For the first time in six years, an AEW pay-per-view is set to go head-to-head with a main roster WWE premium live event next month, when AEW All Out from Scotiabank Arena in Toronto, Canada airs live at the same time as WWE Wrestlepalooza on ESPN from the Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis on September 20. Throughout this year, WWE has counter-programmed AEW on multiple occasions, but usually both promotions will run their speciality event at different start times while still being on the same day. However, AEW has mostly been rivalled by “WWE NXT” PLE’s, and with Wrestlepalooza expected to feature Brock Lesnar vs. John Cena and Cody Rhodes vs. Drew McIntyre, Dave Meltzer believes that the buy rate for All Out could reach a historic low.

“I don’t want to make any predictions but I think it’ll be the lowest they’ve ever done … under 100 [thousand] for sure,” Meltzer stated on the “Wrestling Observer Radio.” “The ones that buy every AEW show, you know what that is? That’s like 20,000, 40,000 people. The rest of them are people who buy one show a year or every now and then or whatever. Those people, some of them will still watch AEW, but it ain’t going to be 120,000 like they usually get … I don’t think that you realize how hard ESPN’s going to be pushing this thing.”

Meltzer continued by questioning why AEW President Tony Khan didn’t reschedule All Out for the afternoon of September 20 to avoid going head-to-head with WWE, stating that it’s a mistake to compete with them directly and that moving to an earlier start time could result in the pay-per-view performing well.

If you use any of the quotes in this article, please credit “Wrestling Observer Radio” with a h/t to Wrestling Inc. for the transcription.

In the wake of the viral clip showing Raja Jackson attacking indie wrestler Syko Stu, several big names in the industry condemned Jackson’s actions, but Rob Van Dam interestingly proclaimed that he stands with the young MMA fighter. Van Dam received a ton of backlash for his comment, and has since clarified his stance during an episode of his “1 Of A Kind” podcast.

“I wanna start out by saying best wishes to f***ing Syko Stu Smith,” Van Dam said. “Hopefully he will regain his health and do it quickly. That’s a shame and he definitely didn’t deserve what happened to him.” The veteran then criticized those who would call him hypocritical for backing Jackson while wishing Stu well. “I’m not picking a side, if I did, I’m not even saying it would be Raja’s!” The veteran further expressed that at the time of his post, he hadn’t even seen all the backlash Jackson got online but clarified that he understands how Jackson got to the point where he was, not that he was condoning his actions.

Van Dam then added that he would’ve likely have retaliated if he also got hit with a can at an indie show without explanation. “Everyone is saying that he needs to be put to death and I’m saying if Raja’s position needs somebody to explain what happened, then I got his back as far as that goes,” he said. “I see exactly what happened; doesn’t necessarily make him out to be the babyface.”

If you use any quotes from this article, please credit “1 Of A Kind” and provide a h/t to Wrestling Inc. for the transcription.

While looking through your comments, we found lots of different ideas for MJF, often involving rematches with old AEW rivals CM Punk or Cody Rhodes. The single most popular idea, however, was a match that has never happened before and likely never will: MJF vs. John Cena. 

If the gods of wrestling gave us The Ultimate Pen, there’s absolutely no way we wouldn’t have had John Cena’s 17th and final WWE title reign end with MJF cashing in the guaranteed world title opportunity he won at AEW All In. Does it make sense? Who cares? Can you imagine the sight of MJF holding the WWE title over his head as he prepares to unexpectedly help usher Cena into retirement?

Anyway, even if you don’t want to make this about championships and contracts, this is still a match — and more importantly, a feud — that could have so much juice as part of Cena’s final run. The promos would be incredible. The crowds would be electric. The business would most assuredly boom. And if Cena’s showing against Rhodes at SummerSlam is any indication, he is still more than capable of the occasional Big Time Main Event Match, and MJF likewise tends to excel under that format. It might not be for everyone, but it would damn sure be a spectacle — and at the end, we’d finally get to know for sure if Cena is willing to put over the next generation on his way out the door.

Although Drew McIntyre is currently in pursuit of Cody Rhodes’ Undisputed WWE Championship, he was attacked by Randy Orton who surprised him with an RKO during last week’s episode of “WWE SmackDown.” Despite many believing McIntyre would challenge Rhodes for the title at WWE Clash In Paris this weekend, it’s been reported that the match will occur next month at WWE Wrestlepalooza, leading Dave Meltzer to reveal on the “Wrestling Observer Radio” that “The Scottish Warrior” may enter battle with Orton this upcoming Sunday instead.

“There’s at least a solid chance that they’re going to add Randy Orton and Drew McIntyre to pay-per-view on Sunday. It’s not 100% but it was something that’s been talked about … if not, they’ll do it somewhere but they’re going to do the Orton match before they do the Cody match.”

Both “SmackDown” stars began their feud this past July when McIntyre lost to Orton at WWE Saturday Night’s Main Event after being distracted by American rapper Jelly Roll. Nearly a month later, Orton and Jelly Roll would challenge McIntyre and Logan Paul in tag team action at WWE SummerSlam, but the “Apex Predator” and the Grammy award winner just fell short and failed to emerge victorious. Therefore, wth their feud technically being tied at one a piece, a potential match between McIntyre and Orton at Clash In Paris could be the final contest of their two-month rivalry before the Scotsman sets his sights on dethroning Rhodes.

If you use any of the quotes in this article, please credit “Wrestling Observer Radio” with a h/t to Wrestling Inc. for the transcription.