SouthernWorldwide.com – The professional wrestling world has been buzzing with activity over the past week, offering a variety of storylines and emerging talent. This report consolidates key developments from WWE, AEW, MLW, and independent promotions.
WWE has kicked off its King and Queen of the Ring Tournaments, while AEW’s Owen Hart Foundation Tournaments have also seen their initial matches. Beyond these major promotions, events like the Battle for the Brave, appearances by Fetty Wap at Game Changer Wrestling, and a new champion crowned on MLW Fusion have also captured attention.
The Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes found himself in a heated confrontation with Sami Zayn and Gunther on “Friday Night SmackDown.” Gunther, eager for a rematch, was interrupted by Zayn, who questioned Rhodes about teaching him a lesson. This led to an attack by Gunther on Rhodes, with Zayn getting caught in the crossfire.
Rhodes and Zayn became entangled when Gunther pushed Zayn into Rhodes’ path. Zayn, refusing assistance from Rhodes, chose to re-engage with Gunther. The segment ended with Rhodes launching an offensive against Gunther, who was then dragged out of the ring by Zayn to continue their brawl.
This intense exchange strongly suggests that a rematch for the Undisputed WWE Championship between Cody Rhodes and Gunther is on the horizon. SmackDown GM Nick Aldis indicated that Gunther has a specific condition for the rematch, which his “legal team” will reveal next week.
Following the loss of his mask vs. mask match at AAA’s Noche de Los Grandes, Gable appeared on “Friday Night SmackDown” in formal attire. He met with Aldis and addressed AAA world cruiserweight champion Rey Fenix. Gable acknowledged their previous match at WrestleMania 41, admitting he competed “under false pretenses” and had learned to respect Lucha Libre.
Gable sought forgiveness from Fenix, which he received. The future path for Gable remains uncertain, with many individuals, including the Alpha Academy, still awaiting apologies from him.
“Friday Night SmackDown” also featured significant matches in the King of the Ring and Queen of the Ring Tournaments, delivering some unexpected outcomes.
In the Queen of the Ring Tournament fatal four-way match, Raquel Rodriguez emerged victorious, pinning Kiana James to advance. The match saw James express frustration with Giulia, hinting at a potential split between the duo. Rodriguez is now set to face Iyo Sky in the semifinals.
Dominik Mysterio secured a surprising win against Bron Breakker, Damian Priest, and Trick Williams in a King of the Ring Tournament match. With assistance from fellow Judgment Day members JD McDonagh and Liv Morgan, Mysterio capitalized on a low blow from Morgan to Priest, enabling him to hit a 619 and a frog splash for the victory. Mysterio will face Oba Femi in the semifinals.
Two quarterfinal matches on both the men’s and women’s sides of the tournaments are still pending.
Mercedes Moné made a notable return to AEW on Wednesday’s “Dynamite,” stepping in as the wildcard for the Owen Hart Foundation Women’s Tournament. She defeated Alex Windsor, moving closer to a potential shot at the AEW Women’s World Championship.
Moné’s presence was also felt on “Collision” on Saturday. After Hazuki’s win over Persephone, Moné appeared, seemingly seeking revenge for losing her CMLL Women’s Championship to Persephone. She attacked Persephone, only to be confronted by Hazuki. In a surprising turn, Hazuki launched her own attack on Moné after Moné had her back turned, creating a chaotic ending to the show.
On the men’s side of the Owen Hart Tournament, Will Ospreay continued his impressive run by defeating AEW national champion Mark Davis to advance to the finals. Ospreay has secured a spot at Forbidden Door and will face the winner of the Swerve Strickland vs. Claudio Castagnoli match. The winners of both Owen Hart Tournaments will earn a title shot at All In in August.
Shotzi has made a significant impact in Major League Wrestling (MLW), first by defeating Priscilla Kelly on “MLW Fusion” and then challenging Shoko Nakajima for the MLW Featherweight Championship.
Shotzi’s momentum carried through to Saturday, where she defeated Nakajima to become the new featherweight champion, marking her first title with the company. Challengers are already emerging, with Lady Frost publicly stating her intentions to face Shotzi next.
Steve Maclin and Deonna Purrazzo hosted the “Battle for the Brave” event, which aimed to raise funds for the Tunnel to Towers Foundation. The event, held in Rahway, New Jersey, was reportedly a success, featuring a card that included Maclin, Matt and Jeff Hardy, The Rascalz, Richard Holliday, Shotzi, Priscilla Kelly, and Kris Statlander, among others.
Richard Holliday emerged as the winner of the 12-man gauntlet match, earning the Battle for the Brave Cup. Social media feedback from fans indicated widespread satisfaction with the event.
The independent wrestling scene continues to surprise, with unexpected celebrity appearances adding to the excitement. Rapper Fetty Wap made an appearance at Game Changer Wrestling’s (GCW) Tournament of Survival in Atlantic City, New Jersey.
During the event, Nick Gage handed Fetty Wap a bundle of light tubes, which the rapper then used to attack Tony Deppen. The crowd at the Showboat Resort reacted wildly to the unexpected involvement of the artist.
