A new vignette aired during AEW’s Worlds End Zero Hour pre show for Serena Deeb. Deeb has been out of action since October 2022. She opened up to her whereabouts last month in a video where she explained she had been having multiple seizures. But she is ready now and medically cleared.
In the new vignette she explains she has been in isolation and training in her dojo. The beginning of the vignette shows her in a straitjacket, and by the end she breaks free. Deeb then says she is ready to return. A date was not provided for her return.
Shotzi has eloped and still made it in time for a WWE house show. She first posted about the spontaneous decision before WWE shared the moment as well.
JUST MARRIED! When I realized I would be performing in Vegas, we decided to elope before the show. It was very spontaneous and so perfectly us. I loved every second of it. I’ll post something a little mushier later but its now time for an action packed reception!
WWE then posted how after her vows were done, that she races to the local WWE house show. She kisses her new husband, who was in the front row, before making it into the ring (with her wedding dress on).
A third women’s match has been added to the AEW Worlds End event on Dec. 30. Announced on the Dec. 29 episode of Rampage, Willow Nightingale will be taking on Kris Statlander.
Can Willow Nightingale put all of Stokely Hathaways accusations of her and Kris Statlander to rest at #AEWWorldsEnd?
Nightingale and Statlander were being interviewed backstage. Nightingale wanted to make sure the two of them were cool because Stokely Hathaway was trying to stir the pot between them. With Worlds End being in Long Island, New York and both women being from there, Nightingale wanted a match WITH Statlander. But then enter Hathaway.
Hathaway suggested that they face each other instead which Statlander quickly agreed to. The kind words of Statlander made Nightingale agree to the match.
Elsewhere on Rampage, Ruby Soho defeated Marina Shafir. Despite the action in the ring, Saraya attempted to try and help Soho but Nyla Rose wasn’t having it. Harley Cameron then jumped on the back of Rose allowing Saraya to flee through the crowd.
Is Harley Cameron already paying dividends for #TheOutcasts?
Giulia remains the NJPW STRONG Women’s Champion after a hard fought battle against Megan Bayne. The match took place at STARDOM’s Dream Queendom and had to be stopped by the referee at over 16 minutes because Bayne could no longer compete via submission.
What a match!! Giulia defeated Megan via submission with a modified guillotine choke after the 16 minute mark. Hands down the best STRONG Women’s title match to date. Incredible!
Giulia is the second woman to hold this title as Willow Nightingale was the inaugural champion who dropped it to Giulia in July. Giulia has gone on to defeat AZM, Hyan, Risa Sera, and more. She even successfully defend in a Four Way with Gisele Shaw, Deonna Purrazzo, and Momo Kohgo.
Now, Trish Adora has stepped up to the challenge, and requested a match with Giulia at NJPW’s Battle in the Valley on Jan. 13.
Mercedes Moné reportedly won’t be back as Sasha Banks anytime soon.
In a new report by Fightful Select, Moné and WWE were recently in talks for a return, however, that has fallen apart. WWE sources told Fightful that they expect Moné to appear elsewhere imminently.
Mercedes Mone aka Sasha Banks and WWE were recently in talks for a return that fell apart, Fightful Select has learned. WWE sources we spoke to expect her to appear elsewhere imminently.
“Major movement in the Mercedes Mone free agent watch, as WWE sources claim talks fell apart between the two sides.
Top free agent Mercedes Mone aka Sasha Banks and WWE had been engaged in conversations to possibly bring her back to the company. However, WWE sources stated to Fightful Friday night that the two sides are no longer in active negotiations regarding a return. The two sides had recently been engaged in conversations about a return. We’re told the dialogue was friendly, the back and forth failed to progress, and WWE sources claim that their side walked as a result of it.
As of August, Fightful was told that there was a working plan for Mercedes to come to AEW, however, as of early December, that particular plan was not happening. NJPW also was hoping to maintain a positive relationship with her as well, and hoped to talk to her in recent months. We’re told that outside of WWE, all options were back on the table as of mid-December.
This comes after what several perceived as teases to a WWE return on social media this week.”
STARDOM had its last major event of 2023 and that was Dream Queendom on Dec. 29. At that event, a new World of Stardom Champion was going to be crowned as Maika and Suzu Suzuki battled it out for the vacant title. The top title of the promotion was vacated due to Tam Nakano’s injury.
