Saraya reportedly re-signs contract with AEW for one year

Image: AEW

Former AEW Women’s World Champion Saraya has reportedly re-signed a one-year deal to stay with AEW, according to Fightful.

The outlet reported AEW had an option year, but this new deal that runs until September 2025 may have been a separate agreement.

After her WWE contract expired in July 2022, the former Paige debuted for AEW in September 2022 at that year’s Grand Slam event and then returned to the ring two months later at Full Gear, picking up a win over Britt Baker. It was her first in-ring action in nearly five years due to what was thought to be a career-ending neck injury in WWE.

Despite the half-decade absence, the 32-year-old wrestled more than once a month in 2023, winning the Women’s World title in a four-way at the first All In at London’s Wembley Stadium. The England native held the gold for under two months, losing it to Hikaru Shida.

She is set to take on Jamie Hayter in a Saraya’s Rules match on Saturday’s Grand Slam edition of Collision, taped Wednesday in Queens, New York.

Her brother, Zak, signed a deal with AEW earlier this year, but has wrestled just five times for the company with four of those being dark matches.

Saraya vs. Jamie Hayter in a Saraya’s rules match set for AEW Grand Slam

A new match is set for next week’s AEW Grand Slam.

Saraya and Jamie Hayter will meet in a match where Saraya makes the rules. Saraya attempted to interfere as Harley Cameron was wrestling Hikaru Shida on Rampage. That caused Hayter to run out and run her off, allowing Shida to pick up the win. After the match, Saraya said she was tired of Hayter not leaving her alone and challenged Hayter to a Saraya’s Rules match at next week’s AEW Grand Slam.

Hayter said all she’s wanted to do is kick Saraya’s ass, and she’ll see her in New York. It wasn’t made clear if the match would be on the Dynamite or Collision portion of the event.

After being gone for over a year, Hayter returned at All In last month, laying out Saraya. Since then, Hayter has focused on taking out both members of the Outcasts, laying out Cameron with an elbow shot on last week’s Rampage.

AEW Dynamite & Collision Grand Slam, Wednesday, September 25 —

  • AEW World Champion Bryan Danielson vs. Nigel McGuinness in a non-title match
  • Jon Moxley vs. Darby Allin for Allin’s AEW World title shot
  • AEW Tag Team Champions The Young Bucks (Matthew & Nicholas Jackson) defend against Will Ospreay & Kyle Fletcher
  • AEW Women’s World Champion Mariah May defends against Yuka Sakazaki
  • AEW Trios Champions Claudio Castagnoli, PAC & Wheeler Yuta defend against TBD
  • FTW Champion Hook defends against Roderick Strong
  • Saraya vs. Jamie Hayter in a Saraya’s Rules match

AEW wrestler Saraya announces ‘Hell in Boots’ memoir

AEW star Saraya is telling her life story in a new book set to be released next year.

Titled “Hell in Boots,” Saraya’s memoir is scheduled for a March 25, 2025 release. It’s from Gallery Books, which is part of Simon & Schuster. The publisher describes the book as “an eye-opening memoir of family drama, stardom, despair, and resilience from the wildly popular wrestling superstar.”

“Big announcement: I have a book, and it’s coming out next year, but you can pre-order yours right now,” Saraya announced. “I basically write about from childhood since birth to right now, this very moment. So I’m really excited for you guys to see what the hell I’ve been up to — good, bad, ugly, everything in between, in and outside the ring. I’m just really excited for you guys to see why I am the way that I am.”

Saraya’s life was also the subject of the film “Fighting with My Family,” which was released in 2019 while she was still with WWE. It starred Florence Pugh and featured Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, who spearheaded the project after seeing a documentary on Saraya and her family.

Due to neck issues, Saraya was medically disqualified from in-ring competition for nearly five years until returning for AEW in 2022. She’s currently feuding with Jamie Hayter.

