AJ Lee’s return to WWE is officially here, and fans won’t have to wait long to see the former Divas Champion back on TV. According to PWInsider, the talk backstage at the September 5, episode of WWE SmackDown was that AJ is expected to appear on this Monday’s Raw. Her appearance will likely set-up the rumored mixed tag-match, pitting herself and husband CM Punk against fellow wrestling couple Seth Rollins and Becky Lynch.
AJ returned after over a decade away during the final segment of SmackDown. Punk, after being slapped yet again by Becky Lynch, reiterated that he would never hit a woman, but knew someone who would. AJ’s theme then played to a massive pop and she was able to get the best of Lynch.
AJ posed with the Women’s Intercontinental Title to end the show, signalling that the tag-match rumored for WrestlePalooza isn’t the only match she plans on having. Currently, no matches have been confirmed for the returning Superstar.
The three-time former WWE Divas Champion and multi-time Slammy Award winner has signed a new contract with WWE, signalling that plenty more big moments are coming. As for what AJ has planned for Raw, fans will just have to wait and find out…
Wade Barrett has been removed from WWE’s main roster commentary duties with no immediate timeline for his return.
According to PWInsider The former Intercontinental Champion is reportedly “off the road” indefinitely and will not be part of the broadcast team for Monday Night Raw or Friday Night SmackDown moving forward.
This change became apparent during the September 5, 2025 episode of SmackDown, where Michael Cole announced that he and Corey Graves would serve as the commentary duo for the blue brand over the next couple of months.
WWE fans are speculating that Wade Barrett’s time has ended as full time commentator
Because of this statement he made on Nikki Bella at Clash in Paris.
Cole and Graves are now set to handle both Raw and SmackDown as a two-person team, filling the gap left by Barrett’s absence as well as other commentators like Joe Tessitore, who is committed to college football coverage.
Barrett’s WWE Commentary Career
Barrett returned to WWE in 2020 as a commentator, starting on NXT before transitioning to the main roster. He has been a key voice on shows like Raw and SmackDown in recent years, bringing his experience as a former wrestler to the commentary booth.
The exact reason for Barrett’s removal has not been disclosed, leaving fans and insiders speculating on the circumstances. WWE has not issued an official statement on Barrett’s status.
With Graves shifting focus to the main roster, NXT will revert to its previous two-man booth of Vic Joseph and Booker T. Updates will be provided if more details emerge about Barrett’s situation.
I had no idea Nicole felt this way, and I’m happy to have this ‘conversation’ any time she likes. I wish she’d brought it up when we said hello to each other at Raw, rather than via her podcast. I don’t understand the avoiding claim at all, simply not true. https://t.co/H7lkgKxkp0
Great news, fight fans.. @NikkiAndBrie and I have spoken, we’ve smoothed things over, and I’ve graciously been allowed back into the Bella Army. Fully paid-up member since FCW 2008 ???
A difference of perspective – to which we are all entitled – but to be clear, some of the…
A top music star is interested in a WWE match against Seth Rollins.
The last few years have seen celebrities like Bad Bunny and Jelly Roll making successful wrestling debuts and earning praise from fans after originally being brought in as guest stars by the company.
Rapper Post Malone has now joined this list. During a recent interview with GQ, he talked about attending the Clash In Paris PPV and expressed interest in facing Seth Rollins in a match at WrestleMania 42 next year:
“I did [attend a WWE show]. I think me and Seth Rollins got beef—you can put that on paper, too. Me, Seth Rollins. WrestleMania 2026.
Come on, baby. I’ve always wanted to do that. I figured if I had a different musculature and different career path, I would love to have been a WWE wrestler.”
Post Malone attended the Clash In Paris PPV last month while he was in the country for a concert with Jelly Roll. Both Seth Rollins and Becky Lynch traded words with the Grammy-nominated artist after the former’s victory over CM Punk and others in the main event World title match at the show.
The Clash In Paris win seems to have come back to haunt Rollins and Lynch however, as it resulted in the return of AJ Lee at this week’s SmackDown. You can check out how the wrestling world reacted to Lee’s return here.
Nick Khan was confronted about high ticket prices.
WWE has seen a massive increase in popularity in the last few years, with the promotion receiving more mainstream attention than ever and its stars being recognized and appreciated even outside of the usual wrestling circles.
The company has cashed in on this business opportunity big time, and they have been breaking all kinds of business records, including records for live gates in almost all markets in the past couple of years.
This change has come at a huge cost for longtime fans, however, as they have seen a steep increase in ticket prices in recent times. With WrestleMania 42 ticket packages going as high as $37,500 per person, more and more families have been finding themselves unable to attend shows together as they used to.