After delivering three Michinoku Drivers to Suzuki, Maika became the new World of Stardom Champion for the first time in her career. This making her the 15th woman to hold the gold.
https://youtu.be/aPohzSffavw?si=psC-OH3Xvmjkvc2H
The Wonder of Stardom Championship also has a new titleholder. At this event, Saori Anou defeated Mirai to become new champion. This ends Mirai’s reign at 180 days and this is the first time for Anou to hold this gold. She is the 16th woman to win this championship.
https://youtu.be/7K810n7G9_I?si=oChqiWU5iGdlnJYC
Full Results for Dream Queendom 2023
Miyu Amasaki, Azusa Inaba, and Yuzuki def. Hanako, Kurara Sayaka, and Ranna Yagami
God’s Eye (Ami Sohrei and Saki Kashima) def. Queen’s Quest (Hina and Lady C), BariBari Bombers (Mai Sakurai and Thekla), and Tropikawild (Yuna Mizumori and Saki)
Stars (Eye Contact (Mayu Iwatani and Hanan) and Classmates (Hazuki and Saya Iida)) def. Oedo Tai (YoungOED (Starlight Kid, Ruaka, and Rina) and Fukigen Death)
7Upp (Nanae Takahashi and Yuu) and AZM def. Syuri, Mina Shirakawa, and Mei Seira
Goddess of Stardom Championships – AphrOditE (Utami Hayashishita and Saya Kamitani) (c) def. XL (Natsuko Tora and Momo Watanabe)
NJPW STRONG Women’s Championship – Giulia (c) def. Megan Bayne due to referee stoppage
Wonder of Stardom Championship – Saori Anou def. Mirai (c)
World of Stardom Championship – Maika def. Suzu Suzuki
As reported back in February, Sonya Deville (real name Daria Berenato) was arrested in New Jersey for having a firearm in her vehicle.
The issue was that Deville has a permit in Florida, but the permit was not valid in New Jersey. From this, court records showed she’s since been charged with one count of unlawful weapon possession (handgun without permit).
WWE star Sonia Deville won't do time for Atlantic City gun-crime charge. Here's why https://t.co/ycei2vkVeQ
According to Courior Post the charges have been removed due to Deville takinf a pretrial intervention program.
“Berenato, a Shamong native who moved to Florida, resolved the charge by completing six months in a pretrial intervention program in late November, according to the Atlantic County Prosecutor’s Office.”
“The prosecutor’s office said it consented to her admission based on a 2014 memo from the state Attorney General’s Office.”
“The memo makes entry into a diversion program “routine in cases with this fact pattern,” the prosecutor’s office noted in a statement.
Deville is currently out of action in WWE due to an ACL injury she sustained earlier in the year after winning the WWE Women’s Tag Team Titles with Chelsea Green.
It was announced last week that ROH would have a secondary title for its women and it will be the ROH Women’s World TV Championship. Since the announcement by Tony Khan, many women have been putting their names out their wanting a shot to become the inaugural champion.
It has been confirmed that their will be a tournament upcoming for the new gold and the following women are confirmed –
Results from the Dec. 28 episode of ROH are below. Courtesy of Fightful.
Nyla Rose def. Alejandra Lion
Taya Valkyrie & The Renegades (Charlette Renegade & Robyn Renegade) def. Lady Frost, Trish Adora & Kiera Hogan
Billie Starkz def. Vertvixen
Leyla Hirsch & Rachael Ellering were interviewed backstage. Hirsch said she did not care about Maria Kanellis-Bennett’s antics and was focused on winning the ROH Women’s Television Championship. Mercedes Martinez & Diamante interrupted to confront Hirsch & Ellering before challenging them to a tag match for next week.
With an opportunity to be crowned the first #ROH Women's World TV Champion, the entire division is taking their game to the next level.
In a report from PWInsider, according to multiple WWE sources, Vega has signed a new multi-year deal. Vega first signed with WWE in 2017 and was originally in a manager role for Andrade “Cien” Almas. She was released in late 2020 but returned about eight months later and has become more of an in-ring talent and eventually a member of Legado del Fantasma and currently the LWO.
Since Vega’s return in 2021, she has become a WWE Women’s Tag Team Champion with Carmella and won the Queen’s Crown Tournament.
Her biggest profile match was against Rhea Ripley for the Women’s World Title in her home of Puerto Rico at Backlash. Currently she has been linked with Michin as a tag team.
AEW finished out 2023 with a few women’s division developments on Dynamite.
First, Renee Paquette interviewed Mariah May in front of the live Orlando crowd. May announced she will make her in-ring debut next week as she didn’t think 2023 had enough glamour, while 2024 will be all about her.
