Hot on the heels of CM Punk's critically acclaimed All Elite Wrestling debut, Daniel Bryan 's arrival in the promotion may not be far behind based on recent reports and teases on television...
CM Punk Teases Daniel Bryan's Debut, Calls Out Darby Allin in AEW Dynamite Debut
Aug 26, 2021
After making his long-awaited return to professional wrestling on Friday's episode of AEW Rampage, CM Punk appeared Wednesday night on AEW Dynamite.
Punk came out at the top of the second hour and cut a promo on his AllOut pay-per-view opponent, Darby Allin, and explained what this match was all about.
"It's a lot less about proving the haters wrong and it's more about proving myself right!" @CMPunk on why he needs to beat @DarbyAllin at #AEWAllOut on Sept. 5
Rampage marked the first time in more than seven years that Punk stepped inside a wrestling ring, and it generated a ton of interest among fans.
The 42-year-old veteran, who was previously a multitime world champion in WWE, took some shots at WWE in his return promo, expressing his belief that he left pro wrestling in 2005 when he departed Ring of Honor and signed with WWE.
By signing with AEW, Punk declared himself back in the world of pro wrestling, thus taking the biggest free agent for the past seven years off the market.
Perhaps most notably, Punk challenged Darby Allin, who was standing in the rafters alongside Sting, to a match at the All Out pay-per-view on Sept. 5 in his hometown of Chicago. For weeks leading up to Punk's debut, Allin had talked about wanting to face the best in the world.
During Punk's WWE tenure, he often referred to himself as the best in the world, which is why many assumed Allin was calling out Punk.
Punk has not wrestled a match of any kind since competing in WWE's Royal Rumble match in January 2014.
While AEW didn't actually advertise Punk for Rampage, it was widely expected that he would appear, resulting in a big crowd at the United Center in Chicago and over 1 million people watching at home.
Punk was advertised for Wednesday's Dynamite, however, and it stands to reason that Dynamite could bring in its biggest rating ever because of that.
Listen toRing Rust Radiofor all of the hot wrestling topics. Catch the latest episode in the player below(warning: some language NSFW).
For the first time in almost two years, All Elite Wrestling returned to Chicago for Rampage and what could be the most important episode of AEW TV since Dynamite's debut...
Triple H on NXT, Heyman Talks AJ Styles Heat, Khan Hypes 'New Era' of AEW at Rampage
Aug 20, 2021
PHILADELPHIA, PA - JUNE 6: Professional Wrestler, Triple H reacts prior to a game during Round 2, Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Playoffs on June 6, 2021 at Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2021 NBAE (Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images)
Bleacher Report catches you up on the
latest news from the WWE Universe.
Triple H Says NXT Vision Hasn't
Changed
Triple H was asked Thursday whether the
NXT philosophy has shifted following several releases from the roster in recent months and speculation WWE chairman Vince McMahon was taking on a bigger role in the
brand.
The nine-time WWE champion, who works
as company's executive vice president of global talent strategy and
development, told reporters (via Ringside News) the same goal of
finding people to help create the next generation of WWE Superstars
remains in place:
People talk about the shifting of
what it is. It never really shifted. So, if you go back and look at
the hiring process, not hiring process of the television show, but
the hiring process of who we're looking to train to make WWE
Superstars long term. If you go back and look at that it hasn't
shifted. It's been the same process.
I don't negate anybody from a
standpoint of 'I wrestled some independent stuff—you're out.'
That's not a factor to me.
It's a well-crafted response from
Triple H, who's always been careful in his comments about McMahon
while operating in his official executive capacity. He makes it clear
NXT is still about long-term development without directly addressing
the talent cuts or McMahon's possible involvement.
Although Raw and SmackDown generate
more mainstream attention, NXT had done a terrific job of building
out extended storylines in recent years to differentiate itself from the red
and blue brands, so its not a surprise wrestling purists were
concerned about its future following the changes.
