WWE’s days of being a wrestling promotion catered towards wrestling fans are over, at least according to two talents released from the company this year. On a recent episode of their Talk’n Shop podcast, Doc Gallows and Karl Anderson weighed in on recent developments in WWE, including the release of R-Truth. Anderson shared his take that WWE isn’t a wrestling company in the traditional sense anymore, but merely an extension of TKO Group Holdings.
“It’s not the WWE anymore, guys. It’s a company called TKO.”
Gallows echoed the sentiment that WWE can’t be considered WWE anymore, adding:
“I don’t look at WWE as WWE anymore. They’re TKO now — and that’s great. That’s good for them. It’s not the same thing.”
TKO officially launched in September 2023 and saw WWE and UFC come together under one media powerhouse. Since then, several changes have been made, including the introduction of in-ring sponsors at PLEs and at TV events. While WWE will continue to move forward, the future of WWE looks vastly different from its past, according to Gallows and Anderson.
This began on X when a fan asked if Purrazzo will be “pulling up to Dynamite.” The Virtuosa responded that she’d only be appearing “During picture in picture, probably”, a dig at how little she has been used in the ring.
During the June 4, edition of AEW Dynamite, Purrazzo did make an appearance, albeit not in the ring. True to her prediction, Purrazzo appeared during a picture-in-picture segment as part of a commercial for Southern New Hampshire University.
Purrazzo’s appearance on the show sparked a discussion online, prompting the wrestler to weigh in. In a post on X, Purrazzo spoke about being honored to play a part in the commercial, and had no idea it was going to air during Dynamite.
Though Purrazzo did not intend her initial post as anything more than a joke, many are frustrated with how little the former TNA Knockouts World Champion has been used. With no sign of her next AEW appearance, fans may be waiting a long time to see her in action.
Former WWE Superstar Bishop Dyer has yet to work for Tony Khan, but the wrestler has praised the AEW President for taking care of his talent. Appearing on Busted Open Radio, Dyer, better known to fans as Baron Corbin, spoke highly of Khan, revealing that the AEW head has done things WWE would not have done for its wrestlers.
“I can tell you Tony Khan cares about his employees. I know things that are not public that he’s done for talent that I think in WWE’s world would not be done that way.”
Dyer didn’t give examples of Khan’s actions, though it’s no secret that the AEW President often goes the extra mile. Khan can often be found making massive donations to GoFundMe’s to aid wrestlers, including donating $10,000 to Kevin Sullivan’s medical expenses in 2024.
Whether Dyer, a former NXT Tag Team Champion, one day appears for the promotion that once directly competed with WWE NXT, that remains to be seen. With that said, it’s clear that the Lone Wolf has a high estimation of the AEW President.
Tonight’s AEW Fyter Fest special of Dynamite featured Kenny Omega defending his AEW International Title in a fatal four-way against Brody King, Mascara Dorado, and Claudio Castagnoli. The development after the bout, however, made more headlines than the match.
After Omega successfully defended his title, he was confronted by his longtime rival and current AEW Continental Champion, Kazuchika Okada.
The two stars shoved their title belts in each other’s faces, and the segment quickly turned into a brawl. Omega managed to get the upper hand in this confrontation, forcing Okada to retreat.
After this confrontation, the company teased a big announcement from Tony Khan before the end of the 4-hour special. The announcement that came right before the main event of the show was of a ‘Winner Takes All’ showdown between the two champions for the upcoming All In: Texas PPV on July 12.
AEW has already confirmed “Timeless” Toni Storm vs. Mercedes Moné for the AEW Women’s Title and Jon Moxley vs. Adam Page for the AEW title for the upcoming show. The Okada vs. Omega rematch however, is big enough to potentially main event the PPV over the other bouts.
This will be the fifth match between the two wrestling stars and the first one-on-one encounter between the two since NJPW Dominion 6.9 back in 2018.
