News from Wrestling's Second Biggest Weekend of the Year
Wrestling News This Week
From the desk of the Editor
Man, there was a lot of wrestling.
Sometimes it’s fun to look at what wrestling “moments’ will go down in history. It’s more fun to do when you’ve been alive for long enough to see things you witnessed age enough that it becomes history. There were quite a few historical moments that took place this weekend. Ones wrestling fans will remember for as long as they are able to remember things.
Wrestling moments from this weekend that fans will remember:
Hangman Page rescuing the AEW World title from the Deathriders and everything it took to make that happen.
Adam Cole’s emotional speech hinting at retirement.
Toni Storm handing Mercedes Mone her first loss in AEW.
Naomi cashes in her MITB briefcase.
Stephanie Vaquer is on track to becoming a major star.
Fans cheer loudly for Charlotte Flair after her touching Players’ Tribune article.
The Young Bucks lose their EVP status
Darby Allin descends from Everest and somehow lands in Globe Life Field.
It was a great weekend for wrestling and wrestling fans. If you didn’t find something you enjoyed this weekend, wrestling probably isn’t your thing.
All the news from the weekend is below.
AEW News
Hangman Page wins AEW World title at All In
Hangman Page defeated Jon Moxley in the main event of Saturday’s AEW All In to win the AEW World Championship for the second time.
During the final sequence, Moxley tried to suffocate Page with a plastic bag. A video from Darby Allin played from Mount Everest, followed by Bryan Danielson running in under a Blue Panther mask to clear out Wheeler Yuta and Gabe Kidd. Allin then descended from the stadium and distracted Moxley, allowing Page to hit a Buckshot Lariat and a Deadeye on Moxley through a table outside the ring.
The Young Bucks then appeared, superkicking Page and hitting an EVP Trigger. Moxley and Shafir introduced a bed of nails, where Moxley curb-stomped Page and delivered a Paradigm Shift. Despite that, Page stood up at nine. Swerve Strickland arrived next, attacking the Bucks with a chain — the same chain Page gave him on Collision. Page then used the chain to choke Moxley over the ropes. Moxley tapped out, ending his fourth AEW World title reign.
Page then retrieved the briefcase containing the World title belt, which had been missing since last October and finally rescued the title belt from Deathrider captivity.
Source: AEW All In Broadcast
Adam Cole gives emotional address at AEW All In
Adam Cole addressed the live crowd at AEW All In, saying he would be “gone for a while” and was unsure if this was “goodbye.”
Before the show, Tony Khan announced that Cole was not medically cleared and the TNT title would be vacated. Cole came out before the four-way match for the vacant title, apologized to the fans for letting them down, and said he wasn’t ready to think about retirement yet, which led to lots of speculation about him retiring.
Cole got emotional several times during the three-minute speech, thanking fans for supporting him through different promotions and saying, “I will love you forever.”
At the end, Cole was joined by his Paragon teammates Kyle O’Reilly and Roderick Strong, who were also in tears. The three left the ring together, and Cole embraced Daniel Garcia as he came out for the new title match.
Cole last wrestled on Collision two days before All In and was scheduled to defend the TNT title against Kyle Fletcher.
There are unconfirmed rumors speculating as to the nature of Cole’s injury, but nothing has been verified.
Source: AEW
Kazuchika Okada defeats Kenny Omega, wins AEW Unified Championship at All In
Kazuchika Okada defeated Kenny Omega at AEW All In to become the inaugural AEW Unified Champion.
The match was a title vs. title, winner-takes-all bout. With the victory, Okada and Omega are now tied in their all-time singles series at two wins each with one draw.
Omega favored his injured midsection throughout the match, which limited some of his offense. Late in the match, Omega hit a One Winged Angel and appeared to have the match won, but Don Callis pulled referee Bryce Remsberg out of the ring.
Okada followed with a Rainmaker for a near fall. After a cradle attempt by Omega, Okada hit a tilt-a-whirl slam and another Rainmaker to secure the win.
