Match Card Predictions for AEW's 1st TNT Show After All Out PPV
Sep 2, 2019
The Young Bucks backstage following AEW All Out.
All Elite Wrestling took over the Sears Centre near Chicago on Saturday for its fourth major pay-per-view, All Out. The event was a huge success as the crowd was a sellout and the matches provided a lot of entertainment for the fans in attendance and those watching at home.
As the final PPV before TNT debuts its weekly show on October 2, this show has the responsibility of setting up a few feuds for the future and crowning the first AEW world champion.
Chris Jericho defeated Hangman Adam Page in the main event at All Out to claim the title, but he already has his first challenger lined up for the third episode of the untitled TNT show.
The Fozzy frontman has a different challenge ahead of him for the premiere episode when he teams up with two mystery partners to battle Kenny Omega and The Young Bucks.
We will also see the first AEW women's champion crowned at the show as well as Cody vs. Sammy Guevara.
The two-hour program already has three interesting matches planned, and we will likely find out more in the coming weeks about what we can expect. For now, let's take a look at each bout and make some predictions.
The Young Bucks and Kenny Omega vs. Chris Jericho and Two Mystery Partners
Jericho has been working as a heel in AEW and hasn't made many friends along the way, so figuring out who his mystery partners are is going to be difficult.
He could choose a current tag team, two singles stars or we could see the debut of two new people on the roster. Whatever happens, he has a big hill to climb in this match.
Omega and the Jackson brothers have been together since their days in The Bullet Club, so they know each other about as well as anyone can in this business.
Their chemistry is going to give them an edge over just about anyone, but this is Jericho we are talking about. He always has a plan and a backup plan in case his first one fails.
As the first AEW world champion, the company is going to want to feature him prominently in its TNT debut, and that is a good reason why he and his unknown teammates are going to score the win in this one.
Cody is coming off a big win at All Out over Shawn Spears to put his record at 2-1-1. Sammy Guevara lost his first match at Double or Nothing to Kip Sabian and won a six-man contest with MJF and Spears at Fight For the Fallen to put him at 1-1.
It is still early in AEW's life and wins mean a lot in this phase, especially with the company putting a greater emphasis on wins and losses.
For all intents and purposes, Cody has been the face of AEW since its inception. A lot of people have worked hard to make this company a reality, but Cody is the guy most people recognize from his years in WWE.
As much as Cody would benefit from a victory, Guevara would get so much more out of it. He would have bragging rights, and it would put him in a good position to get himself into the hunt for the title.
Even if he cheats, Guevara is going to be the man with his hand raised at the end of the match.
Riho defeated Hikaru Shida at All Out to earn herself a spot in the AEW Women's Championship match at the company's debut episode, and her opponent is none other than Nyla Rose.
The Japanese Superstar has already established herself as one of AEW's top women with wins at Double or Nothing, Fyter Fest and All Out. She is also the only woman who has competed at every AEW event so far, which shows you how much the company believes in her ability.
Rose has also been featured prominently and picked up a significant victory at All Out in the Casino Battle Royal, once again showing her dominance.
While both competitors would be great inaugural champions for the company, Rose feels like the obvious choice here. She is going to be positioned as the powerhouse of the division, and becoming the first champion is going to make her a star.
Riho can recover from the loss and will hold the belt one day, but that day will not be October 2. That day is reserved for Rose.
Pac debuted for AEW at All Out and scored what some would call an upset victory over Omega, but The Bastard wasn't done there.
After Page lost to Jericho in the main event, he was giving an interview backstage when Pac interrupted him and threw a water bottle at his face. The situation was broken up before it turned physical, but it created some intrigue.
These are two men who both feel like they have something to prove, and it looks like they could be one of AEW's major feuds moving forward. Pac is still working to make sure people don't just think of him as Neville from WWE, and Page wants to prove he belongs in the main event scene.
This is a great combination of different styles and talent. They are both considered among the best pro wrestlers in the world today, and booking them to have a singles bout on the first episode of AEW's weekly show would produce a match-of-the-year candidate. It's a match made in heaven.
Jon Moxley is scheduled to make an appearance on the first episode of AEW, but it is still unknown if he will be able to compete.
