AJ Styles Makes Surprise Appearance To Rescue Son Avery Styles At Independent Wrestling Event

WWE Hall of Famer AJ Styles made an unexpected appearance over the weekend, coming to the aid of his son Avery Styles following a match at an Atlanta Wrestling Entertainment event.

Avery, who is continuing to gain experience ahead of his upcoming TNA Bound for Glory appearance, challenged Tristan Moody for the GWC Junior Championship on Sunday. While he came up short in his pursuit of the title, the drama didn’t end when the match was over.

After the contest, Avery was confronted and attacked by members of the Palmetto Boys, who launched a post-match assault on the rising star. As the beatdown continued, the crowd erupted when AJ Styles’ entrance music suddenly hit.

“The Phenomenal One” rushed to the ring and quickly cleared out the attackers, sending the Palmetto Boys retreating. AJ then helped his son back to his feet, sharing a brief moment with Avery in the ring as the two embraced and spoke following the save.

The appearance comes at a busy time for Avery Styles, who has been building momentum on the independent wrestling scene. Since signing with TNA at Lockdown, he has competed for promotions including GCW, Juggalo Championship Wrestling, and ETU while preparing for the biggest opportunity of his young career.

Avery is scheduled to compete in the Call Your Shot Gauntlet match at TNA Bound for Glory on October 11. To help prepare for the event, he has been training under former TNA World Champion Frankie Kazarian.

As for AJ Styles, the surprise run-in marked another rare wrestling-related appearance since retiring from in-ring competition. Styles officially ended his legendary career after facing GUNTHER at the Royal Rumble in January. Since then, he has transitioned into a new role as a coach at WWE’s Performance Center while also wrapping up his popular The Phenomenally Retro Podcast, which concluded last month.

While AJ’s wrestling days may be behind him, he showed he still knows how to make an impact when his son needed help.

John Cena Reveals New Details On WWE’s First-Ever John Cena Classic Tournament

John Cena has shared additional details about the upcoming John Cena Classic, including when fans can expect the unique WWE event to take place.

Speaking during a recent appearance on TODAY, the 17-time world champion confirmed that the inaugural John Cena Classic is currently scheduled for December 2026. The tournament was originally announced by Cena during WWE Backlash in May, but new information has now emerged regarding its format and overall concept.

According to Cena, the event will be built around the values and themes that have defined his WWE career, including hustle, loyalty, respect, perseverance, and overcoming adversity.

One of the most unique aspects of the John Cena Classic is that match results alone will not determine the winner. While the tournament will feature traditional matches, Cena explained that fans will have the final say in selecting the overall champion through a vote conducted during the event.

That means competitors will not necessarily need to win every match—or even win a match at all—to be crowned the John Cena Classic champion. Instead, audience support will ultimately decide who leaves the event with the title, creating a format that places as much emphasis on fan connection and performance as it does on victories and losses.

Cena acknowledged that the concept is a bold experiment and admitted he is unsure how it will ultimately be received, but expressed excitement about introducing something different to WWE programming.

While many details remain under wraps, the fan-voting system appears designed to reward the competitor who best embodies the qualities associated with Cena’s career, rather than simply the wrestler with the strongest tournament record.

WWE has not yet announced a specific date, venue, or host city for the event.

The company is currently scheduled to hold Wrestlepalooza in Australia on December 12, leading to speculation that the John Cena Classic could be connected to that show. However, WWE has not confirmed any relationship between the two events.

More information about the tournament is expected to be revealed in the coming months as WWE moves closer to its planned December launch.

WWE Raw Preview 10/5/2026

WWE Raw live tonight at 8 ET/5 PT on Netflix from the Enterprise Center in St. Louis, Missouri.

  • WWE World Heavyweight Champion Roman Reigns returns to Raw
  • Je’Von Evans & Penta vs. The Vision (WWE World Tag Team Champions Bron Breakker & Austin Theory) – Non-Title Match
  • No. 1 Contender’s Match for the WWE Women’s World Championship: Becky Lynch vs. Liv Morgan
  • Sol Ruca & Lola Vice vs. Judgment Day (Roxanne Perez & Raquel Rodriguez)
  • Rey Fenix vs. Ethan Page

Jay White Sidelined With Injury, Expected To Miss Up To Two Months

“Jay White’s injury woes continue. AEW announced on Collision that the Bang Bang Gang leader has suffered an undisclosed injury and is expected to be out of action for up to two months, marking another setback for the former IWGP Heavyweight Champion just three months after his long-awaited return to the company.”

AEW star Jay White is once again facing time away from the ring due to injury.

