The first marquee match for AEW’s next pay-per-view is set, and it’s a massive Champion vs. Champion showdown.
On the October 22nd episode of AEW Dynamite, AEW Women’s World Champion Kris Statlander officially accepted a challenge from TBS Champion Mercedes “12 Belts” Moné. The two will now face each other at AEW Full Gear.
The challenge was first issued by Moné following the recent WrestleDream PPV. Tonight on Dynamite, during a segment celebrating her collection of 12 championship titles, Moné was confronted by Statlander, who made the match official with her acceptance.
Kris Statlander has accepted Mercedes Moné’s challenge for her AEW Women's World Championship.
This high-stakes bout pits the company’s two top women’s singles champions against one another. It’s a match with significant history, as Moné already holds two victories over Statlander from 2024 in bouts for the TBS Championship. However, this will be Moné’s new attempt to capture the one title that has eluded her in the company: the AEW Women’s World Championship.
AEW Full Gear takes place on Saturday, November 22, 2025, from the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey.
AJ Styles has been a WWE Superstar for close to a decade, but this run with the company may never have happened if not for his time in Japan. In a new video highlighting his final time competing in Japan, Styles reflected on how his time in the country led him to life as a Superstar.
“I felt so much love here in Japan for everything that I’ve done here, I don’t know where or if I would’ve even been in WWE if it wasn’t for Japan.”
Appearing during a WWE live event in Tokyo, Styles shared a similar sentiment to the grateful crowd. Styles then had Shinsuke Nakamura prepare a statement that Styles had translated into Japanese so that the fans could hear his appreciation in their native tongue.
“When I first came to Japan, I honestly did not know what to expect. I didn’t know if someone like me would ever be accepted here. But, from the very first night, you all welcomed me with respect and passion and with open hearts. Every time I stepped through that curtain and into a Japanese ring, I gave everything I had because I knew that’s what you deserved. And in return, you gave me some things I’ll never forget. Which are your trust, your energy, and your love for this business. Tonight, I may be walking away from this ring, but, a part of my heart will always stay here. In Japan and in each and every one of you. Thank you very much.”
After competing in Japan a handful of times during his run with TNA, Styles signed with New Japan Pro Wrestling in March 2014. Within weeks, Styles won the IWGP Heavyweight Title, becoming the sixth non-Japanese wrestler to hold the gold and the first since Brock Lesnar in 2005.
After joining WWE in 2016, Styles was able to return to Japan several times and compete in front of the passionate fans. Though AJ’s days wrestling in Japan are already over, he will forever be grateful for his time in the country.
A new report from Brandon Thurston of Wrestlenomics.com has revealed that the average ticket price for WWE’s North American television events, Raw and SmackDown, has nearly doubled since the TKO merger in September 2023. The analysis, which used data from Pollstar, shows a sharp upward trend in pricing that began in 2024 and has continued to climb steeply throughout 2025, following years of more gradual increases.
This pricing strategy has been a stated goal of TKO executives, who have been vocal about increasing WWE’s “ticket yield” to be more in line with the UFC’s model. The report notes that this significant price hike is unique to WWE and not reflective of the wider live entertainment industry, which has seen ticket prices remain mostly flat. The 60% jump in WWE’s average ticket price from 2024 to 2025 far outpaces that of other major sports, such as the NBA, which saw a 21% increase over the same period.
This is not due to a skew from international events, as all international shows were excluded from the data. The price increase is instead attributed to a new pricing philosophy and a growing scarcity of domestic events, as WWE runs fewer non-televised house shows and more international premium live events.
Despite the record-high prices, demand for WWE events has not slowed down. In fact, attendance for Raw and SmackDown has continued its third consecutive year of growth. Data from WrestleTix shows an average of 11,500 tickets distributed per event in 2025, up from 11,000 in 2024.
Pollstar’s data on actual tickets sold reflects this, with an average of 12,200 tickets sold per event in 2025, a significant increase from 9,800 in 2023 and 7,800 in 2022. This trend held steady even in the most recent quarter (June–September 2025), where the average ticket price rose sharply from approximately $75 to $118 year-over-year, while the average attendance remained steady at around 10,800.
Jazmyn Nyx was found laid out backstage during the September 23, episode of WWE NXT, in what would be her final appearance on TV. One day later, Nyx confirmed that she would be leaving WWE as she chose not to re-sign.
On The Ariel Helwani Show, Nyx was asked for her reaction to how she was written off, admitting that “I can’t really control or have a say in that.” While Nyx had no say over her WWE TV departure, she said that it “makes sense how I was written off.” Nyx noted how she and her Fatal Influence allies Jacy Jayne and Fallon Henley “were already having beef and having arguments” on TV.
Nyx’s attacker was later revealed to be Laney Reid, who has replaced Nyx in the faction. On-screen, Reid shared that she realizes that Fatal Influence’s attitude of winning by any means was right for her, and she is now a regular alongside Jayne and Henley.
