FTR

It's been just over eight months since CM Punk defeated Jon Moxley at All Out and gave All Elite Wrestling an ill-timed black eye in the form of a post-match tirade in the subsequent media scrum.

Ever since, wrestling fans have been inundated with the latest updates on the drama surrounding the polarizing star and his status with the company. Although we've heard our fair share of gossip and tidbits about backstage happenings, most viewers have been clamoring for the less-forthcoming answers.

No matter what side you fall on in online debates or conversations among friends, the consensus is that this was embarrassing for AEW. So much so that most of us want to move on and return to our regularly scheduled programming.

We may finally see a resolution as the former AEW world champion could return for the June 21 episode Dynamite in his hometown of Chicago, according to Fightful Select (h/t Ian Carey of Wrestling Observer). This seems the likely conclusion to this sordid incident and the best destination for his second return.

AEW President Tony Khan could use as many high-profile names as possible ahead of All In London at Wembley Stadium on August 27. There are also rumors that All Out will take place at the United Center this year, where The Second City Saint debuted in 2021.

So, what's next for Punk after a rocky year with the company? Many fans would like to see CMFTR face off against The Elite after the controversial trios match on Nov. 23, 2022. How can we get there?

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A Clean Slate

It's difficult to determine how the 44-year-old should re-enter the fray because it's hard to predict how the live crowds will react to him. This was a safe bet the first time as the AEW audience welcomed him back with open arms.

However, the core fanbase is understandably divided now because many are loyal to The Elite. Obviously, Punk must address what happened and make it up to the locker room and the viewers.

Conversely, it would be easy to say he should just turn heel, do what he does best, and play into the controversy. For the sake of this article, let's treat him like a flawed babyface for now.

With that in mind, Punk should cut an honest promo on the go-home episode before Forbidden Door and accept Kenta's challenge.

Give me CM Punk

— KENTA aka Lil’K (@KENTAG2S) August 3, 2021

The New Japan Pro-Wrestling Strong openweight champion has been campaigning for a match with him for years. This would be a great way to get Punk on the card for the show he missed last year and appease the fans.

Even more, Kenta should win their showdown with the Go to Sleep, the finishing move the Japanese star invented and then adopted by Punk. It would be a cathartic moment for those still upset with the Chicago native and proof that he is willing to make amends and do what's best for business.

It may seem odd to immediately hand him a loss, but it would go a long way to show he won't come back to the same preferential treatment. That's important because Khan can't just reintroduce him without some sort of apparent repercussion.

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Tying Up Loose Ends

This wouldn't make Punk a sympathetic figure, but he can stand to eat a little crow while he works his way back to a confrontation with MJF. AEW has to pick up where the two left off in September.

Revisiting his best feud with the company will remind viewers of what he brings to the table, but this time there's a slight wrinkle. The Straight Edge Superstar should call out Friedman and stake his claim to a title match at All Out.

During their war of words, Kenny Omega appears and interjects. The Elite are amid a conflict with Blackpool Combat Club now, but the Canadian has been thriving as a single competitor again this year. So, it only makes sense for him to go after the world title this summer.

His premise is simple. Omega can rightfully say he has been here all year trying to elevate this company he helped build again while Punk was gone. Furthermore, he doesn't deserve the chance to represent AEW, and if he wins, he will take the title to the Tokyo Dome in January and defend it at Wrestle Kingdom 18.

This would prompt a No. 1 Contender's match for All In London. The winner would face MJF at All Out the following week at the United Center.

This would be a perfect way to tie both shows together and build two matches at the same time. The Best in the World vs. The Best Bout Machine is also a marquee matchup that could help to sell tickets to Wembley and raise interest in the next pay-per-view.

At the event, Omega should dominate for most of the match until Punk cheats to win. This will sow the seeds of a heel turn and leave the door open for The Cleaner to eventually challenge MJF. It also preserves his motivation to become the rightful face of AEW because some fans are bound to root for him and demand comeuppance for his opponent.

After the match, the two get into a heated exchange until FTR separate them, leaving Omega outnumbered. Let the four men stand in the middle of the ring and soak in the dueling chants until The Young Bucks finally come to their friend's aid to complete the staredown.

This would be an excellent time to tease the trios match on a big stage and make some headlines. Punk goes on to unsuccessfully challenge MJF at All Out. AEW can spend the next few months building to CMFTR vs. The Elite and bring it full circle at Full Gear in November.

