The Turnbuckle Tavern

Turnbuckle Tavern is powered by G FUEL and Official Dick Lazer. Use code TAVERN for 20% off at GFUEL.com and DickLazers.com.

This week on Wrestling Tonight, Acefield Retro breaks down a loaded Wednesday as CM Punk challenges Grayson Waller for the NXT Championship opposite AEW Blood & Guts. With John Cena appearing and Cody Rhodes presenting the Dusty Classic trophy, WWE is giving fans plenty of reasons to tune in. But can NXT turn the attention into something lasting for Waller, and where does Tony D'Angelo fit after the controversial finish at Halloween Havoc?

We also discuss WWE's reported backstage succession plan, with Shawn Michaels expected to replace Bruce Prichard following his reported retirement after WrestleMania 43. AJ Styles could take on greater responsibilities in NXT, but who would handle creative if Michaels moves on? We look at what these changes could mean for WWE and where Styles' interest in developing younger talent fits into the picture.

Chad Gable pins CM Punk at a WWE house show, and we explain why that result deserves a mention on television. Meanwhile, reports indicate Punk and Kevin Owens did not refuse to travel to Saudi Arabia, with their SmackDown match always planned for that show. We separate that clarification from the broader reporting about talent safety concerns and examine why WWE's assurances need to leave room for wrestlers to speak up as Crown Jewel approaches.

Over in AEW, we preview both Blood & Guts matches as Will Ospreay, Adam Copeland, Darby Allin, Steven Borden and The Young Bucks prepare to face the Don Callis Family. The women's match brings together Triangle of Madness, Divine Dominion and Persephone against The Brawling Birds, Wrathlander, Willow Nightingale and Queen Aminata. Plus, Darby goes from wrestling Hechicero in Arena Mexico to completing the New York City Marathon just days before stepping inside the cage.

Then we look at AEW's New Year's Smash schedule change, which avoids a clash with SmackDown and puts Dynamite after college football playoff coverage. Can AEW turn that lead into new viewers? We also cover Paul Walter Hauser leaving MLW over creative differences and the pointed message that closed his otherwise appreciative farewell.

In New Japan, Taiji Ishimori and Robbie X face Robbie Eagles and Kosei Fujita in the Super Junior Tag League final at Power Struggle. We discuss the redemption story, Blake Christian and Lee Johnson narrowly missing the final, and the uncertainty surrounding a future championship opportunity. Then we preview the week's television and look ahead to Crown Jewel, Full Gear, Destination X and Lucha Kingdom, including Ospreay vs. Kyle Fletcher and The Death Riders against The Cut in Anarchy in the Arena.

Join our Patreon for just $2.99 a month at PATREON.COM/THETURNBUCKLETAVERN for exclusive content, and follow @turnbuckletavern across social media.

Until the following week, when we wine and dine with you kings and queens, stay out of the alley and away from the pork and beans. God luck and good speed.

It's time for the 5th episode of Season 8 of SHOT OF NOSTALGIA and we're continuing our journey through the WEDNESDAY NIGHT WARS between AEW DYNAMITE and NXT. We've officially entered 2020, NXT is coming off its biggest ratings victory of the competition and AEW is looking to recover from a December that exposed some serious creative problems. ACEFIELD RETRO is jumping back into the DELOREAN for January 1 through January 29, 2020, as we revisit the first five Wednesdays of the new year, AEW begins finding its footing heading toward Revolution and NXT builds toward TakeOver: Portland. With the excitement of the original launch and WWE's Survivor Series campaign behind them, both companies are now facing the challenge of keeping audiences invested in their regular weekly television product.

Over on TNT, AEW is beginning to establish a clearer direction for its biggest stars while making some important changes behind the scenes. Jon Moxley rejects Chris Jericho's invitation to join the Inner Circle, survives a vicious attack that leaves him with an injured eye and defeats PAC to earn his AEW World Championship opportunity at Revolution. Kenny Omega and Hangman Page develop an increasingly complicated partnership that leads them to the AEW World Tag Team Championships after defeating SCU aboard Chris Jericho's Rock 'N' Wrestling Rager at Sea, while Cody accepts MJF's humiliating conditions for their eventual confrontation. The company brings back Bash at the Beach, Britt Baker begins developing the arrogant personality that will transform her career and the Nightmare Collective continues struggling to connect with audiences. But the biggest development comes on January 15 when WarnerMedia announces a multiyear extension of AEW's television agreement, reportedly worth approximately $175 million over four years, along with plans for a second television series. We're examining why Tony Khan's increasing involvement in creative oversight was becoming so important, how the company was responding to its December criticism and what the television extension meant for AEW's long term survival. We're also revisiting the Marty Scurll and Dark Order speculation, Brian Cage's reported signing, the Revival's contractual situation and the growing competition for established wrestling talent.

Meanwhile, NXT is attempting to maintain the momentum it established at the end of 2019 while preparing for another major TakeOver event. Keith Lee builds on his breakout Survivor Series performance by winning a fatal four way to become the number one contender for the NXT North American Championship before defeating Roderick Strong on January 22 to capture the title and disrupt the Undisputed ERA's championship dominance. Matt Riddle and Pete Dunne form the unlikely BroserWeights partnership and advance through the Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic, eventually defeating the Grizzled Young Veterans to earn an NXT Tag Team Championship opportunity against Bobby Fish and Kyle O'Reilly. Bianca Belair wins a seventeen woman battle royal to challenge Rhea Ripley at TakeOver: Portland, Finn Bálor continues his increasingly aggressive run and Tommaso Ciampa moves closer to reclaiming the NXT Championship from Adam Cole. We're also revisiting Worlds Collide, where Imperium defeats the Undisputed ERA, Ripley retains against Toni Storm and Jordan Devlin captures the Cruiserweight Championship, along with Bianca Belair and Shayna Baszler's remarkable Royal Rumble performances. Outside the ring, we're examining WWE's recruitment of established talent like Killer Kross, the uncertainty surrounding Velveteen Dream's injury and the challenge of maintaining NXT's identity while WWE continues expanding its international developmental system.

