AEW: Darby Allin Surprises Fan With Special Needs, Anna Jay AEW Contract & Career Future Update, Dustin Rhodes on His Ambitions & Goals for His AEW Career Amid Almost Year-Long Abscense From Double Knee Replacement Surgery

11Alive News’ Kaitlyn Ross reported that Darby Allin recently surprised a wrestling fan with special needs named Buddy Divins.

Ross reported that Divins was invited to the news studio for a visit and didn’t know that Allin would be there. Allin met with Divins and gave him tickets to 1 Fall Wrestling’s Summer Stage 2 event on Friday in Atlanta, Georgia.

Allin also invited Divins for a private tour of his house and showed him his practice wrestling ring, his skate park, and his ATVs.

Ross reported:

“The story didn’t end when the cameras stopped rolling. Darby invited Buddy back to his home, where he showed him his practice wrestling ring, his skate park and his ATVs. There were no interviews. No cameras. No audience. Just two people spending time together.

Darby shared that he knows what it feels like to grow up searching for a place to belong. That’s why he wants every fan who walks into a wrestling show to feel welcome. Athletes are often celebrated for what they do under the spotlight. But the moments that mean the most happen after the crowd goes home and the cameras turn off. Thank you, Darby, for giving Buddy a memory he’ll always carry with him and for showing him he has a place in the wrestling world.”

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Anna Jay AEW Contract & Career Future Update

As noted before, Anna Jay’s contract with AEWwas believed to be set to expire at some point this past Spring. Jay last wrestled for AEW at the June 6th AEW Collision show in a tag team match with Tay Melo against Divine Dominion for the AEW Women’s World Tag Team Championship.

Fightful Select’s Sean Ross Sapp reported in a recent Q&A article that his sources stated that Jay is still under a contract with AEW. Sapp also reported that Jay is still showing up to work for AEW whenever she is needed.

Sapp speculated that Jay will likely end up re-signing with AEW and keep her tag team partnership with Melo but he believes that she would be a good fit for the NXT brand if she were to leave for WWE.

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Dustin Rhodes Comments on His Ambitions & Goals for His AEW Career Amid Almost Year-Long Abscense From Double Knee Replacement Surgery

As noted before, Dustin Rhodes has been out of action for AEW since this July of 2025 due to a double knee replacement surgery.

Rhodes provided an update on Friday on Instagram outlining his ambitions and goals he still has for his AEW career amid his lengthy abscense from AEW due to him recovery from a double knee replacement surgery.

“Want yall to know, I never want you to forget my body of work. I have given so much passion, love, blood(lots), sweat and tons of tears, all for the love of #prowrestling. And again, thank you all for standing by me as well as the new fans, ty. Very soon, i will be back for my “One Last Ride,” which has gone for 7 yrs lol.

I promise to continue my in ring work to be as hard as ever. Knowing that my legacy is in tact, I feel I still have plenty to prove.

My number 1 goal when, I started this journey, was to be a World Champion. I don’t think its too late for me, because I am damn good at what I do and will continue to strive for that. Do you think its in me to be world champ? I DO!

Love you all and stay tuned for the Dustin Rhodes you all love. #Soon #KeepSteppin.”

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