AEW All Out was not only a huge night for everyone at All Elite Wrestling , but it was also one of the most entertaining shows of the year. Matches like The Young Bucks vs. Lucha Bros, Britt Baker vs...
CM Punk Talks Danielson and Cole AEW Debuts, Working with Sting, WWE Experiences
Sep 7, 2021
Bleacher Report catches you up on the latest news from the WWE Universe.
Punk Calls Danielson, Cole Debuts Bigger Than The Outsiders in WCW
AEW put on arguably the biggest show of its existence at All Out on Sunday, as CM Punk returned to the ring for the first time in more than seven years and both Bryan Danielson and Adam Cole made their debuts.
After Kenny Omega beat Christian Cage in the main event to retain the AEW World Championship, Cole made a surprise appearance to seemingly help Christian and Jurassic Express during a post-match beatdown by The Elite, but he rejoined The Elite instead.
Danielson then made his way down to the ring and helped Christian and Jurassic Express clean house to end the show.
According to Felix Upton of Ringside News, Punk told reporters following All Out:
"And as long as we keep [fans] engaged, and keep them happy, and to bring it back around, that's what we're doing. I'm not [Hulk] Hogan. I'm not [Randy] Savage. Daniel Bryan and Adam Cole, they're not The Outsiders. I see the parallels. This is totally different, and I'll go ahead and say it, and people can quote me and they'll be pissed off about it. To me, this is bigger."
Punk was referencing Scott Hall and Kevin Nash making the leap from WWE to WCW in 1996. Hogan turned heel shortly thereafter and formed the nWo with Hall and Nash, which started a huge run of success for WCW, as it beat WWE in the Monday night ratings war 83 weeks in a row.
AEW's weekly shows, Dynamite and Rampage, are still a long way from matching the ratings WWE gets for Raw and SmackDown, but there is no question that AEW has established itself as a power in professional wrestling.
It remains to be seen whether Danielson and Cole will have the same type of impact The Outsiders did for WCW, but if nothing else it proves that some of the best talent in wrestling wants to be part of AEW.
Punk Talks Possibly Teaming with Sting
After Punk beat Darby Allin near his hometown of Chicago in his first pro wrestling match in more than seven years at All Out, he had a nice moment with a legend of the pro wrestling business.
Sting has been by Allin's side since making his AEW debut late last year, and while helping his ally off the mat, he offered his hand to Punk, who accepted it and shook as a sign of respect to The Icon.
Unsurprisingly, that led to plenty of speculation among fans that there could be plans in place for Punk and Sting to work together in some capacity moving forward.
According to WrestlingInc.com's Jason Ounpraseuth, Punk discussed that while speaking to the media after All Out, saying:
"We were never in the same company at the same time. We're two different generation wrestlers, and you just never thought it was possible, and now, it is. And that's kind of how I feel about the entire groundswell of AEW as a whole. You got me, and Darby, and Sting in a ring, and it's legitimately three different generations and the knowledge of wealth he brings. It's a bucket list item now. I think, for sure, down the line, we're probably going to tag. That feels like there's something there.
"There's real, organic moments here. Him coming out and shaking my hand, we didn't talk about that. That wasn't a planned thing. He came out, and he did it, and before I shook his hand, I looked and was kind of like, this means something to a kid like me. And he said, 'It means something to me too,' and that's wild to me. That's the playground we have here where we could do all this stuff that you didn't think was ever possible."
Punk and Sting either teaming or wrestling against each other is something that has never been on anyone's radar in wrestling over the years, but now that they are working together, it feels like something fans would love to see.
AEW has picked its spots with how it has used Sting in-ring thus far, opting to use him solely as a tag team wrestler.
Allin has been his partner every time, but working Punk into the mix would freshen things up and give both men something fun and unexpected to take part in.
Teaming could also lead to a match between them at some point, and Punk would seemingly be the ideal opponent to guide Sting through a match and protect him in the process.
Regardless of where AEW goes with Punk and Sting, there is some real intrigue present and plenty of avenues worth exploring.
Punk Discusses WWE Not Understanding Him
Punk never truly fit the mold of the prototypical WWE Superstar during his time in the company, and Punk is taking what he learned from that and applying it to AEW.
Appearing on Oral Sessions with Renee Paquette (h/t Upton), Punk noted that while he doesn't necessarily "get" Orange Cassidy's gimmick, he sees the value in him due to how popular he is.
