Welcome to the July 13th Inside The Ropes Live blog, bringing you the latest news from WWE, AEW, NJPW, IMPACT Wrestling and more.
Today’s biggest stories:
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On tour with Inside The Ropes in 2016, Paul Heyman speaks exclusively to Kenny McIntosh about how he inspired insane loyalty from his ECW Originals. Heyman discusses how he maximised his talent roster and even includes his Mick Foley and Stone Cold Steve Austin impressions!
Check it out!
Jim Cornette has made a very bold claim about WWE Superstar Cody Rhodes.
On a recent episode of his podcast, the Jim Cornette Experience, the former manager and promotor pointed to how much Rhodes’ standing has changed since he left AEW.
Cornette went as far as to say that the second-generation star is now the most popular babyface in all of wrestling.
“He’s the biggest babyface in the wrestling business now,” Cornette said. “That just goes to show you how quick things can turn around. He was a babyface in AEW and the fans were booing him, and now he’s the biggest babyface in the biggest company in the world.”
If you use any of the quotes from this article please credit the original source with a h/t and link back to Inside The Ropes.
In an exclusive interview with Inside The Ropes former WCW Superstar Crowbar has given his thoughts on the much-talked about Tiger Driver ’91 spot involving Will Ospreay and Kenny Omega, explaining why it brought back memories of an infamous WWE match.
Former WWE Superstar Trinity, BKA Naomi, has revealed that only two of her former colleagues reached out to check on her after her heated departure from the company.
Speaking in a new interview with the New York Post, Trinity discussed her upcoming Knockouts Title match with Deonna Purrazzo, as well as her WWE exit.
With regard to leaving WWE, the star said it felt like it was her and Mone against the world, with only Bayley and Tamina checking in on the pair on a regular basis. She added that no one understands the true magnitude of what happened.
The star explained that it was her treatment by WWE that day that led her to leave, a decision she firmly stands by.
Dwayne Johnson’s production company Seven Bucks is co-producing the first-ever authorised documentary on the late comedian and wrestler, Andy Kaufman.
According to Deadline, the documentary, which will be co-produced by Johnson’s company, will investigate the origins of Kaufman’s creative choices and his personal definition of “funny,” with insight from his closest family, friends, and collaborators.
The project has the full support of Kaufman’s estate, which is providing unprecedented and exclusive access to Kaufman’s family, as well as personal and never-before-seen archives and private recordings.
After having beef with WWE Hall of Famers such as Dwayne Johnson and Edge and getting into a war of words with WWE icon John Cena at Money in the Bank, Grayson Waller appears to have set his sites on another legendary WWE Superstar.
Appearing on WWE’s TikTok, Waller would play a game of “clouted or not” where, with the help of a filter, he decides if he has more or less clout than a selection of random wrestlers.
After admitting that WWE Hall of Famer Trish Stratus may have more clout than him, Grayson Waller quickly returned to his unhumble beginnings by claiming to be more relevant and more ‘clouted’ than Kurt Angle.
Check out the video below!
@wwe What do y’all think? 🤔👀 #WWE #GraysonWaller #Clout
Jim Ross has backed the decision to let Brian Pillman Jr. leave AEW.
It was recently confirmed that Brian Pillman Jr. had left AEW after his contract with the company expired. The star joined the promotion in 2019 and went on to team with Griff Garrison as the Varsity Blondes, with the pair eventually being joined by Julia Hart.
Speaking on his Grilling JR podcast, the legendary announcer was sympathetic to the second-generation star’s situation, although also conceded that things weren’t working out for him in AEW.
You can read his full comments, here.
Do you think AEW made the right call letting Pillman go? Let us know by hitting the thumbs below!
Here’s what went down on the latest episode of AEW Rampage.
[All spoilers courtesy of PWInsider.]
Dave Meltzer has found himself on the end of a brutal dissection from wrestling legend Jim Cornette.
Speaking on a recent episode of the Jim Cornette Experience, Cornette criticised Meltzer’s five-star rating of AEW’s Anarchy In The Arena match, asking how something as ‘unprofessional’ as that could be consider the pinnacle of pro-wrestling.
“If Uncle Dave is giving five stars to the plumber [Jon Moxley] for these multiple man bullsh*t matches where he’s unprofessional, looks like sh*t, his work is see-through and phony, he cuts himself on camera and they use every f*cking piece of furniture in the building, bury the referee countless times, and can’t use the ring ’cause they’re on the floor or bleachers.
