Wrestling

Less than two weeks after his release from WWE, "Nature Boy" Ric Flair appeared at Saturday night's AAA TripleMania XXIX event in Mexico City.

The WWE Hall of Famer surprisingly accompanied Andrade El Idolo to the ring for his AAA Mega Championship match against Kenny Omega:

https://twitter.com/luchalibreaaa/status/1426750974404747264

Flair, 72, got physically involved in the match as well by stopping Omega from hitting Andrade with the belt, chopping and punching Omega and then putting Omega's corner man Konnan in a Figure Four Leglock:

Kenny Omega and Ric Flair in the same ring — in Mexico. Pro wrestling in 2021 is absolutely insane #Triplemania pic.twitter.com/18DcTtDZeT

— Marc Raimondi (@marcraimondi) August 15, 2021

Despite Flair's help, Andrade lost the match, and Omega retained the title he has now held for nearly two years straight.

Both Andrade and Omega tweeted about Flair's involvement following the match:

Thank you Mr. @RicFlairNatrBoy for accepting to be in my corner. Not in my wildest dreams could I have ever imagined I would have the honor of putting the figure-4 on by your side….. on top of that in MEXICO 🇲🇽 @luchalibreaaa les gusto! 👊🏼👊🏼👊🏼 pic.twitter.com/LgzsrmGOBo

— “EL IDOLO” ANDRADE (@AndradeElIdolo) August 15, 2021

Hey @AndradeElIdolo , I’ll admit it. You’re tough, you came close. But that stunt with @RicFlairNatrBoy ? Not in 2021, and not in my ring, pal. You made it personal.

— Kenny Omega (@KennyOmegamanX) August 15, 2021

Managing Andrade in the match was a natural fit since Flair's daughter, WWE Superstar Charlotte Flair, is engaged to Andrade.

Following his WWE release in March, Andrade signed with AEW where he is currently feuding with Pac, Rey Fenix and Penta El Zero M. When Flair was released, it was immediately speculated that he would join his future son-in-law in AEW.

In fact, Dave Meltzer of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter (h/t WrestlingInc.com's Marc Middleton) reported Friday that Flair is viewed as a "lock" to sign with AEW soon.

During his short time in AEW, Andrade has already gone from having Vickie Guerrero as his mouthpiece to having Chavo Guerrero in that role. Flair would perhaps be an even better fit given his star power.

In a statement on Twitter, Flair confirmed rumors that he had asked for his release from WWE and noted that he held no ill will toward the company.

Flair's appearance at TripleMania suggests he may already be free and clear to appear for other companies without having to wait the requisite 90 days.

At the same time, it is possible any non-compete clause Flair has with WWE may only relate to promotions with United States-based television shows.

Regardless of when it happens, it seems like it may only be a matter of time before The Nature Boy shows up on Dynamite or Rampage to back up Andrade.

Listen to Ring Rust Radio for all of the hot wrestling topics. Catch the latest episode in the player below (warning: some language NSFW).

One week away from SummerSlam, a WWE Hall of Famer is teasing a potential appearance at the marquee event. 

Nikki Bella posted a message on Twitter asking fans what she should wear to SummerSlam: 

Hhmmm looking through my closet and deciding what to wear to SummerSlam next week??? Thoughts? N

— Nikki & Brie (@NikkiAndBrie) August 14, 2021

There has been speculation in recent months that Nikki and Brie Bella will return to WWE at some point.

The Bella Twins spoke with Mona Khalifeh‍ of Entertainment Tonight in June about possibly wrestling again. Brie said:

"So we definitely talk about it. The one thing is that WWE brought the women's tag team titles and we're like, wait a second, how did the Bellas not have this on their resume? So, it's so tempting because we would love to go fight for the tag titles because that's all we've ever been is a tag team."

Nikki and Brie most recently appeared on WWE television during WrestleMania weekend. They were inducted into the Hall of Fame on April 6 and appeared on the second night of WrestleMania 37 when they attacked Bayley. 

