AEW is preparing for Sting’s final match, marking the end of his iconic career. The Stinger has done a lot in his career, and now we know who he will wrestle at the big AEW pay-per-view.

Sunday, March 3#AEWRevolution LIVE on PPV!
Greensboro, NC#AEW World Tag Team Titles
Sting & Darby Allin (c) vs Matthew & Nicholas Jackson @youngbucks

It's Sting's LAST MATCH as he & @DarbyAllin seek revenge and defend the titles against Matthew & Nicholas Jackson. pic.twitter.com/peEUbUtnfm

— All Elite Wrestling (@AEW) February 15, 2024

Sting’s Final Match

Sting & Darby Allin will defend the AEW World tag team titles against The Young Bucks at AEW Revolution on March 3, 2024, at the Greensboro Coliseum in Greensboro, North Carolina.

This event will mark AEW’s inaugural Pay-Per-View in North Carolina. It was revealed a while ago that Sting will wrestle for the last time at the event.

Sting and Darby Allin won the AEW Tag Team Titles from Big Bill and Ricky Starks, giving them their first title run in AEW. They will now defend those titles at AEW Revolution, and they have a big match planned.

Nick and Matt Jackson turned heel in a big way, making themselves known to Sting and Darby Allin. This week on AEW Dynamite, they made their upcoming match official.

The Young Bucks confirmed during AEW Dynamite that they will wrestle Sting and Darby Allin at AEW Revolution. That match will be for the AEW Tag Team Titles. The Jackson Brothers seemed very confident about their chances.

What’s Next

Sting impressed many people with performances in AEW. Few saw a flying Stinger in his later years, but he certainly gave his all for Tony Khan’s company. Now, he is set for this one final match, and odds are he will make it an iconic performance.

SE Scoops will have continued coverage of this story, and everything else involving AEW Revolution, as more information is made available. 

QT Marshall was one of the names that left AEW last year. His departure was due to differences that he had with the job he was given to do. He lost a lot of pull backstage since Cody Rhodes’ departure, and many expected him to seek out another home for his talents. Now, he is back in AEW.

QT Marshall’s AEW Return

According to Sean Ross Sapp on Fightful Select, QT Marshall is set to return to All Elite Wrestling, albeit in a different role. 

It’s been reported that Marshall and AEW have resolved their previous issues, and he will be resuming his former position as vice president. However, there are no plans for him to return to the ring as a wrestler.

Sources familiar with the matter have also reportedly confirmed that an agreement was reached a couple of weeks ago, although Marshall has not yet officially rejoined the company. He is also able to take bookings outside Tony Khan’s company.

We’re told that Marshall is free to wrestle outside of AEW, with the exception of WWE. The 38-year old Marshall hadn’t wrestled since his AEW deal officially ended on December 31 until this past week’s TCW show, but has shown off his physical transformation on Twitter.

What’s Next

In collaboration with Teil Rhodes, Marshall has joined efforts to revive Turnbuckle Championship Wrestling, originally founded by Dusty Rhodes. Their inaugural show took place on February 8 in McDonough, GA, featuring former WWE Superstar Matt Cardona, Scotty Riggs, Glacier, Aaron Solo, and others.

We will have to see if AEW provides any assistance to Turnbuckle Championship Wrestling in the time to come.

Last week, AEW President Tony Khan announced that the company will be heading back to Boston, Massachusetts on March 13 for a special edition of AEW Dynamite.  According to Khan, the show which is titled Big Business, will be “one of the most important nights in AEW.” 

While AEW has yet to reveal further details on the event, recent reports have indicated that “The CEO” Mercedes Mone (formerly known as WWE’s Sasha Banks) is expected to make her AEW debut at Big Business. AEW previously showed Mone in attendance for their August 2023 All In event in London.

Athena Wants “The CEO” 

Given these recent developments, Sunday Night’s Main Event asked the ROH Women’s Champion about the possibility of Mercedes Mone becoming ‘All Elite’ in her hometown of Boston, MA in just a matter of weeks.

Athena is “immensely curious” to see if Mercedes Mone arrives at Big Business. She said she and the entire AEW locker room are hoping it happens, but Tony Khan is keeping things close to the vest and nobody knows for sure.

Ember Moon and Sasha Banks crossed paths a few times in WWE, but they never squared off one-one-one. She considers Mercedes Mone a dream opponent and may finally get her wish later this year in an AEW ring.

“I might finally get one of my dream matches,” she said. “That is one of the coolest things because I’ve shared the ring with this person for many times, and whether we were on the same tag team at live events in WWE, to us getting to briefly touch at Money in the Bank, to us briefly touching in this awesome fatal four-way we had on Raw, I just wish the world for this person because she is someone that I think is one of the absolute best wrestlers in the world.” 

Stacking Up

Athena considers herself to be “immensely” humble, despite the talent and work ethic its taken to establish herself as one of the top wrestlers in the world. As much as she’s accomplished, she’s eager to see how she’d stack up against someone she’s looked up to for so long. Aside from that, she wants to see what they can create together. 

“I’m a firm believer of, when you have two dedicated women, to the cause, it’s going to be money and it’s going to be magic. I just have to have it. I don’t care if I have to go to Japan for it. I just have to get it one time.”

