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.
Women’s World Champion IYO SKY can’t help but enjoy aligning with Rhea Ripley, despite ‘Mami’ having her eye on SKY’s Women’s World Championship. On the May 12, edition of WWE RAW, the champion and the woman she dethroned teamed up to earn a victory over Roxanne Perez and Giulia.
Taking to X, SKY said that Ripley had come back from Australia, where she’d been promoting WWE Crown Jewel: Perth, to help her. SKY knows that she “shouldn’t let my guard down” but can’t help but enjoy teaming with Rhea Ripley.
SKY won the gold from Ripley in March 2025, disrupting Rhea’s road to WrestleMania 41. Instead of walking in as champion, Ripley challenged for the gold alongside Bianca Belair but both came up short against SKY.
With Money in the Bank coming, SKY is wise to keep an eye out for any potential challengers. Nevertheless, stepping in the ring with Ripley as allies is proving to be enjoyable for the champ.
The road to Money in the Bank will begin soon enough with Ladder Match Qualifying Matches set to take place on the May 19, edition of WWE Raw. During the May 12, show, it was announced that next week’s Raw at the Bon Secours Wellness Arena in Greenville, South Carolina will feature Superstars vying to earn a spot in the ladder matches. It was also revealed that qualifying matches will take place on the upcoming episode of WWE SmackDown At this time, WWE has yet to announce any participants.
The May 19, Raw, falling on the least-favorite day of Glenn ‘Kane’ Jacobs, will see more than just these qualifying matches. The dream team of AJ Styles and Penta will team up to take on Finn Balor and JD McDonagh of Judgment Day.
Jey Uso is also set for a non-title clash against Bron Breakker. During Raw, Jey made the save for CM Punk and Sami Zayn when they were attacked by Breakker and Rollins. Later in the show, Jey was found attacked backstage with Breakker standing over him.
Sheamus will step into the ring against Grayson Waller next week. After defeating Austin Theory the previous week, Sheamus intends to go 2-0 against A-Town Down Under.
Carlito is set to make a rare appearance outside WWE later this month as part of WWE’s ongoing willingness to work with other promotions. The Judgment Day member has been announced for WWC’s Summer Madness event on May 31 at the Pepín Cestero Arena in Bayamón, Puerto Rico.
The news was confirmed by WWC (World Wrestling Council) who shared in a statement that WWE and WWC reached an agreement. WWC stated:
“WWE has reached an agreement with WWC in Puerto Rico. Adam Pearce has authorized Carlito to be present in the island to settle unfinished business.”
Carlito’s time in WWC began as a cameraman in 1999 but it wouldn’t be long before he became an in-ring competitor. In the company, he became the Puerto Rico Heavyweight Champion, a Carribean Heavyweight Champion, and a 17-time Universal Heavyweight Champion.
This marks Carlito’s first WWC appearance since the promotion’s 50th Anniversary Show in 2023, which occurred before he re-signed with WWE. Now fans will get to see the Cool Superstar return to his roots in Puerto Rico and show what he can do as part of WWC once more.
Despite consistent reports and rumors, WWE hasn’t officially announced Evolution 2 yet, but it appears that Fanatics may have given away the show, as well as it’s location. According to a listing posted on LinkedIn on May 9th, the retail giant is looking to hire what’s described as a Retail Event Associate for a WWE event listed as Evolution in Atlanta.
This comes after reports that WWE was planning to host Evolution in Atlanta on July 12th in Atlanta, despite initial rumors saying the show would be on July 5th in Connecticut. During a recent Fightful Select Q&A, Sean Ross Sapp shared that talent have been kept in the dark about the show, raising questions about the fate of WWE’s second all-women’s event.
“Evolution, it’s something I’ve been following up on a lot. Talent that I have talked to don’t know about it.“
Charlotte Flair, who played a major role in the first all-women’s Evolution event, told Denise Sancedo that she hopes Evolution 2 happens, but admitted that “I really don’t know” about any plans.
While July 12th and Atlanta are likely to be the date and host of Evolution 2, nothing is confirmed until WWE says so, and time will tell when this long-awaited women’s event takes place.
It appears that a WWE tag team has broken up after their loss on this week’s episode of Monday Night Raw from KFC Yum! Center in Louisville, Kentucky.
The main event of tonight’s show featured a tag team match that saw Rhea Ripley teaming up with IYO SKY to counter the challenge of Giulia & Roxanne Perez.