The full description for “Hell in Boots” can be read below:

  • Saraya-Jade Bevis, formerly WWE’s Paige, is one of the biggest names in the wrestling world. She is the youngest two-time WWE Divas Champion and was inaugural NXT’s Women Champion. She ranked first in Pro Wrestling Illustrated’s Female 50 and was named Diva of the Year by Rolling Stone in 2014. She was also the subject of the critically and commercially successful 2019 film Fighting with My Family, produced by Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson and starring Florence Pugh. But before ascending to wrestling superstardom, she was just Saraya.
  • Hell in Boots is Saraya’s real, uncensored, story. From her early days in her famous (and chaotic) wrestling family, to leaving home at fifteen, to forging her own path in professional wrestling, Saraya has been through hell and back. As she fought to make it in the incredibly competitive—and at times sexist—wrestling world, she faced incredible highs and devastating lows. Saraya recounts years of struggling with substance abuse, clawing back her pride after an ex’s sex tape leaked, adjusting to stardom in the WWE, healing from a nearly career-ending injury, a making triumphant return to wrestling as AEW Women’s World Champion. Through it all, Saraya tells her whole truth in a way she never has before.

RevPro 12th Anniversary Show notes: Saraya, Luke Jacobs, Tomohiro Ishii

Notes from RevPro’s annual anniversary show.

The company held their 12th Anniversary Show at the Copper Box in London Saturday. In the main event, Luke Jacobs defeated Michael Oku to win the Undisputed British Heavyweight title for the first time. After the match, Tomohiro Ishii came out and had a staredown with Jacbos in what would be the first challenge for the new champion. Ishii wrestled earlier in the night, defeating JJ Gale.

Oku lost the title on Saturday amid rumors he may be heading to AEW, having competed in a dark match prior to AEW’s Dynamite show on Wednesday, defeating Serpentico.

Another AEW star, Saraya, made a surprise appearance supporting her brother Ricky Knight Jr. as he defeated Zozaya.

Other title changes saw Mina Shirakawa defeat Dani Luna to win the Undisputed British Women’s title and Chuck Mambo & TK Cooper defeat Grizzled Young Veterans to capture the Undisputed British Tag Team titles. In a six-way match for the Undisputed British Cruiserweight title, Will Kaven defeated Cameron Khai, El Phantasmo, Leon Slater, surprise participant Dante Martin, and champion Neon to become the new champion.

Saraya promo announced for AEW Rampage lineup

Image: AEW

Former AEW Women’s World Champion Saraya has a few things to say as an appearance has been announced for Friday’s Rampage lineup.

After winning the title last year at All In from London’s Wembley Stadium, Saraya has been vocal about wanting to get on the card a week from this Sunday and once again perform in front of her home countrymen and women. However, nothing has opened up yet for her in that area.

She is 2-1 in limited singles action this year and is coming off a win over former Women’s World Champion Nyla Rose on last Friday’s Rampage.

Here’s the current lineup for Friday on TNT, taped Wednesday in Norfolk, Virginia:

  • The Conglomeration (Mark Briscoe, Orange Cassidy & Tomohiro Ishii) vs. The Outrunners (Turbo Floyd & Truth Magnum) & The Butcher
  • Top Flight (Darius & Dante Martin) vs. MxM Collection (Mansoor & Mason Madden)
  • Nick Wayne vs. Kip Sabian
  • Saraya promo
  • Rush & Kyle Fletcher (w/ Don Callis) in action
  • Nyla Rose in action

Two matches added to AEW x NJPW Forbidden Door Zero Hour

Tony Khan has announced two new matches for AEW x NJPW Forbidden Door Zero Hour.

For the first time, WON Hall of Famer Mistico will team with The Lucha Bros on the show. They will wrestle Yota Tsuji, Titan, and Hiromu Takahashi in a trios match.

LuchaBlog clarified that Mistico teaming with Penta & Rey Fenix likely means CMLL no longer considers the Lucha Bros to be affiliated with AAA.

“This is not AAA/CMLL together, the opposite. Penta recently said he likes everyone in AAA but would not be working there this year. There was something he wanted to do and had not done that required him to not work with AAA. This is CMLL saying they believe LB are not AAA guys,” LuchaBlog wrote.

Saraya vs. Mariah May in an Owen Hart Cup quarterfinal match is now scheduled for Sunday’s pre-show as well. The winner of that match will advance to face the winner of Deonna Purrazzo vs. Hikaru Shida (scheduled for Collision) in the tournament semifinals.