The female star had not been seen on AEW TV since the first quarter of 2023, when she took maternity leave. Melo gave birth to her daughter Luna Guevara in November that year.
Like many recent comebacks, her return match earlier this year came outside of AEW. Melo competed in her first match in 22 months during Stardom’s New Year Dream event. She teamed with Mina Shirakawa to face off against Athena and Thekla.
Tonight’s Fyter Fest special of Collision then saw a segment where the duo of Megan Bayne and Penelope Ford had seemingly attacked Anna Jay backstage. They were holding the Dark Order star by her hair when the cameras cut to backstage, and the duo proceeded to bring Jay out onto the stage.
As Bayne looked to drop Anna Jay off the stage with a slam, however, Tay Melo made her surprise return to make the save for her former tag team partner.
Melo brought a steel pipe with her, which she used to take out Ford. She then got into a brawl with Megan, and the segment ended with the security having to pull the two female stars away.
Tony Khan has previously expressed interest in adding a Women’s Tag Team title to the company and the duo of Anna Jay and Tay Melo could be serious contenders if he does make the announcement.
Vince McMahon has further reduced his stake in TKO Group Holdings, selling approximately $250 million worth of stock directly to Endeavor, TKO’s majority owner. A new SEC filing revealed McMahon offloaded 1,579,080 shares of TKO stock at a per-share price of $158.32.
This latest transaction means McMahon has now sold more than $2 billion worth of TKO shares since the company was formed from the merger of WWE and UFC in September 2023. This includes a previous significant sale valued at $311.2 million in April 2024 to both TKO and Endeavor.
Following this most recent sale, McMahon reportedly still holds 6,442,325 TKO shares, which constitutes roughly 3% of TKO.McMahon resigned from his positions at TKO and WWE in January 2024.
His resignation came after former WWE employee Janel Grant filed a lawsuit against him, WWE, and former executive John Laurinaitis, accusing McMahon of sexual assault and sex trafficking, allegations which McMahon has denied. This sale of stock is another step in McMahon distancing himself financially from WWE.
R-Truth has been released from WWE, but Sheamus isn’t concerned for the future of the former WWE 24/7 Champion. Appearing on the Pat McAfee Show, Sheamus shared his belief that Truth’s return to WWE isn’t a question of if, but when..
“So many guys and girls—have left and come back. It’s not the end. Sometimes it’s a bit of a break… There’s no way Truth’s not going to come back at some stage. I’m sure you’ll see him again. Like, a Hall of Famer. He’s definitely a pillar.“
Sheamus’ connection to Truth extends beyond merely being a colleague of the released talent. In the interview, the four-time WWE World Champion shared how his first WWE match was against none other than R-Truth.
“We had a dark match together on the road, and from then we bonded. That fella walks in the dressing room and it’s just… laugh. He’s got a contagious laugh that would just light up the room.“
Sheamus also believes that Carlito will return to WWE TV one day, despite his contract not being renewed. The Irish Superstar, who marks 16 years since his own WWE arrival this month, declared “If you truly want to find your way back, you’ll find your way back.”
Sheamus’ positive outlook on these releases comes in stark contrast to the waves of backlash WWE has received in recent days. For Sheamus, fans can expect to see Truth and Carlito in some capacity on WWE TV down the line.
WWE Superstar Karrion Kross is reportedly in his contract year, with his current deal set to expire this summer (2025). There has been little movement regarding a new agreement.
According to an update from Fightful Select’s Sean Ross Sapp at the start of June, WWE “has not yet approached Kross about a contract extension or renewal.”
Furthermore, Fightful “haven’t heard if they’ve indicated interest in doing so” at this point. This comes after an earlier report from Sapp noted Kross was in a contract year. WWE typically notifies talent about non-renewals approximately a month before their deals expire.
However, the company has recently kept talent on television closer to their contract end dates before making decisions on extensions or communicating non-renewals.
Currently, Kross reportedly has “a few months remaining on Kross’ deal.” He has been a consistent presence on SmackDown, often alongside Scarlett, and recently had a notable interaction with Logan Paul.
