Before his WWE World Heavyweight Championship match against Jey Uso, Seth Rollins meets Raw General Manager Adam Pierce backstage who informs the champion that he plans on bringing CM Punk to WWE Raw from Cleveland, Ohio to sign a contract.

Pearce lost the bidding for a returning Randy Orton to SmackDown's Nick Aldis last week, desperately looking to give Raw an edge over SmackDown with Punk who has already pulled out big numbers for WWE since his return at WWE Survivor Series. "Zip it, I don't give a d***, alright? You do what you gotta do. But when he shows the world his true colors and this blows up in your face, you do me a favor, alright? You stay out of my way when I do what I gotta do."

The two men have been taking shots at one another since Punk returned to the company. Following Survivor Series, Rollins made headlines for his hot temper as he cussed Punk out at Survivor Series. It's no secret that there has been bad blood between the two men in the past. In his WWE return promo, Punk addressed Rollins' outburst without directly naming him. "Everyone has welcomed me back with open arms...well almost everybody. Some people are afraid. They're afraid of the truth. They're afraid of what they don't understand, but I understand," Punk said. Rollins addressed the fans the same night, giving details into why he lashed out at Survivor Series. He refers to Punk as a "hypocrite" and "somebody that doesn't matter at all."

Rollins successfully defended the World Heavyweight title on the December 4 episode of WWE Raw, beating Uso clean. The two men shook each other's hands before Drew McIntyre continued going on a rampage after he injured Sami Zayn earlier in the night after their match.

On Monday Night Raw Drew McIntyre and Sami Zayn kicked off the show. During the match, Zayn tweaked his leg and McIntyre took advantage of that by continously going on the attack to win the match with a Claymore Kick. Prior to the match, McIntyre cut a promo to open the show calling out WWE World Heavyweight Champion Seth Rollins for giving Jey Uso a title shot over him which he felt disrespected by. Zayn eventually interrupted and noted that he [Zayn] got redemption on the Bloodline, he made his family proud. He asks McIntyre if he thinks he's making his family proud which sets off McIntyre. After the match, Zayn is being attended to by the medical team but McIntyre's not done with his assault on Zayn. He punches and kicks him and his leg, fired up about Zayn talking about his family. Adam Pearce and a bunch of other WWE officials sent McIntyre away, shouting at him to stop.

McIntyre has grown increasingly frustrated in recent weeks, aligning himself with Judgment Day against Team Cody at Survivor Series. Following that match, McIntyre walked out of the match angrily, leading people to believe that it had to do with CM Punk showing up. In his promo on the show tonight, McIntyre poked fun at the moment. "It feels like everyone has lost their minds recently. Liars, hypocrites, cowards, just plain idiots. Apparently you can get fired, released, leave, do what you want for a bunch of time, come back to the company and you're instantly forgiven these days." This fired the crowd up as they chanted CM Punk, but McIntyre tells them he could be talking about anyone. Fightful Select later reported that he was angry but it wasn't over Punk, it was broader than that. Rollins defeated McIntyre at WWE Crown Jewel to retain the WWE World Heavyweight Championship.

WWE recently picked up former AEW TBS Champion Jade Cargill and ever since then fans have been wondering where she's been following her appearance at WWE Fastlane. She popped up on RAW, NXT, and SmackDown immediately afterward and hasn't been seen since. Cargill finished up her priorities with AEW in September, returning to wrestle former TBS Champion Kris Statlander and losing the bout. She signed with WWE almost two weeks later.

"So, listen, I think the fan base should be patient. I think they need to understand we're making a diamond. We're creating something that's gonna be a legacy," Cargill said in an interview with The Dallas Morning News. "We're creating something that's going to create echoes and waves throughout not just the wrestling culture, but pop culture and beyond. They're setting me up for success, you shouldn't rush success."

Cargill revealed she's in-ring ready, but urges fans to be "patient" and once she gets started she doesn't plan on stopping. "Just know when I start there's no stopping. There's no breaks and everybody should be elated. So whomever wants to come get it, I got it. I'm just gonna give out work. Come apply."

At the Survivor Series press conference, WWE Chief Content Officer Triple H explained why Cargill hasn't been seen in a ring yet. "I have no less belief in her now than I did then [when she signed with WWE]," he said. "It's interesting when she came in, we talked about her development and where she would land. But where the development was, I wanna make sure that no matter what is thrown at Jade Cargill, she's ready, and at no fault of her own, I think that she was limited in that."

Although she has yet to step foot into a WWE ring she's been an advocate for the company since her signing. WWE has sent her to various events to do media, including the NCAA's Big 12 championship game where she appeared alongside The Undertaker, Michelle McCool, Sheamus, Drew McIntyre, and Samantha Irvin. At the event, she presented Nelly with a WWE Championship.

It appears that a top talent from New Japan Pro Wrestling will soon be a free agent. According to Sports Illustrated's Justin Barrasso, the ace of NJPW, Kazuchika Okada, will enter free agency in early 2024.

Okada's current contract is said to expire at the end of January and at this time he seems to be considering other options outside of Japan. Barrasso also reports that The Rainmaker's appearance on AEW Dynamite in October was also to help him get a greater sense of AEW. Sean Ross Sapp of Fightful has corroborated Barrasso's report.

Could Okada be All Elite or WWE Bound?

Should the star choose to leave NJPW and explore other options, the two major western promotions right now are AEW and WWE. While Okada has appeared in AEW over the last year and he has a relationship with a lot of the talent including the Young Bucks and Kenny Omega, it will likely come down to his goals at this stage of his career and what the best solution would be for his growing family. In WWE, it would allow Okada to work dream matches many never felt possible -- John Cena, CM Punk, The Rock, Randy Orton, Roman Reigns, Seth Rollins -- or rematches with Shinsuke Nakamura and AJ Styles from their time in Japan. Working a WrestleMania is something that he's never had the opportunity to do.

In a recent report from Dave Meltzer of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter, Meltzer revealed that there has been a "renewed interest" within WWE to sign Okada. "Obviously they've had interest in him for years. But he's always been loyal to New Japan," Meltzer said. "The pitch is that he's now 36 and he's close with [Shinsuke] Nakamura and Nakamura has worked years in WWE and it's far easier on his body."

Okada has wrestled in AEW three times over the last year, first at the inaugural Forbidden Door pay-per-view in a four-way IWGP World Heavyweight Championship match against former champion Jay White, Adam Cole, and "Hangman" Adam Page, Bryan Danielson at Forbidden Door 2023, and a tag match with Orange Cassidy against the BCC's Danielson and Claudio Castagnoli.

AEW recently signed Will Ospreay who is honoring his prior commitments with NJPW through the rest of the year in preparation for AEW Revolution in March. In an interview with BBC West Midlands, AEW President Tony Khan said Ospreay is able to go back to NJPW "virtually anytime" he wants.

Jeff Hardy returned to AEW earlier this year after battling legal troubles and since then they Hardys have largely been used to help put over younger talents like Hook, Top Flight, Action Andretti, The Gunns, and Aussie Open. Speaking on his brother's podcast The Extreme Life of Matt Hardy, Jeff gets candid about their booking in AEW and confesses he feels like a "ghost" in the company. "When I first came back, it was pretty exciting. I didn't know what was going to be happening in the near future," Jeff said. "But I think the last time I was in this extreme dimension of y'all's podcast, I said that in WWE, I felt like I was a ghost, just walking around backstage. Honestly, man, I kind of still feel like that at AEW, just because of not being involved in something cool. I feel like there's something so special that we have within us to really bring out."

In the same interview, Matt also talked about his frustrations and that while they've been patient over the last four months, they would like to get back to achieving some of their goals within AEW. One of those goals is helping put the younger talent over, something they feel that they haven't been able to do as much as they would like.

Matt mentions that he would like to see more entertainment angles in AEW, because he feels that the wrestling will always be there. This is a hot button topic among AEW fans who feel that AEW is at its best when it primarily stays away from trying to be too much like WWE. Jeff added that he thinks he does some of his best performing in the lead up to matches because he gets to show a different side of himself.

"I would like to see a little more story and entertainment-based stuff into characters and whatnot in AEW. To ... draw more casual fans in and not just hardcore wrestling fans, I feel like they're there and the wrestling is always going to be there -- that's what Tony loves," Matt said. "It is such a hard-working locker room and they have set the standard so high for matches that it gets harder and harder, and tougher and tougher to top those things. I think these guys are having such great matches week in and week out I think it's tough to top all this stuff over and over." (h/t Wrestling Inc)

The Hardys reunited last March after nearly three years apart. Matt had left WWE to join AEW while Jeff was still under contract with WWE at the time. Jeff appeared on an episode of AEW Dynamite where he, alongside Darby Allin and Sting, saved his brother from an attack by Andrade El Idolo, Butcher and Blade, and Private Party who turned on Matt.

The AEW Continental Classic is cementing itself as one of professional wrestling's biggest tournaments. When AEW President Tony Khan announced that his company would be running its first-ever round robin tournament, many fans drew comparisons to New Japan Pro Wrestling's G1 Climax. That summertime showcase has been a Far East tradition for decades. The G1's prestige has grown to the point that it is considered a career highlight just to be among the participating field, let alone win the entire thing. While the AEW Continental Classic still has years, possibly decades, until it can be spoken of in the same breath, the tournament got a big boost upon launch thanks to what will go to the victor.

Upon entering the AEW Continental Classic, NJPW STRONG Openweight and Ring of Honor World Champion Eddie Kingston declared that he will be putting both of his titles on the line. This led to the announcement that the tournament's eventual winner would become a Triple Crown Champion, officially tying themselves to all three promotions.

Rocky Romero Details AEW Continental Classic Conversations

How did New Japan Pro Wrestling get involved in the AEW Continental Classic?

Speaking to ComicBook.com, NJPW star and ambassador Rocky Romero detailed the conversation he had with AEW President Tony Khan about putting New Japan gold on the line in an All Elite tournament.

"Tony reached out and said, 'This is what I'm thinking. I think it would be cool if there was kind of a merging of the titles together in some kind of way,'" Romero recalled. "What better person and character to do that than Eddie, since he's important to both companies."

Kingston has been under AEW contract since Summer 2020 and has established himself as one of the company's hottest stars. His reach has expanded beyond his home company as well, as he is a regular on NJPW STRONG and Ring of Honor programming. Kingston's New Japan roots stretch deep, as he has touted his appreciation for the Far East style on a regular basis. He competed in the G1 Climax this past summer, finishing with eight points.

"We'll see who wins the actual tournament and who ends up with all three championships," Romero continued. "Hopefully it's somebody that's part of both companies now, New Japan and AEW."

While Kingston is the most regular competitor on both NJPW and AEW, just about every AEW Continental Classic has ties to each.

"The tournament field looks awesome. There's a lot of amazing wrestlers," Romero added. "The format of a league style is obviously kind of new in the US, if you're not a New Japan fan watching the G1. It hopefully opens the door for more people to watch New Japan and get into the G1 come summertime of next year."

The AEW Continental Classic continues this Wednesday on AEW Dynamite.

CM Punk's sincerity is in question. The Second City Saint made his return to WWE last month, shocking the Allstate Arena when "Cult of Personality" dropped seconds before WWE Survivor Series was set to go off the air. Punk followed up his post credits-esque comeback by breaking his silence two days later on WWE Monday Night Raw, addressing the WWE universe for the first time in nearly a decade. Punk's promo received mixed reactions for fans and critics alike, as some heard his "I'm home" declaration as phony while others believe it was deliberately hollow. Whatever the case may be, one WWE Hall of Famer saw the whole segment as fairly fabricated.

Kevin Nash Responds to CM Punk's "Contrived" Promo

Big Daddy Cool is not rocking with this new Straight Edge Superstar.

Speaking on his Kliq This podcast, Kevin Nash described CM Punk's return promo on WWE Monday Night Raw as being "not him."

"I thought the glad-handing on the way to the ring was not him," Nash said. "For somebody that was so 'pipe bomb,' it felt very contrived."

Nash worked with the real-life Phil Brooks briefly at the tail end of his famous "Summer of Punk" in 2011. The former NWO big man cost Punk the WWE Championship at WWE SummerSlam 2011, laying the groundwork for a singles feud between the two that was expected to stretch into the fall. Nash vs. Punk was scheduled to go down the following month at WWE Night of Champions but ultimately fell through due to Nash having health issues. He would still end up wrestling later that year, working a series of live events before having one WWE pay-per-view match against Triple H.

While they never faced off in the ring, Nash and Punk traded many verbal barbs on WWE TV, most of which included Punk cutting deep and personal. With that in mind, Nash has doubts about the legitimacy behind Punk's most recent WWE promo.

"At the end, it was like, 'Oh s--t, I better slip this in so I have some credibility," Nash continued. "[When he said] 'I'm not here to make friends, I'm here to make money.' I've heard that before."

Punk's next scheduled WWE appearance is this Friday, the December 8th edition of WWE SmackDown, airing at 8 PM ET on FOX.

Mercedes Mon? will be back in a squared circle again soon. The former IWGP Women's Champion shared a vignette of herself resuming in-ring training last week, showcasing herself running the ropes for the first time since injuring her ankle this past May. Mon? was wrestling AEW's Willow Nightingale in the finals of a tournament to crown the inaugural NJPW STRONG Women's Champion when she hurt her ankle. This injury put Mon? on the shelf indefinitely and resulted in her not being cleared come events like AEW x NJPW Forbidden Door and AEW Dynamite: Blood & Guts, two shows she was rumored to have been involved in if she was healthy.

Now that she is getting back into in-ring shape, questions are rising about where her next match will take place.

Latest on Mercedes Mon?'s NJPW Status

Whenever Mercedes Mon? steps back into the ring, it might be a surprise for everyone across the board.

Speaking to ComicBook.com, NJPW star and ambassador Rocky Romero noted that there remains "no update" on Mon?'s NJPW status.

"No update so far, but I saw the video and I liked it," Romero said of Mon?'s new vignette. "I'm glad that she's back into doing what she was put on this earth to do."

When he's not competing in the ring, Romero is one of New Japan's strongest liaisons. He helped foster NJPW's working relationship with AEW back in 2021 and played an instrumental role in bringing Mon? to the Far East when she became a free agent.