Here is the updated lineup for Forbidden Door:

  • AEW World Champion Swerve Strickland defends against Will Ospreay
  • Ladder match for the vacant TNT Championship: Konosuke Takeshita vs. Mark Briscoe vs. Jack Perry vs. Lio Rush vs. Dante Martin vs. TBA
  • Title for title: TBS Champion Mercedes Mone vs. NJPW Strong Women’s Champion Stephanie Vaquer
  • AEW Women’s Championship: Toni Storm defends against Mina Shirakawa
  • IWGP World Heavyweight title: Jon Moxley defends against Tetsuya Naito
  • Owen Hart Foundation men’s quarterfinal match: Bryan Danielson vs. Shingo Takagi
  • MJF vs. Hechicero
  • Zack Sabre Jr. vs. Orange Cassidy
  • The Elite (Kazuchika Okada & The Young Bucks) vs. Hiroshi Tanahashi & The Acclaimed
  • The Learning Tree (Chris Jericho, Big Bill, and TBA) vs. Samoa Joe, Hook, and Katsuyori Shibata
  • Zero Hour: Kris Statlander & Momo Watanabe vs. Willow Nightingale & Tam Nakano
  • Zero Hour: Owen Hart Foundation women’s quarterfinal match: Saraya vs. Mariah May
  • Zero Hour: Mistico & The Lucha Bros (Penta El Zero Miedo & Rey Fenix) vs. Titan, Yota Tsuji & Hiromu Takahashi

Daily Update: WWE notes, Saraya, Kota Ibushi

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This Week’s Wrestling Observer Newsletter

The new issue of the Observer:

  • Updating the situation with Ricochet, the WWE angle, his legacy, future, comments by Will Ospreay and a look at his pre-WWE career.
  • Preview of Clash at the Castle, the matches, thoughts on the bouts, attempt to set records and more.
  • Conor McGregor vs. Michael Chandler falls apart, the quietness of the last two weeks, replacement fights and other pull-outs.
  • Just how much money McGregor would have generated on this night
  • New Japan Dominion coverage, Hikuleo leaving for WWE, Super Juniors finals, Forbidden Door angles, G-1, this week’s big show and more.
  • NXT Battleground coverage, the Apex,  the bouts, the timing of the show.
  • Final WrestleMania live business numbers from the Pennsylvania commission.  What was the real attendance for both nights, Raw, Smackdown and NXT.
  • Huge story on part two of Who Killed WCW, company finances running a wrestling business then vs. now, what went wrong, Hogan vs. Goldberg and real story behind the lack of build, where the money was left on the table, Goldberg as champion, booking philosophy and more.
  • Why WCW lost top stars under Jim Herd
  • The most detailed look at the ratings for wrestling and MMA TV shows, including how close another MMA show came to UFC this past week, placings for the week, competition for the shows, segment-by-segment an more
  • More on who CMLL talent is allowed to work with
  • Lots of big matches coming to CMLL over the next week
  • El Hijo del Vikingo update
  • Notes on the movie about a current wrestling star released in Japan
  • Next Stardom PPV and Five Star Grand Prix notes
  • WWE & NOAH announcement coming
  • Big NOAH match this week
  • Despe Invitational show
  • Iyo Sky comes to Marigold and how ticket sales went
  • Mexican and Japanese group working together
  • Bloodsport notes
  • Sad Steve McMichael update
  • Passing of Larry Santo
  • One of pro wrestling’s all-time legends from way back is being honored in his home town next week
  • Celebrity Wrestling show earmarked
  • Lots of injury updates
  • Forbidden Door update
  • How the Arlington tapings for AEW are doing
  • Advance ticket sales for WWE & AEW shows
  • CMLL talent being booked for Dynamite at the last minute
  • International TV ratings and top streaming numer
  • Dana White asked to channel Andy Kaufman
  • Consideration to changing MMA rules
  • PFL tournament updates
  • Manny Pacquiao coming to Rizin
  • Drew McIntyre inducted into Scotland Hall of Fame
  • Update on Vince McMahon legal action
  • PPV updates
  • More Dwayne Johnson projects

