Toni Storm Gets Kendo Stick Gifted From The Sandman Ahead of Philly Street Fight

AEW is wrapping up its month-long residency at Philadelphia’s legendary 2300 Arena, and the company has been making sure the shows feel special. We’ve already seen MJF cost Mark Briscoe a shot at the TNT Title, Kyle Fletcher take out both Hangman Page and Kenny Omega, and Taz get inducted into the Hardcore Hall of Fame. Tonight on Dynamite, it’s the women’s division taking the spotlight, as “Timeless” Toni Storm puts her AEW Women’s World Championship on the line against Skye Blue in a Philly Street Fight.

And if her latest interaction is any indication, Storm is tapping into the spirit of ECW itself for this one.

Earlier today, ECW legend The Sandman shared a photo and video on X of himself meeting Storm in a hotel room. In the clip, Sandman gifted Storm her very own kendo stick — a weapon he made famous in his hardcore glory days. Storm, in her trademark theatrical fashion, proceeded to “knight” Sandman with the weapon before the two broke into laughter.

Sandman captioned the post:

“You gotta check in with Uncle Hak if you touch down in Philly. But if you meet the timeless one you better be bearing gifts.”

Along with the meeting, Sandman revealed that Storm will be a guest on his Sandman Podcast, though no release date was confirmed.

Storm certainly has no shortage of business to handle in the meantime. After tonight’s street fight against Skye Blue, she’ll defend the AEW Women’s World Championship again at All Out, where she faces Jamie Hayter, Kris Statlander, and Thekla in a four-way clash.

If Storm’s newfound kendo stick plays into the chaos in Philadelphia, fans could be in for a hardcore-flavored chapter in her “timeless” reign.

Former AEW Star Allie (The Bunny) Announces Return to Wrestling Training After Two-Year Hiatus

A familiar face from AEW and IMPACT Wrestling is lacing up the boots once again. Allie—known to AEW fans as The Bunnyrevealed on social media that she’s officially returned to wrestling training after two years away from the business.

Allie’s last appearance inside the squared circle came on the September 6, 2023 episode of AEW Dynamite, where she teamed with Anna Jay and Taya Valkyrie in trios action against Hikaru Shida, Skye Blue, and Dr. Britt Baker, D.M.D. Shortly after that match, Allie stepped away from AEW and professional wrestling entirely.

In a heartfelt video posted to Instagram, Allie opened up about her time away, admitting she had completely disconnected from the industry:

“Not only did I not have a match but I hadn’t trained, I hadn’t bumped, I hadn’t been in wrestling at all for quite a long time. Maybe the last couple months, I started feeling like I really missed it in a way that I honestly didn’t expect.”

During her time in AEW, Allie carved out a niche as one of the company’s most versatile women’s performers, transitioning from her darker “Bunny” persona to more traditional roles depending on the story. Prior to that, she enjoyed a successful stint in IMPACT Wrestling, where she captured the Knockouts Championship and became a cornerstone of the women’s division.

While there’s no word yet on whether this return to training will lead to an in-ring comeback with a major promotion, it’s clear Allie’s passion for wrestling has been reignited. With her veteran presence and proven track record, fans will be watching closely to see if “The Bunny” hops back into the spotlight.

WOW Season 4 Brings Women’s Wrestling to Las Vegas With Historic Fremont Street Residency

WOW – Women of Wrestling is about to make its biggest splash yet. Season 4 officially launches the weekend of September 14, and the promotion isn’t just bringing fresh episodes—it’s bringing history.

A brand-new trailer dropped this week teasing the action to come, including the debut of six new competitors. Among them are Brooklyn Love, a former child tennis star turned wrestler; Drucilla Blade, a specialist in weapons-based offense; and powerhouse newcomer Destiny Diesel, who looks primed to shake up the roster.

The season kicks off in a major way with the first-ever WOW Tag Team Championship Cage Match, setting the tone for what looks to be a high-stakes year. Fans will also be treated to a special retrospective celebrating 40 years of women’s wrestling in Las Vegas, hosted by Katie Marie Jones and WOW visionary David McLane.

But perhaps the biggest announcement is WOW’s first-ever residency in Las Vegas. Branded as Fights At Fremont Street Experience, the residency begins October 14 and promises to bring women’s wrestling right into the heart of the city’s entertainment district. Matches from the residency will start airing nationally beginning October 18.