And the ratings tell an absolutely fascinating story as AEW immediately reestablishes its Wednesday night advantage after NXT's strong December finish. On January 1, Dynamite draws 967,000 viewers against NXT's 548,000, although WWE is airing its year end awards program rather than a regular episode of live wrestling. AEW follows with 947,000 viewers against 721,000 on January 8 and 940,000 against 700,000 on January 15, the same day WarnerMedia announces its major television extension. The competition becomes considerably closer on January 22 when Dynamite draws 871,000 viewers against NXT's 769,000, before AEW closes the month with 828,000 against WWE's 712,000 on January 29. Across all five Wednesdays, Dynamite averages 910,600 viewers compared with NXT's 690,000, giving AEW an advantage of 220,600 viewers per episode and a clean sweep of January. But AEW's own audience declines throughout the month, raising questions about whether winning the weekly competition necessarily means either company is experiencing sustained growth. We're also comparing those numbers with Raw and SmackDown, examining WWE's much larger television footprint and what AEW's new agreement with WarnerMedia reveals about the business realities behind the Wednesday Night Wars.

More than anything, Episode 5 is about the moment AEW begins turning its early growing pains into a more focused television product while NXT continues demonstrating why the Black and Gold era was so highly regarded. Moxley's pursuit of Jericho, Omega and Hangman's championship success and Cody's increasingly personal rivalry with MJF give AEW several meaningful stories heading toward Revolution, while Keith Lee's rise, the BroserWeights' Dusty Classic victory and the developing championship programs surrounding Adam Cole and Rhea Ripley keep NXT moving toward Portland. AEW is winning the ratings battle and securing its television future, but NXT is still delivering major championship moments and some of the strongest in ring wrestling anywhere in the industry. We're also looking at how the wider wrestling landscape is changing through talent negotiations, Impact Wrestling's controversial Tessa Blanchard championship victory and WWE's preparations for another Saudi Arabia event. Four months into the Wednesday Night Wars, both companies are beginning to establish what their competition will look like over the long term, with no idea that the entire wrestling industry is only weeks away from an unprecedented disruption. Don't forget to grab your weekly Shot of Nostalgia to continue FLASHBACK FRIDAY ON THE TAVERN. As always, tip your bartenders & learn from the past!

It's Thursday, and you know what that means! It is time to walk through those Tavern doors and order up a round of professional wrestling coverage from the Two Bad Chads for this edition of The Flagship! This week, we break down Fright Night Dynamite as Queen Aminata dethrones Persephone to become TBS Champion, Jay White and The Cut leave Claudio Castagnoli on a stretcher and the Death Riders head toward Anarchy in the Arena at Full Gear. Kyle Fletcher beats Jack Perry and secures his World Championship showdown with Will Ospreay, while Darby Allin survives Josh Alexander with Steven Borden back in the fight ahead of Blood & Guts. Plus, the Motor City Machine Guns take a 2–1 series lead over FTR, Swerve Strickland brutalizes Bandido to push his Texas Death demand and Marina Shafir confronts Mercedes Moné! Make sure you go to patreon.com/theturnbuckletavern for all your Tavern needs!

Turnbuckle Tavern is powered by G FUEL and Official Dick Lazer. Use code TAVERN for 20% off at GFUEL.com and DickLazers.com.

This week on Wrestling Tonight, Acefield Retro breaks down John Cena's upcoming appearances on Raw and NXT as Wednesday-night competition heats up against AEW Blood & Guts. With Cody Rhodes presenting the Dusty Classic trophy and a potential John Cena Classic update looming, we discuss how NXT can turn its loaded lineup into lasting momentum.

We also take a critical look at WWE moving forward with Crown Jewel in Riyadh amid deadly airport attacks, travel disruptions, and a U.S. government personnel departure order. With a United States backup location reportedly available, what would actually convince WWE to relocate? We examine the company's Saudi partnership, the responsibility to protect its workforce, and a card now featuring The Vision against Penta and Je'Von Evans. Plus, an unredacted court document reveals how WWE's Netflix agreement gave the streaming giant an early opportunity to negotiate for UFC's domestic media rights.

Then, in a special Halloween discussion, we make the case that wrestling should still be weird. From Undertaker, Kane, Mankind, and Bray Wyatt to Lio Rush's Blackheart, the Wyatt Sicks, and Danhausen, we explore why scary characters can still connect—and why atmosphere needs a story behind it. We revisit Lucha Underground's commitment to supernatural storytelling, Mil Muertes, Pentagon, and Grave Consequences while discussing the difference between building a compelling monster and booking an unbeatable character into a corner.

Stephanie Vaquer's uncertain return timetable forces a Raw shakeup, Judgment Day helps Liv Morgan escape Becky Lynch and Tiffany Stratton, and another interrupted cash-in raises questions about WWE's briefcase booking. We also discuss Bruce Prichard's reported retirement plans after WrestleMania 43 and what a transition to consulting could mean behind the scenes.

Over in New Japan, Super Junior Tag League approaches its final stretch as Taguchi and Sumi defeat KUSHIDA and Nick Wayne, while Mistico and Yasuda struggle to build momentum. Then we preview the week's television, including Danhausen's Halloween SmackDown special, before looking ahead to Halloween Havoc, Crown Jewel, Destination X, Lucha Kingdom and Full Gear.

Join our Patreon for just $2.99 a month at PATREON.COM/THETURNBUCKLETAVERN for exclusive content, and follow @turnbuckletavern across social media.

Until the following week, when we wine and dine with you kings and queens, stay out of the alley and away from the pork and beans. God luck and good speed.

It's time to get RAW! It's time to get DOWN! It's episode 250, and what better way to celebrate than to talk about the week in WWE and reminisce on the good ol' days of the RAWDOWN All that and more on your #1 source for all things WWE on the Turnbuckle Tavern. This is the RAWDOWN!

Turnbuckle Tavern is powered by G FUEL and Official Dick Lazer. Use code TAVERN for 20% off at GFUEL.com and DickLazers.com.