This week’s Wresting Observer Newsletter back issue

Wednesday Update

WWE

  • On Insight with Chris Van Vliet, The Undertaker said he thinks Cody Rhodes will have an even bigger run as a heel in the future than he’s having as a babyface right now:
    • I think he’s doing a phenomenal job, I think he’s going to have a tremendous run as a babyface, but I think his bigger run will be as a heel. There’s just something about Cody with me that I envision a heel. It’s down the road because right now I think he’s killing it as the babyface and his promos are on point.
  • Mick Foley told Sports Illustrated that he’s humbled by how fans have continued to appreciate his Hell in a Cell match against Undertaker from King of the Ring 1998: “People have chosen to pass this match on to their children. To me, that’s very humbling.”
  • Nick Aldis responded when Gorilla Position asked him about potentially competing in the ring for WWE:
    • It’s tough to answer this, just simply because I don’t ever want to give the impression that I’m trying to sort of angle for something, right? I’m certainly not trying to go into business for myself or anything like that. But it’s unavoidable, I’ve seen a ton of sentiment from fans like, ‘We want to see you wrestle this guy, we want to see you versus that guy.’ I appreciate all that, that’s not something that I have any control or influence over, right? It’s very much a case of like I said when Paul [Levesque] and I first started speaking, I made it very clear that I want to be part of the team, I want to contribute in whatever way you think is best. If at some point that way [wrestling] ends up being the best then great.
  • The full 25-man number one contender’s battle royal from last night’s NXT has been uploaded to WWE’s YouTube channel. The match was won by Je”von Evans and featured appearances by TNA wrestlers Joe Hendry and Frankie Kazarian.
  • Though Evans won the battle royal, the ending of NXT appeared to tease that it will be a fatal four-way match at Heatwave with Trick Williams defending his NXT Championship against Evans, Ethan Page, and Shawn Spears. Page defeated Evans in the main event of the episode, then a brawl took place with Williams & Evans aligned against Page & Spears. All four were left laying in the ring with the NXT title between them.
  • In an interview with Sports Illustrated, Hulk Hogan detailed how he came up with the idea for his new Real American Beer:
    • I was at an event when I got introduced to an executive from Pabst Blue Ribbon. When I meet people at these events, I love to ask questions and hear their stories. But when I met this gentleman, it was different. I immediately blurted out, ‘My dad used to drink that beer.’ Pabst Blue Ribbon was his favorite beer the whole time I was growing up.
    • We’re talking about Pabst Blue Ribbon, and he asked if I ever wanted to have my own drink. I started to explain how it just didn’t make sense back then, and then something happened. The idea popped in my head like a good finish. Slam the giant, drop the leg–I had an idea for a beer.
  • WWE uploaded a vlog documenting Drew McIntyre’s Clash at the Castle homecoming.

AEW/Other Wrestling

  • While speaking with Izzy On Sports, Saraya explained how Jon Moxley helped her with her AEW promos: 
    • The first few promos, Jon Moxley actually helped me a lot with them. One of my best friends is Renee [Paquette]. And so, you know, I’m friends with her hubby too. He was one of the catalysts in getting me over to AEW as well. He was on the phone with me and stuff like that. And so with the promos, since I sh*t the bed the first time, I was just like, ‘I just need help, I don’t feel confident in myself.’ So, that promo with me and Britt [Baker] where I’m being real. I’m talking about real-life stuff. Like yeah, I am sober. Yeah, I was a mess. Yes, the world saw my tapes go on the freaking internet from when I was 19. Just all the struggles that I went through for that year and a half, I was being real.
    • And he was telling me I had to be real. He was just like, ‘That’s the perfect promo. Stop trying to be a character right now and just speak your truth’ kind of thing. And so he was helping me with that kind of stuff. He really, really did help me. It made me come out of my shell and made me feel way more comfortable.
  • Kota Ibushi shared an injury update noting that he’s currently feeling 85 percent healthy: “Of course, if my current doctor in Japan tells me that I can compete, I will report to AEW and return immediately. I’m now 85% alive. Please wait a little more.”
  • Skye Blue wants to wrestle in a women’s Blood & Guts match one day:
    • I love Blood & Guts so much. That is my favorite Dynamite to watch. This past one, I was at work but I didn’t have to wrestle. So I went in and there’s like a little part behind where the cameras are that you can just sit and watch and I sat with a bunch of our friends, there were a couple of drivers and the production people who just sat and watched. I was like, ‘I want to be in that cage so badly.’ Everybody would just be like, ‘No, Skye. Stop it. No, sit down.’ I was like ‘No, guys. Come on. This could be really cool.’ To be the first woman to have a Blood & Guts match, I would cry.
  • Orange Cassidy appeared on the Under the Ring podcast.
  • A segment with The System (Moose, Brian Myers, Eddie Edwards & Alisha Edwards) will kick off TNA Impact this Thursday night.
  • Matt Hardy reacted to Joe Hendry and Frankie Kazarian appearing on NXT: “Very happy to see @joehendry & @FrankieKazarian appear on #WWENXT tonight. Both hugely deserving talents. The @ThisIsTNA & @WWENXT crossover is ‘best for business’ as The Man With 3Hs would say.”
  • Hardy was a guest on today’s episode of Busted Open Radio.
  • Bodyslam.net reports that Colby Corino has re-signed with the NWA.
  • Atlantis Jr. vs. Okumura in an Opera Cup tournament first-round match will take place at MLW Blood & Thunder on Friday, July 12.

