Tonight’s WWE NXT airs live from the WWE Performance Center in Orlando, Fla., beginning at 8 p.m. ET on the CW Network and Netflix internationally. This episode is the first following the NXT Heatwave event, which saw major title matches and the emergence of new No. 1 contenders, setting the stage for ongoing rivalries and new storylines throughout the women’s division and tag team ranks.
Confirmed Matches and Segments:
Blindfold Match: Lexis King vs. Myles Borne
Tag Team Match: The Culling (Izzi Dame & Tatum Paxley) vs. Wren Sinclair & a mystery partner
Six-Woman Tag Team Match: Fatal Influence (NXT Women’s Champion Jacy Jayne, Fallon Henley & Jazmyn Nyx) vs. Lola Vice, ZARIA & Sol Ruca (NXT Women’s North American & Speed Champion)
Singles Match: Blake Monroe vs. Kelani Jordan
With the fallout from Heatwave still fresh, tonight’s NXT will push new contenders forward and continue building toward No Mercy next month, where championship pursuits and unresolved conflicts will come into sharper focus.
A controversial promo from last night’s episode of Monday Night Raw in Birmingham, England, has caught the attention of Kelly Osbourne, the daughter of the late rock legend and WWE Hall of Famer, Ozzy Osbourne. She took to social media to call out Women’s Intercontinental Champion Becky Lynch and WWE for comments made about her father and his hometown.
In a post on her Instagram story on Tuesday morning, Kelly Osbourne responded directly to the segment, which saw Becky Lynch use Ozzy Osbourne’s recent passing as part of her heel promo.
“@beckylynchwwe you are a disrespectful dirtbag! Birmingham would not piss on you if you were on fire,” Osbourne wrote. “#birminghamforever shame on the @wwe for allowing such things to be said about my father and his home!!!”
The comments came during an in-ring confrontation between Lynch and her Clash in Paris challenger, Nikki Bella. To get heat from the Birmingham crowd, Lynch first called the city a “dump.”
She then referenced Ozzy Osbourne, who was a beloved native of Birmingham and passed away on July 22. Lynch said the only good thing to come out of Birmingham was dead, and that in Ozzy’s defense, “he had the sense to move to LA because if she lived in Birmingham, she would want to die too.”
New TNA Knockouts World Champion Ash By Elegance is relishing her recent title win, a victory that demonstrates the importance of keeping bridges. Elegance brought the title back to TNA at WWE Heatwave, dethroning NXT’s Jacy Jayne in a triple-threat match that included Masha Slamovich.
The biggest victory of her career to date, Elegance’s win at Heatwave comes just short of two-years after her release from WWE. Taking to social media, the former Dana Brooke reflected on her win, her journey outside WWE, and how her win shows that she was wise not to burn a bridge with her former employer.
During her WWE run, Elegance never held a major singles title, but was instead a 15-time WWE 24/7 Champion, the second-most number of reigns behind Ron ‘R-Truth’ Killings. With her bridges stronger than ever and WWE’s ongoing partnership with TNA, don’t be surprised to see more of the new Knockouts World Champion on WWE programming.
Drew McIntyre will put Randy Orton out of his ‘misery’ following the Viper’s RKO on the Scottish Warrior during a recent SmackDown. During the August 22, episode, as McIntyre said how Cody Rhodes has no allies left in WWE, Orton floored McIntyre, showing that there are people still on Rhodes’ side.
On X, McIntyre shared a fiery promo aimed at both Rhodes and Orton. Saying Rhodes should enjoy the “gift” of time off, an absence caused by a McIntyre attack, Drew made his bold claim.
“The winds of change are blowing through WWE, and we’re sick of the same Cody reruns, week after week. Change means no champion.”
McIntyre then turned his attention to Randy Orton, questioning why the veteran continues to involve himself in his business. Comparing Orton to the dog Old Yeller who has to be put down in the classic book, McIntyre called him a legend ready to be put down and suggested he is looking for a way out of WWE in one final blaze of glory.