"Within a couple of months for sure," Romero said of how quickly Mon?'s debut this past January at NJPW Wrestle Kingdom 17 came to be. "I can't remember the exact timeframe, but once we kind of all knew that we all wanted to do it, on her side and New Japan's side, everybody was in. We made some cool things happen. It worked out really easily."

Romero remains optimistic that Mon? still has more New Japan matches in her but admitted that there will be multiple companies vying for her services.

"I do hope that we would be able to work with her in the future, but she's also got so many options," Romero continued. "She's the number one free agent in the world right now, without a doubt. And I'm sure that AEW and WWE and Impact Wrestling and everybody under the sun is trying to see what Mercedes is going to do next."

Speaking at GalaxyCon Columbus over the weekend, former WWE Superstar Nic Nemeth (f.k.a. Dolph Ziggler) appeared for his first convention where he spoke publicly for the first time since his shocking release from the company in September. During the panel, he disclosed who he's got his eye on wrestling first.

In a report released a few weeks ago by Dave Meltzer of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter, Meltzer mentioned that Nemeth is "expected" to sign with AEW due to his connections inside the company. Nemeth remarked on the major companies, noting that he's "lucky" there are as many options out there as there are now. "I'm very lucky that there's a bunch of options out there. My brother's in AEW and he says nothing but good things. TNA doesn't look that bad either. Also, I just did 20 straight years at a company. I would love to do six months or a year where I'm the boss of me," Nemeth said. "Legitimately, if Zack Ryder [Matt Cardona] wasn't out there, I don't know that I'd be like 'oh, I wanna do my own thing for a little bit.' I want to go fight him but also not be tied down to another company right away. But I really want to beat him up with no rules, everybody filming. I'm not going to get arrested afterward. Like, it's all legally signed paperwork."

Nemeth and Cardona's long standing history goes all the way back to 2011 when the two were feuding for the WWE United States Championship. It's also no secret that Cardona has been dominating the professional wrestling world since his release in 2020 right as a worldwide pandemic hit. He's won titles in IMPACT/TNA, NWA, and DDT as well as all over the independents like GCW, AIW, and HOG, to name a few. Cardona isn't the only former WWE Superstar that has found success outside of the company.

Recently, both Mercedes Mon? and Trinity have generated a lot of buzz in the wrestling world. Mon? won the IWGP Women's Championship in early 2023 from KAIRI while Trinity debuted for IMPACT/TNA shortly after. She is the current Knockouts World Champion. Adam Copeland popped into AEW after his WWE contract expired and he's currently in a program with Christian Cage for the TNT Championship. Nemeth was one of the many shocking releases back in September after pouring nearly two decades into WWE. His 90 day non-compete expires at the end of December.

AEW's Chris Jericho recently made an appearance in Vietnam, popping up at a VPW (Vietnam Pro Wrestling) event, the first professional wrestling company in Vietnam. He mostly smiled and surveyed the crowd who erupted into cheers for the veteran wrestler. While in the country, Jericho also inducted Viva Van and Sumie Sakai into the VPW Hall of Fame. Van and Sakai were the first main event a wrestling show in Vietnam, and Van has been vocal about her efforts to bring Southeast Asian representation to professional wrestling on a global scale in the past, raising money to help build a ring for the first wrestling school in Vietnam. The main event of Ultra Glory featured Van defending the PCW Ultra Women's Championship against Sakai.

From Korakuen Hall in Tokyo to being the first women to main event in Vietnam ????

Chris Jericho just inducted us into the VPW Hall of Fame! ??? pic.twitter.com/hq31VYnnpy

-- VIVA VAN ???????? (@HellBentVixen) December 3, 2023

Jericho also stepped in the ring to cut a promo, revealing that a documentary is being made on the historic company. "First of all, I want to thank you guys and I want you all to give some respect to the men and women that put on a great f*****g show for all of you tonight in VPW -- let's hear it for them! And you might be thinking to yourself, 'what the hell is Chris Jericho doing here, tonight? I'll tell you quickly," he started. "About six months ago or so I did my podcast Talk is Jericho with Rocky [Huynh] and Carey [Wass] about VPW. After we finished the podcast I thought, 'you know what? This is a great story. This is a story that deserves to be documented in a movie, in a documentary,' and that's why we are making a documentary about VPW."

Jericho continues to randomly pop up in wrestling companies all around the world. In August ahead of his match with Will Ospreay at AEW All In, Jericho made a shocking appearance in RevPro as a masked man that attacked Ospreay. He revealed himself after taking off the black mask. Most recently, Jericho defeated Konosuke Takeshita in DDT Pro Wrestling, one of the most popular and well known promotions in Japan. Even before leaving WWE, he's always made an effort to have a finger on the pulse of all wrestling, no matter the company. This has of course led him to legendary runs in New Japan Pro Wrestling, Ring of Honor, and, of course, AEW.

Jericho is currently paired with fellow Canadian professional wrestler Kenny Omega as the Golden Jets. Omega and Jericho teamed up at AEW Full Gear to take on the Young Bucks in a Disbandment vs. Title Shot match which they won, earning themselves a future tag team opportunity.

After sporadic appearances on AEW television in 2023, Ethan Page will make his return to AEW Collision in a big way.

Page, who has been racking up wins with Ring of Honor has called for a big singles match to take place at AEW Collision in Montreal Quebec, Canada next Wednesday night. In a passionate backstage promo, he revealed he wants to face off against one of Canada's greatest exports, Kenny Omega. "Ever since losing to MJF in the AEW World Heavyweight title match in my home nation of Canada, I've had to regroup. Refocus my energy and my efforts; I've gotten into the best physical shape of my entire life. I've been in Ring of Honor racking up win after win. I'm on a bit of a roll," Page explained. "So here I am to make a challenge and check off a bucketlist thing. I want to be one of the biggest names in Canada and we're heading there next week. If I want to be the King of Canada, Ethan Page is going to need his crown but right now, that crown is sitting on somebody else's head. So in Montreal, one-on-one, we're going to find out who the best Canadian wrestler is. Because I want you, Kenny Omega."

A singles match?! What the? Uh, okay, sure. See you there. https://t.co/GhiIrYzaTC

-- Kenny Omega (@KennyOmegamanX) December 3, 2023

Page lost the AEW World title match with MJF in August of 2023 and has been largely off AEW programming since. With him gaining permanent residency in the United States with his Green Card recently, it gives Page the opportunity to be more hands on with AEW. Last time Omega stepped foot in Canada to wrestle, he defeated the BCC's Wheeler Yuta. In 2023, Omega has participated in 10 singles matches making his singles win/loss record in 2023 at 50/50. Though this will be the first singles meeting for these two men, they faced each other in trios action earlier this year when The Elite defeated The Firm on an episode of AEW Rampage.

AEW Collision in Montreal will tape this Tuesday from the Bell Centre and air on Saturday, December 9. Alongside Omega vs. Page, the AEW Continental Classic continues with two Blue League matches -- Claudio Castagnoli vs.Eddie Kingston and Bryan Danielson vs. Andrade El Idolo.

AEW Collision opened with the continuation of the Continental Classic. The first blue league match of the night saw House of Black's Brody King and Blackpool Combat Club's Claudio Castagnoli locking up for the first time. The match saw a real test of strength with Castagnoli to King's brute force that he showed various times during the match, throwing Castagnoli around ringside like it was nothing. In the last match against Eddie Kingston, fans were certain Kingston would win and pick up his first three points being the ROH World Champion. King proved this week that he won that match fair and square as he battered down one of the strongest men in the division. Castagnoli gained a bit of momentum during a moment of separation as King barked to the crowd. Castagnoli uppercutted him and tried to whip him into the corner but King reversed it. Castagnoli attempts to swing King but again, King counters, both men doing whatever it takes to win.

Castagnoli nearly picks up a win as he catches King midair and uppercuts him. He goes for the pin and gets a two count so he decides it's time to finish him with the swing and a Sharpshooter. King claws his way to the ropes to break the pin, Castagnoli grabs one of his arms to prevent it but King throws both of them into the ropes.King gets some offense in, putting Castagnoli in the corner and connecting with a cannonball. He kicks out at one so Castagnoli uses a Canadian Destroyer, also for a one count. King finally ends the match with a big lariat, using his arm with the cast. King earns another three points bringing his total to in the blue league to six.

In the second match of the night, Garcia is at a considerable disadvantage in the tournament which he more than understands. Andrade gets the the upper-hand early on and stays on the attack, toying with Garcia. Attempting to gain some momentum back, Garcia slaps Andrade around a bit but gets put into a choke. Garcia uses the crowd to fire himself up and flip the match around. The match proves that Garcia is at his best when he's not being silly and doing his dances, when he's fired up and a more "serious" competitor. Garcia puts Andrade in two sleeper holds but Andrade breaks the second one, allowing him to spam the suplex and a Superplex off of the top rope. Garcia kicks out and puts Andrade into the sharpshooter but Andrade gets the Flatliner locked in and picks up his first three points. Andrade shows respect to Garcia, shaking his hand at the conclusion of the match.

In the final match of the night, Bryan Danielson went head to head with Eddie Kingston. Danielson is fresh off an injury to his orbital bone while Kingston has taken two losses in the tournament. While Kingston attempted to gain a footing in the tournament and match by showing up and giving Danielson a good beating, it was no match for Danielson's resilience as he takes chop after chop to the chest. Kingston attempts to go for Danielson's arm at one point but gets tripped by the American Dragon. Danielson kicks Kingston's chest in before finally delivering the Busaiku Knee for three points to advance in the tournament.

Stay tuned to Comicbook.com for updates on the Continental Classic tournament.

Toni Storm currently reigns supreme over the AEW Women's Division as AEW World Women's Champion, but she now has her latest challenger to the throne in Skye Blue. Storm and Blue have faced each other several times in the past, but both are quite different than they were in those earlier match-ups. That was no more evident than in their backstage promos during tonight's AEW Collision, where Storm (in her Timeless era) took a hilarious shot at Blue by telling her she should walk backwards "because the only time someone has something nice to say about you is when they're taking pictures of your bottom!"

Speaking to Renee Paquette, Storm said, "I was interrupted by Sky Blue! Skye, if I had any advice for you at all, it would be to walk backwards, because the only time someone has something nice to say about you is when they're taking pictures of your bottom. Am I supposed to be worried because you're spooky now? Because you put that little thing on your head? I used to wear a little hat... I can be spooky...boo! See, it's not that hard."

Feeling upstaged by Skye Blue at her Award Ceremony, Timeless #ToniStorm is ready to get in the ring to defend the #AEW Women's World Championship against @Skyebyee THIS WEDNESDAY on #AEWDynamite LIVE on TBS!

Watch #AEWCollision LIVE on TNT! pic.twitter.com/OimSRTByrm

-- All Elite Wrestling (@AEW) December 3, 2023

Storm then said that if she wanted to interrupt her she could be the first challenger for the AEW Women's World Championship, and then went on to hit her catchphrase with the help of one of Renee's shoes (she was barefoot after all). Storm walked away after the promo, and then in a later backstage segment Blue responded to Storm's words.

They're definitely planting seeds for Mariah May VS Skye Blue at some point #AEWCollision pic.twitter.com/KCU0wQXnXD

-- B Mack (@MILANO_MOBBBB) December 3, 2023

Blue wasn't impressed. Blue said, "Toni, I have met you through every single one of your phases, but this little midlife crisis you're going through is the most pathetic I have seen thus far. But you, you haven't met this Skye Blue, so bring your little butler, bring your little blonde bimbo, and whatever 1940s black and white crap you've got up that robe, because none of it is going to stop me from taking that Championship from you."

Blue then delivered Storm's catchphrase, but added a twist of her own, telling Storm "And I'm going to shove that shoe up you're a**." While the two are well acquainted with each other in the ring, both have changed substantially, and it will be interesting to see how they adjust when they are in the ring on next week's AEW Dynamite. That's already a loaded card, and you can find the full card below.

• TNT Championship Match: Christian Cage (C) vs. Adam Copeland
• AEW Women's World Championship Match: Toni Storm (C) vs. Skye Blue
• MJF & Samoa Joe vs. The Devil's Goons
• AEW Continental Classic Gold League Match: Jay White vs. Jay Lethal
• AEW Continental Classic Gold League Match: Jon Moxley vs. RUSH
• AEW Continental Classic Gold League Match: Swerve Strickland vs. Mark Briscoe

What did you think of the promos? Let us know in the comments and as always you can talk all things wrestling with me on Threads @mattaguilarcb!

On AEW Collision, Abadon picked up a win over Kiera Hogan. After the match, the lights went out and TBS Champion Julia Hart appeared in the ring. She looked more amused than anything as she and Abadon stared each other down. Abadon gestured toward the title and just as lights went out again, Hart disappeared.

Skye Blue is set to wrestle AEW Women's World Champion "Timeless" Toni Storm on AEW Dynamite next week while also letting out her frustrations on Kris Statlander, as seen on AEW Rampage. Statlander was never pinned in the TBS three-way match as Hart pinned Blue to steal the win. If Statlander gets a rematch at AEW Worlds End, could the match contain a few antics that Hart has up her sleeve?

Is Julia Hart Scouting Talent for Her Own Stable?

With seeds of a potential stable led by Hart being planted in recent months with Willow Nightingale and Blue both being misted only to either overcome it or be taken out by Hart, Abadon seems like a natural pairing for the group. They're not only spooky, but Abadon is someone fans have clamored to see more of year round instead of being delegated to October for Halloween. In January, Hart did a virtual signing with Captain's Corner where she revealed who she would want to form a stable with in AEW. "Abadon. Or me, Penelope [Ford], and Allie [former AEW star The Bunny] could be [a trio]. Or maybe us four -- me, Penelope, Allie, and Abadon. We'd be The Weird Sisters or something. To me, it's very witchy."

The most intriguing part about a potential Hart-Abadon team up is that Hart could really use Abadon as her heater. It gives Abadon a way to acquire wins while acting in a similar fashion as Luchasaurus/Killswitch to Christian Cage. It would also allow Hart to build more substantial long-term feuds while giving Abadon a one-up to be a physically imposing force.

Stay tuned with Comicbook.com for updates on AEW and TBS Champion Julia Hart.