A neck injury robbed Kevin Owens of competing at WrestleMania 41, an injury that could keep the Canadian out of the ring for the rest of this year and beyond. Speaking to e10Sport, Owens gave the latest on his situation.
“I still haven’t had the operation. There are a lot of things to consider before the surgery. We’re waiting a bit to see how things evolve naturally. There’s no doubt that I need surgery, but before going through with it, we just need to see how much it can… not recover, because it won’t recover, but improve slightly without surgery.“
Owens shared news of his injury on an episode of SmackDown, though reports of the setback came to light hours before the show. In the interview, Owens explained that the issues with his neck have been going back for some time.
“I had doubts for several months that there was something really abnormal. But it took several months before we diagnosed the actual injury. We found out two days before I made the announcement on SmackDown that I wouldn’t be able to be at WrestleMania and that I had to stop wrestling immediately.”
Owens reiterated that despite any reports to the contrary, he has not had surgery yet, adding that “we’ll figure it out.” As fans eagerly await updates on the former Universal Champion, it’s clear that a return to the ring remains a long way away.
Roxanne Perez has made a splash in WWE in her years with the company, and now she’d love to see Taylor Swift step into the ring. In a conversation on Sports Illustrated’s YouTube channel, Perez was asked which celebrity or pro athlete she’d want to see compete in WWE and was quick to name the music icon.
“I don’t know if we would actually ever see it, but I’m a big fan of Taylor Swift. So, I mean, could you imagine just seeing her in a WWE ring? I think that would be pretty groundbreaking and kind of crazy.”
Though she is yet to lace up her boots for in-ring action, Swift does have some connections to the world of pro wrestling. The 14-time Grammy Award-winning artist spent her younger years babysitting for Jeff Jarrett, and helped the Jarrett family immensely during the final years of the life of Jeff’s first wife. In late 2023, Swift was spotted with WWE’s Baron Corbin at a Kansas City Chiefs game with both cheering on Swift’s boyfriend Travis Kelce.
The mere idea of Taylor Swift making a WWE appearance—even briefly—would be a media sensation, drawing attention from both the entertainment world and sports outlets. While it seems unlikely, fans know to never say never in the world of WWE.
All Elite Wrestling presents AEW Fyter Fest tonight on TBS and Max, delivering a massive four-hour wrestling extravaganza combining both Dynamite and Collision programming from 8/7c.
Tonight’s AEW Fyter Fest Card:
AEW International Championship Fatal 4-Way: Kenny Omega (c) vs. Mascara Dorada vs. Brody King vs. Claudio Castagnoli
FTR vs. Atlantis Jr. & Templario
Toni Storm & Mina Shirakawa vs. Skye Blue & Julia Hart (Mercedes Mone on commentary)
Mark Briscoe vs. Jon Moxley
RUSH, The Beast Mortos & Dralistico vs. Kevin Knight, Mike Bailey & Komander
Thekla vs. TBD (In-ring debut)
We’ll hear from the Hurt Syndicate
The evening’s marquee attraction features a high-stakes Fatal 4-Way match for the AEW International Championship, where Kenny Omega defends his title against three dangerous challengers: Mascara Dorada, Brody King, and Claudio Castagnoli.
Singles competition takes center stage when Mark Briscoe squares off against Jon Moxley in what’s sure to be a hard-hitting encounter between two of AEW’s most intense competitors. The show also features tag team action with FTR taking on the duo of Atlantis Jr. and Templario.
Women’s division action showcases Toni Storm teaming with Mina Shirakawa against the formidable pairing of Skye Blue and Julia Hart, with AEW TBS Champion Mercedes Mone providing commentary. Additionally, Thekla makes her in-ring debut against an opponent yet to be announced.
Trios action rounds out the card as RUSH, The Beast Mortos, and Dralistico represent their faction against the high-flying combination of Kevin Knight, Mike Bailey, and Komander. The Hurt Syndicate will also address the AEW audience during the broadcast.
