Don’t expect to see Sting back on AEW television anytime soon. As he recently hung up his boots, it seems that there should be some time in between ahead of his return for special appearances.

While his future remains up in the air, an update has emerged on what could the fans expect. PWInsider has reported that he could make special appearances. However, the exact timeline is unknown and he is likely to appear sometime down the road.   

Sting had competed in the final match of his decorated career at last month’s AEW Revolution. The veteran had joined forces with Darby Allin and squared off against The Young Bucks with AEW Word Tag Team titles up for grabs.  Sting managed to showcase some age-defying moves and had a triumphant outing that night. He finished his AEW run with a flawless record and has since kept his fans waiting about his next move. 

It was back in 2015 that Sting suffered a neck injury against Seth Rollins at Night of Champions and it seemed that the injury would end to his career. It was soon labeled his final match. However, after signing with AEW in 2020, things took a turn for him, and ‘The Icon’ has since managed to overcome the barriers and exceeded expectations as his legendary career culminated on his terms. 

Tony Khan wanted Sting to extend his career

Sting was offered to work beyond AEW Revolution 2024 by Tony Khan, who was aiming to feature the veteran at AEW All In London 2024. But, the legend was well aware of the physical toll on his body. He made it clear that wouldn’t push his body beyond his capacity and decided to retire. 

Now, the latest report is certainly building anticipation for Sting’s return as the speculation about his future continues.

The hype was heavy for AEW Dynamite this week, but it wasn’t a match that fans were excited to see. Tony Khan delivered on CM Punk and Jack Perry’s fight footage at All In. This came with a boost in viewership.

The April 10 episode of AEW Dynamite brought an average viewership of 819,000 viewers, with a .30 in the 18 to 49 demographic, per Wrestlenomics. That number is up from last week’s 752,000 viewers.

AEW brought their April 10 episode of Dynamite to Charleston, West Virginia. Fans were chanting “CM Punk” by the end of the night at the Young Bucks in response to that footage.

Fan Response

The company delivered on their promise to reveal security footage from Punk and Jack Perry’s backstage brawl at All In. The silent video went viral, with many people providing their own soundtracks for the silent clip.

A number of fans commented on how this footage didn’t make the company look good in any way. Referee Paul Turner did receive some props for how he stepped in to break up the Punk and Perry fight.

https://twitter.com/AmyNemmity/status/1778226516603892094

SE Scoops provided an in-depth article detailing the course of events that led to Tony Khan allowing that footage to air on his television show. 

A popular second-generation pro wrestler is poised to let WWE and AEW compete for his talents. SEScoops has learned that HOOK (Tyler Senerchia) is interested in exploring his options in free agency once his contract with All Elite Wrestling expires later this year.

A source familiar with WWE’s recruitment strategy commented, “I can see WWE clearly being interested in him.”

Hook is the son of wrestling legend and AEW broadcaster Taz. He joined AEW in 2020 and is known as the ‘Cold-Hearted Handsome Devil.’ The 24-year-year-old from  achieved a great deal during his young career. He’s in his second reign as FTW Champion, a title introduced by his father in ECW.

HOOK has not only improved his in-ring skills but has also shown a level of innate charisma that you either have or you don’t. Time at the Performance Center and integration into WWE’s unparalleled talent development system could significantly boost his long-term prospects.

Wrestling free’s agency market is currently booming, with WWE and AEW both aggressively pursuing talent and offering substantial sums to secure contracts. 

Recently, AEW has had notable success, signing wrestlers like Will Ospreay, Mercedes Mone, Kazuchika Okada, and Adam Copeland. Meanwhile, WWE has attracted Giulia and several former AEW stars including CM Punk, Jade Cargill, Andrade, Brian Pillman Jr., and Shawn Spears.

The landscape could shift dramatically soon once again, as the contracts of WWE stars Becky Lynch, Drew McIntyre, Seth Rollins and Sheamus are set to expire in the coming months.

AEW Fight Forever was released with ‘careless’ issues after going well over its intended budget, sources from within the game’s production have revealed. 

Fight Forever, AEW’s first foray into the world of console gaming, hit shelves in June 2023 after experiencing significant delays to its release. The game received mixed reviews at launch with numerous glitches and error codes frustrating gamers. While the arcade style was praised, the shallow customization options were critiqued as was the small roster compared to other wrestling titles.

AEW Fight Forever’s Issues

Those within AEW and game developer Yuke’s believe the game should not have been announced as early as it was, Insider Gaming reports. As one source still attached to the game said, the early announcement led to long delays between updates, which led to mistakes being made. 

“The longer we went without updating people, the more pressure we felt which led to, for some people, carelessness with what was being done.”

Those working on the game did not feel the title was ready when it was released last June. Explaining the decision to release the game, another source said that the pressure was insurmountable as the costs continued to rise.

“They (AEW) knew they were going to lose money on this game. But there was a lot of pressure to make money back solely because of how overbudget the game went.”

Another source added that releasing the game when it did was an effort to “recoup” money from development. The budget fell between 1.5 to two times the original expected cost of development. The issues upon launch were addressed on Twitter by AEW EVP/Fight Forever development lead Kenny Omega. 

As someone who plays a ton of fighting games and FPS, I’ll always encourage fixes and rebalancing when situations like these turn up. There will be continued support for the game so all this feedback and suggestions are great! Thank you!

— Kenny Omega (@KennyOmegamanX) July 2, 2023

What’s to Come for Fight Forever? 

Nearly a year on from AEW Fight Forever, there’s been no word on a sequel game, with AEW instead using sporadic DLC updates. As a source explained, it’s unclear what the future holds for Fight Forever once Yuke’s contracted work on the game is complete. 

“We know AEW wants a second game to be made, but as far as who will make it, that’s completely up in the air. Them (AEW) owning the game engine puts the ball in their court.”

One feature fans were excited to hear about was cross-platform play though that has yet to be implemented. A source working on the game said that testing of the feature produced too many issues and there are plans to revisit the idea down the line. When asked what ‘down the line’ means, they said “Your guess is as good as anyone.” 

AEW’s first console video game was not the hit many hoped it to be, especially compared to WWE 2K23 which was released mere months before Fight Forever. It remains to be seen if AEW will release a second game and if so, what lessons they’ll take from Fight Forever. 