If that gets have stars then what, when you have four athletes that look like wrestlers [FTR vs. Jay White and Juice Robinson], that know what they’re doing, that have talent, that scorched the f*cking ring with an incredible display of tag team wrestling involving no furniture, no dives, no gymnastics, no burying the referee, no fighting in the crowd, and no on-camera blade jobs, how does that not get five stars.”
You can check out the expletive filled rant in full below!
What do you think of Meltzer’s star ratings? Let us know using the ‘get involved’ feature at the top of the page!
Over in our features section, which you should definitely be checking out if you haven’t already, David Martin has just published a fantastic new piece titled ‘The Pinnacle of Pro Wrestling’ which takes a look at the five best moments in WCW history.
18 year-old Nick Wayne has officially joined the AEW roster.
The star has been waiting for over a year since signing an apprenticeship deal with the company in February 2022, Wayne was only 16 years old when he was offered the contract.
He was unable to officially begin until he turned 18. This all changed on July 12, 2023, when Wayne made his in-ring debut on AEW Dynamite and became an official member of the roster. Wayne had previously revealed he wasn’t being paid by the company under his apprenticeship deal.
Check out his debut below!
WWE Live is returning to the UK with three shows in London, Nottingham and Glasgow in October – with general tickets on sale tomorrow, Friday 14th July at 10am BST.
The epic night of entertainment will land in the following locations:
Fans attending WWE Live will see their favourite WWE Superstars in action, including Charlotte Flair, Bianca Belair, Bobby Lashley and The Street Profits* – with many more due to be announced.
WWE Live returns to the UK in October 2023, visiting London, Nottingham and Glasgow. For tickets please click here: London, Nottingham and Glasgow
*talent subject to change
A new report has dismissed major speculation around Ronda Rousey’s future.
On July 12th a rumours started gaining traction that former WWE Women’s Champion Ronda Rousey was considering a move back to the UFC.
The report came just weeks after it had been revealed that Ronda Rousey had a firm exit date in mind for the WWE and that due to a recent injury, Rousey’s exit feud with Shayna Baszler had been accelerated in order to ensure the feud was complete before Rousey would depart the company.
This speculation kicked into overdrive at the UFC Vegas 77 media day when Chelsea Chandler suggested Rousey was coming back, but this time in a new weight division.
However, it’s been reported that despite these comments, Rousey won’t be heading back to the octagon any time soon. Writing on social media, Ariel Helwani stated there was “no truth” to the rumours, and the star isn’t considering a UFC comeback.
On tour with Inside The Ropes, Mick Foley talks to Kenny McIntosh about his screaming match with Vince McMahon, buried alive match with the Undertaker and his request to be Santa Clause in WWE!
Check it out!
Dominik Mysterio has a new nickname and Dutch Mantell is not impressed.
Without much fanfare, Mysterio was recently announced to the ring as “Dirty” Dominik Mysterio and the name seems to have stuck. However, Dutch Mantell has taken the move as something of a personal slight.
Mantell used the “Dirty” nickname throughout the 1980s, and it became a key part of his own character. Appearing on Sportskeeda’s SmackTalk, Mantell said WWE should have phoned him to ask permission to use the moniker.
“Hey, thanks, Paul. Thanks, Triple H. Thanks, Vince. Thanks, Endeavor. If you’re going to steal, at least why didn’t you put a call?
Just a heads-up call. ‘Hey, we want to call him this because he (Dominik Mysterio) needs something.”
Do you agree with Mantell? Should WWE have reached out about the nickname? Let us know by hitting the thumbs below!
Jim Ross, the legendary voice of professional wrestling, has shared an update on his health after what he described as a “challenging” week.
Ross, who currently works as a commentator for All Elite Wrestling, discussed his health on the latest edition of his Grilling JR podcast, as he has been sidelined for the past few weeks after suffering a fall.
Ross had this to say on his podcast:
“Had a rough week on my leg. I’m not changing, I’m just adding to doctors. It’s amazing. I went to my one doctor, he said I gotta get you to a specialist that could give you an antibiotic shot. I said, ‘Why can’t you do it?’ ‘That’s not what I do.’ I said you guy’s got a f*cking thiefdom. You recommend me to this guy, why can’t you do that? ‘I don’t do that.’ ‘Oh, okay.’”