Punk equated that to how he was viewed in WWE and noted that just because some people don't understand why a person or act is over, it doesn't mean they shouldn't be pushed as a top star:
"I'll use Orange Cassidy [as an example], who I think at dinner the other night ate my sea bass. So there's real heat there! But that's a thing that I look at and go, 'I don't get it.' But I listen to the people, and they react to him and they like him. So I'm like, 'f--k yeah.' Why would we throw that in the garbage?
"It just reminds me of when I showed up [in WWE] and those same people were like, 'I don't get it.' And I was like, 'Well, you're 65 and you're racist. I guess I'm super stoked that I'm not for you and you don't get it.' It's not for me to get. It's for the audience to get. And I think the culture for too long has generated this opinion that is just parroted by fans. And it's like, 'draw your own conclusions.' I don't like stuff because somebody else likes it. I like what I like. And if somebody else doesn't like it, that doesn't influence my opinion on that either way."
Despite Punk not feeling like he had the full support of the WWE higher-ups, he became a massive star, holding world titles on five different occasions, winning Money in the Bank twice and becoming one of the biggest post-Attitude Era stars in wrestling.
Still, Punk's experiences could help him guide other wrestlers in AEW who have dealt with similar things throughout their careers.
Listen to Ring Rust Radio for all of the hot wrestling topics. Catch the latest episode in the player below (warning: some language NSFW).
Bryan Danielson: 'I Love' Vince McMahon, but 'Sometimes He’s Overprotective of Me'
Sep 6, 2021
Bryan Danielson is remaining diplomatic about his former employer after signing with All Elite Wrestling.
Danielson was among multiple marquee stars to make their AEW debuts Sunday at All Out:
Speaking to reporters after the show, the 40-year-old discussed one of the reasons that caused him to leave WWE following a wildly successful run with the promotion, per Ringside News' Subhojeet Mukherjee:
But the final decision, honestly, was just like, I started thinking about things — WWE was so gracious with me as far as the offer that they gave me. They were gonna let me go do some other stuff on the outside, but, I hate to say this, Vince sometimes — He and I have a great relationship. I love him, I do. Sometimes he’s overprotective of me. I want to be able to push my limits. That’s one of the things that I love about this, is like the physicality of what we do out there and being able to push my limits and being able to do that here in a safe manner is one of the things that really drew me here.
Danielson abruptly retired in February 2016 because of medical concerns stemming from multiple concussions he suffered across his career. However, WWE announced in March 2018 that multiple doctors had cleared him for a return to the ring.
That will inevitably have fans somewhat concerned any time Danielson wrestles because the long-term risks of concussions can be significant. The concern is somewhat heightened if he wants to "push [his] limits."
But this isn't the first time Danielson has alluded to his internal thoughts on how WWE typically stages its in-ring action.
The Miz's famous promo on Talking Smack was somewhat prompted by Danielson's comment that his one-time rival "wrestle[s] like a coward" and came to represent what he thought was a "soft, WWE style."
Because of his medical history, it seems doubtful that Danielson will grapple in the kind of brutal affairs Kenny Omega and Jon Moxley have waged. However, he may veer toward a style similar to the one that helped him rise to prominence with Ring of Honor.
Listen to Ring Rust Radio for all of the hot wrestling topics. Catch the latest episode in the player below (warning: some language NSFW).
AEW All Out was a slam dunk for Tony Khan and The Elite. The company’s return to its birthplace, the Now Arena, will go down as one of the most historic nights in the professional wrestling industry...
Bryan Danielson, Adam Cole Explain Joining AEW After WWE Exit; Mick Foley Praises AEW
Sep 6, 2021
Professional Wrestling: WWE SummerSlam: Daniel Bryan approaches the ring during event at Barclays Center.
Brooklyn, NY 8/19/2018
CREDIT: Rob Tringali (Photo by Rob Tringali /Sports Illustrated via Getty Images)
(Set Number: X162079 TK1 )
Bleacher Report catches you up on the latest news from the WWE Universe and All Elite Wrestling.
Danielson Embraces 'Wrestling' with AEW Move
On a night full of big debuts, none was bigger at AEW's All Out pay-per-view than Bryan Danielson's arrival to close out the show.
Speaking to fans inside NOW Arena, Danielson echoed one theme of CM Punk's long-awaited comeback.