For now, Triple H is trying to calm
those concerns but only time will tell whether NXT remains the same
product in the months ahead.
Paul Heyman Downplays Past Heat From
AJ Styles
In July 2020, Styles called Heyman a "liar" during a conversation about his move from Raw to SmackDown
along with the departure of his longtime friends Luke Gallows and Karl
Anderson from WWE last year.
Heyman addressed those comments during
an interview with Inside The Ropes' Kenny McIntosh, saying he didn't
believe Styles raised any concerns about their working relationship
on Raw:
AJ Styles has not said that we
weren't on the same page or that we clashed. AJ Styles has been
quoted as blaming me for the departure from WWE of Luke Gallows and
Karl Anderson. That is what AJ Styles has been quoted as saying. He
has never made a statement regarding whether or not our collaboration
on Monday Night RAW was to his liking or not—and if he wishes to,
I'd be happy to accept whatever assessment he had on our time
together behind the scenes.
As for the exits of Gallows and
Anderson, Heyman called that a "privileged conversation" and said
he wouldn't discuss any behind-the-scenes details:
Whatever you think of sports
entertainment, I'm not here to expose the wires, so whatever happened
between Gallows and Anderson happened behind the scenes, behind
closed doors in a meeting that I'm not going to expose to the public
because it was an inner-sanctum meeting with the chairman of the
board, Vincent Kennedy McMahon. And unless Vince wants to talk about
it publicly, I'm not going to be the one to expose what happened,
why, and what the other conversations were in that meeting.
Heyman is known because of his
on-screen character as one of the best managers and promo creators in
wrestling history, but his past as a management figure with numerous
wrestling promotions was accurately described by The Ringer's Thomas
Golianopoulos in 2017 as "a turbulent career — 31 years filled
with fines and suspensions, bankruptcy and pink slips, explosive
arguments and endless grudges."
His passion for professional wrestling
is unquestioned, but how he's enacted that over the past three-plus
decades has rubbed some people the wrong way over the years, and Styles clearly joined the list in 2020.
Tony Khan Confirms Major AEW Rampage
Announcement
Khan, the founder and president of AEW,
teased the "most anticipated announcement in AEW history" for
Friday's episode of Rampage:
I’m betting that excitement from the most anticipated announcement in @AEW history at #AEWRampage The First Dance will build up through All Out on PPV. We’ll make new fans + we’ll welcome dormant wrestling households worldwide back into the fold; a new era in #AEW begins tomorrow
Rumors have been flying about the
potential arrival of CM Punk and/or Bryan Danielson (fka Daniel Bryan
in WWE) as AEW continues to make a push as a legitimate alternative
to WWE.
CM Punk, who's equally as good an
Internet troll as he is a wrestler, did nothing to dissuade the
speculation with a post on his Instagram story early Friday, though it's always possible he's just messing with the fans:
CM Punk posted the cover art from the Batman The Dark Knight Returns comic book on his IG Story with the music “Dont Stop Me Now” by Queen: pic.twitter.com/pHAkGMy2BH
Adding to the hype is the fact this
week's edition of Rampage is taking place from the United Center in
Chicago, Punk's hometown. The roof might blow off the building if his
entrance music, "Cult of Personality," starts playing Friday
night.
The 42-year-old fan favorite last
wrestled in WWE at the 2014 Royal Rumble in January of that year.
He's made some appearances at independent shows over the past seven
years along with a stint in the UFC and working on WWE Backstage, a
now-defunct show that aired on Fox Sports 1.
Meanwhile, Danielson's last WWE
appearance came on the April 30 edition of SmackDown when he lost to
Roman Reigns in a title vs. career match. His contract subsequently
ran out.
Either one would represent a massive
addition for AEW, while bringing in both would be a coup for the
growing promotion. It's always possible a swerve could be in play
where neither former WWE star debuts Friday night, though.
Listen to Ring Rust Radio for all of the hot wrestling topics. Catch the latest episode in the player below (warning: some language NSFW).
