AEW celebrated the new year in style with its Fight for the Fallen edition of “AEW Dynamite,” which saw the company make its streaming debut on MAX with a show dubbed “The Mother of All Simulcasts.” Fans in Asheville, North Carolina saw a number of AEW’s big stars in action, but there were some familiar faces backstage.
PWInsider confirmed that Samantha Irvin and Beth Phoenix were backstage at “AEW Dynamite” but were simply visiting and no talk of a TV appearance was ever brought up. Phoenix is the wife of Adam “Cope” Copeland and their family currently resides in Asheville, North Carolina and has been backstage at several AEW shows with her husband. Just like Irvin, who is currently engaged to Ricochet, and couldn’t appear on AEW TV even if she wanted to, as it was reported that she was currently under a non-compete clause following her departure from the WWE in October 2024. unable to confirm how long Irvin’s non-compete lasts, but if it lasts 90 days like most other WWE contracts, she will be free to appear anywhere by END January.
A number of different faces have been backstage at AEW shows in recent weeks, with the Worlds End pay-per-view in Orlando, Florida on December 28 seeing the likes of Baron Corbin, AJ “Top Dolla” Francis and Tyler Breeze. to meet up with old friends. Much like Phoenix and Irvin, none of these names were reported to AEW because they all lived in the area and wanted to visit, but Corbin and Francis are now technically free agents, meaning there are all Chances are the next time they appear on an AEW show it could be as an in-ring performer.
