AEW – Shaquille O’Neal Deal In Question, Penta Suffers Serious Injury

AEW – Shaquille O’Neal Deal In Question

All Elite Wrestling has taken on the role of bringing in as big of stars as possible. That includes using former NBA standout and legend Shaquille O’Neal.

O’Neal, who works at TNT, the network that airs AEW Dynamite and other AEW programming, was on the recent edition of Dynamite. He was in a segment with Brandi Rhodes, taking a glass of water to the face.

Plans are set for Rhodes and Jade Cargill to square off. It is unknown if O’Neal will be involved in the match as well.

According to Dave Meltzer, sources continue to try and let Cody Rhodes and other AEW officials be aware of the lack of commitment O’Neal has shown in the past.

“That’s one of the things I was warned about with Shaq,” Meltzer said on Wrestling Observer Radio. “He likes to do things. But then he doesn’t take it seriously.

“Some people warned me about Shaq with Cody that he might not take it too seriously as much as these guys want.”

The WWE was once in negotiations with O’Neal. The plan at that time included putting him in a match with The Big Show.

A major issue with WWE was the shape of O’Neal. They believed that he was not reliable when it pertained to staying in shape and therefore no match with the Big Show was booked.

It is possible that AEW could use O’Neal in something of a match with Cody Rhodes or possibly pair the two male wrestlers with their female counterparts for a mixed tag team match. 

They could also involve more AEW superstars in a way to “protect” O’Neal from needing to be active. 

Penta Suffers Serious Injury

On AEW Dynamite, Penta El Zero M was sent crashing through a table and removed from the match. 

The move was a way to take the pro wrestling superstar off television for an actual injury suffered previously. 

While the brutal spot looks as if it was the cause for the injury, Penta was hurt prior to in training. He was put through the timekeeper’s table and taken immediately to the back to be examined. 

The injury, though, was to his leg a few weeks ago, according to reports. There has been no update as to the condition of the injury or timetable for Penta’s return to AEW. 

Penta, a 35-year-old from Mexico, currently holds the AAA World Tag Team Championship with his real-life younger brother, Rey Fenix. The pair are in their third reign as champions.

During his time in the United States, Penta has won the Impact World Championships and Impact World Tag Team Championships. He is also a former Major League Wrestling Team Team Champion. 

Since joining AEW in 2019, Penta has been involved in numerous feuds and battles. The first was with The Young Bucks, who introduced them to the audience during an independent circuit show in Georgia that year.

Earlier this year, Penta and Fenix were once again joined by Pac to form their Death Triangle alliance.