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Browsing: Challenge
An iconic WWE duo seemingly teased a potential matchup between AJ Styles and Dragon Lee following this week’s episode of RAW.
The unlikely duo challenged for the World Tag Team Championship against current holders, The Judgment Day (Finn Balor and JD McDonagh). After a back-and-forth at the end of the title match, Styles nailed the Styles Clash on Balor to win his second tag-team championship (the other one coming with Omos). As a result, the “AJ Lee” tandem broke the 112-day reign of The Judgment Day duo, who last defended the titles on the July 28th episode of RAW against LWO (Joaquin Wilde and Cruz del Toro).
Following their historic title win, a member of this legendary WWE tag team seemingly hinted at challenging Styles and Lee. Posting on X (fka Twitter), Matt Hardy, one-half of The Hardy Boyz, posted a picture of himself and his brother Jeff Hardy holding their NXT Tag Team and TNA World Tag Team Championships.
He then had this to say:
“What an unexpected Twist of Fate,” Hardy captioned.
You may check out his tweet here.
AND NEW!!!
AJ STYLES AND DRAGON LEE ARE THE WORLD TAG TEAM CHAMPIONS!pic.twitter.com/t3HCHk9x4u
— WrestleTalk (@WrestleTalk_TV) October 21, 2025
The Hardy brothers won the TNA Tag Team Title at Slammiversary against the Nemeths (Nick and Ryan), Fir$t Cla$$, and The Rascalz, while they won the NXT belts at NXT vs. TNA Showdown against DarkState.
AJ Styles and Dragon Lee Share Ideas About Their Tag Team Name in WWE
After winning the World Tag Team Championships from The Judgment Day, AJ Styles and Dragon Lee exchanged proposals for their permanent identity as a duo.
When the masked superstar asked the former WWE Champion what their team name should be, the latter first said P.Lee (Phenomenal Lee) and followed it up with “Dragon Styles.”
AJ Styles and Dragon Lee were throwing around some tag team name ideas
• Dragon Styles
• Phenomenal Dragons
• AJ Lee (Styles said he thinks that name is taken)#WWERAW
— WrestlePurists (@WrestlePurists) October 21, 2025
Lee then gave his idea by indicating that their name should be “Phenomenal Dragons” or “AJ Lee.” Styles sarcastically claimed someone already had the latter name, which was a cheeky referenfce at CM Punk’s wife, AJ Lee.
The Phenomenal One ended by saying that whatever their tag team name would be, they will put it on the “world wide web.”
October 20, 2025 | Paul Stimpson
Ugandaâ€s Joseph Sebatindira and Kaede Neya of Japan were the champions as the Challenge competition brought the curtain down on ITTF World Hopes Week in Sheffield.
Photos by Michael Loveder
The Elite Training Centre hosted 40 of the worldâ€s best under-12 players – 20 boys and 20 girls – plus their coaches from all over the world.
The week began with a training element, held over five intensive days, led by ITTF Head Coaches Eva Jeler and Magnus Mallander. Sessions focused on technical progression, physical improvements, and consistency.
This was complemented by an engaging strength & conditioning workshop led by Dave Hembrough of Table Tennis England partner Sheffield Hallam University, who later also led a play-based warm-up for the players.
Players and coaches also benefited from a dedicated educational session designed to extend learning beyond the table. Paralympian Martin Perry, ITTF Planet Ambassador, delivered an inspiring talk on sustainability and food waste, linking sport with environmental responsibility and community impact.
The week finished with the Challenge competition, with Sebatindira and Neya coming out on top.
Joseph Sebatindira
Sebatinidira overcame Jacob Kordus of the USA in the final and they were joined on the podium by beaten semi-finalists Lucas Alexandre (New Zealand) and Chirag Pradhan (USA).
Neya defeated Zhi Yu Eng of Malaysia in the final, with bronze medals going to Olivia Wang of Canada and Emma Yang of the USA.
Kaede Neya
There were no quarter-final places for the English trio of competitors, who went out in the group stage. The group matches saw the youngsters compete in four-game matches, meaning there was the possibility of a draw.
Amber Lemmon finished sixth out of nine in Group B of the girls†competition. The group was won by Neya.
Amber Lemmon
Lemmon drew 2-2 (3-11, 11-5, 11-10, 8-11) with Patience Anyango of the USA and also drew with Karen Looi of New Zealand.
Her best results were a 4-0 (11-7, 11-9, 11-6, 11-7) success against Teodora Sardeni of Romania and a 3-1 (11-2, 11-5, 11-4, 6-11) win over Italyâ€s Serena Rossati.