Other Superstars likely to be featured are Maxwell Jacob Friedman, Orange Cassidy and both Dustin and Brandi Rhodes.
AEW's weekly TV show and everything it could become is making this one of the most exciting times to be a wrestling fan in years. If every episode of AEW is as good as its PPVs have been, WWE has some serious competition to worry about.
All Elite Wrestling will hold its fourth pay-per-view Saturday, All Out, but this is the most important event for the young company because it is the final PPV before its weekly television show debuts on October 2...
Jon Moxley's Injury Ramps Up the Degree of Difficulty for AEW to Nail All Out
Aug 29, 2019
TOKYO, JAPAN – AUGUST 12:Jon Moxley lifts the belt during the New Japan Pro-Wrestling G1 Climax 29 at Nippon Budokan on August 12, 2019 in Tokyo, Japan.(Photo by Etsuo Hara/Getty Images)
All Elite Wrestling has held three pay-per-views, but Saturday's All Out event from Chicago is the company's most important heading into its weekly television debut on TNT on October 4.
Double or Nothing, Fyter Fest and Fight for the Fallen were all helpful in creating buzz for AEW and All Out is being touted as the biggest show yet to help launch the weekly series. This PPV is a test they cannot fail.
The fledgling promotion has already established itself as a potential threat to WWE with its aggressive strategy of hiring top talents and giving its Superstars more creative control over their matches.
AEW has done a great job pushing guys like Kenny Omega, Adam Page, Chris Jericho, Shawn Spears, MJF, The Young Bucks, Cody and Dustin Rhodes as major players, but Jon Moxley was arguably the company's biggest signing.
WWE has been trying to keep people by offering more lucrative contracts for longer periods so the competition doesn't steal its biggest stars, but the former Dean Ambrose chose to walk away from the company when his contract expired in April.
Management did not appear to hold any grudges and gave him a great sendoff with a WWE Network special focusing on The Shield and a final match at a live event alongside Seth Rollins and Roman Reigns.
Moxley was a grand slam champion having held the intercontinental, U.S., WWE and Raw tag team titles during his career. He was making a lot of money and being featured regularly on television, but he was frustrated with the direction his character had taken and decided to see what else the world had to offer.
Since leaving WWE, he has made a name for himself as one of the biggest stars on the indie scene. He is the current IWGP United States champion and was set to face Kenny Omega on Saturday.
Unfortunately, he announced on Twitter that he would have to pull out of the event due to a bad case of MRSA in his elbow. He said the surgery and recovery should be quick so he can be back for AEW's debut on TNT.
I'm absolutely gutted to have to deliver this news but I'd rather it come directly from me. In a nightmare scenario, a serious case of MRSA has returned in my elbow. The timing couldn't be worse. In this circumstance I am forced to pull out of the fight 8/31 vs Omega at All Out .
I apologize to all involved, most importantly the fans. I am incredibly frustrated and pissed off. I'll have surgery this week to remove the bursa sac in my elbow and be done with it for good. Should be a quick recovery so I will be 100% for AEW Wednesday nights on TNT.
As one of AEW's biggest draws, a lot of the promotion for All Out was centered around his unsanctioned match with Omega. With less than two weeks until the show from the time Moxley announced his status, the company had to scramble to replace him.
Fortunately, Pac (fka Neville in WWE) was able to step up and take his place. He is going to have a great match with Omega, but it will not be the same hardcore-style encounter we would have gotten.
As great as this bout will be, it is no longer the marquee contest. AEW has to rely on matches like Cody vs. Shawn Spears, Jericho vs. Page and the 100th encounter between The Young Bucks and Lucha Brothers to entice people to tune in.
Jericho is a living legend and the rest of the roster includes some incredible stars from around the world, but Moxley was the guy AEW was hoping would draw WWE fans to the show.
The bout was billed as being unsanctioned, which means people were expecting a lot of violence and a good chance for both Superstars to end up bloody. For some fans, having a few hardcore matches like this is part of the appeal.
While losing Moxley this close to the show is unfortunate, it is not going to completely derail All Out. This PPV has several interesting feuds that will come to a head and the possibility for several other Superstars to make a name for themselves.
The tag team division is going to be on full display with Best Friends vs. The Dark Order, Lucha Bros vs. Young Bucks and Private Party vs. Angelico and Jack Evans in addition to SoCal Uncensored vs. Luchasaurus, Jungle Boy and Marko Stunt in a six-man contest.
