AEW is set to welcome back another one of its stars, Julia Hart, who had been a key figure in the AEW women’s division before her absence. Hart has been off television since April, following her loss of the AEW TBS Championship to Willow Nightingale at AEW Dynasty.

During an interview with Stephanie Chase, Brody King previously hinted that fans could expect Hart to return to action soon. Hart has also been dropping subtle hints about her comeback.

Thus far in 2024, she holds a 6-3 record, with four of those bouts being TBS Title defenses. The speculation is over. During an appearance on Highspots Sign It Live, Hart confirmed that she is indeed ready for her return.

“I am ready. I’m just waiting for the call. Who knows when I’ll pop up,” Hart shared.

As of this writing, there is no official word on when exactly Hart will return or what AEW has planned for her when she does. With Hart being back in the fold, she has matches with the likes of TBS Champion Mercedes Mone, Kamille, and Women’s Champion Mariah May waiting for her.

Cody Rhodes defeated Roman Reigns for the Undisputed WWE Championship at WrestleMania 40 earlier this year, setting the stage for a potential showdown with The Rock at WrestleMania 41 in 2025. The rivalry gained more traction when The Rock returned at Bad Blood, following a tag team match where Reigns and Rhodes overcame Jacob Fatu and Solo Sikoa. The Rock counted to three before leaving the arena, teasing further a future match in a live promo on Instagram.

Recently, rumors have surfaced about WWE’s plans for WrestleMania 41. Instead of a one-on-one match between Rhodes and The Rock, WWE might be considering a different path: a triple threat match involving Rhodes, Rock, and Reigns at WrestleMania 41.

Rumor Addressed

While appearing on Vegas Revealed, Rhodes was asked about the rumored triple threat match. He addressed the speculation, saying, “There are so many rumors circulating. It eats up the social feed, all the different rumors of what the matches might be. The hardest thing to do in WWE, sports entertainment, and pro wrestling in general is not to win [the WWE Title]; the hardest thing to do is main event WrestleMania. I don’t care what the rumor is, as long as the rumor is I’m in the main event of WrestleMania. I’m good with it.”

Rhodes went on to tease that fans should expect the unexpected: “What I can say for those who keep an eye on the rumors, I bet you what they get at WrestleMania 41 is unexpected even to them. Even the diehards who feel like they have their finger on the pulse—this one is going to be tough. This one is going to be unexpected but in the best of ways.”

WrestleMania 41 will be a two-night event on April 19 and 20, 2025, at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas. Before that, Rhodes will face GUNTHER for the Crown Jewel Title at WWE’s upcoming premium live event next Saturday.

Becky Lynch has been enjoying her personal life, spending time at home with her young daughter while taking a break from WWE. However, she is set to return to the spotlight for a rare public appearance next month.

Vulture Festival has announced that Lynch, appearing under her real name Rebecca Quin, will take part in an event on November 17th at 7 PM in Hollywood, CA.

According to the promotional material, the event will feature “a conversation about her recent memoir Becky Lynch: The Man: Not Your Average Average Girl. We’ll look back on her legendary career — from her early days grinding on the road to being part of the first-ever women’s match to main event WrestleMania — and just maybe get a glimpse at what The Man has in store for us next.”

WWE Exit

Earlier this year, Lynch did not renew her contract with WWE after winning the Women’s World Title. She concluded her run with the company in late May, passing the torch to Liv Morgan at the King and Queen of the Ring Premium Live Event, where she dropped the Women’s Title. To further elevate Morgan as the next big star on Monday Night Raw, Lynch put her over again in a steel cage match two nights later on Raw.

While Lynch is expected to return to WWE at some point, there have been no updates on her status or a specific timeline for her comeback. However, WWE continues to list her on the active talent roster.

Tonight’s edition of AEW Dynamite will air live on TBS at 8/7c from the Maverik Center in Salt Lake City, Utah. The show promises an exciting lineup, headlined by a WrestleDream rematch, as ROH World Champion Mark Briscoe once again puts his title on the line against Chris Jericho. This time, the two will face off in a Ladder War match following Briscoe’s victory over Jericho earlier this month at WrestleDream.

