How Top Flight Was Originally Signed -- How Austin Aries Could Have Brought More Value

Feb 07, 2024

The Top Flight duo didn't debut in AEW tag team divisions just by chance, it was a strategic move by Darius Martin. Martin expressed his interest via an email to the AEW's higher-ups, attaching a crafty highlight video, which caught Matt Jackson's eye. The brothers impressed in their first match against Stu and Uno, capping off with a remarkable televised bout with The Bucks. Although an unexpected attack by TH2 could've been a setback, it led to their first storyline.

Matt Riddle has found a silver lining since his release from WWE. He kicked 2024 off wrestling for MLW, and making his debut for New Japan. His schedule is lighter, tailored more to his needs, and he anticipates returning to WWE down the line, paralleling the return of CM Punk, who was reinstated after almost ten years.

Following the allegations against Vince McMahon and WWE, the ripple effects are beginning to impact product branding. Most notably, Brock Lesnar has been taken off the cover art for the upcoming WWE 2K24 video game. The original cover for the "40 Years of WrestleMania" edition featured Lesnar. Now, it has been replaced featuring John Cena.

Lynch recounts her intention to be at WrestleMania's main event and transform women wrestling into the hottest thing on TV. She recalls her frustration with the barriers women stars faced, like the banning of certain moves with ring steps and posts. Her vision eventually realized when she clinched a historic win in the WrestleMania 35 main event, becoming WWE Raw and SmackDown Women's Champion simultaneously, opening the door for future wrestling stars.

On his show, 'Foley Is Pod,' Foley conveys mixed emotions, acknowledging McMahon's significant role in advancing his career, while expressing a deep sense of disappointment over the accusations.

Austin Aries admits he never fully embodied his true character within WWE. In an interview, he admitted that he felt held back during his feud with Neville, the Cruiserweight Champion at the time. According to Aries, the company's need for a babyface against Neville's heel character forced him to stray from his preferred villainous persona, which he believes would have added far more value to his WWE run.

At NXT’s Vengeance Day, Carmelo Hayes made headlines when he turned on partner Trick Williams after a whirlwind evening highlighted by their loss in the hotly contested Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic Final. Elsewhere, Ilya Dragunov retained his title, while Oba Femi successfully defended his North American Championship over Dragon Lee. And that's just the start!

Matt Hardy recounts his disturbing experiences in the WWE locker room culture under Vince McMahon. In "The Extreme Life of Matt Hardy" podcast, he describes the ubiquitous hazing and malicious behavior in his early years; actions that, in his words, could lead to arrests today. While reluctant to recount specific incidents, Hardy does mention instances of heat where wrestlers' clothes were maliciously destroyed, and emotionally daunting showers intended as brutal tests of mettle.

How Top Flight Was Originally Signed -- How Austin Aries Could Have Brought More Value

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