"I am a wrestler," he said, per Wrestling Inc's Sai Mohan. "I never left wrestling. I took wrestling everywhere I went. I said wrestling when I wasn't supposed to say wrestling. And now, I'm here to goddamn wrestle!"
During his promo on AEW Rampage after returning to the ring, Punk said how he "left professional wrestling" in 2005, which is when he signed with WWE. That comment referenced how WWE Chairman Vince McMahon has long viewed his product as "sports entertainment" rather than wrestling.
AEW appears to be establishing itself as a contrast to that.
Cole Explains Departure from WWE
Before Danielson made his way down the entrance ramp, it looked like Adam Cole was going to be AEW's most impactful addition Sunday night.
Cole said during a post-All Out media conference he "had a very excellent four-year experience" in WWE—competing almost exclusively in NXT. Despite that, the allure of signing with AEW was too good to pass up.
For years, wrestlers didn't have many alternatives to WWE in the United States if they grew a bit disenchanted or wanted a new challenge. No other promotion was a viable direct competitor, and competing on the independent scene brought its own challenges.
In terms of revenue, AEW still has a long way to go to catch up to WWE. The signings of Punk, Danielson, Cole and Ruby Soho show how it's quickly earning a reputation to be on par with WWE as an in-ring rival, though.
Foley: AEW Has 'No Shortage of Compelling Storylines'
Wrestling legend Mick Foley praised the work of AEW in building a strong stable of stars less than two full years after the launch of AEW Dynamite in October 2019.
There's no question the buzz surrounding AEW is enormous.
Maintaining that momentum is the company's next challenge because the initial excitement inevitably fades. As Foley alluded to, telling engaging stories and making Dynamite and Rampage must-watch television is what AEW needs to truly thrive.
It's equally important to use marquee stars such as Danielson and Punk to help shine a light on wrestlers who didn't build reputations in WWE. There are probably a lot of people who have discovered Darby Allin in large part because of his alliance with Sting and brief feud with Punk.
Listen to Ring Rust Radio for all of the hot wrestling topics. Catch the latest episode in the player below (warning: some language NSFW).
Bryan Danielson Signs AEW Contract After WWE Exit, Debuts at All Out 2021
Sep 6, 2021
Bryan Danielson—previously known as Daniel Bryan to WWE fans—made his televised debut for All Elite Wrestling on Sunday to bring an end to recent speculation over his future in professional wrestling.
His WWE departure came to fruition amid rumors that he was poised to sign with the newer company.
His appearanceat AEW All Out on Sundaycomes just over five months since the leader of the Yes Movement lost a Universal Championship match with his career hanging in the balance to Roman Reigns on the April 30 edition of SmackDown.
After that match, The Tribal Chief hit Bryan with a con-chair-to, and Bryan's WWE.com profile was moved to the alumni section, which suggested he was potentially done with the company or at least poised to take a significant amount of time off.
Shortly after the loss to Reigns, multiple outlets reported that Bryan's contract with WWE had come to an end, meaning he was free to sign anywhere.
Fightful Select (h/t Felix Upton of Ringside News) later reported that it spoke with multiple AEW sources who were of the belief Bryan would re-sign with WWE. Even so, the possibility of the 40-year-old jumping ship remained.
The thought of Bryan being a free agent was huge since he is one of the biggest stars in wrestling and had been under contract with WWE for the past decade.
While a significant portion of his time in the company was spent on the injured list and even in retirement from in-ring competition because of head and neck injuries, he had been a huge player when active since 2011.
Bryan became the biggest and most popular performer in the business in 2013 and went on to win the World Heavyweight Championship in the main event of WrestleMania 30. His run at the top was short-lived since injuries forced him into retirement in 2016, but he resumed being a top guy on his return to the ring two years later.
The five-time WWE world champion was in a marquee match as recently as WrestleMania 37 in April, when he competed against Reigns and Edge in the main event of Night 2.
Vince McMahon and Co. had infinite reasons to want to retain Bryan, especially since it is facing more competition from other companies than it has in years because of the emergence of AEW.
Despite WWE conceivably being willing and able to offer Bryan a huge contract, the legendary performer decided to carve out a new path by joining the burgeoning promotion.
There is a great deal of hype and excitement surrounding AEW since it is still relatively new, and no shortage of intriguing opponents exist for Danielson to face under his new moniker.
