Davey Boy Smith Jr Undergoes Emergency Surgery; October 13th Live Wrestling News Round-Up

CJ Perry has admitted that her husband Miro convinced her that the reported fight between him and CM Punk was real!

The former Lana recently spoke to Nick Hausman of Haus of Wrestling and during their conversation, she revealed how Miro managed to convince her that he and CM Punk had legitimately fought backstage at AEW All In: London. This worried Perry as she was set to make her AEW debut and thought the tension would cause issues.

“There’s so many parts of that story that’s outrageous. Well, first thing is, I didn’t know about this story until it was blowing up online. And that’s when Miro decided to tell me about it, and I was like, ‘What is happening right now?’ And I was like, ‘Why are you picking a fight with him? Why?’ I stay off Twitter a lot. I just really don’t try to; in WWE, I would stir the pot a lot because I felt like that was my character, but that’s not really my nature. I mean, maybe sometimes, it’s a lot of fun.

“But I was like, ‘What are you doing?’ You know? Like, ‘Why? Why? Why are you doing that?’ And then also, there’s a part of me that knew I was debuting, I’m like, ‘Oh, God. Can we just lay low, please? Can we just like lay low? And you’re gonna be picking at the showrunner? Are you insane?’ So, I was getting hot. And then, the next thing I hear is Miro was pissed that CM Punk went to the dirt sheets and said he was joking.

“And I’m like, ‘Were you joking?’ He’s like, ‘Yeah.’ I’m like, ‘Wait, what?’ So then for, like, five hours or until that time, he was selling the whole story to me like it was real. Selling it to me like it was all real. And I’m like, ‘So, wait, you’re telling me it was a joke?’ He tells me the story of how CM Punk is like, ‘Do you have a problem with me?’ He’s like, ‘Yeah,’ and CM Punk goes, ‘You want to fight?’

“Miro goes, ‘Here, or in the ring?’ I’m like, ‘You’re telling me that was a joke?’ He’s like, ‘Yeah.’ I’m like, ‘You’ve got to be kidding me right now.’ He’s like, ‘Oh, I forgot you take everything literal, CJ.’ I’m like, ‘Oh my God, I’m done. I’m literally done.’ So he finds it really funny that I believe everything.”

Kota Ibushi has confirmed he has signed with AEW, albeit with a few stipulations!

Speaking to HD Subs, Ibushi officially confirmed he signed with Tony Khan’s promotion back in July. However, Ibushi was able to get some stipulations added to his contract including having reduced dates for AEW, being able to live in Japan and being open to compete for other promotions freely.

“In a manner of speaking, yes. But during the discussion, they asked me how we could come to a deal. I said unless it has this and this and this, unless it has these conditions, I don’t want to sign a contract. I said if we’re just going to sign a contract, let’s do it today. That was the hardcore match, double ring, cage [Blood & Guts], on that day. That’s the day we signed the contract.

We had a verbal agreement. It has to be this way for me. I’m based in Japan, and I will travel for the matches. Basically, I’m in Japan, I work in Japan. I will be active. I’ll be free to do that do. There are other things that make the contract even more flexible. Like if I could appear for another promotion. That kind of thing is normal, like can I compete in another match? We talked about all those kinds of details.

I still got the OK. Tell us anything you want. We’ll listen to whatever you say. Reduce the number of matches a little bit more. Because if I go too many times, my activities in Japan will be limited, so reduce the number of matches a little bit more. When I said that, that is OK too. It’s the best deal.”

h/t to Fightful

Tony Khan‘s recent social media activity is said to have been seen as a “declaration of war” by those within WWE!

Yesterday, Tony Khan once again took a shot at WWE, specifically at John Cena and The Undertaker’s appearance on NXT when the program went head-to-head with AEW Dynamite. The posts follow a series of divisive X posts the AEW President has made this week, most notably taking a shot at Vince McMahon over the multiple sexual misconduct allegations levied at McMahon last year.

Writing in the latest Wrestling Observer Newsletter, Dave Meltzer reported that Khan’s intent was to use the traffic received from his controversial tweet to simultaneously draw attention to Jay White vs Penta El Zero Miedo being announced for next week’s edition of Dynamite.

He went on to state that WWE figures are said to believe the post was a “declaration of war” against them by Khan continually bringing up the subject of NXT and AEW’s clash.

“Khan noted that the ‘no million’ tweet was a response to the endless people who tweet at him every Thursday after the show does usually the top one or two numbers of the previous night, but that’s considered bad because they don’t hit one million viewers.

There was also a strategic message in posting in the sense the one million post came at the same time he released the Jay White vs. Penta match for next week, with the idea that the post would lead to more engagement for the announcement of that match.

