MLW World Heavyweight Champion Matt Riddle has come under fire after no-showing a charity wrestling event in the UK and failing to return his deposit to the promotion. Riddle was scheduled to face Simon Miller at Global Wrestling Kingdom’s inaugural show “A New Kingdom Rises” on Sunday, August 31, in Barnsley, England.
The event, opened by the Mayor of Barnsley, was raising funds for Survivors of Bereavement by Suicide (SOBS) and Help 4 Homeless Veterans. According to Cultaholic, Riddle was booked months ago through his manager but recently expressed concerns about his “cheap” flights and unhappiness about staying in a Barnsley hotel for two days.
Global Wrestling Kingdom attempted to arrange paid seminars to help offset his travel costs, but were unable to finalize anything on short notice. Despite never formally canceling his booking, Riddle never traveled to the UK. A driver was left waiting hours for his arrival at the airport.
Riddle later messaged the promotion claiming he had accepted another booking but would “potentially” still make the show, then stopped responding to further communications. The no-show forced the promotion to issue refunds for meet-and-greet packages, with Grado stepping in to replace Riddle against Miller in the main event. Sources indicate Riddle has yet to return his deposit.
Instead of appearing in Barnsley, Riddle was spotted backstage at Real American Freestyle’s event on August 30 and competed at Boca Raton Championship Wrestling in Florida on August 31.
This marks the second no-show controversy for Riddle in 2025, after he failed to appear at a Championship Wrestling from Memphis event in January to attend Nick Hogan’s wedding.
AEW’s residency at Philadelphia’s 2300 Arena continues tonight with AEW Dynamite live on TBS and HBO Max in the US and on AEW Plus internationally.
Confirmed Matches & Segments
TBS Championship Match: Mercedes Moné (c) vs. Alex Windsor
All-Star 8-Man Tag: ‘Hangman’ Adam Page, Kenny Omega & JetSpeed (Kevin Knight & Mike Bailey) vs. Kyle Fletcher, Josh Alexander & The Young Bucks (Matt & Nick Jackson)
Taz to be honored: Special segment for Taz and the 2300 Arena Hardcore Hall of Fame
Tonight’s AEW Dynamite continues the road to the promotion’s next pay-per-view event, AEW All Out 2025 on Saturday, September 20, 2025, at Scotiabank Arena in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. This marks the first time All Out will be held outside the Chicago area and the United States. As of this writing, the only confirmed bout for that card is Adam Copeland & Christian Cage vs. FTR (Dax Harwood & Cash Wheeler).
Vince McMahon’s 2023 return changed WWE for the worse.
The former WWE owner announced his retirement from the company in July 2022 in light of hush money allegations. This exile only lasted 6 months however, as McMahon forced his way back in the promotion in early 2023. He would go on to sell the company to Endeavor who merged it with UFC under the TKO banner.
During a recent interview with PWMania, former WWE star Doc Gallows talked about the environment of the locker room at the time. Gallows with his tag team partner Karl Anderson was one of the names brought back by Triple H during Vince’s hiatus. According to him, the backstage environment was very different when McMahon was not there:
“Yeah, when we came back in October of 2022, it felt great. It felt fresh. It felt new. Then, a few short months later, we’re in New York and we’re getting ready to leave the building and a limousine pulls up and we see a moustachioed man pop out and it was Vince McMahon coming back for the first time, we happened to see him in the parking garage.”
Doc Gallows explained that Vince McMahon’s sudden return changed everything and things got very weird because of all the transition that was happening:
“I don’t know what goes on behind closed doors there, but from that point on, everything certainly got weird. Whether it was the Vince thing and then the eventual sale to TKO, and however that timeline worked. But, you know, you could feel the winds of change.”
While the Good Brothers remained with the company even after Vince’s exit from TKO, their TV role was reduced by a lot upon his return. Gallows mentioned that it was like wearing golden handcuffs, as they were still getting paid without getting the chance to perform. The former champions were released from the company in February this year.
