Tony Khan has named the non-wrestler “dream signing” he would most like to bring to AEW.
Speaking with Sportico at its Invest in Sports: New York event at NASDAQ’s headquarters in New York last week, Khan was asked which sports star or actor from outside the traditional wrestling world he would most like to sign to AEW.
For Khan, the answer was a familiar name: Shaquille O’Neal.
“For me, the best person we had and I would love for him to come back any time, would be Shaq. Shaq’s 1-0, but then he’s been away from AEW. He disappeared out of the ambulance in 2021 and we haven’t seen him since. So I would love to get Shaq back in the ring. He’s gotta be on of the all-time greatest stars ever in basketball, and he’s undefeated in AEW.”
O’Neal teamed with the debuting Jade Cargill in a mixed tag match against Cody Rhodes and Red Velvet on the March 3, 2021 AEW Dynamite episode. He was taken away from ringside on a stretcher after going through a table, but disappeared from an ambulance in a later backstage segment.
Khan also discussed his process for scouting talent and more in the Sportico interview embedded below.
Late Tuesday night, Undisputed WWE Champion John Cena made an appearance during TNT’s NBA post-game coverage.
Cena stopped by Inside the NBA after the Golden State Warriors defeated the Minnesota Timberwolves in the NBA playoffs last night. The appearance was to promote season two of Peacemaker, which is set to premiere on Max on August 21. A sneak peek of the new season was shown on Inside the NBA ahead of a full teaser trailer being released this Friday.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k9JCrahrIUc
Inside the NBA panelist Charles Barkley mentioned that he’s a big wrestling fan and wasn’t happy about Cena turning heel in WWE. Barkley asked Cena if he’s pleasantly surprised by how well he’s been able to transition into Hollywood stardom.
“Life has awarded me so many unbelievable opportunities. Am I surprised about that? Can I swear on the program? Oh — f*ck yes, I am surprised,” Cena responded. “What is happening? What is going on? I’m sitting here with you guys with a [Peacemaker] helmet on my head talking about season two of Peacemaker.”
An impromptu wrestling match between basketball legends broke out during the Inside the NBA broadcast with Shaquille O’Neal pinning Barkley.
The Peacemaker television series was created by James Gunn — the director of the Guardians of the Galaxy franchise — with its first season airing in 2022. It stars Cena as the titular DC Comics character.
Cena won the Undisputed WWE Championship from Cody Rhodes at WrestleMania 41 and will make his first title defense this Saturday when he faces off against Randy Orton at Backlash.
During Tuesday night’s broadcast on TNT, hosts Charles Barkley, Shaquille O’Neal, Kenny Smith, Ernie Johnson, and Draymond Green received AEW World Championship replica belts on-air following an ad for Wednesday’s Dynamite. The NBA on TNT social media accounts would later credit The Young Bucks with having gifted the belts to the crew.
The hosts also received “exclusive championship sneaker belts” which the Bucks have been marketing along with their new signature Reebok pumps.
O’Neal, who said more than once he would wear the title belt to a Hookah bar later that night, wrestled once for AEW in 2021. He teamed with Jade Cargill and defeated the team of Cody Rhodes and Red Velvet on the March 3 Dynamite that year. O’Neal participated in WWE’s Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royal in 2016 as well.
NBA legend Shaquille O’Neal’s return to AEW looks to be on the horizon.
During Thursday night’s edition of Inside the NBA on TNT, O’Neal was asked when he’ll be wrestling again. “Soon. This summer,” O’Neal replied.
O’Neal was asked about returning to pro wrestling by fellow Inside the NBA panelist Kenny Smith after a wrestling GIF was shown in a tweet that was read on the show.
O’Neal made his AEW debut on the March 3 episode of Dynamite earlier this year. He teamed with Jade Cargill to defeat Cody Rhodes & Red Velvet in a mixed tag match. Cargill pinned Red Velvet to win the match.
Leading into the finish of the mixed tag match, Cody took out Shaq with a crossbody through two tables. There was then a post-match angle where O’Neal was loaded into an ambulance. But when Tony Schiavone opened the ambulance door to speak with O’Neal and get an update on his condition, O’Neal wasn’t in the ambulance anymore.
O’Neal’s AEW debut was the second match that he’s ever wrestled in. His in-ring debut was as an entrant in the Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royal at WWE WrestleMania 32 in 2016. O’Neal had previously appeared on WWE, WCW, and TNA Wrestling programming.
Shaquille O’Neal and Jade Cargill emerged victorious tonight in their match against Cody Rhodes and Red Velvet.
The match opened tonight’s edition of AEW Dynamite. The finish came when Cody crossbodied Shaq over the apron and to the floor, crashing through two tables on the outside. In the ring, Velvet and Cargill continued the match until Cargill pinned Velvet with a sitout chickenwing slam.
