Professional wrestler Jordan Williams, 34, known in the ring as Jayden Steele, has been charged with felony kidnapping and multiple assault charges. His alleged victim reportedly left a desperate note begging for help in a Jersey Mike’s restroom in Navarre, Florida, on May 27, 2025, according to NBC 15 News.
Authorities state Williams has a history of domestic violence. An employee, Eleanor Coffee, found the note, which pleaded: “Please help me… I need you to call the police… He controls my phone… Please help get me home! HELP!”
The note provided an address and warned that Williams’ parents might alert him if police approached directly. Investigators used this information and surveillance footage to locate the victim at a residence on file for Williams.
She was found with visible injuries and hospitalized for suspected broken bones. The alleged victim reported months of isolation, repeated assaults, and threats involving weapons.
Williams reportedly faces charges including felony aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, felony kidnap, and felony battery strangulation. He pleaded not guilty at his first court appearance on May 29th and is being held without bond in Santa Rosa County Jail.
Shotzi (Blackheart), who was released from WWE in May 2025, has confirmed reports that she was pulled from the 2025 Women’s Royal Rumble match at the last minute to accommodate Alexa Bliss’s return. Speaking on Unwrapped with Daria and Toni, Shotzi detailed the confusing and disappointing experience.
She recounted being flown in by WWE with very little notice. “They didn’t relay anything until like the day before. It was like 3 pm the day before [the Royal Rumble] and they were like, ‘Hey, can you get on a flight in a couple hours?’” Shotzi explained.
“And I’m like, ‘Oh my God, I’m not ready for this!’ and packed my bags… And then it led to nothing.” Despite attending rehearsals, Shotzi revealed she “got told while I was in the makeup chair that I wasn’t in it.”
She confirmed Bliss, whose return was a late decision due to contract negotiations, took her spot. Shotzi shared that Bliss was apologetic: “She felt so bad and she came up to me afterwards and she was like, ‘Oh my God, I’m so sorry! I didn’t even realize [they were giving me someone else’s spot].”
Shotzi called it a “tough pill to swallow” but noted that at least Bliss received a big pop.
London Mayor Sadiq Khan has publicly appealed to WWE Chief Content Officer Paul “Triple H” Levesque to bring the company’s flagship premium live event, WrestleMania, to the UK. capital. This renewed push came during a recent interview with CNBC’s Tania Bryer.
“I’d love for WrestleMania to come to London,” Khan stated directly. “Triple H if you’re watching, we want WrestleMania to come to London.”
Khan, who held talks with Levesque in July 2024, elaborated on his vision: “If WrestleMania came to London, my message to the team there is that we wouldn’t just have a great weekend, we’d have a festival, of legends in WrestleMania coming to London, current stars, but also future stars as well.”
He believes it “will open a completely new market for them as well.” Khan described London as the “sporting capital… of the world,” adding, “if WrestleMania wants to expand, the obvious place to come is London.”
Speculation about London as a potential host has been significant since 2023, when John Cena voiced support for the idea during a WWE event in the city. If it were to happen, it would be the first time WrestleMania is held outside of North America.
This comes as WWE continues its international expansion, highlighted by RAW moving to Netflix globally in 2025.
TNA Wrestling returns to Arizona for the first time since 2012 this Fridy with a loaded card featuring multiple championship matches and a bout that will determine the company’s future leadership. The event showcases the ongoing WWE-TNA partnership with NXT’s Trick Williams defending the TNA World Championship in the main event.
Event Information
Date: Friday, June 6, 2025 Time: 10:00 PM ET / 7:00 PM PT Location: Mullett Arena, Tempe, Arizona (Arizona State University campus) Streaming: TNA+ (Live) Doors Open: 5:30 PM local time Event Start: 6:30 PM local time
Championship Matches
TNA World Championship
Trick Williams (c) vs. Elijah
Williams defends his title against Elijah after successfully retaining against Mike Santana on NXT with help from First Class. As the first active WWE wrestler to hold any TNA title, Williams looks to continue his reign against the patient challenger.
TNA World Tag Team Championships
The Nemeths (Nic & Ryan Nemeth) (c) vs. The Rascalz (Trey Miguel & Zachary Wentz)
The Nemeth Brothers defend against The Rascalz, who earned their shot by winning a #1 contender’s match. This high-flying challenge will test the champions who captured the titles from The Hardys at Rebellion.
