Author: Josh Nason

Since 2011, Josh has been a contributing editor to Wrestling Observer/F4WOnline.com and also hosts the Punch-Out podcast. He has also written for Fight Magazine, Bloody Elbow, Bleacher Report, and other websites. He's a 2000 graduate of the University of Maine, worked in pro sports, and once was an indie ring announcer.

Injury updates on AEW’s Bandido & Nick Wayne

Posted on by Josh Nason

Image: AEW

Despite sustaining a shoulder injury during a Friday match for CMLL, Ring of Honor World Champion and AEW World Tag Team Champion Bandido is going to attempt to push through it.

During Saturday’s AEW Collision, he and partner Brody King were announced for Tuesday’s special edition of Dynamite, taking on Konosuke Takeshita & Kazuchika Okada in a Double Jeopardy match where a shot at both the Tag Team titles and Okada’s Unified title will be on the line.

On Saturday, AEW head Tony Khan replied to a King X post (“Mr Bandido, you better tape your shoulder back together we got work to do.”), saying, “I talked to him this morning! He said that he wants to power through it + wrestle on Tuesday!”

Bandido said his shoulder “popped out” during the Friday match against Hechicero.

**********

Nick Wayne may be out up to two more months as he continues to recover from a broken foot.

The reigning ROH men’s TV Champion appeared on Saturday’s Collision in a backstage segment when AEW medical told him his ankle was still swollen and he was out six-to-eight more weeks. Wayne was less than thrilled with the news.

Wayne was injured in August which forced him off the Forbidden door pay-per-view. His last match was in mid-July, but it’s unclear how or where the 20-year-old sustained the injury.

Update on Cedric Alexander’s TNA contract status

Posted on by Josh Nason

Image: TNA

Cedric Alexander’s TNA Wrestling contract is set to be up imminently, according to a new report.

Fightful Select reported the news Saturday, noting that according to TNA sources, Alexander has been under a short-term deal that is “up around the time of Bound for Glory” which is set for next Sunday. The outlet also reported that TNA is hoping to re-sign Alexander.

The roster could undergo some churn as Fightful reported there are some other deals up around the same time frame, but TNA is working to renew those talents in those situations.

Alexander made his TNA debut on the June 20 Impact TV taping, confronting Mustafa Ali. He’s wrestled eight times for the promotion and will be in action this Thursday for the Bound for Glory go-home show. As of this writing, he has not been announced for a match at the pay-per-view.

Alexander’s run in WWE ended this February and in March, he said he would love to join The Hurt Syndicate in AEW.

WWE contract update for Bronson Reed

Posted on by Josh Nason

A new report from Fightful Select has Bronson Reed sticking around in WWE for years to come.

The outlet reported Friday that the 37-year-old re-signed with WWE “quite a long time ago” on a multi-year deal. The Australian native is currently part of The Vision along with Paul Heyman, Seth Rollins, Bronson Reed and possibly Brock Lesnar.

As of this writing, he does not have an opponent for next Saturday’s Crown Jewel in Perth, Australia — his first show in his native country as a main roster talent. He did list some of his dream opponents recently and said whatever he does at the PLE, it will be “impactful.”

Reed (Jermaine Haley) is in his second run with WWE, brought back to the company in 2022 by Paul “Triple H” Levesque after he was released in in August 2021 following three years in developmental.

In his first run, he was solely in NXT outside a June 2021 SmackDown dark match and a WWE Main Event bout that same month. Reed has not held main roster gold to this point, but was NXT North American Champion for 42 days in 2021.

Full lineup for AEW Collision revealed

Posted on by Josh Nason

Following Thursday’s AEW Collision taping in Lakeland, Florida, the full lineup for this Saturday’s episode is now revealed.

