Top 5 Wrestling News Stories Of The Week 10/07: Bray Wyatt Added To WWE 2K24, AEW Star May Have To Wait A Long Time For Release & The Rock’s WrestleMania 41 Status Unconfirmed
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.
Bray Wyatt Edition Added To WWE 2K24
The August 2023 death of former WWE Champion Bray Wyatt saddened the pro wrestling community since the popular star was just 36 years old.
Since Wyatt’s passing, WWE has honored his legacy with a documentary about his life, they also have been good to his family and continue to sell Wyatt-related merchandise for his various characters including The Fiend.
It was announced recently that the WWE 2K24 video games would be adding a special Bray Wyatt Edition for fans of the game.
The Bray Wyatt Edition was revealed on X (Twitter) by WWE 2K24 and it will be available for fans on Tuesday, October 16th. Some of the things that will be included are a 2023 version of The Fiend, Bray’s brother Bo Dallas as Uncle Howdy, and The Fiend’s WWE Championship.
AEW Star Wanting Release Has Significant Time Left On Deal
An AEW wrestler wanting to be released by the company has a lot of time left on his contract.
In September 2024, it was revealed that Miro asked for his AEW release while people in pro wrestling are wondering if that could lead to a Rusev return in WWE with Triple H booking him rather than Vince McMahon like it was during his first run in WWE.
During a Q&A on Fightful Select, Sean Ross Sapp noted that nothing has indicated that All Elite Wrestling has granted Miro the release that he requested. Sapp also mentioned that Miro is signed with AEW for nearly two more years with a deal that is set to expire in the spring of 2026. It’s also believed that if AEW wants to add time to the deal due to injury, it’s possible that the deal could expire after that.
It has been reported previously that Miro signed a two-year contract when he joined AEW, but when that was due to expire in 2022 he agreed to a four-year extension. It’s also been reported that Miro is making a salary in the seven-figure range.
WWE To Allow Controversial Wrestling Practice
WWE To Allow Blading In Key Matches.
At Bad Blood, CM Punk overcame Drew McIntyre in the most brutal Hell In A Cell match WWE has seen for several years. The match was lauded by fans as a throwback to much earlier cell matches given the brutality and blood on display.
The use of blood was a massive talking point given that WWE has shied away from using it in matches for decades. Even when wrestlers have been accidentally cut, matches have been stopped and all video featuring the blood shown in black and white — something that notably didn’t happen at Bad Blood.
The subject came back to the fore in March after The Rock left Cody Rhodes a bloody mess on Raw, and it was suggested blood could be used “very rarely” in the future.
Writing in the Wrestling Observer Newsletter in the wake of CM Punk vs. Drew McIntyre, Dave Meltzer noted that with Vince McMahon gone, blading is now permitted. Although he added that McIntyre wasn’t planning to bleed.
Punk was supposed to get blood as WWE now will do blading for key matches and angles with Vince McMahon gone, but the idea is not to overdo it. The plan was not for McIntyre to get blood.
However, a further report from Ibou, of Wrestle Purists, noted that the plan was always for both men to bleed during the match.
The plan was always for both guys to get color. The hardway toolbox shot wasn’t a pre planned/pre-approved thing with producers though. “Global brand.”
AEW Out-Bid WWE For Daniel Garcia
Daniel Garcia is staying with AEW.
On the October 8th episode of Dynamite, Daniel Garcia announced that he’s staying with AEW. The news came after several months of speculation regarding his status which only intensified when Garcia disappeared from television after All Out, and just weeks before his old deal was set to expire.
During this period it was reported that AEW was losing confidence in keeping Garcia in the company. While it had also become something of an open secret that WWE has an interest in Daniel Garcia.
During a passionate promo on Dynamite, Garcia said he’s one of the best wrestlers in the world and it’s only right that he stay where the best wrestle. He went on to put every AEW champion on notice.
Reporting in the Wrestling Observer Newsletter, Dave Meltzer stated that AEW offered a “significantly higher” deal to keep Garcia away from WWE.
Uncertainty Surrounds The Rock’s WrestleMania Status
The Rock is in control of his WWE destiny.
According to a recent report, The Rock isn’t currently scheduled to appear at WrestleMania 41. The report surprised fans as it has long been believed the star would return to the ring to face Cody Rhodes at the event.
WWE even appeared to set the table for the bout on the Raw after WrestleMania 40. It should be noted that it was Rock who pinned Rhodes on the opening night of the show.
However, while responding to a fan on social media, The Rock told the commenter not to listen to that “bullsh*t.”
The Hollywood megastar made his most recent return to WWE television at Bad Blood, staring down Roman Reigns Cody Rhodes, and Jimmy Uso from the top of the ramp.
In a new update on Wrestling Observer Radio, Dave Meltzer said that as of Thursday (October 10th), Rock wasn’t confirmed for the show. However, he emphasised that if the star wants to work the show, that’s exactly what will happen.
He said “It’s bullsh*t!” So somebody goes is it true you’re not doing Mania? And he says it’s bullsh*t. Well, he was not confirmed for the show as of Thursday, so if something changed I’ll find out. He wants to do it, he’s doing it. It’s up to him obviously.
As long as it’s conformed by whenever it needs to be confirmed… You know what? It could be confirmed any time.
They want to know obviously going into the Royal Rumble where they’re going, and at that point we’ll see.
There remains no word on when The Rock will return to WWE television.