The women will also be given two chances to shine with a 21-woman Casino Battle Royale and Riho vs. Hikaru Shida.
Saturday is important to AEW's future. A successful event, with or without Moxley, will help the company launch its weekly TV show and set it on a path toward success.
AEW All Out: Full Match Card Preview and Every Feud Explained
Aug 28, 2019
All Elite Wrestling's All Out, its second major pay-per-view event, is Saturday in Chicago and features a stacked card.
Expectations are high for the inaugural AEW World Championship match between Chris Jericho and Adam Page, a ladder match between the Lucha Brothers and The Young Bucks for the AAA world tag team titles, and Cody Rhodes vs. Shawn Spears to settle their deeply personal feud.
Seven other bouts fill out the mid-card with intriguing stakes and storylines. It's also the last major event before AEW's weekly show begins Oct. 2 on TNT.
Here's the breakdown of every announced match at AEW's All Out.
Where and How to Watch
All Out will be held Saturday, Aug. 31, at Sears Centre in Chicago.
The main card starts at 8 p.m. ET, preceded by a two-match pre-show called The Buy In at 7 p.m.
Main Card
Chris Jericho vs. Adam Page (inaugural AEW World Championship)
Lucha Brothers (c) vs. Young Bucks (ladder match for AAA world tag team championship)
Cody Rhodes vs. Shawn Spears
Kenny Omega vs. Pac
Best Friends vs. The Dark Order (winner earns a first-round bye in the AEW world tag team championship tournament)
Darby Allin vs. Jimmy Havoc vs. Joey Janela
Luchasaurus, Jungle Boy and Marko Stunt vs. SoCal Uncensored
Riho vs. Hikaru Shida
The Buy In
21-woman Casino Battle Royale (winner earns a match for the inaugural AEW women's world championship)
Private Party vs. Angelico and Jack Evans
Private Party vs. Angelico and Jack Evans
This should be a good one to warm up the Chicago crowd before All Out's main card begins. Both tag teams are athletic and charismatic, which should translate to a fun match.
Private Party's Buy In match at Fyter Fest against Best Friends and SoCal Uncensored gave many fans their first glimpse at Isiah Kassidy and Marq Quen as a tag team.
It was a good AEW debut and especially impressed executive vice presidents Matt and Nick Jackson, better known as The Young Bucks, who offered the duo full-time contracts backstage after the match.
Private Party and The Young Bucks face off in the first round of the AEW world tag team championship tournament on Oct. 9.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LA2ozmsf-Mc
At All Out, Private Party goes up against Angelico and Jack Evans, who lost their two previous matches at Double or Nothing and Fight for the Fallen. It'll be interesting to see if they play a role in the tag team tournament.
21-Woman Casino Battle Royale
You might remember the men's version of the Casino Battle Royale from Double or Nothing. It was the first match in AEW history, and Page won to clinch his spot in the inaugural AEW world championship bout.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M6C0m9i77W8
The women's version will also have similar stakes, with the winner earning a shot at the AEW women's world championship Oct. 2 at the weekly show's first event in Washington D.C.
Britt Baker, Nyla Rose and Brandi Rhodes are just a few of the announced participants, but there's still roughly half the field to fill out. It's not a reach to expect a couple surprises in this one.
Riho vs. Hikaru Shida
Fans will be relatively familiar with Riho, the only women to compete in all three of AEW's previous events. She faced off against Hikaru Shida on opposite teams during their six-woman tag match at Double or Nothing.
Although not officially signed to AEW full-time, Riho comes highly praised by executive vice president Kenny Omega who has worked with the 22-year-old in Japan since she was 14.
Shida, meanwhile, is a 15-time world champion during her work for various Japanese promotions.
The 31-year-old will be eager to continue showcasing the Japanese women's wrestling style of Joshi with her compatriot to a North American audience.
Luchasaurus, Jungle Boy and Marko Stunt vs. SoCal Uncensored
A matchup between one of the fastest-growing acts in AEW against a veteran three-man tag team that rarely underperforms was added earlier this week to the All Out card.