The following is the non-spoilers lineup:

  • AEW Women’s World Champion Kris Statlander and Toni Storm will have a face-to-face talk ahead of their rematch at WrestleDream.
  • The Death Riders will continue their recent run of trios action as Jon Moxley, Claudio Castagnoli and Daniel Garcia take on Jay Lethal, Adam Priest and Tommy Billington.
  • Ring of Honor Tag Team Champions LFI (Rush & Sammy Guevara) will take on Shane Stetson and Cha Cha Charlie in a non-title match.
  • The Don Callis Family will be represented in two trios matches as Konosuke Takeshita, Kyle Fletcher & Josh Alexander will take on Johnny TV & MxM Collection while Orange Cassidy, Roderick Strong & Kyle O’Reilly battle Rocky Romero, Lance Archer & Hechicero.
  • Former AEW Women’s World Champion Jamie Hayter will take on Anna Jay.

The new additions join the previously announced Eddie Kingston vs. Dralistico, and a member of FTR taking on Kevin Knight.

AEW Collision lineup | Saturday, October 4 | 7 PM Eastern

  • Kris Statlander and Toni Storm face-to-face
  • Eddie Kingston vs. Dralistico
  • Kevin Knight vs. either Dax Harwood or Cash Wheeler
  • ROH Tag Team Champions LFI (Rush & Sammy Guevara) vs. Shane Stetson & Cha Cha Charlie in a non-title match
  • Don Callis Family (Konosuke Takeshita, Kyle Fletcher & Josh Alexander) vs. Johnny TV & MxM Collection (Mason Madden & Mansoor)
  • Orange Cassidy, Roderick Strong & Kyle O’Reilly vs. Don Callis Family (Rocky Romero, Lance Archer & Hechicero)
  • Jamie Hayter vs. Anna Jay

Sareee to defend IWGP Women’s title on next Ring of Honor TV show

Posted on by Josh Nason

Image: JJ Williams

After making her Ring of Honor debut Thursday, Sareee will put the IWGP Women’s title on the line against Alex Windsor as part of next week’s ROH on HonorClub TV show.

Sareee teamed with Windsor in a victory over Billie Starkz and Diamante. Afterward in a backstage promo, Windsor said she wanted a shot at the title, bringing up her past challenge of former champion Syuri as a reason. She also referenced a previous Sareee comment of “Who is she?” as something that bothered her.

The two have never been on opposite sides of the ring.

Sareee will be looking for the third defense of the title she won this past June at Stardom’s The Conversion event. It will be Windsor’s second attempt to win the title.

**********

The match was taped Thursday in Lakeland, Florida, ahead of the AEW Collision tapings. Results can be found here. Here’s what else was taped which could also make up this Thursday’s ROH episode:

  • IWGP Women’s Champion Sareee defends against Alex Windsor
  • Angelico & Serpentico vs. Logan Cruz and Tyson
  • Wheeler Yuta vs. Oro
  • Shane Taylor vs. Beef
  • Grizzled Young Vets & Isla Dawn vs. Gabriel Aeros, Carolina Cruz & Javi
  • Billie Starkz vs. Viva Van
  • Blake Christian vs. Shannon Moore
  • Diamante vs. Aleah James
  • The Von Erichs vs. The Frat House (Griff Garrison & Kole Carter)

Gail Kim: Kenny Omega’s tweet toward me was ‘very derogatory’

Posted on by Josh Nason

Image: AEW

Gail Kim has been in the spotlight the past few weeks for her comments on X about former AEW Women’s World Champion Riho and in a new interview, she addressed one of her higher profile critics: Kenny Omega.

The issues began when she responded to fans on X regarding a clip of Jim Cornette speaking about Riho. Offering her own take, Kim said on X she felt uncomfortable while previously watching her matches due to the camera work feeling improper and Riho being dressed “like a very little girl.” She also said that Riho’s size makes it hard to believe she would be competitive in a division with larger women.

Omega seemingly responded to that opinion on X, posting “Another day and another ‘legend’ doing the splits on it for the yearly TKO gift basket…”

Kim later responded to Omega’s post, writing “If you’re trying to beat around the bush and misinterpret things like the rest of the yahoos, let me clarify that you are wrong.”

In talking on the Huge Pop podcast Thursday, one of the hosts brought up when wrestlers get involved in those online conversations and the topic of Omega came up. Kim said Omega should have just mentioned her, tagged her or direct messaged her so there was no ambiguity to who he was addressing.

She later said what Omega wrote about her was “very derogatory.”

