The injury bug has taken down another AEW star, Orange Cassidy.
Fightful reported today that the former AEW International Champion has been sidelined with an injury. The early indication, based on people in the company, is that Cassidy possibly tore his pectoral muscle.
His last match was two weeks ago against Ricochet and Speedball Mike Bailey. Also, a clear timetable for his return is not known. As of this writing, it’s unclear whether there are any plans for him to get surgery.
Cassidy has yet to comment publicly on the injury nor has AEW. Cassidy has been a fan-favorite since his arrivial in the promotion, winning over fans with his unique gimmick.
His last championship match came a few months ago as in Febuary on an episode of Dynamite, Cassidy defeated Roderick Strong to earn a shot at the International Championship against Konosuke Takeshita. However, a week later, he came up short in trying to win the title.
For some, making it in wrestling allows them to travel the world, making connections with countless fans. Unfortunately, a downside of this international fame is that talent, often women, are subject to harrassment and even worse from those who take things too far.
On her Rulebreakers podcast, WWE/AEW alum Saraya opened up about the frightening encounters she has faced. One fan was able to track down Saraya’s private residence, leaving the wrestler fearing that something awful was about to happen.
“This guy came to my house saying, ‘The symbols led me to you.’ I called the cops, but they couldn’t do anything because he didn’t physically touch me.”
Saraya shared that “Women in WWE deal with this all the time,” adding that it’s “terrifying” for the victims of stalking. Further reflecting on her own ordeals, Saraya constantly feared that anybody she met could be a problem.
“At the height of my wrestling career, it felt like creepy men were popping up everywhere.”
Saraya’s candid discussion demonstrates the need for greater protective measures for performers, especially women who are often the victims of stalkers. It wasn’t too long ago that Sonya Deville was the victim of an attempted kidnapping, a matter that Deville would take months off to recover from. On the podcast, Saraya referenced WWE’s support for Sonya Deville during a serious stalking incident, but suggested more comprehensive approaches are needed industry-wide.
As wrestling continues to gain mainstream popularity and social media blurs the lines between performers and fans, addressing these safety concerns becomes increasingly urgent for promotions seeking to protect their talent.
The professional wrestling landscape has undergone significant changes in recent years, with All Elite Wrestling (AEW) providing the most serious competition to WWE’s decades-long market dominance. Saraya knows all about the inner workings of WWE and AEW and believes one factor stands tall in coaxing talent to be ‘All Elite’: creative freedom.
“A lot of people go to AEW because there’s more freedom compared to WWE. It’s one of the reasons I made the switch.”
While WWE for years has been known for its strict image control where everything from hairstyles to tattoos are debated, AEW’s more relaxed attitude is a refreshing alternative. Since arriving on the scene in 2019, AEW has fundamentally altered the power dynamic in professional wrestling, giving talent more leverage and options outside of WWE.
As competition between promotions intensifies, WWE has changed its own stance on various factors, whether by choice or to keep-up with the appeal of AEW to promising talent. On the podcast, Saraya noted that WWE’s policies have already evolved under Paul “Triple H” Levesque’s leadership compared to the Vince McMahon era, suggesting that market competition may be driving positive changes for talent across the board.
For wrestling fans, this competition between WWE and AEW continues to deliver exciting weekly programming as well as well as better treatment of talent. With promotions willing to offer the very best and talent ready to give their very best, this creative tension may well produce a new golden era for professional wrestling entertainment.
A person’s first time is a special thing, though it can also be very nervewracking. While there’s countless people who may have horror stories about the first time they had sex, none can compare to former WWE/AEW star Saraya.
On her Rulebreakers podcast, Saraya and her guest Kail Lowry discussed their early romances. Sarays shocked Lowry when recalling the first time she touched a male organ, and how she decided to immortalize this moment in her life.
“I drew a picture of it, in my scrapbook. Yeah, in the scrapbook. And my dad found it!”
Lowry was stunned at this revelation while Saraya admitted to being mortified at the time. When asked if she’s spoken to the ‘inspiration’ of her drawing, the British wrestler admitted so. Not only are the pair still in touch, but “He’s the f***in’ godfather to one of my nephews!”