Athena is far from the only AEW wrestler who is eager to mix it up with Mercedes Mone. As you can read about below, former AEW Women’s Champion Britt Baker is also on that list. Mone, Baker, WWE Superstars Bayley and Naomi were all spotted together at the Super Bowl this past weekend in Las Vegas.

H/T to Fightful for the transcription

The ever-fearless Darby Allin will begin his quest to climb Mount Everest this April. Upon his return, though, Allin will be focused on fulfilling a pair of goals in All Elite Wrestling. 

During a recent interview with Denise Salcedo, Allin revealed the two professional goals he’s aiming to reach after he conquers Mount Everest. Given that Allin is already a former TNT Champion, and one-half of the current AEW Tag Team Champions, Allin believes the next step would be to move toward the company’s top prize — the AEW World Championship.  

“So to be the face of a company, I believe you have to be World Champion, so that is the next logical step when I get back from Everest because Everest is almost like a vision quest in a way,” Allin said. “I’m going to go dig deep down inside the mountains and find out what it’s really like inside of here.”

Allin Wants ‘The American Dragon’

Outside of his championship aspirations, Allin is also keen on facing ” The American Dragon” Bryan Danielson before his full-time wrestling run ends later this year. 

Despite being in the same company for over two years, Danielson and Allin have yet to share a ring together.

“Wrestling-wise, before this man’s career is done: Danielson. That’s the next thing.

It has nothing to do with us being from the northwest, it’s just his work ethic. He’s another man, his career was supposed to be over. He came back and he’s better than ever. So those are my two things that I want to hit in AEW.”

Tony Khan will not comment on the allegations against former WWE Chairman Vince McMahon but is focused on ensuring a safe work environment in AEW. 

McMahon re-signed from TKO and WWE last month, following a lawsuit filed by ex-employee Janel Grant. Miss Grant claims that McMahon was sexually abusive to her and that he trafficked her to others in the company, including a former UFC Heavyweight Champion. 

McMahon has denied the allegations against him and, via a spokesperson, has claimed the lawsuit is rife with “obscene made-up instances that never occurred.”

“Terrible Allegations”

Sitting down with Amy Kaplan of Fansided, Khan was asked for his take on the lawsuit but opted not to comment. 

“I can’t comment on the terrible allegations against WWE right now. That’s something people are paying a lot of attention to right now, with good reason.”

Khan added that for AEW, their focus remains on creating a safe locker room for everyone and fostering a supportive environment. He’s proud of the AEW locker room and says talent knows they have a support system in place if anything were to arise.

“There are a lot of channels  and I think everybody feels very good about having a safe workspace. There are people you can talk to. There are people in the office, but even on the wrestling side. For us, I think that’s the most important thing in any office of any workplace, is just having a lot of people that will listen.”

AEW recently faced controversy after it was alleged Chris Jericho had acted inappropriately with Kylie Rae, which led to her abrupt exit in 2019. 

Responding to the allegations (wearing Toni Storm’s hat and glasses) Khan said that AEW takes all allegations of misconduct seriously. 

Jamie Hayter is a former AEW Women’s Champion, but she is currently out of action. At this time, the AEW Women’s Division is concentrated on Toni Storm and Julia Hart as their champions, but Hayter is apparently nowhere close to a comeback.

Hayter’s Situation

Jamie Hayter held the AEW Women’s Champion title since securing the interim championship at Full Gear in 2022. However, she later relinquished the title last year. Fans are eagerly awaiting her comeback, but her return to the ring remains uncertain.

During AEW Double Or Nothing, Toni Storm defeated Jamie Hayter to claim the AEW Women’s World Champion title. Before the event, there were concerns about Hayter’s condition. It was also reported that Jamie Hayter would not make her ring comeback last year.

During Wrestling Observer Radio, Dave Meltzer spoke on Hayter’s situation. He stated that there is no definite date for her return, but it expected to go down in the next 10 months.

“I have not been given a date on Jamie Hayter though. I just heard early this year, and we’re early in the year, so there you go. But I’ve heard nothing new, I would say, in a couple of months really.”

What’s Next

AEW is about to see the debut of Mercedes Mone for the company. That big moment is expected to go down at AEW’s Big Business episode of Dynamite. Tony Khan made a big reveal that Boston will host their March 13th edition of the show, and fans are expecting the former Sasha Banks.

Things may look very different in the AEW Women’s Division by the time Jamie Hayter is able to make her return to the ring. SE Scoops will have continued updates as more information is made available. 

Last week saw a notable title change in the main event of AEW Dynamite, with Darby Allin and Sting defeating Ricky Starks and Big Bill to claim the AEW Tag Team Championships.

This win is particularly relevant given that Sting is set to wrestle in his retirement match alongside Allin at AEW Revolution on March 3, meaning that “The Icon” may now be heading into his final match as a champion. 

Before the duo gear up for Revolution, Allin took a moment to soak in the glory of becoming one-half of the new AEW Tag Team Champions.

“It’s been an amazing week,” Allin told Denise Salcedo. “I’m a little banged up after Wednesday, but when am I ever not banged up? The big thing about it though to me is having Sting’s career end this way. It’s so insane because I remember my first year in professional wrestling, I saw him essentially have to retire back in 2015 with the neck injury.”

