CM Punk shared high praise for WWE Women’s World Champion Rhea Ripley and IYO SKY during a recent YouTube vlog documenting WWE’s tour of Japan.
ighted both superstars as key figures for the company’s future.
Ripley and SKY have recently formed an alliance, stemming from their shared rivalry with the Kabuki Warriors (Asuka and Kairi Sane). This partnership was evident during the Japan tour, where they shared an in-ring moment with Punk after a live event.
In the vlog, Punk spoke highly of SKY’s in-ring abilities. “IYO SKY is consistently I think the best wrestler that we have,” Punk stated. He placed Ripley close behind, noting her overall star power and presence. “Rhea is probably a close second, but you talk about superstar…”.
Punk also touched upon his connection with Ripley, acknowledging her past fandom. “…and I don’t think it’s a secret that I was one of Rhea’s favorites when she was a kid growing up.” He compared this connection to fans who credit him for personal milestones, expressing his gratitude and desire to give back.ack. “…it’s kind of no different than the fan that says ‘I’m sober because of you’ or ‘I waited 19 years to see you.’ I just want to give back because I’m so full of gratitude”.
He added his thoughts on Ripley and SKY by noting their importance to WWE’s trajectory. “Those two are the future,” Punk declared. CM Punk is currently preparing for his World Heavyweight Championship match against Jey Uso at Saturday Night’s Main Event on November 1.
In October 2025, Carmella and Corey Graves became parents once again after the birth of the couple’s second child. Though the arrival of Bram Julian Polinsky was a joyous event, it was a time that Graves couldn’t appreciate for long.
Mere days after the arrival of Bram, Graves was back at work behind the commentary desk at WWE events. In her Instagram Stories, Carmella explained how Graves’ time-off came to an abrupt end.
“His paternity leave started a week early, and since Bram was past his due date, by the time he was born, Matt had to go back to work. He had to go back like five days after we came home from the hospital, which sucks.”
Carmella wishes that WWE could have been more flexible and give Graves more time off after the birth of Bram. While she appreciates that Graves was present for the birth of his child, the former SmackDown Women’s Champion wishes things had gone differently.
“I guess I’d rather have him leave a little early postpartum than have him miss the birth of his child. So we had to compromise. I still think he should have WAY more time off than just five days after the baby’s born. That’s crazy.”
WWE has often had a complicated time handling pregnancies, including infamously cutting Dawn Marie in 2005 while she was pregnant. While WWE has improved its handling of pregnant stars since then, such as the currently-pregnant Naomi, Carmella believes much more could be done to help couples.
Carmella is proud to be a mom after previously suffering an ectopic pregnancy after an earlier miscarriage. While time will tell if she ever returns to the ring, she hopes WWE is able to be more giving for talent waiting to welcome a child.
During a recent interview with Real Talk, WWE Hall of Famer Bill Goldberg shared his take on Asuka surpassing his 173-0 undefeated streak from his WCW days. While Goldberg made clear that he had no issue that “some girl” (Asuka) surpassed his streak, he suggested that WWE’s decision was to ‘stick it’ to somebody who was part of WCW during the Monday Night War.
Taking to X, Asuka shared a lengthy rebuttal. The former Women’s Champion made clear that Goldberg’s comments don’t bother her and shared how her focus is on creating art, rather than racking up wins.
“Goldberg’s comments about me are all over the news right now. But honestly, I’m not bothered by it at all. What he said came from his own perspective, and that’s fine. So there’s really no need to make such a big deal out of it.
“Listen to my philosophy.
“It’s not about what I accomplish. It’s about what I try to create. Philosophy and vision, that’s where the real value is. I don’t find meaning in anything without beauty.
“I’ve achieved every record, every title, but those are just milestones. What really matters is opening a new era. Creating the moment that separates Before Asuka and After Asuka. Having the power to change an era. That’s where true value and beauty exist.
“I don’t chase records or championships. They’re the ones that come to me.
“There’s not enough art in this world.”
Goldberg’s comments about me are all over the news right now. But honestly, I’m not bothered by it at all. What he said came from his own perspective, and that’s fine. So there’s really no need to make such a big deal out of it. Listen to my philosophy. It’s not about what I… https://t.co/QRXUFom5Vmpic.twitter.com/AlIpq7IUiQ
— The legendary Empress ASUKA / ???ASUKA?? (@WWEAsuka) October 25, 2025
Asuka was undefeated from her debut in WWE in 2015 until her loss to Charlotte Flair at WrestleMania 34 in April 2018. Her winning streak saw her capture the WWE NXT Women’s Championship and win the first-ever Women’s Royal Rumble match.
Asuka and Goldberg both know what it means to be undefeated, and both know the sting of being handed their first loss in the ring. While fans continue to compare the respective streaks of the two, Asuka’s focus is on making something special, not racking up wins.
From Krusher Kruschev to Smash in Demolition to the Repo Man and everything in between, Barry Darsow entertained professional wrestling fans for the better part of 30 years. The legendary performer looks back at his storied career through “Sickles, Studs & Stolen Cars: The Many Faces of Barry Darsow.” Given the title of the memoir, published through Titan Insider Press, you don’t have to be a historian to know the 66-year-old has lived quite the life.
