J

Jitu Jangir

753 Articles

I'm a wrestling writer at Sacnilk and my credentials are simply meant to be momentary-awake deliver of Wrestling.

Articles Written By Jitu Jangir

AEW Revolution 2024 A Success, Expected To Be Fourth Biggest PPV Buyrate In Company History
822 days ago
AEW News

AEW Revolution 2024 A Success, Expected To Be Fourth Biggest PPV Buyrate In Company History

All Elite Wrestling's (AEW) Revolution event, held at the Greensboro Coliseum in Greensboro, North Carolina, was a hit on pay-per-view.## The show's main event featured Sting's emotional retirement match, where he teamed with Darby Allin to defeat The Young Bucks and retain the AEW World Tag Team Championships in a Texas Tornado Match. Samoa Joe also successfully defended his AEW World Title against Swerve Strickland and Hangman Page in a thrilling triple threat match.## AEW President Tony Khan expressed optimism about the show's performance, indicating strong pay-per-view buys. According to Dave Meltzer of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter, early TV buys are up 26.2% compared to "Worlds End," while streaming numbers are up 25%. ## International buys are on par with "Worlds End," but with a 25% price increase, international revenue is expected to rise.## Initial projections estimate the show to generate 171,000 to 175,000 buys worldwide, potentially making it the fourth-biggest PPV buyrate in AEW history. It should be noted that CM Punk's debut at All Out 2021 holds the record for the biggest buyrate, followed by All In 2023 from Wembley Stadium, and the 2022 Revolution featuring Adam Page vs. Adam Cole and MJF vs. CM Punk.## Stay Tuned To Sacnilk...

Kevin Kelly Departs All Elite Wrestling
823 days ago
AEW News

Kevin Kelly Departs All Elite Wrestling

All Elite Wrestling commentator Kevin Kelly has reportedly been fired by the promotion, according to PWTorch. This news comes after Kelly's social media criticism of AEW announcer Ian Riccaboni and his role on the company's "Collision" program.## On March 7th, speculation began swirling when Kelly was removed from the AEW roster page. Later that night, during the tapings of "AEW Collision," Kelly was noticeably absent from the announcer's desk. Tony Schiavone and Nigel McGuinness handled commentary duties for the show.## Kelly had been a fixture on the "Collision" announce team since its launch. He previously held a long-standing role as part of the English announce team for New Japan Pro Wrestling (NJPW). However, AEW added Tony Schiavone to the "Collision" desk and positioned him as the lead play-by-play commentator, a move interpreted by some as a response to Kelly's perceived shortcomings.## The reasons behind Kelly's departure remain unconfirmed by AEW officials, but reports suggest his social media actions played a part. ## Stay Tuned To Sacnilk...

Mercedes Mone Believes She Will Be Back In WWE One Day
823 days ago
AEW News

Mercedes Mone Believes She Will Be Back In WWE One Day

Mercedes Mone, formerly known as Sasha Banks in WWE, has suggested she might return to the company someday. This comes despite her imminent debut for rival promotion All Elite Wrestling (AEW). ## Mone's WWE departure came in May 2022 when she and Naomi walked out of an episode of Monday Night Raw. The reigning Women's Tag Team Champions at the time, their exit became a major wrestling story.## In a recently revealed clip from an interview with Evan T Mack on Kick Rocks, Mone expresses her belief in a future WWE return. "I know I'm going to be back there one day," she said. "It's not over. I have a lot of unfinished business in wrestling in a lot of places."## This sentiment comes as Mone prepares for her AEW debut at "Dynamite: Big Business" on March 13th. Her tag team partner Naomi, however, did return to WWE, participating in the 2024 Royal Rumble.## Mone has been sidelined with an ankle injury since May 2023, but her upcoming appearance in AEW signifies a return to active wrestling. Whether her comments regarding WWE indicate a potential future return remains to be seen.## Credit: Fightful for the transcription ## Stay Tuned To Sacnilk...

