AEW Dynamite live tonight at 8:00 pm ET on TBS and HBO Max from the Chartway Arena in Norfolk, Virginia.
Nearly a month after leaving WWE, Ilja Dragunov’s next destination may finally be coming into focus.
According to Fightful Select, Dragunov is expected to join AEW in the near future, barring any unforeseen complications. While it remains unclear whether he has officially signed with the promotion, sources reportedly expect him to land there once outstanding issues are resolved.
That move may not happen immediately.
The report states that Dragunov is among several recently departed WWE talents from outside the United States who are currently dealing with visa-related hurdles following their exits from the company. Those issues have reportedly delayed potential appearances elsewhere, and there is no word on when they may be resolved.
Dragunov’s decision not to renew his WWE contract surprised many throughout the wrestling industry, leading to widespread speculation about where the former United States Champion would end up next.
Another question surrounding his future involves his ring name.
Because Ilja is his real first name, he would have no issue continuing to use it. The status of the “Dragunov” surname, however, is less certain. WWE filed a trademark application for “Ilja Dragunov” in 2020 during his NXT UK run, but publicly available records reportedly show no updates after October 2020, when the filing was listed as live and pending.
As a result, it remains unclear whether WWE ultimately secured rights to the name or if Dragunov will be able to continue using the identity he has competed under since 2012.
For now, the expectation is that Dragunov’s next chapter will begin once his visa situation is sorted out, though an official announcement has yet to be made.
AEW Collision live tonight at 8/7c on TNT and HBO Max from the MassMutual Center in Springfield, Massachusetts.
A Tribute to Andy “The Butcher” Williams, AEW will remember and celebrate the life and the legacy of “The Butcher” Andy Williams.
AEW Rebel Heart Dynamite airs live tonight at 8:00 pm ET/5:00 pm PT on TBS and HBO Max from the Akins Ford Arena in Athens, Georgia.
Tonight’s Dynamite is a special episode to support Rebel who battling ALS, help raise money towards finding a cure and raise more awareness about the disease.
Former WWE star Kairi Sane could soon be headed to a new promotion, as a new report indicates that multiple companies are interested in bringing her in following her WWE departure earlier this year.
According to Fightful Select, several promotions have expressed interest in the former Women’s Champion, with AEW reportedly among the companies that have held discussions with Sane about a potential deal.
While talks between AEW and Kairi have reportedly taken place, no agreement has been finalized at this time.
Speculation surrounding Kairi’s future intensified in recent weeks, with some fans believing she could appear at AEW All In: London. However, the report notes that a debut at the event was never realistically in the cards, as she was not expected to be signed in time and was reportedly never included in the company’s creative plans for the show.
Interest in Kairi reportedly extends beyond North America as well. Despite that, sources familiar with the situation indicated that she is not expected to join Rossy Ogawa’s Marigold promotion.
The report did not provide any update regarding a potential return to STARDOM, where Kairi enjoyed two successful runs during her career. She competed for the promotion from 2011 to 2017 before returning from 2022 to 2023. During her time there, she captured the World of Stardom Championship and established herself as one of the company’s top stars.
Kairi’s most recent WWE run began in 2023 and came to an end earlier this year. Her final appearance for the company saw her team with Asuka in a loss to Rhea Ripley and Iyo Sky on Raw. Four days later, WWE released her from her contract.
Prior to that stint, Kairi spent five years with WWE between 2016 and 2021, winning multiple championships and becoming one of the company’s most popular international stars.
Back in July, reports surfaced that several promotions had shown interest in booking Kairi for non-contracted appearances, further fueling speculation about her next move.
Another notable detail is that Kairi is represented by veteran agent Barry Bloom, whose client list includes several top AEW names such as Kenny Omega, The Young Bucks, Chris Jericho, Will Ospreay, Josh Alexander, and Jim Ross.
For now, Kairi remains a free agent, but with interest reportedly coming from multiple promotions around the world, it appears only a matter of time before the former WWE star decides on the next chapter of her career.
The wrestling and music worlds are mourning the reported loss of Andy Williams, known to AEW fans as The Butcher, who has died at the age of 48.
According to TMZ, Williams suffered a medical emergency following a match at an Enjoy Wrestling event in Millvale, Pennsylvania, on Saturday. Williams was teaming with longtime tag team partner Braxton Sutter, known to wrestling fans as The Blade, when he reportedly collapsed after the bout.
Medical personnel immediately attended to Williams and performed CPR before he was transported from the venue by ambulance. The remainder of the event was canceled, and fans were asked to leave the building. Details regarding the medical emergency have not been publicly disclosed.
Before becoming known to wrestling audiences around the world, Williams built a successful career in music. His original aspirations of becoming a professional wrestler were delayed after a knee injury during training. That setback ultimately led him to help form the metalcore band Every Time I Die in 1998, where he served as bassist and became a prominent figure in the heavy music scene.
Williams eventually returned to his wrestling ambitions in the 2010s, training under former UFC Heavyweight Champion Josh Barnett. His connection with Barnett led to appearances at Bloodsport events, where his hard-hitting style quickly gained attention.
In 2017, Williams teamed with Braxton Sutter to form The Butcher & The Blade, a pairing that became a regular fixture on the independent wrestling circuit. Alongside Sutter’s wife Allie, known as The Bunny, the trio developed a unique presentation that helped them stand out wherever they performed.
The group made its surprise debut in All Elite Wrestling in November 2019 and soon became a recognizable part of the company’s tag team division. During their AEW run, The Butcher & The Blade shared the ring with many of the promotion’s top teams and were involved in rivalries with acts including The Lucha Bros.
