Jon Moxley

Just days after winning the AEW World Championship, CM Punk announced Friday on Rampage he'll have to take time away from the company to undergo surgery on an undisclosed injury.

Punk, 43, confirmed he's planning to eventually return and "prove exactly why I'm the best in the world":

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IvsZ0hVlM8U?

ESPN's Marc Raimondi reported AEW will crown an interim champion while the Chicago native is on the mend. A battle royal will be held Wednesday on Dynamite for a shot to face Jon Moxley for one of the spots in the main event at the Forbidden Door pay-per-view on June 26, where the interim belt will be up for grabs.

It's a disappointing turn of events for Punk, who made his long-awaited return to wrestling last August and put together entertaining feuds with the likes of MJF and Darby Allin before getting a shot at the company's top title.

He was likely set for an extended run as AEW world champion, as each of the first four title-holders—Chris Jericho, Moxley, Kenny Omega and "Hangman" Adam Page—held the belt for at least six months.

Given that, he'll probably be the heavy favorite to win the unification match upon his return and embark on his expected title run.

Punk didn't provide information about his recovery timetable, likely in order to retain the surprise element for his eventual comeback.

Meanwhile, the good news for AEW is its roster features plenty of depth, giving the company ample options to carry the load while Punk is rehabbing.

Along with Moxley, it wouldn't be a surprise if MJF is thrown into the mix, as his current anti-establishment storyline is gaining serious traction. Wardlow, who defeated MJF at Double or Nothing, is also a star on the rise.

The biggest question is whether AEW would prefer to go with a more established option like Mox or use this opportunity to elevate a new face to the top of the card.

It'll be intriguing to watch the situation play out leading up to Forbidden Door later this month.

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

The Jericho Appreciation Society defeated Blackpool Combat Club in a 10-man Anarchy in the Arena match at AEW Double or Nothing on Sunday night.

Chris Jericho and Jake Hager combined for a double submission on Bryan Danielson as the match neared its conclusion. Jericho had Danielson trapped with a single-leg crab while Hager was choking Danielson out with the ring rope.

The referee called for the bell when he passed out.

That capped off a physical, bloody affair.

.@Santana_proud sacrificing his own body to take out @RealJakeHager! Order #AEWDoN NOW on @BleacherReport & Internationally on @FiteTV / https://t.co/30z8K48kUT pic.twitter.com/Ytqt8ZRH6Z

— All Elite Wrestling (@AEW) May 30, 2022

https://twitter.com/AEW/status/1531113687506898945

https://twitter.com/AEW/status/1531114262176968704

https://twitter.com/AEW/status/1531115751599443968

.@bryandanielson is enraged! Get #AEWDoN NOW on @BleacherReport & Internationally on @FiteTV / https://t.co/30z8K48kUT Two huge matches left; there's still time to order! pic.twitter.com/LRg3CT0TuH

— All Elite Wrestling (@AEW) May 30, 2022

The basis of Sunday's bout was a feud pitting Eddie Kingston, Santana and Ortiz against the JAS comprised of Jericho, Hager, Daniel Garcia, Angelo Parker and Matt Menard.

Jericho formed the new stable after his singles feud with Kingston, which essentially caused the implosion of The Inner Circle.

While Hager stayed by Jericho's side, Santana and Ortiz aligned themselves with Kingston. That wasn't initially a fruitful move for Santana and Ortiz since the numbers advantage allowed the Jericho Appreciation Society to get the upper hand.

That all changed a couple of weeks ago when Kingston's longtime friend, Jon Moxley, confronted Jericho and Co. and made it clear that he would fight alongside Kingston.

Also, despite the fact that he and Kingston aren't necessarily close, Danielson entered the fray in support of his BCC stablemate in Moxley.

William Regal is the founder and manager of BCC, and while he is no longer a wrestler, he even got in on the violence by knocking out Jericho with a single punch.

That didn't sit well with Jericho, who eventually challenged Moxley, Danielson, Kingston, Santana and Ortiz to a 10-man tag at Double or Nothing. Specifically, Jericho called for it to be a Stadium Stampede match.

Mox accepted the challenge on behalf of his group but shot down the idea of Stadium Stampede, saying the match needed to be a brutal battle with no rules.

It ended up being precisely that, but BCC could not get their revenge as the Jericho Appreciation Society came out on top.

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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: profanity). 

In just two months, Blackpool Combat Club has become All Elite Wrestling's hottest stable. That's likely because the group is composed of three of the most popular acquisitions from WWE dealing out copious amounts of violence. It's an appealing selling point for most fans.

For about three minutes, William Regal waxed poetically about the group's intentions to make sure their opponents never forget them by leaving scars as a part of the Road to Baltimore special. 