So when a fan unexpectedly ran into WWE President Nick Khan at the Halloween Horror Nights at Universal Studios recently, he did not forget to mention the high-ticket prices.
The WWE executive responded by first joking about how he thinks the prices were actually too cheap. When the fan mentioned that they were a little too steep for him, Khan can be heard saying that he understood:
This dude met Nick Khan and told him WWE Ticket Prices were too high?
While Nick Khan reacted to the fan’s protest positively, the ticket prices are not expected to come down anytime soon. With the company’s sustained popularity and the new leadership, the TKO policy seems to be clear about prioritizing the revenue over the accessibility of fans.
The Phenomenal One sparked rumors about his wrestling status early on Friday by posting a picture of an hourglass on social media, with his logo featured on the dipping sand.
The 48-year-old himself has expressed on numerous occasions that he does not plan to wrestle past 50, and he would say goodbye to his in-ring career before that.
These comments, coupled with the post, started rumors about the former WWE Champion potentially retiring from active competition in the coming weeks.
Fightful Select provided an update on the contract of AJ Styles after these talks picked up. They report that his current deal which was extended for one year, is now expected to expire sometime around February 2026.
This puts the potential end of his WWE run right in the middle of the 2026 Royal Rumble from Saudi Arabia and WrestleMania 42 from Las Vegas.
Styles has continued performing at a high level despite his age, and the officials hope to retain him past his current deal. The officials under TKO have adapted the policy of renewing deals at the last minute, however, so it’s unlikely that the talks for the same will begin this far in advance.
The wrestling legend’s birthday comes in June, so he’ll have more than a year before his self-determined age limit after the current contract expires, and it’s possible the officials will be able to convince him to stick around for one more year.
A recent comment from Wade Barrett at Nikki Bella stirred up controversy during the Clash in Paris pre-show, as Barrett referred to Nikki as “desperate.” According to Barrett, Nikki, who would go on to challenge Women’s Intercontinental Champion Becky Lynch was “desperate to prove she still has it against this new generation that have changed the game.”
Nikki retaliated on her podcast, claiming Barrett avoided her during the post-Clash in Paris episode of Raw. Barrett would refute the claim, adding that he’d like to have a conversation with Nikki about the comment in question.
Now, that conversation has seemingly happened. In a new post on X, the WWE commentator shared that he and Nikki have “smoothed things over.” Wade added that he’s been part of the ‘Bella Army’ since their time in FCW and highlighted that difference of perspectives can be acceptable, but the abuse Nikki often receives is not.
Great news, fight fans.. @NikkiAndBrie and I have spoken, we’ve smoothed things over, and I’ve graciously been allowed back into the Bella Army. Fully paid-up member since FCW 2008 ???
A difference of perspective – to which we are all entitled – but to be clear, some of the…
Barrett’s post reflects a maturity between the two as they were able to sit down and discuss the comment in question. Rather than let the issue fester and differences grow, both Wade and Nikki can now move forward in their respective roles in WWE.
Chris Jericho has commented on a potential WWE return.
The recent AEW absence of the former World Champion has given fuel to rumor mills, and there has been a lot of talk of Y2J potentially returning to the Endeavor-owned promotion once his deal with Tony Khan’s company expires.
Jericho himself was asked about the possibility directly during a recent interview with the Daily Mail at Halloween Horror Nights. The Man of 1,004 Holds first discussed how the inception of AEW is the best thing that could happen to the wrestling business:
“The best thing that can happen to wrestling is AEW and the fact that there are two huge promotions that you can choose from just makes it better for the guys, makes it better for the fans, and everybody in between.”
Chris Jericho then explained that he wouldn’t be opposed to a WWE return somewhere down the line, but claimed that he won’t be leaving AEW anytime soon:
“I’m not going anywhere for a long while. I’m still with AEW for right now. Would I go back to WWE? I wouldn’t be opposed to it.
We just have to see what happens. The best thing that can happen is to have two great teams that you can play for, and that just makes everything bigger and more exciting,”
Reports suggest Chris Jericho’s current deal expires sometime before the year ends. With his continued absence from AEW TV, it’s unlikely that speculations about his future will stop anytime soon.
MJF and Alicia Atout have tied the knot in a ceremony that featured some notable wrestling names. On X, AEW commentator Taz shared his congrats to the happy couple, wishing the pair “nothing but a lifetime of happiness.” An image from the wedding shows that Taz attended as did his son HOOK.
MJF would also take to X to react to his big day. Calling the wedding “the death of a bachelor,” MJF vowed to remember his special day even when he’s old and grey.
Even when I’m old and grey I’m gonna feel the way I do today.