Those in WWE did contact us very quickly after that post with the idea that it was like they saw it as a declaration of war by still discussing the subject.”

Mojo Rawley has released a statement on the ongoing conflict taking place in Israel.

The former WWE star, who is Palestinian himself, penned a lengthy statement on his X account condemning the “terroristic acts” currently occurring in Israel. You can read his entire message below:

“I am Palestinian. My father was born in Jerusalem. I have family that lives in Jerusalem and Gaza. Family members have been killed. Their homes reduced to ash. My family are not terrorists. They do not want war. They want to live their lives in their homes with their families peacefully. On the other side of the wall, many Israeli feel the same way. While they may not be my blood family, it is as horrifying to see innoncent Israeli citizens killed.

I will never support the murder or brutalization of innocent people anywhere. I condemn the terroristic acts of last week, I condemic the terrorist acts that are currently unfolding in present time, and I condemn all future terroristic acts no matter who commits them.

Right now, over 2 million Palestinians are being denied the right to food, water, energy, and fuel in the world’s largest open air prison. More than 2 million Palestinians, half of whom are children. No aid or support of any kind is being allowed to these peaceful civilians.

They are unable to flee Gaza. They will be killed if they try. There would still be no place they could go. Even if there was, they stay put knowing that if they leave now they will never have a country to call their own ever again. Eventually then, the Palestinian people would be totally eradicated. The thought that very soon I may no longer have a people or an ancestral home is unimaginable.

To my fellow Palestinians, my thoughts and prayers are with you. I will forever be inspired by your will to survive and endure. To the Jewish community, my thoughts and prayers are with you. I am a better person today for the impact my Jewish friends have had on my life. I hate that the past week has caused a greater divide in all our lives. My heart breaks for the Palestinian and Jewish communities.

Every person deserves the right to exist.
Every person deserves the right to be free.”

Vince McMahon is said to have been the main decision-maker behind not bringing CM Punk back to WWE!

In the latest Wrestling Observer Newsletter, Dave Meltzer reported the latest on CM Punk’s WWE return being denied. Meltzer noted that the refusal was ultimately down to Vince McMahon and that whilst Triple H and Nick Khan also agreed, they are simply following McMahon’s lead.

However, Meltzer stressed that the possibility of Punk returning is not a completely closed door as anything can happen in wrestling. However, the company feels they are in a strong enough position that the negatives of Punk currently outweigh the positives.

“The stuff with C.M. Punk is a no for right now. It could change, but it’s doubtful it will any time soon unless business goes down or there is a huge public outcry for him that hasn’t happened. It’s a Vince McMahon call and the others in charge are Levesque and Nick Khan, but in the end they are doing what Vince McMahon wants.

It was strong enough that company officials would be willing to say that they have no interest at this point and talks are dead right now . But I was also told not to close the door completely on it because it’s wrestling. The teases that have been out there like Nakamura doing the GTS are not an indication he’s coming back.

There are the obvious arguments in both directions–the issues from the past, the issues this year in AEW (which won’t mean as much either way as the issues from the past), the fact the company doesn’t need him and that they have a very cohesive locker room right now, but on the flip side, he will help with ratings short-term most likely, get a lot of attention, sell some tickets, sell a good deal of merchandise and there are an endless supply of new main event matches that they get out of him if it does work out.

But they are strong enough that they don’t need him and that’s the call. Historically, the reasons to bring him in would outweigh the reasons not to, except most of WWE revenue is derived from TV rights and he’s not going to make a difference there and the company is in such good shape that they don’t need anyone who could be a negative.”

A new report has provided more details on FTR losing the AEW World Tag Team Championship to Ricky Starks and Big Bill on AEW Collision.

Dave Meltzer reported in the latest Wrestling Observer Newsletter that the shocking angle that saw FTR lose their tag titles in less than five minutes was an angle pitched by Dax Harwood. Meltzer noted that the story of Cash Wheeler suffered broken ribs made the rounds in the company but ultimately it was discovered he did not have broken ribs.

Harwood is said to have pitched the idea to give Collision some shock value to build interest for the show as well as to establish Starks & Bill as a credible team in order to build a rematch between the two teams down the line.

“Ricky Starks & Big Bill beat FTR for the tag titles on the 10/7 Collision show in Salt Lake City. There is a lot behind this one. This was an angle pitched by Dax Harwood. There were those in the company told Cash Wheeler was injured with broken ribs and that was the reason for it.

We’re told he is banged up, enough to where he was X-rayed but we were told the X-rays showed no broken ribs and he doesn’t need time off and could have done a full match. The angle was something pitched for a shock on the show and to build a rematch and get and not to cover for a lengthy absence.