Saraya vs. Mariah May, Don Callis segment added to AEW Dynamite

AEW has announced a new match and a new segment for tonight’s AEW Dynamite.

Saraya vs. Mariah May is now scheduled for the show. The match was revealed on today’s episode of AEW Control Center. May and her mentor, Toni Storm, defeated Saraya and Harley Cameron in tag team action on last week’s show.

Also added to the lineup for tonight’s Dynamite is a segment with Don Callis and Orange Cassidy. At AEW Double or Nothing on Sunday, Callis revealed he will offer Cassidy a contract with the Don Callis Family on Wednesday’s show. AEW has since made the segment official.

Tonight’s Dynamite takes place at the KIA Forum in Los Angeles.

Here is the updated lineup for the show:

  • Swerve Strickland vs. Killswitch
  • IWGP World Heavyweight title eliminator: Jon Moxley vs. Rocky Romero
  • The debut of TV Time with Chris Jericho
  • Casino Gauntlet match to determine who challenges for the AEW World title at Forbidden Door
  • We will get answers from Kris Statlander and Stokely Hathaway
  • Saraya vs. Mariah May
  • Don Callis to offer Orange Cassidy a contract
  • Mercedes Mone TBS title celebration
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R-FMbdyYoG4

Saraya announces brother ‘Zodiac’ Zak Knight has signed with AEW

“Zodiac” Zak Knight is All Elite. 

Saraya announced during Friday’s AEW Rampage episode that her brother, independent veteran Zak Knight, has signed with the company. 

In a backstage promo with Harley Cameron & Renee Paquette, Saraya introduced Knight and said that they come from wrestling royalty in the United Kingdom. 

Saraya went on to say that she had planned to set Ruby Soho up with her brother before Soho paired up with Angelo Parker. 

Knight did not speak in the promo segment. 

32, Knight made his in-ring debut for ROH in a match that aired on the December 28 Ring of Honor TV episode. He also wrestled for the company twice in January, with matches airing on the January 11 show, and the January 25 episode. 

Knight revealed last year that Saraya had helped him obtain a work visa for the United States.

Cagematch lists Knight’s first career match as taking place in 2002 at a show where he took on his mother, Sweet Saraya Knight.

Saraya, Zak, and the Knight family were profiled in the 2019 Fighting with My Family movie produced by WWE Studios and Dwayne Johnson’s Seven Bucks Productions, among other producers. 

Hikaru Shida earns Women’s World title shot for AEW Dynamite Title Tuesday

Two-time AEW Women’s World Champion Hikaru Shida will get another shot at the title at Dynamite Title Tuesday. 

Shida defeated Ruby Soho in a number one contender’s match on Friday’s AEW Rampage episode to earn a championship match against Saraya at Dynamite Title Tuesday on October 10. 

Saraya defeated Shida at All In on August 27 at Wembley Stadium in London to win the title in a four-way match that also involved Toni Storm and Dr. Britt Baker, D.M.D.

That match ended Shida’s second reign with the Women’s World title at 25 days. Saraya has since managed one successful defense of her title, defeating Storm in a one-on-one match at Dynamite Grand Slam on September 20. 

Shida holds the record for both longest title reign at 372 days as Women’s World Champion, as well as most combined days as Women’s World Champion at 397. Shida and Storm remain the only two-time AEW Women’s World Champions. 

Saraya defending against Shida is the only match official for Dynamite Title Tuesday to this point. Dynamite will air on Tuesday that week due to TBS coverage of the Major League Baseball playoffs. 

Updates on Kenny Omega, Saraya & Swerve Strickland missing AEW Dynamite

Wednesday’s AEW Dynamite had to be rewritten at the last minute due to several wrestlers missing the show. 

Hurricane Idalie prevented Kenny Omega and some others from Florida from flying to Chicago. Swerve Strickland and the new AEW Women’s World Champion Saraya missed the show due to illness as well. While the nature of their illness is unknown, Saraya was announced for a match on Saturday’s Collision. 