Effective in September with Wrestlepalooza, WWE’s PLEs are, in the United States, transitioning from Peacock to ESPN. More than a platform change, the move comes with an upcharge. While lots of fans had access to Peacock through different bundles or special extended subscription deals that kept the price well under ten dollars monthly, ESPN’s new platform carries a $30/month price tag that has left a lot of fans cold.
Some have pointed out that in the traditional pay per view days, WWE charged upwards of $50 for even B-level PPVs, and the new price point still undercuts what AEW offers for its own specials. Indeed, the price is in some ways more consistent with the larger wrestling market and history. Still, it’s a tough pill to swallow for fans who aren’t otherwise invested in what ESPN has to offer to think about paying more than twice as much each month to follow the major shows.
Nobody wants to pay more for the same product, but is it possible that what WWE has planned will justify the the price hike?
The Move To ESPN Has Left Some Fans Miffed
In 2014, WWE launched the WWE Network. In what, in hindsight, feels like an inflection point between cable TV dominance and the age of streaming, a lot of fans weren’t sure what to make of the move, but the $9.99/month price point was undeniably a solid deal for monthly PLEs and a previously inaccessible library of past events.
While the general consensus was that Peacock was a poorer service for quality of live streaming, the fact that it came with a larger streaming platform of popular programming like The Office at essentially the same subscription price made the transition painless or even favorable to some fans. The move to ESPN comes with a price hike that may seem beneficial to wrestling fans who also follow other major sports at a serious level. For those who do not, however, the transition feels like more money for less content.
Triple H Books Well Under Pressure
Cody Rhodes and Triple H. Photo: WWE.com
The general consensus is that Triple H has performed well as the head of creative for WWE. As time marches forward, though, he does have his critics, who point out that weekly television has lost its momentum. Moreover, while fans were initially high on scaling back the marathon PLE format, shows with only five or even four announced matches have started to feel underdeveloped and like there’s too much filler in between the action. The COO has also come under fire for under-featuring black talent, particularly in the men’s singles ranks.
Some growing pains are to be expected. Triple H went from booking developmental where change was the name of the game with talents getting promoted to the main roster or released, while new names were always on their way in. In 2022, The Game had to pick up from everything Vince McMahon had already set in motion, which presented a mixture of its own advantages and challenges. 2023 saw Helmsley get to more fully pursue his own vision, but two years in some of the novelty has worn off, and new competing factors like TKO ownership and The Rock’s political stroke have added more layers of complication.
At the highest pressure moments, though, Triple H has tended to deliver. Whether it was sinking or swimming the first time he had his own territory to book in NXT, or elevating The Bloodline to greatness while also finishing Cody Rhodes’s story, The Game has lived up to the biggest moments in his creative thinking and leadership. This move to ESPN feels a lot like another inflection point, when fans hang from a precipice on whether they can justifying paying three times as much to follow WWE PLEs.
If The PLE Quality Meets The Price Increase, Everyone Might Win
Whether it’s the low match-count, the quality of the in-ring action, or the overarching creative, WWE has drawn mixed reactions for its PLE output in 2025. It’s hard to deny the product is much better than it was in the final stages of Vince McMahon’s leadership. Just the same, the overarching fanship’s honeymoon period with Triple H has come to a close.
Monthly PPV and monthly PLE streams have led to their share of lackluster major shows in between bangers. With fans paying thirty dollars a month, though, it stands to reason Triple H and his roster might feel the weight of responsibility to give fans their money’s worth.
No doubt, some fans will not make the jump to ESPN because the extra money simply isn’t in their budget. Meanwhile, other fans with some combination of the expendable income and diehard commitment to WWE will. As for everyone else in between, WWE can make the price hike worth their while with improved quality, slightly extending the match cards, finding their way to another hot streak of booking and delivering month in and month out.
How will WWE’s move to ESPN play out in the long run? Only time will tell. But while no one wants to pay more money to follow wrestling, WWE has a unique opportunity to make the investment worthwhile with some of its best output ever.
On the September 2, episode of WWE NXT, #DIY made a surprise return to the silver brand, confronting TNA World Champion Trick Williams. The segment resulted in Williams, also a former NXT Champion, being laid out, but now he’s ready to provide some history of his own.