“You’re Old Yeller. You want to go out in a blaze of glory. I think you see the end coming, and you’re trying to find your way out of this industry. And I’m happy to oblige.”
McIntyre ended with a warning to Orton not to try another sneak attack or risk facing violent consequences. While no match has been made, fans can expect the pair to come face to face sooner than later.
Swerve Strickland will miss considerable time in the ring due to recovery from a torn meniscus surgery that is very near. Bodyslam.net reports that Strickland will undergo the surgery this Wednesday, August 27. The report was later confirmed by Fightful.
Strickland has been dealing with the meniscus tear since 2019, Fightful adds, and that he was expected to take time off after Forbidden Door. AEW’s most recent pay-per-view from London, England saw Strickland fail to beat Kazuchika Okada in an AEW Unified Championship match. Post-match, Okada trapped Swerve’s knee between the post and ring steps and struck him with a steel chair.
Okada takes out the knee of Swerve after defeating him#ForbiddenDoor
Strickland’s absence opens up a void for somebody to step up into his spot on the AEW roster. A former AEW World Champion, Swerve is regularly featured in main event segments and matches and it remains who fills the gap in the card.
Swerve isn’t the only notable name who’ll disappear from AEW’s shows as Will Ospreay is dreading an upcoming surgery of his own. As AEW prepares to move ahead without two of its most popular stars, fans await to see what’s next for Tony Khan’s promotion.
Will Ospreay is set to miss considerable in-ring time as the Aerial Assassin will undergo surgery for two herniated discs in his back. This setback will force Ospreay of AEW TV for months, and some in WWE are also pulling for the former International Champion.
Speaking to the Metro UK newspaper, Ospreay shared that many people from WWE have reached out. Despite not being with WWE, Ospreay has been met by a wave of support from those in the company.
“I’ve got people in (WWE) that I’ve never met before in my entire life, that have reached out because of this neck injury, and they have gone, ‘Hey, if you need a doctor, or if there’s any questions that need to be answered.’
“Every single one of them are super lovely. And I wish them all the best. I really do.”
There’s no word yet on when fans can expect Ospreay back in the ring, but fans eagerly await his return. The comments from those in WWE show that when it comes to wrestling injuries, support transcends beyond the promotional barriers.
Prior to the attack, AJ Mana was part of a segment in which he encouraged Raja to give Stu a “receipt” for a previous issue between the two. Many have said that Mana bears some blame for Raja’s actions that left Stu hospitalized in critical care.
“I want to take a moment to address the recent incident at KnokX Pro. First and foremost, my thoughts are with Syko Stu and his family — no one ever wants to see a fellow performer get seriously hurt.
“There’s been a lot of speculation online about my role that night. The truth is, I was in character and speaking in the language of wrestling. Everything I said was part of the show, and I never intended — or encouraged — real harm. This was a situation that unfortunately got out of hand due to miscommunication behind the scenes.
“Wrestling is built on trust, respect, and protecting each other in the ring. That’s what I stand for, and anyone who has worked with me knows that. I respect this business, I respect the fans, and I respect the performers who step between those ropes. I hope we can focus on Stu’s recovery and making sure something like this never happens again.”
A GoFundMe has been created for Syko Stu which has already reached more than half of its $60,000 goal. As the fallout of this incident continues, including potential legal action against Jackson, this is a situation nobody wants to see repeated.
The fate of the WWE Women’s World Championship will be decided within a matter of days, it has been confirmed. During the August 25, episode of WWE Raw, General Manager Adam Pearce spoke with Stephanie Vaquer, the number one contender for the title. Though Vaquer had earned a title match for Clash in Paris, Pearce shared that due to Naomi’s pregnancy, a title match in Paris is no longer feasible.
Instead, Vaquer will face an opponent of Pearce’s choosing at a show yet to be decided. Fans won’t have to wait long to find out who the Chilean Superstar will face, as they’ll be revealed on the September 1, episode of WWE Raw.
