AEW: Hazuki Reflects Ahead of Her Women’s Owen Hart Cup Match Against Mercedes Mone, Matt Hardy on His Belief CM Punk “Knew He Had A Hold On Tony Khan, To A Degree” During His AEW Run, Ace Austin & Red Velvet To Star In Horror Short Film “The Stutterer”

Hazuki Reflects Ahead of Her Women’s Owen Hart Cup Match Against Mercedes Mone

Stardom talent Hazuki is currently scheduled to be competing in a Semifinal Round match against Mercedes Mone for this year’s Women’s Owen Hart Foundation Cup tournament at Wednesday’s AEW Dynamite show in Sugar Land, Texas.

Hazuki recently reflected on Twitter about her upcoming match against Mone and how this will be her third attempt to beat Mone in a match in her wrestling career.

“Tournament semi-finals.

This is my third match against Mone, and I’ve never managed to beat her.

I’m going to win here and advance to the finals!!

World-class Hazuki is still unstoppable! 🔥

#AEWDynamite #STARDOM #OwenCup #葉月 #HAZUKI #はづらー村

Tournament semi-finals.

This is my third match against Mone, and I've never managed to beat her.

I'm going to win here and advance to the finals!!

World-class Hazuki is still unstoppable! 🔥#AEWDynamite #STARDOM#OwenCup #葉月 #HAZUKI #はづらー村 https://t.co/S4E22WSObK pic.twitter.com/qqGCUuT8cD

— 葉月/HAZUKI (@0929_hazuki) June 16, 2026

---

Matt Hardy Comments on His Belief CM Punk “Knew He Had A Hold On Tony Khan, To A Degree” During His AEW Run

A recent episode of The Extreme Life of Matt Hardy podcast featured co-host and former AEW and current TNA talent Matt Hardy giving his thoughts about the difference in behavior by CM Punk during his time in AEW and since his return to WWE.

“I feel like when Punk was in AEW, he knew he had a hold on Tony Khan to a degree, that he could kind of get away with what he wanted. If he had something he was dead set on wanting to do, that he could kind of flex his muscles and he could get away with it. I think he could sniff that out of Tony, from Tony not being around and running a wrestling company for decades or years, whatever.

I think when he [Punk] came back to WWE, I think he knew he couldn’t get away with that same type of attitude or mentality. It is what it is. He came back there and a lot of people thought he was going to stir up some sort of controversy or conflict, and he didn’t. He was a by-the-book guy, and it seemed like he was a model company employee. I think it’s hard to dispute that.“

Transcript h/t: F4WOnline.com

---

Ace Austin & Red Velvet To Star In Horror Short Film “The Stutterer”

AEW and Ring of Honor talents Ace Austin and Red Velvet recently joined the cast of an upcoming new horror short film titled The Stutterer.

On the project’s official Kickstarter page, Austin and Velvet were advertised to be among the film’s cast but only Austin’s role as a character named Tom was revealed.

On the official IMDB page for the film, former AEW and ROH talent Mercedes Martinez and deathmatch legend Atsushi Onita were also revealed to be among the cast for this upcoming new film.

This upcoming new film is currently scheduled to be released in 2027 and the official synopsis states “masked killer stalks leaving a trail of brutal murders while hiding in plain sight. His motive unfolds, his bloody spree reveals a history of bullying, rejection, and lost love. It blends classic horror intensity with emotional depth.”