Pro wrestling is full of thrill-seekers who enjoy pushing their bodies to the limits, but Darby Allin is in a class of his own. He is planning to climb Mount Everest in April and regularly risks life and limb outside the ring, let alone what he does on television for All Elite Wrestling.

Sting Is The Crazy One

Sting is set to end his decades-long career next month at AEW Revolution. He and Darby Allin will put their titles on the line against AEW Executive Vice Presidents Nicolas and Matthew Jackson, professionally known as The Young Bucks.

Nobody could have expected his 3-year run with AEW would produce so many memorable moments. He’s ending his career on his own terms, with Darby Allin at his side. Sting’s final run in AEW will be remembered for his insane dives.

Allin makes it clear that he’s not pushing Sting into any of his crazy stunts. He says the 64-year-old icon hasn’t needed any help with his high-risk offense.

“Then fast forward now and convincing him to get back in the ring, it’s pretty cool to see how far we’ve came,” Allin says of the partnership with Sting. “The fact that he’s so crazy.. he could have just rode off into the sunset, played it safe, but no.

Trust me when I say this, I don’t tell him to jump off those balconies. That’s all him. It’s awesome to see how much he’s willing to push it because he’s got nothing to prove.”

Sting and Allin’s victory last week marked Sting’s first title reign of any sort since 2011, when he captured the TNA World Heavyweight Championship for a fourth time.

For Allin, this marks the beginning of his first tag team reign in AEW, as he’s previously held the TNT Championship on two occasions. 

AEW has given a great platform to the stars on their roster. Tony Khan does his fair share of media rounds, but he doesn’t plan on taking any spot on his own roster.

Tony Khan Speaks On Booking Himself In AEW Storyline

Pro wrestling bookers have gotten involved in storylines in the past. Vince McMahon invented the Mr. McMahon character so he could mix it up on television and assert his authority. 

AEW is operated by Tony Khan, but he doesn’t really appear on television unless he’s making a major announcement. That being said, fans have often wondered if TK will ever book himself into an angle.

On the latest episode of Levack and Goz podcast, Tony Khan was asked about the idea of getting involved in an on-screen storyline. He said that fans don’t want to see that happen, so he is going to keep his participation with AEW backstage.

“I don’t think anybody really wants to see that, Not anytime soon. That’s not anything I think we’re going to do. I do think AEW has a great roster, the best wrestlers in the world. I would rather try to put the best matches and we have exciting rivalries building in AEW right now.”

What’s Next

We will have to see if Tony Khan goes back on that idea of staying out of his company’s television stories. It appears that he is more than happy to continue hyping the stars he currently has on his roster.

SE Scoops will continue monitoring this story, just in case Tony Khan decides to book himself in a story.

Will Ospreay is on his way to AEW, and it was revealed during Full Gear that he was Tony Khan’s big signing. His deal with NJPW still had some time left on it, but now Ospreay is bidding farewell.

Will Ospreay’s Goodbye to NJPW

Ospreay made a lot of memories in NJPW, and he performed on some of the biggest stages the company could give him. All great things must come to an end, and that includes his time in the company.

While taking to Twitter/X, Will Ospreay thanked everyone at NJPW who had a hand in making him who he is today. He said that the roster is like family, and his door is always open for them.

Thank you to all the lads of UE. When the fans didn’t have a voice we were the shot in the arse that NJPW needed. You all are like my brothers and if you ever needed me, my door will always be open to you all.

Thank you for getting in that cage with me & making history

Thank you to all the lads of UE.

When the fans didn’t have a voice we were the shot in the arse that NJPW needed. You all are like my brothers and if you ever needed me, my door will always be open to you all.

Thank you for getting in that cage with me & making history pic.twitter.com/QIrOi62Vha

— Will Ospreay • ????????? (@WillOspreay) February 12, 2024

What’s Next For Will Ospreay

Will Ospreay inked a deal with AEW, but Tony Khan’s company is also going to allow him to wrestle for NJPW on occasion. Ospreay will not be the regular face in NJPW that he once was, but it’s very possible that he will be able to still be a part of the company’s major events.

SE Scoops will have more coverage of this story, and so many more, as Will Ospreay makes his way to AEW as a full-time wrestler. He will be doing a lot of traveling between the UK and America, but that will also come with a brand-new opportunity to show fans why he is considered one of the best active pro wrestlers today.

https://twitter.com/PuroresuFlow/status/1757036599617929269

AEW has a locker room full of stars who are champing at the bit for their big break. Queen Aminata is becoming a regular on AEW programming, and fans may see a lot more from her soon enough.

AEW’s Plan For Queen Aminata

Queen Aminata is breaking out in the AEW fan base as a prominent figure for Tony Khan’s women’s division. She has worked hard to make it to the land of All Elite, but she hasn’t picked up her first big win just yet. 

 Throughout her matches, Aminata has faced notable opponents like Hikaru Shida, Thunder Rosa, and Serena Deeb. Although she has not won yet, she consistently gives those top opponents a decent fight.

During Wrestling Observer Radio, Dave Meltzer mentioned the ongoing storyline surrounding Queen Aminata. The narrative suggests that there is a deliberate buildup, with Aminata getting closer to a big victory.

”The whole thing with Queen Aminata is that they’re building up to where she’s gonna get a big one. The whole story is that she comes close to beating everyone, she’s in there with the top people and she comes close to beating them all the time, it’s like they’re building her. So the story is, she has to look good in all these matches.”

