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Top 10 Wrestling Stories of the Week 7/1: Moxley Wins (Interim) AEW World Title, Claudio to AEW, Cena on WWE Raw, More

By Matthew Fowler • Published 1st July 2022
jon moxley aew world champion

Welcome back TJR readers! Did you spend all day Friday trying to figure out how to spell Castagnoli, and missed WWE Smackdown? Perhaps you spent all day Monday trying to “see” John Cena, and missed Raw.

Worry not for I have returned with another edition of the Top Ten Wrestling Stories of the Week.

10. Wardlow to Challenge for the AEW TNT Championship

Scorpio Sky may not get to enjoy his new AEW TNT Championship for long. This past Wednesday on Dynamite, Sky and Wardlow were both interviewed backstage by Tony Schiavone. During the interview, Wardlow challenged Sky to a title match for this coming Wednesday on Dynamite. Sky accepted the match, before requesting that it be a street fight. Personally, I had an opportunity to go to Dynamite next week, but couldn’t go due to my new daughter selfishly being due to be born just a few days before the event. (TJRWrestling)

9. NXT Great American Bash to Take Place This Tuesday

This coming Tuesday’s episode of NXT 2.0 will be the Great American Bash special. So far eight matches have been announced, including Trick Williams facing Wes Lee. Wendy Choo will face Tiffany Stratton. Apollo Crews will face Xyon Quinn. Pretty Deadly will try to capture the NXT UK Tag Team Championships from Josh Briggs and Brooks Jensen. The Creed Brothers will defend the NXT Tag Team Championships against Roderick Strong and Damon Kemp. Carmelo Hayes will defend the NXT North American Championship against Grayson Waller. Cora Jade and Roxanne Perez will challenge for the NXT Women’s Tag Team Championships against Toxic Attraction. Finally, Bron Breakker will defend the NXT Championship against Cameron Grimes. This should be a good show, but unfortunately, it has already lost a few points in the ratings from John Canton for not booking Mandy Rose in a match. (TJRWrestling)

8. Luchasaurus Turns Heel

A boy and his dinosaur are no more. This past Wednesday on Dynamite, Christian Cage came to the ring and cut a promo. Cage then proceeded to “apologize” to Jungle Boy for his actions the previous week, stating “Jungle Boy, I’m sorry… your entire family isn’t dead.” Cage then revealed that he had asked for a match, but it was not for him. Jungle Boy’s former partner Luchasaurus then came down to the ring, now dressed in all black attire. Luchasaurus then proceeded to make quick work of his opponent Serpentico. Hopefully, the dark attire is to represent Luchasaurus’ new persona, and not the show he will be featured on.

7. Pac Captures the AEW All-Atlantic Championship

After over three years with AEW, Pac is finally a champion. This past Sunday at Forbidden Door, Pac defeated Miro, Malakai Black and Clark Connors to become the first AEW All-Atlantic Champion. Pac will now represent all the AEW fans from over 130 countries as AEW tries to tell us that every country borders the Atlantic Ocean somehow. Worry not however, TJR readers, as I have been assured that our very own John Canton has no plans of giving up writing to pursue the title.

6. FTR Captures the IWGP Tag Team Championships

FTR added even more gold to their resume this week. This past Sunday at AEW-NJPW Forbidden Door, FTR defeated both Roppongi Vice and United Empire to capture the IWGP Tag Team Championships. FTR was already the ROH and AAA Tag Team Champions, before capturing the IWGP Titles as well. FTR is also the only team to have ever won the NXT, Raw, Smackdown, AEW, AAA, IWGP and ROH Tag Team Championships. FTR may be able to capture the WWE Women’s Tag Team Championships as well, assuming they can figure out how to break into John Laurinatis’ old office.