Saraya’s candidness has come to represent her new podcast, proving that very few, if any topics, are off limits to the former WWE Divas Champion. Fans can expect plenty more from Saraya and her life both in and outside of the squared circle.
Rusev Day may have been a hit with fans but that didn’t save the Bulgarian from being released in 2020 during the latter years of the Vince McMahon regime. In a revealing interview with Steve Fall for Ten Count Wrestling, Aiden English addressed why McMahon never took to the Rusev Day phenomenon.
“He views you in one way and it’s very hard to change that view. He liked Rusev a lot as the Bulgarian brute, the big bruting foreign bad guy.”
With his mind set on Rusev as a destroyer, the idea of the fun, oft-comedic Rusev Day character did nothing for the former WWE Chairman. Even with merchandise flying off the shelves featuring Rusev Day, the billionaire boss couldn’t be convinced that anyone liked the gimmick.
“Vince legitimately thought they’re just making fun of you… they’re just mocking you by doing your little chant.”
Though the angle started with Rusev as a heel, the fan’s love for Rusev Day slowly turned the character into a babyface. This turn wasn’t easy, as after matches where he and Rusev teased babyface tendencies, they’d get in trouble backstage.
“[We’d] get back and kind of get yelled at like ‘you’re not a babyface, you’re a heel.'”
McMahon’s frosty reception to the popular angle demonstrated the belief many had that Vince had lost touch with what WWE fans wanted to see. With reports of Rusev re-signing with WWE, Rusev Day may soon return with no McMahon in sight to spoil the party.
Charlotte Flair has responded to accusations that she attempted to “bury” WWE Women’s Champion Tiffany Stratton during their recent split-screen promo on SmackDown.
The segment, which aired on March 21, 2025, sparked controversy when Flair appeared to improvise lines that Stratton wasn’t prepared to respond to, creating an awkward exchange that left the champion looking outmatched.
In a recent interview with Alex McCarthy for Daily Mail, Flair rejected the notion that she was trying to teach Stratton a lesson, instead framing the interaction as her simply performing at the level expected of someone of her caliber.
“It’s great that you said ‘teach her a lesson’ – I did not look at it as a lesson. I looked at it as I am Charlotte Flair. Do you want me to be less than? This is what you wanted, right? This is who you want to be like, this is your idol,” Flair explained.
Looking Toward WrestleMania 41
Flair, who earned her championship opportunity by winning the 2025 Women’s Royal Rumble in her return from injury, expressed confidence heading into her WrestleMania match against Stratton.
“This is a similar situation. I am going to be as good as everyone thinks I am, and now I feel like I’m even that much better because 2024 did kick my ass and it did give me the clarity and it did light the spark, like no, my career is on my time and I’m coming for everything. I’ve done my homework,” Flair stated.
The second-generation superstar concluded with a confident declaration about the upcoming event:
“WrestleMania is the easy part for me. WrestleMania is my domain.”
Charlotte Flair will challenge Tiffany Stratton for the WWE Women’s Championship at WrestleMania 41 this weekend, though which night the match will take place has not yet been confirmed.
The Bella Twins are headed to Vegas later this month and they’ve got a lot lined up for wrestling’s biggest weekend of the year.
On their latest podcast episode, Nikki and Brie Garcia revealed their extensive plans for the upcoming WrestleMania weekend in Las Vegas from April 18-21, 2025.
