AEW Collision tonight on TNT and HBO Max.
Sami Callihan’s next chapter in professional wrestling may already be underway.
After departing TNA Wrestling in June 2026, the former TNA World Champion has reportedly been spending time backstage at recent AEW events. While there is currently no indication that Callihan has signed an official contract with All Elite Wrestling, multiple reports suggest he has been involved in a production capacity at several recent television tapings.
According to Bodyslam.net, Callihan was present backstage for AEW’s Beach Break edition of Dynamite on July 8, as well as the July 11 episode of Collision in Roanoke, Virginia. He was also reportedly part of the production team during AEW’s television tapings in Boston on July 15 and July 16.
Sources within AEW indicated that Callihan’s role has primarily been that of a backstage producer. The position is familiar territory for the veteran performer, who handled a variety of responsibilities during his time in TNA beyond his in-ring work.
Despite his recent involvement, reports state that Callihan is not currently under contract with AEW. Details regarding the nature of the arrangement remain unclear, and it is unknown whether he is working under a temporary agreement or simply assisting the company on a trial basis.
The situation has drawn comparisons to Chris Hero’s path into AEW. Hero initially worked backstage as a producer before eventually securing a full-time role with the promotion after what was viewed as an evaluation period.
Callihan’s extensive experience outside the ring could make him a valuable asset for AEW. During his tenure with TNA, he contributed to several areas of the company’s operations, including marketing, merchandise, and the production of pre-recorded segments. His experience running Wrestling REVOLVER has also given him firsthand knowledge of event planning and creative development.
Ironically, Callihan reportedly believed he was in line for a larger creative role within TNA following Tommy Dreamer’s departure from the company earlier this year. Instead, the phone call he expected to bring a promotion delivered different news, as he was informed that TNA would not be renewing his contract.
Whether these recent AEW appearances lead to a permanent position remains to be seen, but Callihan’s growing presence backstage suggests he may already be making an impression within the company.
WWE and AEW will go head-to-head on September 26, as WWE has officially scheduled its next WWE x AAA Worlds Collide event for the same day as AEW’s annual All Out pay-per-view.
The date was revealed as part of a WWE press release announcing multiple upcoming event locations and schedules. According to the announcement, Worlds Collide will take place on Saturday, September 26, at the Allstate Arena in Rosemont, Illinois.
The announcement is notable because AEW had already confirmed that All Out will be held that same day at the NOW Arena in Hoffman Estates, Illinois. The two venues are located less than 30 minutes apart, setting up a rare situation where WWE and AEW will be running major events in the same market on the same night.
At this time, WWE has not announced a start time for Worlds Collide. AEW’s schedule for All Out is already in place, with the Buy In pre-show set to begin at 7 p.m. ET and the main pay-per-view card scheduled for an 8 p.m. ET start.
The decision creates an interesting dynamic for wrestling fans in the Chicago area, particularly those hoping to attend both events. Depending on WWE’s eventual start time, fans could be forced to choose between the two shows if there is significant overlap.
The upcoming Worlds Collide event will continue WWE’s partnership with AAA following WWE’s acquisition of the legendary Mexican promotion earlier this year. Previous Worlds Collide events have showcased talent from both companies, blending WWE’s global reach with AAA’s rich lucha libre tradition.
Meanwhile, All Out remains one of AEW’s signature annual pay-per-views and has historically been closely associated with the Chicago market, which has served as one of the promotion’s strongest fan bases since its launch.
With both companies now scheduled to run major events just miles apart on the same day, September 26 is shaping up to be one of the most talked-about dates on the wrestling calendar.
AEW Dynamite live tonight on TBS and HBO Max from the MGM Music Hall at Fenway in Boston, Massachussetes.
AEW has reportedly taken legal action against the production company responsible for the wrestling biopic Queen of the Ring, alleging that the company failed to pay the full amount owed under a promotional sponsorship agreement.
According to a report from POST Wrestling, AEW filed a lawsuit against Ring Productions, LLC, claiming the company still owes more than $100,000 related to AEW’s promotion of the film, which was released last year.
The movie, based on the life and career of pioneering women’s wrestling star Mildred Burke, featured appearances from several wrestling personalities, including AEW stars Toni Storm, Britt Baker, and Kamille. Throughout the film’s promotional campaign, AEW provided significant exposure by featuring sponsored matches, airing trailers during events, and spotlighting members of the cast on its programming.