After legal troubles left Jeff Hardy out of in-ring action in AEW for 10 months, he returned to the ring in April, helping his brother Matt, HOOK, and Isiah Kassidy from The Firm. At the time of his return he was also recovering from an eye surgery. At the time, pictures surfaced online of Hardy meeting fans with a swollen eye and Matt revealed he had undergone surgery but did not disclose the reason. Now Jeff is opening up about his struggles with his sight post-surgery, noting that he can make it through wrestling matches but other situations, like trying to watch TV in bed, cause problems for him.

"My biggest challenge has been the eye surgery I had back in March, the double vision, so that's still my biggest fear. I can see where I need to see. The double vision is still there. For example, leaning back in bed and trying to watch TV. Even looking at the camera now, it's doubling up on me a little bit," Hardy revealed on the 100th episode of The Extreme Life of Matt Hardy podcast. "But to the left, it's where it all started. It's pretty much gone, so I can see where I need to in the wrestling ring. I just need to do more matches. More matches like tonight where I'm actually excited to go out there and perform."

The Hardys also got candid about their frustrations with their booking in AEW as of late, Matt specifically pointing toward the last four months. "I mean, I'll say, just creatively like just the way we've been utilized, like the last four months, it's been very frustrating. We've been very patient but there has been a lot of frustration with things we've done and kind of how we've been utilized in some ways." He also clarified there was no ill will toward AEW for the direction that their characters are going in, they would just like to get back to some of their goals in the company.

Despite that, Matt wants he and his brother to be booked to put the younger talent over. "I mean, I just feel like because we are considered one of the most one of the most iconic tag teams, one of the greatest tag teams of all time, you know with all of our achievements and you know all the ground we've broken all the trails, we blazed, I felt like we would be in some sort of circulation where we come in we you know, have some wins here and there, we get some momentum going, then we go into a big issue with a younger guy, and then like, we make this younger guy look good, you know, but we haven't really got the opportunity to do that. And that's what I want." (h/t Inside the Ropes).

On the November 29 episode of AEW Dynamite, the Hardys and Brother Zay faced Top Flight and Action Andretti, Dante Martin's first match back since suffering a brutal injury to his leg at ROH Supercard of Honor in March. Martin returned on the November 25 episode of AEW Collision.

A fan-favorite WWE Superstar was unfortunately injured during this week's SmackDown, and now WWE has provided an update on his condition. During last night's SmackDown Logan Paul came to the ring to reveal a tournament to decide the next challenger for his United States Championship, and one of those superstars is Kevin Owens. That led to a confrontation between Austin Theory, Grayson Waller, and Owens, where Owens clocked Theory in the face. Owens then faced Waller in a match, and it turns out he hurt his hand during that match, as WWE showed Owens heading in for an x-ray afterward. Now there's been an update, and Owens did end up sustaining an injury.

According to WWE, Owens fractured his 4th and 5th metacarpal during the match against Waller. While they revealed what exactly was injured, WWE did not reveal any kind of timetable for recovery and if that would affect Owens being in the tournament. In the initial post, WWE wrote "After suffering an injury during his match against @GraysonWWE, @FightOwensFight is seen heading into the x-ray room to get his hand checked out. #SmackDown."

UPDATE: @fightowensfight has sustained an injury, fracturing his 4th and 5th metacarpal during #SmackDown last night. https://t.co/2eZSVEJ27G

-- WWE (@WWE) December 2, 2023

Today WWE shared the update on Twitter, writing, "UPDATE: @fightowensfight has sustained an injury, fracturing his 4th and 5th metacarpal during #SmackDown last night." You can find the full post from WWE above.

The tournament is slated to include eight superstars, and so far features Santos Escobar, Dragon Lee, Karrion Kross, an NXT Superstar, Bobby Lashley, Grayson Waller, Austin Theory, and Owens. If Owens is out for any extended length of time, he might have to be replaced with someone else. This could also just be a storyline injury, and if that's the case we'll likely see Owens overcoming the injury as he moves through the tournament.

Owens does have some time to recover though, as last night the first match-ups were revealed, and those will be Dragon Lee vs Santos Escobar and Bobby Lashley vs Karrion Kross. Those are slated to start next week, and as for the NXT Superstar, there are several potential choices, though a certain Carmelo Hayes already threw his name into the mix. We'll have to wait and see who that is, but we wish Owens a speedy recovery. As for NXT, you can find the full card for NXT Deadline below.

WWE NXT Deadline:

• WWE NXT Championship Match: Ilja Dragunov (C) vs Baron Corbin
• Men's Iron Survivor Challenge Match: Dijak vs Trick Williams vs Josh Briggs vs Bron Breuker vs TBD
• Women's Iron Survivor Challenge Match: Tiffany Stratton vs Lash Legend vs Blair Davenport vs Kelani Jordan vs TBD
• North American Championship Match: Dominik Mysterio (C) vs Wes Lee

NXT Deadline takes place on Saturday, December 9th.

Randy Orton returned to action at WWE's Survivor Series WarGames, and after a strong effort that helped his team win the match, Orton would make his returns to Monday Night Raw and SmackDown throughout the following week. That resulted in a bidding war between the two brands to sign him, and ultimately that ended up going Nick Aldis' way (much to the chagrin of Paul Heyman). Orton has looked fantastic in his return, and John Cena took to social media to celebrate Orton's return to the ring and the fact that SmackDown was able to sign him.

On Twitter Cena shared the video of Orton's SmackDown return with the caption, "Absolutely incredible to see @RandyOrton continue to excel after such a storied career. A massive pickup for #Smackdown and a word to the wise ... watch out for that RKO!"

Absolutely incredible to see @RandyOrton continue to excel after such a storied career. A massive pickup for #Smackdown and a word to the wise ... watch out for that RKO! https://t.co/wxeLEI4j3V

-- John Cena (@JohnCena) December 2, 2023

Cena recently made a return of his own to WWE during the Actors' strike, and from the get-go, he was open about the fact that he wouldn't be able to compete in the ring when the strike ended, as he would have to return to various productions. That led to a match against Solo Sikoa at Crown Jewel, where Sikoa took Cena down in dominant fashion. While we very well could see Cena again before he is officially retired from wrestling, this is probably one of the last times we'll see Cena for that long of a run.

As for Orton, SmackDown featured Adam Pearce and Nick Aldis battling for Orton to sign with their respective brands, and Pearce came out swinging, telling Orton, "I'll give you the winner of Jey Uso and Seth Rollins for the World Heavyweight Championship." That was a huge offer, and up next was Aldis, who told Orton "You sign with SmackDown, and I can give you the guys that took you out."

That's when Paul Heyman came out and brought up the fact that it was The Bloodline who sidelined Orton in the first place. That led to Solo Sikoa and Jimmy Uso coming out to persuade Orton to go somewhere else, but it royally backfired. Orton was brought down by the numbers advantage at one point, but he got some help from LA Knight, another superstar who has had several run-ins with The Bloodline and Roman Reigns.

Orton then delivered a statement RKO to Jimmy Uso and took both contracts to go over. He threw the Raw one to the side and signed with SmackDown, staring at Heyman right after. Then Orton signed off by telling Heyman to call Reigns, leaving off with "and you can tell him Daddy's back."

WWE NXT Deadline:

• WWE NXT Championship Match: Ilja Dragunov (C) vs Baron Corbin
• Men's Iron Survivor Challenge Match: Dijak vs Trick Williams vs Josh Briggs vs Bron Breuker vs TBD
• Women's Iron Survivor Challenge Match: Tiffany Stratton vs Lash Legend vs Blair Davenport vs Kelani Jordan vs TBD
• North American Championship Match: Dominik Mysterio (C) vs Wes Lee

NXT Deadline takes place on Saturday, December 9th.

What do you think of Orton signing with SmackDown? Let us know in the comments and as always you can talk all things wrestling with me on Threads @mattaguilarcb!

Mick Foley isn't the only WWE Hall of Famer that knows a thing or two about socks. Trish Stratus has announced her latest venture: a collaboration with Canadian small business custom sock brand SOXOS. Stratus first teased the news on social media, noting that she had a "big announcement" and asked fans to guess what it could be. First revealed on Stratus' website, the collaboration "Trishmas Sox Collection" features four unique designs specifically tailored to her time in wrestling, her connection to Christmas with her holiday films, and a nod to yoga and Stratus' yoga brand Stratusphere Yoga.

SOXOS creates unique custom sock designs that have faces on them, but this is the brand's first time making custom fandom related socks. The socks will release Monday, December 4 on the SOXOS website but Stratus will be revealing a new design each day until then. On December 1, Stratus shared the news with fans on social media, also revealing the yoga design. The top of the socks say "Merry Trishmas" black socks that feature a Christmas tree with Stratus' silhouette in a yoga pose holding the star. The bottoms say "'Tis The Sea-Zen." Check out a glimpse of the first design below.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Trish Stratus (@trishstratuscom)

Stratus returned to wrestling in 2023 to team with Becky Lynch and Lita against Damage CTRL at WrestleMania 39. After Lita suffered from an injury and couldn't defend the Women's Tag Team titles against Liv Morgan and Raquel Rodriguez, Stratus offered to step in so they didn't have to be vacated. Stratus would turn on Lynch after losing that match, setting up what Stratus has dubbed the "bad girl" tour. They concluded their five month long feud at WWE Payback in September in a Steel Cage Match. On this most recent run, Stratus also took former WWE NXT Superstar Zoey Stark under her wing as she began warming up on the main roster. This is something Stark told Comicbook.com's Matt Aguilar she hopes to finish at some point down the line.

A major storyline running through tonight's episode of WWE SmackDown revolved around which brand Randy Orton would ultimately sign with. Monday Night Raw General Manager Adam Pearce and SmackDown General Manager Nick Aldis were both attempting to sign Orton, and both showed up in the ring for the final segment of SmackDown to their last pitches to the newly returned superstar. Both gave compelling pitches, but it was actually Paul Heyman who managed to cement Orton's decision. The Bloodline went after Orton again but with some help from LA Knight Orton hit Jimmy with the RKO and then made his choice, signing with SmackDown.

Pearce and Aldis both gave Orton something to think about, starting with Pearce, who told Orton "I'll give you the winner of Jey Uso and Seth Rollins for the World Heavyweight Championship." That had Orton reeling, as he took a minute by the ropes to consider it. Aldis was ready with his own pitch though, telling Orton "You sign with SmackDown, and I can give you the guys that took you out."

"The Bloodline will make the decision for you!"@HeymanHustle @RandyOrton #SmackDown pic.twitter.com/A2MviJjXNB

-- WWE on FOX (@WWEonFOX) December 2, 2023

Then Paul Heyman came out and said "Look who's back!". Heyman then reminded everyone that the Bloodline was responsible for putting Orton out of commission last year. Heyman then told Orton that he wouldn't be making the decision, as the Bloodline would be the ones making the decision, and that's when Solo Sikoa's music hit.

Welcome to #SmackDown, @RandyOrton! pic.twitter.com/aeVKYGQ3gU

-- WWE on FOX (@WWEonFOX) December 2, 2023

Out came Sikoa and Jimmy Uso, and they went right at Orton. Orton was able to knock Jimmy down but Sikoa came in and the numbers quickly took their effect on Orton. Then LA Knight came running down to help Orton out, as Knight has had his own issues with The Bloodline. Knight and Sikoa were slugging it out and ended up fighting on the ramp, and that left Orton all alone with Jimmy.

Jimmy had his back turned but soon got hit with a DDT. Orton then hit Jimmy with the RKO, and Heyman wasn't pleased. Orton then turned to Pearce and Aldis and took both contracts, weighing them both as he stood over a knocked-out Jimmy Uso. Heyman told Orton to go to Raw, and that he would be safe on Raw, and then Orton threw the Raw contract down and signed with SmackDown.

Heyman was seething, and Orton wanted to rub it in just a bit more. Orton picked up the microphone and said "Hey Paul, you can call Roman Reigns. And you can tell him, Daddy's back." Then Aldis went to shake Orton's hand and while Orton did just that, he also hit Aldis with an RKO, just because.

WWE NXT Deadline:

• WWE NXT Championship Match: Ilja Dragunov (C) vs Baron Corbin
• Men's Iron Survivor Challenge Match: Dijak vs Trick Williams vs Josh Briggs vs Bron Breuker vs TBD
• Women's Iron Survivor Challenge Match: Tiffany Stratton vs Lash Legend vs Blair Davenport vs Kelani Jordan vs TBD
• North American Championship Match: Dominik Mysterio (C) vs Wes Lee

NXT Deadline takes place on Saturday, December 9th.

Are you excited for Orton on SmackDown? Let us know in the comments and as always you can talk all things wrestling with me on Threads @mattaguilarcb!

Logan Paul was able to take down Rey Mysterio for the WWE United States Championship at Crown Jewel, though he did have some key assistance from some brass knuckles. Mysterio is currently recovering from surgery, so he can't get his rematch. Paul isn't waiting to defend his newly won prize, so tonight on WWE SmackDown Paul revealed a new tournament will be held to decide his next challenger, and he's already revealed most of the lineup. The tournament will start next week and features 8 superstars, including Santos Escobar, Dragon Lee, Carrion Kross, an NXT Superstar, Bobby Lashley, Grayson Waller, Austin Theory, and Kevin Owens.

WWE later revealed the first round for the United States Championship Tournament, which will feature the match-ups of Dragon Lee vs Santos Escobar and Bobby Lashley vs Karrion Kross. This all started when Paul came out with his Title and announced the big news, which then led to Kevin Owens coming out to the ring.

Sorry, @_Theory1, @FightOwensFight's days of punching people in the face are NOT over. ?#SmackDown @LoganPaul @GraysonWWE pic.twitter.com/I1feGnPIyi

-- WWE (@WWE) December 2, 2023

Owens told Paul, "You want to talk about a nightmare. You, this, in my ring, is a nightmare. I saw you like 10 years ago on that app Vine, and back then it only took me six seconds to discover you were an unbearable nightmare. You talk about junk, the only junk around here is that crap drink you peddle."

After some additional back and forth between Paul and Owens, Grayson Waller and Austin Theory came out to disrupt things. They tried to get on Paul's good sign by talking him up, but that didn't work out that well, as Owens then punched Theory in the face and knocked him out of the ring.

It's an interesting group assembled for the tournament, with the heels outnumbering the faces. That suggests the mystery NXT superstar will be a face to even things out, but that doesn't necessarily have to be the case. A few names do come to mind though, but we'll have to wait and see. Speaking of NXT, you can find the full card for NXT Deadline below.

