Wrestling fans are still reeling from the closing scenes of this week’s AEW Dynamite, which saw Mariah May attack Toni Storm.
May defeated Willow Nightingale to win the 2024 Women’s Owen Hart Foundation Tournament. She had a tough road to victory, defeating three former AEW champions (Hikaru Shida, Saraya, and Nightingale) en route to winning the tournament. Just moments after winning the tournament, she showed her true colors and left her former idol in a pool of her own blood.
During a conversation with veteran journalist Justin Barrasso for SI.com, May shed light on this shocking situation. Now that she’s secured a title shot at AEW All In: London 2024 and shattered Toni Storm, it’s time to finish the job.
AEW All In: Toni Storm vs. Mariah May
Mariah May gave us a look into her twisted mentality on AEW Dynamite, but her plan for August 25 is also disturbing.
“My mother will be there at All In. She’ll watch me from the front row as I destroy what’s left of Toni Storm.”
– Toni Storm to SI
May told Barrasso that her lifelong dream since she was a little girl was to come to American and wrestle on television. Today, she’s involved in one of wrestling’s most engaging storyline’s and she’ll challenge for the AEW Women’s World title at Wembley Stadium.
More on Mariah May & Toni Storm
AEW has released footage new of Mariah May and Toni Storm from backstage at AEW Dynamite following May’s betrayal:
Mariah May is one of the top women’s wrestlers in the world and has been a vital part of the AEW roster since her arrival back in November 2023. However, many wrestling fans who primarily consume WWE content aren’t familiar with her work and this guide aims to help change that.
May has been in the industry for quite some time, and her early run alongside Toni Storm and then turning on her ‘mentor’ is just a small part of what she has accomplished in the industry. We’ll be going over all all of the questions that fans are asking about the All Elite Wrestling star and 2024 Women’s Owen Hart Tournament winner.
Wrestling Career
Early Days in Japan
Mariah May’s wrestling career took a significant turn when she ventured into the Japanese wrestling scene. In 2022, she made her debut in Japan with World Wonder Ring Stardom, one of the most prestigious women’s wrestling promotions in the world. Her debut came at Stardom’s Dream Queendom 2, where she aligned with Mina Shirakawa and former WWE NXT UK Superstar Xia Brookside to form the faction known as Club Venus.
May’s time in Stardom was marked by notable achievements and memorable matches. She quickly established herself as a formidable competitor, donning the persona of Sexy Dynamite Princess. One of her early highlights was participating in the Cinderella Tournament 2023, where she advanced to the second round before being eliminated by Mai Sakurai.
AEW
Mariah May, a top free agent in wrestling with interest from both WWE and AEW, signed with All Elite Wrestling in November 2023. Upon her debut, she expressed admiration for AEW Women’s World Champion “Timeless” Toni Storm, which led to a well-crafted storyline where Storm adopted May as her protégé. Storm’s character work flourished, with May serving as the perfect counterpart. As they transitioned from heels to tweeners due to fan support, their dynamic evolved, culminating in memorable moments like May adopting Storm’s old persona and a romantic angle with Mina Shirakawa.
May’s journey saw her win the Owen Hart Foundation Tournament, earning a match against Storm for the AEW Women’s World Championship. In a dramatic twist, May turned on Storm after her tournament victory, attacking her with the Owen Hart Foundation title belt. This betrayal set the stage for a highly anticipated showdown at AEW’s biggest event of the year, All In, at London’s Wembley Stadium.
Personal Life
Who is Mariah May’s Husband?
Mariah May is married to British pro wrestling star Danny Duggan. Duggan has appeared for a number of companies in the UK, including PROGRESS, where he was part of the Do Not Resuscitate stable alongside Spike Trivet, Chuck Mambo, William Eaver and Drew Parker.
Mariah May Instagram
Mariah May is quite active on Instagram under the handle @MariahMayx. Her account is a mix of personal insights, professional updates, and glamorous photoshoots.
In addition to her wrestling career, Mariah May has a YouTube channel where she shares a variety of content, including vlogs, wrestling insights, fashion tips, and gaming videos.
Is Mariah May Tiffany Stratton?
Mariah May and WWE’s Tiffany Stratton have often been compared by fans due to their similar looks and wrestling styles.
Stratton, addressing these comparisons in an interview with ComicBook Nation, stated: “Just because we have the same coloured hair it does not mean that we look alike or we stealing each other’s gimmicks or styles.
“I get compared to so many other people, Trish Stratus, Charlotte Flair. Honestly, I think everyone is on their own path, and I think Mariah May is amazing. She’s such a great wrestler, she’s gorgeous.”
WWE Hall of Famer Hulk Hogan has explained why he believes Adam Copeland (formerly Edge in WWE) didn’t need to execute the high-risk dive off the cage at the AEW Double Or Nothing pay-per-view in May.
‘The Rated R Superstar’ performed a scary dive off the top of the cage on Malakai Black through a table. The dangerous move cost the veteran as he landed awkwardly on his legs, fracturing his tibia. However, he managed to finish the match and retained his AEW TNT title.