Luchasaurus and Jungle Boy, charmingly known as "A Boy and His Dinosaur," quickly won fans over at Fight for the Fallen as a babyface tandem during their three-way match against The Dark Order and Angelico and Jack Evans.
Their chemistry is already there, and the fighting spirit of Jungle Boy as an undersized high-flyer balances well with the physically imposing Luchasaurus.
They added Marko Stunt to their team, another diminutive high-flyer who made a name for himself at Fight for the Fallen by delivering a hurricanrana off the top turnbuckle to an opponent of his two newest comrades. Let's see how he fits into the already-over tag team.
SCU's short-handed team of Frankie Kazarian and Scorpio Sky lost their previous two matches, but their win at Double or Nothing came with Christopher Daniels completing the three-man stable.
What effect will he have on the team this time, and how could this match factor into AEW's tag team tournament?
Darby Allin vs. Jimmy Havoc vs. Joey Janela
All three of these men have pulled off an array of extreme spots in their early AEW tenure.
Although this match doesn't technically have any hardcore stipulation, it would be surprising if we didn't see a couple of heart-pounding moments from it.
After the trio competed in a tag team together at Fight for the Fallen and lost, they took their frustrations out on each other by brawling backstage.
None of them have won a match at AEW yet, so it'll be interesting to see in which direction this match goes.
Best Friends vs. The Dark Order
Both teams are coming off good performances after Best Friends defeated Private Party and SoCal Uncensored at Fyter Fest and The Dark Order outlasted A Boy and His Dinosaur and Angelico and Evans at Fight for the Fallen.
Both matches were fast-paced, but that won't necessarily translate to this one as neither team is known for high-flying.
Instead, expect more of an old-school tag team match that's grounded and tries to tell a story more through in-ring psychology than jaw-dropping spots.
The winner earns a first-round bye in the AEW world tag team championship tournament. Although the rest of the bracket hasn't been announced, The Dark Order are likely favorites in this one considering how they've been pushed as top tag heels to this point.
Pac vs. Kenny Omega
This isn't the match we originally expected, but it'll certainly do.
With Jon Moxley being forced to pull out of his match against Omega due to a staph infection, Pac (formerly known as Neville in WWE), got the call as a replacement.
Although he was one of the first signings in AEW's history, the former WWE cruiserweight champion makes his debut for the promotion after creative differences kept him off the previous events.
It begs the question: Was the plan for Pac to always make an appearance at All Out in some fashion? It likely wasn't going to be as an announced competitor in order to keep his debut a surprise, but it seems rather coincidental that he happened to be available after having creative differences at past shows.
Regardless, another well-known name on the roster is a good thing for AEW. Let's see how this match affects Pac's early trajectory with the company.
As for Omega, he still seems to have his attention on Moxley.
Rather than just forget about his original match, AEW capitalized on the moment for when their highly anticipated bout does eventually come and added another layer to their budding rivalry with this promo from Omega:
All Out is stacked with intriguing matches. The feuds developed over the first three shows in company history laid the foundation for Saturday's event. None have gotten as deeply personal as Cody Rhodes vs. Shawn Spears, though.
The feud began with no obvious backstory as to why Spears plastered Cody on the head with a chair at Fyter Fest. It's blossomed because of the intricate storytelling AEW fans hoped to see from the young promotion.
After Spears laid Cody out with a chair shot, he brought in wrestling legend Tully Blanchard for psychological insight into what he can expect from his opponent at All Out.
Blanchard and Spears added a clause in the match contract stating only one person would be allowed in the corner of each competitor during the bout. It was obvious who would accompany Spears, but who accompanies the AEW executive vice president has yet to be announced.
Could it be Brandi or MJF? Could we see someone from Blanchard's past who can match wits with the Horseman? There are plenty of options, most of whom already have their own stake in the feud. The surprise addition will add another layer to this bout.
This is the promotion's first real test in building a storyline that stretched for months, and so far it's worked. AEW's four events before its weekly show begins have given the promotion the opportunity to get its feet wet creatively. This feud has yet to feel far-fetched or disingenuous.
The match itself is what fans will really remember. If both wrestlers—and everyone else involved in the match—can deliver a satisfying finish, it would be a strong bridge to the start of AEW's weekly television.