Mariah May is with Renee Paquette to announce when her debut match is going to take place!
Riho then marched out and chased May down to the ring before AEW Women’s World Champion Toni Storm followed suit with her title in hand. Riho and Storm scrapped briefly until Luther pulled Storm out. Riho then jumped off the top to knock them down with a crossbody to send a message before AEW Worlds End this Saturday.
Riho is looking to get a little bit of revenge against Mariah May after her brutal attack last week!
Later on, Kris Statlander battled Skye Blue with Stokely Hathaway on commentary. They stayed evenly matched early on until Statlander landed a stalling vertical suplex. Blue maintained the advantage going into and throughout the commercial.
After, Skye hit Code Blue for a two-count, while Statlander tries to finish it with a powerbomb. Blue distracted the referee, which allowed for Julia Hart to attack. Blue then hit an avalanche Code Blue for the win.
Willow Nightingale ran down to check on Statlander while Abadon also made an appearance to taunt Hart ahead of their title match on Saturday.
Willow Nightingale saves her friend Kris Statlander and Abadon makes sure Julia Hart is ready for their match at #AEWWorldsEnd!
Ruby Soho vs. Marina Shafir has been announced for Friday’s Rampage as Saraya has recruited Harley Cameron to try and intervene in the Soho-Angelo Parker romance.
Saraya has a special "Rampage Gift" for Ruby Soho.
Former NXT UK talent Jinny gives birth to her first child with husband, the current WWE Intercontinental Champion, Gunther. The couple got married in May of this year.
In February of this year, Jinny confirmed a retirement from the ring. She opened up in a Ring the Belle interview stating that she had a really bad concussion that sidelined her and she chose to step back from the ring as a result.
Gunther took to social media to announce that the birth of their son happened this morning.
Diva Dirt sends our congratulations to the new parents as they grow their family!
In a strange set of events, the NWA World Women’s TV Title and NWA World TV Title are set to be unified at the upcoming NWA Paranoia event. Max the Impaler will be taking on Mims.
Max became the NWA World Women’s TV Champion in August when they defeated Kenzie Paige. They are only the second champion to Kenzie being the inaugural. The championship has only been held since April 2023.
As for Mims, he won the NWA World TV Title in October after defeating Zicky Dice. The men’s TV Title has a history dating back to 2020 when Ricky Starks became the first champion.
The announcement also noted that there must be a winner, so the match can not end in a time-limit draw.
Stratton has had a breakout year in 2023 where she won her first championship. She became the NXT Women’s Champion after winning the vacant championship at the end of a eight-woman tournament. She last defeated Lyra Valkyria at NXT Battleground. Stratton held the gold for 107 days before dropping it to Becky Lynch. She would go on to have a rematch with Lynch at NXT No Mercy. Many fans say that Stratton’s matches with Lynch are some of the best in her career thus far.
She is wrapping up the year after participating in the Iron Survivor Challenge in a feud with Fallon Henley. A match between the two has been made official for New Year’s Evil on Jan. 2. It will be a Ranch Hand or Servant Match. If Henley wins, Stratton will become her ranch hand and if Stratton wins, Henley will become Stratton’s servant.
Speaking of Henley, she will now be going her own way as it appears a break up has occurred between her, Brooks Jensen, and Josh Briggs.
Another match confirmed for next week is between Roxanne Perez and Arianna Grace. Perez slapped Grace last week and the two will take it to the ring. Grace took her anger to Ava who booked the match from Perez’s request.
Cora Jade and Karmen Petrovic went one-on-one this week. Final moments of the match had Petrovic deliver a kick to the back of Jade’s neck but got a near fall. Jade won the match off of her DDT.
New Year’s Evil – Jan. 2
Tiffany Stratton vs. Fallon Henley – Ranch Hand or Servant
Roxanne Perez vs. Arianna Grace
Lyea Valkyria (c) vs. Blair Davenport – NXT Women’s Title
Former multi-time IMPACT Knockouts World Champion is feeling good about her prospects in 2024. It was confirmed that her contract with IMPACT/TNA is up by the first of the new year.
While speaking with Sean Ross Sapp of Fightful, Purrazzo talks about her feelings with her current status. She is in a much better mindset over when she first came to IMPACT after her WWE release. She has been working with not only IMPACT for the past three and a half years but various promotions.
“I feel really confident, I guess, it’s a good way to put it. The last time we talked about anything contract-related with me, I was in a really weird place. I had just been released from NXT, I wasn’t sure what my future held, and in the course of the last almost four years since that conversation, I feel like I’ve done a lot of career rehab. I’ve been able to, obviously, become a five-time World Champion, I’ve been able to work with, obviously IMPACT, but AAA, AEW, and Ring of Honor,” she said.
