Welcome to the October 5th 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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Shotzi and Scarlett are back with another episode of their fantastic Chamber of Horrors YouTube series.
In this episode the duo are joined by Grayson Waller as they perform a séance to try an summon the dead!
Check it out below.
Booker T is evidently not a fan of wrestling insiders, as revealed on his podcast where he gives fans an inside look into professional wrestling.
A few days after NXT No Mercy it was reported that Mustafa Ali was slated to become the new North American Champion by defeating Dominik Mysterio.
With many in the company also frustrated that Ali was released days before his title match, the news would likely increase the anger.
The former King of the Ring cited this particular example while discussing wrestling insiders on the Hall of Fame podcast. Booker T would go on to say that revealing storyline plans are the same as spoiling a movie.
Booker T state that he is passionate about his hatred for those wrestling insiders because they are “killing the business.”
Back in 2018, Adam Copeland, formerly known as Edge talked exclusively to Inside The Ropes about when Vince McMahon called him to tell him to retire.
Check it out below!
Matt Riddle was recently released from the WWE after burning multiple chances with the company and it has now been revealed that he was set for big things prior to his release.
In a new report WrestleVotes has revealed that Matt Riddle was set to team with Former WWE Champion Drew McIntyre prior to his release.
The report goes on to reveal that multiple pieces of merchandise has been produced for the duo and that they had even been given a name…McRiddle, yikes.
The name, clearly inspired by McDonald’s popular menu item the McGriddle, has been met with a widely negative reaction on social media with some fans even noting that they are thankful Riddle’s release “saved” Drew McIntyre from being stuck with the pairing.
Taking to Twitter, WrestleVotes would reveal:
“Prior to his departure from the company, I’m told there were significant plans for a Matt Riddle / Drew McIntyre tag team. So much so, various merchandise items were designed with the team name……. “McRiddle.” This is not a joke.”
Would you have liked to see McRiddle in the WWE? Let us know by hitting the thumbs below!
During last night’s episode of AEW Dynamite, former TNT Champion Wardlow made his shock return to the company!
Check it out below.
Adam Copeland has revealed the exact moment he knew he’d be leaving WWE.
In a recent interview with Sports Illustrated, Copeland revealed that during his August 18th SmackDown match with Sheamus, he started to believe that it would be his last match with WWE.
He also contemplated the possibility of retirement after the bout.
Copeland would comment:
“Halfway through the match with Sheamus in Toronto, I was thinking, ‘This is probably my last WWE match. I also started thinking, right then, ‘There is a great chance I retire after this.”
The man formerly known as Edge would also send a message of thanks to the WWE for the incredible send off he received, you can read more on this here.
Tony Khan has taken to social media to share some fond words towards AEW’s latest “timeless” talent.
Storm, who deleted her own social media back in 2019, has had a career resurgence since shifting from her previous ‘wild child’ gimmick to her “timeless” Toni Storm persona.
Following a fantastic match against Skye Blue on this weeks episode of Dynamite, Tony Khan would take to social media to share a message on behalf of Toni Storm.
Taking to Twitter, Khan would note:
“She doesn’t have Twitter, so I’ll reiterate it on her behalf: Toni Storm is Timeless!!!!!!!!!! Thank you everyone watching #AEWDynamite tonight! You’re the best!”
Have you been enjoying Toni Storm’s new gimmick? Let us know by smashing the thumbs below!
Here is everything that went down on the latest set of tapings for AEW Rampage.
The spoilers below are set to air on October 6th 2023.
AEW Rampage Results
Hulk Hogan has revealed that he recently signed a new contract with WWE.
Speaking in a new interview with Chris Van Vliet, Hogan confirmed his new contract and discussed his hopes for the future before reflecting on the glory days of Hulkamania.
“You know, I still work with the WWE all the time. I just renewed my deal with them, you know.”
Hogan was then asked if this mean we could potentially see ‘The Hulkster’ in a WWE ring one more time – something he is hopeful will happen.
“I hope so. It’s always fun to go out there.
Maybe I can hang on to one of the wrestlers to get me out to the ring.
But it’s really crazy. Because when I was the world’s champion, you know, we sold a tonne of merchandise. We didn’t have the vehicle to the internet and the stuff that they have nowadays. But we sold a lot of stuff you know, back in the day.
The cartoon were very supportive of the merchandise and stuff like that and you know, it was kind of strange because I think I had 350 licensees which are like individual deals, Frisbees, watches, headbands, chalk, kites, potty seats, tennis shoes, whatever it may be. And now that I’m kind of like Jimmy Hart says, well, baby, baby, what’s old is new again. What’s old is new again. And I said, Jimmy, you’re right. Because, you know, I’ve been approving merchandise every day, I get new stuff coming in. And I’m up to like, 850,000, you know, like, 900,000 pieces of merchandise. I’m sorry, I’m mistaken it’s 300 different agencies. I’m up to 900 licensees not 900,000. I’m thinking wrong. But instead of 300 deals for Frisbees, or whatever, it’s up to almost 900.
