Less than three weeks after his release from WWE, Andrade El Idolo has made his shocking return to All Elite Wrestling. “El Idolo” appeared on the sixth anniversary episode of AEW Dynamite, laying out a returning Kenny Omega and aligning himself with the Don Callis Family. The surprise return is adevelopment for AEW, as Andrade was one of the most talked-about free agents in the industry following his abrupt departure from WWE on September 13 for what was reported as a disciplinary issue.
The stunning moment occurred after the show’s opening six-man tag team match, which saw the in-ring return of Kenny Omega. Omega teamed with the AEW World Tag Team Champions, Brodido (Brody King & Bandido), to defeat The Young Bucks and Don Callis Family member Josh Alexander.
After the match, as Omega was addressing the fans and celebrating the company’s anniversary, the arena lights went out. When they came back on, Andrade El Idolo was in the ring. He attacked Omega, laying him out before shaking hands with Don Callis at ringside, signaling his new allegiance.
Andrade’s previous AEW contract expired in December 2023. He made his return to WWE just a month later as a surprise entrant in the 2024 Royal Rumble. Now, after just over eight months back with WWE, he has once again jumped back to All Elite Wrestling, a move that is sure to have major repercussions for the entire roster.
A new report is out regarding the status of WWE superstar Jade Cargill following the gruesome injury she sustained during the main event of last week’s Friday Night SmackDown. PWInsider Elite reports that the injury was not as severe as it appeared, and Cargill is expected to make a relatively quick return to the ring. The news is a welcome relief for fans who were concerned after seeing the former champion bleeding profusely from a deep cut above her right eye during the broadcast.
Sources within WWE indicated that Cargill only required stitches to close the gash and that the “hope internally” is that she will be medically cleared to return to action in just a few weeks. It was also noted that she has not been pulled from any of WWE’s future schedules.
The injury occurred during a chaotic triple threat match against WWE Women’s Champion Tiffany Stratton and Nia Jax on the September 26 episode of SmackDown. Near the end of the bout, Jax threw Cargill into the steel ring steps, which caused the severe laceration.
Following the match, Cargill took to her Instagram account to post a photo of the cut, showing her toughness and dedication to the business.
All Elite Wrestling & DC Comics are stepping into the ring together once again, this time for the biggest crossover yet. In a new two-issue comic book event, the AEW roster and the Justice League will unite. Those attending New York Comic Con will get to enjoy an exclusive preview of the series.
“In this epic tale, AEW’s finest — including Mercedes Moné, Will Ospreay, Darby Allin, Jon Moxley, Swerve Strickland, “Hangman” Adam Page, “Timeless” Toni Storm, Willow Nightingale, Orange Cassidy, and Kenny Omega — team up with legendary DC Super Heroes including Aquaman, Batman, Nightwing, Green Lanterns Guy Gardner and John Stewart, Hawkgirl, Zatanna, Wonder Woman, and Harley Quinn. Together, they must recover the Big Galactic Belt and prevent a cosmic catastrophe.”
Issues will be available from comic book stores, ShopAEW.com, and select AEW live events in 2026. In addition to this series, DC and AEW will also co-promote DC K.O., a new DC Comics event that will hit shelves in October 2025. DC will also serve as the sponsor for AEW Full Gear 2025 in Newark, New Jersey.
This crossover isn’t the first time that the AEW and DC Comics have teamed up. In 2024, several issues of DC Comics featured short stories giving the background behind some of the All-Elite roster. These stories were later re-released as a collected ‘AEW Origins’ book.
Pro-wrestlers have often been described as akin to comic-book characters, and never has this comparison felt more apt. Stay tuned to SEScoops for the latest on AEW which continues to make waves in entertainment outside of the ring.
IShowSpeed and Randy Orton may be doing much more together very soon after the streamer nearly hit an RKO ‘outta nowhere.’ At his Speed Goes Pro launch event, Speed teased hitting Orton with the RKO, but the pair aughed and shared a hug.
Orton then hinted at future plans with the YouTube star, saying: “I guess we’re doing something in a couple of weeks, right?” Speed agreed and asked if Orton was ready for what’s next. When Orton replied that he was, Speed lit up and declared: “Of course, bro! Let’s do it, man.”
What the pair have planned remains unclear, but they already share some WWE history. At WrestleMania 40 in April 2024, Orton dropped Speed with a highlight-reel RKO on top of the announce table during Logan Paul’s U.S. Title defense. While Paul retained that night, Orton’s spot with Speed became one of the weekend’s biggest talking points.
Speed’s cameos have quickly become a fan-favorite part of WWE programming. Whatever he and Orton have planned next, expect it to be a viral hit if Speed’s past WWE cameos are any indication.
In March 2019, the world mourned the sudden passing of actor Luke Perry, who died at age 52 after suffering a stroke. Among those most deeply affected was his son, AEW star Jack Perry.
Just weeks before his father’s death, Jack had been announced as part of AEW’s roster—two life-changing moments that collided in unexpected ways. Reflecting on that period in an interview with TV Insider, he shared:
“It was the best thing to ever happen to me with the worst thing to ever happen to me. They kind of went hand-in-hand. It was an interesting time. I’m very grateful to have had this in my life and be a part of it with the people who have been there. I’m looking forward to the future.”
While Luke Perry was best known for his acting career, he also shared wrestling memories with his son. The two were spotted together in the crowd at SummerSlam 2009, years before Jack would become a professional wrestler himself.
Jack explained that having AEW in his life helped him cope with the loss, giving him both direction and community:
“I felt very lucky I had something I could pour my entire self into… It ended up being a very good support system as well. I had some friends already and met some of the best friends I have now.”
Since then, Jack Perry has grown into one of AEW’s most notable stars. Recently reunited with Luchasaurus, the “Scapegoat” has re-established his place in AEW and it remains to be seen what’s next for the pair.
A new report from PWInsider.com has indicated that the current ROH World Television Champion, Nick Wayne, is reportedly dealing with a foot injury. The report did not specify the severity of the injury or how much, if any, in-ring time the young star might miss as a result.
