Britt Baker was the first woman signed to an AEW talent contract in 2019 and for a while, was the top star of the women’s division. Baker’s days on top are now a distant memory, and her recent social media activity may have teased a bold move.
Baker has removed all references to AEW in her Instagram bio, distancing herself from the All-Elite promotion. On X, Baker’s bio is similarly AEW-free and makes reference to her role as a wrestler and a dentist.
Baker’s alterations come amid an interesting time in the DMD’s career. Baker hasn’t competed since November 2024, and has competed just five times over the past year. Baker remains active on social media though rarely makes reference to AEW.
Interestingly, her latest reference to AEW on social media saw her throw support behind Saraya following the British wrestler’s exit from AEW.
— Dr. Britt Baker, D.M.D. (@RealBrittBaker) March 26, 2025
Baker’s absence has left fans wondering as to whether her time with AEW may also be coming to an end. In January, Chris Jericho cast doubt on the idea that Baker will leave AEW, following reports of alleged heat on the former Women’s World Champion.
If Baker does end her time with AEW, fans can expect WWE to make an effort to sign Baker who could also see interest from promotions overseas such as STARDOM. Whatever’s next, Britt Baker remains a talking point among wrestling fans, even with her hiatus from AEW growing day-by-day.
John Cena is a recognizable name around the world, and that doesn’t stop when it comes to the WWE icon’s family life. In a new interview with Stephanie McMahon, Cena recalled a recent interview his father gave, in which he only called his son by his full name.
“He did an interview on local television about my last match. Local news is like, ‘We caught up with John Cena’s dad.’ My dad didn’t call me his son once. He called me John Cena.”
This wasn’t a mistake by the father, ironically also named John Cena. The younger Cena shared that his father loves all things wrestling, and that is what makes him him.
“My dad is a wrestling fan, like a junkie — always has been… That’s his way of doing it. And if I want him to be who I want him to be, then he’s not himself.”
Names aside, John’s relationship with his father has not always been easy. Speaking candidly, John reflected on what things would’ve been like if his father had passed during difficult times between the two.
“If I’d spoken at my dad’s eulogy 10 years ago, my eulogy would have been like, ‘He was just a guy. Thanks for coming.’ I would have listed every other male important mentor in my life that guided me through life and was there when I needed them as a father figure.”
Now, though, he sees his father’s behavior differently — as something to be understood, not judged. This shift in perspective has allowed for a more peaceful, if measured, relationship.
“I have so much of a better relationship with my dad. It is in bursts,” Cena said. He’s also set boundaries to help their dynamic work: “Neutral ground, public place. Because we gotta start casual.”
Like his son, the elder Cena is a name in pro-wrestling and can be found working as a manager under the name ‘Johnny Fabulous.’ For WWE’s seventeen-time World Champion, the day he does deliver his father’s eulogy will not be what he envisioned a decade ago.
“When I get the luxury of speaking at my dad’s eulogy now, people will know how excellent a human being he is. And he hasn’t changed one bit.”
John Cena has finally revealed the real reason behind his WWE retirement, saying it goes beyond physical limitations. In a candid interview with Stephanie McMahon, Cena shared that while he remains in impressive shape, maintaining a full-time WWE schedule would come at a cost he’s no longer willing to pay.
“A schedule like I was doing in 2013 would destroy me right now,” Cena admitted. “It will ruin me and ruin my relationship, and that’s the tip of my spear. So I gotta close a chapter, that’s it.”
This attitude marks a dramatic departure from the workaholic persona that carried Cena to the very top of the wrestling world. When Cena was at the very top, it inevitably caused his personal life to diminish in favor of his wrestling role.
“I remember in like 2008. Sat down, dinner with my ex-wife, phone call. ‘We need you here, boss. There’s a plane waiting for you.’ See you… I literally threw some cash at my ex-wife and caught a plane to the next event.”
Older and wiser, Cena says his priorities have shifted completely. As the WWE icon marks five years marrie to his current wife Shay, John knows what’s important to him now.
“I am here to live life. I am here to acknowledge the greatest gift that I have been awarded. Of all the privilege and gift I have been awarded in my life, the greatest gift is waking up. And that is the tip of my spear. And right below that is my bride.”
John spent over a decade and a half of his life with pro wrestling as the tip of his spear. While the 17-time World Champion is ready for a life with wrestling in his past, he doesn’t regret the decisions he made.
“I don’t regret any of that. I feel good that I can reflect on a mini moment like that — when I literally threw some cash at my ex-wife and caught a plane to the next event. I don’t regret anything. I wasn’t forced to do that. I did it under my own duress.”
