Wrestling

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

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Jericho on Whether He Wants Punk in AEW

Amid rumors that CM Punk and Daniel Bryan are poised to join AEW in the near future, Chris Jericho was asked about his thoughts on Punk signing with the company.

In an interview with Kenny McIntosh of Inside The Ropes Wrestling, Jericho said the following about whether he wants Punk to enter the fray:

"Well, I mean, the short answer is, 'Of course.' I mean, he's one of the few guys out there that has this mythology surrounding him because he hasn't wrestled so long.

"Take Punk out of the equation. Sting is with us now. Edge is back in WWE. Christian is with us. But you take, other than that, guys who haven't wrestled for a long time, he's probably at the top of the list, unless you're going to throw Steve Austin in there and you know Steve's not going to come back."

Punk hasn't wrestled since the 2014 Royal Rumble, meaning he has been out of the business for well over seven years.

Despite that and the fact that he is now 42 years of age, there is clearly a huge appetite among fans to see him back in a ring.

Jericho alluded to that fact by mentioning how quickly the upcoming AEW Rampage at the United Center in Punk's hometown of Chicago sold out:

"So, it would create a huge buzz that would add to the already huge buzz that we have, and I think just the fact that 12,000 tickets sold at the United Center without one name even being announced, or one match even being announced, shows just how much anticipation there is for all of these things. So, yeah, we'll see what happens."

While AEW hasn't announced anything specific for the United Center show, the quick sellout was undoubtedly a byproduct of fans expecting Punk to make his AEW debut that night in his hometown.

Punk's AEW debut and return to wrestling would be a historic moment, and the upcoming All Out pay-per-view on Sept. 5 also being set for Chicago makes the timing all the more perfect.

Any wrestling company would benefit greatly in terms of generating buzz and excitement by adding Punk, and it looks like AEW is already reaping those benefits.

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Balor Talks When He Intends to Retire

Finn Balor is at the top of his game in WWE, but at the age of 40, it is fair to wonder how much longer he wants to remain in the professional wrestling business.

In an interview with WWE Die Woche (h/t Subhojeet Mukherjee of Ringside News), Balor addressed his wrestling future, saying:

"Crazy because when I was like 29, which seems like a long time ago now, I felt like, 'Oh, maybe I've got five years left.' And now that I'm a little older and a little smarter and a little wiser, I feel like I've at least got another five if not 10 left in the tank so you know if I'm smart, if I'm economical with my movements, if I kind of pick my battles, I definitely think I got five-plus years left in the tank for sure."

Balor has shown no signs of slowing down, and it can be argued that he has done the best work of his WWE career over the past couple of years.

After Balor was unable to return to the top of the food chain on the main roster following his Universal Championship win and subsequent injury in 2016, he went back to NXT in 2019.

That move revitalized Balor's career, as he got away from the smiling babyface character he had been on the main roster and turned heel before settling into more of a tweener role.

Balor went on to win the NXT Championship and hold it for 212 days before dropping it to Karrion Kross. Along the way, Balor had incredible matches against Adam Cole, Kyle O'Reilly and Pete Dunne, among others.

After dropping the title to Kross, Balor got called back up to the main roster, and he is now part of SmackDown.

He defeated Sami Zayn in his return match and got himself involved in the storyline between universal champion Roman Reigns and John Cena. While Reigns accepted Balor's status for SummerSlam, Baron Corbin blew the entire thing up, and Balor is now in a rivalry with Corbin.

WWE seems to be positioning Balor for a run at or near the top of SmackDown, and it is well deserved given what he accomplished in NXT.

Balor doesn't look anywhere near the age of 40 in the ring, and as long as he continues to perform at the high level he is reaching currently, there is reason to believe he could keep wrestling for a long time to come.

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Dunne's WWE Contract Reportedly Expiring

Like Adam Cole, Pete Dunne's WWE contract is reportedly set to expire in the near future.

According to Fightful Select (h/t WrestlingInc.com's Marc Middleton), Dunne's contract is expiring "some time after SummerSlam weekend" in late August.

