So, Meltzer (who has no direct contact or communication with anyone in AEW, he swears) has now confirmed that Malakai Black requested his release in part because of a desire to return to WWE. He also confirmed that Black had(has?) over four years left on the AEW deal.
For all of you old school fans, as these started popping up on youtube for me
[youtube]AE4Ki7uq0sA[p/youtube]
Brett and his family have bought quite a few cars from us over the years. Usually he'd just courier a draft or be in and out real quick. He was in here a few weeks back helping his daughter buy a car, and seem to have time to spare. The sales guy that dealt with him is young and had no clue who he was. I said to him "If you were gonna compare wrestlers and actors as far as their importance was, you just sold a car to the Al Pacino of wrestling"
Brett is a pretty chatty guy especially with the older fans that really know his career. The big thing with him it seems is not to come across all star struck. IRL he is very humble and soft spoken. I told him my Al Pacino analogy and he said "I've always thought I was more the Robert DeNiro of wrestling."
Anyway, it was really cool to chat with him for about half an hour in my office while he was waiting for his daughter to finish up everything. We chatted about Summerslam '92, Ric Flairs last match he went to and a few of his old classic matches.
Definitely cool getting to casually shoot the breeze with one of my childhood heroes.
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So, Meltzer (who has no direct contact or communication with anyone in AEW, he swears) has now confirmed that Malakai Black requested his release in part because of a desire to return to WWE. He also confirmed that Black had(has?) over four years left on the AEW deal.
I do think there is probably some "Grass isn't greener on the other side" going on for a couple of guys.
I think AEW sold Miro, Black, and Andrade on the dream of being headliners in AEW...
But then went and signed Danielson, Punk, Cole, Christian, Cesaro, etc and really the main event scene filled up really quick.
Miro got some time with the TNT title at least, but Black and Andrade haven't even really been part of that scene.
I would guess that Black, Andrade, and maybe even Cole (who IMO has been booked like a non-threat) all look at HHH running WWE and NXT again now and wish they could go back.
Edit: FTR might have been willing to stay as well. Don't seem to love the Young Bucks, liked working for HHH in NXT
Last edited by SuperMatt18; 09-19-2022 at 04:55 PM.
I would guess that Black, Andrade, and maybe even Cole (who IMO has been booked like a non-threat) all look at HHH running WWE and NXT again now and wish they could go back.
O'Reilly probably too. I think he was most likely the one who anonymously said he would have probably re-signed if HHH took over earlier.
I do think there is probably some "Grass isn't greener on the other side" going on for a couple of guys.
I think AEW sold Miro, Black, and Andrade on the dream of being headliners in AEW...
But then went and signed Danielson, Punk, Cole, Christian, Cesaro, etc and really the main event scene filled up really quick.
Miro got some time with the TNT title at least, but Black and Andrade haven't even really been part of that scene.
I would guess that Black, Andrade, and maybe even Cole (who IMO has been booked like a non-threat) all look at HHH running WWE and NXT again now and wish they could go back.
Edit: FTR might have been willing to stay as well. Don't seem to love the Young Bucks, liked working for HHH in NXT
Black hinted at it in his statement that there were promises made to him when he signed with AEW that weren't met.
Yeah, likely Tony told him he was going to be a main event star. Then booked him not only as a mid card guy, but the whole House of Black thing was pretty bad.
I wouldn't be surprised if some former WWE guys want out of there, especially with the back stage stuff that's happening in AEW. I would love to see FTR come back to WWE, the whole situation between them and the Bucks is really anti-company. Miro, I don't know if I care too much about him, I thought he was pretty much a mid card guy with aspirations for main event status, but he really isn't that interesting. I was a big fan of Cole's in NXT and the UDE. He just seems to be floating in AEW, and half the time he doesn't look all that interested.
As an add on WWE played White Rabbit during a commercial break at Smackdown and also at some house shows. People are speculating that its either the fiend or Kross' alter ego.
Brett and his family have bought quite a few cars from us over the years. Usually he'd just courier a draft or be in and out real quick. He was in here a few weeks back helping his daughter buy a car, and seem to have time to spare. The sales guy that dealt with him is young and had no clue who he was. I said to him "If you were gonna compare wrestlers and actors as far as their importance was, you just sold a car to the Al Pacino of wrestling"
Brett is a pretty chatty guy especially with the older fans that really know his career. The big thing with him it seems is not to come across all star struck. IRL he is very humble and soft spoken. I told him my Al Pacino analogy and he said "I've always thought I was more the Robert DeNiro of wrestling."
