It was a big week in pro wrestling.WWE “Raw” and “SmackDown” both set for their next storylines after WrestleMania 42, seen some call-ups come through and neared some official matches for Backlash, which is set for May 9.All Elite Wrestling continued to motor toward its Double or Nothing pay-per-view, which takes place on May 24. Darby Allin was in action while some championships were on the line through the week.In case you missed anything, read the cliff notes below.ZERO BS. JUST DAKICH. TAKE THE DON’T @ ME PODCAST ON THE ROAD. DOWNLOAD NOW!==Darby Allin stunned the pro wrestling world nearly two weeks ago when he defeated Maxwell Jacob Friedman to win the AEW World Championship. There were only a few days for celebration before Allin had to defend his title on “AEW Dynamite” on Wednesday.Allin faced off against Tommaso Ciampa for the title. It was a brutal match that saw Ciampa get busted open and deliver a hard-hitting drop to Allin from the middle rope onto the floor. Allin used multiple submission maneuvers to eventually get Ciampa to tap out.”Last night, I encountered my wrestling soulmate,” Ciampa wrote on Instagram on Thursday. “I have a hunch we will be doing this many more times over the next decade.”Mark my words: it might not be this month… it might not be this year… hell, it might not even be 2027…. but there will come a time when I hold that AEW World Title.”Allin didn’t have much time to celebrate as another challenge rose – Brody King.King said he got it cleared by AEW co-founder Tony Khan and, if it was OK with him, he would like to be the next man up. Allin accepted, and the two will battle for the championship on this week’s edition of “Dynamite.”Fresh off a win over Drew McIntyre at WrestleMania 42, Jacob Fatu was the first person to step up to world heavyweight champion Roman Reigns on “Monday Night Raw.” The show, in that spot, is used to create new storylines or shocking comebacks, and Fatu helped the cause.Reigns, flanked by Jey and Jimmy Uso, told Fatu he would think about the challenge as he didn’t think Fatu was necessarily ready to take him on. Fatu did more than enough to prove himself on “Friday Night SmackDown” as he defeated Solo Sikoa and handled the MFT faction by himself.Fatu’s endeavor left the Usos stunned as they watched him tear apart Tama Tonga, JC Mateo and Tonga Loa.If Reigns accepts Fatu’s challenge, the World Heavyweight Championship bout will be set for Backlash in a few weeks.Cody Rhodes’ promos in the midst of Pat McAfee’s insertion into his WrestleMania feud with Randy Orton blurred the line on what was real and what was kayfabe.Over the last three WrestleManias, Rhodes has had to deal with The Rock, Travis Scott and McAfee as he tried to either win the Undisputed WWE Championship or retain it. He was able to get through Randy Orton at WrestleMania 42, but he wasn’t finished sending pointed messages.He said Friday on “SmackDown” he wanted to “send a message” at WrestleMania.
Heel Turn: Darby Allin defends AEW title, Cody Rhodes speaks out and more you missed in pro wrestling
