Professional Wrestling

Bleacher Report catches you up on the latest news from WWE and All Elite Wrestling.

Sasha Banks Headed to Japan Early

While it's the wrestling world's worst-kept secret that Sasha Banks will be making her New Japan debut at Wrestle Kingdom, she's apparently getting a jumpstart on her new career by heading over to Japan early.

Hiraki Sawa reported in a since-deleted tweet that Banks will head over to Japan this week in hopes of landing sponsorship deals with Japanese companies.

A Grand Slam champion during her tenure in WWE, it appears Banks is set for a full-scale world tour after abruptly leaving the company alongside Naomi in May. While there has been no confirmation she will step into the ring during her New Japan appearance, it's been suggested that Banks could go one-on-one with KAIRI for the IWGP women's championship.

There has also been buzz about Banks potentially joining AEW, likely as Saraya's mystery partner at the Jan. 11 edition of Dynamite in Los Angeles. It's noteworthy that no one within AEW has gone out of their way to tamp down the buzz, and the company rarely fails to deliver in these hyped-up moments.

At the very least, we'll all be getting Sasha Banks—or whatever her new moniker is—on our screens very soon and that's a win.

Bronson Reed Makes Surprising WWE Return

Of all the possible endings to Monday's ladder match between The Miz and Dexter Loomis, no one predicted this one.

Bronson Reed made his shocking return to WWE as Loomis was preparing for victory, handing the victory to The Miz in exchange for a heaping pile of cash.

Reed was released by WWE last year as part of across-the-board cuts at the NXT brand, and he wasted no time flourishing after his departure. The Australian spent time in Impact but made his biggest impact (pun intended) in New Japan, where he defeated Kazuchika Okada in perhaps the most surprising result of this year's G1.

It didn't take any time for Wrestling Twitter to point out it's a bit of a downgrade going from winning against Okada to being The Miz's hired hand, but Reed clearly secured a hefty bag—both in kayfabe and real life—for his services.

Hopefully we'll get to see a more complete version of Reed during his second WWE run.

Matt Cardona Praises Cody Rhodes

Since his 2020 WWE release, Matt Cardona has not been shy about putting his body on the line. His "king of the deathmatch" gimmick got him over big time in GCW and was one of the best heel storylines of 2021.

While Cody Rhodes defeating Seth Rollins in Hell in a Cell didn't quite present the visual brutality of a deathmatch against Nick Gage, it was likely the most physical pain any wrestler has gone through during a match in 2022.

Cardona heaped praise on Rhodes, a longtime friend, and called the moment "iconic."

"He had to do that match," Cardona said on Insight with Chris Van Vliet. "Was it the smartest for his health? Maybe not, but it was such an iconic moment. And it really showed that he had the balls and passion for pro wrestling. I think he gained a lot of people's respect if he didn't have it already."

Rhodes has been out of action since the night after Hell in a Cell, though he should be primed for a return in the coming month or so.

Cardona could also be finding his way back to WWE sooner than later. While nothing has been confirmed, his wife, Chelsea Green, is reportedly on the precipice of returning to the company.

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

The relationship between Liv Morgan and Ronda Rousey is no longer a friendly one.

That's at least what Morgan said during her appearance on Twin Talk with Haley & Hanna Cavinder.

"I'm the only person in the whole entire world to beat her twice," Morgan said. "Since our title feud, we've steered pretty far away from each other. But beforehand, I think I was one of her first friends here in WWE. That's why when I won the title, she respected what I did and she was actually happy for me. But yeah, now, no, I don't like her anymore."

Morgan was almost certainly talking in kayfabe here. She's a seasoned enough pro to not go on a podcast and say she's best buds with a woman she's spent several months feuding with.

With that said, it wouldn't be the first time a kernel of on-screen beef carried over after the show was over.

Rousey defeated Morgan at Extreme Rules, ending a championship reign that began at SummerSlam.

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

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

Goldberg Hasn't Re-Signed With WWE

Apparently rumors of Goldberg signing a new deal with WWE have been exaggerated.

Fightful Select reported the Hall of Famer has not signed with WWE and will have his contract expire at the end of this year.

There had been rumors of Goldberg signing a new two-year deal that included five guaranteed matches. The excitement around the rumor centered on three of those five matches being against opponents Goldberg has previously not faced, seemingly in an attempt to elevate them on the Saudi or WrestleMania stages.

While it's possible (if not likely) WWE ultimately does re-sign Goldberg, his lack of contract as the year draws to a close is noteworthy. He's been absent from WWE television since losing to Roman Reigns at February's Elimination Chamber match, and it's fair to wonder if the company has gotten the most possible use out of the 55-year-old.

Whereas Goldberg's return was a welcome surprise for Monday Night Wars fans, there has been diminishing returns as each subsequent match has felt less special.

John Cena's In-Ring Return Driving Ticket Sales

It turns out John Cena was not ready for his 20th WWE anniversary to go off without appearing in a match.

Cena was surprisingly named as Kevin Owens' tag team partner for a match against Roman Reigns and Sami Zayn for the Dec. 30 edition of SmackDown, continuing his 20-year streak of having at least one match in a WWE ring. The company had promoted Cena making an appearance, but most assumed he would be making an announcement about joining the Royal Rumble or setting up WrestleMania plans.

Instead, it'll be Cena standing next to a formal mortal enemy in Owens and taking on The Bloodline to close out 2022.

Dave Meltzer of Wrestling Observer Radio said the announcement should help WWE sell out the show in Tampa, Florida.

"John Cena is real special. We know from last summer, he moved numbers," Meltzer said. "When he came back on Raw that one night, they sold out the show. And they're gonna sell out Tampa. They've moved a lot of tickets, maybe 2,000 tickets. ... when they announced Cena would be there."

That should come as no surprise, as Cena remains one of the biggest names in WWE history. His increasingly sporadic appearances on television also make him a special attraction whenever he decides to step into the ring.

Putting him in the ring with Owens will be a nice touch to KO's stellar 2022 as well, given he was put in the Steve Austin return match spotlight at WrestleMania.

Chelsea Green Set for WWE Return

WWE's women's roster is expected to be bolstered in the coming weeks by the addition of Chelsea Green.

Fightful Select reported Green's return to the company is imminent. She made her first appearance in the company all the way back in 2014 as part of a mistress angle with Brie Bella and Daniel Bryan, before being part of the Tough Enough series a year later.

Green would sign with WWE in 2018 and remain with the company in 2021, but her career never really took off due to injuries. Strong runs in Impact and NWA have followed, setting the stage for her to perhaps finally get a proper WWE run.

Of course, this will also lead to speculation of a return for Matt Cardona, Green's husband. Cardona was known as Zack Ryder in WWE for more than a decade before being released in 2020. He's since repackaged himself as one of the hottest acts on the independent circuit and has admitted he's open to a WWE return.

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