybody who believes their time matters more than everyone else’s. That’s how it was 6 months ago. TK spends 45-120 min with each. Coaches go back to their job w no direction, disgusted at what they’re witnessing. Show starts at 8, cross your fingers.”
Stock joined AEW as a coach in 2023. Before that, she held a similar role with WWE from 2015 until her release in 2020 at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. Fightful Select reported in April that Stock was no longer working for AEW, though the circumstances surrounding her exit were not disclosed. The outlet noted that she had previously raised concerns about AEW’s mental health program and changes within that department.
Former AEW coach Sarah Stock has criticized a spot from the Jon Moxley vs. Darby Allin I Quit match at AEW WrestleDream.
Stock, who departed AEW in April, took issue with Moxley shoving Allin’s head into an aquarium filled with water on Saturday’s pay-per-view, saying it could lead to kids trying to mimic the move.
AEW posted a clip of the spot along with the caption, “SOMEBODY STOP THIS!”
Stock responded to the post:
“You know who should stop this? Mothers. With their remote control. This is worse than the plastic bag over the head. Kids are going to end up dead trying this stuff at home.”
Fightful Select reported in April that Stock was no longer with AEW, although the nature of her departure was not revealed. It was reported that she had raised issues regarding AEW’s “mental health program and department being shifted,” but it was unclear if this was related to her leaving the company.
Stock first joined AEW as a coach in 2023 after having worked in a similar role for WWE from 2015 until being released at the onset of the COVID-19 global pandemic in 2020.
You know who should stop this? Mothers. With their remote control. This is worse than the plastic bag over the head. Kids are going to end up dead trying this stuff at home. @aewhttps://t.co/DjCBNr4KiY
AEW producer, coach and agent Sarah Stock is no longer with the company according to a Thursday report by Fightful.
The details behind the release are unknown as of now, but the outlet did report Stock raised “issues with the company’s mental health program and department being heavily shifted, but haven’t heard if that contributed to the departure.”
Stock had been with AEW for the last two years after a five-year run in WWE from 2015 through 2020 in a similar role. She was furloughed from WWE at the start of the pandemic in 2020 and was officially released that fall.
The Canadian native’s in-ring career began in 2002 and essentially ended in 2015 before she returned for a handful of tag team matches in 2022 in Mexico.
She spent much of her early career in CMLL, wrestling there from 2004 through 2015. She is arguably best known for her run in TNA where wrestling under the name Sarita, teaming with Rosita (WWE’s Zelina Vega) and twice winning the Knockouts Tag Team titles.
Prior to the start of Wednesday’s AEW Rampage tapings, Tony Khan introduced Stock as the newest AEW coach. It had been reported earlier Wednesday evening by PWInsider that Stock had joined the company as their newest producer/coach.
Sarah Stock announced as a new coach/trainer to the crowd before Rampage taping. pic.twitter.com/nHQhOuLFmm
Stock spent much of her early career in CMLL, wrestling there from 2004 through 2015. She is best known for her run in Impact Wrestling where she wrestled under the name Sarita, teaming with Rosita (WWE’s Zelina Vega) and winning the Knockouts Tag Team titles twice. Later, she signed with WWE and worked as a trainer at WWE’s Performance Center. She was furloughed from the company at the start of the COVID-19 in 2020 and was officially released that fall.
Taya Valkyrie also made her debut for AEW on Wednesday’s show, confronting Jade Cargill and laying out Leila Grey. She will make her AEW in-ring debut on Friday’s Rampage.
We’ve got a double issue this week of the Observer with the full rundown of Harold Meij being out in New Japan, WWE’s social media policy as it relates to talent, and extensive G-1 coverage.
Our lead story looks at the Harold Meij era of New Japan, how he got there, the turmoil behind-the-scenes, why he’s leaving, his last words to his fan club, why the guy who handled running a wrestling company during a pandemic is out while in the pandemic and a lot of behind-the-scenes stories regarding New Japan and AEW never making a deal, and whether this can change things, and what the key issues are. The changes he made to the company, the business record and issues in dealing with talent and others and the inherent issues of a non-Japanese person in charge of a major Japanese company. This is the most inside version of what happened there since 2018 and from people who know the situation the best.