TNA Knockouts World Championship
Masha Slamovich (c) vs. Léi Y?ng Lee
Slamovich defends against Lee after the former WWE star earned her opportunity by defeating Ash by Elegance. The dominant champion faces a tough test from the skilled striker looking for her first TNA gold.
TNA International Championship
Steve Maclin (c) vs. Mance Warner
“Bulletproof” Maclin defends his International Championship against hardcore brawler Mance Warner. Expect a hard-hitting affair between two of TNA’s toughest competitors.
Key Non-Title Matches
Winner Controls TNA
Santino Marella vs. Robert Stone
The winner becomes TNA’s official Director of Authority in this company-changing match. Stone has been claiming Marella is “under review” and calling himself “Sheriff Stone” while making controversial decisions.
Joe Hendry vs. Frankie Kazarian
Former TNA World Champion Hendry looks to bounce back against veteran “King of TNA” Kazarian. Two TNA stalwarts clash in what should be a technically sound encounter.
TNA Impact airs tonight, Thursday, June 5, 2025 at 8/7c on AXS TV in the US, Sportsnet 360 in Canada, and TNA+ worldwide, with the episode taped at the CAA Centre in Brampton, Ontario, Canada.TNA Impact Preview
Airs Tonight: Thursday, June 5, 2025, at 8/7c
US: AXS TV
Canada: Sportsnet 360
Worldwide: TNA+
Taped at: CAA Centre, Brampton, Ontario, Canada
Key Matches & Storylines
TNA X-Division Championship
Moose (c) vs. Eric Young Moose puts his X-Division Title on the line against the veteran Eric Young in what promises to be a high-stakes encounter.
Monster’s Ball Match
Rosemary vs. Xia Brookside Expect chaos and carnage as Rosemary and Xia Brookside collide in the infamous Monster’s Ball match.
Six-Man Tag Team Action
The Nemeths & Frankie Kazarian vs. Matt Hardy, Leon Slater & Mike Santana Tag team turmoil erupts as the Nemeth brothers join forces with Kazarian to face the trio of Hardy, Slater, and Santana.
Additional Matches
Heather by Elegance & M by Elegance vs. Harley Hudson & Myra Grace The women’s division heats up with this tag team contest.
Major Storyline Context
This episode serves as the fallout from both TNA Under Siege and WWE NXT Battleground, with storylines intensifying as TNA heads into a packed weekend of events.
Championship Picture
Trick Williams is the new TNA World Champion after defeating Joe Hendry at NXT Battleground.
On the June 3 episode of WWE NXT, Williams successfully defended his title against Mike Santana with the help of AJ Francis and KC Navarro.
Looking ahead, Trick Williams is set to defend the TNA World Championship against Elijah at Against All Odds on June 6.
Notable Segments
Joe Hendry will make his first TNA Impact appearance since losing the TNA World Title, with fans eager to hear what’s next for the former champion.
Upcoming Events
Saturday, June 7: TNA Wrestling presents iMPACT! Live from the Mullett Arena in Tempe, Arizona
Friday, June 6: TNA Wrestling presents Against All Odds Streaming LIVE on TNA+ from the Mullett Arena in Tempe, Arizona at 10pm ET
Pat McAfee believes there is always a road back to WWE for the recent releases.
The WWE commentator welcomed Sheamus on the newest episode of his show. They talked about things such as The Celtic Warrior’s start in WWE, how he stays in shape and more.
During the interview, they also discussed the recent WWE cuts. Pat McAfee mentioned how such cuts happen in NFL as well but they affect people in wrestling more because fans are emotionally invested in the work of the talents. He then explained that there are many opportunities out there for the people who have been let go and there is always a way back to WWE:
“A lot of guys come back, though. That’s the wrestling business. Even more so now with how many opportunities there are elsewhere, and it feels like it’s only growing. AAA, getting bought out by WWE and TKO. That partnership, what they’re going to do, the amount of money [that will] probably gonna be invested in there.
TNA, seemingly all the way back, obviously AEW, still rolling, they broke a record of some sort. There are so many opportunities, but there is always a road back to WWE.”
Sheamus also gave his thoughts on the matter, specifically mentioning R Truth. He noted how he had his first dark match in WWE against Truth and claimed that there is no way Truth does not return to the company somewhere down the line.
Despite the reassuring comments, fans have not been happy with the recent releases. They made their voices heard on this week’s Raw and CM Punk acknowledged this off air. You can check out what he said here.