The idea of the pitch is to do a match where Wheeler was injured and Harwood had to face both men and got blown out without getting much offense in. The idea of dropping the titles and doing it in such a one-sided way to put over Bill & Starks strong and to do something significant to try and help the Collision show.”

Carlito has admitted he was surprised by the reaction to his return at WWE Fastlane in a newly-released behind-the-scenes clip.

The clip, which was posted by both WWE and Carlito’s Instagram accounts, shows the now-SmackDown star making his way out to the arena from gorilla position as his music hit at Fastlane. You can also see him and the rest of the Lucha World Order celebrating as they make their way backstage.

Speaking directly after his return, Carlito admitted his worries that fans may have forgotten about him but was very grateful for the reaction he received at the Premium Live Event.

“It felt good. It felt real good. Everytime you think they might have forgotten you but it’s a loyal fanbase, you know what I mean? They were showing a lot of love out there and I’m happy to recieve it.”

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Former WWE star Vladimir Koslov returned to professional wrestling on last night’s edition of IMPACT Wrestling!

Now going by his real name, Oleg Prudius made a surprise appearance during a five-way match to determine the #1 and #20 entrants in Bound For Glory’s Call Your Shot Gauntlet Battle Royal.

Prudis interfered in order to help Dirty Dango, allowing the former Fandango to pin Jake Something in the bout. This gave Dango the #20 spot in the Gauntlet Battle Royal whilst Something will enter at #1.

This marks the first time Koslov has gotten physical in a pro wrestling environment since his short-lived run in Japan’s Inoki Genome Federation following his WWE release in 2011.

The one-time WWE Tag Team Champion has worked with IMPACT over the last few years, joining the promotion as a Russian commentator back in April 2021. He also made a cameo appearance this past March where he reunited with his former WWE tag team partner Santino Marella.

The Grizzled Young Veterans, formerly known as The Dyad in NXT, have potentially teased an appearance at NJPW Royal Quest III this weekend.

James Drake dropped the tease on X yesterday, posting a photo of the boots he and Zack Gibson wore during their time as the Grizzled Young Veterans on the independents, in NXT UK, and during the start of their NXT careers prior to joining Schism.

The photo is accompanied by a caption teasing that something related to the duo will occur tomorrow at 5pm UK time. Tomorrow is also when their WWE contracts will reportedly expire, despite both men finishing up with NXT in late August.

Eagle-eyed fans have pointed out that the teaser could indicate an appearance at NJPW Royal Quest III which is set to take place in London tomorrow evening. It’s key to note, however, that the exact time Drake posted is around an hour before Royal Quest is set to begin, per NJPW’s website.

Time waits for no one.

Saturday.

12pm EST 🇺🇲
5pm 🇬🇧 pic.twitter.com/8eJLE7gR9L

— James Drake (@JamesDrakePro) October 12, 2023

Where do you want to see the Grizzled Young Veterans next? Let us know your thoughts with the link at the top of the page!

Davey Boy Smith Jr has provided an update to fans after undergoing emergency surgery.

In a post to Instagram, Smith revealed that he had to undergo emergency surgery on Wednesday night to deal with both appendicitis and diverticulitis. As part of the procedure, Smith had to have his appendix and part of his colon removed.

As a result, the former WWE and NJPW star announced he will be unable to compete at MLW Slaughterhouse this weekend where he would have challenged Alex Kane for the MLW World Championship.

“I wanted to inform everyone officially I needed to have Emergency surgery late last night for appendicitis + appendix removal, to find out it was diverticulitis as well. I have had part of colon removed with some of my appendix as well for the procedure. Folks this was one of the most painful experiences of my life, but I’m glad I got it done.

A burst appendix can lead to serious complications too. I’m sad to announce my withdrawal from the @majorleaguewrestling World Title Match vs. Alex Kane this weekend in Philadelphia as well. Hopefully I can get this same opportunity in the future when I’m back healthy, and so sorry to my fans, these things happen and was not something I ever want to endure again! Trust me! [This] was a 12/10 in the pain scale. Arigatou.

I’m in stable condition now, but I am still in immense pain. I’ll keep everyone posted with updates. Thanks for everyone reaching out to me also.”

Good morning everyone, happy Friday!

Welcome back to the ITRWrestling live blog! I’ll be with you from 12pm to 6pm BST (7am – 1pm ET) covering all the biggest stories from WWE, AEW, NJPW, IMPACT and more.

Today’s top stories are:

• Davey Boy Smith Undergoes Emergency Surgery
  
• Grizzled Young Veterans Tease NJPW Debut At Royal Quest III?
  
• Vladimir Koslov Makes Pro Wrestling Return In IMPACT