Also in this issue:
WWE’s latest when it comes to talent and social media, WWE policy, Andrew Yang and why this could be the worst time to make these decisions.
WWE Clash of Champions, NXT Takeover, Hell in a Cell, the COVID issues in AEW & WWE and how they spread, plus match-by-match coverage with star ratings and poll results.
G1 Climax tournament, with standings, best matches, behind-the-scenes,why crowds aren’t quick to sell out, plus match-by-match coverage with star ratings and poll results of every show.
XFL start, changes in WWE tapings and why 205 Live will be taped with NXT ad not Smackdown, we look at declines in WWE interest and reasons why WWE draft dates, Reigns vs. Rock, Reigns talks C.M. Punk, new Dwayne Johnson TV show looked at, new WWE signings, update on WWE injuries, one of the top college wrestlers already publicly talking about going to WWE, more on TV ratings in U.S. and Canada, former TNA champion talks how close he came to joining WWE, Cena starring in new movie, Zayn talks politics, Rusev talks problems with WWE creative, update on Raw Underground, where tribal chief comes from, WWE market value and the most watched shows on WWE Network over the past week.
UFC 253, with business notes, the main themes of the show plus match-by-match coverage and poll results.
The treatment of women in pro wrestling with notes from a recent BBC article with thoughts from several women involved.
87th anniversary show of CMLL, and the plight of Lucha Libre with no fans.
Jerry Lawler 50th anniversary show.
2020 Hall of Fame ballot in each category, with the top candidate, last year’s highest that haven’t gotten in, as well as a list of those who have been elected in the past five years.
Smackdown and AEW ratings based on the same opposition, as well as network vs. cable when it comes to other sports.
Results of all the major pro wrestling events around the world over the past week.
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MONDAY NEWS UPDATE
Bryan and I will be back tonight for Wrestling Observer Radio talking Takeover, UFC, Impact and all kinds of other stuff. You can send questions to the show to [email protected]
A GoFundMe has been set up for the family of Jim Valley, who has been battling hard against a series of devastating illnesses.Thanks to people here we’ve raised more than $31,000 in less than two days. Special mention to both Chris Jericho and Tony Khan for their generous donations here, and not limited to here, and this is something both have done many times for various cases of people in and around wrestling that they don’t often get credit for.
The scheduled Kamaru Usman vs. Gilbert Burns fight on 12/12 is being moved back to early 2021. Usman needs more time to get ready.
No official update on the conditions of Finn Balor or Kyle O’Reilly coming out of last night’s match. Balor was feared to have suffered a broken jaw. WWE reported O’Reilly had some broken teeth.
Zeus beat Kento Miyahara earlier today to win the Champion Carnival tournament.
Sarah Stock, the former Dark Angel, was arrested on Sunday in Evansville according to PWInsider on charges of aggravated battery, resisting arrest, disorderly conduct and public intoxication with alcohol and booked at 4:25 a.m. Sunday morning. She has been released. Stock has been traveling around the country since she was released by WWE where she was working as a coach at the Performance Center.
Scott Norton underwent surgery for a second knee replacement in Houston.
WWE
With the Kansas City Chiefs vs. New England Patriots game airing on CBS along with ESPN’s Atlanta Falcon vs. Green Bay Packers game head-to-head, Raw has the toughest competition in a long time for any one night. Thus far the show has The Street Profits & Drew McIntyre vs Randy Orton & Dolph Ziggler & Bobby Roode, Shayna Baszler & Nia Jax will have the tag title match scheduled for the last PPV against Ruby Riott & Liv Morgan and Bray Wyatt returns to Raw for a confrontation with Kevin Owens. There is also a New York Yankees vs. Tampa Bay Devil Rays baseball playoff game. There is no post-PPV bump. to rely on this week nor are they bringing back stars from the past.
Bayley has now hit 500 days as Smackdown women’s champion.
NXT Takeover didn’t trend last night on Google. The Takeovers almost never do, and on a football Sunday, it was almost a lock that it wouldn’t.
AEW
Trent is attempting to trademark the name Trent Baretta.
MISCELLANEOUS
G-1 continues tomorrow at 5:30 a.m. from Hiroshima:
Yota Tsuji vs. Yuya Uemura
Hirooki Goto vs. Toru Yano
Sanada vs. Zack Sabre Jr.