That will also give us some time to let cooler heads prevail and reach a truce. If it is an untenable situation, there are other options such as a highly anticipated match with Bryan Danielson or a fresh opponent like Adam Cole. Either of them could be his opponent at Full Gear, too.

Pro wrestling is better with Punk in it. Time will tell if it's worth the risk to keep him on the roster after such a public blowup, but there are many ways to use a star of his caliber.

Bleacher Report catches you up on the latest news from the WWE Universe.

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Foley on Why He Didn't Attend Raw Is XXX

WWE Hall of Famer Mick Foley divulged Tuesday that he turned down an offer to appear on Monday's 30th anniversary episode of Raw.

In a Facebook post (h/t Manik Aftab of Ringside News), Foley explained why he declined the invite:

"I was definitely asked by WWE, and politely declined due to the hectic nature of my schedule. If I had not taken the past couple days off—and instead traveled to Philadelphia for the show—I would be on the road for 32 consecutive days. I have been working on a new project—which has been great fun, but also requires a lot of travel—and I just really needed a couple days off to relax and see my wife and children."

Several legends who had a huge hand in the success of Raw over the years appeared on Raw Is XXX, including The Undertaker, Triple H, Shawn Michaels, Hulk Hogan and Ric Flair, among others.

Although he wasn't on the show, there is no question that Foley was a central figure on Raw for several years, particularly during the Monday Night War between WWE and WCW.

WCW famously spoiled Foley's WWE Championship win over The Rock on the Jan. 4, 1999, episode of Raw, prompting viewers to switch from Nitro to Raw, and giving Raw its first ratings win in a year-and-a-half.

Foley created countless memorable moments under his Mankind, Cactus Jack and Dude Love personas, which is why he remains a beloved figure in wrestling lore.

It is apparent that Foley still has a positive relationship with WWE based on the fact that he was invited to Raw Is XXX, which means more invitations to special shows should be forthcoming.

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Rose Reveals What She Was Told About WWE Release

Former NXT women's champion Mandy Rose provided insight into her surprising release from WWE last month.

In an interview with Jeanette Settembre of the New York Post this week, Rose suggested she was not expecting to lose her job or the NXT women's title, which she dropped to Roxanne Perez on Dec. 13: "For me to lose the title on such a whim on a random Tuesday night with zero storytelling and zero promotion leading up to the match was a shocker. I was very caught off guard."

One day after she lost the belt, Fightful's Sean Ross Sapp reported that WWE released Rose because of content she was posting on her FanTime page, which is a subscription service similar to OnlyFans.

Sapp noted that WWE felt it was "put in a tough position" and that Rose's content was "outside of the parameters" of her contract.

Some of the content Rose posted on FanTime was explicit and contained nudity, but Rose suggested to Settembre that WWE had more of an issue with her making money off a subscription service than the nature of the content itself, saying: "I wasn't told about racy images. I wasn't told about anything else. I was told about the subscription-based platform."

In the past, WWE had cracked down on talent making money in other ventures, such as streaming on Twitch. It is possible FanTime landed under the same parameters in WWE's view.

While Rose lost her job with WWE after enjoying a historic 413-day reign as NXT women's champion, she has remained successful outside the company.

Rose told Settembre she made $1 million in one month on the platform, which is unquestionably far more than she would have made in an entire year with WWE.

Despite her success, fans were disappointed to see her WWE run end since she had hit her stride and was doing the best work of her career in the ring and on the microphone.

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Harwood Reveals Contract Details from WWE Run

As FTR prepares to decide on its pro wrestling future, member Dax Harwood gave some insight into the contract the team had during its time in WWE.

Speaking on his FTR with Dax podcast (h/t WrestlingInc's Nathan-Jay Collantes), Harwood revealed he wasn't making big money while on WWE's main roster: "Our contracts were the very bottom dollar. I'll tell you mine. I don't know about Cash's [Wheeler]. But our first contract for the main roster was $125,000, $150,000, $175,000 across the three years and that was it, you know."

After twice holding the NXT Tag Team Championships as The Revival, Dax and Cash were called up to the main roster in 2017 where they remained until their release in 2020.

FTR went on to become the first Triple Crown tag team champs in WWE history, holding the NXT, Raw and SmackDown tag team titles during their tenure.

