Category: AEW

AEW’s Willow Nightingale To Be First Woman Inducted Into New York Indie Hall Of Fame

There’s no doubt that Willow Nightingale has had a 2024 to remember. The AEW star has held both the AEW TBS and CMLL World Women’s Championships, made it to the finals of the Owen Hart Cup for the second year in a row, was Mercedes Mone’s first opponent in AEW at Double or Nothing, and had one of the more memorable hardcore matches of the year against friend turned foe Kris Statlander at All Out, among other accolades. Now Nightingale is adding another accomplishment, one a little closer to home in Long Island, New York.

Independent wrestling promotion New York Wrestling Connection has announced that Nightingale will be inducted into the promotion’s Hall of Fame on October 19. The induction will take place during NYWC’s Homecoming of Madness event, taking place at the promotion’s home arena, the NYWC Sportatorium.

“Being recognized in this way by the place I learned my fundamentals, got my start, and grew into the Willow I am today is such an honor,” Nightingale said on X. “Thank you NYWC Wrestling. Can’t wait for October 19th.”

Nightingale joins a who’s who of notable names in the NYWC Hall of Fame, including AEW co-workers Jerry Lynn, Tony Nese, Trent Berreta, Alex Reynolds, and John Silver. It’s also a historic occasion, as Nightingale will become the first ever women’s wrestler to be inducted into the Hall of Fame.

By the time her induction rolls around, Nightingale may have added another accolade to her career year. Following her win over Saraya, Jamie Hayter, and Nyla Rose last night on “AEW Dynamite,” Nightingale will challenge Mariah May for the AEW Women’s World Championship this Saturday at WrestleDream. A victory would make Nightingale the first women in AEW history to have reigns as both AEW TBS and AEW Women’s World Champion.

Source: Wrestling Inc.

Penelope Ford Returns To AEW Dynamite For The First Time In Two Years On Title Tuesday

The “Title Tuesday” edition of “AEW Dynamite” was full of surprises, but one that caught everyone off-guard was the return of Penelope Ford.

Ford made her presence felt during the four-way “anything goes” match to determine the No. 1 contender for the AEW Women’s World Championship, attacking Jamie Hayter from behind as Hayter looked to hit Saraya with a chair. Once she got her shots in, Ford made sure to keep her distance from Hayter as she headed backstage, with Hayter following her and out of the match in the process.

The 32-year old last wrestled for AEW in October 2022, which came shortly after she returned from a lengthy spell on the shelf due to injury. However, she would once again step away from the company after learning she was pregnant. Her husband, fellow AEW star Kip Sabian, revealed in a 2023 interview that the pregnancy came at a time in his own life when he was frustrated with the lack of time he was getting on TV, but he stated that AEW President Tony Khan was willing to do anything to make Ford’s pregnancy more comfortable.

Tragically, Ford and Sabian lost their baby ten weeks into the pregnancy; both individuals detailed everything in a short YouTube video a few weeks after they found out the news. Ford has been away from wrestling ever since, while Sabian would eventually return to the company on a full-time basis during the summer of 2024.

Source: Wrestling Inc.

AEW Dynamite Title Tuesday Preview

Tonight is a special AEW Dynamite Title Tuesday episode of AEW Dynamite live on TBS from the Spokane Arena in Spokane, Washington. Special start time of 9:00 pm ET. 

  • Double Title Match: Mercedes Mone will defend the TBS Championship and the NJPW Strong Women’s Championship against Emi Sakura
  • AEW Women’s Title Eliminator Match: Willow Nightingale vs. Dr. Britt Baker. D.M.D. The winner goes on to challenge Mariah May for championship at WrestleDream.
  • Bryan Danielson and Wheeler Yuta vs. Claudio Castagnoli and PAC
  • Darby Allin and Brody King will go face to face
  • Hook will call out whomever attacked his father Taz

AEW Collision Preview 10/5/2024

AEW Collision airing tonight on TNT was taped on Thursday from the Huntington Center in Toledo, OH.