The couple began dating in 2023 and would get engaged in November that same year. Their relationship has been alluded to on AEW programming from time-to-time, though MJF has never broken away from his ‘Scumbag’ persona. Before finding one another, MJF had been engaged to artist Naomi Rosenblum. Atout was previously in a relationship with Richard Holliday. She managed Holliday during their time in MLW.
We here at SEScoops are sending our congratulations to the happy couple!
John Cena has wrestled for the final time on WWE SmackDown, a brand that Cena was a staple of for much of his wrestling career. In his final encounter on the blue brand, Cena battled United States Champion Sami Zayn in an encounter that saw several throwbacks to John’s epic past.
During the match, John delivered a Pop-Up Powerbomb, a nod to his wars with Kevin Owens in 2015. Owens’ main-roster debut match would see him beat Cena clean, instantly putting him on the map as someone to take seriously.
Cena would also hit an Angle Slam and an Ankle lock, honoring WWE Hall of Famer Kurt Angle. John made his SmackDown debut in 2002 by answering Kurt’s open challenge, ushering in the ‘Ruthless Aggression’ era in the process.
John Cena paying homage to his past opponents :
• KURT ANGLE – Angle Slam/Ankle Lock • EDGE – Spear • CM PUNK – GTS • KEVIN OWENS – Pop Up Powerbomb
He wasn’t able to wrestle everyone but showed love and respect to all of them ?
A GTS in honor of CM Punk was fitting given that the show was taking place in Chicago. A spear in the corner was a nod to Edge, considered by many to be John’s greatest rival. John delivered a wild-eyed performance, making clear that this was a tribute to the Canadian.
A JBL-inspired Clothesline From Hell would complete John’s tributes to his past rivals in his final SmackDown match. With only a handful of days left in his career, it remains to be seen what else Cena pulls out before saying his in-ring farewell.
The September 12, episode of WWE SmackDown will be a stacked show with plenty of huge matches and moments already confirmed. Here’s what’s already been confirmed for the SmackDown, the penultimate episode of the blue brand before WrestlePalooza
Brock Lesnar to Appear
After decimating John Cena on the September 5, show, Brock Lesnar’s return to the blue brand has been confirmed by WWE. The Beast Incarnate will be on the September 12, show, and one can only imagine that somebody will be taking a trip to Suplex City.
Randy Orton Vs. Drew McIntyre
After weeks of feuding, including battling at SummerSlam in tag-team action, Randy Orton and Drew McIntyre will go one-on-one to settle their rivalry. With both being former WWE World Champions, fans can expect an epic clash on SmackDown.
Tiffany Stratton (c) Vs. Jade Cargill
Tiffany Stratton will defend her WWE Women’s Championship against Jade Cargill. Cargill was named the number one contender last Friday. The pair battled at WWE SummerSlam where Stratton retained her gold.
One of the strongest voices of the Women’s Revolution, Lee retired from active competition shortly after WrestleMania 31 in 2015. She had explained at the time that the damage to her body from wrestling and the fulfilment of her goals was the reason behind the decision.
Fans had been demanding the comeback of the former Divas Champion ever since. They finally got their wish when the wrestling veteran made her return to the company at tonight’s episode of SmackDown from Chicago.
Triple H posted a backstage video with the returning star shortly after the show went off air. It shows AJ Lee signing a new contract before her SmackDown entrance to make the whole thing official:
The female star’s return came after Becky Lynch cost CM Punk the World Heavyweight title match against Seth Rollins at the Clash In Paris PPV last month.
Lee also targeted Becky during her comeback segment, setting up a potential mixed tag match between the two couples for the September 20 Wrestlepalooza PPV.
Reports suggest that Lee’s return will not be one off and she’ll be making multiple appearances. While the nature of her new deal is unknown, WWE also highlighted AJ picking up the Women’s IC title after SmackDown on social media, hinting that she’ll be going after the title as well.
The U.S. Title will be on the line each and every week for as long as Sami Zayn is champion, as confirmed during SmackDown. Amid Cena’s promo, Zayn interrupted, earning boos from the Chicago crowd. Zayn wants to be a fighting champion like Cena was and give opportunities to up and coming talent, and shared that he wanted to bring back the US Title Open Challenge, but wanted Cena’s blessing.
Cena gave his blessing, calling it a great idea. Cena also shared that he’d be the first person to answer the open challenge, kicking off a U.S. Title match between the two.
John introduced the hugely-popular open challenge during his reign in 2015, his first reign with the gold in a decade. Zayn made his main roster debut by answering John’s challenge in Montreal, though suffered an injury during the match. Cena would have two reigns that year, which were ended by Seth Rollins and Alberto Del Rio.