Since leaving WWE, FTR has gone on to enjoy great success, holding the AEW, ROH, IWGP and AAA tag team titles.

On a recent episode of his podcast (h/t Tyriece Simon of SEScoops), Harwood said he and Wheeler are going to take some time off to consider their future. He noted that their AEW contracts expire in April.

Returning to WWE is an option, but Harwood said on his podcast (h/t Gunjan Nath of Ringside News) that Vince McMahon being back as chairman makes things less certain.

Harwood noted that McMahon was not a fan of FTR, and if he starts making decisions regarding talent again, it could lead to a conflict of interests.

For now, Triple H is firmly established as head of creative, and since he was the one who booked FTR to win the NXT Tag Team Championships twice and presented them as a top team, WWE could be appealing with him calling the shots.

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Listen to Ring Rust Radio for all of the hot wrestling topics. Catch the latest episode in the player below (warning: some language NSFW).

Bleacher Report catches you up on the latest news from the WWE Universe and All Elite Wrestling.

Edge Reportedly Planned for Royal Rumble Return

Edge has not been seen on WWE programming since Extreme Rules in October, but his hiatus is reportedly set to come to an end soon.

According to PWInsider.com (h/t Felix Upton of Ringside News), Edge is "penciled in" to return at the Royal Rumble premium live event in San Antonio on Jan. 28.

Edge's last WWE appearance saw him lose an I Quit match to Finn Balor of The Judgment Day at Extreme Rules. The Rated-R Superstar gave up in an effort to save his wife, fellow WWE Hall of Famer Beth Phoenix, from getting hit with a conchairto by Rhea Ripley.

Ripley took out Phoenix anyway, and The Judgment Day proceeded to put Edge on the shelf as well with a post-match attack.

Edge has had a part-time schedule since returning to WWE after a nearly decade-long retirement in 2020, so he has had several instances of being written off television before returning months later.

Since returning, the Royal Rumble has been a hugely important event for Edge, and it has made for some memorable moments.

He was a surprise entrant in the 2020 men's Royal Rumble match, which ended his retirement from a severe neck injury. One year later, Edge made his return from a different injury as the No. 1 entrant in the 2021 men's Rumble, and he went the distance in winning his second career Rumble.

Then, at the 2022 Royal Rumble, Edge teamed with Beth for the first time in a winning effort against The Miz and Maryse.

If Edge returns at the 2023 Royal Rumble, he could add some much-needed star power to the men's Royal Rumble match.

Orton Reportedly Unlikely to Resume Team with Riddle Upon Returning

RK-Bro was once one of the most popular acts in WWE, but the team is reportedly unlikely to be reformed when Randy Orton returns from injury.

According to Dave Meltzer of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter (h/t Nikunj Walia of Ringside News), RK-Bro may be finished due to the emergence of a new team with similar name elements.

Meltzer noted that with WWE referring to Drew McIntyre and Sheamus as The Banger Bros, it could be a sign that there are no future plans for RK-Bro, as WWE typically doesn't like to have teams with the same name elements.

RK-Bro have not competed as a team since the May 20 episode of SmackDown, which saw them drop the Raw Tag Team Championships to The Usos in a title unification match.

That was also Orton's most recent match, as he has been out ever since with a back injury.

Fightful Select (h/t H Jenkins of Ringside News) reported in November that Orton underwent fusion surgery in his lower back. The expectation was that Orton would miss a significant amount of time, and Fightful added that some in WWE said "they'd be fortunate to have him back" at any point given his age and the severity of the injury.

Matt Riddle went on a singles run once Orton landed on the shelf, but he has also been out since early December. WWE announced that Riddle suffered an injury at the hands of Solo Sikoa and would be out for six weeks.

It was widely assumed that Orton and Riddle would break up at some point despite their popularity as a team, but given the uncertainty of Orton's status, their split may not require an angle.

FTR Taking Time Off to Decide Future

FTR's Dax Harwood revealed Thursday that he and tag team partner Cash Wheeler are set to take some time away from AEW to make some decisions about their future in pro wrestling.

