With the WWE coming off one of the biggest pay-per-view events of the year, and AEW over hitting courses with not only IMPACT Wrestling but also seemingly New Japan, this has been a week busy in a fighting world. Here are the biggest stories of the week, presented by SK Wrestling Editor-in-Chief Andrea Hangst. Welcome to the 10 Count.
1. Edge, Bianca Belair wins WWE Royal Rumble games
It was a night for Iron Man and Woman of WWE 2021 Royal Rumble this year, with Edge (No. 1 for the men) and Bianca Belair (No. 3 for the ladies) punching the their tickets to tournament matches at WrestleMania 37. While the latter seemed telegraphed from the start – is any woman in WWE right now more deserving of the Rumble than Belar award? – the first one was a big surprise, especially with the idea that Edge went into the game first and eliminated everyone.
With Belair currently on the Blue brand, it looks like he’s fighting with SmackDown Women’s Champion Sasha Banks in the cards for her WrestleMania moment. Edge still has a choice, though. He informed Drew MacIntyre on RAW that the WWE babyface champion is not out of the woods and also appeared on NXT to face his hero, Finn Balor and his TakeOver rival, Pete Dunne. While Roman Reigns seems to be the logical choice for the Edge challenge, we’ll have to wait and see what the Rated R Superstar decides to do.
2. The Royal Rumble celebrates Sagian Damian, Rhea Ripley calling him up to the WWE roster
While there have been rumors for some time now, WWE ‘s official premiere shows for Damian Priest and Rhea Ripley’ s NXT standout were held at the Royal Rumble on Sunday, with both of them with impressive performances before being eventually canceled. .
Priest began his WWE RAW debut the following night, working with musician Bad Bunny to beat The Miz and John Morrison (and they may be spending more time with the man famous who won awards in the coming months). Meanwhile, Ripley was not named as a WWE brand but could appear on SmackDown later tonight, if not RAW next Monday.
3. Tony Deppen and Jordan Oliver set a record at Fight Forever at GCW
Last Friday and Saturday, Game Changer Wrestling – in concert with several other promotions and indie talent, and Orange Crush – hosted Fight Forever, a 24-hour, non-stop live fighting event from the GCW Performance Center in Philadelphia . While the show had a number of stand-alone moments, none were perhaps more impressive than the Iron Man Match between Tony Deppen and Jordan Oliver.
Although originally set for 60 minutes, this became a 120-minute connection – a new record in North America – after the two men tied up at three falls after the first. Oliver eventually won, seven drops to six, and successfully won the Synergy Wrestling Championship.
Fight Forever was a boon to provide additional income to independent keepers, who have reduced their livelihoods with the COVID-19 pandemic. The event raised over $ 54,000, all of which goes to the talent.
4. Blake Christian bids farewell to GCW
Several indie breakout stars have won contracts for themselves this year, including Alex Zayne and Elayna Black (WWE / NXT), and Eddie Kingston (AEW) among them. And it looks like another star is headed to the next level, with Blake Christian losing the GCW Career vs. Title match against RSP / GCW Tournament Rickey Shane Page at Fight Forever.
Christian appears to have been directed to WWE / NXT, but nothing has been made official yet. What is known, however, is that Christian has spent his last two years working as hard as anyone on the indie scene and it certainly deserves recognition. GCW and India will miss him, but it is always good to see undoubted talent as a Christian pushing himself to the next stage of his career.
5. Jon Moxley and KENTA to meet at NJPW New Beginning USA 2021
With KENTA winning No. 1 to Jon Moxley’s United States IWGP Championship, it became a matter of “when” and not “if” the two meet. With permission, the persistent pandemic COVID-19 threw a wrinkle into this matchup. However, over the weekend, we got our response, as Moxley reached a U.S. – based NJPW Strong event that goes against KENTA. The two men intervened before Moxley knocked down the opponent with a Death Rider DDT.
NJPW has since confirmed that Moxley will defend the U.S. IWGP title against KENTA on February 26, New Beginnings USA 2021. But this appears to be just the beginning of what is to come between Moxley, KENTA, All Elite Wresting and New Japan, if what happened to AEW Dynamite this week happened is any indication.