Leaving WWE was a difficult decision for Jazmyn Nyx, who has shared that she is open to a return to the company. With Nyx having no issue with the end of her time on TV, fans shouldn’t count out a comeback down the line.
Braun Strowman has an appetite for a culinary adventure on his new USA Network series Everything on the Menu. The former WWE superstar takes viewers on tour through eight cities including Fort Worth, Washington D.C., Orlando, Las Vegas, Chicago, Milwaukee, New Orleans, and Tampa. Each destination and establishment featured brings a unique flavor, history, and charm. The “Monster Among Men” not only hopes to shine a light on these places, but show another side of him through these experiences.
“The whole world knows Braun Strowman. They know my character. They know what I’ve done in WWE,” he said. “This is the first time in my life I’ve had a massive platform in USA Network where I get to be Adam Scherr, unscripted the man behind the monster, and really showcase my passion for life, food, and everything in between.”
The concept for the series was born while Strowman was recovering from a neck injury in 2023. He had his neck fused after a freak accident in the ring. This was a sobering reminder of the risks involved being a professional wrestler, but also a chance to think about projects in a different space of entertainment.
“As I’m out recovering, I’m pondering life,” Strowman said. “Whether I’m ever going to be able to wrestle again, lift weights. What am I going to be able to do in life? Something inside of me I know that I have is the ability to put smiles on people’s faces. How can I continue to do that?”
The conversation turned to food. The near 7-foot powerhouse knew he enjoyed a good meal and taking people out to dinner for them to venture out of their comfort zones. He’d often order two or three entrees at places. It got him and his team thinking about a kind of travel show encapsulating all this. They shot a pilot in Kewaskum, Wisconsin, about an hour from his farm, at a place called the Great Outdoors Supper Club. It is home to the iconic 96-ounce prime rib called the Old “96er. “I picked it up and ate it like a loaf of bread,” Strowman recalled.
USA Network bit on the pitch, and the rest is history. Each of the half-hour episodes is broken down into two restaurants the fun-loving giant visits.
“The first restaurant is more the signature dish of the city. All those restaurants were open 30,40,50, 60 years. Getting in there and talking to the owners and chefs and the customers and hearing the lineage of the restaurants. What has gone into the recipes that have kept people coming back 30, 40 years their entire life coming back and eating that,” Strowman explained.
“Hearing the stories of the community, the outreach, and everything that keeps these restaurants going. There is such a heartbeat in these cities. Then you take an opportunity and realize you’re eating something that is a piece of American history and has been part of this community for all this time… The second restaurant is a hotspot or up and coming or talked about restaurants. We vetted restaurants that haven’t been featured on programming and showed love and support to those restaurants.”
Strowman finds the show’s blue-collar approach makes the show stand out. Not knowing the foodie terms or official terminology of the process, the everyman learns as the audience does. The former world heavyweight champion also enjoys pulling from his skillset.
“I’ve learned throughout my time with WWE and tools they gave me to go out and do so much other stuff and be articulate and break these stereotypes that follow big people like me around that think we just fee-fi-fo-fum through life and everyone else between….I’m really proud of all this,” Strowman said.
Among the most heartwarming interactions Strowman had was with Virginia Ali. The 91-year-old stands the driving force and heart of Ben’s Chili Bowl in Washington D.C.
“You talk about an absolute angel of a human being,” Strowman said. “Within 30 seconds of talking to her, I felt like I’ve known her my whole life. I got to go back behind in the kitchen and get my hands dirty. They showed me the whole process. The fans were shocked seeing me and didn’ t know who I was getting to know who I was. Then the closing with her kissing me on the cheek telling me she felt the lord blessed her with another son. It brought it tear to this big monster’s eye. It was very special.”
One that hits home for the Strowman is Beefy King in Orlando. Early in his WWE journey, Carolina boy recalled moving to Florida with $150 in his pocket and whatever could fit in his Kia Soul. He’d sleep on couches, spare rooms, and even his car to work toward a dream. And the iconic restaurant helped provide the fuel.
“I knew I could go in there and get a sandwich that was good and priced well and fed me well. Another thing that is so special to me,” Strowman said. “During the pandemic them and another special spot in Orlando Jimmy Hula helped me and partnered together. We fed a thousand AdventHealth and Orlando Health employees on the frontlines saving people’s lines during the pandemic and made that a mission I was able to accomplish with them.
He added, “They are so special to me. Shannon [Woodrow] and her family. They’re bread is from a bakery. Everything has been the same there for almost 60 years. The smiles, the smells, the hugs every time I go in there. Now after my episode debuts I will have my own sandwich on the menu. They are putting the monster on the menu.”
Everything on the Menu with Braun Strowman premiere, October 24, 10/9c, USA Network
HBO Max has announced its third price increase in three years, and for wrestling fans following All Elite Wrestling, that means higher costs to watch their favorite programming.
Effective immediately, HBO Max prices have increased across all tiers. The ad-supported plan now costs $10.99 monthly (up $1), the Standard ad-free plan jumps to $18.49 monthly (up $1.50), and the Premium 4K plan reaches $22.99 monthly (up $2). Annual plans see similar increases of $10 to $20 depending on the tier.
