AEW News Roundup: 26-time WWE champion is no longer a part of the company, Marina Shafir and Jon Moxley break character, Mercedes Mone loses again

Welcome to the latest edition of Sportskeeda Wrestling's AEW News & Rumor Roundup. Today, we are covering headline-worthy news involving top All Elite Wrestling stars, including Jon Moxley, Mercedes Mone, and Marina Shafir, among others.

A 26-time WWE champion is no longer employed at Tony Khan's promotion. Meanwhile, Death Riders members Jon Moxley and Marina Shafir broke character, and Mercedes Mone has lost another huge title match. All this and more as we navigate the best stories coming out of the All Elite Wrestling universe today. So without further ado, let's get this roundup started.

#4. Mercedes Mone loses TBS championship to Willow Nightingale

Mercedes Mone’s record-setting reign as AEW TBS Champion officially ended on the New Year’s Smash edition of Dynamite last night. The CEO was defeated by Willow Nightingale, ending a 584-day title run that stands as the longest in the championship’s history. The loss marked a significant moment in the women’s division, as The Babe with the Power secured arguably one of the biggest victories of her All Elite Wrestling career and became the first woman to simultaneously hold two championships, as she also has the AEW Women's Tag Team title with Harley Cameron.

Check out Willow Nightingale's winning moment here.

As for Mone, the defeat capped a challenging stretch for the erstwhile Sasha Banks, who has faced several high-profile setbacks over the past month. Before losing the TBS Title, she dropped the RevPro Undisputed Women's Championship to Alex Windsor and the ROH Women's Television Championship to Red Velvet. She also failed to capture the Women’s Tag Team Titles at Worlds End.

#3. Chris Jericho is officially no longer contracted to AEW

Chris Jericho’s tenure with All Elite Wrestling has officially come to an end. After more than six years with the promotion, Y2J became a free agent following the expiration of his contract. As one of the marquee signings in 2019, Le Champion played a foundational role in the company’s early success and made history as AEW’s first-ever World Champion.

Jericho had not appeared on AEW programming since April 2025, and during his hiatus, speculation about his next move began to surface. Meanwhile, many reports indicate a growing belief that he could return to WWE, where he was previously a 26-time champion, having won the WWE Championship, the Intercontinental Championship, and tag team titles, among others. Latest speculation has even pointed to a potential appearance on the January 5, 2026, episode of RAW.

#2. Jon Moxley and Marina Shafir caught smiling in extremely rare backstage moment

Jon Moxley and Marina Shafir, typically portrayed as ruthless and intimidating members of the menacing Death Riders, were recently caught breaking character in a rare backstage moment. A photo shared on social media by Renee Paquette showed Moxley and Shafir smiling and posing alongside Paquette and her daughter.

Check out Renee's post here.

Meanwhile, it is worth noting that Moxley's on-screen portrayal has become increasingly layered. Although he is currently positioned as a heel within the Jacksonville-based promotion, he delivered a promo following his Continental Classic victory at Worlds End that carried strong babyface undertones. The contrast between his dominant role in The Death Riders and his post-match address has naturally invited discussion about the long-term direction of his character.

#1. Kiera Hogan and Diamante have announced their engagement

Former AEW rivals Diamante and Kiera Hogan have announced a major personal milestone, revealing that they are now engaged. The news was shared through social media, with Diamante posting photos showcasing the engagement ring and Hogan referring to her partner as her fiancé. The announcement was met with widespread congratulations from fans and fellow wrestlers, including a response from Hogan herself.

"Say hello to my fiancé 🥰🥰💗💗💗"

From a professional standpoint, both wrestlers are currently on different paths. Kiera Hogan departed AEW in 2025 and is currently a free agent, while Diamante remains under contract and regularly competes under the Ring of Honor banner.

On behalf of all of us at Spotskeeda, we congratulate Diamante and Hogan and wish them well on their journey ahead.

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Edited by Karan Raj