Welcome from the sports desk
Ed: “Fans, welcome back—AEW’s been in overdrive since October 8, with Dynamite, Collision, and the road to WrestleDream all converging.”
Gordon: “Clockwork Carnage, title defenses, charity work, and one of the most emotional retirements we’ve seen in a while. Let’s open with the headlines.”
Headlines
- Zack Gowen announces retirement The former WWE star, known for wrestling with one leg and inspiring a generation, officially announced his retirement from in‑ring competition, reflecting on his journey and thanking fans and peers for their support.
- Adam Copeland replaces injured star in Clockwork Carnage With Jay White injured and unable to compete, Adam Copeland has stepped into the Clockwork Carnage field, giving AEW’s new signature match a major injection of star power and experience.
- TNA & Swole announce benefit for IBD charity TNA and Big Swole have teamed up to run a benefit event for inflammatory bowel disease charities, highlighting Swole’s own health journey and the industry’s ability to rally around real‑world causes.
Gordon: “From the WrestleDream go‑home Dynamite to Collision in Paris and the weekend loop, AEW’s schedule has been packed.”
AEW Dynamite/Collision — October 14, 2026
Final Dynamite before WrestleDream — three‑hour supershow
Death Riders vs Don Callis Family
The night opened with a trios clash: Moxley, Garcia & Kidd against Wardlow, Mark Davis & Jake Doyle. The crowd in Cleveland erupted for Wardlow, and the match built slowly before exploding into heavier exchanges. Garcia tried to muscle Davis, Mox tested Wardlow, and Marina Shafir even got a pop for taking a swipe at Dunkzilla. The shocker: Davis pinned Moxley, giving the Callis Family a rare win over the Death Riders.
Winner: Don Callis Family Grade: B
Adam Copeland vs Josh Alexander — Clockwork Carnage Qualifier
Copeland and Alexander wrestled a measured, technical bout early, with Alexander targeting the leg and using a Spear of his own to nearly steal it. Copeland recovered, hit his Spear, and punched his ticket to Clockwork Carnage. Callis confronted him afterward, leading to a DCF ambush until Takeshita and the Conglomeration made the save.
Winner: Adam Copeland Grade: B‑
Brian Cage vs Konosuke Takeshita — Clockwork Carnage Qualifier
Already in the ring from the post‑match chaos, Cage and Takeshita tore into each other. Cage leaned on power, Takeshita answered with speed and precision. A top‑rope hurricanrana from Cage stunned the crowd, but Takeshita locked in a dragon sleeper to secure his WrestleDream spot.
Winner: Konosuke Takeshita Grade: B
Kazuchika Okada vs Myron Reed — International Title & Clockwork Carnage Qualifier
Reed’s pace forced Okada to adjust, but the Rainmaker slowed things down and punished Reed’s risks. Reed lasted longer than expected, landing sharp counters and a standout superkick, but Okada eventually drilled him with the Rainmaker to retain and qualify.
Winner: Kazuchika Okada Grade: B‑
Triangle of Madness vs Mercedes Moné & Divine Dominion
With Swerve absent, Mojo Brookzz, the comedian, joined the New Level and Prince Nana for a pre‑match promo. In the ring, Thekla, Skye Blue & Julia Hart battled Moné, Bayne & Kross. Thekla and Moné opened with crisp exchanges, but the match ended with Thekla stomping Kross for the win — giving her momentum heading into her PPV title shot.
Winners: Triangle of Madness Grade: B‑
Dynamite Main Event: Will Ospreay & Andrade El Idolo vs Tommaso Ciampa & Samoa Joe
Two WrestleDream singles matches merged into a tag war. Ciampa baited Andrade before tagging in Joe, and the unlikely pairing worked surprisingly well. Ospreay dazzled with a twisting moonsault off Andrade’s back, but Joe ended it by choking out Andrade.
Winners: Ciampa & Joe Grade: B+
Ricochet vs Ace Austin — Clockwork Carnage Qualifier
A blistering, high‑speed duel with technical exchanges and creative counters. Austin impressed again, but Ricochet’s athletic edge carried him through — finishing with a decisive sequence to secure his WrestleDream entry.
Winner: Ricochet Grade: B+
Persephone & Britt Baker vs Dani Luna & Hyan
Luna stunned the TBS Champion at the bell with a dropkick, and the newcomers fought uphill against two established stars. A miscommunication between Baker and Persephone opened the door, and Luna rolled up Baker for the upset. A post‑match beatdown was cut short by Queen Aminata’s save.
Winners: Dani Luna & Hyan Grade: C+
Collision Main Event: Darby Allin vs Hechicero — TNT Title & Clockwork Carnage Qualifier
A hybrid of lucha grappling and Darby’s reckless intensity. Hechicero grounded Allin with joint work, but Darby fought back with speed and impact. Two Coffin Drops sealed the win and sent Darby to WrestleDream. Callis Family attacked afterward, but United Empire and Copeland cleared the ring.
Winner: Darby Allin (retains & qualifies) Grade: B+
Final Word
A stacked supershow that locked in most of the Clockwork Carnage field, advanced multiple WrestleDream stories, and delivered standout performances from Allin, Ricochet, Okada, and the Ciampa/Joe pairing. The teased arrival of Ilja Dragunov added an extra spark heading into the PPV.
Overall Grade: B
AEW news & rumors
- Zack Gowen retirement reaction AEW talent and staff publicly praised Gowen’s resilience and influence, with several sharing stories about how his run inspired them.
- Clockwork Carnage field solidified With Copeland in, Ricochet and Bailey qualified, and Joe already in from Dynamite, the match is being framed as AEW’s new chaos centerpiece.
- TNA & Swole benefit crossover chatter AEW names have quietly expressed interest in supporting the IBD charity event, underscoring how cross‑promotional goodwill can exist even amid competitive schedules.
Undertaker vs Mankind — Hell in a Cell (King of the Ring 1998)
Ed: “Before we close, we go back to one of the most seared‑into‑memory matches in wrestling history.”
On June 28, 1998, at King of the Ring, The Undertaker faced Mankind in a Hell in a Cell match that became iconic for two moments:
- Mankind being thrown off the top of the cell through the announce table.
- Later, being chokeslammed through the roof to the ring below.
Beyond the falls, the match symbolized something deeper: the willingness of both men to push physical storytelling to its limit, and the way a single bout can redefine what fans think is possible inside a structure like the Cell.
Gordon: “It wasn’t just spectacle—it was a turning point in how danger, drama, and character could intersect in one match.”
Closing from the sports desk
Ed: “So in one sweep, we’ve seen AEW tighten the screws before WrestleDream—Dynamite locking in Clockwork Carnage, Collision delivering Paris chaos, and both keeping everyone sharp.”
Gordon: “Layer that with Zack Gowen’s retirement, Copeland stepping into the fire, TNA and Swole turning pain into purpose, and the shadow of Undertaker vs Mankind reminding us how far this art form has gone—and still can go.”
Ed: “We’ll be right here at the sports desk when the next bell rings and the next chapter unfolds.”
Gordon: “Until then, we will keep our notes close, our replays queued, and our heart tuned to the stories that make you mark out.”