After the match, Shaq was stretchered out and was loaded into an ambulance. After a brief cut to ringside, the cameras switched to Tony Schiavone entering the ambulance to talk to Shaq. However, he was nowhere to be seen.
The match’s build started in November, when Cargill made her debut and had a confrontation with Cody, teasing Shaq’s AEW arrival. This led to a sit-down interview with Shaquille O’Neal and Brandi Rhodes, which ended with Brandi throwing water at Shaq after he said that she could learn something from Cargill.
Shaqjuille O’Neal eventually made the challenge to Cody Rhodes on an episode of Inside the NBA. Rhodes countered with the tag team match, which Shaq accepted.
The Shaquille O’Neal & Jade Cargill vs. Cody Rhodes & Red Velvet match will take place on Dynamite on March 3.
AEW confirmed the date on tonight’s Dynamite. They showed footage of O’Neal accepting the challenge on last Thursday’s Inside the NBA.
Cargill first arrived in AEW back in November, teasing a confrontation between her and O’Neal against Cody and his wife Brandi. Cargill attacked Brandi at one point, wrapping her arm around a chair and stomping on it. That led to a sitdown interview between Shaq and Brandi that led to Brandi throwing water at Shaq after he made comments about how Brandi could learn some pointers from Cargill.
During last week’s AEW Dynamite Awards show on B/R Live, Shaq officially challenged Cody to match for sometime in March. Cody accepted the challenge on Dynamite, with Arn Anderson introducing Red Velvet as a tag team partner, as Brandi is currently pregnant. Velvet and Cargill had previously brawled on an episode of the Waiting Room with Britt Baker. Cody threw the challenge back at Shaq, with interviewer Tony Schiavone saying that the ball was now in Shaq and Cargill’s court.
On Wednesday’s AEW Dynamite, Cody Rhodes and Red Velvet made a challenge to Shaquille O’Neal and Jade Cargill for March 7th’s Revolution pay-per-view.
Rhodes came out for a promo and said he thought it would his wife, Brandi, joining him to challenge the two, but she’s pregnant. He seemed resigned that the match couldn’t happen, but as part of his own promo, Arn Anderson asked Velvet to come down, saying she had the fire inside her.
She then cut a spirited promo on Cargill and made the challenge, saying that Rhodes couldn’t lay her hands on Cargill so she would instead. Cargill and Velvet have been involved in several pull-aparts in recent weeks as Velvet is aligned with the Nightmare Family.
As Tony Schiavone quipped to end the segment, the ball is in O’Neal and Cargill’s court. This would be the first match in AEW for either person despite Cargill making her on-screen debut in mid-November.
During Wednesday’s AEW Awards show, O’Neal challenged Rhodes to a match in March, adding that he looked like a punk and a girl with his blonde hair.
Revolution has just one official match announced thus far: Sting and TNT Champion Darby Allin vs. Brian Cage and Ricky Starks of Team Taz in a street fight.
The first AEW Awards ceremony aired tonight on the Bleacher Report app.
Report —
Tony Schiavone was introduced as host and as an international sex symbol.
Schiavone then introduced Britt Baker and did a brief comedy monologue.
Biggest Beatdown — The Inner Circle attack on Orange Cassidy
Retired MLB outfielder Curtis Granderson presented the award.
Chris Jericho and Sammy Guevara accepted the award and ripped on Cassidy. Britt Baker interviewed the two. Jericho said it was the pinnacle of his career.
Hardest Moment to Clean Up After — Santana & Ortiz vs. Best Friends parking lot brawl
Steve Lemme and Kevin Heffernan from Tacoma F.D. introduced the nominees and talked about how orange is the stickiest of all the juices.
Santana and Ortiz cut a comedy promo in accepting.
Best Twitter Follow — Nyla Rose
Taylor Williamson presented and talked about how toxic Twitter is as a platform. Britt Baker accepted the award on Nyla’s behalf and claimed victory.
Biggest Surprise — Sting’s AEW debut
Chael Sonnen introduced the nominees. Darby Allin accepted on Sting’s behalf and simply said that he’ll make sure Sting gets the trophy.
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Britt introduced a brief Brodie Lee tribute video.
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LOL Award — The Young Bucks superkick MJF into the pool on the Jericho Cruise
Ron Funches introduced the category and talked about how he loves wrestling and had been to wrestling school. Matt Jackson said this ward was better than all the five stars Dave Meltzer has given them.
MJF thought he was accepting the award for best wrestler. Britt explained what he had actually won. MJF said the trophy looked like baby diarrhea.
Biggest WTF Moment — Kenny Omega wins the AEW title, walks out of AEW
Schiavone introduced the nominees. Omega and Don Callis accepted the award and cut a heel promo.
High Flyer — Rey Fenix
Wipeout host Camille Kostek presented. Fenix cut a short promo in accepting the award.