WWE NXT Deadline:

WWE NXT Championship Match: Ilja Dragunov (C) vs Baron Corbin

Men's Iron Survivor Challenge Match: Dijak vs Trick Williams vs Josh Briggs vs Bron Breuker vs TBD

Women's Iron Survivor Challenge Match: Tiffany Stratton vs Lash Legend vs Blair Davenport vs Kelani Jordan vs TBD

North American Championship Match: Dominik Mysterio (C) vs Wes Lee

NXT Deadline takes place on Saturday, December 9th.

Who do you want to see win the tournament? Let us know in the comments and as always you can talk all things wrestling with me on Threads @mattaguilarcb!

For the first time in nine years, CM Punk will appear on WWE SmackDown. The announcement was made Friday, December 1 after a big video package chronicling Punk's return since Survivor Series last weekend.

Punk will take part in the 21st annual Tribute to the Troops show from Providence, R.I. at the Amica Mutual Pavilion but it's unclear whether it will be in a wrestling capacity or not. WWE's annual Tribute to The Troops is part of a larger ongoing initiative to support the U.S. military past and present. The last time Punk appeared in a Tribute for the Troops show was 2013, a year before he departed WWE. In that match he teamed with Daniel Bryan and John Cena in two separate matches against The Wyatt Family. Punk's last official SmackDown match was a dark three-on-one match against The Shield in January of 2014.

Punk's return after the main event of Survivor Series: WarGames has garnered over 95 million views across all of WWE's social media platforms. Punk isn't officially committed to either brand full-time, it seems that at least for now he will continue to appear on both brands. Little creative direction with Punk is known at the time, so Tribute to the Troops could be the start of his first big feud back in WWE. After Survivor Series went off the air, WWE World Heavyweight Champion Seth Rollins was caught on video throwing expletives in Punk's direction while Corey Graves and Michael Cole hold him back.

On Monday Night Raw Rollins briefly addressed the situation and Punk, referring to Punk as a "hypocrite" and noting that he's someone that doesn't matter at all. In Punk's return promo he hinted at Rollins' outburst, stating that "almost everyone" welcomed him back with open arms. "Some people are afraid. They're afraid of the truth. They're afraid of what they don't understand, but I understand," Punk said.

Randy Orton made his grand return to WWE at Survivor Series WarGames, and he helped the team of Cody Rhodes, Jey Uso, Seth Rollins, and Sami Zayn take down the Judgement Day. Orton would then make his return to Monday Night Raw, but now it's been officially revealed that he is a free agent, and SmackDown General Manager Nick Aldis is trying to sign Orton to the blue brand. After Aldis had a contentious meeting with Paul Heyman, Adam Pearce confronted Aldis and then said he had a contract for Orton to sign as well, which would bring him to Raw, and the two brands are now in a bidding war for Orton.

This started when Paul Heyman confronted Aldis about inviting Orton to SmackDown, and Aldis told Heyman that he intended to sign Orton to a SmackDown exclusive contract later in the show. Heyman asked him if the Tribal Chief knew this yet, and Aldis saw the chance to settle something.

The GM of #SmackDown @RealNickAldis intends to sign @RandyOrton TONIGHT!@HeymanHustle pic.twitter.com/OGgMPAVQj3

-- WWE on FOX (@WWEonFOX) December 2, 2023

"Paul you seem to have forgotten, we get constant memos about it. All communication to Roman Reigns goes through Paul Heyman," Aldis said. "So consider this as communication to Roman Reigns. If I need to offer up the entirety of The Bloodline to get Orton, I will. So the question Paul is, what are you going to do about it?" Heyman looked a little shocked at first but then smiled and said, "Anything it takes."

Then later in the show, Aldis was confronted by Pearce, who asked if the rumors he had heard were true. Aldis confirmed them, and Pearce accused him of trying to steal Orton, considered a Raw mainstay, out from under him. Aldis pointed out that Orton was on Raw this week, and he could have signed him then.

Pearce told Aldis not to worry about what he's got going on over at the red brand but then added that if he was going to get him to sign a contract, Pearce was ready to play ball too. Pearce pulled out a contract for Orton to sign with Monday Night Raw, and now the two are at war trying to get Orton added to their roster.

We'll have to wait and see who Orton chooses, as there are perks to both. If Orton chooses SmackDown, he would be on the same show as Roman Reigns, which would put us closer to the match that was supposed to happen last year before Orton's injury. If he signs with Raw, we could see a program with Orton and Cody Rhodes, as well as CM Punk, so there are options on both sides.

Who do you want to see Orton sign with? Let us know in the comments and as always you can talk all things wrestling with me on Threads @mattaguilarcb!

WWE SmackDown got to the fallout from Survivor Series WarGames immediately, starting with Damage CTRL. Bianca Belair would come to the ring and celebrate the big win at WarGames, but she also mentioned that she wasn't done with Damage CTRL yet, and then told IYO SKY that she wanted her Championship back. That drew out four members of Damage CTRL, but not Bayley, and she never showed up during the ensuing fight. Later backstage they finally found each other, and the impression was that Damage CTRL didn't tell Bayley what was happening in a mounting effort to kick her out of the group, and all the signs were there of an upcoming babyface turn for Bayley.

Belair told SKY that she wanted her Title back, and it would seem that Belair will get a chance at some point against SKY one on one. That's when SKY, Dakota Kai, Kairi Sane, and Asuka came to the ring to meet Belair, with Bayley being noticeably absent.

Should we be worried about the future of #DamageCTRL? ?#SmackDown pic.twitter.com/vEkJGLVux0

-- WWE on FOX (@WWEonFOX) December 2, 2023

They confronted Belair in a war of words, and it seemed as if Kai was acting as the informal leader of the group in Bayley's absence. It didn't take long for chaos to erupt, and soon all four were in the ring attacking Belair. Then Charlotte Flair and Shotzi came out to help Belair, and the brawl took off from there.

Later backstage, Bayley finally ran into the other members, and when they asked where she was Bayley said that no one told her what was happening. They all walked off and Bayley looked confused and quite dejected, and it seems with each passing day the group she created and brought together is slipping further and further away from her.

It doesn't just feel like they are going to turn on her though, as Bayley has gone above and beyond to help the group lately and that doesn't seem to be being appreciated by the other members. She sacrificed herself time and time again during the WarGmaes match for her team, and the other members aren't commending her. Instead, they are acting more and more distant, so it doesn't just feel like the group will turn on her, but that she will turn on the group.

If she does, it would be a long-anticipated babyface turn for the superstar. The same was true of her heel turn, which shook up the character in a major way and resulted in some of the biggest moments and storylines of her career. She would go on to thrive in the heel role and win multiple Titles, and fans were behind her as the heel still when she came back at SummerSlam. Now though it seems like it's time to shake things up once again, and we could be seeing the last days of Bayley as a heel.

Are you excited for Bayley's eventual babyface turn? Let us know in the comments and as always you can talk all things wresting with me on Threads @mattaguilarcb!

Even though CM Punk's time in AEW is behind him after his shocking return to WWE at Survivor Series: WarGames, a member of the AEW locker room is speaking out publicly about him. AEW's Thunder Rosa who has been absent from AEW after vacating the AEW Women's Championship last year due to injury, recently touched on the biggest return in professional wrestling on Busted Open Radio. "People were blowing up my phone. 'Did you see what happened?' 'No, I was working.' I have to confess, it was a touch of heartbreak and happiness. I love Phil, as a person. I want him to be successful. I wish things would have gone completely different and that he was still working with us. I'm really happy that he is fulfilling his dream because he loves professional wrestling and he has a very strong passion for professional wrestling," Rosa said. "Working with Phil, in my perspective, I'm talking about me, it has been positive, and enriching. I really feel we all deserve second chances, I firmly believe in second chances. This is a way that, everybody needs to recognize that Phil has had many chances and this is his last chance in professional wrestling. A lot of people thought it was never going to happen and it was a huge surprise."(h/t Fightful)

On Monday Night RAW, Punk's first appearance on the brand since January of 2014, he made it clear that he's not in WWE to make friends, he's there to "make money." AEW President Tony Khan opened up to the New York Post about the former AEW star that was let go in September ahead of the All Out pay-per-view. Khan noted that Punk was a large part of the growth of AEW since his debut in 2021. Three of the biggest shows they have done -- AEW Rampage: The First Dance (Punk's debut), AEW All Out 2021, and AEW All In 2023. "We've had a lot of great success as a company, as a team. In some of the most exciting times, CM Punk has been a big part of that team," Khan expressed.

After winning the AEW Women's World Championship in March of 2022 from Britt Baker in a Steel Cage match, Rosa was forced to relinquish the title that fall due to a painful back injury. Rosa has been vocal in the past about how the injury effected her mentally and physically, even stating that at one point she had feelings of depression and suicide. Though she has yet to return to in-ring action, Rosa has been a member of the Spanish commentating team and an on-screen personality while she recovers. "I'm thrilled to be able to serve Spanish-speaking fans in this unique way," Rosa revealed in an X (formerly Twitter) post in February. "Health is a journey with ups and downs. Meanwhile, I'll see you from the booth!"

Earlier today the unfortunate news hit that McKenzie Mitchell was released from WWE, which came as a shock to many. No reason for the release has since been revealed, but Mitchell announced the news on Twitter, where she talked about the great things that happened along her journey in WWE, including meeting her husband Vic Joseph. Mitchell celebrated the great times and all the friends she's made during her time in WWE, and many WWE superstars had messages of support in the comments. We wish Mitchell well on her next project, and you can find the full post below.

On Twitter, Mitchell wrote, "Today I was released by WWE. I met my husband, moved cross country from CT to FL for @wwenxt (a place I've always considered home), and met friends that became like family. I've always said and firmly believe in "when door closes, another opens." Joseph shared the tweet and added the caption, "My favorite tag team partner! All the love and support that has rolled in for you has been amazing to see and read. Love you ?."

Today I was released by WWE. I met my husband, moved cross country from CT to FL for @wwenxt (a place I've always considered home), and met friends that became like family. I've always said and firmly believe in "when door closes, another opens."https://t.co/scUFllumrY pic.twitter.com/s1YCmmTz4Z

-- McKenzie Mitchell (@mckenzienmitch) December 1, 2023

Johnny Gargano shared an excerpt from an interview he did with Mitchell and Austin Theory during their time in the Way, writing, "My sole intention in 99.9% of these digital exclusives was trying to get @mckenzienmitch or @CandiceLeRae to break on camera. She'll always be an unofficial member of The Way family. ?"

On the original post, Bayley wrote, "Damnit ?. I had such a good time sharing a locker room with you the last few house shows. You'll be missed! Kick ass in whatever else you choose to do next." Carmelo Hayes then added "? you never missed! Irreplaceable." Wade Barrett wrote, "You are one hell of a talent and friend, McKenzie. ?".

A host of other stars and colleagues wished her well in the comments, and we here at ComicBook wish her well and can't wait to see what she does next. You can reach out for bookings and inquiries to mckenziemitchell.mgmt@gmail.com, and you can also support her jewelry line Headline By MM right here.

WWE NXT Deadline:

• WWE NXT Championship Match: Ilja Dragunov (C) vs Baron Corbin
• Men's Iron Survivor Challenge Match: Dijak vs Trick Williams vs Josh Briggs vs Bron Breuker vs TBD
• Women's Iron Survivor Challenge Match: Tiffany Stratton vs Lash Legend vs Blair Davenport vs Kelani Jordan vs TBD
• North American Championship Match: Dominik Mysterio (C) vs Wes Lee

NXT Deadline takes place on Saturday, December 9th.

H/T Fightful

The American Dragon is embarking on his swan song. Earlier this fall, Bryan Danielson announced that the next 365 days would be the final full-time year of his professional wrestling career, noting that he will be dedicating most of his time past Summer 2024 to being a father. When that time does come around Danielson will not retire completely, as he still plans to have the odd match here and there, but his days of being a regular on weekly television will be in the rear view. The timing of Danielson's decision to walk away is no coincidence either, as this has been his plan since he joined AEW in 2021, and that was reflected in his contract.

What's Next For Bryan Danielson?

Even though he is ending his full-time career, Bryan Danielson's AEW run will continue past 2024.

Speaking to The Athletic, AEW President Tony Khan revealed that Danielson will still make the odd AEW cameo here and there after his full-time contract expires.

"He will stay with us in spirit and sometimes, occasionally, make sporadic appearances with us," Khan said. "But the end of the full-time run with us is going to be in 2024."

Danielson has been an integral piece to the AEW puzzle. He joined the company at its hottest time, but more crucially, has been a shining light in AEW's darkest days. Danielson has long been touted as a locker room leader within AEW, mentoring blossoming stars like Wheeler Yuta and Daniel Garcia, and has headed up the disciplinary committee that was tasked with resolving AEW's backstage incidents. It was recently reported that Danielson ultimately made the call to have CM Punk fired from AEW.

"Bryan and I made an agreement three years to the week before AEW All In 2024," Khan said. "The agreement was that Bryan would wrestle (full-time) for three years. Even three years in advance of the expiration of the agreement, I was already clawing for him to stay."

Khan had previously said that if he were unable to run AEW, he would turn to Danielson first to captain the ship in his absence.

Could Bryan Danielson Return to WWE?

Considering Danielson's AEW contract will expire in Summer 2024 after AEW ALL IN: London, there is a possibility that fans could see "Daniel Bryan" again.

There are a select few names that have had the opportunity to appear on both AEW and WWE programming in close proximity due to being free agents. If he is not under AEW contract, Danielson would be free to make an one-off appearance on WWE TV. The same works in reverse, so long as Danielson does not sign a WWE legends contract.

As of this writing, contracted WWE and AEW talent are barred from appearing on each other's shows unless a special circumstance is granted. This was exemplified when WWE wanted to bring AEW's Billy Gunn in for a D-Generation X reunion, but were told no after they declined Khan's request to acknowledge his AEW status. A special circumstance was actually granted involving Danielson in the past, as he, Chris Jericho, and Paul Wight were all allowed to send in pre-recorded messages for a WWE Monday Night Raw celebration of John Cena's WWE anniversary.

