Scorpio Sky not medically cleared to compete on AEW Collision

Scorpio Sky was not medically cleared to compete ahead of his scheduled match against Shelton Benjamin on Saturday’s AEW Collision.

Just a few minutes before the show began, AEW president Tony Khan shared the announcement on social media and proceeded to name Sky’s replacement for the show in SkyFlight teammate Dante Martin who later went on to have an impressive bout with the former WWE star, albeit in defeat.

Scorpio last wrestled on the December 6 edition of ROH on HonorClub as part of an eight-man tag team match. It’s unknown if Sky has an injury or was pulled for another reason.

MVP and Shelton Benjamin send a warning to Jon Moxley

Just moments after defeating Dante Martin on Collision, MVP and Benjamin shared a warning for Jon Moxley ahead of their match.

“I want you to know, I know that you like pain. You like to bleed all over the place like a wild animal, like a rabid dog. But you are not the apex predator. Shelton Benjamin is. Wednesday night on Dynamite, you will get punched, you will get kicked, you will get kneed in your jaw, you will get tossed around like a sack of dirty laundry. And there is absolutely nothing you can do about it. You are a dangerous man, I give you credit. But this man [points to Shelton Benjamin] is way more dangerous than you, Jon Moxley.”

Scorpio Sky injury update following AEW Dynamite match

Image: AEW

Scorpio Sky tweaked his elbow on Wednesday’s AEW Dynamite, but according to Bryan Alvarez, it doesn’t appear to be a serious injury at this time.

The former TNT Champion was teaming with Top Flight against the Young Bucks and Josh Alexander when he started favoring his left elbow following a Nick Jackson facebuster.

He continued to grab at the elbow throughout the rest of the match and was holding his arm to the side while throwing punches as well. He continued to do several spots in the bout, but was not part of the finish as Dante Martin got submitted by Alexander.

Alvarez didn’t state what the specific problem was with Sky’s elbow or if he’s expected to be out any certain period of time. The team hadn’t been announced for any match at Saturday’s Full Gear.

The 42-year-old returned to AEW after a near-two year absence this past July, forming the SkyFlight faction with Top Flight, Christopher Daniels and Leila Grey shortly afterward. He has wrestled seven times in AEW/ROH since his return with three of those coming in November.

TNT title match part of updated AEW Collision lineup

Three new matches are set for Saturday’s Collision.

During a livestream, Tony Khan announced that Kyle Fletcher was looking to defend the TNT title ahead of Full Gear, where he’s set to face Mark Briscoe. Khan decided to give the opportunity to Scorpio Sky, mentioning that he says has been undefeated since returning to AEW earlier this year.

Khan also took time to praise Maya World and Hyan, noting that they stepped up at the last minute to take on TayJay last week. He said they would get another chance to prove themselves on Saturday by taking on Riho and Alex Windsor. World & Hyan were last minute replacements for Nixon Newell and Miranda Alize, who walked out of last week’s AEW Collision after they were told they’d only get three minutes for their match that they were scheduled to lose.

In his final announcement, Khan said an All Star 8-Man Tag Team match would take place. Bandido will team up with Juice Robinson and JetSpeed to take on FTR, Sammy Guevara, and Rush.

Here is the updated lineup for Collision:

AEW Collision, Saturday, November 15 —

  • TNT Championship: Kyle Fletcher defends against Scorpio Sky
  • Riho & Alex Windsor vs. Maya World & Hyan
  • All Star 8-Man Tag: Bandido, Juice Robinson, JetSpeed vs. FTR, Sammy Guevara, and Rush
  • Mark Briscoe vs. Mark Davis

Scorpio Sky: There was a time where I thought my AEW run was over

Before making his AEW return earlier this month, Scorpio Sky thought his run with the promotion had likely come to an end.

The former TNT Champion was away from AEW television for nearly two years before returning on the 100th episode of Collision on July 5, where he quickly defeated Max Caster in an open challenge. Sky is now part of a new faction that includes Top Flight (Dante & Darius Martin), Leila Grey, and manager Christopher Daniels.

On his Creating Character podcast, the 42-year-old Sky opened up about his return, saying the night went even better than he thought it would. He knew that he was going to get a good reaction from his hometown fans in Southern California, but the response exceeded his expectations. He was also happy that fans online reacted positively.

