AEW: Jim Ross Confirms Successful Colon Cancer Surgery, Cody Rhodes on “When Brandi Rhodes & I Left The Alternative Promotion, We Were Slightly Rewritten… Portrayed Very Dark Knight-esque”, More News

Jim Ross Confirms Successful Colon Cancer Surgery

As noted before, AEW and wrestling announcer legend Jim Ross was recently diagnosed with colon cancer and underwent surgery this past Tuesday that was successful according to a statement from Conrad Thompson.

Ross provided an update on Wednesday on Twitter confirming that his surgery was successful and he will be starting his rehab process.

“Happy to say that today’s cancer surgery was a success. Now we be begin to rehabilitate.”

Happy to say that today’s cancer surgery was a success. Now we be begin to rehabilitate.

— Jim Ross (@JRsBBQ) May 28, 2025

---

Cody Rhodes Comments on “When Brandi Rhodes & I Left The Alternative Promotion, We Were Slightly Rewritten… Portrayed Very Dark Knight-esque”

The premiere episode of the What Do You Want To Talk About? with Cody Rhodes podcast featured former AEW talent Brandi Rhodes as the guest. One of the topics discussed included Cody and Brandi Rhodes’ thoughts about their departures from AEW in February of 2022 and how they were portrayed in the company prior to them leaving.

Cody Rhodes – “We’re not gonna get too far into it but when we left the alternative promotion, we were also slightly rewritten… were portrayed very Dark Knight-esque.”

Brandi Rhodes – “No. Believe it all for me. Let the darkness in. Just enhances my beauty. I’m like the wicked stepmother or something.”

Transcript h/t: Fightful.com

---

AEW News & Notes

Wednesday’s AEW Dynamite show in El Paso, Texas featured Ricochet teasing him forming a potential new stable to help him on his quest for gold in AEW.

Fightful Select reported that their sources stated that Juice Robinson, Veda Scott, and former TNA and current MLW talent Alex Hammerstone were in attendance backstage at Wednesday’s AEW Dynamite show in El Paso. It was also reported that Thekla was also backstage at the event ahead of her official debut appearance on the show.

Fightful Select reported that their sources stated that the reason why AEW CEO Tony Khan announced the card late for Wednesday’s AEW Dynamite show in El Paso was due to a lot of talent were banged up following this past Sunday’s Double or Nothing 2025. It was reported that a lot of talent were waiting for their clearances from the medial staff and the questionable list was “as long as its been in a while.” It was reported that the Young Bucks were among those banged up from the event and the initial fear is that Nicholas Jackson had suffered a concussion but this is something that has yet to be confirmed. It was also reported that Jamie Hayter was totally fine after her match with Mercedes Mone despite the rough bump she took on her head at the end of the match. It was also reported that Will Ospreay was also feeling fine after his match at the event.

AEW recently released a new AEW Timelines video featuring all of the TBS Championship title changes in AEW history.

The Tribeca Film Festival recently revealed that the upcoming Money Talks short film featuring HOOK among the cast will be premiering at their 2025 Tribeca Film Festival event on June 14th in New York City, New York.

AEW recently uploaded the full DEAN~! 2 co-promoted event with ACTION Wrestling on their Ring of Honor YouTube channel.

Mercedes Mone recently surpassed the milestone of one year for her TBS Champion reign as of this past Monday.

In a recent vlog, “Speedball” Mike Bailey gave his thoughts about the gear he wore for his match against Kazuchika Okada at this past Sunday’s Double or Nothing 2025 event. Bailey stated “Friends, I’m going out in a few minutes and I’m going to have the biggest match of my life, and just after two months here, and I’ve said it a thousand times and I’ll say it again, but look, I feel great. This is the coolest costume I have ever worn to do professional wrestling. Okada is possibly the greatest opponent that I could possibly have.” Bailey also gave his thoughts about the match he had with Okada for the AEW Continental Championship being a proving moment for himself and his wrestling career. Bailey stated “I think that I proved myself, and I think that even though I’ve been wrestling for 20 years, even though a lot of people know who I am, and I’ve built a very strong reputation as one of the best wrestlers in the world, I think to the AEW audience, I am still growing, and they still don’t see me as a World Champion, which is i want to be or a Continental champion. I don’t think that’s what everyone sees me as yet as a guy who is going to represent this company be a champion be the best that AEW has to offer and that’s what i’m trying to prove.” (Transcript h/t: Fightful.com)

In a recent episode of the My World with Jeff Jarrett podcast, co-host Jeff Jarrett gave his thoughts about his past history with Hangman Adam Page and his praise of Page for having that aura, charisma, and talent to be a big star in wrestling. Jarrett stated “There’s just something about that chemistry that I enjoyed. Look, I’m a huge Larry Bird fan. At the end of the day, he made everybody better on the floor. Period. Even his opponents, because his opponents had to play better or he would absolutely skunk them. I think Hangman has that aura and that charisma and that talent.” Jarrett also gave his thoughts about Page’s victory in the Finals of the Men’s Owen Hart Foundation Cup at this past Sunday’s Double or Nothing 2025 event and his upcoming match against Jon Moxley for the AEW World Championship. Jarrett stated “In a lot of ways, I love the outcome for multiple reasons. To talk on Will, he still has this mountain to climb and when he does, it’s gonna be really sweet. The picture of him walking into the O2 in London at Forbidden Door as the champion, I could absolutely see, but as it stands now, it’s not gonna happen. The vision of the hangman walking down in Texas with his cowboy shit, I can’t tell you how much I’m gonna be pulling for that guy because he’s worked his ass off. When you kind of know his journey and his story, both in and out of the ring, he’s a man’s man. He will bust his ass. What is best for business, I truly believe, is when he kicks Moxley’s ass, stands tall, and is the AEW World Champion once again.” (Transcript h/t: Fightful.com)

In a recent interview with The #JJRBTS (rehashed) podcast, Will Ospreay gave his thoughts about how he would like to see talent released from WWE help improve other promotions and prove themselves first before joining AEW instead of them just assuming they can just walk in to AEW straight from WWE. Ospreay stated “For example, one of the guys who (just came in) is Speedball Mike Bailey, who was like the Indie King at one point. He was going everywhere and putting on some of the greatest matches ever. I think that’s what we’re looking at more now instead of guys that just got let go from WWE, and my heart goes out to them all, but we’re looking for guys that are appreciative of this position, who are grafting and improving the markets elsewhere instead of they just got let go from WWE and instantly assume they can come here. Nah, go out and prove to other people you’re wanted and desired. My heart goes out to all of them. It should never be assumed that ‘Oh, I got let go here, I can just walk into AEW.’ Nah, bruv. The bar is too high now. I want to see all of these guys cut their teeth elsewhere and improve the houses elsewhere. Go to New Japan, go to NOAH, go to STARDOM. Go elsewhere and improve their houses before you can think ‘Oh, I’ll just come here.’ That’s just me. There are certain guys, like Swerve (Strickland) got let go from WWE and came to AEW straight away. He’s a special one. He’s special. MVP is another, he’s special. (Bobby) Lashley, special. Shelton (Benjamin), special. I want people to be like, you can’t just come walk in. I really do think the independents need it right now. They need someone to help guide this next generation to come through. That’s just me, personally. I don’t mean that in any type of disrespectful way. Right now, AEW we are the best wrestlers right now, and all those guys who have been let go, tragically, are really good pro wrestlers, but you can’t just be good anymore. You’ve got to be elite.” (Transcript h/t: Fightful.com)