Category: AEW Dynamite

MJF Drops AEW Title in Shocking Fashion To Darby Allin—Backstage Reason Behind Sudden Loss Revealed

AEW fans were left stunned on the April 15 episode of Dynamite: Spring BreakThru when MJF dropped the AEW World Championship in rapid fashion—but as it turns out, the decision may have had less to do with storyline shock value and more to do with real-world commitments.

MJF’s latest title run began at Worlds End 2025, where he outlasted a stacked field including Swerve Strickland, Adam Page, and Samoa Joe to reclaim the top prize. Over the following months, he built a solid list of defenses, turning back challengers like Bandido, Brody King, Kevin Knight, Hangman Page, and even Kenny Omega. It looked like another dominant chapter for “The Devil” was underway.

That momentum came to a sudden halt when Darby Allin stepped up. After earning his shot by defeating Andrade El Idolo at AEW Dynasty 2026, Allin capitalized in a big way, defeating MJF decisively to win the AEW World Title. The quick nature of the match raised eyebrows immediately, with many fans questioning why AEW would end MJF’s reign so abruptly after just 109 days.

According to a report from B.J. Bethel, there’s a practical explanation behind the scenes. MJF is reportedly heading straight into a film project, with production commitments that have been locked in for quite some time. His involvement wasn’t a last-minute development either—his name has apparently been attached to filming schedules and call sheets for months, making his temporary exit from AEW programming inevitable.

As for what’s next, MJF’s status for Double or Nothing 2026 remains unclear. While nothing has been confirmed regarding an appearance, the report suggests that the title change—and even the way it unfolded on TV—was mapped out well in advance to accommodate his schedule.

In other words, while the loss may have felt sudden on screen, it was anything but rushed behind the curtain.

AEW Dynamite Spring BreakThru Preview 4/15/2026

AEW Dynamite Spring BreakThru live tonight at 8pm ET/ 5pm PT on TBS and HBO Max from the Angel of the Winds Arena in Everett, Washington.

  • Fallout from Dynasty
  • TNT Championship: Kevin Knight (c) vs. Claudio Castagnoli
  • TBS Championship: Willow Nightingale (c) vs. Kamille
  • AEW World Championship: MJF (c) vs. Darby Allin
  • Renee Paquette live interview with Chris Jericho

Kyle Fletcher Forced to Vacate TNT Title Due To Injury, New Champion to Be Crowned at AEW Dynasty

AEW has been dealt a tough blow as TNT Champion Kyle Fletcher is officially stepping away from the title due to injury.

Tony Khan broke the news during his pre-show livestream ahead of AEW Dynamite on X, revealing that Fletcher is dealing with a meniscus injury along with other physical setbacks. According to Khan, the damage is significant enough to keep “The Protostar” sidelined for several months, with an in-ring return now expected sometime in 2026.

Khan didn’t hold back when addressing Fletcher’s run, praising him as one of the greatest TNT Champions in AEW history. Still, with recovery now the priority, Fletcher has no choice but to vacate the championship.

With the title now up for grabs, AEW is wasting no time in reshaping the picture. A Casino Gauntlet Match has been announced for this Sunday’s AEW Dynasty pay-per-view in Vancouver, where a new TNT Champion will be crowned.

Momentum heading into that match is already shifting. On Dynamite, former TNT Champion Tommaso Ciampa picked up a key victory over Mascara Dorada, earning the coveted number one entry spot in the Gauntlet. That advantage could prove crucial in what’s expected to be a chaotic and high-stakes contest.

While Fletcher’s absence leaves a major void in the division, Dynasty now has even higher stakes as AEW prepares to usher in a new TNT Champion under unpredictable circumstances.

AEW Dynamite Preview 4/8/2026

AEW Dynamite live tonight on TBS and HBO Max from Rogers Place in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.

  • TBS Championship: Willow Nightingale (c) vs. Queen Aminata.
  • Darby Allin, Bandido & Jack Perry vs. Don Callis Family (Konosuke Takeshita, Mark Davis, & Andrade El Idolo)
  • We’ll hear from Chris Jericho

Dave Meltzer On Chris Jericho’s AEW Return, WWE Negotiations

After months of speculation linking Chris Jericho to a potential WWE comeback, Jericho has instead resurfaced in familiar territory—making his return on AEW Dynamite and putting an end, at least for now, to the ongoing rumors.

Leading up to this week, there had been growing belief within WWE circles that Jericho was on track to rejoin the company where he built much of his legendary career. That chatter only intensified as WrestleMania season approached, with fans and insiders alike expecting some kind of major development.

