Toni Storm was originally scheduled to face Marina Shafir in a no holds barred match on the March 18 episode of AEW Dynamite but was removed from the bout before the show began.

Just minutes ahead of the broadcast, a clip was released showing Storm laid out in her locker room in a pool of blood. Mina Shirakawa was seen checking on her, while Luther reacted in panic as Renee Paquette rushed into the scene.

At the start of Dynamite, it was announced that Storm had not been medically cleared to compete following her recent match against Shafir at AEW Revolution on March 15. The broadcast initially did not reference the backstage attack, with that development acknowledged later in the show.

As of now, there is no confirmation on whether the injury is part of a storyline or a legitimate issue. Details regarding the nature of the injury and how long Storm could be out of action have not been disclosed.

With Storm unable to compete, Shirakawa stepped in as her replacement to face Shafir. Shirakawa went on to win the match, finishing Shafir with the Storm Zero piledriver.

The situation adds uncertainty to Storm’s status coming out of Revolution, especially given the violent nature of her recent match and the added backstage angle. Whether this leads to an extended absence or a continuation of the storyline remains unclear.

AEW has not provided further updates on Storm’s condition at this time.

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I thought tonight’s episode of “Dynamite” was peak “nobody was cleared, and this is what we got,” but the one really good thing we did get was the return of one “Aerial Assassin,” Will Ospreay. He returned to the ring tonight against Blake Christian after returning to AEW, following neck fusion surgery just six months ago, at Revolution on Sunday, to confront Jon Moxley and the Death Riders.

Ospreay had a good match against Christian, and good for “Vanilla Baby” to get some time on “Dynamite” against a massive star like Ospreay. I’d imagine that means Ospreay and likely AEW President Tony Khan have a lot of faith in him, which is cool for him. The more important part about it all, however, was that AEW got Ospreay on the show to kick things off, something this show really needed by the end of it. His return was the most exciting thing on the show tonight, which was missing a lot of main players, or at least those main players getting physical, after Revolution.

While the match was good, Ospreay’s promo after it was great. I’m still not entirely sold on him going after Moxley and the Death Riders, since Mox has been leaning more babyface in recent times, but they did take Ospreay out at Forbidden Door, prior to him leaving for neck surgery. Ospreay, of course, still remembers that and is quite furious about it, so at least it all makes sense. And, Ospreay’s fiery promo tonight helped sell me on this all a little more.

Ospreay told Moxley that he didn’t need a weapon to snap someone’s neck. He could do it “with his bare f****** hands,” which was a fire line, despite the obvious need for a censor there. That brought out the Death Riders, and when Ospreay tried to go after Moxley, he got PAC instead, which also made sense. I wouldn’t mind seeing Ospreay work his way through the Death Riders, taking them out one by one until he gets to Moxley. We’ve seen that before with other feuds with Moxley, but with Ospreay, it doesn’t feel like a stale angle.

While I didn’t find this overall episode of “Dynamite” anything special, I sure am glad Ospreay is back. There’s still quite a lot going on around MJF and the AEW World Championship scene, like with Kenny Omega and Swerve Strickland vying to be the number one contender right now, so a smaller feud with the Death Riders to get Ospreay back in the swing of things is probably exactly what he needs to be doing right now.

Written by Daisy Ruth

EVIL is reportedly in discussions with WWE regarding a potential move, with the NJPW veteran said to be interested in starting his run in NXT.

EVIL Reportedly in Talks with WWE for NXT Run

According to Voices of Wrestling, talks between EVIL, whose real name is Takaaki Watanabe, and WWE are ongoing. While no agreement has been finalized, the report notes that Watanabe prefers to begin in NXT rather than debuting directly on the main roster. The reasoning behind that approach is to help him adjust to WWE’s style before possibly moving to RAW or SmackDown.

The report also states that Watanabe would like to keep his established EVIL character if he signs with the company. Maintaining that identity could help preserve the presence he has built over the years in Japan.

Watanabe began his wrestling career in 2011 with New Japan Pro-Wrestling, initially working as a young lion. In 2014, he went on excursion to Ring of Honor, where he gained experience before returning to NJPW in 2015 with the EVIL persona.

