Chris Jericho

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

WWE Draft Tentatively Set for October

Dave Meltzer of the Wrestling Observer reported WWE has narrowed its plans for this year's draft to two dates in October, though it's possible the company could move it back to September. It has been waffling for several weeks in an attempt to figure out the best time to hold the draft, with dates in August, September and October discussed.

The decision likely comes down to when WWE most wants a bump in ratings. Drafts have typically been a ratings winner for WWE, as fans tune in to see how the rosters are shuffled.

Holding the draft in October could help the company prop up its fourth-quarter ratings, which tend to sag around the holiday season. WWE has seen cratering ratings across both Raw and SmackDown throughout 2020, with a combination of staid storylines and the lack of crowds creating issues.

It's likely the draft will feature some high-profile cameo appearances as well, which will allow WWE to promote it as a super show to get the last three months off to a strong start.

Jericho Wants Cesaro, Other Stars in AEW

If Chris Jericho was holding his own AEW draft, it appears Cesaro would be his No. 1 pick.

"Now we just have to get Cesaro in AEW and then we'll really stir it up," Jericho said on his Saturday Night Special series, per Wrestling Inc. "I think Cesaro in AEW would be one of our top guys."

Cesaro has long been one of WWE's worst utilized talents. He has a special combination of in-ring brilliance and is better on the mic than he's ever been given credit, and the Cesaro Swing was one of the most over moves of this generation. That said, WWE has never given him extended run at the top of the card, keeping him competitive but mostly contained to the lower midcard.

It's unknown how much longer Cesaro is under contract with WWE, but his time for a top-card run is dwindling. He turns 40 this year, and despite some great recent runs from aging stars, time waits for no one. If the Switzerland native is going to have a run that rightfully sets his place among the sport's greats, it's going to need to come soon.

Jericho also mentioned Roman Reigns, Will Ospreay, Ricochet, Kota Ibushi and Don Callis as guys he hopes AEW one day signs. Reigns seems like a pipe dream, with it being unlikely he'll ever depart WWE. Ospreay has been heavily pursued by AEW and WWE but has chosen to stay in Japan. Ibushi is likewise unlikely to ever leave his post with New Japan Pro-Wrestling.

Big E Ready for Singles Spotlight

With Kofi Kingston and Xavier Woods out with injuries, Big E is the lone healthy member of The New Day, and WWE is seemingly readying him for a long-awaited singles push. Big E appears committed to showing he's worthy of the moment. 

"This is all kind of coming out of nowhere," Big E said, per Anthony Sulla-Heffinger of Yahoo Sports. "I feel confident that I am ready for this. The interesting thing and weird thing is we don't have that organic response. I hope people enjoy this run, I hope it's good and entertaining, I hope all of the people who have clamored for this for years are not disappointed."

Woods has been out since December after suffering an Achilles injury, and Kingston was written off television with a kayfabe injury while he spends time with family. 

It's unclear what WWE has planned for Big E during Kingston's off time, though a feud with AJ Styles for the Intercontinental championship could give SmackDown some noteworthy matches in a fresh matchup. 

Chris Jericho doesn't see a return to WWE happening in his future, and he sounds at peace with it.

The 49-year-old became a mainstay on pro wrestling's biggest circuit in the early 2000s and hasn't appeared at a WWE event since WrestleMania 33 in 2017. Jericho briefly talked about the split on his YouTube channel Saturday, and any fans who held out hope for a reconciliation were left disappointed.

Here's how Jericho explained it:

"It's not going to happen. I really enjoy being in [All Elite Wrestling]. I loved my time with WWE. I love Vince McMahon. I learned a lot. I had a lot of fun, but listen, you can't stay in the same place forever.

"You become stagnant if you do, and I think you need to push yourself to do something new. The fact that AEW was live without a net when I first showed up and all of us have done such a great job of promoting this brand and promoting this company."

(Comments begin around 52:20)

Jericho began working with AEW in 2019, earning the inaugural title of AEW world champion later that year.

Now in the midst of a three-year contract with the company, it's even less likely McMahon and Jericho renew their partnership.

At the time he was written off three years ago, Jericho told Dan Gelston of the Associated Press he'd be fine if he never made his way back to the WWE.

"It'll be a long time before I go back," Jericho said (h/t 6abc). "If I ever do go back, if I never go back, it's fine. If I never wrestle another match, it wouldn't bother me."

It seemed hard to fathom at the time given Jericho has taken breaks from WWE before. It's become more believable as the years have gone on.

On Saturday, one of the greatest performers in WWE made it clear again: There's no going home.

In this week's edition of the Wednesday night wrestling war, AEW Dynamite defeated WWE NXT in the ratings for the second consecutive week. 

According to Bryan Alvarez of F4WOnline.com, All Elite Wrestling averaged 845,000 viewers during its two-hour broadcast on TNT, while WWE NXT garnered 615,000 viewers on USA Network.

In the main event of Dynamite, Chris Jericho and Jake Hager beat Luchasaurus and Jungle Boy, but that wasn't the big news. A masked wrestler arrived to help The Inner Circle after the match before removing his mask to reveal that he was Sammy Guevara.

Guevara had been suspended for a month after an inappropriate comment he made about WWE Superstar Sasha Banks several years ago was unearthed.

With Guevara back in the fold, The Inner Circle is whole again and will face the team of Luchasaurus, Jungle Boy, Best Friends and Orange Cassidy next week.

Dynamite opened with Cody's weekly defense of the TNT Championship against a mystery opponent. It was hyped ahead of time that Cody would be facing one of the biggest names on the indie scene, and that turned out to be true, as he was challenged by Eddie Kingston.

While Kingston pushed Cody to the limit and may have impressed enough to earn a contract, Cody retained the title.

Elsewhere on the show, The Young Bucks beat The Butcher and The Blade in a Falls Count Anywhere match, both MJF and Adam "Hangman" Page won enhancement matches, and Ricky Starks seemed to join forces with Brian Cage and Taz, as he helped them attack Darby Allin.

NXT was headlined by a highly anticipated match between Karrion Kross and Dominik Dijakovic following their backstage altercation last week. Kross brutalized Dijakovic, which led to NXT champion Keith Lee making his way ringside.

Dijakovic refused Lee's help, which led to Kross forcing Lee to watch as he put Dijakovic to sleep and won the match.

At the top of the show, Lee and NXT general manager William Regal made a huge announcement. Lee said he would relinquish the North American Championship in order to provide others with opportunities and focus on the NXT Championship.

As a result, Regal announced a series of Triple Threat matches, with the winners going on to compete in a ladder match for the North American title at NXT TakeOver: XXX on August 22.

In the first of those Triple Threats, Bronson Reed shockingly defeated Johnny Gargano and Roderick Strong to qualify for the ladder match and earn the biggest match of his career.

Other major happenings on NXT included Dexter Lumis beating Killian Dain, Timothy Thatcher once again defeating Oney Lorcan, and Mercedes Martinez joining the Robert Stone Brand.

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