Court filings reportedly state that Ring Productions paid $205,000 toward its obligations by May 2025. However, AEW alleges that a remaining balance of $100,000 was never paid. The company is also seeking an additional $5,000 in travel expenses tied to talent appearances connected to the promotional agreement.
In addition to the outstanding payments, AEW is reportedly pursuing contractual interest charges of 1.5 percent per month on the overdue balance.
The lawsuit claims that AEW attempted to resolve the issue outside of court, sending multiple communications between September and December 2025 regarding the unpaid amounts. After those efforts failed to produce a resolution, AEW’s legal team reportedly became involved in March 2026.
The filing further alleges that Ring Productions Chief Operating Officer Paul Leighton acknowledged the debt, with the amount reportedly totaling $105,262.51 at the time of the legal action.
As of now, Ring Productions has not publicly responded to the lawsuit and has not yet been formally served. Once service is completed, the company will have a limited period to file an official response.
Queen of the Ring had a brief theatrical run and generated approximately $657,000 at the box office. In addition to AEW talent, the film featured WWE star Naomi, wrestling manager Jim Cornette, and included AEW commentator Jim Ross as an executive producer.
The movie’s promotional campaign generated attention within the wrestling world, including a widely discussed appearance by actress Damaris Lewis during AEW Revolution weekend. Numerous AEW personalities, including Mercedes Moné, Harley Cameron, and Christopher Daniels, also helped support the project through premiere appearances and social media promotion.
The legal dispute now adds an unexpected chapter to the relationship between AEW and the film’s production team, with the matter set to play out in court unless a settlement is reached.
AEW commentator and wrestling broadcasting legend Jim Ross has shared a new update on his health following a lengthy hospital stay, revealing that he is preparing to undergo brain surgery in the near future.
Speaking on a recent episode of Grilling JR, Ross said he continues to make progress after spending more than a month hospitalized, though he acknowledged that his recovery is still ongoing.
“I feel pretty good. I’m getting better every day, but still got a ways to go,” Ross explained, noting that he has not yet been cleared to drive and has begun reducing his public appearances while focusing on his health.
Ross is expected to make an appearance in Minneapolis in the coming weeks, but much of his attention is now centered on an upcoming medical procedure. According to the veteran announcer, doctors plan to perform brain surgery within the next week or two.
The 74-year-old revealed that the operation will involve the placement of a shunt designed to drain excess fluid from his brain and redirect it elsewhere in his body. The goal is to reduce pressure that has reportedly been affecting areas of the brain linked to memory and cognitive function.
Ross spoke candidly about the symptoms that led to the diagnosis, explaining that he had been struggling with memory issues and episodes of forgetfulness before suffering a medical incident at home that resulted in a lengthy hospitalization.
The Hall of Fame broadcaster described the nearly 40-day hospital stay as a difficult experience, but expressed confidence in his medical team and optimism about the procedure’s outcome.
The health issues follow a challenging period for Ross. After attending AEW’s Double or Nothing pay-per-view earlier this year, he reportedly suffered a fall that ultimately led to his extended hospitalization. Ross later disclosed that he experienced additional health complications during his trip to the event, including another fall and severe back problems after arriving at his hotel.
Despite those setbacks, Ross still fulfilled his commentary duties at the show, calling Jon Moxley’s successful Continental Championship defense against Kyle O’Reilly.
Looking ahead, Ross hopes the surgery will allow him to regain a better quality of life and continue his recovery at home.
“I’ll get it done, a short hospital stay, and limp back home and heal up,” Ross said regarding the upcoming procedure.
Earlier this year, Ross also underwent neurological testing to determine whether he might be dealing with dementia or Alzheimer’s disease. As of now, he has not publicly disclosed the results of those evaluations.
Ross has been a key figure in AEW since joining the company in 2019. With his current contract reportedly set to expire next month, questions remain about his future with the promotion. For now, however, the focus remains on his health and recovery as he prepares for the next step in his medical journey.
AEW Collision live tonight at 8/7c on TNT and HBO Max from the Berglund Center in Roanoke, Virginia
Hangman Page will kick off AEW Collision LIVE in Roanoke, VA!
We haven’t seen Hangman since Revolution in March, & he returns to AEW to open Collision LIVE in his home state Virginia TONIGHT!
