Various: Wheeler Yuta Not Medically Cleared for CMLL Event, Ted DiBiase Jr. Welfare Criminal Case Update, Shark Boy on In-Ring Career Being Over

Wheeler Yuta Injury Update – Yuta Pulled from CMLL’s Event This Friday

As noted before, Wheeler Yuta has been absent from AEW since this past January due to an undisclosed injury. Yuta had been scheduled to compete for Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre at their upcoming event this Friday in Mexico but his status for this event has been uncertain.

CMLL recently announced that they have pulled Yuta from their Homenaje a Dos Leyendas 2024 event this Friday in Mexico City due to him not being medically cleared by AEW to travel for the event.

It was also announced that Matt Sydal will be replacing Yuta for his scheduled Eight-Man Tag Team match with Jon Moxley, Claudio Castagnoli, & Bryan Danielson against Mistico, Volador Jr., Blue Panther, & Ultimo Guerrero at the event.

CMLL (Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre Co.,Ltd)
Re: AEW Wheeler Yuta

Dear CMLL; This letter is to inform you that WHEELER YUTA is not medically cleared for travel or any in ring activities at this time and will not be able to participate in your upcoming event. I have obtained authorization from Wheeler Yuta to share this information to CMLL and all involved. Thank you for your understanding in this matter. If you have any questions that I may be able to answer, please do not hesitate to contact me.

Sincerely,
ALL ELITE WRESTLING, LLC

MATT SYDAL EN HOMENAJE A DOS LEYENDAS 2024
Por dictamen médico, el integrante del Blackpool Combat Club -Wheeler YUTA- no podrá participar en la magna función del viernes 29 de marzo en la Arena México. Su lugar será tomado por el espectacular Matt Sydal. pic.twitter.com/M3DeuLuSZu

— Lucha Libre CMLL (@CMLL_OFICIAL) March 25, 2024

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Ted DiBiase Jr. Welfare Criminal Case Update

As noted before, former WWE wrestler Ted DiBiase Jr. was charged this past April with several criminal charges by the United States Department of Justice over his involvement in embezzling welfare funds as part of a larger welfare scandal in the State of Mississippi.

PWInsider’s Mike Johnson reported that the presiding judge, Judge Carlton W. Reeves, recently recused himself from the criminal trial against DiBiase Jr. based on recent court documents. Johnson reported that the reason for Reeves’ decision was not listed.

Magistrate Judge LaKeysha Greer Isaac reportedly will be the new presiding judge going forward for DiBiase Jr’s trial.

Johnson reported that due to this change, the scheduled jury trial date for DiBiase Jr. has been pushed back to a new date of January 7, 2025.

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Shark Boy Comments on Dealing with Health Issues & Not Being in His Best Interest to Wrestle Again

A recent episode of the Refin’ It Up with Brian Hebner & Jimmy Korderas podcast featured former TNA/Impact Wrestling talent Shark Boy as the guest. One of the topics discussed included Shark Boy revealing that he will not be having one last in-ring run for his wrestling career due to health-related issues.

“Well, I’ll be honest with you, I have had some health issues that have really limited what I’ve been able to do here lately. I’m doing mostly appearances now. I haven’t really gotten in the ring very much at all and that’s kind of doctor’s orders. Without going into any real specifics, it just isn’t in my best interests to do it anymore at this point but I’m happy doing what I’m doing. Actually, I’ve been doing a lot of referee stuff, special guest enforcer Shark Boy referee stuff, which has been a lot of fun and it fits right in with some of the angles that the indie promoters are doing. So I try to sell ‘em on that. I’ve also been managing guys. I even went and got a cane that has a shark on the top of it and I could bring it out and swing it around and I’m a babyface manager with a cane. Old school baby. So I do things like that, I can still cut the promo. I can still bite ya, punch ya, kick ya, I can still sign autographs of course and things like that. So, there’s still a spot for me on these cards. It’s just not so much in the ring anymore and I’m pushing 50 now. So, Shark Boy has become Shark Man, officially.”

Transcript h/t: PostWrestling.com