Tony Khan may be regretting his decision to ‘stick it’ to CM Punk as footage of the All In London 2023 backstage altercation has been cut from AEW’s YouTube channel. 

The April 10, 2024, edition of Dynamite featured the much-anticipated footage that shows CM Punk’s altercation with Jack Perry backstage in Wembley Stadium. Khan had claimed before the show that releasing the footage was simply in the best interest of entertaining the fans. Despite Khan’s claim, many have seen this decision as payback for the comments Punk made during the MMA Hour show. 

Khan seems to have had second thoughts on releasing the footage given what is transpiring on AEW’s YouTube channel. A video of the Young Bucks’ segment in which they showed the footage has been uploaded but the ten-minute video does not feature the All In footage as you can see (or rather, not see) below. 

AEW may have tried to embarrass CM Punk by releasing this footage but if so, that plan has backfired spectacularly. Not only have fans and those in the industry criticized AEW for airing the footage, but the YouTube video has scored thousands more dislikes than likes. 

Ultimately, the decision has been made to air the footage and that can’t be undone now, despite AEW flagging several videos online showing the All In altercation. While Khan may have done this to get to CM Punk following his comments to Ariel Helwani (another individual Khan has had issues with) it looks like this situation has done more harm than good for All Elite Wrestling. 

Adam Cole is pushing himself hard to return from injury and get back into the squared circle. Evan as one of the most talented wrestlers in the world, he still has to deal with online trolls that have nothing better to do than hurl insults at people they watch on television. 

Earlier this week, one fan sent him a message implying that Cole got what he deserved (a broken ankle), made a bad decision by leaving WWE and should “seriously go to the gym once in a while.”

Cole fired back with a warranted ‘eat me’ and middle-finger emoji. He also assured wrestling fans that he’s working as hard as he possibly can to heal his ankle and get back to doing what he does best. 

My friend…I really mean this. I have never worked harder to get back into the ring than right now. I promise you & the world that I am doing all that I can. And when I do get back into the ring…eat me. ? https://t.co/ftm9HbU78D

— Adam Cole (@AdamColePro) April 11, 2024

WWE Hall of Famer Booker T previously suggested that Adam Cole is too skinny and should pack on more muscle to advance himself in the industry.

Adam Cole’s Injury

Adam Cole has been on the shelf for several months after he sustained a broken ankle during MJF’s AEW World title defense against Samoa Joe in the main event of AEW Grand Slam. Cole landed badly while running down to the ring and jumping off the entrance ramp. 

This guy broke his ankle in 3 places on a freak accident. He still hobbled around on live tv because as we like to say “the show must go on”. @AdamColePro gives his entire heart and soul to pro wrestling. He’s one tough cookie and this is just a small bump in the road. He’ll be… pic.twitter.com/Aya1JWTTvF

— Dr. Britt Baker, D.M.D. (@RealBrittBaker) September 28, 2023

Cole has called this the most challenging injury of his career. While on hiatus, he’s keeping busy with a new gaming podcast called ‘All Elite Arcade.’ He and co-host Evil Uno will cover the latest video game news and share their thoughts on new releases they play together.

The wrestling world has made its views clear following the airing of backstage footage showing last year’s altercation between Jack Perry and CM Punk. 

The April 10, 2024, episode of AEW Dynamite saw the Young Bucks air the much-anticipated footage from All In London 2023 that saw Perry and Punk get physical. The altercation led to both men being suspended from AEW and Punk being fired a week later. 

The Wrestling World Reacts

Unsurprisingly, the airing of this footage has caused quite a stir among those in professional wrestling. On his Instagram Stories immediately after the segment, Punk shared an image of President George W. Bush with the message “Mission Accomplished.”

The Young Bucks took to Twitter to speak about being petty Executive Vice Presidents of All Elite Wrestling. 

EVPetty

— Matthew & Nicholas Jackson (@youngbucks) April 11, 2024

Shawn Spears, an AEW alum who has since returned to WWE as part of NXT, suggested that releasing the footage had backfired for Tony Khan. 

pic.twitter.com/P9xhDStGwX

— Shawn Spears™? (@ShawnSpears) April 11, 2024

Two-time WWE Hall of Famer Booker T, who previously made up a fictional altercation with Punk, used a gif of himself to express his surprise. 

pic.twitter.com/m4X4aSIDer

— Booker T. Huffman (@BookerT5x) April 11, 2024

Eric Bischoff, who has been critical of AEW and Tony Khan, believes releasing the footage proved that Khan is a ‘clown,’ a term Punk used to describe him post-fight. 

? https://t.co/eVjtT5ge7O

— Eric Bischoff (@EBischoff) April 11, 2024

AEW’s Danhausen, a friend of CM Punk, was amused to see what unfolded, as a gif of ‘Rowdy’ Roddy Piper showed. 

pic.twitter.com/St4YPeXn97

— Danhausen (@DanhausenAD) April 11, 2024

WWE/TNA Hall of Famer Bully Ray said it was “no bueno” for AEW that fans were chanting for Punk at Dynamite. 

Did I just hear CM PUNK chants during the beatdown? ?????

Because if I did…no bueno. #AEWDynamite #BOAfterDark@BustedOpenRadio

— Bully Ray (@bullyray5150) April 11, 2024

Bully also addressed the matter further on his Busted Open Radio: After Dark podcast. 

“This is not on the talent. This is not on the locker room. And most of the time, it never ever is across the board. It’s on creative. It’s on the booker. It’s on the matchmaker. This company needs help. At this point, I hope even you diehards realize that.”

Ultimately, Punk will continue to be a source of controversy within AEW even after his release from the company. As far as these reactions and those by fans go though, it appears airing the footage may not have done AEW or Tony Khan any favors. 

CM Punk did indeed start the physicality between himself and Jack Perry at AEW All In, footage aired during the April 10, episode of AEW Dynamite has proved. 

During the broadcast, the Young Bucks appeared and discussed their upcoming AEW Dynasty showdown with FTR. The AEW EVPs then showed the much-anticipated backstage footage from last August’s event in London’s Wembley Stadium. 