Today, Cena is guided on a different path. As he prepares to wind down his time in the ring, Cena’s focus isn’t on personal glory, but sharing this final lap with those nearest and dearest.
“From the way I push my chips into this, it is tough to carry people along with you. It’s like, they need to ride the Wave . They can’t run next to you — and that’s just me.”
Cena faces questions regularly about his retirement, and ended by reiterating that he is not surrendering to his age. Instead, this is a thought transition for what matters most.
“‘Why are you choosing to hang it up? You’re in shape. Life is good. You look good, you can still jump high, move fast.’ It will ruin me and ruin my relationship, and that’s the tip of my spear.”
John’s next match will come at WWE SummerSlam, where he will defend the Undisputed WWE Championship against Cody Rhodes. With his number of appearances winding down, Cena is ready to end his career on his own terms.
Zelina Vega captured the Women’s U.S. Title in early 2025, her first taste of singles gold after close to a decade with the promotion. While Vega no longer holds the gold, her time as champion has ushered in a new era for the WWE Superstar.
In a recent interview with Chris Van Vliet, Vega opened up about her journey to becoming United States Champion and the evolution of her character. For Vega, her title win wasn’t just a personal milestone, but a warning to others.
“This isn’t just about holding a title,” Vega told Van Vliet. “It’s about making a statement. I want everyone to know that I’m not here to play nice anymore.”
Vega reflected on her past, acknowledging that she’s faced challengers, but they ave made her all the more resilient. While the former champion is grateful to her fans and mentors for taking her this far, she made it clear that her future will be defined by her own ambition.
“I’ve always had the talent, but now I have the edge.”
Currently, the Women’s U.S. Title is held by Giulia, who recently took on an ally of her own. While regaining the gold just got a new obstacle, it may be just a matter of time before Zelina Vega has a title around her waist again.
Stephanie McMahon has spent decades as part of the company her father and grandfather created, but now she has opened up with her struggle with identity. In a new interview with John Cena, McMahon addressed struggling to know who she is, and how Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu became her path to rediscovery.
“I lost myself for a little bit. I lost my confidence, and I found it again in Jiu-Jitsu,” McMahon confessed during the extended conversation, marking a rare moment of public vulnerability from the WWE executive.
McMahon shared her admission while discussing hers and Cena’s philsophies when it comes to training. McMahon is now a blue belt with her first stripe, and her knowledge in martial arts extends beyond the mat.
“[It taught] very hard life lessons, mainly as it relates to my family and what WWE is and what it means to me and how much a part of it I really am.”
For someone so deeply embedded in WWE’s corporate structure, McMahon’s identity crisis centered on her relationship with the business that has defined her entire life. McMahon shared how she “couldn’t not watch” WWE, but this focus left her on wanting to know who Stephanie McMahon-Levesque is outside of her working life. Thankfully, martial arts helped answer some of her questions.
“It reinforced who I am and it reminded me of my strength. And it was something that I did completely on my own and with no one else’s help. Nobody got me to that point, I mean, other than my coach. But I mean, I did it for me.”
McMahon is no stranger to getting physical in the ring, and martial arts have proven no different. On the podcast, McMahon spoke of the transformative nature of her training, even if it leaves her feeling sore.
“You get pretzeled. You have to give up. A lot… I am always beat up after Jiu Jitsu.”
Her story resonates beyond the wrestling world, showing how physical challenges can heal emotional wounds and how finding something truly your own can restore lost confidence.
Hulk Hogan’s final appearance in front of a live WWE crowd was hardly what the Hulkster wanted as his swan-song. Appearing at Raw’s debut on Netflix in January 2025, Hogan was met with overwhelming boos as he promoted his ‘Real American Beer’ beverage brand.
While Hogan tried to shrug off the reaction at the time, the response he reeived reportedly rattled the late-wrestler. On a tribute episode of Stories with Brisco and Bradshaw, Jimmy Hart shared that Hogan was “devastated” upon his return to the backstage area.
“That devastated him. And we got in the back and he said, ‘What do you think happened?’”
Hart’s explanation? Politics. On the podcast, Hart suggested that Hogan’s endorsement of Donald Trump and JD Vance caused fans to turn on him in LA, a mostly left-leaning city. Despite the backlash, Hogan shared at the time that he wouldn’t change his political stance, telling his friend “this is the right thing.”
Hogan’s genuine reaction varies differently to what he presented following Raw’s arrival on Netflix. When asked about the response, Hogan chalked it up to him being a heel the last time he appeared in LA. Later, Hogan tried to put a positive spin on the situation, saying he’d rather be booed than forgotten.