Jayden Chen
Jayden Xuan Chen and Dimitar Dimitrov both finished eighth in their groups. Chenâ€s best result was 2-2 (11-10, 8-11, 11-9, 5-11) against Filip Arosell of Sweden, while Dimitrov beat Leo Sayegh of French Polynesia 3-1 (11-7, 11-8, 7-11, 11-8) and had 2-2 draws with Kordus, Joshua Samson of Nigeria and Krish Vinodh of India.
Dimitar Dimitrov
As part of ITTFâ€s talent identification pathway, players†performance was evaluated not only on results but also on technical ability, training attitude, and competition approach.
The four highest evaluated players per gender will be selected for the Hopes Team, a fast-track to the High Performance pathway, unlocking scholarship support and additional funded training and competition opportunities.
After being embarrassed by AEW Women’s World Champion Kris Statlander at WrestleDream, TBS Champion Mercedes Mone has issued a title challenge to Statlander for November’s Full Gear pay-per-view.
After Statlander was celebrating her title defense over Toni Storm Saturday, Mone interrupted her moment and told her to get out of her ring. Statlander acquiesced, but returned after Mone won her record 11th simultaneous title to gain a measure of revenge, laying Mone out and sending her packing.
Later in the night, Mone issues the challenge in a backstage promo. Statlander has yet to answer as of this writing.
Once official, it would be their third singles meeting. They have twice squared off for the TBS title during Mone’s record run, once at last year’s Full Gear and again at Worlds End. In both cases, Mone picked up the win.
Mone unsuccessfully challenged then-Women’s World Champion Storm at this past July’s All In Texas.
Mone will look to add to her record with a 12th title on Sunday at a Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, indie show against Jody Threat.
Full Gear is set for Newark, New Jersey, on Saturday, November 22.
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Mercedes Moné is ready to defend her TBS Championship in an open challenge at AEW WrestleDream tonight—and now, she may have a familiar face stepping up to meet her.
Just hours before showtime, ROH Womenâ€s Champion Athena sparked serious speculation by responding directly to Monéâ€s open challenge announcement on Twitter. Athena kept it cryptic, but fans are already reading between the lines. “Hmmm #WrestleDream,†she wrote.
That one-word tweet has people talking, especially with whatâ€s at stake. The open challenge isnâ€t just for Mercedes Monéâ€s TBS Title—itâ€s a winner-takes-all match. That means whoever challenges her also puts their belt on the line. If Athena accepts, her ROH Womenâ€s Championship would be up for grabs too.
This could be huge for Moné, who recently retained the CMLL Womenâ€s World Championship after beating Persephone in Arena Mexico. If she pulls off another win tonight, sheâ€ll move even closer to matching Último Dragónâ€s legendary record of holding 10 titles at once.
Athena and Moné arenâ€t strangers. Theyâ€ve fought, theyâ€ve teamed, and theyâ€ve built a complex dynamic that could explode at WrestleDream if Athena decides to make it official.
The only question now is—will the Fallen Goddess show up?
Are you hoping to see Athena challenge Mercedes Moné in a title vs. title showdown at AEW WrestleDream? Drop your thoughts in the comments and let us know who you think walks out with all the gold.
Mercedes Mone is issuing an open challenge.
After retaining the CMLL Womenâ€s Championship against Persephone at Arena Mexico on Friday night, Mone took to the microphone to issue an open challenge for AEW WrestleDream, challenging any champion in the world to face her for the TBS Championship.
🚨 JUST ANNOUNCED
Mercedes Moné issues an open challenge to any champion in the world to face her for the TBS Championship tomorrow at AEW WrestleDream!
👀👀👀#CMLL
— WrestlePurists (@WrestlePurists) October 18, 2025
Following her proclamation, she also accepted a challenge from Olympia for a future match for the CMLL Womenâ€s Championship. However, Mone said it would take place in the United States and not in Mexico.
Mercedes Moné says she is issuing an open challenge to any champion around the world for tomorrow night at AEW Wrestle Dream and then also accepts a future CMLL Championship match against Olympia in the states and not Mexico. #CMLL pic.twitter.com/9HMawJG7QL
— JJ Williams (@JJWilliamsWON) October 18, 2025
Mone had been coy about her plans for WrestleDream before Friday. During AEW Dynamite, she said she would be at WrestleDream, though wouldnâ€t specify what exactly sheâ€d be doing in St. Louis.