Backstage, an irate Trick was seen leaving the arena and was asked for his thoughts on the two-on-one attack. With #DIY both being names associated from NXT’s past, Williams teased that he may bring some “history” of his own when he confronts the tag team next week.
“DIY? What they think I’m gonna let that slide… Y’all the only two around here with some history? Don’t worry about it. Imma see y’all next week! Yeah.”
Trick’s comments instantly led fans online to speculate who he plans to bring from NXT’s history, and Carmelo Hayes was the most popular suggestion. Melo and Trick were long-time allies in NXT before Carmelo turned on him, kicking off a feud that elevated Trick into the main event scene. With both men now heels, it remains to be seen if Melo is indeed the one returning, especially given his ongoing SmackDown unit with The Miz.
The September 9, episode of WWE NXT promises a lot, including Trick’s ‘history,’ a flag match, and a women’s triple-threat tag match for a shot at the Women’s Tag Titles. Stay tuned to SEScoops for the latest, as Trick Williams will be ready the next time he comes face-to-face with #DIY.
Nick Hogan has filed a lawsuit against Bubba the Love Sponge over a documentary made by the latter about the late Hulk Hogan, TMZ Sports reports. According to the report, Nick filed the lawsuit on Tuesday in a Florida federal court after Bubba announced plans to release Video Killed The Radio Star: The Untold Story Of The Hulk Hogan Sex Tape Scandal. Bubba intends to release the doc later this month.
The lawsuit alleges that the project revisits the infamous 2012 controversy involving Hulk Hogan and Bubba’s then-wife, Heather Clem. It further claims the documentary unlawfully uses images from the sex tape, even including clips in a recently released promotional trailer.
The suit also claims that Bubba has been marketing the film using Hogan’s trademarks without the authorization of the Hogan estate. Nick adds that that releasing the project would breach a confidential settlement agreement reached in 2012 between Bubba and Hulk Hogan. That year, Hogan sued Bubba and Clem for invasion of privaxy and the lawsuit was later settled.
In the infamous sex-tape that would forever alter the legacy of the Hulkster, Hogan shares his racial comments to Clem. The tape would result in WWE firing Hogan and kicking him out of the Hall of Fame, though that was only revealed in 2018 upon his return to the Hall of Fame.
Nick is suing to stop the release of the documentary as well as for other unspecified damages. Stay tuned to SEScoops for the latest on this developing story.
A couple of legendary NXT names have returned in their old avatar.
This week’s episode the development brand featured a segment with the TNA World Champion Trick Williams. The NXT star claimed that the brand’s alumni did not care about NXT and he didn’t blame them because he won’t care when he gets called up either.
This prompted the return of Johnny Gargano & Tommaso Ciampa. The duo, collectively known as #DIY, not only used their old theme song but they brought back their old merchandise for the surprise NXT return as well.
Gargano mentioned that it was the ten-year anniversary of their NXT debut and claimed that the two former champions still care about the show.
The legendary tag team then talked about their accomplishments in the brand and discussed how it has been home of many great superstars over the years, referencing names such as Finn Balor, Bayley and even The Undisputed Era.
The segment ended with Gargano and Ciampa taking down Williams with Meet In The Middle and then hyping up the NXT crowd.
DIY were one of the faces of the NXT brand during its Black & Gold era. They had a run with the NXT tag titles and between them, the two share 3 NXT title reigns and 3 reigns with the North American Championship.
The audience at the September 2, edition of WWE NXT were thrilled when they thought The Undertaker was appearing, only to have their dreams crushed by Josh Briggs. During the show, Je’Von Evans appeared and apologized to the crowd for not winning the NXT Championship from Oba Femi at WWE Heatwave.
As Evans spoke, the titantron showed a motorcycle-riding individual arrival and many believed it would be The Undertaker. Though Evans shared his doubts, the fans cheered loudly at the sound of an all-familiar gong, confident that the WWE Hall of Famer was making a surprise appearance.
Instead of the Phenom, it was Josh Briggs, who earned boos from the crowd due to his fake-out. Briggs said that Evans would never be good enough to be NXT Champion, and when Evans tried to attack Josh, Briggs laid him out.
