Category: AEW

Rumors Of Josh Alexander Choosing AEW Over WWE – It’s all About The Money

Former TNA World Champion Josh Alexander is one of the hottest free agents in professional wrestling right now, and it looks like he’s made his decision. While rumors have been swirling that The Walking Weapon is heading to AEW instead of WWE, nothing has been officially confirmed—yet. However, Dave Meltzer shed some light on the situation during a recent episode of Wrestling Observer Radio, confirming two key details about Alexander’s next move.

According to Meltzer, Alexander has already made his decision, and it ultimately came down to whoever offered the best deal financially. “His TNA contract is up, and obviously, he was going to go to AEW or WWE, and it looks like AEW,” Meltzer said. “The two things I do know is, number one, he has decided where he’s going, and number two, it’s to whoever the highest bidder was for him.”

While some fans will inevitably be disappointed no matter where Alexander ends up—because, let’s face it, wrestling fandom can get pretty tribal—this was a business decision. Alexander prioritized what was best for his family, and whoever put the biggest offer on the table is where he’s going.

Though financial details haven’t been revealed, Alexander’s deal with AEW (assuming that’s where he lands) could be a major payday, thanks in part to wrestling agent Barry Bloom. Bloom has helped negotiate major contracts for top stars like Kenny Omega, Kazuchika Okada, and Will Ospreay—each of whom has secured lucrative deals with AEW in the last two years. If Alexander is in that same category, he could be cashing in big-time.

With AEW continuing to bolster its roster with world-class talent, adding Alexander would be another major win for Tony Khan’s promotion. Now, fans just have to wait for the official announcement—and see how WWE responds.

Stay tuned to Wrestling News Blog for more updates on Josh Alexander’s next move!

Former TNA World Champion Josh Alexander is one of the hottest free agents in professional wrestling right now, and it looks like he’s made his decision. While rumors have been swirling that The Walking Weapon is heading to AEW instead of WWE, nothing has been officially confirmed—yet. However, Dave Meltzer shed some light on the situation during a recent episode of Wrestling Observer Radio, confirming two key details about Alexander’s next move.

According to Meltzer, Alexander has already made his decision, and it ultimately came down to whoever offered the best deal financially. “His TNA contract is up, and obviously, he was going to go to AEW or WWE, and it looks like AEW,” Meltzer said. “The two things I do know is, number one, he has decided where he’s going, and number two, it’s to whoever the highest bidder was for him.”

While some fans will inevitably be disappointed no matter where Alexander ends up—because, let’s face it, wrestling fandom can get pretty tribal—this was a business decision. Alexander prioritized what was best for his family, and whoever put the biggest offer on the table is where he’s going.

Though financial details haven’t been revealed, Alexander’s deal with AEW (assuming that’s where he lands) could be a major payday, thanks in part to wrestling agent Barry Bloom. Bloom has helped negotiate major contracts for top stars like Kenny Omega, Kazuchika Okada, and Will Ospreay—each of whom has secured lucrative deals with AEW in the last two years. If Alexander is in that same category, he could be cashing in big-time.

With AEW continuing to bolster its roster with world-class talent, adding Alexander would be another major win for Tony Khan’s promotion. Now, fans just have to wait for the official announcement—and see how WWE responds.

Stay tuned to Wrestling News Blog for more updates on Josh Alexander’s next move!

AEW Grand Slam: Australia 2/15/2025 (Results)

AEW Grand Slam: Australia Quick Results:

  • Will Ospreay & Kenny Omega defeated The Don Callis Family (Kyle Fletcher & Konosuke Takeshita)
  • AEW TBS Championship: Mercedes Mone (c) defeated Harley Cameron
  • Brisbane Brawl: Jay White and “The Rated R Superstar” Cope vs. Death Riders (Jon Moxley & Claudio Castagnoli) defeated :Rated R Superstar” Cope & Jay White by referee stoppage
  • AEW Continental Championship: Kazuchika Okada (c) defeated Buddy Matthews
  • AEW Women’s World Championship: “Timeless” Toni Storm defeated Mariah May (c) to become the new AEW Women’s World Champion

AEW’s latest event delivered blockbuster action, dramatic title defenses, and major challenges set for Revolution. From Kenny Omega and Will Ospreay picking up a huge tag win to Toni Storm reclaiming her spot atop the AEW women’s division, here’s a full breakdown of all the chaos from the night.

