CM Punk Addresses WWE Return Rumours, Confirms Current Plans For Survivor Series; October 27th Live Wrestling News Round-Up

Watch the full history of The Fiend, from his first appearance on The Firefly Fun House to standing in the crowd during Bray Wyatt’s unforgettable return at WWE Extreme Rules 2022.

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On Saturday, November 4th WWE returns to Saudi Arabia once again for the 5th instalment of the companies Crown Jewel PLE.

WWE has today announced that John Cena will be taking on ‘The Bloodline’s’ Solo Sikoa in a first time ever singles match up.

Writing on Twitter, WWE would announce the match stating:

“BREAKING: As first announced by @people, “The Greatest of All Time” @JohnCena will go one-on-one with @WWESoloSikoa at #WWECrownJewel in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia!”

Sikoa and Cena have faced off on three occasions in Tag Team action, most recently at WWE’s Fastlane PLE during which Cena would team with LA Knight to defeat the duo of Jimmy Uso and Solo Sikoa.

Cena will be looking to pick up his first televised singles win in over five years when he takes on ‘The Enforcer’ of ‘The Bloodline’ with his last win coming against Triple H at Saudi Arabia back in 2018.

Are you excited for WWE Crown Jewel? Let us know by hitting the thumbs below!

Ronda Rousey has made her in-ring return to wrestling.

Despite Ronda Rousey appearing to confirm her retirement earlier this year, it would appear that ‘The Baddest Woman on the Planet’ is done with wrestling…yet.

Last night (October 27th, 2023) Lucha VaVOOM, a California based promotion owned by Liz Fairbairn & Rita D’Albert, hosted their latest wrestling show at the Mayan Theatre and fans in attendance were treated to the shock in-ring return of Ronda Rousey.

Rousey would team with fellow MMA Horsewoman Marina Shafir to take on former WWE stars Brian Kendrick and Taya Valkyrie.

Rousey and Shafir would come out the victors with the former RAW Women’s Champion tapping out Kendrick with an ankle lock in under five minutes.

You can check out the match in full below, courtesy of Ronda Rousey’s Instagram.

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A post shared by Ronda Rousey (@rondarousey)

DDP talks exclusively to Inside the Ropes about his difficult WWE / WWF debut, difficulties working with The Undertaker and a failed pitch to work with The Rock.

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IMPACT is set for a major year after announcing that they will be rebranding as TNA in 2024, however, it looks like they may be doing so without one of their top stars.

According to a new report, Deonna Purrazzo’s contract with the company is set to expire “fairly soon” and there is currently no word on if she intends to re-sign with the company or move on after four years with the company.

Writing in this afternoon’s Wrestling Observer Newsletter, Dave Meltzer notes:

“Notes from the 10/22 Impact tapings in Chicago…Tasha Steez beat Deonna Purrazzo… Purrazzo’s contract with the promotion is believed to be expiring fairly soon.”

Do you think Deonna Purrazzo will re-sign with IMPACT Wrestling? Let us know what you think by hitting the thumbs below!

It looks like we could be seeing Randy Orton back in the WWE very, very soon!

‘The Viper’ hasn’t competed in the WWE since suffering a career threatening injury back in May 2022.

Since then reports have circulated online that Randy Orton has been advised to retire, something the former WWE Champion is desperate not to do.

According to a new report Randy Orton’s WWE return looks to be just 29 days away with ‘The Viper’ slated to return at WWE’s Survivor Series PLE in late November.

Writing in this afternoon’s Wrestling Observer Newsletter, Dave Meltzer reports:

“When asked about Orton returning at Survivor Series, we were told that is the suggested time frame, so likely about a month or so. His doctor did suggest he retire due to back issues but Orton makes a ton of money and really wants to go until he’s 50 if at all possible”

Do you think we will see Randy Orton return at Survivor Series? Let us know by hitting the thumbs below!

WWE comes to Chicago this November for Survivor Series…but Roman Reigns will not be joining them.

At least according to a new report from Dave Meltzer in this afternoon’s Wrestling Observer Newsletter.

Dave Meltzer notes that despite Reigns typically appearing at all big four PLE’s, his next scheduled PLE match is not until Royal Rumble 2024 and he is currently not scheduled to appear at Survivor Series in any capacity!

“Reigns is not scheduled for Survivor Series, which is notable because it’s considered a big four event. He defends at Crown Jewel and his next scheduled PPV match won’t be until Royal Rumble.”

What do you think will main event Survivor Series 2023? Let us know by writing in using the ‘get involved’ feature at the top of the page!