For Vaquer, already an NXT Women’s and Women’s North American Champion, the Women’s World Title would be her first taste of main roster gold. Time will tell who she’ll face for the vacant title, but expect a hard-fought contest from La Primera with the Women’s World Championship on the line.
For the month of September, WWE’s flagship show, Monday Night Raw, will be airing at an earlier start time in the United States. The official schedule on the Netflix streaming platform has been updated to reflect the change for three consecutive weeks.
The Netflix schedule now lists the episodes of Monday Night Raw on September 15, September 22, and September 29 with a 7 p.m. ET start time. This is a full hour earlier than the show’s traditional 8 p.m. ET time slot.
While no official reason for the change has been given by WWE or Netflix, it is widely believed to be a strategic move to get a one-hour head start on the NFL’s “Monday Night Football,” which begins its regular season in September and airs on ESPN.
The adjusted schedule in September follows several other unique start times for the program due to its international tour. Today’s August 25th episode from Birmingham, England, has a special 3 p.m. ET start time, and the September 1st episode from Paris, France, will begin at 2 p.m. ET.
The show is currently scheduled to return to its normal 8 p.m. ET start time in October, with the exception of the October 13th episode from Perth, Australia, which will air live in the U.S. at 8 a.m. ET.
Today’s edition of Monday Night Raw from Birmingham, England, kicked off with a chaotic brawl between Roman Reigns and Bronson Reed. The “security guards” who unsuccessfully attempted to break up the fight were actually a group of independent wrestlers from the UK wrestling scene.
The show opened with Roman Reigns in the ring, but he was quickly interrupted by his Clash in Paris opponent, Bronson Reed. The two behemoths immediately came to blows, leading to a wild brawl that spilled all over the ringside area. A group of security guards rushed to the ring to separate them but were promptly taken out as the fight continued.
According to a report from Fightful’s Corey Brennan, the security guards were portrayed by several well-known names from the UK and international independent circuit. The wrestlers who were identified are CBL, Sammy D, Tate Mayfairs, Ethan Allen, and James Ellis.
The use of local independent talent as extras and enhancement performers is a common practice for WWE whenever the company tours internationally. This was the final confrontation between Reigns and Reed before their scheduled match at the Clash in Paris premium live event this Sunday, August 31.
YouTube superstar MrBeast has stepped forward to offer financial assistance to independent wrestler Syko Stu following the shocking actions at the KnokX Pro Wrestling event. After an attack by Raja Jackson left the Army veteran hospitalized with serious injuries, MrBeast took to X to share his support.
Dang man, this hurts to see. Especially because I read he was a veteran that used wrestling as an outlet to get over ptsd..
Genuinely, if anyone connected to him knows of a way I can help please reach out. If his kid is a fan or I can help with hospital bills idk but I’ll help.
Stu, real name Stuart Smith, was attacked by Raja Jackson at the KnokX Pro Wrestling even in Los Angeles. What began as a planned wrestling spot escalated when Jackson delivered over 20 real punches to Smith’s head while he lay unconscious on the mat. The incident has received widespread condemnation from wrestling fans, pundits, and those in the wider news media world.
Smith, who began wrestling in 2017 as therapy for PTSD after returning from military service, suffered broken facial bones and lost multiple teeth in the attack. He remains in critical but stable condition at a Los Angeles hospital, according to his brother.
The Los Angeles Police Department has launched an investigation into the incident, while Kick has permanently banned Raja Jackson from its platfom. KnokX Pro has banned Raja for the “selfish, irresponsible act of violence” while Raja’s father, UFC alum Rampage Jackson has also condemned his son’s actions. The situation is ongoing.
The date and location for the next WWE Saturday Night’s Main Event special have been officially confirmed. The event is scheduled to take place on Saturday, November 1, and will take place from the Delta Center in Salt Lake City, Utah.