Speaking on The Outbound Life podcast, ‘The Hulkster’ raised questions on Copeland deciding the spot. Hogan believes it wasn’t required given Copeland’s legendary status. Copeland is in the latter stages of his career and Hogan wondered why he decided to take such a risk. Hulk Hogan then highlighted that wrestlers perform such high-risk moves to win over the fans and gain popularity. However, Copeland already has an established fanbase he didn’t require to perform the move. Here is what Hogan said:
“I watched Edge [Copeland] jump off the cage the other night. I haven’t talked to him yet, but trained professional. Twilight of his career. Jumps off the top. Please explain that to me. He’s over. Most guys who do that, go up and do it because they are not over enough. Edge was over. To do that, I just don’t get it. I haven’t called him yet. I was going to call him last night, but I fell asleep. I just want to know, ‘Please explain that to me. You’re over like a son of a gun. You didn’t need to do that. You didn’t need to go up there.’
He added:
“If you’re going to go up there, it doesn’t mean anything, unless you do something better than Mick Foley did. Mick Foley got thrown off the top of the cage and hit the table. If you’re going to beat Mick Foley, you have to get thrown off the top of the cage with no table. I just didn’t get it. It didn’t mean anything because Edge was so over. So over. He didn’t need that.”
Taking to social media, Copeland confirmed that he sustained a fractured tibia. He successfully underwent surgery. He dropped an update on his Instagram where he could be seen on crutches. Copeland was stripped off of his TNT title due to the injury and he is currently recuperating. It will take several months before he gets back inside the squared circle.
AEW President Tony Khan would love the chance to host his brand of pro wrestling in the Hammerstein Ballroom, which he believes would make a lot of sense.
Speaking to SportsGrid, Khan was asked if AEW would be interested in hosting an event that for years was synonymous with Extreme Championship Wrestling.
“I think that’s a very interesting idea. I’ve never been to the Hammerstein Ballroom. I’d love to do it. I’ve seen great shows there. I think it’s a great venue. I’ve never been. We also have these amazing relationships around New York. For the right event, on the right night, it could make a lot of sense. I’d imagine it would sell out very quickly because it’s not the biggest room, but it is a fascinating setup and a cool looking room. It has great acoustics and is a lot of fun from everything I’ve seen on television. I’d love to check it out in person. It’s a great idea. The Hammerstein Ballroom could be a cool venue sometimes. I haven’t thought much about it, but it’s an awesome idea.”
The Hammerstein Ballroom
The Ballroom was opened in 1906 and renovated in 1997 and has become synonymous with professional wrestling. ECW held several events at the venue including the company’s final two pay-per-views, Massacre on 34th Street in December 2000 and Guilty as Charged in January 2001. When WWE revived ECW, the 2006 and 2006 One Night Stand events were held at the Ballroom.
The venue has also played host to events from Ring of Honor, including Death Before Dishonor 2008 and 2011, as well as most Final Battle events. In 2014 and 2017, ROH teamed with New Japan for their ‘War Of The Worlds’ event inside the famous arena. More recently, GCW hosted its The Wrld On GCW event in January 2022, and the event set a record attendance for the Hammerstein Ballroom.
AEW and ECW
Khan’s idea of running a show making sense rings true given that AEW has often been compared to ECW. With its more envelope-pushing levels of violence, AEW has proven to be quite the alternative to WWE, just as ECW was to the WWF before and during the Attitude Era. It remains to be seen whether AEW will enter the Ballroom, but if so, expect a raucous New York crowd should that event take place.
Jeff Jarrett the former tag-team partner of Owen Hart has been able to get a little bit of closure this year by competing in the 2024 Men’s Tournament.
AEW recently concluded its third-annual Own Hart Foundation Tournament which saw Bryan Danielson and Mariah May emerge on top. Jarrett competed in the tournament but was eliminated in the first round. Speaking this week, an emotional Jarrett addressed what the tournament has meant to him.
“More the 25 years ago when I sat in that seat in St Louis and to gather my thoughts, never in my wildest dreams did I think that I would get this opportunity… I miss him each and every day but tonight not only helps me have a little closure but it gives me extreme pride and I’m incredibly grateful for AEW, for Tony Khan, and for you Martha for persevering, for carrying on the spirit of Owen.”
Oje Hart, Owen’s son, was also present for the interview, and spoke about how much the tournament has also helped him process the loss of his father.
“A lot of time has gone by since he’s gone but I’ve actually never felt closer to him since doing these things. So it’s good for me too it’s really hitting hard, really hitting me.”
Jarrett may not have won the tournament, but merely being able to compete has done the veteran wrestler a world of good. And even 25 years later, it’s clear that the legacy of Owen Hart and all he achieved as a wrestler and a person will never be forgotten.
Fans shouldn’t expect to see Samoa Joe on AEW programming for the foreseeable future, but there’s a very good reason for that.
During the July 10, edition of AEW Dynamite, Joe faced Chris Jericho in a ‘Stampede Street Fight.’ Jericho’s use of a forklift would result in Joe no longer being able to compete and the match was called off with the Learning Tree being declared the winner. Joe was seen being taken away in an ambulance later in the show.
Big Bill, Bryan Keith & the FTW Champion 'The Learning Tree' Chris Jericho look ominously as the ambulance with Samoa Joe inside drives away.
With this attack, Samoa Joe has been written off TV but there’s a very good reason for that. This attack will give the former AEW World Champion the necessary time off to film Twisted Metal’s second season, PW Insider reports. Filming will start later this month and last until October. However it’s reported that there will be breaks during shooting meaning Joe may return before the October date.
Twisted Metal
Twisted Metal is based on the popular vehicular combat video game series of the same name and premiered in July 2023. Joe plays series favorite Sweet Tooth, while Will Arnett (Bojack Horseman, The LEGO Batman Movie) provides the voice of the character.
