Ronda Rousey Says AEW Revolution Appearance Was A ‘F*** You To The TKO Group’

Even with a week and a half of distance, many still cannot believe that AEW Revolution featured an appearance from Ronda Rousey, who confronted “Timeless” Toni Storm and left with long-time friend Marina Shafir after Shafir laid Storm out with a sucker punch. And even though Rousey’s appearance was reportedly a one-off for now, and any potential Storm-Rousey plans are impossible due to Storm being forced out of action, many are still curious about how this all came together.

On Wednesday, Rousey answered those questions herself, posting a six and a half minute YouTube vlog detailing her Revolution appearance. Rousey revealed that she had previously asked Shafir about getting involved during one of Shafir’s matches, both to help out her friend and to promote her upcoming fight against Gina Carano on Netflix. Revolution became an option after Shafir told Rousey she was wrestling her first PPV singles match against Storm at the event.

As footage was shown of Rousey interacting with people backstage, including Kenny Omega and Dax Harwood, the former UFC star admitted that she did find it weird that AEW kept her arrival secretive, revealing they wheeled her into the arena in a wheelchair covered in a tarp. Still, Rousey found the experience a good one, calling AEW “a less restrictive, more adult version of WWE.” Perhaps most importantly, Rousey also admitted the appearance was motivated, in part, to stick it to UFC and TKO, whom she had a falling out with during early negotiations for the Carano fight.

“It’s kind of a cool, little bit of a ‘f**k you’ to the TKO group,” Rousey said. “Which is kind of funny because…WWE is on Netflix. But I kind of figured it would be easier to ask for forgiveness instead of permission on this one. Like, I’m promoting your show, it’s fine. We didn’t advertise it, it’s not like we boosted the ratings of it. So it should be fine.”

If you use any of the quotes in this article, please credit “Ronda Rousey” and provide a h/t to Wrestling Inc. for the transcription

Thunder Rosa Says AEW Has Fully Established Itself: ‘We’re No Longer The Alternative’

For the last few years, All Elite Wrestling has provided fans with more wrestling to enjoy, from weekly television shows like “AEW Dynamite” to massive pay-per-views. It’s often been seen as the “alternative” to WWE, due to just how different the two companies are. After six years of AEW, former AEW Women’s World Champion Thunder Rosa spoke about how she believes the company is no longer the alternative in the professional wrestling space during a chat on REAL 92.3 LA.

“For the longest [time], we were the alternative. We’re no longer the alternative, we’re here,” Rosa said. “We’ve been here for six years. The stuff that we have been able to accomplish, and I’ve always been very proud of this, I was part of one of the biggest changes in mainstream wrestling, having one of the most compelling and brutal matches that people in mainstream media have seen.”

Rosa spoke about her lights out match against Dr. Britt Baker on a March 2021 edition of “Dynamite.” She said it was the first time those in the mainstream saw two women bleed on TV in an extreme match involving ladders, chairs, and thumbtacks. Rosa recalled that she wasn’t even signed to AEW at the time, but she knew she had to do well in the match, not just for herself, but other women of her heritage.

“I remember Britt was telling me, ‘We gotta make sure this goes great and we don’t mess up,'” Rosa said. “I’m just thinking, ‘Girl, I know you’re doing it for the clout. I’m doing it because people don’t understand that this is not going to change my life, this is going to change a lot of… brown people’s lives.'”

If you use any quotes from this article, please credit 92.3 LA and provide a h/t to Wrestling Inc. for the transcription.

AEW’s Matt Jackson Offers Health Update On Adam Cole

Since he was forced to pull out of his match with Kyle Fletcher at AEW All In last summer due to a head injury, there’s been little word regarding the status of AEW’s Adam Cole. The closest update came from AEW owner Tony Khan last fall, with Khan revealing that he was still waiting for Cole to be able to travel before determining if he could wrestle again, or if AEW could perhaps find another role for him within the promotion.

Now another update has come along, courtesy of Cole’s long-time friends the Young Bucks. During Q&A section of the latest episode of “Being the Elite,” the Bucks received a question regarding Cole’s health. While he didn’t provide a detailed response, Matt Jackson did indicate that Cole’s recovery was going well. In addition, he also made a point to rave about Cole as a person, and how much he remains beloved in the AEW locker room even while injured.

“I love Adam Cole so much,” Jackson said. “He is the sweetest man I think I’ve ever met, not in the business, but in life. And I think every day he’s improving and he’s getting better. And this actually…thanks for bringing this up, cause I actually need to text him right now and check on him. Because I miss him so much, and I think he’s one of the most talented, gifted, charismatic wrestlers that ever was, and a much better human being. Shout out to Adam Cole, we all talk about you all the time in the locker room.”