It was previously reported by WrestlingInc.com's Raj Giri that Cole's contract was set to expire after SummerSlam as well.

The 27-year-old Dunne has competed under the WWE umbrella since 2016, when he made his debut as part of the United Kingdom Championship tournament. While Dunne didn't win the tournament, he turned some heads and quickly won the title.

Dunne went on to hold the UK title for 685 days, which is a record that has since been broken by current champion Walter.

In addition to holding the UK title, Dunne has been in the mix for the NXT Championship and North American Championship, although he has fallen short in his attempts to win those titles.

Dunne did hold the NXT Tag Team Championships as one half of the Broserweights with Riddle, however.

During his time in WWE, Dunne has had no shortage of memorable matches against the likes of Tyler Bate, Walter, Damian Priest, Roderick Strong, Cole, Balor, O'Reilly and others.

Currently, Dunne is part of a stable with Oney Lorcan and Ridge Holland, who returned last week from injury.

Dunne isn't involved in a title picture or a clear feud right now, which could be a sign that Triple H and NXT's decision-makers don't want to involve him in anything significant until or unless he gets signed to a new deal.

It would be a big loss for NXT if Dunne decides to sign elsewhere, but given how bloated the AEW roster is becoming and how little television time it has to allocate compared to WWE, re-signing may be the best move for Dunne in terms of having a chance to be a top guy.

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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).

WCW and NWA legend "Beautiful" Bobby Eaton died Wednesday at the age of 62. 

Eaton's sister, Debbie Eaton Lewis, posted a message on Facebook about her brother:

I never wanted to have to post this, but my Little Brother Beautiful Bobby Eaton passed away last night. When I find out all the details, i will post them. Bobby was the kindest, loving person you would ever meet. I loved him so much and going to miss him.

The cause of Eaton's death has not been announced.

Ric Flair, Edge, Eric Bischoff and more wrestlers and journalists shared their condolences on Twitter:

So Sad And Sorry To Hear About My Close Friend And One Of The All Time Greats, Bobby Eaton! Beautiful Bobby And The Midnight Express Were One Of The Greatest Tag Teams In The History Of The Business! Rest In Peace! 🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻 pic.twitter.com/DWTKeeL7wz

— Ric Flair® (@RicFlairNatrBoy) August 5, 2021

If you’ve studied pro wrestling with any true attention, you’ve studied Bobby Eaton. And understand just how special he was in the ring. Every time I encountered him outside of it, he was an even better person. #RIPBobbyEaton

— Adam Copeland (@RatedRCope) August 5, 2021

My heart goes out to the family, friends, and fans of Bobby Eaton. One of a kind talent whose skill in the ring made it look so real.

— Eric Bischoff (@EBischoff) August 5, 2021

The National Wrestling Alliance is Saddened to hear about the passing of the legendary 'Beautiful' Bobby Eaton.

We send our love to his friends and family.

His impact & legacy will always be remembered. #NWAFam pic.twitter.com/8jaqErv2bc

— NWA (@nwa) August 5, 2021

Just heard about Bobby Eaton’s passing. Bobby was a pioneer in the ring. He was one of the greatest wrestlers & people of all time. My thoughts are with his family & friends. #RIPBobbyEaton

— MATT HARDY (@MATTHARDYBRAND) August 5, 2021

My deepest condolences to Taryn, Dillon & Dustin and family of Bobby Eaton who has passed https://t.co/k9x6tbVLZm dear friend, partner, travel buddy, teacher, superbly skilled Pro who would make everyone who knew him feel happy inside, love you.x

— William Regal (@RealKingRegal) August 5, 2021

Bobby Eaton is a man with a professional reputation you aspire to build & a personal reputation you hope those you care for have about you. A MASTER of our craft and one of the nicest men I’ve had the pleasure to meet. My condolences to his family, my gratitude for the memories

— Samoa Joe (@SamoaJoe) August 5, 2021

Very shocked and saddened to hear about the death of Bobby Eaton. Between the ropes he could do it all. Super nice guy as well.