Sammy Guevara also returns to action after missing several weeks due to a concussion. He’s set to square off against Shelton Benjamin, who made an impressive in-ring debut for AEW last week with a win over Lio Rush. Additionally, The Elite (Young Bucks and Jack Perry) will take on Daniel Garcia & Private Party (Marq Quen and Isiah Kassidy) in a highly anticipated trios match.

Matches and Segments:

• ROH World Champion Mark Briscoe defends against Chris Jericho in a Ladder War match
• The Elite (Young Bucks and Jack Perry) vs. Daniel Garcia & Private Party (Marq Quen and Isiah Kassidy)
• Sammy Guevara vs. Shelton Benjamin
• Kamille vs. Queen Aminata
• House of Black in action
• Hook confronts Taz’s attacker(s)
• We’ll hear from Kyle Fletcher

Don’t miss out on this stacked edition of AEW Dynamite!

DELTA is set to make her highly anticipated WWE NXT debut this Sunday at the Halloween Havoc event in Hershey, PA, hosted at the GIANT Center. WWE confirmed her arrival during Tuesday’s episode of NXT, where they officially revealed her new ring name: ZARIA. Though the company has not yet announced her opponent for the event, fans have been eagerly awaiting her in-ring debut following a series of vignettes hyping her introduction.

DELTA’s Background

DELTA entered the wrestling scene in late December 2020 and quickly made a name for herself. She predominantly wrestled for Riot City Wrestling. During her time there, she achieved notable success, capturing the Women’s, Heavyweight, Grand, and Tag Team Championships.

Her impressive performances earned her a contract with WWE after a standout tryout during Elimination Chamber Week earlier this year. DELTA completed her wrestling commitments in Australia in July before officially joining WWE.

The Halloween Havoc Premium Live Event is expected to be headlined by NXT Champion Trick Williams, who will defend his title against Ethan Page in a Devil’s Playground Match.

Braun Strowman has found himself sidelined following a Last Monster Standing match against Bronson Reed on a recent episode of WWE Raw. During the bout, Reed delivered a superplex to Strowman, causing the ring to collapse. This set the stage for Seth Rollins’ return, as he emerged to hit Reed with a stomp on the steel steps. As a result, Strowman picked up the win.

However, reports soon emerged that Strowman had sustained an injury during the match, believed to be a torn groin. Strowman later confirmed the nature of the injury himself.

Injury Update

The WWE Raw star provided an update in an interview with The Schmo over the weekend, where he served as an honorary starter at a NASCAR playoff race in Las Vegas. Strowman shared that he is still undergoing rehab to recover from his injury.

“Well, they call me the Monster of All Monsters for a reason [laughs],” Strowman said when asked how he’s managing to stay active despite the torn groin. “It’s unfortunate, but that’s part of the job. We know we’re not signing up for water polo or ballet, so things happen in our sport. The show goes on, and you’ve got to suck it up and get it done.”

Strowman mentioned that while he has been off for the past few weeks, he is continuing his rehabilitation. “I’m flying back to Orlando to get more rehab this week, then next week we’re in Hershey, PA, before heading to Saudi Arabia for the big one [Crown Jewel].”

We wish him a speedy recovery.

Chris Jericho’s next Hollywood project, Dark Match, is slated for release on Friday, January 31, 2025. This wrestling-themed action-horror film was one of several exciting titles announced by Shudder during the New York Comic Con.

Dark Match was first announced in December 2022 and is directed by Lowell Dean. The film boasts a star-studded cast, including Ayisha Issa (Transplant), Steven Ogg (The Walking Dead, Westworld), Sara Canning (The Vampire Diaries), Michael Eklund (The Call), and Jonathan Cherry (Goon).

Produced by John K. MacDonald, Don Depoe, Michael Feehan, Rhonda Baker, and Michael Peterson, with executive producers Eleanor Wiebe and Chris Jericho, Dark Match promises to thrill action and horror fans alike.

The official synopsis reads: “A small-time wrestling company accepts a lucrative gig in a remote, backwoods town, only to discover that the community is controlled by a mysterious cult leader with sinister plans for their match.”