WWE Auditions
Samoa Joe is the only pro-wrestler attached to the show but that was nearly not the case. WWE’s very own Omos, Cedric Alexander, and Apollo Crews auditioned for the role of Axel in the show, PW Insider reports. Axel made his game debut in Twisted Metal 2. The show is moving ahead without any WWE talent being cast for the role.
All Elite Wrestling and DC Comics will prove to be quite the dynamic duo in an upcoming partnership set to be announced at San Diego Comic-Con.
San Diego Comic-Con 2024 will kick off from the ‘City in Motion’ on July 25 and run until July 28. AEW will make its presence felt at the event with a panel on July 25. A description for AEW’s Ride Inside The Ring And Beyond reads:
“After record-setting attendance inside Wembley Stadium and their biggest year ever, All Elite Wrestling continues to rise from the seeds of a wrestling revolution sewn in 2019 to a powerhouse global phenomenon that’s now home to some of wrestling’s biggest names. This year Comic-Con will be the intersection of major announcements across different fandoms, including a DC Comics partnership and an Adult Swim on-the-ground brand integration. In celebration of their five-year anniversary, AEW stars Swerve Strickland, “Timeless” Toni Storm, Will Ospreay, Orange Cassidy, Britt Baker, and Darby Allin take you inside the ropes for an all-access look at the evolution from a renegade upstart to one of the most watched weekly programs on television.”
At this time, there’s no word on what this partnership with DC Comics will entail, though some are predicting a line of comic books based on AEW talent. The panel in question will take place in Room 6BCF on Thursday, July 25, 2024 3:30 pm – 4:30 pm PDT. More information about the panel and other SDCC events can be found here.
In 2019, AEW and DC Comics teamed up, thanks in part to both companies being partners of Warner Bros. Discovery. This partnership saw artist Howard Porter (The Flash) draw several AEW talent. Chris Jericho, Jon Moxley, ‘Hangman’ Adam Page, Jungle Boy, Luchasaurus, Nyla Rose, Cody and Brandi Rhodes, The Young Bucks, Kenny Omega. and Awesome Kong all received the comic-book treatment as part of this partnership.
With wrestlers donning colorful outfits and fighting for good, evil, or somewhere in between, it’s no surprise that the worlds of wrestling and comic books have often been linked. Before realizing that with great power comes great responsibility, Peter Parker tried to make his name as a pro-wrestler before becoming the heroic Spider-Man.
Several wrestlers have been the subject of comic books including The Undertaker, Mankind, ‘Stone Cold’ Steve Austin, Chyna, and The Rock. The Attitude Era staples were part of WWF’s team-up with the now-defunct Chaos! Comics publisher. In the early 1990s, WCW had its own deal with Marvel while The Ultimate Warrior published his own line of comics under his own ‘Warrior Productions’ label. In more recent years, WWE published their own series of comic books with BOOM! Studios.
Prior to her recent hiatus, Baker had established herself as one of the top women in AEW. When Britt appeared on the Nikki & Brie Show, the conversation turned to a possible match between Baker and the former Nikki Bella.
Britt: It’s right here for you. Do you want it? Because I’m right here, if you need an opponent.
Nikki: I would come out of retirement for you.
Britt: I would love nothing more.
Nikki: You know what? This is my one thing: Doing a comeback, because I do wanna do a comeback in a few years…
Nikki’s most recent match was as part of the 2022 Women’s Royal Rumble which was won by the returning Ronda Rousey. Whilst the WWE Hall of Famer hasn’t competed since then, she has shown interest in joining AEW in the past. Of course, it would be up to Tony Khan whether a deal is offered to Garcia, but if that is the case, Baker is waiting for the longest-reigning WWE Divas Champion.
In the meantime, Garcia will continue to grow her media profile outside of the squared circle. The WWE Hall of Famer was recently announced for season three of the hit series The Traitors U.S. in which celebrities will try and decide which members aren’t telling the truth. Garcia has also appeared on Dancing With The Stars (where she met her now husband) and it remains to be seen if one more match is in her future.
Blood & Guts is one of the most dangerous stipulation matches in professional wrestling. It’s AEW’s take on War Games, the double-cage, anything-goes team warfare match originated by the late ‘American Dream’ Dusty Rhodes in the 1980’s.
AEW introduced Blood & Guts in 2021, and has run the match each year ever since on a special-themed edition of AEW Dynamite. The match returns this year on Wednesday, July 24 from Nashville, TN. AEW Blood & Guts 2024 will feature Team Elite against Team AEW.
The first four Blood & Guts matches have featured only men, but is there a specific reason for this? Tony Khan appeared on the Battleground Podcast this week and said there’s no policy preventing a Women’s Blood & Guts match. In fact, he thinks it’s a great under as long as there’s a good story to support it.
“At some point, it would be great to have a women’s Blood & Guts match,” said Khan. “I think you need a lot of people [involved with] the story, and a lot of healthy people,” Khan said. “We have a great roster that we’re building up, and I think our women’s roster is stronger than it’s ever been right now today and I’m really excited about that. So, if we ever get to the point where we’ve got enough people tied together and the story makes sense, I think it would be great.”
5th Time’s A Charm?
There has never been a Women’s Blood and Guts match. Blood & Guts 2024 will feature two teams of male competitors, just like the first three.
