WWE, NFL pull Jaguars belt hours after partnership announced

A Jaguars-themed WWE title belt was available for only a few hours Monday before it was pulled from the WWE and NFL websites.

The NFL and WWE announced a partnership Monday morning with the sale of 32 title belts with the logo and colors of each team. Hours later, 31 of those belts were still available on the NFL and WWE websites.

Only the Jacksonville Jaguars’ belt was no longer available and is still not an option as of this writing. According to Fanatics, “those sold faster than we could have ever imagined” and a restock is coming soon. That explanation didn’t stop people from connecting some very obvious dots, though.

Jaguars executive vice president Tony Khan, who is the son of team owner Shad Khan, also serves as the founder and president of AEW (All Elite Wrestling). Less than 24 hours before the WWE-NFL partnership was announced, AEW held a massive show at Wembley Stadium and the organization has held multiple events at the Jaguars’ home, EverBank Stadium.

In the years since AEW was founded in 2019, it has emerged as WWE’s strongest competitor. Tony Khan is probably the last one who wants to see the Jaguars logo on a WWE product.

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Jaguars VP Tony Khan denies report of interest in Bellator MMA

Tony Khan says there’s no truth to a report that he and his dad are interested in purchasing Bellator MMA.

Jacksonville Jaguars executive vice president Tony Khan vehemently denied a report that he and his father, Jaguars owner Shad Khan, are a party interested in purchasing Bellator MMA.

“I was surprised to see that report,” Tony Khan said, in part, via mixed martial arts reporter Jed I. Goodman. “I haven’t had any conversations with them about that, so I don’t know what that was about. My father hasn’t had any conversations with them either. I’m not even sure who you talked to. I don’t even know, honestly, who owns the promotion. Is Scott Coker the owner? Or the president? I’m not sure.”

On Wednesday, MMA reporter Ariel Helwani said on his show, The MMA Hour, that the Khan family were among the interested parties in Bellator.

“I can also tell you that the Khan family has looked into [Bellator],” Helwani reported on the show. “To what degree is unclear.”

Bellator MMA is a promotion that has existed since 2008 and is currently owned by Paramount Global. It is reportedly in talks to be sold with Professional Fighters League (PFL) among the favorites to acquire the organization.

In addition to the Jaguars, the Khans own Fulham Football Club of the English Premier League and All Elite Wrestling (AEW). Tony Khan serves as the president of AEW and has multiple executive titles with Fulham F.C.

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ROH World Champion Chris Jericho is rocking his Randy Moss jersey

The Ring of Honor World Champion is rocking his Randy Moss jersey live in Miami

The Minnesota Vikings have their fair share of celebrity fans but it doesn’t get much bigger than one of the best professional wrestlers of all time in Chris Jericho.

Now calling himself “The Ocho,” Jericho currently wrestles for All Elite Wrestling owned by Tony Khan, whose dad Shad owns the Jacksonville Jaguars. He also won his eighth world championship recently at AEW’s Grand Slam show in September in defeating Claudio Castagnoli for the championship.

Jericho, who is from Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada where Vikings legendary coach Bud Grant got his coaching start, has been a Vikings fan for some time.

He put out a short video before the game from Hard Rock Stadium on the Vikings Facebook account hyping up the Vikings .

Hopefully, Jericho doesn’t put the Vikings on the list for their performance thus far.

Pro Wrestling Legend Mark Henry says he will be in East Lansing this summer to visit new MSU football coach Brandon Jordan

Pro Wrestling Legend Mark Henry says he will be in East Lansing this summer to visit new MSU football coach Brandon Jordan

Mark Henry is a 2-time Olympic powerlifter, a world champion in powerlifting who was once named the World’s strongest man, a WWE Hall of Famer and is now working with All Elite Wrestling. On Wednesday, he made a random and interesting comment, saying that he will be visiting with new Michigan State football pass rush coach Brandon Jordan.

I am not really sure what this means, or why specifically Henry will be heading to East Lansing, but it should be noted that Henry was known to help scout talent for WWE during his time with that company, so he could be looking to do the same for his new company All Elite Wrestling.

