Category: AEW

IATSE Union Planning Protest at Tonight’s AEW Dynamite in Philadelphia

Things could get a little more heated than usual outside of AEW Dynamite tonight in Philadelphia. Members of the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE) Local 8 have announced they’ll be protesting outside the 2300 Arena during AEW’s tapings.

The union claims that AEW is not meeting the standard wages and benefits expected for live entertainment workers in the area. IATSE issued a statement on social media earlier today, saying their goal is to “inform the public” that the company’s current pay structure undercuts fair labor practices and could have long-term effects on jobs across the entertainment industry in the city.

AEW is running a residency at the historic ECW Arena this week, and IATSE’s post included the full schedule of shows, hinting that the demonstrations may not be limited to just Wednesday night’s Dynamite.

The union emphasized solidarity with its members, stating:

“When employers undercut these standards it threatens wages, benefits, and job opportunities for all entertainment workers in the community. We stand in solidarity with our Local 8 kin as they hold employers accountable and fight to protect the fair standards that entertainment workers deserve.”

It remains to be seen if this will have any direct impact on tonight’s tapings, but the presence of protesters outside such a high-profile wrestling event is sure to draw attention.

AEW Dynamite Preview 8/27/2025

AEW Dynamite live on TBS and HBO Max from the 2300 Arena in Philadelphia. The event kicks off AEW’s multi-week residency at the venue.

  • Fallout from Forbidden Door
  • Megan Bayne and Penelope Ford vs. Harley Cameron and Kris Statlander
  • Falls Count Anywhere Match: Darby Allin vs. Claudio Castagnoli
  • Jon Moxley vs. Daniel Garcia

AEW’s Queen Aminata Stranded In UK After Passport Theft

Queen Aminata’s recent trip overseas has taken an unfortunate turn. While the AEW roster makes its way back to the United States following the record-setting Forbidden Door pay-per-view in London, the rising star has found herself stuck in the UK after her passport was stolen.

Aminata shared on her Instagram story that her backpack was taken in London over the weekend, leaving her without her credit and debit cards, glasses, medication, and—most critically—her passport. With the theft forcing her to remain abroad until at least Thursday, she won’t be available for this Wednesday’s AEW Dynamite in Philadelphia and could potentially miss Collision later in the week as well.

Despite the setback, Aminata stayed upbeat in her message, saying that “everything happens for a reason,” and expressing gratitude to her fans for their support during the ordeal. She also noted she’s eager to return home and back to action as soon as possible.

This isn’t the first time AEW stars have dealt with theft during UK trips. Following All In London last year, MJF’s prized Dynamite Diamond Ring went missing—an incident many initially thought was part of a storyline. AEW eventually leaned into it on TV, but the original ring has never been recovered.

For now, Aminata’s unexpected London stay means fans will have to wait just a little longer to see her back inside the ring. Thankfully, barring further complications, she should be able to rejoin AEW before the company wraps up its run at the historic 2300 Arena in mid-September.

Orange Cassidy Cleared For AEW In-Ring Return

“Freshly Squeezed” Orange Cassidy is almost ready to squeeze his way back into the AEW spotlight.

The former International Champion has officially been cleared for in-ring action following the torn pectoral muscle that’s kept him sidelined since March. According to Fightful Select, Cassidy’s comeback could happen “sooner rather than later,” and unless there are any unexpected setbacks, he should be good to go for the remainder of 2025.

Cassidy hasn’t laced up his boots since the March 19th episode of AEW Dynamite, but that doesn’t mean he’s been absent altogether. He’s been spotted backstage at several AEW shows in recent weeks, waiting for creative to slot him back into the mix.

Given Cassidy’s popularity and his lengthy, workhorse reign as International Champion, fans will be eager to see where he fits into AEW’s current landscape once he returns. Will he chase gold again, reunite with Best Friends, or step into a new feud entirely? One thing’s for sure—his laid-back style and undeniable fan connection have been missed.

Stay tuned—because it sounds like the Cassidy could be back on our screens any week now.