CM Punk may not currently be planning a return to the WWE, but what does the future have in store for the ‘Second City Saint’?

Well here is the latest from Dave Meltzer.

Writing in this afternoon’s Wrestling Observer Newsletter, Dave Meltzer would discuss CM Punk’s backstage appearance at IMPACT Wrestling’s latest tapings and if this could mean that the former AEW World Champion is IMPACT bound.

Whilst noting that money and public reaction are likely going to be issues preventing Punk from signing with IMPACT Wrestling, Meltzer did note that WWE & AEW deals are “dead” at this point in time and with “time still running out” Punk may need to make a decision sooner rather than later.

Meltzer writes:

“It wasn’t a big surprise as he had been to an Impact taping in April as well. It goes without saying that Impact would love to have Punk but the question would be could they offer him a level of money to make a deal and would Punk want to be with a company that would be a distant third.

It’s an interesting situation because Punk is now 45. While we’ve seen wrestlers lasting longer than in the past because they don’t work as many matches per year and generally keep themselves in better condition, but time is still running out if he wants to be in wrestling.

WWE and AEW are appearing to be dead deals at least for now and he could probably make more money, have more control and have a company built around him more here than in New Japan, which would be the only other major league alternative. From a strategic standpoint, he could also sign a shorter-term deal and if there are changes in WWE and AEW as far as thoughts on him, especially if there are no more incidents like in AEW, perhaps the other companies would give him another chance down the road.”

Where do you think CM Punk will end up? Let us know by writing in using the ‘get involved’ feature at the top of the page!

IMPACT Wrestling may be returning to TNA in 2024 but the company is ending 2023 with a bang.

Will Ospreay took on Mike Bailey at this years Bound for Glory PPV and the match was a massive hit with fans, so much so that it has become IMPACT/TNA’s just second ever match to awarded five stars by Dave Meltzer.

Previously, AJ Styles, Christopher Daniels and Samoa Joe’s iconic bout at TNA Unbreakable in 2005 was the only match in the companies history to receive the award – something frequently discussed by critics of Meltzer’s rating system.

Ospreay and Bailey was awarded 5.25 stars in this afternoon’s Wrestling Observer Newsletter, making it the highest rated match in IMPACT Wrestling history and ending the companies 18-year spell without a “five star” match.

Discussing the appeal of the match Meltzer writes:

“The crowd just went nuts from the intro of Ospreay until the end of the match…The crispness here in moves was at a completely different level than almost anyone in the business.”

This is Will Ospreay’s 31st five (or more) match, is he the greatest of all time? Let us know by hitting the thumbs below!

The 2024 WWE Royal Rumble is just three months away and so begins on-going rumours, reports and rumblings regarding who will be named the victor on the night.

Well one man appears to be the current front runner to win the 2024 Royal Rumble…at least according to the book makers.

GUNTHER is currently the book makers favourites to win the 2024 Royal Rumble, sitting at a very comfortable 2/1 odds across various providers including SkyBet, William Hill and BetFair.

LA Knight, many fans favourite for the match, sits at a comfortable 3/1 as the second favourite for the show alongside the 2023 winner Cody Rhodes.

Meanwhile The Rock sits at 6/1, CM Punk at 7/1 and The Miz is deemed as likely to win as recently released WWE star Rick Boogs, sitting at 100/1 odds.

It is worth nothing that as always odds are subject to change and until the week before, and in some case the night before – the odds are not always a true reflection of who will win but it gives us an early indicator of who may book their ticket to WrestleMania this coming January.

Anthony Ogogo may not have had a place on AEW’s record setting UK show, however, he has set his sights on an international main event against none other than controversial global star Jake Paul.

Anthony Ogogo, who signed with AEW back in 2019, was previously an Olympic boxer, representing the United Kingdom with a 11-1 record and it appears he is looking to add an 8th knockout to his resume.

Taking to social media, Ogogo would call out Jake Paul, who has been a key driver in the recent influencer boxing phenomena, inviting him to take on a “real boxer” if he dares.

Writing on Twitter, the AEW star would state:

“Jake Paul if you want to fight a REAL BOXER!! I’m right here!”

Jake Paul currently has an 8-1 record in boxing with his only defeat coming against Tommy Fury back in February earlier this year.

Would you like to see Jake Paul and Anthony Ogogo face off? Let us know by hitting the thumbs below!

This week AEW Dynamite went up against some heavy competition in the form of both the NBA and the MLB and as a result it has resulted in another victory for NXT in the recent rating war between the two companies.