“Honestly, I think I consider that one of my career highlights,” Sky said. “It was a really, really special night. I was hoping it would go well, and it actually went so much better than I even thought it would.”

Sky is an AEW original, having been with the company since it was founded in 2019. When he wasn’t being used, Sky felt like he would probably never be back in the promotion — but he’s glad that things worked out the way they did.

“To be completely honest with you, there was a time where I thought I was probably never going back to AEW,” he said. “You know, it just felt like things were heading in that direction. But that’s not what I wanted. And fortunately, it’s not what they wanted. And so, you know, we worked it out and I’m really happy to be back.”

Sky noted that his return came together quickly with Tony Khan coming up with the idea for him to link up with Top Flight, Grey, and Daniels.

“Everything kind of came together in a couple of weeks,” Sky said. “Tony had an idea, and I think it was a great idea. And we’re going to roll forward with it.”

Scorpio Sky returns, wrestles on AEW Collision 100

Scorpio Sky is back.

The former TNT Champion made his return to AEW television on Saturday’s Collision 100, answering Max Caster’s open challenge. After Caster berated the crowd, a video was shown of former teammate Christopher Daniels mentoring Sky and Top Flight as they trained. Sky then made his entrance accompanied by Daniels, Top Flight, and Leila Grey. He quickly pinned Caster for the win.

Scorpio’s career in AEW has been on and off for several years, largely being kept off television for long periods of time. His last televised appearance on either AEW or ROH was defeating Darius Martin on the October 23, 2023 edition of ROH. In an interview from earlier this year, he reiterated at the time that he was healthy and ready to go. 

“The reality is I don’t know what it is,” he said back in May. “I don’t know if there is bad blood or not. I know I’m healthy and I’ve been healthy for a long time and I’ve been wanting to compete. But it’s just one of those things where — what can you do? You only have so much say.”

Days later, Tony Khan said during the Double or Nothing post-show press conference that he had talked to Sky about different ideas and had one idea for him, but it didn’t work out for reasons between them.

Scorpio Sky addresses AEW absence: ‘I don’t know if there is bad blood or not’

Scorpio Sky doesn’t know why he is no longer being featured in AEW.

The 42-year-old Sky has been with AEW since the promotion launched in 2019 and remains under contract with the company, but he has not wrestled for them since 2023. His most recent AEW matches took place on ROH in September and October of that year.

On his new Creating Character podcast that launched this week, Sky addressed his status, affirming that he’s healthy and wants to wrestle.

“Boy oh boy, my career has sure taken a nosedive hasn’t it?,” he joked. “Anyone that has followed me obviously knows that things have been a little different over the last couple of years.”

Sky said he’s curious what the outside perspective is regarding his AEW absence. He doesn’t know if fans think he’s injured, if they assume he isn’t good in the ring anymore, or if they think there is bad blood between AEW and him. Ultimately, Sky does not know the reason he isn’t on TV.

“The reality is I don’t know what it is,” he said. “I don’t know if there is bad blood or not. I know I’m healthy and I’ve been healthy for a long time and I’ve been wanting to compete. But it’s just one of those things where — what can you do? You only have so much say.”

Sky believes that, even though he went out of his way to not make the company look bad, an appearance he made on Insight with Chris Van Vliet last year may have caused some issues with someone in AEW.

“To be honest with you, I didn’t lie when I was on the show, but I definitely went out of my way to not make the company look bad,” Sky said. “You know, I really obviously wanted to preserve a relationship that had been built over a number of years and so I didn’t want to say anything that would like poison that relationship. Come to find out, I think someone there, still, maybe had a few issues with some of the things I did say. So now I’m like, ‘Screw it, I’m going to say whatever the hell I want now.’ [laughs]”

Sky signed a five-year contract extension with AEW in 2021. He’s a former TNT Champion and Tag Team Champion for the company. During his absence from AEW TV, he has wrestled some matches on the indies.