This amazing segment that aired on the company's YouTube channel deftly summarized why the act works so well. 

"You're going to remember us, because of the scars we left on you"@RealKingRegal outlines the core tenets of the #BlackpoolCombatClub, as demonstrated by @JonMoxley, @bryandanielson & @WheelerYuta.
Tune in to #AEWDynamite LIVE at 8/7c TOMORROW on TBS to catch them in action. pic.twitter.com/DA1HlwSqq0

— All Elite Wrestling (@AEW) May 3, 2022

It was a nice addition to AEW's style of storytelling and the polar opposite of Chris Jericho's promo to introduce the Jericho Appreciation Society. Is it any wonder that Bryan Danielson, Jon Moxley and Wheeler Yuta attacked the JAS on the last episode of Dynamite? They're essentially their antithesis, so it was only a matter of time before they crossed paths.

This confrontation could lead to the next Blood and Guts match, AEW's version of the classic WarGames stipulation. NXT fans may remember that its former general manager settled disputes that got out of hand with that match type.

So, it could lead to a fun callback to his time with the black-and-gold brand, but where else is this going? Blackpool Combat Club is a tremendous act but what is the endgame for them?

            

Mentoring Future Stars

This new unit started when Danielson confronted Moxley on Feb. 2, offering him the chance to join forces and run roughshod over the rest of the roster. The proposition led to their gut-wrenching match at Revolution in March.

At the event, Mox countered The American Dragon's triangle choke into a pin to narrowly escape the bloody confrontation. Infuriated by the finish, Danielson started a brawl with his opponent.

Afterward, Regal debuted and broke up the fight, delivering a strike likened to Antonio Inoki's famous slap. Legend has it that a slap from the first IWGP heavyweight champion and the founder of New Japan Pro-Wrestling imbued people with fighting spirit. It's a clever reference for savvy fans that AEW seemed to play off of here and in the initiation into the Blackpool Combat Club.

It's not hard to tell that Japanese wrestling has influenced the group because it has been such a crucial part of their careers. Regal worked with NJPW in the early 1990s as Lord Steven Regal. The Englishman trained Danielson during his time with Memphis Championship Wrestling, but he also was a student at the NJPW's original Los Angeles dojo.

Even more, the 40-year-old also wrestled with promotion before returning to WWE in 2009. His desire to compete in Japan again seemingly led to his decision to join AEW.

Moxley's current presentation is also inspired by Atsushi Onita, and he has wrestled a host of NJPW wrestlers in the United States over the past year.

Regal employed the slap again when Yuta sought to join them on the St. Patrick's Day Slam edition of Dynamite. This excellent callback to Danielson's initial offer, where he talked about taking newcomers like the 25-year-old under their wings, paid off. It also ensured that mentorship will continue to be an integral part of the stable's goals.

The group put the current ROH Pure champion through the wringer, but he ultimately impressed them and won over the AEW fanbase. Yuta is quickly becoming the breakout star of 2022, and he recently made the trip to Japan to compete in this year's Best Of The Super Juniors tournament.

Moxley similarly mentored a young lion, Shota Umino, during his run with NJPW. So, this angle is a great way to draw from each of the initial members' careers and use their collective experience to create new stars. It would be nice to see them interact at Windy City Riot and it would be cool to see Shooter become an official member of BCC.

Nevertheless, we will more than likely see more recruits like Lee Moriarty as he and Danielson have been linked for some time.

         

Championship Gold

Danielson proposed that he and Moxley could change the direction of AEW by training the future of pro wrestling. However, he also told his stablemate that they could be world champions.

So, it seems easy to predict that Blackpool Combat Club will challenge for title gold very soon. Mox and The American Dragon have been a formidable tag team. They could dethrone Jurassic Express, who the Aberdeen, Washington native mocked as he made his offer.

Adding Yuta to the mix makes them a top option for AEW's eventual trios titles. According to the Wrestling Observer Newsletter (h/t Robert Gunier of Wrestling Inc), Tony Khan has already commissioned the new belts and it's only a matter of time before he introduces them.

ROH also has a set of six-man tag team titles that haven't appeared since Final Battle 2021. If Khan wants to take the belts off The Righteous and reintroduce them, Blackpool Combat Club would be the perfect contenders.

Lastly, Moxley is currently third on men's power ranking, which would seem to suggest he will reenter the title picture soon. In fact, he could be the next No. 1 contender following the AEW World Championship match at Double or Nothing on May 29. This would put either Adam Page or CM Punk in his sights.

Punk and the ex-member of The Shield have a history together. However, he also withdrew from the AEW World Title Eliminator Tournament last year, missing his chance to gain a shot at Page. In his absence, his stablemate won the tournament and went on to challenge Hangman, so there is a story to tell between both men.

