NXT presented its latest Live Event from the Masonic Temple in Detroit, Michigan this Friday night. The show featured names such as Trick Williams, Ricky Saints and MCMG in action.
One of the matches on the card saw Oba Femi taking on Je’Von Evans. Femi picked up the victory over the high-flying star. He couldn’t celebrate for long, however, as DarkState attacked the former NXT Champion.
It was Omos who made the save for Oba. After sending DarkState packing, the Nigerian Giant came face-to-face with Oba Femi in a surreal moment. The segment ended with Omos laying out the development star:
The former bodyguard of AJ Styles had last wrestled on WWE TV in April last year. While he had made appearances for NOAH and AAA, Omos had not competed under the WWE banner since then.
He finally made his in-ring return for the company during a similar Live Event on Thursday which also featured an unfortunate injury to a current champion.
It’s unknown what the company is planning for the Nigerian star. His live event return suggests that we might see him back on TV soon. If this latest interaction is any indication, Omos might be getting involved in a big feud upon his comeback.
A new report from the Wrestling Observer Newsletter has provided an update on the status of WWE Hall of Famer Rey Mysterio, who has been out of action for the past six months with a torn groin injury. While the report indicates that the legendary luchador is expected to be medically cleared for an in-ring return “soon,” it also notes that he is not currently listed for an appearance at the upcoming Survivor Series Premium Live Event.
The event is scheduled to take place on Saturday, November 29, in Mysterio’s hometown of San Diego, California, and many fans had been hoping for a triumphant hometown comeback. Mysterio has been on the sidelines since the weekend of WrestleMania 41 back in April. He suffered the torn groin on the episode of SmackDown just one night before the major event, forcing him to be pulled from his scheduled match at the last minute.
The six-month recovery period has been a long one for the veteran superstar, but the news that he is close to being cleared is a positive sign for his future.While Mysterio is not currently planned for the Survivor Series card, the report does note that a major match is planned for his son, Dominik Mysterio.
The current Intercontinental Champion is reportedly scheduled to defend his championship against John Cena at the event, which will be one of the final matches of Cena’s retirement tour.
Wes Lee’s time with WWE has come to an end as the former NXT North American Champion was among a wave of recent exits. While Lee’s future now rests outside of WWE, he may not be without a contract for long.
On X, Lee’s former tag-team partner, Zachary Wentz, issued an offer to Wes. Wentz teased that there’ll always be a spot for Lee as part of The Rascalz.
There’s always a seat in the Treehouse for you.? #RSCL4Life
While Wentz didn’t mention Wes by name, fans immediately figured out who he was speaking about. Though some fans were excited at the idea of Lee reuniting with Wentz, Trey Miguel, and Myron Reed, others recalled Lee attacking his former allies and turning heel in August 2024.
Lee is arguably the most surprising name to part WWE in this latest wave of exits. During his NXT run, he held the tag titles twice (both with Wentz) and was one of the longest-reigning NXT North American Champions. Lee also battled several times for the WWE NXT Championship, though he never held the gold.
With his skills and charisma, Lee impressed fans for years as a WWE Superstar. It remains to be seen where his career goes next, but a return to The Rascalz could be on its way.
Konosuke Takeshita wasn’t far from sober when he made the life-altering decision to propose to fellow wrestler Yuka Sakazaki. In a new interview from the pair, Takeshita shared how he had taken on some ‘liquid courage’ before proposing.
“I didn’t pop the question, really. I was kinda drunk and go ‘Do you love me?’ So I say ‘How much?’ And right away, she says ‘More than I love myself.’ So then I said ‘We should get married.'”
Konosuke Takeshita & Yuka Sakazaki talk about their marriage proposal.
Takeshita was drunk and asked Yuka how much she loved him. She said "More than I love myself". He then said "We should get married".
The pair kept their relationship and engagement private for some time. In May 2025, they announced their marriage — the first time they had spoken publicly about their relationship. Echoing her earlier words, Yuka’s post announcing their marriage included the caption, “They mean more to me than anything, even myself.”
Takeshita has been part of AEW since 2022 where he is a former International Champion, and won the G1 Climax earlier this year. Sakazaki is best known for her time with TJPW, where she is a three-time Princess of Princess Champion and four-time (and inaugural) Tag Team Champion.
