Styles’ SummerSlam Opponent, New NXT Ref, GFW Star Passes Away

AJ Styles is currently the WWE Champion and has been for several months now. After defeating the likes of Shinsuke Nakamura, Jinder Mahal, and Rusev to retain his championship, the time has come for Styles to receive a new challenger for his title. According to a report from Cageside Seats, the next number one contender for the WWE title now appears to be none other than Samoa Joe. The match is expected to be announced for SummerSlam by Paige during next week’s Smackdown show, and it is also said that Styles will likely defeat Joe in what may be the first in a series of matches. Given their history in TNA Wrestling, it will be interesting to see them battle again several years later for the WWE Championship next month.
Fans may recall that WWE signed their first official female referee to a contract last year when Kennadi Brink joined the company. Brink is now known as Jessika Carr, and she still continues to serve as a referee for matches on NXT. Several months later, it now appears that WWE has just signed a second female referee to an NXT deal. Several fans who attended last night’s NXT TV tapings spotted the new referee in the ring, and she has now been identified by Squared Circle Sirens. The report says that WWE’s newest referee is Aubrey Edwards, who is a referee from Seattle, Washington who had previously been working on the independent circuit located within the Pacific Northwest. Edwards is expected to make her onscreen debut on NXT next week.

#NXTFSLive we have a new female referee pic.twitter.com/dKyEuE0GIu
— JJ Williams (@JJWilliamsWON) July 18, 2018

It has just been reported that young independent wrestler Virgil Flynn has passed away. Flynn died earlier today at the age of 33 due to complications from a stroke. Flynn competed in all around the world as a member of numerous promotions such as APW, Supreme Pro Wrestling, Hoodslam, and Global Force Wrestling over the course of his career. Flynn had been competing for over thirteen years, and he had also been the reigning BOTW West Coast Champion for the past 494 days. Several of his fans and close acquaintances have taken the time to pay tribute to Flynn on social media today, and he is being remembered for his incredible respect and admiration for the business of professional wrestling.

All of us at @VF3Prod are devastated to learn that earlier today, @VirgilEFlynn suddenly passed away.
We don’t know what this means for the future of @VF3Prod.
Right now, our focus is the Flynn family and healing after this heartbreaking loss.
Thank you.
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— Virgil Flynn III Productions (@VF3Prod) July 19, 2018

RIP to Virgil Flynn. I remember finding clips of him on YouTube and instantly thought he was incredibly talented. I got the chance to work with him closely for a short while. My condolences to his beautiful family.
— SONJAY (@sonjaydutterson) July 19, 2018

We are saddened to hear about the sudden passing of Virgil Flynn. Our hearts and thoughts are with his young family at this incredibly sad time. #RIP pic.twitter.com/OZlE8h2dSn
— IMPACT UK & Ireland (@IMPACTonSPIKE) July 19, 2018