Below are a couple of top WWE & AEW news stories of the day.
• RAW star Zelina Vega is sidelined due to an injury, forcing her to withdraw from the WWE Speed Women’s #1 Contender’s Tournament.
She was set to face Natalya in the quarterfinals on the December 27th edition of the X-exclusive show, but B-Fab replaced her in the match.
Natalya defeated B-Fab to advance, while WWE has yet to disclose details about Vega’s injury.
WATCH: Zelina Vega (Malakai Black’s Wife) In Super Hot Revealing Costume:
• On Wrestling Observer Radio, Dave Meltzer and Garrett Gonzales discussed whether Tony Khan might regret airing the CM Punk and Jack Perry altercation on AEW Dynamite.
Meltzer revealed that Khan stands by the decision, believing the segment was crucial in securing AEW’s new TV deal.
While Meltzer acknowledged the segment helped elevate Jack Perry and attracted significant viewership (880,000 viewers for the segment on TV), he expressed doubts about its long-term benefits for the company.
Since the incident aired on the April 10, 2024 episode, Perry has turned heel and aligned with The Young Bucks, who are currently on hiatus from AEW TV.
Here’s what Meltzer said:
“I have discussed this with [Tony Khan]. You have no idea how much… and it’s always the same thing that he believes that that was a key to getting that deal. So I will tell you, I mean, in every discussion, there is not even a thought in his mind that he made a mistake there.
If it helped making the deal, then he’s right. But I certainly didn’t think long term it was the right thing, even though, yes, it did help make Jack Perry a star. I just didn’t think it was positive for the company in the big picture.”
You can watch the Punk – Perry fight footage from All In 2023 below:
