Why Kofi Kingston and Austin Creed Were Absent from AEW Dynamite on October 21

October 23, 2026

Swerve Strickland found himself alone on AEW Dynamite on October 21, 2026, following their Trios title defeat at WrestleDream.

Indeed, Kofi and Austin Creed were absent from the show, and it was Strickland who negotiated a solo rematch against the new Trios champions. But why was the duo absent from the show?

Wrestling Observer weighed in on the subject and confirms that the absence of Kofi and Creed was planned. They were away to attend the wedding of their friend Big E. It was this week’s wedding ceremony for Big E and Kris Yim, and his closest friends and former WWE colleagues were there.

At the time of writing, the couple had not shared wedding photos, but a video circulating on the web was posted by a guest:

Kofi and Austin Creed will be able to resume AEW shows starting with the upcoming episodes. On social media, the two stated that they were surprised by Strickland’s Texas Death Match stipulation.

They hint that there might be a dispute between New Level and Strickland regarding the stipulation. It will be something to watch at their next meeting.

 

Zachary Mitchell

Zachary Mitchell

I’ve been following professional wrestling for as long as I can remember, from major televised events to the independent scene. At Franchise Fansite, I cover the news, wrestlers, rivalries, and behind-the-scenes developments that keep the wrestling world moving.