The timing of the potential injury is particularly noteworthy, as Wayne recently started on big storyline at the All In: Texas pay-per-view on July 12. On that night, he shockingly turned on his long-time mentor, Christian Cage, and has since aligned himself with a new faction.
The turn was a major step in his character development and positioned him for a main event run. Wayne has already had a decorated career in his short time with the company, having previously held the AEW World Trios Championship, which made him the youngest champion in AEW history.
He is also the current and youngest-ever ROH World Television Champion, a championship he won on an episode of AEW Collision in April by defeating Komander. A third-generation wrestler, Wayne was famously offered an AEW contract by Darby Allin while he was still a teenager and has been a featured performer since his official debut in July 2023.
World Wrestling Entertainment has filed a new trademark application with the United States Patent and Trademark Office for the name “SHOWDOWN,” marking a strategic rebrand of its upcoming crossover event scheduled for Tuesday, October 7, 2025.
The event, which will feature competitors from both NXT and TNA, was originally planned under the name “INVASION.” However, WWE made the decision to change the title due to sensitivity concerns surrounding the October 7 date, which marks the anniversary of the 2023 attack on Israel by Hamas, an ongoing conflict with hostages still held in captivity.
According to USPTO records, the new “SHOWDOWN” trademark application was filed on September 30, 2025, and is currently awaiting examination. The application covers entertainment services related to professional wrestling events, broadcast media, and sports entertainment information.
WWE NXT Showdown
This marks WWE’s return to the “SHOWDOWN” brand after a previous iteration. The company had held a trademark for “WWE SHOWDOWN” that was filed in November 2011, but that registration was abandoned in July 2015 due to inactivity after WWE failed to file required statements of use.
The NXT vs. TNA crossover event represents a significant collaboration between WWE’s developmental brand and the independent promotion, generating considerable interest among professional wrestling fans. The name change demonstrates WWE’s awareness of global events and commitment to avoiding potential controversy surrounding the event’s branding.
Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson has revealed the intense physical transformation he underwent to portray MMA legend Mark Kerr in the new film, “The Smashing Machine.” During an appearance on The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon, the global superstar detailed the process of gaining over 30 pounds of muscle for the role, a directive that came straight from the film’s director, Benny Safdie. The movie is already generating significant Oscar buzz, is set to be released in theaters this Friday, October 3.
“We had a physical transformation, and certainly an emotional transformation, and a vocal transformation too as well,” Johnson told Fallon. In addition to the vocal and emotional work, the physical aspect involved both adding muscle and enduring a lengthy prosthetic process. “It was about 22 prosthetics,” Johnson said. “I had to put on just over 30 pounds of muscle. Which, by the way, what you realize is — you know how you have some actors who say, ‘Hey, I had to put on weight. I went to McDonald’s every day.’ Mark Kerr had just this quality of muscle, like fast-twitch quality of muscle — because he was a [freestyle] wrestler. And I had to still put on this weight, still be able to move like an MMA fighter.”
The Rock also shared the story of when the director first approached him about the need to bulk up for the role. “He said to me, ‘Hey DJ, I don’t know how to tell you this and I don’t know if you’ve ever heard this.’ He goes, ‘You’re going to have to get bigger.’ And I go, ‘Okay, here we go,’” Johnson said. Having successfully achieved the physique required for “The Smashing Machine,” Johnson has since gone in the opposite direction for his next project with Safdie. For the upcoming film “Lizard Music,” Johnson will be playing a man in his 70s whose best friend is a chicken, a role that will require him to shed a significant amount of weight.
“The Smashing Machine” has received overwhelmingly positive reviews since its debut on the film festival circuit. Critics have praised Dwayne Johnson’s transformative and vulnerable performance, with many calling it the best work of his career and a legitimate Oscar contender. The film currently holds a “Certified Fresh” rating of 94% on Rotten Tomatoes. Director Benny Safdie recently won the Silver Lion for Best Director at the Venice Film Festival for his work on the film.
On the day of AEW Dynamite’s sixth anniversary, one of the company’s original stars, “Freshly Squeezed” Orange Cassidy, has reflected on his unique journey and the reasons for his incredible popularity. In a new interview, Cassidy humbly credited the fans for getting his character over, even before AEW President Tony Khan fully understood his vision. Since debuting with the company in 2019, Cassidy has evolved from a cult favorite comedy act into one of the most reliable and beloved workhorses on the roster, including a record-setting reign as the AEW International Champion.
Speaking with The Sportster ahead of his championship match on tonight’s anniversary show, Cassidy explained how the fans’ early support was crucial to his success.
“I think it’s really the fans’ fault because they were very open and receptive before AEW, before Tony Khan really knew who I was, and they were reacting. I think it allowed them to be like, ‘All right, well, if they’re reacting, he must know something that we don’t.’ I was very lucky that the fans were reacting to what I was doing.”
He also praised his close working relationship with Tony Khan. “He still works very close to me about what I’m doing. It’s nice to have your boss understand what you’re doing and facilitate it. I could have got pigeonholed somewhere else. It could have been the same thing we see all the other times, but I think he allowed me to do this stuff because he also knew that I wanted to wrestle, too. That was nice.”
Finally, he spoke about his pride in being a foundational part of the company’s history.
“I’m just very grateful to be a part of AEW and to be a part of the history. I do like that when you think of AEW, you have to at least think of me, and that feels very special.”
Tonight on the sixth anniversary episode of AEW Dynamite, Orange Cassidy will challenge Kyle Fletcher for the TNT Championship.
Wrestling veteran Bully Ray has voiced his support for WWE’s decision to rename the NXT vs TNA premium live event from “Invasion” to “Showdown,” explaining why the original name never made sense from a storyline perspective.
Speaking on Busted Open After Dark, Ray questioned the logic behind calling it an invasion when the two brands have been collaborating for months. “I was scratching my head about the whole ‘Invasion’ name. Because how do you have an invasion when just a couple of months ago—maybe six months ago, however long—it’s been, these two brands have been working together?” he explained.