WOW continues to expand its footprint across multiple platforms. The show airs weekly on VICE TV and in syndication nationwide. Fans can also binge past seasons: all episodes of Seasons 1–3 are on Pluto TV, while Seasons 2 and 3 are streaming on Tubi, and Season 2 is additionally available on Paramount+.

With new stars, groundbreaking matches, and a Las Vegas residency, WOW looks set to take women’s wrestling to an entirely new level this fall.

Maple Leaf Pro Wrestling to Stream Sacred Ground Free on YouTube

Maple Leaf Pro Wrestling is giving fans a big surprise ahead of its next major event. The promotion has announced that MLP Sacred Ground, which was originally set to be an untelevised house show, will now stream live and free on the company’s official YouTube channel.

The event is set for September 11 at the Six Nations Sports & Cultural Centre in Ohsweken, Ontario. What was once meant to be a local showcase has quickly grown into something much bigger, thanks in large part to fan demand.

MLP CEO Scott D’Amore addressed the decision in an official statement:

“This was never intended to be a broadcast show, but the fans demanded it. The lineup we have assembled with the support of the Six Nations is pay-per-view quality, and we are thrilled to make it available free to fans around the world.”

While the full card has yet to be revealed, D’Amore’s comments suggest fans can expect a stacked lineup worthy of the company’s growing reputation. Offering the show for free on YouTube is also a bold move that could put Maple Leaf Pro Wrestling in front of its largest audience to date.

With buzz building and fan expectations high, Sacred Ground may end up being one of the most important shows in MLP’s young history.

You can check out the updated lineup for MLP Sacred Ground below:

  • Canadian Championship: Josh Alexander (c) vs. TJP
  • Title vs. Title: Destiny Women’s Champion Priscilla Kelly vs. MLP Women’s Canadian Champion Gisele Shaw
  • PWA Champion’s Grail: Rohan Raja (c) vs. Bishop Dyer
  • The Good Brothers vs. The Flatliners
  • Ace Austin vs. Stu Grayson vs. Taylor Rising
  • Shotzi Blackheart & PCO vs. Kris Chambers & Taylor Rising
  • Billy Gunn, Psycho Mike & Bupinder Gujjar vs. Sheldon Jean, Bryce Hansen & Brent Banks

Matt Riddle Explodes on Social Media After No-Show Allegations, Insults Fans Over 2020 “Speaking Out” movement Accusations

Matt Riddle’s name has been making plenty of headlines yesterday, and not for the best of reasons. The former WWE star and current MLW World Heavyweight Champion was called out over the weekend for reportedly no-showing a charity wrestling event in the UK. On top of that, the organizers claimed he refused to return the deposit he had already been paid.

Riddle initially addressed the situation with a video on X, attempting to give his side of the story. But instead of cooling things down, the “Original Bro” poured gasoline on the fire with a second video that quickly went viral for all the wrong reasons.

In the profanity-laced clip, Riddle unloaded on critics and fans who have questioned him in recent years. Much of his anger was directed toward those who believed the accusations made against him during the 2020 “Speaking Out” movement. Riddle was accused at the time by independent wrestler Candy Cartwright, who later filed a lawsuit against him, WWE, EVOLVE, and Gabe Sapolsky. WWE, EVOLVE, and Sapolsky were dismissed from the case in 2021, and Cartwright voluntarily dropped the suit entirely soon after.

In his rant, Riddle dismissed those allegations as “bulls***” and took aim at fans who supported them. He bragged about continuing to get booked, teased a possible return to fighting, and even promoted his OnlyFans account, making sure to emphasize he wasn’t worried about backlash. His message was blunt: those who don’t like him should unfollow him, because he doesn’t care.

While Riddle insisted “the cream rises to the top,” this latest outburst has left many wondering if he’s doing more harm than good to his own career. MLW has not yet commented on the controversy, but it remains to be seen if Riddle’s unfiltered social media presence will impact his standing with the promotion—or future opportunities elsewhere.

Matt Riddle Reportedly No-Shows UK Charity Event, Deposit Still Unreturned

Former WWE star Matt Riddle is once again making headlines for the wrong reasons. According to a new report from Cultaholic, Riddle was scheduled to appear at a charity wrestling event in Barnsley, England this past Sunday but failed to show.

