WWE NXT tonight at 8/7c on The CW and Netflix internationally.
The event, titled “AEW Rebel Heart Dynamite,” will take place on September 9 at Akins Ford Arena in Athens, Georgia, and will honor AEW personality Rebel (Tanea Brooks), who revealed in May that she had been diagnosed with ALS.
As part of the event, Rebel is expected to make a special appearance for fans in attendance.
AEW also announced several initiatives tied to the show that will help raise awareness and funding for ALS-related causes. According to the company’s press release, fans attending the event will receive a limited-edition Rebel trading card sheet from Upper Deck while supplies last.
In addition, AEW will make donations from the event to two organizations dedicated to supporting ALS patients and advancing research efforts: I AM ALS and Team Gleason.
Rebel currently serves as a spokesperson for I AM ALS, an advocacy organization focused on finding treatments and improving quality of life for those affected by the disease.
The location of the event carries additional significance.
Akins Ford Arena serves as the community home of the University of Georgia’s Regenerative Bioscience Center (RBC), where researchers are actively working on developing new therapies for ALS while also training the next generation of scientists in the field.
By hosting the event in Athens, AEW is helping shine a spotlight on the ongoing research efforts taking place within the local community.
AEW President Tony Khan issued a statement following the announcement, emphasizing the company’s commitment to supporting the cause.
Khan said AEW is proud to present Rebel Heart Dynamite and looks forward to honoring Rebel while raising both awareness and financial support for organizations working to combat ALS and assist those living with the disease.
The AEW President also praised the efforts of the charities involved and highlighted the importance of continuing the fight for better treatments and, ultimately, a cure.
The September event is part of a larger effort by AEW to support ALS-related initiatives.
The company is currently selling Rebel Heart t-shirts and bracelets, with 100% of proceeds benefiting I AM ALS and Team Gleason.
Khan has also previously expressed interest in reviving AEW’s Fight for the Fallen concept as a platform for raising awareness and funds for ALS research.
Meanwhile, the Ice Bucket Challenge has experienced a resurgence in recent months, with several AEW personalities taking part. Among those participating was Britt Baker, who has a longstanding on-screen association with Rebel.
AEW is also encouraging fans to get involved through donations, awareness campaigns, and participation in fundraising efforts.
Since revealing her diagnosis earlier this year, Rebel has received an outpouring of support from wrestlers, fans, and members of the broader wrestling community.
The announcement of Rebel Heart Dynamite represents another example of that support, with AEW using one of its flagship television programs to celebrate Rebel while helping advance the fight against ALS.
As September approaches, the event is expected to serve as both a tribute to Rebel and an opportunity to bring greater attention to the ongoing efforts to support those affected by the disease.
The special edition of Dynamite is set to combine wrestling and philanthropy, giving fans an opportunity to celebrate Rebel while contributing to organizations working to improve the lives of ALS patients and fund critical research.
Former TNA World Champion Mike Santana has officially embraced his new WWE identity, and the story behind the name carries deep personal significance.
After WWE filed a trademark for the name Cruz Montana last week, the NXT newcomer took to social media on Monday to confirm the change and explain the heartfelt meaning behind it ahead of this week’s episode of WWE NXT.
In a post shared on X, Montana revealed that the name was chosen as a way to honor his father, who passed away six years ago.
According to Montana, his father’s death played a major role in one of the most difficult periods of his life, a struggle that ultimately helped shape the person he has become today.
Montana explained that he has always tried to keep his father close throughout his wrestling journey and viewed the new name as another way to carry that connection forward as he begins the next chapter of his career.
He concluded the message by describing himself as “addicted to greatness,” a phrase that appears poised to become part of his WWE presentation moving forward.
Alongside the statement, Montana shared new promotional photos that appeared to have been taken backstage in WWE and included a tag for NXT.
The name change follows Montana’s surprise appearance on last week’s edition of NXT.
The former TNA standout made his debut moments after NXT Champion Tony D’Angelo successfully retained the NXT Championship against Naraku in a brutal street fight. As D’Angelo celebrated his victory, Montana emerged from the crowd inside the WWE Performance Center and locked eyes with the champion.
The segment ended without Montana saying a word, but the confrontation immediately sparked speculation that he could be positioning himself as a future challenger for the NXT Championship.