Speaking on his FTR with Dax podcast (h/t WrestlingInc's Eric Mutter), Harwood said he and Wheeler were granted "the next few months" off television so they can focus on getting healthy and planning their future:

"We have asked and been granted the next few months off of television, so we can sit back, reflect, let our bodies heal, and figure out what we are going to do for the next few years. Because whatever we decide to do next, will be the absolute last thing we do, as far as wrestling. I don't see myself, after I'm done with whatever we're going to decide next, in five years going on the independents. I don't see myself working, in five years a Japan tour, or a Mexican tour, or traveling around the world and wrestling all over places.

"That's why these next few months are the most important few months for us. By April at least, at most, we will have an answer. But now, again, I have to take in my health, I have to take in my family, I have to take in my creativity, and I have to take in my personal life all into consideration, about what we're going to do next."

The first big break in wrestling for FTR came in WWE when they went by the names Scott Dawson and Dash Wilder individually, and The Revival collectively.

Harwood signed with WWE in 2012, and Wheeler followed in 2014, and by 2015 they became NXT tag team champions for the first time. All told, The Revival were two-time NXT tag team champs, two-time Raw tag team champs and two-time SmackDown tag team champs, making them the first Triple Crown tag team champions in WWE history.

They were released from WWE in 2020 and signed with AEW shortly thereafter. FTR won the AEW World Tag Team Championships once, but they also became AAA, IWGP and Ring of Honor tag champs after leaving WWE.

FTR recently dropped all of those titles, however, apparently in anticipation of taking some time off.

In November, Harwood told Fightful Select (h/t WrestlingInc's Colby Applegate) that FTR's AEW contract expires at the end of April 2023, which coincides with the time they are taking off.

Harwood and Wheeler are widely regarded as one of the top tag teams in the world, so it stands to reason that both AEW and WWE will be vying hard for their services.

Listen to Ring Rust Radio for all of the hot wrestling topics. Catch the latest episode in the player below (warning: some language NSFW).

For fans in the United States, Wrestle Kingdom 17 took place in the wee hours of the morning on Wednesday from the legendary Tokyo Dome.

Not only was this arguably the biggest Japanese wrestling event of the year, but it was also notable because it featured talents from AEW, WWE, Stardom and Pro Wrestling NOAH.

This makes WK17 one of the biggest crossover events ever, but the focus was still on the NJPW stars and championships. It may have had people from other companies, but this was not being billed or booked as a Forbidden Door-like event.

Here is a look at the full rundown of results and grades for the show:

• Kazuchika Okada defeated Jay White (IWGP World Heavyweight Championship) (A)
• Kenny Omega defeated Will Ospreay (IWGP United States Championship) (A+)
• KAIRI defeated Tam Nakano (IWGP Women's World Championship) (C+)
• Hiromu Takahashi defeated Taiji Ishimori, El Desperado and Master Wato (IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship) (A-)
• Keiji Mutoh, Hiroshi Tanahashi and Shota Umino defeated Bushi, Tatsumi Fujinami and Sanada and Tetsuya Naito (C+)
• Tama Tonga defeated Karl Anderson (NEVER Openweight Championship) (C+)
• Zack Sabre Jr. defeated Ren Narita (IWGP Television Championship) (A-)
• Bishamon defeated FTR (IWGP World Heavyweight Tag Team Championships) (B+)
• Catch 2/2 defeated LiYoh (IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championships) (B+)
• Yuji Nagata, Satoshi Kojima and Togi Makabe defeated Tatsumi Fujinami, Minoru Suzuki and Tiger Mask (C)
• Great O-Khan, Shingo Takagi, Sho and Toru Yano won the Ranbo (C)

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Mercedes Moné

IT’S MERCEDES MONÉ!@mercedesvarnado is in the Tokyo Dome!!!#wk17 #njpw pic.twitter.com/PD54lqLr1L

— NJPW WORLD (@njpwworld) January 4, 2023

Unless you were asleep and this is the first thing you are reading Wednesday morning, there is a good chance that you heard about Mercedes Moné making her debut in New Japan Pro-Wrestling.

Most people assumed the former Sasha Banks would be part of the show in some capacity, but until she actually came out from behind the curtain, it was all speculation.

Not only did her arrival create a massive reaction on social media, but she immediately set herself up to be the next challenger for KAIRI's IWGP Women's World Championship.

This debut was handled beautifully. She came out, introduced herself as Mercedes Moné, and then proceeded to take out KAIRI before picking up the title belt and holding it high.

