Swerve Strickland Shouts “F**k Booker T” As AEW Dynasty Goes Off The Air; April 7th Wrestling News Round-Up

Kevin Owens recently opened up about two WrestleMania entrances he hoped would be more elaborate — but both were shut down by WWE leadership.

Speaking on the My Mom’s Basement podcast, Owens recalled pitching a dramatic debut entrance for WrestleMania 32 in 2016.

His idea? A live band playing his music — until he smashed their instruments. But Vince McMahon wasn’t sold:

“He goes, ‘That doesn’t make any sense. Why would you bring them here to play your music and then smash their instruments?’”

Fast forward to WrestleMania 39, Owens teamed with Sami Zayn to defeat The Usos in the main event.

Hoping for a special entrance, the pair asked Triple H about doing something unique.

“‘Everyone has these crazy entrances and we don’t have anything.’ He goes, ‘You guys don’t need anything. You’re gritty.’” [h/t Fightful]

Despite being turned down twice, Owens still hopes to get his big WrestleMania entrance someday.

Inside The Ropes Magazine Issue 56 is available for pre-order now.

The latest edition of the UK’s greatest wrestling magazine features a stunning blue and white themed Adam Copeland cover and contains a plethora of must read content including:

• Inside The Ropes exclusive chat with AEW star Adam Copeland.
• THE FIRST WRESTLEMANIA – Forty years on, Inside The Ropes revisits the event that changed the business foreve
• WRESTLING’S GREATEST COMMENTATORS – Where do Nigel McGuinness and Wade Barrett rank on our list?
• THE ‘MANIA 41 HYPE MACHINE- Where it went right and wrong
• LET’S WORK TOGETHER – Examining the benefits of the talents trading deals between WWE and TNA, AEW and New Japan and others
• PLUS… Dynasty, Scott Hall, Henry Godwinn, WWE 2K25, WrestleMania XI and more news, reviews, analysis and retro goodness than you can shake a kendo stick at.

Don’t miss out, pre-order your copy today.

Now that we have covered some of the biggest stories from the last 24 hours, let’s take a look at some of the biggest stories from the weekend.

Tensions reached a boiling point on the April 4 edition of SmackDown as a heated promo segment between Charlotte Flair and Tiffany Stratton spiraled out of control, leading to backstage frustration and fallout that has since grabbed the attention of fans and talent alike.

What was meant to be a typical WrestleMania season face-off quickly turned personal as the Chicago crowd hijacked the segment, prompting both Flair and Stratton to trade increasingly unscripted barbs. Things escalated when Stratton referenced Flair’s recent divorce from Andrade, prompting Flair to fire back with a jab about Stratton’s real-life relationship with Ludwig Kaiser:

“Hey Tiffany, is that why Kaiser is in my DMs?”

The moment, while viral-worthy, left many within WWE questioning what went wrong. Reports indicate that both women were blamed for how the segment spiraled. Although no backstage confrontation took place, Charlotte Flair was said to be visibly unhappy following the promo.

According to a report from Fightful Select, the original promo was written by Devyn Prieto, but talent and staff alike were convinced things veered off course. Several sources close to the situation said Flair has a history of calling audibles during promos and matches, while Stratton was reportedly trying to stand her ground after being overshadowed in a previous segment.

A source close to Stratton claimed Flair went off-script first and that her abrupt exit was an attempt to prevent the situation from getting worse. One longtime talent described going up against Flair in promos as “daunting,” and another said Stratton was doing what she had to do—but “going toward Charlotte seems like a horrifying prospect for anyone that does it.”

Backstage, reactions to the exchange included audible gasps from other talent, with management reportedly upset about the way things unfolded. Despite that, several within WWE are said to believe the company should lean into the real-life tension and use it as fuel for their ongoing storyline.

Whether or not the fallout from this segment plays into WrestleMania plans remains to be seen, but what’s clear is that this rivalry has gotten very real—and very personal.