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Britt introduced a video package of fan reaction videos.
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Best Moment on the Mic — Cody Rhodes accepts Mr. Brodie Lee’s dog collar match challenge
Bert Kreischer from Go-Big Show was the presenter. Cody cut a babyface promo putting over Brodie. Baker then interviewed Cody.
Breakout Star Male — Darby Allin
Breakout Star Female — Hikaru Shida
Danielle Fishell Karp and Jensen Karp presented the awards. Allin’s acceptance promo was one word — “Cool.” Britt interviewed Allin who said he’s so quiet backstage because of people like her.
Shida thanked the fans and said she can feel their support. Baker said she should have won the award, then stole the trophy and ran off.
Bleacher Report PPV Moment of the Year — Stadium Stampede
Shaq introduced the category. He said Cody was a punk and they can go any time Cody wants. He said Cody looks like a girl with his blonde hair and said they can do it in March.
Omega and Callis accepted. Callis said as they keep collecting awards, sometimes they need to leave friends behind.
The Bucks and Matt Hardy cut promos. Baker interviewed Hardy. Hardy said he was the brains behind the match and he stole the show. Hardy said he created the cinematic match concept.
The futures of Shaquille O’Neal, Jade Cargill, Cody and Brandi Rhodes still appear to be intertwined following Wednesday’s AEW Dynamite.
In a brief, pre-recorded sit-down interview, Tony Schiavone was with the NBA legend and also Brandi Rhodes whose presence was unexplained. After introducing them and listing off their accomplishments, Rhodes complained to Schiavone about how he introduced her but moved on.
O’Neal said he and Cargill go back a long way but didn’t appreciate what she did to Rhodes’ arm on a recent Dynamite when she Pillmanized it. Schiavone interjected and asked if that issue could be resolved on Dynamite which O’Neal said he wanted to see. He then said he was having fun with Cody on Twitter and didn’t mean any disrespect as he loves the family.
As Brandi got up to walk away, O’Neal said she should watch Cargill to get some pointers from her while she recovers. She accused O’Neal of disrespect, said she “was sick of this sh*t” and grabbed a cup of water Schiavone conveniently was holding, throwing it in O’Neal’s face before calling him “an overgrown a**hole.” The segment ended with O’Neal staring angrily into the camera.
The belief is that this is leading toward an eventual mixed tag between the Rhodes family, O’Neal and Cargill.
AEW has announced that NBA legend Shaquille O’Neal will appear on this Wednesday’s episode of Dynamite: “BREAKING NEWS @Shaq addresses #AEW with @tonyschiavone24! Watch #AEWDynamite this Wednesday night on @TNTDrama 8e/7c or AEWPlus.com by @FiteTV for our International fans. #AEWonTNT”
Shaq appearing for AEW was teased when the debuting Jade Cargill interrupted Cody Rhodes on Dynamite last month. Cargill mentioned that Cody had called himself a giant killer and asked him what he knows about giants. Cargill said there’s nothing giant about Cody. Cargill said she knows a real giant — and slick statements like Cody’s are an echo loud enough to wake him.
Cargill congratulated Cody on now being able to use his full name, but she said he must not have the balls to go by one name. Cargill said the giant she was talking about is the real star — and his name is Shaq. Brandi Rhodes then confronted Cargill on the stage.
It was mentioned on commentary during the segment with Cody, Cargill, and Brandi that Shaq had been backstage at AEW’s Full Gear pay-per-view on November 7.
AEW announced after Cargill’s debut that she’s signed a multi-year deal with the promotion. The following week on Dynamite, there was a backstage segment where Cargill attacked Brandi.
Shaq is a panelist on Inside the NBA on TNT. When he re-signed with WarnerMedia this August, the press release announcing his new deal teased that Shaq could make a cameo at a future AEW event. Shaq also sent a message to Cody: “I’d love to fight Cody. Write it. Print it. Text it to him. Call AEW up and tell them.”
After Sting made his AEW debut last week, this Wednesday’s Dynamite will also feature Schiavone conducting Sting’s first interview in the promotion.
Here’s the updated lineup for this week’s Dynamite:
Tony Schiavone interviews Sting
The Inner Circle ultimatum (The Inner Circle will either decide to unite as one or break up forever)
Shaq addresses AEW with Tony Schiavone
Orange Cassidy vs. MJF for the Dynamite Diamond Ring
Non-title match: AEW Tag Team Champions The Young Bucks vs. Jack Evans & Angelico (if Evans & Angelico win, they’ll get a future AEW Tag Team title shot)
Lance Archer, Penta El Zero Miedo & Rey Fenix vs. Eddie Kingston, The Butcher & The Blade
FTR vs. Griff Garrison & Brian Pillman Jr.
