The September 10 episode of AEW Dynamite attracted 584,000 viewers on TBS, marking an increase from 472,000 viewers on the September 3 broadcast. The show achieved a 0.12 rating in the 18–49 demographic, slightly up from 0.11 the prior week. Dynamite was also simulcast on HBO Max, though no official streaming figures have been shared.
Bryan Danielson Compares AEW and WWE Styles and Characters
AEW broadcaster and former WWE Superstar Bryan Danielson recently discussed differences between AEW and WWE programming during an appearance on the Downunder the Ring podcast. He noted that AEW’s wrestling features more in-ring action characterized by harder hitting and a higher-flying style, which creates a more exciting product compared to WWE’s emphasis on drama and actions outside the ring.
Danielson also highlighted how AEW wrestlers tend to portray characters closer to real-life personalities, enriching the wrestling experience with more nuance:
“Also, wrestling is character-based. One of the things I like about AEW, and that I loved working there, is that the characters you see on TV are closer to people in real life. It’s not quite as cartoony. [AEW wrestlers] have a little bit more nuance when they do things, and you have to say, there’s always going to be exceptions in both companies whenever you say these types of things, and people will say, ‘Oh, Brian’s bashing WWE.’ I’m not saying that at all. There are different ways of doing things, right? But I think it’s more genuine, and I think the people within AEW, because of how Tony runs it, are closer to the characters that they want to be, the characters that they desire to be. So, yeah, that’s what I would say about that.”
— Bryan Danielson, AEW Broadcaster and Former WWE Superstar
Danielson’s Lighthearted Takes on AEW Wrestlers Facing a Bear
During the podcast, Danielson humorously speculated which AEW wrestlers could defeat a bear, depending on match conditions. He suggested that a straight wrestling match would favor the bear, but gimmick matches might give wrestlers an edge. For example, Swerve Strickland’s prowess in hardcore matches could enable him to prevail in such an unusual contest:
“So, it depends on what kind of match it is. If it’s a straight match, the bear wins. If it’s a gimmick match, like a Hardcore Match, I swear, Swerve is the craziest Hardcore Match wrestler that I’ve ever seen. So, he would staple that bear in the tongue or something like that, and so, yeah, it depends on the style of match. You get a straight old wrestling match? I bet the bear wins. You get any shenanigans or that sort of thing? Swerve wins.”
— Bryan Danielson, AEW Broadcaster and Former WWE Superstar
Danielson also opined on other wrestlers’ chances:
“I think Hangman has more experience with rounding up animals, so I think he does better in a straight match than Swerve.”
— Bryan Danielson, AEW Broadcaster and Former WWE Superstar
“He gets destroyed by a bear. I’m sorry, Australia. If all of you Sydney people love Kyle Fletcher because he’s from Sydney and all that. He’s also a beautiful man. I heard the word on the street is that Taylor Swift is very interested in Kyle Fletcher, even though she just got engaged, but that said, Kyle Fletcher could not defeat a bear.”
— Bryan Danielson, AEW Broadcaster and Former WWE Superstar
“She could beat a bear. Straight one-on-one? She could beat a bear. No questions asked.”
— Bryan Danielson, AEW Broadcaster and Former WWE Superstar
“Given the state of Kenny Omega right now? Even [if he was healthy] still. I love Kenny Omega. Kenny is probably one of my favorite wrestlers to watch ever. I vote for the bear just because I can’t unthink of how bad his stomach is, and I just envisioned, as soon as you said it, a bear ripping open his stomach.”
— Bryan Danielson, AEW Broadcaster and Former WWE Superstar
“I think a bear defeats her soundly. I was going to make a joke about the Beast Mortos, but I’ll just leave it at that.”
— Bryan Danielson, AEW Broadcaster and Former WWE Superstar
Eddie Kingston Responds to Big Bill’s Challenge Amid Recovery
Big Bill recently called out Eddie Kingston on AEW Collision, targeting someone from New York City and accusing them of only pretending to be tough. Kingston, sidelined since May 2024 due to multiple leg injuries, responded on Threads by confirming his readiness to return to the ring if the money is right:
“So got the phone call and the money is right, contract is signed on my end. So Big Bill, you dumb goofy bastard, just send location.”
— Eddie Kingston, AEW Wrestler
Kingston’s absence followed leg injuries sustained during NJPW STRONG Resurgence in May 2024, leading to surgery in July. His rehabilitation was delayed significantly due to insurance complications, which he detailed during training with Cezar Bononi. Kingston explained that insurance disputes resulted in limited physical therapy availability, despite his efforts to comply fully with payments:
“After that, I was like doing my insurance, but they would give six days of PT and then wait two weeks for my insurance to kick back in to cover the next six. Wait two weeks, sometimes three weeks, and then it would kick back in. I’m doing stuff at home, but it’s not the same stuff as I’m getting there. All it was were squats and deadlifts with a sandbag. That’s all I knew to do. At one point, it became two months. That was it. Arguing with them on email, my exact words were, ‘Do I pay every month? Yes. Do I ever disturb or do anything to fuck up this company? No, I don’t. If I’m paying and I’m not doing anything wrong, why the fuck are you bothering me?’ They never answered back. I just waited and then got the insurance finally in place.”