Daily Update: Corey Graves, WWE Osaka results, Scorpio Sky

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This Week’s Wrestling Observer Newsletter

  • The new issue of the Wrestling Observer is up on the site right now:
  • The updated details of the biggest lawsuit that ever faced TKO
  • Build to SummerSlam and All In
  • Updated PPV numbers on Forbidden Door, Money in the Bank and Diaz vs. Masvidal
  • G-1 is starting and a look at the first week of the tournament
  • The first Fantastica Mania show in the U.S.
  • The latest moves by Janel Grant’s legal team regarding Vince McMaahon’s doctor, the motion, why they are doing this and more on Vince’s doctor including bigger celebrities than Vince that he’s worked with along with legendary fighters
  • Pro Wrestling NOAH runs Budokan Hall with A.J. Styles
  • A look at the N-1 tournament
  • Longtime NOAH star retires
  • NOAH star joining New Japan and Bullet Club
  • A look at Marigold’s biggest show in its history with Iyo Sky plus Sareee vs Giulia
  • Giulia timeline updated of going to WWE
  • Upcoming Marigold PPV shows
  • A look at the Category A Observer awards and favorites after six months of 2024, who should win MVP in pro wrestling and MMA, match & fight of the year
  • The closing months of  WCW looked at as Lenita Erickson says she played a part in killing Eric Bischoff’s TV deal that would have kept the company alive
  • Lots of talk regarding different negotiations to get the company
  • The most detailed look at the ratings from the past week
  • What place did the pro wrestling and MMA shows finish in the ratings
  • How the different shows did  with ratings, segment-by-segment, competition and placings as well as other notes on viewership
  • Lots of big things coming to Arena Mexico
  • Leyenda de Plata tournament
  • 11 companies join together with a united front to government
  • Death of Ken Hoffman and the major title change that happened because of what he wrote in the newspaper
  • Notes on a number of wrestling movies and documentaries
  • MLW with big show with lots of CMLL talent
  • More on Bloodsport with WWE talent
  • TNA looking at biggest crowd in years
  • As AEW talks with WBD about  a new deal, lots of things are going on in that world
  • International ratings and streaming numbers
  • Advance ticket sales for all upcoming AEW & WWE shows
  • More on Nate Diaz lawsuit against promoter
  • Peacock raising prices
  • WWE Survivor Series notes
  • Lots of new WWE dates
  • Cody Rhodes talks AEW

This Week’s Wresting Observer Newsletter Back Issue

Thursday Update

WWE

  • Corey Graves tweeted and then deleted the following last night, seemingly responding to the chair shot that Jack Perry took from Mark Briscoe in AEW’s Blood & Guts match:
    • This is not meant to sound judgmental, or incite ‘us vs. them’ or question anybody’s passion, or talent or intentions.
    • This is just coming from a guy whose career ended from a few too many ACCIDENTAL headshots.
    • The ART of this business is protecting ourselves and each other.
    • Trust me…the gaps in memory are not worth it. I promise.
  • In Osaka today, WWE began its three-day house show tour of Japan. Here are the results:
    • Cody Rhodes defeated AJ Styles and Shinsuke Nakamura in a triple threat match to retain the Undisputed WWE Championship
    • Solo Sikoa & Tama Tonga defeated Kevin Owens & LA Knight
    • Gunther defeated Rey Mysterio
    • Damian Priest defeated Jey Uso to retain the World Heavyweight Championship
    • Bayley, Bianca Belair, Jade Cargill & Meiko Satomura defeated IYO SKY, Kairi Sane, Dakota Kai & Tiffany Stratton
    • Finn Balor & JD McDonagh defeated Kofi Kingston & Xavier Woods to retain the World Tag Team titles
    • Sami Zayn defeated Dominik Mysterio to retain the Intercontinental title
    • Liv Morgan defeated IYO SKY to retain the Women’s World Championship
  • Though she’s out of action right now after having knee surgery, Asuka appeared in her hometown of Osaka at today’s show along with the rest of Damage CTRL.
  • PWInsider reports that Elijah Holyfield (son of boxing legend Evander Holyfield) is set to take part in WWE’s tryout in Cleveland during SummerSlam week. Holyfield played college football at the University of Georgia and has spent some time on NFL rosters.
  • With SummerSlam taking place at Cleveland Browns Stadium, Johnny Gargano spoke to Cageside Seats about how much it would mean to him to be involved with the show:
    • It’s one of those things where, look, I’m just happy doing anything. I would do anything in that stadium. I don’t care what it is. I just wanna do something in that stadium. It’s a lifelong dream of mine. Whether it’s defending the tag team titles or just popping out and waving to the crowd, I don’t care. I wanna do something wrestling related in that stadium. And I will die happy.
  • The Under the Ring podcast interviewed Gargano.
  • Denise Salcedo spoke with CM Punk backstage at San Diego Comic-Con.
  • R-Truth joined Cody Rhodes on episode three of “What Do You Wanna Talk About?”