With The Undertaker appearing for WWE NXT multiple times over the past year, it’s no wonder why some fans were convinced that the Deadman was around. Ultimately, that wasn’t meant to be, as Josh Briggs not only got one over on Je’Von Evans in the ring, but also got one over on the fans.
The August 29, episode of WWE SmackDown will go down in history, albeit not for the right reasons. Programming Insider reports that the shoiw averaged 1.147 million viewers for the USA Network, down from the previous week’s 1.258 million. This number is also the lowest viewership for a non-preempted episode of WWE SmackDown in the history of the blue brand.
The show took place at the LDLC Arena in Lyon, France, and due to the time difference, the show’s results were well known by the time the show aired in the United States. Highlights of the show include Sami Zayn’s U.S. Title win, John Cena and Logan Paul coming face-to-face, Michin’s quick victory over Kiana James and a huge brawl between Drew McIntyre and Randy Orton.
This is certainly a record that WWE did not want, and it remains to be seen how the company will respond to this low rating. Stay tuned to SEScoops for the latest from WWE SmackDown.
A new report suggests that a major return to the WWE ring is on the horizon. According to Bryan Alvarez of the Wrestling Observer, former three-time Divas Champion AJ Lee is reportedly preparing for an in-ring comeback at the WWE WrestlePalooza Premium Live Event on Saturday, September 20. The return would mark her first match in more than ten years and would place her directly into one of the company’s top storylines.
The plan, according to the report, is for AJ Lee to team with her husband, CM Punk, in a mixed tag team match against the duo of World Heavyweight Champion Seth Rollins and WWE Women’s Intercontinental Champion Becky Lynch. This potential matchup is a direct follow-up to the controversial conclusion of the main event at this past weekend’s Clash in Paris event.
In that match, Becky Lynch interfered and delivered a low blow to CM Punk, which allowed Seth Rollins to score the victory and retain his championship. The angle immediately sparked speculation that it was designed to facilitate a return for AJ Lee to even the odds against Lynch.
If the match is finalized, it would be AJ Lee’s first since the March 30, 2015, episode of Monday Night RAW. After retiring from the ring, she has had limited involvement in the wrestling industry, most recently serving as an executive producer and commentator for WOW – Women of Wrestling from 2021 to 2023. It was also recently reported that her name has been discussed more frequently within WWE creative, with one higher-up reportedly unconcerned about her long layoff, citing CM Punk’s own successful return as a precedent.
WWE Hall of Famer Lex Luger has provided another positive update on his ongoing recovery from the spinal injury that has had him in a wheelchair for over a decade. In a new interview, “The Total Package” stated that he is making “great progress” and has teased that there is a “surprise finish” still to come in his story.
While speaking to Denise Salcedo of Instinct Culture, Luger was asked about the work he has been putting in with his longtime friend, Diamond Dallas Page, and the DDPY Yoga program. He gave high praise to Page and the team that has been helping him regain his mobility. Luger’s journey has been a long and difficult one. However, is determination has led to some incredible moments in recent months, including walking to the stage for his WWE Hall of Fame induction.
“I’ve been working with DDP and DDPY Yoga and the people he’s put in my life and the work he’s put in with me. He’s a very special friend, and I encourage anybody that his programs are unbelievable,” Luger said. “So, yeah, we’re making great progress. We got a surprise finish. The story’s not done yet, so we got a surprise finish for everybody coming up. We’re making a lot of progress. It’s real exciting.”
The “surprise finish” he teased has fans buzzing about what the next milestone in his recovery could be. In a video that was released earlier this month, Luger was seen walking around a kitchen island completely without support. Luger has been primarily confined to a wheelchair since suffering a spinal injury in 2007. His work with Diamond Dallas Page has been a long-term project, focused on improving his mobility and overall quality of life.
His induction into the WWE Hall of Fame earlier this year as part of the Class of 2025 was a long-awaited honor for one of the top stars of the 1990s.
Ric Flair weighed in on recent wrestling controversies, from viral backstage incidents to potential legend returns, in his latest interview with eScapist.
