Tag: AEW

Cody Rhodes responds to CM Punk’s AEW criticism

Cody Rhodes said he didn’t share CM Punk’s “assessment” of AEW and repeated how proud he was to help build it.

While not on the WrestleMania 40 card, CM Punk became the talk of pro wrestling this week after making a variety of comments on The MMA Hour with Ariel Helwani about his time in AEW. Nothing was off limits except for the “Brawl Out” NDA he signed. The discussion dove into various topics, including what happened with Jack Perry at All In, Adam Page’s unscripted promo about Punk in 2022, and his desire to depart AEW before his return in June 2023.

Perhaps the harshest comments took aim at Tony Khan and AEW’s management. Punk described AEW as “not a real business” and criticized Khan, stating he’s a nice guy but “not a boss.”

On Wednesday, Cody Rhodes became the next WWE superstar to appear on The MMA Hour and promote WrestleMania. Naturally, Punk’s comments about AEW were brought up. Rhodes didn’t address the Straight Edge Superstar’s opinion of the company directly, but he discussed the pride in what he accomplished there.

That’s his assessment. It is not my assessment. It’s always important for me to remind people that I am so proud of what me, Matt, Nick, Kenny, Tony, Bernie, Brandi, Dana, and Chris, and I name all these people because I was in those meetings. As much as the internet will spin a narrative one way, if one of those people had not been at that startup level, the company would not have happened.

It’s not my assessment. In my time there, the infrastructure was just being built up. We were trying new things, and doing things. It was a startup company, a big-time startup company but a startup company and I wish them nothing but the best.

Helwani also asked Rhodes about Punk’s beef with The Elite, which he attributed to “a ton of misunderstanding, a ton of miscommunication.”

I just think what happened there was a ton of misunderstanding, a ton of miscommunication.

I love Matt, Nick, and Kenny and I love CM Punk. I don’t know how, but I do. I’m just happy for everyone involved. I just think it was a ships in the night thing. I wasn’t there, though.

Rhodes offered the most diplomatic responses possible when tackling these situations. While not non-answers, he addressed these topics and gave some semblance of substance. This story has enough fuel, especially after Adam Copeland’s reference to it on Dynamite, so Rhodes not igniting the fire further is for the best.

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AEW Dynamite results 04/03/24: Swerve signs in blood, Trent betrays Best Friends

AEW Dynamite from Worcester also saw Thunder Rosa become No. 1 contender for Toni Storm.

The funny thing about joining a team is you never know right away if you’re going to be a good fit for it or vice versa. That’s a relevant thought as we head to Worcester, Mass. for AEW Dynamite tonight, because Will Ospreay is fighting another one of his Don Callis Family teammates.

To be fair, Ospreay has rarely done much alongside his other Family members in the first place, what with still being a member of the New Japan Pro-Wrestling roster when he first joined and all. Since he’s arrived in AEW full time, the Aerial Assassin has had just three matches, and two of them were against teammates.

Which would be weird except that this is a group assembled by Don Callis that we’re talking about, and it wouldn’t be surprising at all if it turned out he was jealous of Ospreay’s popularity. No one bigger than the team and all that.

As a result, Callis might be hoping Powerhouse Hobbs beats Ospreay tonight. And if he doesn’t, it will be interesting to see what role the Family might play when Ospreay faces Bryan Danielson at AEW Dynasty later this month.

The other big thing on the docket tonight is a contract signing between Swerve Strickland and Samoa Joe. These two certainly have turned their program into a nice little powderkeg waiting to ignite, and this might be the spark that lights it.

It’s also fair to wonder if, despite Joe being a worthy champ, whether AEW is ready to push Swerve to the level it feels like he’s earned and let him have a run with the top title.

We’re excited for what this night might have in store from Worcester, so let’s get into it.

AEW Dynamite results from Worcester:

(please scroll down for more details on any segment or match in bold)

  • Adam Copeland tells us why AEW should be celebrated
  • Will Ospreay def. Powerhouse Hobbs by pinfall
  • Ospreay pauses on the ramp and exchanges a look and some words with Bryan Danielson on the way in for his match
  • Bryan Danielson def. Lance Archer by pinfall
  • Renee Paquette welcomes Chris Jericho, who asks Hook to join him so he can clarify that he understands why Hook would be wary about trusting him but wants Hook to believe in him; Hook says he got them a match on Collision but will be keeping his eye on him, and Jericho says he’d expect nothing less … bet