The inaugural Blood & Guts match (The Inner Circle vs. The Pinnacle) took place on May 5, 2021, after being delayed from its original March 2020 date due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The second Blood & Guts match (Jericho Appreciation Society vs. Blackpool Combat Club, Eddie Kingston, Santana, and Ortiz) occurred in June 2022.
The third and most recent Blood & Guts match (The Golden Elite vs. Blackpool Combat Club, Konosuke Takeshita, and Pac) was held on July 19, 2023, at the TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts.
Several women on the AEW roster have expressed interest in participating, including Willow Nightingale and Skye Blue. WWE regularly features women’s Money in the Bank and WarGames matches. As we saw at the conclusion of this week’s AEW Dynamite, they’re not exactly preventing the women from getting as bloody and violent as the men. The question of a Women’s Blood & Guts match is about when it will happen, not if it will happen.
Stephanie Vaquer became one of the most talked-about free agents in professional wrestling following her release from CMLL and NJPW, and she has now seemingly signed with WWE.
Here is everything you need to know about the latest WWE signee.
Who is Stephanie Vaquer? Early Life and Career Beginnings
Born on March 29, 1993, in San Antonio, Valparaiso Region, Chile, Stephanie Vaquer, whose real name is Stephanie Beatriz Vaquer, began her wrestling training at a young age.
She trained under prominent wrestling figures such as Paul Slandering, Gran Apache, Ricky Marvin, and Villano IV, making her professional debut in February 2009.
Rise in Lucha Libre
Vaquer’s talent quickly shone through in the world of Lucha Libre. She competed in various promotions, including Alianza Universal De Lucha Libre (AULL) where she won the AULL Women’s Championship.
Her performances led her to be signed by Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre (CMLL), where she won multiple championships, including the CMLL World Women’s Championship and the CMLL World Women’s Tag Team Championship.
Major Achievements and Wrestling Style
Championships and Accomplishments
Stephanie Vaquer has held numerous titles throughout her already impressive career. In addition to her CMLL accolades, she captured the NJPW STRONG Women’s Championship, which she held before losing it to Mercedes Mone at the AEW x NJPW Forbidden Door 2024 PPV event.
Stephanie Vaquer Finisher
Vaquer’s signature and finishing moves include the Package Backbreaker, Cross Armbreaker, and the Dragon Screw Legwhip, which have earned her respect and admiration from fans and peers alike.
Recent Highlights
AEW and NJPW STRONG Appearances
As noted, Stephanie Vaquer made headlines at AEW’s Forbidden Door 2024 event, where she faced Mercedes Moné in a champion vs. champion match.
Although Vaquer dominated much of the match, Moné emerged victorious, securing the NJPW STRONG Women’s Championship.
This match was reportedly a major reason why WWE decided to show interest in signing her, as she arguably had one of the best matches of the night against a former WWE Superstar in Mone/Sasha Banks.
Stephanie Vaquer Boyfriend: A tumultuous situation
The big question after Vaquer’s release from CMLL is where she will be heading next. According to the latest reliable reports, she is in fact headed to WWE.
BREAKING: Stephanie Vaquer leaves NJPW and CMLL, signs with WWE likely to appear on NXT, Shawn Michaels welcomes her. pic.twitter.com/yUuWD5POVe
All Elite Wrestling isn’t holding back with their 250th episode of Dynamite with a stacked card already announced for the July 17, show.
Close to five years after the first episode of Dynamite in October 2019, AEW will celebrate its milestone figure next week from the Simmons Bank Arena in North Little Rock, Arkansas. The crowd will not only get to watch the 250th episode of Dynamite, but AEW will also tape the July 19, edition of Rampage at the show.
MJF Vs. Will Ospreay
On the July 10, edition of Dynamite, MJF, fresh off last week’s heel turn, had some verbal barbs for Will Ospreay. MJF belittled the “flippy guy” and said he’s seen countless wrestlers like Ospreay come and go throughout his career. MJF then announced his plans to challenge Ospreay for the AEW International Title next week. Ospreay, who was in the ring, accepted the challenge.
"If you get in the ring with me, you will be exposed."
It will be champion vs. champion next week when AEW World Champion Swerve Strickland faces AEW Continental Champion Kazuchika Okada. Strickland appeared following Bryan Danielson’s victory in the Owen Hart Men’s Tournament and spoke about his challenger for AEW All In.
Strickland also revealed that he will be on Team AEW against the Elite for the upcoming Blood & Guts match. Strickland ended his promo by challenging Okada for a match for Dynamite 250 that has been made official, and added that All In will be Bryan Danielson’s ‘final countdown.’
#AEW World Champion Swerve Strickland makes a challenge to the AEW Continental Champion Kazuchika Okada!
At Forbidden Door, Mercedes Mone became a double champion and the CEO is ready to take on (almost) all comers. On Twitter, Mone said that she will defend her titles in an open challenge on AEW Dynamite 250. This challenge can be accepted by anyone, with the exception of Britt Baker.
To celebrate #AEWDynamite250 next week in Little Rock, I am going to have an open challenge for my TBS Title. The challenge is open to any woman on the AEW Roster except @RealBrittBaker
— Mercedes Moné Varnado (@MercedesVarnado) July 11, 2024
AEW star Chris Jericho recently addressed his potential retirement from professional wrestling, stating that he will know when it’s time to hang up his boots.
Appearing on the McGuire on Wrestling podcast, Jericho opened up about retirement from in-ring action, revealing that for now, he hasn’t thought about it.