This week on Wrestling Tonight, Acefield Retro breaks down NXT going head-to-head with AEW Blood & Guts, WWE's instruction to load up the show and the latest ticket movement in Jacksonville. With Shot of Nostalgia Season 8 revisiting the Wednesday Night Wars, the timing couldn't be more fitting.

We also discuss Ari Emanuel's comments on Crown Jewel's status amid growing security concerns, Cody Rhodes and Randy Orton's next chapter, and the early WrestleMania 43 direction involving Roman Reigns and Oba Femi.

Plus, a possible Rey Mysterio farewell in 2027, new Women's Tag Team Champions, an update on Ric Flair and a record-setting sale for a piece of Savage–Steamboat history.

Over in New Japan, Super Junior Tag League is already wide open. We check in on Nick Wayne and KUSHIDA, the crowded standings and the road to Power Struggle before previewing the week's television and what's taking shape for Halloween Havoc, Crown Jewel, Destination X and Full Gear.

Join our Patreon for just $2.99 a month at PATREON.COM/THETURNBUCKLETAVERN for exclusive content, and follow @turnbuckletavern across social media.

Until the following week, when we wine and dine with you kings and queens, stay out of the alley and away from the pork and beans. God luck and good speed.

It's time for the 4th episode of Season 8 of SHOT OF NOSTALGIA and we're continuing our journey through the WEDNESDAY NIGHT WARS between AEW DYNAMITE and NXT. November is behind us, WWE has finally caught AEW in the ratings through its enormous Survivor Series campaign, and now both companies have to prove they can maintain that momentum without relying on major pay per views or appearances from Raw and SmackDown stars. ACEFIELD RETRO is jumping back into the DELOREAN for December 4 through December 18, 2019, as we revisit the final three head to head battles of the year, NXT delivers some of its biggest championship moments and AEW begins confronting serious questions about its creative direction just three months into its national television run.

Over on TNT, AEW is attempting to establish some consistency after the excitement surrounding its launch begins wearing off. Jon Moxley continues his rise toward the AEW World Championship with victories over Joey Janela and Alex Reynolds, Kenny Omega and Hangman Page begin developing the partnership that will eventually become one of the company's defining stories, and the Young Bucks defeat Santana and Ortiz in a Texas Street Fight before challenging SCU for the AEW World Tag Team Championships. Chris Jericho gives Jungle Boy ten minutes to survive against the AEW World Champion, Kris Statlander emerges as a major contender with victories over Hikaru Shida and Britt Baker, and Cody continues dealing with the fallout from MJF's betrayal while working alongside Darby Allin. But the Nightmare Collective is struggling to connect with audiences, the Dark Order's mysterious recruitment angle is becoming increasingly prominent and the December 18 closing segment featuring those infamous missed punches against Dustin Rhodes becomes one of the most ridiculed moments of AEW's first year. We're examining how the company's original emphasis on creative freedom was beginning to create problems, why Tony Khan reportedly became more directly involved in overseeing television heading into 2020 and whether AEW was learning that producing a consistent weekly wrestling program required more than simply assembling an incredible roster.

Meanwhile, NXT is returning its attention to the championships and rivalries that made the Black and Gold brand successful long before the Wednesday Night Wars began. Tommaso Ciampa, Keith Lee and Dominik Dijakovic defeat the Undisputed ERA, while Lee continues building on his breakout Survivor Series performance and Finn Bálor establishes himself as a dangerous challenger to Adam Cole's NXT Championship. Dakota Kai's transformation following her betrayal of Tegan Nox at WarGames continues with a victory over Mia Yim, while KUSHIDA, Cameron Grimes, Pete Dunne and Matt Riddle help maintain the depth of the weekly television product. Angel Garza defeats Lio Rush to capture the NXT Cruiserweight Championship, and everything builds toward December 18 when Cole successfully defends against Bálor before Rhea Ripley finally defeats Shayna Baszler to end her dominant reign and capture the NXT Women's Championship. After confronting Becky Lynch, surviving WarGames and helping NXT win Survivor Series, Ripley gets the championship payoff that establishes her as one of WWE's biggest rising stars. We're looking at how NXT turned its November exposure into meaningful championship stories, why Ripley's victory represented the strength of Triple H's approach to long term development and how the Jordan Myles controversy complicated the otherwise positive picture surrounding WWE's developmental brand.

And the ratings tell an absolutely fascinating story as AEW's enormous October advantage completely disappears by the end of December. On December 4, Dynamite draws 851,000 viewers against NXT's 845,000, giving AEW a victory by just 6,000 viewers, before both programs draw exactly 778,000 on December 11. Everything changes on December 18 when NXT wins decisively with 795,000 viewers against AEW's 683,000, while also defeating Dynamite in the adults 18 to 49 demographic with a 0.27 rating against 0.25. Across the final three head to head broadcasts of 2019, NXT averages 806,000 viewers compared with AEW's 770,667, giving WWE an advantage of more than 35,000 viewers per episode. And looking at the entire 75 episode Wednesday Night Wars competition, December 18 would become the only night NXT ever defeated Dynamite in that crucial demographic. We're breaking down how the companies went from a 518,000 viewer difference on opening night to a dead heat just two months later, why WWE was finally finding success with its regular NXT roster and what those numbers reveal about AEW's early growing pains.

More than anything, Episode 4 is about the moment the Wednesday Night Wars stopped being a competition driven by launch excitement and Survivor Series promotion and became a test of which company could consistently deliver the better weekly television product. AEW had successfully established itself as a legitimate national wrestling promotion, but the Nightmare Collective, the Dark Order and the increasingly fragmented creative direction were exposing problems that would reportedly lead Tony Khan to take a more centralized role heading into 2020. NXT was delivering meaningful championship payoffs with Adam Cole, Finn Bálor, Angel Garza and Rhea Ripley while demonstrating that its established roster could compete without borrowing WWE's biggest stars every Wednesday. Three months into the war, AEW was discovering what needed to change while NXT was enjoying one of the strongest creative stretches in its history, and neither company had any idea how dramatically the wrestling business was about to change in 2020. Don't forget to grab your weekly Shot of Nostalgia to continue FLASHBACK FRIDAY ON THE TAVERN. As always, tip your bartenders & learn from the past!