Kenny Omega & Will Ospreay Take Down The Callis Family

Kenny Omega is still recovering from his diverticulitis battle, and The Callis Family knew exactly how to exploit it. Konosuke Takeshita & Kyle Fletcher targeted Omega’s midsection throughout the match, forcing Will Ospreay to step in as the protector. But even with the odds against him, The Best Bout Machine still had plenty of fight left.

The final moments saw Omega turn the tide, dropping low to drive Takeshita’s face into the turnbuckle. With Fletcher neutralized outside—thanks to a stunning Ospreay springboard dive—the path was clear for a spectacular finish. Omega lifted Takeshita for the One-Winged Angel, and Ospreay flew in from the top rope for a devastating Hidden Blade-assisted One-Winged Angel combo. Omega pinned Takeshita for the win.

After the match, Omega officially challenged Takeshita for the AEW International Championship at Revolution, while Ospreay set his sights on revenge, demanding a steel cage match against Fletcher.

Mercedes Moné Retains, But Momo Watanabe Lurks

TBS Champion Mercedes Moné defended her title against Harley Cameron, but the match had an unexpected guest: Momo Watanabe, who sat front row with a championship shot of her choosing after winning the International Women’s Cup at Wrestle Dynasty.

The mind games started early, with Harley using her infamous Mercedes puppet as a distraction. That only angered Moné, who stomped it out of existence. The match turned into a back-and-forth battle, with Harley nearly scoring an upset after a crossbody and an Australian Destroyer. But Moné regained control with a powerbomb and meteora, only for Cameron to keep fighting, nearly stealing the win with a crucifix pin and sunset flip bomb.

Ultimately, Moné capitalized on a missed flipping senton, hitting the Moné Maker to retain her title. On her way out, she made a bold statement—pie-facing Watanabe with the championship belt—hinting at a future showdown.

Moxley & Claudio Survive Brisbane Brawl Thanks to Yuta’s Interference

The Brisbane Brawl was an all-out war between Jon Moxley & Claudio Castagnoli and the team of Adam Copeland & Jay White. White nearly secured victory after hitting a Blade Runner on Claudio, but Wheeler Yuta stormed in, whipping White with a belt to break the pin.

The chaos only escalated from there—Copeland speared Claudio through a table, followed by a spear to Moxley. He even went for a barbed wire chair conchairto, but Yuta snatched the weapon away just in time. That distraction allowed Marina Shafir to smash Copeland with a title briefcase, setting up Claudio’s Neutralizer. Copeland still kicked out.

Moxley locked in a bulldog choke, and with Yuta choking out White on the outside, Copeland passed out, giving The Death Riders the win. But Mox wasn’t done—he reapplied the choke post-match, further damaging Copeland’s neck.

Okada Retains After Controversial Tactics Against Buddy Matthews

AEW Continental Champion Kazuchika Okada defended against Buddy Matthews in a match that nearly rewrote history. Midway through, Matthews became the first man in AEW to ever kick out of Okada’s Rainmaker. That set the stage for an intense closing stretch.

With the champion rattled, Okada attempted to use the title belt as a weapon, but the referee intervened. That opened the door for Matthews, who nearly stole the win with a roll-up, a curb stomp, and a pumphandle Death Valley Driver.

In the final moments, Matthews hit a superplex and a jackhammer suplex, but Okada refused to stay down. Sensing danger, Okada shoved the referee aside and hit a sneaky mule kick to Matthews, followed by a Rainmaker to retain his title. A controversial ending to an otherwise incredible match.