  • Shane Taylor and Lee Moriarty reveal they’re the opponents for LionHook on Collision
  • Billy Gunn def. Jay White by DQ as White hits him with a low blow following a distraction from The Gunns; The Acclaimed come to the rescue despite being shown on the big screen having been laid out in the back
  • The Young Bucks and Best Friends (plus Trent’s mom Sue) are shown walking into the building earlier today
  • Paquette talks to Willow Nightingale about her TBS Championship shot at Dynasty, and she thanks the fans for giving her confidence during her career in general and at this time in particular …

  • … Stokely Hathaway is singing her praises as well when he’s interrupted by Mercedes Moné, who makes it clear that she’s up next for whoever walks out of Dynasty as TBS champ

  • Young Bucks def. Best Friends by pinfall in an AEW World Tag Team Championship Tournament Semifinal, using a catapult into an exposed turnbuckle to help them pull it off …
  • … and after the match, instead of going in for the customary group hug, Trent Beretta hits Orange Cassidy with a flying knee and storms off without his teammates or his mom
  • Thunder Rosa def. Mariah May by pinfall in an AEW Women’s World Championship No. 1 Contenders Match
  • Penta El Zero Miedo says Copeland should defend the TNT Championship against an AEW original next week … namely him
  • Samoa Joe signs in ink, Swerve Strickland signs in blood, but it’s the champ who ends the night standing tall

Adam Copeland circles the wagons nicely for AEW

Even though his mic is sort of messed up and there was some negative talk during the week, Copeland wants to talk about the positives. He’s looking at it from a “what a time to be alive” standpoint.

Growing up, Copeland watched WWF, NWA and much more, devouring it all because he loved professional wrestling. When he started thinking about the end of his career, he says he realized AEW is where he needs to be, touting the phenomenal roster with talents like Will Ospreay, Kenny Omega, Hangman Adam Page, Swerve Strickland and much more.

When his friends ask him if he’s having a blast, Copeland says he is — the most he’s ever had in his 32-year career. He adds that AEW should be celebrated for pushing the whole business to a better place and that it’s where the best wrestle.

Turns out it’s a really long introduction for the man himself, Will Ospreay, as Copeland puts him over as the man who will be what AEW is going forward.

Will Ospreay wins the “Battle of Wills” against Powerhouse Hobbs

Don Callis joins the announcers for this one and takes credit for pitting his own stable members against each other in an “iron sharpens iron” way. He likes Ospreay’s early aggression, which finally gets him in trouble when Hobbs hoists him off the barricade and slams his spine on the steel steps. Ouch.

Much as we like seeing Ospreay do his thing, it feels like after some side-by-side commercials that we’re going to need a Hobbs showcase sequence at some point. We get just a tad before Ospreay goes back on the attack, then catches Hobbs with an inside cradle.

Hobbs hits an impressive move off the middle turnbuckle for a near fall, but his next powerslam is countered by a DDT. A sky twister press is next, and the Hidden Blade wipes out Hobbs to secure a pinfall for Ospreay.

Callis has to step between the two men after the match, and is able to broker some peace before things get out of hand.

Thunder Rosa leaves Toni Storm speechless by defeating Mariah May

Toni Storm joins the announcers, the better to see Rosa’s X-Men inspired ring gear. The champ seems to think her protege might have a quick night here, but she’s taking more punishment than she’s giving early on.

It still looks like Rosa is in charge after picture-in-picture action, leading Storm to say she’s getting nervous. May evades a double stomp off the top and nails a knee for a close near fall.

The finish comes sort of out of nowhere, with Rosa hitting the Tijuana Bomb and earning No. 1 contender status for Storm’s title. Rosa tells Storm to get in the ring right now, but Toni simply looks stunned.

Swerve Strickland, Samoa Joe make it official … in blood

Tony Schiavone moderates and Joe wastes no time signing on the proverbial bottom line. The champ says he wants to give his challenger a little bit of advice before he signs. Namely, Joe says signing is a career-defining mistake, as he’ll beat Swerve down so badly that it’ll leave him mentally scarred like he left Diddy’s party too late. Joe’s words, not ours.

Strickland responds that he’s wanted this moment his entire life, dreaming about it and wondering if it was possible. He mentions the new signings that are helping AEW build a dynasty and says he’ll prove that he is every bit that man.

“Now run the fade on that bitch,” Strickland says in closing. Joe shoves him but Swerve fires back a mean right hand. Strickland goes to choke out the champ with his chain, but Joe wrestles it away and wraps it around his right hand. Strickland ends up eating multiple shots from the chain in the corner, bleeding from the onslaught.