“It’s been a challenging week, let’s say. I think we’ve made some improvement. We’ve got a good game plan, but I just needed a break. I needed a break in the action, so to speak, and move on. So, it’ll happen. I’ve got good doctors, good care, and if I don’t get the results that we’re looking for, I’ll go to the Mayo Clinic and start over.”
Seth Rollins opponent for WWE’s upcoming SummerSlam PLE appears to have been leaked!
Since winning the World Heavyweight Championship, Seth Rollins has proven to be a fighting champion, taking on all comers, including making a trip to NXT to face Bron Breakker.
However, it’s now been reported by Dave Meltzer on Wrestling Observer Radio that Rollins’ opponent for the World Heavyweight Championship at WWE’s upcoming SummerSlam PLE will be a much more familiar foe.
Meltzer reports that plans are currently in place to build Balor back up following his loss to Rollins at WWE Money in the Bank in order to allow the inaugural Universal Champion to challenge Rollins once again at SummerSlam.
QTV’s Harley Cameron sent a firm warning to former AEW Tag Team Champions the acclaimed during last night’s episode of AEW Dynamite…and did so in a manner that Max Caster “would understand”…a rap.
Check out this incredible piece of TV below!
Harley Cameron pulled a Queen Herby and dropped some damn bars…#AEWDynamite pic.twitter.com/LCNdOSBpyM
— AEW on TV (@AEWonTV) July 13, 2023
How would you rate Cameron’s freestyle skills? Let us know by hitting the thumbs below!
The July 21st Barbie vs Oppenheimer battle of 2023 has taken social media by storm with filmophiles around the world debating which of the two films you should watch first.
Well now wrestling fans have their answer, it was recently revealed that John Cena would be making a cameo appearance in ‘Barbie’ following a chance encounter with the films star and producer Margot Robbie.
Cena will be playing the role of “Kenmaid” a merman version of Barbie’s iconic love interest Ken.
Fans have now been treated to a first look at Cena in this hilarious role complete with a full long blonde wig, it’s John Cena like you have never seen him before!
Check it out below!
First look at John Cena as Kenmaid in Greta Gerwig's #BarbieMovie! pic.twitter.com/QqvtwLGHTh
— GSC 🎂 (@GSCinemas) July 13, 2023
Stevie Richards cemented his status in wrestling legend after he stiffed WWE Hall of Famer JBL with a steel chair shot to get revenge on behalf of fellow bWo member ‘The Blue Meanie.’
JBL had taken liberties with The Blue Meanie during ECW One Night Stand in 2005, Bradshaw was caught on camera laying a legitimate beatdown onto the bWo member leaving him bloodied and beaten.
The beatdown came as a result of Meanie’s comments following his WWE departure in 2000 in which he would call Bradshaw ‘an a*shole’, something that the notorious tough guy did not take too well.
Richards would eventually take revenge on JBL hitting him with a chair shot so stiff that it left a hole in his skull.
Speaking with Chris Van Vliet, Richards would reveal that he regretted the chair shot back then and he still regrets it now.
“You guys with this chair shot. I still feel really bad about that.
I mean, we’re laughing about it. But you know, I really do. I mean, John laughs about it now to thank God, but, you know, that’s not what we’re in the business for and you know, people can think the way they want to think.
I told this story when I did the interview with James, you were talking about James from WSI. And he asked me about it and I was talking and I literally said, once again, the reason why I have this kind of overthinking mindset, which works with this, I’m talking to John and I said, Dude, you’re so tall, I don’t know if I can hit you properly with the chair with you standing. The dude’s like, what? 6 foot 6, 300 pounds, he’s a monster.
I asked him Is there any way you can be on one knee or something where I can get you? And he was like, no, no, just lay it in, no big deal.
He was totally cool about it. So even in my mind, I knew he’s way up there. I’m not going to be able to hit him fully with the seat. I never knew it was going to be what it was. But I knew it was going to be a live round to some extent that he was going to get.”
Jim Cornette’s dislike of Jon Moxley will not be news to fans of either man, and following Moxley’s analysis of the importance of blood in wrestling, the legendary WWE manager could not resist having taking blast at the former AEW Champion once again.
Speaking on his podcast, The Jim Cornette Experience, Cornette would break down Moxley’s justification for frequently bleeding in his AEW matches claiming that Mox is “hung up” on being a tough guy.