“It’s been incredible. I feel like everything I’ve been able to do over the last three-and-a-half years has put me in a really great position to have some really great conversations with a lot of different people and I feel really confident going into the new year.”
It can be risky to ever leave one place for another, but for The Virtuosa she feels she needs to explore what all is out there. She’s at a good place with IMPACT and has seen major success there.
“It’s scary, again, because there’s so many factors to weigh. Being with Steve [Maclin], being in an environment that I’m used to, and I’m comfortable in,” she said. “I kind of, at IMPACT, I can’t do anything wrong. Not that I have a lot of power, but I know how I could leverage some things there. I’m in a really great position. Scott [D’Amore] and I have a great relationship and to leave all that behind would be very scary, but I also think that’s how we grow as humans, right? We have to say, ‘I’ve succeeded here. I’ve been at a top level here for the entire time I’ve been here. Is it time to go somewhere else?’ If this was the territory days, right now would be the time to go until stories elsewhere. So I have to weigh that, too.
“Like I said earlier, the experiences I’ve had throughout my entire career, but specifically the last two to four years, have really allowed me to have conversations I didn’t think I would ever have with people again,” she continued.
“I wasn’t welcome in a lot of places when I left WWE if we’re being honest. So to be able to talk to those people that I’ve been able to talk to you has been really settling for my soul and I just know that I am wanted and time heals all wounds and that feels really good.” (Fightful)
Becky Lynch spent 42 days as NXT Women’s Champion and during that time she faced several up and coming talents. One she had not faced was Thea Hail to which she gives good praise to.
While speaking with Strutting from Gorilla, here is what Lynch had to say about NXT talent –
“Then, of course, I got to spend some time at NXT and I got to look at who was coming up and obviously, Lyra is incredible. You have Tiffany Stratton, who has shown huge amounts of potential, and then there is other people I’ve had my eye on. Thea Hail is somebody I look forward to seeing how she progresses. She is somebody different. She has this particular charisma about her that I really like and I really enjoy. I look forward to stepping in the ring with her one day, too,” she said. (Fightful)
Hail last on TV win was against Dani Palmer in September. She recently lost a tag team match alongside Jacy Jayne to Izzi Dame and Kiana James.
The comparison between Rhea Ripley and Chyna is something that isn’t new, but is very prevalent in Ripley’s current booking.
Working with both the women and the men is something Chyna was very well known for and is something Ripley also enjoys doing. She even goes on to say she is very proud about the comparison. However, she has acknowledged how this set back the women’s division some.
In an interview from Perth, Australia’s The West Sport, Ripley explains that it isn’t lost on her or on WWE that for a bit the women’s division was suffering with Mami having the championship and being on top. She says that there will always be the Becky Lynch’s, Nia Jax’s, Asuka’s, and Charlotte Flair’s but actively build new competitors is something now in the foreground.
Rhea Ripley tells “The West Sport” that she embraces comparisons to Chyna and being able to work with both men and women.
Rhea also admits that the women’s division suffered due to this but believes they are working on fixing that. pic.twitter.com/eJOIlK27ui
Fans are able to see this currently with Ivy Nile stepping up to the plate, hopefully with a good match on Jan. 1 on the Day 1 Raw episode. Ripley also recently retained against Zoey Stark, another promising future champion.
What are your thoughts? Do you see the Raw women’s division getting better and moving forward?
Former WWE and IMPACT talent Cassie Lee and AEW’s Shawn Spears are expecting their second child. The couple took to social media and shared the gender of their baby to be a boy. This confirms Lee to be a boy mom as her first son, Austin Jay, was born in January 2023.
The Dec. 22 episode of NXT Level Up had the third televised match for Brinley Reece. Looking for her first win, she had a huge hill to climb against Roxanne Perez.
Reece put up quite the fight, but in the end it would be Perez that picks up the victory. You can watch parts of the match below.
AEW’s last pay-per-view event, Worlds End, takes place on Dec. 30. We already know that Riho will be challenging Toni Storm for the AEW Women’s World Championship, but now the TBS Championship has been booked. Julia Hart will defend against Abadon.