WrestleMania Weekend Plans
Nikki and Brie will attend WrestleMania weekend in Las Vegas (April 18-21, 2025)
They’ll record their podcast from SiriusXM studios at the Wynn Hotel on Friday (10am-12pm PST)
WWE star Natalya “Nattie” Neidhart will join as a guest to discuss her new book
Their first-ever live YouTube show will stream Saturday at 11am PST in partnership with Xfinity
Bonita Bonita Wine Appearances
Their wine brand will be available at multiple Las Vegas venues:
Old Red (Friday night)
Hooters (Saturday late afternoon)
Flankers at Mandalay Bay (throughout the weekend)
Wrestling Career Mentions
Brie joked she’s “out here grappling the grapes while Nikki’s looking grappling the girls”
Nikki referenced a potential “comeback” as Nikki Bella among her career aspirations
They reminisced about earning only $500 a week before taxes in their early wrestling days
Total Divas & Total Bellas
They’re creating a “busted brackets” Instagram game for fans to vote on favorite unscripted TV shows
The twins expressed interest in a potential reunion special with the original Total Divas cast
Former castmate Naomi (Trinity Fatu) will join them in Las Vegas along with Natalya
Dustin Rhodes forged his career for years in WWE as the bizarre Goldust, but is he a Hall of Famer in waiting? Speaking toFOX News, Cody Rhodes made the case for his brother’s induction.
“He’s extremely talented… I’d like to see that not just because I believe he deserves it, which he does, but I’d love to see the family just more added.“
Rhodes acknowledged that fans and wrestlers alike may have different takes on the WWE Hall of Fame, but it has always meant a lot to him and his family. Describing it as “the thing,” Rhodes put the induction as an honor on par with championship gold.
Cody Rhodes’ first significant appearance for WWE came in 2007 where he and Dustin inducted their father Dusty on the eve of WrestleMania 23. Now, Cody is ready to see his father and brother reunited as WWE Hall of Famers.
“My dad going in was such a huge deal. So, I’d love to see him joined by my brother.”
There are obstacles that could black Dustin being inducted, the biggest being that he is currently part of WWE’s chief-rival, AEW. With that said, Tony Khan agreed for Billy Gunn to be inducted as part of DX in 2019, shortly after AEW was announced.
Whether Dustin receives his ring while part of AEW or after his time being ‘All-Elite’ is up, plenty believe the honor would be rightly-deserved. As for Cody, he continues to lead WWE as Undisputed WWE Champion, forging a WWE Hall of Fame-worthy path of his own.
For wrestlers, making a living in the ring is a dream come true but ultimately, ever competitor will have to retire. On X, WWE Raw’s Akira Tozawa hinted that his time may be coming to an end as he reflected on two decades of being in the business.
Tozawa’s post spawned a flurry of responses from fans, many encouraging the WWE Superstar to not give up. One fan shared their hope for Tozawa to face AJ Styles in a WWE ring, while another hoped to see Tozawa compete for Dragon Gate over WWE WrestleMania week in Las Vegas.
Tozawa began his wrestling journey in 2005 with Dragon Gate, where he won multiple championships and established himself as a major star. In 2020, he arrived in the United States and joined WWE in 2016 as part of the Cruiserweight Classic. Today, Tozawa serves as one-third of Alpha Academy alongside Otis and Maxxine Dupri.
With 20 years in the business and a successful career behind him, it is hardly a surprise that Tozawa is at least reflecting on the idea of life after the squared circle. Whether he transitions into a coaching role or moves on from the industry entirely, his contributions to professional wrestling remain significant.
B-Fab is all fired up and issued a warning to Naomi ahead of their grudge match on this week’s edition of WWE SmackDown.
Naomi recently embraced her darker side and revealed that she was the attacker of Jade Cargill. Well, she has gone berserk and wanted to send a statement on last week’s WWE SmackDown. Ahead of Michin’s match against Charlotte Flair, Naomi came out and brutally attacked B-Fab and Michin. However, she ran away when Jade Cargill showed up.
B-Fab has now posted a video clip on Instagram in which she called out Naomi. The former Hit Row member said that Naomi inspired her to be in the business and it’s commendable how far her rival has come. However, Naomi’s actions against Jade Cargill hurt her. Here is what she said (transcribed by SEScoops):
“You’ve always done the right thing. Always. That’s exactly why we looked up to you. You’re the reason why I wanted to be in this business. You inspired more than just one if you didn’t know. Everybody who told me I’ll be nothing in this business that I couldn’t make it, I ignored it all and I looked at you Naomi. I saw you scratching claw for a little piece that they gave you but I knew that one day you would overcome and you showed us all when you became Women’s Champion. But when we heard what happened to Jade we were all sad. But when you came out and confessed in that ring that you were the one who did it? We were all hurt, especially me. You exchanged your pain for pride and on top of it all you wanted to be justified. See this Friday when I’m in a ring with you I won’t be in the ring with the glow that we once knew. Nah. I’m gonna be locked in and I’m gonna do what’s right even if that means pretending that I don’t know you. It’s gonna hurt me but it’s all good because you know why that’s just how it be. See you on Friday.”