Anyway, it was really cool to chat with him for about half an hour in my office while he was waiting for his daughter to finish up everything. We chatted about Summerslam '92, Ric Flairs last match he went to and a few of his old classic matches.
Definitely cool getting to casually shoot the breeze with one of my childhood heroes.
Bret used to work out at my Gold's gym in the South after his stroke. So I had passing conversations with him, and yes very soft spoken and humble. At the time he was pretty self conscious because of his stroke and its effects.
But super willing to talk to people as long as they didn't take a ton of time. My Hitmen seats were right behind his and he recognized my from the gym and shook my hand, which was super cool.
On the other hand, I ran into the Anvil in a bar downtown and he was sitting by himself drinking away. I bought him a drink, and went to say hi and he thanked me for it, but you got the sense that he wasn't one for chit chat at all.
Oh and Hulk Hogan is still and will always be the biggest a$$hole in history. I mean seriously screw that guy.
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This is what the QR code that showed up on RAW last night pointed to. It could be a gimmick change for Kross because he was known as the White Rabbit in Lucha Underground but the bunny spells "Demon" at first and the font is what Bray Wyatt used to use. The date that shows up is Friday. Another clue could be the lights flickered during the Bliss/Bayley match.
Poor Alexa, I've always been a fan of hers, but she's really got nothing right now, her character is non existent, and while she worked her butt off against Baley last night, but it wasn't something that highlighted her as the end result was about Bayley and Bianca.
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Yeah, I love Saraya doing something, I'm not thrilled if she gets into the ring. Especially in a woman's division that seems to be highlighted by a lot of really untrained and unready workers.
Roll, I remember seeing the video of her going completely spastic from a light kick in the back of the neck from Sasha.
I still agree with Cornette on this, tell the EVP's that the only way that they can come back is as workers and not EVP's. Move Jim Ross into running talent relations, Hire a professional booker, and replace the lady running legal.
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Edge came back. Bryan Danielson came back. Saraya coming back was a matter of when not if, but WWE was never going to let her get in the ring until they had 100% assurance there was no risks for her (or them) involved.
AEW seems to think there is no concern, or at least not enough to pass up the opportunity for some good news and press after three weeks of utter ####.
I hope that she is able to go. I hope there are no real risks to her long term health. I'll be thrilled to see her in the ring, but I will likely be wincing as I watch for the first few weeks.
Really probably should have just let him have his time off too, especially considering the guy has had some issues in the past and the rest and vacation is probably needed.
Could have easily just left Moxley out of the tournament (he just lost the belt and had planned vacation), could have put the belt on Danielson in the tournament and have him be the one to drop it to MJF eventually. Danielson probably should have gotten the "Top Guy" treatment that Punk was getting.
But he seems like a good dude happy to put guys over, so he didnt' push for it.
I still actually love the idea I read online too about MJF "defaulting into the title" by cashing in the chip to challenge Punk, and since he can't defend he win's by default and wins the belt. Think that would have been better than just putting the title back onto Mox.
Last edited by SuperMatt18; 09-22-2022 at 03:26 PM.
Moxley has quickly assumed the same role in AEW that he had in WWE. A safe place to hang the title when you need to keep it warm for someone else.
In truth that's where he should be. He's over enough with the regular fans that he isn't going to push anyone away. He won't draw anyone new, but he won't set you back.
Edit - Also, Dave Meltzer (who has no inside sources or information within or from AEW, he swears!) has come out and made it clear that AEW/Doctors have not cleared Saraya to resume her in ring career. So she looks to be coming in to fill the same sort of role she had in WWE before she left.
I watched some of AEW and saw three incredibly dangerous and stupid spots. Sting banging his head badly on a table spot, Julia Hart on a botched table spot that she looked clueless on how to bump.
They really need to get someone in there to book matches that doesn't have half trained people taking stupid dangerous spots. They don't need to Bret Hart someone like Sting at 50+. And someone to tell them that they don't have do do a bunch of stupid dangerous stunts on every show and save them for when they make sense.
They have good enough workers that they shouldn't need to do this BS.
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