Chairshot Wrestling News Report (10/22/2026): Blood & Guts Set, Dragunov Wins AEW Debut & Young Bucks Stunned

AEW announces Blood & Guts, Ilja Dragunov wins his Dynamite debut, the Young Bucks suffer a shocking loss, and TNA prepares a major title match.

AEW made several significant announcements during Wednesday’s Dynamite, including the confirmation of a 12-man Blood & Guts match for November 4. The Don Callis Family’s increasingly aggressive pursuit of AEW’s championships brought several rivalries together, with Will Ospreay, Adam Copeland, Darby Allin and the returning Steven Borden joining forces against the faction.

The evening also featured Ilja Dragunov’s successful AEW in-ring debut against Mike Bailey, a shocking defeat for World Tag Team Champions the Young Bucks, and an unexpected alliance between Jay White’s Bang Bang Gang and The Dogs. Meanwhile, Queen Aminata earned a TBS Championship opportunity, and Swerve Strickland demanded a dangerous stipulation for his World Trios Championship rematch.

Elsewhere, TNA Wrestling prepares for Thursday’s Impact with a two-out-of-three-falls International Championship match between Jason Hotch and Mustafa Ali. Pro Wrestling NOAH is also approaching a major weekend, with Tetsuya Naito defending the GHC Heavyweight Championship against OZAWA at Wrestle Odyssey II.

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

AEW Announces 12-Man Blood & Guts Match as Steven Borden Returns

AEW’s next Blood & Guts match is officially scheduled for November 4 in Jacksonville, Florida, following an explosive confrontation between the Don Callis Family and several of the company’s leading champions. Wednesday’s Dynamite established the participants for the 12-man encounter, bringing together rivalries involving the World, International, TNT and World Tag Team Championships.

The match will feature AEW World Champion Will Ospreay, Adam Copeland, TNT Champion Darby Allin, Steven Borden and World Tag Team Champions Matt and Nick Jackson against the Don Callis Family’s Kazuchika Okada, Kyle Fletcher, Kevin Knight, Wardlow, Mark Davis and Jake Doyle.

The announcement followed Fletcher and Knight’s victory over Ospreay and Copeland. Although the World Champion and his partner worked effectively together for much of the match, interference from International Champion Kazuchika Okada proved decisive. Okada struck Copeland with his championship belt, allowing Fletcher to capitalize with a brainbuster and secure the pinfall.

The Callis Family continued attacking both men after the bell, with Wardlow, Davis and Doyle joining the assault. Fletcher eventually struck Ospreay with the World Championship belt, leaving the champion vulnerable as Callis celebrated his faction’s dominance.

Darby Allin interrupted the attack, but he wasn’t alone. Steven Borden returned alongside the TNT Champion, carrying a baseball bat and helping fight off members of the Callis Family. Nick Jackson also joined the confrontation, allowing the opposing wrestlers to finally clear the ring.

Borden then issued the challenge for Blood & Guts, which Callis subsequently accepted. The announcement immediately established one of AEW’s largest television matches of the fall, with Full Gear scheduled just ten days later.

The composition of the teams is particularly interesting because several participants have their own unresolved issues. Ospreay and Copeland recently competed against each other in WrestleDream’s Clockwork Carnage match, while the Young Bucks have their own championship problems involving Davis and Doyle.

Those tensions will have to be set aside against a faction that has demonstrated considerable strength in numbers. For Callis, the match offers an opportunity to weaken several champions simultaneously while positioning his wrestlers for future title opportunities.

READ: Steven Mitchell’s AEW Dynamite Results, Recap, & Report!

AEW Dynamite Results — October 21, 2026

AEW presented Dynamite from the Watsco Center in Coral Gables, Florida, featuring seven matches and several major developments following WrestleDream. Ilja Dragunov made his successful in-ring debut, the Young Bucks suffered a surprising defeat, and Jay White’s unexpected alliance with The Dogs dramatically altered AEW’s faction landscape.