Earlier this week, Naomi had even reposted a video clip on X in which she was choking. The former Women’s Champion even warned B-Fab, saying she won’t release the chokehold next time they square off.
The rivalry between Naomi and Jade Cargill is boiling. The former even ruined Cargill’s in ring return against Liv Morgan, marking her first loss in a singles battle. Not only that, she even took out Cargill following the match. It is now a matter of time when Cargill and Naomi go face to face inside the ring.
If you use any quote from this article, please credit SEScoops for transcription
Cody Rhodes recently shared a memorable story about how he first met his wife, Brandi Rhodes, during an appearance on Stephanie’s Places. The WWE Superstar reflected on their initial interaction which came backstage as Brandi was preparing for a segment.
She was in the hall, and they’d given her real Texas big hair. I was telling her, as her peer, you can’t go out there like that.”
While Cody saw it as simple peer-to-peer guidance, Brandi took it aas “entry-level flirtation.”At that moment, Rhodes was already captivated, saying, “I thought she was beautiful, the most amazing eyes I’ve ever seen in my life.”
What happened next completely changed the moment for Rhodes. As he went in for what he described as a “half-hug,” Brandi surprised him by playfully blowing in his ear. That unexpected move left a lasting impression on him.
“At that point, I thought Dashing Cody Rhodes is a real thing.”
Stephanie would catch up Brandi on the show, who refuted the notion that she deliberately blew in her future husband’s ear in a flirtatious way.
“That is not true! I was just breathing [laughs]. I was just breathing. I did not blow in his ear… But then from that point there was trust, so we started hanging out.”
Since that first meeting, Cody and Brandi’s relationship has flourished, leading to marriage and a family. Their love story, which began with a lighthearted backstage interaction, remains one of wrestling’s most endearing real-life romances.
In June 2015, a taping of WWE Superstars went tragically wrong as a Muscle Buster by Samoa Joe would result in Tyson Kidd suffering a serious neck injury. Nearly a decade later, Kidd has never returned to the ring, a sign of just how dangerous even a practiced move can be.
On the Insight podcast, Joe reflected on the moment in question. Calling the spot the “largest regret in my career,” Joe recalled realizing that something had gone horribly wrong after he saw the reaction of Kidd’s tag-team partner.
“The only thing that even hinted that there’s something wrong is when Cesaro looked back up at me. I know when Cesaro is concerned and then I was like, ‘Oh my God, I hope everything is okay.'”
It makes Joe “sick to this day” that Tyson Kidd is no longer wrestling and he praised the Canadian as an “amazing human being” with a great mind for the business. Despite having used the move countless times before with no issue, this one mistake left Joe ready to retire the Muscle Buster.
“I didn’t want to [continue using it]… I didn’t want to replay the car crash in front of somebody. So I did my best to distance myself from it.”
Joe wouldn’t embrace the Muscle Buster again until his return to WWE NXT where he would become the first-ever three-time NXT Champion. As for Kidd, he has become a highly-respected WWE producer who recently come close to a return to the ring.
Joe and Kidd’s situation reflects the inherent dangers every wrestler, no matter where they compete, put themselves in when they wrestle. For Joe, all it took was a move he’d done countless times without issue to end a career, a fact Joe lives with every single day.
Samoa Joe has been wrestling for decades and knows that his days in the ring can’t go on forever. Speaking on the Insight podcast, Joe admitted that he’s thought about his retirement from wrestling a lot as of late.
“Yeah, I do a lot. It’s probably coming sooner than later, which is fine.”