Becky Lynch and Seth Rollins are a true power-couple in wrestling, but the pair tag-teamed recently to present the Los Angeles weather. Days ahead of WWE Money in the Bank, Rollins and Lynch hosted a lighthearted weather forecast for KTLA.
Neither Superstar shied away from making reference to their WWE roles. When presenting the weekend update, Rollins relished in a sunny time coming to LA, telling viewers “I love it. Crank it up, burn it down, as you might say.”
Lynch wrapped up by hyping up WWE Money in the Bank. While she wants those in LA to join the nice weather on June 7, making it back to watch the PLE will be a must.
“So you might wanna go to the beach on Saturday, but remember to be back in time for Money in the Bank. Go to the beach in the morning, but come back for Money in the Bank when it’ll be a little cooler.”
Becky Lynch is scheduled to challenge Lyra Valkyria for the Women’s Intercontinental Championship, while Seth Rollins will compete in the Men’s Money in the Bank ladder match. With both entering high-profile matches, it could be a perfect weekend for the duo underneath a beautiful LA sun.
CM Punk has finally set the record straight on the origin and significance of his iconic Pepsi logo tattoo. He shared the story on the June 4, 2025, episode of WWE Tattooed, revealing it runs much deeper than a simple beverage preference.
Punk acknowledged the tattoo has “gotten the most attention” over time. He explained its roots trace back to hardcore punk band Minor Threat and guitarist Brian Baker.
“The story with the Pepsi Tattoo is there is a band called Minor Threat… that’s widely known to have started the straight edge subculture,” Punk stated. “And the guitarist Brian Baker was asked in an interview I read while I was in detention, ‘Do you have a Coca-Cola tattoo? Why do you have a Coca-Cola tattoo?’ And his response is, ‘I like Coca-Cola.’”
This straightforward, anti-establishment answer resonated deeply with a young Punk. “And I was that’s just punk rock right there… I don’t like Coke. I like Pepsi. I’m a Midwest kid at heart. So I got a Pepsi tattoo.”
Punk made it clear that the logo symbolizes his identity. “That tattoo represents me being straight edge, and that’s really it,” he said. “It seems silly to put a corporate logo on yourself, but it really has a deeper meaning and it means so much more to me than just soft drink.”
On June 1, wresting fans were shocked to see R-Truth post on social media that he’d been released from WWE. Mass confusion followed as some fans took his announcement at face value, others thought it was part of a kayfabe storyline, and some suspected Truth might be playing an April Fool’s Day prank, getting the timing wrong as his character so often has in recent years.
Multiple credible sources went on to confirm, though, that the release was real or at least WWE had made the official call not to renew his contract upon expiration. Whether Truth is truly already done or his days are very, very numbered, it’s nonetheless the right time to look back at his remarkable career with the largest wrestling promotion in the world.
K-Kwik Got Rowdy
In 1999, a young star named K-Kwik debuted for WWE, teaming with The Road Dogg. There’s a fuzzy line on whether the rookie could technically be considered part of DX. The generally accepted wisdom, though, is that Road Dogg teaming up with K-Kwik marked the end of that iteration of the stable (though K-Kwik was part of a Survivor Series team with not only his tag partner, but Billy Gunn and Chyna, further blurring the lines).
Together, the two achieved modest success. Before K-Kwik went on to a more forgettable solo run. Ultimately, he fell victim to the Invasion angle as the roster bloated with WCW stars coming in, and he found himself lost in the shuffle and ultimately released from the company in late summer 2001.
R-Truth Was A Mid-Card Staple
By the time R-Truth returned to WWE in 2008, he was a different man. He had since won the NWA World Heavyweight Championship—TNA’s top prize in the early days of the promotion. That’s in addition to reprising his partnership with Road Dogg there as part of 3 Live Kru and striking up other tag team pairings.