Evil vs. Juice Robinson
Tetsuya Naito vs Yoshi-Hashi
Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. KENTA
G-1 on Wednesday at 3 a.m. Eastern from Hiroshima:
Tsuji vs.Gabriek Kidd
Tomohiro Ishii vs. Yujiro Takahashi
Kazuchika Okada vs. Jeff Cobb
Will Ospreay vs. Minoru Suzuki
Jay White vs. Taichi
Shingo Takagi vs. Kota Ibushi
Major League Wrestling has made a deal with the Sports Channel Network (Ch. 266 on Freeview) for broadcast in the U.K. and Ireland.
Alex Marvez has compiled a book that lists every match of Chris Jericho’s 30-year-career.
An attempt to bring Shoot Pro Wrestling as a new style is at 1:01:30. SPW is a hybrid-wrestling show that showcases a variety of pro wrestling styles, most ESPECIALLY shoot-style. It was done with new, mostly unknown talent and co-promoted with local promotion Primos Premier Pro-Wrestling.
Luc C. Vu, who drove the vehicle that ran into Matt Palacios (Matt Travis) pleaded guilty to reckless driving, failure to exercise due car, causing serious injury and failure to yield to a bicycle, in a report by PWInsider. His driver’s license was suspended for six months and he was fined $250. That seems way too light for a manslaughter case.
Masked Republic’s Expo Lucha convention and expo takes place streaming on 10/10 at 1 p.m. Eastern. There will be six hours of free content on The Expo Lucha Facebook page, the Lucha Central YouTube channel and Masked Republic Twitch channel. They will air Penta & Fenix & Mr. Aguila vs. Brian Cage & TJP & Jack Evans, with Lita managing Aguila as she did in her first WWE gig. There will also be an interview with Konnan.
Impact for tomorrow night:
Tommy Dreamer vs Brian Myers
Kiera Hogan & Tasha Steelz vs. Taya & Rosemary
Chris Sabin & Alex Shelley vs. Ace Austin & Mad Man Fulton
Dragon Gate’s Korakuen Hall show airs live on Wednesday. The main event is Yamato & Kzy & Ben K & Kota M<inoura of Dragon Gate vs. R.E.D. of Eita & BxB Hulk & Kota Minoura & Kai.
XICW ran its 20th anniversary show and 300th show overall on Pontiac, MI last night: Soutalker b LJ Lawrence, El Ridiculoso b Willie Watts, Jumai Kyng b Mongo, Jumai Kyng b Billy Ray Daniels, TJ Meyer b Jumai Kyng, Justin Dream b TJ Meyer, Justin Dream b Mad Man Fulton, Mysterious Movado b Sam Beale, Rhino & Heath b DBA & Jaimy Coxxx to win tag titles, The Hallow b The Purge, Dread King Logan b Jake Crist, DBA NC Mr. Insanity in a cage match, Aaron Orion & Tommy Vendetta & Jack Price & Isiah Broner b Malcolm Monroe II & Dre Jacobs & Adam Wick & Alex Weir in a War Games match (thanks to Leonard Brand)
CWE on 12/4 in Winnipeg at Rookies Sports Bar with attendance limited to 100 people and masks recommended.
Following Gerald’s Brisco’s admission Thursday that his services were no longer needed by WWE, Mike Rotunda and Sarah Stock have also been released.
The news was first reported by PWInsider and confirmed by our Dave Meltzer.
The moves come as WWE began releasing those who were initially furloughed as part of the April pandemic-related financial cuts.
The 62-year-old Rotunda retired in 2004 and was hired in 2006 as a road agent, reviving his Irwin R. Schyster character for various editions of Raw through the years. Part of a true pro wrestling family, he married the daughter of Blackjack Mulligan (father to Barry and Kendall Windham) and their two sons (Bray Wyatt and Bo Dallas) who have both been with WWE for years.
The 41-year-old Stock was with the company for five years after being hired in 2015 as a producer and trainer at the Performance Center. Known as both Sarita and Dark Angel through her career, she has worked for Impact Wrestling, AAA, CMLL, and for both Stardom and Shimmer.