Now, Sami will give Superstars a chance to take the gold from him and showcase the talent of the WWE roster. It remains to be seen how long Sami will be able to hold the gold given how title matches will be coming fast for the United States Champion.
The wrestling world is as excited for AJ Lee’s return as the fans.
The former Divas Champion made her triumphant return to WWE after 10 long years at tonight’s episode of SmackDown from Chicago.
Fans had been demanding the return ever since her husband, CM Punk, made his own return to the Endeavor owned promotion back in 2023.
AJ Lee wasted no time going after Becky Lynch upon her return and she sent The Man retreating. Lee then picked up the Women’s IC title belt dropped by Becky to celebrate her comeback, hinting at potential championship ambitions.
The internet started buzzing right after this segment with multiple trending hashtags. Though the fans are not the only ones excited at this long-awaited return. Multiple current and former WWE stars took to social media to share their excitement at the return of the legend.
Roxanne Perez who has been closely associated with Punk since his return posted a short tweet addressing Lee as ‘mommy.’ Naomi who is currently out of action after announcing pregnancy welcomed back AJ lee by telling her to ‘give em hell.’
Former WWE star Cora Jade, now going by the name Elayna Black tweeted that ‘all is right in the world’ while Bayley posted a video from the arena of the moment of Lee’s entrance. You can check out all these reactions below:
AJ Lee hinted at her WWE ambitions after SmackDown went off air.
Fans had been running a campaign for the return of the former Divas Champion ever since her husband, CM Punk, made his triumphant return to the Endeavor-owned promotion 2 years ago.
The people finally got their wish on this week’s episode of the Blue Branded show from Chicago when the wrestling veteran made her return to WWE programming after 10 years.
The return came as the Women’s IC Champion Becky Lynch was in the ring and AJ Lee wasted no time going after The Man for costing Punk the world title.
A shocked Lynch quickly retreated after this. The show went off air with Lee celebrating her comeback with Punk in the ring while Becky and Seth Rollins looked on from the stage.
The returning star picked up the Women’s IC title dropped by Lynch after SmackDown went off air and paraded around the ring with the belt.
AJ Lee is likely to team up with CM Punk to face Becky Lynch and Seth Rollins in a mixed tag match at the upcoming Wrestlepalooza PPV. Though after tonight, it won’t be a surprise if Lee sticks around and goes after the IC title following the upcoming PLE.
AJ Lee has made her shocking return to WWE for the first time in over a decade. On the September 5 episode of Friday Night SmackDown in Chicago, Illinois, the former Divas Champion appeared in the main event segment to confront Becky Lynch, setting the stage for a match at the upcoming WrestlePalooza Premium Live Event.
The return, which took place in her husband CM Punk’s hometown, was met with a thunderous ovation from the live crowd and sent shockwaves through the wrestling world. The segment began with World Heavyweight Champion Seth Rollins introducing his wife, Becky Lynch. As Lynch began to run down CM Punk and the city of Chicago, the crowd broke into loud, sustained chants of “AJ Lee.”
Punk then made his entrance to confront Lynch, calling Rollins a coward for hiding behind his wife. After a tense verbal exchange, Lynch slapped Punk across the face. Punk responded that he would never put his hands on a woman, but that he knew someone who would. At that moment, AJ Lee’s music hit, and she ran to the ring. A stunned Becky Lynch was met with a spear from Lee, who then unleashed a flurry of offense, sending “The Man” retreating up the ramp.
The show went off the air with CM Punk and AJ Lee embracing in the middle of the ring as Rollins and Lynch looked on in fury. The angle all but confirms the rumored mixed tag team match between the two couples for the WrestlePalooza event on September 20. This was Lee’s first appearance in a WWE ring since the night after WrestleMania 31 in March 2015.
Tmatch between John Cena and Brock Lesnar is now official for the WWE WrestlePalooza Premium Live Event. The announcement was made on the September 5 episode of Friday Night SmackDown after Lesnar made a shocking appearance to open the show. The confrontation sets the stage for a historic first-time-ever singles match between the two icons, scheduled to take place on Saturday, September 20, in Indianapolis, Indiana. This bout will be a cornerstone of the first WWE PLE to air on ESPN platforms.
The match was made following a brutal assault by “The Beast Incarnate.” The show kicked off with a singles match between John Cena and Sami Zayn. As Cena was setting up for an avalanche Attitude Adjustment, Lesnar’s music hit. Lesnar charged to the ring, pulled the referee out to stop the match, and proceeded to viciously attack both competitors.
He laid out Zayn with an F5 before turning his attention to Cena, delivering two devastating F5s to the man he has been targeting. Later, in a backstage segment, Lesnar confronted Cena again and told him, “I’ll see you at WrestlePalooza,” leading to the match being made official.