But as Joe heads back up the ramp, a bloody Swerve simply laughs and says “I love this s–t,” adding that if this is all Joe’s got, he’s taking the championship. Strickland signs the contract with his own blood, but an enraged Joe runs back to the ring, kicks him in the groin and slams him through the table with a uranage.

MJF tweets for first time in 2024, takes shots at The Rock

It should be no surprise that MJF has the most perfect timing possible for a return to social media during WrestleMania week.

Leave it to MJF to wait until WrestleMania week to be active on social media again — and to use it to offer his two cents on the hottest angle in pro wrestling right now.

The former AEW World Champion hasn’t wrestled since dropping that title so Samoa Joe at Worlds End on Dec. 30, and he’s stayed off X since the day before that.

But on Wednesday, The Rock offered to buy a painting of one of his recent attacks on Cody Rhodes from MJF’s ex-fiancée, Naomi Rosenblum, and MJF wasn’t going to stay silent about that.

The “steal my glorious idea” crack is a reference to the time four years ago in AEW when MJF made Rhodes take 10 lashes from his own belt to get a match against him.

And as viewers of “Young Rock” surely know, Dewey is Dwayne Johnson’s childhood nickname.

Because MJF has made his alleged 2024 free agency such a core part of his on-screen persona for so long, the comments section of his tweet are full of fans hoping it’s some kind of signal that he’s jumping to WWE. MJF has kept his contract status with AEW intentionally vague, though some industry insiders believe he’s already re-signed with the company and is simply laying low while he recuperates from several injuries that plagued him toward the end of 2023.

Regardless, he’s as shrewd a performer as there is in the pro wrestling business, which means he knows a return to social media targeting The Rock during the busiest wrestling week of the year is guaranteed to get people talking. Well played, MJF.

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AEW Dynamite preview 04/03/24: Battle of Wills plus Joe, Swerve contract signing

AEW Dynamite from Worcester will also see the Young Bucks battle Best Friends and Thunder Rosa take on Mariah May.

AEW looked like it had lots of fun in Canada, but it’s back in the U.S. tonight for Dynamite (and a Collision taping) in Worcester, Mass. That’s the city whose ‘ce’ are basically silent, but it should be a loud crowd for a slate that looks like it will help get more of AEW Dynasty locked and loaded.

Can Will Ospreay defeat a much bigger and stronger Will?

We’re embarrassed to say we almost didn’t get why Don Callis was calling the battle between Will Ospreay and Powerhouse Hobbs “A Battle of Wills” at first. It’s just that hardly anyone calls Hobbs by his first name on the air any more, but once we remembered that, it was “well played, sir” to the head of the Family.

Ospreay has already defeated Konosuke Takeshita and Kyle Fletcher, so he’s basically going for a sweep of his ostensible teammates here. It’s almost like we the viewers realize he’s not right for the heel stable but no one in the production has figured it out yet. Maybe the light bulb moment will happen while we’re enjoying Ospreay working against yet another opponent with a different style.

What will happen when Samoa Joe and Swerve Strickland sign to face each other at Dynasty?

Swerve Strickland earned the right to challenge for the AEW World Championship again. Samoa Joe, holder of that title, isn’t super thrilled about that. Something has to give, and it probably will when they have their contract signing tonight in Worcester.

Swerve and Joe are great on the mic so even if they just trade insults this should be entertaining, but don’t we all want to see them throw hands? To quote “Godzilla” (2014), “let them fight.”

AEW Dynamite card for Worcester

  • Powerhouse Hobbs vs. Will Ospreay
  • Samoa Joe and Swerve Strickland have a contract signing for their match at AEW Dynasty
  • Young Bucks vs. Best Friends – AEW World Tag Team Championship Tournament Semifinal
  • Daddy Ass vs. Jay White
  • Thunder Rosa vs. Mariah May
  • Chris Jericho calls out Hook

AEW Dynamite takes place live before this busy week in pro wrestling really kicks into high gear, so check it out on TBS at 8 p.m. ET or join us back here at Wrestling Junkie for live results.

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CM Punk recalls Hangman Adam Page’s off-script promo: ‘Why would you do this?’

CM Punk discussed Hangman Adam Page’s infamous off-script promo on The MMA Hour with Ariel Helwani.

Before CM Punk‘s conflict at All In, which ultimately led to his departure from AEW, there was his beef with The Elite from All Out 2022, where the infamous “Brawl Out” altercation occurred backstage. Tensions had been brewing before that between Punk and Hangman Adam Page, highlighted by Page’s infamous “workers’ rights” promo on Dynamite.