“He’s hung up that he’s a tough guy,” Cornette said.
“No, you stupid son of a b*tch, you’re not gonna have blood every time out because most guys in the wrestling business instead of just slicing themselves open in any random match, would rather save it for when it will make them some money and mean something at the gate. But, you do you.”
Do you agree with Cornette? Do you think Moxley bleeds too much in AEW? Let us know by hitting the thumbs below!
After the massive successes of Backlash in Puerto Rico and Money in the Bank in the United Kingdom, WWE is reportedly very pleased with their international markets.
However, it has now been revealed that they recently “nixed” plans for another international event, at least according to WWE Superstar Bronson Reed.
Speaking on The Footy with Broden Kelly, Reed would reveal that their had been backstage rumblings that WWE would be headed to Australia this October however he believes those plans have now been “nixed.”
“I’m really hopeful that there will be soon. I don’t know yet. I heard that there were rumblings about doing a tour in October, but I think that’s been nixed.”
Continuing, the Adelaide native would state that he is hopeful that WWE will be going “down under” again, sooner rather than later.
“I’m hoping early next year, but I don’t know. They should do a big premium live event from Adelaide Oval.”
WWE last visited Australia back in 2019 and most notably hosted WWE Super ShowDown in Melbourne back in 2018.
AEW fans rejoice, the time has come for Kota Ibushi to make his highly anticipated AEW return!
‘The Golden Lover’ was revealed as the final entrant into ‘Team Elite’ ahead of their upcoming Blood & Guts match against The Blackpool Combat Club on the July 19th edition of AEW Dynamite.
During the July 12th episode of Dynamite, Kenny Omega was assaulted by Jon Moxley and Konosuke Takeshita on his way to the ring. During the assault, a returning PAC took out Omega with a steel chair confirming he was the BBC’s fifth member in the process. However, the surprises didn’t end there.
Following the attack a video played on the screen revealing that Kota Ibushi is joining the Elite to face off against the BCC in what will undoubtedly be a wild and bloody war.
Check out the awesome moment below!
He's coming! Heart, Passion, Soul, Friendship & Love: with the addition of @ibushi_kota, it will be #TheGoldenElite against the #BCC at #BloodAndGuts NEXT WEDNESDAY at #AEWDynamite LIVE from the @TDGarden at 8pm ET/7pm CT on TBS! pic.twitter.com/4j2T9infr3
— All Elite Wrestling (@AEW) July 13, 2023
Are you excited to see Kota Ibushi back in AEW? Let us know by hitting the thumbs below!
Dwayne Johnson is without a doubt one of the WWE’s most recognisable stars of all time, but he recently found himself on the receiving end of some criticisms courtesy of rising WWE Superstar Grayson Waller.
The loudmouthed Aussie took to Twitter to claim that he had a better MSG debut than ‘The Great One’ adding that Johnson’s debut attire was ‘cringe’ before parodying his iconic catchphrase ‘can you smell what The Rock is cooking.’
Never one to shy away from a challenge, Johnson hit back on Twitter noting that although he agrees his outfit ‘was cringe’, that he thinks it is nowhere near as cringe as Waller’s look and voice which ‘The Brahma Bull’ claims makes him look and sound like “like you dropped out of some jabroni’s balloon knot.”
“Man you’re right! That outfit was so cringe. Here’s what’s more cringe – the fact you look and sound like you dropped out of some jabroni’s balloon knot. Nice haircut, you Outback Jack Off.”
Johnson would also note that he places all the blame for his debut ring gear on WWE Hall of Famer Triple H, who he claims came up with the idea.
“Ps, my cringe debut outfit was all @TripleH’s idea”
Waller’s heated exchange with Dwayne Johnson comes just weeks after his electric showdown with John Cena at WWE’s Money in the Bank PLE and just days after he took on ‘The Rated R Superstar’ Edge on SmackDown.
Waller is reportedly very well received by WWE officials and could be in line for a significant push once he has recovered from his current injury.
Good Afternoon!
Hope everyone is doing well and has had an awesome week so far!
I will be with you this afternoon from 12 pm to 6 pm BST (7 am -12 pm EST) with all the latest news and rumours from AEW, WWE and NJPW.
This afternoon we will be kicking things off with some of today’s biggest stories, including:
As always if you have anything you want to ask us or any stories you would like us to try to provide an update on, let us know by using the ‘get involved’ feature at the top of the page!