It's Thursday, and you know what that means! It is time to walk through those Tavern doors and order up a round of professional wrestling coverage from The Two Bad Chads! This week we talk AEW and all the happenings of the week! Make sure you go to patreon.com/theturnbuckletavern for all your Tavern needs!

It's time to get RAW! It's time to get DOWN! On SmackDown, Trick Williams beat Johnny Gargano, Paige edged Nikki Bella, Damian Priest's match with R-Truth ended via referee stoppage after an injury, and Cody Rhodes punted Baron Corbin after Randy Orton interfered. On the RAW side of town, we saw Sami Zayn and Roman Reigns trade words ahead of their Crown Jewel champion-vs-champion match, Penta defeat Bron Breakker with Je'Von Evans' help, Chad Gable retained the Intercontinental Title, and Reigns helped the Bloodline stand tall over the 946 in the ongoing war of the factions! All that and more on your #1 source for ALL things WWE on the Turnbuckle Tavern. This is...the RAW DOWN!

Turnbuckle Tavern is powered by G FUEL and Official Dick Lazer. Use code TAVERN for 20% off at GFUEL.com and DickLazers.com.

This week on Wrestling Tonight, Acefield Retro breaks down AEW WrestleDream from Orlando, including Will Ospreay surviving the first Clockwork Carnage match, Ilja Dragunov's arrival and Adam Copeland falling seconds short of the World Championship. We also cover Toni Storm's mysterious cassette tapes, RUSH and Dralistico's AEW status, Tony Khan's conversations with David Ellison, the ring boy lawsuit ruling and continued uncertainty surrounding Crown Jewel.

Ospreay entered Clockwork Carnage first and retained against Konosuke Takeshita, Mike Bailey, Ricochet, Darby Allin, Kazuchika Okada, Adam Copeland and Samoa Joe. Copeland scored two late falls before Ospreay landed a Hidden Blade and secured the deciding pin in the final ten seconds. We examine the format, its rules and whether AEW has found another signature attraction. With Copeland retiring in 2027, we also discuss his near miss, his tense handshake with Ospreay and where both go next.

Jay White returned during the Tailgate Brawl, joining The Gunns and The Conglomeration against The Dogs and The Death Riders. Marina Shafir helped Wheeler Yuta pin Colten Gunn, while Dave Meltzer reported that injuries to White and Christian Cage had changed the original Clockwork Carnage plans. Ospreay also addressed MJF carrying his own World title, making clear where the champion stands.

Ilja Dragunov is officially All Elite ahead of his October 21 Dynamite in-ring debut. Tony Khan said visa uncertainty left the appearance unresolved until shortly before WrestleDream. Dragunov discussed wanting a fresh environment and named Kyle Fletcher, Samoa Joe and Jon Moxley as desired opponents. We examine his arrival and the importance of giving him a sustained direction.

Mercedes Moné retained the AEW Women's World Championship against Thekla after using her faceguard as a weapon and finishing with the Moné Maker. We discuss her championship direction, her ongoing recovery from nose surgery and Tony Khan's interest in free agent Kairi Sane, with no signing announced. Meanwhile, Toni Storm's cassette tapes featured strange affirmations, wrestling advice and stories about her failed movie production. Khan reiterated that Storm will return for revenge, leaving the timing and resolution of her backstage attack unanswered.

Hangman Adam Page, Bandido and Brody King regained the Trios Championships from Swerve Strickland, Austin Creed and Kofi. Creed and Kofi showed respect afterward, while Swerve's confrontation with Hangman suggested their history remains unresolved. Nick Wayne also earned his second consecutive victory over Chris Jericho, escaping Jericho's counter to his low-blow tactics and winning with a cradle. We discuss what both results set up next.

Beyond the matches, Tony Khan described positive conversations with David Ellison and welcomed the Skydance deal without announcing a new television agreement. We also cover his plans for more Florida appearances in 2027, Blood & Guts clearance decisions, Lio Rush's AEW and ROH role and his decision not to celebrate Dynamite's seventh anniversary during the week of PAC's passing.

Bryan Alvarez also clarified the different situations surrounding RUSH and Dralistico. Dralistico's AEW contract expires in December, and his social media post depicting himself behind bars fueled speculation that he wants to leave. RUSH's absence is visa-related, with his expired visa not expected to come through until 2027. Alvarez reports that RUSH appears happy in AEW, consistent with his comments about enjoying time with his family.

Outside AEW, a federal judge rejected the defendants' constitutional challenge to Maryland's Child Victims Act, allowing the ring boy lawsuit against WWE, TKO, Vince McMahon and Linda McMahon to proceed into discovery. We explain the ruling, the allegations involving Mel Phillips, Pat Patterson and Terry Garvin, and why the case moving forward is separate from a finding of liability.

Crown Jewel remains scheduled for November 7 in Riyadh amid conflicting airport reports, airline suspensions and continued attacks. With the Six Kings Slam postponed and the UCI Urban Cycling World Championships canceled, we examine WWE's travel concerns, the pressure surrounding other events proceeding and whether talent can decline without professional consequences. As of the October 18 report, WWE had announced no change.

New Japan's Super Junior Tag League opens October 24 in Saitama, with 12 teams competing before the November 3 finals at Power Struggle in Hiroshima. We look at the field, including champions El Desperado and Mistico, KUSHIDA and Nick Wayne, Robbie Eagles and Kosei Fujita, and Francesco Akira and Jakob Austin Young.