The June 4 episode of WWE EVOLVE featured a four-way elimination match to crown the first ever EVOLVE Men’s Champion. The competitors for the bout included Jackson Drake, Edris Enofe, Sean Legacy and Keanu Carver.
Enofe was the first to be eliminated from the title match. Carver picked up the NXT veteran and hit a running slam to get the three count. Carver was the next to go as Legacy hit a 450 Splash. Drake had to help Legacy with the cover to get rid of the heavyweight star.
The ending the bout saw both the remaining contestants countering each other’s moves multiple times. Legacy went for a German Suplex but Drake managed to hold onto the rope. He then pulled Sean into the rope and went for InJacktion.
— Sonya Bayley – WWE Fan ?? (@SDevilleLive) June 5, 2025
Sean Legacy managed a counter of his own however, catching the young star mid-air. Legacy then went for Shambles but Jackson Drake countered once again, landing on his feet instead. Drake finally got the upper hand with a leaping knee and he followed it up with Unaliving to get the pin.
NXT star Je’Von Evans was at hand to present the title to the Inaugural champion. Drake celebrated with members of The Vanity Project faction to end the show.
He isn’t the first champion to be crowned in this new iteration of EVOLVE however. Kali Armstrong became the first champion of this new era, winning the EVOLVE Women’s title in a similar fatal four way during last week’s episode of the show.
Pw Insider is reporting that multiple police vehicles were seen near the venue as fans were taken back to their cars via a bus. The alleged stalker was apprehended outside the WWE Performance Center. The arrest was reportedly made by a larger law enforcement agency, not local police and at this time, the suspect remains in custody.
A second arrest, unrelated to Liv Morgan, was made, and was reportedly related to a fight outside the venue. The Orange County Sheriff’s Office issued a statement to confirm that 41-year-old Shawn Chan was taken into custody near the WWE facility. It was not confirmed if this individual was related to the Morgan situation or if he was arrested due to the fight.
WWE has dealt with serious stalking incidents involving talent in the past, including individuals stalking Saraya and Sonya Deville. A man who smeared feces on the Performance Center wall was shot by police in 2015.
Tonight’s Fyter Fest special of AEW Dynamite featured a segment with Tony Schiavone interviewing the Arial Assassin. We got a video package recapping Will’s attempt to get Swerve Strickland to support Hangman Page in his upcoming match before tonight’s segment.
This came after Ospreay lost The Owen final to Page at Double or Nothing last month. The win earned Adam Page a shot at Jon Moxley’s AEW world title.
Ospreay started off by saying that he’s embarrassed, and trying to get Page and Strickland on the same page was not one of his smartest ideas. He reiterated, however, that Jon Moxley is the bigger threat in his eyes, and if two bitter rivals could just put their differences aside for one night, they could take the belt off Mox.
He then targeted the AEW World Champion saying that Mox is the reason AEW sucks right now and the company is actually full of talent. Will said that he’s starting to think maybe Swerve Strickland is also a threat.
Ospreay told the former AEW Champion that he could take a bullet for him, but he would take a bullet for AEW before that. He challenged the former NXT star for a match at next week’s 4-hour Summer Blockbuster special.
This match, alongside a few other bouts were later confirmed for the upcoming show by Tony Khan. Here is the updated card for the June 11 show:
Singles Match: Swerve Strickland vs. Will Ospreay
Six Men Tag Team Match: “Speedball” Mike Bailey, Kevin Knight, & Komander vs. Hurt Syndicate
Singles Match: Anthony Bowens vs. Kyle Fletcher
Singles Match: “Timeless” Toni Storm vs. Julia Hart
Apart from this, the company has confirmed that Mistico will be in action for the show but his opponent has not been revealed. TBS Champion Mercedes Mone is expected to be on commentary for the Toni Storm match.
WWE’s days of being a wrestling promotion catered towards wrestling fans are over, at least according to two talents released from the company this year. On a recent episode of their Talk’n Shop podcast, Doc Gallows and Karl Anderson weighed in on recent developments in WWE, including the release of R-Truth. Anderson shared his take that WWE isn’t a wrestling company in the traditional sense anymore, but merely an extension of TKO Group Holdings.
“It’s not the WWE anymore, guys. It’s a company called TKO.”
Gallows echoed the sentiment that WWE can’t be considered WWE anymore, adding:
“I don’t look at WWE as WWE anymore. They’re TKO now — and that’s great. That’s good for them. It’s not the same thing.”
