Various: Marko Stunt Announces Retirement from Wrestling, Current PPV Buys for TNA Bound For Glory 2024, Indies

AEW

Nov 2, 2024

Marko Stunt Announces Retirement from Wrestling Career

Former AEW and Game Changer Wrestling talent Marko Stunt announced on Friday on Twitter that he has officially retired from his wrestling career.

Stunt stated that the reason for his retirement is due to health-related issues and made the decision after consulting his doctor.

“To My Fans, Friends, and the Wrestling Community,
Today, I write this with a heavy yet grateful heart as I announce my retirement from professional wrestling. This decision was not an easy one, as wrestling has been the biggest part of my life for so long, filled with moments that have shaped who I am today. It has been an incredible journey-one full of passion, sweat, tears, and unrivaled joy.
Over the years l’ve given my body up to professional wrestling. I obviously am not the biggest, and I used that, and I allowed myself to be battered, but man did I love it. However, After consulting with my doctor, I was advised to prioritize my long-term health and step down from in-ring competition. Accepting this reality has been one of the toughest moments of my career, but I know it is the right decision.
First and foremost, I want to express my deepest gratitude to All Elite Wrestling (AEW). Thank you for giving me the chance to showcase my abilities and share my passion with fans around the world. Being able to wrestle on national television was a dream I could hardly have imagined when I first stepped into this business, and it was AEW that made that dream come true. To everyone involved in AEW, from the production crew to the fellow wrestlers who became my family, thank you for believing in me and giving me a place to call home.
I also want to thank you to Brett Lauderdale and Game Changer Wrestling (GCW). Brett, you gave me my start, and GCW became the launching pad for my career. It was where I discovered my voice, learned to embrace my uniqueness, and grew into the person and wrestler I am today. You provided me with opportunities that changed the course of my life, and for that, I will always be indebted to you.
To all the wrestlers I’ve shared the ring with, you know who you are. Each of you has played a role in my journey, teaching me lessons, pushing me to my limits, and sharing unforgettable moments. Whether we battled as opponents or stood together as allies, you all hold a special place in my heart.
Lastly, to the fans who cheered, supported, and believed in me through every match and every show-thank you. Your energy, chants, and unwavering support fueled me more than you’ll ever know. You are the heart and soul of this industry, and without you, none of this would have been possible. As I step away from the ring, I take with me memories and friendships that will last a lifetime. While I may be retiring from in-ring competition, wrestling will always be a part of who l am. I hope to continue contributing to this amazing industry in different ways and to stay connected with all of you who made this dream a reality.
Thank you for everything.”

❤️ pic.twitter.com/osXlWehR1M
— Mr. Fun Size (@realmarkostunt) November 2, 2024

Prior to his announcement, Stunt had been wrestling since 2015.

Current PPV Buys for TNA Bound For Glory 2024

TNA’s Bound For Glory 2024 event last week in Detroit, Michigan reportedly generated around 2,500 cable television pay-per-view buys for its first week of buys, according to the Wrestling Observer Newsletter.

Dave Meltzer reported that Bound For Glory 2024’s buys are currently up 11.7% compared to this past July’s Slammiversary 2024 buys based on the same number of days after the event.

Meltzer reported that when including streaming buys estimates, Bound For Glory 2024 is currently estimated to have generated slightly under 8,000 total buys.

Misc. Wrestling News & Notes

Saturday’s Super Junior Tag League 2024 event for New Japan Pro Wrestling in Nagoya, Japan featured Catch 2/2 (Francesco Akira & TJP) emerging as the winners of B Block for this year’s tournament. Catch 2/2 will be facing off against TMDK (Kosei Fujita & Robbie Eagles) in the Finals of this year’s tournament at NJPW’s Power Struggle 2024 event on November 4th in Osaka, Japan.

The Wrestling Observer’s Dave Meltzer reported that rare footage from 1908 of legendary pro wrestler George Hackenscmidt performing wrestling and doing muscle poses in England recently surfaced on the NGA Taonga website.

As noted before, Ice Ribbon talents Mio Shirai, Saran, Nanae Furukawa, and Mifu Ashida recently announced that they will all be leaving the company at the end of this year. Ice Ribbon provided an update announcing that Yuki Mashiro’s contract with the company recently expired but she will continue working for the company as a freelancer. Mashiro is the current ICE Cross Infinity Champion.

As noted before, TNA talent Chris Bey suffered a neck injury at TNA Wrestling’s Impact! tapings this past Sunday in Detroit, Michigan. Matt Cardona recently announced on Twitter that Bey’s Major Bendies action figure is currently scheduled to ship in May of 2025 and all profits generated will go directly to Bey to help financially assist him.

Japanese Joshi promotion SEAdLINNNG recently announced that they have appointed former Joshi wrestler Arisa Nakajima as their new manager of the company. It was announced that Nakajima officially started her new job in the company on November 1st.