Jericho, already well-known for his role in the Terrifier movies, is seeing continued success with Terrifier 3, which has grossed nearly $30 million since its debut on October 11, 2024.

Tonight’s episode of WWE SmackDown broadcasts live on at 8/7c on the USA Network from the Colonial Life Arena in Columbia, South Carolina.

Two weeks out from Crown Jewel on Saturday, Nov. 2, SmackDown will feature the highly anticipated arrival of the Motor City Machine Guns, the final chapter of Andrade and Carmelo Hayes’ Best of 7 series, plus appearances by Roman Reigns and Randy Orton.

Matches and Segments

• Motor City Machine Guns vs. Los Garza. Chris Sabin & Alex Shelley will make their WWE in-ring debuts after weeks of teaser vignettes hyping their arrival.
• Carmelo Hayes vs. Andrade (Match 7). This final match determine the winner of their intense best-of-seven series.
• Randy Orton is scheduled to appear and will address Kevin Owens’ recent attack.
• Roman Reigns will also be on hand, ensuring more developments in he and Jimmy Uso’s ongoing conflict with The Bloodline.

What Happened Last Week

Last week’s Oct. 11 episode of WWE SmackDown featured several solid matches and developments, including LA Knight successfully defending the U.S. Championship against Carmelo Hayes, with Andrade’s presence teasing a potential future Triple Threat.

Bianca Belair and Jade Cargill defended their tag titles, while Naomi defeated Nia Jax (with help), building more tension between Liv Morgan and Nia ahead of their upcoming showdown. Kevin Owens further solidified his heel turn with multiple ambushes, and Solo Sikoa defeated Jimmy Uso in the main event after Bloodline interference.

Catch up on the Top 10 Moments last week’s SmackDown:

WWE NXT star Lola Vice has expressed her desire for the company to bring back a unique match concept. During an appearance on The Wayne Ayers Podcast, Vice revealed that she wants to compete in the Fight Pit match, a stipulation introduced in 2020 but last held in 2022.

“I would want to be in the first-ever women’s Fight Pit match. That’s on my bucket list.”

– Lola Vice

Vice’s Opponent Wish List

Vice also named several potential opponents she’d like to face in the Fight Pit, including Jaida Parker, Stephanie Vaquer, and Giulia. Vice recently competed on the October 15 edition of WWE NXT, where she suffered a loss to Nikkita Lyons.

The Fight Pit match has only taken place three times in WWE history. The inaugural match featured Timothy Thatcher against Matt Riddle on an episode of NXT. Thatcher returned for a second Fight Pit match, this time against Tommaso Ciampa, also on NXT.

The third and most recent Fight Pit occurred at Extreme Rules 2022, with Riddle facing Seth Rollins. UFC legend Daniel Cormier served as the special guest referee for that match.

CM Punk has lined up his next Hollywood project, starring in the upcoming horror film Night Patrol. Punk is set to play a key role in the movie, which is expected to be released in 2025.

The indie horror feature will star Justin Long, Jermaine Fowler, and RJ Cyler. It is directed and co-written by Ryan Prows. David S. Goyer and Keith Levine will produce the film alongside Josh Goldbloom, who is known for his work on the recent V/H/S horror entries. James Harris and Mark Lane of Tea Shop Films also produce the project.

The cast includes Dermot Mulroney, Freddie Gibbs, YG, Flying Lotus, Jon Oswald, and Nicki Micheaux. Prows co-wrote the script with Shaye Ogbonna, Tim Cairo, and Jake Gibson, who previously collaborated on Prows’ directorial debut, Lowlife, which was released by IFC Midnight in 2018.

The Plot

Night Patrol centers on an LAPD officer (played by Jermaine Fowler), who must put aside his differences with the area’s street gangs when he discovers a local police task force is hiding a horrific secret that threatens the residents of the housing projects where he grew up.

In addition to Punk, the film features a strong supporting cast, including Fowler, known for his excellent performances. The executive producers of Night Patrol are Matthew Helderman, Luke Taylor, and Grady Craig.

CM Punk’s previous acting credits include Rabid and Girl on the Third Floor in 2019 and Jakob’s Wife two years later. He has also appeared in the TV series Heels and Mayans M.C.