Ray emphasized that this situation differs significantly from past wrestling invasions. “This wasn’t like the ECW/WCW invasion of WWE back in the day. This wasn’t like any type of invasion storyline or angle we’re used to seeing. These are two brands that have gotten together, brand new relationship, and now things are starting to go a little bit wrong.”
The name change came after backlash over the original title’s negative connotations and its proximity to the anniversary of the 2023 Hamas attacks. Ray believes “Showdown” better captures the competitive nature of two collaborative brands whose relationship has turned contentious.
“So it’s no longer an invasion. It’s a showdown, which I think is a far better name for this upcoming PLE—Showdown instead of Invasion,” Ray concluded.
WWE has, by most metrics, been the undisputed leader in professional wrestling for about forty years. As discussed in part one of this series, the ID Program has taken the company’s ownership of the wrestling sphere to the next level, lending independent promotions and schools WWE branding and a pipeline to funnel best-fit talents straight into WWE’s system.
Another dimension of WWE’s new approach to world domination has included strategic acquisitions and partnerships. In particular, talent-sharing with TNA and acquiring AAA, though it continues to mostly operate as a sovereign brand, have presented a new set of circumstances.
WWE Exposure Brings More Eyes To Smaller Promotions
One of the surest benefits to both TNA and AAA since entering their dealings with WWE has been bringing more eyeballs to their products. TNA and NXT talent have thoroughly commingled across 2025, including Trick Williams and Jacy Jayne enjoying runs as TNA world champions and talent sharing across major events for both brands.
Meanwhile, AAA Worlds Collide events have explicitly cast AAA talents opposite WWE Superstars and even the long-running TripleMania featuring Dominik Mysterio, Dragon Lee, and El Grande Americano in the main event. That’s not to mention that the Worlds Collide event formally launching WWE-AAA crossover and TripleMania each streamed via WWE’s YouTube channel, exposing the product to a significant viewership who may not have otherwise tuned in.
Another clear example of the opportunities these dealings have opened for smaller promotions came at SummerSlam, where, before the TLC tag team bout, WWE cut to Team 3D and The Hardys in the crowd. Each team represented relevant legends who’d pioneered the TLC gimmick in WWE. WWE also singled out that these teams would square off at TNA Bound For Glory this year, lending direct advertising for a match that may legitimately be of interest to WWE viewers and that more casual fans may not have otherwise heard of.
WWE Gets Access To A Wider Pool Of Prospects
Mr. Iguana Photo: WWE.com
One of the not as explicitly advertised, but nonetheless clear results of WWE’s relationships with TNA and AAA has been access to talents signed to one of these smaller promotions.
Early rumblings about the TNA partnership included word that WWE brass saw Joe Henry as a ready-made star that they could feature. Similarly, Mr. Iguana made his WWE Raw debut shortly after getting a huge social media reaction at Worlds Collide. Each of these instances point toward opportunities for WWE try out, experiment with, and tap into potential future stars while they hone their craft on other brands.
There’s The Potential For WWE To Book Special Moments With Guest Talent
Photo: WWE.com
In 2022, it was a big deal when Mickie James appeared in the Royal Rumble with her TNA gear and entrance music, not to mention the Knockouts Championship over her shoulder. Little did fans know that Jordynne Grace would follow in her footsteps, or what Joe Hendry go on to accomplish.
Besides feuding with Trick Williams in NXT, Hendry had his moment as a surprise entrant in the Royal Rumble. Even more monumentally, though, he wound up Randy Orton’s mystery opponent at WrestleMania 41. In a win-win situation, Hendry got to work in front of the largest crowd he ever has—as TNA Champion at the time—while WWE got to nod toward hardcore fans in booking a viral Internet darling for a special WrestleMania moment.
Booking Mid-Card And Developmental Talents Against A Brand’s Top Stars Risks Diminishing Smaller Promotions
An uncomfortable reality regarding Joe Hendry’s WrestleMania debut was that Randy Orton defeated him handily in a three-minute, then dropped him with another RKO in the aftermath. By all accounts, Hendry and TNA were perfectly happy with the situation, but this did nonetheless cast TNA’s top guy as beneath The Viper’s level. Maybe there’s no shame in that given Orton’s legendary status, but it’s still an unusual scenario.
On top of that, Hendry would go on to drop the TNA Championship to Trick Williams. Williams is one of the top guns in NXT, but still, this an instance of a WWE developmental guy getting the best of a promotion’s top star. A similar narrative emerged in Jacy Jayne’s brief Knockouts Championship run. Not so dissimilar, Dominik Mysterio, El Grande Americano, and Dragon Lee have been cast as AAA Mega Championship contenders. While Mysterio is very over as a mid-card heel, and the El Grande Americano gimmick has overachieved, the larger picture is, nonetheless, WWE mid-carders main eventing for the Mexican brand.
These moves ultimately cast TNA and AAA alike as something more akin to their own WWE developmental territories. That’s in contrast to a situation like AEW’s crossover with TNA in preceding years, where main eventers Kenny Omega and Christian Cage were wrapped up in the TNA Championship picture, and Cage ultimately put over Josh Alexander as the new face of TNA.
Perhaps most interesting of all, the respective TNA and AAA situations may reflect a template moving forward. Might WWE partner with a major indie promotion like GCW or MLW, or make a play to buy NJPW? It’s hard to know how realistic these possibilities might be without knowing behind the scenes financials and strategies. Nonetheless, the seal is broken and a lot more seems like it could be in the works than one might have guessed even one year ago.
Ultimately, WWE seems to be reaping noteworthy benefits from having bought AAA and from its working arrangement with TNA. For AAA’s part, falling directly under WWE’s ownership, clearly the financials made sense and the brand now belongs to WWE to do with as they see fit.