Nikki hasn't wrestled a match since losing to Ronda Rousey at the WWE Evolution pay-per-view on Oct. 28, 2018. 

SummerSlam is being held at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas on Aug. 21. 

Listen to Ring Rust Radio for all of the hot wrestling topics. Catch the latest episode in the player below (warning: some language NSFW).

WWE SmackDown drew its highest television ratings of 2021 on Friday night as the build toward a SummerSlam match between John Cena and Roman Reigns continued to take center stage.

Spoiler TV reported SmackDown brought in an average of 2.499 million viewers across the two-hour broadcast on Fox and its 0.6 rating in the 18-to-49 demographic topped all prime-time shows on network TV.

The number of viewers marked the show's highest total since the Christmas night episode last December, which tallied 3.303 million, per Joshua Gagnon of Wrestling Inc.

Friday's telecast kicked off with a lengthy promo showdown between Cena and Reigns that included some personal barbs to help blur the lines between work and reality.

Cena's return from Hollywood to work a SummerSlam program with Reigns, who's emerged as the company's most marketable Superstar since the 16-time WWE champion's departure from a full-time wrestling role, has provided a significant boost to SmackDown.

Reigns discussed the differences between himself and Cena during an appearance Wednesday on the Pat McAfee Show:

"You see me every Friday night. I have to dull this shit down..

I come out in sweatpants & some J's. I don't have to throw on the crazy colors, wear wristbands all over my body..

I don't have to make myself something that I'm not" ~ @WWERomanReigns #PatMcAfeeShowLIVE pic.twitter.com/V8CtumCWt0

— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) August 11, 2021

Meanwhile, the show also featured a contract signing between SmackDown women's champion Bianca Belair and Sasha Banks, who received some assistance from Carmella and Zelina Vega to attack the titleholder ahead of their SummerSlam matchup.

Other highlights included Shinsuke Nakamura defeating Apollo Crews to win the Intercontinental Championship for a second time and Seth Rollins cutting a promo on Edge as they also gear toward a high-profile clash at next weekend's pay-per-view.

Next Friday's episode of SmackDown will serve as the go-home show before SummerSlam takes place Saturday at Allegiant Stadium, the home of the Las Vegas Raiders.

Listen to Ring Rust Radio for all of the hot wrestling topics. Catch the latest episode in the player below (warning: some language NSFW).

Bleacher Report catches you up on the latest news from the WWE Universe.

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Flair Reportedly Planning to Sign with AEW

Following his release from WWE, it reportedly may be a foregone conclusion that WWE Hall of Famer Ric Flair is poised to sign with All Elite Wrestling.

According to Dave Meltzer of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter (h/t WrestlingInc.com's Marc Middleton), Flair signing with AEW is believed to be a "lock" whenever his WWE non-compete clause expires.

Last week, The Nature Boy took to Twitter to explain that he requested his WWE release due to the fact that he and WWE didn't have the same vision for his future in wrestling:

pic.twitter.com/hQHkVWJlks

— Ric Flair® (@RicFlairNatrBoy) August 3, 2021

The 72-year-old Flair's most recent involvement on WWE programming came earlier this year when he took part in a storyline with his daughter, Charlotte Flair, and Lacey Evans.

Flair aligned himself with Evans, and it was strongly suggested that they were romantically involved within the fabric of the storyline. The angle came to an end when Evans legitimately got pregnant with her husband.

If Flair signs with AEW, it will mark his return to TNT for the first time since 2001. TNT was the home of WCW Nitro for several years before WWE bought the company.

It would also open the door for Flair to have some interactions with longtime rival Sting, and he could perhaps even align himself with Andrade El Idolo, who is Charlotte's fiance.

AEW has not hesitated to bring in legends with WWE ties and give them on-screen roles. Among them are Sting, Arn Anderson, Tully Blanchard, Jake "The Snake" Roberts, Taz, Paul Wight and Mark Henry.