What’s Next For Queen Aminata

It was reported by Fightful Select a while ago that it is believed that Queen Aminata inked a deal with AEW. It is not known whether she signed a part-time per appearance deal or an actual contract. At this time, it appears her consistent appearances could lead her to a lot more time on screen for Khan’s company.

SE Scoops will have more coverage of Queen Aminata’s time in AEW, along with so much more. Keep checking back for more updates.

Kazuchika Okada is wrapping up his career in Japan, and it appears that he is about to be All Elite. All signs point to him picking AEW’s deal over WWE’s offer, and now it appears fans won’t have to wait long.

Okada Has Made A Decision

Okada is one of the best pro wrestlers on the planet, and he has been for a number of years. Pending any unforeseen setbacks, it appears he is going to land in AEW soon.

According to Sean Ross Sapp on Fightful Select, Kazuchika Okada is set to join All Elite Wrestling following his departure from NJPW. Although the deal has been effectively agreed upon in recent weeks, the finalization is yet to be confirmed. AEW has expressed confidence in securing his services for several weeks, extending back to mid-January.

Specific plans regarding Kazuchika Okada’s AEW debut remain unconfirmed. However, it is anticipated to occur after he fulfills his obligations with New Japan Pro Wrestling. Creative concepts for Okada were already being discussed as of January, with discussions in Las Vegas suggesting significant developments for the company in the first half of March.

WWE was in the game for Okada as well. It was further noted that WWE sources confirmed that there was a discussion between Okada and WWE. However, AEW is getting the former IWGP World Heavyweight Champion.

WWE sources that we spoke to in Las Vegas did confirm that there were talks between Okada and WWE. We’ve heard from WWE talent who noted Okada was weighing the pros and cons of heading to WWE compared to AEW. In the end, we’re told that AEW was very confident in their offer to Okada.

Okada’s Discussion With WWE

For what it’s worth, I asked around about Okada’s situation with WWE and was told that discussions were taking place. That being said, nothing was far along enough for creative to even be involved. 

The general thinking was that AEW offered Okada more money than WWE did. At this point, WWE isn’t hard-up for talent, and it appears that the Rainmaker signed with Tony Khan. 

Interesting to see Okada going to AEW.

For what it's worth, the WWE creative team never had any plan for him, and nothing was even shared regarding cooking up booking ideas. They only start coming up with ideas when there is a reason for them to, ie a signing takes place.…

— Aaron (@AaronVarble) February 11, 2024

What’s Next For Kazuchika Okada

We will have to see how Tony Khan books this situation. He has two big incoming talent acquisitions, with Mercedes Mone expected to debut during the March 13th Big Business episode of AEW Dynamite. Now with Okada coming in, he could generate a ton of momentum for his company.

Kazuchika Okada could have a ton of great matches in AEW, but it’s all a matter of how he is used. Hopefully, Tony Khan will strive to give him better treatment than he received during his TNA Wrestling days, which was his last notable tenure in the United States.

AEW Collision is going off the air for one week only next week due to the impact that NBA programming would have on the Saturday night show. 

During this week’s AEW Collision, Tony Schiavone shared that there will not be an episode of the show next week. AEW’s third weekly wrestling show is being preempted by TNT network’s coverage of the NBA All-Star weekend. In the past, the NBA has caused havoc to AEW’s programming. Typically, shows will be moved to another night of the week or to a worse time slot on the same night. 

Instead, AEW Collision will not be airing whatsoever next week. The show will return on February 24, with a live episode from the Great Southern Bank Arena in Springfield, Missouri.

AEW’s Other Shows

While Collision will not be airing next week, AEW’s other shows will be on TV, albeit with a slight change. TNT’s schedule lists the Friday, February 16, episode of AEW Rampage with an early start time of 7 PM ET. There will also be a replay at 11:30 PM ET. AEW has yet to announce the change. There has so far been no change made to AEW Dynamite. 

AEW Collision

AEW Collision launched in June of last year, becoming the promotion’s third weekly televised program, following the launch of Dynamite in 2019 and Rampage two years ago. Much of AEW Collision’s early focus was on CM Punk. The former AEW World Champion returned to TV after a lengthy hiatus during the show’s first episode but his time with Collision ended after his release from AEW in September 2023. Punk has since returned to WWE. 

AEW’s Kenny Omega is doing better, but the former World Champion isn’t out of the woods just yet according to Tony Khan. 

In December 2023, Omega revealed that he’d be out of action indefinitely due to a battle with diverticulitis. At first, it was believed Omega’s abdominal pain was a hernia, but that was not the case. His situation has led to an outpouring of support, with even Don Callis dropping his on-screen animosity to Omega to share his best wishes. 

Tony Khan Speaks On Kenny Omega

In the latest update on his condition, it was said that Omega was doing a lot better and that it’s hopeful he will make a full recovery. In a recent interview with Sports Grid, Tony Khan spoke about Omega and what lies ahead. 

“We were all very worried about him. He’s doing better but you know, he was seriously sick and his life could have been threatened had he not gotten to the Doctors when he had.

“He was really sick and he’s thankfully doing much better and you know, we’re always wishing Kenny the best, and hoping and looking forward to seeing Kenny Omega back in AEW as soon as he’s healthy.”