2025 has been a landmark year for the couple, both professionally and personally. With their Goldendoodle, Kenshiro, by their side, Konosuke and Yuka are ready to take on the world as a true wrestling power couple.
John Cena will get the chance to make history again before his retirement.
The Cenation Leader will be competing against AJ Styles at the Crown Jewel Perth PPV today in what is expected to be the last encounter of these old rivals.
The former world champion will have only one more PPV appearance left in his retirement tour after the Australia show, which will be the November 29 Survivor Series PPV from San Diego, California.
There has been a lot of talk about who John Cena will face at this final PLE appearance, and a new report might have revealed the same.
According to the latest Wrestling Observer Newsletter, Dominik Mysterio is scheduled to defend his Intercontinental Championship against the Peacemaker star at the show.
John made history when he defeated Cody Rhodes to win his 17th world title at WrestleMania 41 earlier this year. The IC title is the only championship he has never won in his long and illustrious career, so it wouldn’t be a surprise if Cena ends up winning this match to create another record on his way out.
After Crown Jewel, the WWE veteran will have only four more appearances left in his retirement run. He will be making his final Boston appearance as an active performer during the November 10 Raw.
His last New York event will be the November 17 episode of the Red Branded show. Following Survivor Series, Cena will be making his final WWE appearance at Saturday Night’s Main Event on December 13, for his retirement match.
Allie Katch made her triumphant return to pro wrestling after a broken leg derailed her career in early 2025. As part of House of Glory’s latest event, Indi Hartwell retained the HOG Women’s Title against Zayda Steel. When Steel attacked Hartwell after the match, Katch made the save.
.@AllieKATCH makes her presence known at #HOGGlory after being away for 264 days!!!
On X, Katch reflected on her big return. Katch declared that “the time is now” for her to take bookings again and that “the universe’s timing is never wrong.”
Allie Katch suffered an injury at The People Vs. GCW in January, and it was confirmed that she had broken her leg in two places. A GoFundMe was launched to help her during her recovery, which raised over $53,000. Notable donors include Nic Nemeth, Matt Cardona, Liv Morgan, Brit Baker, Piper Niven, and Danhausen.
With Katch back and taking bookings again, the popular independent wrestler is ready to put this injury behind her. Katch maintained a positive attitude during her hiatus, and now she’s ready to dish out pain of her own in the squared circle once more.
On a recent edition of Stephanie McMahon’s What’s Your Story? podcast, Big E shared that his in-ring career is “kind of behind me,” over three years after his most recent match. This comment has led to fans fearing that Big E will never make a return to in-ring competition.
Multiple people who spoke to Fightful Select shared that the consensus backstage is that Big E is done. In recent years, sources have referred to the former WWE Champion as “retired” and as a “former wrestler.”
Big E has remained a part of WWE programming, and can often be found at post-PLE shows and in other non-physical roles. With all that said, it appears fans have seen the last of Big E in the ring.
Jon Moxley and Darby Allin took their AEW feud out of the ring by brawling in front of fans at New York Comic Con. During a panel highlighting the upcoming AEW x DC Comics crossover series, Allin interrupted and threw a glass of water at Moxley.
Moxley responded by showing Allin through the backdrop that displayed the logos for AEW and DC Comics. The pair traded some fists before being separated by security. The fans at the panel, excited at the brawl, gave the pair a “Holy S***” chant as well as chants for AEW.
The two have been feuding ever since Allin returned from his successful climb of Mt. Everest. After this brawl, the pair will meet in an I Quit match at AEW Wrestledream. With neither man ready to hold back, it remains to be seen who will be forced to say those dreaded two words.
AEW WrestleDream 2025 will take place on October 18 at the Chaifetz Arena in St. Louis, Missouri. Stay tuned to SEScoops for the latest on AEW WrestleDream, including breaking news and live results.
AEW’s Mercedes Moné has added yet another championship to her collection, tying the record currently held by Último Dragon. On October 10, Moné captured the BODYSLAM Women’s Championship in Denmark, ending the reign of Aliss Ink.
With this win, Moné ties the record that Último Dragon has held for decades. In 1996, Ultimo Dragon won the J-Cup and unified eight championships in the process. At the time, Dragon was also the WCW Cruiserweight Champion and NWA Middleweight Champion at the time, bringing his total to ten.