  • AEW World Tag Team Championship Eliminator Three-Way: Top Flight (Dante Martin & Darius Martin) vs. House of Black (Malakai Black & Buddy Matthews) vs. Private Party (Isiah Kassidy & Marq Quen)
  • Darby Allin vs. Johnny TV
  • The Conglomeration (Orange Cassidy & Kyle O’Reilly) (with Mark Briscoe & Rocky Romero) vs. Premier Athletes (Ari Daivari & Tony Nese) (with “Smart” Mark Sterling & Josh Woods)
  • Willow Nightingale vs. Trish Adora
  • The Outrunners (Turbo Floyd & Truth Magnum) vs. Grizzled Young Veterans (James Drake & Zack Gibson)
  • Wheeler Yuta vs. BEEF
  • Kris Statlander in action
  • Hologram vs. Komander vs. Nick Wayne vs. Action Andretti

AEW Rampage Preview 10/4/2024

AEW Rampage tonight on TNT.

  • The Young Bucks and Jack Perry vs. Private Party & Katsuyori Shibata
  • Orange Cassidy & Kyle O’Reilly vs. Big Bill & Bryan Keith (Chris Jericho on commentary)
  • Queen Aminata vs. Harley Cameron
  • Kamille in action

Report – Two Serious Injuries Took Place Before AEW Dynamite On ROH TV Taping

Several serious injuries occurred during the ROH TV tapings that took place before AEW Dynamite.

First, Sammy Guevara was knocked out during a match against Serpentico at the ROH TV tapings. According to several fans in attendance, Serpentico came off the top and was caught for a cutter. The timing was said to have been “a little off” and Serpentico landed with Guevara’s face under him.

Guevara was knocked unconscious and the match was stopped. Following the bout, AEW’s medical team attended to Sammy and it looked like they were doing a concussion protocol. Guevara was eventually stretchered away.

Additionally, independent wrestler Kelly Madan was knocked out and may have suffered a neck injury at the taping in a match against Lady Frost.

Madan took a spinning move off the ropes with Frost’s legs landing on her head or neck. A quick pinfall was made, and Madan didn’t move. One fan in attendance said she was “obviously out.” AEW’s medial team, Frost and the referee surrounded Madan as the house lights were darkened. Madan was taken out on a backboard after the ring ropes were loosened.

https://twitter.com/ARS_713/status/1841623306270867674

https://twitter.com/johnrclark12/status/1841628220137074689

Source: eWn

Jay White Returns, Attacks Hangman Page On AEW Dynamite 5th Anniversary Episode

Former AEW World Trios Champion Jay White made his return to television on “AEW Dynamite’s” fifth anniversary show from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and he saved fellow Bang Bang Gang member Juice Robinson from the wrath of “Hangman” Adam Page. White ran out following Robinson’s loss to Page, after he took a Buckshot Lariat and ate the pinfall. Following the match, Page took off his belt, complete with belt buckle, and used it to choke out Robinson before his stablemate could make the save.

White’s music hit and he blindsided Page with a clothesline. Page escaped the ring and White checked on Robinson before going after him into the crowd. White beat down on Page with chops, then sent him crashing through a table propped up on a barricade. White helped Robinson to his feet and both men made their way up the ramp, with White keeping his eyes on “Hangman.”

It was reported back in August that White was fully healthy and expected back on television “immediately.” The former IWGP World Heavyweight Champion was out of action due to a foot injury. His last match before his time off was a loss to Page on the July 6 episode of “AEW Collision” in the semifinals for the Owen hart Foundation Tournament.

Source: Wrestling Inc.

Shelton Benjamin Debuts On AEW Dynamite, He & Bobby Lashley Both Reportedly All Elite

Shelton Benjamin is back on our screens, and according to Fightful Select, he may not be alone.

After over a year of absence from any major televised promotion, Benjamin appeared alongside MVP on Wednesday’s five-year anniversary edition of “AEW Dynamite.” Benjamin was introduced by MVP as the “President of the Complaints Division,” after Prince Nana attempted to air his grievances during one of MVP’s backstage segments. Benjamin did little to assuage Nana’s actual complaints, instead electing to steal Nana’s cup of coffee as he walked off-screen with MVP.

Former WWE Champion Bobby Lashley was not present on Wednesday’s episode of “Dynamite,” but his AEW debut is reportedly “impending.” Benjamin’s AEW debut and Lashley’s alleged signing lends more credence to recent discussions of a revitalized Hurt Business in AEW. It is believed that the newly-christened “Hurt Syndicate” will mainly see MVP in a managerial capacity, with Benjamin and Lashley performing as in-ring competitors.

