Welcome, readers, to yet another edition of AEW News Roundup! Let's look at some top stories about wrestlers of the Tony Khan-led company and those currently and formerly working for its rival promotion, WWE.A budding star, who was once signed to a recent developmental program launched by WWE, has made her debut in one of Tony Khan's two wrestling companies. Top star Mercedes Mone was spotted in tears after suffering a massive setback this past Friday. On the other hand, The Boss' former tag partner and close friend, Bayley, has reacted to a major announcement pertaining to her former stable-mate. Finally, an AEW champion has shared his thoughts on his prospective retirement.Let us take a closer look at these stories below!#1. Former WWE name Zayda Steel debuted for AEW's sister-promotionZayda Steel's journey inside the squared circle began in 2022. After cutting her teeth across several independent promotions, including Pennsylvania Premiere Wrestling, H2O Wrestling, DEFY, Beyond, and MLW, The Federette was signed by WWE in late 2024 through the Stamford-based company's new developmental program, WWE ID.Throughout 2025, Steel competed on WWE Evolve and even unsuccessfully pursued both the Evolve Women's Championship and the WWE ID Women's Championship. Her run in the sports entertainment juggernaut was brief, however, as she announced this past October that she would not be renewing her WWE ID contract.Soon afterwards, reports emerged claiming that All Elite Wrestling was interested in acquiring Steel. Subsequently, earlier this month, the up-and-comer made her first appearance at ROH, AEW's sister-promotion. She also wrestled her first Ring of Honor match this Friday at ROH Final Battle: Zero Hour, where she unsuccessfully took on Leila Grey in singles action.Zayda Steel making her ROH debut [Source: @ringofhonor on X]It remains to be seen when The Real Deal might be featured on AEW television.#2. Mercedes Mone in tears after suffering a major lossEarlier in October, Mercedes Mone won her record-breaking eleventh championship - the Interim ROH Women's World Television Title - by unseating Mina Shirakawa at WrestleDream 2025. Afterwards, The CEO received a challenge from the lineal holder of the belt, Red Velvet, whom she also subsequently defeated in a championship unification match on AEW Collision last month.This Friday at ROH Final Battle, Velvet had another shot at the erstwhile Sasha Banks and her ROH Women's TV Title. The 34-year-old star managed to pull off a huge upset at the event, as she pinned "Ultimo" Mone to recapture her belt. Mercedes was seen reacting to her loss poorly in the aftermath, possibly because it followed on the heels of her failure in dethroning AEW Women's World Champion Kris Statlander at Full Gear 2025.Mone is scheduled to defend her TBS Championship against Leila Grey this weekend on Saturday Night Collision.#3. Bayley's reaction to her former teammate Dakota Kai facing an AEW championAfter proving her mettle on the independents, Dakota Kai signed on with WWE in 2016 and soon established herself as one of the most promising talents on the company's developmental brand, NXT. Although she was released by the promotion in April 2022, she was brought back months later at SummerSlam alongside Bayley and IYO SKY as a member of the new heel stable, Damage CTRL.The New Zealander continued performing for the Triple H-led company over the next couple of years, thriving especially in the women's tag team division and even holding the WWE Women's Tag Titles along with The Genius of The Sky on multiple occasions. Earlier this May, however, Kai was released by WWE after being kept away from the ring since March.Although she has not yet returned to action, it was recently announced that King Kota, under her new ring name Charlie, will be making her indie comeback next year at EVE Wrestle Queendom 8 on March 8, 2026, where she will be challenging Kris Statlander for her EVE International Championship. The announcement elicited an excited reaction from Kai's former stable-mate Bayley, who took to X to write:"OMG OMGGGG"Bayley @itsBayleyWWELINKOMG OMGGGGWhether Charlie will kick off her post-WWE career before her bout against Stat Daddy remains to be seen.#4. Top AEW champion Kazuchika Okada on when he might retireDespite beginning his 2025 Continental Classic campaign with a loss to his stable-mate Kyle Fletcher, Kazuchika Okada successfully bounced back earlier this week on AEW Dynamite, where he picked up his first three points in the tournament with a win over Pac. Furthermore, the All Elite Wrestling Unified Champion is scheduled to face one of his all-time great rivals, NJPW President Hiroshi Tanahashi, in the latter's final match at Wrestle Kingdom 20 next year.Okada recently spoke with New Japan Pro Wrestling and addressed the topic of his own retirement during the interview. The Rainmaker asserted that he was nowhere close to hanging up his boots, despite being aware that at some point he would also have to wrap up his decorated career. He even jokingly suggested approaching Tanahashi to be his last opponent, stating:"My retirement? I mean I’ve been around to be in NJPW and see people come and go, and then for me to leave as well, it says how much of a career I’ve had already. I don’t think I’m anywhere near retiring yet, but I am aware that day will come some time. Maybe I should ask Tanahashi to be my final opponent? Oh wait he’s finishing up. (laughs)" [H/T NJPW]Kazuchika Okada's interview comments [Source: njpw1972.com]It remains to be seen whether New Japan's "Ace" will be able to defeat Okada in his final bout.