What this means for AEW fans
For AEW fans, the timing adds another layer of uncertainty. Warner Bros. Discovery, which owns HBO Max and holds AEW’s broadcast rights, announced this week that the company is exploring a potential sale after receiving “unsolicited interest” from multiple parties. That development raises questions about the long-term home of AEW programming, even as fans are being asked to pay more for access.
The price hikes are particularly notable for AEW fans given that HBO Max recently became the streaming home for AEW pay-per-views starting in September 2025. Subscribers can purchase live PPV events for $39.99 on top of their base subscription – a $10 discount from the $49.99 price on other platforms. The service also carries weekly episodes of AEW Dynamite and Collision as live simulcasts and on-demand replays.
New subscribers face the higher prices immediately, while existing monthly subscribers will see increases starting November 20, 2025. Annual subscribers won’t be affected until their next renewal period.
The price hikes mirror industry-wide trends, with Disney+, Hulu, Peacock, Apple TV, and Netflix all raising rates this year as streaming services push for profitability. For wrestling fans who subscribe specifically for AEW content, the value calculation now includes both the higher base subscription costs and the additional PPV purchase prices for major events.
WWE, in conjunction with the Greater New Orleans Sports Foundation, has officially announced that the 2026 Money In The Bank Premium Live Event will take place on Saturday, August 29, 2026, from the Caesars Superdome in New Orleans, Louisiana. The event is part of a new, multi-event agreement between WWE’s parent company, TKO, and the city of New Orleans, which was first revealed in May 2025.
This will be the first time Money In The Bank has been held in August, placing it as a major event in the post-SummerSlam calendar. The Money In The Bank Premium Live Event is one of WWE’s “Big Five” events of the year and features ladder matches for both the men and women.
The winners of these bouts earn a briefcase containing a contract for a championship match at a time and place of their choosing, anytime within the next year. Additional ticket details and event information will be announced in the coming months. Fans can register for an exclusive pre-sale opportunity to be the first to hear about ticket availability for Money In The Bank by visiting: https://www.wwe.com/mitb-2026.
Official Money In The Bank Priority Passes will also be available through On Location. These premium packages offer fans unrivaled access, including premium seating, hospitality events with Superstar appearances, exclusive photo opportunities, and more.
TNA World Champion Nic Nemeth believes that WWE’s Bron Breakker is more than ready for a full-time main event position, arguing that the company should “throw his ass in the deep end” and see if he can swim. The endorsement comes at a pivotal moment for Breakker, who just perpetrated one of the most shocking betrayals in recent WWE history by turning on his mentor, Seth Rollins, and aligning with Paul Heyman on Monday Night Raw.
The move has immediately thrust the former NXT Champion into the World Heavyweight Championship picture Speaking on Busted Open Radio, Nemeth advocated for WWE to pull the trigger on Breakker’s push now rather than waiting, dismissing the idea that a talent needs to wait until they are older to get a top spot.
“There’s one way to find out. Throw his ass in the deep end, and let’s go. Because if you’re getting behind somebody — a lot of people have been bringing up the last few years, and especially the last few weeks and months — if somebody’s ready, and they’re not 45, who the hell cares?”
Nemeth’s philosophy harkens back to a “sink or swim” mentality that was more common in previous eras of the wrestling business. He believes that the only way to truly know if a talent can handle the pressure of the main event is to put them in that position and give them a chance to succeed.
“Put them in the main event and give them a shot. Give them a chance. It used to be sink or swim. Why not do it now?”
WWE and ESPN recently kicked off their massive partnership, one that has seen ESPN become home to WWE’s ongoing Premium Live Events. On October 21, the NBS season kicked off as part of ESPN, and the event egan with a WWE flair.
The intro for ESPN’s coverage of the NBA season used WWE’s signature ‘The Power is Back’ intro, as well as graphics inspired by WWE Raw and WWE SmackDown.
WWE’s first PLE as part of the ESPN family was Wrestlepalooza in September. The show was given a mediocre ‘C’ grade, citing a lack of big moments for what had been a much-hyped show. WWE Crown Jewel: Perth was given a more favorable ‘B’ grade, with the AJ Styles Vs. John Cena match given an ‘A’ grade.
Maxxine Dupri didn’t leave WWE Raw as the Women’s Intercontinental Champion, but this isn’t the end of the road for the Alpha Academy star. On Raw, Dupri battled Becky Lynch and earned a DQ win when Lynch hit her with the gold. As per the rules, the title couldn’t change hands on a DQ, meaning Lynch remains the champion.
Backstage, Dupri shared her feelings about her win, which came in her hometown of Sacramento, California. While she was frustrated not to be leaving with the title, Dupri remains confident that her time will come.
“That’s still a hometown win! She may have choked me out, she may have hit me with her title, the title that I respect and she may have caused insane pain, but I still won in my hometown of Sacramento, baby. With my mom and dad in the front row.