When Montana first appeared, WWE commentators Vic Joseph and Booker T deliberately avoided mentioning his former ring name. WWE’s social media accounts also referred to him only as a “new face,” leading many fans to suspect a name change was coming.
Those suspicions intensified when WWE filed the trademark for Cruz Montana, and Montana’s social media post has now effectively confirmed that the name will be his new in-ring identity moving forward.
While rebranding established wrestlers has become increasingly common in NXT, Montana’s explanation has already resonated with fans due to the personal story attached to the name.
Though the name may have changed, Montana’s goals appear unchanged.
His debut confrontation with Tony D’Angelo strongly suggested that the former TNA World Champion has his sights set on NXT’s top prize. With his new identity officially unveiled, all eyes will now be on Tuesday night’s NXT to see what comes next for one of the brand’s newest arrivals.
If his first appearance was any indication, Cruz Montana isn’t planning on easing into WWE—he’s arriving with championship aspirations from day one.
Montana’s explanation adds an emotional layer to what could have otherwise been viewed as a standard WWE rebranding, turning the name change into a tribute to the person who helped shape his journey both inside and outside the ring.
WWE fans will soon have another way to watch NXT each week.
ESPN announced on Tuesday that CW Sports programming will begin streaming live through the ESPN app starting August 4 as part of the ESPN Unlimited subscription package. The move is part of the previously announced partnership between ESPN and The CW, which was first revealed earlier this year.
As a result, WWE NXT will be available live on ESPN Unlimited beginning with the August 4 episode. Future weekly episodes will also stream live on the platform while continuing to air on The CW network.
The agreement extends beyond weekly television.
Starting with NXT Heatwave on August 30, NXT Premium Live Events will also be available through ESPN Unlimited. The addition further expands WWE’s presence on ESPN platforms, which began carrying WWE premium live events last September with Wrestlepalooza.
The partnership comes at a busy time for WWE programming on ESPN, as the company prepares for its two-night SummerSlam event on August 1 and August 2.
When the partnership between ESPN and The CW was initially announced, CW President Brad Schwartz highlighted the benefits of combining traditional television with streaming accessibility.
According to Schwartz, the agreement represents a major step forward for CW Sports, allowing fans to access live content across multiple platforms while significantly expanding the reach of the network’s sports programming.
The CW currently offers more than 800 hours of live sports content annually, and much of that programming will now be available through ESPN Unlimited.
In addition to NXT, the ESPN-CW partnership includes a wide range of sports programming.
Subscribers will have access to live coverage of NASCAR events, professional bull riding, college football, college basketball, and other CW Sports broadcasts through the ESPN app.
Fans can access ESPN Unlimited through participating television and mobile providers, while standalone subscription options are also available.
Despite the new streaming option, WWE fans who prefer watching on traditional television won’t see any changes.
NXT will continue airing live every Tuesday night on The CW while simultaneously becoming available to ESPN Unlimited subscribers.
The addition of ESPN streaming gives WWE’s developmental brand another major platform and could help expand its audience as the company continues to grow the NXT product heading into the remainder of 2026.
The new arrangement gives NXT increased visibility across both broadcast television and streaming, providing WWE with another significant distribution outlet as the brand continues to evolve.
WWE Raw live tonight at 8/7c on Netflix from the Intuit Dome in Inglewood, California.
WWE may have revealed the new identity of one of NXT’s newest arrivals.
According to records from the United States Patent and Trademark Office, WWE filed a trademark application for the name “Cruz Montana” on July 24. The filing covers wrestling-related entertainment services, including live performances, television broadcasts, radio appearances, and online content.
The trademark filing has quickly sparked speculation among fans that “Cruz Montana” could become the new ring name for former TNA World Champion Mike Santana.
The speculation comes just days after Santana made a surprise appearance on WWE NXT.
Following Tony D’Angelo’s successful NXT Championship defense against Naraku in a street fight, Santana emerged through the crowd and confronted the champion as the show went off the air. The moment immediately generated buzz, as it marked Santana’s first appearance since reportedly finishing up with TNA Wrestling.
However, WWE notably avoided identifying him by name during the segment.
Neither Vic Joseph nor Booker T referred to Santana by his established ring name on commentary, while WWE’s social media posts described him only as a “new face” arriving in NXT.
