Andrade has parted ways with WWE once again, officially ending his second stint with the company. Fightful Select first reported the news, and fans can now see Andrade’s profile moved from the active roster to the “Alumni” section of WWE.com.
This marks the second time Andrade has left WWE. Originally released in 2021, he made a surprise comeback in the 2024 Men’s Royal Rumble match. During his latest run, Andrade captured the WWE Speed Championship and came close to victory in the 2025 Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royal, ultimately finishing as runner-up to Carmelo Hayes.
With Andrade’s departure, speculation immediately turns to what’s next. From 2021 to 2023, he wrestled in AEW but never won a championship. His run there was marred by inconsistency and a backstage altercation with Sammy Guevara in 2022, which took place shortly after the infamous “Brawl Out” incident. That history may make AEW hesitant to bring him back following his latest WWE exit.
Andrade’s final WWE appearance came at SummerSlam 2025, competing in the six-team TLC match for the Tag Team Championships, which was ultimately won by the Wyatt Sicks. For now, Andrade’s future remains uncertain. Whether he resurfaces in AEW, returns to CMLL, or pursues opportunities elsewhere, his time inside a WWE ring has come to a close once again.
A new WWE Performance Center is in the works, in the promotion’s latest effort to hone its Superstars of the future. During his appearance on Nightcap with Unc & Ocho, Triple H revealed that WWE is in the process of building a brand-new Performance Center in Orlando, Florida.
“It’s in Orlando. We’re in the process of building a new one now in Orlando. It’ll be even bigger and better. Our main offices are in Connecticut and L.A., but Orlando’s the developmental.”
The current WWE Performance Center, located at 5055 Forsyth Commerce Road in Orlando, opened its doors in July 2013. Some of WWE’s current top stars honed their skills in the Performance Center including Seth Rollins, Becky Lynch, and many more.
In July of this year, WWE and AAA shared plans for a Performance Center in Mexico, which will hone lucha talent and give them a taste of the WWE style of doing things. With another PC planned for Orlando, WWE again demonstrates that it is ready to stack the deck with young talent to hone for the future.
Time will tell how long it’ll take for the second Orlando Performance Center to go from idea to opening day. What is clear is that WWE is sparing no expense with the development of stars.
WWE is still figuring everything out about WrestleMania 43.
The company made the game-changing announcement of the Show of Shows moving outside of the North American continent for the first time early on Friday. They held an online press conference revealing that Saudi Arabia will be holding the biggest wrestling event of the year in 2027.
From the amount of money involved to names being expected to appear at this show, all kinds of rumors have been going around about WrestleMania 43 since this announcement was made.
Fightful Select provided some backstage updates on the whole thing. They noted how the news was leaked by General Entertainment Authority Chairman Turki Al-Sheikh earlier in the week, and some in the company wish that he hadn’t done so.
On the rumors that The Rock and Stone Cold Steve Austin have been made big money offers for wrestling at the PLE, a higher up in the company said that none of the rumored names have yet been approached for any such talks.
The officials are yet to finalise a date for the show. It’s something that will depend on the venue plan and WWE is expected to start developing it soon.
Regarding previous reports that the company was hoping to hold a WrestleMania-branded event in the country while still doing a Mania in North America, it’s said that the Saudi government made it clear that they wanted an actual WrestleMania and not just an event with the same name.
WWE Hall of Famer Nikki Bella battled Asuka during the September 8, episode of WWE Raw, in a match that did far more than showcase two female talents. Speaking on her Nikki and Brie Show podcast, Nikki shared how the match demonstrated how wrestling has changed, allowing older women to demonstrate their skills, in stark contrast to how things used to be.
“When you look at Asuka and I’s match, you have two women in their 40s, moms – this used to only be men they would let at this stage doing things.”
Nikki added that she was “truly honored” to share the ring with Asuka, who recently marked a decade since singing with WWE in September 2015.
Nikki Bella praises Asuka, talks about her match with her, how she prepared for and her dream of wrestling in Japan! ? pic.twitter.com/OSMJ7auYQl
WWE, and the wider wrestling world has, more so in the past, taken an issue with women growing older. Women in their late 30s and 40s have often been cast aside, while the same isn’t the case for their male counterparts of the same age. Earlier this year, Charlotte Flair told the Players Tribune that this age gap remains an issue.