Tiffany Stratton has had an impressive 2024 so far, continuing to make strides in her pro wrestling career. At a recent WWE house show in Cardiff, Wales, she had the opportunity to achieve a personal goal—though it came at the expense of a fan’s hopes.

During the show, Stratton participated in a match alongside Naomi. As she made her way to the ring, a fan in the audience held up a sign with a big question: a marriage proposal. As seen in the clip below, Stratton noticed the sign while walking down the entrance ramp.

A Heel’s Response

In true heel fashion, Stratton tore the fan’s sign apart and, without hesitation, informed him that she has a boyfriend. The WWE star is currently dating fellow wrestler Ludwig Kaiser, further driving home the point as she crushed the fan’s dream.

Stratton’s rise in WWE has been marked by major milestones, including her victory in the 2024 Money in the Bank ladder match. Since then, she has aligned herself with Women’s Champion Nia Jax. In recent months, Stratton has teased cashing in her Money in the Bank briefcase on Jax, heightening tension within her ongoing feud with Bayley.

At the Bad Blood Premium Live Event, Stratton had another chance to cash in when a referee bump occurred during Jax’s match with Bayley. However, Jax quickly caught on to Stratton’s plan, causing Stratton to reconsider. In the end, Jax retained her title, defeating Bayley while Stratton bided her time for a future opportunity.

Tonight’s edition of AEW Dynamite broadcasts live on TBS at 8/7c from the SAP Center in San Jose, CA. This episode will follow up on the explosive events of last Saturday’s WrestleDream pay-per-view, featuring the crowning of a new AEW World Champion an the surprise returns of MJF and Adam Cole.

Mercedes Moné defends the TBS Championship against Queen Aminata, AEW’s newest signee makes his in-ring debut and The Elite will be in action.

Matches and Segments

• Mercedes Moné defends the TBS championship against Queen Aminata.
• Shelton Benjamin makes his highly anticipated AEW in-ring debut, facing off against Lio Rush in a singles match. Benjamin recently joined the promotion and is aligned with MVP.
• Jay White vs. Christian Cage
• The Conglomeration (Kyle O’Reilly, Orange Cassidy, & Rocky Romero) vs. The Elite (Kazuchika Okada, Matthew Jackson, & Nicholas Jackson)
• FTR (Dax Harwood & Cash Wheeler) vs. Bryan Keith & Big Bill

Plus, we’ll hear from new AEW World Champion Jon Moxley and Adam Cole.

On a night that marked Stephanie Vaquer’s WWE NXT in-ring debut, she also set the stage for a major tag team match later this month. During this week’s episode of NXT, Vaquer scored a quick victory over Wren Sinclair, finishing the match with her signature move.

However, following the bout, Roxanne Perez and Cora Jade launched a surprise attack on Vaquer, only for Giulia to rush out and make the save. The confrontation escalated when Giulia challenged Perez and Jade to a tag team match at Halloween Havoc, which will take place at the GIANT Center in Hershey, PA, on Sunday, October 27, 2024.

The challenge followed Jade’s recent interference in Giulia’s attempt to win the NXT Women’s Championship from Perez.

Vaquer’s NXT debut had been highly anticipated after she made waves earlier this year. She first garnered WWE’s attention when she dropped the NJPW Strong Women’s Title to Mercedes Moné at Forbidden Door in June.

Vaquer then participated in WWE house shows in Mexico this past July, solidifying her status as a top prospect in the company.

Later in the show, the match was made official:

Less than a week after announcing she was medically cleared, AEW star Thunder Rosa has made her in-ring return. Rosa had been sidelined for over a month, with her last match taking place on the August 31st edition of AEW Collision.

Rosa recently revealed that her absence was due to a concussion, addressing speculation that suggested other reasons. Now fully recovered, the former AEW Women’s Champion expressed her readiness to step back into the ring.

Rosa confirmed her medical clearance during a recent episode of Busted Open Radio, where she also expressed her gratitude to the AEW medical team for their support throughout her recovery.

Back in action

Wasting no time, Rosa returned to the ring on October 15 at Riot Cabaret Thunder Road, where she faced Nina Samuels in the main event. Rosa emerged victorious, winning the Riot Cabaret Women’s Championship.