TKO officially launched in September 2023 and saw WWE and UFC come together under one media powerhouse. Since then, several changes have been made, including the introduction of in-ring sponsors at PLEs and at TV events. While WWE will continue to move forward, the future of WWE looks vastly different from its past, according to Gallows and Anderson.
This began on X when a fan asked if Purrazzo will be “pulling up to Dynamite.” The Virtuosa responded that she’d only be appearing “During picture in picture, probably”, a dig at how little she has been used in the ring.
During the June 4, edition of AEW Dynamite, Purrazzo did make an appearance, albeit not in the ring. True to her prediction, Purrazzo appeared during a picture-in-picture segment as part of a commercial for Southern New Hampshire University.
Purrazzo’s appearance on the show sparked a discussion online, prompting the wrestler to weigh in. In a post on X, Purrazzo spoke about being honored to play a part in the commercial, and had no idea it was going to air during Dynamite.
Though Purrazzo did not intend her initial post as anything more than a joke, many are frustrated with how little the former TNA Knockouts World Champion has been used. With no sign of her next AEW appearance, fans may be waiting a long time to see her in action.
Former WWE Superstar Bishop Dyer has yet to work for Tony Khan, but the wrestler has praised the AEW President for taking care of his talent. Appearing on Busted Open Radio, Dyer, better known to fans as Baron Corbin, spoke highly of Khan, revealing that the AEW head has done things WWE would not have done for its wrestlers.
“I can tell you Tony Khan cares about his employees. I know things that are not public that he’s done for talent that I think in WWE’s world would not be done that way.”
Dyer didn’t give examples of Khan’s actions, though it’s no secret that the AEW President often goes the extra mile. Khan can often be found making massive donations to GoFundMe’s to aid wrestlers, including donating $10,000 to Kevin Sullivan’s medical expenses in 2024.
Whether Dyer, a former NXT Tag Team Champion, one day appears for the promotion that once directly competed with WWE NXT, that remains to be seen. With that said, it’s clear that the Lone Wolf has a high estimation of the AEW President.
Tonight’s AEW Fyter Fest special of Dynamite featured Kenny Omega defending his AEW International Title in a fatal four-way against Brody King, Mascara Dorado, and Claudio Castagnoli. The development after the bout, however, made more headlines than the match.
After Omega successfully defended his title, he was confronted by his longtime rival and current AEW Continental Champion, Kazuchika Okada.
The two stars shoved their title belts in each other’s faces, and the segment quickly turned into a brawl. Omega managed to get the upper hand in this confrontation, forcing Okada to retreat.
After this confrontation, the company teased a big announcement from Tony Khan before the end of the 4-hour special. The announcement that came right before the main event of the show was of a ‘Winner Takes All’ showdown between the two champions for the upcoming All In: Texas PPV on July 12.
AEW has already confirmed “Timeless” Toni Storm vs. Mercedes Moné for the AEW Women’s Title and Jon Moxley vs. Adam Page for the AEW title for the upcoming show. The Okada vs. Omega rematch however, is big enough to potentially main event the PPV over the other bouts.
This will be the fifth match between the two wrestling stars and the first one-on-one encounter between the two since NJPW Dominion 6.9 back in 2018.
The female star had not been seen on AEW TV since the first quarter of 2023, when she took maternity leave. Melo gave birth to her daughter Luna Guevara in November that year.
Like many recent comebacks, her return match earlier this year came outside of AEW. Melo competed in her first match in 22 months during Stardom’s New Year Dream event. She teamed with Mina Shirakawa to face off against Athena and Thekla.
Tonight’s Fyter Fest special of Collision then saw a segment where the duo of Megan Bayne and Penelope Ford had seemingly attacked Anna Jay backstage. They were holding the Dark Order star by her hair when the cameras cut to backstage, and the duo proceeded to bring Jay out onto the stage.
As Bayne looked to drop Anna Jay off the stage with a slam, however, Tay Melo made her surprise return to make the save for her former tag team partner.
Melo brought a steel pipe with her, which she used to take out Ford. She then got into a brawl with Megan, and the segment ended with the security having to pull the two female stars away.
Tony Khan has previously expressed interest in adding a Women’s Tag Team title to the company and the duo of Anna Jay and Tay Melo could be serious contenders if he does make the announcement.