— Dave Meltzer (@davemeltzerWON) August 5, 2021

Pro wrestling lost one of its best with the passing of Bobby Eaton at the age of 62 Wednesday night. Truly one of the greatest inside and outside the ring, Bobby loved the business with a passion, and it loved him right back. pic.twitter.com/AWO6dvE04W

— Mike Mooneyham (@ByMikeMooneyham) August 5, 2021

Eaton began his career as a singles wrestler in NWA Mid-America as a 17-year-old in 1976. He won the NWA Mid-America heavyweight championship for the first time in 1979.  

After jumping to Mid-South Wrestling in 1983, Eaton's career hit another level when he was paired with Dennis Condrey to form the Midnight Express. The duo was managed by Jim Cornette.  

The feud between the Midnight Express and Rock 'n Roll Express became one of the most famous and iconic tag-team rivalries in the 1980s. 

After Turner purchased the broadcast rights to Jim Crockett Promotions in 1988 and launched World Championship Wrestling, Eaton had two stints with the company totaling over 10 years. 

Over the course of his four-decade career, Eaton won the NWA Mid-America tag team titles six times and WCW tag team titles three times. He was inducted into the Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame in 2019 as part of the Midnight Express with Condrey and Randy Rose.   

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

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The Rock Says He Hated Rocky Maivia Name

The fans weren't the only ones who disliked the Rocky Maivia name and character in 1996, as it turns out the man behind them wasn't too keen either.

Answering a fan question for Wired (h/t H Jenkins of Ringside News), Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson divulged that he wasn't pleased with being called Rocky Maivia upon debuting in WWE:

When it was first pitched to me from Vince McMahon, he says, 'I've got your name and I want it to be Rocky Maivia, what do you think?' He knows me now, and this is how I speak, I go, 'I hate it, I hate it,' because I hated the name. I hated it.

The lineage I had allowed me to knock on the door, but I wanted my own space. While I was very proud to come from who I came from with my dad and my grandfather, and my whole family is in wrestling, I said, 'I still wanted my own space.' I said, 'I hate it,' and he said, 'Oh well, that's your name.'

The name was a mashup of two wrestling legends who paved the way for The Rock: his father Rocky Johnson and his grandfather Peter Maivia.

Johnson received an instant push under the Rocky Maivia name and quickly became Intercontinental champion. Despite his roots and the fact that he was a babyface, the fans never embraced him in that role.

He garnered so much heat that WWE decided to turn him heel and align him with the Nation of Domination, which was a move that sent his career on a sharp upward trajectory.

As The Rock, Johnson became one of the biggest stars in the history of wrestling, and he parlayed that success into a massive acting career in Hollywood.

The Rock is now one of the most recognizable people in entertainment, and he overcame a rough start in WWE in order to reach those heights.

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Cody Praises Wyatt's Creativity

Following Bray Wyatt's shocking release from WWE last week, AEW star and executive vice president Cody Rhodes had some kind words for the former WWE and Universal champion.

During a media call for AEW Dynamite: Homecoming, Rhodes was asked for his thoughts on Wyatt's WWE departure and whether he could be a fit in AEW.

Rhodes declined to comment on AEW's potential interest in signing Wyatt, but said:

Bray Wyatt was my rookie in the second season they did of NXT. The Rotunda family and the Rhodes family, they certainly go way, way back. I can't comment on if I see a spot for him, when it comes to us, but I can tell you, he's an incredibly creative individual, an incredibly creative man.

Cody also drew from his own experience and suggested Wyatt should have no problem finding success in wrestling outside of WWE if he intends to take that route:

And whenever I see someone like that lose their job or move into the next phase in their career, as someone who left WWE on my own, at the time, that was super unheard of to leave. I can't be everyone's sounding board, but I really want to be. I'll give you an example. I'll pivot away.

I would have never thought that Matt Cardona was going to end up being GCW champion and getting pelted with trash, but I should have thought he would be doing something, and to circle back to Bray, I can't comment on if he fits in with us, but I can say, if he has an ounce of passion for this, that guy can fit in anywhere because he's a very special, special talent. That's really all I could say there.

While Cody couldn't talk about Wyatt possibly coming to AEW, presumably since Wyatt is under a 90-day non-compete clause and tampering could come into play, one can only assume AEW will be interested when he becomes available.

