Category: AEW

Paramount Files Lawsuit Challenging Netflix Acquisition Of AEW Broadcast Partner Warner Bros.

AEW’s current media rights agreement with Warner Bros. Discovery still has a few years left on the clock, but that hasn’t stopped the wrestling world from keeping a close eye on what’s happening at the corporate level. The latest twist comes as Paramount has officially filed a lawsuit aimed at slowing down — or potentially derailing — Netflix’s proposed acquisition of WBD, AEW’s longtime broadcast partner.

According to reports from The Wrap, Paramount filed the lawsuit in Delaware this week, seeking to force WBD to provide detailed financial disclosures related to its decision to accept Netflix’s offer instead of Paramount’s reported $30-per-share bid. This legal move follows Paramount’s failed attempts at a hostile takeover, signaling a shift in strategy rather than a full retreat from the bidding war.

Paramount CEO David Ellison also revealed in a letter to shareholders that the company plans to nominate its own slate of board members at WBD’s next annual meeting. If successful, that maneuver could reopen negotiations and potentially push Netflix out of the picture. That said, even Ellison admitted the odds of Paramount ultimately acquiring WBD remain slim at this stage, making the move feel more like a last-ditch effort to stay relevant in the process.

From an AEW perspective, the end result may not dramatically change the landscape — at least not immediately. Both Netflix and Paramount already have business ties to TKO Group Holdings, WWE’s parent company. Paramount is about to kick off a multi-year UFC streaming deal, while Netflix recently celebrated the one-year anniversary of WWE Raw airing on its platform. Still, with AEW’s next rights negotiation eventually looming, the outcome of this media power struggle could quietly shape the company’s long-term broadcast future.

AEW’s The Beast Mortos Earns Law Degree, Officially A Lawyer

AEW talent The Beast Mortos is adding an impressive accomplishment to his résumé outside the ring. Mortos has officially graduated from law school and is now a lawyer, a milestone he recently shared on social media.

Mortos posted photos to X celebrating the achievement, including shots with his face humorously covered by a smile emoji. One of the images also featured Mercedes Moné, who is currently in a relationship with Mortos following her divorce from former WWE ring gear designer Sarath Ton in 2024. The post quickly gained attention, with fans praising Mortos for balancing the demands of professional wrestling with the rigors of law school.

AEW Collision Preview 1/10/2026

AEW Collision live tonight ay 8/7C on TNT and HBO Max from Esports Stadium in Arlington, Texas.

  • TNT Championship: Mark Briscoe (c) vs. Hechicero
  • El Clon vs. Komander
  • Kris Statlander & The Babes Of Wrath vs. Hyan, Maya World & Vert Vixen

ROH TV Preview 1/7/2026

ROH TV on #HonorClub at http://WatchROH.com 7/6c

  • The Swirl (Lee Johnson & Blake Christian) vs. Adam Priest & ‘Dynamite Kid’ Tommy Billington
  • Billie Starkz & Diamante (with Athena) in action
  • Aaron Solo vs. Ace Austin
  • Rachael Ellering, Demo Diamond & Delynn Cavens vs. Premier Athletes (Story Denali, Ari Daivari & Tony Nese) with Mark Sterling
  • CRU (Lio Rush & Action Andretti) in action
  • Kiran Grey vs. Sammy Guevara
  • MxM Collection (Mason Madden & Mansoor) (with Taya Valkyrie & Johnny TV) vs. The Von Erichs (Marshall Von Erich & Ross Von Erich)
  • The Frat House (Griff Garrison, Cole Karter & Preston Vance) (with Jacked Jameson) vs. Dalton Castle, Turbo Floyd & Truth Magnum

AEW Dynamite Preview 1/7/2026

AEW Dynamite airs live tonight on TBS and HBO Max from the BOK Center in Tulsa, Oklahoma.

  • Lights Out Match: Hangman Adam Page & Swerve Strickland vs. The Opps (Hook & Powerhouse Hobbs)
  • AEW Continental Championship Title Eliminator Match: Jon Moxley (c) vs. Shelton Benjamin
  • ROH World Championship: Bandido (c) vs. Sammy Guevara
  • Title celebration for new TBS Champion Willow Nightingale
  • Toni Storm vs. Marina Shafir
  • Jim Ross returns to commentary
  • AEW World Champion MJF appearing live
  • Jungle Jack Perry & JetSpeed vs. The Demand

Report On Chris Jericho’s AEW Status After Possible WWE Return Tease

Chris Jericho’s name continues to hover over wrestling headlines as fans speculate about a possible WWE return, but a new report suggests the situation may be far less straightforward than social media buzz would have you believe.

With WWE kicking off the new year and the road to the Royal Rumble officially underway, rumors picked up steam that Jericho could be on his way back to “Raw.” However, Fightful Select is reporting that there has been no indication from within AEW that Jericho has left the company. In fact, sources told the outlet that Jericho remains under contract.

Jericho reportedly re-signed with AEW following All Out 2022, with the deal said to run through 2026. While the former AEW World Champion has been absent from AEW television for much of the past year, his hiatus was written into storyline. After dropping the ROH World Championship to Bandido at Dynasty, Jericho told Big Bill and Bryan Keith that he needed to step away until his Learning Tree stable got itself back on track. Whether that time off resulted in any contract changes remains unclear.