Joe explained that he, alongside many of his generation, have done their best to save and prepare for a future outside of the ring. The last thing that the 46-year-old wrestler and those like him wants to do is be out stay his welcome “because we may have been privy to a few people may have done that in their careers.”
While Joe’s in-ring career is coming to an end, he doesn’t have an exact date in mind. With that said, Joe’s current contract with All Elite Wrestling could be his last.
“I will do this for a little longer and then yeah I think the end is probably sooner than any new deal being signed.”
Joe isn’t the only TNA alum to be well aware that the end is coming. AJ Styles, a name who Joe battled in both TNA and WWE, has spoken repeatedly in recent years about his career coming to an end. The Phenomenal One, who is also 46, has vowed to retire by 50, leaving fans with just a few more years to appreciate his work in the ring.
As for now, Joe remains an active part of AEW and has also appeared for ROH after signing with Tony Khan in 2022. With that in mind, though, Joe recognizes that his end is coming in the ring, and may come far sooner than fans expected.
On her Instagram Stories, Noelle gave the following message:
“Flying home to see my dad right now. Thanks to those of you who reached out. I’ve honestly been an emotional wreck these past 24 hours, but I am just so thankful and grateful that he is “okay.” I put okay in parentheses because he is very banged up and in a great deal of pain and had a concussion, which we all know can be very tricky and symptoms can be delayed after the injury. So I’ve been frantically worried about him,but just very happy I’ll be landing soon and seeing him shortly.”
Foley shared news of his accident on April 1, leading some to speculate that this was some elaborate prank by the Hardcore Legend. In a separate message, Noelle confirmed that this was not the case.
“For anybody wondering what happened, my dad was in a bad car accident. No it wasn’t an April fools day joke. My dad would never joke about a car accident or a concussion. Every time I see this picture I get so emotional. It’s a miracle he was able to walk away from this.”
On the March 31, episode of WWE Raw, GUNTHER destroyed Jimmy Uso, first in their match and then in a post-match beatdown. As Jey looked on, secured to the ring rope, GUNTHER would stand tall to end the segment caked in the blood of ‘Big Jim.’
Blood remains a rarity in WWE though has grown more current in recent years. Speaking on the Wrestling Time Machine, Teddy Long argued that blood should be used with caution in WWE to avoid the red liquid losing its impact.
“If they do go in that direction, they’re not gonna overdo it, you know, it’s a thing called overkill, and they’re not gonna do that.”
Long believes that WWE’s creative team, led by Paul ‘Triple H’ Levesque, won’t overdo blood, especially on weekly programming. Despite the fate of Jimmy Uso on Raw, Long believes WWE will keep its ‘bloodbaths’ for Premium Live Events.
“If they’re gonna have some brutal matches loaded with blood, they’re gonna save that and make that mean something. That would be for a major show, WrestleMania or SummerSlam.”
WWE has leaned more into using blood as of late, with GUNTHER and Jimmy being the latest example. Cody Rhodes was left covered in blood at Elimination Chamber: Toronto thanks to John Cena, The Rock, and Travis Scott. In 2024, an attack by The Rock on the American Nightmare would leave Cody caked in blood and would quickly go viral.
GUNTHER will battle Jey Uso for the World Heavyweight Championship in the biggest match of Jey’s career to date. It remains to be seen who stands tall inside Allegiant Stadium but Long wouldn’t be opposed to seeing some blood in this highly-emotional showdown.
Booker T was recently spotted with Chasyn Rance, a controversial name in the world of professional wrestling. After a backlash online, Booker shared the following statement on X.
“I’ve been a guest trainer at hundreds of wrestling schools over the years, helping to teach and mentor up-and-coming talent. I don’t conduct background checks on every trainer or individual I’ve crossed paths with or taken photos with along the way.
“This feels like a clear attempt to falsely associate me with something I have 100% nothing to do with and absolutely no knowledge of!
“Any student who’s trained with me can vouch for the kind of coach, mentor, and person I am. My record speaks for itself.”