If you use any of the quotes in this article, please credit “Being the Elite” and provide a h/t to Wrestling Inc. for the transcription

Bully Ray Has ‘No Doubt’ That Midnight Express Belongs In WWE Hall Of Fame

The wrestling world lost Dennis Condrey of the Midnight Express, the legendary tag team of the early 1980s, at age 74 on March 21, and since the news broke, various stars have been remembering the talent following his death. During a recent episode of “Busted Open Radio,” Bully Ray questioned why Condrey and the Midnight Express aren’t in the WWE Hall of Fame, as he fully believes they should be honored.

“I despise when guys and gals have earned the right to be inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame and then they’re not when they’re living, but then the WWE decides to induct them when they’re dead. What’s the f****** point?”” Bully Ray said. “The Midnight Express, and let’s talk about the most famous version of the Midnight Express, which is Condrey and [Bobby] Eaton, along with Jim Cornette. There is no doubt that they should be in the WWE Hall of Fame, and should have been in the WWE Hall of Fame a long time ago just for their contributions to tag team wrestling.”

As of this writing, WWE has not announced Condrey and Midnight Express for the 2026 class. Sid Eudy, also known as Sycho Sid, was announced as a posthumous induction to the Hall of Fame, known as the Legacy Class, on March 24.

Condrey established the Midnight Express in 1980 with “Ravishing” Randy Rose and Norvell Austin, and formed a new version of the stable in Mid-South Wrestling alongside Eaton, with Cornette as their manager. Different iterations of the team would work in WCW and Jim Crockett Promotions, in addition to Mid-South, throughout the ’80s. Condrey would wrestle on the independent scene through 2011.

If you use any quotes from this article, please credit “Busted Open Radio” and provide a h/t to Wrestling Inc. for the transcription.

Ronda Rousey Takes Shot At WWE Parent Company Following AEW Appearance

Ronda Rousey’s appearance at AEW Revolution was not just about standing in support of Marina Shafir during her first pay-per-view outing, it also marked a significant personal and professional moment for the former UFC and WWE star.

Speaking in a recent YouTube vlog, Rousey opened up about her close bond with Shafir and reflected on their shared journey from judo to MMA and eventually into professional wrestling. She spoke with pride about Shafir’s growth and the recognition she is now receiving.

“Marina is my best friend in the whole wide world and we grew up doing judo together as little kids. We both quit judo and started doing MMA and then we both quit MMA and started doing pro wrestling,” Rousey said. “She’s absolutely crushing it and I’m so proud of her. I’m so happy that everybody’s finally starting to take notice of how incredibly special she is.”

Rousey also revealed that AEW went to great lengths to keep her involvement under wraps ahead of the event, describing a covert arrival at the venue to avoid detection.

“I was brought into the arena in a very unique , I thought this was going to be much more chill like whatever kind of day, but they’re acting like it’s freaking Royal Rumble super secret whatever,” she said. “But they had me jump into a wheelchair and throw a tarp over me and wheel me in here.”

Discussing the overall atmosphere, Rousey compared AEW’s presentation to WWE, noting a more relaxed environment while still feeling familiar to her. She also admitted that her appearance carried a bit of rebellious intent toward TKO Group, the parent company of both WWE and UFC.

“I mean, it’s a little bit weird, but also familiar, but also it’s like AEW, so it’s nice. It’s a little bit more laidback. But actually, this is my first, I think, full-on AEW show because I only did Ring of Honor before,” Rousey said. “Like, I think I’ve been at the shows, but never really performing them. And Ring of Honor was kind of like a pre-taped, that was a smaller crowd. So, I’ve never been to an AEW pay-per-view, so I don’t really know what to expect so much, but I’m thinking a less restrictive, more adult version of WWE, which sounds like a good time.

“Those are all very good descriptions, I felt. So, yeah. And it’s kind of a cool little bit of a, like little bit of a ‘f*ck you’ to the TKO group, which is kind of funny because WWE is on Netflix, but I kind of figured it’d be easier to ask for forgiveness instead of permission on this one. Like, I’m promoting your show. It’s fine. We didn’t advertise it. It’s not like we boosted the ratings of it, so it should be fine.”

Rousey’s relationship with WWE has been strained since her departure in 2023, with the former champion publicly voicing frustrations about her time in the company and its leadership.

Looking ahead, Rousey is set to return to MMA competition for the first time in nearly a decade when she faces Gina Carano on May 16 in a fight scheduled to stream on Netflix. While her AEW appearance generated buzz, there are currently no indications that it will lead to a longer-term run with the promotion.