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The Post’s Joseph Staszewski brings you around the world of professional wrestling in his weekly column, the Post Match Angle.
It’s been said that the two most powerful words in wrestling are “what if,” and it appears they have amazingly put Shane McMahon joining AEW into the realm of possibility.
What felt like a bit of nothing a short time ago escalated last week when a photo of a private meeting between Vince McMahon’s only son and AEW president Tony Khan made its way onto social media via WrestleTalk and news from Fightful that the two discussed “possibilities moving forward.”
McMahon later confirmed the meeting and called it great in a statement to Bully Ray.
AEW has been good at keeping secrets over its five-plus years. Watching this unfold, it seems as if both sides wanted this meeting out there to add intrigue to McMahon’s potential arrival in what would be a bombshell move.
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So let’s assume McMahon is AEW bound.
Something that big needs to be booked right and it feels like there are a few ways AEW can go with it — though a clear one may not be presenting itself immediately.
I’d inject McMahon right into the Elite story because you have to use him in something important, preferably not a side feud against a random wrestler. It also allows you to pit McMahon vs. Khan — who needs to be willing to put himself back on TV.
The Elite, after their setback at Blood & Guts, need to regroup and try something new in their quest to save AEW. So they go on a search for a new business or strategic partner. After a few weeks of meetings, you build to this new person’s arrival, either at All In or right after in the build to All Out and have it revealed to be McMahon.
He will want to shape AEW his vision — the McMahon vision — with help from the now sell-out EVPs. Eventually, he can backstab them one way or the other, either joining forces with Khan or swiping their AEW power and maybe Kazuchika Okada out from under them.
The other option is similar to the one Lex Luger laid out on his podcast: McMahon recruits and leads a stable of former WWE talent, maybe something that can bring Miro back, too. I’m just not sure where it goes, considering they just did The Elite vs AEW.
If you were going to put McMahon in a smaller singles feud, three names seem to make sense — MJF, Darby Allin and Jon Moxley.
They wouldn’t trust McMahon’s sincerity in being in AEW and would deliver great reality-based promos.
If it’s Moxley, maybe there is a way to have McMahon start building his stable to go against the Blackpool Combat Club.
If McMahon is willing to play nice and come work for Khan and AEW, the company needs to shoot big and bold or he will just get lost like some of their other big former WWE equations.
Sicks Sense
The Wyatt Sicks’ in-ring debut — for one night — was a success because WWE found a solid balance between their extravagant and supernatural-looking entrance and what we saw between the ropes.
Joe Gacy, Dexter Lumis and Erick Rowan let their speed, aggressiveness and power do the talking and didn’t exhibit any otherworldly powers. However, those three taking their masks off and Bo Dallas watching in the rocking chair with his Uncle Howdy one on was a great tribute to Wyatt. Deciding when the masks are on and off will be interesting to see play out, especially for Howdy.
This is the balance WWE is going to be toying with for the entirety of the run, but for one night there was enough Bray Wyatt nostalgia and a strong introduction to the new group to make it work.
Patriot Acts
A bit of a warning to MJF, Will Ospreay and AEW after seeing the company’s longest-reigning world champion lean heavily into being an “American Hero.” It’s understandable because of the vitriol they are hoping awaits MJF at Wembley Stadium for their match for the American (International) championship at All In.
But please don’t lean too heavily into it regarding MJF and Ospreay’s story because there are so many deeper avenues to explore with the established star jealous of the new guy trying to take his spot.
You don’t want to weekly make the U.S. audience have to choose between cheering for Ospreay like they want to and cheering for the person representing their country. MJF got some “USA!” chants last week on Dynamite, but Ospreay was able to turn it around.
The 10 Count
While WWE strangely didn’t have one segment dedicated to Dominik Mysterio, Liv Morgan and Rhea Ripley, there was great logic and continuity behind Finn Balor’s reasoning for betraying Damian Priest. The former world heavyweight champion cost Balor the title and broke The Judgment Day code by thinking he was better than the group. You may not like Balor’s actions, but you can understand his reasons.
Bryan Danielson, who is said to be battling real injuries and has his full-time wrestling career winding down, changed everything by putting his career on the line against Swerve Strickland at All In. Emotions will be high as it will either be his swan song or the premature end to Strickland’s AEW championship reign and Danielson ending things on a high note with one more title run.
Matt Cardona interrupting PCO and Stephanie De Lander’s wedding in TNA made too much sense considering he’s worked with De Lander in a ton on the indies. Cardona’s recent injury makes it feel like forever since he’s had a prolonged television storyline and De Lander rejecting him and leaving gave us just that. PCO’s supernatural gimmick feels like it gives them endless avenues to explore.
It’s good to see Bullet Club leader David Finlay is alive and well as he has been noticeably absent from New Japan’s crossovers on AEW television. He took a shot at AEW and its top stars after beating Konosuke Takeshita in the G1 Climax Tournament last week, calling it the place, “I send guys who are no match for me.” Let’s hope this leads to something in AEW later this year.
Raw did a tremendous job propping up Bronson Reed, who landed six Tsunamis on Seth Rollins with splashes. Everything Reed does looks violent and believable as he gets set for his biggest feud on the main roster. Michael Cole absolutely made the segment with his disgust for Reed.
Odyssey Jones, meanwhile, looked like a powerhouse coming to New Day’s aid. Xavier Woods not liking being out of the loop on Kofi Kingston choosing Big E’s apparent replacement was a nice touch.
One thing Solo Sikoa does do better than Roman Reigns as Tribal Chief is actually leading its members out to the ring every week.
Bringing Sammy Guevara back to Ring of Honor was the right call. AEW feels very crowded now and with plenty of stories not close to finished. Instead of Guavara getting lost in the shuffle again, he can hopefully dive into a much more substantial program — away from Chris Jericho — in Ring of Honor.
I understand why long-term The Bloodline needs to be WWE tag team champions, but man it felt like a waste to put them on DIY and not let them go a few months putting on bangers to lift up the division on its own.
Becky Lynch’s Instagram post after the airing of her A&E Biography — which showed the sacrifices and love of motherhood — sent the wrestling world into a bit of a tizzy over her potentially retiring and dumping The Man gimmick. I took it as a performer finally taking the time to look back on what she’s accomplished — and it’s a lot.
As good as the Thunder Rosa and Deonna Purrazzo matches have been — now going on four — it feels like they are stuck in a feud with no way out because both the TBS and AEW women’s world championships are tied up in other stories.
Wrestler of the Week
Nia Jax, WWE
Triple H and WWE took a chance on bringing Jax back more than two years after she was released, and she ran with the opportunity. Jax has had some of the best matches of her career during her current run and just feels more comfortable in her role. It all culminated in her first world championship since 2018 when she defeated Bayley at SummerSlam and she should get at least a short run before Tiffany Stratton cashes in on her.
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Match to Watch
Bryan Danielson vs. Jeff Jarrett, AEW Dynamite (Wednesday, 8 p.m., TBS)
We are getting to the end of Danielson’s full-time, in-ring career — which could technically end at All In if he loses to Strickland — so this is a pretty good generational match against the 57-year-old Jarrett. What kind of match can Danielson get out of Double J in this first-time clash and will this reveal the more aggressive version of the “American Dragon” that will carry his career to a crescendo?