Looking ahead, NXT features Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic quarterfinals, Dynamite brings Dragunov's in-ring debut and SmackDown includes Giulia against Blake Monroe in a street fight, plus Alexa Bliss and Tatum Paxley defending the Women's Tag Team Championships against Michin and B-Fab. We also preview AAA Heroes Inmortales on October 24, headlined by El Grande Americano defending the Mega Championship against Dominik Mysterio. With NXT Halloween Havoc on October 31, Crown Jewel on November 7 and AEW Full Gear on November 21, there's plenty ahead.

Be sure to support the show and join our Patreon for just $2.99 a month at PATREON.COM/THETURNBUCKLETAVERN for exclusive content, and follow @turnbuckletavern across social media for all the latest updates.

Until the following week, when we wine and dine with you kings and queens, stay out of the alley and away from the pork and beans. God luck and good speed.

It's time for the 3rd episode of Season 8 of SHOT OF NOSTALGIA and we're continuing our journey through the WEDNESDAY NIGHT WARS between AEW DYNAMITE and NXT. October is behind us, AEW has won every head to head ratings battle, and now WWE is beginning to use the full strength of its television operation to make NXT a much bigger part of the conversation. ACEFIELD RETRO is jumping back into the DELOREAN for November 6 through November 27, 2019, when AEW presents its first Full Gear of the Dynamite era, NXT becomes central to the Survivor Series build and the competition suddenly extends far beyond Wednesday nights.

Over on TNT, AEW heads into Full Gear with Chris Jericho defending the AEW World Championship against Cody Rhodes, who puts his future championship opportunities on the line, while Jon Moxley and Kenny Omega prepare for an unsanctioned Lights Out match that becomes one of the most controversial spectacles of the company's first year. MJF throws in the towel on Cody before betraying him, Moxley survives an absolutely brutal encounter with Omega, Hangman Page defeats PAC and the company continues establishing its championships and younger stars. Back on Dynamite, Wardlow arrives alongside MJF, PAC and Hangman continue their rivalry, Darby Allin challenges Moxley, Private Party defeats Santana and Ortiz, Kenny Omega gets a major victory over PAC and Chris Jericho eventually defends his championship against Scorpio Sky. We're examining how AEW was attempting to turn the excitement surrounding its launch into meaningful stories while figuring out which performers could carry the company into 2020.

Meanwhile, WWE takes advantage of the Crown Jewel travel problems to introduce NXT's stars to the SmackDown audience, with Adam Cole defeating Daniel Bryan and performers like Tommaso Ciampa and Rhea Ripley suddenly receiving exposure on a much larger platform. That momentum carries into Wednesday nights as AJ Styles and The O.C. invade NXT, Becky Lynch faces Rhea Ripley, Matt Riddle battles Ricochet and the Undisputed ERA takes on the Revival. Everything builds toward NXT TakeOver: WarGames, where Dakota Kai betrays Tegan Nox during the first women's WarGames match, Kevin Owens makes a surprise return to NXT and Tommaso Ciampa sends Adam Cole crashing from the top of the cage. The following night at Survivor Series, NXT wins the battle for brand supremacy with four victories, Keith Lee makes an enormous impression against Roman Reigns and Shayna Baszler defeats Becky Lynch and Bayley in the main event. We're looking at whether WWE was genuinely establishing NXT as an equal third brand or simply using its biggest stars and events to win a television competition.

And the ratings tell an absolutely fascinating story as the enormous gap from October nearly disappears. On November 6, AEW draws 822,000 viewers against NXT's 813,000, before Dynamite rebounds to 957,000 against 750,000 following Full Gear. Everything changes on November 20 when NXT finally wins its first Wednesday night with 916,000 viewers against AEW's 893,000, followed by another victory on Thanksgiving Eve with 810,000 against 668,000. Across the four November broadcasts, AEW averages 835,000 viewers compared with NXT's 822,250, a difference of just 12,750 viewers per episode, although Dynamite continues winning the adults 18 to 49 demographic every week. We're breaking down how WWE's Survivor Series strategy affected the numbers, why AEW continued attracting a younger audience and what the actual television results reveal about the different ways both companies were attempting to build stars.

More than anything, Episode 3 is about the moment the Wednesday Night Wars became a competition involving the entire WWE machine rather than just the NXT roster. AEW was still building a national wrestling promotion from scratch, making some excellent creative decisions and some questionable ones, while WWE was using Raw, SmackDown, WarGames and Survivor Series to give NXT a level of exposure it had never experienced before. NXT finally caught AEW in total viewership, but the bigger question was whether WWE could maintain that momentum once Survivor Series ended and whether AEW could continue establishing itself beyond the excitement of its first few months. Don't forget to grab your weekly Shot of Nostalgia to continue FLASHBACK FRIDAY ON THE TAVERN. As always, tip your bartenders & learn from the past!

It's Thursday, and you know what that means! It is time to walk through those Tavern doors and order up a round of professional wrestling coverage from Acefield Retro, flying solo for this edition of The Flagship! This week, we break down AEW's Dynamite and Collision doubleheader as Mark Davis pins Jon Moxley, Adam Copeland reveals 2027 will be his final year and the Clockwork Carnage field comes together in an explosive closing brawl. Plus, Kenny Omega targets the Tokyo Dome, Max Caster addresses his TNA controversy and we make our WrestleDream picks ahead of Saturday! Make sure you go to patreon.com/theturnbuckletavern for all your Tavern needs!

It's time to get RAW! It's time to get DOWN! This week, we discuss MITB and the fallout on RAW, plus all the usual nonsense. All that and more on your #1 source for ALL things WWE on the Turnbuckle Tavern. This is...the RAW DOWN!

Turnbuckle Tavern is powered by G FUEL and Official Dick Lazer. Use code TAVERN for 20% off at GFUEL.com and DickLazers.com.

This week on Wrestling Tonight, Acefield Retro breaks down a massive weekend across professional wrestling, including WWE Money in the Bank, TNA Bound for Glory and NJPW King of Pro Wrestling. With Penta and Tiffany Stratton capturing the Money in the Bank briefcases, Roman Reigns retaining his championship, Oba Femi calling out the Tribal Chief and Kenny Omega returning to New Japan, the championship picture across multiple promotions is changing quickly. We also discuss Leon Slater's historic TNA World Championship victory, Carmelo Hayes joining 946, the growing uncertainty surrounding WWE Crown Jewel and the latest developments heading into AEW WrestleDream.