“I kind of got away from the business for a long time and then I got back with Bill Eadie, Ax. We started traveling around the country again. It was almost like I was back on the road working again,” Darsow said. “I always told Bill, ‘You know I don’t want to do a whole lot of these things, going out of town and doing autographs and all that.’I loved meeting all the people and seeing them all again.
He continued: “Then after doing a few of them I said, ‘Let’s really start doing this.’ All of a sudden now we get calls from everywhere and so many people say, ‘you ought to write a book.’ ‘Who is going to buy that,’ I thought. Then I thought, ‘what the heck? I have a lot of great stories.’ It’s not like you can tell all the stories in one book. But I put a couple of them out there. I talked to my wife and asked her what she thought about it and she said, ‘yeah, you ought to write a book.’ That’s how it started.”
Meeting fans and being back on the road again reminded him why he got into the business in the first place. It fueled his motivation to sign a legends contract with WWE last year. In the past Darsow found himself in previous lawsuit filings.
“Everyone thinks I had a falling out with them, but I never had a falling out with them,” Darsow said, hoping to set the record straight. “When you’re done with them, and they don’t need you anymore, they don’t call you. I was never someone who called the office and talked to people. I just did my job whatever was asked of me, and that’s what I did. When Bill and I go out two or three weekends a month all the time. We’re booked up to a year in advance, so I never really even wanted to get a legends contract with WWE because we’re making great money without them. When they finally contacted us and said, ‘we would like to put you under a contract,’ we really had to think about whether we really want to do this. But when I was talking to Bill, we had to get back in the thick of things and see everybody and money is not everything.
He further explained, “when they asked us to do it, we signed the contract. Right away, we were asked to go to the Hall of Fame ceremony and WrestleMania. The year before that they asked us to, but we already had our schedules set. When we got to the Hall of Fame, we got off the elevator Bruce Prichard was right there, and I love Bruce. He sat down and talked to us. CM Punk ,who was unbelievable.I had never met CM Punk before. It was like he knew us. I really have some respect for him. He was just a good guy. We saw The Undertaker and ‘Stone Cold’ [Steve Austin] and it was almost like we never left there. We were friends with all these guys and they took us right in. It was worth signing the contract just to go back and see the guys and say hi to everyone again.”
The book, written alongside Graham Johnson, features a forward written by Darsow’s longtime partner Eadie. For Darsow, it was a fun trip down memory lane from growing up with his mom doing all she can to support him. He was among Robbinsdale, Minnesota natives who went on to become top names in the industry including Curt Hennig, Rick Rude, and The Road Warriors Hawk and Animal.
“What was so unbelievable is when you’re in the locker room and there are 30,000 people out there,” Darsow said. “Here you are with all your buddies back in the dressing room, laughing and talking, and playing cards and doing everything. You’re kids again on the playground and right now in the dressing room laughing and ribs on everybody like I said I’m the luckiest guy in the world.”
Darsow takes pride in all he accomplished inside and outside the ring. Unfortunately, his career came to an unexpected turn after being let go from WCW after his controversial “King of the Road” match against Dustin Roades. The two rivals battled on a caged trailer on a moving truck. Their firing was reportedly done due to breaking a no-bleeding policy in place during the 1995 event ironically called Uncensored.
“Everything I put in the book was just thoughts I had. It wasn’t to really get even with anybody and that stuff. It was just the story. When that match happened in the truck with Dustin, when we were all done with that match, we both hugged and were on the field and there was blood, horse manure, we were covered with everything and were laughing,” Darsow, then working as the Blacktop Bully.
“That match went on for an hour it seemed like. We thought we had the greatest match of all-time. Then that next morning I got a call from Eric Bischoff. He said, ‘Barry, I have good news and bad news.” I said, “what’s the good news?” He said, “well, you had a hell of a match. The bad news is you’re fired.” I don’t think a lot of people knew what happened. We got fired because we were bleeding in the match. We were told to bleed. A lot of the blood wasn’t blood we did. It was hitting barbed wire and fencing and all that stuff. What was incredible was Mike Graham, Dustin, and myself, we were the only three who got fired. It was like why didn’t the camera crew get fired. Why didn’t anyone else get fired? I never did find that out, but what do you do? They are the bosses and you’re just workers. That’s one thing I learned in my life. You’re a worker bee and they’re the bosses and you do what they say otherwise you’re gone.”
Darsow said he never really sat down with Eric and talked about what happened all those decades ago. He hoped to down the line, feeling there was more to the story on the other side of things. Looking back, it begs the question what would have happened to Darsow had he continued in WCW as it entered the boom period. Would he have been part of the nWo? Darsow popped up again in the promotion adding the “Mr. Hole-in-One” to his list of personas.
“I thought the Blacktop Bully was a great gimmick. I thought it was going to take off and really do something,” he said. “I think I could have been one of those semi-main event, main event guys. I really thought in that part of my career that would be the last gimmick I had and I was going to get a big push and be there for a while. That was going to be me. Then when that shut down, that was the end of it. That was kind of when I wanted to be done with the business.
“ When I came back, Eric promised me a job, and I got a job. I got paid real well for hardly doing anything. I felt so guilty about doing the trade that was my whole life, and I thought I was good at it. It was weird making money and not working. That’s now how I grew up. I knew that was the end of my career at that time. I thought for sure Blacktop Bully was going to be something. It was changing of the guard, and I wasn’t part of that clique. I wasn’t in the nWo clique. It was a tough situation.”