So it was that a returned Truth had a lot more in-ring experience, a more chiseled physique, and a fully realized rapping gimmick that helped him stand out as a babyface who enjoyed two reigns as United States Championship as he was firmly planted in the upper mid-card.
Heel R-Truth Broke Through To The Main Event
In 2011, a twist in R-Truth’s story saw him fall out with tag team partner and friend John Morrison as he broached the main event picture. Sure enough, by summer, R-Truth found himself challenging John Cena for the WWE Championship.
Through not fault of his own, Truth had a credibility problem, as he just wasn’t seen on Cena’s level, besides which it felt like WWE was largely killing time before Cena would return his focus to The Rock in time for WrestleMania 28.
In an even more surprising twist, though, an unhinged version of Truth, fueled by paranoia and conspiracy theories, became half of a top heel tag team with The Miz. Highlights included feuding with the tandems of Triple H and CM Punk, then Cena and The Rock themselves.
R-Truth Reinvented Himself As An All-Time Great Comedy Act
Photo: WWE
Playing crazy offered a natural conduit for Truth to ultimately return to his babyface ways. Little could anyone expect what an institution he’d become as a comedic wrestler—arguably the greatest of all time—making even the most serious heel acts break on live TV.
This is the run that saw Truth strike tag team gold with Kofi Kingston and much later The Miz. He’d also be an eccentric partner to Goldust and Carmella for different runs. Perhaps most memorably of all, Truth was the MVP of the 24/7 Championship, winning the title time and again in increasingly absurd and genuinely funny moments. In what turned out to be the final stretches of his WWE career, highlights included him quasi-joining up with Judgment Day and feuding with his “childhood hero,” John Cena.
In the end, R-Truth’s legacy comes down to themes of versatility, longevity, and making the most of whatever creative WWE handed him. He goes down as one of WWE’s funniest performers of all time and, no less importantly, a clear backstage favorite given the outpouring of support colleagues went on to show him on social media upon word of his release. There will never be anyone kind of like R-Truth, and that’s what’s up.
WWE Worlds Collide returns for the first time since 2022, taking place Saturday, June 7, 2025, at 3:00 PM ET from the Kia Forum in Inglewood, California. This historic cross-promotional event features wrestlers from WWE’s NXT brand facing off against stars from AAA (Lucha Libre AAA Worldwide), which WWE acquired in April 2025. The event streams free on WWE’s YouTube channel and sets the stage for Money in the Bank later that evening.
Match-by-Match Betting Analysis
AAA Mega Championship Match
El Hijo del Vikingo (c) (-3000) vs Chad Gable (+900)
Vikingo enters as an overwhelming favorite to retain his AAA Mega Championship. The -3000 odds reflect WWE’s investment in elevating Vikingo’s cross-promotional appeal, having recently captured the title on May 31 at AAA Alianzas in Mexico City and been prominently featured on WWE programming.
NXT North American Championship Fatal Four-Way
Ethan Page (c) (-3000) vs Je’Von Evans (+700) vs Rey Fenix (+900) vs Laredo Kid (+900)
Page is heavily favored to retain the championship he just captured from Ricky Saints on May 27. The massive odds disparity suggests this match may serve more to showcase AAA talent than to create a title change.
Six-Man Tag Team Match
Latino World Order (+125) vs Octagon Jr., Aero Star & Mr. Iguana (-165)
The AAA trio enters as slight favorites in this cross-promotional showcase featuring Dragon Lee, Joaquin Wilde, and Cruz Del Toro representing WWE’s Latino World Order.
Women’s Tag Team Match
Stephanie Vaquer & Lola Vice (-2000) vs Chik Tormenta & Dalys (+700)
The WWE tandem of current NXT Women’s Champion Stephanie Vaquer and Lola Vice are overwhelming favorites against the AAA duo, with Vaquer’s recent championship defense at Battleground adding momentum.