By contrast, the future is less certain for TNA. Perhaps WWE will one day acquire the promotion, and if they do, it would probably be at least as much for their tape library as the current promotion. Assuming TNA remains independent, though, they may enjoy WWE backing that helps them compete with AEW for the number two spot they unofficially conceded years ago. As such, WWE’s adversarial relationship with AEW may well have a disproportionate impact on their dealings with TNA.
Tag team wrestling is a staple of pro wrestling history. This style of match allows promotions to vary a card and open up genuinely different storytelling possibilities among tag team rivalries, including but not limited to teams coming together, breaking up, and reuniting. Moreover, tag teams can offer a keen place for young talents to cultivate experience or for aging talents to lend their credibility on screen and mentorship backstage to up-and-comers while their actual in-ring work tapers off.
A lot of signs suggest a renewed focus on tag teams across major promotions. This dynamic tends to ebb and flow but, at least in the short term, there’s a lot of reason for excitement for tag team wrestling fans.
Major Reunions Have Brought Buzz to Tag Team Wrestling
Image credit: AEW
There’s a lot to be said for the excitement of seeing a beloved tag team reunite, and pro wrestling has delivered on several such angles in recent months. In AEW, the biggest story is Adam Copeland (“Cope”) and Christian Cage finding themselves on the same page again. Longtime fans remember them as one of the very best tag teams in the stacked WWE Attitude Era, where in-ring ability, personality on the mic, and the kind of interpersonal chemistry that can only come with years of real-life friendship made this pair something special.
The team’s time together was deceptively short in WWE. The duo paired for less than three years full-time, as Edge in particular got major singles opportunities interspersed with their proper teaming. From there, Edge became a main eventer, while Christian had a respectable singles run of his own while also bouncing between tag teams and factions.
Extended periods followed with Edge in WWE, Christian going to TNA to get his own main event push, and later heading to AEW years ahead of his best friend. That’s not to mention both men suffering seemingly career-ending injuries that took each out of action for years. Though the two worked one-off tag matches together and enjoyed a reunion angle shortly before Copeland’s first retirement, it makes complete sense that fans are incredibly excited to see the pair teaming up again in 2025 as age dictates both men must be eyeing a more permanent retirement.
On a smaller scale, AEW also staged a Jurassic Express reunion at All Out. While Jack Perry and Luchasaurus don’t have the decades-long story of Cope and Cage, this does represent both men returning to their roots as a babyface tag team that fans still have a lot of nostalgia for after heel runs that drew mixed reactions (Perry a polarizing big-name heel, Luchasaurus a viable henchman for Cage, but he never really found another gear beyond big man mid-carder and tag team wrestler). This revisitation of the team invokes AEW nostalgia for a pairing that got over in the earliest days of AEW. Three years apart gave fans time to miss them, but also, the sudden reunion without any meaningful foreshadowing delivered a genuinely pleasing surprise for fans.
Meanwhile, on the WWE side of things, The Usos came back together over the summer with a renewed sense of credibility for Jey’s main event push—including main eventing SummerSlam as a singles star, winning a Royal Rumble, and capturing a world title at WrestleMania—besides Jimmy remaining viable as a mid-card act and factor in main event storylines. The duo had about 13 years as a team for the WWE main roster audience, but after spending most of two years apart (and even feuding against each other), it feels refreshing to see them paired again—even if recent creative has complicated whether they’ll keep teaming or what their face-heel alignment might be for the long haul.
The Tag Team Ranks Are a Great Place for Nostalgia
One clear sign of the success of AEW and WWE tag team reunion angles is that the tag division is a great place for nostalgia, as fans love seeing meaningful alliances revisited.
TNA has been in on the act too, booking The Hardys vs. Team 3D for Bound For Glory. Alongside Edge and Christian, these two teams represented the foundation of perhaps WWE’s most successful tag team feud of all time, and arguably the company’s most successful period for tag team wrestling overall.
None of the four men involved in this TNA showdown are young anymore, so TNA is a good spot to highlight a match like this for its smaller stage and its hardcore fanbase that can definitely tap into the nostalgia of an attraction like this.
WWE had its own spin on this kind of matchup recently on its NXT Homecoming special, with DIY facing Trick Williams and Carmelo Hayes. Each pair felt representative of a distinctive generation of NXT, each with roots as partners and main event level foes. The tag team format—including The Miz interfering—kept everyone reasonably well protected in the process.
Such is the essence of nostalgia for nostalgia’s sake. The stakes are objectively low, but tag team matches can help cover for aging performers’ limitations, keep any single performer from being over-exposed, and allow fans to lose themselves in the rush of a hot tag and reunited pairs “playing the hits.”
Dream Matches Could Be in the Making
With the recent resurgence of tag teams, there are possibilities around dream match scenarios. Cope and Christian Cage have lots of business left to settle with FTR, but after that dream scenario wraps, a showdown with The Young Bucks is appealing as well—not to mention the complicated history Cage has with Jurassic Express that might invite that tag team feud.
On the WWE side, The Usos represent great foils for just about any pairing, including an array that might emerge from NXT and also acts like The Judgment Day. And though the rivalry may have been overdone in the 2010s, there is something fun about imagining running back a Usos vs. New Day feud in 2025.
A Little Fantasy Booking
Jimmy and Jey ‘The Usos’. Photo: WWE.com
Part of the fun of multiple major wrestling promotions operating at the same time is imagining dream scenarios pairing the best acts from one company against the best of another, in addition to speculation about what other tag teams might take shape.
Dream match scenarios start with stalwart talent who’ve stuck with the same promotion and thus haven’t had the opportunity to work with one another. The conversation starts with The Usos and New Day on WWE’s side opposite The Young Bucks in AEW; the Bucks working either of these teams would pay off years of lowkey debate around tag team supremacy.
An FTR vs. Street Profits showdown also has to be in the conversation. These teams did work some house shows in NXT and a battle royal together at Survivor Series 2019, but it’s a case of FTR being a generation ahead of Montez Ford and Angelo Dawkins, who are just starting to come into their own on the WWE main roster after FTR moved on to AEW.