Punk has been hesitant to discuss his time with AEW or any of the controversial subjects associated with him. However, during a recent appearance on The MMA Hour with Ariel Helwani, one of the topics discussed was the events between Punk and Page during the summer of 2022. And just like the rest of the interview, the Straight Edge Superstar did not hold back.

When asked about Page allegedly going off script and upsetting Punk — and whether that was the first time he felt his reputation was being slandered — Punk explained exactly why he took offense to what went down. Most of it, he says, was due to Page agreeing to do things a certain way when they interacted, then deviating from that plan without warning.

“But I sat down with [Page], and I was very gracious,” Punk said. “We hammered out this promo. He goes on live TV and does not say any of the s–t we talked about. I can’t hear him because the crowd’s so loud. I’m looking at him and I have to really pay attention to what he’s saying because my responses matter. I can’t just say what I have planned because it won’t match what he’s saying to me. And he’s saying some s–t. I don’t know what he’s talking about. And I’m just like, man, why would you do this? TV is very expensive. Every minute is hundreds of thousands of dollars between production, etc. And you’re just s–ting on me and the business. Why would you do this? I knew the promo ended with him punching me and I had to double-leg him.

“I don’t know what’s going on, but I was professional,” Punk added. “Afterward, I spoke to him and asked why he did that. He thinks I got one of his friends, who hasn’t been fired, fired. I went to Tony [Khan] and the lawyer and said you need to fix that, because if I do, you won’t like how I fix it.”

It’s safe to say the situation was never resolved, considering the altercation, the NDA that locked details of what happened, and the subsequent separation of everyone involved when Punk returned to AEW in June 2023. And though this incident is long in the distance, it’s still interesting to see the curtain pulled back on a notorious time in the company’s short history.

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CM Punk gives blunt criticism of Tony Khan: ‘He’s not a boss’

CM Punk critiqued how AEW operates itself and Tony Khan’s role as a boss in an interview with The MMA Hour.

Whenever CM Punk steps in front of a microphone, whether it’s inside the ring or out for AEW or WWE, it tends to grab attention. He’s managed to make waves despite limited media appearances, giving fans a glimpse into the mind of this controversial talent.

On Monday, Punk gave a rare interview on The MMA Hour with Ariel Helwani, which lasted nearly two hours and touched on sensitive topics regarding his time in AEW. From Jack Perry to subtle nods at “Brawl Out,” nothing was off-limits, including a candid conversation about AEW CEO, GM and head of creative Tony Khan.

Following the discussion about Khan’s involvement in the All In 2023 incident with Perry, Helwani asked Punk to share his thoughts on working for AEW’s boss, leading to a blunt assessment from the 45-year-old.

“He’s not a boss, he’s a nice guy,” Punk said. “Ultimately, that’s a detriment to the company, but it’s not my company. I’m an outsider. I thought I was brought in to sell merchandise and tickets and draw numbers for pay-per-view and stuff, and I clearly did that. But that’s not what the place was about and some people didn’t like that.”

Expanding further, Punk said he thought he joined AEW to help their business, but felt it was for other reasons. He then labeled AEW as “not a real business,” attributing this to their focus on “having good matches.”

“I thought I was coming in to help business,” Punk said. “If I could teach something, great, and I think I was just brought in for other reasons, you know? Their business, and I know a lot of people are going to be upset, is just not predicated … it’s not a real business. It’s not about selling tickets. It’s not about drawing money. It’s not about making money. It’s just not. I don’t know. I think having good matches, maybe? And there’s nothing wrong with that.”

Punk’s two harsh assessments of AEW are bound to fuel discussions among fans, marking yet another mic drop moment from the outspoken wrestler. And while AEW has faced its fair share of criticism in recent years, these latest remarks only intensify the scrutiny on how they operate behind the scenes.

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AEW releases include Anthony Henry, Stu Grayson, Dasha Gonzalez

The 10 released AEW talents should be able to sign elsewhere immediately, according to PWInsider.

On a day when CM Punk talking about AEW was the biggest pro wrestling news story of the day, some more unfortunate news came out about some of its performers later on Monday night.

As reported by Sean Ross Sapp of Fightful, a number of AEW wrestlers and some other talent have been released. Among the names that would be most familiar to regular Dynamite and Collison viewers were Anthony Henry of The Workhorsemen and Stu Grayson — the former Dark Order member who was in his second AEW stint after his initial contract expired in 2022.

