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Moses Itauma makes feelings clear on facing Usyk next after Franklin KO

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Moses Itauma has made his feelings clear on a potential showdown with Oleksandr Usyk following another destructive performance, this time against Jermaine Franklin.

Many observers view the highly touted heavyweight as a natural successor to Usyk, and the emphatic win over the durable American in Manchester last night has only intensified talk that the 21-year-old could be ready to dethrone the Ukrainian champion.

Franklin entered the bout having never been stopped in 26 professional fights, including decision defeats to Anthony Joshua and Dillian Whyte. He was expected by some to provide valuable time in the ring for a rising contender who had only gone a total twelve rounds in his previous nine contests.

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However, the contest proved one-sided from the opening bell. The British prospect controlled the action throughout, dropping his opponent in the third round before sealing the finish in the fifth with a perfectly timed uppercut that left Franklin out on his feet and open the final, devastating right hand.

Focus now shifts to what comes next. When asked whether he would be willing to face the unified champion before the end of the year, the rising star did not hesitate in his response.

“If I get the opportunity”

However, that matchup appears unlikely. Usyk recently dismissed the idea of facing the young Brit, suggesting he has no interest in halting his momentum so early in his career.

“No, I’m not going to fight with Itauma because he’s a young guy. I don’t want to break this guy.”

The Ukrainian is set to return to the ring on May 23, where he will face kickboxing star Rico Verhoeven. Beyond that, the champion announced that he will target the winner of Fabio Wardley vs Daniel Dubois, followed by a potential trilogy bout with Tyson Fury before bringing his career to a close.

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Current champion suffers legitimate injury, Popular duo breaks up, Jon Moxley tastes another victory

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Welcome along to the latest rendition of Sportskeeda Wrestling’s AEW News & Rumor Roundup. Today, we are looking at stories involving major All Elite Wrestling stars, including Jon Moxley, among others.

A top AEW champion has reportedly suffered a legitimate injury. Meanwhile, a beloved tag team has broken up, and Jon Moxley has scored another major victory in his All Elite Wrestling career. This and more as we explore all the exciting news coming from All Elite Wrestling today. With that said, let’s start this roundup.

#4. Kyle Fletcher reportedly suffered a legitimate injury on AEW Collision

This week’s edition of AEW Collision witnessed a shocking moment when a top star suffered a legitimate injury during his matchup. Kyle Fletcher teamed up with fellow Don Callis family member Mark Davis to take on The Rascalz in tag team action. While Fletcher and Davis ultimately secured the victory for their team, the reigning TNT champion suffered a sprained ankle during the contest. Although it initially appeared to be a standard in-ring tweak that might not derail his momentum, recent reports suggest the injury could be a critical setback for Kyle Fletcher.

According to Bryan Alvarez of the Wrestling Observer, The Protostar was seen leaving the arena following the show wearing a walking boot. This confirmed that the injury was legitimate, as the 27-year-old was experiencing significant problems walking under his own power. The injury comes at a terrible time, as the Aussie has been enjoying a tremendous run as a two-time TNT Champion and had recently set his sights on the AEW World Championship. Time will tell when Fletcher will be able to return to in-ring action.

#3. Babes of Wrath part ways in an emotional backstage moment on Collision

The women’s tag team division in All Elite Wrestling experienced a major shakeup on Collision this week following a highly emotional backstage segment. In October 2025, Willow Nightingale and Harley Cameron, brought together by their mutual friend Kris Statlander, formed the Babes of Wrath to compete in the tournament to crown the inaugural AEW Women’s Tag Team Champions. Exceeding expectations, the duo won the entire tournament by defeating the Timeless Lovebombs (Mina Shirakawa and Toni Storm) in the finals. However, their reign ended at the AEW Revolution pay-per-view when they dropped the belts to Divine Dominion (Lena Cross and Megan Bayne).

Last night on Collision, the Babes of Wrath faced their highly anticipated rematch against Divine Dominion, but they ultimately fell short of regaining the title. After the disappointing loss, Nightingale and Cameron agreed to disband their tag team and focus on their individual singles careers. Nightingale now plans to dedicate her efforts to defending her TBS Championship, while Cameron said she is going where the wind takes her. Toward the end, the duo reassured each other that their friendship remains strong and that they will always be Babes of Wrath.

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#2. Jon Moxley and Daniel Garcia of the Death Riders defeated Private Party on Collision

The Death Riders continue to assert their dominance across the Jacksonville-based promotion. This Saturday on Collision, Jon Moxley teamed up with Daniel Garcia to take on the reunited Private Party duo of Quen and Zayn. Private Party recently made their return to the promotion last month as wildcards and have a deep history with Moxley’s faction. In 2024, Private Party was part of a group of stars who rebelled against the Death Riders, and Isiah Kassidy specifically had a bone to pick with the One True King after the reigning Continental Champion broke his hand with a hammer.

Ahead of the match, Moxley challenged Private Party to prove their dedication, and throughout the bout, he tested their drive and resolve. While Quen and Zayn put up a strong fight and held their own, the Death Riders eventually got the better of them. Interestingly, Moxley opted to take a backseat in the final moments, allowing Garcia to secure the glory. Garcia landed the finishing blow on his former friends, forcing Kassidy to tap out to a Liontamer submission hold.

#1. Kevin Knight sent a message to Tony Khan following controversial loss on collision

The action-packed episode of Collision this week also featured a matchup that ended in a highly controversial way, sparking immediate online discussion. Kevin Knight challenged Kazuchika Okada for the AEW International Championship. Knight put on an incredible performance, and at several points, it looked like the JetSpeed member was about to pull off a huge upset to become the new champion. However, the Japanese star used underhanded tactics, leveraging the ropes to secure a roll-up pinfall and keep his title.

Frustrated by the screwed-up ending and the Rainmaker’s antics, Knight immediately turned to the X to send a direct message to AEW President Tony Khan. Knight wrote:

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“I appreciate the appreciation boss but Okada can’t get away with this one. We need to have a #Dialogue.”

Check out his X post below:

I appreciate the appreciation boss but Okada can’t get away with this one. We need to have a #Dialogue

This public demand adds to Tony Khan’s existing list of managerial problems, as the CEO is also handling the unexpected departure of former Women’s World Champion Toni Storm, who is reportedly expected to be away from the ring until 2027.