“I’ll know when it’s time, you know? I’m really enjoying what I’m doing and I’m still contributing at a high level. I can still have the best match on the show on any given night — not every night but any given night. And I just really love what we’re doing with AEW right now. So there’s really no rush on that. And when I know, I’ll know.”
The current FTW Champion is an active member of the AEW roster, leading the stable The Learning Tree. For now, Jericho doesn’t seem like he’s going to stop anytime soon in the ring.
Chris Jericho on John Cena’s Retirement Announcement
On the same podcast, Jericho was asked to share his thoughts about Cena’s retirement tour.
“My career is already longer than John Cena’s. No, I mean it’s great. John’s always had a great love for wrestling and he’s got a great connection with the fans, so I think it’s a cool way to go about it.”
Jericho added that fans know this is going to be it for Cena, as he’s not the type to say anything lightly. “I’m sure it’s going to be a really great year-and-a-half for Cena fans and for John Cena himself,” he added.
Cena made his surprise return at WWE Money in the Bank, where he announced his retirement. It is not yet known when and where his final match will take place, but we will see him in action at major events such as Royal Rumble, Elimination Chamber, and WrestleMania.
The latest tapings of AEW Collision saw some huge developments, including some champions in the All-Elite company being stripped of their titles.
The Collision taping took place after the July 10, edition of AEW Dynamite. That show saw the finals of the Men’s and Women’s Owen Hart Foundation Tournaments. In the men’s tournament, Bryan Danielson earned a shot at the AEW World Title at All In by defeating ‘Hangman’ Adam Page. In the women’s tournament, Mariah May defeated 2023 winner Willow Nightingale, earning a shot at the Women’s World Championship. After the match, May attacked Toni Storm and left her ‘mentor’ in a bloodied heap on the stage.
AEW Collision Spoilers [7/13/2024]
Here are the spoilers for the July 13, edition of AEW Collision:
Konsuke Takeshita defeated ‘Dynamite Kid’ Tommy Billington. Post-match, Don Callis welcomed Billington into the family only to get a “Kiss my Ass!” in response. Callis’ family attacked Billington before FTR made the save.
Austin Gunn, Colten Gunn, and Juice Robinson defeated three enhancement talents (London Lightning, Michael Allen Richard Clark, and Shaun Moore). Acting EVP Christopher Daniels then stripped the Gunns and Robinson of the Unified Trios Titles, not allowing them to use Robinson instead of the injured Jay White. Christian Cage came out and expected that he, Nick Wayne, and Killswitch would be awarded the titles. Instead, a match for the vacant titles will take place at a later date.
Roderick Strong (w/Matt Taven, Mike Bennett) defeated Dalton Castle (w/Truth Magnum, Turbo Floyd). There was an unfortunate botch near the end of the match as Strong caught Castle with a knee to the face. The referee hesitated with his count even though Castle did not kick out and the match was awarded to Strong. The Undisputed Kingdom seemed unsure what was happening and Castle was motionless in the ring for ten seconds after the pin, with some fearing he was knocked out.
Nyla Rose beat local wrestler Ava Lawless
“Top Flight” Dante Martin and Darius Martin (w/Action Andretti) beat Lee Moriarty and Anthony Ogogo (w/Shane Taylor).
Skye Blue defeated Harley Cameron
Matt Taven and Mike Bennett defeated Orange Cassidy and Kyle O’Reilly. Trent Beretta attacked Cassidy after the match.
Mariah May is on the road to Wembley after winning the Owen Hart Women’s Cup, and has split from Women’s World Champion ‘Timeless’ Toni Storm.
In the finals of the 2024 Owen Hart Foundation women’s tournament, May defeated last year’s winner Willow Nightingale on Dynamite. May advanced to the finals by defeating Saraya in the first round and Hikaru Shida in the semi-finals, both of whom are former AEW Women’s World Champions. Willow’s path to the finals saw her defeat Serena Deeb in the first round and her former ally Kris Statlander in the semis. Statlander and Stokley Hathaway would get involved in the finals to try and cost Willow the match.
With this victory, May has earned herself an AEW Women’s World Championship match against ‘Timeless’ Toni Storm at AEW All In. After the match, Storm seemed happy for her ‘understudy’ to win, seemingly predicting an easy title defense next month. On the ramp, May attacked Storm with the Owen Hart Foundation Championship and Luther also took a beating from the British wrestler.
THE WHOLE TIME?! Mariah May seems OVERLY excited to be facing her mentor #AEW Women's World Champion "Timeless" Toni Storm at #AEWAllIn!
On commentary, it was suggested that this had been May’s plan the whole time and that her loyalty to Storm was never genuine. Whatever the case may be, May now has a golden opportunity next month in her home country.
AEW All In 2024 will take place on August 25, from Wembley Stadium in London, England. The show will be the second AEW All In event, and the third All In event overall. Tickets for the show went on sale on December 1 and the event will be AEW’s second pay-per-view to take place outside the U.S. AEW All In 2024 was confirmed immediately following last year’s AEW All In event.
Bryan Danielson is officially on the road to Wembley after winning the 2024 Owen Hart Foundation Men’s Tournament this week.