Vince McMahon has further reduced his stake in TKO Group Holdings, selling approximately $250 million worth of stock directly to Endeavor, TKO’s majority owner. A new SEC filing revealed McMahon offloaded 1,579,080 shares of TKO stock at a per-share price of $158.32.
This latest transaction means McMahon has now sold more than $2 billion worth of TKO shares since the company was formed from the merger of WWE and UFC in September 2023. This includes a previous significant sale valued at $311.2 million in April 2024 to both TKO and Endeavor.
Following this most recent sale, McMahon reportedly still holds 6,442,325 TKO shares, which constitutes roughly 3% of TKO.McMahon resigned from his positions at TKO and WWE in January 2024.
His resignation came after former WWE employee Janel Grant filed a lawsuit against him, WWE, and former executive John Laurinaitis, accusing McMahon of sexual assault and sex trafficking, allegations which McMahon has denied. This sale of stock is another step in McMahon distancing himself financially from WWE.
R-Truth has been released from WWE, but Sheamus isn’t concerned for the future of the former WWE 24/7 Champion. Appearing on the Pat McAfee Show, Sheamus shared his belief that Truth’s return to WWE isn’t a question of if, but when..
“So many guys and girls—have left and come back. It’s not the end. Sometimes it’s a bit of a break… There’s no way Truth’s not going to come back at some stage. I’m sure you’ll see him again. Like, a Hall of Famer. He’s definitely a pillar.“
Sheamus’ connection to Truth extends beyond merely being a colleague of the released talent. In the interview, the four-time WWE World Champion shared how his first WWE match was against none other than R-Truth.
“We had a dark match together on the road, and from then we bonded. That fella walks in the dressing room and it’s just… laugh. He’s got a contagious laugh that would just light up the room.“
Sheamus also believes that Carlito will return to WWE TV one day, despite his contract not being renewed. The Irish Superstar, who marks 16 years since his own WWE arrival this month, declared “If you truly want to find your way back, you’ll find your way back.”
Sheamus’ positive outlook on these releases comes in stark contrast to the waves of backlash WWE has received in recent days. For Sheamus, fans can expect to see Truth and Carlito in some capacity on WWE TV down the line.
WWE Superstar Karrion Kross is reportedly in his contract year, with his current deal set to expire this summer (2025). There has been little movement regarding a new agreement.
According to an update from Fightful Select’s Sean Ross Sapp at the start of June, WWE “has not yet approached Kross about a contract extension or renewal.”
Furthermore, Fightful “haven’t heard if they’ve indicated interest in doing so” at this point. This comes after an earlier report from Sapp noted Kross was in a contract year. WWE typically notifies talent about non-renewals approximately a month before their deals expire.
However, the company has recently kept talent on television closer to their contract end dates before making decisions on extensions or communicating non-renewals.
Currently, Kross reportedly has “a few months remaining on Kross’ deal.” He has been a consistent presence on SmackDown, often alongside Scarlett, and recently had a notable interaction with Logan Paul.
A neck injury robbed Kevin Owens of competing at WrestleMania 41, an injury that could keep the Canadian out of the ring for the rest of this year and beyond. Speaking to e10Sport, Owens gave the latest on his situation.
“I still haven’t had the operation. There are a lot of things to consider before the surgery. We’re waiting a bit to see how things evolve naturally. There’s no doubt that I need surgery, but before going through with it, we just need to see how much it can… not recover, because it won’t recover, but improve slightly without surgery.“
Owens shared news of his injury on an episode of SmackDown, though reports of the setback came to light hours before the show. In the interview, Owens explained that the issues with his neck have been going back for some time.
“I had doubts for several months that there was something really abnormal. But it took several months before we diagnosed the actual injury. We found out two days before I made the announcement on SmackDown that I wouldn’t be able to be at WrestleMania and that I had to stop wrestling immediately.”
Owens reiterated that despite any reports to the contrary, he has not had surgery yet, adding that “we’ll figure it out.” As fans eagerly await updates on the former Universal Champion, it’s clear that a return to the ring remains a long way away.
Roxanne Perez has made a splash in WWE in her years with the company, and now she’d love to see Taylor Swift step into the ring. In a conversation on Sports Illustrated’s YouTube channel, Perez was asked which celebrity or pro athlete she’d want to see compete in WWE and was quick to name the music icon.
“I don’t know if we would actually ever see it, but I’m a big fan of Taylor Swift. So, I mean, could you imagine just seeing her in a WWE ring? I think that would be pretty groundbreaking and kind of crazy.”