Darsow is excited to have the book out for readers to enjoy. With this bringing all his accomplishments back to the forefront combined with the reacclimation into the WWE Universe, is a WWE Hall of Fame induction finally going to come for the iconic Demolition?
“There hasn’t been any discussions at all. I would love to be in there,” Darsow answered. “It is a huge honor, especially when you look at how big WWE is now. It’s unbelievable. If you could have that under your belt, the Hall of Fame, it would be huge. There are so many people. I always thought they should have more than one tag team. Maybe two or three tag teams because there were so many people. How are they going to induct everybody in there that should be in there?…It would be nice to be inducted in there when you can enjoy it with your family and friends. Hopefully, it will be soon, but you never know.”
Darsow remains one of the most underrated talents during an era filled with comic book-like characters. In many ways, what he did with every one of those personas he tackled, it’s a lost art.
“When I grew up watching wrestling, I watched Harley Race, The Crusher, The Bruiser, Baron Von Raschke, they were larger-than-life to me when I was a kid,” he said. “…To me, the gimmicks I thought were a great time of the wrestling business. I think that is what brought a lot of people into watching wrestling. All the kids are watching it now. I think they need to get into a few more of the gimmicks, less talking, more wrestling, and I think that’s probably going to be the next thing. It all goes back into wrestling…”
CM Punk has acknowledged that the end of his in-ring wrestling career is approaching. Speaking candidly during a recent WWE vlog, the veteran performer reflected on his own longevity while noting the impending retirements of John Cena and AJ Styles.
Punk admitted uncertainty about his exact timeline but affirmed his commitment to competing until his body forces him to stop. “So I’m standing here now, near the end of my career,” Punk stated. “John Cena’s calling it quits, AJ Styles says he’s going to retire next year, and I don’t know how much time I’ve got left. I’m going to keep going until the wheels fall off”.
He recognized that retirement is becoming a more immediate reality. “I know that’s sooner rather than later,” Punk continued. He also spoke on the importance of appreciating wrestlers during their careers and the natural progression of the business welcoming a new generation.
“That’s why I think it’s important, for all of us, not just me, to celebrate every wrestler as they retire,” he said. “There’s a whole new generation of talent coming in to take our place, and in a way, we’re excited to see that happen”. While acknowledging the eventual end, Punk remains an active competitor in WWE.
Despite contemplating the end of his run, CM Punk is currently positioned at the top of the card on Raw. He is scheduled to face Jey Uso for the vacant World Heavyweight Championship at the upcoming Saturday Night’s Main Event Premium Live Event on November 1 in Salt Lake City, Utah.
A particular sequence within the recent Jon Moxley vs. Darby Allin I-Quit match at AEW WrestleDream has been the talk of the wrestling world and Matt Hardy has given his viewpoint on the now infamous fish tank spot.
A lot of online discourse regarding the moment where Moxley dunked Allin’s head into a fish tank to intimate he was trying to drown him has had some worried that children may try to replicate that ala former AEW coach as well as producer Sarah Stock. Conversely, some see it as adult oriented entertainment that you should safe guard from your children if you feel so inclined.
Former AEW talent Matt Hardy has given his viewpoint on that spot during a recent episode of his podcast which he is the titular figure of, Extreme Life of Matt Hardy. The concurrent WWE NXT and TNA tag team champion discussed the fallout from AEW’s recent pay-per-view main event and while Matt Hardy prefaced things by saying he saw the spot and it wasn’t the worst thing AEW has done, Hardy said [h/t WrestleTalk],
“Sure it’s not the greatest thing I’ve seen on TV but I mean you can say that from TNA, you can say that from WWE. There’s been incidents that have happened across all these places where there’s been controversial things that kids should not try at home.”
Matt Hardy responds to his own controversy from recent WWE NXT segment
Matt Hardy recently addressed his own controversy, albeit on the far less violent side, but it did still touch on a polarizing situation all the same. The proliferation of artificial intelligence in so many aspects of our day to day lives has now extended to professional wrestling programming. In a recent WWE NXT segment, Matt and Jeff Hardy tapped back into their TNA personas of Broken Matt and Brother Nero, respectively, as they were seen entering the Lake of Reincarnation.
AI was utilized in that segment for some of the transformative moments that the Hardys experienced there and Matt has given his thoughts on what can be an often polarizing topic about the artistic merit of using AI. It seemed like Matt Hardy found it to be an intriguing use of the technology in the context of showing unique perspectives in the segment. This was expressed on the same episode of the podcast he is the figurehead of but Matt Hardy also respectfully mentioned that the utilization of that technology was not for him or of his interest.
AEW star Darby Allin recently sat down for an in-depth interview on the “Maggie & Perloff LIVE” podcast to discuss his character, his high-risk style, and his future ambitions. The former TNT Champion, a top babyface in the company, opened up about the possibility of a future heel turn and his off-screen passion for filmmaking, which he studied in school.
When asked about the possibility of turning heel, Allin admitted he could see a path to it, but nioted that his primary motivation has always been a personal one.