• AEW World Tag Team Championship Eliminator — Mark Davis & Jake Doyle def. The Young Bucks
• Kyle Fletcher & Kevin Knight def. Will Ospreay & Adam Copeland
• Swerve Strickland def. Tome Filip
• Jay White & Orange Cassidy def. Wheeler Yuta & Daniel Garcia
• AEW Continental Championship Eliminator — Jon Moxley def. Roderick Strong
• TBS Championship No. 1 Contender Match — Queen Aminata def. Maya World
• Ilja Dragunov def. Mike Bailey

Mark Davis and Jake Doyle delivered one of the evening’s biggest surprises, defeating World Tag Team Champions the Young Bucks in less than three minutes. Although the titles weren’t at stake, the victory earned the Don Callis Family representatives a future championship opportunity. Elsewhere, Ilja Dragunov closed the broadcast with an impressive victory over Mike Bailey, surviving a physically demanding contest before finishing his opponent with consecutive D-Bomb strikes. The former NXT Champion now has his first AEW victory, although his next opponent remains unannounced.

Jay White and Orange Cassidy defeated Wheeler Yuta and Daniel Garcia, but their temporary partnership collapsed later in the evening. Following Jon Moxley’s victory over Roderick Strong, Clark Connors and David Finlay attacked members of the Death Riders before White and the Bang Bang Gang revealed their alliance with The Dogs. White turned on Cassidy, Gabe Kidd was attacked by his former associates, and the confrontation ended with White delivering the Blade Runner to Moxley. The betrayal establishes a dangerous new faction alignment while creating several potential rivalries involving the Continental Champion.

Queen Aminata defeated the returning Maya World to earn a TBS Championship opportunity against Persephone on next week’s Fright Night Dynamite. Mercedes Moné also faced a new potential challenger when Marina Shafir interrupted her championship celebration, although no match has been announced. The women’s tag team picture grew more complicated as Divine Dominion and Triangle of Madness attacked wrestlers involved in the upcoming Full Gear championship program.

Swerve Strickland made quick work of Tome Filip before confronting World Trios Champions Hangman Adam Page, Bandido and Brody King about a rematch. Strickland demanded that the championship encounter take place at Full Gear under Texas Death rules, invoking his violent history with Page. Although Page agreed that the former champions deserved another opportunity, he refused the stipulation, leaving the terms of the rematch unresolved. With Full Gear approaching on November 14, AEW has several championship programs developing alongside its newly announced Blood & Guts match.

Dragon Lee Reportedly Signs New Long-Term WWE Contract

Dragon Lee will reportedly remain with WWE after agreeing to a new contract, ending speculation about his future as his previous agreement approached expiration. According to PWInsider, the former NXT North American Champion has reached a new deal with the company, with sources indicating that the agreement could run for five years. WWE has not publicly confirmed the contract’s duration or financial terms.

The news comes during one of Lee’s most prominent stretches on Monday Night Raw, where he has become a regular contender for the Intercontinental Championship. He most recently challenged Chad Gable in a Triple Threat Match also involving Rey Mysterio, with Gable retaining the championship. Lee has also held the WWE Speed Championship and World Tag Team Championship alongside AJ Styles, giving him accomplishments across multiple divisions.

His reported extension is particularly noteworthy because his brothers, Rush and Dralistico, compete for AEW, and questions about their respective contract situations had fueled speculation about a possible family reunion outside WWE. For now, Lee appears committed to continuing his WWE career, where his recent performances have established him as a consistent presence in the Intercontinental Championship picture. A long-term agreement would give both Lee and WWE an opportunity to build on that momentum.

TNA Impact Preview — October 22, 2026: Hotch vs. Ali in Two-Out-of-Three Falls

TNA Wrestling returns to AMC Thursday with an episode of Impact featuring an International Championship defense, an X-Division Championship opportunity and the return of Director of Operations Daria Rae.

The featured championship match will see Jason Hotch defend the TNA International Championship against Mustafa Ali in a two-out-of-three-falls encounter. Their rivalry has become increasingly personal following the breakdown of their relationship within Order 4, making the stipulation an appropriate escalation.

Hotch enters as champion after the developments surrounding Bound For Glory, while Ali is attempting to reclaim the championship from his former associate. Requiring two falls should provide both wrestlers with opportunities to demonstrate their abilities while preventing the match from being decided by a single unexpected pinfall.

The X-Division will also receive considerable attention when Rich Swann, KC Navarro, Cedric Alexander and Fabian Aichner compete in a four-way match. The winner will earn a future opportunity at the X-Division Championship.

The lineup brings together four competitors with different approaches, ranging from Swann’s aerial offense to Aichner’s power-based style. With a championship opportunity available, the match could establish another significant program for TNA’s traditionally competitive division.