Lucha Brothers vs. The Young Bucks (Ladder match: AAA World Tag Team Championship)
This rivalry between two of the top tag teams in the world reaches new heights in what's being referred to as an "Escalera de la Muerte", the Lucha Brothers' version of a ladder match.
It's unknown just how different this will be from a typical ladder match, but The Young Bucks did hint at this playing into the Lucha Brothers' style as well as the potential addition of tables.
It seems these tag teams are destined to put on great match after great match at this point, and adding ladders to their rivalry keeps things fresh.
The Young Bucks defeated the Lucha Brothers at Double or Nothing before teaming with Kenny Omega to hand Ray Fenix and Pentagon Jr. another loss in a six-man tag match at Fyter Fest.
It's already known that The Young Bucks will face Private Party in the first round of the AEW tag team tournament, so it's unlikely they will strip the Lucha Brothers of the AAA titles.
However, this match could be further proof that AEW is serious about being an industry leader with their tag team division rather than just an afterthought. The Young Bucks are leading that charge as executive vice presidents of the company and hope to continue backing up their words with a good display.
Adam Page vs. Chris Jericho (AEW World Championship)
The All Out card ends with a bit of history as AEW crowns its first world champion.
Page, who won the Casino Battle Royale at Double or Nothing to earn his spot in the title match, comes into All Out undefeated after additional wins over Jimmy Havoc, Jungle Boy and MJF in a four-way match at Fyter Fest and most recently a victory over Kip Sabian at Fight for the Fallen.
After his last match, Jericho ambushed Page and left him with a battered eye. Later that night, "Hangman" returned the favor and assaulted his rival before both men were pulled apart by a plethora of officials, referees and wrestlers.
Jericho defeated Omega in the main event of Double or Nothing for a shot at the inaugural AEW World Championship. Since then, the former WWE world champion has demanded a thank you from fans for putting AEW on the map.
Will we see him add another major title to his long list of accolades or will Page actually ride a horse out of the Sears Centre?
The biggest moment in the history of All Elite Wrestling is just on the horizon. August 31 will be the date of All Out , a night where the company will crown its first world champion and put on one final great show before debuting on TNT...
Omega Rips Moxley, Peyton Royce-Shawn Spears Wedding and Sasha vs. Nattie Set
Aug 26, 2019
TOKYO, JAPAN – AUGUST 12:Jon Moxley lifts the belt during the New Japan Pro-Wrestling G1 Climax 29 at Nippon Budokan on August 12, 2019 in Tokyo, Japan.(Photo by Etsuo Hara/Getty Images)
Bleacher Report catches you up on the latest news from the WWE Universe.
Kenny Omega Rips into Jon Moxley After All Out Match Canceled
Jon Moxley's bout with MRSA could not have come at a worse possible time. AEW is preparing for this month's All Out pay-per-view, and the match between Moxley and Kenny Omega is arguably even more hyped than the Chris Jericho-Hangman Page championship bout.
Attacking Omega served as Moxley's AEW debut after months of speculation about his next move after his WWE departure. Now the blow-off of that feud will either never be resolved or will have to wait for the AEW debut on TNT.
Suffice it to say Omega isn't happy. Omega cut a nearly four-minute promo on Moxley in the latest Being the Elite episode:
Speaking strictly in kayfabe, it's not hard to see Omega's point of view. Moxley has been globetrotting for months checking off his wrestling bucket list before going full-time with AEW when the weekly television begins. Moxley's work schedule ultimately put him in risk of something catastrophic like this happening.
Back in the real world, of course, we know how these things work. AEW agreed to allow Mox to have his run of the indies and Japan over the summer, which were likely non-negotiable from his standpoint. He left WWE over creative differences and probably wouldn't have signed with AEW had they wanted him to not compete in events like the G1.
The timing of it all is just a shame, but hopefully, we'll get to see them continue their feud on weekly TV.
Peyton Royce, Shawn Spears Get Married
One half of the Iiconics is officially off the market.
Peyton Royce and AEW star Shawn Spears tied the knot over the weekend:
Congratulations to my good friends @PeytonRoyceWWE and @Perfec10n on their wedding!! So happy for you guys!
WWE announced Sasha Banks will finally make her return to the ring after a five-month absence, taking on Natalya on Monday's Raw.