A hard-hitting heavyweight clash pitting Bobby Lashley and Shelton Benjamin against Bron Breakker and Bronson Reed also has a lot of appeal. This is even before considering reigning tag champs like Brodido, The Wyatt Sicks, and The Judgment Day, or other masters of the tag team form like The Motor City Machine Guns or the inevitable Lucha Bros reunion as Pentagon and Rey Fenix team together for the first time under the WWE banner.
Finally, while women’s tag teams have in most cases not had as much time to gel or cultivate nostalgia, the pairing of Alexa Bliss and Charlotte Flair has the name recognition and experience to be entertaining opponents against just about any pairing. Moreover, AJ Lee and Nikki Bella’s returns to WWE, alongside speculation about a comeback tour for Paige, have fans hungry for a WrestleMania 31 rematch of Lee and Paige versus The Bella Twins.
All Elite Wrestling marks a major milestone this Wednesday, October 1, as AEW Dynamite celebrates its sixth anniversary with an extended 2.5-hour special event live from the Hard Rock in Hollywood, Florida.
The anniversary show, airing at 8 PM ET/7 PM CT on TBS and HBO Max, features a loaded card headlined by a Trios Match pitting AEW World Champion Hangman Adam Page, Powerhouse Hobbs, and Samoa Joe against Jon Moxley, Daniel Garcia, and Claudio Castagnoli.
Also scheduled for the evening:
TNT Championship: Kyle Fletcher defends against Orange Cassidy
Mixed Tornado Tag Match: Darby Allin and Kris Statlander vs. Wheeler Yuta and Marina Shafir
Trios Match: Josh Alexander and Young Bucks take on AEW World Tag Team Champions Kenny Omega and Brodido
The special broadcast also promises the Hollywood, Florida return of “Timeless” Toni Storm, plus the highly anticipated return of Jurassic Express.
Since its debut in October 2019, AEW Dynamite has established itself as a major force in professional wrestling, and this anniversary celebration looks to deliver one of the biggest episodes in the show’s history.
Tune in Wednesday night for what promises to be a memorable celebration.
WWE Hall of Famer “The World’s Strongest Man” Mark Henry believes that if Randy Orton is to have another run as WWE Champion, it must be as a heel. In a recent interview, Henry made a passionate case for Orton to return to his heel roots, arguing that “The Viper” is one of the few superstars in history who is definitively better as a heel than a babyface.
Orton has been a beloved fan favorite since his return from a career-threatening back injury, but Henry feels that a return to the heel persona that defined much of his career is the “tailor-made” story for his next main event run. Speaking with TMZ, the former World Heavyweight Champion explained exactly what he wants to see from a future Randy Orton championship reign.
“I wouldn’t want Randy to be champion as good guy Randy. I want Randy… the story is tailor made. Have Randy come in now and start punting people again, RKO’ing people’s grandmothers and children. Have him stomping people. Let Randy be Randy.”
He emphasized that Orton’s greatest strength has always been his ability to be a compelling and hated villain.
“I don’t know if you can say more definitively that a guy’s a better heel than he was a babyface.”
Henry also compared Orton’s current situation to that of John Cena, who is in the midst of his farewell tour.
“I think Randy wants to be in the same regard as Cena. He deserves it too. But while Cena is doing that, you can’t actively have two people doing the same story.”
Britt Baker is showing love to her fans as questions continue to grow around her absence from AEW programming. The September 24, episode of AEW Dynamite was in Baker’s hometown of Pittsburgh, PA, but the DMD was not featured on the show.
Baker took to X to thank the fans who continue to show her support every day. While acknowledging that social media can be filled with “trolls,” she wanted to highlight the real fans who always have her back.
We’re always so quick to burn the trolls on this app, but never quick enough to appreciate the true fans who show love every day. Thank you ??
Once the top star of AEW’s women’s division, Baker has seen her presence fade in recent years. Her last match came in November 2024 on Dynamite, capping off a year in which she wrestled only five times. That’s a sharp decline from her most active year in 2021, when she competed in 30 matches for AEW.
While Baker hasn’t been active, her days in the ring are not over. In August, Baker made clear she’s not retired, despite not competing for close to a year. The previous month, Tony Khan said he likes Britt a lot and they’ve never had any talks about her leaving AEW. Khan explained that TV time is limited, and Baker would be used when the time is right.
Months later, that time still hasn’t come. For now, though, Baker is keeping the focus on the positives—and on the fans who continue to stand by her.
WWE and TNA Wrestling will collide on October 7, but fans won’t be seeing an “Invasion.” Instead, the event will officially be branded as “Showdown.” During the September 30 episode of WWE NXT, the upcoming crossover was referred to as Showdown, with the “Invasion” name quietly dropped. WWE’s original choice had been a nod to the 2001 storyline where WCW and ECW talent “invaded” the WWF.
While WWE hasn’t given a public reason for the rebrand, the change comes after backlash surrounding the word “Invasion.” The October 7 event takes place exactly two years after Hamas’ deadly October 7, 2023, attack on Israel. Israeli outlet Israel Hayom criticized WWE’s choice of wording, writing:
“The term Invasion, on such a sensitive date, which directly recalls the infiltration of Hamas terrorists into the southern communities and the mass killings of Israelis and Americans, raises questions about who in the organisation is responsible for this preposterous decision.”
Some fans also took issue with the Invasion logo using a prominent red V. While this was the logo used back in 2001, it was argued that the red V was similar to a red downward triangle, a Hamas symbol.
So the WWE has an event called “Invasion” being broadcast on October 7th and the logo is a red downward triangle?
That’s either a very unfortunate coincidence, or someone in the marketing team needs to get fired. pic.twitter.com/LeX3RknldI
This rebranding highlights the importance of cultural awareness when making creative decisions in wrestling. Fans can expect a historic crossover when NXT-TNA Showdown takes place on October 7.