Mark Henry on CM Punk, Bryan AEW Rumor; Punk Training for Return; Riddle on Adam Cole
Aug 11, 2021
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS - MARCH 1: Phil Brooks aka CM Punk attends C2E2 Chicago Comic & Entertainment Expo at McCormick Place on March 1, 2020 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Daniel Boczarski/Getty Images)
Bleacher Report catches you up on the latest news from the WWE Universe.
Henry Comments on Punk and Bryan Possibly Signing with AEW
Amid rumors that CM Punk and Daniel Bryan are both set to join All Elite Wrestling, Rampage commentator and WWE Hall of Famer Mark Henry discussed that possibility.
"I think it would be great for [any company] because you have unbelievable talent and two of the more master psychologists that I've worked with, guys that you sit down and you think, what's not being done in pro wrestling. When you have a mindset of, 'I want to do something everybody else don't do,' then automatically you are ahead of the game. You already have everybody. They're gonna be on edge because once they see something they haven't seen in years and it was really, really cool and you see someone who is well established and it's gonna get over."
Both Punk and Bryan would be huge additions to AEW given what they have accomplished throughout their careers, including during their time in WWE.
Punk, who was a multi-time world champion in WWE, has not wrestled since January 2014, meaning he has been the most coveted free agent in wrestling for more than seven years.
He has long been viewed as a potential game-changer during that time since fans have so badly wanted to see him back in the ring, and it may finally happen.
Meanwhile, Bryan isn't at all far removed from his WWE tenure, as he was part of the main event of WrestleMania 37 in April, losing in a Triple Threat match that also included Roman Reigns and Edge.
Like Punk, Bryan is a multi-time WWE world champion, plus he main evented WrestleMania twice and established himself as one of the most popular stars of the past 15 years.
AEW is already making gains in terms of television ratings, plus it is adding a new weekly show to Dynamite in the form of Rampage, which will air on Friday nights.
The company is building anticipation to the point where it could be poised to take another step forward if and when Punk and Bryan arrive.
Bringing back lapsed fans and convincing some WWE fans to tune in could be the biggest key to AEW truly competing with WWE in terms of ratings, and if signing Punk and Bryan doesn't accomplish that, then perhaps nothing will.
Punk Reportedly Looks Good During In-Ring Training
Ahead of his rumored AEW debut, Punk reportedly looks to be on top of his game from an in-ring perspective.
In preparation for his role on the Starz series Heels, Punk recently got in the ring and sharpened his skills. According to Fightful Select (h/t Felix Upton of Ringside News), a source said "it was as if he'd never left" regarding how Punk looked in the ring.
The source also said Punk looked "completely healthy," and added that Punk "was very good in the ring, to the point where they wondered if he'd been training in private leading up to being in the ring with them."
Given that it has been more than seven years since Punk's last match, which was the 2014 Royal Rumble, it is fair to assume he may have to knock off some ring rust in preparation for an AEW run.
Punk is 42 years of age, and while it isn't known if he did any wrestling training during his time away from the business, it stands to reason that his age coupled with the layoff could create a learning curve of sorts in terms of getting his body used to taking bumps again.
Based on the accounts of those who saw him training for Heels, however, Punk is firing on all cylinders and prepared to get back in the ring, which is good news for AEW if it has indeed signed him.
The assumption is that Punk's AEW debut will occur on next week's episode of Rampage in Punk's hometown of Chicago, which is being called "The First Dance."
If that happens, a match at All Out on Sept. 5 would seemingly be a strong possibility, meaning Punk doesn't have much time to be truly in-ring ready.
Punk was one of the best in the world during his heyday, though, and there is reason to believe he can get back to that level with some repetition.
Riddle Talks Cole's WWE Main Roster Prospects
Riddle is one of the few clear examples of an NXT call-up thriving on the main roster in recent times, making him something of an authority on that transition.
WrestlingInc.com's Raj Giri reported last week that Cole's WWE NXT contract is set to expire this month following his match against Kyle O'Reilly at NXT TakeOver 36.