“You know, honestly it just wherever the wind takes me. And I feel a lot of fans, they’re always like, ‘Darby, you don’t have to do — you don’t have to go crazy anymore to impress us.’ I’m like, ‘I’m not doing it for you. I’m doing it for me.’ I actually love going out there and jumping off ladders or whatever it is I get myself into. But I also — on the flip side, I do see how fast the fans forget about you. I do see how quick they move on. Say, if you got like an injury or something there, ‘All right, what’s the next shiny toy?’ So in that sense, I could see being a heel and just straight up being like, ‘You are so ungrateful for what it is that we do,’ you know? But at the end of the day, I don’t do it for them. So I feel like you can’t get mad at them for that. But who knows? Wherever the wind takes young Darby Allin, maybe I will uh go rogue.”
Allin, who attended film school before pursuing a career in skateboarding and wrestling, also discussed whether he has any interest in acting. He revealed that he would much rather be the one behind the camera, a place where he feels he could truly “flourish.”
“So, I went to film school. So I’d rather direct films. I’d rather do the screenwriting and directing. That’s kind of like where I feel like I would flourish more. And like, I’m not saying I wouldn’t do acting. It’d be fun, but I don’t want to do something that doesn’t speak to me as a human that interests — like, I got to do something that interests me. Because when I first started wrestling, I said, ‘I’m either going to make it as Darby or I’m going to fail as Darby, but I’m not changing a thing. And with AEW, like I haven’t changed a single thing about myself. And that’s why I feel like people are like, ‘Whoa.’ Like they gravitate, because it’s like — I’m really authentic, and they know I’m not playing a character. I’m not part of the machine. You can’t create me. I am me. So it just would have to be something that generally interests me as a human.”
Allin is coming off a victory at the AEW WrestleDream pay-per-view, where he defeated his long-time rival Jon Moxley in a brutal “I Quit” match, thanks in part to a assist from Sting.
WWE is always on the hunt for new talent and now has five new wrestlers as part of their ranks. On X, the WWE NXT account shared news of the five signings.
They got next. ?
Introducing the newest Rookie Class at the WWE Performance Center:
Here is more information about the quintet of ‘rookies.’
Jaime Garcia: Better known to wrestling fans as ‘Zozoya,’ Garcia is arguably best known for his time competing in Europe. The Spanish wrestler was recently given a send-off from RevPro Wrestling, with his final match for the promotion seeing him face Zack Sabre Jr.
Mike Derudder: The 29-year-old Belgian is best known for competing as Mike D Vecchio. He has appeared for All Japan Pro Wrestling and spent four years with Germany’s wXw, where he is a former wXw European Champion.
Dusan Novakovic: With a background in MMA, Novakovic could prove to be a valuable asset in WWE. The Serbian has a 1-0 record in professional MMA competition.
Cyril Coquerelle: A staple of the European independent scene, Cyril competed as Aigle Blanc. The formerly masked wrestler participated in his WWE tryout in March of this year.
Nathan Cranton: From Wareham, Dorset in England, Cranton has worked for several promotions. Outside of the ring, he has worked at his family’s farm and represented England in the 2024 Mr. International competition.
AEW star Ricochet has come to the defense of Tony Khan’s leadership after a bold claim by a WWE/TNA Wrestling Hall of Famer. During a recent interview with VideoGamer.com, D-Von Dudley questioned Khan’s leadership of the All-Elite promotion.
“There’s a feeling that certain people in the organization that call the shots, I’m not a big fan of them. And Tony Khan lets that happen… I’ve got nothing against AEW as a company. I’ve got nothing against Tony Khan. I just don’t like the way the organization is run.”
D-Von also claimed that a lot of AEW’s talent shares his frustrations. According to Dudley, many on AEW’s roster wish Khan would take more control and wish that “certain people wouldn’t be calling the shots.”
On X, Ricochet fired back. He argued that the notion of people making decisions over Khan is false and that if the AEW President wants something, he will have the final say.
This is not true.
If tony wants something to happen/or not happen I promise you he will make the final decision. https://t.co/AoSwKMuWB4
D-Von’s comments are not the first time that Khan’s leadership has come under scrutiny. In September 2025, Konnan claimed that AEW talent had “no respect” for Khan’s leadership during an episode of his K100 podcast. With that said, Khan has plenty of support, with Matt Hardy praising Khan as the best boss he’s ever worked for.
Khan believes it is impossible to please everyone, but he will continue to run AEW how he sees fit. While D-Von may have some bold claims about Khan and how the roster allegedly feels about his leadership, Ricochet isn’t buying what he’s saying.
The trial of Shawn Chan, a man who allegedly stalked WWE Superstar Liv Morgan, will not take place until 2026, it has been reported. In an update from PW Insider, it is shared that an unopposed motion was filed on October 24 that would push the trial back two months. This means that January 2026 will be the earliest time the trial can take place.
The motion states:
“Mr. Chan is charged with the interstate stalking of a professional wrestler. An initial psychological evaluation done to examine his competency diagnosed delusional disorder. The Defense has retained an expert to more fully evaluate Mr. Chan for purposes of trial, and likely to testify. If this second expert will provide testimony, the Government will have a right to conduct its own examination.”
The trial was originally set to begin in November, and a note allegedly left by Chan blamed Morgan. The case alleged that the Canadian Chan traveled to the United States and loitered for hours at Morgan’s Florida home. Chan has been charged with one count of interstate domestic violence against the former WWE Women’s World Champion.