Moné is now just one title away from breaking Dragon’s record, and is well aware that she could soon make history. On X, Moné changed her name to ‘Último Moné,’ showing that she’s is aware of the record she and Dragon now share.
On October 19, Moné will take on Jody Threat for the Winnipeg Pro Wrestling title at the Rumble in the Bert event. Time will tell if Moné adds an eleventh title to her record, and if so, make pro wrestling history.
Matt and Jeff Hardy now have even more championship gold to their name after capturing the House of Glory Tag Team Titles at With Glory Comes Pride. During the show, the Hardy brothers ended the reign of The Mane Event (Jay Lyon and Midas Black.)
Matt and Jeff began their reign with their Twist of Fate/Swanton Bomb combo. This is the second reign as the House of Glory tag team champions for Matt and Jeff.
The House of Glory gold marks the fourth set of titles that Matt and Jeff currently hold. The pair are the current 4th Rope Wrestling Tag Team Champions, and are in their fourth reign as TNA World Tag Team Champions. At WWE Showdown, the duo captured the NXT Tag Team Championships, ending the reign of Dark State.
The brothers will be in action once more at TNA Bound for Glory, where they will battle Team 3D (Bully Ray and Devon). This match is being promoted as the final showdown between the two legendary teams and will be for the TNA and NXT Tag Team Championships.
Decades after first making an impact in WWE, Matt and Jeff prove as popular as ever. Stay tuned for the latest on the Hardy Boys.
The latest round of WWE cuts started earlier this week when indie star Zayda Steel announced that she will not be renewing her WWE ID contract. Shortly after, Kylie Rae also confirmed that her time with the ID program was coming to an end.
This was followed by news of several more cuts on Friday. The most surprising of these names was Lance Anoa’i, member of the famous Anoa’i family and cousin to names such as Roman Reigns and The Rock.
Lance was signed to a development deal back in November 2024. He had wrestled in several matches for the company as an enhancement talent before his signing, but Anoa’i surprisingly did not compete in any sanctioned matches during his development run.
The 33-year-old took to Twitter to announce the news, noting that he hasn’t had the best of luck since arriving in the company. Though he confirmed that he won’t be leaving wrestling and he will be back in the indie circuit when his non compete clause expires in 30 days.
Other names who confirmed their exit from the company as well include WWE LFG and Evolve competitors Jamar Hampton and Drako Knox, as well as Evolve General Manager Stevie Turner.
While not confirmed officially, Sean Ross Sapp of Fightful is reporting that former NXT North American and Tag Team Champion Wes Lee is also among the names released from the company.
Many of these names have taken to social media to comment on their departure, expressing their gratitude for the opportunity as well as addressing their future. You can check out their posts below:
I would officially announce my departure from WWE! I didn’t have the best of luck since I arrived! I will not let this stop me from achieving to be great! I’ve worked hard on the indies for 15 years! Now let’s get back to work! 30days Accepting bookings [email protected]
Former WWE Women’s World Champion IYO SKY has reflected on what she considers the greatest moment of her career: her successful championship defense at WrestleMania 41. The “Genius of the Sky” walked into the biggest event of the year as champion and faced two of the most dominant women in the industry, Rhea Ripley and Bianca Belair, in a high-stakes Triple Threat match on night two of the spectacular.
The victory was historic on multiple levels. SKY became the first Japanese woman to win a match at WrestleMania, etching her name in the record books alongside her successful defense of WWE’s most prestigious women’s title. For a wrestler who began her career performing in front of mere dozens of fans in Japan’s independent circuit, the moment represented the culmination of a remarkable journey.
In a recent interview with The Japan Times, the 35-year-old Kamakura native looked back on that historic night and emphasized the significance of representing her home country on such a massive global stage. The match itself showcased why many consider SKY among WWE’s elite performers, as she notes the caliber of her opponents elevated the entire experience beyond just winning.
“I’m apparently the first Japanese woman to win at WrestleMania,” Sky tells Japan Times. “And since it was also a defence of WWE’s most prestigious title, it was definitely the greatest moment of my life. Not just the result but also being with the best wrestlers in Bianca and Rhea. I was able to take on the best stage, the best performers, the best match, and make the most of history.”