Lately, AEW has brought in several former WWE stars, including Malakai Black and Andrade El Idolo. Rumors are also running rampant that CM Punk and Daniel Bryan are set to sign with AEW.

As a three-time world champion in WWE and a top guy for much of his 12-year run with the company, Wyatt would move the needle for any wrestling promotion.

Wyatt is among the most creative minds in the business, as evidenced by his dueling Firefly Funhouse and Fiend personas, and the sky may be the limit for what he can accomplish if given the creative freedom to call his own shots.

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Angle Talks What It Would Take to Have One More Match

Kurt Angle wrestled his final match over two years ago at WrestleMania 35, but he isn't completely ruling out an in-ring return.

On his Kurt Angle Show podcast (h/t WrestlingInc.com's Marco Rovere), Angle discussed what it would take to get him back in the ring:

"If they paid me $10 million, I would do one more match. I'll wrestle Kenny [Omega] for $10 million. I'll get my ass kicked.

"Mrs. Angle [would kick my ass], I'm more scared of her than anybody else. I wouldn't be able to tell her, there's no way she would let me do it. She would lock all the doors from the outside."

Although he is widely regarded as one of the greatest wrestlers of all time, Angle may be best off staying retired given his age (52) and the fact that he dealt with so many injuries throughout his career.

WWE gave Angle a nice farewell tour, although may fans were left dissatisfied with him losing to Baron Corbin at WrestleMania in his final match rather than facing a higher-profile opponent.

Given that he is the AEW World champion, Omega would qualify, although it likely would no longer be the dream match it would have been in previous years.

Many consider Omega to be the best in-ring worker in the world, and while that distinction once belonged to Angle, the Olympic gold medalist is nowhere near that conversation now.

A one-time return in AEW, WWE or elsewhere at some point could be a great way for Angle to cap his Hall of Fame career, but his days of having lengthy, complex matches are likely over.

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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).

Former WWE Superstar Ruby Riott is expected to sign with All Elite Wrestling, according to Fightful's Sean Ross Sapp (via Marc Middleton of Wrestling Inc).

The 30-year-old has changed her social media handles to @realrubysoho and shared a photo of what appears to be her new look as she makes the next move in her career:

pic.twitter.com/C1431GqLqw

— Ruby Soho (@realrubysoho) August 3, 2021

Riott was among a handful of wrestlers let go by WWE in early June. As long as she wanted to continue wrestling, her return with another promotion was inevitable.

While she got lost in the shuffle a bit during her runs in NXT and WWE, Riott was solid as a singles performer and as the leader of the Riott Squad. She wasn't the first nor will she be the last wrestler who wasn't put in a strong position to excel by the WWE Creative team.

AEW has brought a number of former WWE stars into the fold since its launch in January 2019. Jon Moxley, Miro, Dax Harwood, Cash Wheeler, Andrade El Idolo and Malakai Black have all landed on their feet in the promotion after either being released by WWE or having their contract expire.

The addition of Riott would undoubtedly be a boon to the women's division.

One area of criticism directed at AEW in the past is the lack of attention paid to its female stars, especially on Dynamite. Signing Riott could be the sign of a larger investment in the women's division.

The timing may not be coincidental, either, with AEW Rampage, a new show on Friday nights, debuting Aug. 13. Whether it's Riott or another incoming star, kicking off the new weekly program with a surprise debut would be a no-brainer.

Malakai Black appeared on Talk Is Jericho with fellow AEW star Chris Jericho on Wednesday to discuss several topics, including his departure from WWE.

At one point in the conversation, Black talked about some of the creative issues and frustrations he went through during his time on WWE's main roster from 2019-21.

Beginning at the 3:50 mark of the video, Black discussed his relationship with WWE Chairman Vince McMahon and why he believes he never reached his potential on Raw or SmackDown:

"Since day one, Vince was always very fond of me. I've had good conversations always, but I definitely think there was a moment where Vince was like, 'I don't know what to do with this guy.' And every time I tried to say, 'Well, why don't we do this,' [Vince would respond], 'Yeah, maybe, maybe, maybe.'