Conclusion
The betting odds heavily favor WWE talent in most matches, with the exception of the six-man tag featuring LWO. This suggests Worlds Collide may serve primarily as a showcase to introduce AAA wrestlers to WWE’s audience rather than a true competitive cross-promotion. The most intriguing value play appears to be the underdog AAA team in the six-man tag, while the championship matches seem destined to maintain the status quo with current titleholders retaining their gold.
WWE Money in the Bank 2025 takes place Saturday, June 7, 2025, at 7:00 PM ET from the Intuit Dome in Inglewood, California. This marquee event features the traditional ladder matches where winners receive contracts guaranteeing championship matches at any time within the next year, plus several high-stakes title bouts and a blockbuster tag team main event. Here are the latest betting odds, courtesy of Betonline:
Match-by-Match Betting Analysis
Men’s Money in the Bank Ladder Match Winner
Seth Rollins (-400) vs LA Knight (+300) vs Solo Sikoa (+900) vs Andrade (+2200) vs Penta (+625) vs El Grande Americano (+900)
Rollins enters as the heavy favorite, reflecting his status as a protected main event star and leader of his new heel faction. With over 80% of Money in the Bank cash-ins historically being successful, Rollins represents the safest investment for WWE’s summer storylines.
Women’s Money in the Bank Ladder Match Winner
Naomi (-280) vs Rhea Ripley (+300) vs Stephanie Vaquer (+900) vs Giulia (+1000) vs Alexa Bliss (+900) vs Roxanne Perez (+700)
Naomi leads a competitive field as the betting favorite, though veteran status and strong storyline positioning make her the logical choice. Perez offers intriguing value at +700 as a potential future star being positioned for a major push.
Tag Team Match
Cody Rhodes & Jey Uso (-120) vs John Cena & Logan Paul (-120)
This blockbuster main event features two of WWE’s biggest championships, with World Heavyweight Champion Jey Uso teaming with the recently returned Cody Rhodes against Undisputed WWE Champion John Cena and Logan Paul. The even odds reflect the star power on both sides and unpredictable nature of this first-time pairing.
Women’s Intercontinental Championship
Lyra Valkyria (c) (+550) vs Becky Lynch (-1000)
Lynch is an overwhelming favorite to reclaim the Women’s Intercontinental Championship in their rematch from Backlash. The massive odds spread suggests WWE is ready to add another accolade to Lynch’s legendary career while advancing their heated personal rivalry.
Conclusion
Money in the Bank 2025 presents WWE with an opportunity to set major summer storylines in motion. Seth Rollins’ heavy favoritism in the men’s ladder match aligns with his heel faction’s dominance storyline, while Becky Lynch’s overwhelming odds suggest a championship change is imminent. The even odds in the tag team main event reflect genuine uncertainty about the outcome, making it the most unpredictable match on the card.
With the event’s historical significance in launching new champions and storylines, these betting lines indicate WWE is positioning established stars for major summer runs while using the Money in the Bank concept to elevate rising talent like Roxanne Perez in the women’s division.
Due to injury, LWO member Joaquin Wilde has been removed from his scheduled six-man tag team match at this Saturday’s WWE x AAA Worlds Collide event. It was revealed on the June 3rd episode of WWE NXT that former WWE Cruiserweight Champion Lince Dorado will replace Wilde in the bout.
The updated match will now see Dorado teaming with Cruz Del Toro and Dragon Lee to take on Aero Star, Octagon Jr., and Mr. Iguana from AAA. Wilde was unfortunately knocked out during a WWE Speed match against Lexis King that was taped just prior to WWE Raw on June 2nd. While Wilde posted on social media that he was “good no worries” after being “knocked out cold before,” WWE has made the change for the upcoming Los Angeles show.