At WWE Money in the Bank in New Orleans, Penta outlasted Bron Breakker, Je'Von Evans, Trick Williams, Kevin Owens and CM Punk to capture the men's briefcase following a Mexican Destroyer off the ladder. Tiffany Stratton won the women's ladder match despite Roxanne Perez emerging as a late betting favorite. Roman Reigns retained the World Heavyweight Championship against LA Knight, while Oba Femi defeated Bronson Reed and subsequently challenged Roman, declaring that the Tribal Chief could no longer avoid him. We examine WWE's decisions, the futures of both briefcase holders and how Roman's increasingly crowded championship picture could develop through the end of 2026.

WWE Crown Jewel's November 7 date in Riyadh is also facing serious questions following reported attacks on King Khalid International Airport and disruptions to regional air travel. With Bryan Alvarez reporting internal discussions about the event's status, we examine the security concerns, WWE's financial relationship with Saudi Arabia and whether TKO's long-term international ambitions could complicate the decision to proceed, relocate or postpone the show.

TNA Bound for Glory featured five championship changes, headlined by 22-year-old Leon Slater defeating Nic Nemeth to become the youngest TNA World Champion in company history after exercising Option C. Indi Hartwell, Amazing Red, Jason Hotch and the team of Shayna Baszler and Zoey Serrano also captured championships, while Frankie Kazarian won his third consecutive Call Your Shot Gauntlet. We discuss TNA's investment in Slater as its next major star alongside a concerning WrestleTix report of just 2,156 tickets distributed ahead of the promotion's biggest annual event.

NJPW King of Pro Wrestling saw Kenny Omega return to confront IWGP World Heavyweight Champion Yota Tsuji, delivering a V-Trigger and One Winged Angel before pushing for a potential Wrestle Kingdom championship match on January 4. Will Ospreay, Great-O-Khan and HENARE lost the NEVER Openweight Six-Man Tag Team Championships, while Ospreay's upcoming partnership with Callum Newman against the Knockout Brothers has further complicated tensions within United Empire. We also cover Gabe Kidd retaining the IWGP Global Heavyweight Championship and his upcoming defense against TAICHI at Power Struggle.

On WWE Raw, Carmelo Hayes returned after nearly two months away and joined 946, attacking Solo Sikoa with a crowbar and helping the faction stand tall alongside Royce Keys. We examine whether the move provides Hayes with a much-needed fresh direction or leaves another talented singles wrestler lost in an increasingly crowded faction. We also revisit October 13, 1997, when Shawn Michaels, Triple H, Chyna and Rick Rude officially introduced D-Generation X, examining the group's origins, WCW comparisons and its actual influence on the emerging Attitude Era.

Elsewhere, we touch on AEW's championship landscape ahead of WrestleDream on October 17, including Will Ospreay's upcoming Clockwork Carnage defense, the remaining qualifying matches on Dynamite and the growing overlap between his AEW responsibilities and United Empire tensions in New Japan. We also look at the upcoming NXT Championship opportunity involving Tony D'Angelo and Myles Borne, the Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic, AAA Heroes Inmortales and the road toward Halloween Havoc, Power Struggle and Full Gear.

Be sure to support the show and join our Patreon for just $2.99 a month at PATREON.COM/THETURNBUCKLETAVERN for exclusive content, and follow @turnbuckletavern across social media for all the latest updates.

Until the following week, when we wine and dine with you kings and queens, stay out of the alley and away from the pork and beans. Good luck and Godspeed.

It's time for the second episode of Season 8 of SHOT OF NOSTALGIA and we're continuing our journey through the WEDNESDAY NIGHT WARS between AEW DYNAMITE and WWE NXT. The historic premiere is behind us, AEW has already landed the first punch, and now the real test begins as the excitement of October 2 gives way to the responsibility of producing compelling national television every Wednesday. ACEFIELD RETRO is jumping back into the DELOREAN for October 9 through October 30, 2019, when AEW had to start creating its own history while NXT had to make years of established history feel urgent again.

Over on TNT, AEW begins defining what its new wrestling universe is actually going to look like as Private Party shocks The Young Bucks in the AEW World Tag Team Championship Tournament, Darby Allin earns a World Championship opportunity against Chris Jericho and Jon Moxley's issues with Kenny Omega begin pulling PAC into the chaos. Riho defends the AEW Women's World Championship against Britt Baker, Moxley and PAC battle to a time limit draw, Hikaru Shida arrives on Dynamite and the month ends with Frankie Kazarian and Scorpio Sky of SCU defeating The Lucha Brothers to become the inaugural AEW World Tag Team Champions. We're looking at how AEW used upsets, tournaments, time limits and established stars such as Jericho, Moxley, Omega and The Young Bucks to build credibility for a company that entered October with almost no history of its own.

NXT enters the same stretch with an enormous advantage in established depth as Rhea Ripley, Bianca Belair, Io Shirai, Tommaso Ciampa, Keith Lee, Matt Riddle, Pete Dunne, WALTER, Roderick Strong and The Undisputed ERA fill a loaded month of television. Finn Bálor's return takes a dramatic turn when he attacks Johnny Gargano, transforming his homecoming into something far more consequential while helping NXT present itself as a destination rather than simply a developmental stop on the road to Raw or SmackDown. We're also examining the enormous advantage NXT already possessed in its women's division, where years of accumulated history allowed WWE to build toward the first women's WarGames match while AEW was still introducing its roster, establishing its hierarchy and effectively writing chapter one.

We're also digging into what happened to the television war once the premiere audience began to settle and the two shows had to prove they could create a weekly habit. Dynamite follows its 1.409 million viewer debut with 1.018 million on TNT on October 9 before remaining almost completely steady at 1.014 million on October 16, while NXT moves from 891,000 on October 2 to 790,000 and then 712,000 over the same period. By the end of October, AEW has won every direct Wednesday comparison in total viewers and adults 18 to 49, but the numbers only tell part of the story as we examine AEW's younger audience, NXT's extraordinary roster depth, the World Series competition and the very different definitions of success facing a startup promotion and WWE's established Black and Gold brand.