The ending of the bout saw Giulia battling SKY in the babyface corner when Ripley sneaked a tag. The former NXT Women’s champion was still focused on IYO and she didn’t see The Mami entering the ring.
Rhea shoved Giulia just as Roxanne was looking for a splash from the top rope and Perez ended up taking out her own tag team partner. Rhea Ripley then hit the Riptide on Giulia to get the victory for her team.
Roxanne Perez was unhappy with these turn of events. She was ranting about how the two needed to regroup and refocus to make an impact in a backstage video the company posted after the show. Giulia, however, told the fellow NXT alumni that there was no ‘we’ anymore before walking out.
This segment suggests that the partnership between the two female stars is over after only two matches as a team and we’re going to see them going their separate ways in coming times.
A massive World Heavyweight Championship match was announced on tonight’s May 12, 2025, episode of WWE Raw. “The Ring General” GUNTHER is now officially slated to challenge the winner of the upcoming title bout between current champion Jey Uso and Logan Paul. This championship encounter will take place on June 9th in Phoenix, Arizona.
The announcement sets the stage for a clash, regardless of who goes over between Uso and Paul at the upcoming Saturday Night’s Main Event. Current World Heavyweight Champion Uso, however, was quick to issue a fiery response to the prospect of facing GUNTHER again, whom he defeated for the title at WrestleMania 41.
“Remind me of my place? My place? I’m in my place! This is my place! I run this place! With this on my arm!” Jey Uso declared on Raw. “I’m gonna handle the YouTuber [Logan Paul]! Then me and the Ring General, we gonna run it back! And I’m gonna walk out this match the same way I walked out of WrestleMania!”
GUNTHER is coming off a win over Pat McAfee at Backlash this past Saturday.
"Remind me of my place? My place? I'm in my place! This my place! I run this place! With this on my arm! I'm gonna handle the YouTuber! Then me and the ring general, we gonna run it back! And I'm gonna walk out this match the same way I walked out of WrestleMania!" – Jey Uso to… pic.twitter.com/XJDBXJTwTC
— The Movement – Pro Wrestling (@TheMovementXx) May 13, 2025
WWE has once again placed Finn Bálor and Roxanne Perez in the background of a backstage segment, marking the second consecutive week the two Superstars have appeared together on camera. Though no interaction has been acknowledged on commentary or in storylines, their recurring presence hints at a developing connection.
The company has previously used similar visual cues to build anticipation for future alliances or feuds, making this pairing worth noting.
Wrestling fans on social media have taken notice of this subtle on-screen detail, with some speculating where this could be headed. Pairing Finn Bálor and Roxanne Perez is an intriguing prospect, and could be a vehicle to help establish Perez on the main roster. We’ll be tracking this developing situation.
What if the plan here is for Finn Balor to cost Liv Morgan and Raquel Rodriguez the tag titles to Roxanne and Giulia ?#WWERawpic.twitter.com/qwRi9BdjWG
Joey Janela has taken to social media to clarify comments he made in a recent Yahoo Uncrowned interview about the late Sabu, particularly concerning Sabu’s kratom use before a GCW match and an in-ring incident. His original interview described Sabu taking kratom after arriving late, appearing on “a different f—ing planet,” and being “knocked out cold” during the match. These comments led to fan speculation following Sabu’s recent passing.
In a lengthy post on X, Janela stated the Yahoo interview occurred just two days after the GCW match, weeks before Sabu’s death, and he wasn’t aware of what would later transpire. He admitted to exaggerating the in-ring moment: “I said he was ‘knocked out’ after that spot when despite being a rough deal. He was not that. I was just trying to add to the lore and [unpredictability] of Sabu.”
Janela further explained that Sabu took kratom “daily for years,” reportedly to help him get off other addictive substances, not just for that one event.
A follow-up report from Fightful Select‘s Sean Ross Sapp noted that GCW officials were “frustrated, embarrassed and humiliated” by Janela’s original interview. The Fightful report also added there was no evidence suggesting the match itself contributed to Sabu’s death.
I’m truly devastated over this and this whole deal has really affected me. Kratom is something Sabu took daily for years it helped him get off other substances, Sabu loved his weed & Kratom his body was wrecked doing what he loved for 40 years.
WWE has confirmed another high-profile bout for the upcoming Saturday Night’s Main Event special from Tampa, FL airing May 24 on NBC and Peacock.