The footage shows Punk speaking with Perry, presumably after the latter’s “Real glass” line during his pre-show match with Hook. Punk proceeds to shove Perry twice and get a choke on Jack before Samoa Joe and others intervene. The two are then kept in opposite corners of the room. 

Here’s the full footage of the all in stuff woo #AEWDynamite pic.twitter.com/2Az6gD4djZ

— s e t h (@futurafreesky) April 11, 2024

It’s unclear if the release of this footage will change anything in the grand scheme of things. After all, during Punk’s interview on the MMA Hour, he said that he didn’t punch anybody but “choked him a little bit” as the footage shown on AEW Dynamite proves.

The Fans Chant

In fact, some fans who attended Dynamite chanted for Punk after seeing him attack Jack Perry. There was also a thank you chant near the end of the footage as seen in the video clip from Dynamite below. 

These chants did not go unnoticed by Bully Ray, who took to Twitter to respond: 

Did I just hear CM PUNK chants during the beatdown? ?????

Because if I did…no bueno. #AEWDynamite #BOAfterDark@BustedOpenRadio

— Bully Ray (@bullyray5150) April 11, 2024

While a portion of the audience at Dynamite appeared to be on Punk’s side, this footage isn’t a favorable look for Punk. The Chicago-Made star is a veteran with decades of wrestling to his name who should have known better at the time.

Ultimately, Punk is gone from AEW and seems much happier in WWE, where his conduct has been exemplary so far. With that said, the Best in the World proves to be quite the talking point with his former employer. 

Will Ospreay took Triple H’s comments about wrestlers who pick AEW over WWE personally. He returned fire on the 4/10 episode of AEW Dynamite.

While speaking to the Pat McAfee Show during WrestleMania weekend, Triple H said, “When I see people trying to make it, and they pick the job where they go, ‘Well I work less and the schedule’s lighter,’ okay I’m glad I didn’t get you. Because if you’re not in it for the grind in that point in your career, you have no business being here.”

Will Ospreay cut a promo on AEW Dynamite, where he answered Triple H’s comment about wrestlers who pick AEW over WWE.

“Normally I wouldn’t rise to this type of bait, right? But seeing how the guy who said it is only in the position because he was grinding the boss’ daughter, you have no business telling me what the grind is all about, my friend, because you have no idea what I fight for.

Will Ospreay takes aim at Triple H’s comments of running from the grind:

“The guy that said it is only in the position he’s in because he was grinding on the bosses daughter.”#AEWDynamite

pic.twitter.com/zXW6dXwX1K

— Wrestle Ops (@WrestleOps) April 11, 2024

It Was Ospreay’s Idea

Sean Ross Sapp of Fightful Select reports that it was all Will Ospreay’s idea to throw a dig at Triple H into the promo on Dynamite. He collaborated with the creative team on the promo. The media’s recent portrayal of him confused wrestlers from various organizations. A WWE member noted his efforts to honor the process and WWE, despite choosing AEW for his family’s benefit.

AEW’s Recent Signings

AEW signed three big names in a row with Will Ospreay, Kazuchika Okada, and Mercedes Mone. All of those stars were talking to WWE at one point, and they decided to take Tony Khan’s deal instead.

Mone and WWE came to a financial roadblock. She signed an incredibly lucrative deal with AEW, one that is reportedly the largest woman’s deal in pro wrestling history.

AEW locked down Kazuchika Okada with a three-year contract valued at approximately $13.5 million. Okada is earning about $4.5 million a year with his All Elite deal.

Will Ospreay has been open about why he turned down a WWE contract. Ospreay acknowledged the offer from WWE, but he emphasized the trust he has in Tony Khan, a significant factor influencing his decision to sign with AEW.

“I want to know what I’m doing within the ring, and the rest, for me, is easy. What more could you want from a boss?”

• CM Punk and Jack Perry were involved in a physical altercation backstage at AEW All In: London 2023 from Wembley Stadium (August 27, 2023).
• This was Punk’s final date with the company before a messy breakup. 
• Punk told his side of the story last week on Ariel Helwani’s MMA Hour. He and AEW have been taking digs at one another ever since, and now AEW is teasing:
• “The Young Bucks Present Backstage Footage From ALL IN LONDON & Will Discuss For The First Time”
• Tony Khan and the Young Bucks say they’ll deliver tonight on Dynamite

AEW delivered on their promise to air the footage of CM Punk and Jack Perry’s All In brawl.

https://twitter.com/WrestlingCovers/status/1778222984869593412

WrestleMania XL is history, and wrestling fans are already getting another big topic to talk about: the release of the AEW All In Footage of CM Punk’s backstage brawl with Jack Perry that led to his abrupt departure from the company. Now, that footage has been released.

The Young Bucks introduced the footage on AEW Dynamite. They also took several underhanded digs at Punk, including saying that they don’t want to spread rumors. Nicholas and Matthew Jackson centered the entire promo around hyping their match against FTR at Dynasty on April 21, and how Punk is a friend of Dax Harwood and Cash Wheeler.

Matthew & Nicholas Jackson breakdown their history with FTR.

Watch #AEWDynamite LIVE on TBS!@youngbucks pic.twitter.com/OehwC2qf6z

— All Elite Wrestling (@AEW) April 11, 2024

Why AEW and the Young Bucks Are Releasing The “Backstage Footage”

Punk’s April 1 appearance on the MMA Hour with Ariel Helwani got intense. He commented on his physical altercation with Jack Perry backstage right before his final AEW match against Samoa Joe inside a packed Wembley Stadium. Punk, now a top-paid WWE Superstar, buried AEW and its management. 

A perceived tipping point was Perry’s intent to use glass in a spot on AEW Collision, but Punk stopped him. At All In, Punk didn’t have the same influence, and Jungle Boy Jack taunted the Chicago legend live on camera.

Shortly thereafter, Khan gave his side of the story to a live AEW audience. “I’ve been going to wrestling shows for over thirty year, I’ve been producing them on this network for nearly four years. Never in all that time have I ever felt, until Sunday, that my security, my safety, my life was in danger.”

CM Punk Discusses Tony Khan

Punk placed onto AEW’s President for not diffusing his volatile situation with Perry before it ignited. He watched backstage as Perry taunted him in front of the world during the Zero Hour kickoff show.

