AFW Magazine News update April 25th 2026

Will Ospreay’s Road to All In

The road to AEW All In at Wembley Stadium is rarely paved with gold; for Will Ospreay, it has been paved with broken glass, doubt, and the literal toll of a career lived at 100 miles per hour. While many expected the "Billy Goat" to waltz into his home country as an untouchable titan, the story being told is far more human—and far more grueling.

Every great comeback requires a rock bottom. For Ospreay, that descent began with a devastating loss to Jon Moxley. It wasn't just a loss on the scorecard; it was a physical dismantling. Moxley’s brutal, grinding style exposed the wear and tear on Ospreay’s beat-up physique, leaving the once-invincible high-flyer looking remarkably mortal. The situation went from bad to worse during a scheduled clash with Mark Davis. In a heartbreaking turn of events, the match was called for a stoppage. Seeing a warrior like Ospreay unable to continue—his body finally betraying his ambition—sent shockwaves through the wrestling world. The questions were no longer about when he would become champion, but if he could even survive the journey.

With his back against the wall and his body screaming for rest, Ospreay has been forced into the ultimate "do or die" scenario. He cannot simply demand a title shot; he has to earn it through the most prestigious and grueling gauntlet in the promotion: The Owen Hart Foundation Tournament. For Ospreay, this tournament carries the weight of a haunting legacy. Last year, he came within inches of the crown, only to suffer a crushing defeat in the finals against "Hangman" Adam Page. That loss has lingered, a bitter reminder of how close he came to glory only to have it snatched away. To walk into Wembley Stadium and challenge for the World Championship in front of his family and countrymen, he must first conquer the tournament that broke his heart twelve months ago.

“I'm hoping I qualify anyway... But like, I've had four matches, I think, so far, and like, I've barely escaped with the wins in quite a lot of them. So I don't know if I'll be in contention. Hopefully, the fact that I was a finalist last year is enough to put me in there"

He added that he felt his performances were not "meeting the mark" and he needed to secure bigger wins. 

This is no longer the story of a "chosen one." This is the story of a man clawing his way from the bottom. By stripping Ospreay of his invincibility, the narrative has shifted. Every match is now a high-stakes gamble against his own health, fueled by the heavy pressure of representing British wrestling at its absolute peak. Realizing that the World Title is the only thing that can justify the immense pain he has endured, Ospreay isn't just flying toward Wembley; he’s fighting for his life, one rung of the ladder at a time. If he makes it, the pop at Wembley won't just be for a local hero—it will be for a man who refused to stay down.

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Can Darby Allin Afford To Take On All Comers With MJF Ready To Pounce?

The landscape of All Elite Wrestling shifted on its axis recently and the aftershocks are still being felt across the industry. After years of throwing his body at the concrete and leaping from rafters with a blatant disregard for his own well being, Darby Allin finally climbed the mountain. He is now sitting at the top as the AEW World Champion and his journey from the enigma in face paint to the face of the entire company is a testament to a never say die attitude that resonates with fans in a way few others can.

Darby has already made his intentions clear by proving he intends to be a true fighting champion who plans on defending the gold every single week. He is not interested in the luxury boxes or the corporate protection that defined the previous era and he wants to defend the title with the same reckless abandon that won it in the first place. We saw that spirit on full display during his first title defense in an absolutely amazing match against Tommaso Ciampa. The two warriors went to war in a physical masterpiece that pushed both men to their absolute limits. Ciampa brought a level of brutality that nearly dismantled the champion but Darby responded with his signature high risk offense and an unbreakable will. The technical proficiency of Ciampa clashing with the chaotic energy of Allin created a clinic in ring psychology and Darby showed the world that he is willing to go through hell to keep that belt around his waist.

That grueling pace is not slowing down because Darby has already accepted a challenge from Brody King for his next defense. It is a case of out of the frying pan and into the fire as the champion prepares to face the sheer violence and massive size of King. However, there is a massive Burberry scarf wearing shadow looming over his reign that is impossible to ignore. Since losing the strap, MJF has been a one man symphony of sorrow. Maxwell has reached a level of whining that would make a toddler blush by tagging Tony Khan on social media to scream that this will not stand. He has even gone as far as calling Darby's victory the Seattle Screwjob and demanding his property back immediately. He recently took to the ring to shout at the fans that it was some kind of sick joke and that he is the only person who deserves to be the champion.

MJF wants his belt back by any means necessary and he is snapping at Darby’s heels like a shark that has smelled blood in the water. The Salt of the Earth is absolutely obsessed with reclaiming what he believes is his birthright and he is making sure everyone hears about it through every microphone available. He has even claimed that Darby is a cheat and that he won through an absolute disgusting fluke.

The real question now is whether Darby’s body can withstand the weekly toll of these defenses while facing the calculated and relentless pursuit of a man who feels he was robbed. We know Darby can take the pain, but MJF does not just want to beat Allin; he wants to dismantle the legacy Darby is trying to build. One thing is certain because it is going to be a wild ride to see if the rebel can outrun the constant pressure and the endless complaints of a desperate MJF.

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CM Punk and Roman Reigns Put On a 5 Star Classic

It is rare that a match lives up to a decade of hype, but the CM Punk vs. Roman Reigns main event at WrestleMania 42 managed to do exactly that. It wasn't just a physical battle; it was a masterclass in psychology that earned the elusive 5-star rating—a first for a singles main event in WrestleMania history.

The beauty of this rivalry was its foundation. This wasn't a story manufactured in a few weeks; it was rooted in a 12-year history of "what ifs." The story leaned heavily on their shared history with The Shield and Punk’s exit in 2014. Roman entered as the established "Original Tribal Chief," while Punk represented the veteran returning to claim the one thing that always eluded him: the WrestleMania main event. Throughout the build, Roman mocked Punk’s durability, creating a narrative centered on whether veteran savvy could overcome the "God Mode" dominance of Reigns.

