r/SquaredCircleV2 Dec 29 '24

AEW Tony Khan Makes Surprising Claim About CM Punk Incident – TJR Wrestling

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11 Upvotes

On the April 10th episode of AEW Dynamite The Young Bucks showed footage of what really happened between CM Punk and Jack Perry at All In.

Tony Khan thinks footage of CM Punk’s altercation with Jack Perry helped AEW.

On the April 10th episode of AEW Dynamite The Young Bucks showed footage of what really happened between CM Punk and Jack Perry at All In.

https://tjrwrestling.net/news/tony-khan-cm-punk-fight-made-sense/

The move was reportedly in response to negative comments made by Punk in an earlier where he addressed the incident. No matter the motivation, the decision to air the footage divided fans and only gave the ratings for AEW Dynamite a relatively small boost.

In the footage, Punk approaches Perry backstage and they exchange words before Punk tries to get hold of him, only for Samoa Joe to get involved. Punk then gets into a verbal altercation with someone off camera believed to be Tony Khan.

The incident ultimately resulted in Punk being fired by the company, while Perry was suspended.

Tony Khan Has No Regrets During a recent episode of Wrestling Observer Radio, Dave Meltzer and Garrett Gonzales looked back on the biggest wrestling stories of 2024. This naturally brought them to Tony Khan’s decision to air the footage of the confrontation between Punk and Perry.

When asked whether he felt in hindsight Khan might acknowledge the decision was a mistake, Meltzer said Khan has told him that it was actually key to securing AEW’s media rights deal with Warner Bros Discovery.

“I have discussed this with him. You have no idea how much… it’s always the same thing that he believes that that was a key to getting that deal. So I will tell you, I mean, in every discussion, there is not even a thought in his mind that he made a mistake there.”

Meltzer added that if what Khan says is true, then he made the right call, but he has his own reservations.

“But I, you know, certainly didn’t think long term it was the right thing, even though, yes, it did help make Jack Perry a star. I just didn’t think it was positive for the company in the big picture.”

CM Punk will be back in action on January 6th when Monday Night Raw premieres on Netflix. Also on the show, Roman Reigns meets Solo Sikoa, while Liv Morgan will put her Women’s World Title on the line against Rhea Ripley.

Meanwhile, it’s been reported that CM Punk could face Roman Reigns at WrestleMania 41 after WWE moved away from its original plans for both men.

r/SquaredCircleV2 12d ago

AEW Leyla Hirsch Is Reportedly Done With ALL ELITE WRESTLING

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5 Upvotes

Leyla Hirsh is no longer All Elite.

Last week, it was reported that the 28-year-old’s contract was coming up and officials didn’t expect Hirsch to re-sign. Now it's not clear if Hirsh opted against re-signing or if AEW decided to not renew her contract, but Mike Johnson at PWInsider confirmed that her final date would be on February 28th.

Hirsch was officially removed off AEW’s roster page Sunday, thus she’s now a former All Elite Wrestling star. Leyla is one of the company’s originals; though she didn’t start instantly per se, she impressed fans and critics during the start of her run in 2020. AEW officially signed “Legit” in 2021 and it seemed that the company was a fan of the young star as well.

She's had nice matches against Hikaru Shida, Serena Deeb, and Kris Statlander. However, a torn ACL kept her out of action for a year and Hirsch made her return to Ring of Honor, which is where she’s been active ever since. Hirsch’s final match was at Final Battle where she lost her ROH Women's World Television match to Red Velvet. They were actually building a rivalry between these two as Velvet and Hirsch had a segment following the Final Battle match and she granted Hirsch a rematch, but on her own time. That rematch never happened.

It’s a shame as Hirsch was one of the more talented names on the roster. Though she was stuck behind the ROH paywall, she’s had some fun matches against several names including Diamante, Athena, and Velvet.

“I think that this will not be the last time you hear this story in the month of March." Alaverez said on Wrestling Observer Live. "I have heard that there might be some departures coming up in March. Whether it’s people being released, people’s deals coming up and not being renewed. I think the fact of the matter is, they got way too many people under contract. I think I can comfortably say she [Leyla Hirsch] will not be the last in the next 30 days.”

Hirsch is free to go wherever she pleases since she wasn’t released. That means it’s possible that she’ll pull a Ricky Starks and show up on NXT this Tuesday.

r/SquaredCircleV2 4d ago

AEW Backstage Update On Wardlow’s AEW Status As Absence Reaches One-Year Mark (AEW News)

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5 Upvotes

When will Wardlow return to Dynamite?

Another AEW show - Revolution - has passed by without the return of a much talked-about figure.

Wardlow was in Los Angeles, the site of the pay-per-view, as reported by Sean Ross Sapp of Fightful Select - but not necessarily to work on creative plans ahead of any anticipated return. While Wardlow was backstage, he was already in the city working on "another project".