“…He was probably reading things online and believing the AEW fans who twisted all the messaging, in my opinion, I don’t know. Maybe he did read my original answer. But, to say I do the (splits)… I didn’t even know what that meant at first. I’m like, ‘What do you mean I do the splits for TKO?’ I’m like, ‘What is he talking about?’”

During the interview, she reiterated her comments were not about Riho specifically, but her lack of comfort with a segment she had watched when AEW first started. She said she doesn’t watch AEW currently, but supports several wrestlers there.

She said she’d be happy to have open conversations about her comments, but being asked to apologize by some critics like Dave Meltzer “is just ridiculous.”

Kim also said she and GCW owner Brett Lauderdale made amends after her X comments about deathmatches and an A24-produced documentary about them that Lauderdale responded to. She admitted she didn’t know a documentary was being made, and that she has never been a fan of that kind of match.

Big Boom AJ & mystery partner challenged to match at AEW Full Gear

Posted on by Josh Nason

Big Boom AJ isn’t done with his AEW in-ring career just yet as he will return to action at November’s Full Gear pay-per-view in Newark, New Jersey.

In the clip seen below on X filmed Wednesday in Hollywood, Florida, where AEW Dynamite took place, AJ and his fellow social media star and son Big Justice were putting over the sixth anniversary when Rocky Romero and Trent Beretta (wearing a cast on his left arm) of the Don Callis Family walked up to insult them.

AJ then said Full Gear will be their own one-year anniversary of being in AEW and told Romero and Beretta he wants them there so they can finish what they started at All In: Texas. It was at the PPV pre-show that AJ teamed with Hologram, Kyle O’Reilly and Tomohiro Ishii to defeat Romero, Beretta, Hechicero and Lance Archer.

Justice then offered up a tag match, but Romero said he was trying to trick them into something illegal. Romero then said AJ could pick a partner to face he and Beretta instead.

It will be AJ’s fourth AEW match following his debut in November 2024 when he defeated QT Marshall on the Full Gear pre-show. He returned at March’s Revolution, teaming with Orange Cassidy and Mark Briscoe on the pre-show to defeat Johnny TV and MxM Collection.

Hangman Page calls for fans to contact WBD about controversial ads on AEW Dynamite

Posted on by Josh Nason

Image: AEW

AEW World Champion Hangman Page is calling for fans to contact Warner Bros. Discovery regarding ICE ads airing on both TBS and HBO Max during AEW Dynamite.

Page took to BlueSky with his call to action following Wednesday’s show, posting “f*ck ice airing commercials during dynamite, let em know” with links to contact HBO Max via their help page and TBS’ contact page.

ICE is a reference to the U.S. Immigrations and Customs Enforcement division, an agency that enforces immigrations and customs laws. ICE has come under heavy public scrutiny in recent months for its increased presence and tactics nationwide during the second Trump administration.

Fellow AEW wrestler Brody King wore an “Abolish Ice” t-shirt during AEW’s trip to Mexico this year and is selling a t-shirt version of the moment with proceeds going toward families impacted by ICE raids.

AEW head Tony Khan was asked on the pre-All Out media call about moments like that and he said his wrestlers are presented as their “authentic selves” and that in the case of both Page and King, “that’s them being themselves.”

“I want wrestling fans from all over the world and all different perspectives. That’s one of the things that makes wrestling really great. It brings people from all walks of life together,” he said.

fuck ice airing commercials during dynamite, let em know: help.hbomax.com/us/Feedback/ tbsnetwork.zendesk.com/hc/en-us/req…

[image or embed]

— HANGMAN PAGE (@hangmanpage.bsky.social) October 1, 2025 at 11:46 PM

Three matches set for AEW Dynamite Title Tuesday

Posted on by Josh Nason

The first three matches are set for next week’s Title Tuesday edition of AEW Dynamite.

After successfully defending her title against Riho at last month’s All Out, TBS Champion Mercedes Mone will look to keep her near-500 day run as champion going in an open challenge against “someone local from Florida.”

After the Gates of Agony defeated Swirl during Wednesday’s Dynamite, The Hurt Syndicate came out to confront the GOA and Ricochet and challenge them to a trios street fight this Tuesday.