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Urban Meyer hands Chris Jericho laptop during All Elite Westling show

How and why did Jaguars coach Urban Meyer take part in a professional wrestling match?

All Elite Wrestling is run by the Khan family, which also owns the Jacksonville Jaguars.

So, what better way to blend businesses than to have Urban Meyer play a role in Sunday’s AEW Pay-Per-View event.

Chris Jericho is beating opponent Maxwell Jacob Freidman senselessly when the match somehow lands in the office of the new Jaguars coach.

First, Jericho catches a couple of football that he throws at Friedman.

Then, Meyer becomes involved in the festivities. He gently handles the laptop to “Le Champion” Jericho, who proceeds to introduce Friedman to said laptop multiple times.

Now, this is tremendous:

No word on whether Meyer plans to offer 50-year-old Jericho a contract to try out at quarterback given the arm he displayed.

Of course, Meyer has found a home for 33-year-old Tim Tebow on the Jaguars’ roster, so anything is possible.

All Elite Wrestling: From underdogs to boundless stars in the vision of Director X

Most people probably wouldn’t associate art imitating life with professional wrestling, but maybe that’s because they never heard of All Elite Wrestling. Or Director X. The two have joined creative forces, collaborating on a campaign that goes …

Most people probably wouldn’t associate art imitating life with professional wrestling, but maybe that’s because they never heard of All Elite Wrestling. Or Director X. The two have joined creative forces, collaborating on a campaign that goes beyond the high-flying leaps and body slams and into a rare corner of the sport: the strong character behind the strong character.

And now, from that corner, AEW’s “Underdog Story” is ready for introductions.

The series, which will air on TNT, highlights some of AEW’s biggest stars, the larger-than-life personalities who have the energy to pop through the television screen.

However, what each wrestler reveals is not a string of soundbites, but instead an athlete’s journey that focuses on overcoming struggles and stereotypes, and how each found a welcomed spot within the AEW promotion

To get an insightful peek at the production—including why this campaign works for even the most casual of fans—List Wire spoke to the man who was behind the lens, Director X.

Here’s what we learned…

The perfect match

Director X and Colt Cabana (Photo Credit: Harv Glazer)

“As wrestlers, not only do we love and appreciate the physicality, but also the opportunity to explore our creativity. The shoot itself let us take something minimal about ourselves, while Director X showcased it as larger than life.” — Colt Cabana

“I know what it’s like to be doubted,” Director X began during our phone call. “I think a lot of people can relate to that. Where you have a dream, but you’re not the ideal. Or, for whatever reason, they’re just looking at you like ‘you can’t do this.'”

X, who has worked with big names in music and entertainment, recently launched a production company called FELA, which aims to “tell cultural stories authentically while being a voice for the unheard and underrepresented.”

That type of mission matched with AEW’s and progressed from a campaign concept, into an actual production.

The “boundless” vision

Director X and Nyla Rose (Photo Credit: Harv Glazer)

“Having a beautiful woman be this destructive force wreaking havoc on a car is a bit taboo in a way. I just loved the overall vibe and, of course, loved the opportunity to smash up a gorgeous car.” — Nyla Rose

Of course, the director’s abilities are only a piece of the puzzle. For the concept to echo the groundbreaking surge that AEW has managed in such a short time, a lot of the proverbial heavy lifting would need to come from the wrestler’s stories, and more so, their personalities.

And, as Director X explained, none of them failed to deliver.

“It’s not just, every day going and exercising, it’s not just, every day going and training,” he noted. “A lot of them have this confidence that they will reach their goal—if they set their minds to it, they’ll make it.”

AEW’s no stranger to an underdog story

Director X and Young Bucks (Photo Credit Harv Glazer)

“A lot of us feel boundless any time we get into the ring, and we want the fans to feel boundless watching. Anything and everything is possible with All Elite Wrestling!” — Nick Jackson, Young Bucks

Founded by Tony Khan in 2019, with his father Shahid as the principal investor, AEW set out to provide an alternative to mainstream wrestling (which hasn’t always been the simplest of tasks).