What a life. pic.twitter.com/PPHHxmmnrr

— Dax FTR (@DaxFTR) January 4, 2023

Unfortunately, some people might take the way the crowd reacted as a bad sign. Japanese wrestling fans are not as raucous as American fans, so a lot of new viewers might have thought she didn't get much of a reaction.

NJPW does not mic their crowds the same way WWE does because they do not often react the same way, so audience noise is much lower than what we are used to.

Appearing for NJPW and Stardom is going to bring a lot of new eyes to those shows, so Varnado's impact cannot be understated. The Boss has arrived in New Japan, and her legions of fans are going to follow. It's going to be very interesting to hear her first public comments about her WWE exit and new venture.

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How Well Does the Show Translate For New Fans?

.@WillOspreay "Super Os Cutter"

Sign up Now & Stay tuned to https://t.co/CcdQ1XamUA#wk17 #NJPW #njpwworld #AEW pic.twitter.com/mUNT2nnRno

— NJPW WORLD (@njpwworld) January 4, 2023

For a lot of fans, this might be their first NJPW show. Not only is it the company's biggest event of the year, but it featured some notable stars familiar to fans in the United States.

The rumors of Moné's debut were enough to get a lot of people to sign up for the NJPW World streaming service, but the inclusion of Omega vs. Ospreay had a lot of fans buzzing, too.

This was a match we thought we would see at Forbidden Door, so many AEW fans likely watched the show just for that bout.

.@TIMEBOMB1105 "Senton Bomb"

Sign up Now & Stay tuned to https://t.co/CcdQ1XamUA#wk17 #NJPW #njpwworld pic.twitter.com/XgTIoslf4U

— NJPW WORLD (@njpwworld) January 4, 2023

Other familiar acts like Jay White, TJP, Lio Rush and Minoru Suzuki were also on the card in addition to some of the more recognizable NJPW names like Tanahashi and Okada.

While Japanese wrestling is presented differently in some ways, the basics are the same. It's easy for even the most casual of fans to watch a PPV like this and be entertained even if they don't know all of the talents appearing on the card.

The announcers did a good job filling everyone in on who these stars are without feeling like they were reading from a long script designed to inform new fans.

If this was your first NJPW show, comment down below with your thoughts about the event.

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Overall Thoughts

.@KAIRI_official "Insane Elbow"

Sign up Now & Stay tuned to https://t.co/CcdQ1XamUA#wk17 #NJPW #njpwworld pic.twitter.com/2Obk3XpphY

— NJPW WORLD (@njpwworld) January 4, 2023

As a whole, Wrestle Kingdom 17 was a solid show. It definitely wasn't the best show in the company's history, but it was a great entry into the WK series and produced several memorable moments.

The debut of Moné is probably going to be the most talked-about moment from the show, but as far as the matches are concerned, there was a lot to like.

Omega and Ospreay put on a classic that was surprisingly bloody, Okada and White closed the show with a great performance, Sabre and Narita put on a technical showcase, and FTR dropped their last set of tag titles in a fun and competitive match with Bishamon.

Unfortunately, the first women's singles match to take place in the Tokyo Dome in 29 years was given less than six minutes bell-to-bell.

Over 10 years in the making!#TMDK #ZSJ @mikeynicholls pic.twitter.com/ovWrC1QJZF

— 'Hysterical' Shane Haste (@ShaneTMDK) January 4, 2023

Kairi and Nakano put on a hard-hitting fight in the time they had, but they should have been given a few more minutes to tell their story.

It makes sense to give Moné a lot of attention during her debut, but that doesn't mean the match had to be as short as it was. In fact, Moné's appearance took up more time than the bout it followed.

It was the shortest match on the entire show save for the three-minute exhibition during the pre-show. If NJPW wants to build its women's division into something that rivals other major companies, then it needs to give them equal booking for big matches like this.

Other than that decision, the rest of the show was enjoyable. We got to see some great pro wrestling and a few moments that will have fans talking for quite some time. It will be very interesting to see the buyrate for this show and whether subscriptions to New Japan World went up as a result of Mercedes showing up.

What did you think of this year's Wrestle Kingdom PPV?

CM Punk has the internet wrestling community buzzing again following his response to Dax Harwood's plea for Punk and The Elite to work out their differences in All Elite Wrestling.