In terms of brand-new rivals and wrestlers he hasn't faced in many years, Bryan figures to have the likes of Kenny Omega, "Hangman" Adam Page, Darby Allin, Jungle Boy, PAC, Fenix and Penta El Zero Miedo high on his list.
AEW has signed many high-profile performers who previously worked for WWE, including CM Punk, Adam Cole and Jon Moxley, but bringing in Danielson may be its biggest coup yet.
Listen to Ring Rust Radio for all of the hot wrestling topics. Catch the latest episode in the player below (warning: some language NSFW).
Best Booking Options For Daniel Bryan's AEW Debut at All Out
Sep 5, 2021
When it comes to Daniel Bryan in All Elite Wrestling and his possible debut during Sunday's All Out pay-per-view, the options seem endless.
Granted, fans don't know for a fact that Bryan will be there. Heck, fans don't even know whether Bryan would go by the name Daniel Bryan or loop back to Bryan Danielson or something else.
But all signs point to it happening, especially if the company is at all worried about fans again being unable to attend live events soon because of the pandemic. Bumping up Bryan's debut to Sunday night instead of having it take place the looming major event in New York would make sense.
With CM Punk already in the door and Bryan seemingly next up as a dramatic shift in pro wrestling's landscape continues, let's outline some of the best booking options for the big moment. Keep in mind that it's hard for AEW to go wrong with any option. Look how well it handled Punk's debut, letting him open the show for one of the most iconic moments in wrestling history, as opposed to letting crowd chants derail the broadcast until he arrived.
The Kenny Omega Staredown
Part of why it's so interesting to book Bryan's AEW debut is because it's hard to get a read on what match will close the show.
But the Kenny Omega-Christian Cage bout for the AEW World Championship seems like a candidate to cap off the event. And having that result in a staredown between Omega and Bryan would go down as an all-time moment.
Omega is arguably the best in the world, with only Bryan and a few others right there alongside him. To say the two could put on a classic match would be quite the understatement. It's only natural for Bryan to show up and challenge the top dog, dream-match status notwithstanding. While Punk has made it clear he still wants to see whether he can go while helping along younger talents, Bryan is going to have a different vibe.
The career parallels between Omega and Bryan before reaching this hypothetical point make for an amazing foundational block for a feud too. Imagine those two having a staredown in the middle of the ring flanked by a sold-out crowd doing the Yes! chant (let's be honest: it transcends WWE).
But as great as that moment might seem on paper, it isn't the only option.
The MJF Interruption
Much of what AEW could do with Bryan on Sunday night hinges on what sort of character he's portraying.
If he's a heel, straight-up attacking someone works. If he's a tweener, a staredown might be more appropriate. If he's just the good guy we most commonly know from WWE, that's MJF territory.
Say Bryan goes the Punk route and just debuts normally, taking a victory lap down to the ring before starting to cut a promo. That's when a heel like MJF, preferably fresh off a victory over Chris Jericho, forcing the veteran to retire, comes out.
MJF is on a rocket ship to the moon as far as being one of the best heels we've seen in decades goes. He would draw nuclear heat for spoiling a good moment with his obnoxious chatter and pinky ring, never mind help to tell an amazing long-term story.
This would also help AEW avoid the "another WWE feud rehashed" criticism while introducing viewers who don't usually check out the promotion to MJF, one of the best things going in pro wrestling today.
With/Against CM Punk
First things first: Don't count out the possibility of Bryan arriving to save Punk from some scenario and then tagging with him against the likes of The Young Bucks. It writes itself.
More interesting, though, would be Bryan coming in hot and attacking Punk. The best wrestling stories weave in real life, and let's be honest, Punk stole the momentum and spotlight of Bryan's prospective arrival in AEW. A heelish Bryan could take issue with that and send a flying knee Punk's way after he picks up a win over Darby Allin during his in-ring AEW debut.
Fun, right? There are countless ways to do it, though it would seem such a moment would require it closing the show. And if it becomes clear that Punk-Allin is the main event, it would make the Bryan reveal that much more predictable. Then again, Punk's debut shows that predictable can still be historic.
Regardless, it's hard to go wrong with Punk-Bryan. Anyone who throws out a "we've seen this before in WWE" nitpick just isn't understanding or appreciating the historical connection and parallel between these two.
Poeticis the word that comes to mind if these two rekindle their connection by starting their AEW careers in earnest together. Whether it's an attack or just a staredown, this is the best option and one that would create a feud with history-making potential.
