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The Top Ten Wrestling Stories of the Week 8/6: Wyatt Released, Cole’s Contract Up, Eaton Passes Away, More

By Matthew Fowler • Published 6th August 2021
bray wyatt wwe ropes

Welcome back TJR readers! Did you spend all day Friday trying to figure out who else you can fire to try increase profits, and missed Smackdown? Perhaps you spent all day Monday trying to find out if AEW is interested in a 72-year-old legend, and missed Raw. Worry not, for I have returned with another edition of the Top Ten Wrestling Stories of the Week.

10. Christian Cage Named New Number One Contender For the AEW World Championship

Kenny Omega may finally have an opponent for AEW All Out on September 5th. This past Wednesday on Dynamite, Christian Cage defeated The Blade to continue his undefeated streak in AEW. After the win, Tony Schiavone interviewed Cage and announced that per Tony Khan, Cage is the new number one contender for the AEW World Championship. Adam Page reportedly was originally scheduled to face Omega at All Out, but was pulled from the match with Cage seemingly now being his replacement. If Cage cannot go for whatever reason, AEW can always put Ethan Page, Diamond Dallas Page or Nick Gage in the match. (TJRWrestling)

9. Ric Flair Released From WWE

WWE’s Saudi Arabia show is going to have to make due with one less legend. This week is was reported that WWE Hall of Famer Ric Flair had asked for and then was granted his release. Flair reportedly was frustrated with recent booking decisions by WWE involving his daughter Charlotte Flair, and asked Vince McMahon personally to release him. Flair has not been seen on television since the sometimes cringe-worthy storyline he had with Lacey Evans this past February. Losing Flair should not be too great of a loss to the WWE, as they have plenty of other old men that they can force their female competitors to kiss. (TJRWrestling)

8. Malakai Black Dominates Cody Rhodes in His First Match

Malakai Black made his in-ring debut for AEW this past Wednesday on Dynamite. Black competed against Cody Rhodes in the main event of the show and defeated him in what was basically a squash match. After the match, Tony Schiavone interviewed Rhodes to see how he was feeling. Rhodes then seemingly gave what was a retirement speech, as he began to take his left boot off to leave it in the ring. Before Rhodes could finish, however, Black came back inside the ring and attacked Rhodes with a crutch. If Rhodes truly is retiring it will be a great loss to AEW, who will somehow have to figure out how to go on with just the other 186 wrestlers on their roster. (TJRWrestling)

7. Domino’s Threatens to Pull Ads From AEW after Nick Gage Match

AEW may need to start ordering their pizzas from Pizza Hut very soon. During the brutal match between Nick Gage and Chris Jericho on the July 28th episode of Dynamite, Gage cut open Jericho’s head with a pizza cutter. Right after this violent act, a commercial break was taken with an ad for Domino’s Pizza immediately playing. This angered Domino’s, who stated: “We share the concerns expressed about this incident and the content of this TV-14 rated program, and are assessing our advertising presence on it going forward.” It is not all bad news for AEW however, as with all their former talent AEW is now using they may be able to get WWE to advertise on their show. (TJRWrestling)

Nick Gage Chris Jericho

6. Goldberg Vs. Bobby Lashley Official For SummerSlam

Your grandfather’s favorite wrestler is about to get yet another title shot. This past Monday on Raw, Bobby Lashley and MVP opened the show by bad-mouthing Goldberg. Goldberg quickly came down to the ring, telling Bobby Lashley that “You’re Next.” Goldberg then left the ringside causing MVP to begin accosting Goldberg’s real-life son Gage who was in the front row. Goldberg then came back down to the ring and speared MVP for his actions. Later in the night, Lashley officially accepted Goldberg’s challenge for SummerSlam, telling him that he hopes he brings Gage so he can watch his father get annihilated. Gage is 15-years-old, meaning he was born six years after the last time Goldberg was actually relevant in the wrestling world. (TJRWrestling)

5. Beautiful Bobby Eaton Passes Away

The wrestling world lost a tag team pioneer this week. This past Wednesday, “Beautiful” Bobby Eaton’s sister confirmed on Facebook that he had passed away at the age of 62. Eaton was best known for being half of the legendary tag team The Midnight Express with his partner Dennis Condrey and later Stan Lane. The team was managed by Jim Cornette and had a legendary feud with The Rock and Roll Express throughout the 1980s and early 1990s. Eaton would also go on to have a successful singles career, capturing the WCW Television Title in 1991. Personally, I would like to send condolences to Eaton’s friends and family and thank him for making my childhood a little more beautiful. (TJRWrestling)

4. Adam Cole’s WWE Contract Reportedly up After SummerSlam

WWE NXT may soon be without one of their biggest stars. It was reported this week that Adam Cole’s contract with the WWE is set to expire after SummerSlam. Cole is one of the most decorated superstars in NXT history being the only man besides Johnny Gargano to have one the NXT Triple Crown of the World Championship, Tag Team Championship and North American Championship. With his girlfriend Britt Baker and close friends The Young Bucks and Kenny Omega all being in AEW, Cole staying with the WWE is certainly not a guarantee. And who knows if Cole does end up on the same show as his girlfriend, maybe AEW will also get an Adam Cole Ba By. (TJRWrestling)

3. John Cena Vs. Roman Reigns Official for SummerSlam

Friday night ended up not going as planned for Finn Bálor. This past Friday on Smackdown, Bálor was supposed to officially sign a contract to face Universal Champion Roman Reigns at SummerSlam. Before Bálor could sign the contract, however, Baron Corbin ran down and attacked Bálor. Corbin then attempted to sign the contract himself, before John Cena came down and attacked Corbin. Cena then signed the contract, making the match against Reigns at SummerSlam official. Let this be a lesson to any man who has been trying to find a wife. Stop trying to better yourself, and just go to a wedding instead and sneak in and sign the marriage contract before the groom does. (TJRWrestling)

2. Sasha Banks Returns on Smackdown

The Boss has returned to Smackdown. This past Friday, Smackdown Women’s Champion Bianca Belair was in the ring to celebrate over 100 days as champion. Belair was interrupted by Carmella and Zelina Vega however, who both challenged Belair to a match. Shortly after that, Belair was attacked by both Vega and Carmella. Suddenly, Sasha Banks came down to ringside, saving Belair. Banks and Belair then went on to face and defeat Vega and Carmella in the main event of the evening. After the match was over, Banks suddenly turned on Belair, and hit her with the Backstabber. This was the first appearance of Banks since losing the Smackdown Women’s Championship to Belair at WrestleMania 37 last April. With the way things have been going lately, Banks’ return was even more shocking, as many fans assumed that WWE must have just fired her as well. (TJRWrestling)

1. Bray Wyatt Released by WWE

Tony Khan may soon need that Domino’s Pizza Ad money. This past Saturday it was announced that WWE had come to the terms of the release of Bray Wyatt. Wyatt had not competed for WWE since WrestleMania 37, where he was defeated by Randy Orton. Wyatt did appear the following night on Raw in a Firefly Funhouse Segment, announcing that it was time for a new start. With fellow Wyatt Family member Braun Strowman being released in June, this is the second former Universal Champion that WWE has released in the last two months. Clearly when it comes to the WWE’s locker room right now no one’s job is safe, unless of course, you are in your fifties and a favorite of a Saudi Prince. (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. Although I often joke, I have recently started training to get in the ring at The Institute of Professional Wrestling and respect more than ever what wrestlers do every week. If you like what I do, despite my jokes being as bad as a WWE budget cut, then feel free to listen to my brand new podcast The Smark And The Noob and follow me on Twitter @Fowlerwrestlin1 as well.