“There are people in this industry who already consider me old. Nevermind that I’m literally younger than Cody, who is considered the face of the company, and Roman, who is probably our biggest star.”
For Nikki Bella, she is grateful that she was given time in the ring with Asuka, as both women proved that age is often just a number in the ring. While many believe there is still more work to be done, Nikki is ready to prove herself as a mom and as a professional wrestler.
Fans are letting WWE know what they think about a Saudi WrestleMania.
The Endeavor-owned promotion held an online press conference early on Friday with top names such as Triple H, Undertaker and more, announcing that the Middle Eastern country will be hosting the Show of Shows in 2027.
This marks the first time WrestleMania will be held outside of the North American continent, and fans were not happy with the company making this move to please the Saudi authorities.
People have been expressing their anger with the decision online since the announcement was made, and they also made their stance clear at the WWE/AAA Worlds Collide event.
The event held in Las Vegas after the broadcast of SmackDown featured Dominik Mysterio, Wyatt Sicks and a number of other big names.
When the company ran a video package about their WrestleMania announcement, however, loud boos were heard from the crowd, and ‘you sold out’ chants were clearly audible in the arena:
The crowd at Worlds Collide reacts to WrestleMania 43 Saudi Arabia Announcement ? pic.twitter.com/PqyXX5VbT1
While a number of big names are rumored to appear at the Saudi Arabian show in 2027, the company has not announced many official details of the event.
With not even the date being announced for the upcoming show, it seems the deal came together quickly and the officials are still figuring things out. Stay tuned for more updates on the PLE.
WWE’s Xavier Woods is on the road to recovery after a surgery forced him to miss competing at WWE x AAA Worlds Collide. Woods was supposed to team with Kofi Kingston to challenge AAA Tag Team Champions Pagano and Psycho Clown at the event. Instead, Grayson Waller teamed with Kingston and before the match, Woods shared that he was not medically cleared.
Taking to X, Woods shared that the concept of him not being medically cleared was no joke, and that a mass was “carved out of the back of my head” during surgery. Remaining in character, Woods blamed the lymphoma on Adam Pearce, who, according to Woods, instructed Penta to injury the former King of the Ring.
Woods later clarified that it was a lipoma (a fatty lump, usually non-cancerous), not lymphoma (cancer).
Kingston and Waller came up short in their efforts to bring the AAA Tag Team Titles to the New Day, but Pagano and Psycho Clown’s victory was short-lived. After the match, the pair were laid out by the Wyatt Sicks, who have set their sights on the AAA Tag Team Gold.
With Woods’ surgery, it remains to be seen how long he will be out of action for. In the meantime, Kingston and Waller will hold the fort for the New Day as the group continue to try and ‘revive’ the tag team division on WWE Raw.
The Wyatt Sicks has been part of WWE’s main roster for over a year and urrently hold the WWE Tag Team Championships. Now, the group has set its sights on the AAA Tag Team Titles, and even more is coming for the faction, according to its leader.
Speaking to TV Insider, Bo Dallas reflected on the group’s work so far. Looking to the future, the man behind Uncle Howdy’s mask shared that much is coming.
“A lot is coming in the near future. Stories and character development being told out of the mind of my brother and coming to actual TV screens. Using actual stories we wanted to tell in the past and unfolding.”
These ideas have been “in the works for years” according to Bo, and include ideas and angles from the mind of his late brother Windham ‘Bray Wyatt’ Rotunda. While big things may be coming, Bo doesn’t see the group growing in numbers, at least at this time.
“There are always possibilities of other people coming in the future, but right now the core and our direction and what we want to get done is going to stay as it is.”
The Wyatt Sicks’ dominance comes as the wrestling world enters Halloween, a time that is obviously linked to the macabre and menacing Bray Wyatt, for Bo, the spooky season is always a great time and he and Windham enjoyed plenty of past Halloweens.
“Me and my brother loved Halloween growing up. We were addicted to horror, different or weird or something you shouldn’t like, that was probably what we were attracted to. We had a lot of fun growing up.”