AEW/Other Wrestling

  • Scorpio Sky appeared on the latest episode of Insight with Chris Van Vliet. He addressed why he’s been in and out of AEW programming in recent years:
    • That’s been the question. I guess I’ve been in and out over the last couple of years. Some of it has been due to injury, some of it due to bad luck. One thing I will say is there’s like a narrative out that I’m just this injury-prone guy, like he’s gone for a long time and he comes back and he gets hurt again. That’s actually not the case. So I’m actually glad I want to be able to address that.
    • I did get hurt about two years ago, but I was okay within like a couple of weeks. But the problem is when you fall out of the rotation, we have so much talent, that it’s hard to get back in the rotation. I always compare it to a Ferris wheel, right? You’re up at the top at one point, but you know you’re gonna go down and you kind of have to wait your turn to get back up there. And that’s a little bit of what happened. So I have had a couple of injuries over the last few years, but for the most part I’ve been healthy for 80 percent.
  • Sky said that, while he hasn’t wrestled since an ROH match that took place last October, he is not injured right now:
    • I feel great right now, actually. I think it’s just like I was saying, it’s really tough to get back into the rotation. Because we have so much talent, there’s always talent coming in that it’s almost out of sight, out of mind, in a way, best way I can describe it. I’m eager to get back into the ring though and flex my muscles a little bit, I’m in really good shape. I’m working out with Cezar [Bononi] and I’m excited. And not only in AEW, I want to get back on the indie scene, because I haven’t done the indies in a number of years. And so that would be a really fun thing for me to kind of go back to my roots and see who’s out there, see who are the hot names, and go and have some bangers with them.
  • Kamille has filed a trademark for “The Brickhouse Kamille.”
  • AEW stars FTR (Dax Harwood & Cash Wheeler) will make their Prestige Wrestling debut in Portland, Oregon on Sunday, September 29. They’re facing off against Midnight Heat (Eddie Pearl & Ricky Gibson).
  • New Orleans Saints running back Jamaal Williams believes in Joe Hendry.
  • MLW announced that Miyu Yamashita will face Delmi Exo at their Summer of the Beasts show in New York City on Thursday, August 29.
  • The Creative Imbalance interviewed Chris Jericho.
  • Matt Menard was the guest on AEW Unrestricted this week.

Fred Rosser ROH debut set for Ring of Honor TV

Fred Rosser will make his ROH debut this week. 

Rosser vs. Scorpio Sky has been announced for Thursday’s Ring of Honor TV on HonorClub. 

Rosser returned to the ring last month after taking some time away from in-ring action. He was originally scheduled for NJPW Strong’s Independence Day shows from Korakuen Hall but announced he was pulling out of the shows “due to circumstances beyond my control.” Rosser then revealed on July 9 that his 98-year-old grandfather, a WWII veteran, had passed away. 

The former Strong Openweight Champion will also wrestle for NJPW on Saturday night. He’s scheduled to face Shaheen on the NJPW Academy Showcase from the LA Dojo. 

Matches for this week’s episode were filmed at Seattle’s Climate Pledge Arena on Saturday following AEW Collision. Spoilers from the taping are available here

Ring of Honor TV October 5, 2023 lineup: 

  • ROH World Women’s Champion Athena defends against Leyla Hirsch
  • Fred Rosser vs. Scorpio Sky
  • TMDK (Mikey Nicholls & Shane Haste) vs. The Infantry (Carlie Bravo & Shawn Dean) w/Trish Adora
  • Satoshi Kojima vs. Tony Nese w/Mark Sterling
  • Billie Starkz w/Athena vs. Trish Adora
  • Rocky Romero vs. Christopher Daniels
  • Ethan Page in action
  • Josh Woods w/Mark Sterling in action

Jimmy Jacobs ROH return set for Ring of Honor TV

Ring of Honor has announced several matches set to air on HonorClub this week. 