Though she is yet to lace up her boots for in-ring action, Swift does have some connections to the world of pro wrestling. The 14-time Grammy Award-winning artist spent her younger years babysitting for Jeff Jarrett, and helped the Jarrett family immensely during the final years of the life of Jeff’s first wife. In late 2023, Swift was spotted with WWE’s Baron Corbin at a Kansas City Chiefs game with both cheering on Swift’s boyfriend Travis Kelce.
The mere idea of Taylor Swift making a WWE appearance—even briefly—would be a media sensation, drawing attention from both the entertainment world and sports outlets. While it seems unlikely, fans know to never say never in the world of WWE.
All Elite Wrestling presents AEW Fyter Fest tonight on TBS and Max, delivering a massive four-hour wrestling extravaganza combining both Dynamite and Collision programming from 8/7c.
Tonight’s AEW Fyter Fest Card:
AEW International Championship Fatal 4-Way: Kenny Omega (c) vs. Mascara Dorada vs. Brody King vs. Claudio Castagnoli
FTR vs. Atlantis Jr. & Templario
Toni Storm & Mina Shirakawa vs. Skye Blue & Julia Hart (Mercedes Mone on commentary)
Mark Briscoe vs. Jon Moxley
RUSH, The Beast Mortos & Dralistico vs. Kevin Knight, Mike Bailey & Komander
Thekla vs. TBD (In-ring debut)
We’ll hear from the Hurt Syndicate
The evening’s marquee attraction features a high-stakes Fatal 4-Way match for the AEW International Championship, where Kenny Omega defends his title against three dangerous challengers: Mascara Dorada, Brody King, and Claudio Castagnoli.
Singles competition takes center stage when Mark Briscoe squares off against Jon Moxley in what’s sure to be a hard-hitting encounter between two of AEW’s most intense competitors. The show also features tag team action with FTR taking on the duo of Atlantis Jr. and Templario.
Women’s division action showcases Toni Storm teaming with Mina Shirakawa against the formidable pairing of Skye Blue and Julia Hart, with AEW TBS Champion Mercedes Mone providing commentary. Additionally, Thekla makes her in-ring debut against an opponent yet to be announced.
Trios action rounds out the card as RUSH, The Beast Mortos, and Dralistico represent their faction against the high-flying combination of Kevin Knight, Mike Bailey, and Komander. The Hurt Syndicate will also address the AEW audience during the broadcast.
Becky Lynch and Seth Rollins are a true power-couple in wrestling, but the pair tag-teamed recently to present the Los Angeles weather. Days ahead of WWE Money in the Bank, Rollins and Lynch hosted a lighthearted weather forecast for KTLA.
Neither Superstar shied away from making reference to their WWE roles. When presenting the weekend update, Rollins relished in a sunny time coming to LA, telling viewers “I love it. Crank it up, burn it down, as you might say.”
Lynch wrapped up by hyping up WWE Money in the Bank. While she wants those in LA to join the nice weather on June 7, making it back to watch the PLE will be a must.
“So you might wanna go to the beach on Saturday, but remember to be back in time for Money in the Bank. Go to the beach in the morning, but come back for Money in the Bank when it’ll be a little cooler.”
Becky Lynch is scheduled to challenge Lyra Valkyria for the Women’s Intercontinental Championship, while Seth Rollins will compete in the Men’s Money in the Bank ladder match. With both entering high-profile matches, it could be a perfect weekend for the duo underneath a beautiful LA sun.
CM Punk has finally set the record straight on the origin and significance of his iconic Pepsi logo tattoo. He shared the story on the June 4, 2025, episode of WWE Tattooed, revealing it runs much deeper than a simple beverage preference.
Punk acknowledged the tattoo has “gotten the most attention” over time. He explained its roots trace back to hardcore punk band Minor Threat and guitarist Brian Baker.
“The story with the Pepsi Tattoo is there is a band called Minor Threat… that’s widely known to have started the straight edge subculture,” Punk stated. “And the guitarist Brian Baker was asked in an interview I read while I was in detention, ‘Do you have a Coca-Cola tattoo? Why do you have a Coca-Cola tattoo?’ And his response is, ‘I like Coca-Cola.’”
This straightforward, anti-establishment answer resonated deeply with a young Punk. “And I was that’s just punk rock right there… I don’t like Coke. I like Pepsi. I’m a Midwest kid at heart. So I got a Pepsi tattoo.”
