Top 5 Wrestling News Stories Of The Week 09/02: Another Backstage Incident At AEW All Out, AEW’s Future Revealed & WWE’s Rhea Ripley Fires Back At Critics
Each and every week, the weird and wonderful world of professional wrestling never fails to captivate fans with a plethora of captivating stories that make their way into the news cycle.
Whether it’s shocking upsets, dramatic showdowns, or behind-the-scenes drama, the happenings within professional wrestling always keep fans on the edge of their seats.
Here are the Top Five Wrestling News Stories of the Week.
WWE Thrilled With Current Champion After Heel Turn
WWE are said to be delighted with current NXT Women’s Champion Roxanne Perez.
Fightful Select has reported that officials in WWE are “incredibly thrilled” with Perez’s performances as a heel during her second reign as NXT Women’s Champion.
WWE wanted to keep Perez on NXT during the WWE Draft to allow her to develop her heel character before she eventually graduates to the company’s main roster.
At just 22 years old Perez is NXT’s youngest ever two-time Women’s Champion and is set to defend it against newcomer Giulia on the inaugural NXT episode on the CW Network.
Conflicting Reports On Backstage Incident At AEW All Out
More information has come to light regarding a backstage incident at AEW All Out.
Not for the first time, following AEW All Out speculation is running wild following a rumoured incident backstage during the even
Following the match between Willow Nightingale and Kris Statlander, and just before Bryan Danielson vs. Jack Perry several members of security were spotted sprinting backstage. This sparked speculation there had been some kind of fight backstage.
Speaking on Wrestling Observer Radio, Bryan Alvarez broke down the incident, confirming there was a situation between an unnamed wrestler and a member of the production team.
“So before this match started, a bunch of security dudes just start sprinting backstage, and so everybody is asking ‘What happened? What happened?’ So what happened was, apparently, there was some incident with one of the wrestlers who was not on this show, they were shooting something backstage, and this wrestler and this production guy on into a big thing.
Some people have said it’s absolutely nothing, but it was big enough that security sprinted backstage. But I was told that whatever it was they apparently talked it out and everything ended up ok. But that’s why everybody was sprinting backstage.”
Tony Khan All But Confirms AEW’s Future With TBS & TNT
Tony Khan Addresses AEW’s Future
After Collision and Rampage took place in Chicago, Tony Khan came to the entranceway to address the live crowd and gave the clearest hint yet regarding AEW’s future with Warner Brothers Discovery as he noted:
I feel pretty good to say AEW on TBS and TNT I think is here to stay!
Prior to the most recent offer, WBD had offered “almost double” the amount of the existing contract, although it’s unclear whether this is for the same amount of content.
WBD sources noted that inquiries had been made in 2023 about a shift in pay-per-view strategy. There was no comment on what this shift could entail. Over the last 12 months, AEW has made several changes to its PPV schedule, adding more events than ever before.
Ex-WWE Star Denies Calling Triple H A Racist
Former WWE Superstar MVP has denied suggestions that he called Triple H a racist.
The former two-time WWE United States Champion departed the company in August 2024 at the expiration of his contract having not been seen on WWE television since accompanying Omos to the ring for the 2024 Andre The Giant Memorial Battle Royal on the 5th April edition of SmackDown.
Speaking during a virtual signing with K&S Wrestlefest, the 50 year-old star clarified social media speculation suggesting he had labelled ‘The Game’ as a racist:
“It made the rounds that ‘MVP said Triple H was racist.’ I never said that word. I never said that. You show me the quote or the caption where I said that.
Somebody made a comment on my social media about how he books black talent. I just said, ‘Ah, you see it.’ I never said he is racist. I never said that. That was never anything I said. I want to make that very clear.”
MVP would go on to add further clarity to his thoughts, implying that whilst he didn’t see the WWE Chief Content Officer as a racist he didn’t agree with all of his booking decisions:
“Now, my opinion on how he books talent of color, that’s a different conversation, but I never said the man was racist. Hulk Hogan is racist. He said it himself, ‘I’m a little bit racist.’ He said that.
As far as Triple H, I don’t know that he is. I don’t know what his motivations are, but I never said he was racist.”
Rhea Ripley Fires Back At Critics
The beloved Australian Superstar has been a mainstay of WWE programming in recent times and has won fans over with a string of sensational performances in the ring and her charismatic personality having originally portrayed a villainous character in the Judgment Day faction.
Despite her popularity, Ripley has not been immune from negative responses and recently offered her take on a moment during a WWE bout that divided opinion.
During an appearance on Ring The Belle, the former WWE Women’s Champion reflected on the criticism received for a stinkface delivered to Nia Jax during a March 2024 WWE Live Event in Springfield, Illinois.
Despite receiving negative feedback for the spot, which became a viral hit on social media, Ripley revealed she had brushed off the reaction of her critics and felt they were just jealous of her success:
“I get criticism for every single little thing I do, but, you see the men doing this and you’re like ‘yeah! that looks cool! amazing’.
Tiffany Stratton does this the other week and they’re like ‘oh my god I love you Tiffany, oh, my, god, you’re so sexy please do that to me’, but when I do it there’s a problem? Why? You just mad that I’m popular that’s why.”