It was subsequently reported by Fightful (h/t WrestlingInc.com's Joshua Gagnon) that Cole had a "high-level meeting" with WWE Chairman Vince McMahon at SmackDown.
McMahon reportedly took a liking to Cole, wants him on the main roster and set the wheels in motion for creative plans to be made for him on the main roster should he re-sign with the company.
In an interview with SportsKeeda (h/t Subhojeet Mukherjee of Ringside News), Riddle praised Cole but also expressed some uncertainty regarding how he would translate to the main roster:
"Adam Cole is amazing at what he does. He's one of the best wrestlers in the world, in my personal opinion. He's very charismatic, has a good look, everything else. I don't know, the main roster's the main roster.
"A lot of people dread going up there because they don't know what’s gonna happen to them or what have you, you know, and as they should be. I would say going from the indies, which is like a small pond, and then NXT is like a small ocean, and when you get to the main roster you are in the ocean with all the wild animals and the currents and everything else. It's just a different beast and sometimes you get lost in the shuffle."
One of WWE's biggest issues in recent years has been an inability or unwillingness to take the success of Superstars in NXT and translate it to the main roster.
Riddle has beaten the odds in that regard since McMahon has seemingly taken a liking to his comedic chops. As a result, Riddle is teaming with Randy Orton and could be poised for a run at the top in the near future.
Cole may not have prototypical size, but he is one of the best in the business on the microphone, and that alone may be enough to captivate McMahon.
Smaller wrestlers have thrived in WWE in the past under certain circumstances, and Cole's skill set is such that he could join that group.
It remains to be seen if Cole will re-sign with WWE, but if he does, there is reason to believe he could avoid the trials and tribulations many other NXT call-ups have experienced.
Listen to Ring Rust Radio for all of the hot wrestling topics. Catch the latest episode in the player below (warning: some language NSFW).
What Must CM Punk, Daniel Bryan Achieve to Consider Possible AEW Run a Success?
Aug 4, 2021
The wrestling world is abuzz at the prospect of CM Punk and Daniel Bryan joining All Elite Wrestling, and rightfully so. The idea of two of the industry's most respected and popular stars of the last decade joining the young company and adding their expertise and star power is exciting.
Lost in the fervor, though, is one glaring question: What do they have left to gain from the move?
Both have already been world champions, wrestling the top stars the industry has to offer on the grandest stages of them all. They have sold merchandise, filled arenas and padded their resumes.
Is there really a storyline, moment or championship that can alter their already Hall of Fame-worthy legacies?
A return to the ring for AEW provides fresh matches, but what can Bryan and Punk do to consider their potential run with Tony Khan's promotion a success that they haven't already accomplished elsewhere?
Daniel Bryan: Remind Fans Who He Is
While stuck under the WWE umbrella, Bryan watched as other wrestlers around the globe earned the label of "the best," one he wore proudly earlier in his career.
None was more touted or propped up as the measuring stick over the last decade than Kenny Omega, the reigning AEW, Impact and AAA Grand champion.
While Bryan was chanting "Yes!" and hugging Kane, Omega was developing a reputation of the best in the business. When WWE pulled Bryan from the ring due to concussion and neck injury concerns, Omega rose to prominence as the leader of the Bullet Club and on the strength of his in-ring work with Kazuchika Okada.
Even as Bryan was delivering a five-star classic against Kofi Kingston at WrestleMania 35 in 2019, there was still no denying he had seen his title taken by Omega—at least in the eyes of the die-hard fans.
Free from the shackles of WWE, which demands a certain style of in-ring storytelling, Bryan can now work how he wants to. He can kick the life out of his opponents, twist them like a pretzel on the mat and have those long technical matches that earned him acclaim as The American Dragon on the independent scene.
And he can have that dream match with Omega.