Tony Khan Announces Major Rules Change For MJF’s Guaranteed AEW World Title Contract

AEW’s Forbidden Door 2025 wasn’t just about dream matches—it also came with a major announcement from AEW President Tony Khan that could reshape how future title opportunities are handled.

During the event, MJF once again tried to reclaim the AEW World Championship, challenging reigning champion “Hangman” Adam Page. As expected, Friedman leaned heavily on his usual bag of tricks in an attempt to steal the victory, but the plan unraveled when Mark Briscoe got involved, ensuring Hangman kept the gold.

While MJF walked away without the championship, he’s not out of the picture. Thanks to his win in the Casino Gauntlet, he still holds a contract guaranteeing him another AEW World Title shot. But coming out of Forbidden Door, Khan made it clear that this kind of contract will look very different going forward.

Speaking at the post-show media scrum, Khan explained that AEW will no longer allow surprise, spur-of-the-moment cash-ins similar to WWE’s Money in the Bank concept. Instead, all contract holders will now be required to give at least one week’s notice before their title opportunity.

“I don’t think stripping him of the contract is in the spirit of the sport,” Khan said. “But I’ve been listening to the fans, and I think people want championships in AEW to have integrity. Going forward, I want these matches to be advertised, and for title changes to feel meaningful—not shock decisions.”

The change means MJF will still get his one last crack at the AEW World Championship, but he’ll have to declare it in advance. That leaves fans speculating not just about when he’ll cash in, but whether Adam Page will still be champion when Friedman finally decides to pull the trigger.

One thing is for sure: the next time MJF steps up for the gold, the spotlight will be squarely on him—and in AEW, that’s exactly how Tony Khan wants it.

AEW x NJPW Forbidden Door London Results 8/24/2025, Wardlow Returns

AEW and NJPW brought the chaos to London’s O2 Arena for this year’s Forbidden Door, a marathon show that blended dream matches, title defenses, and wild cross-promotional energy. From shocking saves to brutal wars inside a steel cage, the night had something for every type of wrestling fan. Here’s the full rundown of what went down match by match:

El Desperado, Paragon & Yuya Uemura def. CRU & Don Callis Family

The opener was a fast-paced, multi-man clash that swung back and forth until Yuya Uemura scored the deciding fall with a bridging butterfly suplex on Lio Rush. Post-match, the Callis Family ambushed the victors, only for Tomohiro Ishii to storm down and even the odds. The segment ended with a hot crowd-pleaser: Ishii planting Lance Archer with a thunderous brainbuster.

Gates of Agony & Ricochet def. JetSpeed & Michael Oku

Ricochet and the Gates controlled much of the action, isolating Michael Oku before chaos broke out with a string of dives. Despite a valiant effort from Oku and JetSpeed, Ricochet sealed the deal with his Spirit Gun finisher.

Megan Bayne & Triangle of Madness def. Kris Statlander, Willow Nightingale, Queen Aminata & Harley Cameron

The women’s eight-woman tag turned into a back-and-forth brawl. Miscommunication among the babyfaces gave Bayne an opening, and she flattened Harley Cameron with a Liger Bomb for the win.

AEW World Trios Championship: The Opps (c) def. Bullet Club War Dogs

Katsuyori Shibata, Samoa Joe, and Will Hobbs successfully defended their titles in a hard-hitting showdown with Bullet Club’s UK branch. The match ended when Joe dropped Robbie X with a Muscle Buster.

Adam Copeland & Christian Cage def. The Patriarchy

Old friends reunited as Copeland and Cage teamed up to take down Killswitch and Kip Sabian. After withstanding Patriarchy’s antics (and interference from Mother Wayne), Cage pinned Sabian following a spear from Copeland into an inverted DDT.

AEW TNT Championship: Kyle Fletcher (c) def. Hiromu Takahashi

In one of the night’s hardest-hitting bouts, Fletcher and Takahashi traded bombs until the champion finally retained with a brutal brainbuster.

AEW TBS Championship Four-Way: Mercedes Moné (c) def. Alex Windsor vs. Bozilla vs. Persephone

The TBS Champion survived a chaotic four-way. After near falls from every challenger and a tower of doom spot, Mercedes Moné snatched the win with a victory roll on Persephone.