Diverticulitis: The Facts

Diverticulitis affects the large intestine and causes abdominal pain, which is why Omega mistook his situation for a hernia at first. It can be caused by diverticula, which are small, bulging pouches that can form in the lining of your digestive system. 

Brock Lesnar and Shane McMahon have both suffered from diverticulitis in the past. Lesnar’s situation would result in surgery and UFC fights being postponed. He would go under the knife in November 2009 and would return to action in July 2010. 

We here at SE Scoops are continuing to wish Omega a full and speedy recovery. 

AEWxNJPW: Forbidden Door will return for a third show, which could also feature talent from CMLL judging by recent comments from Tony Khan. 

AEW and New Japan Pro Wrestling hosted their first Forbidden Door event in 2022. The show proved to be a massive success and a second show was hosted last year. AEW and New Japan have also worked together outside of these Forbidden Door events, with several AEW stars appearing at NJPW’s annual Wrestle Kingdom event. 

Forbidden Door III Confirmed

With the success of the Forbidden Door shows thus far, fans are eager to see AEW and NJPW talent lock horns again. Speaking recently to Sportsgrid, Tony Khan confirmed that a third show is in the works. Khan also praised the efforts of Hiroshi Tanahashi, who was recently appointed NJPW President. 

“There will be a Forbidden Door III. The AEW/New Japan partnership is 100% here to stay. Shota [Umino]’s tremendous. NJPW’s got a great young roster right now. President Tanahashi is a perfect leader for the organization at the right time.”

Tony Khan on CMLL

New Japan isn’t the only company AEW has worked with. Recently, CMLL talent began competing on AEW shows, and there was a faceoff between AEW and CMLL rosters on this week’s Dynamite. In the interview, Khan was delighted to be working with CMLL and is hopeful for more involvement between the two sides. 

“It’s great working with New Japan and CMLL. I definitely want CMLL involved in practically anything we do, they’re such a great partner already. It’s been great.”

Tony Khan has taken note of WWE’s lucrative new agreement with Netflix… 

It appears Tony Khan will not be pumping the breaks on his social media activity anytime soon. 

The AEW President notoriously has taken on critics via Twitter and it’s caught the eyes of fans and his pro wrestling colleagues. Speaking with Adrian Gonzalez in Las Vegas during media row for the Super Bowl, Khan was asked about his decision to chirp back and the criticism he gets for that. Khan believes at times he’s speaking to and for his fanbase.

“We have a great connection with the fans so It’s a good question but I think we’ve been able to build real engagement at times and I think there’s tangible proof of that.”

Tony praised AEW Dynamite for it’s ratings in recent weeks and gave some viewership numbers against another live sports television property.

“I believe three out of the last four weeks Wednesday night Dynamite has beat the NBA on ESPN straight up and we’ve had great, great success connecting with our fans so I think what we’ve got going works really well.”

Khan may receive a great deal of engagement, but the criticism he has gotten for some of his posting on the former Twitter has several thinking it’s counter-productive. WWE Hall of Famer Bully Ray said outright that Khan should step away from the app and Konnan also mentioned that it would behoove Khan and his AEW product to be more acceptive of constructive criticism.

Names like Triple H, Shawn Michaels, Vince McMahon, Eric Bischoff, Disco Inferno have all felt the wrath of Khan via social media. 

The Young Bucks are now a heel team in AEW, and they made that statement very clear. Now, Nick and Matt Jackson have new music, but they’re not the only people who looked toward the same inspiration.

The Young Bucks’ New Song

Roman Reigns’ theme song is known throughout the WWE Universe, as he makes his way to the ring with strength and authority. It appears that the Young Bucks wanted to borrow some of that magic.

The Jackson Brothers debuted a new piece of music for their entrance this week on Rampage, departing from their usual Superkick Party song. It appears that the pair drew inspiration from the same song that is responsible for Roman Reigns’ entrance.

Sean Ross Sapp noted on Fightful Select that the Young Bucks looked toward Succession’s intro theme for their new music. That is a very popular source of inspiration as well.

There was a lot of speculation on Twitter that Young Bucks’ theme was inspired by Succession’s theme song, which is accurate. Roman Reigns’ theme is also inspired by the show.

What’s Next

Roman Reigns is on his way to WrestleMania 40. At this time, his only opponent is Cody Rhodes. Only time will tell what WWE does to deal with the fact that The Rock is around now.

The Young Bucks are a top heel team in AEW, and they may just face Sting and Darby Allin. That match may go down at AEW Revolution on March 3rd, which will be the Icon’s final match.

All Elite Wrestling has been ambitious in the past few years, expanding their business and running larger venues. AEW added two stadium shows in 2023, notably the successful AEW All In event at Wembley Stadium in London, England. Currently, the company has tickets on sale for this year’s AEW All In event and is expected to hold the AEW Grand Slam at Arthur Ashe Stadium in Queens, New York.  

However, a new report shares they are expected to add another stadium show to their 2024 schedule. 

On the Mat Men Pro Wrestling Podcast, Andrew Zarian answered a fan question on whether AEW would run a stadium show in the United States. He noted that AEW has AEW Grand Slam, held yearly since 2021 at Arthur Ashe Stadium. He also confirmed that he believes they will run another stadium show in the U.S. sometime this year. 

