AEW - AUGUST 2024

[Go2Sleep]

On 8/3/2024 at 10:06 PM, Death From Above said:

Unless Britt pulled a Hulk Hogan and called MJF a "jiggly jiggly jew" I'm not sure what she possibly could have said to justify a suspension. This whole situation is super fucking weird.

Yeah, there better have been a lot more to the story if Britt is the only one suspended. The "simmering animosity" was from a tweet last year where she complained MJF's TV time relative to hers. Maybe not the most professional thing to put that on Twitter, but a laughably small deal in the world of wrestling politics.

[TheVileOne]

It's hard for me to judge Britt Baker despite previous backstage rumors and alleged incidents because I don't know what was said. Also, it sounds like MJF escalated the situation by confronting her and then later punching a wall. It feels like he should've been suspended or reprimanded as well, along with Ospreay. 

My thought was her Twitter comments last year were just her playing up her character. It's hard to take anything wrestlers say on social media seriously, especially when they tend to stay in character for their social media posts. 

Clearly, there were some kind of issues or resentment on Britt Baker's part. Now that this situation has blown up, I don't see how it's been fixed. We know from the past that these situations getting out in the open and becoming publicized don't fix them, it only makes them worse. Why? Because pro wrestlers in general aren't mature. They are hypersensitive, and they have giant egos that are easy to bruise. And frankly, I don't think Tony Khan is up for managing or dealing with situations like these. We saw from the CM Punk debacle that he was absolutely clueless on how to deal with it. It was not something any backstage meetings were able to fix or nip in the bud. 

[MoeCristyV.1.6]

They problem was there were no backstage meetings at all with Punk. It was just suspend everyone and then divide the guys into different shows to not interact at all. 

[mystman]

7 hours ago, TheVileOne said:

 It feels like he should've been suspended or reprimanded as well, along with Ospreay. 

 

 

What did Osperay do?

[Technico Support]

5 hours ago, MoeCristyV.1.6 said:

They problem was there were no backstage meetings at all with Punk. It was just suspend everyone and then divide the guys into different shows to not interact at all. 

Yeah, it seems like they learned from the Punk situation…apparently they bring HR right in to deal with this kind of thing instead of relying on TK’s judgement.

[TheVileOne]

3 hours ago, mystman said:

What did Osperay do?

He had a talk with Britt Baker as well. 

[Kevin Wilson]

Maybe all Britt/MJF needed was a couple weeks to cool off and its a big ol nothingburger that the anti-AEW side of social media blew up into a big deal and its seeping into every corner of the Internet, to be forgotten when something else interesting happens. Saying Ospreay should be suspended with zero knowledge on what he did or said is silly even on the usual silly scale of things posted here.

More interesting is news of Fenix and Pentagon leaving for WWE that a few sites are reporting. I like to think of myself as a rational wrestling fan, mostly because I just see wrestling as a fun soap opera to follow that I make fun of half the time, but honestly my reaction is "good for them." I love the Lucha Bros and I'll miss Fenix's random matches but they have been in AEW since the beginning and if WWE is offering them something AEW isn't (more money, dream matches, WrestleMania, etc.) and they are interested in going, I'm happy for them and I'll still root for them all the way.

The reality of the situation is, for however long AEW exists, we've reached the stage where WWE and AEW are going to trade wrestlers. There will be a variety of reasons for that but its just going to happen, whether it be due to money or opportunities. Personally, I'm excited about seeing some new match-ups and anyone that watched wrestling in the 90s knows this is the way it goes, there will be roster changes both ways. Its a healthy environment for the wrestlers and I'm all for it.

[Sublime]

The Lucia Bros should go get the WWE pay day. They have just been there in AEW for a long time they seemed destined to be bigger after their cage match with the Bucks but nothing really came from it, other toys were found and injuries happened. There’s nothing left for them to really do outside of WWE (and Fenix could be the Rey Mysterio replacement they’ve been looking for forever)

[odessasteps]

I mean, I’m admittedly not a fan, but I don’t seem their act working in the WWE. 

[AxB]

Penta would be a bigger star in WWE than Fenix would. That 'Taunt after every move' style is something the Fed fans eat up. The fact that Fenix is the better English speaker of the two would have favoured him a few years ago, but Penta's is improving (and I can see them lifting the Abrahantes translator gimmick anyway).

[zendragon]

On 8/3/2024 at 7:06 PM, Death From Above said:

Unless Britt pulled a Hulk Hogan and called MJF a "jiggly jiggly jew" I'm not sure what she possibly could have said to justify a suspension. This whole situation is super fucking weird.

I'm sure MJF with his vanity would be very offended at the jiggly part of that

[EVA]

It’s time for the Lucha Bros to move on. They’ve done everything they can do in AEW. Neither really got a singles run, but if it hadn’t happened in 5 years, that was clearly never gonna happen. Time to freshen up and chase new money somewhere else, as the pro wrestling gods always intended.

My guess is they’ll find themselves dumped into HHH’s “Latino bucket” with LWO and LDF sooner than later and be forgotten (remember Dragon Lee???), but the meaningless undercard matches will be good and the pay will be nice.