From Japan’s Indies to WWE’s Biggest Stage
SKY’s path to WWE stardom required taking enormous risks. Born Masami Odate, she began wrestling alongside her older sister under the ring names Io and Mio Shirai, respectively, competing across Japan’s independent scene for promotions including Ibuki, JWP Joshi Puroresu, and Sendai Girls’ Pro Wrestling before gaining prominence in 2008-09.
She uprooted her life in Japan in 2018 to join WWE NXT, the organization’s developmental league, where she faced not just physical challenges but technical ones. Unlike Japanese wrestling’s sports-broadcast style where wrestlers focus solely on in-ring action, WWE demanded mastery of television production—playing to cameras, delivering drama, and executing countless simultaneous tasks, all in English.
The transition paid dividends. After years refining her craft through her heel turn and time with the Damage CTRL faction (alongside Asuka, Kairi Sane, Dakota Kai and Bayley), SKY captured her first WWE Women’s Championship in August 2023 by cashing in her Money in the Bank contract against Belair. Her 245-day reign with the Raw Women’s Title followed, before she claimed the Women’s World Championship from Ripley in March.
At Crown Jewel this Saturday, SKY will team with Rhea Ripley to take on Asuka and Kairi Sane—a matchup that brings together multiple generations of Japanese wrestling excellence. It’s a particularly meaningful pairing given that SKY and Asuka once teamed together early in her career, long before either imagined they’d share WWE’s global stage.
Raven has recently spotlighted some of the health issues he has been experiencing as of late which includes living with Parkinson’s disease. This was expressed by the former ECW champion during an interview on The Ariel Helwani Show as Raven delved into some of his present realities after a decorated career in the professional wrestling space.
The former NWA titleholder under the TNA banner spoke about how he is optimistic about his life while also acknowledging that he feels like his behaviors through lifestyle choices were what led him to this present state of health complications. As he delved into the specifics of his condition during the referenced conversation with Helwani, Raven said:
“[I’ve] got early onset Parkinson’s. So if you see me tremoring, that’s why. I’m lucky. It hasn’t affected me too bad.”
“It’s just, when I get anxious, the tremor gets worse, or when I’m really tired and I have a sleep disorder, so it, you know … But I paid to — you know, you got to pay the piper sometimes.”
“You know, you gotta, for all the drugs and alcohol and chair shots I took to the head, you know. You got to pay for the damage at some point.”
Raven’s “Nevermore: The Raven Effect” Documentary Gets November Release
Part of the reason behind the recent round of media appearances that Raven is doing relates to drumming up more attention around a documentary piece on his life. Nevermore: The Raven Effect is set for a broader streaming release date on November 18th through the Amazon Prime platform. The film has had prior showings in select theatres throughout August as well as September.
Weekend screenings of the film will take place in a city that saw many of Raven’s best in-ring moments as the film will be shown in Philadelphia, the home of Extreme Championship Wrestling. The film directed by Geordie Day presents the highs and lows of the former WCW US champion‘s with Raven working closely with Day on the project to capture the baggage of his life along with the revered moments under the spotlight.
The card for the upcoming Saturday Night’s Main Event on November 1 is taking shape, and it includes three title matches According to a new report from Dave Meltzer in the Wrestling Observer Newsletter, the show will feature a WWE Women’s Championship match and a number one contender’s match to determine the next challenger for the Undisputed WWE Championship.
These two bouts will join the planned main event, which is set to see Seth Rollins defend his World Heavyweight Championship against CM Punk. At Crown Jewel, Rollins will face WWE Champion Cody Rhodes in a champion vs. champion showdown for the Crown Jewel Title.
In the women’s division, Tiffany Stratton is scheduled to defend her WWE Women’s Championship against the powerful Jade Cargill. This is their fourth match dating back to SummerSlam, where Stratton went over before a double count out finish on SmackDown and the infamous September 26th episode of SmackDown where they worked a triple threat match.
The other reported match will have major implications for the Undisputed WWE Championship picture. Drew McIntyre is scheduled to go one-on-one with the “Samoan Werewolf,” Jacob Fatu, in a match where the winner will earn a future shot at Cody Rhodes and his championship.
A new report from the Wrestling Observer Newsletter has revealed that WWE is expecting a significant presence of “leading political figures” at John Cena’s retirement match, which is scheduled to take place at a special Saturday Night’s Main Event on December 13 in Washington, D.C. The event, which will be built around the final in-ring appearance of the 17-time world champion, is being positioned by the company as a major, mainstream spectacle.