During the October 3 edition of AEW Collision, fans noticed that White was absent as the Bang Bang Gang competed against the Death Riders in trios action. Commentary team member Tony Schiavone later explained the situation, revealing that White has suffered an injury that is expected to keep him out of action for as long as two months.

At this time, AEW has not disclosed the nature of the injury.

According to Schiavone’s comments on the broadcast, the injury is believed to have occurred during the chaotic Tailgate Brawl at AEW All Out 2026, where the Bang Bang Gang battled a team consisting of The Dogs and members of the Death Riders. However, no official details regarding White’s condition have been announced.

Despite the setback, White was present on the September 30 episode of AEW Dynamite, which was dedicated to honoring the late PAC following his tragic passing. During the tribute show, White appeared in a pre-recorded message reflecting on PAC’s impact and speaking about how much he—and the entire AEW locker room—would miss the man they knew as Ben Satterley.

The latest injury continues a frustrating run of bad luck for the former IWGP Heavyweight Champion. White had only recently returned to action at Forbidden Door in June after spending more than a year on the sidelines.

His previous absence stretched approximately 15 months after a hand injury required surgery and forced him out of the Owen Hart Foundation Tournament. Reports at the time also indicated that he was dealing with a shoulder issue that required rehabilitation, contributing to the lengthy recovery period.

White has also battled injury troubles in previous years. In 2024, he suffered an injury during the Owen Hart Foundation Tournament that ultimately caused him to miss AEW All In at Wembley Stadium before making his return later that year and entering a feud with Hangman Adam Page.

For now, AEW fans will have to wait for further information regarding White’s condition. If the projected timeline holds, the Bang Bang Gang leader could be back in action before the end of the year, but his exact return date remains uncertain.

AEW Collision Preview 10/3/2026

AEW Collision live tonight at 8 ET/5 PT on TNT and HBO Max from Truist Arena in Highland Heights, Kentucky,

  • AEW Continental Championship Eliminator Match: Jon Moxley (c) vs. Jake Doyle
  • Kofi vs. Lee Moriarty
  • Julia Hart vs. Queen Aminata

Max Caster And Anthony Bowens Become Free Agents Following AEW Contract Expirations

Two former AEW champions are officially free agents.

According to a new report from Fightful Select, former AEW World Tag Team Champions Anthony Bowens and Max Caster have seen their AEW contracts expire, making both men available to sign elsewhere after six years with the company.

Reports had surfaced in recent weeks indicating that the contracts of both former Acclaimed members were nearing their expiration dates and that there had been little indication of ongoing negotiations regarding new deals. Fightful has now confirmed that both wrestlers have officially entered free agency.

Despite their contracts expiring, AEW sources reportedly told Fightful that Bowens and Caster remain listed on the company’s official roster page. According to the report, there is still a possibility that either or both could ultimately remain with AEW.

One source also suggested that recent events within the company may have delayed any potential contract discussions. The wrestling industry has spent the past several weeks mourning the deaths of Andy Williams and Benjamin Satterley (PAC), which may have shifted priorities away from negotiations.

Both wrestlers appeared to acknowledge their new status on social media. Caster posted a screenshot of the Wikipedia definition of a “free agent,” while Bowens shared a brief message confirming his availability.

The Acclaimed Became One Of AEW’s Biggest Homegrown Success Stories

Bowens and Caster joined AEW during the company’s early years and quickly developed into one of its most popular acts as The Acclaimed.

The duo captured the AEW World Tag Team Championship in September 2022 and held the titles for five months. They later aligned fully with Billy Gunn as part of The Acclaimed trio, winning the AEW World Trios Championship at AEW All In London 2023 at Wembley Stadium.

Their Trios Championship reign lasted approximately eight months before they lost the titles to The Bang Bang Gang. Following that defeat, AEW gradually moved toward splitting the group apart, with Bowens and Caster officially going their separate ways in early 2025.

Both Wrestlers Took Different Paths Following The Split

Following the breakup of The Acclaimed, neither wrestler found the same level of success as a singles act.

Bowens eventually joined The Opps and remained a featured part of the group until his contract expired. Meanwhile, Caster’s AEW appearances became increasingly limited, with much of his in-ring work taking place on the independent wrestling scene throughout 2026.

As of now, neither Bowens nor Caster has publicly announced what comes next, but both are officially among the most notable free agents available in professional wrestling.

AEW Collision To Air Live From Chris Jericho’s Rock ‘N’ Wrestling Rager At Sea Cruise

AEW is taking Collision to the high seas later this year.

Chris Jericho announced during an appearance on TMZ’s Inside the Ring that AEW will present a live episode of Collision from his Rock ’N’ Wrestling Rager at Sea cruise on November 7. The broadcast will take place aboard the Norwegian Jewel and marks the first time AEW has aired a live television event from the annual cruise.