It is difficult to envision Flair getting in the ring for a match given his age and well-documented health issues in recent years, but AEW has allowed Sting to be a semi-regular competitor at the age of 62 despite his neck issues.

Regardless of how he is used, it is clear that Flair still has a burning passion for pro wrestling, and there is little doubt that AEW will find a spot for him if that is where he wants to go.

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Punk Says He Isn't Interested in WWE Product

Leading up to his rumored AEW debut, CM Punk had some less-than-flattering things to say about the WWE product this week.

Appearing on Sunday Night's Main Event (h/t Middleton), Punk was asked about whether he watches WWE. Punk said he doesn't and explained why: "No, I had to watch it a little bit when I was an analyst for Fox. But I mean…hmm, how do I say this diplomatically? Um, no, I think they've got some people who are super awesome and great in the ring, but you know, nothing grabs me to get me to want to watch."

Punk referenced his time on FS1's WWE Backstage last year, which saw him appear periodically to give his opinions on the WWE product.

When asked to expand on his thoughts regarding WWE, Punk said:

"I'm getting a little long in the tooth now. And I would much rather uplift and show love to things I like than to tear anything down. You know, you can't say that what [WWE is] doing is wrong. They are the most profitable they've ever been since their inception, so who am I to say…you know what I mean? Like…it's ice cream, there's 31,000 flavors, everybody gets their favorite, I just don't like vanilla."

To Punk's point, WWE has been reporting record profits thanks largely to its television deals with Fox and NBC Universal. Despite that, the general opinion about WWE seems to be down right now because of recent talent releases.

It is also fair to say that Raw has been a tough watch for wrestling fans for quite some time, although SmackDown headlined by Roman Reigns has been among the best products in wrestling.

Rumors have run rampant regarding Punk ending his more than seven-year hiatus from in-ring action, and the belief is he will debut for AEW soon.

Next week, AEW Rampage is set to debut at the United Center in Punk's hometown of Chicago, and the show is being called "The First Dance." That would seem to indicate there is some chance of Punk showing up.

If not, the All Out pay-per-view on Sept. 5 in Chicago could be the target date.

Regardless of where or when Punk shows up, it will be a major coup for AEW if he signs on, and it could be the catalyst for AEW truly growing its audience and giving WWE a run for its money in terms of television viewership.

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Reigns Says His Promos Aren't Scripted

Reigns has arguably been the most compelling character in wrestling over the past year, and there may be a specific reason for that.

Appearing on the Sports Illustrated Media Podcast (h/t Subhojeet Mukherjee of Ringside News), The Tribal Chief said his promos haven't been scripted during his heel run:

"You know, there was a portion of my career where I'd either read a script or I would try to adjust the script as much as possible. But, you know, for a while now, especially since I've come back from my little leave during the beginning of the pandemic since SummerSlam, I'm not scripted. I say what I want to, I say what I feel. And if it comes out of my mouth, it's my verbiage. I come up with it, I deliver it and that's why it's been the way it's been because it's mine."

Many fans and former WWE wrestlers have expressed frustration with WWE's micromanagement of promos because of the belief that promos are better when there is some leeway.

Reigns has lent some credence to that theory, as he is cutting the best promos of his career and producing the most compelling segments of his career on a consistent basis as well.

With Paul Heyman and The Usos by his side, Reigns has been firing on all cylinders, and everything he does is can't-miss television for wrestling fans.

Few wrestlers in WWE are given the type of creative freedom Reigns talked about. That list likely includes John Cena, Randy Orton and Edge, but that may be it.

Reigns likely earned the right to cut his own promos based on his rapport and relationship with WWE Chairman Vince McMahon, so perhaps the key to getting that privilege is to be on good terms with McMahon.

At the same time, there is no question that McMahon hand picked Reigns as a potential top star several years ago, which is a benefit most performers don't have.

It is unclear if Reigns' success will inspire WWE to loosen restrictions on other Superstars moving forward, but there is no question that Reigns has made the most of his opportunity and established himself as the face of the company.