“Becky Lynch, I’m coming for that title and you better stop running. I’m up next!”
Dupri has yet to hold gold in WWE, but continues to improve every time she steps in the ring. Two weeks before this title match, Durpi earned another victory over Lynch, albeit by countout.
Whether Maxxine Dupri is one day known as Women’s Intercontinental Champion, time will tell. But with multiple wins over Becky Lynch, albeit in controversial fashion, Dupri is ready for another shot at the gold.
Former WWE Superstar Scotty 2 Hotty is officially off the market as the former Tag Team Champion is now engaged to be married. On Facebook, Scotty shared that he and his bride-to-be got engaged at the Disney Family Farm.
Scotty is best known for his time in WWE, where he was part of the company from 1997 to 2007. During that tenure, he held the WWE Tag Team Championships, the WWE World Tag Team Championships, and the Light Heavyweight Championships. In 2016, he returned as a trainer at the WWE Performance Center and would remain in the role until November 2021, when he asked for his release.
The AAA influence was felt during the October 21, edition of WWE NXT, as Mr. Iguana and La Parka made a surprise appearance during the show. One of the night’s matches saw TNA X-Division Champion Leon Slater retain his title against Stacks. For the match, Je’Von Evans was in the corner of Slater and the pair shared a promo after the match.
Evans said that he and Slater could face anyone from WWE, NXT, TNA Wrestling, or somewhere else. The pair was then interrupted by Mr. Iguana and La Parka. Iguana shared that Ava has approved a tag-team match between the two sides at WWE NXT Halloween Havoc.
Mr. Iguana and La Parka are two of the most popular stars in AAA. Earlier this year, Mr. Iguana became a viral hit with wrestling fans after an appearance at the WWE x AAA Worlds Collide event. WWE wasted no time in capitalizing on his popularity as they created merch for him, including a puppet of his Iguana.
The October 21, episode of WWE NXT also saw Sol Ruca’s time as Women’s North American Champion come to an end. In the ring, Ruca vacated the gold due to an injury, and her ally Zaria will battle Blake Monroe at Halloween Havoc.
WWE NXT Halloween Havoc will take place on Saturday, October 25, 2025, in Prescott Valley, Arizona. Stay tuned to SEScoops for the latest from that show.
Sol Ruca will miss WWE NXT Halloween Havoc due to injury, but the NXT Women’s North American Championship will still be defended. During the October 21 edition of WWE NXT, Ruca was seen walking with a crutch and a knee brace, indicating that she was dealing with an injury.
Ruca was joined by Zaria and WWE NXT GM Ava in the ring, and acknowledged that she is injured. Rather than relinquishing her Women’s North American Championship, Ruca announced that she will allow her tag team partner Zaria to defend the title on her behalf, as she doesn’t know when she will be cleared.
Blake Monroe then interrupted and argued that she should be awarded the WWE NXT Women’s North American Championship. Zaria took exception to this and a match between the two has been made for WWE NXT Halloween Havoc, with Zaria defending Ruca’s title.
This situation is the latest setback for Ruca, who suffered a ruptured ACL in April 2023 that required surgery. That injury would force her to miss close to a year of in-ring action before she returned at WWE NXT Roadblock in March 2024.
At this time, Ruca remains both the NXT Women’s North American Champion and the WWE Speed Women’s Champion, though said she will address the future of the Speed Championship at a later date. It remains to be seen when Sol Ruca will be cleared to return to action.
WWE star Seth Rollins has undergone shoulder surgery following a recent injury, posting a brief but optimistic message on his Instagram account for his fans. Rollins was officially stripped of the World Heavyweight Championship on the October 20 episode of WWE Raw.
In a new post via Instagram, Rollins shared a quick update with his audience, simply writing: “See ya on the other side”. This post comes as the former champion is facing a lengthy recovery period.
Rollins was stripped of the World Heavyweight Championship on Monday after Raw General Manager Adam Pearce announced that the injury required surgery. Although the storyline attributed the need for surgery to an attack by his former stablemates, Bron Breakker and Bronson Reed, after last Monday’s Raw, the injury Rollins was seen favoring his arm after his Crown Jewel Championship match against Cody Rhodes.
With Rollins officially stripped of the World Heavyweight Championship, WWE immediately set a plan in motion to crown a new champion. On Monday’s Raw, a Battle Royal was held to determine a challenger for CM Punk, who had already earned a shot at the title.
Jey Uso won the Battle Royal. Uso will now face CM Punk for the vacant World Heavyweight Championship at the WWE Premium Live Event, Saturday Night’s Main Event, on Saturday, November 1, in Salt Lake City, Utah.
Chris Jericho and his future with AEW are a hot topic of conversation, and AEW President Tony Khan has weighed in on the widely discussed rumors. Jericho has been a stalwart in AEW since its inception in 2019, and there are rumblings that one of the most prominent stars in All Elite Wrestling from their nascent days may be potentially making a return to WWE.