Rosa should be back in the mix on Dynamite and Collision soon.

All Elite Wrestling (AEW) has filed two new trademarks, hinting at an upcoming special edition of its Dynamite show. On October 15th, AEW submitted trademarks for “Fright Night Dynamite” and “AEW Fright Night Dynamite” with the United States Patent and Trademark Office, indicating plans for a Halloween-themed broadcast.

The trademarks are registered for entertainment purposes, with the description reading as follows:

“Entertainment in the nature of wrestling contests; Entertainment services in the nature of live professional wrestling performances; Entertainment services in the nature of production of professional wrestling programs and events; Entertainment services, namely, production and distribution of ongoing television programs in the field of professional wrestling.”

AEW is known for producing special holiday-themed episodes of Dynamite, and with Halloween falling on a Thursday this year, it seems likely that this will be the focus of an upcoming show. As of this writing, AEW has not officially confirmed the Fright Night Dynamite special, but an announcement could be imminent.

This week’s episode of Dynamite promises an action-packed card, following the recent WrestleDream event. Stay tuned for more updates, including the full match lineup.

The Viking Raiders are back, but this time under a familiar name: The War Raiders. The duo, formerly known as War Machine during their time in NJPW and ROH, first debuted in WWE’s NXT under the War Raiders moniker before becoming The Viking Experience and later The Viking Raiders on the main roster.

It has been several months since both stars were last in action due to injuries. Erik was sidelined following successful neck fusion surgery last November, while Ivar has been recovering from a spinal injury suffered earlier this year. Their return marks a significant moment for the team and their fans.

WWE RAW Return

On this week’s episode of WWE RAW, the War Raiders made their highly anticipated return in a match against Alpha Academy as part of the #1 Contender’s Tournament for the WWE Tag Team Titles. The War Raiders wasted no time making an impact, decisively defeating Otis and Akira Tozawa to advance in the tournament.

Fans are excited to see what’s next for the rebranded War Raiders as they seek to reclaim dominance in the tag team division.

Thunder Rosa will be returning to in-ring action soon following her announcement today that she has been medically cleared.

Fans have eagerly awaited this news, as Rosa has been sidelined for over a month. Her last match took place on the August 31st edition of AEW Collision.

Rosa later revealed that her absence was due to a concussion, contrary to earlier reports suggesting other reasons. Now that she has recovered, Rosa is ready to get back in the ring.

Medical Clearance

While speaking on Busted Open Radio, the former AEW Women’s Champion confirmed her medical clearance and expressed gratitude to the AEW medical team for their support.

“I want to thank the AEW medical team and everyone involved — I’m finally cleared,” Rosa said. “If you feel that you have a concussion, please go to your doctor. If you are an athlete, let your coaches know that this is important.”

As of now, there is no official date for her in-ring return.

AJ Styles made his long-awaited return to WWE television on SmackDown last week, but things didn’t go as planned. During his match with Carmelo Hayes, where Hayes emerged victorious, Styles sustained an injury.

WWE later confirmed that Styles suffered a mid-foot ligament sprain, and he was shown being evaluated by the medical team before leaving the arena on crutches. Although early reports suggested his absence might be part of a storyline, it was later confirmed that Styles had suffered an injury.

The Phenomenal One had been absent from WWE since stepping in for Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes at the Clash at the Castle event in June. It wasn’t due to injury, but lack of creative. In the latest edition of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter, Dave Meltzer reported that Styles was frustrated with the situation, as it could impact future plans.

WWE had intended to start a storyline involving Styles embarking on a farewell tour, teasing his eventual retirement. However, the direction of this storyline now hinges on the results of an MRI, which will determine the severity of his injury.

Styles is 47 years old and began his pro wrestling career in 1998.

Ricky Starks hasn’t been seen seen on AEW television since march, leaving fans to wonder about his future with the promotion. Last month, Starks clarified that he’s healthy and hasn’t turned down any creative pitches to get him back in the mix.

Starks did a virtual signing with Highspots this week and responded to a question about the possibility of him jumping to WWE when his AEW contract expires. He laughed and said he takes the speculation as a compliment.