This encounter has been building since SummerSlam last month, where Lesnar made his return to WWE after a two-year absence by attacking Cena following his main event match. The updated card for WWE WrestlePalooza is below:
Women’s World Championship Match: IYO SKY vs. Stephanie Vaquer
John Cena’s farewell tour has been one of the biggest stories of 2025, highlighted by his heel turn and, more recently, a turning face once again. He may have lost the WWE Championship to Cody Rhodes at SummerSlam, but the surprise return of Brock Lesnar, who promptly dropped Cena with an F5, demonstrated that the now-former champion’s time in the spotlight is far from done.
John Cena vs. Brock Lesnar lacks some of the appeal of previous Cena matchups this year. While Cena squaring off with Randy Orton, R-Truth, and CM Punk carried some fun novelty of reversing face-heel orientations while revisiting famous rivalries, Cena and Lesnar find themselves in their most familiar roles. Cena is a face again. Lesnar is, by all indications, a monster heel.
One wrinkle to make this match more intriguing than it otherwise might be is the prospect that it could mark not only Cena’s last match with Lesnar, but Lesnar’s last WWE match ever.
The Reactions To Brock Lesnar’s Return Show He’s, At Best, Polarizing
Brock Lesnar at SummerSlam. Photo: WWE.com
When Brock Lesnar made his surprise appearance at the end of SummerSlam 2025, he drew one of the biggest pops of the weekend. Indeed, there’s no denying The Beast is a huge name, besides which fans sincerely didn’t know he’d be there. Lesnar hasn’t shown up on WWE television since being implicated in Vince McMahon’s scandal with Janel Grant.
After the initial shock of seeing Lesnar, the reaction died down and, particularly on social media, things took a turn. While some fans were hyped to see The Beast again after an extended absence, a louder chorus of naysayers were offended at WWE featuring him again despite the allegations, not to mention that there’s a real case Lesnar’s character felt played out by his last major feud with Cody Rhodes in 2023.
The popular theory circulating right now is that John Cena personally requested to work with Lesnar, which makes sense given the overarching impression is that Cena’s has called most of his own shots along his retirement tour. For the sake of nostalgia and “playing the hits” it does make some sense for Lesnar to be back in the fold in this very specific context. That said, it doesn’t seem as though many fans would be all that disappointed if Lesnar were gone from WWE after one more bout with Cena.
John Cena Is A Fitting Opponent For Brock Lesnar To Go Out On
John Cena after SummerSlam. Photo: WWE
Like him or not, Brock Lesnar is a unique spectacle of a professional wrestler. He’s huge, he’s a legitimate athlete, and top to bottom he was well-protected throughout his WWE main roster run. As such, The Beast really only makes sense in the ring opposite other top guys. For marquee value, John Cena fits that bill.
More importantly, Lesnar and Cena have extensive history. When Lesnar won his second world championship at WrestleMania 19, his first as a babyface, the first major challenger to chase him, and his first legitimate rival who wasn’t already an established veteran was fellow OVW Class of 2002 graduate Cena.
When Cena made his big babyface turn after the mid-card heel run that got him over and prepared him to ascend to the main event—he did so to stand up to Lesnar going into Survivor Series 2003.
When Lesnar returned to WWE after eight years away and a foray into mixed martial arts, Cena was his first rival back. Then The Beast infamously squashed Cena in the main event of SummerSlam 2014.
So, with well over a decade of history between them, and as a Mt. Rushmore pair of WWE’s last twenty-five years, it’s hard to think of a better rival for Lesnar to tie up his WWE career against than Cena.
John Cena Could Achieve A Career First
Image credit: WWE
One of the interesting aspects of John Cena’s farewell tour has been the question of what firsts, records, or other milestones he still might hit. In February, he fell one spot short of tying Stone Cold Steve Austin’s record as a three-time Royal Rumble winner. In March, he shocked the world with the heel turn no one saw coming. In April, Cena became the first ever seventeen-time world champion (at least as far as WWE’s records are concerned).
There aren’t very many meaningful milestones left for Cena. He didn’t even enter the King of the Ring tournament, so that possibility passed him by. He could still win that elusive Intercontinental Championship, and thus complete his tour of winning every title he’s been eligible for. There are still a handful interesting first-time matches for him opposite the likes of Drew McIntyre or Gunther.
One achievement well within Cena’s reach would be to finally pick up a decisive victory over Brock Lesnar. Cena has just two one-on-one victories over Lesnar across eighteen documented bouts. Night of Champions 2014 saw Cena win by disqualification. Extreme Rules 2012 saw Cena’s biggest win over Lesnar, but it’s telling that match saw The Beast violently dominate Cena for the overwhelming majority of the match before Cena stole the pin after clocking Lesnar with a chain to turn the tide at the end of the match, before hitting an Attitude Adjustment on the ring steps to pick up the win.