More than anything, Episode 2 is about watching two companies discover how to use completely different competitive advantages. AEW had the freedom of a blank page and needed to create championships, stars, memories and traditions quickly enough that viewers felt they were witnessing history being written, while NXT already possessed years of emotional investment and needed to make that established world unpredictable enough that viewers were afraid to miss what happened next. Don't forget to grab your weekly Shot of Nostalgia to continue FLASHBACK FRIDAY ON THE TAVERN. As always, tip your bartenders & learn from the past!

Turnbuckle Tavern is powered by G FUEL and Official Dick Lazer. Use code TAVERN for 20% off at GFUEL.com and DickLazers.com.

This week, JBugz from The Rawdown joins Acefield Retro on Wrestling Tonight for a full WWE Money in the Bank 2026 mega preview from New Orleans, breaking down the entire five-match card and everything that got us to Saturday night. This is the first Money in the Bank ever held in October, the first after SummerSlam, and the first edition streaming through ESPN's direct to consumer service in the United States. With Crown Jewel, Survivor Series: WarGames and Wrestlepalooza still to come, WWE is creating two new briefcase holders right as the company enters its final PLE stretch of 2026.

The men's Money in the Bank match brings together Penta, Bron Breakker, Kevin Owens, CM Punk, Trick Williams and Je'Von Evans, with Penta entering as the narrow betting favorite at minus 110 ahead of Bron Breakker at plus 125. We look at how Penta went from losing a World Heavyweight Championship match against Roman Reigns to replacing Solo Sikoa after the 946 attack and suddenly becoming the favorite to win the briefcase. We also break down Bron Breakker and Je'Von Evans' year-long rivalry, CM Punk and Kevin Owens' recent championship history, and why this field is much deeper than simply Penta and Bron Breakker at the top.

On the women's side, Lash Legend enters as the minus 120 favorite, narrowly ahead of Roxanne Perez at plus 125 and former Money in the Bank winner Tiffany Stratton at plus 300. Sol Ruca, Jacy Jayne and Lola Vice round out a field that has spent most of 2026 crossing paths through championship matches, NXT, WWE and AAA. We get into why the betting odds do not tell the entire story, especially when Lola Vice recently defeated Roxanne Perez, Jacy Jayne took the WWE Women's United States Championship from Tiffany Stratton and Sol Ruca has already had championship success against several women connected to this match.

Roman Reigns also defends the World Heavyweight Championship against L.A. Knight, revisiting a rivalry that goes back to Crown Jewel 2023. Roman Reigns has already left two championship matches involving L.A. Knight with the title, then spent 2026 winning the Royal Rumble, defeating CM Punk at WrestleMania, and successfully defending against Jacob Fatu, Seth Rollins, and Penta. With Roman Reigns sitting at minus 1500 and L.A. Knight at plus 600, we look at why another moral victory does absolutely nothing for L.A. Knight this time around and why New Orleans has to be about finally changing the result.

The Women's World Championship is also on the line as Stephanie Vaquer defends against Becky Lynch and Liv Morgan. Liv Morgan took the championship from Stephanie Vaquer at WrestleMania 42 and repeatedly defeated her throughout the summer before Stephanie Vaquer finally won it back on September 12 with Becky Lynch serving as special guest referee. Stephanie Vaquer then attacked both women during their number one contender match on October 5 and personally demanded the Triple Threat, creating the exact situation she now has to survive.

We also break down Oba Femi against Bronson Reed, the most straightforward fight on the card but one that comes after an incredible year for Oba Femi. He has defeated Brock Lesnar twice, won King of the Ring, and spent months battling different combinations of The Vision before finally getting Bronson Reed one-on-one. Oba Femi enters as a minus 500 favorite, and we look at whether Bronson Reed can become the guy who finally slows down one of WWE's most dominant wrestlers of 2026.

Plus, Acefield Retro and JBugz go through the history that makes Money in the Bank one of WWE's most important annual matches, from its WrestleMania 21 origins to becoming its own event in 2010. Of 34 official Money in the Bank cash-in attempts, 28 have produced championships, and the women remain perfect when officially cashing in their contracts. With New Orleans ready to crown the next two briefcase holders, we break down who has the strongest case, what the betting market is telling us, and what Saturday could mean for WWE's championship picture heading into the final nine weeks of 2026.

Be sure to support the show and join our Patreon for just $2.99 a month at PATREON.COM/THETURNBUCKLETAVERN for exclusive content, and follow @turnbuckletavern across social media for all the latest updates.

Until the following week, when we wine and dine with you kings and queens, stay out of the alley and away from the pork and beans. God luck and good speed.

It's Tuesday, and you know what that means! It is time to walk through those Tavern doors and order up a round of professional wrestling coverage from Acefield Retro and Ol' Reliable Hoch, filling in for The Two Bad Chads for a very special edition of The Flagship! This week we talk AEW and all the happenings of the week! Make sure you go to patreon.com/theturnbuckletavern for all your Tavern needs!

It's time to get RAW! It's time to get DOWN! The MVP Marco is alone this week as one half of the RAW DOWN preview's MITB '26 and recaps the week that was WWE! All that and more on your #1 source for all things WWE on the Turnbuckle Tavern ...this is the RAW DOWN!

Turnbuckle Tavern is powered by G FUEL and Official Dick Lazer. Use code TAVERN for 20% off at GFUEL.com and DickLazers.com.

This week, Wrestling Tonight looks at what Paramount Skydance's $110 billion acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery actually means for AEW. David Ellison's company now inherits WBD's minority ownership stake in AEW along with the television relationship that runs through 2027 with an option for 2028. Nothing changes overnight, but with roughly $80 billion in net debt, expected cost cutting and Paramount already working extensively with TKO through UFC and Zuffa Boxing, AEW suddenly has a completely different company evaluating its long term value.