AEW President Tony Khan announced before the show that the Continental and International titles would not be retired. Okada now holds all three belts and can carry them all if he chooses.
Source: AEW
Toni Storm defeats Mercedes Moné at AEW All In
Toni Storm defeated Mercedes Moné at AEW All In, handing Moné her first singles loss since joining the company.
Storm secured the win after hitting three Storm Zeroes in a row, followed by an avalanche Storm Zero for the final pin. I’m sure the CEO will not be happy about this.
Earlier at All In, Athena won the Women’s Casino Gauntlet match, setting up a future title match against Storm.
Source: AEW
Young Bucks lose EVP titles at AEW All In
The Young Bucks (Matt and Nick Jackson) lost their executive vice president titles at AEW All In after being defeated by Swerve Strickland and Will Ospreay.
As a result of the loss, the Young Bucks are no longer EVPs in storyline. Strickland and Ospreay had risked a year’s eligibility for AEW World title shots if they had lost. As noted by Strickland and Ospreay leading up to the bout, they do not win the title of being EVPs but rather are just giving that role back to the fans.
Source: AEW
MJF wins Casino Gauntlet Match at AEW All In
MJF won the men’s Casino Gauntlet match at AEW All In, earning a future AEW World Championship match.
MJF stole the pin away from Mark Briscoe at the end. After Briscoe gave Roderick Strong the Jay Driller, MJF tossed him out of the ring and covered Strong for the win.
This marks MJF’s first shot at the AEW World title since losing it to Samoa Joe at Worlds End 2024, which ended his 406-day reign after 10 successful defenses.
A total of 14 wrestlers entered the match, including Konosuke Takeshita, Ricochet, Bandido, Mistico, Josh Alexander, and the returning Juice Robinson.
Source: AEW
Juice Robinson and Gunn Club return at AEW All In
Juice Robinson and the Gunn Club (Austin and Colten Gunn) made surprise returns during the men’s Casino Gauntlet match at AEW All In.
Robinson entered at number 11, making his first appearance since breaking his fibula in November 2024. He debuted a new look, clean shaven, wearing long black tights and a singlet. After battling Ricochet, Robinson was attacked by Toa Liona and Bishop Kaun.
As Ricochet was about to finish Robinson, the Gunn Club returned and hit Ricochet with 3:10 to Yuma, then brawled with the Gates of Agony to the back. So it could be the Bang Bang Gang vs. Ricochet and the Gates of Agony moving forward.
The Gunn Club had not appeared on AEW TV since failing to win the AEW Tag Team titles against The Hurt Syndicate in February.
Source: AEW
Athena wins Women’s Casino Gauntlet match at AEW All In
Athena won the Women’s Casino Gauntlet match at AEW All In to earn a future AEW Women’s World Championship match.
Athena entered the match at number 9 and pinned Mina Shirakawa for the win after hitting an O-Face off the top rope. Shirakawa had been going for a figure four on Thunder Rosa before Athena struck.
Twelve women participated in the match, including surprise entrants Syuri and Alex Windsor.
Source: AEW
Cope returns, saves Christian Cage at AEW All In
Adam “Cope” Copeland made his surprise return at AEW All In to save Christian Cage from an attack by The Patriarchy.
After losing the three-way AEW Tag Team title match, Nick Wayne, Kip Sabian, and Mama Wayne turned on Cage. As they prepared to hit a conchairto on him, Copeland’s music played and he entered with his spiked 4x4.
Copeland took out Wayne and Sabian on his way to the ring, then speared both FTR members who had been involved in the confrontation. Wayne attempted to attack Copeland with a chair, but Copeland blocked it with Spike and then speared Sabian.
Copeland then addressed Cage, telling him to “go find yourself,” referencing an earlier moment between the two when Christian told Cope to “go f—- yourself’. He left Spike in the ring and walked away.
This was Copeland’s first appearance since being attacked by FTR at Dynasty in April.
Source: AEW
JoJo Offerman performs at AEW All In
Former WWE ring announcer and partner to the late Bray Wyatt, JoJo Offerman performed at AEW All In on Saturday.