Last night’s AEW Dynasty PPV took place at the Liacouras Center in Philadelphia, delivering an action-packed night of wrestling. The results are as follows:

• AEW World Championship: Jon Moxley (c) defeated Swerve Strickland via pinfall.
• AEW International Championship: Kenny Omega (c) retained his title against Ricochet and “Speedball” Mike Bailey in a triple-threat match.
• TNT Championship: Adam Cole defeated Daniel Garcia (c) to capture the TNT Championship.
• ROH World Championship (Mask vs. Title): Bandido defeated Chris Jericho (c) by pinfall to win the ROH World Title.
• Men’s Owen Hart Foundation Tournament Quarterfinals: Will Ospreay defeated Kevin Knight.
• AEW Women’s World Championship: “Timeless” Toni Storm (c) retained her title against Megan Bayne.
• AEW World Trios Championship: Death Riders (Claudio Castagnoli, PAC, and Wheeler Yuta) defended their titles successfully against Rated FTR (Cope, Dax Harwood, and Cash Wheeler).
• Women’s Owen Hart Foundation Tournament Quarterfinals: Mercedes Moné defeated Julia Hart.
• AEW World Tag Team Championship: The Hurt Syndicate (Bobby Lashley and Shelton Benjamin) (c) defeated Big Bill and Bryan Keith.
• Men’s Owen Hart Foundation Tournament Quarterfinals: Kyle Fletcher defeated Mark Briscoe.

The event concluded with The Young Bucks making a surprise return, interfering in the main event to assist Jon Moxley in retaining his AEW World Championship against Swerve Strickland.

What did you think of AEW Dynasty? Let us know using the thumbs below!

Chris Jericho thought he had stolen victory at AEW Dynasty, but Bandido wasn’t going down that easily.

In a high-stakes match with both Jericho’s ROH World Title and Bandido’s mask on the line, the veteran used underhanded tactics — blasting Bandido with his baseball bat while the referee was distracted to secure the win.

However, the celebration was cut short when Bandido’s mother and sister alerted Aubrey Edwards at ringside to the foul play. After a discussion with the officials, the match was restarted.

Jericho then made the mistake of grabbing Bandido’s sister by the hair, only to be slapped across the face. That fired up Bandido, who hit a reverse GTS followed by the 21-Plex to pin Jericho and become the new ROH World Champion.

Kenny Omega may have retained his AEW International Title at Dynasty, but a post-match faceoff with Kazuchika Okada stole the spotlight. After defeating Ricochet and “Speedball” Mike Bailey, Omega was met in the ring by his longtime rival, hinting at another chapter in their legendary feud.

Omega shared a photo of the moment, writing, “Some things never change,” fueling speculation that a match is on the horizon — possibly at AEW All In Texas. With reports that AEW plans to merge the International and Continental Titles, Omega vs. Okada could be more than a dream match — it might be a title unification bout.

Cody Rhodes has officially joined an elite group of WWE Superstars by holding the Undisputed WWE Championship for a full year, marking another milestone in his already storied comeback journey.

Rhodes returned to WWE with a mission — to win the championship his legendary father Dusty Rhodes never held. After falling short at WrestleMania 39 due to interference from Solo Sikoa, Rhodes finally “finished the story” at WrestleMania 40, defeating Roman Reigns in a chaotic Bloodline Rules match. The bout saw interference from The Rock, John Cena, The Undertaker, and more, but ultimately, it was Rhodes who stood tall.

Since winning the title on April 7th, 2024, The American Nightmare has been a fighting champion, successfully defending the gold against top-tier opponents like AJ Styles, Kevin Owens, and Solo Sikoa. His next major test looms large at WrestleMania 41, where he’ll face 16-time World Champion John Cena.

With his reign now crossing the 365-day mark, Rhodes becomes just the fifth WWE Superstar in the 21st century to hold the top championship for over a year — joining the ranks of John Cena (380 days in 2006), CM Punk (434 days in 2011), AJ Styles (371 days in 2017), and Roman Reigns (735 days in 2022). It’s a fitting accomplishment for a man who’s reshaped his legacy, gone from prodigal son to top guy, and carved his own place in WWE history.

Tony Khan has addressed growing fan frustration following the conclusion of AEW Dynasty, where yet another pay-per-view main event ended in controversy. Jon Moxley once again retained the AEW World Championship, this time over fan favorite Swerve Strickland, in a match that saw the surprise return of The Young Bucks. The outcome marked the second consecutive pay-per-view where Moxley emerged victorious thanks to interference, following a heavily criticized finish at Revolution that left fans disappointed despite the overall strong card.

During the Dynasty post-show media scrum, Khan was asked whether he considered changing course after fan backlash to Revolution and now Dynasty. He acknowledged that fan feedback is something he takes seriously, noting the overwhelming crowd support for Swerve and the significance of The Young Bucks’ return:

“Absolutely, I take that into consideration. We had a lot of great moments for the fans tonight. Swerve was the more popular man in the house tonight, the fans really behind Swerve. You had two of AEW’s greatest World Champions having this match and obviously the return of the Young Bucks spoiled what was a great World Championship match on a night where there were a lot of fan favourite moments. That was obviously not necessarily the outcome that a lot of people were hoping for.”