5. Logan Paul Signs With WWE

AEW is not the only wrestling federation that can make big signings. It was announced this past Thursday that Logan Paul has signed an official contract to join WWE. The contract will have Paul being involved with multiple events, with him officially becoming a WWE superstar for at least the next two years. Paul was last seen in WWE at WrestleMania 38 when he put on an impressive performance teaming with The Miz against the Mysterio tag team. The Miz turned on Paul after that match, leading to a possible feud between the two in the future. Paul currently has over 23 million subscribers on YouTube as well, which my kids tell me is a lot. (TJRWrestling)

wwe logan paul

4. John Cena Appears on Raw to Celebrate 20 Years in WWE

For the first time in almost a year, WWE fans could see John Cena on Raw. Cena appeared this past Monday on Raw, to celebrate his 20-year anniversary with the WWE. Videos of superstars from both WWE and AEW congratulating Cena were shown throughout the night, as well as backstage segments with Cena mingling with other WWE Superstars. Cena also went face-to-face with Theory during one of these backstage segments, who proceeded to put down Cena. Later in the evening, Vince McMahon came out and introduced Cena. Cena went on to thank the WWE Universe, as well as state that he does not know when his next match will be. Cena then ended his promo by telling everyone that “if you want some, come get some.” Although we may not know when Cena will wrestle in a ring again, it will likely be long before he proposes in a ring again (he is married after all). (TJRWrestling)

3. Claudio Castagnoli Debuts for AEW

Tony Khan got a “Swiss Superman” as an early birthday present this year. When Bryan Danielson was unable to compete against Zack Sabre Jr. at Forbidden Door due to injury, a mystery opponent was advertised to face Sabre Jr. Claudio Castagnoli (WWE’s Cesaro) was revealed as the mystery opponent, defeating Sabre Jr. with a Ricola Bomb. Castagnoli wasn’t done for the week, as he also helped his fellow Blackpool Combat Club members defeat the Jericho Appreciation Society at Blood and Guts this past Wednesday. Castagnoli is obviously a huge addition to the AEW roster, and should bring enough excitement until the next big signing in three weeks. (TJRWrestling)

2.Money in the Bank to Take Place This Saturday

WWE Money in the Bank is scheduled to take place this Saturday at 8pm ET. So far six matches have been announced including Bobby Lashley challenging Theory for the WWE United States Championship. Bianca Belair will defend the Raw Women’s Championship against Carmella. Natalya will try to capture the Smackdown Women’s Championship from Ronda Rousey. The Usos will defend the Undisputed WWE Tag Team Championships against The Street Profits.

Lacey Evans, Alexa Bliss, Liv Morgan, Raquel Gonzalez, Asuka, Shotzi and Becky Lynch will all try to capture the Women’s Money in the Bank Briefcase. Finally, on the Men’s side, Seth “Freakin” Rollins, Drew McIntyre, Sheamus, Omos, Sami Zayn, Riddle and one more competitor will all try to get the Men’s Money in the Bank Briefcase. Noticeably missing from the card due to Roman working a lighter schedule, is the Undisputed WWE Universal Championship. Also missing from the card is the Intercontinental Championship, due to the rule of this title never being able to be defended on PPV. (TJRWrestling)

wwe becky lynch money in the bank 2022 womens ladder

1. Jon Moxley Captures the AEW Interim World Championship

Jon Moxley is once again AEW World Champion (kind of). This past Sunday at AEW-NJPW Forbidden Door, Moxley defeated Hiroshi Tanahashi to capture the Interim AEW World Championship. Moxley will now defend the Interim Championship until AEW World Champion CM Punk returns from injury. Punk, and whomever the Interim Champion is at that time, will then wrestle to crown an undisputed AEW World Champion. Moxley is the first wrestler to hold the AEW World Championship twice, and is also the first wrestler to bleed in 87 consecutive matches. (TJRWrestling)

That concludes 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 refereeing with NYCW and respect more than ever what wrestlers do every week. I wrote an article all about it all right here. If you like what I do, despite my jokes being almost as bad as labor pains. Then follow me on Twitter @Fowlerwrestlin1.