And the timing could not be more interesting because Grand Slam France becomes AEW's first television show of the Skydance era, headlined by Will Ospreay defending the AEW World Championship against Kazuchika Okada. Mercedes Mone faces Queen Aminata, Darby Allin defends against Kyle Fletcher, Bandido puts the ROH World Championship on the line against Kofi and Samoa Joe faces Jack Perry for a spot in WrestleDream's Clockwork Carnage match. We get into why Okada needs to feel like a legitimate threat to Ospreay and why Paris could have major implications for WrestleDream.

That leads directly into Clockwork Carnage, a concept reportedly brought to AEW by Ospreay after being used by Pro Wrestling EVE. AEW had previously discussed creating a six person match similar to WWE's Elimination Chamber before shelving the idea over questions surrounding the physical structure. We break down why Clockwork Carnage may actually be the better alternative, how its elimination and scoring stages work and why AEW is already considering making it an annual WrestleDream tradition.

Ospreay is also heading back into his United Empire history at NJPW King of Pro Wrestling. Yuto-Ice and OSKAR are now two time IWGP Tag Team Champions and have recruited former United Empire member Jeff Cobb to challenge HENARE, Great-O-Khan and Ospreay for the NEVER Openweight Six-Man Tag Team titles. With Yuto and Ospreay already trading shots and an NJPW versus AEW element developing around the match, we look at how New Japan's new generation is being positioned opposite several major names from its recent past.

On the WWE side, John Cena is standing by Vince McMahon, saying he has "no guilt nor shame" about their friendship and that it is possible to love somebody who is not perfect. Those comments come as WWE prepares the inaugural John Cena Classic for December, bringing Cena's stated values of hustle, loyalty and respect into an uncomfortable conversation about his continued public support of McMahon and the way WWE is beginning to turn Cena's legacy into a permanent part of the company.

Seth Rollins is also starting to show us what the next phase of his career could look like. Rollins revealed that he has three years remaining on his WWE contract while also working under a separate ESPN deal for appearances across its programming. At 40 years old, Rollins is trying to build his sports media career while he is still wrestling, potentially giving him a completely different role waiting whenever his full time WWE career eventually winds down.

We also preview Money in the Bank in New Orleans, where Penta and Lash Legend enter as the current betting favorites for their respective ladder matches. Penta sits narrowly ahead of Bron Breakker while Lash is just ahead of Roxanne Perez, and we look at why either winner could use the briefcase to establish themselves at a completely different level. Roman Reigns defending the World Heavyweight Championship against LA Knight and Oba Femi facing Bronson Reed are also set for Saturday.

Elsewhere, Sheamus is officially a free agent, preparing to use the name S. Farrelly outside WWE with reported interest from AEW. Max Caster and Anthony Bowens have also entered free agency following the expiration of their AEW contracts, while Jay White is facing another frustrating interruption after suffering an injury that is expected to keep him out for another one to two months.

Plus, Adam Copeland wants Christian Cage to follow him into Maple Leaf Gardens after finally getting his own opportunity to wrestle inside the building at Northern Rising. AEW is also heading back to Chris Jericho's Rock 'n' Wrestling Rager at Sea on November 7, but this time Collision will actually broadcast live from the ship, something AEW was unable to accomplish when Dynamite came from the Jericho cruise in 2020.

Be sure to support the show and join our Patreon for just $2.99 a month at PATREON.COM/THETURNBUCKLETAVERN for exclusive content, and follow @turnbuckletavern across social media for all the latest updates.

Until the following week, when we wine and dine with you kings and queens, stay out of the alley and away from the pork and beans. God luck and good speed.

It's time for the first episode of Season 8 of SHOT OF NOSTALGIA and we're beginning a completely new trip through wrestling history. This season, ACEFIELD RETRO is going back through the WEDNESDAY NIGHT WARS between AEW DYNAMITE and WWE NXT, beginning with the historic first head to head night on October 2, 2019. More than 18 years after the end of the Monday Night War, major American wrestling promotions were once again competing for the same audience on the same night, and we're making our first stop in the DELOREAN to see exactly how it began.

Episode 1 takes a close look at both complete October 2, 2019 broadcasts, beginning with NXT's first full two hour episode on USA Network from Full Sail University and the debut episode of AEW Dynamite on TNT from the Capital One Arena in Washington, D.C. NXT comes out swinging with Adam Cole defending the NXT Championship against Matt Riddle, Shayna Baszler defending the NXT Women's Championship against Candice LeRae, Undisputed Era defending the NXT Tag Team Championship against The Street Profits, plus Io Shirai vs. Mia Yim, Johnny Gargano vs. Shane Thorne and Pete Dunne vs. Danny Burch. The night also features two massive returns as Finn Bálor and Tommaso Ciampa reemerge in NXT.

Over on TNT, AEW finally arrives on weekly television with Cody vs. Sammy Guevara opening the first Dynamite, PAC battling Hangman Page, MJF taking on Brandon Cutler and Riho facing Nyla Rose to crown the first AEW Women's World Champion. Chris Jericho, Santana and Ortiz battle Kenny Omega and The Young Bucks in the main event before Jon Moxley takes Omega out of the fight and Jake Hager makes his surprise debut during the chaotic closing moments of the show.

We're also digging into the television war happening behind the matches, including expectations surrounding AEW's TNT debut, NXT's move to USA Network, the different presentation of Full Sail compared with AEW's major arena atmosphere and the ratings that immediately made October 2 such an important night. Dynamite debuted with 1.409 million viewers compared with NXT's 891,000, giving AEW the first victory in what would become an 18 month head to head battle.

This season will follow the entire Wednesday Night Wars from its beginning in October 2019 through its conclusion in April 2021, revisiting the major matches, stories, ratings swings and changes that defined the era. Don't forget to grab your weekly Shot of Nostalgia to continue FLASHBACK FRIDAY ON THE TAVERN. As always, tip your bartenders & learn from the past!