WWE's hottest premium live event is just under two months away. The sports-entertainment giant will head to Tampa Bay for WWE Royal Rumble at the end of January, officially kicking off the road to WWE WrestleMania 40. While only two names will emerge victorious from their division's respective Royal Rumbles, the event as a whole breeds stars like no other. Beyond the eventual winner, every Royal Rumble Match crowns superlatives like most eliminations and longest tenure in the bout itself. With 30 spots in both the men's and women's multi-man battle royals, WWE always supersizes the event's poster, showcasing every top star in the company.

Drew McIntyre Snubbed From WWE Royal Rumble Poster

Well, almost every top star.

WWE has unveiled the official WWE Royal Rumble poster. The artwork includes Undisputed WWE Universal Champion Roman Reigns, WWE World Heavyweight Champion Seth Rollins, WWE Women's Champion Iyo Sky, WWE Women's World Champion Rhea Ripley, WWE Intercontinental Champion Gunther, WWE United States Champion Logan Paul, Undisputed WWE Tag Team Champions Damian Priest and Finn Balor, Dominik Mysterio, Charlotte Flair, Bianca Belair, Cody Rhodes, Becky Lynch, Sami Zayn, LA Knight, Randy Orton, Asuka, Bobby Lashley, AJ Styles, CM Punk, Jey Uso, Rey Mysterio.

The Road to #WrestleMania 40 starts here.#RoyalRumble streams LIVE from @tropicanafield on Jan. 27, 8e/5p @peacock @WWENetwork pic.twitter.com/JDAu5oIWKg

-- Triple H (@TripleH) December 1, 2023

Absent from the 22-superstar poster is Drew McIntyre. Considering McIntyre has been at the top of the WWE Monday Night Raw card for the past couple of months and was featured in a marquee match at WWE WrestleMania 39, his exclusion is notable.

McIntyre himself picked up on the snub, noting that it exemplifies his recent disgruntle with his employer.

"Are you starting to understand my frustrations now?" McIntyre wrote on Twitter.

"You have a point here," responded the USA Network Twitter account.

McIntyre and WWE have not been on the same page in quite some time. The Scottish star was banged up going into WWE WrestleMania 39 but battled through his injuries en route to a show-stealing classic against Sheamus and Gunther. Following that match, McIntyre took an extended break from WWE, partly due to creative frustrations. He would return at WWE Money in the Bank in his native country of the United Kingdom, confronting Gunther to set up a singles clash between the two at WWE SummerSlam. McIntyre would lose that match.

Heading into 2024, the clock is ticking on McIntyre's WWE future. He has still not signed a new contract, meaning he could become a free agent as soon as next April.

While it's unclear as to if McIntyre's legitimate frustrations have been resolved, it appears that WWE will be working them into a storyline.

Jon Moxley has been in the fight game for nearly two decades, but the Purveyor of Violence has no interest in slowing down. The former Dean Ambrose's career renaissance has been going strong since he hopped the guardrail at the MGM Grand Garden Arena, cementing himself as #AllElite at AEW Double or Nothing 2019. Moxley quickly established himself as a top dog of Tony Khan's start-up promotion, and within a year of his debut, Moxley was its champion. Even when the world shut down just two weeks into his reign, Moxley waved the AEW flag high throughout the empty arena era, embarking on one of the most critically-acclaimed babyface world championship reigns in recent memory.

Moxley's r?sum? has exponentially deepened since then. He reminded audiences of his reliability on multiple occasions throughout 2022 and 2023, taking AEW to the end zone when the company needed a quarterback.

"I think you're just seeing the tip of the iceberg of what I'm capable of. At least that's what I'm hoping for," Moxley, who turns 38 years old next Thursday, told ComicBook.com's Liam Crowley. "But then because I'm not 25 anymore, that's going to take even more work, even more effort mentally to navigate through all this. I want to get better every single year, every single month, every single day. I'm always trying to learn something. I try to surround myself with people and communicate with people that are of that same mindset."

That circle is on full-display on AEW TV. Moxley heads up Blackpool Combat Club, a faction of technically-sound professional wrestlers bent on implementing violence in their in-ring styles. Longtime friends Bryan Danielson and Claudio Castagnoli stand tall with Moxley, while the younger Wheeler Yuta sponges the knowledge of his veteran stablemates.

Even if Yuta is in a position to learn the most, Moxley admits that he himself is still a student around his younger peers.

"You never know who you're going to learn from. I have my own coaches that I make sure that are always giving me feedback and ideas," Moxley continued. "William Regal will always be a guy like that for me. Josh Barnett's another guy like that. I try to keep myself in the student role as much as possible so that I'm always learning and getting better."

"Always learning" is no hyperbole either.

"This is a Kobe Bryant quote that was really smart where he said, 'If your entire life becomes about getting better at basketball, then the whole world becomes your library,'" Moxley added. "Because then everything gets framed as like, okay, how can this make me a better basketball player?"

Moxley applies that mindset to professional wrestling. While he does have a life outside of the squared circle, Moxley takes everything that his eyes come across and thinks about it can improve his in-ring career.

"If I go to jiu-jitsu, kickboxing, sparring, training pro wrestling, talking about pro wrestling, whether I'm f--king shooting videos back and forth, even if I'm just reading a comic book, my radar is still open," Moxley explained. "Maybe this character will say something to this character and that will be an idea that I could steal and then use for pro wrestling. I'm constantly taking in information and trying to assimilate it and use it all eventually to be used in the ring.

"I don't have many interests other than just the s--t that I like. If it doesn't involve arm bars and punching people in the face and wrestling and f--king barbed wire and chairs and s--t, then it's really not that interesting to me. I pretty much just do that 24/7."

Moxley currently sits atop the Gold League of the AEW Continental Classic with six points, tied with Swerve Strickland.

This article is Part 2 of Jon Moxley's interview with ComicBook.com. For the first half, click here.

Ronda Rousey is continuing her professional wrestling career outside of WWE. After being defeated by longtime friend and former tag partner Shayna Baszler at WWE SummerSlam, Rousey exited WWE, ending her second run with the company at just over 18 months. While Rousey laid low for the next couple of months, she made her return to the ring at an independent event in October. Despite being an impromptu contest, that match was not a one-off, as Rousey would wrestle again three weeks later for Pro Wrestling REVOLVER, teaming with Marina Shafir to face Ring of Honor Women's Champion Athena and Billie Starkz. That match went to a no contest, but the four women would get the chance to run it back shortly after.

Rousey would join forces with Shafir on Ring of Honor TV, this time defeating Athena and Starkz. The former WWE Women's Champion's appearance was a surprise, as it had been reported that she was backstage at that particular ROH taping but there was no indication that she would actually be competing on it. Two weeks on, and that match remains Rousey's lone involvement with AEW's sister promotion.

Ronda Rousey Casts Doubt on Joining AEW

Don't expect to see the baddest woman on the planet on an #AllElite graphic anytime soon.

Speaking to TMZ, Ronda Rousey shut down the idea that she would be signing with AEW.

"No, no, I don't think so," Rousey responded.

Rousey has wrestled in three matches since leaving WWE. While all three bouts took place in different promotions, they all had the common denominator of taking place in Rousey's hometown of Los Angeles. It's likely that Rousey's return to the ring was made possible due to her matches' proximity, as she has not had to be on the road for half of the week like she was during her WWE run.

"I'm just trying to be home with the family, and be a full-time mom," Rousey said when asked what's keeping her from joining AEW full-time.

"She's not signed but we had a great conversation," AEW President Tony Khan said when asked about Rousey's status. "I thought it would be great to have a match and build some interest and then have the story come back to Ring of Honor where Athena is the Ring of Honor Women's World Champion."

The ROH Women's World Championship is set to be defended at ROH Final Battle, as announced on the November 30 episode of Ring of Honor on HonorClub.

Athena has defended the women's championship 17 times since winning it at last year's Final Battle pay-per-view. She's defended against some of the strongest women the division and women's wrestling has to offer but now she must overcome someone that she's put under her wing -- Billie Starkz. In a segment with Lexi Nair and Billie Starkz, Athena first called out Eddie Kingston who had a lot to say about Athena.

"Eddie Kingston. I know that you don't come to my show very often and you haven't been here for a while. But the next time that I hear you talk about my show and me as your ROH Women's World Champion not carrying my weight, I'm going to Backfist you to the future," Athena said. "Let me get one thing straight. My back is so tired from carrying, not only every porcelain hussy I've been in the ring with, not only the women's division but the entire damn show, Eddie, I am the standard at Ring of Honor. I am the workhorse of this entire show and it's about damn time you put some respect on 'The Fallen Goddess,' 'The Minion Overload' 'The Alpha,' the ROH gatekeeper, but most of all, you're forever Ring of Honor Women's World Champion."

She lets her frustrations out about Starkz as well, wondering why she's so good at winning singles matches but when they tag together they lose. She instructs Starkz to get ready for her match with Marina Shafir. Later in the show, Athena holds a graduation for her minions in training, but only Nair graduated. Starkz attempts to confront Athena about it but she tells her not to ruin Nair's moment. Fed up with her treatment from Athena, Starkz snaps and throws Athena into the barricade and snatches the ROH Women's World Championship, holding it high above her head. Starkz then asked Tony Khan for a championship match which he granted for ROH Final Battle. Starkz has been wrestling in AEW since February of 2023 and soon after Tony Schiavone revealed in April she officially signed with the company. She's been under the tutelage of Athena ever since.

.@BillieStarkz has had enough!

Watch #ROH TV on #HonorClub at https://t.co/8dcdtxqvDf pic.twitter.com/F3Cg4CJIBI

-- ROH - Ring of Honor Wrestling (@ringofhonor) December 1, 2023

ROH Final Battle takes place December 15 at the Curtis Culwell Center in Garland, Texas.

In August of 2021, multiple wrestling companies including NWA, AEW, IMPACT, AAA and various independent female wrestlers put on a marquee women's wrestling event led by six-time WWE Women's Champion/five-time TNA Knockouts Champion, Mickie James, NWA EmPowerrr. The event followed WWE's 2018 all female pay-per-view event Evolution that featured women from WWE's many eras and brands wrestling at the event. James teamed with Alicia Fox at Evolution against one of her most iconic rivals, Trish Stratus, and Lita.

After NWA President Billy Corgan made some controversial statements last November in an appearance on The Ten Count about whether or not women can wrestle in the NWA style and carry a pay-per-view, James has partnered with Oceania Pro Wrestling (OPW) and GLO Sports for the second Empower event. "I cannot express how excited I am to return to Australia for the first time in six years," James said in a press release. "There couldn't be a more perfect time, place, and opportunity to host a second Empower event with a whole new feel than Australia and the City of Ballarat. I poured my heart and soul into the 1st one and wasn't sure it would happen again."

To kick off the first Starrcast Downunder in Australia which is scheduled one week after WrestleMania 40, there will be four days of fan engaging events and wrestling shows led by James and WWE Hall of Famer Bret "The Hitman" Hart. Starrcast Downunder runs from Wednesday, April 10 to Sunday, April 15 across various venues in Ballarat.

Approximately 12 wrestling legends and 30 Australian and international wrestlers will be in attendance. Alongside Empower, key events include signing sessions, dedicated stage shows, and a myriad of activities synonymous with the Starrcast brand. Hart will put on an international wrestling supershow with Dungeon Wrestling, in addition to the second Australian Wrestling Showcase. The wrestling events will stream domestically and internationally. "It is extremely exciting to be coming back to Australia for the first time in 20 years, in an event showcasing other legends and wrestling talent from around the world and from Australia," Hart said. "The Australian fans have always been so great to me, and I look forward to being a part of this event, along with the best from Dungeon Wrestling."

Ticket information will be revealed December 18 but preregistration is now open through oceaniaprowrestling.com for updates and special offers.

Tony Khan surprised everyone when he revealed Ric Flair to be AEW's newest signing, which was a gift to Sting as part of his retirement tour. The two stars are set to be part of this week's AEW Rampage, which was previously taped, but those who watched that taping were soon talking about part of Flair's promo, which has caused some backlash. According to those who were at the taping, there was a part of Flair's promo where he "invited all the women in the audience from ages 18 to 28 to meet him in his hotel room. No boyfriends or husbands." That caused a lot of discussion, and Flair took to Twitter to address the criticisms, telling Khan that he is more than willing to walk away if he's causing AEW any embarrassment (via Fightful).

On Twitter Flair wrote, "I Am So Tired Of Hearing All This Negativity! I Don't Need To Work, And I Don't Need The Money. Can't I Simply Enjoy Being By My Dear Friend @Sting's Side For The Next Few Months Without So Much Hatred? I Know I'm Old, But That Doesn't Mean I Can't Enjoy Life! I Have Earned The Right To Do Whatever I Want & I'm Exactly Where I Want To Be! I Appreciate Everything @TonyKhan, But I'm More Than Willing To Walk Away If I Am Embarrassing You And Your Company. All I Can Say Is I'm Sorry!"

I Am So Tired Of Hearing All This Negativity! I Don't Need To Work, And I Don't Need The Money. Can't I Simply Enjoy Being By My Dear Friend @Sting's Side For The Next Few Months Without So Much Hatred? I Know I'm Old, But That Doesn't Mean I Can't Enjoy Life! I Have Earned The... pic.twitter.com/GK49HoSeEC

-- Ric Flair(R) (@RicFlairNatrBoy) November 30, 2023

That drew responses from Chris Jericho, telling Flair not to worry about it, and it's unlikely Flair will actually leave AEW over it. It remains to be seen if Khan will address it directly at some point, but for now fans can watch the promo for themselves when it airs on Friday night in Rampage's usual timeslot.

In the announcement of Flair's signing with AEW, the press release stated, "Ric cemented his legacy as one of the greatest professional wrestlers of all-time long ago, and now his world-renowned persona and his amazing wrestling mind will be major assets to AEW's programming and our position globally. Most importantly, it's fitting that the final chapter of Sting's iconic career will unfold on TBS with Ric Flair by his side."

Part of the announcement was that Flair's Wooooo! Energy was also revealed to be the official drink of AEW. "I've been in the wrestling business for over 50 years," said Flair. "Together with AEW and Wooooo! Energy, I've never been more excited, and I've never had more energy! When the Nature Boy promises a show, you know how it's gonna go! Wooooo!"

