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The Top Ten Wrestling Stories of the Week 7/23: John Cena Returns to WWE, Daniel Bryan and CM Punk to AEW?, Title Changes, More

By Matthew Fowler • Published 23rd July 2021

Welcome back TJR readers! Do you only watch wrestling shows with no one in attendance, and missed Smackdown? Perhaps you were busy washing your favorite jorts and missed Raw. Worry not, for I have returned with another edition of the Top Ten Wrestling Stories of the Week.

10. Lance Archer Wins the IWGP United States Championship on Dynamite

A title changed hands this week on Dynamite that didn’t even belong to AEW. This past Wednesday on Dynamite, Lance Archer defeated Jon Moxley in a brutal Texas Death Match to capture the IWGP United States Championship. The finish of the match saw Archer chokeslam Moxley through two tables with barbed wire boards on them, causing Moxley not to be able to answer a ten count. AEW offered to let the FTW title be defended on a NJPW show, but NJPW responded with “no thanks, we are good.” (TJRWrestling)

9. Finn Bálor Returns to Smackdown

Finn Bálor is once again on the WWE main roster. This past Friday on Smackdown, Sami Zayn gave an in-ring promo to further complain about the conspiracy against him. Bálor ended up coming out during the promo, and went on to attack and hit the Coupe De Grace (double foot stomp) on Zayn. Bálor has spent the last two years on NXT, holding the NXT Championship for 212 days. Interestingly 212 is 211 more days than it took the WWE Universe to complain about how the main roster is already ruining Bálor again. (TJRWrestling)

8. Karrion Kross Debuts on Raw

Monday was not a great day for the NXT brand. This past Monday on Raw, NXT World Champion Karrion Kross made his main roster debut. Kross’s debut match was hyped throughout the night before he finally challenged Jeff Hardy. A mere two minutes later, Hardy put his feet on the ropes and pinned Kross. Clearly, this is not how Kross or most wrestling fans thought his debut on the main roster would go. Kross did get out some of his frustrations the next night on NXT when he choked out William Regal; perhaps due to mistaking him for a Raw writer. (TJRWrestling)

7. The Usos Win the Smackdown Tag Team Championships

Apparently, crime can pay if you are a member of the WWE roster. This past Sunday during the Money in the Bank Kickoff Show, The Usos defeated Dominik and Rey Mysterio to once again become Smackdown Tag Team Champions. The win comes just 12 days after Jimmy Uso was arrested again for a DUI. Although this may be upsetting to some, it is great news for Sunny, who now still has a chance to be WWE Women’s Champion. (TJRWrestling)

6. Goldberg Returns on Raw to Challenge Bobby Lashley

Vince McMahon said “hold my beer” this week to anybody who dared to say that Raw could not possibly get any worse. This past Monday, Bobby Lashley defeated a returning Keith Lee in about six minutes. If the quick loss by Lee upset fans, then what happened next most likely made their heads explode. While Lashley celebrated his win in the ring, Goldberg’s music suddenly hit. Goldberg came down to the ring, and told Lashley: “I’m Next.” In related news, WWE is considering changing the name of SummerSlam to SaudiSlam. (TJRWrestling)

5. Charlotte Flair Wins Raw Women’s Title for 24 hours

Charlotte’s 11th Title win (13 if you count NXT, but WWE is going with 11 now) did not last as long as she planned. This past Sunday at Money in the Bank, Charlotte was able to defeat Rhea Ripley to capture her incredible 11th Title on WWE’s main roster. The next night on Raw, Charlotte once again faced Ripley. Charlotte chooses to intentionally get herself disqualified in this match after hitting Ripley with the title belt. After the match, Ripley attacked Charlotte and left her laying on the floor following a Riptide. Suddenly, Women’s Money in the Bank winner Nikki ASH came down to the ring and cashed in her briefcase. Twelve seconds later, Charlotte was once again a former champion. Charlotte is now only six title reigns away from passing her father’s record of 16 World Championships (tied with John Cena), which at this rate should take her about four months. (TJRWrestling)

4. Big E Wins the Men’s Money in the Bank Match

It was a New Day in the singles career of Big E. This past Sunday at Money in the Bank, Big E was able to climb the ladder and capture the Money in the Bank Briefcase. Big E will now have a full year to cash in his contract against any champion that he chooses at any time. Of course, if Goldberg does end up winning the WWE World Championship at SummerSlam, Big E may have to wait till the local Senior Citizen Home has visitation before cashing in. (TJRWrestling)

3. Nikki A.S.H Wins the Women’s Money in the Bank Match and Cashes in the Next Night on Raw

Nikki ASH may just Almost be a Superhero, but she is completely a champion now. This past Sunday at Money in the Bank, Nikki ASH was able to climb the ladder and capture the Women’s Money in the Bank briefcase. Nikki did not hold onto the briefcase for long, however, as she cashed in on new Raw Women’s Champion Charlotte Flair to capture the title the next night on Raw. After over five years with the WWE, this is the first singles title for Nikki ASH. Nikki ASH had to completely change her persona to reach this top level, making one think it probably would have been easier to just commit a couple of misdemeanors . (TJRWrestling)

2. Daniel Bryan and CM Punk Rumored to Have Signed With AEW

Shahid Khan has reportedly gotten his son Tony a huge early Christmas present. It was reported this week by Cassidy Haynes of BodySlam.net that Daniel Bryan has signed a contract to join AEW (according to BodySlam.net). Bryan is reportedly planning on debuting for AEW at Arthur Ashe Stadium in New York City on September 22nd. Bryan reportedly choose AEW due to its limited schedule and the ability to wrestle in Japan for NJPW as well. In related news due to cost-saving measures, the Jacksonville Jaguars will only be fielding a 30 man roster this year. There were also reports of CM Punk talking to AEW as we covered on TJRWrestling here.

1. John Cena Returns to WWE at Money in the Bank

Roman Reigns did not see his next opponent coming. After Roman Reigns defeated Edge at Money in the Bank, John Cena’s music suddenly hit to a huge pop. Cena came down and confronted a clearly disgusted Reigns. Cena did not stop there this week either, as he also opened up Raw the next night. Cena then gave a great promo, saying he returned because of the fans and Roman Reigns. Cena then said he wants to face Roman Reigns for the Universal Championship at SummerSlam because “Roman is an asshole.” Cena is actually planning on appearing a lot more for WWE than just at SummerSlam. Cena will be appearing at multiple events throughout July and August including at Smackdown tonight. Clearly, for at least two months, Cena has decided that You Can See Me. (TJRWrestling)

That will conclude another edition of The Top Ten Wrestling Stories of the Week. Thank you for taking the time to read this each week. I will be back next week with even more bad jokes! If you like what I do, despite my jokes being as bad as Kross’s Raw debut, then feel free to listen to my brand new podcast The Smark And The Noob and follow me on Twitter @Fowlerwrestlin1.