Former WWE champion reacts to Tony Khan's historic announcement: " Time to step up"

Tony Khan made a historic announcement on Dynamite this week, and now a former WWE champion has reacted to it.

At AEW All Out 2025, it was revealed that Tony Khan would make a major TV appearance on the upcoming Dynamite to deliver a major announcement. That turned out to be the official reveal of the AEW Women's Tag Team titles. For those who don't know, speculation about when the title belts would be introduced had been circulating for months, especially after Khan earlier stated that he's had the belts for a year. Regardless, the titles were finally showcased on Dynamite last night with Tony Khan stating he will soon crown the inaugural champions. Amid the chatter, former three-time WWE Intercontinental champion and AEW star Dustin Rhodes has now weighed in on the matter.

Taking to X, the Natural shared a photo of the belts along with an encouraging message asking the AEW women's division to step up to the challenge.

"Hey @aew Ladies.... time to step up like only y'all can!!!!," wrote the former TNT champion

Vince McMahon's biggest mistake revealed? Check Now!

Check out his post on X below:

WWE legend Dustin Rhodes gives major update regarding return to AEW

Amid his injury-forced hiatus, Dustin Rhodes has been active on social media, replying to fans and providing updates on his condition while also commenting on recent events in the world of pro wrestling. Recently, The Natural received a message from a fan on X who said he can't wait to see him back in action. In his reply, the WWE legend noted that while it will take some time, nothing will stop him from making a comeback.

"Gonna be a long while. Just sitting yesterday all day for my show destroyed me. Paying for it today. But nothing will stop me from getting back in and finishing my career. Very blessed to be with @AEW."

As of today, we don't have a concrete timeline for when Dustin can return to AEW, but given his age, fans will hope it happens sooner rather than later.

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.

Know More

WWE made a big mistake signing these wrestlers? Watch Here!

Edited by Karan Raj