After MVP made his AEW debut on the September 25 episode of “Dynamite,” he has been attempting to recruit several of AEW’s top stars, including former AEW World Champion Swerve Strickland and current TBS Champion and NJPW Strong Women’s Champion Mercedes Moné. Whether Strickland or Moné will accept MVP’s invitation to The Hurt Syndicate remain unclear.

Before his AEW debut, Benjamin had been appearing in a global array of independent promotions, including the UK-based PROGRESS Wrestling and Deadlock Pro Wrestling. Lashley has gone the opposite route, remaining absent from the wrestling world since his WWE contract expired in August 2024. Any further details about Benjamin or Lashley’s AEW deal, including exclusivity and length, have yet to be disclosed.

Source: Wrestling Inc.

AEW Officially Signs New Media Rights Deal With Warner Bros. Discovery, (Details on Deal)

AEW has reportedly officially signed a new multi-year, multimedia rights deal with Warner Bros. Discovery on the fifth anniversary of its flagship show, “AEW Dynamite.” Variety reported the deal was made official on Wednesday, though financial terms were not disclosed. According to the outlet’s sources, the deal is valued at upwards of $150 million per year, anonymous social media scoop account WrestleVotes claimed afterward that the number “is closer to $185 million per year,” and Fightful’s Sean Ross Sapp chimed in to confirm, saying “This number is accurate.” “Dynamite” and “AEW Collision” will remain on TBS and TNT, but will also stream live on Max simultaneously for subscribers in the United States. Shows will be available to stream on-demand at the beginning of 2025. As for AEW’s ever-increasing pay-per-view schedule, Variety revealed that PPVs will be available for purchase on Max later on in 2025 at a discounted price per show. In a statement seemingly provided to Variety, AEW President Tony Khan said the company is honored to announce the extension of its partnership.

“This extension continues the tradition of iconic wrestling events broadcast on TBS and TNT, while also establishing a new legacy for AEW through weekly live streams on Max for years to come,” Khan said. “We thank David Zaslav, Kathleen Finch and everyone at WBD for their tireless support of All Elite Wrestling since its inception, as well as the AEW fans, talent and staff that helped make this possible.”

Variety reported that the deal includes “enhanced distribution rights across social media.” It also includes “potential” new programming on both linear and digital platforms. Though former AEW World Champion Swerve Strickland was recorded last week saying AEW was taking “WWE SmackDown’s” place on Fox, Variety did not report anything of the like on Wednesday. Variety’s report also did not include anything regarding “AEW Shockwave,” a term the company recently trademarked, which is rumored to be another show set to air on FS1.

Fightful Select, meanwhile, is reporting that claims that WBD own an undisclosed stake in AEW can’t be confirmed, as sources in AEW and WBD said they hadn’t heard anything about WBD having an ownership stake in the company. Meanwhile, Fightful reports that “AEW Collision” and “AEW Dynamite” are set to remain on Saturdays and Wednesdays, respectively; as for “AEW Rampage,” it’s possible the show could end up on another network, but if so the “Rampage” archives would not be added to to Max in January along with “Dynamite” and “Collision.” AEW will continue to charge for PPVs, as the company has no interest in “cannibalizing” the PPV market by making it subscription-based, citing losses by WWE and UFC since moving to a subscription model, but the promotion is aware of the negativity generated by the idea of paywalling PPVs and then charging more for them. Fightful claims AEW may change to a different model in the future.

Finally, there are no known plans in regards to bringing Ring of Honor to TruTV, but the end of WBD’s exclusivity clause means AEW is now able to negotiate with other networks, meaning there’s a possibility for a return of programming like “AEW Dark” as well as the rumored Fox deal.

Source: Wrestling Inc.

AEW Dynamite 5-Year Anniversary Show Preview 10/2/2024

AEW Dynamite 5-Year Anniversary show will air live tonight on TBS from the Petersen Events Center in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The show will have a significant overrun per Tony Khan.

  • AEW World Title vs AEW Continental Title: AEW World Champion Bryan Danielson vs. AEW Continental Champion Kazuchika Okada
    (Okada’s Continental Championship is on the line for the first 20 minutes.)
  • AEW International Championship: Will Ospreay (c) vs. Ricochet
  • Dr. Britt Baker, D.M.D. vs. Serena Deeb
  • Hangman Page vs. Juice Robinson