AFW Magazine Weekly

Aaron "Canada Dry" Harder
Mar 16
4 min read

March 16, 2026

Happy 3:16 day! It’s that one day of the year where everyone suddenly develops a gravelly voice and feels the inexplicable urge to double-fist beverages in the middle of the living room. Whether you're actually ready to open a "can of you-know-what" or you just want to celebrate the most iconic timestamp in sports entertainment, today is the day to let everyone know exactly what the bottom line is. Just remember: if you decide to stomp a mudhole in someone’s plans today, try not to spill your drink—glass breakage sounds cool on TV, but it's a real pain to clean up in the kitchen

Revolution in Los Angeles: MJF Outlasts Hangman in Blood-Soaked Classic

AEW took over Los Angeles on March 15 for a historic Revolution pay-per-view. In a main event that defined the word "brutal," MJF retained his AEW World Championship against "Hangman" Adam Page in a Last Chance Texas Deathmatch. The champion secured the victory via technical knockout in a contest that now stands as the third-longest World Title match in company history. As per the stipulation, Adam Page can no longer challenge for the AEW World title. MJF paid tribute to pro wrestling legend Terry Funk by wearing Funk's tights and coming to the ring in a cowboy outfit.

The night was defined by massive shifts in the gold:

AEW Continental Championship: Jon Moxley forced Konosuke Takeshita to pass out in a technical submission masterclass.

AEW Women’s World Championship: Thekla proved her dominance, defeating Kris Statlander 2-falls-to-1.

AEW World Tag Team Championship: FTR successfully turned back the challenge of The Young Bucks.

AEW National Championship: Jack Perry grounded the high-flying Ricochet to claim the title.

AEW Women’s World Tag Team Championship: The duo of Bayne and Kross (Divine Dominion) unseated Willow Nightingale and Athena.

The Return of the Icons: The landscape of AEW shifted instantly with the returns of Adam Copeland, Christian Cage, and Will Ospreay. Ospreay wasted no time making his intentions clear, launching a focused assault on Jon Moxley following the Continental Title match.

The Baddest Arrival: Ronda Rousey Debuts

In a moment that sent shockwaves through the city, Ronda Rousey made her unannounced AEW debut. Rousey walked the ramp to confront "Timeless" Toni Storm, signaling a collision between "The Rowdy One" and the Golden Age of AEW.

Following the event, AEW CEO Tony Khan addressed the signing during the post-show media scrum:

"To have an athlete of Ronda’s caliber join this roster at this specific time—it’s a testament to the growth of our women's division. She is a box office attraction who changes the game the moment she steps through the curtain." — Tony Khan, Revolution Post-Show Press Conference.

Cody’s Friday the 13th gone wrong!

Orton’s Dark Turn: In a development that left the live crowd conflicted, Randy Orton officially turned heel. While the fans erupted in cheers for the violence, "The Viper" systematically dismantled Cody Rhodes, leaving the American Nightmare in a heap and signaling a the rebirth of evil Randy

The Road to Las Vegas: WrestleMania 42 Takes Shape

Following the fallout of the 2026 Elimination Chamber, the card for WrestleMania 42 (April 18–19 in Las Vegas) is rapidly becoming one of the most star-studded in history. The "New Era of Chaos" sparked by Orton has direct implications for the Grandest Stage of Them All.

Confirmed Marquee Matchups:

Undisputed WWE Championship: Cody Rhodes (c) vs. Randy Orton (Slated to headline Night One)

World Heavyweight Championship: CM Punk (c) vs. Roman Reigns (Slated to headline Night Two)

WWE Women’s Championship: Jade Cargill (c) vs. Rhea Ripley

Women’s World Championship: Stephanie Vaquer (c) vs. Liv Morgan

Special Attraction: Brock Lesnar has issued an Open Challenge for a yet-to-be-named opponent.

Developing Rumors: Internal reports suggest WWE is finalizing a high-profile tag team appearance for music star Jelly Roll.

Additionally, a collision between the "Scottish Warrior" Drew McIntyre and Jacob Fatu is heavily speculated to be added to the festivities in the coming weeks.

Night of Champions

It appears that the future of the 2026 Night of Champions event in Saudi Arabia is highly uncertain due to the escalating conflict in the Middle East. While WWE has not issued an official cancellation, industry reports indicate that the company is engaged in internal discussions regarding its upcoming events in the region. This caution is heavily influenced by the broader landscape of international sports, as other major organizations like Formula 1 have already moved to cancel their scheduled races in Saudi Arabia and Bahrain for this spring, citing safety and security risks. Consequently, many observers view the WWE event as unlikely to proceed as planned unless the regional situation stabilizes significantly in the coming months

AAA Rey de Reyes 2026: WWE’s Bayley stunned the world by appearing in Puebla, Mexico, to answer an open challenge from Reina de Reinas Champion Flammer. Despite a valiant effort, Bayley fell short of the gold, but the "wrestling without borders" moment was historic. Bayley later took to X to state: "Tonight wasn't just about a title; it was about the magic of wrestling without borders."

The CEO’s European Struggles: It was a difficult night in Dreux, France, for Mercedes Moné. At the 'Apogee' event, Moné dropped the Women’s Championship to Mila Smidt. This follows recent losses of the CMLL and BestYa titles, leading many to wonder if the "Title Collector" is finally spread too thin.

Medical Update: The community continues to send prayers to referee Dallas Edwards. After suffering a scary brain injury and seizure-like symptoms during a show in Louisville, Edwards is reportedly awake and recovering in the hospital.

The Legacy Continues: Steven Borden Jr. NJPW Bound

The "Son of a Stinger" is ready for his close-up. Steven Borden Jr. has been officially announced for the NJPW Academy 3rd Anniversary Showcase on March 21 at the LA Dojo. Training under Darby Allin and Fred Rosser, the young Borden looks to honor his father’s legendary name while carving his own path in AEW.