Our own Dave Meltzer addressed the situation on the latest edition of Wrestling Observer Radio

“Because of the hurricane, Kenny Omega didn’t make it,” he said. “Tonight’s show was totally redone at the last minute because Saraya and Swerve were pulled from the show for illness reasons and I know a bunch of the Florida guys, including Omega, because of the hurricane couldn’t get out of Florida to come to Chicago. Jericho was obviously there, I know there was concern about Jericho not being there but he was there. That was one of the reasons the show… it seemed thrown together because it was thrown together.” 

AEW president Tony Khan also gave any talent on his roster the night off if they wanted to attend memorial services for Bray Wyatt. 

Omega is scheduled to face Konosuke Takeshita on Sunday’s All Out pay-per-view. Takeshita and Don Callis cut a promo directed to Omega on last night’s show. Saraya doesn’t have a match for All Out but will team with the rest of the Outcasts on Collision against Britt Baker, Hikaru Shida, and Kris Statlander. Strickland was locked in a coffin at All In and does not have any upcoming matches scheduled. 

AEW All In notes: MJF & FTR retain their titles at London’s Wembley Stadium

After a spirited match between the two, AEW World Champion MJF is still the champion after defeating Adam Cole in the main event of Sunday’s All In at London’s Wembley Stadium.

While the match featured neither man turning on the other as some expected, there were moments between the two where that nearly came to be. Late in the match, Roderick Strong appeared to assist Cole, hitting a low blow to MJF that surprised the challenger. Cole instinctively hit a Panama Sunrise and his Boom strike to the back of MJF’s head that only got a slow two count as referee Bryce Remsburg was recovering from being hit with his own Panama Sunrise.

Strong tossed the title belt to Cole in hopes he would use it, but Cole refused after initially thinking about it. MJF got the pin with an inside cradle as Strong left in disgust. Afterward, Cole sat in the corner irate and MJF tried to make good with him, but Cole simply tossed the Ring of Honor Tag Team titles MJF handed him that they won earlier on the show. MJF turned his back as Cole had done weeks ago, saying if all Cole cared about was the title, he should do what he needs to do. Cole thought about it and then the two hugged it out, celebrating to end the show.

The two had a physical match where Cole would take advantage of MJF’s reluctance to go to wherever he needed to in order to win. Cole hit a sheer drop brainbuster on MJF on the steel steps at one point, later dropping MJF with a tombstone on the announce table after MJF couldn’t do the same out of friendship.

The match was restarted after both men hit each other with a clothesline (“double clothesline!”) which led to a double pin. Cole asked MJF for another five minutes which MJF refused, saying they needed to go as long as it took to declare a winner.

MJF continues the title reign that started last November while Cole is now 0-1-1 against MJF. They also share the aforementioned ROH Tag Team titles.

**********

No new matches were announced for next Sunday’s AEW All Out, nor for this Wednesday’s Dynamite.

**********

In what can best be described as wild and violent bloodbath, Orange Cassidy, Eddie Kingston, Best Friends and Penta El Zero Miedo were successful in the Stadium Stampede match, picking up the win over the Blackpool Combat Club (Jon Moxley, Claudio Castagnoli & Wheeler Yuta) and Santana & Ortiz.

The end came when Cassidy nailed Castagnoli with an Orange Punch via a sticky taped fist adorned with glass. 

The bout was more of a hardcore match than the previous Stampedes as barbed wire boards, tables and ladders were used in addition to skewers to Moxley’s head by Penta El Zero Miedo.

At one point, Penta appeared to be injured following a Moxley piledriver spot on a chair as medical personnel brought him to the back. However, it was planned as he later emerged as his Penta Oscuro character, delivering a sunset bomb off a ladder to Santana even after several rungs of the ladder broke beforehand.

**********

In their trilogy match, AEW Tag Team Champions FTR retained the titles with a win over the Young Bucks, denying the Jackson brothers their company-record third title reign.

Both teams emptied out the tank, using several of their signature moves against each other including a Shatter Machine by the Bucks and the FTR Trigger by the champions.

In the end, Dax Harwood & Cash Wheeler countered a Meltzer Driver with a mid-air Shatter Machine to get the pin and successful title defense. Afterward, FTR offered their hands in respect but the Bucks declined and walked away.

It’s FTR’s sixth title defense in their second reign with the titles.