"We've all been a part of a 'Wooooo!' moment. Time stops, crowds erupt, and people unite to celebrate the extraordinary. It's electric. You hear it, feel it, and never forget it," said Chad Bronstein, President and Chairman of Carma HoldCo, parent company of Wooooo! Energy. "This is so much more than a partnership. Together, Ric Flair, AEW and everyone at Wooooo! Energy will create more unforgettable moments for generations of wrestling fans."

Alexa Bliss and husband Ryan Cabrera have announced the birth of their first child, a baby girl, named Hendrix. Hendrix was born on November 27, musical legend Jimi Hendrix's birthday.

"I know everything happens for A reason & the world works in mysterious ways. Our Daughter Hendrix coincidentally being born on Jimi Hendrix birthday is one of those moments for me," Bliss announced on X (formerly Twitter). The couple announced their pregnancy back in May and publicly revealed they were having a baby girl back in July via Entertainment Tonight. With their closest loved ones, Cabrera smashed a half pink and blue guitar onto a stool to reveal a pink powder. The announcement came after months of fans wondering why Bliss was off WWE television and she would be back. Bliss wrestled twice in 2023 -- once against Bianca Belair on the first Monday Night RAW of the new year and at the Royal Rumble against Belair for the WWE Women's Championship.

The couple began officially dating in 2019 after meeting at a taping of WWE SmackDown. They were introduced to each other by their mutual friend and fellow wrestler Mike Mizanin (The Miz). and they announced their engagement in 2020. In 2022 the Cabrera's tied the knot in Palm Desert, California."It's funny how we met. We met because of a rumor that we were dating," Bliss revealed on an episode of The Bellas Podcast. "He was liking some of my tweets and a fan saw that and started a whole Instagram that we were dating and tagged everyone in the company. I had people calling me and texting me and coming up to me saying, 'Oh, you're dating Ryan.' I said, 'I never met the guy,'"

2023 has been the year of the wrestle babies -- AEW's Tay and Sammy Guevara announced their pregnancy back at Double or Nothing with a bunch of Sammy's signature cue cards. Days ago they welcomed their first child together, their daughter. WWE's Carmella and Corey Graves revealed the birth of their son in early November, and former WWE Diva Kelly Kelly and her husband announced the birth of their twins in September.

WWE SuperCard recently kicked off season 10, which brought a number of big improvements, a visual overhaul, and all new card tiers. Unfortunately, those new updates caused an issue with a recent Giants Unleashed event, which stopped recording progress in milestones and unlocking rewards for some users. That meant you couldn't make your way to the special Eddie Guerrero card, but in a new post from the SuperCard team, it turns out an effort to get those users a replacement reward for the issues, some users ended up getting two limited Eddie Guerrero cards. Today the team revealed that to maintain balance in the game, it will be removing those cards that were given out in error, and also revealed everyone will be getting a new batch of rewards to compensate, adding that the core issue has already been addressed and fixed.

On Twitter, the official WWE SuperCard account issued a statement on the issues with the event and the resulting error in certain rewards. While they don't like to remove cards or take away cards, in this instance, it was a true error that these cards were given out in the first place, so they will be removing them from accounts. You can find their full statement below.

pic.twitter.com/jRHSJ9LvsA

-- WWE SuperCard (@WWESuperCard) November 30, 2023

"We're aware that the recent Giants Unleashed event caused a series of issues within the game and did not meet your expectations. With Season 10, we made significant changes to the way SuperCard works and this had some implications for the way that Giants Unleashed operated that we have since fixed.

In our efforts to grant players all of the rewards that they should have received (but were unable to) in Giants Unleashed, our intention was to assist players by granting them the best possible rewards while maintaining the balance of the game. We were unable to do this successfully. Instead, a number of players received an additional Eddie Guerrero event card on top of the one that they had already earned, allowing them to Pro the car, which should not be possible at this point in the game.

As a result, we have made the difficult decision to revoke the extra copies of the Eddie Guerrero card that were sent in error in order to maintain the balance of the game and ensure fair and competitive play.

Those players who received an extra Eddie Guerrero card will be removed from their account. While removing cards from players is something we never want to do, we must stress that these cards were issued in error, and are not consistent with the balance of SuperCard.

In addition to this, we will be issuing a free fit today to all players containing 3 RDPs, 500 Credits, 2 Superstar cards based on Player Level, and 10k XP. Our hope is that these rewards will come in handy for any players whose issues we were not fully able to address. We truly appreciate your continued feedback as we make tweaks to make Season 10 the best season of SuperCard yet."

WWE SuperCard Season 10 Features Include:

• Four New Tiers - S10 is just bigger than the others, so we landed on four new tiers at launch. Combined with the increased rotation of older tiers into Legacy, this creates a starting set of eight tiers. Just like the old times.
• Player Level System - While you'll still be able to progress just like you can in the game today, S10 introduces a new leveling system that rewards you more often, allowing you to progress toward your next tier by battling in select modes, clearing the draft board, opening packs, and more.
• Guaranteed Pull Meter - We're visualizing when your next guaranteed pull is coming to allow for better goal setting. You'll always know when your next best card is coming.
• SuperPull - A new and rare event on the draft board that has the potential to offer you a card of your tier. It's something to spice up one of our favorite parts of the game.
• Redesigned Fusion Chamber - More goal-oriented acquisition with a greatly simplified Fusion Chamber and a new Token system to start new Fusions.
• Redesigned Main Menu - Fuller pictures, fewer distractions, easier on the eyes. The new Main Menu allows you to glide through to your favorite content efficiently.
• Player Avatars - Project more of who you are with an updated assortment of images beyond Superstars. You can be a hotdog.
• Full MyCards View - Embiggen your cards to see the whole picture in this new togglable MyCards view.

You can talk all things WWE SuperCard with me on Threads @mattaguilarcb!

On November 11 Chris Jericho made his DDT debut at DDT Ultimate Party. At the event, he wrestled fellow AEW star Konosuke Takeshita who he had been feuding with in AEW as the Golden Jets (Jericho and Kenny Omega) versus members of the Don Callis Family. On the most recent episode of Jericho's podcast Talk is Jericho, Jericho discussed the match and the controversial pin that saw him tap out Takeshita. The match was split down the middle in terms of its reception.

Some fans felt that it was the right move while others felt that Takeshita winning clean against Omega at AEW All Out only to lose some of that momentum in a loss to Jericho didn't make sense. "I tapped him out, everybody was very surprised. This is a story that we're doing and the best way to do it was for me to win right out of the gate. Is it the last match Takeshita and I are going to have? Of course not," Jericho said. "Was it a great way to re-establish myself in Japan and establish myself in DDT? Absolutely, it was the right way to go. Nobody loses when you have a match like that. It was a great contest all across the board."

Jericho also revealed that out of the many matches he's had this year, the match with Takeshita was his favorite. "I think I was kind of slotted to be the heel but after being in Japan so many times and basically growing up there, it was almost like I was the conquering hero, you know? So it was very much kind of a babyface vs. babyface match," Jericho stated. "Very hard-hitting. I really enjoyed this match. Like I said, it was one of my favorites that I've had all year. I'd never worked Takeshita in a singles match -- We'd had a couple of tag team matches a few times over the last year, six-man or whatever it was, but the one-on-one was the real secret."

Jericho has been teaming with Omega since September, most recently feuding with the Young Bucks who put their AEW Tag Team title shot on the line in a Title Shot vs. Disbandment match against the Golden Jets. The Bucks lost the match, diving more and more down the path of a potential heel turn that, according to reports, would see them headlining their own stable with Brandon Cutler and possibly others.

Fightful Select is reporting that several WWE higher ups are pushing for a match between CM Punk and Stone Cold Steve Austin. According to the report, WWE officials are "optimistic" about the possibility and Punk himself has had discussions about the potential feud and that if everything went well Punk would fly out to visit Austin and discuss potential storyline ideas. The report also reveals that those in Austin's camp don't believe there to be any personal issues that having a conversation couldn't solve and that, in fact, there is an active open line of communication between the two wrestlers as they send messages back and forth to each other now and again.

In 2011 Punk and Austin met face to face in a backstage segment to promote WWE 2K13.In 2011 Punk and Austin met face to face in a backstage segment. He offers Punk a beer not realizing he's straight edge. Punk thanks Austin for giving him the match with John Cena -- a match that will change the landscape of the company forever. Punk taunts him with his own phrase. At the time Punk was the leader of the New Nexus but at the time Austin had long been retired from in-ring competition. Punk departed the company officially in 2014 with no clear indication that he would be back in WWE any time in the future. Punk returned to wrestling in 2021 when he signed with All Elite Wrestling and competed for 18 months before being let go in September for a number of problems backstage. Another recent report from Fightful Select revealed that Bryan Danielson was part of the committee that made the decision to let Punk go. At WWE Survivor Series Punk returned to WWE after a nine year absence. In his first promo back on Monday Night RAW following the show, Punk referred to WWE as his "home" and that he's "not there to make friends" he's there to make money.

Austin has been very candid that he has no interest in returning to the ring but at WrestleMania 38 he appeared in the main event of Saturday night's show to face Kevin Owens in a No Holds Barred match. Fightful's report also reveals Austin was approached for multiple matches at this year's WrestleMania 39 but none of them came to fruition. In preparation for Austin's match against Owens, Vince McMahon and Drew Gulak personally flew out to make sure he was prepared for the match.

CM Punk's AEW days are completely in the rear view. Any theory that Punk could be worked into AEW's ongoing "devil" storyline with AEW World Champion MJF were squashed this past weekend. Punk returned to wrestling at WWE Survivor Series, shocking the Allstate Arena when "Cult of Personality" hit just seconds before the premium live event was set to go off of the air. The Second City Saint addressed his WWE return this past Monday on WWE Monday Night Raw, declaring that he was "home" before slyly telling the at-home audience that he was "not here to make friends" but to "make money."

AEW President Tony Khan has kept quiet about Punk's WWE return, responding to questions about it by noting he cannot speak on the matter legally. That said, when it comes to reflecting on Punk's contributions to All Elite Wrestling, Khan has nothing but positive things to say.

Tony Khan Reflects on CM Punk's AEW Run

The AEW President acknowledges the self-proclaimed best in the world's efforts to making AEW a stronger company.

Speaking to New York Post, Tony Khan pointed to the fact that CM Punk is a common denominator in three of AEW's biggest shows ever produced.

"The First Dance (CM Punk's AEW debut) was an incredible moment in wrestling and was part of a very important time in AEW," Khan said. "All Out 2021, along with ALL IN, are our biggest pay-per-views of all time. We've had a lot of great success as a company, as a team. In some of the most exciting times, CM Punk has been a big part of that team."

Punk joined AEW in Summer 2021, noting at his first press conference that Khan was the only person that could get him back into the wrestling industry.

"We've been talking a really long time, and a few years ago, it just wasn't the right time," Khan said in August 2021. "I think he wanted to see how this thing went. He wasn't ready to come back to wrestling, especially not for a start-up company. Now we're long past the start-up phase. It's been really successful. We signed a big TV extension and I think once we got the extension and it looked like we were going to be in place for a while, it probably made the company look a lot more like a stable option."

WWE has dealt with a part-time Tribal Chief for nearly two years now. Following his victory at WWE WrestleMania 38 against Brock Lesnar, Roman Reigns left his full-time WWE schedule in the rear view. Now holding two world championships, Reigns began to only wrestle at the biggest WWE premium live events, meaning B-shows like WWE Backlash and WWE Fastlane did not host an Undisputed WWE Universal Title match. Beyond that, Reigns would only appear on WWE TV for the episodes of WWE SmackDown that built towards the big events. This meant that after successful defenses at WWE SummerSlam and WWE Crown Jewel, Reigns went away.

Roman Reigns Returns to WWE SmackDown on December 15th

Acknowledgment time returns in two weeks.

WWE announced three new WWE SmackDown dates for Undisputed WWE Universal Champion Roman Reigns: December 15th, January 5th, and January 19th. The first of the three is seemingly set to be Reigns's final WWE televised appearance of 2023.

? JUST ANNOUNCED: Tix on sale now to acknowledge your #TribalChief @WWERomanReigns LIVE at #SmackDown! @HeymanHustle

? 12/15/23 - Green Bay, WI
? https://t.co/siAx5mYoRX

? 1/5/24- Vancouver, BC
? https://t.co/K8Th8ZMHcZ

? 1/19/24- Atlanta, GA
? https://t.co/hBN1n6UwQQ pic.twitter.com/aQLMGpRsl6

-- WWE (@WWE) November 30, 2023

Reigns is expected to defend the Undisputed WWE Universal Championship at WWE Royal Rumble on January 27th, 2024. Looking towards fresh opponents, the only two main-event talent left for Reigns to face on this run are AJ Styles and Randy Orton. Seeds for either feud have already been planted. Styles was written off of television with a storyline injury after being attacked by The Bloodline, and the kayfabe reason for Orton's legitimate back injury was an assault at the hands of Reigns's stablemates.

Reigns has not competed since WWE Crown Jewel, where he retained his title against LA Knight. He has wrestled just 11 matches total in 2023, four of which were at non-televised live events. All of Reigns's on-camera bouts have come on premium live events. Barring any unforeseen additions to his wrestling schedule, Reigns will end 2023 with just nine defenses of the Undisputed WWE Universal Championship.

WWE SmackDown returns to television this Friday, December 1st, airing at 8 PM ET on FOX.

Former AEW Women's World Champion Dr. Britt Baker D.M.D. took to X (formerly Twitter) to remind fans that while the AEW World Champion MJF and TNT Champion Christian Cage are getting lots of live promo time, she's gotten none in 2023. Baker's creative direction has been hit or miss since Jamie Hayter was injured and has been off television since Double or Nothing in May. She had a brief feud with Adam Cole while he was feuding with Chris Jericho because he aligned with The Outcasts Saraya who Baker was feuding with at the time. Other than that, she's been used for special appearances in big women's title matches like the match at AEW All In. All of the promos that Baker has given have been pre-taped backstage segments and Baker has been off television since September.

Where is Britt Baker?

As an AEW original, at the start, the women's division was largely built around Baker. Four years later there's an abundance of great women's wrestling talent that are being filtered in and out. In recent months, the women's division has seen the rise of Toni Storm and her "Timeless" gimmick, HOB's Julia Hart becoming one of the most improved female wrestlers in the company, former TBS Champion Kris Statlander, Willow Nightingale, recent signee Mariah May and rising talent Skye Blue. Fightful Select recently reported that Baker was taking some time off to help Cole rehab his injury but now that he's back on AEW programming with MJF that doesn't seem to be the case anymore.

