AEW Dynamite live tonight at 8/7c on TBS and HBO Max from the Roy Wilkins Auditorium in St. Paul, Minnesota.
There’s growing concern surrounding Toni Storm after her sudden removal from this week’s episode of AEW Dynamite, and it sounds like this wasn’t part of the show’s creative plans.
Storm had originally been scheduled to face Marina Shafir in a No Holds Barred match on the March 18 broadcast, a bout that was being positioned as the blowoff to their ongoing feud. Instead, AEW aired a backstage attack angle that wrote Storm out of the show, with Mina Shirakawa stepping in as her replacement—and ultimately picking up the win.
While it initially played out like a storyline development, new details suggest otherwise.
Speaking on Wrestling Observer Radio, Bryan Alvarez indicated that Storm’s absence was legitimate and not a planned angle. According to Alvarez, the decision to pull her came down at the last possible moment, despite AEW promoting the match right up until the show went live.
The belief is that Storm was not medically cleared to compete, with Alvarez noting that the company appeared to hold off on making a final call until just minutes before airtime. Dave Meltzer added that the injury could potentially stem from Storm’s recent match against Shafir at AEW Revolution, though that hasn’t been confirmed.
There’s also speculation that the late change could signal a more extended absence. Alvarez pointed out that if Storm were only going to miss a short period, it might have made more sense for Shafir to win and continue the storyline, rather than pivoting to Shirakawa scoring the victory. Still, he emphasized that this is only speculation, and there’s currently no official word on how long Storm could be sidelined.
If Storm is indeed dealing with an injury, it could also put her developing angle with Ronda Rousey on pause. Rousey made her AEW debut following Storm’s match at Revolution, teasing a high-profile program between the two. However, Rousey is already scheduled for an MMA return fight against Gina Carano, which may delay any immediate follow-up regardless of Storm’s status.
For now, AEW has yet to publicly address Storm’s condition, leaving fans waiting for further updates on one of the company’s top stars.
AEW Dynamite airs live tonight at 8pm ET/5pm PT on TBS and HBO Max from the Save Mart Center in Fresno, California.
AEW Dynamite airs live tonight at 8:00 pm ET on TBS and HBO Max from San Jose Civic in San Jose, California.
AEW delivered a major surprise on Wednesday night as former NJPW standout David Finlay officially arrived in the company during AEW Dynamite.
The moment came shortly after Darby Allin and Orange Cassidy picked up a tag team victory over Gabe Kidd and Clark Connors. Cassidy sealed the win by pinning Connors following his signature Orange Punch, but the celebration didn’t last long.
Out of nowhere, Finlay stormed the ring and attacked Allin and Cassidy from behind, turning the post-match scene into a chaotic three-on-two assault. Kidd and Connors quickly joined in, and the trio stood tall to close the segment, signaling the reunion of Finlay with his former War Dogs allies.
Not long after the segment aired, AEW President Tony Khan confirmed the signing on social media with an official “All Elite” graphic, announcing that Finlay, Kidd, and Connors will now compete in AEW together under the name “The Dogs.”
Khan wrote that the trio made their presence known on Dynamite and that the faction is now officially part of the AEW roster.
Finlay’s arrival in AEW follows the conclusion of his lengthy run with New Japan Pro Wrestling, where he spent over a decade competing and eventually rose to become the final lineal leader of the Bullet Club faction originally founded by Finn Bálor in 2013.
His contract with NJPW expired in February, immediately sparking speculation about where the second-generation star would land next.
According to Dave Meltzer on Wrestling Observer Radio, Finlay explored several options before signing with AEW. Discussions reportedly took place with WWE, TNA, and AEW before the final decision was made.
Meltzer noted that AEW ultimately presented the strongest offer financially and in terms of interest.
There had been speculation that Finlay might end up in WWE, especially given reports that NXT’s “Birthright” stable—a group built around second-generation wrestlers—could have been a natural landing spot for him. However, the deal never materialized.
Instead, Finlay opted for AEW, signing what’s believed to be a multi-year contract. The move also aligns with his reported interest in relocating to the United States after spending 11 years competing primarily in Japan.
With Gabe Kidd and Clark Connors already appearing regularly on AEW programming in recent weeks, Finlay’s debut instantly solidifies the group as a new force within the promotion.
Now rebranded as The Dogs, the trio wasted no time making an impact on Dynamite, and their attack on Allin and Cassidy suggests that AEW’s tag team and trios divisions may have a dangerous new faction to deal with moving forward. 🐶🔥
Finlay’s debut marks one of AEW’s more unexpected signings in recent months—and it could be the beginning of a major new chapter for the former Bullet Club leader.