TBS Champion Julia Hart will defend the title vs Abadon NEXT SATURDAY at Worlds End, but first they clash TONIGHT next on TNT on #AEWCollision in a huge tag bout! pic.twitter.com/e4X4s1koG5
Over many weeks we have seen the interaction and build between these two competitors. Last week, Thunder Rosa returned to be at Abadon’s side as they were being attacked by Hart and Skye Blue. On the Dec. 23 episode of Collision there will be a tag team match between Abadon/Rosa vs. Hart/Blue.
Michin has her very first championship match on the main roster set and it will take place in two weeks on the Jan. 5 episode of SmackDown. She will be challenging IYO SKY for the WWE Women’s Title on the New Year’s Revolution special episode.
On the Dec. 22 episode of SmackDown, Michin pinned SKY to win the Holiday Havoc match for her team. As a result, she earned this championship match. The last time Michin went one-on-one with SKY was the Jan. 16 2023 episode of Raw in which Michin won.
Former NXT Women’s Tag Team Champions Alba Fyre and Isla Dawn are back on our screens much to the dismay of Damage CTRL.
On the Dec. 22 pre-taped episode of SmackDown, there was an eight-woman Holiday Havoc match. It was between Damage CTRL (Asuka, Bayley, IYO SKY, and Kairi Sane) vs. Bianca Belair, Shotzi, Michin, and Zelina Vega. This was basically a hardcore/extreme rules match.
With Christmas lights in her braid, Belair and SKY started off in the ring with commentary mentioning that Belair is trying to climb back to a championship match. After they spill to the outside, Shotzi brings a present into the ring and it turns out to be a steel chair she intended to use on Bayley. Bayley would quickly take control.
It's not the holidays until the Candy Cane Kendos come out! ??
A plethora of Candy Cane kendo sticks would enter the match as the Kabuki Warriors battled away on Michin and Zelina before Belair and Shotzi get their own and give Asuka and Sane a taste of their own medicine.
A table is introduced in the match by Belair and Shotzi but it would be SKY and Bayley that capitalize on it first using it as a weapon. As we return from a commercial break, Christmas presents are throughout the ring.
At some point, Belair puts a box on SKY’s head as Shotzi kicks her off Bianca’s shoulders. Sane finds garbage can lid in present and takes out Shotzi into the Christmas tree set up by the barricade. Vega takes out Sane but is then greeted with a pumpkin pie to the face by Dakota Kai. Asuka sprayed the mist in Vega’s face keeping her down for the rest of the match
On the other side of the ring by the ramp, sand and Asuka tag team on Belair keeping her down as Bayley goes for the table inside the ring. Perhaps to set it up for Belair to go through.
Asuka and Sane see two big presents at the bottom of the ramp. The tops open and it is Isla Dawn and Alba Fyre. They take out Asuka quickly and then target Sane.
With all of this distraction and a furious Bayley inside the ring, she ends up in the KOD by Belair. SKY hits her moonsault on Belair as Michin enters and lands Eat Defeat on the champion! She placed SKY on the table and landed a senton from the top turnbuckle and got the pin for her team.
DIVA DIRT WISHES ALL OF OUR READERS A VERY HAPPY HOLIDAY SEASON!
Jessica McKay, formerly Billie Kay in WWE, has announced the birth of her baby boy Cooper. The date provided shows he was born on Dec. 20. This is her first child with her husband who she married in 2015.
McKay was last in the ring for IMPACT in 2022 along with Cassie Lee (Peyton Royce in WWE) as one-half of The IInspiration. They took a step back from wrestling and each had a child since. Lee has returned to the ring on the Australian indie scene. McKay has stated in the past “never say never” on an in-ring return.
Congratulations to McKay and her husband on their new addition to their family
On the Dec. 21 episode of ROH, Tony Khan unveiled a new championship for the women, the ROH Women’s TV Championship.
Backstage, Lexy Nair was interviewing Maria Kanellis-Bennett on her thoughts. Maria states that Khan was finally listening about the women’s division and that this new belt is a great opportunity for the women.
Maria was interrupted by an angry Leyla Hirsch and Rachael Ellering. During Ellering’s match, Maria grabbed her foot but claims it was her shor that she had to tie was the real situation. Ellering won her match regardless. Maria states she was only trying to help.
Ellering attempted to refocus on the fact a new championship has been introduced. Hirsch says she doesn’t want any part of Maria’s “help” moving forward. Maria says to go ahead and move forward without her help, however, her spotlight will out shine both of them. As Maria walks away, Ellering and Hirsch realize the new TV Championship is a big opportunity for the both of them.
Tony Khan appeared on the ramp, where he announced the creation of the ROH World Women’s Television Championship. More details will be revealed in the upcoming weeks.