After urging his boss to handle the situation, Punk says that Khan replied, “What do you want me to do?” The Second City Savior warned he’d be pushed to take action the company wouldn’t approve of.

CM Punk’s comments on Tony Khan pic.twitter.com/2XmKg1YTdH

— Cultaholic Wrestling (@Cultaholic) April 1, 2024

“Man, that’s a loaded question because I don’t want this to be…I don’t like the drama, but the truth is the truth, he is not a boss, he’s a nice guy and I think ultimately that is a detriment to the company, but it’s not my company.”

AEW TNT Champion Adam Copeland started off the first Dynamite after Punk’s interview by indirectly addressing the controversy. The ‘Rated R Superstar’ said, “There’s been a lot of negative BS that’s spewed this week, right? There has … SCREW THAT! I wanna talk about positives!”

AEW Delivered The Controversial Footage

Wrestling fans naturally wondered if this was legit or a bait and switch situation. Tony Khan made it clear that they will air the ‘real’ footage. Speaking to Justin Barrasso of Sports Illustrated, the AEW President clarified:

“This decision is based on putting on the best show for AEW, as well as driving interest for Dynamite and our Dynasty pay-per-view on April 21.”

Punk continues to prove that he is a lightening rod for controversy. He’s long gone from All Elite Wrestling, but he will probably help Dynamite draw viewers on Wednesday night. Love him or hate him, people just can’t stop talking about CM Punk.

All Elite Wrestling presents AEW Dynamite tonight on TBS live from the Charleston Coliseum in Charleston, West Virginia. 

The show will see AEW continue on the road to AEW Dynasty on April 21. Here’s what’s on tap for tonight’s show: 

AEW All In Footage to Be Aired

In one of the boldest moves AEW has made in its five years, Dynamite will see The Young Bucks present backstage footage from AEW All In. This footage will seemingly show what happened in Wembley Stadium between CM Punk and Jack Perry that resulted in Punk being fired from AEW in September 2023. 

Adam Copeland (c) vs. Penta El Zero Miedo – AEW TNT Championship

AEW TNT Champion Adam Copeland will once again prove he’s a fighting champion when he puts the gold on the line against Penta El Zero Miedo. While a former AEW Trios & World Tag Team Champion, Penta hopes to win his first singles title tonight. 

Mariah May vs. Anna Jay

The understudy of ‘Timeless’ Toni Storm has been on a roll as of late and hopes to keep that going when she faces Anna Jay. Storm will have her own special role on AEW Dynamite. 

‘Timeless’ Toni Storm to Toast Thunder Rosa

It was announced on Rampage that Toni Storm would ‘toast’ Thunder Rosa with some Charleston Championship Champagne during Dynamite. The two will face off for Storm’s AEW Women’s World Championship at AW Dynasty. 

Six-Man Tag-Team Action

Anthony Ogogo has officially joined Shane Taylor Promotions and the Olympic Bronze medalist hopes to prove his worth. That’ll come easier said than done as Ogogo, Taylor, and Lee Moriarty will face the formidable trio of Chris Jericho, HOOK, and Katsyori Shibata. 

Samoa Joe (c) Vs. Dustin Rhodes – AEW World Championship Eliminator

Mere days after his brother Cody finished the story at WWE WrestleMania 40, Dustin Rhodes will face Samoa Joe with huge stakes. A win for Rhodes will earn the Natural a future AEW World Championship match though it’ll be far from easy when he faces the Samoan Submission Machine. 

SEScoops is your destination for everything pro wrestling and will have plenty of news coverage later tonight from AEW Dynamite.

Airing backstage footage from All In 2023 is all in the interest of the fans who want to see the best show possible, AEW President Tony Khan has claimed.

On the April 10, episode of AEW Dynamite, behind-the-scenes footage of AEW’s largest-ever event will be aired. While not confirmed, many believe this will be footage of the Jack Perry-CM Punk altercation that would result in Punk being fired a week later. 

Speaking to Sports Illustrated, Tony Khan said that this will not be a bait-and-switch and that AEW has a history of delivering on its promises. Khan also said the decision to air the footage is simply in AEW’s best interest.

“This decision is based on putting on the best show for AEW, as well as driving interest for Dynamite and our Dynasty pay-per-view on April 21.”

The Young Bucks will also discuss the footage that is to be aired on Dynamite. Khan added that the AEW EVPs should explain why this is relevant ahead of AEW Dynasty.

Why is the Footage Really Being Aired?

The decision to air this footage has been met with criticism, despite Khan’s insistence that this is all to give fans the best show. Many have argued that AEW is using the much-anticipated footage as a ratings ploy in the wake of the highly successful WWE WrestleMania 40 event.

There’s also an argument to be made that AEW should seek to move on from the backstage incidents that have often overshadowed their production. CM Punk was also part of the infamous All Out 2022 backstage fight that led to himself, The Elite, and others being suspended.

CM Punk’s recent interview with the MMA Hour has likely also played a role in Khan’s decision. The WWE Raw Superstar was critical of AEW on the show in which he stated that Khan isn’t a real boss and that AEW isn’t a real company focused on making money. 

Punk also gave his take on the All In brawl. In his recollection of events, Punk said he didn’t punch anybody but “choked somebody a little bit.” Punk stopped when Samoa Joe told him to before telling Khan “You’re a clown. I quit.”

Cody Rhodes is excited to see what’s to come in the future for MJF and the Undisputed WWE Universal Champion sees big things ahead for the ‘Scumbag.’

Appearing on The Pat McAfee Show, Rhodes’ interview was interrupted by a crowd chant for MJF. Acknowledging the moment, Rhodes put over the former AEW World Champion. 

“His ex-girlfriend painted that picture of me getting busted open by The Rock. Yeah, and The Rock bought it.

“You got to stand by your guy, though. You know what I’m saying? You stand by your boy. MJF is my boy. Shout out to MJF. Wonderful kid. Huge, huge, huge future.”

Rhodes and MJF are no strangers. In AEW, MJF acted as a protege of Rhodes before betraying the American Nightmare during Cody’s sole AEW World Championship opportunity. The pair would later feud with MJF coming out on top at AEW Revolution 2020. 

What’s to Come? 