During a recent appearance on Busted Open Radio, Khan touched on the present situation with AEW’s inaugural champion, as Jericho has not appeared in the ring for around half a year or so. Tony Khan mentioned that we would have to see what shakes out in the next few months, but mentioned how the door would always be open for him to be a part of AEW.
In a separate interview with Z100 New York that Tony Khan did, the AEW promoter mentioned how Chris Jericho was busy with outside projects at this moment but praised the legendary wrestler as a foundational figure in AEW’s history.
Jericho himself has done a bit of teasing regarding his contract situation, where he has admitted he is still an AEW talent, but the former WWE undisputed champion is also teasing a bit that maybe a return to his prior employer could be on the table, also. An agreement extension signed by Jericho previously has him as a contracted AEW performer until December of this year. So the future of the sports entertainment standout should become a bit more crystallized sooner rather than later.
Chris Jericho WWE Return Rumors Addressed by Friend
Chris Jericho returning to a TKO-helmed WWE has been going through the rumor mill lately, but a former WCW alumni has offered up his thoughts on the matter. On an episode of the Cat Corner podcast, Ernest “the Cat” Miller spoke about the friends he has in the business in the context of having his finger on the pulse about what Jericho’s next move could be.
Miller mentioned the rumors about Jericho potentially leaving AEW for WWE, and the former spoke about the latter not looking toward leaving right away. That information was reportedly from a direct conversation that Miller had with the Canadian pro wrestling superstar and mentioned that Jericho was not looking to leave the place ‘where the best wrestle,’ at least right away.
The first ever historical account of AEW in the medium of literature is set to drop in the coming weeks and the world is finally getting a peek at it. Random House in collaboration with All Elite Wrestling is set to publish ‘This Book is All Elite’ on November 4th and New York Times best selling author Keith Greenberg has helmed the book’s curation. The project will delve into some materials that will pull back the curtain for fans on the outside and put them in the position of someone who is part of the behind the scenes crew with All Elite Wrestling.
The timing of the book being published coincides nicely with the relatively recent six year anniversary of All Elite Wrestling’s flagship weekly television show, AEW Dynamite. The Takedown on SI received early access to the book with samples of the writing and key photos being shown highlighting monumental moments from some of the promotion’s biggest stars today. Some of the revealed portions centred on Adam Page taking on Kenny Omega at Full Gear 2021, Jon Moxley cementing himself as the promotion’s world champion, and Chris Jericho taking on Orange Cassidy in their mimosa mayhem match to name a few of the teased excerpts.
AEW is rolling right into WrestleDream this weekend
Those aforementioned All Elite Wrestling names like Hangman Page and Jon Moxley have some big tasks ahead of them with the looming AEW pay-per-view offering in the coming days. AEW WrestleDream transpires on Saturday, October 18th with Hangman Page set to defend his world title against Samoa Joe with the latter aiming to enter the rarefied air of being a multi-time AEW champion which features CM Punk, Jon Moxley, and Page himself.
As for Moxley, he will be taking on the inimitable Darby Allin in an I-Quit match which promises to bring high octane action to this weekend’s show. Moxley and Allin are set for a face to face encounter on tonight’s AEW Dynamite which serves as the go home show for AEW’s WrestleDream offering for 2025.
Warner Bros. Discovery announced in a press release on Tuesday it is entertaining bidders for both the entire company and for the two separate companies that would exist following its planned split in 2026. While WBD is hoping to ignite an expensive bidding war for the company, some of its potential suitors have signaled they may not be interested.
The press release followed a Wall Street Journal report last month that Paramount made a cash offer to WBD ahead of its spin-off. The $20 per share offer was rebuffed by WBD CEO David Zaslav.
“While Warner Bros. Discovery continues to advance its previously announced separation of Warner Bros. and Discovery Global, its Board of Directors today announced it has initiated a review of strategic alternatives to maximize shareholder value, in light of unsolicited interest the company has received from multiple parties for both the entire company and Warner Bros,” the release said.
PUCK previously reported WBD was hoping for a stock sale price exponentially higher than the Paramount offer.
Matthew Belloni reported last week Paramount was pushing ahead with a purchase of WBD, noted by the hiring of Makan Delrahim as its chief legal officer on Oct. 6. Delrahim served in the anti-trust division of the Department of Justice in the Bush administration in the 2000s. He became a lobbyist after, working for Comcast, UFC, Google, Blue Cross Blue Shield and Johnson and Johnson. Belloni said his hiring was to pave way for a purchase of Warner Bros. Discovery and to fight off other potential buyers and anti-trust concerns by the Department of Justice.
While leading the Department of Justice’s anti-trust division during the first Trump administration, he filed a lawsuit to stop a merger of Time Warner with AT&T, but lost in federal court. He allowed the sale of FOX to Disney.
Paramount immediately made overtures for WBD following its merger with Skydance, owned by Larry and David Ellison. Paramount signed a new deal with UFC for seven years and $7.7 billion shortly after the purchase, worth nearly the same price paid for Paramount.
