AEW may have another member of the Borden family officially in the fold.
According to a report from Fightful Select, there is a widespread belief within AEW that Steven Borden, the son of WWE Hall of Famer and former AEW star Sting, is currently signed with the company.
While AEW has not publicly announced a contract signing, Borden has reportedly been working regularly behind the scenes and competing in dark matches as he continues his development as a professional wrestler.
Steven Borden Continues Gaining Experience In AEW
Borden has quietly built experience throughout 2026 by competing in a number of dark matches before episodes of AEW Dynamite and AEW Collision.
His most recent appearance reportedly took place before the August 8 edition of Collision, where he defeated Ortiz.
Since making his AEW dark match debut in December at Dynamite: Winter Is Coming, Borden has continued to receive opportunities to develop in front of AEW audiences.
His first AEW dark match saw him score a victory over Kiran Grey.
Tony Khan Previously Praised Borden’s Development
AEW President Tony Khan has spoken publicly about Borden’s progress in the company.
Earlier this year, Khan revealed that AEW was actively working on developing Sting’s son as an in-ring performer.
Khan described Borden’s growth as a wrestler as a significant focus for the company.
“We’re working on developing him as a pro wrestler for AEW.”
According to Khan, helping Borden continue his training and progression has been a priority for both himself and the promotion.
Wrestling Career Began In 2025
Borden’s professional wrestling journey officially began in October 2025.
His debut match took place at an ACW event, where he teamed with JD Drake in a losing effort against AEW’s Darby Allin and Killer Kross.
One month later, Borden made his singles debut for DEFY Wrestling, defeating Kiran Grey.
Since then, he has continued building experience both on the independent scene and through AEW’s developmental opportunities.
Sting’s Sons First Appeared In AEW During Revolution 2024
Many fans were first introduced to Steven and his brother Garrett Borden during AEW Revolution 2024, the event that served as Sting’s retirement match.
During the match, both brothers appeared dressed as different eras of Sting’s iconic career, helping create one of the most memorable moments of the Hall of Famer’s farewell.
According to Fightful, Garrett remains on AEW’s radar as he also trains to become a professional wrestler. However, the report noted that it could not confirm whether he is currently under contract with the company.
While AEW has yet to officially comment on Steven Borden’s contractual status, all indications suggest that Sting’s son remains a key developmental project as he continues working toward a larger role within the promotion.
There is encouraging news regarding WWE Hall of Famer and legendary wrestling commentator Jim Ross.
Ross’ longtime podcast co-host Conrad Thompson shared an update on social media, revealing that the procedure was successful and that JR is expected to return home later this week.
“Happy to report that our pal Jim Ross had a successful procedure this morning!
I heard from his lovely daughter this morning that everything went well and good ole JR is expected to be back home by Friday!
Please keep JR in your prayers as we hope for a speedy recovery!”
Happy to report that our pal @JRsBBQ had a successful procedure this morning!
I heard from his lovely daughter this morning that everything went well and good ole JR is expected to be back home by Friday! 🤠
— Conrad the Mortgage Guy (@HeyHeyItsConrad) August 12, 2026
According to details that have emerged regarding the surgery, doctors drilled a small hole in Ross’ skull in order to insert a shunt. The tube will run from his brain to his stomach and is designed to help drain excess fluid and relieve pressure.
The procedure marks another health challenge for the beloved broadcaster, who has been open with fans about various medical issues in recent years. Fortunately, the initial reports following the operation have been overwhelmingly positive.
Ross remains one of the most respected voices in professional wrestling history. Over the course of a career spanning decades, he became synonymous with some of the industry’s biggest moments through his work in WWE, WCW, Mid-South Wrestling, and most recently AEW.
Following Thompson’s update, fans, wrestlers, and industry figures quickly flooded social media with messages of support and well wishes for Ross as he begins the recovery process.
With the surgery reportedly going as planned and JR expected to return home by Friday, the focus now shifts to rehabilitation and recovery.
Everyone at the wrestling community continues to wish Jim Ross a speedy recovery.
After months of speculation regarding their future, the Motor City Machine Guns have officially arrived in All Elite Wrestling.
Chris Sabin and Alex Shelley made their long-awaited AEW debut during the July 30 edition of AEW Collision in Detroit, Michigan, appearing just hours after officially becoming free agents following the expiration of their WWE non-compete clauses.
Hometown Heroes Receive Massive Reception
AEW opened the show with a memorable moment as the Detroit crowd welcomed Sabin and Shelley with a thunderous ovation.
The hometown fans showered the legendary tag team with chants of “Motor City,” creating an emotional atmosphere as the duo made their way to the ring.
Sabin addressed the crowd first, jokingly asking whether anyone truly believed they wouldn’t show up in Detroit. He and Shelley reflected on their long history representing the city throughout their careers and thanked the fans for supporting them over the last two decades.
The pair then turned their attention to their future.
Sabin spoke about their excitement to join AEW, while Shelley made the announcement official by confirming that the Motor City Machine Guns had signed with the company. Moments later, the familiar “All Elite” graphic appeared on the arena screens, confirming their status as AEW’s newest additions.
Motor City Machine Guns Make Immediate Impact
The duo didn’t wait long to get involved in the action.