Other Notes:

  • Sting & Darby Allin came out to Metallica’s “Seek & Destroy” which Sting used during part of his run in WCW from 1999-2001.
  • Flash Garments and DJ Whoo Kid came out with Swerve Strickland with Garments rapping Strickland’s entrance music.
  • Saraya came out to Queen’s “We Will Rock You” along with multiple members of her family as part of her entrance.
  • Grado made his AEW on-screen debut during the pre-show, joining Paul Wight and Anthony Ogogo to lay out Jeff Jarrett, Satnam Singh, Sonjay Dutt & Jay Lethal as the heels were running down UK wrestling. Stateside, Grado worked primarily for Impact Wrestling.

Saraya wins AEW Women’s World title at All In

A new AEW Women’s World Champion was crowned at All In. 

Saraya won a four-way match against Toni Storm, Britt Baker, and defending champion Hikaru Shida to win the title in her home country. 

The finish of the match saw Saraya spray Storm in the eyes with spray paint before giving her a Knight Cap for the win. 

Tension had been teased between the two Outcasts members throughout the match. Ruby Soho ran in and attempted to get between the two, asking Storm to think of Saraya’s injured neck. Storm ended up hitting Soho, who left the ring area shortly after. 

The new champion was accompanied by her family during her ring entrance. The Knight family sat in the front row throughout the match and joined Saraya to celebrate after. At one point, Storm accidentally hit Saraya’s mother, Saraya Knight, while attempting to double-team Baker on the outside. 

Saraya becomes the eighth wrestler to win the title and begins the 10th reign in its lineage. Shida’s second run with the title ends after 25 days and one successful defense. Saraya has now won the NXT Women’s Championship, is a two-time WWE Divas Champion, and is the current AEW World Women’s Champion.

Women’s tag team match, two title defenses set for AEW Rampage

A match that will set the stage for All In will main event Friday’s AEW Rampage as Britt Baker & AEW Women’s Champion Hikaru Shida take on Saraya & Toni Storm. 

The four participants will compete in a four-way Sunday for Shida’s championship.

After Shida defeated Storm for the title, a mini-tournament was created to find participants for the four-way. Storm earned an automatic bye due to her rematch clause while Shida, Baker and Saraya all had to earn their way in.

Rampage will also feature two title matches.

AEW International Champion Orange Cassidy will look to keep his long winning streak going as he defends against Aaron Solo. With a win, Cassidy will hit 30 title defenses. Cassidy will be part of a Stadium Stampede match on Sunday.

AAA Latin American Champion QT Marshall will defend his newly-won championship for the first time on AEW TV as he takes on Gravity. Marshall will also have a sit-down interview with Jim Ross.

TNT Champion Luchasaurus will also be in non-title action against an opponent to be named. He is preparing to defend his title against Darby Allin at next month’s All Out.

Here is the lineup announced for Rampage:

  • Hikaru Shida & Britt Baker vs. Saraya & Toni Storm
  • AEW International Champion Orange Cassidy defends against Aaron Solo
  • AAA Latin American Champion QT Marshall defends against Gravity
  • TNT Champion Luchasaurus vs. TBA
  • QT Marshall sit-down interview with Jim Ross.

Saraya advances to AEW All In Women’s title match

Saraya is All In. 

Outcasts member Saraya defeated Skye Blue in a tournament bout on Friday’s AEW Rampage to advance to the Women’s World Championship four-way match set for the All In pay-per-view on Sunday, August 27. 

Saraya will challenge current Women’s World Champion Hikaru Shida, Toni Storm, and the winner of this Wednesday’s Britt Baker vs. The Bunny match in the four-way bout at All In.

Shida defeated Anna Jay on this week’s Dynamite in a tournament match to earn her spot in the four-way, while Storm received a bye into the bout by virtue of cashing in her rematch clause against Shida as former Women’s Champion. Storm lost the title to Shida on AEW Dynamite 200 last week. 

The updated lineup for All In: 

AEW All In, Sunday, August 27, 1 p.m. Eastern time on pay-per-view —

  • AEW World Championship: MJF defends against Adam Cole
  • AEW World Tag Team Championship: FTR’s Dax Harwood & Cash Wheeler defend against The Young Bucks’ Matt Jackson & Nick Jackson
  • AEW Women’s World Championship: Hikaru Shida defends against Toni Storm, Saraya & Britt Baker or The Bunny
  • Coffin match: Sting & Darby Allin vs. Swerve Strickland & AR Fox

Zero Hour pre-show, 12 p.m. Eastern time —

  • ROH World Tag Team Championship: Aussie Open’s Kyle Fletcher & Mark Davis defend against MJF & Adam Cole