The ship will be docked in Miami during the live broadcast before departing for Bimini in the Bahamas. This year’s cruise runs from November 7 through November 11.

AEW previously taped an episode of Dynamite during the cruise in 2020, but Jericho noted that producing a live broadcast from the ship is a much bigger undertaking.

According to Jericho, the wrestlers scheduled to appear on that week’s edition of Collision will already be aboard the vessel, giving AEW the opportunity to present what he described as one of the strongest lineups ever assembled for the cruise.

“We are for the first time ever doing a live episode of AEW Collision from the boat itself. Saturday, November 7th, Collision will be live from Chris Jericho’s Rock ‘N’ Wrestling Rager at Sea.”

Jericho added that fans on board will not only get a live AEW television event but also access to a large portion of the company’s roster before some talent depart following the broadcast.

Cruise Features Wrestling Legends, Live Entertainment, And More

The currently announced cruise lineup includes Kofi, Austin Creed, Jeff Hardy, Matt Hardy, Ted DiBiase, Carlito, Shotzi Blackheart, and Harley Cameron.

Beyond wrestling, the event will feature performances from Fozzy, comedian Brad Williams, live podcasts, paranormal experiences, MicroMania events, and the annual men’s and women’s Oceanic Championship tournaments.

PAC To Be Honored During The Cruise

Jericho also revealed that this year’s cruise will be dedicated to PAC, whose real name was Benjamin Satterley.

The former AEW star passed away on September 27 at the age of 40. His official cause of death has not yet been determined, with additional testing still pending.

PAC previously appeared on one of Jericho’s cruises and competed against Jon Moxley during the event. Jericho said the cruise will include a tribute to honor his memory.

“We’re gonna dedicate this cruise to PAC and to Ben Satterley. You’ve got to pay tribute to the fallen brothers and sisters, especially the ones that came on the cruise. We’ll figure out something just to make sure that everybody remembers the man that was PAC.”

The special edition of AEW Collision will air live on November 7 from the Norwegian Jewel as part of the seventh annual Rock ’N’ Wrestling Rager at Sea.

WWE SmackDown Preview 10/2/2026

WWE SmackDown live tonight at 9/8c on the USA Network in the US and on Netflix for international fans from the Ball Arena in Denver, Colorado.

  • Men’s Money in the Bank Qualifying Match: Johnny Gargano vs. Cody Rhodes vs. Kevin Owens
  • Women’s Money in the Bank Qualifying Match: Candice LeRae vs. Tatum Paxley vs. Tiffany Stratton
  • Giulia vs. Blake Monroe

Matt Hardy Teases TNA’s Syx Faction Could Expand Beyond Current Members

TNA Wrestling’s mysterious Syx faction may not be finished growing.

While the group currently consists of Joseph Sawyer and Samuel Shaw, recent comments from Matt Hardy suggest that additional members could eventually be added as the storyline continues to unfold.

Speaking on a recent episode of The Extreme Life of Matt Hardy podcast, Hardy discussed the arrival of Sawyer and Shaw in TNA following their time in WWE. He praised both performers for bringing name recognition and credibility to the promotion while also carrying forward elements of the supernatural presentation that made Bray Wyatt’s creative projects so memorable.

Hardy was particularly complimentary of Sawyer, describing him as a versatile performer capable of excelling in multiple wrestling styles.

The conversation eventually shifted to speculation about whether Bo Dallas could join the faction in the future. While Hardy did not confirm any plans involving Dallas, he hinted that the group’s name itself may provide a clue about where the angle is heading.

Hardy pointed out that the faction is called “Syx,” questioning why TNA would choose that name if the intention was only to feature two members rather than six.

The comment has fueled speculation that TNA could be planning to expand the group in the months ahead. Whether that includes Dallas or other former members associated with WWE’s Wyatt Sicks remains unclear, as Hardy stopped short of naming any potential additions.

For now, Syx remains one of TNA’s most intriguing developing storylines. However, Hardy’s remarks suggest the current lineup may only be the beginning, with more members potentially waiting in the wings as the faction evolves.

TNA Thursday Night iMPACT! Preview 10/1/2026

TNA Thursday Night iMPACT! tonight at 9/8c on AMC.

  • Mustafa Ali & Special Agent Zero vs. The Great Hands
  • Ricky Sosa vs. Cedric Alexander
  • Zoey Serrano vs. Indie Hartwell
  • Leon Slater vs. Joe Alonzo
  • Moose vs. AJ Francis
  • Mr. Elegance vs. BDE
  • syX to speak
  • Tribute to PAC (Benjamin Satterley)