— Eddie Kingston, AEW Wrestler
Kingston credited Tony Khan for resolving issues with his insurance provider, which covered the costs of his knee surgery after initial refusal to pay.
AEW Secures Five-Year Partnership to Continue Touring Australia
AEW has reportedly secured a five-year agreement with TEGSport to ensure continued touring in Australia. The deal was announced by Wrestle Radio Australia host Lachlan Albert, who emphasized the excitement surrounding this long-term partnership. According to Albert, the contract likely covers multiple future AEW events starting from 2025 and continuing at least through 2030.
“I was told how exciting it is from TEGSport’s perspective that they’ve got this five-year deal with AEW, so AEW will continue to return to Australia over that five-year period. Presumably speaking about last year being the first year of the deal, 2026 being the second year, presumably three more years into the future of a deal between TEGSport and AEW to bring AEW to Australia.”
— Lachlan Albert, Wrestle Radio Australia Host
TEGSport, a division of TEG, specializes in expanding major global brands into markets including Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, Thailand, the United Kingdom, and the United States. AEW made its Australian debut with AEW Grand Slam Australia in February 2025, indicating the promotion’s commitment to growing its international presence. Upcoming shows include Grand Slam Australia at Sydney’s Qudos Bank Arena on February 14, 2026, and House Rules at the Brisbane Entertainment Centre on February 15, 2026.
New AEW Collision Matchups Announced Following Daniel Garcia’s Turn
Following Daniel Garcia’s surprising heel turn on AEW Dynamite, where he aligned with Jon Moxley and the Death Riders by attacking Darby Allin, AEW President Tony Khan confirmed a tag team matchup for the upcoming AEW Collision episode. Garcia and Moxley will face The Paragon, consisting of Kyle O’Reilly and Roderick Strong, adding intense drama to Saturday’s card.
Additional matches confirmed for the September 13 episode include:
- FTR (Dax Harwood & Cash Wheeler) versus Adam Priest and Tommy Billington
- AEW Unified Championship Tournament Matches: Kazuchika Okada vs. Michael Oku, and Konosuke Takeshita vs. Anthony Bowens
- Tag team battle featuring TayJay (Anna Jay & Tay Melo), Jamie Hayter, Kris Statlander, and Harley Cameron versus Triangle of Madness (Thekla, Skye Blue, & Julia Hart) alongside Megan Bayne and Penelope Ford, with Toni Storm on commentary
- The Death Riders (Jon Moxley & Daniel Garcia) vs. The Paragon (Kyle O’Reilly & Roderick Strong)
- Mark Briscoe will decide the stipulation for his match against MJF at AEW All Out, with MJF scheduled to appear
Tony Khan highlighted the significance of the Garcia and Moxley team-up following Garcia’s betrayal:
Saturday #AEWCollision 8pm ET/7pm CT/6pm MT/5pm PT THIS SATURDAY, 9/13! Paragon vs Death Riders After Daniel Garcia blindsided Darby Allin + joined the Death Riders at #AEWDynamite, Moxley + Garcia will team to collide vs Garcia’s former friends O’Reilly + Strong THIS SATURDAY! pic.twitter.com/cdMtaGJ6sG
— Tony Khan, AEW President
Mercedes Mone Shines at New York Fashion Week
On September 11, Mercedes Mone took to the runway at New York Fashion Week for Jeffrey Kelly Design’s show, reaffirming her presence beyond wrestling as a fashion icon. Mone previously appeared at NYFW in 2022, demonstrating her growing influence in style circles while maintaining her role as AEW TBS Champion. Fans responded enthusiastically to her striking appearance, including her wig and outfit choices for the event.
Significance and Upcoming Developments in AEW
Tony Khan’s intervention to cover surgery costs for Eddie Kingston amid insurance delays underscores AEW’s commitment to its talent’s welfare during times of injury, an issue that has historically threatened many wrestlers’ careers. The company’s new five-year deal with TEGSport ensures that AEW will maintain and grow its presence in key international markets like Australia, accelerating its global expansion strategy.
On the programming front, Daniel Garcia’s shocking betrayal and subsequent pairing with Jon Moxley intensifies ongoing storylines, positioning AEW Collision as a critical platform for unfolding drama heading into AEW All Out. Meanwhile, Mercedes Mone’s crossover into fashion highlights AEW’s ability to build multidimensional stars who resonate both inside and outside the ring.
As AEW continues to evolve, fans can expect a blend of high-stakes wrestling, character depth, and international outreach driving the company’s momentum well into the coming years.
