Select Portions: Cody Rhodes, Summerslam, RVD, More

- Cody Rhodes was still wearing his wrist guard two weeks ago at the premiere of his Peacock documentary.

- Kalisto is set to appear for IMPACT. We’re told there was some contact between the two sides years ago, but a deal didn’t get done.

- WWE has a Be A Star Rally planned for today, as well as events with C4 Friday.

- For those asking if we've confirmed Kip Sabian's signing was serious, we're looking into it.

- Rob Van Dam's AEW appearance has been discussed for quite some time, as they had to clear the licenses with Pantera.

Current Summerslam Betting Odds, from BetOnline

Saturday, Aug 05, 2023 - SummerSlam

WWE Undisputed Universal Championship

Roman Reigns (c)         -5000   (1/50)

Jey Uso                        +1000   (10/1)

WWE World Heavyweight Championship

Seth Rollins (c)              -300     (1/3)

Finn Balor                     +200     (2/1)

WWE Women’s Championship

Asuka (c)                      -140     (5/7)

Charlotte Flair               +175     (7/4)

Bianca Belair                 +350     (7/2)

WWE Intercontinental Championship

Gunther (c)                   -600     (1/6)

Drew McIntyre               +350     (7/2)

Singles Match Winner

Cody Rhodes                -1500   (1/15)

Brock Lesnar                 +600     (6/1)

Singles Match Winner

Logan Paul                   -400     (1/4)

Ricochet                       +250     (5/2)

Singles Match Winner

Shayna Baszler             -1000   (1/10)

Ronda Rousey              +500     (5/1)

Dominic Garrini notes  that aired Thursday on The Spotlight:

-He and Kevin Ku pushed for IWTV Tag Team Titles and it took over two years to get them.

-Was supposed to wrestle in GCW in 2017, but was booked for EVOLVE. Was scheduled to face Riddle.

-Reached out to Brett Lauderdale about returning to GCW this weekend because there is a lot of talented teams they haven’t wrestled including BUSSY, SGC, and East West Express.

-Hopes to work with GCW regularly. Wants to win GCW Tag Team Titles.

-Apologized to Cabana Man Dan after the infamous bell shot at SUP Those Who Fear Tomorrow. Didn’t realize how bad it was until he saw the GIF.

-Says tacks in the head is the worst feeling in the world. Will takes light tubes and barbed wire way before tacks.

-Says skewers through the ear really hurt. BJ Whitmer wouldn’t do it when he pitched it to him years ago, but Josh Bishop agreed to it. Says death match spots can be overdone and he only wants to do it when it makes sense.

-Helps John Thorne book AIW. Says there are issues with Live Nation and Ticketmaster with fees.

-Says nice things about Ohio.

-Went to Raw in Cleveland when Kevin Owens power bombed MGK. Owens was his favorite wrestler and when he saw Kevin’s success and that moment, he went home that night and searched for training schools in Ohio, which led him to finding AIW.

-Candice LeRae tells him she knew he was going to make because he showed up with wrestling shoes.

- Praises Johnny Gargano and Candice as trainers.

-Calls Britt Baker one of the realest people in wrestling. Says Britt was always looking for advice to improve. Says Britt wanted to return to AIW a year before she did (she returned in May 2022). Says there was debate on which theme Britt should use, Steve Guy said “Iron Man” from AIW, Dominic said it had to be AEW theme.

-Stresses to students that you don’t want to be pigeonholed to being one thing. Was worried he would be pigeonholed as the “shooter” guy.

-John Thorne told him “always have a shoot job.”

-Says wrestling is an expense hobby until you sign a contract that pays a livable wage.

-Says smart independent wrestlers treat the indie scene like the old territories and good wrestlers will work differently at different territories.

-“Spend money to have good merch made.”

-Doesn’t know if he and Kevin fit AEW weekly TV model, but knows they fit ROH. “I don’t think anybody appeals to the hardcore wrestling fan more than us.” Looks at the tag division and knows they would be good there.

-Erick Stevens is his and Kevin’s strength and conditioning coach. Says Stevens no longer eats sugar. Dominic has lost almost ten pounds in about a month working with Stevens.

-Says the endgame for him and Kevin is to be signed by ROH or tour Japan regularly.

-“The moment I stepped in the door at DPW, I could tell it was different from most Indies.” Says DPW had an immediate storyline for them. Calls it a next level Indie.

-Says wrestling in Japan was a big bucket list item for him.

-Says the Indies are never going to die in the formal sense, but concedes it’s hard to find a ticket mover who isn’t a legend or NJPW guy.

-“There were 98 pitches to me when I started MLW and they all sounded awesome.” Were told they were going to win tag titles, but the pandemic caused plans to change. Says MLW pandemic tapings were long days, but they did get bonuses.

-Worked as a producer for MLW for the first shows he was hurt.

-Had in MLW contracts that they could work AEW. When they got booked to work AEW, MSL just agreed to give them their release. Doesn’t have anything bad to say about MLW, but doesn’t know if they would go back.

-Was penciled in to face FTR in April 2021. Many independent companies have talked about making Violence Is Forever vs. FTR happen, but says there isn’t much progress. Thinks all parties involved want it, but it comes down to time and place.

-Dax told them that getting Tony Khan to let them take outside bookings is tough.

-Says Chandler Biggins wanted to give him a Fast & Furious gimmick because his name was Dominic.

-Says he was going through a rough time in 2019, and Kevin Owens sent him a DM. Owens had read an interview where Dominic said how much influence Owens had on his career and wanted to reach out. Owens remembered having dinner with Dominic, Thorne, and Biggins.

-Made a bet with Hornswoggle that he could wrap up a AIW show in less than three hours. Won $1 from Hornswoggle. Hornswoggle bet $1 because that’s what John Cena would bet.