Real Reason Behind Shocking AEW Booking Decision Revealed

Unpacking one of the most surprising AEW results of the year.

By Scott Carlson /

AEW

AEW Collision kicked off Saturday night's program with a shocking title change, as FTR's six-month tag team championship reign came to an end at the hands of Ricky Starks and Big Bill.

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Rumors abounded afterward about what could be the reason behind the impromptu title switch, but Wrestling Observer's Bryan Alvarez is reporting that the injury Cash Wheeler was nursing on TV is real. Said Alvarez:

"Well, he is injured, that's the story. The story they told on television was it was at the pay-per-view when Aussie Open ran them together, they sold it like he'd injured his rib there... (I) don't know how long FTR is going to be out of action."

During a pre-match promo, Cash mentioned having fractured ribs, and he was taken out with a chokeslam through the announce desk, never officially entering the match.

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The quick nature of the loss -- the match lasted less than five minutes -- combined with FTR's running buddy CM Punk being gone, led to wild speculation about the duo's status. An X post from Dax Harwood fueled those rumors, but he quickly struck them down.

Fightful Select reports that FTR are signed with AEW until about 2027, and that things are fine between the former tag champs and the company.

Regardless, it looks like Starks and Big Bill know who their first challengers will be, as the Young Bucks won a four-way match at WrestleDream to become number one contenders.

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