Willow Nightingale made an immediate impact in her return to AEW, emerging victorious in the Women’s Casino Gauntlet Match on this week’s episode of AEW Dynamite. The win secures Nightingale a future shot at AEW Women’s World Champion Thekla at AEW Redemption.
The high-stakes gauntlet featured a loaded field of competitors and plenty of chaos from start to finish. ROH Women’s World Champion Athena and Maya World kicked off the match, trading offense until Skye Blue entered as the third participant. Blue wasted no time making her presence felt, bringing a kendo stick to the ring and using it to gain the upper hand.
Mina Shirakawa joined the action next, followed by Stardom’s Rina, adding an international flavor to the contest. Outside the ring, Athena delivered a brutal attack on Blue by driving her back-first into the ring steps.
The match continued to escalate when Julia Hart arrived carrying a trash can lid. Hart unleashed a flurry of offense on the field before she and Blue turned their attention to AEW officials, using chairs in a wild confrontation at ringside.
Thunder Rosa entered as the seventh competitor and immediately went after Hart and Blue. Rosa also exchanged hard-hitting strikes with Rina and scored a notable combination neck breaker and back breaker. Athena briefly regained momentum, but several competitors prevented her from capitalizing.
The biggest reaction of the match came when Nightingale entered as the eighth participant. Returning from injury, the former TBS Champion stormed into the ring and quickly changed the complexion of the bout. Nightingale ran through the competition, delivering a series of power moves that included a devastating powerbomb to Athena on the ring apron and a Death Valley Driver on the arena floor.
With the field cleared, Nightingale sealed the victory by planting Julia Hart with another powerbomb, earning the decisive pinfall and securing her championship opportunity.
The celebration was short-lived. AEW Women’s World Champion Thekla left the commentary desk and attacked Nightingale after the match, sending a clear message ahead of their upcoming title clash. Elsewhere, Lena Kross and Megan Bayne brawled with Skye Blue and Julia Hart near the entrance ramp, adding even more chaos to the post-match scene.
To close the segment, 2026 Women’s Owen Hart Foundation Tournament winner Mercedes Moné made her way to the ring. With both Thekla and Nightingale present, Moné inserted herself into the situation by taking out both women, further complicating the AEW women’s championship picture.
With Nightingale back in action, Thekla holding the title, and Moné looming as a major threat, the road to AEW Redemption just became significantly more interesting.
AEW Dynamite Beach Break live tonight at 8/7c on TBS and HBO Max from The BayCare Sound at Coachman Park in Clearwater, Florida.
AEW may have a surprise in store for fans during tonight’s special Dynamite: Beach Break event, and it could involve one of the company’s biggest stars stepping back into the spotlight.
Speaking with 10 Tampa News ahead of the show, AEW veteran Paul Wight teased that he will be involved during the broadcast and suggested that fans may see him inside the ring.
“I am going to be in the ring, doing something,” Wight said. “I can’t tell you what, because it’s a big secret. But if you come, you will see me maybe slap some people around.”
While Wight stopped short of revealing exactly what he has planned, his comments have sparked speculation that the former world champion could be preparing for a rare physical appearance on AEW television.
Wight has largely worked as a commentator, ambassador, and backstage mentor during his time with AEW. Injuries and health issues have limited his in-ring activity in recent years, with his last AEW match taking place in late 2023 and his most recent wrestling appearance coming in early 2024.
Despite that absence, Wight recently made it clear that retirement is not currently in his plans. During an interview earlier this year, he stated that he still hopes to compete again and even named Kenny Omega and Darby Allin among the AEW stars he would be interested in facing.
Interestingly, Omega is scheduled for one of the biggest matches of the night at Beach Break. The former AEW World Champion will challenge MJF for the AEW Men’s World Championship in a bout carrying major implications. If Omega comes up short, he will permanently lose the right to challenge for the AEW World Championship again, joining Cody Rhodes and Hangman Adam Page on that list.
Tonight’s card is also set to feature Konosuke Takeshita defending the AEW International Championship against Kyle Fletcher, Chris Jericho facing Tommaso Ciampa, and a Women’s Casino Gauntlet Match to determine the next challenger for AEW Women’s World Champion Thekla at AEW Redemption.
Whether Wight’s involvement is tied to one of those matches or something entirely different remains to be seen, but his comments have certainly added another layer of intrigue heading into one of AEW’s biggest television events of the summer.
Wrestling News Blog 