I’ve been a guest trainer at hundreds of wrestling schools over the years, helping to teach and mentor up-and-coming talent. I don’t conduct background checks on every trainer or individual I’ve crossed paths with or taken photos with along the way.
The responses to Booker’s statement were mixed with many supporting Booker for making his stance clear. However, there were some that argued that Booker should conduct more background checks after being seen with Rance. Rance has been registered with the Florida Sex Offender Registry since 2014 stemming from a 2011 incident.
Booker holds many roles in pro wrestling today, including serving as a commentator for NXT and running his Reality of Wrestling promotion. In addition, Booker will continue to mentor young minds in wrestling, both as part of WWE LFG and beyond.
Miro, aka Rusev, is on his way back to WWE programming, but could another wrestler be coming with him? Following reports that Miro had re-signed with WWE, a fan reached out to Matt Rehwoldt, suggesting he should come back as well. Rehwoldt, known to WWE fans as Aiden English, didn’t reject the idea, sharing that WWE has his number.
As Aiden English, Rehwoldt was part of perhaps Miro’s most popular run in WWE, that being Rusev Day. The ‘holiday’ took place every single day and would see Rusev declare that the day was all about him. English would serve as a manager for Rusev during this time and often used his singing abilities to hype up the fans for their daily Rusev Day celebrations.
Since leaving WWE, Rehwoldt has found a home for himself as part of the broadcast team for TNA Wrestling. Between the return of Miro/Rusev and WWE’s ongoing partnership with TNA, fans shouldn’t count out the former Vaudevillain making a surprise appearance in the Sports Entertainment juggernaut.
Another name fans are curious about is CJ Perry, known to WWE fans as Lana. After confirming her exit from AEW last year, it was revealed that she and Miro had separated. Now though, the pair are back together and while Perry didn’t accompany her husband to WWE’s headquarters, fans can’t count out seeing the Ravishing Russian again.
Mick Foley recently had a serious car accident, but thankfully, he didn’t get badly hurt. He shared a picture of his wrecked car on Tueesday to and alerted fans of what happened.
The Hardcore Legend said he was sore and had a slight concussion, but he knew he was lucky it wasn’t worse. This was a scary situation, but he walked away from it mostly okay.
On Wednesday, Foley made a video to thank everyone who sent him well wishes. He said it was almost unbelievable that he only had some soft tissue damage from the crash. Even though he’s still feeling the effects of the accident, he plans to keep all the appointments and appearances he already had scheduled.
“Hey everybody, it’s Mick Foley. And I just want to take a moment to thank all of you for your well-wishes, your positive energy, your prayers,” he said. “I had so many people in wrestling reach out to me. I just was sending some texts with The Undertaker a few minutes ago. Triple H reached out. Been a pleasure, really, to have had some of the biggest stars in wrestling — and Al Snow — reach out to me [laughs]. That never gets old.
“I’m going to be honest, though — I’m banged up. I feel like a truck has run over me. I’m propped up against about seven pillows. But, looking at that accident, and looking at that car, I don’t think anyone would predict that the guy in that car would come out of it with soft tissue damage. It’s pretty — I don’t want to say miraculous, but I’m feeling really fortunate right now. And I will not be missing any of my dates. I’ll be in Texas this weekend. I’ll be traveling to New Mexico, Arizona, of course on to WrestleMania.
“And, again, I just want to thank everyone [and] assure you that it was not an April Fool’s joke. I’m very grateful, very sore, but thankful for all of you. Have a nice day.”
Foley, when he was at a wrestling fan event in February, said that his health was “pretty good” overall. He also mentioned that he’s lost a lot of weight and that he used medicine to help him with his weight loss.
The Rock’s ‘Smashing Machine’ Movie has revealed its theatrical release date. On Wednesday, A24 announced that the film would be released on Friday, October 3rd.
The movie, which is based on the life of former MMA/UFC star Mark Kerr, is directed and written by Bennie Safdie. It also stars Emily Blunt who Johnson has appeared alongside in Disney’s Jungle Cruise.