While it is unclear why each individual attendee booed, much has been said about Hogan’s several controversies. From telling tall tales to reports of sabotaging others to his racist remarks, the WWE Universe was able to make their voices heard in the arena.
Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes recently sat down for a fiery interview where he was asked to construct his “ultimate pro wrestler” by selecting different superstars for various key attributes. His selections included a mix of Hall of Fame legends and one “super controversial choice” from the current roster.
Appearing on the popular YouTube show Hot Ones, Rhodes began his build by selecting the look. In a move he predicted would get a “collective groan” from wrestling social media, he chose a young, up-and-coming superstar.
For the other categories, Rhodes looked to some of the most iconic names in wrestling history, selecting from a pool of legends that included his former rival, his mentor, and two of the biggest stars of the Attitude Era.
“Look. I’m going to make a super controversial choice. People right now, you’re going to hear the collective groan of wrestling social media and the IWC. Look, I’m going with a young guy, Austin Theory. When you check the box of oh, he looks great, we could teach him. Mic skills, they need edge. Yeah, they need 8 Mile. They need you to bring it down. And you have to be sharper than that person. I’d probably say, a combination, and you can pick either or, of a John Cena, who will never allow someone to top him, or a Mr. Heyman. Because that’s a different level of thought. Everything you’re saying is mattering in this moment. He’s judging you. He’s also enjoying it. He’s also planning for you. By the time I’m done with this sentence, he’s got a path for me. And I’m either with him or against him. Technical wrestling, probably Bret Hart. It wasn’t just the moves. It was the punches, the forearms. The best finishing move. I’d say it’s probably a tossup between Stone Cold Stunner and Hogan’s leg drop.”
The official cause of death for legendary professional wrestler Hulk Hogan has been revealed one week after his unexpected passing. According to medical records, the iconic superstar died from a heart attack.
The records from the Pinellas County Forensic Science Center, first reported by the New York Post’s Page Six, also shed new light on previously undisclosed health battles that “The Hulkster” was facing. Hogan, Terry Bollea, passed away on July 24 at the age of 71.
The medical examiner’s report rules Hogan’s manner of death as natural. The specific cause is listed as an acute myocardial infarction, the medical term for a heart attack.
The report also reveals that Hogan had a history of atrial fibrillation (AFib), a condition characterized by an irregular and often rapid heart rhythm. In another surprising revelation, the records show that Hogan had a history of Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia, a type of cancer affecting white blood cells. This diagnosis was not previously known to the public.
Hogan’s death came as a shock to the world, despite recent speculation about his declining health following a major neck surgery in May. The official records confirm that he went into cardiac arrest at his home in Clearwater, Florida. He was then transported by ambulance to a local hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
A spokesperson for the medical examiner’s office confirmed that they had received and approved a request for cremation. However, no details on when that will take place have been made public.
AEW fans now have access to an extensive pay-per-view library on HBO Max, with the platform having significantly expanded its collection to include major events spanning from 2019 through 2024. This comprehensive archive represents years of premium AEW content, available at no additional cost for Max subscribers.
The archive includes flagship events like Double or Nothing, All Out, Full Gear, Revolution, and the groundbreaking Forbidden Door collaborations with New Japan Pro Wrestling. Recent additions feature both All In Wembley Stadium events from 2023 and 2024, along with other marquee shows that defined AEW’s evolution.
This expanded library addresses what was previously a major gap in AEW’s streaming presence. With traditional pay-per-view events costing $50 each, the inclusion of numerous premium events represents significant value for Max subscribers, making it an exceptional deal for wrestling enthusiasts.
The archive also includes weekly programming, with AEW Dynamite and Collision episodes available alongside the pay-per-view collection. This comprehensive approach mirrors WWE’s successful Peacock partnership, giving AEW a complete streaming destination for both casual viewers and dedicated fans.
For wrestling fans who haven’t been “all elite since day 1,” this treasure trove of classic matches offers the perfect opportunity to experience AEW’s evolution from its inaugural events through recent spectacular shows. The expanded collection showcases the promotion’s growth and most memorable moments across multiple years of premium entertainment.
With all historical content now available and current programming simulcasting live, HBO Max has become AEW’s definitive streaming home. This positions the platform as essential for wrestling fans seeking both nostalgic rewatches and staying current with weekly storylines.
WWE Chief Content Officer Paul “Triple H” Levesque visits the White House today as part of President Trump’s signing of an executive order to expand the Presidential Council on Sports, Fitness and Nutrition.
The ceremony takes place in the Roosevelt Room on Thursday, July 31, 2025, where Triple H joined several prominent professional athletes for the historic policy announcement. The executive order will reestablish the Presidential Fitness Test in public schools and significantly expand the sports council’s mandate nationwide.
