Kofi Kingston and Austin Creed Miss AEW Dynamite
The wrestling stars were absent from the October 21 episode to attend the wedding of their colleague Big E.
Updated on Oct. 24, 2026 in Wrestling
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Austin Creed and Kofi Kingston missed the October 21, 2026, episode of AEW Dynamite to attend the wedding of Big E and Kris Yim. Their absence occurred shortly after the team, known as The New Level, dropped the AEW World Trios Championships at WrestleDream 2026.
Why it matters
The team's absence left them unavailable to address a new championship challenge issued by Swerve Strickland. Strickland is currently pushing for a high-stakes rematch at the upcoming Full Gear event.
The New Level previously lost their AEW World Trios Championships at WrestleDream 2026 in a 2-out-of-3 falls match format. Strickland is currently seeking to finalize a title rematch at Full Gear in November 2026.
The players
Austin Creed
He is a professional wrestler who currently performs alongside Kofi Kingston in The New Level.
Kofi Kingston
A prominent professional wrestler known for his lengthy tenure in major industry promotions.
Big E
He is a professional wrestler and former champion whose wedding was attended by his colleagues.
Swerve Strickland
A professional wrestler currently pursuing a rematch for the AEW World Trios Championships.
Adam Page
A professional wrestler who is currently involved in the ongoing negotiations regarding the championship rematch.
The details
Swerve Strickland issued a challenge for a Texas Death Match at Full Gear without consulting his teammates. Adam Page has already rejected the specific stipulation, while Creed and Kingston have publicly voiced confusion over the proposal on X.
Timeline
October 21, 2026: The episode of AEW Dynamite took place.
November 2026: The AEW Full Gear event is scheduled to be held.
Season Trajectory
This development adds complexity to the AEW World Trios Championship picture as the roster prepares for the Full Gear pay-per-view. The disagreement over the match stipulation suggests a shift in the competitive balance and potential friction within the title-chasing teams.
Fans should monitor the Full Gear card updates to see if the Texas Death Match stipulation is eventually accepted or modified. The ongoing disagreement between Strickland and Page regarding the match rules will dictate the high-stakes environment for the upcoming title fight.
The takeaway
Professional wrestling storylines often hinge on interpersonal conflicts and challenges issued outside of formal negotiations. Viewers should expect further developments on social media as talent attempt to align their agendas before the next major pay-per-view event.
Further reading
For more updates on professional wrestling developments, visit Wrestling.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Sportskeeda.
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