Thursday’s episode was taped at the Van Andel Arena in Grand Rapids, Michigan before and after AEW Collision on Saturday.

Jimmy Jacobs will return to the promotion for the first time since 2015 when he faces Shane Taylor on Thursday’s show. Jacobs was hired to work on the AEW creative team in June. 

Ian Riccaboni commented on Jacobs’ return to the promotion, although he is not confident Jacobs stands much of a chance against Taylor.

“I’ve been with @ringofhonor for nearly 10 years now. I have never called a Jimmy Jacobs match. We were like two ships in the night. Excited to see what Jimmy can do against… *Checks notes*… oh no. Jimmy Watch @shane216taylor’s right. And his left. And his lariat. And..” Riccaboni wrote

The Iron Savages vs. Gates of Agony is also booked for the show. Billie Starkz vs. Lady Frost and Scorpio Sky vs. Tony Nese are advertised as well. 

ROH on HonorClub September 28, 2023, lineup:

  • The Iron Savages (Boulder & Bronson) vs. The Gates of Agony (Toa Liona & Bishop Kaun)
  • Billie Starkz vs. Lady Frost
  • Shane Taylor vs. Jimmy Jacobs
  • Scorpio Sky vs. Tony Nese
  • Josh Woods w/Mark Sterling vs. TBA
  • Leyla Hirsch vs. Layne Luck

Spoilers for the show are available here

Scorpio Sky injured, removed from AEW Rampage match

Scorpio Sky was pulled from AEW Rampage at the last minute Wednesday night despite previously being announced for a match against Kip Sabian.

According to reports from fans in attendance, Tony Khan revealed Sky was injured during the Rampage tapings, which took place after Dynamite went off the air in Albany, New York.

Sky was replaced by Komander against Sabian. AEW later posted to social media that Sky has not been cleared to compete. 

Sky returned to an AEW ring after nearly a year to the day when he defeated Action Andretti on the July 8th AEW Collision. Prior to that, his most recent match came on July 6, 2022, when he lost the TNT Championship to Wardlow on Dynamite.

The updated card for Friday’s Rampage is:

  • Hikaru Shida vs. Nyla Rose
  • Tag team battle royal for an AEW Tag Team title shot: Matt & Jeff Hardy, Matt Menard & Angelo Parker, The Butcher & The Blade, Brian Cage & Big Bill, Christopher Daniels & Matt Sydal, Serpentico & Luther, Ethan Page & Brother Zay, and Jay Lethal & Satnam Singh
  • Komander vs. Kip Sabian
  • The Kingdom (Mike Bennett & Matt Taven) in action

Battle royale for Tag Team title shot set for AEW Rampage

While FTR will defend the AEW Tag Team titles against Adam Cole & MJF on Saturday’s edition of Collision, the next challenger will be determined on Friday’s AEW Rampage.

Announced on Wednesday’s Dynamite, eight teams (16 men) will compete in a tag team battle royale with the winner earning a future Tag Team title shot.

The teams are Matt & Jeff Hardy, Matt Menard & Angelo Parker, The Butcher & The Blade, Brian Cage & Big Bill, Christopher Daniels & Matt Sydal, Serpentico & Luther, Ethan Page & Brother Zay, and Jay Lethal & Satnam Singh.

While they won’t be in the match, The Kingdom (Matt Taven & Mike Bennett) will be in action against opponents to be named.

A long rivalry will be renewed as former AEW Women’s Champions Hikaru Shida and Nyla Rose will clash. Shida defeated Rose in a no DQ match at 2020’s Double or Nothing to kick off her first title reign.

After returning to action recently on Collision after a lengthy absence, Scorpio Sky will take on Kip Sabian. It’s Sky’s first match on the show since June 2022.

Here’s the card being taped after Wednesday’s Rampage:

  • Hikaru Shida vs. Nyla Rose
  • Tag team battle royal for AEW Tag Team title shot: Matt & Jeff Hardy, Matt Menard & Angelo Parker, The Butcher & The Blade, Brian Cage & Big Bill, Christopher Daniels & Matt Sydal, Serpentico & Luther, Ethan Page & Brother Zay, and Jay Lethal & Satnam Singh
  • Scorpio Sky vs. Kip Sabian
  • The Kingdom (Mike Bennett & Matt Taven) in action

Eleven matches announced for AEW Dark

AEW has announced an eleven-match lineup for this week’s edition of Dark, taped in late-August at Universal Studios in Orlando, Florida.