Triple H represents WWE alongside an impressive roster of athletic talent at the White House gathering. The event features two-time major champion golfer Bryson DeChambeau, who will serve as the council’s chair, Kansas City Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker, Pro Football Hall of Famer Lawrence Taylor, and legendary golfer Annika Sorenstam.
This White House appearance demonstrates WWE’s continued involvement in significant political and cultural initiatives, with Triple H serving as the company’s executive representative at major policy announcements. As WWE’s Chief Content Officer, his presence underscores the entertainment giant’s influence extending beyond the wrestling ring into national policy discussions.
The Presidential Council expansion represents a renewed federal focus on youth fitness and sports participation across American schools. According to Fox News Sports, the initiative aims to combat declining youth fitness levels through structured physical education programs.
Triple H’s participation in this high-profile White House ceremony continues WWE’s tradition of engaging with major cultural and political moments, positioning the company at the intersection of entertainment and public policy.
WWE’s SummerSlam 2025 is positioned to make history as the premium live event approaches the unprecedented milestone of 100,000 tickets sold across its two-day format at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey.
According to the latest Wrestletix data, the weekend spectacular has already distributed 97,855 tickets combined between Saturday, August 2 and Sunday, August 3. Saturday’s show has moved 47,468 tickets with a current setup of 50,088 seats, while Sunday has distributed 50,387 tickets from its 52,069 seat configuration.
WWE SummerSlam Saturday Sat • Aug 02, 2025 • 5:30 PM MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford, NJ
Available Tickets: 2,416 Available Combo Tickets: 204 Current Setup: 50,088 Tickets Distributed: 47,468
? +5111 since the last update (3 days ago) ? Days until show: 3 ? Total # of… pic.twitter.com/4FleK4oIOd
The momentum continues building with impressive growth numbers over recent days. Saturday’s event added 5,111 ticket sales in just three days, while Sunday surged ahead with 5,390 new sales in the same period. With only 2,416 tickets remaining for Saturday and 1,478 for Sunday, the dual-night format appears destined to eclipse the 100,000 total attendance mark.
This represents a massive leap from last year’s SummerSlam at Cleveland Browns Stadium, which drew 56,523 fans. The MetLife Stadium venue’s expanded capacity and the innovative two-day approach have clearly resonated with WWE’s fanbase, creating what could become the highest-attended SummerSlam in company history.
WWE SummerSlam Sunday Sun • Aug 03, 2025 • 5:30 PM MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford, NJ
Available Tickets: 1,478 Available Combo Tickets: 204 Current Setup: 52,069 Tickets Distributed: 50,387
? +5,390 since the last update (3 days ago) ? Days until show: 4 ? Total # of… pic.twitter.com/LJpuydGAY6
MetLife Stadium’s total seating map shows 85,381 available seats, indicating WWE has strategically configured the venue to maximize both attendance and fan experience. With resale tickets numbered at 1,201 for Saturday and 960 for Sunday, the strong demand is evident in the secondary market as well.
Standard admission tickets remain available starting at $93.15 for Saturday and $117.35 for Sunday, though availability continues decreasing as the weekend approaches. Recent updates show sections in the 100 and 200 levels on the hard camera side have opened, suggesting WWE is maximizing the venue’s capacity potential.
In the new “WWE: Unreal” docuseries on Netflix, CM Punk did not hold back in his assessment of one of WWE’s most dangerous match types, calling the Elimination Chamber “possibly the stupidest match we do here.”
While discussing the match on the recently released series, Punk gave a blunt and critical review of the “demonic structure.” He explained that due to its unforgiving nature, it is impossible to properly prepare for.
“You can’t prepare for an Elimination Chamber match. It’s possibly the stupidest match we do here,” Punk said. “The structure is unforgiving, not in a PR way, in a, ‘it hurts like hell and it doesn’t move and it doesn’t make any noise.’ It’s your worst enemy. Whoever designed this really doesn’t like human beings, or at least us.”
CM Punk’s harsh critique comes from a place of experience. He has competed inside the Elimination Chamber five times during his WWE career, including a match at the premium live event in Perth, Australia, earlier this year. The match has become a staple on the road to WrestleMania.
While Punk may not be a fan of the unforgiving steel of the Elimination Chamber, he is now preparing for a different kind of challenge this weekend at SummerSlam. “The Best in the World” is scheduled to face “The Ring General” GUNTHER for the World Heavyweight Championship.