Following Allie’s departure from AEW in 2023 and Sutter’s recovery from back surgery, the team became less active in the promotion. While there had been speculation about a potential return, Williams and Sutter ultimately departed AEW when their contracts expired in June 2026.
Williams leaves behind a legacy that extended far beyond professional wrestling. Whether performing on stage with Every Time I Die or competing inside the ring as The Butcher, he built a devoted following through his passion, intensity, and unmistakable presence.
AEW Dynamite live tonight on at 8/7c on TBS and HBO Max from the Credit Union of Texas Events Center in Allen, Texas
AEW returned to Wembley Stadium on Sunday for All In London 2026, delivering a massive card packed with title changes, surprise returns, and a historic main event that saw a new AEW World Champion crowned.
Below are the full results and key moments from the show.
Lio Rush scored the victory for his team after connecting with a frog splash on Anthony Bowens in a fast-paced eight-man opener.
Statlander put Julia Hart away with Sunday Night Fever to earn the win for her team.
Bobby Lashley finished off Carlie Bravo with a Dominator to secure the victory.
A masked individual interfered late in the match, allowing Persephone to hit a Tenryu Powerbomb and capture the title. Afterward, the mystery attacker revealed herself as a returning Dr. Britt Baker, D.M.D., who laid out the former champion with Lockjaw.
The surprise debuting of The New Level (Austin Creed & Kofi) joined forces with Swerve to outlast the field and capture the AEW World Trios Championship.
Jamie Hayter and Alex Windsor dethroned the champions when they connected with Two Birds, One Stone on Lena Kross to become the new AEW Women’s World Tag Team Champions.
Nigel McGuinness pushed Moxley to the limit in an emotional Wembley showdown, but Moxley ultimately forced him to submit to a seated ankle lock. With the victory, Moxley retained the Continental Championship and won the Continental Challenge Cup.
In a highly competitive three-way title match, Okada capitalized after Takeshita and Fletcher battered each other, pinning Fletcher to become the new AEW International Champion.
After surviving a chaotic field that included MJF, Daniel Garcia, Chris Jericho, Nick Wayne, Mike Bailey, Jack Perry, Mistico and others, Andrade scored the deciding pinfall on Nick Wayne to earn a future AEW World Championship opportunity.
Copeland and Cage retained in a hard-fought battle against Matt and Nick Jackson. Christian used a loaded arm brace before Copeland delivered a Spear, allowing the champions to remain on top.
Following the match, Motor City Machine Guns made their presence felt before FTR and the newly crowned Trios Champions also appeared, creating a major confrontation in the ring.
One of the wildest matches of the night saw interference from Brian Cage, Jake Doyle, Steven Borden and even Sting. The match ended when Allin delivered a Coffin Drop off the stage onto Knight, who was on a stretcher, to become the new TNT Champion.
After targeting Willow’s injured hand throughout the match, Moné trapped the champion in a brutal variation of the Statement Maker. The referee stopped the contest, crowning Moné the new AEW Women’s World Champion.
In a Wembley main event worthy of the occasion, Kenny Omega and Will Ospreay delivered another classic encounter. After surviving a One-Winged Angel and an exhausting war of attrition, Ospreay finally connected with a decisive Hidden Blade to score the pinfall and capture the AEW World Championship in front of his home-country fans.
The victory marked one of the biggest moments of Ospreay’s career as Wembley Stadium erupted in celebration to close the show.
New AEW World Champion: Will Ospreay
New AEW Women’s World Champion: Mercedes Moné
New AEW TNT Champion: Darby Allin
New AEW International Champion: Kazuchika Okada
New AEW TBS Champion: Persephone
New AEW Women’s World Tag Team Champions: Brawling Birds
New AEW World Trios Champions: Shane “Swerve” Strickland & The New Level
The event also featured the surprise return of Dr. Britt Baker, D.M.D. and the AEW debut of The New Level (Austin Creed & Kofi), making All In London 2026 one of the most newsworthy shows in company history.
AEW Collision BO Max tonight at 8/7c on TNT and HBO Max taped from the OVO Hydro Arena in Glasgow, Scotland.
Congratulations are in order for AEW/ROH star Jessica McKay and her family.
The former WWE and TNA star announced on Instagram Friday that she and her husband are expecting their second child. McKay shared the news with fans through a heartfelt social media post, revealing that their family will soon be growing once again.
McKay’s announcement comes just months after she returned to the ring alongside longtime tag team partner Cassie Lee as The IInspiration.
Her most recent match took place in May during an ROH television taping at the Von Braun Civic Center in Huntsville, Alabama. McKay and Lee were defeated by Mina Shirakawa and Harley Cameron in tag team action.
With the pregnancy announcement, it remains unclear when McKay will return to in-ring competition.
McKay and Lee officially joined AEW in February 2026 after signing multi-year contracts with the company.
The duo made their AEW debut at a House Rules live event in Brisbane, Australia, on February 15, where they defeated Frankie B and Aysha.
Since reuniting, The IInspiration have quickly become a notable addition to AEW’s women’s division, bringing their trademark charisma and tag team chemistry back to a national stage.
McKay has frequently shared glimpses of her family life with fans on social media, and this latest announcement marks another exciting milestone for her and her husband.
While her wrestling future will likely be on pause for the foreseeable future, the focus now shifts to welcoming the newest member of the family.
Everyone at WrestlingNewsBlog.com sends congratulations and best wishes to Jessica McKay, her husband, and their growing family.
Wrestling News Blog 