During the July 10, edition of AEW Dynamite, Danielson defeated ‘Hangman’ Adam Page in the finals of the tournament. Danielson reached the finals by defeating Shingo Takagi in the first round and besting PAC in the semi-finals. Page’s road to the finals saw him defeat Jeff Jarrett in the first round and Jay White in the semis. At 25:45, this was the longest match in the tournament and the longest match in the history of the Owen Hart Cup.
IT’S OFFICIAL! The winner of the Men’s #OwenHartCup and going on to face #AEW World Champion Swerve Strickland at #AllIn at Wembley, “The American Dragon” Bryan Danielson!
After the match, AEW World Champion Swerve Strickland appeared on the ramp for a stare-down with Danielson. By winning the tournament, Danielson has earned a World Championship opportunity against Swerve that will take place at AEW All In.
#AEW World Champ Swerve Strickland is here to face off against the winner of the Men’s #OwenHartCup AND his #AllIn opponent, Bryan Danielson!
Danielson missed last year’s All In pay-per-view due to a fractured forearm injury he suffered at AEW x NJPW: Forbidden Door 2023. In November of last year, it was confirmed that Danielson would be competing at All In 2024 and now fans know what exactly the American Dragon will do in Wembley Stadium.
AEW All In 2024
AEW All In 2024 will take place on August 25, from Wembley Stadium in London, England. The show will be the second AEW All In event, and the third All In event overall. Tickets for the show went on sale on December 1 and the event will be AEW’s second pay-per-view to take place outside the U.S. AEW All In 2024 was confirmed immediately following last year’s AEW All In event.
AEW Dynamite is set for an action-packed show live from the Calgary Stampede tonight at 8pm ET/7pm CT on TBS Network. The special Stampede-themed episode from the Scotiabank Saddledome in Calgary, Alberta will feature the finals of the 2024 Owen Hart Foundation Tournament.
Matches
Owen Hart Foundation Tournament Finals
Men’s Final: Bryan Danielson vs Adam Page
Women’s Final: Willow Nightingale vs Mariah May
Stampede Street Fight featuring Chris Jericho
Global Glory 4-Way Match featuring Claudio Castagnoli, Kyle Fletcher, PAC, and Tomohiro Ishii
Segments
AEW World Champion Swerve Strickland returns
We’ll hear from AEW International Champion Will Ospreay
AEW TBS Champion Mercedes Mone will host a Double Championship Victory Toast
Plus, Samoa Joe is advertised to appear.
What Happened Last Week on AEW Dynamite?
The show featured several Owen Hart Foundation Tournament matches, including Bryan Danielson defeating PAC in a semifinal bout. Willow Nightingale advanced to the women’s finals by beating Kris Statlander. In a surprising twist, “Hangman” Adam Page returned as the Young Bucks’ Wild Card pick, defeating Jeff Jarrett to end Double J’s dream of honoring his former partner.
The main event saw AEW International Champion Will Ospreay successfully defend his title against Daniel Garcia in a highly competitive match. The closing segment ended in dramatic fashion with a ‘swerve’ that we probably should have seen coming. After Garcia’s loss, MJF revealed his true colors by attacking him brutally. MJF used his Dynamite Diamond Ring to assault Garcia, leaving him bloodied and injured. The show ended with Garcia being stretchered out while Will Ospreay looked on with concern.
Photo by Ricky Havlik for AEW
This shocking turn of events sets up potential storylines involving MJF, Garcia, and possibly Ospreay moving forward. Additionally, the episode featured appearances by other champions, including TBS and NJPW STRONG Women’s Champion Mercedes Moné, who had a heated confrontation with the returning Britt Baker.
7/3/24 AEW Video Recap
The AEW YouTube channel posted this video of recap of the show:
WWE talent have hardly been surprised by the perceived high level of injuries that have occurred in AEW, it has been reported.
While injuries are a work hazard for any professional wrestler, many have pointed at Tony Khan’s promotion for having a higher rate of injuries than other companies of its size. Currently, top names including Adam Cole, Adam Copeland, and Jamie Hayter are all out of action with injuries. Bryan Danielson has seen much of his AEW run disrupted due to injuries and similar setbacks also caused issues throughout CM Punk’s All-Elite tenure.
Talent in WWE have not been surprised by the apparent high rate of injuries in AEW, Mike Johnson of PW Insider reports. The belief is that instead of lowering the risk of injuries, AEW’s more relaxed schedule which sees talent compete maybe once or twice a week is actually making their situation worse. The reasoning is that with long breaks between matches, AEW talent aren’t able to callus their bodies which has resulted in bumps and moves hurting more. In contrast, WWE hosts events almost every night of the week which keeps talent toughened up in the long term.
WWE Superstars were forced to wrestle much less during the COVID-19 pandemic when events happened behind closed doors, either at the Performance Center on inside the Thunderdome. The report adds that talent felt “off” by a few steps after touring resumed in July 2021 but were pleased that they would finally be able to compete more and therefore callus their bodies.
Bayley was an unfortunate victim of this situation as mere weeks before touring resumed, she suffered an injury during training. The Role Model, who had been considered a highlight of the Pandemic Era, would miss a year of in-ring action before returning to TV at SummerSlam 2022.
While it may seem antithetical, it appears wrestling more is decreasing the chances of injuries, at least when it comes to WWE talent. While AEW has flirted with untelevised shows in the past, it remains to be seen if the promotion will ever have a schedule close to WWE.
Will Ospreay has an ecletic taste in music, but his wrestling fandom runs as deep as his affection for his favorite songs.
