Chairshot Wrestling News Report: WWE Targets AEW All Out, Mike Santana Nears WWE and TNA Expands Order 4

WWE schedules Worlds Collide opposite AEW All Out, Mike Santana moves closer to WWE, Mila Moore joins Order 4, TNA announces Nic Nemeth title defenses and more.

WWE and AEW are headed toward another direct scheduling battle, this time with competing events taking place in the same market on the same day. Meanwhile, Mike Santana’s latest departure signals have strengthened reports that the former TNA World Champion is headed to WWE.

Elsewhere, Mila Moore joined Mustafa Ali’s Order 4, Nic Nemeth accepted an immediate TNA World Championship challenge before his upcoming match with Jeff Hardy, El Hijo del Vikingo received a lengthy recovery timetable and Sami Callihan reportedly began working behind the scenes for AEW.

It’s the Chairshot Wrestling News Report for July 17, 2026!

WWE Schedules Worlds Collide Opposite AEW All Out

WWE will present its second collaborative Worlds Collide event with AAA on September 26 from Allstate Arena in the Chicago area. AEW All Out will take place that same day at NOW Arena in nearby Hoffman Estates, with AEW advertising a 7 p.m. ET start time.

The scheduling creates a direct decision for wrestling fans in one of the country’s strongest wrestling markets. WWE has not announced a start time or card for Worlds Collide, but tickets are scheduled to go on sale July 24. The move continues WWE’s recent pattern of positioning NXT and AAA programming against major AEW events.

Mike Santana Removed From TNA Roster

Mike Santana is no longer listed on TNA’s official roster page, further indicating that his latest run with the promotion has ended.

Santana dropped the TNA World Championship to Nic Nemeth at Slammiversary and was absent from the company’s post-Slammiversary television tapings. He is reportedly expected to arrive in WWE before the end of the summer, although neither Santana nor WWE has formally announced an agreement.

The 35-year-old has already appeared under the WWE banner through the NXT-TNA partnership, including a six-man tag team match at Madison Square Garden earlier this year.

Does he make an appearance this weekend at Saturday Night’s Main Event in Madison Square Garden?

Mila Moore Joins Mustafa Ali’s Order 4

Mustafa Ali introduced Mila Moore as Order 4’s new “Secretary of Strategic Affairs” during his State of the Order address on Thursday’s episode of TNA Impact.

Ali criticized Tasha Steelz, Jason Hotch and John Skyler for failing to surround his TNA International Championship with additional gold. Moore pledged her allegiance to Ali and immediately appeared to create tension with Steelz, particularly when Ali allowed Moore to hold his championship.

Ali also announced an “International Vote” for next week. Members of the TNA roster will vote to determine who receives the next opportunity at his International Championship.

Nic Nemeth Accepts KC Navarro’s Challenge

KC Navarro confronted TNA World Champion Nic Nemeth and requested a championship match during Thursday’s show. Nemeth agreed to speak with Director of Operations Daria Rae about granting Navarro the opportunity, provided Navarro left him alone. The match was subsequently made official for next Thursday’s Impact.

The episode also established a Righteous Deletion match between TNA World Tag Team Champions The Hardys and The Righteous at the Hardy Compound. Moose and Elijah will face AJ Francis and Frankie Kazarian, while Elayna Black, Wendy Choo, Jada Stone and Alisha Edwards continue the Knockouts Television Championship tournament.

TNA’s injury report listed former Knockouts World Champion Léi Yǐng Lee as out of action with a head injury. Moose was also being evaluated following the post-match attack by Francis and Kazarian.

TNA Impact Results — July 16, 2026

• M by Elegance defeated Rosemary to advance in the Knockouts Television Championship tournament
• Moose defeated AJ Francis by disqualification
• Bear Bronson defeated Ricky Sosa
• Thea Hail defeated Harley Hudson to advance in the Knockouts Television Championship tournament
• Cedric Alexander defeated Fabian Aichner to retain the TNA X-Division Championship

Don’t miss Andrew’ TNA Impact Results & Review for July 16, 2026!

Nic Nemeth Will Defend Against Jeff Hardy

Nemeth’s title match against Navarro will come one week before one of the most significant defenses of his second TNA World Championship reign. Nemeth will defend against Jeff Hardy during the live July 30 episode of Impact from the Liacouras Center in Philadelphia. Although Nemeth and Hardy have previously met in singles competition, this will be their first one-on-one match with a world championship at stake.

Nemeth won the title from Santana at Slammiversary on June 28. Hardy is a three-time former TNA World Champion but has not held the championship since his reign ended in March 2013.

El Hijo del Vikingo Expected to Miss Nine Months

El Hijo del Vikingo reportedly underwent ACL surgery July 7 and is expected to remain out of action for approximately nine months. That timetable would place his potential return around April 2027.

Vikingo was scheduled to wrestle EK Prosper on NXT but suffered the injury while preparing for the match. He was the reigning AAA Latin American Champion at the time, forcing AAA to vacate the championship.

The injury is another significant setback for the 29-year-old, whose explosive wrestling style has already been altered by previous knee issues.

Sami Callihan Reportedly Working Backstage for AEW

Former TNA World Champion Sami Callihan has reportedly been working as a backstage producer at recent AEW events. Callihan began working with AEW during the July 8 Beach Break episode of Dynamite and was also backstage for subsequent Dynamite and Collision events. He is believed to be working without a formal contract.

TNA released Callihan in June as part of a workforce reduction. He had transitioned into a backstage role with the company after retiring from in-ring competition during the summer of 2025.

AEW Announces Collision Lineup

Hikaru Shida will defend the TBS Championship against Queen Aminata on Saturday’s episode of AEW Collision.

Jack Perry will begin rebuilding his pursuit of the AEW World Championship when he faces Nick Wayne. Tommaso Ciampa will also compete against an opponent who had not been announced when the card was revealed.

The episode was taped Thursday in Boston and will air Saturday.

Don’t miss Mitchell’s Collision Live Results & Coverage this Saturday!

WWE placing Worlds Collide against All Out shows that the fight for wrestling fans’ attention is no longer limited to television ratings. Fans in Chicago will be choosing between two live events, while viewers elsewhere may have to decide which company gets their money and attention first.

TNA delivered the busiest night of actual storyline movement. Moore’s addition gives Order 4 a fresh internal dynamic, Navarro receives an unexpected opportunity and Nemeth now has two title defenses scheduled within seven days. The match with Hardy is the bigger attraction, but Navarro has the chance to make himself considerably more important before TNA reaches Philadelphia.

Santana’s expected move may ultimately be the development with the largest long-term impact. He rebuilt his standing through TNA, reached the top of the company and now appears positioned to test himself on WWE’s larger stage.