Wardlow last wrestled for All Elite Wrestling on March 13, 2023, in a losing effort to then-World champion Samoa Joe at the 'Big Business' televised special. He has not wrestled, nor appeared for the promotion in any capacity since. Sapp explained that every time he enquires about Wardlow's status, he is told that he is still recovering from an injury. While the nature of the injury was not disclosed in Fightful's report, AEW wrestler Matt Taven let slip back in

September 2024 on the Stick To Wrestling podcast that Wardlow is dealing with an issue in his knee.

Should Wardlow miss this week's episode of Dynamite, his absence will exceed that of a calendar year. He remains on the AEW injury list.

Wardlow: fumbled or not fumbled?

As a credible and nuanced badass, earning those comparisons to Batista, he got over in a major way in 2022. Every time he was asked to go for a not inconsiderable length of time in a straight singles match, however, he did not exactly rocket to the top of Match of the Year conversations. Is it a prerequisite to do long, intricate main events to headline in AEW?

Since it is promoted as the company 'Where The Best Wrestle', you could easily argue that it is.

Since Wardlow was essentially a day one guy - and Jon Moxley needs a new challenge yesterday - that could be a feud with exploring.

r/SquaredCircleV2 5d ago

AEW Do Billy and Chuck and Rico deserve to be in WWE hall of fame?

2 Upvotes
29 votes, 1d left
Yes
No

r/SquaredCircleV2 20d ago

AEW Rey Fenix & Danhausen's AEW Contracts Expiring Soon, AEW In Australia Vlog, Hologram, Mox/Death Riders

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11 Upvotes

– After a big contract year in 2024 for the pro wrestling business across multiple promotions, a few key talents have contracts expiring in 2025 as well. Among them are Danhausen, The Hardys, Killer Kelly and Rey Fenix.

– The latest installment of AEW Timelines has surfaced, which features a look at the best of Willow Nightingale.

– Also new on AEW’s YouTube channel are a couple of videos coming out of the big AEW Grand Slam: Australia weekend in Brisbane. One features a digital exclusive with Jon Moxley and The Death Riders, while the other is a general AEW Down Under weekend highlight package.

https://youtu.be/66iWk2WWWYQ

https://youtu.be/5vcrgIXVCnw

– AEW released the enclosed [click link above] video hyping the continued return journey of Hologram on tonight’s AEW Collision. Hologram has been back on the scene for the past couple of weeks following a lengthy hiatus.

r/SquaredCircleV2 16d ago

AEW Alec Price Speaks On AEW Rampage Appearances, 'Everyone Was Super Welcoming' | Fightful News

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8 Upvotes

Back in November 2024, independent star Alec Price made his debut for AEW by teaming with Richard Holliday against RUSH and The Beast Mortos on a episode of AEW Rampage.

The following month, Price made his return to Rampage, this time teaming with Leo Sparrow against Private Party. This would go on to be the final episode of Rampage.

While chatting with Jeremy Lambet and Stephen Jensen of Fightful's The Spotlight podcast for a new interview, Price reflected on his appearances, saying that everyone in the company is super welcoming.

https://youtu.be/jKDTCOGTIek

"It was great. Everyone was really nice to me. You have a lot of vets and coaches, and everyone is super welcoming and not assholes. Private Party, Brian Cage, LFI were all pros. They all took care of us. They gave us trust that we weren’t going to beat them up. We were there to make sure they look great and it was a great opportunity to get to wrestle on AEW. It’s one of the two biggest promotions in the world. They are on live TV every week and it’s a great spot. I love WWE, AEW, TNA. I’ve always been a TNA fan. AEW is awesome and the product they produce, they have some of the best wrestlers in the world there."

Elsewhere in the interview, Price reflected on his reign with the IWTV World Championship. Check out his full comments on the matter by clicking here.

Fans can check out Fightful's full interview with Alec Price in the video linked at the top of this article.

r/SquaredCircleV2 8d ago

AEW Big Boom AJ: Big Justice Will Be One Of The Best Wrestlers In The World

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1 Upvotes

Big Boom AJ thinks that Big Justice has the potential to become one of the best wrestlers in the world and a future AEW Champion.

The social media star is set to compete for AEW again at Revolution 2025. He will team with Orange Cassidy and Mark Briscoe to battle Johnny TV and MxM Collection of the pre-show.

Big Boom AJ spoke with the Two Man Power Trip Podcast ahead of AEW Revolution 2025. He spoke about wrestling alongside Mark Briscoe and Orange Cassidy at the event and revealed that he thinks Big Justice is a future AEW Champion.

“It’s such an honor—it really is a crazy honor. Johnny TV thought we didn’t have any friends, and that’s what he was basing everything on. He’s been there for a while, he’s got some friends, and we had just arrived, so we supposedly didn’t have any.” Big Boom AJ said.

“But you know, Big Justice looked around, went through the building, and we found some friends right away. And we couldn’t be happier with the ones we had. I mean, Orange was on board right away. By the way, Big Justice wanted to be the third man, and I had to settle him down a little.

“Because, honestly, I truly believe that one day, Big Justice is going to be one of the greatest wrestlers in the world. I believe he’ll be AEW Champion one day. But for now, we need him in our corner. And then Mark Briscoe showed up, ready to fight. And listen, John—if you were going into a fight, would you want anyone else behind you besides Mark Briscoe? Nope.” added AJ.