Updated 2021 AEW All Out Match Card Ahead of PPV
Sep 4, 2021
FILE - In this Sept. 10, 2016, file photo, CM Punk stands in his corner before a welterweight bout at UFC 203 in Cleveland. Punk went 0-2 in UFC and has given himself until the new year to decide if he wants to keep fighting. Punk hopes to stick in the sport as a mixed martial arts announcer. (AP Photo/David Dermer, File)
One of All Elite Wrestling's biggest annual events, All Out, will once again emanate from the Chicago area Sunday, and it will feature perhaps one of the most historically significant professional wrestling matches of all time.
After more than seven years out of the game, CM Punk will make his in-ring return in his hometown against rising star Darby Allin. It will mark Punk's first match since competing in the 2014 Royal Rumble match in WWE.
There will also be four titles on the line, including the AEW World Championship, which will be defended by Kenny Omega against Christian Cage.
On top of that, rumors are circulating that former WWE star Daniel Bryan could make his AEW debut at the show.
With excitement mounting for All Out, here is a full rundown of the card and all the information needed to watch it Sunday night.
Where: NOW Arena in Hoffman Estates, Illinois
When: Sunday, Sept 5 at 8 p.m. ET (pre-show starts at 7 p.m. ET)
Watch: PPV available for purchase on Bleacher Report for $49.99. Can be purchased and streamed on Roku, Amazon Fire TV and Xbox.
AEW All Out 2021 Match Card
CM Punk vs. Darby Allin
AEW World Championship: Kenny Omega (c) vs. Christian Cage
Chris Jericho vs. MJF (Jericho must retire if he loses)
AEW World Tag Team Championship Steel Cage Match: Young Bucks (c) vs. Lucha Bros.
Jon Moxley vs. Satoshi Kojima
AEW Women's World Championship: Britt Baker (c) vs. Kris Statlander
AEW TNT Championship: Miro (c) vs. Eddie Kingston
Paul Wight vs. QT Marshall
21-Woman Casino Battle Royale
Orange Cassidy, Wheeler Yuta, Chuck Taylor and Jurassic Express vs. Matt Hardy, Private Party and TH2
Top Matches to Watch
CM Punk vs. Darby Allin
Wrestling fans have waited years to see Punk back inside a ring, and the wait will finally come to an end Sunday when he locks horns with Allin.
Punk has already been on AEW programming on a few occasions, and the reactions have been huge. That was especially true of his return on AEW Rampage in his hometown of Chicago.
It is fitting that Punk's first match back will take place in the Chicago area, which should ensure that the crowd is raucous and 100 percent behind him despite Allin's popularity.
The possibility of ring rust exists given how long Punk has been on the sidelines, but since he was one of the best in-ring workers in the world before leaving wrestling, he shouldn't struggle too much in terms of getting back in the swing of things.
The added element of Sting potentially being in Allin's corner as well brings some additional intrigue to the table, especially if there are plans in place for a Punk vs. Sting dream match in the future.
Perhaps the biggest question related to Punk vs. Allin is where it will go on the card. It could make sense as an opener, but given that it is the most highly anticipated match, it likely deserves the main event slot.
If it does go on last, perhaps an encounter between Punk and Bryan could be the way All Out goes off the air.
Kenny Omega vs. Christian Cage
Punk vs. Allin may be the match fans most want to see, but it can be argued that the most important match on the card is Omega vs. Cage for the AEW World Championship.
Omega and Christian have been at odds for the past several weeks, and they have already faced each other once, as they went head-to-head in the opening match of the first episode of Rampage.
In that match, Omega put the Impact Wrestling World Championship on the line, and he dropped it to Cage in controversial fashion.
Omega attempted to cheat, but the wily Cage got the upper hand by hitting Omega with a Kill Switch on to a steel chair while the referee's back was turned.
With Christian having a singles win against Omega under his belt, he has the makings of a true threat to end Omega's AEW World title reign as well.
While it seems somewhat unlikely that Omega will drop the title to a veteran like Christian rather than an up-and-coming star like "Hangman" Adam Page down the line, Cage will undoubtedly have plenty of support.
Regardless of the result, it promises to be a quality match between two of the best in-ring workers AEW has to offer.
Young Bucks vs. Lucha Bros.
Although it isn't the most significant match of the night, the AEW World Tag Team Championship match between The Young Bucks and The Lucha Bros. has a legitimate chance to be the best match at All Out.