This disturbing legal situation is unfolding amid Morgan’s ongoing recovery from shoulder surgery. The WWE Raw Superstar has been out of action since June after suffering an injury in a match against Kairi Sane. The current hope within WWE is that Morgan will be cleared for in-ring action by early 2026, provided her recovery continues on schedule.
This is a disturbing situation which bears similarities to the attempted kidnapping of Sonya Deville in 2020. This situation shows why fans need to know to respect the boundaries of all wrestlers.
Former WWE Superstar Marc Mero is officially off the market after getting engaged to his bride-to-be, Malissa. On social media, Mero shared the exciting news.
“Malissa, from the moment we met, you’ve made my world brighter in ways I didn’t know were possible. You make me feel seen, loved, and better every single day.I’ve thought a lot about this moment because there’s nothing I want more than to spend the rest of my life with you. You’re my best friend, my love, and my future.”
She said YES!
Malissa, from the moment we met, you’ve made my world brighter in ways I didn’t know were possible. You make me feel seen, loved, and better every single day. I’ve thought a lot about this moment because there’s nothing I want more than to spend the rest of my life… pic.twitter.com/DxJele7wmX
Mero was previously married to WWE legend Sable from 1994 to 2004. He later married Darlene Spezzi in 2009 before divorcing in 2019. Now, Mero has found love again with Malissa.
Mero debuted in WWE in 1996 and is a former WWE Intercontinental Champion. Before WWE, he was Johnny B. Badd in WCW, where he held the World Television Championship three times. Today, Mero is a motivational speaker.
Nikki Bella has revealed which star she considers the heart of wrestling.
The WWE Hall of Famer talked about her surprise return to Raw this week on the latest episode of her podcast. Bella saved Women’s Champion Stephanie Vaquer from a beatdown at the hands of Roxanne Perez and Raquel Rodriguez.
During the talk, Nikki mentioned that she brought her son Matteo with her to the WWE tapings for the first time ever. Bella revealed that one of the stars that helped make the visit special for Matteo by playing with him in the ring was Bayley:
“This is the one thing and I know you agree. If I was to be like Brie, name one person who you could define as the heart of wrestling, would it not be her? It would be her. She is not only an incredible human, so kind, happy, like just a really good person, a good soul. Like you feel it.”
Nikki Bella then offered big praise to Bayley saying that the Hugger is always kind to everyone and she always feels happy around the wrestling veteran. The former champion dubbed the San Jose native as the heart of wrestling:
“You’re always happy around her. She’s always happy to see everyone. She’s kind to everyone. She listens when you talk, great at communicating. But she’s just like the heart of wrestling.
She really is. She loves the business. She gives back to the business. She’s a big star in the business. She’s such an incredible wrestler. It’s just like she’s really big in this industry. Always will be.”
After her clash with the Judgment Day stars, Nikki Bella has been announced for a singles match at this Monday’s Raw. You can check out the full card for the show here.
Matt Hardy believes technology is only dumbing us down.
The use of AI in wrestling has become a topic of discussion recently, after Dave Meltzer reported that WWE has hired Cyrus Kowsari to help them transition to AI-based storytelling. Those reports have since been debunked but people continue to discuss how this growing technology will affect the business.
During the most recent episode of his Extreme Life podcast, Matt Hardy was asked about the use of AI during their NXT segment this week. The wrestling veteran claimed that he was ok with the technology being used in this instance:
“It was interesting. It was cool how they were able to do that and give a look of how the transformation happens underneath the water where that’s always been left up to the imagination before. I was okay with it. If you’re going to use that, it was a decent time to use it,”
This Tuesday’s NXT featured a video package hyping the upcoming Halloween Havoc match between the Hardy Boyz and Darkstate. The package featured the Attitude Era stars diving into the Lake of Reincarnation and emerging as Broken Matt and Brother Nero. Some AI footage was used to show this transformation under the lake.
When asked if he uses ChatGPT to help write his promos, Matt Hardy claimed that he has no interest in it and he still writes his own promos:
“I’m still writing mine. My wife is current with that stuff, but I have no interest in any of it. Technology has already dumbed us down way too much as it is.”
The Hardy Boyz hold both the NXT and TNA tag team championships at the moment. They’ll be defending the WWE branded belts in a Broken Rules match against Darkstate this Saturday.
The opening segment of this week’s episode of the Blue Branded show saw Cody Rhodes and Drew McIntyre exchanging words before their WWE Championship match at the upcoming Saturday Night’s Main Event.
Rhodes removed his jacket and tie towards the end to fight Drew, but it was Jimmy Uso who got physical first. The Samoan Star jumped McIntyre from behind and the two brawled until a number of security guards pulled them apart.
This rivalry continued through the episode as Jimmy brawled with Drew in a backstage segment later in the show. The two then faced each other in a No DQ match in the main event.
Fans posted videos of this segment after the broadcast, noting that one of the security guards trying to pull McIntyre and Uso apart was none other than Doug Malo:
Malo is an indie wrestler who was involved in the infamous Raja Jackson incident earlier this year. He was the person who pulled Jackson off Syko Stu when Jackson attacked the indie star during a KnokX Pro wrestling event.