Khan explained that while many fans may not have liked the ending, it aligned with the ongoing stories AEW has been building. He emphasized the importance of The Young Bucks, who hadn’t appeared on AEW programming in nearly six months, calling them “founding fathers” of the company. Their return, in his view, adds a layer of intrigue moving forward:

“I do think for tonight it creates an intriguing situation. Certainly, the fans are behind Swerve. I think the fans are every bit as behind Swerve today, after the PPV, as they have been at any point. I think the fans love Swerve. I don’t think the Young Bucks involvement or them screwing him changes that… So there has been a lot of interest in what is happening and there was a lot of support for Swerve tonight.”

Do you think Tony Khan made the wrong call at AEW Dynasty? Let us know using the thumbs below!

Adam Copeland suffered a devastating betrayal at AEW Dynasty 2025 in a moment that left the crowd stunned and shocked the locker room. Competing alongside Dax Harwood and Cash Wheeler as Rated-FTR, Copeland fought hard in a losing effort against The Death Riders, consisting of Claudio Castagnoli, Wheeler Yuta, and PAC, in a match for the AEW Trios Championships.

But it was after the bell rang that the most unforgettable moment of the night took place. As the dust settled, Harwood suddenly turned on Copeland, dropping him with a vicious piledriver. Wheeler initially looked hesitant, seemingly trying to stop the assault, but moments later joined in, revealing the betrayal was mutual. Together, FTR brutally dismantled Copeland, hitting him with a Shatter Machine followed by a Mindbreaker Piledriver onto a steel chair. To make the moment even more brutal, they ended the attack with a Con-Chair-To, leaving Copeland unconscious in the ring.

FULL FTR HEEL TURN!!

RATED FTR IS NO MORE!! #AEWDynasty pic.twitter.com/G48RV41ajE

— 𝐃𝐫𝐚𝐕𝐞𝐧 (@WrestlingCovers) April 7, 2025

Medical officials rushed to the scene as fans looked on in silence and disbelief. FTR mocked Copeland as he was stretchered out of the arena, turning what was already a gut-wrenching moment into a cold and callous statement. After weeks of teasing tension, Dax Harwood finally made his move, officially turning heel and dragging Wheeler with him in the process. While it’s unclear how long Copeland will be out of action, the angle seems designed to write him off television temporarily, potentially setting the stage for a heated return down the line.

Are you excited to see a heel FTR once again? Let us know using the thumbs below!

Swerve Strickland didn’t leave AEW Dynasty as World Champion, but he certainly left fans talking.

Following a hard-hitting main event against Jon Moxley that saw steel chairs, a Swerve Stomp through the announce table, and the Death Riders neutralised, it looked like the stage was set for Strickland to reclaim AEW’s top prize. But in classic AEW fashion, the closing moments brought a controversial twist — the lights went out and The Young Bucks returned, hitting Strickland with a BTE Trigger that allowed Moxley to retain his title.

After the show ended, Strickland grabbed a mic and addressed the fans in attendance — delivering a passionate promo that touched on representation, perseverance, and his meteoric rise over the past year.

“In 1 year, this kid right here that you supported in the past 12, 13 years — 1 year, 5 main event pay-per-views. I don’t just speak about representation, I go out there and I prove the fcking thing.”*

The crowd, already fired up, erupted into chants of “Whose house?” as Strickland thanked them for their support.

But before he left the ring, Strickland delivered one final, uncensored parting shot:

“One last thing, simply for my amusement… Fck Booker T!”*

Check out the crazy moment below!

“F*ck Booker T” – Swerve Strickland after AEW Dynasty went off the air 😱

📹: @JustinDavidKish pic.twitter.com/DzuHfx2XOM

— ITR Wrestling (@ITRWrestling_) April 7, 2025

Do you think Swerve Strickland was wrong to call out Booker T like this? Let us know using the thumbs below!

Hello and welcome back to the ITRWrestling live blog

My name is Liam and I will be with you from 10am to 6pm (UK) covering all the biggest stories from the past 24 hours across the world in wrestling.

Kicking things off today we have:

• Swerve Strickland had a harsh message for WWE Hall of Famer Booker T as AEW Dynasty went off the air.