One year later, the wrestling promotion has continued to grow, bringing in world-class talent in both women’s and men’s wrestling, while developing supportive messaging—a unique stance that celebrates athletes and fans, regardless of race, religion, sexual orientation, gender, or ethnicity.

And for the naysayers who don’t believe in a wrestling show presented by wrestlers? The answer, as Director X noticed, is personified in the talent.

“There’s a bunch of things that we’re like ‘OK. Anyone can do that’…but wrestling? Well, I don’t know.’ There’s a standard that’s going on. And these guys proved that, no, there’s not. They can be just as great, and be just as successful, and just as loved. And actually, even more impressive.”

The impact outside of the ring

Director X, Brandi and Cody (Photo Credit: Harv Glazer)

“Not just me, even the crew—we were coming away from some of these interviews, and we were all inspired. We were walking away like ‘Yo! I’m kind of hyped-up to hear everyone talk about the mindset that you have to have to play this game, to be in this world.'” — Director X

The inspiration from a show today, a new fan tomorrow. When AEW, Director X and each inspiring athlete collaborated to bring these “boundless” stories to the forefront, it set up a distinctive type of sports entertainment that can be highly impactful.

Whether you are a diehard or a new fan, it’s easy to pull for someone you can relate to, which is something X reflected on as we ended our conversation.

“[Underdog Story] is a true, honest-to-god manifestation of believing in yourself and not listening to what the world says. It’s following a passion and a thing you love.”

Tune in to watch AEW Dynamite Wednesdays 8/7c on TNT

WATCH: Former Spartan, UFC legend Rashad Evans appears with Mike Tyson, Henry Cejudo on All Elite Wrestling

Former Michigan State wrestler and UFC Hall of Famer Rashad Evans was on All Elite Wrestling: Dynamite Wednesday with Mike Tyson.

If you have been aching to see a former Michigan State athlete on live tv, then you received some good news on Wednesday night. Rashad Evans, a former Michigan State Spartan who was a standout on the wrestling team before going on to become a UFC legend, made an appearance with a squadron of famous fighters, on TNT’s All Elite Wrestling: Dynamite. Evans was flanked by Mike Tyson, Henry Cejudo, and Vitor Belfort as they confronted professional wrestling legend Chris Jericho and his ‘Inner Circle.’

You can watch the video below:

Before going on to have a Hall of Fame UFC career, Evans was a very successful wrestler at Michigan State where he finished his career with a 48-34 record and just missed making the All-American team in a season where he was one of only four wrestlers to defeat collegiate wrestling legend Greg Jones.

Evans was inducted to the UFC Hall of Fame as a member of the 2019 class.

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Watch: Jaxson de Ville hilariously challenges AEW superstar Chris Jericho

Jags mascot Jaxson De Ville made a cameo on AEW’s Double or Nothing, but it didn’t go too well for him after challenging a wrestling legend.

When it comes to mascots in the NFL, there may not be one bolder than Jaxson de Ville of the Jacksonville Jaguars. For years fans have witnessed him do it all from zip-lining down the stadium, to turning TIAA Bank Field into a Mario Kart racetrack, to “streaking” at Wembley Stadium.

He’s also proven that he’s not afraid to provoke those who step on his turf at TIAA Bank Field. That was the case when All Elite Wrestling had their first-ever “Stadium Stampede” match at TIAA Bank Field for their “Double or Nothing” pay-per-view event.

With The Elite and their friend Matt Hardy facing off against the Inner Circle, Jaxson decided to make a cameo during a confrontation between wrestling legend Chris Jericho and legend-to-be Nick Jackson. Unlike most of his confrontations, this one didn’t go too well for Jacksonville’s favorite feline as he ended up being on the receiving end of Jericho’s finishing move called the “Judas Effect.”

Unfortunately, Jaxson has yet to tweet from his social media account to let the world know if he’s fine.

As many are aware, Tony Khan of the Jags’ front office is the creator of AEW, who had to have “Double or Nothing” at the Jags’ facilities (Daily’s Place included). The “Stadium Stampede” (which we won’t spoil) was the main event and didn’t disappoint as many fans feel like it was the most entertaining wrestling match in a very long time.