On the teaser episode of Harwood's FTR with Dax Harwood podcast this week (h/t WrestlingInc's Bon Adamson), Dax said the following about his desire for Punk, Kenny Omega and The Young Bucks to get on the same page:

"This is my plea to all four guys. Please find a way to make it work. If we can make it work, we can set up the future of professional wrestling for a long time and we can change the course of professional wrestling for a very long time. When you think about it, unselfishly, we're doing this for 20-30 years down the road so guys and girls can make a living."

The Pro Wrestling Podcast Instagram account posted part of Harwood's quote, and Punk responded in the comments, writing, "Duh."

It is unclear if Punk's comment means he is in agreement with Harwood and wants to work things out, or if it is simply some of his trademark sarcasm, but it has wrestling fans talking either way.

After Punk defeated Jon Moxley at All Out in September to become AEW world champion for a second time, he took part in an explosive press conference in which he took aim at Omega, The Young Bucks, "Hangman" Adam Page and Colt Cabana.

It was later reported by Justin Barrasso of Sports Illustrated, as well as other notable wrestling journalists, that Punk got into a physical altercation backstage with Omega and The Young Bucks, leading to the suspension of all involved.

Omega and The Bucks have since returned, but while Punk is still believed to be under contract with AEW, his future with the company is very much in doubt.

The first official episode of FTR with Dax Harwood dropped Thursday, and Harwood expressed his belief that any negative perception some AEW wrestlers may have had about Punk previously was largely erased once he arrived and they got to know him (beginning at the 28:45 mark):

"I think they saw that he was either a different person than what he used to be or the stories weren't necessarily true. I said he was misunderstood, and I do believe he was misunderstood, but maybe he is too understood. ... He's gonna fight for what he believes is right, and if he's wrong about something, then he will go down in flames and he'll admit that he's wrong. But if he thinks he's right, he's gonna fight for it. I think that's admirable, some people may not."

Also, beginning at the 1:27:45 mark of the podcast (h/t Fightful's Jeremy Lambert), Harwood discussed the All Out altercation. He noted that while he was not present to witness it, Punk called him after it happened, and he personally believes what has been reported about the incident does not include all of the facts:

"Obviously, I wasn't there. Who I perceive to be God is the only person who really knows the truth. Everyone is going to have their own version in their head. We've all done it before, we've made what we perceive to be the truth. What I've heard that is reported, there are elements of truth in it, but then there are also some things that raise a red flag to me. It seems like we're only getting a portion of the story or what this journalist wants to put out, whether he has a bias or grudge against one of the parties, that's just how I felt.

"I also knew that I didn't know the whole story. I also felt that the stories that I heard from a few people, I don't feel like they would blatantly lie to me. I do think there are bits of truth, but I also believe that some fans have read too much into it and I think they should let what happened, happen, and it die down. When it's all said and done, I can't tell you that I know 100% of the truth and I can't tell you that the journalist reporting is 100 percent of the truth. I know what I perceive to be the truth and from the things I've read and heard, there is partial truth and partial things that are a bit exaggerated."

After being out of wrestling for more than seven years following his WWE departure, Punk generated a ton of new interest in AEW when he made his debut with the company in August 2021.

He went on to have many memorable matches and moments with the likes of Moxley, Page, MJF and Darby Allin, and established himself as one of the most entertaining parts of AEW programming.

An on-screen rivalry between Punk and The Elite could potentially be huge for AEW because of the interest in their real-life issues, but it is difficult to predict if there is any getting past what happened between them at All Out.

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Listen to Ring Rust Radio for all of the hot wrestling topics. Catch the latest episode in the player below (warning: some language NSFW).

Bleacher Report catches you up on the latest news from the WWE Universe and All Elite Wrestling.

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Visa Issues Reportedly Preventing WWE Run for Fury

WWE reportedly had plans to utilize heavyweight boxing champion Tyson Fury at the 2023 Royal Rumble and WrestleMania 39, but external factors may prevent that from happening.

According to Sunni Upal of The U.S. Sun, Fury is currently unable to enter the United States due to his connection to alleged Irish mob boss Daniel Kinahan. Fury's younger brother, Tommy Fury, was reportedly not permitted to enter the country for his scheduled boxing match against Jake Paul in August for the same reason.