IWGP World Heavyweight Championship: Zack Sabre Jr. (c) def. Nigel McGuinness

In a technical masterclass, hometown hero Nigel McGuinness pushed ZSJ to the edge in his return to the ring. Sabre narrowly escaped with his title via a sunset flip pin. Post-match, the two shared a handshake and embrace, while Daniel Garcia loomed with visible tension.

AEW World Tag Team Championship: Brodido def. FTR & Hurt Syndicate (c)

This triple threat had constant action, with FTR and Brodido both trying to wrestle the gold away from Bobby Lashley and Shelton Benjamin. In the chaos, Bandido hit a frog splash on Dax Harwood to secure the pin, crowning Brodido as the new champions.

AEW Unified Championship: Kazuchika Okada (c) def. Swerve Strickland

Okada retained the top prize after weathering Swerve’s storm. The challenger connected with multiple House Calls but couldn’t put the Rainmaker down. A final Rainmaker lariat ended it, but the aftermath stole the spotlight — Okada targeted Swerve’s knee with a chair until Wardlow aligned with Don Callis, leaving Strickland broken.

AEW Women’s World Championship: Toni Storm (c) def. Athena

Toni Storm survived a bruising battle with Athena, who nearly won with the O-Face before Billie Starkz’s antics backfired. Storm locked in the Chickenwing and forced Athena to tap out.

AEW Men’s World Championship: Hangman Page (c) def. MJF

With countouts and DQs allowed to decide the title, MJF threw everything at Hangman — weapons, low blows, and referee distractions. In the end, Page overcame it all, blasting Friedman with a Deadeye and Buckshot Lariat to retain.

Lights Out Steel Cage Match: Darby Allin, Golden Lovers, Hiroshi Tanahashi & Will Ospreay def. Death Riders & Young Bucks

The insane main event lived up to the Lights Out billing with chaos, blood, weapons, and a moonsault off the top of the cage from Will Ospreay. Tanahashi scored the winning fall with one last High Fly Flow in the UK. But celebration quickly turned dark as the Death Riders destroyed Ospreay post-match, stomping a chair around his neck while the crowd rained boos on Moxley.

Isla Dawn Steps Into AEW Ring With Hometown Debut On Collision

AEW fans in Glasgow got a special surprise this week when Isla Dawn made her first appearance for the company on Collision. The Scottish star, who previously held WWE’s Women’s Tag Team Championship, squared off against Megan Bayne in singles action.

Although Dawn came up short in her debut, falling victim to Bayne’s crushing running liger bomb, the moment carried extra weight since it happened in front of a hometown crowd. The Glasgow faithful gave her a warm reception as she stepped into the AEW spotlight for the first time.

This was just Dawn’s second match since her WWE release back in February. Her only other post-WWE outing came earlier this month at the Burning Heart event on August 3. With her AEW debut now behind her, the question becomes whether this was a one-off appearance or the first step toward a more permanent run with the promotion.

Regardless of the result, Dawn’s presence in AEW adds another intriguing name to the women’s division—and doing it on home soil made the moment all the more memorable.

AEW x NJPW Forbidden Door 8/24/2025 (Card)

AEW x NJPW Forbidden Door – Sunday, August 24, 2025, at The O2 Arena in London, England – 11:30am ET with the Zero Hour pre-show and the main card starting at 1pm ET.

CARD

  • AEW World Championship Match (Title can change hands with DQ or Count Out): “Hangman” Adam Page (c) vs. MJF
  • IWGP World Heavyweight Championship Match: Zack Sabre Jr. (c) vs. Nigel McGuinness w/ Daniel Garcia
  • Lights Out Steel Cage Match: Golden Lovers (Kenny Omega & Kota Ibushi), Darby Allin, Hiroshi Tanahashi & Will Ospreay vs. Claudio Castagnoli, Jon Moxley, The Young Bucks & Gabe Kidd
  • AEW Unified Championship Match: Kazuchika Okada (c) vs. Swerve Strickland
  • AEW Women’s Championship Match: “Timeless” Toni Storm (c) vs. Athena
  • AEW Tag Team Championship Match: Hurt Syndicate (c) vs. Brodido vs. FTR
  • AEW TBS Championship Match: Mercedes Moné (c) vs. Alex Windsor vs. Bozilla (STARDOM) vs. Persephone (CMLL)
  • AEW TNT Championship Match: Kyle Fletcher (c) vs. Hiromu Takahashi
  • Adam Copeland & Christian Cage vs. Kip Sabian & Killswitch
  • (Zero Hour) Kyle O’Reilly, Roderick Strong, Yuya Uemura & El Desperado vs. Hechicero, Josh Alexander & CRU
  • (Zero Hour) The Triangle of Madness & Megan Bayne vs. Queen Aminata, Harley Cameron, Willow Nightingale & Kris Statlander