The battle lines have been drawn for the WWE NXT Vs. TNA Wrestling Showdown event that will take place on October 7. During the September 30, episode of WWE NXT, the teams for the two Survivor Series elimination matches were revealed.
WWE NXT GM Ava shared that NXT Champion Ricky Saints and NXT Women’s Champion Jacy Jayne will captain their respective teams. Later in the show, Saints picked Trick Williams and Je’Von Evans. The final spot was decided later in the night when Myles Borne defeated Josh Briggs, thanks to an assist from TNA’s Matt Cardona.
Can all these egos stay in check?! ?
Ricky Saints has selected Trick Williams and Je’Von Evans for Team NXT, with only one spot remaining… pic.twitter.com/JkZUFnMJa4
Jayne chose Jaida Parker and Sol Ruca for her team, and Lola Vice and Fallon Henley both wanted the last spot. A match was made during the show which was won by Vice, earning her the final spot on the women’s team.
As for TNA, Santino Marella ruled out TNA World Champion Trick Williams being the captain, instead selecting Mike Santana. Santana shared that his team will consist of himself, Moose, Leon Slater, and Frankie Kazarian.
The women of TNA will be led by Knockouts Champion Kelani Jordan, despite Jordan being a WWE NXT star. In response, Jacy Jayne dubbed Jordan a “two-timing traitor” for siding with the competition. Jordan, who won the title at TNA Victory Road, selected The IInspiration (Cassie Lee and Jessica McKay,) and Mara Sade to represent TNA Wrestling.
With talent from both sides in the ring, it wasn’t long until a brawl ensued. With these matches, and a winner-takes-all tag-team title match between The Hardys and Dark State, the October 7, event will be one to remember.
WWE LFG’s BJ Ray has been dealing with some notable injuries, but that hasn’t stopped him from competing. On X, Ray revealed that he’s been wrestling while injured, sharing that he’s been dealing with a torn rotator cuff and labrum.
“Ever since my return on LFG season one I have been competing with a 100% torn rotator cuff and labrum. The surgeon asked me, ‘Bro, how have you been wrestling? The only thing holding your shoulder together is your muscle fibers.’ I told ’em, ‘The show must go on.’”
Cats out of the bag! Yes… ever since my return on LFG season one I have been competing with a 100% torn rotator cuff and labrum. The surgeon asked me “Bro how have you been wrestling, the only thing holding your shoulder together is your muscle fibers”. I told em “The show must… pic.twitter.com/poiwYCE5md
Ray has been a stand-out star of WWE LFG with his brash personality over ensuring him a spotlight. In his video, Ray shared how his personality helped carry him through both seasons of WWE LFG, and now he’s healed up.
“I wrestled both seasons of LFG basically not even able to wrestle because I knew that my personality was more than any other contender had. I have absolutely zero regrets and my shoulder is now repaired.”
Ray has dubbed himself the ‘ratings machine’ on WWE LFG, and while he didn’t win the show’s first season, his work could land him a WWE contract. With his shoulder now repaired, it remains to be seen what’s next for him in the ring.
Paul ‘Triple H’ Levesque and Stephanie McMahon were at the White House this week as part of a new executive order from President Donald Trump. Speaking to reporters, McMahon discussed the order, which relates to using AI to help improve treatments for childhood cancer.
“Kids shouldn’t even know what cancer is, let alone have to face it. And this incredible team believes that too. This executive order makes kids with cancer the first focus of AI innovation across health care in America.”
On social media, Levesque praised his wife for her efforts and referenced Connors Cure, a WWE initiative named after Connor ‘The Crusher’ Michalek, a young fan who died of cancer.
This appearance in the White House isn’t the only tie between Trump and the WWE power couple. Both Levesque and McMahon are part of the President’s Council on Sports, Fitness, and Nutrition, a body in which Levesque serves as vice-chair. Earlier this year, the pair met with US Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
Linda McMahon, Stephanie’s mother, also serves as Trump’s Secretary of Education. While WWE avoids bringing politics to its programming, the company’s leaders remain entrenched with the President’s ongoing campaigns.
Orange Cassidy has had his ups and downs with Kris Statlander but the former did take time to acknowledge the historic moment recently generated by the latter. At AEW All Out, Statlander unseated then-champion Toni Storm from her throne in a fatal four way match. It was a feat that not only saw Statlander claim the AEW women’s title, but she became the first woman in company history to hold the women’s world title and the TBS championship.
Cassidy recently returned to the AEW fold after Statlander accomplished this feat and while The Best Friends had a public, bitter breakup last year, the former AEW international champion was clearly watching from afar to take in Kris Statlander’s big accomplishment. Speaking to The Takedown on SI about Statlander’s history making christening in Toronto, Cassidy said,
“She is the definition of working hard. She works very, very hard. And personally, you know, she’s going through some stuff and she’s made some decisions, and I’ll never hold that against her.”
“She hasn’t lost my phone number, and, yeah, I personally really have a special place [for her]. And I don’t think it’s really hit to anybody yet that she’s the first ever person to get both the TBS and the Women’s [World Championship]. That’s incredible. She’s had two knee [surgeries]. She works very, very hard. It’s nice to see when people that work hard get success.”
Orange Cassidy’s road to returning and his own pursuit of a second singles title in AEW
Orange Cassidy addressed the injury related hinderances that Kris Statlander recently overcame but the man who is freshly squeezed had his own difficult road that kept him sidelined. A torn pectoral muscle kept Cassidy out of the ring since April and he made his AEW return on last week’s instalment of AEW Dynamite in a winning effort alongside compatriots, Mark Briscoe and Hologram. The trifecta got the victory over The Don Callis Family and guides OC toward an important opportunity to claim even more singles gold within All Elite Wrestling.
Orange Cassidy will test skill with Kyle Fletcher for the latter’s TNT championship on the next episode of AEW Dynamite which celebrates the six year anniversary of the television program. Cassidy and Fletcher have a bit of a longer history with one another clashing for AEW gold although the champion and challenger roles will be reversed in this next meeting.
