If any of the quotes from the following podcasts or video interviews are used, please credit those sources and provide an H/T and link back to POST Wrestling for the transcriptions.
** At AEW Dynamite Grand Slam, Toni Storm is challenging Saraya for the Women’s World Championship. Tony Khan was a guest on the Superstar Crossover podcast and spoke highly of Storm’s new on-screen persona. He feels she’s doing some of the best work in all of wrestling and thinks they’re onto something special with her.
You mention the Women’s World Title match (at Dynamite Grand Slam) and I agree with you. I think Toni Storm is doing some of the best work in all of pro wrestling right now. She’s a former Women’s World Champion, two times. She’s had a great partnership with Saraya… We’ve seen, it’s been very compelling and I agree with you, highly entertaining in recent weeks the way Toni Storm’s been losing her mind and personally, I really enjoy working with Toni Storm. I think she’s a great talent and I think we are onto something really special with Toni Storm right now and she could become a three-time Women’s World Champion and end that storybook tale of Saraya this Wednesday night at Arthur Ashe Stadium on TBS.
Khan was then asked about Santana and what his ceiling is in the company. He’s interested to see where both Santana and Ortiz go as singles talent.
Well, Mike Santana’s a great wrestler. I really like Mike Santana. I think it’s definitely something that he’s back in AEW and we’re all excited about and I am really interested to see where he goes as a single now. If he’s going to be an individual and not a part of this great tag team we’ve seen for such a long time, Santana and Ortiz and I think I’m interested to know where they each go as individuals. Certainly, it’s been a great situation as a tag team but if it’s not sustainable, they’re two great pro wrestlers so it’s something to keep an eye on for sure.
** As Samoa Joe was speaking to New York Post, he was asked about the late Windham Rotunda (Bray Wyatt). Joe shared memories of the multi-time WWE Champion and said he’ll miss him.
Ton and tons of Bray stories. I really think the thing that you will find universally with Windham was he was the type of person, when he walked in a room, it instantly brightened up. Once you’re his brother, you’re his brother for life and he’ll show up for whatever you need him to show up for. If you called and said, ‘I need you down here,’ lo and behold, a couple hours later you’ll see him pulling up in the driveway.
And just the family itself, between Mike (Rotunda) and Bo (Dallas) and his sister Mika, they were all very involved in the business at certain points (in) time. Everybody has a tremendous amount of respect and love for them. I think if anything, the hurt was felt a little bit extra deep because of how many people were connected to both Windham and his family. To see him gone now, it just doesn’t seem real. I miss him every day.
** Insider published an interview with AEW President Tony Khan. He recounted being at Wembley Stadium for All In and there was a group of people with him including Oje Hart, the son of Martha and Owen Hart. He remembers Oje saying wrestling took everything from him and he hates it, but here he is and AEW feels like home.
It’s such a special place. I remember standing outside Wembley Stadium with a bunch of the guys; we were walking out of the show, and Oje Hart was with us — Owen Hart’s son. In the shadow of Wembley Stadium, as we all walked out, he said: ‘Pro wrestling took everything from me and I hate it, yet here I am and AEW feels like home to me.’ It’s a moment I’ll never forget. It was so perfect to happen there. At Wembley.
The Owen Hart tournament is not just a once-a-year thing, it’s really special. They are a part of our crew. To have Christian Cage, Jeff Jarrett, Dustin Rhodes, people who were really close to Owen Hart, it means a lot to people here to continue that legacy.
** There’s a written interview with Sammy Guevara on the TV Insider site. Guevara spoke about his program with Chris Jericho and their upcoming singles match. He said even he’s not sure what’s next for them in their story.
I don’t feel like anyone knows where we’re going with this (Guevara-Jericho story). I don’t even know if I even know. People have their theories. That’s the great thing about wrestling. It’s a really big moment in my career to go against Chris Jericho. We’ve been together since day one of Dynamite. Fans know me as Chris Jericho’s guy. My goal has always been to not be the next this guy or that guy. No, I’m the first Sammy Guevara. I don’t want to be a junior. I want to be an equal or go above that. I have a lot to prove on Wednesday, and I intend to do it.
** Ahead of the ROH World and NJPW STRONG Openweight double title match at AEW Grand Slam, Claudio Castagnoli was interviewed by Justin Barrasso of Sports Illustrated. The ROH World Champion expressed that he’s eager to wrestle at the Tokyo Dome and Arena México.
Tokyo Dome and Arena Mexico, those are two legendary venues that have eluded me throughout my career. I need to wrestle at both of those places, and I’d love to start with the Tokyo Dome at Wrestle Kingdom. I’m looking forward to taking this title away from Eddie (Kingston) and wrestling at the Tokyo Dome is something else I’m looking forward to doing.
** Pat McAfee is one of 173 modern-era nominees for the Pro Football Hall of Fame 2024 class. The nominee group will be reduced to 25 semifinalists in November.
** Dragongate Japan Pro-Wrestling Results (9/19/23) Tottori Sangyo Gym in Tottori, Japan
– Kota Minoura, Ben-K & B×B Hulk def. Strong Machine J, Jason Lee & U-T
– Naruki Doi & Problem Dragon def. Masaaki Mochizuki & Yasushi Kanda
– Susumu Mochizuki def. Shachihoko Boy
– Dragon Kid & T.N.Revolución def. Dragon Dia & Kaito Nagano
– Madoka Kikuta & Yuki Yoshioka def. YAMATO & Genki Horiguchi
– Kzy, BIGBOSS Shimizu & JACKY ‘FUNKY’ KAMEI def. KAI, H.Y.O. & ISHIN
** From August 25th-27th, NJPW’s Great-O-Khan attended the anime music festival, Animelo Summer Live 2023 at Saitama Super Arena. He wrote a report on it which can be read here.
** September 19th birthdays: Renee Paquette.
If any of the quotes from the following podcasts or video interviews are used, please credit those sources and provide an H/T and link back to POST Wrestling for the transcriptions.