On the post-WrestleMania Raw, Rhodes basked in his victory at the Premium Live Event before being interrupted by The Rock. The Final Boss admitted that he’s going away for a while but will be coming for Rhodes when he returns. He also handed Rhodes something and warned him not to break his heart again. 

As for MJF, he continues to be out of action and was last seen in the ring at AEW Worlds End in December 2023. While MJF was recently seen backstage at AEW Dynamite, there’s still no confirmation as to when fans can see him. Whenever he appears next, it’ll be for AEW as it was reported last year that MJF had signed a new contract with AEW despite teasing leaving for WWE.

Matt Hardy entered AEW during the pandemic, and now, he is no longer All Elite. The tag team specialist is now a free agent.

Fightful Select reports that Matt Hardy is now a free agent. His contract with AEW was set to expire in March. Recent developments indicate that he is no longer associated with AEW.

The reports stated that while his contract was initially set to expire, there were discussions within the company regarding an extension. The idea was that this extension might last a few weeks through WrestleMania.

The reason behind this possible extension remains unclear, because there are no indications of any injury-related absences, given that Hardy continued to make television appearances following a concussion sustained years ago during AEW All Out in his Broken Rules match against Sammy Guevara.

We’ve learned that Hardy and AEW had talks and Hardy had told those close to him that he was allowing his deal to lapse after not signing a deal offered to him.

Jeff Hardy is still under contract with AEW. His deal was originally set to expire with his brother’s, but AEW froze his contract when he took time off to take care of his personal matters.

Matt Hardy’s Road To AEW

On the February 10, 2020, episode of Raw, Hardy confronted Randy Orton regarding Orton’s assault on Edge two weeks earlier. A brawl ensued between them shortly after, during which Orton viciously attacked Hardy. The following week on Raw, an injured Hardy made another appearance, only to be assaulted once more by Orton. This would mark his final appearance in WWE.

On March 2, Hardy announced his departure from WWE via his official YouTube channel, citing differences in creative direction and expressing gratitude towards the backstage personnel. WWE then confirmed that his contract had expired on the same day.

Hardy made his debut in All Elite Wrestling on the March 18, 2020, episode. He brought his Broken gimmick to the company, but it was abandoned during those Daily Place episodes.

Fans tuning in to the April 10, edition of AEW Dynamite will get to learn more about what really transpired backstage at AEW All in 2023 in London, England. 

During the April 7, episode of AEW Collision, it was announced that the Bucks will share footage from All In and will discuss what transpired backstage in Wembley Stadium last August. It was not revealed on Collision what this footage and discussion will be about. 

Unsurprisingly, the tease of backstage footage from All In has led fans to speculate that they will see CM Punk’s infamous backstage fight with Jack Perry. Fightful Select later reported that AEW indeed plans on showing footage of Punk’s incident with Perry and that this footage will be genuine. Talent and staff who have asked about the footage have been told it relates to Punk’s altercation with Perry. 

Legalities do not appear to be an issue, despite Punk now being with WWE. Sources believe that the video was enough cause for the company to part with Punk without much of an issue from a legal perspective.

AEW Dynamite – April 10, 2024

This mystery footage is just part of what’ll be quite the show on the upcoming episode of AEW Dynamite. Also on the show, Dustin Rhodes will face AEW World Champion Samoa Joe in a Championship Eliminator Match. Should Rhodes win, he’ll receive a future title match against Joe. 

TNT Champion Adam Copeland will put his gold on the line against Penta El Zero Miedo. The WWE Hall of Famer captured the gold from former friend Christian Cage during the March 20, episode of Dynamite in their native Toronto. 

Chris Jericho, HOOK & Katsuyori Shibata will take on Shane Taylor Promotions (Shane Taylor, Lee Moriarty & Anthony Ogogo) on the upcoming Dynamite. Ogogo joined the group on AEW Collision. 

Jade Cargill’s departure from AEW surprised a lot of fans. It did not take long for her to sign with WWE, but the company has certainly waited for the right moment to debut her.

Cargill is set to team up with Bianca Belair and Naomi as they take on Damage CTRL at WrestleMania 40. That will mark Cargill’s first-ever actual match in WWE, and it will happen on the grandest stage of them all. As her WWE star shines even brighter every week, many believe that AEW dropped the ball with her.

During an appearance on Busted Open Radio, host Dave LaGreca said that he feels as though AEW didn’t make the most of Jade. When asked if this was a reason for her AEW departure, she confirmed that many factors played into this decision.

“There are a couple of things that made me go to WWE other than the fact that the machine is ridiculous over here, the connections, the history, the legacy, it’s one of one, you know? AEW was a new company, they’re still figuring things out, obviously. That happens with every company, right? You have to figure out what’s good and what’s bad.” “I’m 31. I don’t have time to grow with the company at my age. I have to be in an established company, and I have to go over there and let it be known, because I can’t do this forever.”

She said that fans want to see “20 somethings on TV,” and she knew that her time is limited in the pro wrestling business. Jade went on to say that “time was not on my side, and I knew I had to make the best decision for me, and my family.” So, she decided to join WWE.

“I’m 31. I don’t have time to, really, grow with a company.” – @Jade_Cargill on why she came to WWE#WrestleMania

Watch the full-length interview, and subscribe ? https://t.co/oolh5SpEdG pic.twitter.com/mniAIsIbkY

— SiriusXM Busted Open (@BustedOpenRadio) April 5, 2024

Jade Cargill’s AEW Exit

Tony Khan revealed that AEW offered Cargill more money to stay with them than she asked for. She still decided to do what was best for herself and make the jump to WWE.

Jade Cargill remained undefeated for nearly three years and was prominently featured by both AEW and WBD as one of their top talents. She was even showcased as the main athlete at the network’s upfronts for the past two years. Despite achieving everything possible in AEW, Cargill felt that only a move to WWE would allow her to reach the next echelon in the pro wrestling business.

In September 2023, Jade Cargill parted ways with AEW as her contract with the company came to an end. Just days after her departure, WWE secured Cargill with a multi-year contract.

It’s been years since Keith Lee was signed to a WWE contract, but the Limitless One was spotted this week during the WWE Hall of Fame ceremony. 