The event, hosted by Global Wrestling Kingdom, was organized to raise funds for survivors of domestic abuse and homeless veterans. Riddle had been advertised for a high-profile bout against YouTuber-turned-wrestler Simon Miller. However, the former WWE Superstar never boarded a flight to the UK, leaving promoters scrambling on the night of the show.

Making matters worse, it’s being alleged that Riddle has yet to return the deposit he was paid to secure the booking. Organizers are reportedly frustrated, with the situation casting a shadow over what was intended to be a positive night for charity.

Riddle has faced controversy since his WWE release in September 2023. His exit came after an incident at JFK Airport, where witnesses claimed he was intoxicated and causing a disturbance after a flight. Since then, the “Original Bro” has been apart of MLW, appeared at NJPW events and has made occasional indie appearances, but this latest story won’t do his reputation any favors.

At this point, it remains unclear whether Riddle intends to pay back the money owed or publicly address the no-show. For fans who were hoping to see him in Barnsley, it was a major disappointment — and for the charity, it was a setback in their mission to help those in need.

Former AEW/ROH Tag Team The Righteous Wrapping Up Indie Dates, Could Be WWE-Bound

It looks like The Righteous may be on the move again. According to Fightful Select, Vinny and Dutch have begun letting promoters know that they’re finishing up their independent dates in the coming months, fueling speculation that a WWE signing could be right around the corner.

This isn’t the first time WWE has circled the duo. Back in December 2022, both men took part in a tryout alongside KC Navarro and Kylie Rae. Unfortunately for all involved, that same period saw Vince McMahon force his way back into the company, triggering a hiring freeze that effectively slammed the brakes on WWE’s recruiting efforts for several months.

Since then, Vinny and Dutch found a home in AEW/ROH, where they made their presence felt before eventually parting ways earlier this year. With their release now behind them, the door appears open for the long-rumored WWE run.

Interestingly, several notable names have been backing The Righteous along the way. Former WWE star Elijah (known to fans as Elias) is said to have worked on vignettes with them, while the late Bray Wyatt had reportedly gone to bat for their signing after that 2022 tryout.

If the rumors prove true, WWE could be on the verge of adding a duo with both unique presentation and proven experience. For fans of The Righteous, it might just be a matter of when, not if, they make their way onto the company’s stage.

ROH Death Before Dishonor 8/29/2025 (Card)

ROH Death Before Dishonor on Friday, August 29 from 2300 Arena in Philadelphia, PA

CARD

  • ROH World Championship: Bandido (c) vs. Hechicero
  • ROH Women’s World Championship: Athena (c) vs. Mina Shirakawa
  • ROH World Tag Team Championship: Sammy Guevara & mystery partner vs. Outrunners
  • ROH World Six-Man Tag Team Championship: Sammy Guevara & Von Erichs vs. Shane Taylor, Shawn Dean, & Carlie Bravo
  • ROH Pure Championship: Lee Moriarty (c) vs. Xelhua
  • Fight Without Honor: QT Marshall vs. Paul Walter Hauser

ROH World Tag Team Champion and ROH World Six-Man Tag Team Champion Dustin Rhodes is out following double knee replacement surgery.

DDP Hospitalized After Experiencing Atrial Fibrillation

WWE Hall of Famer Diamond Dallas Page (DDP) recently revealed that he was hospitalized after suffering an episode of atrial fibrillation, a heart condition that causes an irregular and often rapid heartbeat.

DDP shared the news with fans on social media, explaining that the incident occurred while he was working out. He noted that he wasn’t wearing a heart monitor at the time, which made it harder to immediately track what was happening. Doctors later performed a cardioversion procedure — a treatment used to restore a normal heart rhythm.

The 68-year-old legend has long been known for his dedication to health and fitness, especially through his DDP Yoga program, which has helped countless wrestlers and fans alike improve their quality of life. While the episode was certainly a scare, Page seemed upbeat in his update and appears to be on the mend.

Wrestling fans everywhere will no doubt be wishing DDP a speedy recovery.

AEW Collision Preview 8/23/2025

AEW Collision on TNT and HBO Max from the OVO Hydro Arena in Glasgow, Sotland

  • The Young Bucks vs. Paragon
  • Skye Blue and Julia Hart vs. Queen Aminata and Willow Nightingale
  • First International Max Caster Open Challenge
  • GOA vs. Grizzled Young Veterans