Deadline noted that the plot is reads like, “(The movie) follows Kerr (Johnson) from the no-holds-barred era of the UFC at the peak of his career as he questions himself and struggles with life and his relationships. Meanwhile, Mark’s girlfriend Dawn Staples (Blunt) struggles as well to find her place in Mark’s chaotic and contradictory world.”
Kerr was an NCAA Division I amateur wrestling champion in addition to other global tournaments before he became the wniner of two of the early UFC heavyweight tournaments (UFC 14 and 15) and also competed in PRIDE.
His last fight came in August 2009 and ended his career on a five-fight losing streak. The former fighter was the focus of a 2002 documentary of the same name.
AEW star Jay White has sustained a legitimate injury that necessitated his withdrawal from the Owen Hart Foundation Tournament, as confirmed by Fightful Select. White is expected to undergo surgery.
This development is a significant setback for “Switchblade,” who has been a prominent figure in professional wrestling.
Fans and colleagues alike are extending their support and well-wishes for his swift recovery.?
AEW has officially unveiled the brackets for the 2025 Owen Hart Foundation Men’s and Women’s Tournaments, featuring high-stakes matchups across both divisions.
Women’s Bracket
In the women’s bracket, Jamie Hayter will face Billie Starkz, while Thunder Rosa takes on Kris Statlander on one side. The other half features AEW TBS Champion Mercedes Moné vs. Julia Hart and ROH Women’s Champion Athena vs. Harley Cameron. The tournament finals are scheduled for AEW Double or Nothing on May 25, with the winner earning a shot at the AEW Women’s Championship at AEW All In.
Men’s Bracket
The men’s bracket also includes several major names. Will Ospreay faces Kevin Knight, while Brody King battles Konosuke Takeshita in the opening round. On the other side, Mark Briscoe will square off with Kyle Fletcher, and Adam Page is set to meet a mystery opponent. Winners will advance through the semifinals, leading to the finals at Double or Nothing.
Also on the April 2 edition of AEW Dynamite, Willow Nightingale scored a pinfall win over Marina Shafir in a mixed tag team match, delivering a powerbomb for the finish. The celebration was cut short when Jon Moxley attacked Nightingale with a DDT post-match, escaping before Swerve Strickland could intervene.
Britt Baker will appear at WrestleCon in Las Vegas during WrestleMania 41 weekend despite her ongoing absence from AEW television. This marks her first major public engagement during her hiatus.
WrestleCon confirmed via Twitter that Baker will be available for meet-and-greets on April 17-19. Pricing includes $50 for autographs, $50 for selfies, and $80 for combo packages, with no table pre-orders available.
Baker has not appeared on AEW Dynamite since November 13, a four-month absence that has prompted speculation. According to reporting from Sean Ross Sapp, Baker’s time away is primarily for personal reasons rather than backstage issues.
The Doctor is IN! Welcome back Britt Baker D.M.D. She is available for pro photos now. No table preorders, but pricing is $50/50/$80 on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday. pic.twitter.com/HUFrPYe6n0
Known for their hard-hitting style and technical prowess, the duo has established themselves as one of the most decorated teams on the independent circuit, recently reclaiming the GCW Tag Team Championships in a four-way match at GCW No Compadre.
Violence is Forever has previously worked AEW events, including AEW Dark: Elevation, and their return could signal a strategic addition to AEW’s evolving tag team division.
With a reputation for blending technical wrestling and brutality, Garrini and Ku have held titles across promotions like GCW, DPW, and SUP.
Their storied career includes a 442-day reign as GCW Tag Team Champions and matches against top-tier teams like FTR.
WWE Women’s U.S. Champion Chelsea Green is here to support the LGBTQ+ community, no matter what Val Venis may have to say. On X, Green shared her support for transgender people during transgender day of visibility with a tongue-in-cheek dig at WWE rival Michin.
While countless fans were pleased to see Green make such a public display of support, Val Venis was not happy. The former WWE star complained that Green supporting trans people is part of what has driven him from wrestling. Venis, who played an adult film star for much of his wrestling career, argued that Green being okay with transgender people demonstrated a “lack of moral engagement.”
