New details have emerged regarding FTR dropping the AEW Tag Team Championships to Ricky Starks & Big Bill.
FTR lost the titles on the October 7 episode of Collision in a match that went under five minutes. Cash Wheeler was chokeslammed through an announce table by Bill in the early going and did not return to the match after. It was originally thought this was done to cover for Wheeler being injured, as people in the company were told he was dealing with broken ribs.
In an update to this story from the Wrestling Observer Newsletter, Dave Meltzer writes that while Wheeler is banged up, that was not the reason for FTR dropping the titles or the quick match on Collision.
“This was an angle pitched by Dax Harwood. There were those in the company told Cash Wheeler was injured with broken ribs and that was the reason for it," Meltzer wrote. "We’re told he is banged up, enough to where he was X-rayed but we were told the X-rays showed no broken ribs and he doesn’t need time off and could have done a full match."
"The idea of the pitch is to do a match where Wheeler was injured and Harwood had to face both men and got blown out without getting much offense in. The idea of dropping the titles and doing it in such a one-sided way to put over Bill & Starks strong and to do something significant to try and help the Collision show,” Meltzer continued.
Prior to title change, AEW had seemingly set up up the next Young Bucks vs. FTR match, as the Bucks won a number one contender's match at WrestleDream. The original plan was for that match to take place either at Full Gear in Los Angeles or the tapings from Ontario, California the week before.
Starks and Bill said in a post-match promo that FTR will not get a rematch for the belts. However, Meltzer writes that a rematch will likely take place on either the October 28 or November 4 shows.
Very unselfish move. Good for him.