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Listen to Ring Rust Radio for all of the hot wrestling topics. Catch the latest episode in the player below (warning: some language NSFW).

WWE Superstar Keith Lee announced Thursday he contracted COVID-19 and was diagnosed with heart inflammation earlier this year. 

In a video posted on his YouTube channel, Lee said he missed three weeks of WWE programming in January after testing positive for the virus. 

He also noted after he wrestled one match upon returning, he received a phone call "that there was something off" in his blood that showed inflammation in his heart that prevented him from "doing any activity outside of a light walk."

Lee defeated Sheamus in a one-on-one match on the Jan. 11 episode of Raw. He was off television for three weeks before defeating Riddle on Feb. 8. 

The former NXT heavyweight champion was scheduled to fight Riddle and Bobby Lashley for the United States title at Elimination Chamber on Feb. 21, but he was pulled from the card on the day of the show. 

WWE publicly announced Lee was recovering from injuries sustained from an attack by Lashley. John Morrison won a Fatal Four Way match on the preshow to replace Lee in the title bout on the main card. 

After a five-month absence, Lee returned to television July 19 when he answered Lashley's call for a championship contenders match. The Almighty pinned Lee after hitting him with a spear. 

Lee traded wins with current NXT champion Karrion Kross on the July 26 and Aug. 2 episodes of Raw. 

WWE signed Lee in 2018 and assigned him to NXT. The 36-year-old was a featured superstar in NXT for most of his time on the brand. He ended the 403-day title reign by Adam Cole at the Great American Bash in July 2020 to become the first double-champion in NXT history, as the heavyweight and North American champion.

Lee was called up to the main roster after last year's SummerSlam pay-per-view.    

Bleacher Report catches you up on the latest news from the WWE Universe.

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Henry Comments on Punk and Bryan Possibly Signing with AEW

Amid rumors that CM Punk and Daniel Bryan are both set to join All Elite Wrestling, Rampage commentator and WWE Hall of Famer Mark Henry discussed that possibility.

Speaking to Joseph Staszewski of the New York Post, Henry said:

"I think it would be great for [any company] because you have unbelievable talent and two of the more master psychologists that I've worked with, guys that you sit down and you think, what's not being done in pro wrestling. When you have a mindset of, 'I want to do something everybody else don't do,' then automatically you are ahead of the game. You already have everybody. They're gonna be on edge because once they see something they haven't seen in years and it was really, really cool and you see someone who is well established and it's gonna get over."

Both Punk and Bryan would be huge additions to AEW given what they have accomplished throughout their careers, including during their time in WWE.

Punk, who was a multi-time world champion in WWE, has not wrestled since January 2014, meaning he has been the most coveted free agent in wrestling for more than seven years.

He has long been viewed as a potential game-changer during that time since fans have so badly wanted to see him back in the ring, and it may finally happen.

Meanwhile, Bryan isn't at all far removed from his WWE tenure, as he was part of the main event of WrestleMania 37 in April, losing in a Triple Threat match that also included Roman Reigns and Edge.

Like Punk, Bryan is a multi-time WWE world champion, plus he main evented WrestleMania twice and established himself as one of the most popular stars of the past 15 years.

AEW is already making gains in terms of television ratings, plus it is adding a new weekly show to Dynamite in the form of Rampage, which will air on Friday nights.

The company is building anticipation to the point where it could be poised to take another step forward if and when Punk and Bryan arrive.

Bringing back lapsed fans and convincing some WWE fans to tune in could be the biggest key to AEW truly competing with WWE in terms of ratings, and if signing Punk and Bryan doesn't accomplish that, then perhaps nothing will.

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Punk Reportedly Looks Good During In-Ring Training

Ahead of his rumored AEW debut, Punk reportedly looks to be on top of his game from an in-ring perspective.

In preparation for his role on the Starz series Heels, Punk recently got in the ring and sharpened his skills. According to Fightful Select (h/t Felix Upton of Ringside News), a source said "it was as if he'd never left" regarding how Punk looked in the ring.