The updated card for Saturday’s Worlds Collide on Peacock and Netflix is as follows:
AAA Mega Championship: El Hijo del Vikingo (c) vs. Chad Gable
NXT North American Champion Ethan Page (c) vs. Je’Von Evans vs. Rey Fenix vs. Laredo Kid
Stephanie Vaquer & Lola Vice vs. Dalys & Chik Tormenta
Legado del Fantasma vs. El Hijo de Dr. Wagner Jr., Psycho Clown & Pagano
LWO (Dragon Lee, Cruz Del Toro & Lince Dorado) vs. Aero Star, Octagon Jr. & Mr. Iguana
An individual allegedly stalking WWE Women’s Tag Team Champion Liv Morgan was arrested outside the WWE Performance Center in Orlando on Tuesday night, June 3, 2025, during the live NXT event. The unsettling incident was witnessed by fans at the event.
A fan present at the Performance Center described the scene on X: “A legit Stalker was arrested outside of the PC tonight. Multiple bags of evidence taken in by police officers… I wish I was making this up y’all… Y’ALL NEED HELP SERIOUSLY SMH”.
Shortly after this eyewitness account gained traction, Fightful’s Sean Ross Sapp corroborated the report. Sapp stated, “Liv Morgan’s stalker was arrested. WWE had been made aware of the situation and called in authorities.”
The identity of the arrested individual has not been made public. Thankfully, no one was harmed during the incident.
WWE has dealt with serious stalking incidents involving talent in the past, including those targeting Paige and Sonya Deville, and an individual trespassing at the Performance Center who was later shot by police in 2015.
A legit Stalker was arrested outside of the PC tonight
Multiple bags of evidence taken in by police officers…..I wish I was making this up yall….
Mariah May has landed in WWE NXT with an exciting debut during the June 3, episode of the silver brand. In her first comments after making her debut as a WWE NXT Superstar, The Glamor made clear that her arrival has been a long time coming.
“It’s about damn time! I’ve wrestled all over the world and it’s only right that the glamour arrives in NXT.”
While May sees her WWE NXT debut as a long time coming, it has been reported that her AEW deal only expired at the start of June 2025. During her time with Tony Khan’s promotion, May held the AEW Women’s World Championship once, winning the title in her native England at All In: London 2024. May’s final match was fittingly the ‘Hollywood Ending’ with Toni Storm at AEW Revolution 2025.
Now, May is in WWE NXT and has her sights set on gold. Stay tuned to SEScoops for the latest on Mariah May and her future in the wrestling juggernaut.
WWE NXT’s Trick Williams is still the TNA World Champion, thanks to the efforts of some members of the TNA roster. During the June 3, episode of WWE NXT, Williams marked his first title defense by putting the gold on the line against Mike Santana.
Santana proved to be a worthy challenger to Williams in what was the rightful main event of a stacked episode. TNA wrestler Elijah was sat in the crowd to watch the match as he is next in line for a shot at the TNA World Championship.
During the climax of the match, Williams would trash-talk with Elijah before Trick grabbed Elijah’s guitar and smashed it on the ring steps. Amid the chaos, TNA’s AJ Francis and Casey Navarro jumped Santana and bounced him off the announce table. Williams would get back in the ring and hit the Trick Shot to retain the TNA World Championship.
Williams’ victory cements his control over the TNA World Champion but he will now have to look ahead to a showdown with Elijah. It remains to be seen if Williams can retain or if Elijah will bring the gold back home to TNA Wrestling.
Two fans of Sting were thrilled to meet the icon, and made their meet-and-greet even more special by getting engaged. On X, Sting shared footage of the two fans who got engaged and offered his congratulations to Angel and Crystal.
Sting retired from in-ring competition in 2024 and ended his AEW career undefeated with a tag-team victory at the Revolution pay-per-view. Though his in-ring career is over, Sting remains under contract with AEW and appeared at the All In: London 2024 pay-per-view.
Though his in-ring career is over, Sting continues to hold a significant presence in wrestling and is a regular at conventions and similar events. This year marks the last year Sting will feature his iconic face paint before retiring the design in 2026. With that in mind, Angel and Crystal’s engagement was even more special, and we wish them all the best on their upcoming nuptials.