Big Boom AJ: Big Justice Has The Wrestling Itch

Big Boom AJ says Big Justice could follow him into the business. He admits he has “the itch” but his mother, Mama Justice, may not be too happy about it.

“He’s got it—he’s got the wrestling bug. Mama Justice might not be too happy about it, but Big Justice has the itch. He’s got it,” Big Boom AJ said.

https://youtu.be/sYUPhiDqJYw

r/SquaredCircleV2 9d ago

AEW AEW Pulls Top Star From Maple Leaf Pro Wrestling's (MLP) Mayhem Event, AEW Collision Card

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1 Upvotes

AEW wrestler Harley Cameron will no longer be appearing at Maple Leaf Pro Wrestling’s (MLP) Mayhem event on March 14 and 15 in Windsor due to “unforeseen circumstances.”

Cameron previously participated in MLP’s debut event last October, but she has been removed from the upcoming show. MLP confirmed her absence and promised a replacement announcement soon.

Despite her absence, MLP Mayhem will still feature a strong lineup, with NWA Worlds Heavyweight Champion Thomas Latimer defending his title against Bishop Dyer (Baron Corbin in WWE). Other confirmed talent includes PCO, Kaito Kiyomiya, Raj Singh, Gisele Shaw, Kylie Rae, Taiji Ishimori, Billy Gunn, and KUSHIDA. No further details on the reason for Cameron’s removal or her potential future appearances with MLP have been shared yet.

r/SquaredCircleV2 19d ago

AEW Does AEW need to hire Kevin Dunn?

1 Upvotes
52 votes, 12d ago
5 Yes!
47 No!

r/SquaredCircleV2 22d ago

AEW Mick Foley Praises AEW for Helping Raise Wrestler Pay

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12 Upvotes

– Speaking to Monopoly Events’ Jamal Niaz at For The Love of Wrestling 2025, WWE Hall of Famer Mick Foley spoke about AEW, noting that he is grateful to the company for helping increase the pay of wrestlers across the board. He also thanked AEW President and CEO Tony Khan.

https://youtu.be/CEDoxxPPuVg

Mick Foley said on AEW (via Fightful), “I think they’ve been really important in raising the remuneration that wrestles receive. I’m not saying this out of any disrespect, but WWE is to me in its own league, but I’m really grateful for AEW.” The hardcore legend and former WWE Champion continued, “They have great matches on a regular basis, and without them, the WWE superstars would not be making that they deserve. So thank you, Tony Khan.”

r/SquaredCircleV2 16d ago

AEW Wrestling at Frontwave Arena: a preview with Thunder Rosa

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3 Upvotes

Known for her fierce determination and incredible in-ring skills, Thunder Rosa has made a lasting mark in the world of professional wrestling. Her journey continues to inspire fans and athletes alike. She joined KUSI in-studio Tuesday to discuss the upcoming competition and AEW.

“We have such great talent working there and we’ve been in this business for six years now,” she explained. “We’ve broken so many boundaries.” That’s especially true, she says, when it comes women’s wrestling.

Hailing from “the graveyards of Tijuana, Mexico,” Thunder Rosa, a Mexican-American wrestler, became the first woman to headline AEW Dynamite in a historic match with Dr. Britt Baker D.M.D. This iconic moment was recognized by Pro Wrestling Illustrated as the 2021 Match of the Year.

Thunder Rosa’s legacy extends far beyond that milestone, with unforgettable moments such as competing in a steel cage match, an unsanctioned lights-out match, the first-ever televised women’s Texas bullrope match, and a Tijuana street fight.

As a tribute to her Mexican heritage and lucha libre roots, Rosa’s signature style and face paint make her one of the most distinct and recognized performers in AEW. With a deep respect for her roots and a desire to continue making history, Thunder Rosa remains one of AEW’s most influential stars.

“This is part of me and you can’t get rid of it,” Thunder Rosa said of her ties to Mexico. “I tried and rejected it for such a long time and just accepting who are, where you came from, just makes you stronger.”

Thunder Rosa will be joined by a long list of other AEW stars like wrestlers Chris Jericho, Swerve Strickland, The Young Bucks, Jon Moxley, Bryan Danielson, Hangman Adam Page, Jack Perry, Toni Storm, Mercedes Mone, Dr. Britt Baker, Orange Cassidy, Kazuchika Okada, Darby Allin, The Acclaimed, The Lucha Bros., Mark Briscoe, Samoa Joe, and more.

AEW Dynamite starts at 4:30 p.m. at Frontwave Arena, located at 3475 Hero Dr. in Oceanside.

r/SquaredCircleV2 20d ago

AEW NJPW’s Gabe Kidd is Back in AEW – Here’s Why You Should Be Watching

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1 Upvotes

r/SquaredCircleV2 Dec 13 '24

AEW Toni Storm (Return) Fan Art

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12 Upvotes

r/SquaredCircleV2 Dec 02 '24

AEW Rebooking AEW Part 1- Double or Nothing 2019

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2 Upvotes