Kazuchika Okada Intends To Relocate To The United States For His Run With AEW
824 days ago
AEW News

Kazuchika Okada Intends To Relocate To The United States For His Run With AEW

Pro wrestling fans were sent into a frenzy on March 6th when Kazuchika Okada, the legendary "Rainmaker," made a shocking debut on AEW Dynamite. Following the path of former IWGP World Heavyweight Champions Will Ospreay and Jay White, Okada has officially become "All Elite." ## Okada's arrival isn't just a boost to the AEW roster; he's landed himself amongst friends. The Rainmaker has aligned himself with The Young Bucks (Matt and Nick Jackson), becoming the newest member of The Elite. This move fills the void left by Kenny Omega, who was recently "fired" by The Bucks for missing events without explanation. ## While details are murky on whether relocating to the US was an AEW mandate or Okada's own choice, reports indicate he'll be working a full-time schedule for the promotion. Fightful Select confirmed a multi-year deal for Okada, echoing reports of a three-year contract worth an estimated $4.5 million annually. ## While WWE was initially a rumored landing spot for Okada after his NJPW departure, the company denied any talks. However, sources revealed Okada did reach out to some WWE wrestlers while considering his options. ## With Omega's return shrouded in secrecy due to his ongoing battle with diverticulitis, the seeds have been sown for a potential dream match between him and Okada. ## Stay Tuned To Sacnilk...

Ric Flair Desperately Wanted To Pull One Last Betrayal On Sting
824 days ago
AEW News

Ric Flair Desperately Wanted To Pull One Last Betrayal On Sting

Sting's emotional retirement at AEW Revolution was nearly overshadowed by a behind-the-scenes maneuver from none other than Ric Flair. While legends like Magnum T.A., Lex Luger, and Nikita Koloff cheered Sting and Darby Allin to victory against The Young Bucks, "The Nature Boy" apparently had other plans.## According to Conrad Thompson on his podcast "What Happened When?", Flair desperately wanted to pull one last betrayal on Sting. Thompson revealed that Flair pressured him to lobby AEW President Tony Khan for a storyline twist where Flair would turn on Sting during the match.## "'Conrad will you go talk to Tony? You're friends with him, just go talk to him' and I'm like 'what are you talking about?'" recalled Thompson, highlighting Flair's attempt to shirk responsibility for the idea. "'Just go and talk to him, try to convince him, me turning on Sting is best for business.' I go 'Ric you work here, you're in the storyline, I think maybe you should tell him.'"## Apparently, Flair had already pitched the idea to Khan but wanted Thompson to act as a buffer. The audacity of the request was amplified by Flair's reported justification: "it's only worked 10 other times." ## Thankfully, for Sting's sake, the plan never came to fruition. Flair did end up getting involved in the match, albeit unintentionally, taking a pair of superkicks from The Young Bucks for his troubles. Instead of a final betrayal, Flair's actions served as a comedic footnote to Sting's legendary career. ## Stay Tuned To Sacnilk...

Sting's Last Match Draws Strong Attendance And Revenue For AEW Revolution
825 days ago
AEW News

Sting's Last Match Draws Strong Attendance And Revenue For AEW Revolution

AEW Revolution, headlined by Sting's last match, brought in a successful turnout and impressive revenue for the wrestling promotion, according to Venues Now, the event drew 16,118 fans, exceeding expectations for a family show, and generated over $1 million in ticket sales.## Fans also spent heavily on concessions and merchandise, with total revenue exceeding $1 million from these sources alone. The event generated about $306,242 in revenue, with an average food and beverage spend per person of $19 (excluding suites). ## Merchandise: $349,000 in gross sales, with most retail items selling out. ## The main event of AEW Revolution featured Sting's last match, where he teamed with Darby Allin to retain the AEW Tag Team Championships against The Young Bucks. This highly anticipated bout likely played a significant role in attracting fans and contributing to the event's success. ## The event's performance, exceeding expectations for a "family show" according to the venue's Deputy Director, indicates that AEW Revolution was a well-received event, generating healthy revenue from ticket sales, concessions, and merchandise sales. ## Stay Tuned To Sacnilk...

