Slurs fly as AEW star is involved in a shocking backstage altercation after Wrestle Dynasty

AEW and sister promotion ROH teamed with NJPW, Stardom, and CMLL earlier today to present the inaugural Wrestle Dynasty event from Tokyo, Japan. This was a massive show for all companies involved, and the controversial fallout is quickly heating up. A backstage altercation also went down with implications for later this month.

The International Women's Cup Final opened the Wrestle Dynasty pre-show today. Representing Stardom, Momo Watanabe defeated AEW's Willow Nightingale, CMLL's Persephone, and ROH World Women's Champion Athena. Watanabe has now earned a title shot from the participating promotion of her choosing. At one point, Watanabe's H.A.T.E. stablemate Thekla stopped the referee from counting Athena's pin on Momo, which led to Watanabe decking the AEW-ROH star with a baseball bat, and eventually getting the win.

The War Goddess' tension with The Toxic Spider began brewing earlier in the weekend after they teamed up to defeat Tay Melo and Mina Shirakawa at Stardom's New Year Dream on Friday in Tokyo. Thekla requested a shot at the ROH title, but Athena denied her.

Thekla and the former Ember Moon of WWE will now battle for the ROH World Women's Championship on Monday, January 13 at Stardom's New Year Stars event at the legendary Korakuen Hall in Tokyo. The match was made after Athena and Thekla had words during a post-show press conference at the Tokyo Dome. As can be seen below, things got a bit out of control between the multi-time champions after Athena lashed out for Thekla's involvement in the opener.

Athena's historic reign with Ring of Honor's Women's World Championship is now approaching the 760-day mark. She last retained over Billie Starkz at ROH Final Battle on December 20.

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Tony Khan reacts to AEW EVP Kenny Omega's return

Kenny Omega has finally returned to the ring. After being out of action since December 5, 2023, with significant health issues, the AEW Executive Vice President returned to action at today's Wrestle Dynasty event in Japan.

The Cleaner defeated NJPW Strong Openweight Champion Gabe Kidd in a widely praised non-title match. The co-main event went right at thirty-two minutes and is already being called a Match of the Year candidate. Tony Khan took to X after the match to officially welcome Omega back.

Omega is now set to make his Dynamite return on Wednesday in Clarksville, TN, but his All Elite return match has not been confirmed. The win over Kidd marked Omega's first match since defeating Ethan Page on the December 9, 2023, edition of Collision, taped on December 5.