Edited August 6 by EVA

[Matt D]

4 hours ago, AxB said:

Penta would be a bigger star in WWE than Fenix would. That 'Taunt after every move' style is something the Fed fans eat up. The fact that Fenix is the better English speaker of the two would have favoured him a few years ago, but Penta's is improving (and I can see them lifting the Abrahantes translator gimmick anyway).

Yeah, Penta will be annoyingly over and merched to the gills. The WWE fans love the Pavlovian response stuff and he's canny enough to milk it. I will certainly not miss them but whenever they wanted to heat up an up and coming heel they always put him over Penta and AEW is going to miss that. Claudio and PAC are beatable guys but there are very few in the company that aren't protected way too much by Khan along those lines.

[HarryArchieGus]

Excited for the Lucha Brothers. I love the movement/refresh two strong companies provides. That said, Summerslam with all the wwe drama, bad finishes and mediocre wrestling was a great reminder how needed AEW is. At least to my interest in professional mat action. 

 

[Curt McGirt]

God yes, shovel them over to USA/FOX/soon Netflix and let Mortos and eventually Bandido and Vikingo take their spots. Komander even. Penta will change his name for the 1000th time, be mad over, and Fenix can be in the LWO then end up working matches on their C show. 

[TheVileOne]

13 hours ago, Kevin Wilson said:

Maybe all Britt/MJF needed was a couple weeks to cool off and its a big ol nothingburger that the anti-AEW side of social media blew up into a big deal and its seeping into every corner of the Internet, to be forgotten when something else interesting happens. Saying Ospreay should be suspended with zero knowledge on what he did or said is silly even on the usual silly scale of things posted here.

More interesting is news of Fenix and Pentagon leaving for WWE that a few sites are reporting. I like to think of myself as a rational wrestling fan, mostly because I just see wrestling as a fun soap opera to follow that I make fun of half the time, but honestly my reaction is "good for them." I love the Lucha Bros and I'll miss Fenix's random matches but they have been in AEW since the beginning and if WWE is offering them something AEW isn't (more money, dream matches, WrestleMania, etc.) and they are interested in going, I'm happy for them and I'll still root for them all the way.

The reality of the situation is, for however long AEW exists, we've reached the stage where WWE and AEW are going to trade wrestlers. There will be a variety of reasons for that but its just going to happen, whether it be due to money or opportunities. Personally, I'm excited about seeing some new match-ups and anyone that watched wrestling in the 90s knows this is the way it goes, there will be roster changes both ways. Its a healthy environment for the wrestlers and I'm all for it.

It's clearly not a nothing burger, otherwise it wouldn't be getting talked about and blowing up right now. Based on WrestlePurists' account, Will Ospreay went into the women's locker room to confront Britt Baker, as did MJF. So I'm not sure why she is the only one getting suspended out of all of this. Ospreay and MJF going into the women's locker room, whether they asked to go in and were granted permission or not raises red flags here. Sounds like they shouldn't have been allowed to do that and escalate the conflict.

https://wrestlingnews.co/aew-news/backstage-news-on-why-aew-did-not-suspended-mjf-over-britt-baker-confrontation/

Quote

“All of these things are true. MJF did punch a wall. MJF did 100% go into the women’s locker room. The question now is, and the question that many fans have been asking is, then, why did he not get suspended? The reason why he didn’t get suspended is because of the context and order of these events. According to multiple sources, when MJF hit the wall, it was not a case of like he was in front of Britt Baker, and he punched the wall right next to her. Apparently, he had his interaction, and he walked very, very, very far down the hallway where no one was there and then hit a wall. Which is a different context than, like, you know, in the women’s locker room punching walls.

Regarding the women’s locker room aspect of the story, the official information I got was that it was after this whole thing apparently had calmed down. Apparently, Will Ospreay was the first person to confront Britt Baker and he just kind of asked her why she was starting issues. Ospreay confronted her, asked about it, and Britt Baker went off on Alicia Atout. Britt Baker called Alicia Atout, by multiple accounts, a ‘Stupid fing b’ because Alicia Atout informed MJF that Britt Baker was berating him, talking crap about Max and Ospreay. Because she was basically like it’s what the story had already been told, she was burying them as their match was going on, the one-hour match. Alicia Atout lets Max know via text message. Max finds out later, Ospreay approaches, MJF comes to the defense of his fiancee. Britt Baker goes off on Alicia for being a snitch, she accused her of being a snitch, called her a ‘Stupid f**ing b*ch.’ She said she was going to get her kicked out of the women’s locker room, so on and so forth. MJF going into the women’s locker room was allegedly him going there, knocking and asking if he could enter, and them saying that he could enter, and that’s when he got in the locker room.”

The reason why he was not suspended is because HR had all the details and the information and the footage, and they looked it all over and said, ‘Okay, you’re not in the wrong here and you’re just coming to the defense of your fiancee. So they just kind of didn’t really punish him because they didn’t see it as something that should be punishable. So that’s kind of the deal with…..that’s the situation with MJF and Britt Baker Britt’s not going to miss All In. She’s going to wrestle at All In against Mercedes (Mone).”