AEW Announces the International Championship Series

AEW revealed an International Championship Series to determine the next challenger for Konosuke Takeshita’s AEW International Championship:

  • Orange Cassidy vs. Roderick Strong will take place on Dynamite.
  • The winner faces Takeshita the following week for the title.
  • Whoever wins that match advances to face Kenny Omega at Revolution for the championship.

The stakes couldn’t be higher, and with Omega, Takeshita, Cassidy, and Strong in the mix, fans are in for an exciting road to Revolution.

Toni Storm Dethrones Mariah May in Emotional Title Fight

In an emotional and hard-fought battle, “Timeless” Toni Storm reclaimed the AEW Women’s World Championship from Mariah May in a match filled with high-risk moments and near-falls.

Mariah unleashed everything, hitting a Mayday Driver on the floor, followed by a shotgun dropkick and running hip attack. But Storm turned the tables, countering with a Mayday Driver of her own before delivering multiple hip attacks and a Storm Zero piledriver—only for Mariah to miraculously kick out.

Desperate to put Storm away, May hit two consecutive Mayday Drivers, but Storm refused to stay down. The champion nearly secured the win again after a headbutt and another piledriver, but as she went for one final Mayday, Storm reversed into a shocking roll-up to snatch the victory.

After months of tension and admiration, Storm proved she was still the true leading lady of AEW.

Final Thoughts

With Kenny Omega vs. Takeshita, Ospreay vs. Fletcher in a cage, and AEW’s International Championship Series unfolding, AEW is setting up a must-see road to Revolution.

Meanwhile, Toni Storm’s return to the top, Mercedes Moné’s next challenger looming, and Moxley’s ruthless assault on Copeland leave plenty of unanswered questions heading into Dynamite.

AEW Grand Slam Australia 2/15/2025 – AEW ROH Global Wars Australia

AEW Grand Slam Australia will air on TNT and stream on Max Saturday night immediately after NBA All-Star Saturday Night from the Brisbane Entertainment Centre – Brisbane, Queensland, Australia

  • AEW Women’s World Championship: Mariah May (c) vs. “Timeless” Toni Storm
  • AEW Continental Championship: Kazuchika Okada (c) vs. Buddy Matthews
  • AEW TBS Championship: Mercedes Mone (c) vs. Harley Cameron
  • Will Ospreay and Kenny Omega vs. The Don Callis Family (Kyle Fletcher and Konosuke Takeshita)
  • Brisbane Brawl: Jay White and “The Rated R Superstar” Cope vs. Death Riders (Jon Moxley and Claudio Castagnoli)

AEW will also be taping an event called AEW ROH Global Wars Australia: There’s no word on when fans who won’t be at Brisbane Entertainment Center will be able to see Global Wars 

  • The Learning Tree (Chris Jericho, Big Bill & Bryan Keith) vs. Bandido & The Outrunners (Turbo Floyd & Truth Magnum)
  • ROH Women’s World Championship: Athena (c) vs. Alex Windsor
  • ROH World Tag Team Championship: Dustin Rhodes & Sammy Guevara (c) vs. MxM Collection (Mason Madden & Mansoor)
  • ROH Pure Championship: Lee Moriarty (c) vs. Robbie Eagles

AEW Dynamite Preview 2/12/2025

AEW Dynamite tonight on TBS as the build continues for Saturday’s Grand Slam Australia. Dynamite was taped on Tuesday in Cedar Park, Texas at HEB Center.

  • AEW World Tag Team Championship: The Hurt Syndicate (c) vs. The Gunns
  • AEW World Trios Championship: Death Riders (c) vs. The Undisputed Kingdom
  • MJF vs. Dustin Rhodes (presented commercial free)
  • Kris Statlander vs. Penelope Ford
  • Max Caster’s Open Challenge
  • Megan Bayne in action
  • We’ll hear from “Rated R Superstar” Cope

Malakai Black, Ricky Starks And Miro Depart AEW: What’s Next for These Stars?

