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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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!
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 tonight on TNT and streaming on Max.
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 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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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
AEW Collision tonight on TNT, was taped Wednesday night in Huntsville, Alabama.
AEW’s highly anticipated Grand Slam Australia is just around the corner, bringing a stacked card to fans Down Under on February 15. With Toni Storm defending the AEW Women’s World Championship against Mariah May and the dream team of Kenny Omega and Will Ospreay facing Kyle Fletcher and Konosuke Takeshita, the event promises to be a major milestone for the promotion. However, there has been some confusion regarding when the show will actually air in the United States.
According to Dave Meltzer on Wrestling Observer Radio, Grand Slam Australia will air on a 20-hour tape delay in the U.S., a decision made by TNT to maximize viewership. Instead of airing live in the early morning hours, the event will be slotted immediately after the NBA All-Star Saturday Night festivities, which typically draw massive ratings. While the AEW broadcast is scheduled for 10:30 PM ET, Meltzer noted that the unpredictable nature of NBA events means the show could start closer to 11:05 PM ET if the All-Star coverage runs long.
This strategic scheduling could be a huge win for AEW, as it ensures a strong lead-in audience from NBA All-Star Weekend, which consistently ranks among the most-watched sports broadcasts of the year. Additionally, since the event will air live on the West Coast, Grand Slam Australia will be in primetime for viewers in California and surrounding regions—potentially giving AEW its biggest Saturday night audience in months.
Meltzer also suggested that AEW should capitalize on the moment by kicking off with a major match or angle to hook the new audience. With Revolution set for March 9 in Los Angeles, it wouldn’t be surprising to see a major storyline development in Australia that sets the stage for the pay-per-view.
AEW’s international expansion has been a major talking point in recent months, and if this event pulls in strong ratings, it could open the door for more global shows in the future. Will the decision to delay the broadcast pay off? Fans won’t have to wait much longer to find out.
AEW Dynamite airs live tonight on TBS at 8:00 pm ET and live coast to coast on Max from the Von Braun Center Propst Arena, Huntsville, Alabama.
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