@AndrewZarian says AEW will be running another Stadium show in the US this year. -Mat Men Podcast

He has also been hinting news about Forbidden Door that he said he's excited about. Could be related could not. Full show below!

YT Link: https://t.co/QtFjuxM2iy pic.twitter.com/06EQlZIchY

— Mengetsu #BLM ?? (@MengetsuSetsuna) February 9, 2024

It’s important to note that while Zarian believes AEW will have a third stadium this year, the company has yet to make an official announcement. That said, AEW may look for another stadium show in the United States as they continue to expand their business. The report does raise questions on whether it is the right time for the company to run a second stadium show with inconsistent ticket sales success. 

AEW Live Event Ticket Sale Concerns

AEW weekly live event episodes of AEW Dynamite and Collision haven’t done consistently well in attendance. WrestleTix shared on Twitter that the February 7 episode of AEW Dynamite at the Footprint Center in Phonix, Arizona, had a setup for a 5,285 seating capacity. However, it’s well below the seating capacity the venue can hold, which could be over 12,000. 

Although the company may be inconsistent in selling out or reaching capacity weekly, their more significant events have proven to do well. The upcoming pay-per-view event, AEW Revolution, on March 3 at the Greensboro Coliseum Complex in Greensboro, North Carolina, is expected to be a sold-out show. On February 8, WrestleTix reported on Twitter that the company had sold over 15,651 tickets with a setup of 16,207. 

It’s unclear what success AEW could have at this time doing a second stadium event in the U.S. However, they are taking chances and hoping to give their fans a great year of wrestling. 

Pro wrestling veteran Paul Wight (formerly known as The Big Show in WWE) is set to undergo knee surgery. 

Paul Wight has had a storied career spanning several decades. He made a major impact on AEW when he joined the promotion in early 2021. His signing was a massive coup for AEW and he brought a veteran presence to the promotion alongside his wealth of experience to AEW’s roster.

Paul Wight returned to the squared circle on AEW Dynamite in November last year. He teamed with Kota Ibushi, & The Golden Jets (Jericho & Kenny Omega) and defeated Brian Cage & The Don Callis Family (Konosuke Takeshita, Kyle Fletcher & Powerhouse Hobbs) in a street fight. 

Most recently, Wight reunited with his WWE tag team partner Chris Jericho on the Chris Jericho Cruise. However, fans were concerned for Wight, who has had knee issues.

Paul Wight will undergo surgery

Over the years, performing in the ring has taken a physical toll on him and his body has started to show wear and tear and he revealed that he will undergo surgery. 

In this brief conversation with a fan on the cruise, Wight said:

 “I’m going to get knee surgery.” 

Apart from competing in the AEW ring, Wight’s presence provided invaluable mentorship to rising superstars of tomorrow and helped elevate their performances. With his larger-than-life persona, Wight continues to be an integral part of AEW’s ongoing growth and success.

Currently, it is not known when he is planning to get the knee replacement surgery.

AEW has been through a few peaks and valleys since opening their doors several years ago. As Tony Khan leads his roster through 2024, it appears that he has spirits up at this time.

Backstage Morale In AEW

AEW is still going, and they have a lot of things in the pipeline. Although Kazuchika Okada’s signing is still up in the air, all appearances are that Mercedes Mone is coming into the company.

It was previously reported that Mercedes Mone has actually been on the AEW payroll since last month. For whatever reason, morale seems to be up within the company.

Wednesday night’s episode of AEW Dynamite averaged 805,000 viewers on TBS. It was down 1.6 percent from the previous week and marked the lowest audience total for the show since January 10. 

The Wrestling Observer Newsletter noted that morale has significantly improved within AEW. This is in spite of the low viewership rating this week.

A couple of people have noted that the morale has really picked up and is the best in some time, even if the rating this week was universally disappointing for such a loaded show that was promoted as the biggest Dynamite of the year, with a match to determine the Revolution main event, a title match involving Sting where the expectation was he would win, and a Tony Khan big announcement. I did get that from a big announcement standpoint, people weren’t impressed with the idea of a show and if Okada or Mone were announced that would have been considered like a big announcement

What’s Next For AEW

AEW has a lot of plans in the pipeline, including their Big Business episode of Dynamite in Boston on March 13th. That is expected to be Mercedes Mone’s debut for the company, as Bean Town is her home, and AEW also included “BO$$TON” on the graphic for the upcoming show.

SE Scoops will have continued coverage of AEW Dynamite and whatever else Tony Khan has planned.

Sting is a champion in wrestling mere weeks away from the end of his career, but he would have been happy ending his career without this title win. 

The Icon and Darby All won the titles on this week’s Dynamite, ending the reign of Big Bill & Ricky Starks. The former champions had held the titles since the October 7, 2023, edition of AEW Collision, where they dethroned the record-holding two-time champions FTR. 

Sting Against World Tag Title Win

Sting was adamantly against winning the AEW World Tag Team Championships for a long time, Fightful Select reports. The WWE/TNA Hall of Famer was also against the idea of competing for them. Some people in AEW argued that from their point of view, Sting and Allin’s undefeated record as a team meant they had to get a title shot. Tony Khan recently announced they were introducing its ranking system. This system aims to provide a sense of legitimacy to the company’s matches by ensuring those who win the most receive championship opportunities. 