The news was confirmed by FOX 13 Utah, following a new agreement between Smith Entertainment Group and the Utah Sports Commission to bring more WWE and UFC events to the state. The Salt Lake City show will mark the first time a PLE-level event has ever been held in Utah.
The Saturday night special will cap off a full WWE weekend in Salt Lake City. A special Halloween edition of Friday Night SmackDown will also take place from the Delta Center on Friday, October 31.
Chris Barney of Smith Entertainment Group commented on the news in a statement. “We are thrilled that live WWE entertainment and UFC action will return to Utah,” Barney said. “Every TKO event Delta Center has hosted has captivated fans and brought people from across the country into Salt Lake City, creating opportunities to showcase Utah’s world class sports and entertainment landscape.”
It was recently reported that the quarterly Saturday Night’s Main Event specials will now air exclusively on the Peacock streaming service as part of a new multi-year deal.
AEWxNJPW Forbidden Door 2025 hardly went the way the Young Bucks would have hoped for. After being embarrassed with the use of Hanson’s Mmmbop (their first wrestling theme), the Jackson brothers were on the losing end of the show’s Lights Out Steel Cage main event.
In footage taken post-Forbidden Door, the former AEW EVPs can be seen drowning their sorrows in some comfort food while watching the main event. The pair were interrupted by a phone call from Jack Perry, who they’d promptly hang up on.
Perry has been missing from AEW TV for over nine months, though it is believed he could be back soon. Perry has been backstage at tapings of AEW programming in July and was said to be in good spirits. Perry was aligned with the Bucks as part of The Elite prior to his hiatus.
Perry has not appeared on AEW programming since he lost the TNT Championship to Daniel Garcia at Full Gear 2024. Now, all signs point to Perry inching closer to a return, though finding allies may prove harder for the Scapegoat than first thought.
Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson is an established name in box-office blockbusters, from explosive action hits to family-friendly animations. Now, the former WWE World Champion is taking on a much different role in A24’s impending Mark Kerr biopic ‘The Smashing Machine.’
For Johnson, the role of the UFC fighter who battled both opponents and substances, is a far-cry from the likes of Jumanji or the Fast & Furious franchise. Speaking to Vanity Fair, Johnson was open about his nerves leading up to production on The Smashing Machine.
“It was very real. I had not experienced that in a very, very, very long time, where I was really scared and thinking, I don’t know if I can do this. Can I do this? I realized that maybe these opportunities weren’t coming my way because I was too scared to explore this stuff.”
The Smashing Machine reunites Johnson with Jumanji co-star Emily Blunt, who is impressed by Dwayne’s drive to do something new. The English actress reflected on how the role as Kerr is different to anything Johnson has done before.
“DJ has been pigeonholed into the image of the big hero who’s got all the answers and he’s going to fix everything and he’s invincible. I think until this moment, maybe he thought that was the only lane that people wanted to see him in.”
Johnson has had his eye on The Smashing Machine since 2019, when he reached out to co-director Benny Safdie about a potential Kerr project. Though the pandemic derailed countless plans in Hollywood, Johnson never gave up on The Smashing Machine, as Safdie explained:
“Dwayne felt so deeply about it, it was something I couldn’t shake… It was literally like, ‘What about the thing you haven’t stopped thinking about for four years? That’s it!’”
Now, Johnson has the chance to show that he is much more than bulging big-screen muscles and cheesy quips. As he prepares to bring the two-time UFC heavyweight tournament champion to the big screen, it remains to be seen if his performance will be a knockout in the Octagon.
WWE landed on Netflix in January 2025, kicking off a new era for the pro wrestling giant on the world’s biggest streaming platform. Already, WWE has become a staple of Netflix, and will be featured in the upcoming ‘Netflix House’ physical attraction.
Netflix House opens November 12 in Philadelphia, followed by another location in Dallas on December 11. Among its biggest features is “Top 9,” a fully themed, nine-hole mini-golf course, which will have one hole dedicated to WWE RAW.