Also during Dynamite, Don Callis issued a backstage challenge to reigning AEW World Tag Team Champion Brodido for a match against AEW Unified Champion Kazuchika Okada and Konosuke Takeshita, who was not happy about Callis offering up the match. It was never formally announced so it’s unclear if it’s for the titles.

The live show from Jacksonville, Florida, is taking place on Tuesday with Collision airing live on Wednesday due to the Major League Baseball playoffs on TBS.

Current AEW Dynamite Title Tuesday lineup:

  • TBS Champion Mercedes Mone defends against TBA
  • The Demand (Ricochet, Bishop Kaun & Toa Liona) vs. Hurt Syndicate (MVP, Bobby Lashley & Shelton Benjamin) in a street fight
  • AEW World Tag Team Champions Brodido (Brody King & Bandido) defend against Kazuchika Okada & Konosuke Takeshita (title or non-title TBA)

El Clon debuts on AEW Dynamite, immediately aligns with faction

Posted on by Josh Nason

The Don Callis Family added Andrade El Idolo during Wednesday’s AEW Dynamite and then followed up by adding the mysterious El Clon shortly thereafter.

Clon made his in-person debut during the TNT title match between Kyle Fletcher and Orange Cassidy, initially disguised as his rival Hologram (seen above).

After the referee was taken out by Fletcher, Cassidy was distracted by Callis which brought out the disguised Clon to run him off. He then crotched Cassidy on the ropes, giving Fletcher a window to hit his top rope brainbuster for the win.

After the entire Callis Family attacked Cassidy, Mark Briscoe, Roderick Strong and Kyle O’Reilly (who had come out to try to help), the lights flickered and Clon removed his Hologram mask and jacket to reveal he was not Hologram.

The former Arez, the Clon character debuted via vignettes in late-August, causing Hologram to act like he was glitching out. After being taken out backstage by a Fletcher attack last week, Tony Khan announced it was expected Hologram will miss the rest of the year with an injury which Dave Meltzer said is a re-aggravation of a previous knee injury.

World title match set for AEW WrestleDream

Posted on by Josh Nason

After sharing the ring as partners during Wednesday’s sixth anniversary of AEW Dynamite, AEW World Champion Hangman Page and Samoa Joe left it as enemies.

Because of that, Page challenged Joe to a World title match at this month’s WrestleDream from St. Louis, Missouri, that was later accepted by the former champion.

The two teamed with Powerhouse Hobbs against The Death Riders on Dynamite, picking up a win after Page pinned Claudio Castagnoli thanks to an assist from Joe. Afterward, Page handed Hobbs his AEW Trios title and did the same for Joe when the belt fell to the mat. Joe then confronted Page and got into a verbal altercation that quickly became physical before security broke them up.

The two men have never gone one-on-one, but did battle over Joe’s then-World title at March 2024’s Revolution in a three-way that also included Swerve Strickland.

It will be Page’s fifth title defense while Joe is gunning for his second World title run and first since losing the title in April 2024 to Strickland. He has got one shot since losing the title, unsuccessfully challenging then-champion Jon Moxley this past May in a cage match.

Current AEW WrestleDream lineup | Saturday, October 18 | St. Louis, Missouri

  • AEW World Champion Hangman Page defends against Samoa Joe
  • I Quit match: Darby Allin vs. Jon Moxley

Kevin Kelly & Tate Twins’ appeal of AEW lawsuit arbitration ruling gets dismissed

Posted on by Josh Nason

An appeal of a June decision in the lawsuit brought against AEW, Tony Khan and Ian Riccaboni by announcer Kevin Kelly and Brandon & Brent Tate has been dismissed.

Reported Wednesday night by Wrestlenomics’ Brandon Thurston, the Eleventh Circuit of the U.S. Court of Appeals dismissed the appeal because the original case was stayed (when a case is temporarily halted or legal proceedings are suspended either for the entire case or a portion of it). Because of that, they could not review the decision.

In June, a judge had ordered the case to go to arbitration which is when it was initially “administratively closed,” hence the aforementioned decision.

