AEW: The Gunns on Current AEW Absence & Backstage Update on Reason for Absence, Shelton Benjamin on Feeling “Humbled” and “Overjoyed” by Reaction for His AEW Debut, More News

The Gunns Comment on Their Current Absence from AEW & Backstage Update on Reason for Absence

The Gunns’ Austin & Colten Gunn have been noticeably absent from AEW since this past October and last wrestled this past September.

A recent vitrual fan signing event for Highspots featured The Gunns as the guest. One of the topics discussed included Austin providing an update stating that they will be back soon to AEW.

“We’ll be back soon. Don’t worry about it.”

Fightful Select reported that their sources stated that the reason for the Gunns current absence is due to Austin has been dealing with an injury. No other details were given regarding the nature of Austin’s injury.

It was reported that while it is currently not known if Colten was also dealing with an injury, those spoken to stated that he had been cleared for action this past week.

It was also reported that it is currently not known when The Gunns will be making their return to AEW programming.

Transcript h/t: Fightful.com

---

Shelton Benjamin Comments on Feeling “Humbled” and “Overjoyed” by Reaction for His AEW Debut

A recent episode of the AEW Unrestricted podcast featured Shelton Benjamin as the guest. One of the topics discussed included Benjamin’s thoughts about him feeling humbled and overjoyed over the reaction he received for his official debut appearance in AEW this past October.

“You know, having done this for so long — to this day, any time someone even recognizes me in the street, I’m honestly very flattered. So to have that reaction, especially [from] the AEW crowd, you know, being a quote-unquote ‘former WWE guy,’ I was humbled. I was overjoyed. I was actually kind of worried about how the reaction would be. But like I said, the fans have stuck by me through thick and thin all these years. And it was very heartwarming is the best way I could put it. Because I really appreciate it, and I loved it, and I could rewatch that moment over and over and over.”

Transcript h/t: F4WOnline.com

---

AEW News & Notes

Swerve Strickland recently released a new music video by him and Flash Garments called “Real Eyes.”

Taya Valkyrie also recently released a new music video by her called “L.A. Christmas.”

Variety reported that Adam Copeland was nominated for an Emmy Award for next year’s Children’s & Family Emmy Awards in the category of “Supporting Performer in a Preschool, Children’s or Young Teen Program.” Copeland was nominated for his work as Ares, the God of War in Disney’s Percy Jackson and the Olympians series.

Tony Khan recently announced on Twitter that AEW with the help of Jazwares will be donating over 15,000 AEW wrestling toys to Mission Arlington to support the City of Arlington and Texas families this holiday season.

Hangman Adam Page recently reflected on Bluesky about Logan Paul’s announcement on Thursday claiming that he has retired from his pro wrestling career. While he never specifically mentioned Paul by name, Page stated “I hope the next person they give half my moveset to is at least kinda cool.” Page’s comments were in reference to Paul’s controversies and incidents over the years outside of the ring.

Mercedes Mone reflected on Twitter about her reaching the milestone of 200 days for her current reign as TBS Champion as of Thursday. Mone stated “200 days as the TBS Champion. Moné changes the everything, and I’m the greatest of all time! 😍🥰🤑“

Indies talent Shazza McKenzie recently revealed on Twitter that she will be Deonna Purrazzo’s mystery opponent for her match on Friday’s AEW Rampage Winter Is Coming 2024 show. In a new deleted tweet, McKenzie stated “FIVE YEARS SINCE I LAST WRESTLED UNDER THE AEW UMBRELLA. The first Aussie to wrestle for AEW returns — Catch it tomorrow night https://t.co/PVbvjIiBXL“

As noted before, Big Boom AJ, also known as Costco Guy AJ, suffered a broken foot injury on the day of AEW’s Full Gear 2024 event this past November. During this past Monday’s AEW All In: Texas Countdown Sale event in Arlington, Texas, AJ provided an update on his injury recovery. AJ stated “This cast will be off in about two weeks. I’ll be back in the ring about four weeks after that. We will see everyone up at the Hammerstein Ballroom. We’ll be heading up there after that. A few more shows along the way, and then absolutely, yes, Texas, AJ, Big Justice, we will be here at All In, and we’re coming to bring the boom.” (Transcript h/t: Fightful.com)

In a recent interview with Fightful at this past Monday’s AEW All In: Texas Coutndown Sale event in Arlington, AEW CEO Tony Khan gave his thoughts about the decision to hold next year’s All In event at the Globe Life Field. Khan stated “This is a great venue. It’s going to be a great venue for pro wrestling. I love the wrestling business so much and one of the great things about wrestling is all the different places pro wrestling is permeated. The Texas wrestling fans, and in particular around the Dallas Metroplex and in Arlington, these are great wrestling fans and a great tradition and great history of pro wrestling. We’re really tapped into that, and I’m looking forward, in the coming months, to AEW becoming a bigger and bigger part of this community. We came here for the AEW Collision residency and we had such a great experience here. I really believe in the vision and this dream of AEW at Globe Life Field. We’re here now and I have to say, it feel like it was the right call. I love it here. It’s a great venue, and I can feel the energy that AEW is going to bring and the energy the fans here in this community and in Texas and all over America and all over the world are going to bring to All In 2025. It’s going to be a great night of wrestling. When the fans find out what we have in store, this thing is going to fill up and it’s going to be a great night when AEW All In makes its debut in America.” (Transcript h/t: Fightful.com)