The decision for Sting and Allin to win the AEW World Tag Team Championships “was made well in advance” and Sting went along with it. Sources said that the Icon was “all smiles” after the match backstage. This victory marks Sting’s first championship victory since 2011. 

What’s Next? 

After their victory, Sting and Darby Allin were attacked by the Young Bucks, and the two teams are expected to face off at next month’s Revolution pay-per-view. Fightful adds that The planned Revolution location was changed from the midwest to Greensboro to fit Sting’s send-off. 

Why did the Young Bucks attack Sting and Darby Allin on this week’s Dynamite… 

Valentine’s Day is right around the corner and AEW is introducing a new series on their YouTube channel with the theme of romance and comedy, featuring Johnny TV and Taya Valkyrie.

Johnny TV and Taya Valkyrie’s relationship blossomed in the world of pro wrestling and they are among several other couples whose love stories bloomed in the industry. The couple tied the knot in June 2018 after being in a relationship for two years. The duo has performed in several promotions and currently performing in AEW. 

Johnny TV and Taya Valkyrie to star in new AEW series

The official AEW Twitter/X account made the announcement of the brand new series for their YouTube channel which will star real-life wrestling couple and AEW stars, Johnny TV and Taya Valkyrie. A short teaser has already dropped on the platform which gives a sneak peek for the fans. 

In addition to this, the show has been billed as the debut of first wrestling romantic comedy on Valentine’s Day with new episodes releasing every week. The show will premiere on Valentine’s Day, February 14.

“Coming to #AEW’s YouTube channel on Valentine’s Day, it’s Johnny Loves Taya!
Watch the debut of wrestling’s first romantic comedy on Wednesday, February 14th, with new episodes every week
@TheRealMorrison
@TheTayaValkyrie.”

Coming to #AEW's YouTube channel on Valentine's Day, it's Johnny Loves Taya!
Watch the debut of wrestling's first romantic comedy on Wednesday, February 14th, with new episodes every week ?@TheRealMorrison | @TheTayaValkyrie pic.twitter.com/KbAT3nYOwa

— All Elite Wrestling (@AEW) February 8, 2024

Recently, Johnny TV accompanied her wife Taya Valkyrie, who squared off against Deonna Purrazzo on Dynamite. Valkyrie endured a defeat against Purrazzo, who has moved one step closer to getting a shot at the AEW Women’s title against former best friend, Toni Storm. In the final moments of the match, Purrazzo executed a double arm lock as Valkyrie submitted. 

The Young Bucks recently explained their actions on this week’s AEW Dynamite as they brutally attacked Sting and Darby Allin.

On last night’s edition of AEW Dynamite, Sting and Darby Allin defeated Ricky Starks and Big Bill to capture the AEW World Tag Team Championship. This marks ‘The Icon’s first title run in the promotion.

The show also received an overrun for the match, which saw thrilling spots, including Sting and Allin hitting Big Bill with multiple Stinger Splashes in the corner. Allin also hit a Coffin Drop on Big Bill to the outside.

In the final moments, Sting executed a Scorpion Death Drop on Starks and captured the tag-team titles. 

However, their celebration didn’t last long as the Young Bucks (Matthew and Nicholas Jackson) brutally attacked the new champions.

Young Bucks explain their actions

In a digital exclusive, The Young Bucks commented on their decision to attack the new champs. Apparently, Matthew felt guilty. However, Nicholas noted that they did what they had to do.

Matthew Jackson: What a bummer, man, that Sting and Darby forced our hand and made us do that. That was terrible, I feel awful. Sting’s a freaking legend, and Darby’s a sweet dude.

Nicholas Jackson: He’s an icon. But you know what, as EVPs, we have to do the tough things. We have to make the tough decisions. It’s just business, and we had to do it. There’s no one else in this company that would do what we just did.

“MJ: We gotta protect what’s ours, guys. I hope you understand.

NJ: This is our baby.

MJ: Sting, I hope you feel better.

NJ: This isn’t Sting’s baby.

MJ: Darby, I hope you feel better.

NJ: He’s just happy making a payday. We had to deal with business, and business was that. We had to take care of business.

MJ: We messed up our suits, too. What the hell, guys?

NJ: How the hell are we gonna get this blood out of our $5,000 suits?

MJ: Just really disappointed in you, guys. I called you a role model employee, Sting. Maybe I was wrong. This is what it took to get your guys’ attention? I just wanted a conversation. I just wanted to talk like men. Look at us, we’re covered in your freaking DNA now.

NJ: Business is business.

MJ: Not cool, guys. Not cool.”

EXCLUSIVE! After their heinous attack on the NEW #AEW World Tag Team Champions @Sting and @DarbyAllin, the @YoungBucks make their intentions clear. pic.twitter.com/C79AnqzGOn

— All Elite Wrestling (@AEW) February 8, 2024

We will now have to wait and see how Sting and Darby Allin react. It seems that Matthew and Nicholas might go after the AEW Tag Team titles yet again.

The sky’s the limit for Mercedes Mone, and those skies could be over the arena of an AEW event if recent buzz is to be believed. 

On this week’s AEW Dynamite, Tony Khan confirmed that the March 13, episode of Dynamite will emanate from the TD Garden in Boston, MA. Both the location and the show’s name of ‘Big Business’ has led to buzz that the show will mark the AEW arrival of Mercedes Mone. 