"I think Vince was very keen on figuring it out himself, but I think he never did. And I think that is kind of what put the nail in the coffin."

Black, who wrestled under the name Aleister Black in WWE, was a top star and NXT champion in NXT, but it never translated once he got called up to the main roster, which has been the case for many NXT stars in recent years.

After being kept off television for more than seven months, Black made his return on the May 21 episode of SmackDown on the heels of vignettes airing in prior weeks.

Black attacked Big E during an Intercontinental Championship match and hit him with Black Mass, which seemed to be the start of a feud, but less than two weeks later, Black was shockingly released from the company.

It didn't take long for the 36-year-old veteran to land on his feet, though, as he debuted with AEW under the Malakai Black name on the July 7 episode of Dynamite, taking out both Arn Anderson and Cody Rhodes with Black Mass.

On Wednesday's Dynamite, Black will make his in-ring debut for AEW in a match against Rhodes.

      

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

Wrestling legend Ric Flair explained why he sought his release from WWE, which the company granted Tuesday.

Flair tweeted his gratitude toward WWE and wrote "We Have A Different Vision For My Future."

pic.twitter.com/hQHkVWJlks

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

The 72-year-old elaborated a bit further with People's Maria Pasquini and Elissa Rosen.

"We just didn't see eye to eye on some business opportunities that I wanted to pursue, so I asked for my release," he said. "There has been no animosity and everything has been on friendly terms."

Dave Meltzer of Wrestling Observer Radio (via Wrestling Inc's Jason Ounpraseuth) reported WWE Chairman Vince McMahon chose to let Flair go after he spoke to company officials about how his daughter, Charlotte, was being booked on programming.

The 16-time world champion told People that any rumors his release were related to Charlotte are "absolutely not true."

Last fall, WWE received criticism when reports surfaced about how the company was restricting the extent to which performers could engage with third parties.

Like Flair, former WWE star Mojo Rawley told TMZ Sports in July how he felt his departure allowed him more freedom to pursue non-wrestling opportunities.

Ronda Rousey took aim at the WWE Universe and called fans "ungrateful idiots" for what she sees as a level of hypocrisy.

WWE announced last week it released Bray Wyatt, a move totally unexpected given the success of "The Fiend" character. During Raw on Monday night at Allstate Arena in Rosemont, Illinois, Wyatt received loud cheers during the show.

For Rousey, the moment spoke to a larger issue:

I’ve seen you same “fans” chanting #WeWantWyatt last night chanting “We want beach balls” over @WWEBrayWyatt performing. If the @wwe treated him like he was expendable it was because you ungrateful idiots did first

— Ronda Rousey (@RondaRousey) August 3, 2021

With the former Raw women's champion, it can be difficult to know whether she's expressing her genuine thoughts or merely playing up a heel persona.

Rousey included the caption "#kayfabekiller" in an April 2020 Instagram post while saying "anyone who is outraged by me calling pro wrestling 'fake fights for fun' has never been in a REAL fight." A month earlier, she had said on her YouTube vlog "none of those b---hes can f--king touch me" with regard to the WWE women's division while also running down wrestling fans.

Rousey hasn't stepped inside a WWE ring since WrestleMania 35 in April 2019, but WWE president Nick Khan told Fox Sports' Colin Cowherd in April the 34-year-old "is gonna be coming back at a certain point in time."

The retired UFC star certainly isn't the first to call out wrestling fans for being fickle, so perhaps there wasn't anything more to her message Tuesday. But it would be a good way for her to get the ball rolling on a return.

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

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Flair Reportedly Voiced Frustration Over Charlotte's Booking

On the heels of news that Hall of Famer Ric Flair had been released from his WWE contract Monday, a new report surfaced regarding Flair's frustration with WWE.

According to Dave Meltzer of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter (h/t WrestlingInc.com's Jason Ounpraseuth), Flair messaged WWE Chairman Vince McMahon about his issues with the way his daughter, Charlotte Flair, was being booked.

Meltzer noted that McMahon made the decision to release Flair from his contract.