This also potentially gets us one step closer to a staredown between Punk and Danielson. AEW has not revisited their storied rivalry yet. They haven't even appeared on screen together, which seems incredibly intentional. If The Best in the World defeats Hangman, Blackpool Combat Club could be the way to reignite their feud.

It's difficult to say if this means the stable will secure the company's top prize anytime soon but there is certainly championship gold in their future. It wouldn't even be hard to imagine all three active members holding a title at some point.

When it comes to pro wrestling legends, few are as universally respected by fans and wrestlers as William Regal.

His career in the industry spans more than 30 years and includes runs with several different promotions, including both WCW and WWE at the height of their powers.

Nowadays, the former King of the Ring is helping others in their quest for greatness by running The Blackpool Combat Club in All Elite Wrestling. With Bryan Danielson, Jon Moxley and Wheeler Yuta as his proteges, Regal has quickly built one of the most popular factions in all of pro wrestling.

We had a chance to speak to the Englishman about joining AEW, forming the BCC, how he's feeling physically, his approach to performing and much more.

How He is Holding Up

No matter what kind of style you work, spending over 30 years in the wrestling business is going to take its toll on your body.

Regal has dealt with his fair share of injuries over the years, but he is doing well these days as he celebrated turning 54 on Tuesday.

"I feel as good as I can possibly feel as far as from what I've been through, if that makes any sense," he said. "You know, major neck surgeries. I've had a pericardiectomy, which was this very, very rare thing to have. Thirty years as a wrestler, 26 of those full-time.

"So I've just finished doing 200 Hindu squats, and 100 Hindu push-ups and walked a couple of miles. So for being 54 in a few days, I feel as good as I think I'm ever going to. I probably could feel a bit better if I really put my mind to it as far as getting my work done on my body and all that kind of stuff, or doing extra bits of whatever, but I think I feel as good as I possibly can be and for what I've done with my life, so I feel good."

Joining AEW

Regal made his AEW debut at the Revolution pay-per-view on March 6 at the end of Danielson and Moxley's brutal encounter.

As somebody who has had a big impact on the careers of both men, he took it upon himself to break up their post-match fight and put them on the same page.

And the four-time WCW TV champion seems to be having the time of his life with his new role.

"I've enjoyed it immensely," Regal said. "How many weeks am I in? I really don't even know how many weeks, it's just gone by so quickly. And if I actually take a step out of it for a second and look back and think, 'Well, I was fortunate enough to get brought into this company to be in a role. And that role worked out.'

"And we're only in two months, which is nothing really, and we've made a new star. And we haven't even scratched the surface of what we can do with this group. It's just been great."

Forming the Blackpool Combat Club

When Regal confronted Moxley and Danielson at Revolution, he instantly put them in their place with a couple of slaps to the face. Once everybody calmed down, they immediately got on the same page and began forming a plan.

A few weeks later, Yuta was added to the group. He not only proved himself in a brutal encounter against Mox, but he also didn't back down from Regal despite being a bloody mess after the match.

They took the ROH Pure champion under their wing and have been dominating ever since. Regal spoke about bringing the group together and how it all came about.

"So Bryan gave me a call," he said. "It might have been three weeks maybe before I actually debuted, and he said 'Could you talk to Tony [Khan] please? Would you like to come in here? We have this idea.' And I thought, 'That sounds like a lot of fun.' And then I talked to Tony, and it all sounded like a lot of fun to come in as a talent and again just be me and be with Bryan because we've got such a long history together.

"Then I started watching the show because when I was let go by WWE, I checked out of wrestling completely. It might have only been six weeks, but when I say that I checked out, I checked out because all I've ever done is wrestling. And the only times I haven't done it is has been when I've been really, really ill.

"So it wasn't my job anymore. Let me have a complete break from this and not think about it, except for stuff that I liked, which is watching old British wrestling with my son who lives in England. We watched some old British stuff and some old Japanese stuff, and that was it. Then I was checked out.

"So I started watching the show. And then I saw Bryan mentioning there was stuff going on with him and Jon, which looked to me like they were going to be together. And then I spoke to Bryan again. He said, 'Yes, this is the idea.' So I'm saying, 'Thank you. Great.' So I turn up and just do my thing. I didn't know what I was doing until about maybe 15 minutes before we actually did it.

"I got to the building at 7:15 p.m. or something that night. I was in the room. Finally, Jon and Bryan came in and said 'Right, here we go. This is it.' And I'm like "What, this is it?"