While some might call that Extreme Rules victory decisive—and it is a subjective point—it was largely erased by how handily Lesnar squashed Cena in their next match, the main event of SummerSlam 2014 for the WWE Championship. What better way could Cena gain redemption than, 11 years later, not just surviving Lesnar, but soundly defeating with a clean pin or perhaps even a tapout victory?
Many big-name wrestlers gave Brock Lesnar a lot, with stars like The Undertaker and Kurt Angle going out of their way to cement Lesnar as “the guy” in his first WWE run, and who’s who major talents putting him over between 2014 and 2019. John Cena ranks toward the top of that list for the variety of ways in which he put over Lesnar at the highest level.
Maybe WWE could officially bill their showdown as Lesnar’s last match. Maybe the match could be career vs. career with Cena going home early if he loses and Lesnar leaving forever if he does. Or perhaps the end of Lesnar’s career could go unrecognized as he more quietly rides off into the sunset. Regardless, There’s no more fitting final chapter to their story than The Beast putting over Cena as not only a stop on Cena’s farewell tour, but the end of Lesnar’s own pro wrestling journey.
A new report from the Wrestling Observer Newsletter has provided the first details on the creative structure for Lucha Libre AAA following its acquisition by WWE. The new hierarchy features a blend of top WWE executives and producers alongside key figures from the world of lucha libre..
In the report, Dave Meltzer detailed the new creative team and the key producers who will be responsible for the on-screen product.
“The new AAA creative structure is that the people in charge of creative is Paul Levesque at the top, with his main creative help being Jeremy Borash, Mark Calaway (Undertaker), Charles Ashenoff (Konnan) and Dorian Roldan. The key producers for the brand are now Matt Bloom, Pete Dunne, Chavo Guerrero Jr., Jack Melendez (Moody Jack), Juan Rivera (Savio Vega), Jose Cordero (Lince Dorado) and one other person whose name I don’t know.”
Meltzer also noted that while Shawn Michaels has provided some input to Paul “Triple H” Levesque regarding AAA, his primary focus remains on his duties with the NXT brand. WWE first announced its acquisition of AAA in April, with the deal being finalized last month. The next major crossover event for the two brands, WWE-AAA Worlds Collide, is scheduled for next Friday, September 12, in Las Vegas, and will be headlined by Dominik Mysterio challenging El Hijo del Vikingo for the AAA Mega Championship.
A new cryptic social media post from AJ Styles has sent the wrestling world into a frenzy, with many fans fearing that the “Phenomenal One” is teasing that his retirement is coming sooner than expected. The post, which features a simple but powerful image, has sparked conversation about the future of the multi-time world champion.
On his social media accounts, Styles posted an image of an hourglass. Inside the glass, the falling sand forms his signature “P1” logo. The hourglass is a classic symbol used to signify that time is running out. Styles did not provide any caption or context with the post, which has only fueled the speculation from fans who are worried that it is a sign of his impending retirement.
The post also drew a response from one of his fellow wrestlers, the recently departed Killer Kross. “Uncle Allen I will turn that hourglass upside down… don’t you dare leave us,” Kross wrote in a reply.
AJ Styles has been open in the past about his plans to retire from the ring. In an interview with Chris Van Vliet earlier this year, he stated that he plans on retiring by the time he turns 50. “That’s correct. I keep saying that. I’ve said this and said this, but I will not wrestle at 50, I promise you that,” Styles said at the time. He is currently 48 years old and will turn 50 in June 2027.
In July, it was reported by Fightful Select that Styles had signed a one-year contract extension with WWE. He has also spoken about his plans to open his own professional wrestling school in Georgia, a project he hopes to have up and running in the next year. At the recent SummerSlam premium live event, he also teased to fans that his match against Dominik Mysterio could be his last at the “biggest party of the summer.”
His current feud with Intercontinental Champion Dominik Mysterio is reportedly set to continue on WWE television, but this latest teaser has added a new layer of intrigue to the future of the “Phenomenal One.”
The September 5, episode of WWE SmackDown in the Allstate Arena is shaping up to be one of the biggest episodes of the blue brand of all time. WWE has confirmed some huge names for the show, with others rumored to be appearing.
Confirmed Names
CM Punk will make a featured appearance in his hometown of Chicago and is expected to receive a huge response. Punk is expected to address the controversy at Clash in Paris and his issues with Seth Rollins and Becky Lynch.