Bryan became a more polished sports entertainer in WWE and made millions doing it. Now, he has the opportunity to rediscover the grittiness that defined his earlier career and showcase the unmatched technical ability that sometimes took a back seat in McMahonland.
He can wrestle Omega, help create new stars out of AEW's young roster and contribute to the future of the industry. He can also, and perhaps more intriguingly, use the company's working relationship with New Japan Pro-Wrestling to go across the Pacific and have long-awaited showdowns with Okada, Hiroshi Tanahashi, Tetsuya Naito, Minoru Suzuki and others.
After a decade with WWE, in which he became a bigger star than even he could have imagined, this new chapter allows him to throw it back a bit and rediscover the side of himself that earned high praise long before there was a Yes Movement for him to lead and that should be very exciting for the fans who remember his early career.
CM Punk: Go Out On His Terms
By now, everyone knows the story. Fed up and frustrated with creative and beaten up from nonstop touring around the globe, CM Punk walked out on WWE following the fulfillment of his contractual obligations and has not wrestled a single match since.
This, despite an obvious demand from fans who still chant his name in arenas around the world.
For seven years, those same fans have imagined a day when they would hear the opening chords of Living Colour's "Cult of Personality" and the tattooed antihero would step through the curtain, back to save them from the monotony of WWE programming.
They are closer to getting that than ever before, but not in Vince McMahon's company.
Punk may have many different reasons for returning to wrestling, but among them has to be his desire to close things out on his terms.
He devoted such a huge chunk of his professional life to the industry, and while he has said he didn't miss it, there has to be a desire to wrap up his career according to how he saw it while simultaneously sticking it to the company that never saw him as "the guy" in the first place.
There are fresh matches and new rivalries for him in AEW, but there is nothing he will accomplish there that will make him any bigger of a star now than he was at the height of his WWE career. There just isn't.
However, he owes it to himself more than anyone else to have one last great run of matches and stories before he hangs up the boots one last time. And if that means doing it as one of the faces of the first company to provide competition to McMahon in 20 years, even better.
Latest WWE and AEW Rumors on Brock Lesnar, CM Punk, Daniel Bryan and Jon Moxley
Jul 30, 2021
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - OCTOBER 11: WWE champion Brock Lesnar speaks during a WWE news conference at T-Mobile Arena on October 11, 2019 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Lesnar will face former UFC heavyweight champion Cain Velasquez and WWE wrestler Braun Strowman will take on heavyweight boxer Tyson Fury at the WWE's Crown Jewel event at Fahd International Stadium in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia on October 31. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
Bleacher Report catches you up on the latest news from the WWE Universe.
Lesnar Reportedly Not Negotiating with AEW
While AEW is reportedly set to bring in some huge stars, Brock Lesnar doesn't appear to be among them.
According to Andrew Zarian of the Mat Men Pro Wrestling Podcast (h/t Felix Upton of Ringside News), AEW and Lesnar spoke "maybe once in passing, like nothing serious whatsoever."
Lesnar has been a free agent since shortly after his last WWE match, which was a loss to Drew McIntyre at WrestleMania 36 in April 2020.
While Lesnar's eventual WWE return has long been assumed, it has yet to happen, which has led to speculation that perhaps AEW could get itself into the conversation.
AEW is rumored to be signing a pair of former top WWE stars in CM Punk and Daniel Bryan, meaning it doesn't necessarily need Lesnar right now, despite how big of a deal his arrival would be.
WWE seemingly has a bigger need for Lesnar, especially since Bobby Lashley is the reigning WWE champion. Fans have been calling for a Lesnar vs. Lashley dream match for years, and WWE would appear to have a better chance than ever to make it happen.
Lashley is scheduled to defend the WWE title against a former Lesnar rival in Goldberg at SummerSlam, which could conceivably leave the door open for The Beast Incarnate to resurface.
Lesnar vs. Universal champion Roman Reigns would also be a money match, especially with former Lesnar advocate Paul Heyman now representing Reigns.
AEW would be wise to reach out to and consider any wrestler who would improve the product, but there is no indication that Lesnar is on the radar right now.