The source also said Punk looked "completely healthy," and added that Punk "was very good in the ring, to the point where they wondered if he'd been training in private leading up to being in the ring with them."

Given that it has been more than seven years since Punk's last match, which was the 2014 Royal Rumble, it is fair to assume he may have to knock off some ring rust in preparation for an AEW run.

Punk is 42 years of age, and while it isn't known if he did any wrestling training during his time away from the business, it stands to reason that his age coupled with the layoff could create a learning curve of sorts in terms of getting his body used to taking bumps again.

Based on the accounts of those who saw him training for Heels, however, Punk is firing on all cylinders and prepared to get back in the ring, which is good news for AEW if it has indeed signed him.

The assumption is that Punk's AEW debut will occur on next week's episode of Rampage in Punk's hometown of Chicago, which is being called "The First Dance."

If that happens, a match at All Out on Sept. 5 would seemingly be a strong possibility, meaning Punk doesn't have much time to be truly in-ring ready.

Punk was one of the best in the world during his heyday, though, and there is reason to believe he can get back to that level with some repetition.

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Riddle Talks Cole's WWE Main Roster Prospects

Riddle is one of the few clear examples of an NXT call-up thriving on the main roster in recent times, making him something of an authority on that transition.

WrestlingInc.com's Raj Giri reported last week that Cole's WWE NXT contract is set to expire this month following his match against Kyle O'Reilly at NXT TakeOver 36.

It was subsequently reported by Fightful (h/t WrestlingInc.com's Joshua Gagnon) that Cole had a "high-level meeting" with WWE Chairman Vince McMahon at SmackDown.

McMahon reportedly took a liking to Cole, wants him on the main roster and set the wheels in motion for creative plans to be made for him on the main roster should he re-sign with the company.

In an interview with SportsKeeda (h/t Subhojeet Mukherjee of Ringside News), Riddle praised Cole but also expressed some uncertainty regarding how he would translate to the main roster:

"Adam Cole is amazing at what he does. He's one of the best wrestlers in the world, in my personal opinion. He's very charismatic, has a good look, everything else. I don't know, the main roster's the main roster.

"A lot of people dread going up there because they don't know what’s gonna happen to them or what have you, you know, and as they should be. I would say going from the indies, which is like a small pond, and then NXT is like a small ocean, and when you get to the main roster you are in the ocean with all the wild animals and the currents and everything else. It's just a different beast and sometimes you get lost in the shuffle."

One of WWE's biggest issues in recent years has been an inability or unwillingness to take the success of Superstars in NXT and translate it to the main roster.

Riddle has beaten the odds in that regard since McMahon has seemingly taken a liking to his comedic chops. As a result, Riddle is teaming with Randy Orton and could be poised for a run at the top in the near future.

Cole may not have prototypical size, but he is one of the best in the business on the microphone, and that alone may be enough to captivate McMahon.

Smaller wrestlers have thrived in WWE in the past under certain circumstances, and Cole's skill set is such that he could join that group.

It remains to be seen if Cole will re-sign with WWE, but if he does, there is reason to believe he could avoid the trials and tribulations many other NXT call-ups have experienced.

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Listen to Ring Rust Radio for all of the hot wrestling topics. Catch the latest episode in the player below (warning: some language NSFW).

Bleacher Report catches you up on the latest news from the WWE Universe.

Lynch Reportedly Scheduled to Attend SummerSlam

Becky Lynch hasn't appeared on WWE programming since announcing her pregnancy in May 2020, but it is possible that could change at SummerSlam.

According to PWInsider (h/t WrestlingInc.com's Marc Middleton), Lynch is slated to be in attendance at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas on Aug. 21.

That doesn't necessarily mean The Man will actually be part of the show, however, as she has attended some other WWE events over the past several months and remained backstage rather than appearing on camera.

Speculation regarding Becky's return continues to ramp up the further she gets from giving birth, though, and SummerSlam would be a stage fitting for the start of her comeback.