Bo plans to watch a scary movie each day in the run-up to Halloween. When asked if the Wyatt Sicks could soon find themselves on the big screen, Dallas didn’t bawk at the idea.
“I’d say the sky is the limit. I’ve taken what has been given to me and built on that. What we have been doing recently has been mind-blowing, so I’m just trying to keep the train rolling.”
The Wyatt Sicks has already been featured with the own horror event from Universal Studios, meaning fans shouldn’t count out a movie or similar project. For now, the Wyatt Sicks continues to deliver chills and thrills on WWE SmackDown.
Olympic Gold Medalist and former WWE Superstar Gable Steveson may have finally found his place after dominating his MMA debut with a first-round victory. Steveson defeated Braden Peterson to go 1-0 in the world of Mixed Martial Arts. Steveson’s debut was part of LFA 217 and aired on UFC Fight Pass.
Gable Steveson MAULS Braden Peterson in the first round of his MMA debut.
The win was much-needed for Steveson who has had a shaky handful of years following his Olympic Gold Medal win at the 2021 Tokyo Summer Games. That same year, Steveson signed with WWE and despite much hype, the Olympian failed to deliver in the ring. His only televised match was a double count-out draw in 2023 before he was released the following year.
Post-WWE, Steveson signed with the Buffalo Bills, though his time ias a football player also fizzled out without much to show. In March of this year, Steveson returned to wrestling in the NCAA, only to lose what was dubbed ‘the biggest upset in history’ to Wyatt Hendrickson.
Now, Steveson has won his MMA debut, and questions remain as to what his next fight will look like. Was this win a return to form for the Olympic Champion, or beginner’s luck? Time will tell…
Keep up to date with the latest, breaking news from the world of MMA at MMANews.com
WrestleMania will leave North America for the first time ever in 2027, though the choice of location has left fans angry. WrestleMania 43 will take place in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia in two years time, the latest move as part of WWE’s lucrative partnership with Saudi Arabia that continues to frustrate fans close to a decade after launching in 2018.
Many fans feel the honor of the first international WrestleMania should have gone to the UK, a territory that has proven time and again to have an electric atmosphere. On X, Paul ‘Triple H’ Levesque tried to drum up excitement for WrestleMania in Riyadh, only to be met by a wave of pro-UK responses.
It was at Money in the Bank 2023 that John Cena said he intended to bring WrestleMania to London, likely inside Wembley Stadium. While fans at the time were thrilled at the prospect, there’s been no developments publicly on this happening.
With WWE heading to Riyadh in 2027, questions remain as to how much longer fans will have to wait for a UK WrestleMania, if it comes at all. With less than two years before the lights go on in Riyadh, WWE has quite the task ahead of them promoting WrestleMania 43 after this immediate backlash.
Dominik Mysterio has added more gold to his collection after capturing the AAA Mega Championship at the AAA x WWE Worlds Collide event. In the show’s main event, Dominik ended the reign of El Hijo del Vikingo to become new champion.
History has been made.
Dominik Mysterio is the @luchalibreaaa Mega Champion!!! ?
After the match, WWE Hall of Famer Rey Mysterio put the title around his son’s waist. Rather than take this as a humbling moment from his legendary father, Dominik berated his father, ordering him out of the ring and miming that he’d kicked him to the proverbial curb.
Dominik’s victory as the new AAA Mega Champion marks the latest title to come to the Judgment Day. The group also holds the Intercontinental Championship thanks to Dominik as well as the World Tag Team Titles (Finn Balor & JD McDonagh.) 2025 has also seen the faction hold the WWE Women’s Tag Team Championships as well as the WWE Women’s World Championship.
Now, Dominik will have to juggle his time between WWE and AAA, though the 28-year-old seems more than up to the challenge. After declaring himself the greatest Intercontinental Champion within minutes of his win earlier this year, fans can expect plenty of boasting and bravado from the new AAA Mega Champion.
Former WWE star Maria Kanellis-Bennett is urging fans to take skin cancer seriously after revealing she underwent surgery to remove a cancerous mole from her leg. On X, the former 24/7 Champion shared photos from her hospital bed and revealed the area where the procedure was performed.