Punk made it clear that the logo symbolizes his identity. “That tattoo represents me being straight edge, and that’s really it,” he said. “It seems silly to put a corporate logo on yourself, but it really has a deeper meaning and it means so much more to me than just soft drink.”
On June 1, wresting fans were shocked to see R-Truth post on social media that he’d been released from WWE. Mass confusion followed as some fans took his announcement at face value, others thought it was part of a kayfabe storyline, and some suspected Truth might be playing an April Fool’s Day prank, getting the timing wrong as his character so often has in recent years.
Multiple credible sources went on to confirm, though, that the release was real or at least WWE had made the official call not to renew his contract upon expiration. Whether Truth is truly already done or his days are very, very numbered, it’s nonetheless the right time to look back at his remarkable career with the largest wrestling promotion in the world.
K-Kwik Got Rowdy
In 1999, a young star named K-Kwik debuted for WWE, teaming with The Road Dogg. There’s a fuzzy line on whether the rookie could technically be considered part of DX. The generally accepted wisdom, though, is that Road Dogg teaming up with K-Kwik marked the end of that iteration of the stable (though K-Kwik was part of a Survivor Series team with not only his tag partner, but Billy Gunn and Chyna, further blurring the lines).
Together, the two achieved modest success. Before K-Kwik went on to a more forgettable solo run. Ultimately, he fell victim to the Invasion angle as the roster bloated with WCW stars coming in, and he found himself lost in the shuffle and ultimately released from the company in late summer 2001.
R-Truth Was A Mid-Card Staple
By the time R-Truth returned to WWE in 2008, he was a different man. He had since won the NWA World Heavyweight Championship—TNA’s top prize in the early days of the promotion. That’s in addition to reprising his partnership with Road Dogg there as part of 3 Live Kru and striking up other tag team pairings.
So it was that a returned Truth had a lot more in-ring experience, a more chiseled physique, and a fully realized rapping gimmick that helped him stand out as a babyface who enjoyed two reigns as United States Championship as he was firmly planted in the upper mid-card.
Heel R-Truth Broke Through To The Main Event
In 2011, a twist in R-Truth’s story saw him fall out with tag team partner and friend John Morrison as he broached the main event picture. Sure enough, by summer, R-Truth found himself challenging John Cena for the WWE Championship.
Through not fault of his own, Truth had a credibility problem, as he just wasn’t seen on Cena’s level, besides which it felt like WWE was largely killing time before Cena would return his focus to The Rock in time for WrestleMania 28.
In an even more surprising twist, though, an unhinged version of Truth, fueled by paranoia and conspiracy theories, became half of a top heel tag team with The Miz. Highlights included feuding with the tandems of Triple H and CM Punk, then Cena and The Rock themselves.
R-Truth Reinvented Himself As An All-Time Great Comedy Act
Photo: WWE
Playing crazy offered a natural conduit for Truth to ultimately return to his babyface ways. Little could anyone expect what an institution he’d become as a comedic wrestler—arguably the greatest of all time—making even the most serious heel acts break on live TV.
This is the run that saw Truth strike tag team gold with Kofi Kingston and much later The Miz. He’d also be an eccentric partner to Goldust and Carmella for different runs. Perhaps most memorably of all, Truth was the MVP of the 24/7 Championship, winning the title time and again in increasingly absurd and genuinely funny moments. In what turned out to be the final stretches of his WWE career, highlights included him quasi-joining up with Judgment Day and feuding with his “childhood hero,” John Cena.
In the end, R-Truth’s legacy comes down to themes of versatility, longevity, and making the most of whatever creative WWE handed him. He goes down as one of WWE’s funniest performers of all time and, no less importantly, a clear backstage favorite given the outpouring of support colleagues went on to show him on social media upon word of his release. There will never be anyone kind of like R-Truth, and that’s what’s up.
WWE Worlds Collide returns for the first time since 2022, taking place Saturday, June 7, 2025, at 3:00 PM ET from the Kia Forum in Inglewood, California. This historic cross-promotional event features wrestlers from WWE’s NXT brand facing off against stars from AAA (Lucha Libre AAA Worldwide), which WWE acquired in April 2025. The event streams free on WWE’s YouTube channel and sets the stage for Money in the Bank later that evening.