Lynch and fellow WWE Superstar Seth Rollins had their first child together in December, and now that she is eight months removed from giving birth, it isn't outside the realm of possibility that she is ready to get back in the ring.

Prior to the start of her absence, Becky was the reigning Raw Women's champion for over one year, and she beat Shayna Baszler at WrestleMania 36.

When the time does come for Lynch to return, it stands to reason that she will be inserted right back into the title scene.

That could set the stage for Becky to confront the winner of the Triple Threat Match for the Raw Women's Championship between Nikki A.S.H., Rhea Ripley and old rival Charlotte Flair, or perhaps step up to the winner of the SmackDown Women's title match between Bianca Belair and Sasha Banks.

Regardless of the plans, a Lynch return would be major news and generate a massive pop at SummerSlam, plus it would breathe new life into WWE's women's division on either brand.

Wyatt Was Reportedly Scheduled for Monday's Raw Before Release

Bray Wyatt was reportedly supposed to make his return on Monday's episode of Raw prior to getting released by WWE.

According to Fightful's Sean Ross Sapp, Wyatt was "working on adding creative elements to his character" before his shocking release, and those changes were supposed to be showcased Monday night.

WWE cut ties with Wyatt on July 31, marking the end of his 12-year tenure with WWE and sending one of WWE's most popular Superstars of the past decade to free agency.

Wyatt hadn't been seen on WWE programming since the night after WrestleMania 37 in April when he took part in a Firefly Funhouse segment on Raw. That came on the heels of Wyatt somewhat surprisingly losing to Randy Orton at WrestleMania under his Fiend persona.

Bray tweeted the following before Raw on Monday night, further fueling speculation that he had been planning something big before his departure:

You can’t kill it pic.twitter.com/Bi13czn5Zs

— WYATT 6 (@Windham6) August 9, 2021

While Wyatt's character didn't always land with the entirety of WWE's audience, he undoubtedly had a massive fanbase, and he has received no shortage of praise for his creativity.

Wyatt evolved time and time again in WWE, and it can be argued that his split-personality character with Firefly Funhouse Bray on one side and The Fiend on the other was some of the most compelling work of his career.

It seemed unlikely WWE would ever part ways with Wyatt given how deeply entrenched he was, how much television time he received and how much creative leeway he was seemingly given.

WWE has been releasing talent in droves since WrestleMania, however, and it feels like only the very top of the food chain (Roman Reigns, Randy Orton, etc.) of the world are truly safe.

Wyatt figures to thrive regardless of where he lands next, but fans will always be left to wonder what could have been had he been given the opportunity to debut an altered character during Monday's Raw.

Heyman Discusses Possible Reigns vs. Rock Dream Match

Wrestling fans have long discussed the possibility of a match between real-life cousins Roman Reigns and The Rock, and given Reigns' thriving heel persona, that match seems more likely to happen now than ever before.

In June, Dave Meltzer of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter (h/t Mitch Waddon of Cultaholic) reported that Reigns vs. The Rock is likely to happen at one of the next two WrestleManias, and perhaps as soon as WrestleMania 38 next year if it works with The Rock's busy acting schedule.

With rumors of Reigns vs. The Rock running rampant, it was only a matter of time before Reigns' special counsel, Paul Heyman, commented on the dream match.

In an interview with Inside The Ropes (h/t Nitish Vashishtha of Ringside News), Heyman said:

"Who doesn't want to main event WrestleMania against Roman Reigns? Anybody who says they wouldn't be interested in a WrestleMania main event is lying to you. Anybody who suggests they wouldn't be interested in the WrestleMania main event against Roman Reigns is lying to you.

"Roman Reigns is the most dominant WrestleMania main eventer in history. And Rock is just one of many people who are clamoring to step into the ring with Roman Reigns at any time, especially at WrestleMania."

Heyman also suggested that Reigns will send The Rock into permanent retirement from the ring if the match happens, saying: "If The Rock steps into the ring with Roman Reigns at any time, let alone at WrestleMania, that will be The Rock's farewell, whether The Rock wants it to be or not."