PSA: get your moles checked!!! I had type 0 skin cancer removed today after a previous biopsy came back cancerous. Feeling very blessed they caught it so early but definitely exhausted. I will have a beautiful 3 inch scar on my leg. It’s been an interesting few years. They marked it with an eye before surgery to apparently to keep away bad spirits.
PSA: get your moles checked!!! I had type 0 skin cancer removed today after a previous biopsy came back cancerous. Feeling very blessed they caught it so early but definitely exhausted. I will have a beautiful 3 inch scar on my leg. It’s been an interesting few years. They marked… pic.twitter.com/LnVObLlPjg
Maria’s scary ordeal shows the importance of getting checked early, as her situation could’ve gone much worse if she had delayed. We here at SEScoops are continuing to wish her the absolute best at this time.
The Wyatt Sicks proved once again that they can’t be controlled after a dominant appearance at the WWE x AAA Worlds Collide event.
The New Day’s Xavier Woods and Kofi Kingston were set to challenge for the AAA World Tag Team Titles, but, the bout was altered after Woods was unable to compete. Instead, it was Kofi Kingston & Grayson Waller who challenged Pagano & Psycho Clown for the good which saw the AAA stars retain.
The champions’ celebration was short lived as the lights dimmed and The Wyatt Sicks made their eerie entrance. The group then destroyed Pagano and Psycho Clown before posing with the AAA Tag Team Championships. The group already holds the WWE Tag Team Titles andd clearly wants more gold.
This appearance marked the AAA debut of the Wyatt Sicks, who left a last impression during their brief appearance. While Pagano and Psycho Clown retained on this night, their days with the gold may be numbered.
Brock Lesnar’s latest WWE appearance did not go as planned.
The Beast Incarnate came out on this week’s episode of SmackDown coming live from the Scope Arena in Norfolk, Virginia. He was there to build his upcoming WrestlePalooza match with John Cena.
Before Lesnar could say anything about the bout, however, R-Truth made his entrance. He came out as his usual cheery self, interacting with the fans and rapping his way to the ring.
Truth said that he was here to welcome Brock before declaring that he ain’t scared of the former UFC star anymore. Lesnar claimed that he doesn’t know who Truth is.
The former K-Kwik got the Beast to break character at one point when he told Brock that he was the brother of John Cena and introduced himself as Ron Cena.
After some more back and forth, Brock Lesnar ended up hitting Ron with an F5. The former world champion unexpectedly got his pants ripped open during this spot. Though Lesnar played it cool and even acknowledged the accident while making his way to the back.
Tonight’s show also featured the return of Cody Rhodes who issued a challenge to Drew McIntyre for WrestlePalooza. You can check out what happened with Rhodes after SmackDown went off air here.
Cody Rhodes talked about his time away after SmackDown went off air.
This week’s episode of the Blue Branded show came live from Scope Arena in Norfolk, Virginia. The main event of the show saw Drew McIntyre taking on Randy Orton in a singles bout.
The two former world champions did not go easy on each other and The Viper got busted open the hard way during the bout. In the end, McIntyre was able to defeat Orton with a Claymore for the pin.
The Scottish Psychopath did not stop there, however, and he brought Randy out of the ring. Drew lined him up next to the announce desk to take him out for good. Before he could do so however, Cody Rhodes’ music hit and the Undisputed WWE Champion made his return.
The American Nightmare fought off McIntyre with some punches and a Cody Cutter. As Drew retreated, the former AEW star took the mic and challenged the Scottish star for a match at the upcoming Wrestlepalooza PPV.
The show ended with Cody issuing the challenge but the WWE champion stayed around for a little bit longer. He cut a short promo talking about the birth of his new baby girl as well as his street fighter role.
The new face of WWE kissed the company’s logo on the mat after finishing his promo, and then hyped up the crowd for a bit before finally leaving.
It is now official: WrestleMania 43 will be held in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, as part of the country’s “Riyadh Season.” A new report from Fightful Select has provided backstage details on the announcement, the premature leaks that preceded it, and the internal discussions surrounding the historic international event.
The news was first unofficially released via a Snapchat video from Turki Al-Sheikh, the Chairman of the Saudi General Entertainment Authority, well before WWE had planned to make the announcement. This premature leak reportedly caused a stir, with some in the industry even believing it was a fake because it was so early. A press release in Saudi Arabia also briefly went out before being pulled. The report notes that there were mixed feelings within WWE about the early announcement, with some wishing it hadn’t been tipped off, while others believed it was an intentional move to create buzz.