The wrestling world has seen a wave of roster shake-ups lately, and AEW is no exception. Following a series of WWE releases, it has now been confirmed that three notable AEW names—Miro, Malakai Black, and Ricky Starks—are no longer with the company. Even more intriguing, they are free to sign and compete anywhere immediately, as their contracts do not include non-compete clauses.

According to Fightful Select, AEW removed all three from its official roster page on Monday, signaling their official departure. Let’s break down the situation for each of these now-former AEW stars.

Malakai Black’s Unexpected Exit

Black’s AEW run seemed poised for longevity, with AEW President Tony Khan previously suggesting his contract could keep him with the company until 2027. However, reports indicate that Black was actually finished with AEW as early as January—well before the Royal Rumble. AEW has already adjusted creatively, repackaging Brody King, Buddy Matthews, and Julia Hart from the House of Black into a new stable, the Hounds of Hell.

Given Black’s reputation as a unique in-ring performer and storyteller, speculation will likely swirl about a potential WWE return—especially considering his past as Aleister Black and his connections in the company.

Miro’s AEW Run Fizzles Out

Once one of AEW’s most dominant forces, Miro had been missing from action for quite some time. Despite being healthy, he wrestled only a handful of matches in 2023 and had not been included in creative discussions for at least six months. Reports indicate that Miro actually requested his release back in September, which means his exit may have been in the works for a while.

Originally signing a long-term contract extension in 2022, Miro was expected to remain with AEW until 2026. However, his absence from TV and lack of creative direction made his departure seem inevitable. Now, the question is whether Miro—formerly known as Rusev in WWE—will head back to his old stomping grounds or explore opportunities elsewhere.

Ricky Starks: A Frustrated Star Moves On

Perhaps the most surprising departure is Ricky Starks, who had long been considered a rising star in AEW. According to reports, Starks asked AEW not to pick up his contract’s option year in late 2023. However, AEW did the opposite—exercising the option but then not utilizing him on TV.

Starks reportedly requested his release in January, and his situation was further complicated when he was pulled from GCW events due to backstage friction. Despite this, Starks managed to make headlines over the weekend by winning the DEFY World Championship from KENTA just before his AEW release became public.

What’s Next?

With no contractual restrictions holding them back, Miro, Black, and Starks have the freedom to appear anywhere at any time. Could we see one—or all—of them make surprise appearances in WWE, NJPW, or even TNA? The industry is wide open, and their next moves will undoubtedly be closely watched by fans and promoters alike.

For now, one thing is certain: AEW’s landscape continues to shift, and these departures could lead to major shake-ups across the wrestling world.

Stay tuned for more updates as this story develops!

NJPW ‘The New Beginning’ In Osaka, Japan Results (2/11/25)- Young Bucks Lose IWGP Tag Titles

On Tuesday, February 11, New Japan Pro Wrestling hosted The New Beginning at the Osaka Prefectural Gymnasium in Osaka, Japan

Pre-Show:

United Empire (Francesco Akira & Jeff Cobb) def. El Desperado & Katsuya Murashima

Main Card:

Hiroshi Tanahashi def. Togi Makabe

Drilla Moloney def. Shingo Takagi

Great-O-Khan def. Shota Umino

SANADA def. Taichi

IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championships: Ichiban Sweet Boys (Robbie Eagles & Kosei Fujita) (c) def. Rocky Romero & YOH 

NEVER Openweight Championship: Konosuke Takeshita (c) def. Boltin Oleg 

IWGP Tag Team Championships: Tetsuya Naito & Hiromu Takahashi def. The Young Bucks (c) 

IWGP Global Heavyweight Championship: Yota Tsuji (c) vs. Gabe Kidd ended in a Draw

IWGP World Heavyweight Championship: Hirooki Goto def. Zack Sabre Jr. (c) 

AEW Collision Preview 2/8/2025

AEW Collision tonight on TNT and streaming on Max.