Netflix and Amazon may sit out a potential bidding war for WBD. Netflix Co-CEO Greg Peters told Variety earlier this month that “big mergers don’t have an amazing track record,” citing other Time Warner mergers with AT&T and AOL. But CNBC reported on Tuesday that Netflix was in play for WBD, citing unnamed sources.
Amazon’s recent purchase of MGM and the Bond franchise has left it less willing to investigate a WBD buy, but Prime has expressed interest in WBD before, particularly its TNT Sports production studio. Amazon Prime’s production of NFL and MLB games has been heavily criticized since the network began airing football on Thursday nights as part of a deal with the league. After its debt-heavy acquisition of MGM, Amazon would likely be uninterested in paying billions for WBD.
Apple executive Eddy Cue said on Belloni’s podcast that the company isn’t likely or looking to make significant purchases.
Comcast, which is in the middle of its own split, would be a favored spot by Zaslav and WBD board chair John Malone due to their positioning in a new company, one source told SEScoops. A Comcast and WBD merger would only occur after Comcast finishes spinning off its cable networks under the Versant name and WBD spins off its digital assets. It would also leave Zaslav and Malone in top positions, which would be highly unlikely if Paramount purchases. Belloni reported that Zaslav and Malone would have to maneuver the WBD board if Paramount continues as a highly motivated and potentially hostile player in a bidding war. Comcast would also have to improve its heavily leveraged position – it needs more money.
Sony studios has showed interest in a WBD purchase or merger, which SEScoops reported in June. The two companies worked together before and planned a joint studio complex in Nevada, but the plan fell apart after the state legislature failed to provide tax incentives. The positioning of more heavy buyers would make a Sony purchase difficult.
AEW President Tony Khan has officially confirmed the real-world reason for Adam Copeland’s current absence from AEW programming, verifying that the star is away for filming commitments. Copeland was written off television following the AEW All Out pay-per-view on September 20, 2025.
At that event, he and his long-time partner Christian Cage were victorious in a tag team match against FTR (Dax Harwood & Cash Wheeler). The celebration was cut short by a post-match assault, where FTR attacked Copeland’s wife, Beth Phoenix (Beth Copeland), leaving her laying in the ring with a spiked piledriver. In a backstage segment, an emotional Copeland stated that the rivalry had become too personal and had now affected his family, forcing him to “step away” from the company indefinitely, leaving his future in question.
While the storyline provided a dramatic reason for his exit, reports quickly surfaced from PWInsider that the write-off was planned to accommodate Copeland’s acting career. In a new interview with Z100 New York, Tony Khan confirmed this. He praised “The Rated-R Superstar” as a big part of the AEW roster and confirmed that he is currently on a planned hiatus to film the new season of the Disney+ series, “Percy Jackson & the Olympians.”
Copeland has a recurring role in the series as Ares, the God of War. Khan made it clear that Copeland is still a valued member of the AEW roster and is expected to make his return once his Hollywood obligations are fulfilled.
“Adam Copeland’s a huge part of AEW. Adam’s out filming right now. He’s a huge star in AEW. We love having Adam Copeland, The Rated-R Superstar in AEW and I’m excited for him to be back in AEW, hopefully soon after this project is done, and he’s taking care of business and then Adam will come back and we’ll get Adam Copeland taking care of the business in the ring in AEW.”
Samantha Irvin parted ways with WWE in October 2024, ending her time as a ring announcer on WWE TV and at PLEs. Irvin hasn’t appeared for another wrestling promotion since then, and fans shouldn’t expect that to change anytime soon.
Irvin recently reached the one-year anniversary of her decision to leave WWE. On X, Irvin shared that she has “one year left on my non-compete,” sharing that she has been dealing with a two-year clause. Irvin said she loves and misses wrestling fans and hopes to see them soon.
One year down, one year left on my non-compete! Can’t wait ? I hope you enjoy my songs in the meantime and look back on all the memories as fondly as I do! Love & miss you all and remember- I NEVER left FOR music, I am music. Hope to see you soon….. https://t.co/s49iLDSipf
This non-compete clause is far longer than what typically awaits talent who leave WWE. While Irvin chose to leave, talent who are released are typically subjected to either a 30-day non-compete clause if cut from WWE NXT, or a 90-day clause if they’re cut from the main roster.
WWE parted ways with Andrade recently, and it has been reported that the former WWE Speed Champion may be blocked from performing elsewhere for a year. These examples demonstrate how WWE continues to evolve its handling of talent under TKO Group Holdings.
Many believe Irvin will join her husband Ricochet in AEW, and Irvin has already been referenced on AEW programming. Whatever the future holds for Samantha Irvin in pro wrestling, fans will have to wait at least another year to find out.
In 2024, WWE Superstar Chelsea Green was confronted at a Fairmont Hotel after staff mistook the inaugural United States Champion for an escort. At the time, Fairmont apologized and offered Green a free stay but cashing this in is proving easier said than done.
On X, Green shared her original post from 2024. She added that after being offered a two-night stay at any location, this offer has now been rescinded.