Seth Rollins will team with Bron Breakker to take on the duo of CM Punk and Sami Zayn in a blockbuster tag team match. This adds to the already intruiging card, which includes Logan Paul challenging Jey Uso for the World Heavyweight Championship.
The next WWE Saturday Night’s Main Event airs live 5/24 at 8 p.m. ET / 5 p.m. PT.
Bringing Amateur Excellence to the Professional Stage
In a new interview on The Ariel Helwani Show, Hulk Hogan and Eric Bischoff elaborated on their ambitious plans for Real American Freestyle Wrestling (RAFW), the new combat sports league designed to provide a professional platform for elite amateur wrestlers.
“This is pro-pro wrestling, brother,” said Hogan. “This is the elite of the elite… somewhere in between UFC and WWE, there was a market that was really underserved.”
The promotion, which launches August 30 in Cleveland, aims to fill the gap left for athletes who reach the top of the NCAA or Olympic ladder, only to find limited options outside of MMA or sports entertainment.
“We didn’t want to compete with UFC or WWE,” Hogan said. “But we wanted the opportunity to be as big as them.”
Execution and Funding in Place
Eric Bischoff, who helped lead WCW during its heyday, emphasized their readiness to execute.
“The reason most good ideas don’t succeed is because they’re not well-funded or can’t execute. We don’t have that issue,” Bischoff said. “We’ve got serious backing from Left Lane Capital… They’re also behind Shaun White’s snowboarding league and women’s volleyball. They believe in this.”
The league plans monthly events and is currently in talks with two major media platforms.
“I have a call with a major platform after this interview,” Bischoff added. “We’re confident we’ll land a streaming deal—possibly even cable.”
Building Stars from Real Athletes
Hogan’s role goes beyond branding. He plans to work closely with the talent and help develop the next Conor McGregor.
“I’m boots on the ground,” he said. “These amateur wrestlers—turns out they all grew up watching me. I want to help them not become characters like Doink the Clown, but organically grow into megastars.”
Bischoff echoed that storytelling will be critical to engaging broader audiences.
“We’re going to show their backstories, their failures and triumphs,” he said. “It’s not just about matches. We’re going to make people care.”
Coming out of WWE Backlash 2025, the writing on the wall was clear: John Cena is on a collision course with R-Truth. It’s possible that this feud will just be a speed bump, like Gunther’s mini-feud with Alpha Academy when he was really building toward his match with Jey Uso this past WrestleMania season—an entertaining time-filler that allows the heel to get more heat.
However, a lot of speculation also places Truth as Cena’s next WWE Championship challenger, be it for the upcoming Saturday Night’s Main Event, or a proper PLE this summer.
Not everyone is excited for this rivalry, but there are some real reasons for optimism. One might go so far as to R-Truth is the perfect challenger for a heel Cena as champion at this moment.
R-Truth Can Keep The Fans Against John Cena
John Cena turning heel was a shock and has freshened up his character for the first time in quite a while. There’s a real challenge to keeping fans against Cena, though. After all, the passage of time has seen the seventeen-time champion transition from wildly polarizing to near-universally respected as a hardworking veteran. More to the point, now there’s an oddball combination of fans attached to Cena for nostalgia purposes and fans all too eager to cheer him not in spite of, but because of his heel turn.
WWE reckoned with this challenge at WrestleMania 41 where, despite all kayfabe indicators that fans should get behind Cody Rhodes, The American Nightmare—at absolute best—had the crowd 60-40 behind him. From there, even with a fellow nostaltic face and hometown hero Randy Orton against him at Backlash, fans couldn’t help themselves from applauding Cena, especially after their main event match.
R-Truth isn’t going to erase the problem of Cena’s organic popularity during his retirement tour. However, Truth is a veteran himself, widely respected as an all-time great comedic wrestler. No one is booing Truth, even if they don’t feel he belongs in the main event picture. As such, he’s one of the few bullet-proof babyfaces fans aren’t going to turn on in this scenario.
R-Truth Is The Embodiment Of Fans Betrayed By Their Childhood Hero
Image credit: WWE
One of the greatest points of comedic fodder for R-Truth in recent years is his persistence in claiming John Cena was his childhood hero. Never mind that Truth is five years older than Cena, started in pro wrestling two years earlier, and made his WWE main roster debut a year and a half before Cena’s. The patent absurdity of his claims is the charm and has made even callous, humor-averse wrestling fans crack a smile.