Yeah. So it’s like, I’m Elvis is still alive. You know, it’s kind of scary. I don’t know. So but it’s just amazing how the fans have made this live forever, you know, it’s amazing.”
Would you like to see Hulk Hogan have one last WWE match? Let us know by smashing the buttons below!
If you use any quotes from this article please provide a h/t to Inside The Ropes and link back to the original article.
Billie Starkz is All Elite!
AEW regular and rising star Billie Starkz has revealed she has officially signed with the company.
After making her AEW debut back in December 2022, Starkz has wrestled for All Elite Wrestling on 10 occasions, most recently on the WrestleDream pre-show teaming with Athena, Keith Lee & NJPW star Satoshi Kojima to take on Diamante, Mercedes Martinez & Shane Taylor Promotions.
Speaking on Wrestling Observer Live, Starkz was asked about her contract status, to which the 18-year-old would reveal she has officially signed with AEW.
“I am a signed talent at AEW.”
Do you think Billie Starkz has what it takes to get to the very top of AEW’s Women’s Division? Let us know by hitting the thumbs below!
MJF is not one to shy away from accepting praise, but it appears he will not do so if it comes at the expense of his fellow AEW roster members The Elite.
Taking to Twitter, MJF would respond to a comment from a fan who claimed that The Elite had peaked several years ago and were no longer as valuable or relevant to AEW as MJF or Jon Moxley.
MJF would state that although he loves a compliment he will not accept fans with “one brain cell” to insult The Elite who are the reason for AEW existing in the first place.
MJF wrote:
“Elite. Is literally in the name. The company started because of TK, Kenny, Cody, and the Bucks. I love being gassed up. Trust me! I’m a raging narcissist, however even I can’t enjoy a compliment if the person putting me over only has one brain cell….and it’s dormant.”
Do you agree with MJF’s comments? Let us know by smashing the thumbs below!
The attendance for AEW All In has been a hot debate since before the show was even confirmed.
Social media discourse has transitioned from “AEW can’t sell half of Wembley Stadium” to “AEW can’t sell out Wembley Stadium” to “AEW has sold out Wembley Stadium” and now we are at some odd cross roads where some sources imply AEW did not break the WrestleMania 32 ticket sales record and others claiming that it did.
Well Tony Khan has taken to social media to clarify the numbers once and for all.
Responding to a Tweet from Dave Meltzer that questioned why AEW announced the paid attendance of All In rather than the total attendance, which has been the norm in recent years, Khan would state:
“The reason I announced the actual paid attendance 81,035 tickets sold, instead of saying over 85,000 tix distributed, is because our 81,035 sold at #AEWAllIn @WembleyStadium in London is the all-time ticket sales record, whereas WCW North Korea shows hold tix distributed record.”
Brandon Thurston recently did an excellent piece breaking down the three numbers floating around regarding the AEW All In attendance; the 81,035 paid attendance, the reported 85,000 in attendance and the local government turnstile count of 72,265.
Thurston has all requested that Tony Khan make the ticker report available to the public to mitigate controversy, however no such report has been released at this time.
Do you think AEW broke the paid attendance record for a wrestling event at All In? Let us know by hitting the thumbs below!
Fans have been excited to see Hulk Hogan portrayed on the big screen in Netflix’s adaption of his life staring Chris Hemsworth.
However, ‘The Hulkster’ has broken the sad news that the biopic has been scrapped, revealing that Netflix are no longer the rights owners for his likeness and the story.
Speaking on Insight with Chris Van Vliet, Hulk Hogan would state:
“So it was a situation where business-wise, Netflix kind of like missed the date, you know, as far as a business situation. And so I had the choice at that time to switch gears. Scott Silver wrote the script, you know, he wrote The Joker and a bunch of different movies.
And of course, Todd Phillips has done the Joker Wolf of Wall Street and you know, whatever. All the crazy stuff that he did. But yeah, the script came back. It was amazing. I mean, because my favourite movies are like Scarface, The Godfather, True Romance, it was there, it was there.
But all of a sudden there was a business glitch, you know, and then they tried to fix it a few days later. And I’d already decided to move on.
So, my life rights and stuff are somewhere else now. And there are a lot of things that are getting ready to happen. And hopefully, Todd Phillips and Chris Hemsworth will still want to play. But there’s still a huge opportunity there.”
NXT may have begun airing vignettes for former AEW star Brian Pillman Jr, however, according to a new report that is all they have planned.
