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The Top Ten Wrestling Stories of the Week 7/30: Samoa Joe Gets WWE NXT Title Match, CM Punk AEW Debut Teased, More

By Matthew Fowler • Published 30th July 2021

Welcome back TJR readers! Did you spend all day Friday stocking up on your country’s flag and missed Smackdown? Perhaps you spent all day Monday trying to explain to a prince that The Undertaker is retired, and missed Raw. Worry not, for I have returned with another edition of the Top Ten Wrestling Stories of the Week.

10. Juventud Guerrera to Wrestle Next Week on Dynamite

Chris Jericho is about to get tested against one of his classic opponents this Wednesday on AEW Dynamite. This past Wednesday, Jericho did MJF’s third labour in the “Five Labour’s of Jericho”, when he faced deathmatch legend Nick Gage in a No Rules Match. Jericho was able to defeat Gage in an absolutely brutal match that saw pizza cutters, light tubes and panes of glass being used. After the victory, MJF came out and announced that Jericho’s next Labour would be against Mexican wrestling legend Juventud Guerrera. Guerrera and Jericho had a very memorable feud over the WCW Cruiserweight Title way back in 1998. To make things even more challenging, MJF added the stipulation that Jericho must win the match with a move off the top rope. Personally, I am excited for Jericho’s fifth labour when he has to attempt to watch a whole episode of Raw straight through. (TJRWrestling)

Jericho Juventud Guerrera

9. WWE and Blumhouse to Develop a Series on the 1994 Steroid Trial

A historical time in the history of WWE is about to be portrayed on television. WWE and Blumhouse Television are teaming up to produce a limited-scripted series titled “The United States vs. Vince McMahon.” The series will chronicle the famous 1994 Steroid Trial, when the U.S. Government indicted McMahon for supposedly distributing anabolic steroids to talent. McMahon of course was found not guilty in the trial and has since went on to build WWE into a billion-dollar company. There is no word on who will portray McMahon in the series, but if John Cena goes a few more weeks without a haircut he will be a strong candidate. (TJRWrestling)

John Cena

8. Finn Bálor to Face Roman Reigns for the Universal Championship

Roman Reigns will have to overcome another hurdle before facing John Cena. This past Friday on Smackdown, Cena came out and challenged Reigns to a match at SummerSlam. At the end of Smackdown, Reigns came out and turned down Cena’s challenge. Suddenly Finn Bálor came down to the ring and also challenged Reigns. Surprisingly, Reigns then accepted that challenge. Bálor memorably was the first Universal Champion, before being forced to relinquish the title after just one day due to a shoulder injury. It is still almost certain that Cena will be challenging Reigns at SummerSlam, with Reigns and Bálor likely happening on Smackdown in the next few weeks. Many fans are upset that WWE is likely going to have Bálor lose to Reigns so soon after returning to the main roster. Personally, I believe that after every challenge Bálor has already faced in his career, he will be able to shoulder this loss without a problem. (TJRWrestling)

7. WWE Considering Queen of The Ring Tournament with Finals in Saudi Arabia

There may be new royalty in the WWE very soon. It was reported this week that WWE is considering having the very first Queen of the Ring Tournament. To make things even more interesting, WWE is reportedly considering having the finals of the tournament in Saudi Arabia in October. WWE has been televising a Men’s King of the Ring Tournament off and on since 1993 (and held the tournament at house shows going all the way back to 1985.) We shall have to wait and see which woman becomes the first Queen of the WWE, but whoever wins will have to try not to get confused with Sunny who is the Queen of the STD. (TJRWrestling)

6. Women’s Triple Threat Match Announced for SummerSlam

The first big title match for SummerSlam was announced this week on Raw. Raw opened with new Raw Women’s Champion Nikki ASH celebrating her title win. ASH was then interrupted by former champion Charlotte Flair, who demanded a rematch at SummerSlam. Rhea Ripley then joined the party, and also asked for a match. This all led to WWE Officials Adam Pearce and Sonya Deville coming out and making a Triple Threat Match between Flair, ASH and Ripley for the Raw Women’s Championship at SummerSlam. Flair and ASH also competed later in the night in the main event, with Flair defeating ASH in a non-title bout. After that match, ASH asked for another match with Flair this week on Raw, possibly due to WWE’s new policy that all matches are a best of seven series. (TJRWrestling)

