AEW News Roundup: Absent star posts picture with Bayley, Best wishes to Kazuchika Okada and Keith Lee, and more

Welcome, dear readers, to the latest edition of the AEW News Roundup. Here, we will dive into stories about the Tony Khan-led company and its talents (former and current), including Kazuchika Okada, Keith Lee, and more.

An absent All Elite Wrestling veteran took to social media to post a heartwarming photograph with WWE's Bayley. Both Kazuchika Okada and Keith Lee will be celebrating a special occasion on Saturday.

A former talent has spoken up about his booking during his tenure in AEW and ROH. Furthermore, NJPW legend Hiroshi Tanahashi's final opponent has been revealed. Let us take a closer look at these stories in detail below.

#1. Absent star posts a picture with former WWE champion Bayley

Before signing her first contract with WWE in December 2012, Bayley used to perform on the indie circuit as Davina Rose. She competed for several independent promotions back in the day, including Big Time Wrestling, National Wrestling Alliance Pro-Wrestling, and SHIMMER Women Athletes. It was around this time that Bayley first linked up with Serena Deeb.

The two teamed together at BTW's 14th Anniversary Show in October 2010. Bayley, as Davina Rose, also made appearances for SHIMMER in 2011 to battle Deeb's rivals Portia Perez and Nicole Matthews, albeit failing to beat both.

Serena, who is currently signed with AEW, recently took to Instagram to celebrate the 20th Anniversary of SHIMMER and reminisced about her time in the Chicago-based promotion. The Professor's post included a photograph alongside Bayley.

Check out Deeb's Instagram post HERE.

Screenshot of Serena Deeb's pic with Bayley [Image source: Deeb's Instagram profile]

Deeb has not been seen in action in AEW since her bout against Momo Watanabe on Collision this past March. Meanwhile, The Role Model unsuccessfully teamed up with Lyra Valkyria to take on The Kabuki Warriors this week on Monday Night RAW.

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#2. Best wishes to AEW's Keith Lee and Kazuchika Okada

Keith Lee has been missing from All Elite Wrestling programming since his bout against Brian Cage in December 2023. He was pulled out of his subsequent Worlds End singles bout with Swerve Strickland due to health issues, and in January 2024, the former AEW World Tag Team Champion reportedly underwent two surgeries.

Lee has been on hiatus since then, despite supposedly being cleared for competition this summer. The former WWE star has repeatedly insisted that he will return to the squared circle.

Unlike The Limitless One, whose run in the promotion has arguably been stalled, Kazuchika Okada has been a staple of AEW television since his debut under the company's banner last year. The Rainmaker defeated his longtime rival Kenny Omega at All In this past July to become the inaugural Unified Champion.

Okada has so far successfully defended the gold against Swerve Strickland, Michael Oku, Konosuke Takeshita, Mascara Dorada, and Bandido. On November 8, both Keith Lee and Kazuchika Okada celebrated their birthdays. The two stars respectively turned 41 and 38 years old.

Both Keith Lee and Kazuchika Okada had their birthdays on November 8 [Image credits: Keith Lee and AEW on X]

However, Okada made headlines this weekend for another major reason.

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#3. Hiroshi Tanahashi's final opponent confirmed to be top AEW champion

This Saturday at NJPW New Japan Road in Anjo, Hiroshi Tanahashi wrestled and defeated Yuto-Ice in singles competition. The Ace of the Universe then delivered a post-match promo addressing the crowd and was about to leave before he was shockingly confronted by AEW Unified Champion Kazuchika Okada.

The Rainmaker, accompanied by Gedo, challenged the NJPW President to face him in his much-anticipated retirement match, scheduled for Wrestle Kingdom 20 at the Tokyo Dome in January next year.

In their previous singles bout, which took place at The New Beginning in Osaka 2024, Okada emerged victorious against Tanahashi. It remains to be seen whether the 48-year-old legend will be able to close out his in-ring career with a massive win over The Don Callis Family member.

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#4. Former AEW star comments on feeling disconnected from his character

Bear Bronson had made his All Elite Wrestling debut on AEW Dark back in December 2020 alongside his tag partner, Bear Boulder. The duo officially signed with the company the following year, initially competing as Bear Country before being rebranded as Iron Savages, later becoming a trio with Jacked Jameson.

The team was featured on the Jacksonville-based promotion's television programs periodically throughout 2023 and 2024, and even performed in ROH. This past February, reports emerged suggesting that Bear Boulder's contract had been terminated after his arrest over charges of domestic battery.

Bronson disappeared from AEW programming soon afterwards, and voiced his frustrations over his hiatus on social media in April. His deal with the company expired in May, and he has been plying his trade on the indies since then.

The 29-year-old New York native recently spoke with Muscle ManMalcolm and discussed his issues with his booking in AEW and in ROH. The star explained that he could not properly connect with his character, saying:

"I was in a pretty unique position that I don’t think anybody else was in where I’m so emotionally disconnected from the character that I’m being asked to portray. From the jump, from Bear Country to Iron Savages — from then on, I felt like it was really out of my hands because it was ideas from other people either within my stable or outside of the stable. I’m really not the type to be combative with these things, as a professional I like to say, ‘Okay, if this is what you’re pitching, if this is what you’re asking me to do, I’ll do it the best of my ability,’" said Bronson. [H/T: Fightful]

Bear Bronson with Jacked Jameson on Saturday Night Collision [Source: All Elite Wrestling on X]

Bronson's latest match saw him defeat Ciclope at GCW You Wouldn't Understand this past Friday.

Edited by Pratik Singh