Female AEW star sends a message after wrestling first match in over 21 months; she broke down backstage

AEW has kicked off the new year with a bang in more ways than one. After presenting the sixth Fight for the Fallen Dynamite, the company sent several top stars to Japan, while others are set for the first Collision of 2025. AEW fans are now buzzing in a major way over one surprise return and the viral post-match backstage reaction that came with it.

Tay Melo has returned to action after almost two years away. She and husband Sammy Guevara appeared at Double Or Nothing in May 2023 to announce their pregnancy, then welcomed a daughter on November 28 of last year. While on maternity leave, Melo began training for her return this past summer. Her last match came on March 11, 2023, as she and Sammy beat Tiara James and Encore for NEW. Melo's last AEW match came exactly two months before, where she and Anna Jay lost a Rampage Street Fight to Ruby Soho and Willow Nightingale.

Taynara made her in-ring return and her Stardom debut earlier today at the New Year Dream 2025 event, which aired live from the Tokyo Garden Theater in Japan. Melo and Mina Shirakawa were defeated by Thekla and ROH Women's World Champion Athena. She previously went viral for her emotional and somewhat controversial post-match interview with Mina. Melo has now taken to X to explain to fans why she became so emotional.

"I'm a cry baby yall, sorry [face with tears of joy emoji]," Tay Melo wrote.

AEW has not announced when Melo will return to Dynamite or Collision. There are rumors of a match with Athena after today's finish. Melo lost her first match as a mother after taking the O-Face from the Ring of Honor champion.

Big matches set for AEW Maximum Carnage

All Elite Wrestling will present its inaugural Maximum Carnage events later this month. Both shows will air from the Brady Music Center in Cincinnati, Ohio.

The Maximum Carnage edition of Dynamite on January 15 will feature Jon Moxley defending the AEW World Championship in his hometown against the winner of next week's Casino Gauntlet. Christian Cage vs. Hook will also finally happen that night.

The Maximum Carnage edition of Collision will take place the next night, Thursday, January 16, but will not air until Saturday in its usual timeslot. No matches have been announced as of this writing.