On Monday, Fightful and Raj Giri of WrestlingInc.com reported that Flair was no longer under contract with WWE after requesting his release.

It was later reported by Fightful Select (h/t WrestlingInc.com's Marc Middleton) that Flair was frustrated with some of WWE's booking decisions and had contacted McMahon about it, and then asked for his release.

On Tuesday, Flair released the following statement on his WWE departure and insisted he isn't upset with WWE:

pic.twitter.com/hQHkVWJlks

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

Flair most recently appeared on WWE programming early this year when he aligned himself with Lacey Evans in a feud with his daughter, Charlotte Flair. That rivalry was called off when Evans announced she was legitimately pregnant.

The Nature Boy had been making sporadic appearances on WWE programming for several years before his release after wrestling for the company from 1991 to 1993 and again from 2001 to 2008.

Charlotte's fiance, Andrade El Idolo, left WWE and signed with AEW this year. Chavo Guerrero is serving as his mouthpiece, and it stands to reason that Ric Flair could be added to the mix.

Having Flair interact with Sting is also a possibility given all the memorable matches and moments they had together in NWA and WCW. That included facing each other in the last match ever on WCW Nitro in 2001.

Since Nitro aired on TNT, which is the current home of AEW Dynamite, a Flair appearance on Dynamite in the near future would make sense for all parties involved.

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WWE Officials Reportedly Surprised By Cole's Contract

The fact that Adam Cole's WWE contract is reportedly set to expire this month has apparently taken some within the company by surprise.

According to PWInsider (h/t Middleton), some WWE officials were under the impression that Cole was under contract through at least January 2022.

It was also reported that there was some "frustration" among WWE officials that Cole's contract status became public.

Giri reported Monday that Cole's contract actually expired last month, only for him to sign a short-term extension that will expire in August.

Cole reportedly signed the extension in order to finish his program with Kyle O'Reilly, as they have beaten each other one time apiece. After O'Reilly attacked Cole on NXT last week, it seems likely they will face off again at NXT TakeOver the weekend of SummerSlam.

Given Cole's contract status, it is possible the match could have a loser leaves NXT stipulation. That would either allow Cole to leave the company and sign elsewhere, such as AEW, or he could sign a new deal with WWE and be elevated to the main roster.

Cole has been the face of NXT since signing with WWE in 2017, as he held the NXT Championship for a record 396 days and led the highly successful Undisputed Era stable.

There is no question that Cole would be a huge loss for WWE, and with both CM Punk and Daniel Bryan rumored to be signing with AEW, it could increase WWE's sense of urgency to keep Cole in the fold.

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TV Executives Reportedly Frustrated By Wyatt's WWE Release

WWE's decision to release Bray Wyatt last week reportedly didn't sit well with some of those who work for WWE's television partners.

According to Andrew Zarian of the Mat Men Pro Wrestling Podcast (h/t Middleton), there was "a lot of frustration" from the networks working with WWE regarding Wyatt's release. WWE has billion-dollar television deals for Raw and SmackDown with NBC Universal and Fox.

Zarian noted that one network source told him, "Bray's release is really disappointing and a little scary that top stars are being let go."

Wyatt is the latest in a long line of releases since WrestleMania 37 in April, including the likes of Braun Strowman, Aleister Black, The IIconics and Mickie James.

Given his status as a two-time universal champion and one-time WWE champion, as well as a mainstay in WWE for the past 12 years, Wyatt is the biggest name and biggest surprise of those cuts.

Wyatt had not been seen on WWE programming since the night after WrestleMania 37 in April, when he took part in a Firefly Funhouse segment on Raw.

The expectation was that Wyatt would be back soon, especially with SummerSlam set for Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas on August 21.

Instead, WWE decided to part ways with Wyatt despite his popularity and that of his Fiend character.

Given how aggressive AEW has been in signing former WWE stars, it is likely that speculation will ramp up regarding Wyatt possibly signing there soon.

If AEW is able to land Punk, Bryan and Wyatt, it may be difficult for WWE to ignore the buzz its main competitor will receive.

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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).