Here is the updated lineup for WrestleDream:
AEW WrestleDream, 8 p.m. Eastern time —
- AEW World Champion Hangman Adam Page defends against Samoa Joe
- AEW Womenâ€s World Champion Kris Statlander defends against Toni Storm
- I Quit match: Jon Moxley vs. Darby Allin
- TNT Champion Kyle Fletcher defends against Mark Briscoe
- AEW Tag Team Champions Brody King and Bandido defend against Kazuchika Okada and Konosuke Takeshita
- $500,000 tag team match: The Young Bucks (Matthew and Nicholas Jackson) vs. Jurassic Express (Jack Perry and Luchasaurus)
- Tornado trios match: The Hurt Syndicate (Bobby Lashley, Shelton Benjamin, MVP) vs. The Demand (Ricochet, Bishop Kaun, Toa Liona)
- Jamie Hayter vs. Thekla
- TBS Champion Mercedes Mone defends against any champion in the world
AEW Saturday Tailgate Brawl, 7 p.m. Eastern time —
- FTR (Dax Harwood and Cash Wheeler) vs. JetSpeed (Kevin Knight and Mike Bailey)
- Willow Nightingale and Harley Cameron vs. Megan Bayne and Penelope Ford
- The Conglomeration (Orange Cassidy, Tomohiro Ishii, Kyle Oâ€Reilly, Roderick Strong) vs. The Death Riders (Claudio Castagnoli, PAC, Wheeler Yuta, Daniel Garcia)
- Eddie Kingston and Hook vs. TBA
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The 21-year-old Tigers shortstop posted a .991 OPS across three levels this season, coming back from injury to log 101 hits in 88 games and walk 13 more times than he struck out. Along the way, he found his power stroke and upped his home run total from five a year ago to 19 against more advanced pitching—something that helped him climb all the way up to becoming Baseball America’s No. 2 overall prospect.
It was, by just about any measure, a season to remember for one of the game’s best prospects.
But as he reflected on the past season during his stint in the Arizona Fall League, McGonigle made one thing clear: Thereâ€s still work to be done.
“I struggled with defense this year,†McGonigle said. “Thatâ€s why Iâ€m here. Iâ€m really trying to lock in on that. I struggled with throwing, range—even just routine ground balls, sometimes I have hiccups on. Iâ€m trying to find the right foot patterns to approach different ground balls and just make every single play thatâ€s hit at me.â€
That kind of self-awareness and work ethic has defined McGonigle since his amateur days. It’s part of what the Tigers valued when they selected him 37th overall in 2023.
A polished, lefthanded bat with a mature approach at the plate, McGonigleâ€s offensive reputation preceded him long before he entered pro ball. He consistently barrels pitches, shows plate discipline beyond his years and has proven he can handle advanced pitching at every stop so far.
But while the bat has translated seamlessly, McGonigle’s defensive development is still an area requiring improvement. Though his arm strength is considered an above-average tool, his lateral quickness and overall consistency in the field remain a work in progress. The Tigers have recognized it—and so has McGonigle.
“This is the biggest offseason for me,” he said.
And so, Detroit challenged McGonigle with an unfamiliar assignment this fall: more reps at third base. It’s a position heâ€s played in-game just once—way back during the clubâ€s Spring Breakout exhibition in March.
Helping to guide that transition is a name synonymous with Tigers defensive excellence in Hall of Famer Alan Trammell. The legendary shortstop has worked closely with McGonigle throughout his career, serving as both mentor and infield coordinator.
“He was all in,†Trammell said of McGonigle’s new defensive assignment. “Heâ€s one of the top prospects. He could say ‘Why? Whatâ€s wrong with me playing shortstop?’ But thatâ€s not who he is. Heâ€s open to anything to help the organization win. That tells you a lot about Kevin McGonigle.â€
So far, McGonigle has soaked up every bit of insight he can from his sessions with Trammell, treating each one like a masterclass in infield play. Throughout the season, heâ€s focused on refining the small but crucial details—the kinds of things that separate solid defenders from great ones.Â
Heâ€s learned techniques like how to handle deep throws from the backhand side—if you’re going to miss, aim for the grass to give the first baseman a long, manageable hop—and he’s worked on setting his base properly, learning to generate power from his legs instead of relying solely on his arm so that his throws carry more velocity and stay on target.