Missing Context in Raja Jackson Incident
Regarding the viral Raja Jackson attack on Syko Stu that shocked the wrestling community, Flair suggested crucial context may be missing from public accounts.
I’m very close to Rampage and I tried calling him, but obviously he wasn’t taking calls,” Flair revealed. “You never know the extent of what happened if you weren’t there. We’re probably missing several key components to what happened.”
The Nature Boy emphasized his own approach to in-ring discipline: “I’ve never lost my cool in the ring. I’ve had to punch some guys back like Vader, just because he was always trying to rough me up. One punch and then everybody calms down, smooth it over.”
Jericho Return Unlikely
When addressing persistent speculation about Chris Jericho’s potential WWE return, Flair expressed doubt that Y2J would receive the farewell treatment given to John Cena. “Of course I do hope he gets one final run, because Chris Jericho has meant a lot to the business. But I don’t think he’ll get it,” he stated. “I would doubt very seriously if he’d get the kind of deal that John Cena got.”
Flair also briefly addressed the recent passing of Hulk Hogan, choosing to focus on positive memories rather than engaging with circulating rumors.
Twenty-one-year-old German wrestler Bozilla has received widespread praise from wrestling talent following her breakout performance at AEW x NJPW Forbidden Door on August 24 at London’s O2 Arena, including recognition from WWE NXT Women’s Champion Giulia.
The 5’11” powerhouse made her AEW debut in the TBS Championship fatal four-way match against Mercedes Moné, Alex Windsor, and Persephone, representing STARDOM in the cross-promotional showcase.
In a post-match interview with Bild, Bozilla revealed she received congratulations from WWE’s Giulia following her performance, adding to the praise from AEW talent backstage at the record-breaking event.
“Backstage, I received a lot of praise, even from people who didn’t know me before,” Bozilla said. “My trainer Josh Alexander was proud of me, and Will Ospreay was also thrilled.”
Most notably, WWE’s current NXT Women’s Champion Giulia reached out days after the match. “Giulia wrote to me a few days later,” Bozilla revealed.
Despite not winning the championship, Bozilla dominated much of the match and received loud support from the 18,992 fans in attendance. Tony Khan had specifically requested Bozilla to represent STARDOM, calling her “my very first choice.”
“I’m 21, I’ve only been doing this full-time since May 2024 – and I’m standing here. What else is there to come?!” Bozilla reflected.
Ric Flair delivered scathing critiques of today’s wrestling generation while rejecting recent comparisons to current stars in an exclusive interview with eScapist.
Flair Rejects Gunther Comparisons
When asked about Bret Hart’s recent comparisons between Gunther and himself, the Nature Boy quickly dismissed the notion. “If you’re comparing him to me, come on, there’s levels to the game,” Flair stated. While acknowledging Gunther’s impressive look and facial expressions, Flair made it clear he hasn’t watched enough to warrant such comparisons to his legendary career.
Modern Wrestling Lacks Fundamentals
The 16-time World Champion was particularly critical when discussing Karrion Kross’s recent WWE release, pointing to a fundamental problem he sees plaguing modern wrestlers.
“The problem today with a lot of the guys is they can do all this fancy sh*t, but they don’t have any fundamentals,” Flair explained. “They can’t punch, they can’t kick. They can’t remember to work their way to the center of the ring. They don’t know where to go, they don’t have facial expressions.”
The Nature Boy’s comments suggest a growing disconnect between veteran perspectives and modern wrestling’s athletic evolution.
However, Flair had nothing but praise for Logan Paul’s rapid development under Shawn Michaels’ guidance, crediting the Hall of Famer’s training methods for the celebrity wrestler’s success.
Drake has revealed that his social media feeds are filled with content of one of WWE’s top stars, Rhea Ripley. In a new interview, the rap superstar called the former Women’s World Champion his “muse.”
The revelation came during an appearance on Bobbi Althoff’s YouTube channel, a platform known for its candid and often humorous interviews with top celebrities. While discussing his Instagram account and what his “For You” page looks like, Drake made the surprising admission about the WWE superstar. The comment immediately caught the attention of the wrestling world.
“My FYP page is just all Rhea Ripley. She’s a wrestler. She’s like my muse [source of inspiration] but… I’m the opposite of probably everything that she likes in life,” Drake said.
