A masked fan-favorite was unable to triumph in his title match at AEW Redemption 2026. The star in question, Bandido, was unable to unseat Kyle Fletcher for his International Championship.

On the July 15 edition of Wednesday Night Dynamite, Brodido returned to tag team competition, picking up a dominant victory over Aaron Solo and Nick Comoroto. Immediately afterwards, Kyle Fletcher successfully defended his AEW International Championship against Komander. In a despicable post-match ambush, The Protostar attempted to rip the high-flying luchador's mask off, but he was stopped by Konosuke Takeshita. Thankfully for the Don Callis Family member, his teammate Kazuchika Okada then arrived to take out The Alpha.

However, while Fletcher and The Rainmaker were playing tug-of-war with the International Championship afterwards, Bandido showed up to drop the heels with a springboard dropkick. This attack, coupled with Brodido interrupting his backstage interview earlier on the show, prompted a frustrated Kyle to call the "Most Wanted" star out to an International Title match at Redemption 2026.

The following week, the ProtOkada member declared that he did not want any of his DCF teammates at ringside for his title defense against Bandido in response to a taunt from TNT Champion Kevin Knight. Unfortunately, he and Okada lost to Brodido in tag team action on the July 22 episode of AEW Dynamite, allowing the ROH World Champion to walk into Redemption with momentum on his side.

Fletcher and Bandido battled it out in an absolute barnburner this Sunday in Montreal. The challenger survived many of the International Champion's biggest moves at Redemption 2026. However, the Mexican grappler countered his opponent with heavy offensive maneuvers of his own, including the 21 Plex.

Bandido even survived Fletcher's devastating brainbusters, not to mention an avalanche Michinoku Driver towards the end of the bout. However, a final decisive brainbuster on the turnbuckle was enough to allow the AEW International Champion to retain.

Fletcher is now set to defend his belt against "Speedball" Mike Bailey, who earned an International Championship shot by winning a ladder match earlier at Redemption.

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