According to Wrestlenomics, the October 25th episode of Dynamite earned a total average viewership of 774,000 viewers, down 14% from last week’s 901,000.

Meanwhile, despite also seeing a decline in viewership week-on-week, NXT recorded and average of 787,000 viewers, down just 1.4% from the previous week.

NXT and AEW Dynamite went head-to-head just two weeks ago with NXT coming out on top, albeit with an incredibly staked show featuring WWE Hall of Famers such as The Undertaker and legend’s such as Paul Heyman and John Cena, with 921,000 viewers compared to Dynamite’s 609,000 viewership average.

The key demographic numbers that week were a lot closer with NXT pulling in 396,000 in the 18-49 demographic and AEW 346,000.

October has been a tough month for AEW Dynamite from a ratings perspective with this weeks numbers representing the lowest viewership numbers for the show, in their usual time slot, since June 15, 2022.

You can read more information on the recent decline in AEW ratings, here.

Dave Meltzer has taken to social media to name his pick for the 2023 wrestling booker of the year and his answer may surprise you!

Since 1980, Dave Meltzer has overseen the Wrestling Observer Newsletter’s annual end of year wrestling awards and since 1984 those awards have included the “Best Booker” award.

In recent years the award has been dominated by NJPW and AEW with Gedo and Tony Khan winning the award a combined 7 times since 2015 and a combined 11 times since 2011.

WWE on the other hand has one the award just once since 2003 with Triple H and Ryan Ward being crowned the “Best Booker’s” in 2015 for their role in WWE’s NXT product.

The award is not decided singularly by Dave Meltzer but rather by the Wrestling Observer Newsletter audience, leading to a tendency to favour, in recent years, AEW and NJPW’s product.

Taking to Twitter, Dave Meltzer would announce his pick for the award, and much to the shock of many fans it was not AEW’s Tony Khan but rather Triple H of the WWE.

Responding to a fan requesting his personal pick for “Booker of the Year,” Dave Meltzer would note:

“Levesque in my opinion. Bloodline story turned business around.”

Do you agree with Dave Meltzer’s pick for the 2023 Booker of the Year? Let us know by hitting the thumbs below!

It wouldn’t be a Friday news blog without some sort of story regarding CM Punk.

In recent weeks it has been reported that CM Punk could make his way back to the WWE, however, there are still some issues between CM Punk and WWE talent backstage that may prevent a return from taking place.

Well, over month after his AEW departure, CM Punk has finally responded to the WWE return rumours…all be it in his usual tongue and cheek manner.

Speaking with Chicago radio station ‘670 The Score’, Punk was asked about the on-going rumours and if fans can expect to see him at Survivor Series in Chicago next month.

Punk would note:

“They’re asking if I’m going to be there? I think it’s sold out. I think tickets are hard to get.”

Continuing, the former AEW World Champion would inform fans that he is currently stuck at home as he helps his beloved dog Larry recover from a serious illness, an illness that has seen Punk forced to cancel current commitments and could see him out of action for the foreseeable.

“I don’t want to burst anybody’s bubble. I’m kind of just sitting at home and enjoying this beautiful Chicago weather. I have an injury in the family.

My dog [Larry] blew his dog ACL.

I’m literally just spending my time with him. I know that sounds crazy, but he is my son, and I take care of him and treat him as such. Everything has kind of stopped. I’m fortunate to take time off from everything. I’ve canceled things I have coming up. Traveling is hard. It’s tough to leave him here with my wife April [AJ Lee]. If there are two of us here taking care of him, it’s easier.” [h/t Fightful]

You can read more on CM Punk’s comments surrounding a WWE return, here.

Do you think we see CM Punk when WWE returns to Chicago in November? Let us know by hitting the thumbs below!

Good Afternoon!

I hope everyone is doing well and has had a great week so far!

I will be with you from 12pm to 6pm BST (7am – 1pm ET) covering all the biggest stories from WWE, AEW, NJPW, IMPACT and more.

We will be kicking things off today with the biggest stories from the last 24 hours including:

• CM Punk addresses WWE return rumour, confirms current plans for Survivor Series.
• Dave Meltzer calls for Triple H to be named “booker of the year.”
• NXT beats AEW Dynamite in the ratings for the third time this month.
• An AEW star has called out Jake Paul for a “real” boxing match.
• CM Punk calls for a wrestler’s union, reveals why it will never happen.
• The favourites for the 2024 Royal Rumble have been revealed.