Banks is also set to address the WWE Universe, where it's expected she'll talk about her hiatus and heel turn—much of which has left Natalya battered heading into their matchup. It's unclear how WWE will explain Natalya going from seriously injured and in a sling one week to facing off in a match the next.
It's also equally possible this match never takes place and Banks again takes out Natalya to further cement herself as the biggest heel in the women's division.
Jon Moxley Pulls out of Kenny Omega Match at AEW All Out Due to Elbow Infection
Aug 23, 2019
TOKYO, JAPAN - AUGUST 11: Jon Moxley enters the ring during the New Japan Pro-Wrestling G1 Climax 29 at Nippon Budokan on August 11, 2019 in Tokyo, Japan. (Photo by Etsuo Hara/Getty Images)
Jon Moxley announced Friday on Twitter that he has been forced to pull out of All Elite Wrestling's All Out pay-per-view Aug. 31 due to an elbow injury.
Moxley noted that he has a "serious case" of MRSA in his elbow that will render him unable to face Kenny Omega in one of the event's marquee matches:
I'm absolutely gutted to have to deliver this news but I'd rather it come directly from me. In a nightmare scenario, a serious case of MRSA has returned in my elbow. The timing couldn't be worse. In this circumstance I am forced to pull out of the fight 8/31 vs Omega at All Out .
Also, Moxley tweeted that he will undergo surgery to remove a bursa sac:
I apologize to all involved, most importantly the fans. I am incredibly frustrated and pissed off. I'll have surgery this week to remove the bursa sac in my elbow and be done with it for good. Should be a quick recovery so I will be 100% for AEW Wednesday nights on TNT.
Pac was originally supposed to face Adam "Hangman" Page at Double or Nothing in May, but he was pulled from the card shortly before the show due to reported creative differences.
Despite not being able to compete, Moxley tweeted his hope that fans will still tune in to All Out:
Still, I expect All out to be an amazing ppv and hope all the fans out there looking for an alternative tune in. You will be blown away by AEW and be excited to be a wrestling fan. I'm looking forward to watching as a fan myself
Moxley made a shocking debut at AEW's Double or Nothing in May following the main event between Omega and Chris Jericho. The former WWE Superstar attacked Omega, which set the stage for what was supposed to be a huge contest at All Out.
For the past couple of months, Moxley has primarily been competing in New Japan Pro-Wrestling. He won the IWGP United States Championship in his first match for the company and also took part in the G1 Climax tournament.
Earlier this week, Dave Meltzer of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter (h/tSteve Russellof SEScoops), reported Moxley may have contracted the elbow infection while wrestling in Japan.
Moxley worked a singles match against Pentagon Jr. last week, but Meltzer noted that he was careful not to bump on his injured elbow.
This isn't the first time that Moxley has dealt with an infection, as he suffered a staph infection while recovering from a bicep injury in 2018. Moxleysaidthe infection nearly killed him.
With Moxley on the shelf, there is suddenly a major hole in the All Out card. Jericho and Page are likely to main-event in a match that will determine the first AEW world champion.
While Moxley and Omega getting called off is undoubtedly a disappointment to fans, Omega vs. Pac has the potential to be a show-stealing match as well.
Moxley's status is worth monitoring leading up to the debut of AEW's weekly show on TNT on Oct. 2 since he is expected to be a huge part of the product.
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Cody Rhodes: Wednesday Is Now the 'Most Important' Night in Wrestling
Aug 23, 2019
Many wrestling fans will remember the industry-changing Monday Night Wars between WCW and WWE at the turn of the century. WWE announced Aug. 20 its developmental brand, NXT, will make the jump to television on Wednesday nights and compete with All Elite Wrestling. AEW executive vice president and former WWE star Cody Rhodes told B/R Live he believes this rivalry could help revitalize the wrestling industry similarly to how WCW and WWE did.
"I think the most important night in all of wrestling is now Wednesday nights," Rhodes said. "The best wrestling is going to be happening on Wednesday nights. It's destination TV, and when's the last time wrestling was destination TV? It's now must-watch, and I'm not going to complain about that. ... Wrestling fans now have a choice, and I hope they choose us."
In May, AEW announced it will begin airing a live weekly show on WarnerMedia's TNT with the start date later revealed to be Oct. 2.