AEW Dynamite airs live tonight at 8/7c on TBS and HBO Max from the Don Haskins Center in El Paso Texas.
AEW Dynamite live tonight at 8/7c on TBS and HBO Max from the Mission Ballroom in Denver, Colorado.
AEW Dynamite live tonight at 8/7c on TBS and HBO Max from the Memorial Auditorium in Sacramento, California.
Brody King’s absence from this week’s episode of AEW Dynamite quickly sparked speculation online — but both Warner Bros. Discovery and AEW are now firmly pushing back on the rumors.
The former challenger to MJF, who demolished the outspoken star last week to secure an AEW World Championship opportunity at Grand Slam: Australia, was noticeably missing from Wednesday night’s broadcast. That absence raised eyebrows, especially after Dave Meltzer reported that King had allegedly been pulled from the show at the request of Warner Bros. Discovery. According to the report, network officials were concerned King’s appearance could trigger more anti-ICE chants from fans, similar to the “F**k ICE” chants heard before his match with MJF.
However, WBD has flatly denied the claim.
In a statement issued to Wrestling Inc., the company made it clear they had no role in King’s scheduling.
“Warner Bros. Discovery did not have any involvement in Brody King’s upcoming AEW schedule,” the statement read. “Any speculation to the contrary is categorically false. Brody is scheduled to appear during the next AEW event, which will air this Saturday on TNT and HBO Max.”
When further pressed by Voices of Wrestling regarding the wording of the statement — specifically whether “upcoming” left room for involvement in King missing Dynamite — WBD reportedly reiterated that they had no part in his absence.
AEW also denied the rumors. According to Fightful Select, company sources stated that King’s absence had nothing to do with the network or last week’s chants. In fact, some within AEW reportedly said that Meltzer’s report was the first they had heard of such speculation.
So where was Brody King?
The answer appears far less controversial. PWInsider reports that King was among several AEW talents flying from LAX to Sydney, Australia, in preparation for Grand Slam: Australia. As a result, he was never scheduled to appear on Dynamite in the first place.
With King en route to Australia and a World Championship opportunity looming, it looks like this situation may simply be a case of travel logistics — not network interference.
All eyes now turn to Grand Slam: Australia, where King will look to capitalize on the momentum he built by steamrolling MJF and attempt to shock the world on an international stage.
A surprising backstage decision reportedly kept Brody King off this week’s episode of AEW Dynamite — and it may have had far more to do with corporate politics than creative direction.
According to Dave Meltzer on Wrestling Observer Radio, Warner Bros. Discovery made the call to hold King off the show following last week’s headline-making moment in Las Vegas. During that episode, King shocked viewers by defeating MJF in just over a minute. However, it wasn’t just the upset victory that grabbed attention. The live crowd broke into loud “F*** ICE” chants, which quickly made waves beyond the wrestling bubble.
Per Meltzer, WBD executives were concerned about a repeat of that scenario if King appeared again this week. The fear? That more anti-ICE chants could create unwanted controversy at a time when the company is reportedly navigating sensitive corporate matters — including a pending acquisition deal involving Netflix that would require regulatory approval.
Meltzer emphasized that the decision did not come from AEW President Tony Khan.
“This is from above,” Meltzer stated, noting that executives were wary of drawing negative attention that could complicate regulatory proceedings. He added that if not for the broader corporate landscape — particularly concerns about political sensitivities — the chants themselves may not have been treated as a major issue.
King has been outspoken in his criticism of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and has been active in fundraising efforts to support immigrant communities. That public stance, combined with last week’s crowd reaction, reportedly made his presence a potential flashpoint for another viral moment.
The situation is particularly notable because, from a storyline standpoint, a follow-up segment between King and MJF seemed like a logical next step after last week’s decisive result. Instead, the angle was paused — at least for now.
This development highlights the increasingly complicated intersection of wrestling, corporate oversight, and political optics. AEW has often presented itself as an alternative product with a more organic crowd atmosphere, but as the company continues to operate under a major media conglomerate, those raw live reactions can sometimes create challenges at the executive level.
It remains to be seen how AEW will handle King’s return to television. If the Las Vegas crowd reaction is any indication, the issue may not simply disappear the next time he walks through the curtain.
For now, Brody King’s absence appears to be less about creative direction — and more about corporate caution.
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