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Welcome to today's edition of the AEW News Roundup featuring Bray Wyatt, Braun Strowman, Ric Flair, Kenny Omega, and The Young Bucks. As is the case every day, there were plenty of notable events in and around the AEW universe. Here, we'll look at the five most notable ones.
A former WWE Champion commented on the possibility of Bray Wyatt, Braun Strowman, and Ric Flair joining AEW.
The Young Bucks updated their Twitter bio to take a blatant shot at recent developments in WWE.
A titleholder in NJPW hopes to face Kenny Omega one day. Chris Jericho revealed his thoughts on wrestling in a death match once again. Lastly, Malakai Black opened up on how his relationship nearly broke down with WWE towards the end of his run there.
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Without delay, let's get into it.
#5 Paul Wight comments on Bray Wyatt, Braun Strowman, and Ric Flair joining AEW
Paul Wight feels it would be great to see the likes of Bray Wyatt, Braun Strowman and Ric Flair possibly join AEW.
Wyatt, Strowman, and Flair were recently released by WWE and many fans feel that they could potentially end up in Tony Khan's promotion.
Bray Wyatt and Braun Strowman, in particular, are genuine main event attractions. Paul Wight spoke about the possibility of AEW signing the former WWE champions and what they could add to an already stacked roster.
"For those other talents like Bray Wyatt, Braun Strowman, Ric Flair, and all those guys, there’s always an opportunity for people of that calibre to be a part of AEW and contribute. That’s the thing with wrestling. You never say never," Paul Wight explained. "It would be great to see those guys come in and be it’d be great to see some of the young AEW talent get the chance to interact with guys who have seen that massive stardom and how that moulds your performances and in-ring psychology. They can learn from that and prepare these young AEW talents for what’s coming in the future, giving them the opportunity to grow and be part of what's going to be a globally impactful company." (H/T: The Ring Report)
Bray Wyatt and Braun Strowman will immediately add a different dimension to AEW.
Wyatt is known to be one of the best creative minds in the business, while Strowman is a super athlete who could become a valuable member of any roster. Ric Flair has all the makings of a terrific manager and a wealth of wrestling knowledge which could help up and coming stars.
It seems far-fetched to think all three will land up in AEW soon, but if they do, fans will be in for something special.
#4 AEW's The Young Bucks mock WWE over reported changes in NXT
AEW Tag Team Champions, The Young Bucks, recently updated their Twitter bio to take shots at WWE. This time it was over the reported changes that Vince McMahon is planning for NXT.
Dave Meltzer of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter reported that Mr. McMahon doesn't want any "midgets" or older wrestlers in NXT's top ranks. Instead, the black and gold brand will shift its focus towards churning out talent capable of becoming major stars on the main roster.
“The wording is ‘no more midgets, no one starting in their 30s, they want people who can be box office attractions and main characters,” said Dave Meltzer. (h/t WrestlingNews)
The Young Bucks wasted no time in throwing shade at the news, changing their bio to take a dig at WWE.
"Very tall. Not in our 30's," said The Young Bucks in their new Twitter bio.
The AEW Tag Team champions have made it their gimmick to mock everyone they can through their bio. This fits in well with the current persona they are depicting on AEW.
#3 Lance Archer wants to fight AEW World Champion Kenny Omega
IWGP United States Heavyweight Champion Lance Archer wants to face AEW's Kenny Omega.
Lance Archer got the biggest win of his AEW career when he defeated Jon Moxley to win the IWGP US Title in a Texas Death Match at Fyter Fest Night 2 to end a streak of big match losses.
He immediately defended his belt the following week against Bullet Club's Hikuleo at Fight for the Fallen. Archer is scheduled for a huge match against Hiroshi Tanahashi at NJPW Resurgence.
During a Twitter Q&A, the Murderhawk Monster revealed that he wants to take on Kenny Omega next. A Twitter user asked Archer who he'd like to fight the most, and Archer replied with Kenny Omega citing him being the AEW world champion as the reason.
"Kenny cuz he's Champ," Lance Archer tweeted.
Kenny Omega and Lance Archer have never faced off in a singles match so a potential clash feels like a big deal already. It's unlikely to happen anytime soon, but it is a bout that should happen in AEW at least once.
#2 AEW's Chris Jericho open to wrestling a death match again
First-ever AEW World Champion Chris Jericho has revealed that he will wrestle a deathmatch again if it fits into the storyline.
Chris Jericho and Nick Gage battled in a deathmatch at AEW Fight for the Fallen in the second Labor of Jericho by MJF.
The match was a barbaric affair that featured glass panes, pizza cutters, and tube lights being used by both men.
AEW had done violent matches before, but none like this. Jericho told Inside the Ropes that he would do it again if it benefits the storyline but would probably never volunteer for it.
“I’ll do it, because it is all about storytelling. Obviously it’s not something I would want to do every night or probably will ever do again but when you’re talking about the story that we’re telling, it was perfect for it. And I think that match was a classic in its genre,” Jericho said. “Was it something that I would ever volunteer to do again? Probably not. But was it something that completely was 1000 percent approved and basically thought of by me? Well, guilty as charged.” (H/T: Inside The Ropes)
The match divided opinion across the wrestling community, with many believing that violence like that does not belong on TV while others appreciated Chris Jericho stepping into an environment like that and not holding back.
Moreover, the section of wrestling fans that have followed Nick Gage's journey was appreciative of Tony Khan for giving him a platform like AEW to showcase his style of wrestling.
AEW should reserve such match types only for the biggest of occasions. Whatever one's opinion might be, both men endured a ton of pain to entertain fans and that must always command respect.
#1 AEW's Malakai Black opens up on final days in WWE
AEW star Malakai Black endured a lot of frustration during his final days in WWE to the point where he felt that it was time to leave the company.
Black sat down with former AEW world champion Chris Jericho on Talk is Jericho and opened up on how he felt like he had "hit a wall" during his last days in WWE. (H/T: Fightful)
"Towards the end of my stint in WWE, I felt it was time to go. I felt they made the decision for me. I told my wife months in advance, 'this isn't working out the way they promised me it was going to work out. I'm going to move on to different things.' I felt like I hit a wall and they don't want to push me over the wall and I wasn't going to keep bumping my head into the wall because eventually, I feel I owe myself more in life. I want to be a player," said Malakai Black.
Black has been a happy man in AEW, enjoying a strong start in Tony Khan's promotion. He attacked Cody Rhodes at AEW Road Rager and a month later, squashed the former TNT Champion in his in-ring debut for the company.
Many feel WWE dropped the ball with the Dutchman who has everything needed to become a main event attraction.