Baker is recognized as one of the "pillars" of the AEW women's division who does a lot of work to help promote the company, she was even a main figure head on AEW's reality series AEW All Access which aired on TBS earlier this year. Because of her strong involvement with the company, it is a very noticeable absence and with the lack of television time delegated to the women's division overall, what time is available is being used to build some of the stronger stories in the division. The AEW women's division has been under intense scrutiny recently over the booking decisions -- or lack thereof. Over the last three pay-per/view events combined, there have been three women's matches. At All Out, the main women's championship wasn't defended despite a new champion, Saraya (who was also present at AEW All Out being crowned days prior at AEW All In.

Stay tuned with Comicbook.com for updates on AEW.

In an alternate timeline, CM Punk would have returned to WWE much sooner. The Second City Saint made his WWE comeback earlier this month at WWE Survivor Series, ending a nearly decade-long sabbatical from sports-entertainment land. Punk's WWE return was made possible by his AEW exit, as he was fired from Tony Khan's company this past September following an incident that took place backstage at AEW ALL IN: London. That situation was just the latest blemish on Punk's AEW locker room record, as he had a series of tense confrontations leading up to the straw that ultimately broke the camel's back.

The biggest one of those incidents went down after the infamous AEW All Out 2022 press conference. After putting Executive Vice Presidents Kenny Omega and the Young Bucks on blast, the trio known as The Elite confronted Punk in his locker room, engaging in a physical altercation that led to suspensions across the board. While Punk was away from AEW both serving his suspension and recovering from a torn triceps (which he suffered during a match), there were reportedly whispers of Punk leaping to WWE as far back as December 2022. This return would have seen him enter the Royal Rumble Match and set up a feud with Kevin Owens en route to a culminating bout at WWE WrestleMania 39.

Kevin Owens Responds to CM Punk's WWE Return

The former WWE Universal Champion has weighed in on the self-proclaimed best in the world's WWE comeback.

Speaking with James Williams, Kevin Owens kept his thoughts on CM Punk brief.

"I just want to have fun at work," Owens said. "So if he's got that mindset, great."

The present day represents just the second time that Punk and Owens are sharing a locker room. These two had only previously bumped into one another in the mid-2000s within Ring of Honor, but never shared the ring together. At the time, Punk was at the top of the promotion while Owens was still making a name for himself. Punk was said to have taken exception with Owens wrestling in a t-shirt, which led to a confrontation between the two. Owens still wrestles in a sleeveless tee to this day.

Punk is reportedly set to feud with both Seth Rollins and Roman Reigns during his WWE run. There is no word on plans for a program with Owens, but that storyline is likely to be visited down the line.

Professional wrestling continues to be one of the most fundamentally intriguing worlds in the entertainment sphere, and that will likely never change. The blend of reality, athletics, brutality, theatricality, storytelling, and entertainment is a one-of-a-kind recipe that just isn't duplicated anywhere else, and the stars at the center of it are no less compelling. Ry Levey's award-winning documentary Out in the Ring recently debuted on Fuse Media, and the documentary takes a look at that one-of-a-kind industry from a different view, exploring and investigating the industry's history of LGBTQIA+ representation, the changes in that representation, and how LGBTQIA+ stars were and are treated within the wrestling world now. ComicBook.com had a chance to speak with Levey about all of that and more, and Levey's love of wrestling from childhood was a direct inspiration for the documentary.

"I mean, it's a childhood thing. I grew up in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, on a diet of Saturday afternoon and Sunday afternoon Calgary Stampede Wrestling. And then that would lead me into AWA and then WWE in the '80s. So I grew up on all of that. Closeted kid, was starting to understand who I was in the '80s, as early as 10 and through high school, and when the time came to make a feature film, it made sense to explore something, one that I had a history and a passion for or an affection for, and two, that would uncover a hidden history of my own community as the LGBTQ+ community and try to find out the history behind this queer representation and who was there and who was in the closet and who's out now," Levey said.

"I'm instantly drawn to spaces that we've been told we're not welcome, and finding those hidden histories," Levey said. "That's ultimately the genesis that led me to start focusing on the film."

Levey feels that many who hadn't publically come out were ready to be open about it, but they were also waiting for someone to lead the way and a voice to come forward. Levey started from square one with limited information, and the territory-driven structure of wrestling in the past made tracking some things down a bit more challenging,

"In terms of my initial start to this, it wasn't so much that people were afraid to talk about it. I think ready to talk about it is the way. It takes a lot of... And I know people hate the word, but it really does take a lot of courage to step up and be who you are in the face of adversity and hatred and discrimination," Levey said. "And we live in politically charged times, more so than I think we've seen since... I don't think we've seen this much hatred and intolerance since the 1980s when we were dealing with the HIV AIDS epidemic and people's fear. Fear really is a driver in a lot of ways, but I think that for so many of these performers, they were waiting for somebody to lead the way. They were waiting for a voice to come forward. And so I had to dig, and the first places I went were obviously the rumored out wrestlers. We all knew that Pat Patterson was gay, but Pat wasn't out. He'd never spoken the words publicly. He never referred to his partner, Louie Dondero as his partner. It was always his friend. It was always terms like that."

"And because of the way wrestling was structured, TV was not national, it was territory-driven. It's why wrestlers had careers and you can be a villain in Tennessee and the biggest babyface in Oregon. Just the way it was. It really wasn't until the advent of McMahon buying up those territories, taking his father's company that he'd purchased from him, and doing national expansion, that people were obviously privy to everything," Levey said.

While it was challenging to track some leads down, things opened up quite a bit when Levey met Scott 'Sgt. Dickson' McEwan. "But within that, comes this difficulty of being able to find people who were willing to speak to it. I started with an indie wrestler who actually trained with Ken Patera in Minnesota, Scott McEwan, who wrestled as Sgt. Dickson out of the Toronto area. And I had seen him doing artwork involving his wrestling. He was very out and it was a great place to start because he was a lifelong wrestling fan who had knowledge of the territories, had trained under some people that were integral in the '70s and '80s and considered legends, and in an area where wrestling was a hotbed. I mean, we're talking about the American Wrestling Association, the AWA," Levey said.

"So, he had an insight that was a great way... and he was also an educator. He was a school teacher and a pro wrestler, an indie pro wrestler, and so he was able to bring a really great entry level to my storytelling," Levey said. "It's like, oh, okay. I have a guy that straddles legend to contemporary wrestler, who understands the nuances of that history. As I interviewed him in 2017, and I've been researching, then something started happening. Charlie Morgan, out of Pro-Wrestling: EVE, in the UK, had come out in the ring as the first woman to actively come out in the ring as a wrestler in the story."

At this point, Levey started to see things shift, and all of a sudden there was a bevy of talent across the industry coming out and opening up publically. "Then we saw... We had Fred Rosser coming out and we had Mike Parrow coming out. And then coincidentally, in the film industry, Jumping Jim Brunzell's son, Jim Brunzell, is a film programmer and an internationally renowned film festival programmer and he and I are friends through our film connection. He said, 'Hey, do you know about this guy named Effy?' And then it snowballed," Levey said. "Austin Idol had a podcast and Pollo Del Mar went on that podcast to talk about how Austin Idol was an integral part of their coming out story and why wrestling was a part of their story in coming out. And then I met Sonny Kiss at a Greektown wrestling show in Toronto, and at the time they were in a relationship with Killian McMurphy and they were affectionate in the ring together, training in Los Angeles. It's like, 'Wow.' So we started to see it."

"And then I went to WrestleMania that year in New Orleans, that weekend and I went there in 2018 and then I ran into Melina Perez," Levey said. "She says, 'Oh, I'm working... I'm coming out of retirement and having a match at this gay wrestling show in New York State.' And then Effy goes, 'Oh, I'm on that show.' Then I met Jamie Senegal who was sharing a table with Su Young and who has now since transitioned and living their truth even more so. I go to New York, then that's where I meet Ashton Starr and AC Mack and Billy Dixon, and it's like, "Oh my goodness." And all of these amazing performers and allies on that performance. I think back, and that's where I saw Max Caster when Shook Crew was on that show. Willow Nightingale worked that show. All of these people were of course allies at the time."

By the time Out in the Ring was being edited in 2022, things had changed across the landscape, and when you think about it, it makes a lot of sense that the wave took place in wrestling sooner than in other sports leagues. "So cut to 2022, and we're finishing the film, we're editing, and we've got hundreds now. We've got promotions that are all... it is a global thing. It's a global, global representation thing, and it's not just gay men or lesbians or people who are bisexual. Non-binary, trans, trans femme, gender non-conforming, pansexual. People are living their truths in this space, and wrestling makes sense that way because as we talked about, it's a weird form of entertainment. It's drag, it's bare knuckles brawling, it's gymnastics, it's acting, at it's very best, it's good. It's hysterically funny theater. At its very worst, it's the ultimate in camp and disaster, but no less fun. And it almost seems right that of all of the 'sports leagues,' that wrestling is the first one to really get to the table and be the most out," Levey said.

It's also worth noting that the wave is taking place across all promotions and companies. Representation matters and always will, and it's important that people not only see themselves but also see versions of themselves that they can take pride in.

"You have these spaces and you see yourself, but you are often looking sometimes within the things that you love most. You're looking to see yourself represented, and when you don't see yourself represented, you'll cling to whatever they'll give you. Which is why I think people in my film have always had an affinity towards even the problematic characters, the Adrian Streets, and for me it was Rip Rogers growing up in Calgary. I've always loved Rip Rogers, and I so love that he gets his flowers now in what a great performer he is. But he was one of the few potentially queer people that I had seen, or represented characters I'd seen," Levey said.

"And then Goldust. I mean yes, there is bad and good in that representation. There's bad and good in all this representation, but as Pollo says bluntly in the film, in her intro at that GCW Big Gay Brunch, 'You are hungry, you will eat that s*** up and she ate the spoon.' You really do because you're clinging for that moment in time that, 'Okay, I see something there. There's something there. Something's going to give.' The truth is you're waiting for it to break. You're waiting for that one person to step forward and be counted," Levey said.

Levey then brings up the first wrestler to ever nationally come out in the ring in Chris Kanyon, and Levey wishes Kanyon would have been here to see some of these landmark moments, but is also proud of his legacy and the respect people have for him.

"I'm so glad that... and I'm sad and yet so proud that Chris's legacy in his death is one of respect and love for him now. He earned... He deserved it. I wish he were here to see this. I wish he could have been there to see Pat finally utter the words publicly in that legend's house," Levey said.

"I wish Pat could be here to see what's happening. I wish that Chris could experience that. I wish Joanie, Chyna could live her truth in the way that she should have, because she was so badly treated and so abused and feminized and forced to downplay who she was as a bisexual woman. I'm glad she got to have a moment of coming out. I just wish it could have been more triumphant for all of them," Levey said.

You can find more on all of these stories and even more stories in Out in the Ring, which is available on Fuse right now, and you can check it out right here.

CM Punk is "home." The Second City Saint made his return to WWE at WWE Survivor Series earlier this month, shocking the Allstate Arena when "Cult of Personality" hit as the show was about to go off the air. Punk followed up that surprise appearance with a return to WWE Monday Night Raw, addressing the red brand for the first time in nearly a decade. Many regarded Punk's show-closing promo to be fairly safe, as the pipebomb specialist opted to show love to the WWE fans and the WWE locker room as opposed to taking shots at former employer AEW or resurrecting past frustrations with sports-entertainment land. That said, there was one small tease of bad blood that is to come.

Punk noted that "almost" everyone was happy to see him, a clear allusion to WWE World Heavyweight Champion Seth Rollins. Rollins was visibly irate at Punk's return, with fan cameras catching him flipping Punk off and cursing in his direction. Roughly an hour before Punk's WWE Monday Night Raw promo, Rollins blasted Punk for being a "hypocrite" and emphasized his desire to not waste "any more breath" on him.

CM Punk's WWE WrestleMania Opponent Odds

That brewing animosity between CM Punk and Seth Rollins, whether authentic or fabricated, seems to be leading towards a match. While reports have indicated that Punk vs. Rollins could officially begin at WWE Royal Rumble, that clash could be just the first in a feud that stretches through WWE WrestleMania 40.

According to Bookies.com, Rollins sits at a +200 favorite to be Punk's WWE WrestleMania 40 opponent. Not far behind are Drew McIntyre (+450), Roman Reigns (+550), and Kevin Owens (+650). It's worth noting that there were prior reports of a Punk vs. Owens feud being on the table as far back as WWE WrestleMania 39 season when Punk's AEW future was up in the air.

Outside of the likely options, some Hail Mary picks include Ryback (+1000), Brock Lesnar (+1300), and John Cena (+1400). Punk has already faced all three of those names on pay-per-view in the past.

You can check out the full list of odds for Punk's WWE WrestleMania 40 opponent below...

• Seth Rollins +200 (33.3%)
  
• Drew McIntyre +450 (18.2%)
  
• Roman Reigns +550 (15.4%)
  
• Kevin Owens +650 (13.3%)
  
• Shinsuke Nakamura +750 (11.8%)
  
• Ryback +1000 (9.1%)
  
• Brock Lesnar +1300 (7.1%)
  
• John Cena +1400 (6.7%)
  
• Randy Orton +1500 (6.3%)
  

WWE WrestleMania 40 goes down on Saturday, April 6th and Sunday, April 7th, 2024.

All Elite Wrestling's first pay-per-view event of 2024 will also be Sting's last. The Icon announced earlier this fall that he will be ending his in-ring career at AEW Revolution 2024, going off into the sunset on the same pay-per-view that his career resurgence began on back in 2021. While there is no word on who Sting's final opponent will be or what kind of match will take place, it is known that longtime protege Darby Allin will be by his side and historic rival Ric Flair is embarking on the journey with him.

AEW Revolution Set For Greensboro Coliseum

All Elite Wrestling is heading back to North Carolina.

As announced on AEW Dynamite by Tony Schiavone, AEW Revolution will go down on Sunday, March 3rd, 2024 at the Greensboro Coliseum. While the show remains over three months away, it is known that it will be home to Sting's retirement match.