Other releases that caught some fans online by surprise were The Boys, longtime partners of Dalton Castle. Ring announcer Dasha Gonzalez and manager Jose The Assistant (best known for his time as manager for Andrade El Idolo, who is now in WWE) were also among those whose contracts were terminated.

The full list of today’s releases is as follows:

  • Anthony Henry
  • Dasha Gonzalez
  • Gravity
  • Jora Johl
  • Jose The Assistant
  • Parker Boudreaux
  • Slim J
  • Stu Grayson
  • The Boys

Sapp also noted that he was unsure whether there were other releases beyond this list or if more names would be forthcoming.

Along with messages of support and hope that the talent affected would land on their feet, social media posts expressed some dismay about what the releases would mean for ROH. The Boys and Henry worked most often on that brand.

PWInsider also reported on the releases and added that the belief is that all affected would be “100% free agents immediately.”

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CM Punk details backstage incident with Jack Perry at AEW All In

CM Punk revealed details of his backstage altercation with Jack Perry at AEW All In.

In what became his final act with the company, AEW fired CM Punk following a backstage incident with Jack Perry at All In. It triggered an eventual return to WWE for the 45-year-old, while AEW suspended Perry, who eventually went to New Japan Pro-Wrestling and has not appeared on AEW programming since (though he’s widely believed to still be under contract to AEW).

The altercation faded from the spotlight upon Punk’s return to WWE, but he revived the discourse on Monday with juicy details regarding that and the controversies that have defined his career.

Speaking with Ariel Helwani on The MMA Hour, Punk was asked about the incident with Perry at All In, and he did not hold back on details.

Jack came back from his match. I was the next match. I’m sitting there. I got people with me. I’m not going to say who they are because I got a lot of friends who work there. I wish them all well, and I don’t want them to be punished because they’re friends with me. I walk up to him and I’m just like, Jack, why do you insist on doing this dumb internet s–t on TV, you know? He’s just like, ‘If you got a problem about it, do something about it.’ I was just like, ‘Come on, man. I could f–king kill you. What are we doing?’

Punk also revealed that he told Tony Khan “I quit” after the incident, before his match with Samoa Joe happened.

Sometimes, it’s like, can’t let you get close. You know? I thought I was doing the responsible thing. I didn’t punch anybody. I just choked somebody a little bit. Samoa Joe was there, told me to stop, and then I quit. I turned to Tony, and I said, ‘This place is a f–king joke, man. You’re a clown, I quit.’ I went to my room, and then Joe and Jerry Lynn came and got me, and they’re like, ‘Let’s just go out there and kill it.’ I was just too fired up, and I’m fired up now, and I’m probably gonna regret talking about all this s–t, but that’s what happened.

This suggests that Punk knowingly competed at All In, fully aware that it would be his final match, yet was still allowed to step into the ring and wrestle.

This detail adds another layer to Punk’s tumultuous tenure, and given everything he disclosed to Helwani, there’s still plenty to unpack.

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Mark Briscoe doesn’t think ROH World Championship ‘gets the credit it deserves’

Mark Briscoe says he almost quit after losing brother Jay, but resumed wrestling for AEW and ROH and is glad he did.

When Mark Briscoe tragically lost his brother Jay in a car accident early last year, his first thought was a simple one: “I’m never wrestling again.” But after a little time to reconsider and feeling it was what Jay would want him to do, Mark resumed wrestling as a singles competitor in AEW and Ring of Honor.

Now, Mark stands only a few days away from potentially becoming ROH World Champion if he can defeat Eddie Kingston, a longtime friend, at ROH Supercard of Honor April 5 in Philadelphia. It’s a title Jay held twice, in-between runs with Mark as one of the greatest tag teams of this century.

The Briscoes are as synonymous with Ring of Honor as any of the wrestlers who came through the company, both in its original incarnation and as a subsidiary of AEW, so it’s not hard to understand why holding its top prize would mean a lot to Mark. Yet as he told Under the Ring host Phil Strum, it’s a championship that still may not get its proper due.

“It’s mean a lot, man, it’d be cool,” Mark Briscoe said about the prospect of becoming ROH World Champion. “Ring of Honor, from 2002, and the stages and the ages and eras of Ring of Honor, it’s amazing.

“I don’t think the Ring of Honor world title gets the credit it deserves for its significance in the history of professional wrestling.”