The Bucks and The Lucha Bros. have a long history, including the memorable ladder match they had for the AAA Tag Team Championships at All Out 2019.
Rey Fenix and Penta El Zero Miedo won that bout, but two years later The Young Bucks are at the top of the AEW tag team division.
Like Omega, The Young Bucks have experienced much of their success thanks to outside interference, but that won't be possible at All Out because of the steel cage stipulation.
The Young Bucks and The Lucha Bros. have already shown many times over that they have great in-ring chemistry, although they have never faced off in a ladder match.
The added wrinkle should ensure that it is a much different match than ones they had in the past, and it should allow everyone involved to shine as well.
Listen toRing Rust Radiofor all of the hot wrestling topics. Catch the latest episode in the player below(warning: some language NSFW).
Daniel Bryan at All Out Rumors, Orton vs. Lashley at WWE Extreme Rules, AEW Contracts
Sep 3, 2021
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - APRIL 05: WWE Superstar Daniel Bryan Celebrate's Wrestlemania 35 at The Empire State Building on April 05, 2019 in New York City. (Photo by Santiago Felipe/Getty Images)
Bleacher Report catches you up on the latest news from the WWE Universe.
Daniel Bryan Reportedly Scheduled for AEW All Out
In addition to CM Punk competing in his first wrestling match in more than seven years, AEW All Out will reportedly feature the debut of another major star.
According to Dave Meltzer of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter (h/t Subhojeet Mukherjee of Ringside News), multiple sources have said that Daniel Bryan will make his AEW debut at All Out on Sunday.
Meltzer noted that if Bryan does not appear, it will be because the original plans changed in some way.
Bryan wrestled under his real name, Bryan Danielson, until he signed with WWE in 2009, and he will likely revert back to that name in AEW.
The 40-year-old veteran became one of the biggest stars in wrestling during his WWE tenure, winning the world title five times in addition to being a former Intercontinental, United States and Tag Team champion.
Bryan also competed in the main event of WrestleMania twice at WrestleMania 30 and earlier this year at WrestleMania 37.
The WrestleMania 37 main event saw both Bryan and Edge fall to Roman Reigns in a Triple Threat for the Universal Championship. Bryan then lost a match to Reigns on SmackDown at the end of April, resulting in him having to leave SmackDown.
Shortly after that, it was reported that Bryan's WWE contract had expired and he was a free agent.
Rumors have been circulating for the past several weeks that Bryan was either poised to sign with AEW or had already done so, and Meltzer has essentially confirmed those reports.
If Bryan does appear at All Out, it is safe to assume he will show up after the main event. Punk vs. Darby Allin or Kenny Omega vs. Christian Cage could be in that spot.
Either way, Bryan would represent another massive signing for AEW just weeks after the arrival of Punk.
Orton vs. Lashley Reportedly Scheduled for Extreme Rules
WWE reportedly has plans for a big WWE Championship clash at the Extreme Rules pay-per-view on Sept. 26.
According to Meltzer (h/t Felix Upton of Ringside News), WWE is moving forward with Bobby Lashley defending the WWE title against one half of the Raw Tag Team champions Randy Orton.
WWE seemed to tease the start of that rivalry on Monday's episode of Raw, as Orton and Riddle defended the Raw Tag Team Championships against Lashley and MVP.
Just before Raw went off the air, Orton hit Lashley with an RKO out of nowhere, which may have been the catalyst for their feud.
Putting Orton in the WWE Championship scene would be an interesting decision on WWE's part given that Orton and Riddle are the Raw Tag Team champions and have been one of the hottest acts in the company as RK-Bro.
Additionally, AJ Styles and Omos are still very much in the Raw Tag Team title picture after dropping the championships to RK-Bro at SummerSlam, and they were at ringside from Monday night's title match.
It stands to reason that Orton could pull double duty at Extreme Rules by defending the Raw Tag Team Championships and vying for the WWE Championship in the same night.
If WWE doesn't want to go in that direction, however, the rematch with Styles and Omos could take place on Raw instead.
When Top AEW Contracts Reportedly Expire
AEW reportedly won't have to worry about the possibility of some of its top stars leaving for two years.
According to Meltzer (h/t Mukherjee), many of the big names that signed with AEW when the company was officially formed in January 2019 signed contracts that will keep them in the fold through early 2023.