This past Monday’s episode of Raw featured a singles match between Judgment Day’s Roxanne Perez and the Women’s World Champion Stephanie Vaquer. Raquel Rodriguez was naturally at the ringside, and she tried to help her tag team partner. In the end, however, Vaquer managed to pick up the victory.
The Judgment Day stars attacked the Women’s Champion after the bout, which led to Nikki Bella making her surprise return to TV. The WWE Hall of Famer sent Rodriguez to the floor before turning her attention on Perez. Stephanie got up at that point as well and the two women then cleaned the house.
WWE then announced on this week’s SmackDown that Bella will in action on Monday, squaring off against Roxanne in a singles match. This isn’t the only match announced for the show as Alexa Bliss & Charlotte Flair will be defending their tag team titles against Bayley & Lyra Valkyria on Raw as well.
The show on Monday will serve as the go-home episode for the November 1 Saturday Night’s Main Event. Apart from the announced bouts, it will feature a face-off between CM Punk and Jey Uso before their World Championship match. You can check out the updated card for SNME here.
A big match has been made official for Saturday Night’s Main Event.
This week’s episode of SmackDown featured Women’s Champion Tiffany Stratton in action against Kiana James. Giulia tried to interfere in the bout, but the current champion managed to pick up the victory. The Japanese star attacked Stratton after the bell, laying her out with an Arrivederci.
This prompted a returning Jade Cargill to make the save, and she sent Giulia and James retreating. Cargill then picked the Women’s Champion up and posed with her, only to drop her again with a lariat. Jade went on to deliver a beatdown on Tiffany, complete with a stomp on the steel steps, among other things.
The former AEW star posed with the championship belt before finally leaving. It was later announced that the two women will meet in a singles match for the title at the upcoming special.
WWE Saturday Night’s Main Event Updated Match Card
The next edition of WWE Saturday Night’s Main Event will be taking place on November 1, from Delta Center in Salt Lake City, Utah. You can check out the updated match card for the show below:
World Heavyweight Championship Match For Vacant Title: CM Punk vs. Jey Uso
WWE Undisputed Championship Match: Cody Rhodes (c) vs. Drew McIntyre
WWE Women’s Championship Match: Tiffany Stratton (c) vs. Jade Cargill
The “healthy respect” between Jade Cargill and WWE Women’s Champion Tiffany Stratton has officially been terminated. On the October 17 episode of Friday Night SmackDown, Cargill snapped, executing a shocking heel turn by viciously attacking Stratton, making it clear she is done waiting for her turn at the championship. The assault came just moments after Cargill had seemingly saved the champion from a 2-on-1 beatdown.
The chaotic segment began when Stratton was being attacked by the duo of Giulia and Kiana James. Jade Cargill’s music hit, and she ran to the ring to make the save, clearing the two assailants from the ring and helping Stratton back to her feet. Cargill then raised Stratton’s hand in a sign of respect and solidarity. However, the moment was a calculated trap.
As Stratton turned to grab her championship, Cargill blasted her with a massive clothesline, stunning the Orlando crowd. The assault spilled to the outside, where Cargill’s new, ruthless aggression became terrifyingly clear. She laid the champion’s leg on the steel ring steps and, with a look of cold determination, stomped down on it, leaving Stratton screaming in agony.
In a backstage interview later in the show, a remorseless Cargill explained her actions and put the entire women’s division on notice. “Patience is not rewarded, power is. I will be taking the WWE Women’s Championship.”
This turn completely upends the SmackDown women’s division. Cargill and Stratton had been rivals for the title over the past few months, but their encounters were built on mutual respect. They even teamed together on the August 22 episode of SmackDown, defeating Nia Jax and Becky Lynch. That respect is now gone, replaced by a new chapter as Cargill begins her hostile takeover for the WWE Women’s Championship.
Former All Elite Wrestling star Marko Stunt, an original member of the roster from its 2019 debut, has opened up about his tenure with the company and his eventual departure in 2022. Stunt, who has since retired from the ring, spoke about his own shortcomings during his run, admitting that he adopted a “poor mindset” and believes he “got too comfortable” in his position.
During a recent appearance on Busted Open Radio, the 29-year-old reflected on his time in the spotlight as a member of the popular Jurassic Express faction alongside “Jungle Boy” Jack Perry and Luchasaurus.
“I think there’s a few things that went into it. l’ve grown up a lot since then. I’m almost 30 now. I was in my early twenties when all that first started. I was young, dumb, and excited to be living my dream. I made some decisions that didn’t go over too well a couple times. I kind of treated it like, ‘Okay, I’m here. I’m good.’ And that was a terrible mindset to have. I absolutely loved being there. I’ve got friends for life from there now… But I was… I think plans just started to change. More people started to come in and new toys are more fun than the toys that you got a few years ago… I’m not bitter at all. I’m very fortunate to have lived my dream.”
While Stunt acknowledged the changing creative direction, he ultimately placed the responsibility for his exit on his own shoulders.
“I do think there were some things I could have done differently to maybe preserve my spot a little better… I don’t think I handled it as maturely as I should have. I feel like I have to blame it on myself. I want to say I got too comfortable, to be real honest with you. I got too comfortable and, I didn’t feel untouchable or anything… But I did get very, very comfortable there.”