Offerman sang “Ain’t Nobody” by Chaka Khan before Swerve Strickland’s entrance for his tag team match with Will Ospreay against The Young Bucks.
Offerman also served as a ring announcer for a dark match at an AEW Collision taping in January.
Source: AEW
Kevin Von Erich signs AEW Legends deal, joins as coach
Kevin Von Erich has signed a Legends contract with All Elite Wrestling and is now working as a coach for AEW and ROH.
His sons, Marshall and Ross Von Erich, currently hold the ROH World Six-Man Tag Team titles along with Dustin Rhodes. Tony Khan shared the news in an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, noting that Kevin also accompanied his sons, along with Dustin Rhodes and Sammy Guevara, for an eight-man tag team match on the All In Zero Hour show.
Source: Hollywood Reporter
Toni Storm makes rare indie appearance one night after AEW All In
Just one day after AEW All In, Toni Storm appeared at Prestige Wrestling’s Combat Clash 2025 event in Portland, Oregon. S
During her in-ring promo, Storm set up a match between Su Yung and Drexl and also shared some questionable “medical news” about her butler Luther, claiming he “broke his penis off” after the wild weekend.
Storm joked about assuming Luther wanted her to visit a weed dispensary rather than a wrestling show.
Source: Prestige Wrestling Combat Clash 2025 on YouTube
WWE News
Naomi cashes in to win WWE Women’s World Title at Evolution
Naomi left WWE Evolution as the new Women’s World Champion after cashing in her Money in the Bank contract.
Earlier in the night, Rhea Ripley defended her title against IYO SKY in a hard-fought match that ended with SKY hitting a Spanish Fly off production cases, leaving both women down. Naomi then ran out, cashed in her briefcase, and attacked both competitors.
She hit SKY with the briefcase, threw Ripley into the ring post, and finished SKY with her split-leg moonsault to win the title. Naomi’s victory marks her first reign as Women’s World Champion since 2017.
Naomi had also competed earlier on the show in a no holds barred match against Jade Cargill, which she lost.
Source: WWE
Blake Monroe turns heel at WWE Evolution
Blake Monroe turned on Jordynne Grace during their tag team match at WWE Evolution, officially cementing her heel turn.
Monroe and Grace teamed against Shayna Baszler and Zoey Stark. During the match, Monroe attacked Grace with a chair, leaving her partner vulnerable. Baszler and Stark then capitalized to win the match.
After the match, Monroe cut a promo stating she didn’t need Grace or the fans anymore, declaring she was done “playing nice” and was now focused on her own ambitions.
Source: WWE
Stephanie Vaquer earns title shot for WWE Clash in Paris
Stephanie Vaquer won a 20-woman battle royal at WWE Evolution to secure a WWE Women’s World Championship match at Clash in Paris on August 31.
Vaquer survived a final sequence against Lash Legend, Nikki Bella, and Nia Jax. She ultimately eliminated Legend with a Devil’s Kiss on the apron to win.
After the match, Stephanie McMahon interviewed Vaquer in the ring. Vaquer spoke first in Spanish and then in English, promising to keep working hard and that fans would remember her name forever.
Vaquer will challenge either the reigning Women’s World Champion or Tiffany Stratton in Paris.
Source: WWE
Triple H on WWE Evolution becoming a yearly event: “We shall see”
During the Evolution post-show press conference, Triple H was asked whether WWE Evolution would become an annual event. He said, “We shall see,” leaving the door open while emphasizing that WWE focuses on featuring women prominently throughout all shows rather than on one specific night.
Triple H explained that the demand for women’s wrestling continues to grow, and WWE’s aim is to make sure women are seen as equal stars year-round. He said women inspire audiences every Monday, Tuesday, Friday, and at premium live events, and they don’t need one particular show to do so.
He also noted he initially questioned doing another Evolution event because women in WWE had already been headlining and achieving milestones. Ultimately, he decided to move forward with it, focusing on the present and future rather than nostalgia.