The former NXT Champion and current AEW star was in the background of a backstage segment that saw CM Punk being interviewed by Kayla Braxton. It appears that somebody off-screen pointed out to Lee that he was in the shot as the wrestler quickly got out of the way. 

Lee’s real-life wife and WWE star ‘Michin’ Mia Yim was being interviewed across the backstage area by WWE’s Cathy Kelley.

No way Keith Lee didn’t see a camera man, CM Punk & a whole interview set ? pic.twitter.com/4AQCXegrZT

— Macho T (@ItsMachoT) April 6, 2024

This humorous situation led to Lee’s name trending on X (formerly known as Twitter.) Some fans even compared it to a similar situation where Road Warrior Hawk accidentally appeared during a backstage interview and quickly realized his mistake. 

Same energy pic.twitter.com/D0NvxZTQDg

— TJ Lynch (@tjlynch40) April 6, 2024

Keith Lee

In WWE NXT, Lee captured the NXT Championship and NXT North American Championship and is to date the only Superstar to hold both titles simultaneously. Lee had far worse luck on the main roster and after a strong debut, would miss months of programming due to COVID-19 and heart inflammation. He was released from WWE in November 2021. 

Lee joined AEW in March 2022 at that month’s Revolution pay-per-view and captured the AEW World Tag Team Championships with Swerve Strickland that July. Their reign was ended by The Acclaimed that September. A match between Lee and Strickland was scheduled to happen at AEW Worlds End in December 2023. Lee has been out of action since December 2023 and is currently recovering from double surgeries that he underwent in January 2024.

AEW recently released several names from its roster, including Brent and Brandon Tate, known as ‘The Boys.’ Their departures surprised fans, especially considering their involvement in the ongoing storyline between Dalton Castle and Johnny TV.

At the ROH Supercard of Honor press event, Tony Khan disclosed that the Tates had been absent from work on multiple occasions. This prompted Khan to release them, though he emphasized the difficulty of this decision.

Khan clarified that these releases were part of AEW’s careful budget management, ensuring resources are available to pursue top talent in the industry.

Brandon Tate, who previously denied Tony Khan’s story, but he deleted that tweet, has now responded with a lengthy story. He told all about the Twins’ time in AEW, and what led to the alleged story around them no-showing events.

He said that The Twins had initially intended to maintain silence regarding their release from AEW, in order to avoid overshadowing the significance of the upcoming ROH Supercard event. However, following Tony Khan’s remarks and the overwhelming support from fans, media outlets, friends, and colleagues, they felt compelled to address the situation publicly.

Brandon Tate and his brother were informed that they would be prominently featured in the storyline leading up to Supercard, alongside Johnny TV and Taya Valkyrie. They were encouraged to pitch ideas for their characters, suggesting that they would have opportunities to showcase their wrestling abilities in the future.

However, on March 16th, the scheduled date following a storyline development, which involved Dalton Castle losing custody, they encountered an unprecedented change in their travel arrangements. Instead of departing from their home airport in Knoxville, their travel was booked out of Nashville. This departure from their usual travel pattern, which previously involved Sinclair ROH and now Tony Khan’s ROH, raised questions and concerns.

He said the next thing that took place was their release. They were told they were let go due to budget cuts, with no mention of them no-showing any event.

On Monday April 1st, we were contacted by management accompanied by HR on a call to inform us of our release due to “budget cuts.” At that time we raised concerns and repeatedly questioned if the release was due to the travel issues, we were repeatedly and adamantly assured that this was not the case and based solely on budget cuts. Since Tony’s statement, we reached out yesterday providing the specific details asking for Tony to clear this up. We have gotten no response. Unfortunately in the court or public opinion for a lot of people commenting, it’s assumed that we’re guilty from 1 man’s words until we now have to prove we’re not.

https://twitter.com/tatetwinbrandon/status/1776330031536488749

AEW’s Recent Signings

It was a very interesting turn of events to see AEW release so many names from their roster. This came after Tony Khan stated for so long that he intends on fulfilling any contract he signs.

AEW has just inked big contracts with Kazuchika Okada, Will Ospreay, and Mercedes Mone. That was followed by some cuts. We will have to see if Tony Khan has any response to Brandon Tate, but he’s been radio silent for now.

In the end, those released names were The Boys, Dasha Gonzolaz, Jose The Assistant, Jora Johl, Anthony Henry, Gravity, Stu Grayson, Parker Boudreaux, and Slim J. You may find an updated list of AEW’s 2024 releases here with our tracker.

AEW has called Warner Bros Discovery their home since the company debuted Dynamite. As their deal with the television company ticks down, they are exiting a very important window of time.

Tony Khan confirmed during the ROH Supercard of Honor media call that AEW’s deal with Warner Bros Discovery is exiting their exclusive negotiation window. The AEW President did not reveal any further details or timetable of the contract’s actual expiration.

“I’m not sure that I am able to answer that question. I don’t want to endanger anybody who works here or get anybody in trouble. I’m not sure I can say. It’s coming up soon. I probably shouldn’t say the exact date. I do appreciate you asking that. I probably shouldn’t say the exact date. It’s coming up pretty soon here.”

TNT and TBS hosts All Elite Wrestling’s weekly television shows: Dynamite, Rampage, and Collision. Their partnership even caused AEW Dark to cease production on YouTube, because they wanted exclusivity.

How AEW Got Their Television Deal

In January 2020 AEW’s deal with WBD was extended with a four-year, approximately $175 million contract that included the addition of Rampage for Friday nights. Now, as we get even further into 2024, a new deal has not been signed. It all started in a rather interesting way in 2018.

AEW first came to Warner Bros Discovery thanks to Tony Khan’s friend, Kevin Riley, who helped him get on the network. Years later, and Riley is no longer a part of the company. His firing as part of WBD’s massive restructuring was a big blow to AEW, as they lost an important ally.

I explained that to them pretty clearly in the interview, to be fair. I officially started on the project that became AEW on April 6, 2018 when I saw my friend Kevin Reilly at a party in Beverly Hills & said that I was interested in creating a wrestling league + working together.