Five prominent WWE stars who were released on May 2, 2025, have officially completed their 90-day non-compete clauses and are now free to sign with any wrestling promotion. The newly available talent includes former Universal Champion Braun Strowman, Shayna Baszler, Dakota Kai, Kayden Carter, and Katana Chance.
Braun Strowman represents the biggest name in this group, bringing impressive credentials as a former WWE Universal Champion, Intercontinental Champion, and two-time RAW Tag Team Champion. The “Monster Among Men” had been feuding with Jacob Fatu before his surprising release, marking his second departure from WWE after previously being let go in 2021.
Dakota Kai has already generated significant interest from wrestling promotions and top industry agents, according to reports. The former two-time WWE Women’s Tag Team Champion was a founding member of Damage CTRL and brings extensive experience from both her main roster and NXT runs.
Shayna Baszler‘s release came as a surprise to many, since she had re-signed with WWE last year and was helping with NXT programming. The former NXT Women’s Champion and three-time WWE Women’s Tag Team Champion posted cryptically on social media following her release.
The tag team duo of Kayden Carter and Katana Chance are also now available, bringing their high-energy chemistry and championship experience to the free agent market.
All five wrestlers served the standard 90-day non-compete clause that applies to main roster talent, and the wrestling world will be watching closely to see where these accomplished performers land next.
While on a recent media tour to promote the “WWE: Unreal” docuseries, CM Punk participated in a “blind ranking” of ten current and legendary WWE stars. The final list, revealed by content creator Allenownz, featured some surprising placements, including his own rivals at the bottom and The Miz at the very top.
The blind ranking format requires the person to place a name on the list from one to ten without knowing who the other names will be. After placing stars like John Cena at number four and Roman Reigns at number six, Punk reluctantly put Drew McIntyre in the number two spot. This left the final remaining name, The Miz, to default into the number one position on the list.
The full blind ranking is as follows:
The Miz
Drew McIntyre
Cody Rhodes
John Cena
Bryan Danielson
Roman Reigns
The Rock
Bray Wyatt
Seth Rollins
Goldberg
During the ranking process, Punk offered some specific thoughts. He placed the late Bray Wyatt at number eight, noting that his career and life were “cut way too short.” Conversely, he had no trouble placing his longtime rivals Seth Rollins and Goldberg at the bottom of the list, slotting them in at the number nine and number ten spots, respectively.
Punk’s ranking of his peers comes just days before he has a chance to further solidify his own legacy. This coming weekend at the two-night SummerSlam premium live event, CM Punk is scheduled to challenge GUNTHER for the World Heavyweight Championship in one of the weekend’s main events.
Ben Affleck and Matt Damon have officially pulled the plug on their planned Hulk Hogan biopic, though the decision was made long before the wrestling legend’s recent passing.
According to TMZ sources, the stars’ production company Artists Equity made the decision to cancel the project months ago, with the film having been out of development for some time. The timing of the announcement, coming after Hogan’s death last week, is purely coincidental.
Controversial Subject Matter
The planned biopic was set to focus on one of the most controversial chapters in Hogan’s life – the 2012 sex tape scandal involving the wrestler and his friend’s wife. The infamous footage, which was later released by Gawker Media, became the center of a massive legal battle and included racial slurs that severely damaged Hogan’s reputation.
Interestingly, Hogan himself was never involved in the movie project and had expressed opposition to it moving forward. Sources close to the wrestling icon had previously indicated he would pursue legal action if the filmmakers “crossed a line” with their portrayal.
Inside the Project
While Hogan remained distant from the production, Bubba the Love Sponge – whose wife was featured in the controversial tape – had shown interest in participating in the film. The project aimed to explore the complex legal and personal fallout from the scandal, including Hogan’s eventual lawsuit victory against Gawker.
The cancellation leaves the door open for other filmmakers to potentially tackle Hogan’s story in the future, though any such project would likely face similar legal and ethical challenges.
Hogan passed away last week at a Florida hospital after paramedics responded to his home, with tributes pouring in from across the wrestling and entertainment communities.
Sami Zayn wishes he had gotten more time to develop his story with Karrion Kross.
The wrestling veteran spoke to the Toronto Sun recently to promote his upcoming SummerSlam match. He talked about things such as the passing of Hulk Hogan, his memories of wrestling before joining WWE, and more.
Talking about the build for his upcoming match with Kross, Zayn discussed how he has been interacting with the former NXT Champion since the beginning of the year. Despite that, Sami wishes that they would have been given a little bit more screen time together to make their feud more interesting:
“Well, it’s funny because for as much of a slow burn as it has been, like I’ve kind of been loosely attached to him for almost the entire year. I’d have to go back and see when our first interaction is, but it would probably be, towards the beginning of this year.