"They told me, 'Yep, this is it. We're going out and having a match in a bit, we'll see you then. You just come out and react.' And that's exactly what we did. I just went out and reacted. And, you know, they gave me half an idea of what they wanted and where they wanted to go."

The name of the group is obviously a reference to where Regal grew up and got his start in the business, but he wasn't the one to suggest Blackpool Combat Club as the group's title.

"So the name, the Blackpool Combat Club, it was Jon's idea. I was like, 'You sure you want to call it that?' And Jon said, 'Yeah, it sounds great.'Wheeler's name was mentioned and he came on board. And then we're where we're at, as of this moment. And so that's how it's all worked out.

"We all get on together and just seem to work. Whatever it is, it just seems to click, which is a fantastic thing to have. Something else I've been very fortunate with. I've never been involved with any group or tag team that I haven't clicked with, which is a great thing to have. And I seem to just be clicking with this group, and they get on together. And we all get on together, and it just clicks.

"And that's what's happening at the moment. When you're comfortable being who you are, you can go out and pull anything off really, once you've done this a while. And we just all seem to work as a unit."

Giving Advice to Young Talent

For years, Regal has been passing his wealth of knowledge on to the next generation of pro wrestlers. He worked with many people in NXT, and he is continuing to help the roster in AEW both on and off-screen.

"I love being around a lot of young talents who want to be wrestlers," he said. "I enjoy it because I was very fortunate when I was a teenager to get into this job with the best wrestlers possible in Britain, and then Europe, and then different parts of the world.

"Because they knew I wasn't going anywhere and I worked hard, they gave me all their time and taught me a lot. I've never forced myself on anybody, but anybody wants to come and work on wrestling, that's what I love to do.

"I feel bad that I haven't gotten enough time for the amount of people who are coming up to me. You know, I just want to start working on something with somebody, that's the day gone. I'm really enjoying it."

His Approach to Performing

As a veteran of the business, Regal has done just about everything you could imagine. He has played the hero and the villain, he has worked as both a serious and a comedic character, and he has worked with opponents at every level.

The BCC leader has learned to not only make the most of every situation but also how to enjoy himself while he is doing it.

"I love the fact that I can just go out and be me, which took a bit of getting used to, to be honest," Regal said. "And when I say me, there is no real me. There's whatever William Regal turns into, and that is influenced from all kinds of wrestlers, all kinds of entertainers, a lot of old British stuff.

"It's very similar to when I was Lord Steven Regal in WCW. And nobody's saying don't do that. And really, I didn't have [people saying no] in WWE. I was very fortunate there because Mr. McMahon trusted me with whatever he gave me. And so when I hear these stories about people, you know, having to do these different things. I was given ideas, and it was just 'Go and do it.'

"And I've always had the attitude of 'Let's just make it work.' So I've just gone and done it. This might offend a few people but you hear these things, 'Well, they have all these writers, scripts, all the stuff.' Well, they do that so you know what you're doing.

"As long as you earn the trust first, and they know that you can actually pull off what they need, you take that and make it your own and go and sit in the stands for an hour, and like 'How can I make this into something and use my own words.' As long as you get that trust at the beginning, when you go there, you can go where you want with that stuff."

While being a pro wrestler involved a certain level of acting, Regal doesn't see himself as an actor in the strictest sense. He approaches things from more of a reactionary standpoint.

"There's learning how to react, or there's being an actor," he said. "I'm not an actor, I react to things. And it takes a long time to get to that. But fortunately, I had a lot of experience before I came here and failed miserably. That was before I came to America and died on my backside a thousand times trying different things.

"But once I came here, I just learned to react to situations. And so whatever you've got, you can make it into something. I've got that now, where I can just go out and be William Regal, and whatever's on my mind or however the mood takes me.

"I'm even sat there saying stuff and thinking, 'Where's that come from?' It's like something that somebody said 50 years ago and I happen to see on a piece of film 30 years ago, and it just comes out for me. So I'm really enjoying that bit of it.

"So, again, I've been fortunate that I've had a lot of that in my career where I've had some great talent where I could just go out and be amazed. For any younger talent reading this, you have to earn that trust with whatever company you're working for. You have to earn that trust first. I'm having a blast."

The Full Conversation

Regal was generous with his time and we spoke for over an hour on many topics. To hear the full conversation, check out the video above.

Here is a list of some of the other topics he covered:

• Whether he has considered a career in acting.
• What makes Danielson, Moxley and Yuta special.
• Wrestlers like Danhausen getting themselves over in the pandemic era.
• The relationship between comedy and pro wrestling.
• What we can expect from his new podcast.
• Review of a TV series.

All quotes were given directly to the author and edited for clarity. You can follow William Regal on Twitter @RealKingRegal and you can follow Chris Mueller @BR_Doctor.