More than comedy, though, in Truth selling his Cena fanhood for years before The Champ’s heel turn, WWE has established a framework for Truth to embody every fan who felt betrayed at Elimination Chamber 2025. Though Truth is far from a child, the child-like wonder of his character allows him to represent kids as well as fans who adhere more strictly to kayfabe when they choose whom to cheer or boo. As such there are few better choices to go toe-to-toe with Cena at this moment.
R-Truth And John Cena Have A Long History
There’s a school of thought that John Cena should be working younger, fresher opponents along his farewell tour to put them over and ready the next generation of top names. That thinking has merit, and Cena likely will add some other up-and-coming opponents to his slate of final-year dance partners. However, there’s also something really satisfying about seeing him revisit his “greatest hits,” like he did in facing Randy Orton at Backlash.
Long before R-Truth started feigning he was a childhood Cena fan in recent years, Truth was a key rival for Cena in 2011. He twice challenged Cena for the WWE Championship in PLE main events, before teaming with The Miz against Cena and The Rock to headline Survivor Series. Truth and Cena don’t necessarily have any truly great matches to their names as opponents, and it was hard for fans to buy into Truth actually taking the title of Cena in his prime. Nonetheless, the feud was entertaining, highlighted by Truth’s heel turn and arriving at what was probably his highest rank in the pecking order as a world title contender in WWE.
A Great Match Probably Isn’t In The Cards For John Cena Anyway
Image credit: WWE
One of the main reasons some fans have pushed back on the idea of R-Truth vs. John Cena as a WWE Championship feud and when Cena only has a half-year left as an in-ring performer is that this combination is unlikely to produce a great match.
Cena’s career includes all-time classics with the likes of Shawn Michaels, Edge, CM Punk, and Daniel Bryan. There are, understandably, fans who want to see him add to that catalog, whether it’s in fresh matchups against the likes of Gunther or Drew McIntyre or by returning to Punk, Roman Reigns, or Seth Rollins.
However, one of the uncomfortable truths that Cena vs. Cody Rhodes laid bare at WrestleMania 41 was that Cena just might not have anymore great one-on-one matches left in him, at least in any traditional sense. Indeed, the Orton match at Backlash was better, but still not great, and had considerable assistance from ref bumps that are going to wear thin the more they recur in his matches.
Truth vs. Cena wasn’t exactly great in 2011, and four years later, with Truth north of 50 and Cena not that far behind him, there’s very little reason to think the in-ring action will be better now. Just the same, the capacity for entertainment is there, and if Cena isn’t going to have a great match anyway, isn’t it better to have an engaging and funny feud with bonus points for nostalgia?
No one will advocate for R-Truth and John Cena to stage a multi-match, PLE-headlining feud in 2025. As a change of pace and surefire source of entertainment, though, Truth is just the right guy to keep Cena’s heel run on top vital a little longer.
Hulk Hogan addressed the polarized public reception he continues to receive, speaking candidly on The Ariel Helwani Show about his relationship with the fans and media in 2025.
“They’re still nipping at my heels,” Hogan said. “I can go out and get booed in LA… The Rock gets booed, Cena gets booed. But when I get booed, there’s a whole different reaction media-wise.”
He sees the reaction—good or bad—as a sign of relevance.
“For those that are on the team and riding the train to the station, that’s great. For the haters, there’s nothing I can do except keep proving by my actions that I’m still in the game.”
Still Moving Forward
Now 71 and recovering from numerous surgeries, Hogan says the criticism doesn’t faze him.
“Even in the 80s, I was the guy everyone tried to knock off the top spot. I’ll trade that any day for being forgotten.”
“I’m just like an old scarred-up seal,” he added. “Most people relate to that. They’ve made mistakes too. I’m still here, still pushing forward.”
No Illusions About the Past
Hogan acknowledges that some of the boos are personal, not just aimed at a character.
“It’s all the above—character, professional, personal,” he said. “There are WWE guys who’ve had opinions. But when I go to New York or Chicago and the crowd cheers out of the rooftops, I’d like to hear their advice then.”
He added, “I’m not hating on anybody, brother. I’m leaning into the wind.”
Former WWE NXT standout Cora Jade, returning to her pre-WWE ring name Elayna Black, has been announced for an upcoming summer tour with Game Changer Wrestling (GCW). The tour marks her return to the independent scene following her release from WWE.