Reigns is approaching one year as Universal champion, and there is no question that he has been doing the best work of his career over the past year in a heel role.

Roman's "Tribal Chief" and "Head of the Table" nicknames have always felt like an indirect shot at The Rock since Reigns has claimed that he is the primary provider for his family.

The Rock may have something to say about that given that he is the biggest movie star in the world, and a wrestling fan can't help but be excited about some of the promo battles between The Rock and Reigns leading up to a match between them.

It seems like a matter of when rather than if Reigns vs. The Rock happens, and when it does, it has a chance to be among the biggest matches in WWE history.

Listen to Ring Rust Radio for all of the hot wrestling topics. Catch the latest episode in the player below (warning: some language NSFW).

Bleacher Report catches you up on the latest news from WWE and AEW.

Young Bucks Poke Fun at NXT Rumors; Triple H Held Out of Release Talks

NXT as we know it is in shambles, with mass releases taking place and a new supposed edict from upper management to reshape the program.

“Paul Levesque [Triple H] and Shawn Michaels didn’t have anything to do with the cuts. It was done by Vince McMahon, Bruce Prichard and John Laurinaitis, and the basic gist is that NXT is gonna change in some ways. They think the competitors are too small and too old," Dave Meltzer of the Wrestling Observer said.

The new edict from upper management is reportedly, "no [short people], no one starting in their 30’s, they want people who can be box-office attractions and main characters.”

The Young Bucks, known to regularly fire subtle shots in their Twitter bio, were once again at it over the weekend. While the bio has since been changed, it briefly said “Very tall. Not in our 30’s.”

Of course, Matt and Nick Jackson are both not very tall and very much in their 30s. 

It's safe to say the brothers feel good about their decision to not join WWE after negotiating with the company at multiple points in their indie run.

On the other hand, it's fair to wonder what's going through Triple H's mind, as he has seen his brainchild gutted without having much say in the process. NXT has been WWE's best weekly program since it moved away from its old developmental format; the fact that it "lost" the Wednesday Night Wars is not a commentary on its quality.

It's fair to say the so-called powers that be should probably focus on fixing Raw's dreadful quality and SmackDown's repetitive matches before meddling in the one part of the company that works. 

       

Paul Wight Could See Bray, Others in AEW

It's a false narrative that AEW has loaded its roster with discarded WWE guys; most of the WWE-to-AEW talents were performers who requested their releases or waited for their contract to expire.

That said, as WWE slashes talent across its roster, the natural inclination is to theorize how they would fit in AEW. The recent releases of Bray Wyatt and Braun Strowman—and, to a certain extent, Ric Flair's departure—have people speculating on their fit.

Paul Wight, another WWE-to-AEWer, says he thinks all three could find a role.

“Absolutely [they could fit in],” Wight told the Ring Report. “There has been an influx of talent. For whatever reason, WWE has gone in a different direction with what they’re doing as a company. Their business line is beyond me, and they do their own thing, and it works for them. They’ve had great success with it. The biggest difference that I can relate to anyone outside is that AEW is a wrestling company, but also one dedicated to the talent. It’s about the fans but also about the talent versus about being just about the company.”

“We have talents who are available, and if they make their way to AEW, it will result in an incredible amount of freedom for them to continue entertaining the fans and to continue to grow. Anyone now who has been in this business long enough is smart enough to see where momentum is going, and you’ve got to agree that it’s with AEW. It’s got a great groundswell of support from fans who are really into the product. The storylines are unique. They have a different flavor and excitement about them. I made the transition myself because after four decades, I left, as I could see the writing on the wall of where professional wrestling was headed.”

Wyatt is by far the most intriguing of the names recently released. He's twice gotten himself over with intricate, well-regarded gimmicks—only to have his momentum derailed due to poor booking decisions.

While Malakai Black is filling a role similar to the one typically portrayed by Wyatt, it's not hard to envision his coming up with something unique that gets him over with the AEW audience.