5. WWE Reportedly Thinking About Bringing Back Braun Strowman

Tony Khan may need to rethink what he wants from his father for Christmas this year. It was reported this week that WWE is interested in bringing back Braun Strowman. Strowman was surprisingly released from WWE on June 2nd, and has not been able to sign with any other company due to the 90-day no-compete clause. With AEW reportedly about to sign Daniel Bryan and CM Punk, Vince McMahon may realize that he cannot let AEW get any more hands. (TJRWrestling)

4. Natalya and Cash Wheeler Both Injured During Matches

Unfortunately, as any fan knows, injuries are a part of wrestling. This terrible truth once again reared it’s head this past Monday on Raw, when Natalya seemingly went down with an ankle injury. During a tag team match seeing WWE’s Women’s Champions Natalya and Tamina face off against Doudrop and Eva Marie, Natalya appeared to hurt her ankle while in the ring Doudrop. Natalya quickly tagged out, with her partner Tamina picking up the win. Natalya then had to be helped to the back, and was clearly in pain.

The injuries, unfortunately, did not stop there this week, as Cash Wheeler suffered a severe cut to his arm on Dynamite this week. Wheeler was tagging with his partner Dax Harwood against Santana and Ortiz when he was shoved off the ropes causing his arm to hit the metal between the ring post and turnbuckle. The match was then abruptly ended with Harwood getting the pin, as medical staff attended to Wheeler. Personally, I have begun training to become a wrestler recently at The Institute of Professional Wrestling, so I now more than ever understand how dangerous it can be. Of course, so far all of my injuries have occurred from trying to get my old fat body into the ring. (TJRWrestling)

3. AEW Teases the Return of CM Punk

After seven years it looks like wrestling fans’ chants might finally be answered. This past Wednesday on Dynamite, AEW announced that they will be holding AEW Rampage’s second-ever episode from the United Center in Chicago on August 20th. This caused the fans in attendance to start chanting for CM Punk. Right after the announcement, Darby Allen said the following, “I’ll be in Chicago. You know, I’ve been around a lot of men in this world that have laid claim to how they’re the greatest. There is only one place to really prove that — right here, in AEW. Even, if you think you are the best in the world.” This was an obvious reference to Punk’s “Best in the World” catchphrase. MJF also mentioned a Punk phrase in his promo after the main event too. Obviously getting Punk is huge for AEW, and can lead to many dream matches. Kenny Omega, MJF, Allin and even a 45-second MMA fight against Jake Hager are all now real possibilities. (TJRWrestling)

2. WWE Reportedly Planning to Return to Saudi Arabia in October

WWE is once again going to test if age truly is just a number. It was reported this week that WWE is planning on returning to Saudi Arabia on October 21st. WWE has a ten-year agreement to run two shows a year in Saudi Arabia, with the last one being held in February of 2020. The pandemic obviously forced those plans to change, with it being unknown if WWE will extend the deal to make up the lost dates. What is known is that a lot of grandkids are going to get to watch their grandfathers wrestle one more time. (TJRWrestling)

1. Samoa Joe Returning to the Ring

For the first time in 18 months, Samoa Joe will be competing in a match. This past Tuesday on NXT, Joe gave his resignation as Special Enforcer to GM William Regal. Regal then reinstated Joe as an active competitor and booked him to challenge NXT champion Karrion Kross for the title at NXT Takeover on August 22nd. Kross and Joe have been feuding for weeks, with Kross attacking Joe several weeks ago. Kross continued to taunt Joe last week by attacking Regal. It has been a long journey for Joe to return to the ring after suffering a concussion in February of 2020. Since then, Joe has done Raw Commentary, been released from the WWE last April and then brought back to NXT to be the Special Enforcer. Joe can now go back to what he does best, being an amazing professional wrestler who never gets the push he truly deserves. (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 The Saudi Prince’s taste in wrestling, then feel free to listen to my brand new podcast The Smark And The Noob and follow me on Twitter @Fowlerwrestlin1.