Black is set to appear at five GCW events across the United States, beginning June 20 in Little Rock, Arkansas. Additional stops include Hartford, CT (July 5), Dallas, TX (July 11), Coney Island, NY (July 19), and Rutherford, NJ (August 1).
Her return continues a trend of recently released WWE talent quickly finding high-profile opportunities on the independent circuit. The tour will stream live on TrillerTV+.
*Breaking*
ELAYNA BLACK returns to GCW for 5 big shows starting in June!
Mike “The Miz” Mizanin has been named the host of Amazon Prime Video’s upcoming reboot of the iconic competition series “American Gladiators.” The original show, which ran from 1989 to 1996, pitted amateur athletes against formidable “gladiators.”
The revamped series will feature an “all-star cast of gladiators for the modern era” and will include classic challenges like “Gauntlet,” “Hang Tough,” and “The Eliminator,” alongside new trials. The Miz, a two-time WWE Grand Slam Champion, brings his extensive television experience from shows like MTV’s “The Real World” and USA Network’s “Miz & Mrs.” to the hosting role.
I’m thrilled to announce I’m the new host of AMERICAN GLADIATORS! The 10-year-old me is screaming. Huge thanks to MGM & Amazon Prime Video for trusting me with this iconic legacy. We’re honoring the original and bringing fresh energy to a whole new generation. AG IS BACK! pic.twitter.com/tJk94agiSf
Barry Poznick, GM of MGM Alternative, praised the choice: “We’re excited to officially welcome WWE Superstar Mike ‘The Miz’ Mizanin… He’s the perfect host for the new era of this iconic franchise.” Poznick added that the U.S. reboot, combined with UK success and other ventures, signifies a “cultural revival” for Gladiators.
This new series, executive produced by John Ferraro and Daniel Calin, joins a recently launched FAST channel of the original “American Gladiators” and a live tour, signaling a major comeback for the beloved franchise with The Miz leading the charge.
Will Ospreay has established himself as a bonafide star in he ring, but now he’s ready to show what he can do as a promoter. Speaking to Grapple Theory, Ospreay shared his ambitious plans for Pro Wrestling: Eve, a British independent women’s wrestling promotion.
“I think the European largest gate for a women’s show is held by Eve at 1,000 people. I want to break that record and I have the resources with AEW and Ring of Honor. I have the relationship with Stardom that I have and myself and Dan [Read, EVE co-founder] really want to collaborate.”
While women’s wrestling was once treated as little more than titilation in the west, massive strides have been made in recent years. Ospreay is thrilled that his plans for Pro Wrestling: EVE come at a time when women are treated much fairer with their male counterparts.
“I think a lot of women’s wrestling now is coming to the forefront and the women can do things just as good as the guys if you’re giving them the time.”
But who can fans expect at Pro Wrestling: EVE with Ospreay involved. The AEW star shared that he won’t be afraid to pull some of the very best names from AEW and Ring of Honor to break the current European women’s wrestling attendance record.
“I’ve got people like Willow Nightingale, Sky Blue, Queen Aminata, all saying like we would love to come over to Eve that the name is getting out there. So for me, this is about striking while the iron is hot.”
Ospreay is ready to bring in some big names to Europe, while also showcasing some of the continent’s top talent. Former NXT UK talent Nina Samuels from Aldershot, England is something Ospreay is hoping gets a bigger spotlight very soon.
“Nina Samuels is head and shoulders above a lot of people in this scene and does not get her flowers. I honestly if I could sign anyone and it’s not my missus, like I generally would sign Nina Sams in a heartbeat.”
Ospreay’s endorsement could help bring additional attention to these performers and the Pro Wrestling: EVE promotion as a whole. Fans will have to stay tuned and see if the Aerial Assassin can break the record and prove that his versitility in wrestling extends beyond the ring.
Former WWE Superstar Gigi Dolin is set to make her first appearance since being released from the company – and she’s doing so under her pre-WWE ring name, Priscilla Kelly.
Kelly will debut at Wrestling REVOLVER’s Cage of Horrors event on Saturday, June 14th at the Horizon Events Center in Clive, Iowa. The event will stream live on TrillerTV+.
She joins a growing list of recently released WWE talent quickly resurfacing on the independent scene. Fellow ex-WWE stars Shotzi Blackheart and Cora Jade have also been announced for upcoming events.
Kelly’s return marks a significant moment in her career, as fans eagerly anticipate her next chapter outside of WWE.