WWE staff had been prepared for a major announcement to be made in Las Vegas during the weekend of the Canelo Alvarez vs. Terence Crawford boxing fight, but most were not told what the announcement would be. The official reveal was a private affair, with no media or public permitted. A number of WWE superstars were in town for media appearances related to the TKO-promoted fight, but they were not a part of the announcement itself.
Following the news, reports began to circulate that the Saudi partners were pushing for a “star-studded” show, with names like The Rock and “Stone Cold” Steve Austin being discussed for potential matches. However, the Fightful Select report has pumped the brakes on those rumors for now. A WWE higher-up stated that any talk of who will or won’t be on the show is “purely hypothetical at this point.” The source also noted that reports of a record-breaking payday for The Rock had “not even been broached, much less negotiated,” and that neither Austin nor The Rock have been approached about potential matches for the 2027 event.
The report also provided some logistical details. A firm date for the event has not yet been set, as it will depend on the venue plan, which could include a custom-built structure for a show of WrestleMania’s scale. The event concepts are set to begin development in the coming weeks. The report also clarified that the Saudi government made it clear they wanted an “actual WrestleMania,” not a “WrestleMania branded” event. This is reportedly one of the reasons why WWE has been so heavily promoting its new Wrestlepalooza premium live event as a major U.S.-based show.
Finally, the report touched on the perspective of the talent. While the trips to Saudi Arabia have been a source of controversy in the past, particularly after a travel incident in 2019, wrestlers who were spoken to for the report stated that the trips now “largely felt like it was safe for them to compete.” It was also noted that the majority of WWE talent are no longer specifically bonused for working the Saudi shows, as it is now simply a part of their standard contracts.
The official date for the 2026 WWE Royal Rumble premium live event has been announced. During a special presentation on Friday where it was confirmed that WrestleMania will be held in Saudi Arabia in 2027, the company also revealed that the 2026 Royal Rumble will emanate from Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on Saturday, January 31.
The move to hold one of its most popular and important annual events in Saudi Arabia is a major one for WWE. The Royal Rumble is traditionally considered one of the “big four” premium live events, alongside WrestleMania, SummerSlam, and Survivor Series, and it officially kicks off the “Road to WrestleMania” each year. This will be the first time the event has been held outside of North America and the first time it has taken place outside of the United States since the inaugural event in 1988, which was held in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada.
The discussion of bringing the Royal Rumble to Saudi Arabia was first reported in May 2024, and the rumors intensified in January of this year with reports that a deal had been finalized. The official announcement on Friday now confirms those reports. While a specific start time for the event was not revealed, it is expected that the show will have an early start time for fans in the United States, which has been the case for all previous WWE premium live events held in the country.
WWE’s partnership with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia began in 2018 and has seen the company hold two premium live events in the country annually, with the exception of the pandemic years of 2020 and 2021. These events have been a lucrative part of WWE’s business, with the company reportedly receiving a significant site fee for each show. Over the years, events such as the Greatest Royal Rumble, Crown Jewel, King & Queen of the Ring, Elimination Chamber, and Night of Champions have all been held in the country.
The January 31st date for the Royal Rumble is just one part of WWE’s growing commitment to its partners in Saudi Arabia. During the same presentation, it was also officially confirmed that WrestleMania will be held in the country in 2027.
WrestleMania 43 will take place in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, it has been confirmed, ending much speculation about the future of WWE’s grandest show. In a much-hyped special announcement, WWE confirmed that the 2027 event will take place in Riyadh, marking the third WrestleMania outside the United States and the first outside North America.
At a press conference where he shared the ring with WWE names past and present, Paul ‘Triple H’ Levesque made the announcement official. Levesque, serving as WWE’s Chief Content Officer, shared that the event will take place as part of Riyadh Season before reflecting on what WrestleMania in Riyadh means for WWE.
“History will undoubtably be made again… We could not be more excited for this opportunity. This is an opportunity for WWE to show the world what I think most people already know, that WWE is a global brand that reaches every corner of the world and excites fans from everywhere.”