So, [it] really is something that’s been slowly, slowly simmering for, I don’t know, probably close to six, seven, eight months. I really don’t know. But all this to say, despite that I kind of wish there was a little bit more recent steam on it.”
Sami Zayn also discussed Karrion Kross’ recent rise in popularity despite his limited screen time. He explained that fans want to see what the heavyweight star can do with a proper opportunity:
“To watch the way fans have sort of got behind him in a way recently is really interesting to me. Really interesting because he hasn’t been given a whole lot. It’s just been like a minute back here, a minute back there, sprinkled over several, several months.
That slow burn as you put it, has kind of, made people a lot more intrigued. [They] just really want to see him get more of an opportunity. I like the story that we’re telling here.”
Alberto El Patron recently lost a match in AAA and per the stipulation, has to now part ways with the promotion, seemingly forever. As questions remain about his future in wrestling, AAA executive Ernesto Campo believes El Patron’s future could see him return to the promotion, as well as WWE.
Speaking to Superluchas, Campo was asked about whether El Patron’s loss was just for storylines, or if he is truly gone. Campo shared that he hopes Alberto returns before claiming some in WWE hope to see him back as well.
“What I know is that there are no plans for him to go to the U.S. but that could change. But I do hope that he eventually returns to AAA Programming. There are Many in WWE want him to return to the main roster.”
Campo highlighted how El Patron kept AAA “afloat” over the past year as one of the company’s top stars. Not only did Alberto lead the company, but he achieved “huge revenues” across Mexico, Campo added.
Campo did not name anyone within WWE hoping for El Patron’s return, and currently, there’s no sign of a comeback. It’s been reported that WWE’s stance “has not changed” on El Patron, who was released a second time in 2016. WWE deliberately distanced itself from the former World Champion, actively avoiding mentioning him since its acquisition of AAA.
El Patron was fired from WWE in 2014 after a backstage altercation, and after being rehired the next year, was cut in 2016 following a Wellness Policy violation. With Campo’s comments, time will tell if Alberto is ever called a WWE Superstar again.
WWE Superstars come from all works of life, and for Bianca Belair, a single message from Hall of Famer Mark Henry changed everything for the EST. Speaking on Insight with Chris Van Vliet, Belair explained how her athleticism and natural showmanship in a CrossFit video caught Henry’s attention in an unexpected way.
“Mark Henry saw a video of me. I had this big bow in my hair and I’m talking to the audience, and he’s like, ‘Hey, have you ever thought of being a wrestler?’”
While wrestling had its sights set on Belair, the feeling wasn’t mutual. At the time, the last thing the future Women’s Champion planned on doing was competing in a ring, despite being aware of WWE’s programming.
“Like, ‘Nah, not really, but I was watch—I’ve seen Total Divas and I joke with my mom like maybe I’ll be a wrestler.”
Eventually, Henry was able to convince Belair to give wrestling a try. As the WWE Hall of Famer explained, Bianca was already training for pro wrestling, without even realizing it at the time.
“You’re basically doing everything that a wrestler does. You’re wearing wrestling gear. You’re wearing entrance pieces. You’re grabbing the microphone.”
Belair’s charisma was already on display in her CrossFit persona. In a precursor to her colorful WWE role, Belair was attracting fans more interested in seeing her than they were in CrossFit
“People would come to the CrossFit events to see what I was going to wear… I’ve been an athlete my whole life, and I don’t know how not to be an athlete.”
Henry was able to get Belair a tryout, though made it clear he couldn’t make WWE hire her. After two tryouts, Belair’s future was secured as a WWE Superstar. While she had Henry rooting for her, she acknowledged not everyone may be so fortunate.
“Listen to your gut, because sometimes you might not have that Mark Henry in your life. You have to be your own Mark Henry.”
The fan-led grassroots movement supporting Karrion Kross and Scarlett shows no sign of slowing down, as the pair continue to be success stories in WWE’s merchandise. As Kross merch continues to sell out at live events and online, fans continue to hope this success translates to a greater role on-screen.
The organic nature of the support hasn’t gone unnoticed. During a recent appearance on the Battleground Podcast, Kross expressed heartfelt appreciation for the growing momentum behind him and Scarlett.
“We’re very honored and we feel very lucky to be seen because we are standing next to so much talent, so many different extraordinary people. We’re standing right next to them — and to be seen as unique and different, and to stand out among those people.”
The ongoing merchandise shortage has become a talking point among fans, with t-shirts reportedly backordered until late July and early August. With Kross merch proving to be in high demand and harder to come by, this has only furthered the fervor of support behind the former NXT Champion.