Meltzer noted that while many of them were three-year deals, "most" had a fourth-year option that are likely to be picked up by AEW.
Although Meltzer didn't provide any specifics regarding precisely who could become free agents in 2023, some of the wrestlers who have been with AEW from the start include Omega, Cody Rhodes, The Young Bucks, "Hangman" Adam Page, Chris Jericho, The Lucha Bros., Britt Baker, MJF, Jungle Boy and Allin.
Given that AEW has signed many former WWE stars who were either released by the company or chose not to re-sign, there is some intrigue regarding whether WWE may try to raid AEW's roster in 2023 when some free agents become available.
To this point, the roster jumping has been one-sided with WWE paring down its roster and AEW bringing in the big names.
As wrestlers continue to make a name for themselves in AEW, however, there could potentially be some desire on WWE's part to poach that talent.
Listen to Ring Rust Radio for all of the hot wrestling topics. Catch the latest episode in the player below (warning: some language NSFW).
WWE Rumors: Daniel Bryan Set for AEW All Out; Lesnar's Contract; Becky Lynch's Return
Aug 30, 2021
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - APRIL 05: WWE Superstar Daniel Bryan Celebrate's Wrestlemania 35 at The Empire State Building on April 05, 2019 in New York City. (Photo by Santiago Felipe/Getty Images)
Daniel Bryan to Debut at All Out?
Now that CM Punk has finally made his anticipated return to professional wrestling in AEW, there's a new worst-kept secret in the business: Daniel Bryan—or, more likely, Bryan Danielson—is also heading to Tony Khan's promotion.
Punk himself all but gave it away Wednesday on Dynamite, and several journalists have since reported on Bryan's impending AEW bow.
"I have been told he will debut at All Out," Bryan Alvarez said on Wrestling Observer Live. "I will not say 99.999999 [percent]. All Out is not in Aberdeen [Bryan's hometown]. They didn't rent out a separate building for the return of Daniel Bryan. I was told weeks and weeks ago that his debut was going to be in Queens, from a very good source. It is now apparent, it appears, he will not debut in Queens, so there was a change. I believe that he is going to debut at All Out on Sunday."
Bryan has been out of action since losing to Roman Reigns in April, at which point his WWE contract expired. While many figured Bryan would return to WWE given his familial ties, the rumors about him bolting for AEW grew louder as the summer progressed.
And there appears to have been truth to the speculation. Bryan looks set to appear in AEW within a month of Punk's debut, and Khan's company has all the momentum in the wrestling world. Ratings are reaching more than a million per week for Dynamite, while WWE is coming off a lackluster SummerSlam full of questionable booking decisions.
This feels like we're in the midst of a seismic shift in professional wrestling.
Brock Lesnar's New Contract Details Revealed
WWE backed up its proverbial Brinks truck to get Brock Lesnar back into the fold for an appearance at SummerSlam, but don't expect him to suddenly start being a TV regular.
Dave Meltzer of Wrestling Observer Radio reported that Lesnar's contract only calls for between eight and 12 matches (h/t Jason Ounpraseuth of Wrestling Inc). The deal is expected to run through WrestleMania 39 season, so we're looking at the typical Lesnar quarterly appearance.
Odds are that his first match of his latest deal will take place when WWE returns to Saudi Arabia in October. WWE set up Finn Balor as Reigns' next opponent for the Universal Championship on Friday's SmackDown, and odds are that the program will bleed into the build for September's Extreme Rules pay-per-view.
Lesnar is back to do Lesnar things and nothing more. That's fine for WWE's purposes, but it would be a mistake to have him be the person who ends Roman Reigns' excellent run with the universal title.
Bianca Belair, Carmella Knew of Becky Lynch's Return
Becky Lynch made her in-ring return at SummerSlam in perhaps the most polarizing segment of a WWE broadcast this year, squashing Bianca Belair in under a minute to take the SmackDown Women's Championship. After Belair helped prop up the division throughout the pandemic, many saw her loss as a disrespectful decision.
While WWE seems to be building Lynch as a heel—another questionable move—it appears as though Belair herself has taken the situation in stride. Fightful Select reported Belair and Carmella were among the few people who knew ahead of time that Lynch would be returning (h/t Kellie Haulotte of Wrestling Inc). Her name was left off the call sheet in order to avoid any spoilers.
Belair was also reportedly upbeat about the situation after the match and has drawn praise for her professionalism.
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