AEW is following in the footsteps of World Championship Wrestling, which first aired WCW Monday Nitro on TNT in 1995. WCW became WWE's chief rival, and it beat WWE in the Monday night ratings war for 83 weeks in a row before falling off the pace. WWE purchased WCW in 2001.
WWE's NXT will begin airing as a live two-hour show every Wednesday on USA Network on Sept. 18. NXT previously only streamed on the WWE Network. The move is perceived as a direct response from WWE to AEW's weekly show.
Not only will both AEW and WWE televise shows on the same night, but they'll also fill the same time slot from 8 to 10 p.m. ET. This is the first time since the Monday Night Wars between WCW and WWE that two high-profile wrestling promotions will compete for ratings on the same night at the same time. According to Alfred Konuwa of Forbes, AEW may be anticipating the new rivalry by purchasing the "Wednesday Night War" domain.
"I'm oddly intrigued to see what Vince McMahon does with NXT," Rhodes said. "My dad was instrumental in building the NXT brand. For a long time, it had been a developmental project. For Vince to now bring it to the USA Network as if it's a full brand, I'm just intrigued by it."
WWE's decision to have its developmental brand compete with a new company backed by notable names in the wrestling world such as Rhodes, Kenny Omega, the Young Bucks, Jon Moxley and Chris Jericho is an interesting one. McMahon could be trusting his wealth of experience in the business and relying on up-and-coming talent like Adam Cole, Velveteen Dream, Shayna Baszler and Johnny Gargano to put it ahead. He might also be using the same tactic he used in the 1980s when the then-WWF would schedule high-profile shows to compete directly against the NWA and play hardball with cable operators.
The nostalgia of Monday Night Wars will likely increase fan interest in both brands early. It's too early to tell which company will get the upper hand, but in the short term, fans will be the winners.
All Out, AEW's final event before its weekly show begins, takes place Aug. 31 and features a stacked card including Jericho vs. Adam Page to crown the inaugural world champion, Rhodes vs. Shawn Spears and the Young Bucks vs. Lucha Brothers. Fans can order the event on B/R Live.
AEW Rumors: Jon Moxley Dealing with Elbow Injury Ahead of Kenny Omega Match
Aug 22, 2019
TOKYO,JAPAN - AUGUST 11: Jon Moxley looks on during the New Japan Pro-Wrestling G1 Climax 29 at Nippon Budokan on August 11, 2019 in Tokyo, Japan. (Photo by Masashi Hara/Getty Images)
All Elite Wrestling star Jon Moxley is reportedly dealing with an elbow injury leading up to his match against Kenny Omega at All Out on Aug. 31.
According to Dave Meltzer of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter (h/t Steve Russell of SEScoops), Moxley may have suffered an infection in his elbow while working in Japan:
"Jon Moxley has some kind of an elbow injury. It may be an infection that he got in Japan. He worked shows this weekend for Northeast Wrestling and with the exception of the 8/16 show in Poughkeepsie, his singles bouts were made tags. He pretty much insisted on doing his singles match with Pentagon Jr., and was very careful not to bump on the elbow."
Moxley is the reigning IWGP United States champion, and he is coming off his participation in New Japan Pro-Wrestling's G1 Climax, when he wrestled nine matches over several weeks.
The wrestler formerly known Dean Ambrose has a history of dealing with infections dating back to his time in WWE.
Moxley was out for eight months until August 2018 due to a biceps injury. While recovering from surgery, Moxley was diagnosed with a staph infection that hesaidnearly killed him.
After departing WWE in April, Moxley resurfaced at AEW's Double or Nothing in May. Moxley appeared after the main event and attacked Omega, Chris Jericho and the referee.
A match between Moxley and Omega was booked for All Out soon thereafter. It will mark Moxley's second match for AEW, as he previously defeated Joey Janela in a non-sanctioned match at Fyter Fest.
Moxley vs. Omega is one of the two biggest matches on the All Out card along with Jericho vs. Adam "Hangman" Page to determine the first AEW world champion.
The fact that Moxley still worked a singles match against Pentagon for an indie promotion despite the reported injury is a positive sign regarding his ability to wrestle at All Out, but it does raise questions about whether he might be forced to change his style for the bout.
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