Levesque’s excitement for the event was not matched by those watching live as fans shared their negative responses to the news. This reaction is the latest in a history of hostility towards WWE’s partnership with Saudi Arabia which many feel is more about making money and high-profile deals than about providing compelling content for fans.
WrestleMania 43 will be historic but is already proving divisive in the wrestling world. With just under two years before the lights turn on in Riyadh, it remains to be seen what kind of show awaits those traveling to Riyadh in 2027.
WWE’s long-standing tradition of hosting a Boxing Day event in Madison Square Garden will not be happening in 2025, it has been reported. According to WrestleVotes Radio, WWE will not be holding the event that has been a staple of WWE’s time in New York City for over a decade.
It is unclear if this decision is just for the 2025 event, or what will be the norm going forward. WWE has cut back on its number of live events in recent years, instead focusing its resources on weekly programming and Premium Live Events.
These live events have seen some huge moments over the years. In 2023, the Boxing Day event saw CM Punk wrestle for the first time in close to a decade in a WWE ring. Mere weeks after his return to WWE at Survivor Series, Punk’s in-ring return saw him defeat ‘Dirty’ Dominik Mysterio.
Madison Square Garden has often been considered the ‘home’ of WWE, even if the promotion is not a regular presence in the hallowed arena like it once was. While WWE continues to develop as an entertainment juggernaut under TKO, this tradition has been put to rest for the time being.
AEW star Bryan Danielson has shared a fascinating and bizarre story from his time contributing to WWE’s creative process during the pandemic, revealing an “unusual approach” that former Chairman Vince McMahon had regarding the use of canned crowd noise. Speaking with Phid McAwesome of Fightful and DownUnderTheRing, Danielson was discussing some of his creative ideas from that period, including a pitch for Damian Priest to debut as a top star against Roman Reigns.
Danielson explained that Vince McMahon would intentionally instruct the production team to manipulate the levels of the canned crowd noise to either enhance or diminish the perception of a superstar’s popularity. He said that McMahon would tell producers to turn up the crowd noise for certain talent, and then strangely complain that it was “too loud” for other talent that were not in his favor at the moment. Danielson admitted that the logic “didn’t quite make sense to him,” but it was a clear directive from the top.
He recalled that when he was pitching the idea for a Damian Priest vs. Roman Reigns program, he made sure to include a note about the crowd noise. He said that if they were going to debut Priest in such a high-profile spot, they should make sure to “turn that way up” for him, a clear acknowledgment of the creative reality of the time.
The use of canned crowd noise was a staple of WWE’s programming throughout the pandemic, both in the Performance Center and the ThunderDome. The company continued to use a general layer of crowd audio even after fans returned to the arenas, but has reportedly “heavily leaned out of canned audio” since Monday Night Raw moved to the Netflix platform earlier this year.
Vince McMahon is currently facing a lawsuit from former WWE employee Janel Grant, which accuses him of sexual assault and sex trafficking. McMahon resigned from his positions at TKO and WWE after the lawsuit was filed and is no longer involved with the company in any capacity. The full interview with Bryan Danielson can be found on Fightful’s platforms.
WWE superstar Kofi Kingston didn’t hold back during his recent appearance on the Battleground Podcast, delivering both humorous and insightful commentary on the current state of professional wrestling’s tag team landscape and WWE’s unprecedented global reach.
New Day’s “Mourning” Over Tag Team Division Status
In a pointed observation, Kingston expressed his feelings about New Day’s current championship status.
“Even though we are in the state of mourning… we are mourning the loss of the tag team division. And we are, you know, anytime the New Day is not at the helm, we are not champions, then that just means the tag team division is dead,” Kingston told host Battle from Q95. “So what I mourn, we all mourn, you know, as the world should be mourning.”
The WWE veteran playfully criticized the interview’s opening, adding: “You should have started off the interview saying sorry for your loss, expressing condolences, but I just somehow knew that you weren’t going to do that. If history is any indication, I knew that you weren’t going to do that.”
While delivered with humor, Kingston’s comments reflect the genuine impact New Day has had on tag team wrestling and their desire to reclaim championship gold.