According to the report from Dave Meltzer, WWE is inviting and expecting a “ton of people from the White House” to be at the show. It was noted that while President Donald Trump has not yet confirmed his attendance, his schedule would allow for it, as he is slated to be at the Army-Navy football game in nearby Baltimore, Maryland, earlier that day. The report also clarified the opponent for Cena’s final match and the potential storyline to get there.
Meltzer wrote, “Right now the belief is there will be a ton of people from the White House at the show, but Trump is undecided at the moment, but a lot of major people have already told WWE they are coming.”
Cena will battle AJ Styles this Saturday at Crown Jewel before he moves onto Survivor Series: WarGames, where he is expected to take on Intercontinental Championship Dominik Mysterio.
The WWE star has been vocal about not wanting to wrestle in his 50s. The 48-year-old has reiterated on multiple occasions that he plans to retire before his 50th birthday in 2027.
The Phenomenal One once again addressed the topic during his appearance on WWE Crown Jewel Kickoff show from Australia before SmackDown. He said that he wants to spend more time with family now:
“I’m getting old, folks. Listen, if I could find the fountain of youth and take a couple sips, I’d wrestle for the rest of my life, but I am getting older. The fear of embarrassing myself is getting closer.
You know what? There comes a time in a man’s life when he has to take care of business, but when business is done, it’s time to take care of his family. I need to spend time with my family.”
AJ Styles explained that he has fulfilled his goals in the business. What’s left for him is to retire with grace, which he will do in 2026:
“The whole idea with wrestling and having an amazing future in this business is to be able to retire one day, and in 2026, I will retire.”
The wrestling veteran did not reveal a detailed timetable for his retirement, but reports suggest that his current contract expires sometime before WrestleMania 42. So it’s possible that we’ll see his retirement match at the Show of Shows next year.
WWE is listening to its superstars about their presentation.
The company presented the latest episode of SmackDown live from Perth, Australia, for International audiences. One of the interesting things on the show was the return of some old theme songs.
The first instance of this was Shinsuke Nakamura reverting to his original theme music. He made his surprise return on the show while answering Sami Zayn’s US title open challenge.
Later in the night, Street Profits also walked to the ring using their old theme as they challenged the Wyatt Sicks for the WWE Tag Team Championships.
WrestleVotes provided an update on this decision from higher ups, noting that many superstars have been asking for a change to their theme song in recent times:
“As seen & heard on tonight’s SmackDown, a few superstars reverted back to their original entrance themes. Source indicate several superstars have been requesting music changes for some time now, including outspoken names such as Sheamus & Drew McIntyre. Time will tell if all those requests are eventually granted.”
As seen & heard on tonight’s SmackDown, a few superstars reverted back to their original entrance themes. Source indicate several superstars have been requesting music changes for some time now, including outspoken names such as Sheamus & Drew McIntyre. Time will tell if all…
It’s unknown if WWE has more theme song switches in the works but fans have been vocal about their dislike for Def Rebel produced music in recent times.
Both Nakamura and the Street Profits were unsuccessful in their title quests. The Profits lost the bout while Nakamura’s match ended in DQ after another returning name attacked him during the show. You can check out more about it here.
Solo Sikoa had been hyping a change to his group the last few weeks on WWE programming. It was finally revealed on this week’s episode of SmackDown that came live from Australia for international audience.
Shinsuke Nakamura first made his surprise return to answer Sami Zayn’s US title open challenge. The Japanese star almost won the match with a Kinshasa but the defending champion somehow remained in the match.
A hooded figure then showed up at the ringside and sent Nakamura over the barricade. He got into the ring and attacked Sami. Removing the hood, the figure revealed himself to be none other than a returning Tama Tonga.
Tonga Loa, JC Mateo, and Talla Tonga then came out. They first surrounded the ring and then went on to deliver a beating to both Sami Zayn and Shinsuke Nakamura before the group’s leader Solo Sikoa strolled into the arena and posed with their bodies to end the segment.
Tama Tonga had been out of action since before WrestleMania 41 due to an undisclosed injury. He was written off TV during the April 18 episode of SmackDown with an attack from LA Knight.