Notable matches include Angelico vs. Caleb Konley, Dante Martin vs. Anthony Henry, and Ryan Nemeth vs. Arjun Singh.

The show will also feature the first match for VSK since his renaming to Jeeves Kay and alliance with the Trustbusters.

Anna Jay, Leon Ruffin, Fuego Del Sol, Leila Grey, Nick Comoroto and The Renegade Twins will all be in action as well.

The announced lineup for the show is as follows:

  • The Factory’s Nick Comoroto vs. Shaheem Ali
  • The Renegade Twins (Charlette & Robyn Renegade) vs. Mila Moore & Mylo
  • Ryan Nemeth vs. Arjun Singh
  • The Trustbusters’ Jeeves Kay vs. Gus De La Vega
  • Jora Johl vs. Blake Li
  • Leila Grey vs. Tiara James
  • Leon Ruffin vs. BSHP King
  • Angelico vs. Caleb Konley
  • Jericho Appreciation Society’s Anna Jay A.S vs. Kelly Madan
  • Dante Martin vs. Anthony Henry
  • Fuego Del Sol vs. Jay Malachi

Scorpio Sky vs. Wardlow TNT title street fight set for next week’s AEW Dynamite

A street fight for the TNT Championship has been announced for next week’s AEW Dynamite. 

Scorpio Sky will put the title on the line against Wardlow in a match set up during a backstage interview with the two competitors on this week’s Dynamite. 

Tony Schiavone conducted an interview between Sky and Wardlow, with the two agreeing to no physicality during the segment. Sky said that he holds the TNT title for a reason, while Wardlow said that he did not care about Sky’s American Top Team crew, and will win the title. 

After defeating MJF in a match at the Double or Nothing pay-per-view on May 29, Wardlow followed up with a quick win over JD Drake on the June 1 Dynamite, then won a 20-on-1 match against Mark Sterling’s plaintiffs at Dynamite: Road Rager on June 15. 

The TNT title street fight is the only match announced so far for next week’s show. 

The lineup: 

AEW Dynamite, Wednesday, July 6 —

  • TNT Championship street fight: Scorpio Sky (c) vs. Wardlow

Scorpio Sky suffers muscle strain on AEW Rampage

Scorpio Sky says he suffered a leg strain on AEW Rampage.

The TNT Champion was defending his title against Dante Martin when the injury occurred. He posted to Twitter on Saturday and explained how it impacted him during the match.  

“I went into last nights match with my knee bothering me and unfortunately in the opening minutes I strained a muscle that goes from my knee up through my groin. My right leg was useless from then on,” he wrote. 

“Despite that, wrestling in SoCal felt amazing even on one leg. Hopefully nothing serious and I’ll be back to defend again soon.”

Sky’s successful title defense against Martin on Rampage this week was the second of his current run with the TNT Championship and third all time. He defended it against Wardlow at St. Patrick’s Day Slam during his first run as champion. After dropping the title and then winning it back from Sammy Guevara, Sky also defended it against Frankie Kazarian on the May 11 edition of Rampage. 

AEW’s Dante Martin challenges Scorpio Sky to TNT title match

Dante Martin has issued a challenge to Scorpio Sky for a TNT title match. 

Martin challenged the TNT Champion to a title bout during a backstage promo during Sunday’s Double or Nothing pay-per-view. Sky said that he would grant the challenge to Martin if Martin show’s up in Southern California, where AEW will run this week’s Dynamite and Rampage. It was not stated whether the match will take place in Los Angeles at The Kia Forum on Wednesday, June 1 on Dynamite, or at The Toyota Center in Ontario, California on Rampage on Friday, June 3. 

Sky, Ethan Page, and Paige VanZant defeated Sammy Guevara, Frankie Kazarian, and Tay Conti in a trios match at Double or Nothing. 

A 10-man tag team match was announced for Wednesday’s Dynamite in Los Angeles, with Jungle Boy, Luchasaurus, Christian Cage, Matt Hardy, and Jeff Hardy facing Adam Cole, Bobby Fish, Kyle O’Reilly, and Matt and Nick Jackson of The Young Bucks.