Dustin Rhodes vs. Preston “10” Vance
Abadon in action
Dynamite will also feature the fallout from Kenny Omega’s AEW World Championship win and his appearance on this Tuesday’s episode of Impact Wrestling.
Shaquille O’Neal may be on his way to AEW after all.
During Cody Rhodes’ in-ring promo on Wednesday’s Dynamite where he mentioned wanting to “topple giants,” wrestler Jade Cargill made her promotional debut by interrupting Rhodes and putting him down. Rhodes didn’t know who she was and after she said her piece, she left the ring and then stopped on the stage.
She then congratuled Rhodes on getting the rights to use his last name, but that he must have been too scared to go by just one name. She said that one person who is not afraid to go by one name is “Shaq”. At that point, Brandi Rhodes came out and ran down Cargill before they had to be separated, possibly a nod toward a mixed tag match between all four.
The 48-year-old O’Neal was backstage at Full Gear, seen in footage on this week’s Being The Elite. A photo surfaced in September on social media of O’Neal and developmental talent Anthony Ogogo at QT Marshall’s Nightmare Factory training facility.
While Shaquille O’Neal’s re-signing with WarnerMedia normally wouldn’t make headlines in the pro wrestling world, a sentence in the release caught people’s attention Monday.
The popular former basketball star will add to his duties with Turner Sports with possibility of AEW being one of those duties: “Could Shaq return to the ring, making a cameo at a future All Elite Wrestling (AEW) event on TNT? We shall see….”
The Athletic’s Richard Deitsch noted in his story about the new contract said the possibility is “in the embryonic stage at best” but that O’Neal had a message for Cody Rhodes: “I’d love to fight Cody. Write it. Print it. Text it to him. Call AEW up and tell them.”
The 48-year-old wrestling fan has made appearances in various top promotions through the years, first in WCW at 1994’s Bash at the Beach as he presented the World title to the winner of Hulk Hogan vs. Ric Flair; a guest host for a 2009 episode of WWE Raw; and backstage with Hogan on a 2012 episode of Impact Wrestling.
He appeared as a surprise participant in the 2016 Andre The Giant Memorial Battle Royal at WrestleMania 32 and the plan was to work toward a singles match with Big Show at WrestleMania 33 but it never materialized due to O’Neal’s schedule.
Though it ultimately didn’t happen, Big Show vs. Shaquille O’Neal seemed to be the first match penciled into the WrestleMania 33 card at one point.
Both O’Neal and Big Show offered explanations for the match falling through even before it was officially off, with Shaq saying that it wasn’t his fault and Big Show blaming his opponent. Triple H also discussed the issue at one point and said that he didn’t think either participant was serious about the match.
While recording a live episode of his podcast in Atlanta, O’Neal reiterated that WWE was to blame for the match not happening.
“Because they kept playing,” Shaq explained. “First, they said it was me and Big Show. Then, they said it was going to be three and three. Then, they canceled it, so when they canceled it, I made other arrangements. And then they tried to call back and tried to get it done, and I just said, ‘I’m not going to do it.’ They messed it up.”
Shaq vs. Big Show was originally set up at the ESPY Awards last summer following the two facing off in the Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royal at WrestleMania 32. Shaq’s co-host John Kincade theorized on the podcast that O’Neal didn’t want to lose the match, though Shaq said that he would have been fine with losing.
One of WrestleMania 33’s planned matches seems to be in serious doubt.
While responding to rumors surrounding his scheduled WrestleMania match against Big Show, Shaquille O’Neal said on his podcast this week that the bout “probably” won’t be happening.
“It’s not going to happen?” Shaq asked. “That’s probably right. It’s not my fault, that’s all you need to know. It ain’t my fault. Oh, it ain’t my fault.”
Shaq went on to say that the plans likely falling through have nothing to do with him or his management. He said that it isn’t definitive that the match is off yet, though things aren’t looking good. He claimed that he’s still training like it’s going to take place and challenged Big Show to meet him wherever he wants to meet, leaving the door open for this to be part of a storyline if the match does occur.
Big Show vs. Shaq had long been penciled in for WrestleMania in Orlando. Shaq appeared at WrestleMania 32 last year as a surprise entrant in the Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royal, where he had a face off with Big Show. They also did an angle where Shaq accepted Big Show’s challenge at the ESPY Awards last summer.
Much of the build for the match had been done on social media and based around the two attempting to get in shape for WrestleMania. But speculation that the match could possibly be off began to increase over the last couple of weeks.
In a WWE.com article about his recent weight loss, Big Show said that Shaq not taking the match seriously was why it may not be happening.
“I mean, here’s the thing. We shot this off at the ESPY Awards, Shaq said he’s in, I thought this would be a good match for fans to see two giants go at it. And I see Shaq riding around, singing karaoke and stopping in at Krispy Kreme. I’m like, ‘Hey! If you’re not gonna take it serious, find something else to do.'”