Karrion Kross has been making waves in WWE in recent months, and now the former NXT Champion is stepping into the podcasting ring. Taking to X, Kross shared that he plans to launch his own podcast, and has been putting a team together since January.
“I’ve been asked to do a podcast for a very long time, probably a few years. I really didn’t have a subject matter that I thought I would be able to continually do, and it would feel authentic. Now I finally found one and there will be more information on that.”
— Kevin Robert Kesar (@realKILLERkross) May 12, 2025
Kross didn’t share specific details about the podcast’s content or launch date but his excitement was visible. The Raw Superstar was also grateful and shared his thanks “to everybody who pushed me to do this. I’m really looking forward to it.”
Several wrestlers have hosted podcasts over the years including the New Day, Alexa Bliss, and Corey Graves to name just a few. Stay tuned for the latest on Kross’ podcast as WWE’s devil’s advocate is ready to spread his message with the fans.
WWE fans are in for a double-bill of action this July with two major events expected to take place on back-to-back days. PW Insider reports that the WWE is looking at hosting its Saturday Night’s Main Event on July 12. The concept was brought back in December 2024, with four SNME shows expected each year.
Hosting WWE Evolution 2 on July 12 would put the show in head-to-head competition with AEW All In: Texas, the company’s first stadium-sized event in the United States. With two events expected to go head-to-head, fans can expect stacked cards from both the AEW roster and the Superstars of WWE.
WWE is looking to host the long-rumored Evolution 2 on July 13, from Atlanta, Georgia, PW Insider adds. The all-female event would be WWE’s second-ever event entirely dedicated to women’s wrestling and follow on from 2018’s WWE Evolution PLE. If both Saturday Night’s Main Event and WWE Evolution 2 are booked for the same weekend, there’ll be plenty of WWE action for fans to enjoy.
While Boston has been heavily rumored as the location for John Cena’s final WWE match later this year, new reports indicate WWE initiated a formal bidding process for cities to host the momentous farewell. Cena is currently on his 2025 retirement tour and recently defended his Undisputed WWE Championship at Backlash.
James Stewart of Boston’s 98.5 The Sports Hub initially reported, with The Takedown on SI confirming after viewing WWE documents, that the company packaged “John Cena’s Final Match” as a weekend-long special.
John Cena's Final Match is being planned for 12/13/25. WWE is looking for $1.5 million financial commitment from host cities, including Boston. WWE's full week "takeover" would start on 12/10 with community events, 12/11 Undertaker show, 12/12 Smackdown and 12/13 SNME.
— James Stewart ?? (@IAmJamesStewart) May 12, 2025
WWE reportedly sought $1.5 million from potential host cities for a package that included SmackDown, an Undertaker live show, community events, and a special Saturday Night’s Main Event on December 13, 2025, where Cena would wrestle his last match.
WWE reportedly began approaching prospective bidders two days after the Royal Rumble in February, with a goal to secure the host city by the end of April. Although John Cena Sr. previously suggested Boston for his son’s farewell, WWE has yet to confirm it.
At WWE Backlash, Pat McAfee withstood all he could against GUNTHER before eventually passing out in the Austrian’s sleeper hold. Though McAfee didn’t win the match, he did earn the respect of GUNTHER, who offered a handshake after the match.
On his Pat McAfee Show, the Raw commentator gave an update on his condition.
“Chest is burning, neck is hurting from holding my head up from whenever I was getting my ass beat, back is pretty sore, hips are not good either, both of my knees are very problematic. I was wondering why my hip flexors are so sore, now it makes sense, this guy was stretching it out there. Who knows about the bleeding that’s happening inside of me, but I guess I’ll find out. Popped a blood vessel in my left eye—when did that happen? Who knows, could have been anytime. That might have been the first chop. So I took a lot, gave some.“
McAfee didn’t win at Backlash, and his ordeal with the Ring General has left the commentator worse for wear. It remains to be seen when McAfee will return to screens but we imagine he’s in no hurry to get back in the ring with GUNTHER.
Former WWE NXT Superstar Cora Jade, now competing under the ring name Elayna Black, has quickly lined up her first post-WWE in-ring appearance. Following her release from WWE earlier this month, Black is set to debut for Atomic Legacy Wrestling (ALW) this summer.