Chief Marketing Officer Marian Lee described the concept in a statement:
“Finally, a place where the Netflix story you can’t get enough of becomes something real that you can play, shop, and taste. This is fandom coming to life, where you can actually step inside the worlds you’ve been watching and loving for years.”
Netflix House will span more than 100,000 square feet and include other hits from the streaming giant. Alongside WWE, fans will get to experience franchises like Wednesday, Squid Game, ONE PIECE, Stranger Things, KPop Demon Hunters, Love Is Blind and Knives Out in a brand-new immersive way.
All Elite Wrestling is marking a milestone celebration as AEW Dynamite hits its year anniversary with a special event at Hard Rock Live at Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Hollywood, Florida on October 1, 2025.
The anniversary show will take place at one of Florida’s premier entertainment venues. ‘HOLLYWOOD! All Elite Wrestling brings you an epic night of professional wrestling as AEW Dynamite invades Hard Rock Live at Seminole Hard Rock on October 1st!’ the promotion announced.
The Hard Rock Live venue, known for hosting major entertainment events, signals AEW’s positioning of this anniversary as a significant occasion.
Ticket Info
Tickets will be available through a tiered release system:
Premium Seating Early Access: September 2 (AEW Insiders)
General Presales: September 3
Public Sales: September 5
The anniversary positions this as one of AEW’s most significant Dynamite episodes of the year.
One day after his loss at the AEW x NJPW: Forbidden Door pay-per-view, Swerve Strickland has posted a cryptic message on social media. His post suggests a potential change in mindset for the former champion.
In a post on his social media on Monday morning, Strickland made a statement. “It was time to start gatekeeping wrestling again,” he wrote. The message comes after a brutal night for the top star at Wembley Stadium.
At Forbidden Door event, Swerve Strickland unsuccessfully challenged Kazuchika Okada for the AEW Unified Championship. After the match, Okada continued his assault, targeting Strickland’s already injured knee. The champion trapped Swerve’s leg between the ring post and the steel steps before hitting it with a steel chair.
The attack was interrupted by Strickland’s manager, Prince Nana, who attempted to make the save with a steel pipe. However, this was followed by the surprise return of Wardlow, who attacked Nana and revealed himself to be the newest member of Okada’s faction, the Don Callis Family.
Strickland has been working through a legitimate torn meniscus injury for some time. He is expected to take time off to heal up.
WWE has announced two major title matches for the upcoming WWE NXT No Mercy event, set for September 27th in Fort Lauderdale, Florida:
NXT Women’s Championship: Lola Vice will challenge the reigning champion, Jacy Jayne, after earning her spot by winning a triple threat match against Kelani Jordan and Jaida Parker at the recent NXT Heatwave event.
WWE Women’s Speed Championship: Sol Ruca will defend her title against the winner of a tournament that will be determined on the September 2nd episode of NXT. The tournament includes participants from Raw or SmackDown, NXT, TNA, and AAA.
Fans in the United States can watch the event live via streaming on Peacock. International audiences can catch the show on Netflix, as WWE’s NXT premium live events will remain on their established streaming partners.
Who Are The Other NXT Champions Likely to Defend at No Mercy?
To get a sense of the champions currently representing NXT:
NXT Champion: Oba Femi (recently retained his title at Heatwave)
NXT North American Champion: Ethan Page
NXT Tag Team Champions: Hank Walker & Tank Ledger
NXT Heritage Cup: Super Nova Sessions
NXT Women’s Champion: Jacy Jayne (to defend vs. Lola Vice at No Mercy)
NXT North American Women’s Champion: Sol Ruca (also the current Women’s Speed Champion)
Other Possible Defenses: Don’t rule out titles like the NXT Heritage Cup or North American Championship potentially being on the line, as No Mercy draws nearer.