If Santana is indeed being reintroduced as Cruz Montana, it would continue WWE’s recent trend of assigning new names to incoming talent.
Several performers arriving in NXT have debuted under different identities in recent months, with WWE opting to create fresh branding for stars transitioning into the developmental system.
Because Santana was never officially named during his debut appearance, many fans immediately began connecting the dots once news of the trademark filing surfaced.
At this time, WWE has not officially linked the Cruz Montana trademark to Santana.
Trademark filings do not always result in on-screen usage, and the company has yet to announce whether the name will be assigned to a wrestler, manager, commentator, or another performer entirely.
Still, given the timing of the filing and Santana’s recent debut, many believe the former TNA standout could soon be unveiled under a new WWE identity.
For now, fans will have to wait and see whether Cruz Montana becomes the latest addition to the NXT roster—or if WWE has another surprise planned.
The timing of the trademark filing and Santana’s unnamed NXT appearance has made “Cruz Montana” one of the most talked-about potential rebrands in WWE, with many expecting answers in the coming weeks.
“Daddy Magic” Matt Menard is in the ring to introduce the Fabulous Rougeaus.
Raymond and Jacques Rougeau come out and they cut promos, mostly in French which I do not speak, but Ray’s is obviously nice and friendly while Jacques is more brusque and talks a lot about “le hateurs.” Eventually he leads the crowd in holding their phones to the sky in memory of his dad and so on–
Enter Rocky Romero.
He steps to the Fabulous Rougeaus and says the only family that matters in wrestling is the Don Callis Family but Jacques hauls off on him and holds him in place for a kick to the gut from Ray before he and Menard send Romero packing over the ropes and to the floor!
Orange Cassidy, Kyle O’Reilly, and Roderick Strong retained the AEW World Trios Championships in an action-packed opener. Despite several near falls from Jay Lethal and company, Cassidy secured the victory after The Conglomeration hit their trademark combination offense, allowing him to pin Lethal.
Winners: The Conglomeration (retain AEW World Trios Championships)
A chaotic six-man ladder match opened the main card. Highlights included multiple table spots, a moonsault off a ladder on the entrance stage, and Komander’s trademark aerial offense.
In the end, Bailey climbed the ladder and retrieved the contract to earn a future AEW International Championship match.
Winner: Mike Bailey
Tensions between Ospreay and Moxley were evident throughout the match. After a hard-fought battle, the Young Bucks connected with a Superkick Party on Moxley to score the upset victory.
Following the match, Ospreay appeared frustrated with Moxley’s increasingly aggressive tactics.
Winners: Young Bucks
Bandido pushed Fletcher to the limit in one of the night’s standout matches. After surviving multiple 21-Plex attempts and several near falls, Fletcher finally retained the championship with a devastating turnbuckle brainbuster.
Winner: Kyle Fletcher (retains AEW International Championship)
Jay White and Juice Robinson battled David Finlay and Clark Connors in a brutal chain match. Outside interference from Daniel Garcia, Wheeler YUTA, and Marina Shafir ultimately tipped the scales.
Finlay finished Robinson with a shillelagh shot to secure the victory.
Winners: The Dogs
One of the night’s biggest surprises came when Maya World upset Hikaru Shida to capture the AEW TBS Championship.
Despite Shida’s relentless offense and multiple running knees, World capitalized on a distracted champion and scored the pinfall with a bridging fallaway slam.
Winner: Maya World (NEW AEW TBS Champion)
Copeland and Cage successfully retained the AEW World Tag Team Championships against Death Riders members Claudio Castagnoli and PAC.
The finish came after Copeland connected with a spear on PAC for the three-count.
Afterward, the Young Bucks confronted the champions, teasing a future showdown.
Winners: Adam Copeland & Christian Cage (retain AEW World Tag Team Championships)
Jericho and Ciampa engaged in one of the most violent matches of the year, utilizing barbed wire, thumbtacks, broken glass, hockey sticks, and even a power drill.
After surviving nearly everything Ciampa threw at him, Jericho forced his opponent to quit after using an active power drill to the forehead.
Winner: Chris Jericho
Andrade captured championship gold after defeating Mark Davis in a physical battle.
Following a back-and-forth contest, Andrade connected with the DM to score the pinfall and become the new AEW National Champion.