Speaking with Kerrang, ‘The Billy Goat’ listed 10 different songs that have changed his life and you better believe that one of them was a classic pro wrestling entrance song.
In addition to ABBA, Oasis, Dolly Parton & Kenny Rogers, Will Ospreay listed Jim Johnston’s “I Won’t Do What You Tell Me” as the song that reminded him of his “first love” and that love so happened to be the one true sport. If you’re not familiar with the song titles “I Won’t Do What You Tell Me” is Stone Cold Steve Austin’s theme. Ospreay gives his reasoning as to why he chose Austin’s infamous song that begins with breaking glass.
“From the first time I heard that glass breaking as a kid, and saw the audience go crazy as this guy just ran to the ring and beat everybody up, I was like, ‘Oh, wow, wrestling is cool!’ I don’t actually remember when the first time was that I heard that track specifically, but it was during the Austin vs. McMahon era. I’ll always remember the time in 2001 when [the old] WWF bought WCW [with the ensuing Invasion storyline] and Austin being a big part of that.”
Austin’s theme was previously noted to be inspired by Rage Against The Machine’s “Bulls On Parade” and it’s arguably one of the greatest wrestling entrance songs of all time. In credit to Ospreay, he has himself a pretty catchy tune in AEW that cultivates that soccer chant mentality.
In the interview, Ospreay said that Oasis’ “Live Forever” is a tune that gets him pumped up for the wrestling ring. Funny enough, he got inspired by watching Oasis perform at Wembley, something he did in 2023 and something he’s planning to do in 2024.
After a recent report suggested that Stephanie Vaquer is set to leave CMLL with interest from WWE and AEW, a new report claims the female wrestler actually has significant time left on her current CMLL deal.
According to Luchablog, the length of the current CMLL World Women’s Champion’s contract is “not expected to matter much,” as the promotion has granted permission to other wrestlers in the past if they receive a big offer from an American promotion.
The blog also noted that Vaquer has a “lot of loyalty” towards CMLL, but the promotion won’t be able to match what AEW and WWE could offer.
The interest from WWE and AEW stems from Vaquer’s performance at the AEWxNJPW: Forbidden Door event. While she lost the NJPW Strong Women’s title to Mercedes Mone, her performance has sparked significant interest from these companies.
Vaquer has been part of CMLL since 2019, has held the CMLL World Women’s Tag Team Championship, and is currently in her first reign as CMLL World Women’s Champion.
Record reported that WWE and AEW executives approached Stephanie Vaquer after her performance at Forbidden Door. Vaquer is expected to decide which company to join in the coming days. The deal is anticipated to be a multi-year agreement.
As of now, Vaquer is set to defend her CMLL World Women’s Championship against Lluvia at FantasticaMania USA 2024 on Saturday, July 31.
Former AEW Women’s Champion Riho has confirmed her injury.
The female star took on Instagram to announce the news. She posted a photo with a sling, and noted that she has fractured her arm.
A number of AEW stars have since replied to the post and people such as the TBS Champion Mercedes Mone, Willow Nightingale and Madison Ryan have wished a speedy recovery to their co-worker:
Riho had only returned to the ring during the July 6 episode of AEW Collision where she defeated Lady Frost. Here’s the spot where she’s believed to have sustained the injury:
The 27-year-old had been out of action for four months before that. Her last match before the Collision debut had taken place at the March 13 episode of Dynamite where she suffered a defeat at the hands of Willow Nightingale.
Riho In AEW
Riho has been a part of the AEW roster since their first show in Double or Nothing 2019. She competed in a six-women tag team match at the event.
Things have not gone Riho’s way since the COVID-19 pandemic. She has had to take multiple long breaks due to travel restrictions as well as injuries and has not held any titles in AEW since then.
Marko Stunt made a surprise return to All Elite Wrestling this week as the unlikely challenger to AEW TNT Champion Jack Perry.
On the July 6, edition of AEW Collision, Perry put his title on the line in an open challenge. The Elite member certainly didn’t expect his challenge to be answered by Stunt, who previously teamed with Perry (who competed as Jungle Boy) and Killswitch (then known as Luchasaurus) in Jurassic Express.
Former best friend & Jurassic Express team mate MARKO STUNT has answered the challenge!
Despite the loud reaction, Stunt was unable to dethrone Perry, who captured the TNT Championship at the recent AEWxNJPW: Forbidden Door event. In a backstage interview later in the show, Stunt’s segment was interrupted by former ally Killswitch.
This match was Stunt’s first bout for AEW since September 2021. He would later be released from the company in June 2022. It remains to be seen if he’ll appear again in AEW but the interactions between himself, Perry, and Killswitch make clear that the past has not been forgotten.
Marko Stunt in All Elite Wrestling
Stunt made his AEW debut as part of a battle royal during the promotion’s inaugural pay-per-view, AEW Double or Nothing, back in May 2019. It wouldn’t be until December of that year that Stunt first tasted victory in an AEW ring when he and Luchasaurus defeated The Dark Order (Alex Reynolds and John Silver) on AEW Dark. Throughout his AEW run, Stunt competed in 49 matches and boasts a somewhat unfortunate 17-32 win/loss record
All Elite Wrestling will need to find a new talent to be the promotion’s goodwill ambassador in the place of Cody Rhodes, according to All-Elite alum Kevin Kelly.
Rhodes, alongside wife Brandi, parted ways with AEW in February 2022 and the American Nightmare would return to WWE shortly after. Since then, Rhodes has become one of WWE’s top stars and is currently in his first run as Undisputed WWE Champion.