1988 Ric Flair vs. Sting
2024 Sting has his final match@RicFlairNatrBoy & @Sting talk straight from the heart as on Sunday, March 3rd #AEWRevolution 2024 will be LIVE on PPV in Greensboro, NC at the @Gbocoliseum!

Watch #AEWDynamite LIVE on TBS! pic.twitter.com/IeayCnhUiZ

-- All Elite Wrestling (@AEW) November 30, 2023

"I think it's incredibly, incredibly important for us to make sure Sting gets a great send-off. He absolutely deserves it," AEW President Tony Khan said in a recent interview. "He's a legend in wrestling with decades of experience. Sting is beloved, and I'm very excited about Sting's retirement tour."

Sting has been with AEW since December 2020. He shocked audiences when he popped up at AEW Dynamite: Winter is Coming, coming to the aid of Cody Rhodes, Dustin Rhodes, Arn Anderson, and Darby Allin. That moment laid the groundwork for Sting and Darby's partnership, which has gone strong for over three years now. Darby has tagged with Sting in every one of his 24 matches since coming out of retirement in March 2021. The two have faced top talent like FTR, MJF, Christian Cage, Chris Jericho, House of Black, Swerve Strickland, the Young Bucks, Andrade El Idolo, Ricky Starks, Naomichi Marufuji and more.

"All I can say for now is I want people to walk away and say, 'Wow, what an ending,'" Sting said of his ongoing farewell tour. "I'll be three weeks away from turning 65 at that point. I want to leave people with a memory that will mean something."

AEW Revolution goes down on Sunday, March 3rd, 2024.

All Elite Wrestling's prestigious new tournament, the Continental Classic, officially kicked off during last week's episode of AEW Dynamite. The action will continue into the World's End pay-per-view at the end of the year, meaning that Wednesday's new episode of the AEW flagship series centers on another exciting round of matches.

The Continental Classic matches featured on Dynamite this week are all part of the Gold League side of the round-robin tournament. They include Jon Moxley vs. Jay Lethal, Mark Briscoe vs. RUSH, and the highly anticipated bout between Jay White and Swerve Strickland. In that final match, both competitors won their first fight in the tournament, giving them both a chance to begin the Continental Classic with six points.

The action began with Jay Lethal taking on Jon Moxley to try and earn his first points of the tournament. Unfortunately for him, Moxley proved too tough an opponent, forcing Lethal to tap out with a chokehold.

In the second match, both RUSH and Jay Briscoe aimed to make up for their opening losses last week and get their first points on the board. At the end of a roller coaster, back-and-forth match, RUSH was able to pin Briscoe for the victory. RUSH now sits with three points, while Briscoe has yet to score.

The final Continental Classic match on Wednesday came in the main event, and the fight between Swerve and Jay White could've easily been considered one of the tournament's most highly anticipated matches heading into the group stage. The match certainly lived up to the hype, especially when Jay White kicked out at the count of two after a Swerve Stomp. With under five minutes to go in the match, it seemed like the Continental Classic was heading for its first draw. Swerve stole a victory in the closing moments, however, earning him six points and tying Jon Moxley at the top of the standings.

Who Is in the Continental Classic?

The 12 competitors in the AEW Continental Classic were split into two groups: the Gold League and the Blue League. Each competitor will face all of the other wrestlers in their league during the group stage, earning three points for a win and one point for a draw (occurring if the 20-minute time limit is reached without a victor).

The Gold League consists of Swerve Strickland, Jay Lethal, Jon Moxley, Mark Briscoe, "Switchblade" Jay White, and RUSH. The competitors in the Blue League include Eddie Kingston, Bryan Danielson, Daniel Garcia, Claudio Castagnoli, Brody King, and Andrade El Idolo.

Heading into Wednesday, everyone in the tournament had fought in one match, with the exception of Bryan Danielson and Andrade El Idolo.

The biggest news in wrestling this week -- maybe this whole year -- was CM Punk's shocking return to WWE during Survivor Series: WarGames on Saturday night. Punk was fired from AEW over the summer following multiple altercations with co-workers behind-the-scenes, and he's now back in the company he's talked trash about for the better part of a decade. In Punk's return promo during Monday Night RAW, he didn't mention or even heavily reference AEW, but Wednesday's edition of AEW Dynamite saw the promotion's current champion reference Punk.

MJF, the AEW World Champion and ROH Tag Team Champion, headed to the ring halfway through the episode to speak about his upcoming opponent at World's End, Samoa Joe. Surprisingly, MJF's entire promo was about how great Samoa Joe was throughout his entire career, and it's hard to talk about Joe's career without mentioning WWE or CM Punk.

Max first addressed WWE when talking about Samoa Joe's greatness and how he never got the respect he deserved in WWE. "Now, unfortunately on in his career, his talents weren't fully recognized and he was not afforded the opportunity to be a world champion in WWE."

Hearing those three letters caused quite a reaction from the audience, and they seemed even more surprised a couple of moments later when MJF name-dropped CM Punk. Referencing some massive stars he has beaten throughout his young career, MJF mentioned CM Punk alongside Bryan Danielson and Chris Jericho.

The Devil sent a message to MJF and Samoa Joe!

Watch #AEWDynamite LIVE on TBS!@The_MJF | @SamoaJoe pic.twitter.com/q8gXEtYpnr

-- All Elite Wrestling (@AEW) November 30, 2023

MJF Teaming With Samoa Joe

The promo ended with the lights going out and a group of the mysterious Devil's goonies attacking Max and preparing for a devastating blow. He was rescued by Samoa Joe, who has made it clear he wants to take on a full-strength MJF at the end of the month. Max then received a challenge from the Devil in the form of some typed messages on the screen.

Whoever stole MJF's mask has challenged him to a mystery tag team match during next week's episode of AEW Dynamite, fighting alongside Samoa Joe and against an unknown opponent. Much to Joe's dismay, MJF accepted the challenge and cleared with AEW CEO Tony Khan, so the future opponents will be working together in tag team action next week.

The identity of this new Devil still has yet to be revealed, but it feels like that may change in the coming weeks, especially with World's End on the horizon.

AEW stars Tay Melo and Sammy Guevara have welcomed their baby girl Luna Melo Guevara into the world, and we wish them nothing but the best. Melo and Guevara took to Instagram to share the great news with a photo of their beautiful baby and a caption that reads "Luna Melo Guevara ? 11/28/2023 8.4lbs and 24+ hours of labor. Our life is complete!" We wish all the best to Melo and Guevara, and you can find the full post from the couple below.

Melo and Guevara first revealed the big news at AEW Double or Nothing. They came out and said they were having a baby and got an immense reaction from the crowd, following it up with a post showing the gender and name reveal. That video featured fireworks going off and leaving pink smoke, revealing they were having a baby girl.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Taynara Guevara (@taymelo)

That was the same night that Guevara would face MJF, Jack Perry, and Darby Allin in a Four Pillars match, which was billed as one of the biggest matches of the night. For Guevara though, the baby reveal was the most exciting moment of the night, and it's easy to see why. "I was personally more excited for the entrance [and reveal]. I feel like we were like opposite. She was more nervous for me for the match, and I was more nervous, excited for the entrance," Guevara said.

Despite being one of AEW's premiere heel duos, the crowd showed support for them, and Guevara was thrilled with the reaction. "The crowd's coming back around on me. We were not always the most loved people out there. For them to give us that big reaction. Everyone's happy, showing us the love. It was just like, overwhelming in a way where I was like, ok, we gotta get back into it," Guevara said.

We'll have to wait and see where Guevara pops up next, as he's been sidelined since WrestleDream with an injury. He is expected to return soon though, and there are a few storylines we could see him become a part of once he's back to 100%. Perhaps his reveal will be saved of Worlds End, which takes place on December 30th. You can find the full card below.

AEW Worlds End:

AEW World Championship Match: MJF (C) vs Samoa Joe

AEW Continental Classic Tournament Final

What do you want to see Guevara do once he's back in action? Let us know in the comments and as always you can talk all things wrestling with me on Threads @mattaguilarcb!

Will Ospreay is #AllElite. The Aerial Assassin signed with AEW earlier this month at AEW Full Gear, putting pen to paper roughly three months before he was officially set to become a free agent. Ospreay's current employer, New Japan Pro Wrestling, has had a working relationship with AEW for a number of years now and gave one of their top gaijin stars their blessing to make the big career move. Ospreay being full-time with AEW has been something fans have pushed for for a while, as the short tastes of his in-ring work during Summer 2022 and both AEW x NJPW Forbidden Door and AEW ALL IN: London had many hoping to see him on a weekly basis one day.

While it took three years for Ospreay to step foot in an AEW ring and four years for him to sign with the company, the current IWGP United States Champion has actually been tied to Tony Khan's promotion for much longer.

Will Ospreay Details His "Trust" With Tony Khan

AEW has been courting Will Ospreay since its launch.

Speaking to Justin Barrasso of Sports Illustrated, Will Ospreay revealed that AEW President Tony Khan first approached him following a RevPro match in February 2019.

"At the time, Tony asked what I was interested in doing next in my career," Ospreay recalled. "I said my focus was on Japan, and he respected that. I'll always remember how he respected how I felt."

That initial conversation, while brief, ultimately proved to be the foundation that now supports an entire house of trust between Ospreay and Khan.

"People need to remember this: since then, I've built a trust and respect with Tony. That's very important to me," Ospreay continued. "When Tony had me work matches for AEW, like I did this summer at All In at Wembley Stadium, he didn't have to do that. He trusted me. That meant the world to me."

Since cameoing on a June 2022 episode of AEW Dynamite, Ospreay has worked 11 total matches for AEW, all on a handshake deal.

"Now that I'm coming to AEW, I trust him with the aura of Will Ospreay and the character of Will Ospreay," Ospreay added. "Tony Khan has genuinely changed my life. In return, I am going to deliver the best matches I can deliver."

Ospreay is expected to begin his full-time AEW run in February 2024.

Mercedes Mon?'s "world domination tour" hit a speed bump before it could completely materialize. After walking out of WWE in mid-2022, the former Sasha Banks ended her squared circle sabbatical when she popped up at NJPW Wrestle Kingdom 17, confronting then-IWGP Women's Champion KAIRI. It took less than two months for Mon? to claim the prize she had her sights on, as she would defeat KAIRI to become the second IWGP Women's Champion this past February. While she would ultimately lose that title shortly after, Mon? turned her attention to a new championship: the newly-minted NJPW STRONG Women's Title.

Mon? reached the finals of the NJPW STRONG Women's Championship tournament, facing AEW's Willow Nightingale in the culminating match to crown the inaugural titleholder. While Mon? was reportedly scheduled to win the match and become the first champion, a late-match ankle injury forced her to call an audible, leading to Nightingale emerging victorious.

Mercedes Mon? Resumes Wrestling Training

The Boss is on her way back.

Taking to social media, Mercedes Mon? shared a highlight video of her resuming wrestling training for the first time since breaking her ankle in May. Mon? was shown running the ropes, taking some bumps, and working on her cardio as a remix of "Wouldn't Leave" by Kanye West plays.

You can watch Mon?'s training video below...

pic.twitter.com/steiPlx4Hm

-- Mercedes Mon? Varnado (@MercedesVarnado) November 29, 2023

It remains to be seen as to where Mon? will ultimately wrestle next. Her New Japan deal was not a traditional contract, as she had been working limited dates for the company. Considering she was scheduled to become NJPW STRONG Women's Champion, that suggests that NJPW and Mon? had more dates past her May 21st match planned.

The likely site of Mon?'s next in-ring encounter would be NJPW Wrestle Kingdom 18 in January. Mon? made her Far East debut at that event last year but only in a confrontation capacity, as she has yet to wrestle at the Tokyo Dome. IWGP Women's Champion Mayu Iwatani, the woman that defeated Mon? for the title, currently does not have a scheduled match for the big event.

Beyond NJPW, Mon? has always been an arm's length away from AEW. Tony Khan has spoken glowingly about Mon? and showcased her in the crowd at AEW ALL IN: London this past August. Reports indicated that AEW had plans to utilize her at both AEW x NJPW Forbidden Door in June and AEW Dynamite: Blood & Guts in July had she been cleared for competition.

Professional wrestling's television ratings continue to evolve with the current entertainment landscape. In the early 2010s, WWE Monday Night Raw would regularly pull in upwards of five million viewers on a weekly basis. TNA iMPACT! never struggled to hit seven figures. Even the often taped WWE SmackDown still held a comfortable 2.0 rating in the key demographics. With streaming services becoming the primary source of televised entertainment and cord-cutting at an all-time high, live sports are essentially the last ratings driver for cable television. Even then, WWE programming now sits in and around 1.5 million viewers while top competitor AEW battles to hit seven figures every week.

While viewership will inevitably continue to gradually decrease over the years, there are still a couple of circumstances in the wrestling world that pop, or flop, a rating.

CM Punk Boosts WWE Raw Viewership

Fans tuned in in droves to see what the Second City Saint had to say.

Jimmy Traina of Sports Illustrated reported that WWE Monday Night Raw drew an average of 1.884 million viewers, an increase of over 300,000 from the previous week's episode. This is the highest-viewed episode of WWE Monday Night Raw since August 7th, which was a show that dealt with the fallout of WWE SummerSlam, the second-largest premium live event of the year.

In the ratings department, WWE Monday Night Raw scored a 0.66 in the 18-49 demographic. That rating was the highest for WWE Monday Night Raw since the post-WWE WrestleMania 39 episode on April 3rd.

Beyond Punk, WWE Monday Night Raw had boosts in the form of Randy Orton's televised return and the WWE Survivor Series fallout.

AEW Dynamite Defeats WWE SmackDown

The unprecedented numbers began at the end of last week.

WWE SmackDown brought in 789,000 viewers and a 0.24 rating on its November 24th episode. By comparison, AEW Dynamite drew an audience of 845,000 with a 0.26 rating two days prior. This marks the first time that AEW has defeated a WWE main roster show in viewership and ratings.

It's worth noting that last week's WWE SmackDown was on FS1 instead of its usual broadcast home of FOX. FS1 is available in 71.375 million homes while AEW Dynamite's channel, TBS, is in 78.842 million homes (via Sports Business Journal, July 2023).

AEW Dynamite returns to television tonight at 8 PM ET on TBS.