It’s not hard to see where he’s coming from. Along with Kingston, the ROH World Championship has been held by an incredible array of talent that includes CM Punk, Cody Rhodes, Seth Rollins (when he was known as Tyler Black), Bryan Danielson, Kevin Owens (as Kevin Steen), Samoa Joe and Adam Cole.

That’s a virtual who’s who of top stars across several different companies. While Mark has never been able to count himself among them during two-plus decades in the pro wrestling business — many of them in ROH — he might be able to come Friday night.

“Obviously, it’d be a total honor and it’d be really cool, especially after being here from day one,” Mark Briscoe said. “Singles gold has eluded me to this point, but you know, I’m feeling real good about this. I’m training hard, I got my mind right. You know, I’ve been watching tapes, I’ve been studying Eddie, I know Eddie. And I know he’s gonna try and bring it, but I got something for him.”

You can hear the entire interview between Strum and Mark Briscoe above, or check out the latest episode of Under the Ring on YouTube.

ROH Supercard of Honor is set to take place Friday, April 5 at the Liacouras Center in Philadelphia, and will be streamed live on HonorClub.

Black women in pro wrestling are having a moment. Will the industry capitalize?

Black women are major forces in pop culture writ large, but will WWE and AEW recognize and take advantage?

Never in all my years of living did I ever expect to see the 1997 comedy classic “B.A.P.S.” referenced on WWE television, but that is what happened on the March 29 edition of SmackDown.

For the uninitiated, “B.A.P.S.” is a criminally underrated film starring Halle Berry, where she gives — and I don’t mean this ironically — one of the best performances of her career. Berry’s physical comedy was amazing, and her chemistry with late co-star Natalie Desselle-Reid was off the charts.

Both were on display during a scene where Berry’s character, Nisi, shows off her … unique dancing ability. Nisi’s friend, Mickey (played by Desselle-Reid) provides her friend with unwavering support by shouting “boo-yow!” before slowly turning around to show that the word she just shouted is in fact also on the back of her elaborate hairdo.

Looks familiar? Because it’s exactly what Naomi did during her backstage segment with Bianca Belair on Smackdown, except the back of Naomi’s hair said “EST.” 

The moment nearly caused Belair to burst into laughter on live television. I personally stood up and hollered in my living room.

I stood up and hollered again when Jade Cargill sauntered to the ring later on that evening and aligned herself with Naomi and Belair. 

For some, this may have merely felt like a means to further another story heading into WrestleMania, but the significance of that visual is not lost on me. For me, it was powerful.

I’m not breaking any news when I say that professional wrestling has not always been kind to Black people. The industry’s depiction of Black people has ranged anywhere from mildly concerning to downright racist at times.

This is the same industry that turned a truck driver by the name of “Sugar Bear” James Harris into a Ugandan savage named Kamala. The legendary Tony Atlas was once forced to become Saba Simba in order to escape the perils of being unhoused. Remember when Kofi Kingston, born in Ghana, was Jamaican, accent and all?

We can’t forget about Cryme Tyme, which basically reduced two Black people (the late, great Shad Gaspard and Jayson “JTG” Paul) to criminals. And yes, I’m still angry that Gaspard and Paul never won the tag team titles in WWE.

We’re not far removed from all of this. You can watch it all on Peacock right now. No, it’s not black and white, either. Some of it is actually in high definition. 

Friday’s show of strength between Belair, Cargill, and Naomi did not suddenly erase all of professional wrestling’s ugly history when it comes to its depiction of Black people. It is, however, a snapshot of the potential impact Black people — Black women especially — could have on the wrestling industry.

Elsewhere in wrestling, AEW promoted an entire event around a Black woman (Mercedes Moné) debuting with the promotion. The result was one of AEW’s largest crowds of the year so far. And let’s not overlook the work of Willow Nightingale, Athena, Queen Aminata and others. In NXT, you have Lash Legend, who looks to be on the precipice of becoming the industry’s next big star.

Let’s be clear: Black women drive mainstream culture. You may not realize it, but they do. From catchy phrases to beauty standards, Black women shape our everyday culture in a multitude of ways.

You think Kim Kardashian invented box braids? Hell no. That started with Black women. You think wearing long, stylish fingernails is a recent trend? Nope. Started with Black women.

If a wrestling promotion is looking to remain on the cutting edge of what is cool and hip, it would behoove it to feature Black women, as they are the straw that stirs the culture.

And if wrestling is going to reach a new level of mainstream notoriety, it will be done so with Black women at the forefront.

Recent events have provided some great momentum, but will the industry capitalize? If wrestling’s past is any indication, that answer is still very much in the air.

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