“Heâ€s a sponge,†Trammell said. “Since the day he signed, heâ€s been really engaged. Thatâ€s one of the key attributes I always look for in young players. Heâ€s already a pretty darn good defensive player, but thereâ€s always room for improvement, and he knows that. He wants to be great.â€
They’re subtle adjustments, but McGonigle knows they can make all the difference over the course of a season—and a career.
“Being surrounded by people like Alan Trammell has helped a lot,†McGonigle said. “Heâ€s helped me so much through my first years of pro ball. Sitting down and listening to guys like him will help you further your career. I try to hone in on the little things they teach, and thatâ€s whatâ€s gotten me better since the day I was first drafted.â€
SPOTLIGHTED PODCAST ALERT (YOUR ARTICLE BEGINS A FEW INCHES DOWN)…
WWE SMACKDOWN REPORT
OCTOBER 10, 2025
PERTH, AUSTRALIA AT RAC ARENA
AIRED LIVE ON USA NETWORK
REPORT BY WADE KELLER, PWTORCH EDITOR
Commentators: Michael Cole, Booker T
Ring Announcer: Mark Nash
JOIN US LIVE ON YOUTUBE TONIGHT FOR THE VIDEO-FORMAT OF OUR LIVE POST-SHOWS…
PWTorch editor Wade Keller will be joined by PWTorchâ€s Javier Machado to review WWE Smackdown LIVE on YouTube. Weâ€ll be incorporating live viewer comments into the show so join us LIVE!
Email our post-show at wadekellerpodcast@gmail.com with your comments and questions about S,Tmackdown. Weâ€ll read your emails live during the post-show.
If you canâ€t join us live on YouTube, stream the show on demand later at YouTube or listen or stream later on a podcast app. Subscribe to all of our free podcasts by searching “wade keller†and “pwtorch†in your podcast app of choice including Spotify and Apple Podcasts and most other iOS and Android apps.
VIP MEMBER EXCLUSIVE VIDEO CALLER CODE: CLICK HERE
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OPEN TO EVERYONE – LINK TO WATCH LIVE RIGHT AFTER WWE SMACKDOWN TONIGHT: CLICK HERE
[HOUR ONE]
-They opened with a video showing a “hand off” the (meaningless, barely ever mentioned) Crown Jewel Title belts from Saudio Arabia to Australia 7,065 miles.
(Keller’s Analysis: This had the vibe of a bad WWE Films-produced action-adventure or thrilled movie. I mean, it’d be cool if this was done for a meaningful title belt the fans had a reason to care about and was part of the narrative year round.)
-They cut to the arena where Cole touted all the bedazzling of the Crown Jewel Title belts which was shown at ringside.
-Cody Rhodes made his ring entrance wearing a blue suit with a red tie. He carried his WWE Title belt to the ring with him.
Advertised Matches & Appearances
- The Wyatt Sicks vs. The Street Profits – WWE Tag Team Championship match
- Tiffany Stratton & Stephanie Vaquer vs. Giulia & Kiana James
- Damian Priest vs. Aleister Black – Last Man Standing match
- Sami Zayn to issue a United States Title Open Challenge
- Cody Rhodes to speak
Booker T isnâ€t backing down when it comes to defending his recent comments about Jade Cargill—and heâ€s got a message for everyone from keyboard warriors to active wrestlers.
On an episode of The Hall of Fame, the two-time WWE Hall of Famer lit into wrestling journalists and online critics who questioned Jadeâ€s fast rise in WWE despite limited experience. Booker made it clear that many of the people calling him out have zero knowledge of what it takes to survive in the ring, let alone thrive on a main event level. To drive his point home, Booker extended a bold invitation to his critics:
“None of these guys have ever taken one bump. Never taken one wrestling class,†he said. “If they would like to take a wrestling class, I would say come to my fantasy camp. See what a five-hour day consists of and how you make it out of that five-hour day. Trust me, I promise you, youâ€re going to be saying, ‘I wish I wouldnâ€t have never thought about doing something like this.â€â€
He explained the motivation behind his remarks on Jade, saying it wasnâ€t a personal attack but a discussion about how rare it is for someone with limited time in the business to already be in a prime spot. Booker acknowledged her presence and star power, even praising her courage:
“I give her a lot of credit to be able to walk out in front of those people not having the experience of a Charlotte Flair, not having the experience of a Bayley, Naomi… and still say, ‘Man, Iâ€m willing to step in the middle of the frying pan and look as good as I possibly can.â€â€
He then challenged the wrestling world directly, asking for even a single name who disputed what he said:
“Name one wrestler that has snapped back on me and said Booker T is wrong. Name one. Iâ€m baffled.â€
Booker even pointed out that Jade, like Goldberg and Brock Lesnar, didnâ€t rise alone. They had veterans like himself guiding them:
“Think about the guys that Kurt Angle was working with. Trust me, I was one of those guys. Think about the people Brock Lesnar worked with—I was one of those guys. Think about Goldberg—I was one of those guys. At two years in the business, I knew very, very little.â€
And if you think Booker is being harsh just to stir drama, think again. Heâ€s open to dialogue—but only with people who actually do this for a living:
“Iâ€m willing to talk, debate with anyone thatâ€s in this business to debate with me about what two years is… because I know.â€
Booker Tâ€s take wasnâ€t just a defensive rant—it was a veteran drawing a line between opinion and experience, and reminding everyone just how steep the climb in wrestling really is. Whether you agree with him or not, itâ€s hard to argue with a man whoâ€s lived it, taught it, and still gives back to the business every week.
Are wrestling critics forgetting what it actually takes to get over in this business? Drop your thoughts below and let us know where you stand—do you side with Booker, or think Jadeâ€s rise is fair game?
Please credit Ringside News if you use the above transcript in your publication.
A former WWE Superstar answered Mercedes Monéâ€s open challenge for the TBS Championship on AEW Dynamite.
Mercedes Moné put her TBS Championship on the line in an open challenge during this weekâ€s special Title Tuesday edition of Dynamite. Answering the challenge was none other than Lacey Lane, formerly known as Kayden Carter in WWE.
The commentary team noted that Lane made her AEW Dynamite debut by stepping up to the challenge. She had previously competed for Ring of Honor during a taping held in September.
Lacey Lane is best known for her time in WWE as one-half of the tag team Kayden Carter and Katana Chance. The duo previously held the NXT Womenâ€s Tag Team Championship, as well as the WWE Womenâ€s Tag Team Championship.
Carter and Chance were released as part of WWE roster cuts in May. Reacting to her exit, Lane thanked WWE management, her colleagues, and fans, noting that it wasnâ€t the end for her career. Her no-compete clause expired on August 1, 2025.
Catch up on everything happening on AEW Dynamite here.
READ MORE: Tony Khan Hilariously Casts AEW Stars As DC Heroes And Villains
What did you make of Mercedes Monéâ€s open challenge tonight? Who did you think the opponent was going to be? Let us know your overall thoughts by sounding off in the comment section below.
SPOTLIGHTED PODCAST ALERT (YOUR ARTICLE BEGINS A FEW INCHES DOWN)…
AEW DYNAMITE REPORT
OCTOBER 7, 2025
JACKSONVILLE, FLA. AT DAILY’S PLACE
AIRED ON TBS & HBO MAX
REPORT BY WADE KELLER, PWTORCH EDITOR
Commentators: Excalibur, Taz, Bryan Danielson
Ring Announcer: Justin Roberts
Attendance: WrestleTix reported that 2,413 tickets had been distributed; arena is set up for 2,796. The arena has a capacity of 5,500 spectators when configured for pro wrestling.
JOIN US LIVE ON YOUTUBE TONIGHT FOR THE VIDEO-FORMAT OF OUR LIVE POST-SHOWS…
PWTorch editor Wade Keller and PWTorchâ€s Joshua White to review AEW Dynamite LIVE tonight right after Dynamite. Join us and let us know your thoughts on Dynamite during the show.
Email our post-show at wadekellerpodcast@gmail.com with your comments and questions about Dynamite. Weâ€ll read your emails live during the post-show.
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LIVE ON YOUTUBE RIGHT AFTER AEW DYNAMITE TONIGHT: CLICK HERE TO WATCH
[HOUR ONE]
Announced Matches & Other Notes
- “Hangman†Adam Page and Samoa Joe face-to-face
- Brodido (Brody King & Bandido) vs. Kazuchika Okada & Konosuke Takeshita – Double Jeopardy Eliminator match
- Jon Moxley vs. Tomohiro Ishii
- Pac vs. Orange Cassidy
- Kyle Fletcher vs. Kyle Oâ€Reilly – TNT Championship Kyle vs. Kyle 2
- The Hurt Syndicate (MVP & Bobby Lashley & Shelton Benjamin) vs. The Demand (Ricochet & Bishop Kaun & Toa Liona) – Street Fight
- Mercedes Moné TBS Championship Open Challenge
- Jurassic Express (Jack Perry & Luchasaurus) to be in action