What’s Next: Tuesday’s NXT on the CW
This Tuesday’s episode of WWE NXT on the CW will be a must-watch, serving as the official fallout show from Heatwave. It’s expected to answer many questions for No Mercy, with reactions from both Lola Vice and Sol Ruca, as well as further developments for other storylines and championship matches. New challengers could emerge, and the match card will begin to take shape as the aftermath of Heatwave is felt throughout the NXT roster.
WWE Raw airs tonight from Birmingham, United Kingdom (its first time in the city in over a decade), serving as the final Raw before the highly anticipated Clash in Paris premium live event on August 31. This episode has a special early start time of 3PM ET and will focus on advancing major rivalries and storylines before the Paris show.
Confirmed matches and segments:
Roman Reigns will open the show with an in-ring appearance.
Nikki Bella calls out Becky Lynch, seeking a Women’s Intercontinental Championship match.
Rhea Ripley vs. Roxanne Perez in singles competition—the third meeting between the two.
Penta vs. Kofi Kingston, building on their ongoing feud.
With Clash in Paris just days away, tonight’s Raw is set to spotlight the final build for major matches, including the fatal four-way for the World Heavyweight Championship and high-profile women’s title bouts scheduled for the Paris event.
Windham Rotunda, known to wrestling fans as Bray Wyatt, died on August 24, 2023, at the tragically young age of 36. Two years later, the legacy of Rotunda continues forward and now one of the people who knew him best has shared their tribute.
Jason Baker worked closely with Rotunda for years and was responsible for designing The Fiend, the burned Fiend, and the Firefly Funhouse. Reflecting on two years since Rotunda’s passing, Baker shared a unique item, a signed figure of Bray Wyatt with a heartfelt message from the late wrestler.
“To Jason, my brother, I will forever be in your debt. You took a crooked, thrown together idea for a monster and turned it into an icon. I am thankful for everything you do, and I look so forward to whatever horrible idea we come up with next. – Bray Wyatt.”
Baker’s influence in wrestling continues to be felt to this day. Baker is one of the key creative figures behind the Wyatt Sicks, an off-shoot of the Wyatt Family inspired by Windham. Baker also crafted Cody Rhodes’ WrestleMania 40 mask as well as Rhea Ripley’s mask from Survivor Series: WarGames 2024, showing his influence extends beyond the Wyatts.
As for Windham Rotunda, his legacy remains in wrestling as tributes continue to poor in for the three-time WWE World Champion. The life and career he leaves behind remains loved by fans to this day.
More has come to light about Raja Jackson’s attack on Syko Stu at a recent KnokX Pro Academy in Los Angeles, including potential legal repercussions. According to TMZ who spoke to the LAPD, officers were called to the event and the incident is now being investigated. Jackson, the son of UFC alum Rampage Jackson, attacked a seemingly unconscious Stu, delivering several blows to the head before talent pulled Jackson away.
A source close to the event guaranteed that Raja will never, ever wrestle for Knox Pro while speaking to TMZ. Douglas Malo, a wrestler who was one of the group to pull Jackson away, recalled the scene.
“This is so shocking because they were supposed to do a small spot and before you know it, he’s raining down punches.”
Douglas added that the situation was “tragic” and “barbaric” and was sad that such an ordeal took place in front of children watching. He added that his own mother was in the crowd at the event and was witness to what happened.
Rampage Jackson has spoken up against his son’s actions, stating that his son had no place being involved in the event. With Skyo Stu slowly recovering, our thoughts remain with him at this difficult time.
Vince McMahon may no longer be a key part of WWE but that didn’t prevent the billionaire from hosting an extravagent birthday party. August 24, 2025, marked McMahon’s 80th birthday and the ex-WWE Chairman had quite the guest list in New York.
Notable names in attendance included The Undertaker, Michelle McCool, Kane, John Cena, Gerald Brisco, Sheamus, Bruce Prichard, JBL, Sgt. Slaughter, Shane McMahon, and Ron Killings, PW Insider reports. Outside of wrestling, there were reportedly live performances from Kid Rock and AC/DC.