Remember this? @FairmontHotels offered me a two night stay anywhere… after calling me an escort lol Now they’re taking it back. ? https://t.co/tZN5asNLNw
Green shared a message she received from Fairmont, who claimed that the offer was in-fact just for one location and not at any Fairmont establishment. The message also claimed that Green was given a year to make use of the offer and she failed to do so.
As a WWE Superstar, Green travels around the world and stays in countless hotels as part of her work. While Green has plenty of options, odds are she won’t be staying at a Fairmont hotel anytime soon.
McKenzie Mitchell is always on the move with business in mind. Whether that be ring announcing for TNA, running her jewelry business Headline by MM, or even writing a coffee book. The latter, called “Threads of Triumph: Professional Wrestling’s Most Iconic Looks,” was a labor of love for the 31-year-old. It also combines her love and appreciation for what she is passionate about. For Mitchell, it’s surreal to be seeing a five-year vision realized with the project set for release next April and available for preorder now.
It all started with an idea pitched to WWE and other avenues, but the budding author wasn’t getting any traction. Doubters weren’t quite sure what the demographic would be for something based on pro wrestling gear. Mitchell was undeterred.
“I actually filmed a pilot with Johnny Gargano that lives somewhere within the WWE archives for an actual episode with WWE,” she recalled. “We filmed it, and it was great. The conversation just flowed. It was amazing. Then it just never found its footing . When I was released in 2023 I was like, “what do I want to do? I put that idea to work, and ‘Threads with McKenzie Mitchell’ was born. I got a lot of love then and traction.”
A sitdown with Natalya set the wheels in motion for what would become the book. The trailblazing former women’s champion encouraged Mitchell to pursue the concept further. This led to writing a full 30-page book proposal and securing a literary agent. “I got four offers in two weeks,” she said.
With an official offer in hand last October from publisher Chronicle Books, she got to work and began writing. Mitchell pulled out her proverbial rolodex meeting with the likes of Chris Jericho, The Undertaker, Shawn Michaels, and Rhea Ripley. Despite having a busy schedule, she would find time to write.
“It has been a lot of time and consumption of my life,” Mitchelle added. “(Husband) Vic [Joseph] and I took a cruise for my birthday in March. I was writing on the cruise. Literally, it was land, air, and sea, I have been writing this book almost in secret everywhere I am this year.”
Mitchell has been touched by the response from fans and those in the industry. Someone even said, ‘finally, a book for me.” It’s a gratifying feeling for her.
“It’s no secret I didn’t grow up watching professional wrestling, but I always loved the fashion side of professional wrestling,” she said. “That the wrestlers would wear and present themselves to an audience and that connection from a fan to a wrestler. A lot of times fans look at professional wrestlers and say, ‘I love this person,’ but they don’t know why they connect to them. This book really connects those dots. It comes from them wearing something and telling a story with it without them speaking at all.”
The book chronicles the evolution from the 1940s as professional wrestling entered television’s golden era into the colorful decades that followed. From Ric Flair and “Macho Man” Randy Savage to Chyna and Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson to Rey Mysterio and Bianca Belair, it’s a nostalgic trip down memory lane in a way never really done before.
“Gorgeous George was doing all these ideas. He was implementing these ideas that were so out-of-the-box and out of character and out of the norm at that timeframe,” Mitchell explained. “You’re able to take what he did and implement and see that in the Ric Flair’s and see that in the Charlotte Flair’s and see that within all these people that are making this path if you will that started back in the 1940s with Gorgeous George.
“It’s a story to be told, how we evolve as people, how fashion has evolved over time. But fashion in the sport of professional wrestling and pop culture. How these athletes and celebrity figures were doing things over time that stood out and were different and now we’re able to celebrate that path and honor what they did and we’re still able to see these moments laced if you will into the threads of the current professional wrestlers you’re seeing today in WWE, AEW, TNA, and all the major promotions. It started somewhere. It started back in the day.”
When it came to who should contribute the foreword, Mitchell knew she wanted a female voice to bring that unique perspective. After time and care went into choosing a name she slid into the DMs of Mercedes Moné.She was connected to Moné’s agent. Mitchell described the process as a seamless moment with a foreword sent to her within a week. The AEW TBS Champion was honored to have the opportunity. By the same token, having a marquee name certainly adds more bankability to the project.
“She has had such an amazing career in her own right going back to Sasha Banks and all that she has done in AEW and her time in Japan and the anime she brings to life as well,” Mitchell explained. “She is very true to who she is, and you are able to see that come across her character in any way she is presenting herself. I wanted this person to make sense for ‘Threads.’”
MVP recently shared his philosophy on mentoring the younger generation of wrestlers. Speaking on his “Marking Out” podcast, MVP discussed the specific advice he gives to talent regarding match structure and psychology, noting that his critiques are always intended to help them improve.
He thinks that a common issue he sees is the overuse of false finishes, which can diminish the crowd’s reaction and hurt the overall quality of a match. During the podcast, MVP explained his reasoning for telling younger talent to “slow it down” and cut certain spots from their matches.