“Honestly, it’s so sweet that people would say that. I think it’s a compliment. It’s great to know people care about me that much.”

– Ricky Starks on fans thinking he’s going to WWE

The former AEW FTW Champion has attended several WWE events over the past year, as the personal guest of Cody Rhodes. He was spotted backstage at the 2024 Royal Rumble, and was at WrestleMania 40 to see the American Nightmare ‘Finish His Story’ back in April.

Why is Ricky Starks off AEW TV?

Starks reiterated that he’s perfectly healthy, ready to get back in the ring, but being sidelined is out of his control.

“No, I’m not out of action due to injury. I’m healthy. I’m of sound mind and body. I’m capable of wrestling, it’s just not up to me.

I wish I had an answer as to why I’m not on television. I’m healthy and ready to get back in the ring. I’m in shape, always have been. Sometimes, it just isn’t up to me, I guess.””

– Ricky Starks is ready to work

He concluded by expressing his commitment to finding a way to get back to wrestling, feeling that he owed fans some explanation for his absence.

• WWE Interested in Signing Ricky Starks

Tonight’s WWE SmackDown is set to air live at 8/7c on the USA Network, broadcasting from the Bon Secours Wellness Arena in Greenville, SC. Expect plenty of drama as the fallout from last Saturday’s Bad Blood event takes center stage on the blue brand.

In the main event at Bad Blood, Roman Reigns and Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes teamed up to defeat Jacob Fatu and Solo Sikoa, with a major assist from the returning Jimmy Uso. To top it all off, The Rock made his surprise return, shaking things up even more.

Here’s a preview of what’s lined up for tonight:

• Roman Reigns addresses the WWE Universe.
• WWE Women’s Tag Team Champions Bianca Belair and Jade Cargill will defend their titles against Meta-Four’s Lash Legend and Jakara Jackson.
• LA Knight vs. Carmelo Hayes for the WWE United States Championship

Want to catch up on what happened last week? You can check out the top 10 moments from last week’s SmackDown here:

Mercedes Moné has created iconic moments in every promotion she’s been part of, from her unforgettable NXT TakeOver: Brooklyn match with Bayley to making history in NJPW, and her notable arrival in AEW.

Moné has competed against some of the biggest names in professional wrestling across these promotions, but one match stands out above the rest—not only for the fans but for Moné herself. This was the 2015 NXT Women’s Championship match, where Bayley defeated (then known as) Sasha Banks in under 20 minutes, marking a turning point in both of their careers.

In her latest fan newsletter, the “CEO” revealed an interesting behind-the-scenes detail about this all-time classic: the two had barely any time to prepare. At the time, Mone was working full-time on the main roster and traveling for a panel with Triple H, leaving them with just five minutes to discuss the match.

Little Prep Before Their Classic

“We only had maybe five minutes to talk about our match in the ring. I wanted to tell her about this crazy spot. In truth, I didn’t even want to practice it or show her because I was afraid they’d say no—or worse, the boys would see it and take it away. Yes, that happens.

So, I just kind of told her what I wanted to do. We didn’t rehearse any of it. Yet, that match turned out to be the greatest women’s match ever.”

– Mercedes Mone on her match with Bayley from NXT Takeover: Brooklyn (2015)

Another “Great Match, No Prep”

Another match that Moné holds close to her heart was her bout against Stephanie Vaquer at this year’s AEW-NJPW Forbidden Door PPV. Moné recalls Vaquer flying in the day of the event and arriving at the venue just hours before showtime. With little time to prepare, the difficulties were compounded by their language barrier (Vaquer’s first langue is Spanish).

“That was so hard. I’m like, my God, we don’t get time to walk over our moves, we speak two different languages, and we’re both tired, jet lagged, and hungry, too. Yet, that also turned out to be such a great match. She was signed by the WWE days later. I’d like to think our match had a say in that!”

– Mercedes Moné on her mach with Stephanie Vaquer at AEWxNJPW: Forbidden Door 2024

Vaquer arrived in WWE NXT television this past week on The CW and aligned with Giulia. She’ll make her NXT in-ring debut next week against Wren Sinclair.

