AEW News Roundup: Star makes shocking return after over 300 days, Female WWE legend recalls drunk calling Bryan Danielson, Sting's next appearance

Welcome along to the latest edition of Sportskeeda Wrestling's AEW News Roundup. Today, we have news involving top stars like Bryan Danielson and Sting, to name a few.

There have been several developments in Tony Khan's promotion this week, both inside the ring and behind the scenes. From major returns to cross-promotional meetups, here’s a breakdown of the AEW stories that have made headlines.

#4 AEW star makes shocking return; finally shows up after 330 days

Dalton Castle made his long-awaited return to Ring of Honor, appearing for the first time in nearly a year after recovering from injury. The former ROH World Champion had been sidelined for 330 days following a torn bicep injury sustained on AEW Collision in July 2024.

Castle’s comeback was teased in an eye-catching segment on the latest episode of ROH on HonorClub, where four masked figures resembling Castle’s longtime allies, The Boys, discovered his image painted on a desert rock. Moments later, a UFO landed, and Castle emerged, marking a dramatic return to the promotion.

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Before his injury, Castle competed sporadically in AEW, with notable matches against Trent Beretta, Shingo Takagi, and Hechicero in 2024.

#3 Bayley spotted with major AEW name amid speculations of WWE departure

Former WWE Women's Champion Bayley was recently seen alongside AEW figure QT Marshall. The two were spotted at West Coast Pro’s wrestling school, where they interacted with and reportedly trained students. West Coast Pro publicly thanked both Bayley and Marshall for their appearance.

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The sighting has gotten fans speculating about Bayley’s status and future with WWE, who, incidentally, has been off television since April. Moreover, Bayley had previously mentioned having a year and a half left on her WWE contract.

#2 Massive hint at Sting potentially returning at All In 2025

A potential return to AEW could be on the cards for Sting, but in a non-wrestling capacity. The Icon, who retired from in-ring competition last year could be making an appearance at the All In: Texas event in July.

Sting, who is set to headline Starrcast during the All In weekend, has fans speculating about a possible cameo at All In, considering the proximity of the Starrcast event to the All In PPV, along with Sting’s past appearances at previous All In shows.

Sting last competed at the All In PPV in a Coffin Match in 2023 and appeared again in 2024 to save Darby Allin from The Elite.

#1 Female WWE legend says she once drunk called Bryan Danielson

Former WWE Divas Champion Brie Bella shared a personal story involving her husband, Bryan Danielson. On a recent episode of The Nikki and Brie Show, Brie recalled a moment when she once drunk Facetimed Danielson on his birthday.

“So I never drunk call Bryan—‘cause I don’t,'' she said. ''Brie, we have [a] record of it on Total Divas, too. It’s been a long time," Nikki interrupted. "Or like drunk text him, because he just, you know, he doesn’t like drunk people. He doesn’t drink. I drunk FaceTimed Bryan, and I was like, ‘It’s your birthday,’ and I’m like, ‘Just, I wish I was there with you.’”

She also noted that Danielson, despite not drinking and not being fond of drunk people, still “entertained the call.”

Check out the episode here:

Meanwhile, Bryan Danielson last competed in AEW at WrestleDream in 2024, where he lost his World Championship to Jon Moxley. While he hasn’t returned to programming since, the American Dragon is scheduled for a fan meet-and-greet at Starrcast during All In weekend.

About the author

Karan Raj is a senior writer in Sportskeeda's AEW division. He holds an engineering degree from Manipal University, but his passion for sports motivated him to pursue an MSc in Sports Business from the University of Liverpool. Karan has been in the sports marketing industry for the past seven years.

As a lifelong WWE fan and enthusiast of wrestling entertainment, he has always been drawn to the industry's unique blend of sports and storytelling. Karan was introduced to the business by his elder sister when he was 10 years old.

Before assuming his current role at Sportskeeda, Karan worked for several reputable organizations, such as Ting Works LLP and Sportz Interactive, wearing different hats. He also wrote the anthem of UP Rudras, a hockey team that played in the Hockey India League. Karan conducts thorough research while writing articles and only relies on credible sources for information.

Karan's favorite pro wrestler is Seth Rollins. He admires The Visionary's versatility as a performer and his ability to play both heel and babyface characters to perfection. Besides Rollins, Karan looks up to Roman Reigns for his storytelling skills and ability to captivate audiences.

In AEW, he enjoys watching Will Ospreay compete inside the ring. Karan loves The Aerial Assassin's technical in-ring ability and athleticism. If Karan could go back to the Attitude Era, he would combine forces with Jericho and promise to elevate his career to the same level as The Rock and Stone Cold Steve Austin.When not writing about pro wrestling, Karan loves to play and watch football. It is a huge part of his life.

He is also a massive fan of tennis and is learning to play the sport. Apart from sports, he also knows how to play the ukulele.

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Edited by Arsh Das