Sami had beat Sikoa to win the US championship during the August 29 episode of the Blue Branded show. After today’s attack, it seems this rivalry is not ending anytime soon.
Alex Hammerstone spent more than 600 days as MLW World Champion and became the first-ever Openweight Champion. Despite all these accomplishments, the 34-year-old powerhouse returned back to the company with a chip on his shoulder. He was motivated to turn heads and test himself against the best on the roster. His latest match against Matt Riddle at Slaughterhouse, even though the result didn’t land the way the star hoped.
“I didn’t want my night ending getting hit in the ball bag, but at the same time I went out there with the guy who had the company’s number one prized championship for the last year, and I took him to the limit and proved I am the greatest champion this company has ever had,” he said.
“I beat the crap out of Matt Riddle for 15 minutes, and I think I did so in quite a dominant fashion that hasn’t been done up to this point. So, I was very happy to display that. Obviously, to get the match of the night bonus was such a cool thing. It’s not only great to get some extra money in your pocket but to have that feeling that the work you’re putting in is appreciated. Sometimes you give a lot and a lot and wonder if anyone is even noticing. Is the hard work paying off? Is there any point to this? Little things go a long way.”
The athlete stepped away from MLW for more than a year to see what opportunities were out there. This included a stint with TNA and even an appearance on WWE NXT. The dedicated performer described the time before returning home with some good and not so good experiences.
“One thing I really learned was the value of having something that you can sink your teeth into where you can get creative and excited about,” Hammerstone said. “There were a couple of months during that time away I had nothing. I was kind of floating around. When that happens, it’s a very dangerous spot for a professional wrestler because this isn’t an industry where you can come into work, clock in and work 9 to 5. You have to be inspired and have to be excited to be creative and to be able to put forth something people are going to be captivated by where it resonates.
“When I lost all that passion, it’s sort of a vicious cycle because not only was I stuck in the spot where nothing was good happening for me, but my mind started losing interest and confidence and all these things in myself where I started putting forth my best effort. If I’m not putting in my best effort, there will probably be less opportunities for me. It snowballed in that direction So when I talked to MLW about coming back, we talked about avoiding that and going in the direction where I want to enjoy this and be doing something I ‘m passionate about and strongly about and get those gears turning again. It really has revived my passion. I feel like I’m firing on all cylinders right home, which is great because there was a time I wasn’t.”
Hammerstone looks to channel the renewed motivation in helping take MLW to the next level. He feels this time around is a little different than when the Arizonian was under a long-term contract. However the job remains the same.
“I’m very invested in the product. For every ounce they want to put into me, I’m going to pay that back ten-fold,” Hammerstone explained. “I want to be part of this company growing again. MLW had some ups and downs, boom periods and lulls, a lot of things really negatively affected it. I feel like in 2020 we were at our peak. We were on TV, doing pay-per-views and COVD nuked it. Coming out of that formation of AEW and stuff starting companies started locking up talent and all these factors. Now we’re here back in the company and feeling things out I’m seeing the product is better than ever. I think the potential for growth is huge. I just want to do whatever I can to contribute to that.”
During the short time back, Hammerstone has seen other alums arrive back on the scene. Among them was the shocking appearance of AEW’s MJF. The Dynasty members shared some brief time together. Will we see this again? Could this be the beginning for more collaboration between the two companies?
“That was a very unexpected situation and a very pleasant surprise,” Hammerstone responded. “ It’s always great to see Max. It just shows how different the wrestling landscape has change. You would never have ever had that happen years ago. It was really cool.
“As far as what that can mean for AEW and MLW, I don’t necessarily think it will flourish into some full-on partnership. It obviously goes to show though to some degree the companies are willing to work with each other when it means good business. If that means me crossing over there or more of their stars crossing here, the doors are always open. It’s just about stepping on through it.”
One familiar face we do know coming back to MLW is Karrion Kross and Scarlett Bordeaux. The power couple look to return after three years during the MLW x Don Gato live show on November 20 from the Charleston Music Hall Thunder Studios Arena in Charleston, South Carolina. The event will air on YouTube and beIN Sports.
“I have tons of history with Kross. I was around when he first started training. I’ve wrestled him a ton of times in different locations. I’m a huge fan of his. I think he is one of the most charismatic wrestlers I’ve ever encountered in my entire life,” Hammerstone said.
