AEW: More on FTR Dropping AEW Tag Titles, Mistico to Make AEW Debut Next Week, Tony Khan on Personal Issues with WWE

Oct 13, 2023

More on Reason for FTR Dropping AEW Tag Titles to Big Bill & Ricky Starks

As noted before, this past Saturday’s AEW Collision show in Salt Lake City, Utah featured Big Bill & Ricky Starks defeating FTR to become the new AEW World Tag Team Champions. The reason for the title change was due to FTR’s Cash Wheeler currently dealing with a rib-related injury.

Fightful Select reported that Dax Harwood was the one who had pitched the idea for FTR to drop their AEW Tag Team titles to create a shock moment for the show.

Dave Meltzer reported in this week’s Wrestling Observer Newsletter that his sources confirmed that Harwood had pitched the idea for the title change. Those same sources reportedly also stated that this was the real reason for the decision by AEW officials and was not due to the status of Wheeler’s rib injury at the time.

In regards to Wheeler, Meltzer reported that AEW officials had initially believed that Wheeler had suffered a broken ribs injury but this was discovered to not have been the case following him undergoing x-rays.

Meltzer also reported that prior to Wheeler’s injury, AEW officials had plans in place for FTR to defend their tag titles against the Young Bucks either for next month’s Full Gear 2023 event or November 16th Collision show in Ontario, California.

Mistico Announced to be Making Official AEW Debut at Oct. 20th Rampage Show

AEW CEO Tony Khan recently announced one new match for the card of October 20th AEW Rampage show.

This new match announced is a singles match of Mistico vs. Rocky Romero, which will be Mistico’s official debut match in AEW.

For some reference, Mistico is the former original Sin Cara in WWE.

Next Friday, 10/20
Houston
Friday Night #AEWRampage
On @TNTdrama at 10pm ET/9pm CT

Mexico's Pound-For-Pound Crown@caristicomx vs @azucarRoc

MISTICO debuts in a grudge match vs Rocky Romero, 10/20 on Rampage!
Stay tuned to @AEWonTV to learn the history between these CMLL icons! pic.twitter.com/o9NoNYHSAU
— Tony Khan (@TonyKhan) October 12, 2023

In regards to AEW booking a CMLL talent despite their current partnership with Lucha Libre AAA, Dave Meltzer reported in this week’s Wrestling Observer Newsletter that his sources stated that Mistico’s upcoming appearance is not expected to affect AEW’s working partnership with AAA. Meltzer reported that those within AEW are currently under the belief that they are allowed to book talent from both CMLL and AAA for their shows as long as those talent are not booked to be in the ring together. Meltzer also reported that AAA officials currently do not care that much over this issue while CMLL officials main issue revolves around them not wanting their talent to be facing off against AAA talent in the same matches.

Tony Khan Comments on When “Business Became Personal” Between Him and WWE

AEW CEO Tony Khan announced on Twitter that this weekend will mark the one-year anniversary of the Mayo Clinic saving his mother’s life following a stroke incident.

During his post discussing the anniversary, Khan also revealed when things became personal between him and WWE due to what had happened to him during this ordeal.

“This weekend marks 1 year since @MayoClinic saved my mom’s life. During her ordeal many AEW talent came to me alleging WWE tampering, inducing them to break their contracts. I’ll never forget these phone calls at her side in the hospital; it’s when business became personal for me.
This is nothing new, I mentioned it last year after she came home. It’s relevant today because she checked in for surgery 1 year ago today. As I’ve mentioned several times since, @MayoClinic are heroes and thanks to them, her recovery from a very grim outlook has been a miracle.
Not that I should be surprised, but the same WWE avatar accounts that spam me every day, no matter what I say or what it’s about, now turning their wrath to Mom recovering from a near death experience, is why I straight hate these people to the bottom of my heart with all my soul.”

This is nothing new, I mentioned it last year after she came home. It's relevant today because she checked in for surgery 1 year ago today.
As I've mentioned several times since, @MayoClinic are heroes and thanks to them, her recovery from a very grim outlook has been a miracle.
— Tony Khan (@TonyKhan) October 13, 2023

Not that I should be surprised, but the same WWE avatar accounts that spam me every day, no matter what I say or what it's about, now turning their wrath to Mom recovering from a near death experience, is why I straight hate these people to the bottom of my heart with all my soul https://t.co/9fkmUpKafo
— Tony Khan (@TonyKhan) October 13, 2023