About the AEW, Kevin Kelly & Tate Twins lawsuit

Via lawyer Stephen P. New, Kelly and the Tates filed the suit against AEW in late-August 2024 with Kelly alleging defamation from AEW and Riccaboni stemming from the latter’s comments on a Discord channel regarding Kelly mentioning a film on-air that was associated with QAnon conspiracies.

The Tates were fired in April 2024 with Khan saying it was due to them no-showing events. The brothers said it was due to miscommunication between themselves and management due to flying out of an airport that was further away from their usual one. Their defamation claim is based on that no-show comment.

Two weeks ago, Brandon Tate said AEW pulled The Outrunners from an indie show where they were set to face each other, causing the show to be canceled.

Kelly, fired by AEW in March 2024, is seeking monetary damages due to a breach of contract. Kelly and the Tates, via New, were also requesting the court void the arbitration clause of their talent contracts, and certify a class action lawsuit over AEW misclassifying its talent as independent contractors rather than employees.

The case was moved to Florida at AEW’s request after initially going to Pennsylvania federal court.

Japanese women’s standout makes ROH debut before AEW Dynamite

Posted on by Josh Nason

IWGP Women’s Champion Sareee made her Ring of Honor debut prior to Wednesday’s sixth anniversary edition of AEW Dynamite in Hollywood, Florida.

The 29-year-old teamed with Alex Windsor to take on Billie Starkz and Diamante in tag team action (results below). It was her first match in either ROH or AEW and just her second match in the United States this year.

It’s unknown if the match will air on this week’s ROH or for a future episode.

She has held the IWGP title for over 100 days after winning it at a June Stardom event. She is also the Sukeban World Champion and one half of the AAAW Tag Team Champions.

The former Sarray in WWE NXT, she had a brief run in developmental from early-2021 through March 2023 when her contract expired. She recently spoke about not enjoying the experience.

Pre-AEW Dynamite Ring of Honor results:

  • Keegan Garland (son of Scotty 2 Hotty) defeated Jon Cruz
  • Sareee & Alex Windsor defeated Billie Starkz & Diamante
  • Hook defeated Aaron Solo
  • Big Boom AJ and Big Justice made an appearance alongside Tony Khan

Andrade El Idolo returns to AEW, attacks former World Champion

Posted on by Josh Nason

Image: JJ Williams

Less than two years after leaving, Andrade El Idolo has returned to AEW and already has some new friends.

The Mexican star made his surprise appearance on Wednesday’s AEW Dynamite as Kenny Omega was finishing an in-ring promo following a trios match that opened the show.

The lights went out and when they came back on, a masked man was standing behind Omega. He revealed himself as Andrade, laid Omega out with a spinning underhook DDT, and Don Callis then got into the ring and shook his hand to signal he’s apparently joined the Don Callis Family.

Andrade was suddenly released by WWE in mid-September due to what’s been reported as disciplinary issues. The 35-year-old already has an indie booking set for November in addition to Mexico’s The Crash this weekend.

He declined to re-sign with AEW, departing at the end of 2023. He returned to WWE at the January 2024 Royal Rumble and later won the Speed title, holding it for more than 160 days. His initial WWE run lasted from 2016-2020 and included an NXT title run and WWE United States title run.

WWE changing name of upcoming NXT vs. TNA TV episode

Posted on by Josh Nason

Image: WWE

Next Tuesday’s WWE NXT vs. TNA themed show on The CW is no longer named Invasion and will now go by Showdown, according to WrestleVotes.

The reason was backlash to the name that emerged from Israeli fans due to the date: October 7 which is the second anniversary of the Hamas attacks in southern Israel that killed 1200 people and began the current war in Gaza. Some also reportedly took umbrage with the logo used: a red letter V as it “unintentionally resembles the downward-facing red triangle used as a Hamas symbol.”

The name and logo were the same used during the WWE vs. WCW pay-per-view Invasion from 2001. References to the old name have disappeared from both the WWE and TNA websites with social media posts using the name also having disappeared. As of this writing, the show is being referred to as “next week’s special event.”

Next Tuesday will feature wrestlers from NXT and TNA going head-to-head as part of an angle that has been playing out for several weeks.