Adam Cole's Contract Set to Expire After SummerSlam

Let the All Elite Wrestling rumors commence.

Raj Giri of Wrestling Inc reported Adam Cole's contract with WWE will expire after SummerSlam on Aug. 21. The deal was originally up after the Great American Bash pay-per-view, but Cole chose to briefly extend his window—ostensibly to either give the two sides more negotiating time or to wrap up his NXT storylines.

Cole is set to face Kyle O'Reilly at TakeOver 36 in a match that's been built as their last head-to-head contest. Having the two go one-on-one for the final time would make a great deal of sense if Cole was planning to leave WWE once his deal expires.

Cole's linkage to AEW is a well-trodden territory. His longtime girlfriend is AEW women's champion Britt Baker, and he has longstanding existing relationships with The Young Bucks, Kenny Omega and Cody Rhodes dating back to their times in Japan and the independent circuit.

There is no question AEW would put out an all-out blitz to sign Cole if he ever became a true free agent.

“It’s no secret he comes to AEW sometimes and hangs out in the back,” Baker said earlier this year on Oral Sessions with Renee Paquette (via Wrestling Inc's Brie Coder). “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.”

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WWE Morale Down After Bray Wyatt Release

Bray Wyatt's release was one of the most surprising in recent memory, and it turns out it hit the locker room hard.

Fightful Select reported nearly 20 people in the WWE locker room spoke of their disappointment regarding Wyatt's release. Wyatt was well-liked backstage and viewed as one of the most creative people in the entire company.

Some senior members of the roster said even they felt their jobs are no longer safe.

The fact of the matter is WWE holds 100 percent of the blame for Wyatt not being this generation's Undertaker. He is, as many noted, a wildly creative star who came up with two of the most over gimmicks of this generation—only to have WWE spoil Wyatt's runs with poor booking decisions.

While it's easy to say Wyatt will flourish in an environment like AEW with more creative freedom, it's also possible that his high-budget ideas were only possible because of WWE's massive production budget.

It'll be interesting to see where he lands next.

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Hangman Not on All Out Card?

AEW shocked the wrestling world last Wednesday when The Elite defeated Adam Page and the Dark Order, taking Page out of contention for an AEW Championship match with Kenny Omega at All Out.

No one quite knows who Omega will face at the September pay-per-view, but it won't be Page—who reportedly will not be part of the card at all.

Dave Meltzer of Wrestling Observer Radio reported Page is now expected to not feature at all in Chicago, though no reasoning has been given. 

AEW has earned the benefit of the doubt when it comes to long-term booking, but having arguably your top babyface in the entire company sit out the biggest event of the year is surprising. 

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

Ric Flair is no longer with WWE, the company confirmed on Tuesday.

Flair also provided a statement after WWE announced his release: 

pic.twitter.com/hQHkVWJlks

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

Raj Giri of Wrestling Inc. and Sean Ross Sapp of Fightful reported on Monday that Flair asked for and was granted his release, effective Monday. The Fightful report says Flair was "frustrated" with recent booking decisions at the company and directly contacted Vince McMahon expressing his desire to leave the company.

The 72-year-old legend signed a new contract with WWE last year. He had been making occasional appearances on WWE programming in recent years and was involved in a storyline with his daughter, Charlotte, and Lacey Evans that was abandoned ahead of WrestleMania due to Evans' pregnancy.

Both Charlotte and Ric Flair publicly admitted they were unhappy with the storyline. Ric said he was uncomfortable with the seeming romantic angle with Evans, who is more than 40 years his junior and married in real life. 

“In this instance, I didn’t [feel comfortable],” Flair said on the Ariel Helwani MMA Show. “The one thing I’ve learned is you’re not going to win a war when someone’s got their mind made up. She most definitely didn’t like it, but the one thing that I can say about me is I always said yes. I didn’t want to be that guy that was always going ‘Oh, that isn’t perfect for me.’"

It's unclear if the Evans storyline was the impetus for Flair's departure, though that seems unlikely given he stayed with the company for months after it ended. 

Flair has been making occasional appearances in WWE since his in-ring retirement in 2012. 

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