John Cena returns to Chicago for what WWE is billing as his final appearance in the city as an active wrestler. The WWE icon has had some of his biggest moments in the Windy City, and fans can expect a huge send-off tonight, ahead of his farewell in December.
Sami Zayn will be bringing his newly-won United States Championship to Chicago for tonight’s SmackDown. Seven days after winning the gold from Solo Sikoa, what’s next for the Canadian Superstar?
Randy Orton and Drew McIntyre are both advertised as featured superstars for tonight’s episode, with WWE promotions highlighting their involvement in the Chicago event.
Expected Appearances
Brock Lesnar is reportedly scheduled to travel to Chicago for tonight’s show, according to Fightful Select, though his exact role remains unconfirmed. Sources indicate his presence is connected to his ongoing rivalry with John Cena and the potential buildup to a match at Wrestlepalooza. Lesnar returned to WWE TV after a two-year exile at SummerSlam 2025, attacking Cena.
AJ Lee Speculation
While not confirmed for a physical appearances, sources who spoke to Fightful Select have heavily implied that AJ will feature in some capacity on SmackDown. This report comes amid consensus that AJ will return to WWE in time for WrestlePalooza, where she and CM Punk will likely face Becky Lynch and Seth Rollins in a mixed tag team match.
The combination of hometown hero CM Punk, John Cena’s farewell and a potential AJ Lee return has made this SmackDown a must-see affair as WWE continues its build toward Wrestlepalooza in just over two weeks.
Excitement is at a fever pitch over the expected return of AJ Lee to WWE, over a decade after her final match with the promotion. As fans eagerly await the former Diva’s Champion, we look back at the legacy AJ has already carved in the ring.
Active Years: 2010-2015
After working in FCW, AJ was part of the third season (the all-female season of the original WWE NXT.) Though she didn’t win the show to earn a contract, she made her SmackDown debut on May 27, 2011. AJ remained active until the Raw after WrestleMania 31 in April 2015 and would announce her retirement that same month.
Lee is a three-time Divas Champion, a record-tying number, and her 295-day reign with the title was the record-longest before being broken by Nikki Bella. Away from titles, AJ was celebrated through multiple Slammy Awards, including Diva of the Year in both 2012 and 2014, as well as Kiss of the Year in 2012 (with John Cena).
Defining Moments
The Kaitlyn Feud One of AJ’s most compelling storylines involved her role as the “secret admirer” of Kaitlyn, which culminated in a betrayal that ended the ‘Chickbusters.’ Their feud would culminate with their much-celebrated Divas Championship match at Payback 2013 that saw AJ win the gold. It was only fitting that Kaitlyn’s final match as a full-time WWE Superstar would come against her former friend.
WrestleMania 28’s 18-Second Shock AJ played a key role in one of WrestleMania’s most replayed moments when her kiss distracted Daniel Bryan during his World Heavyweight Championship match against Sheamus, leading to his infamous 18-second loss. This moment became a turning point as it would mark the end of the Bryan-AJ partnership on TV, though it would hardly be the last time the pair shared the screen.
Main Event Caliber From 2012 to 2013, AJ was consistently featured in WWE’s top storylines, working alongside main event names such as Daniel Bryan, CM Punk, Kane, Dolph Ziggler, and John Cena. Her presence in these high-profile angles came at a time when the idea of a woman in the main-event scene was unheard of, and would start a path still being followed today.
Authority and Power In 2012, AJ made history as the youngest female authority figure on WWE television when she became Raw’s General Manager. The move also marked the end of her brief engagement to Daniel Bryan, who’d tried to win her back months after WrestleMania 28. Her unpredictable and entertaining tenure added a fresh dynamic to Monday nights during a pivotal era.
The Pipebombshell AJ delivered one of the most memorable promos in women’s wrestling history when she eviscerated the cast of Total Divas on live television. Dubbed the ‘Pipebombshell’ a nod to AJ’s future husband CM Punk, Lee called out WWE celebrating women for being reality TV stars, than as wrestlers. Declaring that “none of you can lace my Chuck Taylors” AJ made herself loud and clear in a promo fondly remembered a dozen years later.
The Paige Rivalry AJ’s feud with Paige in 2014defined WWE’s “anti-Diva” era. Their rivalry—highlighted by a shocking title change the night after WrestleMania XXX and at subsequent pay-per-views—set the stage for more serious women’s wrestling storylines and helped pave the way for the Women’s Revolution. This feud saw two women who weren’t being promoted for titilation, showing fans what the future would hold for women’s storylines.
Final Victory At WrestleMania 31, AJ teamed with Paige to defeat the Bella Twins in what would be her final triumph on WWE’s grandest stage. This victory closed her career on a definitive high note.
