Weekend Roundup: Roman Reigns, WWE COVID Update, Jon Moxley, AEW Revolution Update, Ethan Page & Impact, Indies

WWE

• WWE recently hired Darren Traub as their new Senior Vice President of Talent Management and he is currently expected to begin working for the company starting on January 25th, according to PWInsider.
• Adam Pearce recently responded on Twitter to online criticisms regarding WWE’s inconsistent booking when it comes to some talent being allowed to automatically declare themselves for this year’s Royal Rumble while others are not allowed. Pearce stated “It’s actually pretty simple: Those that have been granted the ability to simply declare entry into the Royal Rumble *by management* are free to do so. Those that haven’t must qualify. I don’t write the rules, I enforce them.”
• Bleacher Report held a recent interview with Roman Reigns and one of the topics discussed included Reigns revealing that a new entrance theme is currently being created for him. Reigns stated “We’re working on it. It’s not easy because I’m not going to… With this character, it has to be the right vibe. We can’t just hire a rapper and check out this guitar riff. It can’t be some rock music. The Shield music, I wasn’t even really into it back in the day; but over the years, it just started working. You get so used to it that I just time my pace to it. But yeah, it takes some time and it has to be right.In order to move away from something you’ve had for so long and is so recognizable like the music that I have now, it’s got to be perfect. It’s taking some time, but we’re definitely working on it, so please be patient.”
• As noted before, Ben Carter signed an official contract with WWE this past October. Carter recently denied rumors that his contract with WWE was solely due to his exposure in AEW and them wanting to quickly grab him away from there. Carter stated “Just thought I’d clear something up real quick… I had an offer from WWE before I appeared anywhere else, not after. Thank you for coming to my ted talk.”
• WWE officials reportedly recently informed all of their talent that the company would not be providing any COVID-19 vaccines and instead talent have to get vaccinated on their own, according to Fightful Select. It was reported (via HeelByNature.com) that this announcement came as a surprise to talent who assumed the company would try to get vaccines for their talent. It was also reported that this has led to more frustrations from talent due to their growing issues with several in upper management who “actively speak against COVID-19.”
• Fightful Select also reported that more talent in the company have tested positive for COVID-19 since Drew McIntyre’s positive test and official announcement earlier in the month.
• WWE filed new trademarks for “Zoey Stark”, “Sareena Sandhu”, “Gigi Dolin”, “Duke Hudson”, “Cora Jade”, and “Rohan Raja” for wrestling and entertainment-related purposes on January 22nd to the United States Patent and Trademark Office.
• WWE reportedly will be airing a new post-show series for their upcoming WWE Icons series on the WWE Network, according to WWENetworkNews.com. The first WWE Icons post-show will air on the WWE Network following the series debut on January 31st.