Strowman is a different story, as he's far more the typical style of wrestler you see pushed on WWE programming.

Listen to Ring Rust Radio for all of the hot wrestling topics. Catch the latest episode in the player below (warning: some language NSFW).

WWE is reportedly putting all hands on deck in order to retain Adam Cole.

Dave Meltzer of Wrestling Observer Radio (h/t Jason Ounpraseuth of Wrestling Inc) said writers have been instructed to write main-roster storylines for Cole, who is set to become a free agent after SummerSlam on August 21.

Cole has been with NXT throughout his time in WWE, becoming one of the most decorated stars in the brand's history.

His impending free agency led to some speculation he would be soon heading to All Elite Wrestling given he has several ties to the promotion. Cole's longtime girlfriend, Britt Baker, is the AEW women's champion, and he is a former member of the Bullet Club with Kenny Omega and The Young Bucks.

"It's no secret he comes to AEW sometimes and hangs out in the back," Baker said on Oral Sessions with Renee Paquette. She continued:

"His best friends are the Bucks and Kenny, so he’s got tons of friends there. I know this is going to create probably a little bit of controversy but I would love to work in the same company one day. I think that would make things a little bit easier. With that being said, I’m probably never leaving AEW because that’s my home."

Cole's fit on the main roster has always been a little iffy because guys of his stature are not typically featured at the top of the card in WWE. Meanwhile, AEW has several top stars who do not fit in the traditional WWE mold.

Listen to Ring Rust Radio for all of the hot wrestling topics. Catch the latest episode in the player below (warning: some language NSFW).

American Gable Steveson celebrated in grand fashion after taking gold in the 125-kilogram men's freestyle wrestling event at the 2021 Summer Olympics in Tokyo on Friday.

Steveson came from behind to beat Georgia's Geno Petriashvili 10-8 in the gold-medal match and pulled off his signature backflip afterward to punctuate the victory:

That GOLD medal feeling. 🥇#TokyoOlympics | @GableSteveson pic.twitter.com/rded6GWL6o

— NBC Olympics & Paralympics (@NBCOlympics) August 6, 2021

The 21-year-old Steveson wrestles in the super heavyweight division, which is the heaviest weight class contested at the Olympics. The super heavyweight limit is 125 kilograms, which equates to about 275 lbs.

As seen in the following video courtesy of NBC Olympics, Steveson was down 8-5 with about 12 seconds remaining in the match, but he staged a furious comeback with a pair of late takedowns to pry the gold from Petriashvili's grasp:

WHAT JUST HAPPENED! 🥇

@GableSteveson grabs the GOLD as time expires. #TokyoOlympics pic.twitter.com/yqMc3wbXsu

— NBC Olympics & Paralympics (@NBCOlympics) August 6, 2021

The win marked Team USA's first gold medal in men's freestyle wrestling's super heavyweight division since Bruce Baumgartner in 1992.

Steveson is perhaps the most highly regarded freestyle wrestling prospect in the world, as he is fresh off winning an NCAA Division I national championship at 285 lbs. for the University of Minnesota.

In addition to beating Petriashvili, who was the world champion in 2019, he beat Turkey's Taha Akgul earlier in the tournament. Akgul won gold five years ago at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro.

Steveson's performance was so impressive that he received a congratulatory tweet from WWE legend Triple H:

A GOLD-MEDAL celebration!!!
Congratulations to @GableSteveson on his performance at the #TokyoOlympics. Focused until the last second, another gold meal for @USAWrestling and #TeamUSA!!!! https://t.co/3ngH9Mrbok

— Triple H (@TripleH) August 6, 2021

Steveson is considered a strong prospect to transition to the world of professional wrestling with WWE. He has openly talked about his lifelong goal of being in WWE, and he appeared in the crowd for WWE's NXT TakeOver: Stand & Deliver in April.

Given his size, strength and athleticism, Steveson seems like a perfect fit for pro wrestling, especially following the success of another Olympic gold medalist in Kurt Angle.