Lasting Impact
Though she only spent four years on WWE’s main roster, AJ’s influence helped revolutionize the division. From her title wins to holding her own on the mic with both women and men, AJ showed her value. Now, as fans eagerly await her return, all eyes turn on AJ and what her comeback will look like.
WWE’s Rhea Ripley and the Terrifier horror franchise are stepping in the ring as part of a spine-chilling crossover curtosy of Hot Topic. On X, Ripley shared that Hot Topic has released two collab shirts that feature the WWE Superstar and Terrifier’s main character Art the Clown.
While Art has yet to appear in a WWE ring, the killer clown does have a wrestling connection. In the second and third instalments of the franchise, Chris Jericho plays a nurse who comes face to face with the devilish Art. In June of this year, Ripley named actor David Howard Thornton as the celebrity she wants to meet the most. She also put her name forward for a role in Terrifier 4, adding that she wouldn’t have a problem if she was killed in the film.
This crossover continues to demonstrate Ripley’s growing popularity in the mainstream. With her ‘Mami’ attitude and gothic aesthetic, Ripley continues to win over people, both hardcore wrestling fans and non-wrestling fans alike, as well as award-winning artists.
In WWE, Ripley has found herself afoul of Asuka, who like Art, displays a devilish, but clownish persona on TV. Should Ripley found herself out-numbered by the might of Asuka and Kairi Sane, there’s a certain clown that the Eradicator may have to call in.
Questions remain over Bryan Danielson’s future in the ring, and there’s practically nothing that could allure the former World Champion back into the squared circle. Speaking with SENQ 693, Bryan made clear there’s “not a single thing” on his bucket list. Instead, the American Dragon, who will mark one-year since his most recent match next month, has achieved all he has done.
While Bryan has nothing left to accomplish in wrestling, he made clear that the industry “is something that I still love to this day.” Bryan recalled a recent interviewer asking him about a potential acting future post-wrestling, an idea Bryan quickly shot down. Instead, Bryan intends to spend his time reading and watching wrestling, as well as showing younger stars things they can learn from the past.
Bryan’s most recent match was at AEW WrestleDream 2024, where he lost the AEW World Champion to former ally Jon Moxley. Bryan has stated multiple times that he isn’t sure if his return to the ring will ever happen. Though he got physical at AEW All In: Texas in a match that saw Moxley’s reign end, questions continue to loom over his future.
Whatever comes next, Bryan remains an active part of shaping AEW, even if he’s not active in the ring on TV. For now, Danielson is satisfied with his career, a tenure most wrestlers could only dream of.
WWE has seemingly shifted John Cena’s retirement match to a new venue.
It was reported earlier this year that the company was planning for The Cenation Leader’s final appearance as an active wrestler to be in his hometown arena of TD Garden in Boston.
Early on Friday, however, the company announced that the 17-time world champion will be making his final Boston appearance a month earlier, on Monday, November 10. They also confirmed John Cena’s final New York appearance for a Madison Square Garden show on November 17.
This led to people wondering what the officials were planning for his retirement match and which arena would host the bout if not the one he calls home.
PWinsider has now provided an update on the matter. They’re reporting that John Cena’s final match will be taking place from the Capital One Arena in Washington, DC, at 2025’s final Saturday Night’s Main Event on December 13.
The Peacemaker star is set to make his final Chicago appearance at tonight’s SmackDown. He’s expected to set up a match with Brock Lesnar for September 20 Wrestlepalooza PLE. The announced Boston and New York appearances suggest he’ll also be a part of the 2025 Survivor Series PPV on November 29.
It’s unknown what prompted the officials to change the earlier planned venue for Cena’s final appearance. Stay tuned for more updates on the matter.
WWE has announced that 17-time World Champion John Cena will make his final appearances in Boston and New York City this November as part of his farewell tour. Cena is scheduled for two episodes of WWE Raw from two iconic venues:
Monday, November 10: TD Garden in Boston, MA
Monday, November 17: Madison Square Garden in New York City
Tickets for both events go on sale Wednesday, September 10, with a presale beginning September 9 via Ticketmaster.
As part of his farewell tour which comes to an end this December, John Cena will make his final appearances in Boston on Nov. 10 at @tdgarden and New York City at @TheGarden on Nov. 17!
Cena’s legendary WWE career includes two World Title wins at TD Garden and a memorable 2008 Royal Rumble victory at Madison Square Garden. These November dates come after Cena’s highly anticipated matchup with Brock Lesnar at Wrestlepalooza on September 20.
Special Raw Priority Pass packages are available for fans looking for a premium experience at Madison Square Garden.
Stay tuned to SEScoops for the latest on Cena’s farewell appearances and his matchup with Brock Lesnar at Wrestlepalooza.