WWE Reaction to Punk, Bryan Possibly Signing with AEW
WWE and its television partners reportedly have different views on Punk and Bryan potentially signing with AEW.
According to Zarian (h/t Middleton), WWE's television partners are "shocked" AEW was able to sign Punk, while WWE is "not very concerned" about the move since it wasn't in negotiations to bring him back anyway.
WWE reportedly does see Bryan leaving for AEW as a "big hit," however, because of his popularity and how deeply he had been entrenched in WWE for the past decade.
Regarding the signings as a whole, a TV network source told Zarian, "WWE is not as concerned about the possible Daniel Bryan and CM Punk signing to AEW as we are."
Punk and Bryan are two of the biggest names in pro wrestling, and AEW signing them would be a huge deal.
The signing of Punk would be especially significant since he has not wrestled in seven years. Punk has been viewed as the biggest free agent in wrestling during that time, and it was unclear if he would ever return.
Bryan, meanwhile, returned from what was thought to be a career-ending injury a few years ago and has resumed being one of WWE's top stars since then.
He even competed in the main event of WrestleMania 37 in April against Reigns and Edge.
While it is possible there is nothing WWE could have done to prevent Bryan and Punk from going to AEW, the signings should provide AEW with even more momentum and put the pressure on WWE to respond with some big moves of their own.
Moxley Possibly Facing NJPW Star at All Out
AEW is reportedly planning a huge cross-promotion match involving Jon Moxley at the All Out pay-per-view on Sept. 5.
According to Dave Meltzer of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter (h/t WrestlingInc.com's Jason Ounpraseuth), Moxley told AEW President Tony Khan he wanted to face a New Japan Pro-Wrestling star at All Out, and Khan agreed to the idea.
While Moxley's opponent hasn't yet been confirmed, it reportedly may be Hiroshi Tanahashi.
Mox dropped the IWGP United States Championship to Lance Archer in a Texas Death Match on Dynamite last week. Archer then successfully retained the title against NJPW's Hikuleo this week.
Prior to Archer vs. Hikuleo, a video of Tanahashi laying down an IWGP United States title challenge was shown on Dynamite:
BREAKING:
During @AEW Dynamite, @tanahashi1_100 issued a challenge to the winner of the night's IWGP US Heavyweight Championship bout!
Now, Tanahashi has revealed a time and place: RESURGENCE: The Torch at L.A. Coliseum!
Following Archer's win, it is official that he will defend against Tanahashi at a NJPW show in Los Angeles on Aug. 14.
Should Tanahashi win that match, it could set the stage for Moxley vs. Tanahashi with the IWGP United States title on the line at All Out.
Tanahashi is one of the biggest stars in the history of Japanese wrestling, as the 44-year-old veteran is an eight-time IWGP Heavyweight champion and two-time IWGP Intercontinental champion.
Moxley vs. Tanahashi would be a blockbuster dream match on any card, and it would add even more star power to what figures to be a stacked All Out event.
Listen to Ring Rust Radio for all of the hot wrestling topics. Catch the latest episode in the player below (warning: some language NSFW).
Welcome to the Bleacher Report WWE and All Elite Wrestling mailbag. The B/R community has always been outspoken, especially when it comes to opinions on pro wrestling and its biggest stars...
Khan Talks Punk, Bryan AEW Rumors; Big E On Malakai Black Feud; WWE Queen of the Ring
Jul 28, 2021
HOLLYWOOD, CALIFORNIA - OCTOBER 01: Phil "CM Punk" Brooks attends the Beyond Fest Premiere Of "Girl On The Third Floor"at the Egyptian Theatre on October 01, 2019 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by John Wolfsohn/Getty Images)
Bleacher Report catches you up on the latest news from the WWE Universe.
Khan Won't Comment on Punk, Bryan Rumors
Rumors have been swirling regarding CM Punk and Daniel Bryan signed with All Elite Wrestling, but AEW President Tony Khan isn't ready to address those rumors publicly.