This is not the first time the Grammy-winning artist has shown his appreciation for the WWE superstar. Earlier in 2025, eagle-eyed fans noticed that Drake had “liked” a mirror selfie that Ripley had posted on her Instagram account, a small social media interaction that sparked a great deal of buzz among the WWE Universe at the time.
Drake’s interest in the WWE product is not new. The Toronto native was in attendance for the 2025 Elimination Chamber premium live event, which was held in his home country of Canada.
Eric Bischoff is having the time of his life with his new freestyle wrestling venture, Real American Freestyle. In a new interview with Sports Illustrated’s Undisputed, Bischoff, who serves as the promotion’s Chief Media Officer, shared his excitement and gratitude following the company’s successful debut show in Cleveland.
“I’m having the television producer’s equivalent of an after-sex cigarette,” Bischoff said. “I’m so absolutely grateful for [co-founders] Chad Bronstein, Israel Martinez… This has been the most fun thing I’ve ever done.” The new promotion is an organization that aims to give amateur wrestlers a pathway to a professional career.
The promotion’s first event also served as a tribute to the late Hulk Hogan, who was slated to be the commissioner of the group before his passing in July. The show featured a WWE-produced tribute video and an appearance by Hogan’s son, Nick. Bischoff made sure to credit Hogan for his involvement. “I wouldn’t be here without a phone call from Hulk,” he said.
Looking ahead, the promotion’s next show is expected to take place on November 8 on Fox Nation and will feature a match between MMA legends Tito Ortiz and Chael Sonnen. With Sonnen, a commentator for the promotion, stepping into the ring, the question was asked to Bischoff if fellow announcer and Olympic Gold Medalist Kurt Angle could do the same.
“Kurt is an elite-of-the-elite level athlete,” Bischoff said. “There is still that competitive drive and desire. We’re seeing it from Tito and Chael, too. I don’t know if Kurt could do it [health wise], but it would be extremely exciting if he did.” The promotion is also planning to launch a weekly series in 2026.
All Elite Wrestling is breaking one of its long-held traditions this November. For the first time, the Thanksgiving eve episode of AEW Dynamite will not be held in the Chicago area. The company has announced that the special holiday episode will instead take place in Nashville, Tennessee.
This marks a notable change for the promotion. With the exception of the pandemic year of 2020, the Chicago area has been the traditional home for the pre-Thanksgiving edition of Dynamite every year since the company was founded in 2019. The show has become a staple for wrestling fans in the “Windy City.”
The Wednesday, November 26 episode of Dynamite will now emanate from The Pinnacle in Nashville. In addition to the live Dynamite broadcast, AEW will also be taping a special Thanksgiving edition of AEW Collision on the same night. Broadcast plans for that episode of Collision have not yet been announced.
The Pinnacle is a newly opened venue in Nashville that has primarily hosted concerts since its opening in February 2025. The state-of-the-art destination features a 4,500-capacity space. The promotional graphic for the event features Women’s World Champion Toni Storm, Men’s World Champion Hangman Page, Tag Team Champions Bandido & Brody King, and Kris Statlander.
Tickets for the Nashville show are scheduled to go on sale to the general public on Monday, September 8, with a presale beginning on September 5. In a related announcement, AEW also confirmed that the go-home edition of Dynamite before the Full Gear pay-per-view will take place on Wednesday, November 19, from the Agganis Arena in Boston.
The Dynamite and Collision broadcasts from Nashville will feature the fallout from the AEW Full Gear pay-per-view, which is being held in New Jersey on Saturday, November 22. Ticket information can be found on AEW’s official website.
AEW FINALLY BREAKING THANKSGIVING TRADITION. ?
For the first time ever, Thanksgiving Eve episodes of Dynamite/Collision will NOT be held in Chicago.
AEW is instead heading to Nashville, TN on Wednesday, November 26 for double TV tapings post-Full Gear PPV. pic.twitter.com/91qjwrEFYP
Jordynne Grace underwent a dramatic physical transformation to become the jacked juggernaut that has been dominating in WWE NXT. Grace’s impressive physique is impossible to ignore, and the former TNA Knockouts World Champion has opened up about her reasoning and the issues she faces to this day.