Jack Perry’s AEW return at their All Out card drew an uproarious reaction from the Toronto crowd but Perry expected to be back in All Elite Wrestling far sooner than he was. This was expressed by the former TNT champion during a recent exclusive interview conducted with Vice. It has been close to nine months overall that Perry has been out of wrestling and a year since he was seen specifically inside an AEW ring.
Speaking to Haley Miller for Vice about how his idea of what he thought his comeback timeline would look like versus what ended up transpiring, Perry said:
“I did not know I was gonna be off for as long as I was. I thought I was gonna be off a month or two and then be back. But then things just change a lot and that’s how it goes. I will say, Luchasaurus and I were always going to be back together doing something. We knew that from the day that we broke up as a tag team the first time. I also felt I had such a good run the year before. I was like, ‘I don’t know if I’m gonna be able to top that right now.’ We concluded this is probably the best time for us to do this.”
Jack Perry & Luchasaurus: History and Reunion
Jack Perry getting the band back together with a returning Luchasaurus at AEW All Out delighted longtime fans of the promotion who still had that soft spot for Jurassic Express.
The 28-year-old and his daring dinosaur carved out a path that saw them eventually become AEW tag team champions. The California native just seems excited to return to the fold with a familiar compatriot as Jack Perry stated [via Vice],
“I feel great to be back. Especially under these circumstances with someone who’s one of my best friends, and I mean, so much has happened. It’s something that was always gonna happen, us coming back together. So many things have gotten in the way so for it to finally come to fruition and then get that kind of response feels great.”
With Jack Perry and Luchasaurus reunited, their renewed partnership looks set to mark the beginning of a new chapter in the tag team division, bringing fresh energy to their longterm storyline.
AEW star Jack Perry has opened up about his experience during the “Four Pillars” storyline in 2023, revealing that the period was the most miserable of his professional wrestling career. The high-profile angle brought together four of AEW’s top “homegrown” talents—Perry, MJF, Darby Allin, and Sammy Guevara—and culminated in a four-way match for the AEW World Championship at the Double or Nothing pay-per-view.
While it was a main event program, Perry felt the timing was wrong and that the storyline ultimately benefited only one person. In a recent interview with Haley Miller of VICE, Perry was candid about his feelings on the storyline and revealed that he had pleaded with management to postpone it.
“The pillars thing up to that point was the most miserable I had ever been, I didn’t wanna do that at that time. I literally said, I begged, I was like, ‘Can we do this later? I feel like this is only really benefiting one person. And we all could grow so much more.’ I had just beaten Christian when that happened and then Christian got injured and that whole thing took way longer than it was supposed to. I was kinda floating around killing time until he got back so I could beat him. After I beat him, the next thing I got put in was that. I was like, ‘Could you guys let me get going a little bit? Sammy could be built up even more, Darby, and this could be a huge thing where any one of us could win the world title at the end of this.”
Perry also believes that the storyline led to fans beginning to turn on his “Jungle Boy” babyface character, and he wanted to embrace that with a heel turn, a move that was initially rejected.
“I felt so not good about what I was doing at the point I was at. I really felt people were starting to turn on me a little there. And I thought, ‘I think I should lean into that and like make this story here. Am I gonna turn to win the world title?’ That was met with people being like, ‘No, you gotta stay [face]! You’re Jungle Boy,’ yeah, but Jungle Boy has nothing to say and people are starting to not like me. As soon as I started to tease that I was gonna go the other way, people were interested again because I was interested again. The heel turn was like a whole new world for me. My main thing there was people told me, ‘you’re never gonna be able to be a heel.’ I knew I could. Obviously, I wasn’t the greatest in the world. There were parts of it that were rocky and I had to figure it out ’cause I’d been Jungle Boy my whole life. To me, it was just to prove that I could do it.”
At AEW All Out, Perry reunited with Killswitch to reform Jurassic Express. They will break their silence on the reunion this Wednesday on Dynamite.
Matt and Jeff Hardy will be hosting their own live event from New York City on November 22, giving fans a unique experience from one of wrestling’s most popular tag teams. As per Jon Alba, the November 22, show will kick off with a live edition of The Extreme Life of Matt Hardy, hosted by Matt and Alba.
This episode of the Extreme Life podcast will look back at the iconic Royal Rumble 2000 tables match between the Hardy Boyz and the Dudley Boyz. In a statement, Matt shared his excitement for the event.
“My brother and I are excited to bring the Hardy Party to the Big Apple, New York City. NYC carries so much tradition with the Hardys, and we cannot wait to share stories that many fans have never heard before. We’re looking forward to having the biggest Hardy Party of all time on Nov. 22!”
Following the podcast, Jeff Hardy will take the stage for a musical performance featuring both original songs and covers that he says have “helped shape his personal and professional journey.” Both events will take place at Connolly’s Restaurant & Pub, 121 W 45th St, New York, NY 10036.
Tickets are priced at $50 for general admission, while VIP tickets are available for $250. The VIP package includes a meet & greet with both Matt and Jeff, a personal photo, a signed item, and priority seating for both shows.
This news comes as the Hardys prepare for their upcoming showdown with the Dudleyz at Bound for Glory, as well as their involvement in the NXT–TNA InVasion storyline. Decades after breaking out in WWE, Matt and Jeff Hardy continue to captivate fans with their enduring star power.
The buzz around Adam Copeland’s acting career continues to grow, as the AEW star has landed a role in Miramax’s The Beekeeper 2, Variety reports. The film is a sequel to 2024’s The Beekeeper, which followed a government assassin who comes out of retirement on a quest for vengeance.
Copeland joins an impressive cast led by Jason Statham, who will reprise his role in the sequel. Returning stars include Jeremy Irons (Die Hard), Emmy Raver-Lampman (The Umbrella Academy), and Bobby Naderi (The Better Sister). Pom Klementieff (Guardians of the Galaxy) and Copeland are set to appear as new additions to the ensemble.