AEW

• Bleacher Report held a recent interview with Jon Moxley and one of the topics discussed included if Moxley would ever return to WWE in the future. Moxley stated “You gotta say never say never, because you don’t want to run back what you said years later because you don’t know what’ll happen. Just the creation of AEW was so vital to the wrestling industry, and that’s part of the reason why I’m so proud to be a part of it. I wouldn’t rule out ever doing business with them again, we had a mutually beneficial relationship for a long time. If they called I would listen, but I highly doubt we would ever be on the same page. I’d be open to an idea. I don’t not like money. I got a kid on the way and gotta put it through college so ya know. I would take a phone call, but I highly doubt anything would materialize.”
• AEW filed a new trademark for “Battle of the Belts” for merchandise and entertainment-related purposes on January 18th to the USPTO. Battle of the Belts is notable in wrestling history for being the name of a series of wrestling television specials held in Florida during the 1980s that were produced by current ROH COO Joe Koff.
• Tickets for AEW’s upcoming Beach Break television special on February 3rd reportedly will go on sale starting this Monday, according to PWInsider.
• AEW reportedly was close to signing AAA talent Aramis to an official contract prior to the start of the coronavirus pandemic, according to the Wrestling Observer. Dave Meltzer reported that Aramis was offered a five-date deal in November of 2019 as a starter contract but due to work visa and travel related issues caused by the coronavirus pandemic, AEW officials dropped their plans to sign him. Meltzer also reported that another reason for the dropped offer was due to AEW officials feeling their roster had become too full to use him properly.
• A recent episode of the Oral Sessions with Renee Paquette podcast had AEW CEO Tony Khan as the guest. One of the topics discussed included his thoughts on not wanting to be an on-screen character in AEW and why his work as a General Manager does not break his rule. Khan stated “I’ve come close to doing it — I made a big exception coming out and, I thought it was the right thing to do on behalf of the company (at the Brodie Lee Tribute Show) and I wanted to pay the highest respect to him and his family. Other than that, I’ve never come out and done that in that role. Occasionally, because of the story with IMPACT, it makes sense. We have a limited amount of TV time and we have a great roster and a lot of other people to feature. The character of a general manager doesn’t need to be featured on TV. I am the general manager of a Premier League team, you don’t see me on TV very much. If there is a statement that needs to be made or you have to say something, then you do. In the case of AEW, it’s announcing matches. For me, the role of the general manager, there is not a need to be on TV. You just have to explain ‘the general manager made this match’ and it’s a device. It’s a device, not a character.” (Transcript h/t: Fightful.com)
• AEW is currently expected to officially announce a new date of March 7th for their upcoming Revolution 2021 event, according to the Wrestling Observer Radio. Dave Meltzer reported that the reason is due to AEW not wanting to compete against a Canelo Alvarez headlined boxing event that is currently scheduled for February 27th.

Other Wrestling

• As noted before, Ethan Page has been upset with Impact Wrestling over the editing job done to his cinematic match at Impact’s Hard to Kill event this past weekend. Fightful Select reported (via 411Mania.com) that prior to his departure, Page and Impact officials had been at odds regarding Page’s final feud in the company. Page reportedly was not fond of portraying his Karate Man character in Impact nor Impact’s plan to have The North breakup and him feuding with Josh Alexander. It was reported that when given the decision between the two, Page opted to have a feud with the Karate Man in order to keep The North intact for high value monetary work in the indies.
• Dave Meltzer reported in this week’s Wrestling Observer Newsletter that the Bullet Club shirt worn by Kenny Omega at Impact’s Hard to Kill event is not a sign of a working partnership being made between AEW and NJPW. Meltzer reported that the idea for Omega to wear the shirt came from Karl Anderson and Luke Gallows who simply felt it would get more people talking about Omega’s group and the current AEW-Impact storyline.
• The Japanese government reportedly has been in recent talks regarding the idea of cancelling plans to hold the Olympic Games in the country this year, according to the Wrestling Observer Newsletter. Dave Meltzer reported that the reason is due to the current situation with the coronavirus pandemic in the country and Japanese officials now being interested in hosting the Games in 2032 instead.
• Former WWE and Impact wrestler Taylor Wilde reportedly has recently signed a contract with an undisclosed notable company for a return to wrestling, according to the Wrestling Observer Newsletter. Dave Meltzer reported that Wilde recently told others that she will be working for a company that does not start with a “W, A, or I” leaving ROH, NWA, and MLW as one of the likely destinations.
• MLB Hall of Fame Hank Aaron passed away this past Friday at the age of 86. Aaron was notable in wrestling history for his close connections to WCW owner Ted Turner during his days as a player for the Atlanta Braves and for being one of the key people involved in Bill Watts’ removal from power in WCW over his racially insensitive comments. Watts’ departure led to the hiring of Eric Bischoff and the resulting Monday Night Wars era during the 1990s.
• Mick Foley recently provided an update on Twitter regarding his current health status since his bout with the coronavirus last month.
• Major League Wrestling recently teased that AAA talent Laredo Kid will be defending his AAA World Cruiserweight Championship on MLW shows in the near future.
• Television broadcasting legend Larry King passed away on Saturday at the age of 87. King was notable in wrestling history for his interview with Vince McMahon during WWF’s sexual abuse scandal in 1992 and his interviews with several wrestlers following the double murder-suicide of Chris Benoit’s family in 2007.