'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
AEW Rampage and the Buy In before the show will go head-to-head with WWE SmackDown later tonight. With the war between AEW and WWE heating up, we take a look at some of the latest news updates from the day, including Tony Khan sending a message to WWE ahead of Rampage. The AEW general manager was also recently ask about Bray Wyatt, who remains a free agent following his WWE release.
We also take a look at Chris Jericho discussing a backstage altercation with Brock Lesnar, a WCW veteran wanting a match against a former AEW World Champion and a whole lot more.
#6 Tony Khan says he'd be interested in talking to Bray Wyatt
During an interview with the New York Post, Tony Khan was asked about whether he would be interested in speaking to former WWE Superstar Bray Wyatt. In response, the general manager stated that he knew Wyatt, having met him at Chris Jericho's birthday party. He added that he would definitely be interested in talking to Wyatt if the circumstances were right.
That being said, Khan did not explicity reveal whether or now AEW was interested in signing Bray Wyatt when his non-compete clause with WWE expires.
"I really like Windham (Rotunda)," said Khan. "I know him a little bit and I really enjoy him. The last time I saw him was at Chris Jericho’s birthday party and that was a long time ago. I like him as a person very much and he’s a really talented person. At the right time and place, sure I’d be interested to talk to him."
Only time will tell whether Wyatt ends up in AEW, but many fans continue to link him to the promotion.
#5 Chris Jericho looks back on surviving his backstage altercation with Brock Lesnar
Chris Jericho recently discussed his storyline with American Top Team in AEW. In doing so, he briefly brought up his backstage altercation with Brock Lesnar in WWE, saying that he had "survived" the showdown.
"When you get into that moment, it is what it is," said Jericho. "You either go for it, or you put your tail between your legs and hide, and I’ve never been that type of guy. I’m more of the type to die with boots on. So I’ve had my issues and shoots with MMA guys before, like that one with Brock Lesnar, and I survived by the skin of my teeth."
Jericho confronted Lesnar backstage at WWE SummerSlam 2015, after The Beast Incarnate busted Randy Orton open with stiff elbow strikes in the middle of the ring. This confrontation remains one of the most memorable stories in recent WWE history, and many fans remain curious about it.
#4 Tony Khan sends a message to WWE ahead of tonight's AEW Rampage
SmackDown and AEW Rampage will go head-to-head tonight. The blue brand's show will be two-and-a-half hours long this week, instead of the usual two. The final 30 minutes will run ad-free against AEW Rampage.
In a recent interview with the New York Post, Tony Khan had a message for WWE, as he commented on SmackDown's last half-hour on FS1 going ad-free. Khan stated that wrestling shows shouldn't run against each other so fans can watch everything. But he also added that he could also take out commercials if he chose to do so.
"It’s a little bit different than the Wednesday Night Wars because that was from the very beginning of Dynamite and we put our head down and it was an every-week thing," said Khan. "This seemed like pretty predatory, which is fine if that’s how you want to play it. It’s not outwardly how they’ve (WWE) shown they wanted to play it."
"Unfortunately, if we are on at the same time it’s harder for people to watch their wrestling, at least live," Khan added. "We can take the commercials out of it. If you want to take the commercials out of it, I can do that too. It doesn’t seem very civil but I have more money than they do so I can afford to do that longer than they can. But that’s how we make money at the end of the day, so I was surprised when they took those out."
Tony Khan has also announced a special Buy In program ahead of Rampage, which will live on AEW's YouTube channel. This pre-show will feature a dream match between Bryan Danielson and Minoru Suzuki.
#3 WCW veteran Crowbar wants a match against former AEW World Champion Jon Moxley
WCW veteran Crowbar recently made his AEW debut on Dark: Elevation when he took on Joey Janela. A fan on Twitter recently expressed his interest in watching Crowbar take on Jon Moxley, and the former WCW star replied, saying that he would be interested in this bout.
It's unclear whether Crowbar will make another appearance for Tony Khan's promotion, as his match with Janela might have been a one-off.
#2 Kenny Omega comments on his match against Bryan Danielson
Kenny Omega was recently asked about his match against Bryan Danielson at Grand Slam by Emi Sakura's valet, Lulu Pencil. The Cleaner stated that while the match was a tough one, he had proved all his doubters wrong and showed that he was still the best wrestler in the world.
"It was pretty difficult," said Omega. "I haven't had a match like that in a long time. Some people said I couldn't do it anymore, that I'm not the cleaner, I'm not 'Kenny Omega'... shut the ** up. Of course I'm Kenny Omega, I'm PWI #1 for a reason."
Omega and Danielson's match at Grand Slam ended in a time limit draw, but it went down as an instant classic. Many fans are eagerly waiting for the two stars to clash again, but Omega has repeatedly shot down the idea of a rematch.
#1 nZo recently opened up about advice he got from AEW star Jon Moxley
nZo, formerly known as Enzo Amore, recently discussed an important piece of advice he got backstage from from current AEW star Jon Moxley.
Speaking on Piers Austin’s Shooting The Sh*t UNCENSORED!, nZo opened up about his seven-year stint with WWE and revealed that Moxley had once told him to make the most of his run with the company. Moxley, then known as Dean Ambrose, suggested that Amore should make the most of the platform he was being given.
"I just think that some of the best advice I got in pro wrestling was early on in my career from a guy who might not even know he said it," said nZo. "Jon Moxley said, ‘Don’t let them use you. Use them.’ And then I watched him go out there and personify that in ways that are inexplicable. You can’t explain the ways in which that guy was able to walk out on his terms and walk into another big money deal." (H/T: Post Wrestling)
nZo was released by WWE in 2018 and has been wrestling across the independent scene ever since. He recently faced WWE Hall of Famer Jerry The King Lawler at NorthEast Wrestling's WrestleFest 25. As of this writing, nZo hasn't worked for AEW, but it's clear he still holds Moxley in high regard.
Meanwhile, Moxley has thrived since he left WWE in 2019. He won the AEW World Championship, and he remains one of the promotion's top stars.