Match-by-Match Betting Analysis
AAA Mega Championship Match
El Hijo del Vikingo (c) (-3000) vs Chad Gable (+900)
Vikingo enters as an overwhelming favorite to retain his AAA Mega Championship. The -3000 odds reflect WWE’s investment in elevating Vikingo’s cross-promotional appeal, having recently captured the title on May 31 at AAA Alianzas in Mexico City and been prominently featured on WWE programming.
NXT North American Championship Fatal Four-Way
Ethan Page (c) (-3000) vs Je’Von Evans (+700) vs Rey Fenix (+900) vs Laredo Kid (+900)
Page is heavily favored to retain the championship he just captured from Ricky Saints on May 27. The massive odds disparity suggests this match may serve more to showcase AAA talent than to create a title change.
Six-Man Tag Team Match
Latino World Order (+125) vs Octagon Jr., Aero Star & Mr. Iguana (-165)
The AAA trio enters as slight favorites in this cross-promotional showcase featuring Dragon Lee, Joaquin Wilde, and Cruz Del Toro representing WWE’s Latino World Order.
Women’s Tag Team Match
Stephanie Vaquer & Lola Vice (-2000) vs Chik Tormenta & Dalys (+700)
The WWE tandem of current NXT Women’s Champion Stephanie Vaquer and Lola Vice are overwhelming favorites against the AAA duo, with Vaquer’s recent championship defense at Battleground adding momentum.
Conclusion
The betting odds heavily favor WWE talent in most matches, with the exception of the six-man tag featuring LWO. This suggests Worlds Collide may serve primarily as a showcase to introduce AAA wrestlers to WWE’s audience rather than a true competitive cross-promotion. The most intriguing value play appears to be the underdog AAA team in the six-man tag, while the championship matches seem destined to maintain the status quo with current titleholders retaining their gold.
WWE Money in the Bank 2025 takes place Saturday, June 7, 2025, at 7:00 PM ET from the Intuit Dome in Inglewood, California. This marquee event features the traditional ladder matches where winners receive contracts guaranteeing championship matches at any time within the next year, plus several high-stakes title bouts and a blockbuster tag team main event. Here are the latest betting odds, courtesy of Betonline:
Match-by-Match Betting Analysis
Men’s Money in the Bank Ladder Match Winner
Seth Rollins (-400) vs LA Knight (+300) vs Solo Sikoa (+900) vs Andrade (+2200) vs Penta (+625) vs El Grande Americano (+900)
Rollins enters as the heavy favorite, reflecting his status as a protected main event star and leader of his new heel faction. With over 80% of Money in the Bank cash-ins historically being successful, Rollins represents the safest investment for WWE’s summer storylines.
Women’s Money in the Bank Ladder Match Winner
Naomi (-280) vs Rhea Ripley (+300) vs Stephanie Vaquer (+900) vs Giulia (+1000) vs Alexa Bliss (+900) vs Roxanne Perez (+700)
Naomi leads a competitive field as the betting favorite, though veteran status and strong storyline positioning make her the logical choice. Perez offers intriguing value at +700 as a potential future star being positioned for a major push.
Tag Team Match
Cody Rhodes & Jey Uso (-120) vs John Cena & Logan Paul (-120)
This blockbuster main event features two of WWE’s biggest championships, with World Heavyweight Champion Jey Uso teaming with the recently returned Cody Rhodes against Undisputed WWE Champion John Cena and Logan Paul. The even odds reflect the star power on both sides and unpredictable nature of this first-time pairing.
Women’s Intercontinental Championship
Lyra Valkyria (c) (+550) vs Becky Lynch (-1000)
Lynch is an overwhelming favorite to reclaim the Women’s Intercontinental Championship in their rematch from Backlash. The massive odds spread suggests WWE is ready to add another accolade to Lynch’s legendary career while advancing their heated personal rivalry.
Conclusion
Money in the Bank 2025 presents WWE with an opportunity to set major summer storylines in motion. Seth Rollins’ heavy favoritism in the men’s ladder match aligns with his heel faction’s dominance storyline, while Becky Lynch’s overwhelming odds suggest a championship change is imminent. The even odds in the tag team main event reflect genuine uncertainty about the outcome, making it the most unpredictable match on the card.
With the event’s historical significance in launching new champions and storylines, these betting lines indicate WWE is positioning established stars for major summer runs while using the Money in the Bank concept to elevate rising talent like Roxanne Perez in the women’s division.