Khan was asked about the possibility of Punk and Bryan joining AEW in an interview with Joseph Staszewski of the New York Post.
Khan said: "I have no comment on those. Those are good questions, but I can't comment on those."
When pressed further on Punk and Bryan, Khan added: "I can't comment on those two guys. But I think there are certainly a lot of exciting rumors right now."
Last week, Fightful (h/t WrestlingInc's Joshua Gagnon) reported that Punk was negotiating for a potential return to pro wrestling with AEW.
BodySlam.net's Cassidy Haynes later reported that Bryan had signed with AEW and was "100 percent locked in" with the company.
Punk has been out of wrestling for more than seven years ever since leaving WWE after the 2014 Royal Rumble. Bryan, meanwhile, wrestled for WWE as recently as April before his contract expired.
It can be argued that Punk has long been the biggest free agent in wrestling, and the multitime WWE world champion would undoubtedly move the needle for AEW.
Bryan would be a huge signing for AEW as well, considering he is also a multitime WWE world champion who headlined WrestleMania 37 against Roman Reigns and Edge in April.
AEW has already gained a great deal of traction in its two years of existence, and the arrival of Punk and Bryan could be what it needs to further challenging WWE's television viewership numbers.
Big E Talks Nixed Feud vs. Black
Big E seemingly began a feud with Aleister Black on SmackDown in May, but it never got off the ground, as Black was surprisingly released two weeks later.
In an interview with Louis Dangoor of Give Me Sport, Big E addressed that storyline publicly for the first time, saying:
"I don't know the plans. I had no idea. Obviously we'd seen the vignettes for weeks and weeks, then he comes out at the end of the main event and kicks me in the face so I think, 'Alright, it's him and I. We're going to run for a bit.' So I definitely was surprised by his release.
"I think he's extremely talented, I think he has a ton to offer. I think people were excited to see us, you know because there's such a difference in the way that we carry ourselves, in our characters, in many ways polar opposites. I think it could have made for a lot of fun."
Black's release occurred on June 2, less than two weeks after his first live appearance on WWE programming in months.
WWE had held Black off television for quite some time and it was unclear if he would ever return. His return came as something of a surprise, but his departure was even more shocking given the time WWE had invested in vignettes hyping up his return.
While it is unfortunate that Big E vs. Black never happened, things have seemingly worked out quite well for both of them.
Big E went on to win the men's Money in the Bank ladder match this month, meaning he is just a successful cash-in away from becoming world champion for the first time.
Black made his AEW debut one month after his WWE release as Malakai Black and immediately entered into a rivalry with Cody Rhodes.
Queen of the Ring Finals Date Reportedly Set
WWE reportedly has plans to hold the finals of the rumored Queen of the Ring tournament on a major stage.
According to Andrew Zarian of the Mat Men Pro Wrestling Podcast, WWE is planning on holding an October show in Saudi Arabia for the first time since February 2020, and the finals of Queen of the Ring will take place then.
WrestlingInc's Raj Giri initially reported last week that WWE was working on putting together a Queen of the Ring tournament for the first time in company history.
King of the Ring has been held many times and used to be a significant WWE pay-per-view, but an equivalent tournament has never happened for WWE's female Superstars.
The tournament would be significant under any circumstance, but holding the final in Saudi Arabia would take it to a different level.
Due to that country's stringent customs, women were not allowed to be on the card the first few times WWE held shows there, but that changed at Crown Jewel in October 2019 when Natalya faced Lacey Evans.
Another women's match was held in the country at WWE Super ShowDown in February 2020 when Bayley took on Naomi.
The Queen of the Ring finals would be the highest stakes yet for a women's match in Saudi Arabia, and it would likely make the winning moment even more memorable.
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 unthinkable has happened: One of WWE's greatest performers, Daniel Bryan, has walked away from the company. According to Cassidy Haynes of Bodyslam...