Later in the evening, the Bang Bang Gang picked up a victory over the Death Riders in an eight-man tag team match. However, the celebration was cut short when The Dogs stormed the ring and launched a post-match attack.
That brought Sabin and Shelley back out to a huge reaction.
Armed with steel chairs, the newly signed AEW stars chased off The Dogs and evened the odds. With the heels retreating, the Gunns capitalized by laying out members of The Dogs with their finishing move, bringing the segment to a close.
The confrontation immediately hinted at a potential alliance between the Motor City Machine Guns and the Bang Bang Gang moving forward.
A Long-Awaited Arrival
While this marked their official signing with AEW, it wasn’t the first time Sabin and Shelley had appeared for the promotion.
The pair previously competed at AEW All Out 2022, teaming with longtime friend Jay Lethal in a trios match against FTR and Wardlow. Although they came up short in that contest, their performance left many fans hoping for a more permanent relationship with the company.
Rumors linking the Motor City Machine Guns to AEW intensified after their WWE departures earlier this year. Even before becoming free agents, many within the wrestling industry expected AEW to emerge as their eventual destination.
One Of Wrestling’s Most Decorated Tag Teams
Few tag teams arrive in AEW with résumés as impressive as the Motor City Machine Guns.
Throughout their careers, Sabin and Shelley have captured championships across multiple major promotions, including WWE, TNA Wrestling, Ring of Honor, and New Japan Pro-Wrestling. Their influence on modern tag team wrestling has earned them recognition as one of the greatest teams of their generation.
Now, with AEW officially added to their list of destinations, the focus shifts toward championship gold.
Given their track record and the immediate reaction they received from the Detroit crowd, it may not be long before the Motor City Machine Guns find themselves in the hunt for the AEW World Tag Team Championships.
For now, though, one thing is certain: after months of rumors and anticipation, Chris Sabin and Alex Shelley are officially All Elite.
Maple Leaf Pro Wrestling has officially revealed the mystery behind its recent “Who Will Answer The Call?” promotional campaign, and the answer is a Canadian wrestling icon.
During Wednesday night’s MLP MAYHEM broadcast, it was announced that AEW World Tag Team Champion Adam Copeland will appear at Maple Leaf Pro Wrestling’s Northern Rising event on October 3.
Emotional Video Tribute Reveals Copeland
The announcement came through a cinematic vignette celebrating both Copeland’s career and the history of professional wrestling in Canada.
The video opened with footage of the legendary Maple Leaf Gardens, a venue deeply connected to Canadian wrestling history. As images of a young Copeland appeared on screen, the WWE Hall of Famer reflected on the significance of the building and his connection to it.
The segment built toward Copeland appearing on camera and asking whether the venue was ready for “one more incredible night,” officially confirming his involvement with the event.
Returning To A Historic Venue
Although Maple Leaf Gardens has since been transformed into the Mattamy Athletic Centre, the building remains one of the most iconic locations in Canadian sports and wrestling history.
According to Maple Leaf Pro Wrestling, Northern Rising will mark the first time Copeland has competed at the historic venue.
In a statement released following the announcement, Copeland spoke about the impact Maple Leaf Gardens had on him growing up.
The former AEW TNT Champion explained that much of his childhood was spent watching both Maple Leaf Wrestling and Toronto Maple Leafs games from the arena, making the opportunity to be part of Maple Leaf Pro Wrestling’s revival especially meaningful.
Copeland praised the promotion for helping restore a piece of Canadian wrestling history and expressed excitement about participating in what he described as a special night.
More Announcements Expected
While Copeland’s appearance has now been confirmed, Maple Leaf Pro Wrestling is not revealing all of its plans just yet.
The company stated that additional Copeland-focused vignettes will be released in the coming weeks, suggesting more details regarding his role at Northern Rising are still to come.
Whether that means a major singles match, a special attraction bout, or another surprise remains unknown.
Busy Schedule Continues For Copeland
The announcement adds another notable appearance to an already active period for Copeland.
Currently one-half of the AEW World Tag Team Champions, Copeland continues to play a prominent role on AEW programming while also taking part in select appearances outside the promotion.
His involvement with Northern Rising gives Maple Leaf Pro Wrestling a major attraction for one of its biggest events of the year and provides Canadian wrestling fans with an opportunity to see one of the country’s most accomplished performers return to a venue tied closely to his childhood memories.
As October approaches, anticipation is likely to grow regarding exactly what Copeland has planned when he steps into one of Canada’s most historic wrestling buildings.
We Told You
We told you someone answered the call.
Now the entire wrestling world is paying attention.
— MAPLE LEAF PRO Wrestling (@MapleLeafPW) July 30, 2026
Copeland’s appearance instantly adds star power to Northern Rising, and the combination of his Canadian roots and the history of Maple Leaf Gardens could make for one of the most memorable moments on the promotion’s 2026 calendar.
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3-Way AEW National Championship Match: Andrade El Idolo (c) vs. Nick Wayne vs. Jungle Jack Perry
Newly crowned AEW Women’s World Champion Willow Nightingale celebrates her victory after defeating Thekla for the title at Redemption
Renee Paquette sits down with the Young Bucks and AEW World Tag Team Champions Christian Cage & Adam Copeland. The Young Bucks will challenge Christian and Copeland for the tag titles at the All In pay-per-view at Wembley Stadium in London on Sunday, August 30.
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