Source: WWE
Bayley Comments on WWE Evolution
Bayley posted the following after WWE Evolution:
Source: Bayley on X
Charlotte Flair thanks fans for positive reaction at WWE Evolution
Charlotte Flair has expressed her gratitude for the strong positive reaction she received during WWE Evolution on Sunday.
Flair teamed with Alexa Bliss in a four-way match for the WWE Women’s Tag Team Championships. Throughout the match, fans loudly chanted “We want Charlotte” and cheered her offense.
After the show, Flair responded to multiple fans on social media, including one who wrote, “I hope those ‘we want Charlotte’ chants made your soul light up. You deserved them and every single ‘WOOOOOO’ you got tonight.” Flair replied, “It meant everything to me.”
She also told another fan who said they cried at the crowd support, “Me too,” and called her supporters “the best fans in the world.”
The reaction came days after Flair published a personal essay in The Players’ Tribune addressing her career criticism, her brother Reid’s passing, and her private struggles.
Source: Charlotte Flair on X
Cody Rhodes presents custom WWE title belt at MLB Home Run Derby
Cody Rhodes made a surprise appearance at Monday’s MLB Home Run Derby at Truist Park in Atlanta.
Rhodes presented the Derby winner, Seattle Mariners catcher Cal Raleigh, with a custom WWE championship belt featuring WWE, MLB, and T-Mobile logos.
Raleigh, nicknamed “Big Dumper,” hit 54 home runs and defeated Tampa Bay Rays infielder Junior Caminero 18–15 in the final round. He became the first catcher to win the Derby and the first Mariner to win since Ken Griffey Jr.
Rhodes is set to challenge John Cena for the Undisputed WWE Championship at SummerSlam.
Source: Front Office Sports on X
Triple H gives update on Seth Rollins’ knee injury
Triple H provided an update on Seth Rollins’ knee injury during the Evolution post-show press conference, saying Rollins’ status is “inconclusive” but “doesn’t look good.”
Rollins sustained the injury at Saturday Night’s Main Event during a match against LA Knight when his knee buckled after a springboard move. Triple H confirmed that Rollins would undergo an MRI in Birmingham to determine the full extent of the damage.
Despite the injury, Rollins was at Evolution to support Becky Lynch and was shown walking on crutches. Triple H described Rollins as a “workhorse” and said he will do everything possible to recover, but emphasized that the injury situation is serious and uncertain.
Source: WWE
Goldberg loses final match at Saturday Night’s Main Event
Goldberg’s in-ring career ended on Saturday Night’s Main Event with a loss to WWE World Heavyweight Champion Gunther.
The 58-year-old entered accompanied by Doug Dillinger, Ernest “The Cat” Miller, Josh Barnett, Chuck Zito, and his son Gage. Goldberg wore a large left knee brace and dominated early with power offense. Gunther targeted the knee throughout the match.
Goldberg speared Gunther but accidentally hit referee Charles Robinson. Gunther then removed Goldberg’s knee brace and attacked him with it. Gunther also shoved Gage at ringside before security intervened.
Goldberg recovered and hit a spear and jackhammer, but the pin was delayed due to his injured knee. Gunther then applied a sleeper hold, and Goldberg passed out.
After the match, Goldberg briefly addressed the crowd in the ring with his family and friends before the broadcast ended.
Source: WWE
Seth Rollins tweaks knee at Saturday Night’s Main Event
Seth Rollins suffered a knee injury during his match against LA Knight at Saturday Night’s Main Event.
While Rollins was in control, he hit a springboard senton onto Knight, then attempted a springboard moonsault. Knight moved, and Rollins’ knee buckled as he tried to land on his feet.
Rollins immediately grabbed his knee and moved to the corner, where he was checked on by referee Jessika Carr and a ringside doctor. After a pause in the match, Rollins stood up and approached Knight but was hit with a BFT and pinned.
Knight left the ring immediately after the match. Another doctor came down to the ring to check on Rollins.