“Any time he is a part of it’s exciting. His first go around in MLW we never got to touch or interact. Who knows? Maybe things could be different this time around. I think it’s a match fans will always be entertained with. With that being said, it goes to show the talent pool is deep and getting deeper. It’s more signal to me that I have to f*ck’in stay on my toes.”
Hammerstone is excited for the momentum MLW continues to build. He feels optimistic for what’s to come in terms of the promotion’s future.
“We can all say we want a weekly television deal and pay-per-view. Who knows? There is some talk behind the scenes about things being worked out. I’m not saying we have to do one thing. I just want to mostly see what I’m already seeing,” he said. “That’s a locker room full of people who are showing up to create something special. The vibe back there is a team of guys trying to keep the best wrestling product out there…the talent is undeniable.
“I’ve sat there and watched the show and every match had something that blew me away. I just want that to continue and this group of guys, a mix of young hungry guys with talented veterans, international stars, all providing their own flavor. I want us to keep doing it. That’s going to steer the ship exactly where it needs to go.”
The final card has been locked in for TNA Wrestling’s biggest pay-per-view of the year, Bound For Glory, which takes place this Sunday, October 12. A new championship match has been added to the “Countdown to Bound For Glory” pre-show, as the new TNA Knockouts World Tag Team Champions, The IInspiration (Cassie Lee & Jessica McKay), will defend their championships in an immediate rematch against the former champions, Heather by Elegance and M by Elegance. The IInspiration captured the championships just last week on TNA Impact, and this pre-show encounter will be their first official defense.
The “Countdown to Bound For Glory” pre-show will stream for free on TNA’s YouTube channel and other digital platforms starting at 6:00 PM Eastern, with the main card beginning at 7:00 PM Eastern on pay-per-view and TNA+. The final card for TNA Bound for Glory is below:
TNA World Championship Match: Trick Williams (champion) vs. Mike Santana
Tables Match for the TNA & NXT Tag Team Championships: The Hardys (Matt Hardy and Jeff Hardy) (champions) vs. Team 3D (Bully Ray and Brother Devon)
TNA Knockouts World Championship Match: Kelani Jordan (champion) vs. Indi Hartwell
Hardcore War: Order 4 (Mustafa Ali, Special Agent Zero, Jason Hotch, John Skyler, Tasha Steelz) vs. The System (Eddie Edwards, Moose, Brian Myers, JDC, Alisha Edwards)
TNA International Championship Match: Frankie Kazarian (champion) vs. Steve Maclin
TNA X-Division Championship Match: Leon Slater (champion) vs. Je’Von Evans
Call Your Shot Gauntlet Match
Tessa Blanchard vs. Gia Miller
Countdown Pre-Show Match for the TNA Knockouts World Tag Team Championships: The IInspiration (Cassie Lee and Jessie McKay) (champions) vs. The Elegance Brand (Heather by Elegance and M by Elegance)
A current NXT Champion might have suffered a live event injury.
The development brand held a live event in KEMBA Live! in Columbus, Ohio, this Thursday night, featuring names such as DIY, Trick Williams, and Candice LaRae in action. One of the matches on the card saw the current NXT Women’s Champion Jacy Jayne teaming with her Fatal Influence partner Fallon Henley to take on the duo of Sol Ruca and Zaria.
According to fans in attendance, Jayne grabbed her quad towards the ending of the bout and tagged out of the match. Ruca and Zaria then picked up the victory in the bout. After the bell, the referee threw up the X sign, indicating a legitimate injury, and the NXT Champion had to be helped to the back by the medical staff.
The same show also featured the WWE in-ring return of Omos after more than a year. He defeated Lexis King in a singles match at the show. The Giant had not competed under the WWE banner since the April 5, 2024 episode of SmackDown where he was part of the Andre The Giant memorial battle royal.
Not much is known about Jayne’s status at the moment so it’s hard to say if she’ll be missing any time from the ring or what the future holds for the Women’s title.
The adage of ‘never say never’ may often be true in pro-wrestling, but AJ Styles has vowed to never face John Cena after they battle at Crown Jewel: Perth. Speaking on the WWE Crown Jewel: Perth Preview, Styles said nothing, not even a high-profile pay-day at a WWE event in Saudi Arabia, could change his mind.
