AEW: Backstage Update on AEW’s Changed Plans for Bobby Lashley’s Official Debut, Tony Khan on Private Party’s AEW Tag Titles Victory, More News

Oct 31, 2024

Backstage Update on AEW’s Changed Plans for Bobby Lashley’s Official AEW Debut

As noted before, Wednesday’s AEW Fright Night Dynamite show featured former WWE talent Bobby Lahsley making his official debut in AEW.

Fightful Select reported that their sources stated that AEW officials had originally planned for Lashley to make his official debut in the company at their WrestleDream 2024 event in Tacoma, Washington. These plans reportedly were changed due to AEW officials wanting to focus more on the big show closing angle involving Jon Moxley’s victory over Bryan Daneilson for the AEW World Championship to end Danielson’s full-time career and Moxley’s new heel faction.

It was reported that Lashley had signed an official contract with AEW this past September and shortly before their Dynamite Grand Slam 2024 show.

Tony Khan Comments on Private Party Winning AEW Tag Titles Being “Over Five Years in the Making”

Wednesday’s AEW Fright Night Dynamite show in Cleveland, Ohio featured Private Party (Marq Quen & Isiah Kassidy) defeating The Young Bucks (Matthew & Nicholas Jackson) to become the new AEW World Tag Team Champions.

Following the show, AEW CEO Tony Khan reflected on Twitter congratulating Private Party on their championship victory and how this moment was over five years in the making for their AEW careers.

“Congratulations again and thank you to the new AEW World Tag Team Champions @ZayKassidy + @Marq_Quen Private Party!
Tonight was over 5 years in the making! Tonight was an incredible night of @AEWonTV, and Private Party vs @youngbucks was a classic #AEWDynamite match once again!”

Congratulations again and thank you to the new AEW World Tag Team Champions @ZayKassidy + @Marq_Quen Private Party!
Tonight was over 5 years in the making!

Tonight was an incredible night of @AEWonTV, and
Private Party vs @youngbucks was a classic #AEWDynamite match once again! pic.twitter.com/RRuzHM5zFk
— Tony Khan (@TonyKhan) October 31, 2024

AEW News & Notes

Wednesday’s AEW Fright Night Dynamite show in Cleveland, Ohio featured Adam Cole defeating Buddy Matthews in a singles match. This was Cole’s first match since AEW All Out 2023 in August of 2023 and also Cole’s first victory in AEW since that same date.

Dustin Rhodes recently announced that he is currently accepting new applications for trainees to join his Rhodes Wrestling Academy in Leander, Texas.

AEW recently released a new “Timeless” Toni Storm film titled “Where In The World Is Toni Storm?”

AEW recently released their DC x AEW “AEW Origins” comic book by DC Comics on their ShopAEW online store.

AEW is also currently holding a sale with New Japan Pro Wrestling for their upcoming AEW Dynamite show on November 6th in Manchester, New Hampshire and AEW Collision show on November 7th in Providence, Rhode Island. It was announced that they are currently offering a 30% off discount on select tickets using the code “AEWNJPW” on AEWTix.com.

Scorpio Sky has been absent from AEW since this past August and last wrestled for AEW and Ring of Honor in October of 2023. Fightful Select’s Sean Ross Sapp reported that his sources stated that the reason for Sky’s absence is not due to any injury related reasons and instead simply just due to AEW officials not utilizing him for shows. Sapp reported that AEW officials had recent plans at one point for Sky to be paired up with Private Party but those plans were scrapped in the end. AEW officials reportedly had also considered plans to give a push to Sky and Ethan Page, who teamed together as Men of the Year, prior to Page’s departure to WWE.

Jon Moxley filed a new trademark for “Death Riders” on October 29th for wrestling and merchandise-related purposes to the United States Patent and Trademark Office.

In a recent interview with the Canton Repository, Jon Moxley gave his thoughts about his wrestling career legacy and his importance on providing memories for fans. Moxley stated “I don’t think so much about the memories I’ve made for myself. It’s more about the memories I’ve tried to create for other people. People coming up and telling me I’ve given them inspiration or joy with a match means more than any list of accomplishments on paper or personal memories. It means a lot when people tell me that I’ve been a part of their lives somehow. It means something when a father and son tell me they watch my matches together. I’ve also been hearing I’ve grown up with you and been watching you since junior high. That one gets me a bit. I start to go, ‘Oh my God, I can’t be that old now can I?‘“

In a recent interview with The Stick Podcast, Kris Statlander gave her thoughts about which match from her career in AEW is currently her favorite. Statlander stated “If I had a favorite match, I’d probably say the street fight at All Out that I did with Willow.” Statlander also gave her thoughts about a match she had with Jon Silver for Beyond Wrestling being her breakout match for her wrestling career. Statlander stated “On the indies, it pains me to give him credit, but John Silver was my breakout match and I have to give him the credit because that match with him is what helped me take off. He’s such a pain in the butt that it pains me. It physically hurts me every time I give him the credit for that.” (Transcript h/t: Fightful.com)

AEW announced one new match for the card of this week’s AEW Rampage show on November 1st:

Lio Rush vs. Komander