WWE’s Revolutionary Collaboration Era
Kingston highlighted WWE’s current unprecedented period of cross-promotional partnerships and global expansion, particularly praising the company’s willingness to break traditional barriers.
“We are in such a special time right now. WWE has always been about like expanding, but I feel like in the past year and a half, two years, we have really just kind of sunk our teeth into anything and everything that we possibly can, bro,” Kingston explained. “Even having advertisements in the ring, all the international shows, just wild to me, man, how we can keep pushing the boundaries and I love it, man.”
The New Day founding member specifically emphasized WWE’s international focus: “Especially worldwide, like we have such a rabid fan base throughout the entire world and they also deserve to have shows brought to them. The collaborations with different companies with Triple A, wrestling for the AAA tag team titles is going to be amazing at Worlds Collide. I’m still kind of in awe that it’s actually even happening.”
Breaking Down Industry Barriers
Reflecting on WWE’s evolution, Kingston noted how previously impossible signings have become reality, fundamentally changing the wrestling landscape.
“There was a time where you never thought you would see AJ Styles on a WWE screen… Sami Zayn, Kevin Owens, Shinsuke Nakamura… all of a sudden we cross that barricade and that barrier and it’s like, oh my gosh, we did it. What else can we do? And we’re still doing things that are groundbreaking,” he observed.
Looking Forward
Kingston’s comments reveal a wrestler deeply invested in both his team’s success and the industry’s continued evolution. His blend of humor and genuine insight demonstrates why New Day remains one of WWE’s most beloved acts, even when not holding championship gold.
In a special, untelevised segment for the live crowd, the legendary “Icon” Sting made his surprise debut at the 2300 Arena following the AEW Collision taping in Philadelphia on Thursday. His appearance was part of a post-show tribute to the late, great “Hot Stuff” Eddie Gilbert, an influential wrestler and booker who was a key figure in the early days of the promotion that would become ECW.
The tribute, which was put on by AEW President Tony Khan, also featured Jeff Jarrett, “Wildfire” Tommy Rich, and Eddie’s younger brother, Doug Gilbert. After Khan brought the men to the ring to share their stories about Eddie Gilbert and his legacy in Philadelphia, he introduced the surprise final guest of the evening: the recently retired Sting.
Sting then spoke about the important role that Eddie Gilbert played in his own career. As noted by Dave Meltzer of the Wrestling Observer, “Eddie Gilbert was the guy who saw the potential in Sting before anyone else and was the architect of Sting’s babyface turn in the UWF just as the promotion was being sold to Jim Crockett.”
Gilbert was also the original booker for Eastern Championship Wrestling, the promotion that would later be rebranded as Extreme Championship Wrestling by his friend and protege, Paul Heyman. The segment concluded with Sting asking the fans to join him in a “Hot Stuff” chant for his late friend, which then led to the Donna Summer song of the same name being played over the arena’s sound system to send the fans home happy.
It is not yet known if AEW will release the footage of this special post-show segment on their social media channels.
Following the recent report that WWE is planning to hold WrestleMania in Saudi Arabia in 2027, a new report from the Wrestling Observer Newsletter notes the Saudi partners are pushing for a main event featuring Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson against either Cody Rhodes or Roman Reigns.
In the latest edition of the newsletter, Meltzer provided an update on the situation. “Those in Saudi Arabia close to the General Entertainment Authority, headed by Alalshikh, confirmed this week that the show is official and they claimed negotiations for Dwayne Johnson were advancing and they believed the deal was close to being finalized,” Meltzer wrote. “We have not been able to confirm any of this with those in WWE, which would be involved in the talks. The impression is that the final payment number for the show will be affected by whether or not they get The Rock in the main event.”
The potential main event matches are both storylines that have been teased on WWE programming in the past. A match between The Rock and his cousin, Roman Reigns, has been a long-awaited dream match to determine the true “Head of the Table” of the Anoa’i family. A match against Cody Rhodes would be the culmination of the “Final Boss” storyline that began last year and last played out at the Elimination Chamber premium live event earlier this year, where The Rock orchestrated John Cena’s heel turn against Rhodes.
The push for a main event aligns with previous reports that the Saudi partners want the 2027 WrestleMania to be the “most star-studded show ever,” with “money is no object” in their pursuit of the biggest names in wrestling history. Meltzer’s report also notes that the payoff for The Rock to compete in this event would likely be “multiple times that of any wrestler for any event in history,” a staggering financial incentive for the TKO Board member.
