AEW Unrestricted (2020)

Will & Ref Aubrey break down their favorite AEW TV matches of 2023 including the Tribute to Jay Briscoe on Dynamite; the FTR vs The Bullet Club Gold Best of 3 Falls on Collision; the BCC-Best Friends Parking Lot Street Fight on Rampage; Bryan Danielson & Rush’s bloody battle on AEW Dynamite Fight Night; Kenny Omega’s return to the ring vs El Hijo del Vikingo on Dynamite; the Kenny Omega-Jon Moxley Steel Cage Match; and the Bryan Danielson-Ricky Starks Texas Death Match on Collision, among many other awesome matches!

Scott Garland is the newest AEW coach and producer, and shares his coaching philosophy and style, and explains what he thinks it takes to successfully work with young talent. He also talks about how he came to AEW, the role that Sonjay Dutt played in that process, and what it’s like to work alongside Tony Khan. He has stories about his own start in wrestling, and transitioning from performer to coach. And he reveals whether a return to in-ring performance is in his future.

East Side Games’ Lead Narrative Designer Jamie Henwood is a former professional wrestler turned video game enthusiast who helped develop the new mobile game, AEW: Rise To The Top. Jamie explains how she got involved in the project, what it was like working so closely with AEW Referee Aubrey Edwards on AEW: Rise To The Top, and why she’s so excited about this new idol battle game. She talks about the animation design, the story beats, and some of her favorite lines and game play moves. She also shares some incredible stories from her days in professional wrestling including what it was like training at the famous Hart Dungeon in Calgary!

Anthony Ogogo had a last-minute moment in front of his hometown crowd at AEW All In London, and explains how it came together with Paul Wight and Kip Sabian. He talks about the injury that sidelined him early at AEW, his recovery path, and what he hopes to accomplish this year in wrestling now that he’s healthy. He details his boxing career from how he got started to qualifying for the Olympics to winning the bronze medal at the 2012 Games to the brutal eye injury that ultimately ended his career. And he shares his AEW journey including the roles that both Diamond Dallas Page and Cody Rhodes played in it, along with Tony Khan’s initial idea for Anthony that also involved Chris Jericho. Plus, Anthony makes the case for why he’s the best 30-match novice in pro-wrestling, and he lays out his plans to become the “next, next” James Bond!

One of Deonna Purrazzo’s childhood dreams came true when her surprise AEW arrival happened in her home state of New Jersey in front of her family and a very hot crowd! She talks about the whirlwind night including how quickly it came together, and what it was like keeping it a secret. She shares stories from her AEW Collision debut match against Red Velvet, and what made it so different from her main event match against Mercedes Martinez on AEW Dynamite back in 2022 before she was even signed to AEW. Deonna also has plenty to say about “The Virtuosa,” death matches, Toni Storm, Saraya, and Chris Jericho.

Rachael Ellering loves to joke that her killer ROH match against Willow Nightingale for the NJPW Strong Women’s Championship in Orlando also helped get her fiancée, Chris Hero, signed to AEW. Rachael Ellering shares the story of her AEW and ROH journey, and what it’s been like to team with Leyla Hirsch, and work with everyone from Mercedes Martinez and Diamante to Athena and Billie Starkz, and Lexy Nair! She also talks about her power lifting career, her famous father, her “Uncle Hawk,” and training with Lance Storm.

Lexy Nair is a proud Minion graduate, and explains what it’s been like to work so closely with Athena and Billie Starkz at ROH. She’s also the backstage interviewer for AEW Collision, and shares the story of the Private Party durag. She explains how she came to wrestling, and AEW specifically, later in life thanks to her stepdad, Diamond Dallas Page, what MJF said to convince her to be included in one of his early angles at AEW, when she knew Big Bill (aka William Morrissey) was “the one,” and why she LOVES the AEW locker room!

Sting’s FINAL match of his career is Sunday, March 3rd at AEW Revolution, and in honor of the bittersweet milestone, Ref Aubrey & Will Washington take a look back at some of their favorite Sting matches at AEW. They share some great behind-the-scenes stories and memories about Sting’s AEW debut at Winter Is Coming in December 2020, his first AEW Revolution appearance in 2021 when he and Darby Allin took on Team Taz in that incredible cinematic match, the important Double or Nothing 2021 match against The Men of The Year, and the Sting & Darby vs Jericho & Sammy Guevara ladder match. They also reveal what Sting has meant to AEW as a company, and the locker room specifically, and the importance of AEW Revolution 2024 taking place at Greensboro, North Carolina.

AEW Revolution is this Sunday, March 3rd live at the Greensboro Coliseum in Greensboro, North Carolina! The history-making card features Sting’s final match of his career, an epic battle between newly-All Elite Will Ospreay and Konosuke Takeshita, and many AEW championships on the line! Current AEW World Champion Samoa Joe joins to preview his big title defense in a three-way match against Hangman Adam Page and Swerve Strickland. He also comments on Sting’s extraordinary career and legacy. Daniel Garcia has plenty to say about his upcoming bid for the TNT Championship against The Patriarchy’s Christian Cage, and the role that “Daddy Magic” Matt Menard has played in his life and career. And The American Dragon Bryan Danielson has a few choice words for Eddie Kingston ahead of his challenge for Eddie’s Continental Crown Championship.