This party comes after McMahon was involved in a car crash in Connecticut. According to reports, McMahon’s vehicle was traveling at approximately 90 miles per hour when it collided with another car on the outskirts of Stamford. Authorities have confirmed that McMahon is facing legal charges related to reckless driving and endangerment.
While McMahon may no longer be part of WWE, he still has deep ties to the current roster. With his ongoing legal issues and plans for his own entertainment company, the 80-year-old continues to draw attention over a year after his WWE exit.
Things took a disturbing turn at KnokX Pro Wrestling’s latest event when Raja Jackson assaulted Syko Stu with a series of blows to the head. The unplanned spot resulted in several wrestlers hitting the ring to pull Jackson away and Stu was later transported to the hospital.
In an update on Facebook, Andrew Smith, Stu’s brother, shared an update. Andrew said his brother is in stable, but critical care. Andrew also warned fans to be wary of fundraising websites, making clear that any money sent to any potential fundraiser is not offiliated with them.
This incident has shocked fans and raised questions about Raja’s role in pro wrestling. His father, UFC legend and ex-TNA talent Rampage Jackson, has said his son had no place being a part of the show. Raja has remained silent on the matter that has gripped the wrestling community.
For now, fans can only continue to hope for the best for Stu’s recovery. This is an ongoing situation so keep following SEScoops for updates.
The TNA Knockouts Championship is back home with TNA Wrestling, thanks to the efforts of Ash By Elegance. At WWE Heatwave, Elegance won the title from Jacy Jayne in a triple-threat which included Masha Slamovich.
With both the Knockouts and World titles under the possession of NXT talent, Elegance’s win is a huge victory for TNA. On X, TNA President Carlos Silva was thrilled by the result.
Jayne, also the NXT Women’s Champion, won the title at Slammiversary from Slamovich. The win made Jayne the first-ever wrestler to hold WWE and TNA gold at the same time. Now, it’s Elegance (fka Dana Brooke) who holds the richest prize in the TNA Knockouts division.
Wardlow made a surprise return to AEW at the Forbidden Door 2025 pay-per-view event held yesterday on August 23, 2025, at The O2 Arena in London, England. This marked his first appearance in over a year, following his last televised match in March 2024 against then-AEW World Champion Samoa Joe.
During the event, after Kazuchika Okada retained the AEW Unified Championship against Swerve Strickland, Okada continued assaulting Strickland’s injured knee by trapping it in the ring steps and striking it with a steel chair. Prince Nana rushed out with a metal pipe to defend Strickland and chase off Okada.
That’s when Wardlow, dressed in a black suit, entered the ring behind them. He attacked Nana with a clothesline, followed by ground-and-pound strikes, and then took out multiple AEW security personnel who tried to intervene. Wardlow eventually left the ring, leaving Strickland helpless and in bad shape.
New Role with the Don Callis Family
Wardlow officially aligned himself with the Don Callis Family during this segment, embracing Don Callis on the ramp and shaking hands with Okada. The rest of the family members came out to welcome him with handshakes and embraces, solidifying his addition to the group. However, Konosuke Takeshita notably stared him down without a handshake, hinting at potential tension.
Konosuke Takeshita confronting Wardlow… YEP, THE SEEDS HAVE BEEN PLANTED.
This move positions Wardlow as the newest member of the heel faction, which now includes talents like Kyle Fletcher, Kazuchika Okada, Konosuke Takeshita, Lance Archer, Hechicero, Josh Alexander, and Rocky Romero. His role appears to be as a powerhouse enforcer, given his actions in the attack.
Work on American Gladiators
Wardlow’s extended absence from AEW was partly due to filming commitments for the upcoming reboot of American Gladiators on Amazon Prime Video, hosted by WWE’s The Miz. He participated in two seasons of the show as a competitor or gladiator, with filming now complete.
This project, along with prior injury recovery, kept him sidelined from wrestling until his recent clearance and return.