Nick Hausman of Haus of Wrestling has reported that WWE currently has “no real plans” for Brian Pillman Jr despite his vignettes currently airing on a weekly basis, including most recently at NXT’s No Mercy PLE.
Hausman reports that he asked WWE sources if Cargill or Pillman Jr were likely to debut during next weeks episode of NXT that is slated to go head-to-head with AEW Title Tuesday.
The report notes that no mention of Jade Cargill has come up during recent NXT creative meetings and as there are “no real plans” for Pillman Jr it is unlikely that either will be seen during net weeks show.
“Haus of Wrestling has learned that Cargill’s name has not been brought up when it comes to WWE NXT creative…[speaking on Brian Pillman Jr] I was given the impression that no real plans for the second-generation star have been discussed beyond his buzzy vignettes.”
Would you like to see Brian Pillman Jr or Jade Cargill debut during next week’s stacked episode of NXT? Let us know by hitting the thumbs below!
The October 4th edition of AEW Dynamite went off the air with Christian Cage, Nick Wayne and Luchasaurus staring down Adam Copeland but for the fans in attendance the fun did not stop there.
AEW has taken to YouTube to release exclusive footage of what went down after AEW went off the air.
Check it out below!
Are you looking forward to Adam Copeland’s in-ring debut next week? Let us know by hitting the thumbs below!
Prior to AEW WrestleDream, Tony Khan teased that AEW would be entering a “new era” following the show.
Well less than 72 hours later and AEW’s “new era” appears to have begun.
During the shows main event segment between Adam Copeland and lifelong best friend, turned rival, Christian Cage, Cage would tell ‘The Rated R Superstar’ to “go f*ck yourself.”
Tony Khan would take to Twitter following the show to declare that AEW has entered the ‘Rated R’ era whilst sharing a clip from the Dynamite anniversary show.
“Go Fuck Yourself” #AEWDynamite Rated R Era”
During the show Toni Storm would repeatedly instruct the live audience that she was going to slap Skye Blue in the “tit*ies” and Kenny Omega would receive and unprotected chair shot to the skull from Don Callis.
Do you think we are about to see a darker, slightly edgier (pardon the pun) AEW Dynamite in the ‘Rated R Era’? Let us know by hitting the thumbs below!
This Tuesday’s NXT is set to feature John Cena, Paul Heyman, Cody Rhodes and Asuka as the show goes head-to-head with AEW Title Tuesday but WWE’s promotion of the show isn’t stopping their.
According to Dave Meltzer, next week’s episode of Monday Night Raw is set to feature “very heavy” promotion for NXT in an attempt to drive up numbers as the company continues to strengthen NXT ahead of contract negotiation season.
Speaking on this morning’s Wrestling Observer Radio, Meltzer would reveal:
“I mean, both companies are loading up. And the reason is, is for this, I mean, it’s a real competition. And I mean, the thing I expect very heavy promotion of NXT on Raw next Monday, probably the heaviest ever, because this Monday was pretty heavy. But I think next Monday will be well for sure It’ll be heavier, it’ll be probably the heaviest ever and I would expect more big roster names on that show next week. That, you know, that will get announced on Monday.”
Since NXT’s relaunch, following the disastrous NXT 2.0, top NXT talent has consistently appeared on Raw and SmackDown periodically with the likes of Tiffany Stratton, Trick Williams, Dragon Lee and Carmelo Hayes all appearing in recent weeks.
Who would you like to surprise the world and turn up on this week’s episode of Raw? Let us know by using the ‘get involved’ feature at the top of the page!
If you use any quotes from this article please provide a h/t to Inside The Ropes and link back to the original article.
Hulk Hogan hasn’t been seen in a WWE ring since taking on Randy Orton at SummerSlam back in 2006.
However, according to “The Real American” himself, there were cemented plans in place for him to make an in-ring return in the WWE and take on fellow icon John Cena.
Speaking during a new interview with Chris Van Vliet, Hogan would reveal the plans for the match as well as why it never came to fruition:
“Vince had me all hooked up with Cena and I said I’d do it.
Vince and I were talking every week and we were putting the plans together you know, like the old days where I was in the office every day him and I were talking every day and all of a sudden I’m on the phone with Vince I was like, Oh my God. Oh, my back went out when I was talking to Vince on the phone.
I just had back surgery number three or four at that time, and I had to go right in immediately and get cut up.
So that was it for that but I thought that was going to be my last match and then you know, but that never happened and then it just kind of like faded away.”
In May earlier this year Hulk Hogan would express his desire to have one final WWE match against none other than ‘Stone Cold’ Steve Austin.
Would you like to see Hulk Hogan have one last run in the WWE? Let us know by hitting the thumbs below!
If you use any quotes from this article please provide a h/t to Inside The Ropes and link back to the original article.
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:
