Report: FTR's AEW Title Change Was To Put Over Ricky Starks & Big Bill, Cash Wheeler Not Injured

A shocking booking decision was made on Saturday, October 7 as FTR suddenly dropped the AEW World Tag Team Championships to Ricky Starks and Big Bill in a four-minute match. Cash Wheeler was taken out of the action early, eating a Chokeslam through the announce table from Big Bill. This left Dax Harwood isolated and he was promptly pinned by the challengers following multiple Chokeslams from Big Bill and a Spear from Ricky Starks.

The title change came out of nowhere, especially since FTR vs. The Young Bucks IV looked to be on the horizon at Full Gear, and initial reports from Dave Meltzer stated Cash Wheeler was dealing with an injury which led to the title switch. PWInsider, meanwhile, claimed that Wheeler's arrest for aggravated assault with a firearm in August had nothing to do with Big Bill and Ricky Starks winning.

In an update, Dave Meltzer has now stated on Wrestling Observer Radio that Cash Wheeler isn't injured and AEW simply decided to switch the belts to put over Big Bill and Ricky Starks in a big way.

"So the deal I guess is Cash Wheeler wasn't hurt and it's all storyline. It was just to put those guys over big and they are going to be back in the mix. The match thing was their idea for sure... They [AEW] said it's all story, that there is no injury. There is supposed to be a rematch. The way it was laid out is to set up a rematch," Meltzer said.

Channelling his inner-Apollo Creed, Ricky Starks stated following the win on Collision there wouldn't be a rematch between the two teams.

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