Known as ‘The Boss’ in WWE and ‘The CEO’ of women in New Japan, Mone has seemingly already been signed to AEW and has been on AEW’s payroll since early January.  The former WWE Superstar appeared in the crowd at AEW All In last year and Tony Khan has often spoken positively about Mone. 

The Sky’s The Limit for Mercedes Mone 

Quickly after Khan’s announcement, Mone took to Twitter to share the following message: 

I remember when couldn’t pay the rent

Now I own the whole building that I’m living in

Sky’s the limit when you’re never giving in

You get in, you ride it out

And don’t look back again.

I remember when couldn't pay the rent
Now I own the whole building that I'm living in
Sky's the limit when you're never giving in
You get in, you ride it out
And don't look back again

— Mercedes Moné Varnado (@MercedesVarnado) February 8, 2024

Fans may recognise this as lyrics’s the Mone’s WWE theme song ‘Sky’s The Limit’ during her tenure as Sasha Banks. Judging by the comments, many took this as another sign that Mone is soon going to be confirmed as All Elite., 

Mone has been out of action since May of last year when she suffered an ankle injury in a match with AEW/ROH’s Willow Nightingale. This injury led to an audible being called and Willow defeating Mone to become the first NJPW Strong Women’s Champion. 

Sting will wrestle his final match at AEW Revolution on March 3rd. Fans are gearing up for that big night in pro wrestling history, and it appears that Sting and Darby Allin will enter into that match as champions.

Sting & Darby Allin Win AEW Tag Team Gold

Big Bill and Ricky Starks put their AEW World Tag Team Titles on the line against Sting and Darby Allin during the February 7th episode of Dynamite. This match was the main event of the night.

AEW also received an overrun for the match, pitting the two teams against each other in a competitive tag team match. The crowd was also very excited to see the AEW World Tag Team Titles defended in such a high-stakes situation.

Sting and Darby Allin are on a roll!

Watch #AEWDynamite LIVE on TBS!@Sting | @DarbyAllin | @starkmanjones | @TheCaZXL pic.twitter.com/21OTQJQtCJ

— All Elite Wrestling (@AEW) February 8, 2024

The match was full of good spots, including Sting and Allin nailing Big Bill with multiple Stinger Splashes in the corner. This was before Allin nailed a Coffin Drop on Big Bill to the outside.

Later on, Sting kicked out of a spear from Ricky Starks after he hit the exposed turnbuckle. Starks also hesitated a bit before landing that move. Eventually, Sting nailed a Scorpion Death Drop on Starks and won the titles.

Is Ricky Starks having second thoughts?

Watch #AEWDynamite LIVE on TBS!@Sting | @DarbyAllin | @starkmanjones | @TheCaZXL pic.twitter.com/gTDrksO4j5

— All Elite Wrestling (@AEW) February 8, 2024

They didn’t get to celebrate long, because the Young Bucks jumped them to end Dynamite with a beat down this week.

Sting’s Memorable Moment

Sting has won a lot of titles before in his career, but this marks his first title run in AEW. It is fitting that Sting and Darby Allin will have that run together, because the entirety of Sting’s time in AEW has been alongside the former TNT Champion.

SE Scoops will have more updates on Sting’s final weeks as an active pro wrestler. This was definitely a big night for his career.

#ANDNEW
The Legend Lives On! @Sting and @DarbyAllin are your NEW #AEW World Tag Team Champions! pic.twitter.com/Js9gwhJgD1

— All Elite Wrestling (@AEW) February 8, 2024

Tony Khan confirmed during the February 7th episode of AEW Dynamite that Boston’s TD Garden is getting a special episode of the company’s flagship show in March. Mercedes Mone is expected to debut in Bean Town, and there is a lot more to unpack.

How Mercedes Mone Ended Up In AEW

It was previously reported at the end of December that WWE was in talks with Mercedes Mone, but those discussions ended without an agreement, similar to previous negotiations with AEW. It was said that they hit a financial roadblock. 

However, talks with AEW carried on, and Sean Ross Sapp reported on Fightful Select that sources indicate that an agreement was reached around that time. This likely explains why WWE openly acknowledged the conclusion of their talks.

There was consideration of announcing or debuting Mercedes, but ultimately, the decision was made to postpone any such plans for the TD Garden event. Several possibilities were reportedly discussed, but the announcement of the February 7 show and the March 13 show date had been finalized for several weeks.

The report also noted that it is believed that Mercedes has been on AEW’s payroll since January. 

The company announced a TD Garden episode of Dynamite, specially titled Big Business which is to feature Mercedes, who has been on the company’s payroll since at least early January.

Mercedes Mone Needed To Recover

Mercedes hurt her ankle during a NJPW Strong Women’s Title match against Willow Nightingale. That match put her on the shelf for a long time, and it stalled a lot of momentum. 

When Fightful reportedly inquired about rumors suggesting Mercedes could be featured as early as New York’s Grand Slam show, sources indicated that Mercedes was far from being ring-ready at that time. This information was corroborated by NJPW sources, who indicated that Mercedes was not cleared and had not resumed training. 

They also mentioned that the footage Mercedes posted was older. Interestingly, New Japan sources expressed an expectation to continue working with Mercedes, as it had been discussed internally.