Daria Rae is scheduled to open the broadcast following her suspension. Her ongoing issues with Indi Hartwell remain unresolved, and her return could have consequences for several wrestlers involved in the company’s management storylines.

The Knockouts division will also receive attention when Allie and Kiera Hogan address their recent loss of the Knockouts World Tag Team Championship. Their comments should provide a clearer indication of whether they intend to pursue a rematch or move toward separate opportunities.

Another advertised match features Avery Styles making his singles debut against Joe Alonzo, with Frankie Kazarian accompanying Styles to ringside. The encounter gives Styles an opportunity to establish himself independently while continuing his association with Kazarian.

Thursday’s episode was recorded at the Dothan Civic Center in Alabama and will air on AMC and TNA+. With several championships and rivalries involved, the broadcast should provide a clearer picture of TNA’s immediate direction following Bound For Glory.

AJ Francis Praises Carlos Silva While Criticizing TNA’s Previous Leadership

AJ Francis believes TNA Wrestling has benefited from a change in leadership, particularly in how the company evaluates its performers and recognizes their contributions. Speaking with Justin Dhillon of The Wrestling Classic, the former Digital Media Champion praised TNA President Carlos Silva for bringing a more traditional sports-oriented approach to the promotion while criticizing previous management’s handling of championship opportunities.

Francis expressed frustration that he has gone nearly two years without holding a TNA championship, arguing that his contributions have not always received appropriate recognition. He suggested that previous decision-makers were too willing to overlook established performers in favor of newer arrivals, while crediting Silva with recognizing the value he brings to the company. His comments reflected both confidence in his own abilities and optimism about TNA’s current direction.

The interview comes during an important period for TNA, which recently secured its television relationship with AMC and is preparing for another round of talent contract negotiations. Francis views Silva’s leadership as a positive development for the promotion, particularly as it works to strengthen its position in the wrestling industry. Whether that confidence eventually translates into another championship opportunity remains to be seen, but Francis clearly believes the company’s approach to recognizing talent has improved.

Pro Wrestling NOAH Prepares for Naito vs. OZAWA at Wrestle Odyssey II

Pro Wrestling NOAH is preparing for one of its biggest events of the fall, with Wrestle Odyssey II scheduled for Sunday, October 25, at Ryogoku Kokugikan in Tokyo. The nine-match card features six GHC championship matches, headlined by Tetsuya Naito defending the GHC Heavyweight Championship against OZAWA.

Naito captured the championship in August and will be making his first defense against the winner of this year’s N-1 Victory tournament. OZAWA previously held the title and has established himself as one of NOAH’s most prominent competitors, making the match an important test of Naito’s championship reign.

The event also features Kai Fujimura defending the GHC Junior Heavyweight Championship against Dragon Bane, while Naomichi Marufuji will defend the GHC National Championship against Luis Mante.

The GHC Tag Team Championship will be contested in a three-way match, with champions Manabu Soya and Yuki Iino facing Shane Haste and Mikey Nicholls, along with Karl Anderson and Doc Gallows. The involvement of three established teams adds another significant championship attraction to the card.

NOAH has also scheduled a special match billed as The Final Maybach, featuring KENTA and Maybach Taniguchi against Masa Kitamiya and Takashi Sugiura.

The event represents an important opportunity for NOAH to showcase its championship divisions while continuing the rivalry between Naito and OZAWA. With several titles at stake and established international names throughout the lineup, Wrestle Odyssey II should be one of the weekend’s most noteworthy events outside the major American promotions.

Wednesday’s Dynamite established several important directions for AEW, particularly with Blood & Guts now confirmed and multiple championships involved in the Don Callis Family’s ongoing rivalries. Dragunov’s successful debut and the unexpected alliance between Bang Bang Gang and The Dogs also provide fresh developments heading into the company’s next television broadcasts.

Thursday’s focus shifts to TNA, where Jason Hotch and Mustafa Ali will settle another chapter of their rivalry under two-out-of-three-falls rules. With NOAH’s Wrestle Odyssey II approaching Sunday and AEW building toward Full Gear, the coming days offer several meaningful championship developments across the wrestling landscape.

This report includes information from: All Elite Wrestling, TNA Wrestling, Pro Wrestling NOAH, Cageside Seats, PWInsider, Fightful, Wrestling Observer/F4W and The Wrestling Classic.