Backstage Update on Kris Statlander and Death Riders Storyline & Current Plans for Statlander
As noted before, the September 24tth AEW Dynamite show in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania featured AEW Women’s World Champion Kris Statlander turning down the Death Riders offer to join their group in an emphatic display.
Fightful Select’s Sean Ross Sapp reported in a recent Q&A article that his sources stated that the post-match angle with Statlander and the Death Riders was well-received internally. Those spoken to reportedly stated that Statlander is well liked backstage and everyone is rooting for her success.
Sapp reported that the post-match angle involving Statlander was something that had been in the works for a while and it will be the catalyst for a “top push” for Statlander as AEW Women’s World Champion.
Backstage Update on Andrade El Idolo’s WWE Release & Surprise AEW Return
As noted before, this past Wednesday’s AEW Dynamite 6th Anniversary show in Hollywood, Florida featured Andrade El Idolo making his surprise return to AEW and being revealed as the newest member of the Don Callis Family.
PWInsider’s Mike Johnson reported that his sources confirmed that Andrade did not have a no-compete clause as part of the terms for his release from WWE this past September. This allowed Andrade to return to AEW quickly after his WWE release.
Johnson reported that those spoken to within WWE stated that Andrade was cut from the company due to numerous WWE Wellness violations over the last year. WWE officials reportedly made the decision to cut Andrade outright instead of paying him for another 90 days making him free and clear to perform elsewhere.
Johnson also reported that Andrade’s Wellness Policy violations also ended up confirming what had been suspected for some time that WWE is no longer publicly announcing Wellness Policy suspensions for their main roster talents. Johnson reported that this was something that had quietly disappeared over the last few years.
AEW News & Notes
As noted before, this past Wednesday’s AEW Dynamite 6th Anniversary show in Hollywood, Florida featured Andrade El Idolo making his surprise return to AEW and being revealed as the newest member of the Don Callis Family. Andrade became the first person in wrestling history to go from WWE to AEW to back to WWE to back to AEW in a wrestling career.
PWInsider’s Mike Johnson reported that his sources stated that the reason why Trent Beretta has been recently absent from in-ring action for AEW is due to him currently recovering from an arm injury. Johnson reported that AEW officials currently expect Beretta to be able to make his in-ring return within the next couple of months. In a recent video posted by AEW, Beretta and Rocky Romero issued a challenge to Big Boom AJ to a tag team match at this November’s Full Gear 2025 event. In the video, Beretta was seen sporting a cast on his arm.
AEW recently released a new AEW Close Up with Renee Paquette video featuring Lee Moriarty as the guest.
AEW also recently released one new video on their official YouTube channel. This video was an AEW International Championship Three-way match of Ricochet vs. Konosuke Takeshita vs. Will Ospreay from AEW WrestleDream 2024.
AEW also recently released one new AEW Flashback video on their official YouTube channel. This new video was a ROH World Tag Team Championship 2-on-1 Handicap match of The Righteous (Dutch & Vincent) vs. MJF (c) from AEW WrestleDream 2023.
Hangman Adam Page recently reflected on Bluesky about his disgust over controversial ICE recruitment commercials being aired during the broadcast of Wednesday’s AEW Dynamite 6th Anniversary show on TBS and HBO MAX. Page stated “fuck ice airing commercials during dynamite, let em know: help.hbomax.com/us/Feedback/ tbsnetwork.zendesk.com/hc/en-us/req…” In a follow-up Bluesky post, Page also stated “hangman vs samoa joe’s sturdy ass for the world championship at aew wrestledream“
Queen Aminata recently gave her thoughts on Twitter about how she would like to have more promo time and be involved in the Mixed Tag Team matches in AEW. Aminata stated “I’m just gonna put this out there ( cough… cough …. Tk lol ): I need more promo time and I would love to be in these mixed tag matches.“
Chris Jericho recently reflected on Twitter about Thursday being the 35th anniversary of his official wrestling career debut. Jericho stated “Crazy to think it’s been 35 years to the day of my VERY FIRST MATCH! On Oct 2, 1990 I faced @stormwrestlingacademy in Ponoka, Alberta at the #PonokaMooseHall, in front of about 85 people. The match ended in a ten minute draw and I remember every little thing as if it happened only yesterday! (I got paid 30 dollars….a 20 & a 10!). I have had a wonderful, amazing, one in a million career since then…. and I wanna thank all of YOU from around the entire world for joining me for certain parts …or even all of it! And the Good news is….IT AIN’T OVER YET!“
Nick Khan on WWE is “Honored” To Have Brock Lesnar Back
WWE: John Cena Reiterates He’s “100 Percent Done” From In-Ring Career After December 13th, Charlotte Flair on Next Hurdle In Her Knee Injury Recovery Is To Wrestle Without Knee Brace, WWE Library Leaving Peacock at End of December
Brett Lauderdale Says He’s Been Contacted By Indies Promoters About GCW In Saudi Arabia For WrestleMania 43 Week