Pro wrestling is literally dumber than a high school soap opera.

[FourPostMassacre]

12 hours ago, Sublime said:

The Lucia Bros should go get the WWE pay day. They have just been there in AEW for a long time they seemed destined to be bigger after their cage match with the Bucks but nothing really came from it, other toys were found and injuries happened. There’s nothing left for them to really do outside of WWE (and Fenix could be the Rey Mysterio replacement they’ve been looking for forever)

I always thought the same about Fenix but dude gets hurt a lot. I assume WWE would make him tone it down a bit but his bump card is definitely up there already. 
 

I have no idea how Penta will work in WWE. 
If Vince was still around he would 100% be the next La Parka circa wcw. 

[zendragon]

Tony missed out on doing a big Penta singles match in the LA area. Either that or a tag next time WWE runs a show out here would be a really hot house

[HarryArchieGus]

The Lucha Brothers tag title win was followed up with mediocre to bad matches against Butcher/Blade, the Acclaimed, and a particularly disappointing FTR feud. Their ROH tag title run was amongst the worst in company history (due in part to a Fenix injury). I say all this as a fan of both Fenix and Penta. 

MeltzerVarez mentioned on WOR that AAA is trying to strip them of their names. Apparently they worked as King and Lucha Brother at the CMLL show. 

[odessasteps]

TK needs to hire Atlas Secuity to guard the Locke rooms doors from the other wrestlers. 

[NikoBaltimore]

Natural aside I don't get the hate with Penta.  Yeah he taunts a lot in nothing matches but when there's something that matters he holds his own and doesn't taunt as much.  And Fenix has toned down his stuff a bit since coming back though did add a little more the past match or two.  So if they're merch movers why not feature them as much as possible.  And if it isn't AEW then honestly that's their loss.

If there's truth to this then I'll miss them in AEW.  But Penta is 39 and if he's going to maximize things by doing less over the years then WWE is the better place to do it.  Fenix I feel is a bigger loss for AEW but with him at 33 he's going to have time to fill the Rey spot and I feel have a better chance than Dragon Lee.  I honestly don't want them to leave but if it means making lots of money then they deserve it so good for them.  Though I hope they don't close their Lucha store as I still have my eye on a thing or two from there.

[Tromatagon]

Penta is my favorite wrestler.  I don't care if other people like him or not.  Some of you can't be helped.  Sometimes people have to adapt and change their styles due to physical stuff that is none of our business throughout their careers, and his taunting style is part of that.

I remember hearing through back channel stuff the bros got offered pretty good WWE deals before they went to AEW and turned them down, and have no idea if that was ever reported on.

I want him to make as much money as he can while he can, and Tony's stupid inconsistent booking makes me actually hope he doesn't stay, unless Antoine tries to make it up to him with money.  It sucks he's too much of a coward to ever book him like Lucha Underground did.  I continue to consider him the most spineless of bookers.

Edited August 6 by Tromatagon

[Tromatagon]

4 minutes ago, Tromatagon said:

Penta is my favorite wrestler.  I don't care if other people like him or not.  Some of you can't be helped.  Sometimes people have to adapt and change their styles due to physical stuff that is none of our business throughout their careers, and his taunting style is part of that.  

I remember hearing through back channel stuff the bros got offered pretty good WWE deals before they went to AEW and turned them down, and have no idea if that was ever reported on.

I want him to make as much money as he can while he can, and Tony's stupid inconsistent booking makes me actually hope he doesn't stay, unless Antoine tries to make it up to him with money.  It sucks he's too much of a coward to ever book him like Lucha Underground did.

EDIT: I think my phone and computer hate this site.

Edited August 6 by Tromatagon

[Technico Support]

5 hours ago, TheVileOne said:

It's clearly not a nothing burger, otherwise it wouldn't be getting talked about and blowing up right now. Based on WrestlePurists' account, Will Ospreay went into the women's locker room to confront Britt Baker, as did MJF. So I'm not sure why she is the only one getting suspended out of all of this. Ospreay and MJF going into the women's locker room, whether they asked to go in and were granted permission or not raises red flags here

The bolded part is funny to me.  "Whether they did it the right way or not makes no difference!"  Apparently, they did knock and ask if they could see Baker, didn't barge in or anything, and HR reviewed the footage and thought it was fine.

What's now being reported is that Baker was shit talking their match while it was happening, Atout told MJF about it, Baker called Atout a "stupid fucking bitch" or something like that, and it all blew up from there.  The wall punching was done far from Baker.  The whole situation is dumb but why the fuck is Baker talking shit about people?   All this falls under the legal precedent of "don't want none, don't start none," subsection "FAFO."

Edited August 6 by Technico Support

[just drew]

I mean, the rumors have always been out there about Baker. If the story is true, that she was upset that the two most over wrestlers on the roster were given an hour to do their thing, then she's an idiot.