ALW announced the major signing and debut with enthusiasm: “Atomic Legacy Wrestling is beyond thrilled and excited to announce that Elayna Black (fka Cora Jade) will be making her ALW in-ring debut on Sunday, July 27th at the HISTORIC Ocean Center Arena show in Daytona Beach, Florida!”
While her specific opponent for the July 27th event at the Ocean Center will be revealed in one week, ALW is already touting Black’s credentials. They highlighted her past as an NXT Women’s Tag Team Champion and her recent TNA Wrestling appearance where she challenged Masha Slamovich for the Knockouts World Championship.
ALW touted that Black “looks to continue to elevate herself to the next level and show the world that she truly is the present and the future of the professional wrestling business!” Black’s WWE non-compete clause is expected to expire well before her July ALW debut. Tickets for the event are available via Ticketmaster and the venue’s box office.
ALW @WrestlingAtomic is excited to announce that @ElaynaBlack (fka Cora Jade) will be making her ALW debut on Sunday July 27th at our HISTORIC @OceanCenter Arena show in Daytona Beach Florida!
A new WWE project featuring Braun Strowman has been revealed.
Versant, the name for the bundle of spun-off NBCUniversal and Comcast channels, recently revealed its entertainment programming schedule for 2025-26 TV season.
Alongside SmackDown on USA Network, the list of programming includes a brand-new food show premiering in Fall of 2025, featuring former Universal Champion Braun Strowman as the host:
“Everything On The Menu with Braun Strowman” is a new food format with a big appetite. Each episode, join WWE Legend Braun Strowman as he eats his way across America, while on the road for WWE, ordering everything on every menu and trying to down every last bite.”
This is an interesting development as Strowman is among the dozen names the company released as part of their post-WrestleMania 41 cuts earlier this month.
The new show is produced by WWE Studios and BrightNorth Studios, and it lists both Paul Levesque and Lee Fitting as executive producers among other names. So there is no doubt that the wrestling promotion is behind the project.
What this means for the WWE status of the Monster Among Men is anyone’s guess, but it certainly makes the situation between the two parties awkward.
Braun previously had a run away from WWE when he was released during the COVID budget cuts in June 2021. Strowman became part of EC3’s Control Your Narrative promotion at the time and worked on ROH shows before being brought back by WWE in September 2022.
Following his hard-fought match against Gunther at WWE Backlash, Pat McAfee took to Twitter/X last night with advice for WWE fans.
“Life’s a book… each day being a page leading to the next,” McAfee wrote. “Phases of life come and go like chapters… not every character/job/idea has to appear in every chapter.”
Life’s a book… each day being a page leading to the next.. phases of life come and go like chapters.. not every character/job/idea has to appear in every chapter. Some things are perfect for the story when it’s needed.. and then disappear as just a fond memory. A pivotal…
McAfee continued, offering encouragement to those contemplating change:
“Don’t be scared to end a chapter and start anew… you’re gonna have to do it eventually anyways. And always remember to check with the mirror every once in a while and make sure your book is one that makes you happy… and if it’s not, change direction… we have NO IDEA when the final page is being written… with no sequels.”
The message ended with gratitude and McAfee’s signature charm:
“I appreciate you all so much for everything. I’m living the dumbest book of all time… trying to figure it all aht as I go… UpToSomethingSZN.”
Gunther ultimately defeated McAfee at WWE Backlash by choking him out with a sleeper hold. One thing he did make clear: he didn’t tap out.
“Just to be clear,” he reminded fans, “I didn’t tap.”
Major League Wrestling (MLW) has teased the arrival of former WWE Superstar Shotzi Blackheart at their upcoming “Summer of the Beasts” event. The show is scheduled for June 26 at NYC’s Melrose Ballroom.
During MLW Azteca Lucha this past weekend from Chicago, the promotion aired a promotional vignette featuring imagery of a tank—Shotzi’s signature entrance prop—along with text reading: “June 26. Hearts Turn Black. The Warning SHOTZ Will Be Fired.”
This development comes shortly after Shotzi’s release from WWE in the company’s latest round of talent cuts.
The green-haired grappler had previously assured fans they would see her again soon, and this announcement appears to confirm her next destination in professional wrestling.
The June 26 event marks Shotzi’s first post-WWE appearance, giving fans an opportunity to see what’s next for the popular and distinctive performer.
MLW’s female roster includes Women’s World Champion Shoko Nakajima, Miyu Yamashita, Delmi Exo and Gigi Rey.