Now retired from wrestling, Stunt (real name Noah Nelms) has embarked on a new career path as a car salesman at Homer Skelton Ford, a job he landed after a brief stint waiting tables.
“They liked that they knew about me in AEW at one point. They saw all that and how I deal with people and just how I interact with them, and they ended up taking a chance on me. And I’m still pretty new. This is my second month on the car floor selling cars. But I was number three for the whole month last month in my first month out of, like, 16.”
Marko Stunt’s final in-ring appearance was a one-off return to AEW in July 2024, where he answered an open challenge from his former partner Jack Perry, losing a three-minute match for the TNT Championship.
There is discussion regarding the appearance fees for Mercedes Mone on the independent wrestling circuit as she continues to collect championships globally. While AEW President Tony Khan praised Mone’s commitment to wrestling outside AEW, a report suggests her asking price is significant.
Khan toldJosh Martinez of Z100 New York and the Superstar Crossover podcast, “With all the commitments Mercedes has taken on, I think it’s really impressive. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, that shows it’s not about pure greed and money for Mercedes because a lot of these places she’s wrestling… they’re not the highest paying places. She’s not really making money from these. She loves wrestling”.
However, the Wrestling Observer Newslettershared information from an independent promoter regarding Mone’s potential booking fee. “I don’t know what she’s been paid in different places but one independent promoter who inquired about getting her noted it was a $25,000 per appearance figure,” Meltzer wrote.
The report acknowledged that this figure might not apply universally. “There may be and probably are different deals cut elsewhere and it’s also possible it’s people who she isn’t interested in working for who get that quote,” it added. Still, the promoter who received the quote found it difficult. “It was noted to us that’s a very difficult price and the promoter in question turned it down,” the report stated.
Meltzer provided context, comparing the reported fee to typical independent rates and even pay in major promotions like CMLL. “For example, I’ve never heard of anyone being paid $25,000 in CMLL or close to that and they’ve had some major stars there (Jericho, Moxley, MJF, Danielson)… Generally the highest paid indie guys right now are charging $5,000,” Meltzer detailed.
Mercedes Mone is currently involved in multiple storylines in AEW. She is scheduled to challenge Kris Statlander for the AEW Women’s World Championship at Full Gear on November 22. Additionally, she is teaming with ROH Women’s World Champion Athena in the ongoing tournament to crown the inaugural AEW Women’s World Tag Team Champions. Their first-round match is against Willow Nightingale and Harley Cameron, though the date for that match has not yet been announced.
The creative plans for the men’s WarGames match at the upcoming WWE Survivor Series Premium Live Event are reportedly still in place, despite the recent injury to World Heavyweight Champion Seth Rollins. According to the latest edition of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter, the plan as of this week is still for a team led by CM Punk and Roman Reigns to face a team led by The Vision. Survivor Series is scheduled for Saturday, November 29, 2025, at Petco Park in San Diego.
This report from Dave Meltzer clarifies the direction for the show, as there had been some speculation that the plans would be altered due to the major storyline shift on Monday Night Raw.
“Since many have asked, as of press time, the men’s WarGames match was still a Punk & Reigns team against The Vision-led team. Some thought with all the injuries that it would be changed to the Wyatts vs. MFTs since they are clearly doing a multi-person program there as well.”
The injury to Seth Rollins on October 11 at the WWE Crown Jewel event forced a major creative pivot, which saw The Vision (Bron Breakker and Bronson Reed) brutally attack their leader and align with Paul Heyman on the October 13 episode of Raw. While this removed Rollins from the faction, it appears the plan for The Vision to be the lead heel team in the WarGames match remains unchanged, with Breakker and Reed now at the forefront of the group. The report also dismisses the idea that the match would be changed to feature the new feud between The Wyatt Sicks and The MFTs, which began on last week’s episode of SmackDown.
Liv Morgan’s recovery is going better than expected.
The former Women’s Champion has not been seen on WWE programming since June this year, when she suffered a shoulder injury during a match with Kairi Sane.
Now PWInsider has provided an update on her recovery and revealed potential return plans for the Judgment Day star.
According to the site, Liv Morgan is actually ahead of schedule on her physical rehab. The expectation within the company is that she would return to TV by the beginning of 2026. The former champion could return before this based on how her recovery goes, but nothing is currently set in stone.
An early 2026 timetable means the WWE star will be ready in time to make her comeback at the Royal Rumble event set for Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on January 31.
Morgan had been involved in a storyline with Roxanne Perez before her injury, with the former NXT Women’s Champion looking to join the Judgment Day against the wishes of Liv.
Perez was accepted into the faction as a replacement for Morgan when the latter was put on the shelf. Roxanne was officially recognized as one-half of the Women’s tag team champions with Raquel Rodriguez in place of Liv at the time.
The duo of Rodriguez and Perez, however, ended up losing the titles at SummerSlam, and we’ll have to see how Morgan reacts to this upon her return.
Hulk Hogan died in July 2025, ending the life of one of the most influential names in the history of pro wrestling. Now, fans can look forward to a new trilogy of biographies about the Hulkster as a fundraiser has smashed its goal.
“It’s official – Guy Evans’ Hulk Hogan trilogy will now become a reality. Thanks to our amazing backers, the project achieved its @Kickstarter goal in just 48 hours!