While Rhodes has achieved plenty in WWE, AEW without him has seen its share of issues. Injuries and backstage drama has taken a considerable amount of shine off Tony Khan’s promotion in the eyes of many fans. Taking to Twitter, Kelly suggested that AEW has yet to find someone who’ll represent AEW on all levels in the way Rhodes did for years.
The one spot @AEW has yet to fill is the one @CodyRhodes held down. He wasn’t just the top guy but he was the face of the company. THE Goodwill Ambassador. Ticket issue? Special request? Cody took care of it. Talent comes and goes but replacing Cody means so much more.
Kelly knows a thing or two about impactful exits from AEW, though his departure was nowhere close to as amicable as the Rhodes family. Kelly made a series of disparaging remarks on social media earlier this year including accusing fellow AEW broadcaster Ian Riccaboni of libel. After not appearing at an AEW taping, Kelly was let go by the company in
When it comes to selecting a representative of your wrestling promotion, one would struggle to find a better candidate than Cody Rhodes. Articles highlighting Rhodes’ connection with fans are a regular occurrence online, demonstrating his commitment to his role as a leading name in WWE. Earlier this year, Rhodes got up close and personal with a visually impaired fan at a WWE event who held a sign saying they were trying to see him. This heartwarming interaction came about mere weeks after Rhodes agreed to be the Best Man at a fan’s wedding.
Daniel Garcia is catching his stride as an AEW star, but will he be around for long?
Garcia is arguably one of the names to really flourish under the All Elite Wrestling banner as he’s been put in high-profile matches and embraced a unique side of his personality. He’s made a strong connection with the fanbase as an underdog babyface and that’s all been embraced as of recent.
Garcia has been the big fulcrum in a budding feud between Will Ospreay and MJF. This very much culminated at AEW Beach Break 3 as Garcia competed against Ospreay for the AEW International Championship. Garcia went toe-to-toe with ‘The Billy Goat’, but came up short after MJF got involved in the match, offering Garcia his Dynamite diamond ring. Garcia declined the ring and Ospreay in turn got the pinfall victory.
Post-fight, Ospreay consoled a sobbing Garcia and then MJF at first did the same, until he kicked him below the belt and had a massive heel turn. MJF brutally beat down Garcia and bloodied him to a pulp to close out the show, but certainly the story of Daniel Garcia will carry on.
What Is The Status Of Daniel Garcia’s AEW Contract?
According to Dave Meltzer of The Wrestling Observer, the current AEW deal with Daniel Garcia is set to expire in October, but those who know him don’t expect the Buffalo boy to be leaving.
AEW’s Jeff Jarrett will always appreciate the efforts of pop sensation Taylor Swift who helped his family out during a very dark time in their lives.
Before becoming one of the most successful names in music history, Swift would babysit the Jarrett children. Speaking to Live At 9:00, Jarrett spoke about how the Shake It Off star did plenty to support the family after Jeff’s first wife passed away.
“She is a friend of the family. [She was] very good to my family during a very, very dark period when my wife got sick and passed away. But Taylor was like a big sister and came over and took the girls, baking cookies and just out at the house. I can’t say enough good things about Taylor… Just a sweetheart.”
Jarrett added that since Swift was never on the “Jeff Jarrett payroll” she was never technically a babysitter. Double-J also joked that people may not be aware that she has done rather well for herself as Swift continues to be a leading name in music.
During the post-Fastlane press conference, WWE Women’s Champion IYO SKY was asked about Swift in a question that divided fans. While many saw it as a harmless bit of fun, some took issue with this question and SKY was visibly confused as to why she was being asked about a non-wrestler.
While fans may never see Swift in a wrestling ring, we know to never say never in this industry. Until then, Swift will continue to be a global-recognized megastar in entertainment, with the recent Eras tour further cementing her success.
What does the future hold for Jeff Jarrett? ‘The Last Outlaw’ felt at a loss after his loss to Hangman Page in the quarterfinals of The Owen Hart Cup, but fans still paid ‘Double J’ respect.
Chicago exploded for the in-ring return of Hangman Page, but it was quickly discovered that his ‘Cowboy S***’ mantra came with cruel intentions. Page was ruthless in his assault against Jarrett, who happened to eventually get the Chicago crowd on his side. Jarrett even got a huge reaction when he locked Page in Owen Hart’s sharpshooter. Jarrett escaped Page’s grasp several times, but was caught with a Buckshot Lariat and it was good enough to keep Jarrett down. However, Page wasn’t done. For good measure he hit his Dead Eye finisher for the 1-2-3.
Page made his return after being away for months and from a storyline perspective was suspended by The Young Bucks. However, Matthew and Nicholas Jackson were the ones to reinstate Hangman and implement him into the tournament. While he was a heel against Jarrett, Page also shared his disdain for The Bucks, making it clear to him he wasn’t their puppet.
Despite the loss, The Windy City did tip their cap to ‘The Last Outlaw’ as they cheered Jeff making his exit to the back.
Later on, camera crews caught up with a frustrated and despondent Jarrett as he tried to gather himself after the loss. Both Jay Lethal and Sonjay Dutt gave him words of encouragement, letting him know that he didn’t let the legacy of Owen Hart down, with Dutt adding opportunity will present itself stemming from the outcame. Jarrett wasn’t too convinced by that.
