Chairshot Wrestling News Report (7/22/2206): Mike Santana Arrives in NXT, AEW Loads Final Dynamite Before Redemption

Mike Santana confronts NXT Champion Tony D’Angelo, AEW prepares for Redemption, the G1 Climax continues and TNA loads Thursday’s Impact.

Mike Santana made his long-anticipated arrival as a (assumed) full-time NXT presence, confronting NXT Champion Tony D’Angelo after Tuesday’s main event.

Elsewhere, AEW finalized a championship-heavy Dynamite before Redemption, SANADA pinned the IWGP World Heavyweight Champion during the G1 Climax, TNA prepared two major title matches for Thursday and Athena reached another historic milestone.

It’s the Chairshot Wrestling News Report for July 22, 2026!

Mike Santana Confronts NXT Champion Tony D’Angelo

Mike Santana appeared after Tony D’Angelo successfully defended the NXT Championship against Naraku in a Street Fight. Santana walked onto the stage and stared down the champion, immediately positioning himself as the next major threat to D’Angelo’s reign.

The moment carried additional significance because Santana had previously appeared on NXT as a representative of TNA. After recently leaving TNA and disappearing from the company’s roster page, his return now appears to mark the beginning of a new chapter rather than another crossover appearance.

D’Angelo ended his issue with Naraku by driving him through a table to retain the championship. Jaida Parker defeated Nattie after Thea Hail threw in the towel, while Kendal Grey and Lola Vice agreed to meet in an NXT Underground Match on August 4.

WWE NXT Results — July 21, 2026

• DarkState defeated Saquon Shugars, Noam Dar and Romeo Moreno
• Keanu Carver defeated Hank Walker
• Jaida Parker defeated Nattie
• Shawn Spears defeated Niko Vance by disqualification
• Reina Volcan defeated Skylar Raye
• Tony D’Angelo defeated Naraku in a Street Fight to retain the NXT Championship

Don’t miss Mitchell’s WWE NXT Coverage for July 21!

AEW Dynamite Sets Final Stage for Redemption

Kevin Knight will defend the TNT Championship against Darby Allin on Wednesday’s Dynamite, only four days before Knight challenges Kenny Omega for the AEW World Championship at Redemption.

Omega will team with Will Ospreay and Jon Moxley against Brian Cage, Hechicero and Jake Doyle of the Don Callis Family. Jay White will also face Clark Connors as AEW presents its final Dynamite before Sunday’s pay-per-view in Montreal.

AEW Women’s Tag Team Champions Megan Bayne and Lena Kross will defend against Julia Hart and Skye Blue in a No Disqualification Match. AEW Women’s World Champion Thekla and upcoming challenger Willow Nightingale will also meet face-to-face before their Redemption title match.

AEW Dynamite Lineup — July 22, 2026

• AEW TNT Championship – Kevin Knight (c) vs. Darby Allin
• AEW Women’s World Tag Team Championship No Disqualification Match – Megan Bayne and Lena Kross (c) vs. Julia Hart and Skye Blue
• Kenny Omega, Will Ospreay and Jon Moxley vs. Brian Cage, Hechicero and Jake Doyle
• Jay White vs. Clark Connors
• Thekla and Willow Nightingale face-to-face

SANADA Pins IWGP Champion During G1 Climax

SANADA defeated IWGP World Heavyweight Champion Yota Tsuji during Tuesday’s G1 Climax event, securing an important A Block victory and placing himself in position for a future championship opportunity.

Boltin Oleg defeated Shingo Takagi in the main event to move to four points. Konosuke Takeshita, Ryohei Oiwa and Jake Lee also improved to four points through victories over Yuto-Ice, Great-O-Khan and Hirooki Goto.

NJPW G1 Climax 36 Results — July 21, 2026

• Boltin Oleg defeated Shingo Takagi
• SANADA defeated Yota Tsuji
• Konosuke Takeshita defeated Yuto-Ice
• Ryohei Oiwa defeated Great-O-Khan
• Jake Lee defeated Hirooki Goto

Simon Miller Joins AEW’s The Last Match Production

Simon Miller has joined the cast of AEW Presents The Last Match, the professional wrestling rock musical scheduled to premiere in London’s West End this fall. The WhatCulture personality and active wrestler will portray Alexander Swagger, an arrogant superstar who believes he is the biggest attraction in the business.

The production combines live wrestling, original rock music and theatrical storytelling centered around a veteran wrestler preparing for the final match of his career. AEW announced its partnership with the project in June, marking the company’s first move into original musical theater.

Miller is a natural fit for an experiment designed to connect wrestling with a broader entertainment audience. His online following gives the production another recognizable name, while the deliberately obnoxious Alexander Swagger character allows him to display a very different side from the relentlessly positive personality familiar to WhatCulture viewers.

Athena Surpasses Roman Reigns’ Modern-Era Championship Mark

Athena reached 1,317 days as ROH Women’s World Champion, moving past the 1,316-day Universal Championship reign Roman Reigns completed at WrestleMania 40.

Athena won the championship from Mercedes Martinez at Final Battle in December 2022. The debate over how to compare championship reigns across promotions will continue, but Athena’s run is already the longest in Ring of Honor history and has now exceeded one of WWE’s defining modern title reigns.

Santana’s appearance gives NXT another experienced main-event wrestler without forcing him to rebuild from the bottom. His history with TNA and previous NXT appearances are already established, allowing WWE to move directly into a championship program with D’Angelo.

Knight faces the most demanding week of anyone in AEW. He must defend one championship against Allin before challenging Omega for another, creating a legitimate possibility that he could reach Redemption without the TNT title—or leave Montreal carrying two championships.

SANADA’s victory is exactly what the G1 is designed to create. Pinning the world champion does not immediately change the title picture, but it gives SANADA a claim that will remain relevant long after the tournament standings are settled.