“We are finally being seen for what we can really do — and people haven’t even seen yet what we can really do. It’s been a while.”
Kross can’t help but be humbled by the fan response he’s received. Four years after both he and Scarlett were released and three years after being rehired under Paul Levesque, Kross is appreciating every last moment he can to entertain fans.
“It’s just very humbling, but also it’s very motivating. It’s very invigorating — and we just want to give more.”
With a SummerSlam match looming and his memoir not far behind, Karrion Kross is taking wrestling by storm in and out of the ring. This phenomenon underscores a broader shift in how wrestling success is measured, now not solely with title reigns, but with the connection made with fans.
WWE SummerSlam 2025 will take place on August 2, and August 3, marking the first time the show has occurred over two nights. And according to Paul ‘Triple H’ Levesque, if you’re going to do things big, do them really big.
Speaking on WFAN in New York City with Brandon Tierney and Sal Licata, WWE ‘s Chief Content Officer addressed the change. For Levesque, the success that WrestleMania has seen since being moved to two-nights in 2020 justifies the SummerSlam change.
“Look, it has been successful for us on the WrestleMania side for sure — the two-night WrestleManias are destination weekends. People plan their year, their vacation around it.”
While the two-night SummerSlam will be the focus of this week, it will hardly be WWE’s only attraction. Comparing the show to a Disney production, Levesque noted that fans can easily make a whole week from a two-night show.
“A lot of folks come in on Thursday, they’re going to the World, seeing all the memorabilia, getting autographs, coming to SmackDown on Friday night, then the Saturday-Sunday events. NXT in the afternoon sometimes on Saturdays, all the way through to Monday night. This time, we’ll be at Barclays Center. If you’re a fan, there’s nothing like it. It’s going to Disney for pro wrestling.”
Eddie Kingston has had a long, storied career in wrestling, which has had an impact on countless fans worldwide. Recently, one fan shared how a promo by the former ROH World Champion didn’t just entertain them, but ultimately saved their life.
On X, a recent trend has encouraged fans and wrestlers to share “wrestling lore” about themselves. One fan revealed how it was hearing a promo from Kingston that turned their life around.
“Eddie Kingston and AEW saved my life. Two years ago, I was 207lbs, depressed, and thinking about ending it. Then I saw Eddie’s mental health promo, it hit me hard. I started therapy. I started working out. Now I’m 147lbs and still watching weekly. Thank you Eddie. Thank you AEW.”
While Kingston doesn’t use X anymore, the message found its way to the Mad King. Humbled by how his promo affected someone’s life, Kingston responded saying “I have no word[s].”
Omega isn’t the only AEW name to have had a profound effect on a fan’s life. Earlier this year, a fan shared that they were ready to end it all, but ended up gushing about Kenny Omega after spotting someone in a Bullet Club shirt. This interaction helped the fan down from the proverbial cliff, and earned a response from Omega on X.
These tales demonstrates the uniting force that pro wrestling can bring and provide light at the darkest of times. As Kingston continues to recover from his injury, the Mad King’s influence contineus to be felt.
WWE’s acquisition of AAA is already reshaping the future of Lucha Libre as a new training facility is coming to Mexico. In an interview with Superluchas, AAA representative Ernesto Campo confirmed that the new training facility is currently in development when discussing AAA’s future plans under WWE.
“One of them is that the new AAA will have a Performance Center, which will be inaugurated around mid-2026. It’s expected to have both Mexican and American trainers who will help polish the wrestling style of AAA stars.”
While this all sounds similar to WWE’s Performance Center, there will be some key differences. While WWE’s PC in Orlando also plays home to events, the focus on AAA’s Performance Center is strictly training.
“For now, there are no plans for an arena. In the U.S., there’s a division between the Performance Center and the Capital Wrestling Center, where NXT events are recorded. To my knowledge, there’s no such plan here.”
The center will focus on every element of WWE-style presentation — from in-ring technique to mic skills and character development. Mexican trainers will even head to Orlando first to get acquainted with the system they’ll be expected to implement.
“The idea is for wrestlers to train, learn the WWE style, work on mic skills, and develop their characters. Yes. In fact, the Mexican coaches would first spend time in Orlando to learn the style they’re supposed to teach.”
AAA is home to several rising stars who now could have a future on WWE programming. Whether these rising stars end up in WWE, AAA, or both, the groundwork is officially being laid.
Cody Rhodes has opened up about his controversial departure from AEW, revealing he felt “disrespected” by the company he helped build alongside The Elite.