Winner: Andrade El Idolo (NEW AEW National Champion)
Willow Nightingale overcame interference from Skye Blue and survived Thekla’s relentless attacks on her injured ear to score a dramatic victory.
A surprise backslide secured the win and crowned Nightingale as the new AEW Women’s World Champion.
Members of The Conglomeration celebrated with Nightingale afterward, while Mercedes Moné watched from above and appeared to signal her interest in the new champion.
Winner: Willow Nightingale (NEW AEW Women’s World Champion)
Willow Nightingale becomes the first AEW Women’s Triple Crown Winner
Kevin Knight delivered the performance of his career against Kenny Omega, but it wasn’t enough to dethrone the champion.
After a competitive main event filled with near falls and championship-level drama, Omega connected with the One-Winged Angel to retain the AEW World Championship.
Winner: Kenny Omega (retains AEW World Championship)
Following Omega’s victory, Jon Moxley, Marina Shafir, Claudio Castagnoli, PAC, Daniel Garcia, and Wheeler YUTA attacked the champion.
Will Ospreay rushed to the ring to make the save and prevented Claudio from Pillmanizing Omega’s neck. Moxley then attempted to convince Ospreay to suffocate Omega with a plastic bag, but Ospreay ultimately rejected Moxley’s influence.
Instead, Ospreay struck Moxley with a Hidden Blade and stood alongside Omega.
The show ended on a shocking note when Omega suddenly dropped Ospreay with a One-Winged Angel after the two appeared to reconcile. The Young Bucks joined Omega in the ring as AEW Redemption went off the air.
AEW President Tony Khan has officially confirmed that Tay Melo will be granted her release from the company following a recent request to step away from professional wrestling.
Speaking during the AEW Redemption media call, Khan addressed the growing speculation surrounding Melo’s status and pushed back on reports that claimed she had been seeking her release for more than a year.
According to Khan, while there was some truth to the rumors that Melo wanted out of AEW, the timeline that had been circulating online was inaccurate.
Khan revealed that the conversation took place shortly after the June 6 edition of AEW Collision.
That night, Melo teamed with Anna Jay in a losing effort against Divine Dominion’s Lena Kross and Megan Bayne. Following the match, Melo approached Khan to discuss her future with the company.
Rather than expressing interest in joining another wrestling promotion, Khan said Melo informed him that she wanted to step away from wrestling altogether.
According to Khan, Melo told him that she still had positive feelings toward AEW and the people within the organization, but felt it was time to move on from both the company and the wrestling business.
The AEW President made it clear that Melo’s request was not the result of an ongoing dispute or prolonged backstage issue.
Khan stated that he was surprised when Melo approached him about leaving and emphasized that the conversation was respectful and cordial. He also noted that he had recently spoken with Melo about the rumors and that she was frustrated by reports suggesting she had been attempting to secure her release since 2025.
According to Khan, there has never been any hostility between the two sides, and he described their working relationship as consistently positive throughout her time with the company.
Khan also addressed claims that AEW had been preventing Melo from leaving.
He explained that since their conversation following Collision, Melo has not been brought back to television or booked for any events. Khan said he had no intention of forcing her to remain with the company and confirmed that her release would be granted.
The announcement brings clarity to months of speculation regarding Melo’s future and officially opens the door for her departure from AEW.
While Melo is set to leave AEW, her long-term plans remain uncertain.
Based on Khan’s comments, the former AEW star is not currently seeking opportunities with another wrestling promotion and instead appears focused on stepping away from the industry entirely.
Of course, wrestling retirements and hiatuses often prove temporary, and it remains to be seen whether Melo eventually returns to the ring down the road.
For now, however, her priority appears to be moving on from professional wrestling, ending a run in AEW that included memorable partnerships, championship pursuits, and a key role in the promotion’s women’s division.
Khan’s comments provide the clearest picture yet of Melo’s situation, confirming that her departure was a recent decision rather than a long-running conflict and that AEW intends to honor her request to leave the company.
AEW Collision tonight at 8/7c on TNT and HBO Max taped from The Pinnacle in Nashville, Tennessee.
AEW Redemption – Sunday, July 26, 2026 – Bell Centre in Montreal, Quebec.
Wrestling News Blog 