“I am happy to get the opportunity to face John one more time and I can tell you this. It will never happen again. I don’t care how much money, they offer us… We are NOT going to Saudi Arabia to have another match. You know, this is it man.”
Styles and Cena first collided in 2016 and would have a series of acclaimed matches at Premium Live Events. At the 2017 Royal Rumble, Cena defeated Styles to capture his 16th WWE World Championship, tying a record with Ric Flair that John would break earlier this year.
Cena will end his in-ring career this December and Styles is convinced that no amount of money will coax John to make a one-off return. As for AJ, he has been open about his career being in its twilight, though has yet to give a date as to when he will hang up his boots.
Cena Vs. Styles in Perth will see two of WWE’s very best facing off one final time. And for AJ Styles, this final match with Cena will indeed be the FINAL time they face.
WWE is a company that operates programming 52 weeks a year, making them far different from movies or other high-profile TV shows. While many believe WWE would benefit from an ‘off-season,’ NXT’s Robert Stone has rejected the idea.
Speaking to The Wrestling History channel, Stone was asked about a potential off-season. For Stone, WWE’s programming is too well-established in history to undergo such a dramatic change.
“It [operating every week] is the only thing I’ve ever known, that every wrestling fan’s ever known. It’s always been like that, right? So I think to take that away [would be difficult.]”
If WWE ever did implement an off-season, one of the biggest questions would be when to take the company off the air. Many have suggested that WrestleMania could serve as a natural season finale, but Stone believes that would mean losing one of WWE’s most exciting traditions.
“That Raw [after WrestleMania] is one of the most exciting Raws of the year that people look forward to. So after the big shows when you’re saying it could potentially end and there be a break, I think those next episodes of Raw and Smackdown are the ones that everybody wants to see the most.”
WWE has implemented a number of changes in recent years, including in-ring canvas advertisements and other promotional innovations. Whether TKO ever considers introducing an off-season remains to be seen—but for now, Robert Stone is firmly against the idea.
Two more WWE names have signed with the Paradigm Talent Agency, as the company continues to grow its portfolio of pro wrestlers. According to Sports Business Journal, Paradigm has signed NXT star and current TNA Knockouts World Champion Kelani Jordan, along with WWE LFG season two winner Shiloh Hill. The pair are the first developmental talents in WWE to sign with Paradigm.
Paradigm will support the pair in contract negotiations, as well as with branding outside of the ring and media opportunities. Speaking to SBJ, Paradigm agent Nick LoPiccolo spoke highly of the connection to WWE.
“Paradigm is bullish on WWE talent because the marketplace dictates the demand. If the marketplace takes a turn, we will be at the forefront of that cultural change.”
Paradigm launched its sports initiative in November 2024, after brokering the Jake Paul Vs. Mike Tyson fight on Netflix. Jordan and Hill join CM Punk, Drew McIntyre, Damian Priest, Sheamus, Jade Cargill, Liv Morgan, and Alexa Bliss, among other WWE names, to sign with Paradigm.
It remains to be seen what opportunities await Hill and Jordan now they are being represented by Paradigm. For now, it’s clear that the duo are ready to make major moves in and out of the ring.
Raja Jackson has pleaded not guilty to charges related to the incident with Syko Stu. Appearing in court on Thursday, October 9, Jackson made his plea after being charged with one count of felony battery that caused serious bodily injury and one count of misdemeanor battery.
“Wearing a black shirt, black pants and black tie … Raja stared ahead as he strolled into the building flanked by men who appeared to be his lawyers. Prosecutors say he’s facing up to seven years behind bars if convicted on the felony count, and up to six more months if convicted on the misdemeanor.”
Jackson did not offer any comment to TMZ when he was approached after his appearance. Jackson is the son of UFC alum Quinton ‘Rampage’ Jackson, who appeared for TNA Wrestling in 2013 as a member of the Main Event Mafia.
At a KnokXPro event, Raja legitimately knocked Syko Stu out and delivered a series of shots to the head of an unconscious Stu. Jackson was arrested on felony charges in September and KnokXPro has since lost its status as a WWE ID affiliate.
This incident shows why trust between wrestlers is essential as those in the ring need to know that the other is prioritizing their safety. Stay tuned to SEScoops for updates.