In a candid interview on The Ringer podcast, Rhodes detailed the personal nature of his exit from All Elite Wrestling in early 2022, drawing a sharp distinction between corporate decisions and personal betrayal.
“If I ever felt disrespected ever at WWE, that’s one thing. That’s a company that was built…that’s the Yankees. That’s the flagship of it all,” Rhodes explained. “Feeling disrespected at something I built with my friends. That we built. Feeling disrespected there, I wouldn’t stand for it.”
“There’s clearly bad blood, but there’s also clearly respect and love.”
The former AEW Executive Vice President emphasized his philosophy on success, stating:
“The greatest revenge on Earth is success. I did way more here than you think, and you’re going to find out the moment I’m out the door.”
Rhodes, who left AEW alongside wife Brandi, acknowledged there’s “clearly bad blood, but there’s also clearly respect and love” between him and his former colleagues Matt Jackson, Nick Jackson, and Kenny Omega.
Since returning to WWE, Rhodes has captured the Undisputed WWE Championship and headlined multiple WrestleMania events, seemingly validating his decision to leave the company he co-founded.
Drew McIntyre has put an end to recent travel concerns, announcing that he is back in the United States and that his scheduled tag team match at WWE SummerSlam this weekend will proceed as planned.
After recent speculation that he may not be able to travel to the U.S. in time for the premium live event, McIntyre confirmed his arrival via his social media accounts on Wednesday. His announcement ensures that one of the marquee matches for the two-night event will go on without any changes.
“The Scottish Warrior” is set to team with Logan Paul to take on the duo of Randy Orton and Grammy-winning musical artist Jelly Roll. The match is one of the most anticipated on the stacked card for the two-night SummerSlam event at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey.
With McIntyre’s travel issues resolved, all four participants are expected to be present for the final go-home episode of Friday Night SmackDown this week. The show will be the last opportunity for the two teams to have a final confrontation before they collide at “The Biggest Party of the Summer” this Saturday and Sunday.
Oro Mensah, the former WWE NXT star, has made his first appearance since his WWE departure earlier this year. Now going by the single name “Oro,” he competed at tonight’s Ring of Honor television tapings in Chicago.
During the tapings on July 30, Oro made his surprise debut for the promotion. He faced off against NJPW legend Tomohiro Ishii in a hard-hitting singles match. Although Oro came up short in the contest, his quick return to a major promotion has sparked speculation about his future. It is currently unclear if he has signed a contract with ROH or if this was a one-time appearance.
Oro confirmed his exit from WWE back in May. His departure came shortly after his on-screen faction in NXT, Meta-Four, was officially split up on television. Originally signing with WWE in 2019 as Oliver Carter, he found success in NXT UK before being rebranded as Oro Mensah in the U.S. developmental system. Upon his release, he posted a heartfelt message, saying, “Thank you for all the support! love y‘all.”
Oro’s appearance in Ring of Honor continues the trend of recently released WWE talent quickly finding new homes. Karl Fredericks, formerly Eddy Thorpe, who was released in the same round of cuts in May, also recently made his return to the independent circuit. It remains to be seen if Oro’s appearance was a one-off or if he has officially signed a contract with Tony Khan’s promotion.
As she prepares for a championship match at SummerSlam, Alexa Bliss has addressed the possibility of one day joining The Wyatt Sicks faction, stating that it would be “something fun to explore.”
Given her deep on-screen connection to the late Bray Wyatt, many fans have speculated that Bliss would be a logical fit for the group. In a new interview with Fox News Digital, Bliss acknowledged the possibility and recalled a conversation she had with Wyatt.
“Windham always said, ‘Alexa and I will always be connected and when it happens and when we reconnect, it’s gonna be something big.’ So, whether that’s with the Wyatt Sicks or something else, I don’t know,” Bliss said. “I think it would be something fun to explore at some point.”
While an alliance with The Wyatt Sicks may be a future possibility, Bliss made it clear that her current priority is her tag team with Charlotte Flair. She noted that she still keeps elements of her past supernatural character as a nod to her history with Wyatt.
“Right now, I’m having a lot of fun tagging with Charlotte and seeing where that dynamic goes,” she stated. “But obviously, I’m still always going to have a piece of Bray with me with the jacket and the skirt and the character and just kinda keeping it in that same vein in case that doesn’t happen.”
Bliss will be in action on Night One of SummerSlam this Saturday, August 2nd, as she and Charlotte Flair challenge Raquel Rodriguez and Roxanne Perez for the WWE Women’s Tag Team Championships. On Night Two, two members of The Wyatt Sicks, Dexter Lumis and Joe Gacy, will defend their WWE Tag Team Championships in a massive six-pack TLC match.