According to Dave Meltzer on Wrestling Observer Radio, the situation took a turn very recently. Meltzer noted that he began hearing conflicting updates within a short window—initially getting wind of Jericho being tied to WrestleMania plans, only to then learn almost immediately that Jericho was headed to Winnipeg for AEW instead.

After checking in with WWE sources, Meltzer was told that Jericho is no longer expected to return to the company anytime soon—if at all. That response seemingly confirmed that Jericho had made his decision, paving the way for his AEW comeback.

While the exact reasoning behind Jericho’s choice remains unclear, Meltzer did shed some light on what WWE may have had in mind. The reported idea was to bring Jericho back for a retirement run, positioning his return as a farewell tour rather than a long-term program.

If that was indeed the pitch, it’s possible it didn’t align with Jericho’s vision for this stage of his career. Instead, he’s back in AEW, where he continues to be a central figure and has more creative flexibility moving forward.

For now, Jericho’s return to Dynamite puts an end to one of wrestling’s more intriguing “what if” scenarios—at least temporarily. As always in pro wrestling, though, never say never.

Chris Jericho Returns To AEW On Dynamite

Chris Jericho is back in AEW—and he didn’t waste any time reminding everyone exactly who he is.

The former world champion made a surprise return during the opening moments of AEW Dynamite, which just so happened to take place in his hometown of Winnipeg, Manitoba. While fans had been buzzing earlier in the day about a possible comeback, few expected Jericho to show up so quickly—or in such dramatic fashion.

Tony Schiavone was in the ring preparing to oversee a contract signing between AEW World Champion MJF and top contender Kenny Omega when things started to go sideways. Pyro began firing off unexpectedly, cutting into the segment and confusing everyone in the arena. After a couple of false starts, the camera turned toward the stage—and that’s when the familiar opening notes of “Judas” hit.

The Winnipeg crowd erupted.

Jericho walked out soaking in the moment, clearly enjoying the reaction as fans loudly sang along to his entrance theme. Taking his time, he eventually entered the ring and let the energy build before finally grabbing a microphone. His message was short and to the point: “Winnipeg! AEW! I’m home.”

That was all he needed to say.

After another brief celebration with the crowd, Jericho exited the ring, greeting fans at ringside before heading backstage. Interestingly, he didn’t stick around to get involved in the advertised contract signing, which proceeded without him following a chaotic backstage brawl between Jon Moxley and Will Ospreay.

Jericho’s return marks his first appearance on AEW television in nearly a year. He had been absent since dropping the ROH World Championship to Bandido at last year’s Dynasty pay-per-view. In the aftermath, Jericho told members of The Learning Tree faction that he needed time away, effectively writing himself off TV.

In recent weeks, speculation about his future picked up again—especially after Jericho filed a trademark for “The Cornerstone,” a move that had fans wondering whether a new character or direction was on the horizon.

For now, Jericho’s intentions remain unclear. But one thing is certain: with Jericho back in the mix, AEW just got a major shake-up—and it feels like this is only the beginning.

AEW Dynamite Preview 4/1/2026

AEW Dynamite live tonight at 8/7c on TBS and HBO Max from the Canada Life Centre in Winnipeg, Manitoba.

  • Mina Shirakawa & The Brawling Birds vs. Triangle of Madness
  • Will Ospreay vs. PAC
  • Kenny Omega, Brody King & Jack Perry vs. The Demand
  • Kenny Omega and MJF sign contract for their match at AEW Dynasty

AEW Dynamite Preview 3/25/2026

AEW Dynamite live tonight at 8/7c on TBS and HBO Max from the Roy Wilkins Auditorium in St. Paul, Minnesota.

  • AEW Women’s World Championship: Thekla (c) vs. Mina Shirakawa
  • The Dogs (David Finlay & Clark Connors) vs. The Conglomeration (Orange Cassidy & Roderick Strong)
  • No. 1 Contender vs. EVP: Swerve Strickland vs. Kenny Omega
  • AEW World Heavyweight Champion MJF to appear
  • Darby Allin vs. RUSH

Toni Storm Pulled From AEW Dynamite at Last Minute, Real Injury Reportedly Behind Absence

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 Preview 3/18/2026

AEW Dynamite airs live tonight at 8pm ET/5pm PT on TBS and HBO Max from the Save Mart Center in Fresno, California.

  • Fallout from Revolution
  • No Holds Barred: “Timeless” Toni Storm vs. Marina Shafir
  • Coffin Match: Darby Allin vs. Gabe Kidd
  • Will Ospreay vs. Blake Christian