6. NJPW and AEW appear to have entered into a partnership, opening the Forbidden Door
Not only did Moxley challenge KENTA on the NJPW platform, KENTA returned the favor and looked up on this week’s AEW Dynamite Beach Break program, releasing Moxley with Go To Sleep after Kenny Omega and The Good Brothers beat Moxley, PAC and Rey Fenix into the show’s main event.
After the show, Omega and KENTA had a conflict between them, and while KENTA seems willing to trust Omega, it seems that the AEW World Cup wants at least a temporary alliance to Moxley and Lance Archer take over in Waterfall Count Anywhere matchup next Wednesday on Dynamite.
But that’s not it. It seems that the long – sought AEW – NJPW partnership may be coming to fruition. According to Dave Meltzer of Wrestling Observer Radio, “the agreement is being made” for “AEW and New Japan to have a working relationship.” He recognizes that any major plans will have to wait until the pandemic has spread and travel barriers will be reduced.
What once kept a fantasy look, at some point in the future, to turn into reality.
7. Bad Bunny to keep around during WWE WrestleMania season
We’re on our way to WrestleMania, which means the WWE would like to host one or two celebrities for the annual Show of the Immortals. And it looks like the company found their husband in the Bad Bunny award-winning recording artist.
As mentioned above, Bad Bunny joined Damian Priest on WWE RAW this week in a tag match against The Miz and John Morrison after his performance of “Booker T” at the Royal Rumble. Bad Bunny was then spotted Tuesday submitting work at the WWE Performance Center.
There is no indication yet if this means that Bad Bunny will either take Miz or Morrison one-on-one, re-engage with Priest or have other plans, which have not been revealed to him as famous WWE guest. But be prepared for more Bad Bunny on WWE programs leading up to WrestleMania 37.
8. WWE will release Lars Sullivan
After weeks off WWE television, the company decided to share ways with Lars Sullivan. There were many controversies over Sullivan’s tenure with the company, and WWE boss Vince McMahon eventually decided to end their working relationship about a month ago after the actor failed to appear for a television show. -rithist.
Sullivan released a statement to Fightful, citing his deep concern over the death of his 2020 father as reasons that contributed to his ability to cover WWE events. He said he may not be involved in an ongoing professional fight.
9. Shaq to do AEW in-ring debate next week
For months, Shaq had been (from time to time) calling Cody Rhodes at AEW, looking for a match, even sending his agent, Jade Cargill, to make his claim. Now, it looks like Shaq will get his match, though not on the AEW Dynamite pay-per-view, as many had expected.
Instead Shaq will join Cargill to take on Rhodes and Red Velvet on next week ‘s AEW Dynamite program, perhaps because the March 7 deadline for Revolution could coincide to the NBA All-Star Game, which required Shaq’s services at the TNT sports desk.
However, this doesn’t seem to be the only time of year for WWE to boast famous cameos; AEW finally gets that sweet Shaq act he’s been teasing for a while.
10. AEW and NXT competition updates
Dakota Kai and Raquel Gonzalez beat Kacy Catanzaro and Kayden Carter to reach the finals of the WWE NXT Dusty Rhodes Classic Tag Team and will face winners Ember Moon and Shotzi Blackheart against Indi Hartwell and Candice LeRae next week . On the men’s side, Joaquin Wilde and Raul Mendoza take on MSK in the semi-finals of the Dusty Classic next Wednesday, with another semi-final match featuring Tommaso Ciampa and Timothy Thatcher against Grizzled Young Veterans .
AEW also announced the hooks in Japan and the US for the tourney contenders of the Women’s World Championship 1. It features 16 competitors – eight based in the US, eight in Japan, with matches on every continent. On the U.S. side are Serena Deeb, Riho, Britt Baker, Tay Conti, Thunder Rosa, Nyla Rose, Anna Jay and Leyla Hirsch. In Japan, the contestants are Aja Kong, Yuka Sakazaki, Veny, Emi Sakura, Ryo Mizunami, Mei Suruga. Rin Kadokura and Maki Itoh. There is still no evidence when the two brakes will meet to crown the main contender for the AEW Women’s World Championship Hikaru Shida.
Published 05 February 2021, 18:25 IST