Top News and Rumors: AEW legend returns to WWE, Former RAW Superstar offers to help Rhea Ripley after heartbreaking betrayal, and more
Welcome to another edition of AEW News and Rumors.
SummerSlam 2024 was the night of screwjobs, betrayals, and shocking returns, which kept fans on the edge of their seats until the camera stopped rolling. One such name that came back to the Stamford-based promotion this past weekend was AEW legend Arn Anderson.
Elsewhere on the show, Dominik Mysterio betrayed Rhea Ripley and joined hands with Liv Morgan. A former RAW Superstar has now offered to help The Eradicator.
Lastly, a WCW veteran was offered a spot in All Elite Wrestling, but the idea fizzled out due to Chris Jericho. Continue reading as we dive into the top AEW News and Rumors of the week.
#3. Arn Anderson reunites with Cody Rhodes at SummerSlam 2024
The history between Arn Anderson and Cody Rhodes goes back to the early days of AEW. The 65-year-old legend served as the manager for The American Nightmare and the head coach of the Nightmare Family.
However, the partnership didn't last long, as Anderson dumped Rhodes for his failures. After almost three years, the two men reunited backstage before the main event of SummerSlam.
Arn Anderson hugged Cody Rhodes and gave him a pep talk, letting him know that he wouldn't be short of friends during the Bloodline Rules match against Solo Sikoa:
"You're a damn fine [WWE Champion]. Do you know how I know? Because 54,000 people say so...You've got four pi**ed-off Island Boys. They want to destroy the memory of Roman Reigns and they want to take what you've worked your whole life for. So, you know they're coming, and as the champion, you know you've got a target on your back. But it just so happens that I've still got a little influence in some of these locker rooms and I've just weaved in and out and had a couple of conversations. You still got friends and a couple you already know about...They are on the way."
Cody Rhodes would successfully retain his Undisputed WWE title after Roman Reigns returned to take out Solo Sikoa.
#2. AEW star Buddy Matthews offers to help Rhea Ripley after SummerSlam 2024
Rhea Ripley failed to knock Liv Morgan off her perch at SummerSlam, thanks to Dominik Mysterio.
"Dirty" Dom stopped Mami from clobbering Morgan with a steel chair and getting disqualified. Shortly after, Dominik slid that chair into the ring and distracted the referee, allowing Morgan to hit Ripley with Oblivion to retain the title.
After the match, Dominik Mysterio made out with Liv Morgan to signal the end of his alliance with Rhea Ripley.
AEW star Buddy Matthews then took to his official X handle to playfully ask Tony Khan if he could help his wife in WWE:
Later on in the show, Finn Balor cost Damian Priest his WWE World Heavyweight Championship against Gunther.
#1. Konnan opens up about AEW offer
Konnan has made several appearances for All Elite Wrestling since its inception but never put pen to paper on a deal.
Speaking on the Keepin' It 100 podcast, the WCW veteran revealed that he was offered to manage Santana and Ortiz, but the plans fell through after Chris Jericho took them under his wing:
"As a matter of fact when AEW first started, I was offered a job - either come out with LAX, which is what should have happened, right.. but Jericho wanted them. And then there was talk about me coming out with Pentagon and Fenix, which, that should've been very organic. But you saw who ended up managing them, you know, the hype spaz boy himself with the Mickey Mouse gloves, and he looks like the Latino Tony Khan, Alex Abrahantes."
Konnan said he reached out to Chris Jericho if AEW needs a writer for its Mexican talent, but Le Champion turned him down, saying there are no writers in All Elite Wrestling:
"So I had asked Jericho after all that... let me know if you need anybody to write for the Mexican talent. Right? He goes, 'There's no writers here.' And I was like, 'Alright,' and that was the end of that conversation."
The Demo God is currently riding high as the FTW Champion but is without an opponent for All In 2024. It will be interesting to see what the company has in store for him.