WWE Acknowledges Sting's Retirement After Epic AEW Revolution Match
826 days ago
AEW News

WWE Acknowledges Sting's Retirement After Epic AEW Revolution Match

WWE acknowledged Sting's retirement on Monday Night Raw, following his emotional and action-packed final match at AEW Revolution. ## During the opening match of Raw, commentator Michael Cole congratulated "another great champion" on their retirement, referencing Sting's nearly 40-year career. He also expressed appreciation for Sting's contributions to the wrestling world, thanking him for the memories. ## Co-commentator Pat McAfee further acknowledged the legend, calling Sting's final match at AEW Revolution "absolutely epic." While avoiding mentioning AEW directly, it was clear to fans who were aware of the event.## This gesture by WWE is notable as they typically avoid acknowledging wrestlers or events from other promotions. However, Sting's iconic status and his history with WWE, including an induction into their Hall of Fame, seem to have prompted this rare exception.## Sting's retirement match at AEW Revolution saw him and his partner, Darby Allin, successfully defend the AEW World Tag Team Championships against The Young Bucks. This victory allowed Sting to retire as a champion, solidifying his legendary career.## While Sting's in-ring career may be over, this acknowledgement by WWE suggests a level of respect and recognition for his immense impact on the wrestling industry. ## Stay Tuned To Sacnilk...

Sting Retires, But Leaves Door Open For Non-Wrestling Role In AEW
826 days ago
AEW News

Sting Retires, But Leaves Door Open For Non-Wrestling Role In AEW

Legendary wrestler Sting officially hung up his boots at the recent AEW Revolution pay-per-view, leaving fans to wonder if this truly marks the end of his involvement with the company. ## During the post-show media scrum, Sting hinted at the possibility of a non-wrestling role in AEW. While acknowledging that AEW President Tony Khan has expressed interest in keeping him involved, Sting remained hesitant, stating, "I have no interest in being a manager, agent, or anything like that." ## Khan, however, emphasized his desire to have Sting remain a part of AEW, whether it be through a backstage position or simply maintaining his presence in the company. He expressed his enjoyment of collaborating with Sting over the past three years, and Sting reciprocated by saying, "I'm willing to have a talk." ## This leaves the door open for a potential future role for Sting outside the ring. His extensive experience and vast knowledge of the wrestling industry could be invaluable to AEW in a non-wrestling capacity.## While fans may not see Sting compete again, his potential continued involvement with AEW in a non-wrestling role suggests that "The Icon" may not be gone for good. ## Stay Tuned To Sacnilk...

Sting Headling AEW Revolution Was Virtually Planned Since Sting Announced His Retirement
827 days ago
AEW News

Sting Headling AEW Revolution Was Virtually Planned Since Sting Announced His Retirement

The main event of the recent AEW Revolution 2024 pay-per-view event held at the Greensboro Coliseum in North Carolina was shrouded in some initial confusion, but ultimately delivered a heartfelt and action-packed send-off for legendary wrestler Sting. ## Originally, there were doubts about which match would headline the event. However, it was ultimately decided that Sting & Darby Allin's Tornado Tag Team Match defense of the AEW Tag Team Championships against The Young Bucks would serve as the main event, doubling as Sting's emotional retirement match.## The atmosphere surrounding the match was electric, with wrestling legends like David Crockett, Ricky Steamboat, and Ric Flair in attendance to witness this momentous occasion. Adding a unique touch, Sting's sons donned costumes representing iconic past versions of their father, even enacting some lighthearted revenge on the heels.## The Tornado Tag Team Match itself lived up to the billing, delivering a wild spectacle with high-flying action and innovative maneuvers. The match culminated with Darby Allin executing his signature "Coffin Drop" followed by Sting applying his legendary "Scorpion Death Lock" on Matt Jackson of The Young Bucks, securing the victory and cementing their championship reign.## According to reports from Fightful Select's Sean Ross Sapp, the decision to have Sting go out as champion was a deliberate one. AEW and its president, Tony Khan, felt strongly about honoring Sting's legacy and ensuring his final match served as a triumphant farewell. This sentiment resonated within the company, with management considering it crucial to pay homage to his immense contributions to the wrestling world.## The decision to headline with Sting's retirement match was reportedly in the works since his official announcement. Additionally, Sting had a significant say in choosing his final opponents, The Young Bucks, and the location of the match, further solidifying the personal significance of the event. The emotional occasion was further enhanced by the presence of wrestling veterans like Lex Luger and Scotty Riggs backstage, offering their support to Sting as he closed the curtain on his illustrious career. ## Stay Tuned To Sacnilk...