— Tony Khan (@TonyKhan) September 30, 2019

In 2021, Tony Khan appeared on AEW Restricted, as he walked Aubrey Edwards and Tony Scahivone down the road to AEW’s first television deal. It really all happened thanks to a close friend he already had, and the fact that Khan dressed as “Macho Man” Randy Savage at a Halloween party

WrestleMania weekend is always packed with events. There are indie pro wrestling shows going on, and other fan conventions. WaleMania went down at the Philadelphia at Franklin Music Hall on April 4, and there are a ton of highlights.

Since its first show in 2015, WaleMania has combined hip-hop and wrestling. It stands apart from other events during WrestleMania weekend, serving as a gathering where fans and wrestlers come together, and every year it’s usually the best party all weekend. 

Pro wrestlers from practically every company on the planet linked up for WaleMania this year. As you can see, it was quite a party, and there are many highlights to feature.

WaleMania 2024 Highlights

First off, we have to give Samantha Irvine all the flowers for this one. She not only rocked Razor Ramon’s theme music, but she did it on a flute. 

Samantha Irvin, singing and playing a flute to razor Ramon’s theme was not in our bingo card today. pic.twitter.com/7geSUH2XPF

— SEScoops (@sescoops) April 5, 2024

Rob Van Dam was there, smoking on stage, alongside Katie Forbes. It was quite a party as the crowd fed into the performance on stage, who were having just as much fun as the fans.

?ROB VAN DAM #Walemania #WrestleMania pic.twitter.com/G84PyaJv9f

— Damian Walker | "Showtime2Wavy" | Unrivaled (@2WavyWrestling) April 5, 2024

R-Truth was present at WaleMania, and he gave fans in attendance a different kind of show than they’re used to seeing from him. He grabbed the microphone and spit some fire bars for the fans.

Don’t forget @RonKillings really be rapping out here #Walemania pic.twitter.com/YKsiGZLTiC

— Papa Worm ??? (@Aye_Yo_Worm) April 5, 2024

Although he’s not booked for WrestleMania, WWE Hall of Famer RVD was also present. NXT Superstar Kelani Jordan couldn’t resist the opportunity to snap a photo with the Whole F’n Show.

Two of a kind ??#Walemania pic.twitter.com/AjMmWmotwY

— Kelani Jordan (@kelani_wwe) April 5, 2024

Big E couldn’t miss WaleMania, either. The New Day member cut one of his trademark promos for fans, where he introduced Wale. As you can see in the clip, Trick Williams was there as well, and he had a wonderful time ahead of his main event match at NXT: Stand & Deliver against Carmelo Hayes.

#WaleMania pic.twitter.com/Svy31Yc95J

— ? ?????? ? (@itsJustinRitch) April 5, 2024

Zilla Fatu didn’t miss the show, either. He was there in attendance at WaleMania, and he had a great time. As you can see in the video below, he also spent some time on the stage.

#Walemania zilla fatu at walemania? @Zillafatu pic.twitter.com/7oyral01ZK

— ??????????????????????? (@JayBands24) April 5, 2024

Although it was all fun at WaleMania, things did get a big tense as Trick Williams and Carmelo Hayes had a chance to trade some words on stage.

Yooo @Carmelo_WWE and @_trickwilliams bout to squabble at #Walemania ??? pic.twitter.com/juX7NLPXOl

— Jeff Johnson (@JeffJSays) April 5, 2024

Kiera Hogan stunned the crowd with her dancing skills. Willow Nightingale didn’t miss WaleMania, either, as the two AEW stars had a great time on stage in front of the live crowd.

Where else can you party with @willowwrestles and @HoganKnowsBest3 than #WaleMania pic.twitter.com/OoWQ2OmeHG

— Brian H. Waters (@brianhwaters) April 5, 2024

Fans who attended the recent STARDOM event were stunned to see AEW Women’s World Champion ‘Timeless’ Toni Storm appear with a very special message. 

Storm appeared at the STARDOM American Dream event in Philadelphia’s 2300 Arena, better known as the ECW Arena. Storm began by expressing her gratitude for STARDOM, stating that she wouldn’t be where she is today without the promotion. 

The three-time and reigning AEW Women’s World Champion then presented flowers to Mariah May and said she was proud of her understudy. Turning her attention towards Mina Shirakawa, Storm got in the face of the Artist of Stardom Champion and told her that “the Forbidden Door is always open.”

?? FULL SEGMENT
Toni Storm’s return to STARDOM!

This partnership is off to a fantastic start!
https://t.co/jo839QiblN

— ?????? (@WrestlingCovers) April 4, 2024

After her appearance during the show, Storm had more to say about Mariah May.

After her surprise appearance at Stardom, Timeless Toni Storm gives Mariah May her flowers!#ToniStorm | @MariahMayx | @wwr_stardom pic.twitter.com/r7GPTMv3ak

— All Elite Wrestling (@AEW) April 4, 2024

Shirakawa is booked for Ring of Honor Supercard of Honor 2024. She’ll team with Maika and Mei Seira against Tam Nakano, Saya Kamitani, and AZM. As for Storm, her next high-profile match will come later this month at AEW Dynasty. The Starlet of Wrestling will put her gold on the line against Thunder Rosa. 

Another Surprising Name

Toni Storm wasn’t announced for the event, making her appearance at STARDOM American Dream a big surprise, but she wasn’t the only notable non-STARDOM name at the show. WWE Superstar Natalya was also at the event. On Twitter, the former Women’s Champion spoke about reuniting with Kyoko Inoue at the STARDOM show and shared some pictures from backstage. 

In 2005 I got my first big break in wrestling and got the opportunity to wrestle in Japan with some of the greatest female wrestlers in the world. I was lucky enough to work with and compete against the one and only Kyoko Inoue. It’s been almost 20 years since I’ve last seen her.… pic.twitter.com/c4RaSqvRqk

— Nattie (@NatbyNature) April 4, 2024

Natalya is not currently booked for a match at WWE WrestleMania 40. With that said, some fans are hoping to see a Women’s Battle Royal at the event, which would likely include the BOAT. The hashtag #WomensBattleRoyal trended for multiple days on Twitter. 

Two wrestlers recently cut from All Elite Wrestling have themselves to blame for being cut from the company after they no-showed multiple events. 

AEW released several names from its roster earlier this week, including Brent and Brandon Tate, better known as ‘The Boys.’ Their releases came as a surprise to fans as they have been integral to the ongoing storyline between Dalton Castle and Johnny TV. 