A source told Upal that while Fury is "well loved" in WWE and wanted on screen due to the headlines and interest he would create, his immigration status is "tricky" and may cause him to miss out on millions of dollars.

While there aren't many specifics, Upal's report suggests that WWE wanted Fury to make an appearance at the Royal Rumble, which would have set the stage for a possible match at WrestleMania 39.

The Royal Rumble premium live event is scheduled for Jan. 28 in San Antonio, and it will be followed by WrestleMania 39 in Inglewood, California, on April 1 and 2.

Fury has made multiple appearances for WWE, with the most notable occurring at Crown Jewel 2019 in Saudi Arabia when he defeated Braun Strowman by count-out in his first and only match to date.

More recently, Fury was in attendance for September's Clash at the Castle event in Wales. He knocked out Austin Theory during a Money in the Bank cash-in attempt and serenaded the fans with Drew McIntyre after McIntyre lost to Roman Reigns in the main event.

The 34-year-old Fury is the reigning WBC heavyweight champion and owns a career record of 33-0-1, making him one of the biggest names and draws in combat sports.

He defeated Derek Chisora by technical knockout earlier this month, and if he is indeed unable to pursue interests in WWE, it may mean the continuation of his boxing career.

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FTR's Harwood Praises CM Punk

AEW star and one half of FTR Dax Harwood spoke glowingly of CM Punk on the first episode of his FTR with Dax Harwood podcast this week.

While speaking about Punk on the podcast (h/t Sunil Joseph of Ringside News), Harwood had nothing but positive things to say about Punk and even divulged some of the generous things he did behind the scenes in AEW:

"Punk was still so joyous and happy to be in the wrestling business. To be honest, he told me, when they were going to put the belt on him, that he didn't want the belt. He said, 'I just want to have fun,' but he understood that [AEW president] Tony [Khan] putting the belt on him would put AEW in a better light. He took it, begrudgingly a little bit, but he took the belt.

"At the time, he was taking me, Cash [Wheeler], Max [MJF], Wardlow, [Powerhouse] Hobbs, I'm missing so many guys, he was taking us out to eat, always paying for it. He bought all the girls in the locker room Starbucks gift cards and had one of the girls hand them out, anonymously, and didn't say who they were from, but it was from him, just because he loved the atmosphere and loved being there. He also loved the work the girls were putting in. He thought they were busting their ass to try and get the attention that WWE's women's division was getting."

After being out of wrestling for more than seven years following his departure from WWE, Punk made his AEW debut in his hometown of Chicago in August 2021.

Punk went on to enjoy a highly successful run in AEW over the next year, winning the AEW World Championship twice, including his win over Jon Moxley at All Out in September.

His future with AEW is now in doubt, however, due to a reported altercation he had with Elite members Kenny Omega and The Young Bucks in the locker room following his All Out post-show press conference.

It is unclear if an eventual return to AEW or even WWE could be in the cards for Punk, but Harwood believes he was enjoying his return to wrestling and clearly views him as an asset to the business.

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McIntyre Wants Match vs. Gunther

During an appearance on Monday's "Best of 2022" edition of Raw, Drew McIntyre made it clear that a dominant WWE Superstar is in his crosshairs.

According to WrestlingInc's Matthew Wilkinson, McIntyre discussed his goal of wrestling Gunther and challenging him for the Intercontinental Championship:

"I've got my eyes on Gunther with the Intercontinental Championship. I see the chatter on social media, I see what happened with himself and Sheamus, I saw the battles. I love competition, I'm a former intercontinental champion and I would love to tangle with that man."

Since getting called up to the main roster in April, Gunther has been a dominant force. He beat Ricochet for the IC title in June and has now held it for over 200 days.

McIntyre is a former IC champ in his own right, and he ultimately graduated into the main event scene, winning the 2020 men's Royal Rumble match and going on to hold the WWE Championship twice.

It seems likely that McIntyre will be world champion again one day, but until that time comes, a feud with Gunther over the Intercontinental Championship would be massive for WWE's midcard scene.

Gunther's in-ring work and presentation are making the IC title feel more important than it has in years, and putting a top star like McIntyre in the mix would help elevate it even more.

McIntyre's close friend Sheamus recently had a physical and heated rivalry with Gunther and Imperium, and McIntyre could pick up where The Celtic Warrior left off by trying to end the big Austrian's run of dominance.

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