Mercedes Mone Teases AEW Debut At 'Big Business'
827 days ago
AEW News

Mercedes Mone Teases AEW Debut At 'Big Business'

Former WWE star Mercedes Mone, continues to fuel speculation about her upcoming debut in All Elite Wrestling (AEW). ## Mone recently attended the Crunchyroll Awards and traveled to Japan, further raising anticipation for her arrival in AEW. While her official signing with the promotion remains unconfirmed, reports suggest she has been under contract for several weeks. ## Previously, Mone engaged in unsuccessful negotiations with WWE due to financial discrepancies. Last summer, she sustained a broken ankle, keeping her out of the ring for several months. ## Adding to the excitement, Mone posted a cryptic message on her Instagram story, stating "handled all of her Big Business in Japan." This phrase coincides with the upcoming AEW event, "Dynamite: Big Business," scheduled for March 13th in Boston, Mone's hometown. ## Mone with another Big Business teaser pic.twitter.com/KLqn0O9C8j— Andrew Ravens l WrestlingNews.co (@Andrew_Ravens) March 4, 2024 ## Stay Tuned To Sacnilk...

AEW Announces New Pay-Per-View: 'Dynasty' Debuts In April
828 days ago
AEW News

AEW Announces New Pay-Per-View: 'Dynasty' Debuts In April

AEW's Revolution pay-per-view delivered a thrilling night of action, featuring championship bouts, high-flying clashes, and the emotional retirement of Sting. Beyond the in-ring drama, the event also unveiled exciting news for fans: the debut of a brand new pay-per-view, "Dynasty." ## Scheduled for Sunday, April 21st in St. Louis, Missouri, Dynasty will be AEW's tenth unique pay-per-view event. It falls strategically in the calendar, filling the gap leading up to their flagship "Double or Nothing" event, allowing for further development of ongoing storylines. ## Dynasty joins the ranks of established names like Double or Nothing, Fyter Fest, Fight for the Fallen, All Out, and Full Gear, all of which premiered in 2019. Revolution joined the fold in 2020, while Forbidden Door arrived in 2022. Additionally, All In, WrestleDream, and Worlds End were held as non-recurring events in 2023. ## This event marks AEW's fifth visit to St. Louis, following previous recordings of "Dark" and "Rampage" in 2021, "Dynamite," "Rampage," and "Dark: Elevation" in 2022, "Dynamite" and "Rampage" in 2023, and most recently, the "Collision" event in January 2024. ## Stay Tuned To Sacnilk...

Kyle O'Reilly Returns At AEW Revolution
828 days ago
AEW News

Kyle O'Reilly Returns At AEW Revolution

Revolution saw a changing of the guard, as "The Messiah of the Backbreaker" Rodney Strong defeated Orange Cassidy to claim the AEW International Championship. Strong's relentless assault focused on Cassidy's midsection, ultimately securing him the victory. ## The post-match scene was marked by the unexpected return of Kyle O'Reilly. Looking noticeably different, O'Reilly received a shirt and an offer to join the Undisputed Kingdom from Adam Cole. However, O'Reilly whispered something to Strong and declined the proposition.## O'Reilly's health issues kept him out of action for almost a year, following neck surgery. His return and cryptic interaction with Strong leave his future uncertain.## KYLE O’REILLY HAS RETURNED!!#AEWRevolution pic.twitter.com/kyQcuefkXI— WrestlePurists (@WrestlePurists) March 4, 2024 ## Stay Tuned To Sacnilk...