During the ROH Supercard of Honor press event, Tony Khan explained how the Tates had failed to show up to work on multiple occasions. This led to Khan deciding to cut them but made clear it was a difficult decision. 

Khan explained that these releases were made with AEW carefully monitoring their budget, ensuring they have resources available to compete for top talent in the industry. The promotion recently reached high-budget deals with new signings including Will Ospreay, Mercedes Mone, and Kazuchika Okada.

Who Else Was Let Go? 

In total, ten stars were released from All Elite Wrestling. In addition to the Tate brothers, Stu Grayson, Parker Boudreaux, Slim J, Gravity, Anthony Henry, Jora Johl, Jose The Assistant, and broadcaster Dasha Kuret were also cut from the promotion. 

While Anthony Henry has been released, fans can expect him back with ROH and AEW very soon. On the media call, Khan said that Henry got injured during an independent show and said his situation is a “challenging grey area.” He added that Henry will come back to AEW and Ring of Honor once he is cleared to wrestle again. 

During AEW Dynamite this week, Thunder Rosa defeated Mariah May. That means Rosa will now challenge Toni Storm for the AEW women’s championship at Dynasty.

Toni Storm was sitting at ringside during the match. She was a bit shocked by the conclusion, as Thunder Rosa came out on top. Rosa also had some choice words for Storm after the match was over. That match acted as the main event contest for the night

AEW Dynasty will go down on April 21 in Saint Louis. SEScoops will have full coverage of the pay-per-view event, and the events leading to the inaugural show.

HUGE HEADBUTT FROM MARIAH MAY!

Watch #AEWDynamite LIVE on TBS!@ThunderRosa22 | @MariahMayX pic.twitter.com/znF26zzG0k

— All Elite Wrestling (@AEW) April 4, 2024

This Week’s AEW Dynamite Main Event Segment

The company did not add any more matches to the Dynasty pay-per-view during Dynamite this week. They did conclude the match with a contract signing between Swerve Strickland and Samoa Joe, one that ended in a bloody display as Joe busted Swerve open with a chain wrapped around his first.

In the end, Strickland signed the contract with his own blood after saying that Joe will need to do more than that to beat him at Dynasty.

The Young Bucks also beat The Best Friends to advance to the finals of the AEW Tag Team Title tournament. Then, Trend turned on Orange Cassidy before leaving.

AEW Dynasty Card (So Far)

• Will Ospreay vs. Bryan Danielson
• The Young Bucks vs. TBD for the vacant AEW World Tag Team Championship
• Julia Hart (c) vs. Willow Nightingale (with Stokely Hathaway): House Rules match for the AEW TBS Championship
• Adam Copeland, Eddie Kingston, and Mark Briscoe vs. House of Black (Malakai Black, Brody King, and Buddy Matthews)
• “Timeless” Toni Storm (c) (with Luther) vs. Thunder Rosa for the AEW Women’s World Championship
• Samoa Joe (c) vs. Swerve Strickland (with Prince Nana) for the AEW World Championship

Mercedes Mone caused a lot of noise when she arrived in AEW. Now, she has called her shot for a title match at Double or Nothing.

During AEW Dynamite this week, Renee Paquette invited Willow Nightingale out to talk about her TBS Title match at AEW Dynasty. She is very pumped about the match, but it didn’t take long for Mercedes Mone to show up.

Mercedes Mone said that she is calling her shot as the next challenger for the TBS Title at AEW Double or Nothing. It doesn’t seem like she cares who she faces, whether it is Julia Hart or Willow.

Mercedes Moné wants to challenge whoever walks out of #AEWDynasty with the #TBS Championship.

Watch #AEWDynamite LIVE on TBS!@MercedesMone | @WillowWrestles | @TheJuliaHart pic.twitter.com/hzR2omNGud

— All Elite Wrestling (@AEW) April 4, 2024

Willow Nightingale will take on Julia Hart at AEW Dynasty for the TBS Title. Mone will be paying close attention to that match and has already staked her claim to challenge the winner at Double or Nothing.

Mone has not been booked for a match at AEW Dynasty on April 21, so it looks like her first match will happen at the 6th annual DoN PPV.

AEW Double or Nothing 2024 takes place May 26 from at the iconic MGM Grand Garden Arena in Paradise, Nevada.

Mercedes Mone challenging for the TBS Championship is the first match confirmed for the event. 

Mercedes Mone has found her new home in AEW and she has disclosed the behind-the-scenes talks leading up to her debut for the promotion at Big Business. The ‘CEO’ tells James Stewart of Stick to Wrestling that Tony Khan initially reached out to her about becoming ‘All Elite.’

Mone says they’ve been negotiating for a while, but she wasn’t ready to sign on just yet. She wanted to see what TK was cooking for the Women’s division before getting on board.

“When he called me the first time, I’m like, ‘I’ll think about it TK. We gotta build this relationship. You know, let me keep on watching. Let me keep on seeing this women’s division.’”

Spoke w/ @MercedesVarnado about @AEW coming to Worcester April 3rd w/ Dynamite / Collision. We talked about her AEW debut in Boston, being the highest paid woman in wrestling, her relationship with @TonyKhan, her favorite dish @KowloonSaugus and more.#MercedesMoné #AEWDynamite pic.twitter.com/5PhUZnc4BJ

— James Stewart ?? (@IAmJamesStewart) April 1, 2024

The former WWE and IWGP Women’s’ champion is excited to mix it up with AEW’s top stars and has “so many beautiful things in the works.”

“I kept on watching the women’s division and my dreams just became so much bigger and brighter and I knew instantly I wanted AEW to be my home.”

Mercedes Mone is one of the most prominent free agent signings in recent memory and AEW President Tony Khan even spoke highly of Mone and labeled her as a possible face of the company. 

She made her long awaited debut on the 3/13 ‘Big Business’ edition of AEW Dynamite. She’s already put former opponent Willow Nightingale on notice ultimate goal and has stated her desire to go after ‘Timeless’ Toni Storm’s AEW Women’s World Championship.

Most fans are excited to see Mercedes Mone back on television, but her close friend Bayley says the move is ‘bitter sweet’: