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Thursday, December 12, 2024 Issue #7429
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Visit our website at http://www.wrestling-online.com
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//->> OPENING WORDS FROM THE EDITOR

A bit late today, but here it goes...

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//->> NEWS FROM THE WRESTLING-ONLINE NEWSWIRE
Web version at http://www.wrestling-online.com/

TONI STORM RETURNS

- Former AEW Women's champion Toni Storm made a surprise return last night on the Winter Is Coming edition of Dynamite, minus her Timeless gimmick, reverting to her original character. After Mariah May successfully defended the AEW Women's title against her former friend Mina Shirakawa in the main event of Dynamite, Toni Storm's music hit the speakers to a massive ovation from the fans. Storm walked out to the top of the stage as Thunder Rosa held up a "WTF!" sign at ringside. "It's Toni Storm! I can't believe what I'm seeing," screamed Toni Schiavone on commentary as Storm removed her sunglasses and surveyed the arena. Storm looked emotional while May looked absolutely disgusted in the ring, looking at her other former friend. Storm was last seen at AEW All In in Wembley Stadium, losing her title to Mariah May. She had been using the Timeless gimmick since October of last year. You can see her return at https://www.wrestling-online.com/aew/toni-storm-returns-on-winter-is-coming-dynamite/

WORLDS END 2024 MAIN EVENT ANNOUNCED

- The main event for the Worlds End pay-per-view was announced last night on Dynamite with a four-way match for the AEW World title. AEW World champion Jon Moxley will defend his title against Hangman Page, Orange Cassidy, and Jay White and it was the champion who decided to give his challengers a shot at the title. After the Moxley and Pac vs Cassidy and White tag match ended in chaos, Moxley decided to deliver an early Christmas present backstage by offering to put his title on the line against Page, Cassidy, and White. Christian Cage, who still holds the contract to cash in any time, then reminded Moxley that at Worlds End he might cash in his prize.

CONTINENTAL CLASSIC TOURNAMENT UPDATE

- The Continental Classic tournament continued on Dynamite last night with two gold league matches taking place. Will Ospreay defeated Claudio Castagnoli to earn three points, sending him to six and giving Castagnoli his first loss in the tournament. In the other match, Ricochet also got a win and three points over Brody King, sending Ricochet to six points and sharing the top of the table with Ospreay and Castagnoli. Blue league matches for this weekend include Continental champion Kazuchika Okada vs The Beast Mortos and Kyle Fletcher vs Mark Briscoe. Fletcher remains the only man undefeated with three wins out of three.

ADAM COLE GETS MJF AT WORLDS END

- Adam Cole will get his chance to get back at MJF at the Worlds End pay-per-view after he defeated Kyle O'Reilly last night on Dynamite in an eliminator match. Cole and O'Reilly were the last two in the Dynamite Dozen battle royal last week and their one-on-one match last night determined who will go for the Dynamite Diamond Ring. Former AEW World champion MJF is the only individual to ever hold the Dynamite Diamond Ring since its inception in 2019. MJF and Cole have been involved in a storyline together since June 2023 but long injuries to Cole derailed everything. Despite being unveiled as the man under the devil's mask a year ago and the one who cost MJF the title against Samoa Joe, it was Cole who returned as the babyface at WrestleDream.

NXT RATING

- NXT this week with the post-Deadline episode drew 680,000 viewers on The CW, up 87,000 viewers from the prior week. The show had a 0.17 rating, up 0.04 from the last show. This was the best number since October 22 in both viewers and demo rating. (Ratings credit: Programming Insider)

WINGED EAGLE WWE TITLE RETURNING AT SNME

- The Winged Eagle WWE championship is returning for one night only at Saturday Night's Main Event this weekend. A video on social media showed Triple H talking to Cody Rhodes, gifting him a large Pelican case. “We keep talking about Saturday Night’s Main Event. You know, the whole theme of that thing is going to be retro," Triple H told Cody. "Jesse Ventura's going to be there. Long Island, New York, Nassau Coliseum. With that in mind, got something for you. Understand this...one night only, alright?” Cody agrees and Triple H taps on the case. Cody opens it up and a golden glow comes out of it as Cody smiles, closes it, and walks away with it. The much-beloved title was used between 1988 and 1998 and is considered to be the most popular WWE title design in the history of the company. Cody has in the past tried to bring it back and warned fans not to get mad at him if it does not happen. Saturday Night's Main Event is set to be a retro presentation, without the use of many lights and video screens. You can see the video at https://www.wrestling-online.com/wwe/winged-eagle-wwe-championship-returning-at-saturday-nights-main-event/.

JANEL GRANT LAWSUIT TO PROCEED

- The six-month stay ordered by the U.S. Department of Justice in the civil case filed by Janel Grant against Vince McMahon, John Laurinaitis, and WWE has expired and will now move on after the go ahead from the U.S. Southern District for New York. In June, the DOJ asked Grant's legal team to pause their fight to pursue their own federal criminal investigation against Vince McMahon and this investigation will continue parallel to the civil case. Janel Grant's attorney, Ann Callis, said in a statement that they are pleased that prosecutors for the Southern District of New York have concluded that they can continue their criminal investigation while they bring forward new evidence in their civil case about the sexual exploitation carried out by Janel Grant’s abusers. "For the last six months, Ms. Grant has patiently waited to hold Vince McMahon, John Laurinaitis, and WWE accountable for the sex trafficking and abuse she endured at the company on a near daily basis. Her wait is over, and we now look forward to sharing Ms. Grant’s story,” Grant said.


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