Former AEW Women’s World Champion “The Glamour” Mariah May has officially joined WWE, making her debut during the June 3, edition of WWE NXT. May appeared on the balcony during a segment involving NXT Women’s Champion Jacy Jayne and made her intentions to win the gold crystal clear.
According to Fightful Select, May’s surprise appearance was kept under tight wraps. Sources say only a select few within WWE were aware of her involvement ahead of time, with even staff in the Gorilla position reportedly learning about the segment just moments before it aired.
May has now signed a multi-year contract with WWE, the report adds. Behind the scenes, internal movement had already begun to prepare for her arrival, including several recent NXT call-ups to the main roster. Stephanie Vaquer, Giulia, and Roxanne Perez have all been moved to the main roster, with Jordynne Grace expected to join them shortly.
May was officially removed from AEW’s online roster on May 31, though her management initially claimed she was still under contract. New reports suggest her deal quietly expired at the start of June. AEW had shown interest in retaining her but May clearly felt that a move to WWE was the right decision.
It’s unclear whether she’ll continue using the Mariah May name in WWE, as May didn’t state her name on the show, and WWE’s social media accounts have avoided giving her name. Some see this as similar to Ricky Starks, as WWE avoided using his name before rebranding him as Ricky Saints. According to a report from WrestleVotes, May is expected to receive a new ring name, though this has not been confirmed.
Ricky Saints lost the NXT North American Championship to Ethan Page on the May 27 episode of WWE NXT, in a stunning loss for Saints. The title changed hands after Saints took a Twisted Grin from Page and his throat struck the crossbar of a chair.
During the June 3, episode of WWE NXT, it was revealed that that Ricky had suffered a laryngeal contusion. An image of Ricky’s CT scan was provided and it was promised that updates on his condition would be shared as they become available.
There is currently no timetable for Ricky Saints’ return to programming. It was reported mere days before this update that he was due to be called-up in the near future. For now though, Saints is out of action, raising questions about what’s next for him as a WWE Superstar.
Mariah May just made her impact known in WWE by making her debut during the June 3, edition of WWE NXT. As the women’s division descended into chaos, the lights dropped and May appeared on the balcony, earning a massive reaction from the crowd in attendance.
May declared that “The best women’s division in the world just got a lot more glamorous” to another loud pop. Her statement capped off a segment where the entire NXT women’s locker room unraveled over Jacy Jayne’s recent title win. Now, May has made her intentions clear, she plans on being WWE NXT Women’s Champion. Looking into the eyes of Jacy Jayne, May made herself clear, declaring “I’m the next NXT Women’s Champion.”
This debut wasn’t entirely unexpected as May had been quietly removed from AEW’s roster page days earlier. It had also been reported that she was finished with AEW and was set to join WWE imminently. On X, May declared that WWE was her home.
Mariah May is the latest AEW alum to jump to WWE, following the likes of Cody Rhodes, Jade Cargill, CM Punk, and others. It remains to be seen if May will have similar success to her former and new colleagues now she is a WWE Superstar.
The reasons behind AEW star Wardlow’s prolonged absence from television, stretching back to March 2024, have come out.
A combination of injury, a car accident, and a significant television role is due to his absence from TV. According to a Fightful Select report, Wardlow first suffered what is believed to be a labrum injury in the Spring of 2024.
During his hiatus, he was also involved in a car accident, which, while it “didn’t cause the injury made it worse.” Despite these setbacks, Wardlow landed what sources described as a “very appropriate and special” television role in early 2025 and has since been medically cleared to return to the ring.
However, his AEW comeback is being strategically timed. After Wardlow met with AEW President Tony Khan, “all parties agreed that it wouldn’t serve anyone well to just bring him back briefly and take him off again for the TV role.”
Wardlow’s last AEW TV appearance was a World Title match against Samoa Joe in March 2024. Fightful Select also confirmed Wardlow has a “significant amount of time left on his AEW contract and will not be leaving any time soon.”