Another notable detail is that Jericho is still listed on AEW’s official roster page. This stands out even more after multiple talents were quietly removed earlier this week following the expiration of their contracts. Fightful also attempted to get confirmation directly from AEW regarding Jericho’s status but reportedly received no response.

On the WWE side, sources told Fightful that Jericho was not part of creative discussions and was not included in plans for Monday’s episode of “Raw,” at least from what they had seen. That said, even those within WWE acknowledged that surprises happen and that misinformation isn’t exactly rare in wrestling circles.

Fueling the speculation further, WWE appeared to have some fun with fans when “Raw” General Manager Adam Pearce used the phrase “who can break down the walls” in a social media video promoting the show — a clear nod to Jericho’s iconic entrance theme. Despite the tease, both Fightful and PWInsider Elite reported that Jericho was not backstage at the Barclays Center for the show.

For now, the evidence points to Jericho still being an AEW talent, with WWE teases likely serving more as playful bait than confirmation of anything imminent. As always with Chris Jericho, though, the line between storyline and reality is never entirely clear — and that’s exactly how he likes it.

AEW Collision Preview 1/3/2026

AEW Collision live tonight from Esports Stadium in Arlington, Texas on TNT and HBO Max.

  • Timeless Love Bombs vs. Hyan & Maya World
  • Shelton Benjamin vs. Scorpio Sky
  • Darby Allin vs. Wheeler Yuta
  • El Clon vs. TBA

Madison Rayne Announced In-Ring Retirement

Madison Rayne has officially closed the book on her in-ring wrestling career.

Following her match on the January 1st episode of ROH on HonorClub, Rayne announced that she is retiring from active competition. The longtime veteran teamed with Deonna Purrazzo to take on Billie Starkz and Diamante, and while the match itself was significant, it was what came afterward that truly marked the moment.

In a backstage segment, Rayne addressed the camera and confirmed that the bout represented the end of an era for her. She reflected on her journey in the business and made it clear that this wasn’t a sudden decision, but rather a meaningful conclusion to a career that has spanned two decades.

Rayne signed with AEW in 2022, taking on a dual role as both an on-screen performer and a coach backstage. Over the past few years, she’s spoken openly about how mentoring younger talent helped her “re-find” herself at this stage of her career. That perspective played a major role in how she chose to step away from the ring.

Ending her career alongside Deonna Purrazzo was also intentional. Rayne noted that teaming with Purrazzo felt like the perfect way to wrap up her 20-year run, sharing the ring with someone she deeply respects while spotlighting the future of women’s wrestling at the same time.

Best known to many fans for her time in TNA as a former Knockouts Champion, Rayne’s influence has extended far beyond titles. Her transition into a coaching role suggests that while she may be done wrestling matches, her presence in AEW and ROH isn’t going anywhere.

Madison Rayne may be stepping away from in-ring competition, but her impact on the next generation is just getting started.

Luchasaurus Reportedly Injured, Seemingly Written Off TV On AEW Dynamite New Year’s Smash

An unfortunate situation appears to be developing for one of AEW’s most recognizable big men.

During AEW Dynamite: New Year’s Smash, Luchasaurus was seemingly written off television following a post-match angle tied to Ricochet’s successful National Championship defense. While the segment played out dramatically on screen, new information suggests the injury involved is very real.

According to Fightful Select, Luchasaurus is dealing with a legitimate shoulder injury and is expected to be sidelined for an undetermined amount of time. As of now, there’s no word on the exact nature of the injury or whether surgery will be required, but AEW officials are reportedly preparing for him to miss some action.

The warning signs appeared even before Wednesday’s Dynamite. Luchasaurus was only briefly involved during Jurassic Express’ match on the Zero Hour portion of Worlds End, where he was helped to the back by Bishop Kaun. He later returned with his shoulder heavily taped to finish the bout, raising early concerns about his condition.

On Dynamite, Luchasaurus accompanied Jack Perry to ringside for Perry’s National Championship challenge against Ricochet. After Perry came up short, Toa Liona targeted Luchasaurus at ringside, setting the stage for a more vicious attack moments later. Liona and Kaun ambushed him on the stage, with Liona placing part of the barricade onto Luchasaurus’ shoulder and smashing it with a steel chair. Even when security intervened, the damage continued, as Liona slammed one of the guards onto the barricade, crushing Luchasaurus’ arm underneath.

The angle served as a clear on-screen explanation for Luchasaurus’ absence moving forward, but behind the scenes, it appears AEW is dealing with a genuine injury concern. There’s no official timeline yet for his return, and updates will likely depend on further medical evaluation.

For now, fans may be seeing less of Jurassic Express as a unit, while AEW waits to see how serious Luchasaurus’ injury turns out to be.

AEW Dynamite New Year’s Smash 12/31/2025

AEW Dynamite New Year’s Smash live Wednesday Dec. 31 on TBS and HBO Max from the Liberty First Credit Union Arena in Omaha, Nebraska.

  • Fallout from Worlds End
  • We’ll hear from new AEW World Champion MJF
  • AEW National Championship: Ricochet (c) vs. Jungle Jack Perry
  • AEW TBS championship: Mercedes Moné (c) vs. Willow Nightingale