• Subscribe to the Moné Mag Newsletter

Amid growing speculation about his future in pro wrestling, Daniel Garcia has made his return to AEW television.

Garcia was first spotted in the parking lot during this week’s show, where Renee Paquette approached him and asked about his absence, given the ongoing uncertainty surrounding his future. Garcia stated that he would rather explain in the ring in front of the fans.

With his contract set to expire this month, Garcia has yet to re-sign with AEW. WWE has reportedly shown strong interest in bringing him on board. After being written off AEW television, Garcia made his unexpected return during the AEW All In London 2024 pay-per-view event, interfering in the match between MJF and Will Ospreay for the International Title.

Contract Status

During All In London, Garcia shocked the crowd by costing MJF the match. At All Out, he briefly aligned with MJF before turning on him and laying him out. Following this, Garcia was once again taken off television, sparking speculation that AEW might not feature him again until he commits to a new deal.

As of now, neither AEW nor Garcia has publicly commented on his contract status.

Tony D’Angelo shocked the WWE Universe on Tuesday’s episode of WWE NXT by stepping up to challenge Oba Femi for the North American Title. This highly anticipated bout was part of an already stacked card.

Just days after Femi celebrated becoming the longest-reigning North American Champion in WWE history, his reign suddenly ended. Heading into the match, D’Angelo acknowledged his fear of Femi, who had previously defeated him at No Mercy. However, in their rematch, D’Angelo trapped Femi in a pin, securing the victory and ending Femi’s dominant run.

D’Angelo, already a two-time NXT Tag Team Champion and Heritage Cup winner, now adds the prestigious North American Title to his accolades.

Femi’s Title Reign

Oba Femi made history by surpassing Wes Lee’s 269-day record as North American Champion. He initially captured the title in January during an episode of NXT, cashing in his NXT Breakout Tournament contract to defeat Dragon Lee. Over the course of his reign, Femi successfully defended the title ten times, defeating notable competitors such as Lee, Ivar, Otis, Dijak, Josh Briggs, Lexis King, and Joe Coffey, among others.

Stephanie Vaquer, real name Ana Stephanie Vaquer González, has officially made her arrival in WWE NXT. After leaving CMLL and NJPW, Vaquer chose WWE over interest from AEW. She made her NXT TV debut on Tuesday’s episode during a segment featuring NXT Women’s Champion Roxanne Perez and Cora Jade. This came just a week after Jade returned from injury to help Perez retain her title against Giulia.

During the segment, Giulia introduced Vaquer as an “old friend,” marking the new recruit’s first official appearance. The scene quickly escalated into a brawl between the heels and the babyfaces, with Vaquer standing tall alongside Perez and Jade to close out the segment.

Vaquer’s Path to WWE

Stephanie Vaquer first caught WWE’s attention after she dropped the NJPW Strong Women’s Title to Mercedes Moné at Forbidden Door in June. She later participated in a WWE house show loop in Mexico in July, which further solidified her standing as a top prospect.

Despite the hype surrounding her, Vaquer has not competed in a match since then.

All Elite Wrestling presents a special Tuesday edition of AEW Dynamite tonight on TBS at from the Spokane Arena in Spokane, WA.

This episode promises major action and will serve as the final build for the highly anticipated WrestleDream pay-per-view, coming up this Saturday.

One of the biggest highlights of the night will be a blockbuster tag team match featuring Bryan Danielson & Wheeler Yuta against PAC & Claudio Castagnoli. Additionally, fans can look forward to a Women’s Title #1 Contenders Match between Britt Baker and Willow Nightingale.

Confirmed matches for 10/8 Dynamite

Dynamite will overlap with the second hour of WWE NXT on The CW Network. This marks the first time in a year that AEW Dynamite and WWE NXT will go head-to-head.

• Bryan Danielson & Wheeler Yuta vs. PAC & Claudio Castagnoli
• AEW TBS Champion & NJPW Strong Women’s Champion Mercedes Moné vs. Emi Sakura
• AEW Women’s Title #1 Contenders Match: Britt Baker vs. Willow Nightingale
• HOOK demands answers regarding the attack on Taz
• Brody King and Darby Allin to meet face-to-face

Highlights from last week’s AEW Dynamite: