• Real Reason Brody King Didn’t Appear On AEW Dynamite
A scheduling conflict, not a corporate ban, was the true reason for Brody King’s absence from the February 11 episode of AEW Dynamite.
While earlier rumors suggested that Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD) had pulled King to avoid political chants, PWInsider has confirmed that King was never actually scheduled to appear at this week’s show. The logistics of the upcoming Grand Slam Australia event forced King and several other roster members to depart from Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) on Wednesday night, placing them in the air during the live broadcast.
WBD has since issued an official statement to shut down speculation that they intervened due to the viral “F**k ICE” chants from the previous week. The network clarified that they have no involvement in King’s specific booking schedule and called any claims of a ban or political suppression “categorically false.”
To further distance themselves from the controversy, WBD confirmed that King remains a featured part of their programming. He is set to headline the Grand Slam Australia event against MJF for the AEW World Championship, which will air this Saturday on both TNT and HBO Max.
• Jade Cargill’s WrestleMania 42 Opponent Down To Two Big Names
The Road to WrestleMania 42 is wide open for the WWE Women’s Champion, as officials work to narrow down a challenger for Jade Cargill. While the event in Las Vegas is just two months away, internal reports suggest that the creative team has yet to lock in a final direction for the blue brand’s top women’s prize.
The search for an opponent comes at a critical time for Cargill. After capturing the title from Tiffany Stratton at Saturday Night’s Main Event back in November, the champion has had a relatively quiet reign. However, that inactivity ends this Friday on SmackDown, as Cargill is scheduled for her very first televised title defense against the powerhouse newcomer, Jordynne Grace, on SmackDown.
According to WrestleVotes Radio on Fightful Select, Charlotte Flair and Tiffany Stratton have been pitched as possible opponents for Cargill at WrestleMania 42.
The Queen has been a heavily pitched option, especially as a fallback if Bianca Belair is not medically cleared in time for the show. A clash between Flair and Cargill would represent a true clash of the titans for the Las Vegas crowd. WWE has teased this match multiple times on TV.
Stratton, who recently returned from injury and secured a spot in the Elimination Chamber, has a built-in story as the woman who originally lost the gold to Cargill.
While Belair is currently recovering from a complex hand injury, many still view a match between the former tag team partners as the dream scenario for WrestleMania, provided her rehab stays on track.