This follows a report from Sean Ross Sapp this past January, which stated: “When evaluating options outside of NJPW, WWE and other Japanese companies are the likely options,” the report stated. “EVIL has been backstage at a number of WWE events, supporting those close to him, and we’re told that there have been talks between the two sides. Those we spoke to in NJPW expect there to be options for him in Japan, but they expect him to try to relocate to the United States.”

Over time, EVIL became a key figure in NJPW. He was part of Los Ingobernables de Japon before making a major shift in July 2020 by joining Bullet Club. That move led to one of the biggest moments of his career.

On July 12, 2020, at Dominion in Osaka-jo Hall, EVIL defeated Tetsuya Naito to capture both the IWGP Heavyweight Championship and the IWGP Intercontinental Championship. The victory made him a double champion and positioned him as one of the top names in the company at the time.

A potential move to WWE would continue a growing trend of NJPW talent transitioning to the promotion in recent years. However, as of now, there is no confirmation on when a deal could be completed or when EVIL might debut if an agreement is reached.

For now, discussions remain ongoing, with NXT reportedly being the preferred starting point should the move become official.

EVIL Reportedly in Talks with WWE for NXT Run

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Hangman Adam Page is expected to take time off from AEW television following his loss to MJF at AEW Revolution.

The two faced off in the main event of the March 15 pay-per-view, held at the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles, California. The match was contested under Texas Death Match rules, with a major stipulation attached. As a result of the loss, Page is now permanently barred from challenging for the AEW World Championship.

According to a report from Fightful Select’s Sean Ross Sapp, the current plan is for Page to take time off from AEW programming. However, it has not been confirmed whether his absence will begin immediately or if he will appear on upcoming episodes of Dynamite in the short term. There is also no official timeline for how long he will be away.

This is not the first time Page has taken a break from AEW following a major storyline defeat. After AEW Revolution in 2024, he also stepped away from television and returned approximately four months later. That previous absence followed a similar creative direction, making this situation familiar for the former champion.

Page has been a key figure in AEW since its launch in 2019, consistently featured in major storylines and championship programs. His loss at Revolution marks a significant turning point, especially given the added stipulation that removes him from the AEW World Championship picture moving forward.

AEW is set to present the fallout from Revolution on Dynamite, where the company will begin building toward its next major event, Dynasty. Page’s absence, whether immediate or gradual, will likely play a role in shaping upcoming storylines.

For now, the focus remains on how AEW addresses his status on television and how long he will remain away from the ring.

Hangman Adam Page Expected to Take Time Off

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Leila Grey has successfully undergone knee surgery following the torn ACL she suffered in late 2024, confirming the update through social media.

Grey shared the news on her Instagram stories, revealing that the procedure was completed without issues and that her recovery process is already underway.

“Hey guys. I finally had my knee surgery yesterday,” Grey wrote. “Everything went well. I’m home recovering and starting therapy tomorrow. Thank you all for the support during this time.”

The injury dates back to December 6, 2024, when Grey faced Mercedes Moné on AEW Collision. The match resulted in a torn ACL, sidelining her from in-ring competition.

Her path to surgery was not immediate. In January, Grey explained that she was unable to proceed with the operation due to limited range of motion in her knee. She detailed the challenges she faced during that period.

“I still do not have complete range of motion in my leg so I can’t fully extend it, still can’t fully bend my knee,” Grey said. “Because of that, I have to do more prehab. At least another month of prehab, twice a week, and then after that, he said he should be able to operate. It is gonna be a long and lengthy journey to healing. But I am staying positive, I am staying optimistic. My plan is just to be better than even before I left.”

That additional prehabilitation period delayed the procedure but was necessary to improve flexibility and ensure a better surgical outcome. With the surgery now complete, Grey can begin the next phase of recovery, which typically includes physical therapy and gradual rehabilitation.

Before her injury, Grey was featured as part of the Sky Team faction alongside Scorpio Sky, Christopher Daniels, Dante Martin, and Darius Martin across AEW and ROH programming. During her absence, Zayda Steel has joined the group.

There is currently no timetable for Grey’s return, but her update signals a positive step forward after a long delay. Recovery from ACL surgery can take several months, depending on progress in rehabilitation.

Leila Grey Undergoes Knee Surgery After ACL Injury

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