  • Undisputed Kingdom vs. Daniel Garcia, Daddy Magic & Cool Hand Ang vs. Shane Taylor Promotions
  • Mark Briscoe vs. Kyle Fletcher
  • Bandido vs. Bryan Keith
  • Penelope Ford vs. Thunder Rosa
  • Harley Cameron in concert
  • Mariah May vs. TBD
  • Kazuchika Okada and Buddy Matthews face-to-face

The Gunns Return to AEW, Set Their Sights on The Hurt Syndicate’s Tag Team Gold

After months away from AEW television, The Gunns made a bold return on this week’s Dynamite, immediately setting their sights on championship gold. Austin and Colten Gunn interrupted The Hurt Syndicate during an in-ring promo, making it clear they were back for one reason—to reclaim the AEW World Tag Team Championships.

The Gunns reminded everyone that they were former holders of the titles now in The Hurt Syndicate’s possession, making their case for a shot at the gold. MVP, speaking on behalf of the faction, didn’t back down from the challenge and officially confirmed that The Gunns will face Bobby Lashley and Shelton Benjamin for the AEW World Tag Team Championships next week on Dynamite.

This marks The Gunns’ first in-ring return since the September 14th episode of AEW Collision, as the duo had been off television due to an injury suffered by Austin Gunn. Now back at full strength, the former champions are looking to make an impact and reclaim their place at the top of AEW’s tag team division.

Will The Gunns be able to dethrone The Hurt Syndicate, or will Lashley and Benjamin prove too dominant? AEW fans won’t have to wait long to find out, as next week’s Dynamite promises to be a must-watch showdown.

AEW Dynamite Preview 2/5/2025

AEW Dynamite air live tonight on TBS, beginning at 8:00 pm ET and live coast-to-coast on Max. The show takes place from the Gateway Center Arena in College Park, Georgia.

  • Kyle Fletcher and Konosuke Takeshita vs. Buddy Matthews and Brody King
  • Will Ospreay vs. Don Callis Family’s new mystery member
  • Swerve Strickland vs. Ricochet
  • Queen Aminata vs. “Timeless” Toni Storm
  • Hangman Page to appear
  • MJF to appear

Maria Kanellis Departs AEW, Becomes a Free Agent

Maria Kanellis has officially wrapped up her time with All Elite Wrestling (AEW). The longtime wrestling personality announced on X (formerly Twitter) that January 31 marked her final day with the company. However, her husband, Mike Bennett, will continue competing for AEW as part of The Kingdom alongside Matt Taven.

Kanellis, who has worked in WWE, TNA Wrestling (now TNA Wrestling again), and Ring of Honor (ROH), signed with AEW in 2022. Though she made appearances on AEW programming, her primary role was in Tony Khan’s version of ROH, where she served as a manager for talents like Cole Karter and Griff Garrison.

Contract Expiration and Free Agency

Earlier this month, reports surfaced that Kanellis’ AEW contract was initially set to run through late 2024, but the two sides instead agreed to a short-term extension through the end of January. Now, with her contract officially expired, Kanellis is a free agent and free to appear wherever she chooses.

Creative Ambitions and Departure

Throughout her tenure in AEW and ROH, Kanellis was outspoken about wanting a larger role behind the scenes, possibly in a creative or administrative capacity. However, it seems that she and Tony Khan weren’t able to align on a vision for her position in the company, leading to her exit.

Overcoming Health Challenges

Beyond her wrestling career, Kanellis has also faced personal challenges. In 2023, she revealed that doctors had found an unusual growth on her adrenal gland, which required surgery. Thankfully, in an update later that year, she shared that the procedure was successful and that the mass was non-cancerous.

What’s Next for Maria Kanellis?

With her experience as a wrestler, manager, and promoter, Kanellis has plenty of options ahead. Whether she returns to WWE, finds a new home in TNA Wrestling, or takes on a backstage role in another promotion, it will be interesting to see what’s next for her. One thing is for sure—wherever she goes, she’ll bring her signature mix of intelligence, presence, and industry knowledge.

Stay tuned to Wrestling News Blog for more updates on Maria Kanellis