The WWE Hall of Famer is no stranger to acting. He appeared in 42 episodes of Haven and more recently played Ares in Disney+’s Percy Jackson and the Olympians.
Details of Copeland’s role remain under wraps, but Hollywood clearly has its eye on the former Edge. With his in-ring career winding down, fans should expect more screen roles in his future.
Mr. Thomas has been one of the names to have broken out in Major League Wrestling. Often the veteran would find himself helping another like Alex Kane within the Bomaye Fight Club. Now the Philadelphia native is focused on building on the momentum he has created in the last year in MLW. It’s one of the big reasons Thomas decided to sign a new deal with the promotion.
“There is very little loyalty in this business unfortunately,” he said. “MLW has always been loyal to me. I worked a good amount of time without a deal and was okay with that and was always loyal to the brand. I put in my time and effort, so when it was time to sign again, there was nowhere else I would rather be when it comes to my ability to have input into what I do, the matches, things of that nature.
“The schedule is more to my liking. I like to live a normal, peaceful, successful life outside the wrestling world. Right now, MLW allows me the ability to do that. Not to say the schedule won’t become more intensive as we move forward with things changing in life. I’m prepared for that. I think it’s the perfect split between real life and professional wrestling that people don’t tend to have.”
For the star, who got the Mr. Thomas name based on what his cleaning lady would call him over the years, MLW is the top priority. This is why you won’t see him doing much outside that arena. He also takes a more fight camp approach in between matches.
“The last time I stepped in the ring to practice so to speak on a Tuesday or Wednesday and tried to work on my skills, I immediately tore my ACL. In this aspect of wrestling, I try to limit my injuries as much as possible,” Thomas explained. “I have a very close strength and conditioning coach I work with here in Tampa two and three times a week. We’re doing a lot of different things that aren’t necessarily shooting the ropes, doing dropdowns, leap frogs, drills of that nature.
“We try to incorporate more real-life aspect training into what goes into wrestling. There is more than just doing grapples and things like that. And between you and I, my timing is perfect brother so I don’t have to brush up on that. Likely, I know whatever I have coming up, I’ll always be paired off with a top-notch individual in this wrestling world we live in. I’m not in there solo. I’m in there with people I know and trust and are capable of bringing me up if needed and vice versa.”
He is grateful to be stepping foot in the ring with the likes of Satoshi Kojima. Thomas has enjoyed getting the chance to spotlight his skills in a singles capacity. At the same time, the performer enjoyed the dynamic between himself and Alex Kane.
“We were kind of thrown together,” he said of their origin story. “I’ve known of him before. We really just meshed. Luckily enough to be on the same page as someone. I’m a little older than him, but I’m not saying that I was there to babysit or guide him. But [I could] set him in the right ways and try to figure out what works best for him, his character, my character, how we can play off each other. It worked out for the best.
“He went from being an unsigned, no-name person that gets drafted to MLW in the 2021 draft, we popped up our first time together and he is the MLW Openweight champion. We steamrolled through everyone he won the world title, black world champion, it was good to see the highs and lows. I learned a lot from him, and I hope he learned from me. We really worked together as a team inside and outside the ring. We traveled together, hung out together, and we still talk every day. That relationship can’t be broken. We did have our one-on-one match in the Opera Cup last year. I think we’ll probably do that at some point when the time is ready. I don’t know if he’ll ever turn on me or I’ll turn on him, but we’ll see what happens when the time comes.”
Thomas has his sights set on dethroning new champion Mads Krügger in the Chamber of Horrors match at Slaughterhouse on October 4. Other participants revealed thus far include Matthew Justice and CW Anderson with two other mystery participants. The Long Beach event will air on YouTube and beIN Sports.
“As much as I love surprises, I hate surprises,” Thomas said. “CW Anerson is a great veteran and competitor from the ECW days. We’ve had our feud the last year, year-and-a-half where the Rogue Horsemen went up against the Bomaye Fight Club with Matthew Justice on the same team in the War Chamber, which I came out victorious in, for the record. When it comes to cage matches this year, Mr. Thomas is 1-0 amongst everyone else. With that being said, Mads is just fresh off a world title victory and hate to say it transition champion possibly.
“I want that belt more than anything in life right now. The way it is being described to me is we get in this cage and fight til someone becomes world champion. I know there will be weapons involved and we will be caged in and not sure there will be something at the top as much as I or Matthew Jusciee want to jump off and dive through everything. I will be a very safe wrestler this weekend. I’m going to utilize my technical ability instead of jumping off things or going through things, but I will take a shortcut and hit someone over the head with what is available to me at that moment because anything goes.”
As for who the other two getting added to the mix, Thomas has his suspicions. No matter who it is, he’ll be ready to take them down a peg.
“I’m not spoiling anything because I don’t ask questions, but the things I’ve seen and heard and tweets I read in between the lines is we got someone new coming in who might have been around a few times,” Thomas hypothesized. “Someone who might have just gotten let go from somewhere else, which is fine. I’ll tell him the same thing as I’ll tell anyone else. Don’t come to MLW thinking this is your meal ticket to the top because you have to go through a lot of other people to get through the top spot in the company, me being one of them.
“I will fight and do whatever it takes to make sure my spot is not taken by some guy who got released or couldn’t politic himself into getting re-signed somewhere else. That is a personal shoutout to anyone who wants to Tick Tock, times ticking, this sun dial bullshit of time and measurement is, I don’t want to hear about it. Come see me to my face in LA on October 4 and we’ll see who walks out world champion.”
Winning the top prize in MLW would mean a lot to Thomas. In his eyes, it would signify confidence from the company and confidence within himself that he could rise above the rest.
“For me, the world title being my first singles title in MLW would be crazy,” the challenger added. “I would love that more than anything. It’s exactly what I’m going for. I’m on to bigger and better things. Everyone once and a while I get grouped with the Bomaye Fight Club thinking I was just a sidekick or bodyguard or the strategist, whatever you want to call me. I’m on my own now. I have a name to prove to myself now. In the ring, outside the ring with everyone watching.”