Mercedes Mone Adds Another Championship to Her Collection

Mercedes Mone’s championship resume just keeps growing. The AEW star has once again proven why she’s one of the most decorated names in women’s wrestling, walking away with yet another title to add to her already stacked collection.

In a Title vs. Title clash, Mone defeated Emersyn Jayne to retain her Rev Pro Undisputed British Women’s Championship and simultaneously capture the Discovery Wrestling Scottish Women’s Championship. With the win, she now boasts nine championships across her career — earning her the fitting nickname “Nine Belts Mone.”

Since making her move to AEW, Mone has kept herself busy by taking bookings overseas, continuing to build her reputation as one of wrestling’s most sought-after global stars. This latest title victory further cements her as a dominant force who isn’t just making waves in AEW, but across the independent and international scene as well.

It’ll be interesting to see how AEW highlights Mone’s growing collection of hardware and whether these outside championships will play into her ongoing storylines on TV. For now, though, Mone’s reign as one of wrestling’s most in-demand champions shows no sign of slowing down.

A Decorated Career of Championships

Mone’s championship journey has stretched across multiple companies and continents. Here’s a quick look at some of the most notable titles she’s held during her career:

  • WWE Women’s Championships: A multiple-time champion on both Raw and SmackDown, Mone (then known as Sasha Banks) left her mark with memorable reigns that helped redefine the division.
  • WWE Women’s Tag Team Championships: Alongside Bayley, she was part of the very first team to win the titles, cementing her place in tag team history.
  • IWGP Women’s Championship: After leaving WWE, she shocked the world by capturing gold in New Japan Pro-Wrestling, helping elevate NJPW’s newly launched women’s division.
  • Rev Pro Undisputed British Women’s Championship: Her current reign overseas has been another example of how she continues to grow her global presence.
  • Discovery Wrestling Scottish Women’s Championship: The latest addition to her trophy case, proving she’s not slowing down anytime soon.

A Global Star Beyond AEW

Since signing with AEW earlier this year, Mone has kept herself busy both inside and outside the company. While fans eagerly anticipate her eventual climb toward AEW’s top women’s title, she’s also been building her brand internationally, defending and winning championships across the independent circuit.

Her growing collection of belts only strengthens her reputation as a worldwide attraction — the kind of wrestler who can walk into any promotion and instantly raise its profile.

With “Nine Belts Mone” now officially part of her legacy, the real question is simple: how long before she makes it ten?

Will Ospreay Working Through Legitimate Neck Injury Ahead of Forbidden Door

Will Ospreay’s highly anticipated Unsanctioned Lights Out Steel Cage Match at AEW x NJPW Forbidden Door: London isn’t just compelling because of the story being told in the ring—it’s also grounded in some very real circumstances for “The Aerial Assassin.”

According to multiple reports, Ospreay is currently battling legitimate neck problems that go beyond the scripted storyline. The injury has reportedly become severe enough that surgery is no longer a matter of if, but when. Sources indicate that Ospreay has already begun exploring surgical options, with plans in place to move forward sooner rather than later.

That decision will sideline him for an extended period, as neck surgery typically requires months of recovery and rehabilitation before a full return to action. While fans will no doubt be disappointed by his absence, the hope is that Ospreay will come back fully healthy and able to continue performing at the high level that has made him one of the most exciting names in wrestling today.

For now, all eyes remain on Forbidden Door, where Ospreay is set to compete through the pain in what could be one of his last matches before going under the knife.