It’s so unfortunate that instead of simply scrolling past, you chose to quote-tweet me, knowing it would invite your followers to pile on. You were fully aware of what you were doing— encouraging harassment towards me and towards the LGBTQ+ community. Fortunately, neither your…
Venis would later respond, arguing that he is being vilified by being labeled as transphobic, bigoted, or hateful. Venis went as far as to claim that such labels “takes a nuke to the foundations of any meaningful dialogue.” In response, Green rejected a claim by Venis that her support for LGBTQ+ people was anything to do with politics. She also argued that unlike her, Venis would “love to take this time to further push your political agenda.”
Val, I've been holding back from responding with the same level of hostility you've shown, but since you keep tagging me, I'll say this and I won’t be responding again: I’m Canadian—I can’t even vote. So when I speak about human rights, I’m not talking about politics; I’m talking…
Venis may act like him being labeled as transphobic is an unfair slur to shut down debate, but his actions certainly fit the term according to many. In 2020, Venis mocked Nyla Rose following her AEW Women’s World Championship victory and has often taken aim at the wrestler. In 2024, Venis said that showing any kind of support to trans people was “affirming evil.” He insinuated that trans people would be sent to hell and that Cody Rhodes was a tool of Satan because he posed with a trans flag with a lucky fan. While Venis may want to pretend that him being labeled hateful is coming from out of the blue, there’s no shortage of examples.
Keep AFFIRMING evil into the minds of the fans that pay for your paycheck @CodyRhodes. Why do you hate your fans so much that you would fool them into never realizing their own salvation? pic.twitter.com/BdzybmfTNV
For Chelsea Green, supporting trans people isn’t some ‘gimmick’ for poticial theater, but is a matter that hits home for the ‘Hot Mess.’ When a ‘fan’ claimed that Green must have only thought about things for seconds before throwing her weight behind trans rights, Green shared that she’s been thinking for a lot longer than that as she has family and loved ones who are trans.
I hate to break it to you but not only have I shared locker rooms with all genders, I’ve also shared bathrooms. So no, I wouldn’t give a f*ck. In fact, I’ve got family members that are trans so I’ve given not just 10 seconds of thought to this, but close to 30 years and 10…
Venis’ career in the ring is long over and today, he is known for his comments on social media, including a brief ban from X. As for Green, she will continue to represent WWE as Women’s U.S. Champion and won’t let anyone, especially not Val Venis, dictate who she is going to show support for.
Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes shared a surprising story on Stephanie’s Places involving “Stone Cold.” Before his rise to superstardom, he revealed that a young Steve Austin once babysat him during WCW shows.
“It was a legit, real babysitter. In terms of my dad had to go out and do a meeting. Hey, will you watch him? And most of the guys at that age really didn’t feel you needed to watch me. But he actually would kind of check in, hey, all right, kid, all right, and then pop back out. And I thought years later, watching him, you know, Stone Cold Steve Austin, you know, romp and stomp and doing everything changing the industry. If you were in this building, you knew Stunning Steve Austin was awesome. He was outstanding. And I feel like if you saw him, you weren’t surprised, maybe the character and everything that was far you’d never seen anything.”
The shocking heel turn of John Cena, coupled with his alliance with The Rock and the unexpected addition of Travis Scott, has created an interesting opposition for Cody Rhodes heading into WrestleMania 41. Rhodes may require significant support to defend his Undisputed WWE Title if he faces such a powerful trio while defending his title in a singles match against Cena. Austin has stepped forward, offering his assistance and throwing his iconic “hat in the ring” to even the odds in Las Vegas.
Austin’s willingness to aid Rhodes was made clear during a 2024 interview on the “Unlikely with Adrian Hernandez” podcast, where the WWE Hall of Famer expressed his readiness to stand by the current Undisputed WWE Champion.
Austin’s Submission Match with Bret Hart from WrestleMania 13 will be inducted into this year’s WWE Hall of Fame class as part of the new Immortal Moments category.