“If I’m telling you to slow it down and cut some of that stuff out, it’s not because I don’t want you to have a good match — it’s because I want you to have a better match. And I think I’ve talked about this before, but there are a few of the younger guys in AEW where I’ve told them, ‘Hey, everything was great, but you had too many false finishes. You didn’t need all those false finishes.’ You can hear it — because the first false finish, oh! The second false finish, oh! The third false finish, oh! And that fourth false finish, oh. [not as intense] You had them. It takes a while to get that experience — to know when to say, ‘No, take it home now. They’re not going to get any higher than this. Let’s go.’ That other stuff we had figured in? Cut it. Take it home.”
He specifically named one of AEW’s brightest young stars, Kyle Fletcher, as someone who was receptive to this exact critique.
“I may have talked about this before, but it’s definitely something that comes with experience. And if I’m telling you that, it’s not because I don’t want you to have the greatest match — it’s because I want you to. And you can hear it from the audience. There have been times when I’ve talked to, uh, like Kyle Fletcher, and we talked about it one time. He said, ‘Yeah, you’re right. I heard it. I got it.’ You know, don’t work against yourself.”
AEW President Tony Khan has addressed the status of former AEW Women’s World Champion Dr. Britt Baker, D.M.D., confirming that she is still with the company and that he hopes to see her return to television “hopefully soon.” Baker has been on a long-term, unexplained hiatus from AEW programming, with her last television appearance taking place in November 2024.
Her prolonged absence, coupled with her removal of AEW mentions from her social media profiles in March 2025, has led to rampant speculation among fans about her future and a potential move to WWE. Speaking in a new interview with Z100 New York, Tony Khan was asked about the former champion and was quick to praise her contributions to the company, making it clear that she is still a part of the AEW family.
“What a great star in AEW Dr Britt Baker has been. She is still a fantastic, fantastic wrestling star. She’s been away from AEW for a while, but still very much with us, and at some point hopefully soon, I’d love to see Dr Britt Baker come back.”
Baker’s last match on AEW television was on the November 13, 2024, episode of Dynamite. Reports have indicated that her current contract with AEW runs until at least the fall of 2026, with the company potentially having the option to add more time to the deal due to her inactivity.
Major League Wrestling has announced that legendary tag team The Good Brothers (Karl Anderson and Doc Gallows) will make their MLW debut at the MLW x Don Gato Tequila Live Special on November 20 at Charleston Music Hall/Thunder Studios Arena in Charleston, South Carolina.
The announcement follows a video released by Anderson and Gallows recounting a night of partying and chaos with Don Gato, culminating in the question: “Why don’t we do it again in Charleston?” MLW President Cesar Duran and Don Gato approved, making the debut official.
Their opponents for the debut match have not yet been announced.
Anderson and Gallows are three-time IWGP Tag Team Champions and World Tag League tournament winners. Anderson reached the finals of New Japan Pro Wrestling’s prestigious G1 Climax tournament. The duo also hosts the Talk’n Shop podcast, which originated on the MLW Radio Network.
The November 20 event marks the first professional wrestling show in downtown Charleston in 32 years. The card also features Killer Kross with Scarlett, Matt Riddle, Shotzi, Mistico, MLW World Heavyweight Champion Mads Krule Krugger, Donovan Dijak, Arn Anderson, and others.
The show begins at 7:30 PM ET, with pre-show meet and greets scheduled from 6:00-6:30 PM.
For more formation, visit Major League Wrestling’s official website at MLW.com.
In the grand arena of audacity, the Louvre’s jewel thieves have now claimed the top spot, bumping Seth Rollins off his long-held throne as the mastermind behind “The Heist of the Century.”
For nearly a decade, Rollins proudly wore that crown, cashing in his Money in the Bank briefcase at WrestleMania 31 to snatch the WWE World Heavyweight Championship right from under Brock Lesnar and Roman Reigns’ noses. But this weekend, a crew in Paris pulled off a caper so slick that even Mr. Monday Night Messiah himself might be taking notes.
According to French officials, Sunday’s Louvre robbery was a four-minute sprint of chaos and precision. Masked thieves posing as construction workers rolled up with a basket lift, sliced through a window with gas-powered tools, smashed display cases, and vanished down the Seine with Napoleonic jewels before most visitors had finished their morning espresso. No ref bump required, no run-ins from J&J Security. Just pure tactical execution with a getaway plan that would make Danny Ocean blush.
To put it in wrestling terms, these culprits executed the perfect “cash-in.” The Louvre hadn’t even rung the opening bell when the challengers hit the gallery, blindsided security, and left as undisputed champions of larceny. Witnesses described the thieves as “calm, professional,” which in pro wrestling psychology means they no-sold the chaos and walked out with heat hotter than Rollins’ 2015 pyro.
Rollins’ heist changed wrestling history, but even he will have to figure out the four-minute spectacle that will be analyzed for years to come.