Source: WWE YouTube
Randy Orton & Jelly Roll set for tag match at SummerSlam
Randy Orton will team up with four-time Grammy-nominated artist Jelly Roll to face Drew McIntyre and Logan Paul at SummerSlam.
The match was set after an altercation on SmackDown led to Jelly Roll appearing at Saturday Night’s Main Event to back up Orton against McIntyre and Paul. During the chaos, Jelly Roll pushed Logan Paul to the floor, allowing Orton to recover and hit an RKO on McIntyre for the win.
After the match, Paul attacked Orton, but Jelly Roll intervened and knocked Paul out of the ring. McIntyre then blindsided Jelly Roll with a Claymore Kick. Backstage, Orton apologized to Jelly Roll for involving him, but Jelly Roll insisted their opponents had underestimated him. Orton then suggested they finish things at SummerSlam.
SummerSlam will take place on August 2 and 3, streaming live on Peacock in the United States and on Netflix internationally.
Source: WWE
WWE announces NXT Heatwave 2025 details
WWE has officially announced that NXT Heatwave 2025 will take place live from the Lowell Memorial Auditorium in Lowell, Massachusetts, on Sunday, August 24.
The announcement was made during Saturday’s Great American Bash event. Tickets for Heatwave will go on sale to the general public on Wednesday, July 16.
Heatwave has been an annual event for NXT since 2022, originally starting as a television special before becoming a premium live event. The show will stream live on Peacock in the United States and on Netflix internationally.
August 24 is also the same day AEW and NJPW will hold Forbidden Door in London, though the two events are not expected to air head-to-head due to the time difference.
Before Heatwave, NXT will run a live TV episode from Houston, Texas, on July 22. WWE has announced that coaches from the reality competition show WWE LFG — The Undertaker, Michelle McCool, Booker T, and Bubba Ray Dudley — will appear on that episode.
Source: WWE
New WWE Tag Team Champions crowned on SmackDown
Dexter Lumis and Joe Gacy of The Wyatt Sicks defeated The Street Profits (Montez Ford and Angelo Dawkins) on SmackDown to win the WWE Tag Team Championship.
The title change came after interference from Erick Rowan, who attacked Dawkins at ringside. Gacy then distracted Ford, causing him to miss his frog splash. Lumis and Gacy capitalized to secure the win.
This victory marks the first WWE championship for both Gacy and Lumis. Gacy debuted in WWE on 205 Live in 2021, while Lumis is in his second run with the company and had only wrestled four matches in 2025 before this win.
The Street Profits’ second reign as champions ended at 207 days.
Source: WWE
Former NXT wrestler Knuckles Madsen killed in shooting
Kevin Nikel, who wrestled in NXT as Knuckles Madsen and on the independent scene as Ivan Warsaw, has died at age 41.
According to the Arkansas Northwest Democrat-Gazette, Nikel was shot in Benton County, Arkansas, early Friday morning. Police say he was found with a gunshot wound to the abdomen and later died at the hospital. The incident is under active investigation, and no arrests have been made.
Nikel wrestled in WWE developmental territories OVW and NXT from 2012 to 2013, primarily working house shows and dark matches. He continued wrestling on independent shows in Texas and also appeared for Championship Wrestling from Memphis and Southwest Wrestling Entertainment.
Numerous tributes have been posted online from across the wrestling world following news of his passing.
Source: Arkansas Northwest Democrat-Gazette
Natalya is officially heading back to Bloodsport
Josh Barnett announced that Natalya will face Masha Slamovich at Bloodsport XIV on August 2 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. The match was confirmed after the two wrestlers exchanged barbs on social media Monday.
Slamovich currently holds the JCW World and TNA Knockouts titles and is set to defend the Knockouts belt at this Sunday’s TNA Slammiversary.
This is the first match announced for Bloodsport XIV. Other talent advertised for the event includes Jonathan Gresham, Nick Comoroto, Simon Gotch, Matt Makowski, Dominic Garrini, and Janai Kai. The show will stream live on Triller.
Source: Josh Barnett on X