The Hulk Hogan Story will feature over 100 exclusive interviews – not to mention the groundbreaking research for which @GuyEvansBooks is known. If you loved the ‘NITRO’ series, ‘Grateful’ and ‘Sitting Ringside’, you will absolutely love this project too!
“Note that early bird specials are still in effect until 1pm EST today! We also have a Kickstarter Exclusive Bundle, providing readers with Hardcover editions of each book, in addition to the e-book and audiobook versions for each volume. To clarify, no other hardcovers will be printed once the trilogy is released.
“At this pace, it won’t be long before we’re unlocking our free Stretch Goal bonuses!
“For now, please help us in spreading the word…and thank you again for your incredible support!”
THE HULK HOGAN STORY IS NOW A REALITY!
It's official – Guy Evans' Hulk Hogan trilogy will now become a reality. Thanks to our amazing backers, the project achieved its @Kickstarter goal in just 48 hours!
Evans is well-equipped to tackle the project. In 2018, he published NITRO: The Incredible Rise and Inevitable Collapse of Ted Turner’s WCW. The 590-page book earned praise for its coverage of the now-defunct promotion. A sequel, Beyond Nitro: Untold Stories from the WCW Era was released in 2025.
This trilogy of books will be a tribute to Hogan, who was recently honored with a portion of the Clearwater Trail. Though Hogan may no longer be with us, the legacy he left behind continues to shape the wrestling world.
Find out more about the Kickstarter fundraiser, including how to donate, by clicking here.
Abdullah the Butcher, a legend of the wrestling industry, has been hospitalized and is currently battling serious health issues. On X, the unfortunate update about Abdullah’s situation was shared by the Book Pro Wrestler account:
“Wrestling legend Abdullah The Butcher has been hospitalized at 84. The Wild Man from the Sudan is battling serious health issues. One of wrestling’s most feared figures, Abdullah helped shape the sport from Japan to Puerto Rico to Georgia and beyond. Send your prayers, love, and strength his way tonight.”
? Wrestling legend Abdullah The Butcher has been hospitalized at 84.
The Wild Man from the Sudan is battling serious health issues. One of wrestling’s most feared figures, Abdullah helped shape the sport from Japan to Puerto Rico to Georgia and beyond.
This is sadly not Abdullah’s first time battling health issues. In July 2024, he was hospitalized due to intestinal issues. At the time, a GoFundMe was launched by his godchild Esa, who hoped to help with medical costs. The fundraiser raised $7,500 of its $20,000 goal. Earlier this year, Abdullah shared that he was receiving help from ‘Diamond’ Dallas Page and Chris Jericho, and was grateful for all they had done.
Abdullah the Butcher is known in wrestling for his very violent matches, and for his efforts, was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2011. Now, Abdullah is facing a difficult battle outside of the ring, and we at SEScoops would like to send our best to the wrestling legend.
Titus O’Neil may now be best known as WWE’s Global Ambassador but fans may not have seen the last of him in the ring. During an appearance on Inside the Ring, O’Neil made it clear he’s not ruling out a return, even if the decision isn’t up to him.
“It’s definitely a possibility now. But again, it’s all based on the situation — whether the company wants me to do it or not. It would have to be the right scenario for it to happen.”
While the door remains open, O’Neil shared that he’s happy in his current role, which allows him to be in front of the camera and not have to take bumps. While Titus remains active in the gym, he realizes that being in ring-shape, five years after his most recent match, may prove difficult.
“I’ll always stay in shape, but being in ring shape is a completely different challenge, as anyone who’s taken time away and come back can tell you.”
O’Neil’s last match was on the November 9, 2020, edition of Monday Night Raw, where he lost to WWE United States Champion Bobby Lashley. In 2022, it was shared that O’Neil was no longer considered part of WWE’s active roster, despite Titus being confident at the time that he would wrestle again.
For his charity work, O’Neil was WWE’s Warrior Award recipient at the 2021 WWE Hall of Fame ceremony. While O’Neil appears on WWE programming from time to time, it remains to be seen if an in-ring return will ever happen.
D-Von Dudley has revealed his thoughts on Logan Paul.
The Attitude Era star recently had an interview with VideoGamer.com. He talked about things such as his Bound For Glory retirement match, the worst bump he has ever taken and more.
When asked what he thinks about celebrities crossing over into the business, the wrestling legend spoke positively. He mentioned how people like Bad Bunny bring in an audience that aren’t normally a fan of wrestling. D-Von also had praise for Logan Paul when asked about the YouTuber’s WWE run:
“The stuff I’ve seen, I think he’s a true athlete and he takes the game very seriously and my hat goes off to him. Someone who had no experience in doing what we do here, and he’s picked it up, he’s absorbed it like a sponge. My hat goes off to him.”
Though later on, the WWE Hall of Famer was asked if someone like Paul would have survived in the WCW era. D-Von, who was never part of the WCW roster but has experience with hostile locker rooms, claimed that old school guys would have broken someone like Logan:
“No. I say that respectfully because a lot of these old school guys would not have liked that. They would’ve been trying to mess with him. Trying to get him to crack,
And that was the way the business was back then. They weren’t letting outside people into our locker room at that. There was always a problem. This generation, totally different.”
Apart from this, D-Von Dudley also explained why he would have never had his retirement match in AEW. You can check out his comments on the matter here.