The news comes as The Rock is in the middle of a major physical transformation for his acting career. He has lost a significant amount of weight for his role in the upcoming film “The Smashing Machine,” a move that has led many to believe his in-ring career is over. However, the financial and historical significance of a WrestleMania main event in Saudi Arabia could be enough to entice him back for one more match.
With the news that WWE is planning to hold WrestleMania in Saudi Arabia in 2027, another legendary name has reportedly been discussed for a potential in-ring return at the historic event: “Stone Cold” Steve Austin. A new report from the Wrestling Observer Newsletter has detailed the situation, noting that while nothing is confirmed, the Texas Rattlesnake is a name that has been talked about for what is being billed as the “most star-laden show in history.”
In the latest edition of the newsletter, Dave Meltzer provided an update on the plans for the international premium live event. The goal is to bring in as many big-name legends as possible, and that includes arguably the biggest of them all. “Another name that has been talked about is Steve Austin, who would be 62 at the time of the show. At this point Austin is yet to be confirmed,” Meltzer wrote. The report adds a key detail about the current status of the discussions. “From the Saudi Arabia side, what they have been told by WWE and/or Austin is that he wants to make sure he is healthy and would be physically ready to do a match.”
The report of interest in Austin for the Saudi Arabia show aligns with the previously reported goal of the event. The Saudi partners are reportedly putting up a “ridiculous amount of money” to make the 2027 WrestleMania the “most star-studded show ever, by far.” Meltzer had previously noted that “anyone coming out of retirement that wants to come out of retirement of big name value will be able to get a lot of money on this show,” and Austin certainly fits that description.
However, Austin has been selective about his involvement with WWE since his last official match. The report notes his reluctance to participate in recent WrestleMania events in a physical capacity. “Austin has great pride and was happy with the idea his match with Kevin Owens would be his last. He turned down the 2024 Mania where his only planned role was to choke slam Rock before Rhodes would beat Roman Reigns, a spot that Undertaker was put in when Austin turned it down,” Meltzer wrote.
Austin’s last official match was at WrestleMania 38 in 2022, where he defeated Kevin Owens in a surprise No Holds Barred match in his home state of Texas. The match was widely praised by fans and critics, and it provided a fitting, storybook ending to his legendary in-ring career.
The situation with “Stone Cold” Steve Austin and the 2027 WrestleMania in Saudi Arabia remains a developing one. While he is a name that is being discussed, his participation is far from a certainty and will ultimately depend on his health, his desire to compete, and whether the creative and financial offer is one he simply cannot refuse. The full report can be found in the latest edition of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter.
A contract signing segment between Stephanie Vaquer and IYO SKY was nixed from the September 8, episode of WWE Raw, raising speculation about why it was cut. Some theorized that the segment was cut because Stephanie Vaquer is dealing with an injury, but that is not the case at all.
Speaking with Adrian Hernandez, Vaquer addressed the claims she is out with an injury. The former NXT Women’s Champion revealed that she is healthy, adding that “There’s no injuries.” Vaquer also shared that she’s “ready for Raw next Monday,” teasing her involvement with the go-home Raw ahead of WrestlePalooza.
The September 9, episode of WWE NXT saw the silver brand continue on the road to NXT No Mercy with two hours of exciting content and matches. Not only did the show see some big moments, but an unfortunate streak that has existed for decades was finally broken during the show.
During the show, Tavion Heights defeated Ethan Page in a flag match as Heights was able to retrieve Ol’ Glory to secure the victory. This was WWE’s first Flag Match in 13 years, as the one before was Ted DiBiase and Hunico on WWE SmackDown on January 20, 2012.
With this win, Heights appears in prime position to challenge for the WWE NXT North American Championship, which was given a Canadian re-design by Page earlier this year. While Page has Chelsea Green in his corner, Heights has back-up of his own: Olympic Gold Medalist Tyra Mae Steele.
Time will tell whether Heights gets a title shot and if he can bring the North American Championship back to the U.S. With his historic win on WWE NXT, gold may be in the future of Tavion Heights.
