During his WWE tenure, Silfies also found time to direct the Civil War short documentary film “The Last Full Measure,” which was released in 2004 and narrated by actor Stacy Keach. He continued to work for WWE until 2020, when he was among many backstage employees that were furloughed by the company at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. Unlike others, Silfies was not brought back after.
Shortly after news of Silfies’ death broke, AEW commentator Taz took to X to pay tribute to his former co-worker.
“I can’t explain what a super person & great director Kerwin was,” Taz tweeted. “I worked with him for many years in WWE on the road and in studio. His passion for great TV in the wrestling biz was strong. This man once was working in the studio through an actually heart attack & kept working!! Very sad to hear this. I hope they put him in their WWE HOF. He belongs. Prayers & support to his family. RIP.”
Wrestling Inc. would like to offer its condolences to Silfies’ family and friends during this difficult time.
After Big E suffered a career-threatening neck injury on “WWE SmackDown” in 2022, fans questioned if the former world champion would ever be able to return to the ring until this past October, when he officially considered himself retired from professional wrestling. However, Big E recently shared that he didn’t initially think the broken neck would keep him out of action long-term, until learning about the specific fracture he endured.
In an interview with “The Takedown on SI,” Big E explained that when doctors started to refer to his neck injury as a “Jefferson Fracture,” a break that has a severe impact on the C1 vertebra, he knew it was time to hang up his boots for good.
“I wasn’t in pain, I wasn’t concussed at all, I didn’t have any real nerve issues. I was like, ‘Okay, we’ll heal up.’ And they told me initially, I think it was eight weeks being in a neck brace, and you should be good to go,” he explained. “My C1 was broken in two places, and oftentimes, when that happens, the C1 will heal like cartilage. So in those gaps, it’ll form cartilage instead of ossifying, instead of forming new bone … the doctor almost damn near begged me like, ‘Hey, please, even if you get your all go, you’re clear, you’re allowed to get back in the ring, please really reconsider it’ … And when I told him, ‘I think I’m definitely leaning towards being done,’ he almost quite literally breathed a sigh of relief.”
Big E continued to explain that it’s sobering to watch legends return around WrestleMania season every year, stating that many veterans are suffering from pain despite not being too old of age, and is glad that he chose not to gamble with his health.
Update on AJ Styles Celebration Planned For RAW – As noted, AJ Styles is set for a notable appearance on WWE RAW on February 23, and new details suggest WWE is preparing a major segment around his return. The show will take place in Atlanta, a location closely tied to Styles’ wrestling background and career development.
Styles was written off television after being “retired” by GUNTHER during the Royal Rumble 2026 in Saudi Arabia. That loss marked his most recent on-screen appearance. WWE has since promoted his presence for next week’s episode, and the company appears to be building the segment as something more than a standard return or brief promo.
According to a report from Bryan Alvarez of F4WOnline, talent from SmackDown is being flown in specifically for the segment.
“Smackdown talent being flown to RAW this week for the AJ celebration.”
That move points toward a larger tribute-style presentation rather than a simple appearance. WWE bringing in performers from another brand signals the company wants the moment to carry weight and reflect Styles’ long career.
Atlanta’s connection to Styles adds further context. The city has long been linked to the Georgia wrestling scene, where Styles built his reputation before rising to national prominence. Holding the segment there allows WWE to frame the appearance as a recognition of his career and influence.
With cross-brand involvement and a setting tied to his history, the February 23 episode is shaping up to highlight Styles’ legacy following the storyline retirement. It will also be his first time back on WWE programming since the Royal Rumble loss to GUNTHER. WWE’s approach suggests the company intends to present the segment as a meaningful acknowledgment of Styles’ contributions and status within the industry rather than a routine cameo.
Current WWE RAW Lineup for February 23
A tribute to AJ Styles
Brock Lesnar appears
Elimination Chamber qualifying match: Raquel Rodriguez vs. IYO SKY vs. Kairi Sane
Elimination Chamber qualifying match: Bronson Reed vs. Jey Uso vs. Original El Grande Americano
Mick Foley’s Hell In A Cell match with The Undertaker at King Of The Ring 1998 is considered one of the most violent matches in wrestling history, but “The Hardcore Legend” is still dealing with the consequences from the pain he endured today. Although The Undertaker entered the match with a fractured ankle and underwent multiple surgeries throughout his career, Foley still walks differently after being thrown off the top and through the cage, and in recent years, he’s needed to seek treatment for his teeth.
In an interview with “Going Rindside,” Foley revealed that he often goes through with dental procedures because of the teeth his lost during his performance in the Hell In A Cell match.
“Not only are those two teeth gone, but the two next to it because of the trauma, are rotting out as we speak and will need to be replaced. So, we’re looking at about $25,000 in dental work for something that happened 26 years ago.”
Although he consistently undergoes dental repairs today, Foley revealed last year that he purposely hasn’t replaced any teeth as it’s a physical reminder of one of the most historic nights of his career, and smiling in the mirror in the morning is the best piece of wrestling memorabilia that he could possess.
If you use any of the quotes in this article, please credit “Going Ringside” with a h/t to Wrestling Inc. for the transcription.
I feel like this will be a popular opinion across the board, but so what; this is a great decision by AEW. Not a good decision, not a very good decision, a GREAT decision. And there’s so many reasons why. There is the connection to the “Grand Slam” events held in Arthur Ashe, which remained highly anticipated, well done events for AEW, even if attendance did decline throughout the four shows. And while some people may not care about this, Louis Armstrong Stadium will provide a uniqueness to Double or Nothing that normal, NBA sized arenas wouldn’t. Ever thought you’d see Anarchy in the Arena spilling over to the practice tennis courts? Get ready, cause that may be a reality now.
But you know what the best part about Double or Nothing being in Queens is? It won’t be in Las Vegas. I’m sorry Vegas wrestling fans; I’m sure there’s plenty of passionate fans in the city, and they are responsible for the recent buzz around Brody King due to their anti-ICE chants on “AEW Dynamite” two weeks ago. But those last two Double or Nothing’s held in Vegas were borderline dire, with crowds that didn’t seem to care all that much with the action going on in front of them. It’s part of what made last year’s Double or Nothing such a breath of fresh air; that Phoenix crowd was into that show, start to finish. I think we have a strong chance to see that play out again here, with another fresh crowd in a great market getting the chance to take in a PPV at what should be one of the more unique wrestling venues since, well, Arthur Ashe Stadium.