Johnny Loves Taya, starring Johnny TV and Taya Valkyrie, is the new, original scripted comedy series running on AEW’s YouTube Channel. Taya & Johnny explain what inspired the idea, how they pitched it to AEW, and what it’s been like to film. They talk about their puppy co-stars Presley and Bowie, shark parties, parkour injuries, Bearicane, John’s Hot Girl Valet era, and why they chose to base everything on their real lives! They also share stories about the Johnny Loves Taya theme song, the rom-com marketing posters, Slam Town, ROH, Dalton Castle, Killswitch, RJ City, Johnny Valkyrie, and amazing exits!

Bryan Keith is ripping faces off at AEW! The Houston native recalls his first AEW opportunity in Texas in a match against former AEW World Heavyweight Champ Hangman Adam Page, and the role that Top Flight’s Darius Martin played in making that happen. He talks about his introduction to wrestling, training at PWA with Booker T, the evolution of his Bounty Hunter character, and the Sammy Davis, Jr. television role that inspired it. Bryan also speaks to his Swishahouse sponsorship, his love of Japanese wrestling, his recent trip to Japan to work for DDT, and the first time he met Bryan Danielson.

Harley Cameron has some specific opinions when it comes to cutlery on live TV (knifey-spoony, anyone?), and a few theories on how she ended up at AEW so quickly after deciding to become a wrestler! She talks about training with Shawn Spears, the AEW Dark match that led to her signing, developing her original AEW character to take on The Acclaimed, and bringing both her rap and flirting skills to the ring! Harley also talks about learning from Billy Gunn, honing her comedy chops, and adapting her professional singing career experience to work in a wrestling ring! Plus, Harley shares the story behind teaming up with Saraya, how she and Mariah May became besties in real life, and what led to her performing comedy bits on the Jericho Cruise with Colt Cabana and RJ City!

Queen Aminata speaks 4 languages, has a Master's degree in Private International Law, and is the first-ever African-born woman to be signed to a major wrestling company! Aminata shares the story of how she came to the United States, what made her want to pursue wrestling, how her culture and homeland inspired her character, and why her AEW signing made her cry. She talks about her friendship with Skye Blue, wrestling in Japan, and the life lessons she’s learned from Kobe Bryant!

It’s Billie Starkz versus Queen Aminata for the inaugural ROH Women’s Television Championship at Supercard of Honor tomorrow, Friday, April 5th in Philadelphia, and Billie joins to talk about the importance of the championship and what it would mean for her to be the first-ever title holder! Billie talks about her AEW debut on Dark and how that eventually led to her signing, how & when she found out she was challenging Jade Cargill for the TBS Championship at Battle Of The Belts VI, and what it was like to be a competitor in the first-ever Owen Hart Foundation Women’s Tournament. She also details her storyline with Athena, what inspired the whole minion storyline, and how she managed to keep a straight face in the ring when Lexy Nair became the valedictorian at the minion graduation ceremony. Plus, Billie talks about starting her pro wrestling training at the age of 13, balancing high school and her wrestling career, and what she learned (and loved) about wrestling in Japan.

AEW EVP and Head of Global Production Mike Mansury shares a behind-the-scenes look at what it takes to bring AEW to your TV screens every Wednesday, Friday and Saturday! He also details Revolution and the preparation and care that went into Sting’s final match and retirement, including his sons’ involvement in the show, the archival footage of Surfer Sting from New Japan, and making sure Dr. Martha Hart felt comfortable with Sting doing one final repel into the ring! Mike talks about his first-time in the director’s chair, his headset style, his relationship with Tony Khan, working with the other EVPs, Nicholas and Matthew Jackson, producing a live stadium pay-per-view in another country (All In London), and Mercedes Mone’s electric debut in Boston. Plus, Mike reveals what inspired the throwback branding for Dynamite200 as well as the new set designs for AEW Dynamite and Collision for 2024.

AEW Dynasty is this Sunday, April 21st! The stacked card features an epic showdown between AEW World Champion Samoa Joe and Swerve Strickland, and Swerve explains his confidence going into this match, and the work he’s done in preparation to ensure he walks away with title in hand. Willow Nightingale has plenty to say about challenging Julia Hart for the TBS Championship, and all that Kris Statlander and Stokely Hathaway have done to support her quest for championship gold. She also comments on new friends Adam Copeland, Eddie Kingston and ROH World Champion Mark Briscoe. Plus, there’s discussion about the rest of the card. And there’s a special message from a very special VIP guest.

The Rated R Superstar Adam Copeland recounts his surprise debut at AEW WrestleDream, and shares how he passed the time while hiding out near the venue before his entrance. He talks about guerilla-filming his intro vignette with Darby Allin around the Seattle area, how they secured the muscle car, and why it was so important for him to debut with his “Metalingus” theme music. Adam also shares how his acting career has helped his return to wrestling, how the pandemic influenced his in-ring storytelling and promos, and who in the AEW locker room he’s most looking forward to working with. He also comments on the TNT Championship, Sting, moves versus memories, and that hockey fight during his I Quit match with Christian Cage.

The Aerial Assassin Will Ospreay is finally All Elite, and recounts the deciding factors that led him to sign fulltime with AEW. He talks about traveling back and forth from the UK to the States for AEW shows and why it’s so important for his home base to be in London. He has stories about his match with Chris Jericho at All In at Wembley Stadium in front of a massive home crowd, working Takeshita at Revolution, his Forbidden Door match before officially signing with AEW, the words of wisdom imparted to him from Kenny Omega, and wrestling in silence in Japan during the pandemic. He also explains what it’s been like to adjust to TV-style wrestling at AEW, learning how to be a good promo, his influence on younger wrestlers, and the role that the Assassin’s Creed video game played in his wrestling gimmick.