Former AEW World Tag Team Champion Bobby Lashley is currently out of action due to an injury. The news was broken by MVP, Lashley’s stablemate and spokesman, during Saturday’s AEW Collision broadcast from Cardiff, Wales. MVP did not provide specific details about the nature of the injury, leaving the timeline for Lashley’s return unclear.
The 49-year-old powerhouse last competed at AEW Full Gear last month. He participated in the Casino Gauntlet match to determine the inaugural National Champion, a bout that marked his most recent in-ring appearance before this announcement.
Shelton Benjamin Enters The Fray
In addition to the injury update, MVP revealed that Shelton Benjamin will participate in the Dynamite Diamond Battle Royal this Wednesday. The match is set to take place at AEW Holiday Bash in Manchester, England. This marks the first time Benjamin will compete for the prestigious prize.
Consistent with the event’s tradition, the two remaining wrestlers from the battle royal will face off in a singles match the following week. The winner of that bout will earn the right to challenge the current ring holder, MJF, who is assumed to be defending the prize at AEW Worlds End.
AEW Holiday Bash Lineup
The card for this Wednesday’s Dynamite in Manchester is stacked with high-stakes matchups. The Elite (Kenny Omega, Matt Jackson, and Nick Jackson) will clash with the Don Callis Family (Kazuchika Okada, Konosuke Takeshita, and Hechicero) in a match with $1 million on the line. Additionally, FTR (Dax Harwood and Cash Wheeler) will defend their AEW World Tag Team Championships against The Bang Bang Gang (Juice Robinson and Austin Gunn).
MJF has held the Dynamite Diamond Ring since its inception in 2019, turning the annual battle royal into a cornerstone of his character. Historically, the “Salt of the Earth” has defeated finalists including Adam Page, Orange Cassidy, Dante Martin, and Ricky Starks to retain the ring. With the battle royal taking place internationally for the first time in Manchester, the field will look to dethrone the longest-reigning ring holder in company history finally.
