Welcome to the latest edition of Sportskeeda Wrestling’s AEW News & Rumor Roundup. Today, we’re covering stories involving top wrestling stars, including the late PAC and Jon Moxley, among others.
A wrestling legend has confirmed he’ll retire next year. Meanwhile, new details have emerged about PAC’s sudden passing, and Jon Moxley has a new tag team partner in AEW. We’ve got exciting news to cover today, so without further delay, let’s get this roundup underway.
#5. MVP confirms he will retire in 2027
MVP has officially announced plans to retire from in-ring competition next year. The former WWE United States and Tag Team Champion joined AEW in 2024 and later aligned with Shelton Benjamin and Bobby Lashley to reform The Hurt Business (now Hurt Syndicate). Although the group remains active on AEW programming, MVP confirmed on a recent episode of his Marking Out podcast that his storied 25-year career inside the squared circle is coming to a close.
“I mean, you know, the average career of a WWE wrestler when I was there… Five years, the average career. So the fact that I’ve been able to make money in this space for two and a half decades, I think that speaks a lot. So I bet on myself and I was able to succeed everywhere I went. And here I am all these years later, still succeeding, still making money in wrestling, still contributing, and I’m having fun still…And now we’ve talked about it, like I think next year I’m hanging the boots up for good.” [H/T RSN]
Meanwhile, the legend has not competed in an official AEW match in nearly a year, with his last in-ring appearance on October 22, when The Hurt Syndicate challenged The Opps for the AEW World Trios Championships.
#4. Adam Copeland reportedly set to compete in Tokyo Dome
Adam Copeland is reportedly preparing to check off another iconic arena on his personal career bucket list. Earlier this year, the Rated-R Superstar revealed a curated list of world-famous venues he hoped to perform in before calling time on his legendary career. Having already checked off Arena Mexico, Wembley Stadium, and the grounds of Toronto’s original Maple Leaf Gardens at the Mattamy Athletic Center during MLP Northern Rising, report details indicate his next destination could be in Japan.
Speaking on a recent episode of Wrestling Observer Radio, Dave Meltzer reported that Cope is aiming to wrestle at the world-famous Tokyo Dome. Meltzer noted that competing at the Dome remains one of the final items on Cope’s bucket list, suggesting that an appearance at New Japan Pro-Wrestling’s annual Wrestle Kingdom event at the Dome is a strong possibility for the veteran.
#3. Mick Foley shuts down major rumor about his WWE departure
Mick Foley has clarified the circumstances of his departure from WWE and his subsequent move to All Elite Wrestling. Speaking on Wrestling on the Spectrum, Foley addressed persistent internet rumors that he let his WWE Legends contract expire specifically to join Tony Khan’s promotion. Foley firmly shut down these rumors, confirming that he had no prior knowledge of AEW’s interest in him when he decided to walk away from his WWE deal.
The Hardcore Legend explained that his initial decision to exit his WWE contract stemmed entirely from a desire to pursue independent endeavors, including his one-man speaking shows, convention appearances, and fan autograph signings. Only after his agent, Barry Bloom, held exploratory discussions with Tony Khan did Foley learn that Khan believed the veteran legend could bring immense value to the company.
“Well, you know, I want to make it clear, my decision to end my Legends deal had nothing to do with AEW. I, you know, previously had not heard of any interest. So, I had my own thing I was doing and I had a one-man show. I enjoy attending conventions and signings…“And then my manager, agent, Barry Bloom, said he was talking to Tony Khan about me. And Tony said that I was the type of person he thought could be beneficial to AEW. That opened up the talks. And my role is still to be determined,” said Foley. [H/T RSN]
#2. Jon Moxley gets a brand new tag team partner for upcoming AEW show
Jon Moxley is set to team with a new tag team partner for an upcoming high-profile match. At AEW Grand Slam France, Tony Khan officially announced on X that the Death Riders leader will team with Gabe Kidd for the first time. The hard-hitting pair will take on the Don Callis Family tandem of Mark Davis and Jake Doyle, with Doyle seeking immediate retribution after his singles loss to Moxley on Collision.
The newly announced tag team match stems from major tensions between the Death Riders and the Don Callis Family. After the reigning Continental Champion’s victory over Doyle, Davis and Doyle immediately challenged the Death Riders to a match on international soil in Paris.
#1. New reports surface from the police department regarding PAC’s d*ath
New official details have emerged regarding the sudden, tragic passing of PAC (Benjamin Satterley). According to a police incident report obtained by the California Post from the Des Plaines Police Department in Illinois, officers found the 40-year-old wrestler unresponsive inside his parked vehicle outside a CAVA restaurant on September 27, just 24 hours after All Out in Chicago concluded.
The newly released police documentation revealed that officers observed dried saliva around the front of Satterley’s shirt and found prescription medications inside the vehicle. Satterley’s mobile phone was still active on Google Maps, showing a route toward O’Hare International Airport. Although law enforcement previously ruled out foul play at the scene, the officer’s report noted that the phone rang during the investigation.
Official cause of death determinations remain pending as medical examiners await full toxicology reports following the initial autopsy.
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Edited by Karan Raj