While many modern classics rely on high-flying spots, Punk and Reigns took a "less is more" approach. The match avoided the "finisher spam" often seen in modern main events; every strike and every counter felt heavy and earned. The crowd was locked into every movement because the wrestlers allowed the moments to breathe.

The turning point of the match was one of the most talked-about sequences in wrestling history. After a grueling exchange, Punk went for the GTS, but his body literally gave out. The image of Punk collapsing from sheer exhaustion—his frustrated face realizing his body had failed him at the finish line—was storytelling at its finest. Roman, ever the opportunist, capitalized on this failure. He didn't need a "circus" of Bloodline interference; he simply delivered two devastating Spears to a compromised opponent. It protected Punk’s legacy while cementing Roman as the generational standard-bearer.

This 5-star rating confirms what the fans in the arena felt: this was the "final piece" of CM Punk’s return. Even in defeat, Punk proved he could still hang at the highest level, while Roman Reigns secured a match that will be studied by aspiring wrestlers for decades. It was a night where the stars truly aligned.

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Brock Lesnar Retires At Wrestlemania 

The opening match of WrestleMania 42 shocked the industry in a way nobody saw coming. We all expected a hard hitting fight between Brock Lesnar and Oba Femi but nobody predicted we were watching the Beast’s final moments in a wrestling ring. After Femi got the win last weekend, the stadium went quiet as Brock stayed in the ring. In a move that usually signifies the end of the road, he started unlacing his boots and taking off his gloves, leaving them right there on the canvas. It wasn't the typical Brock exit where he looks ready to kill someone; he looked genuinely done.

The most intense part of the whole thing was seeing Paul Heyman. He looked completely devastated, standing there with tears in his eyes like he was losing his best friend. Seeing that kind of raw emotion from his longtime advocate made it feel a lot more real than any scripted retirement segment could. Even on the Raw After Mania, Heyman remained clearly emotional and made it known that he didn't like how WWE hadn't changed the opening signature for the show. He pointed out that Lesnar is still listed in the "now" portion of the "Then, Now, Forever" package, arguing that Brock should be moved to the "forever" section because he will forever be the baddest man to ever step into a WWE ring.

By putting Femi over so decisively in the opener, it felt like Brock was officially passing the torch to the next generation of dominance. He gave Oba a rub that usually takes years to earn, and doing it on the grandest stage spoke volumes about his respect for the young powerhouse. Even with the boots left in the ring, the rumor mill is already going crazy with talk that he might still show up for one or two more matches. The lure of one final battle in his home state of Minnesota for SummerSlam is something that would be a perfect conclusion to his legacy, rather than just walking away after a surprise loss. Fans are already speculating that we might see him return to finish that long rumored program with Gunther. Whether he’s actually finished or just letting the moment breathe, that image of the advocate crying while Brock left his gear behind is something wrestling fans are going to be talking about for a long time.

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AFW League Spotlight

In our very first League Spotlight, yours truly “The Kimster” got to sit down with AFW's very own EVP to talk shop, history, and the evolution of the brand. From his military roots to his current role as the league’s "Evil" executive, here is the full transcript of how it went down.

Kimster: How did you come up with your name?

EVP Joe: "So my name started as GM Joe, where it is a lay off of my newly started role as the GM of AFW league , but also, I am a US Marine so it also is a play off of GI Joe. Then it evolved to 'E'VP Joe, a mimic of the Young Bucks, as I am unashamed in my fandom for the Young Bucks. The E stands for evil that's the role I play as GM."

Kimster: How long have you been in the league?

"I have been a member of AFW for over five years, I have been here since almost the beginning of the league."

Kimster: What's it like being the GM?

EVP Joe: "Being the GM has been challenging but it has evolved over my tenure. When I first started as GM there were two rosters, but we have since moved to one roster. It is challenging but it is fun, especially here recently, there feels like a rejuvenation in the league."

Kimster: As of right now who you would say is your favorite wrestler?

EVP Joe: "My favorite wrestler right now is Will Ospreay. He is the perfect mix for me of, brawler, high flyer, and he has a passion that gets me hyped."

Kimster: Ok EVP drop us some knowledge, give us your favorite piece of wrestling history you keep locked in your brain?

EVP Joe: "Hmm, I do like the fact the first NJPW Intercontinental Champion is MVP."

Kimster: Ok do you wanna expand of that? Or just that fact plain an simple.

EVP Joe:"Yeah nothing to expand on lol."

It was a true honor to sit down with our GM and get a glimpse into the mindset behind the "E" in EVP. His loyalty to the league since its earliest days and his vision for the current roster show exactly why AFW league is entering such a massive period of rejuvenation. Stay tuned to see who we Spotlight next.

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2026 WWE Drops The AXE

The landscape of professional wrestling shifted unexpectedly yesterday as reports confirmed a significant round of talent releases following WrestleMania 42. This "spring cleaning" has seen the departure of over 20 performers, including several established champions and a major faction that had become a centerpiece of weekly television.

- Kairi Sane

- Aleister Black

- Zelina

- Uncle Howdy/Bo Dallas

- Nikki Cross

- Santos Escobar

- Motor City Machine Guns

- Dexter Lumis

- Rowan

- Joe Gacy

- Andre Chase

- Zoey Stark

- Alba Fyre

- Tyra Mae Steele

- Sirena Linton

- Tyson

- Tyriek

- Chris Island

- Malik Blade

- Trill London

- Luca Crusifino

That’s it for our magazine this week

Canada F’N Dry and the Kimster Out!.

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