On the Unlikely podcast, Grace shared all on her physical transformation. What started off as a way for Grace to document her own journey has since become a way to help others.
“Posting my transformation and my story and my progress—that was more for me than for other people. But when I started to see how it was affecting other people and getting them motivated and helping them, then I wanted to do more of it and that’s what kept me going.”
Currently, Grace is feuding with Blake Monroe, who hasn’t shied away from taking shots at Grace’s appearances. In a startling revelation, Grace shared that her storyline with The Glamor is “a very personal one,” and shaed that it is “real” for her.
While Grace has changed herself physically, a mental battle continues to wage on. The former Knockouts World Champion admitted to still facing struggles, though she is working through it.
“Maybe I do look at myself in the mirror sometimes and I still see that same insecure person. But the more important thing is that we can see past that now. Instead of that scaring us, it motivates us into doing something better… I’ve never had to publicly address my insecurities and this has been very therapeutic to be able to do with such a large audience.”
Grace is proving to be a force to be reckoned with on WWE TV and many expect big things for her in the future. Grace’s comments show that the Juggernaut isn’t afraid to share her more personal side, especially if it can help others.
Jordynne Grace has had a whirlwind couple of years, from being TNA’s top woman, to launching the WWE-TNA partnership, to now being a fully-fledged WWE NXT Superstar. Speaking to Adrian Hernandez on the Unlikely podcast, Grace reflected on how things seem to be going from milestone to milestone. She also shared that she doubted she’d make it to WWE but that all changed after the 2024 Women’s Royal Rumble match
“Honestly, it’s been a crazy year… every time I think there’s no way possible this next year could get better, it does. I honestly never thought that I would actually get signed to WWE… TNA was like the ceiling for me, but I broke through my own glass ceiling with the Rumble.”
Grace has competed in two Royal Rumbles, her first as part of the TNA roster and her second being her debut match as a WWE Superstar. Now, the Juggernaut can be found weekly in WWE NXT, and is already making her presence felt for 2026.
“Being in NXT, being on all the major pay-per-views this year is incredible. Being in the video game is awesome. I filmed some lines for 2K26 for next year already—a little spoiler there, but it’s insane.”
Jordynne Grace is no stranger to WWE video games, even though she only officially joined the promotion this year. For WWE 2K23, Grace performed some of the motion capture for the Ivy Nile character model while still being part of the TNA roster. Grace’s work with Nile left an impression as she described the American Made star as “dope.”
Grace hasn’t held gold in WWE yet, but many believe this will come eventually for the popular Superstar. As her star continues to grow, Jordynne Grace is ready to make the most of every moment to come.
The fastest championship in WWE finds a new home tonight as NXT presents the first round of the WWE Women’s Speed Championship Tournament, marking a major shift for the unique 3-minute title.
Tournament Spotlight: LeRae vs. Brookside
The night’s marquee matchup features Candice LeRae taking on Xia Brookside in an opening round match.
LeRae brings serious championship pedigree as the inaugural Women’s Speed Champion, holding the title for a record 189 days after defeating IYO SKY in the original tournament final. The SmackDown veteran knows exactly what it takes to succeed under the pressure of the 3-minute time limit.
Brookside represents the new generation of cross-promotional talent, making her return to WWE programming as a TNA representative. The daughter of wrestling veteran Robbie Brookside, she’s built her reputation on technical excellence and overcoming larger opponents.
The winner advances to face either Faby Apache or Lainey Reid in the next round, with the ultimate prize being a shot at current champion Sol Ruca, who has held the title since April.
This tournament marks the Speed Championship’s evolution from its original X (Twitter) format to becoming an exclusive NXT title, opening competition to wrestlers from Raw, Smackdown, NXT, TNA and AAA.
WWE NXT Preview: September 2, 2025
Candice LeRae vs. Xia Brookside (WWE Speed Tournament first round match)
Lash Legend vs. Jaida Parker (Grudge match)
Eight-Man Tag: Oba Femi, Ricky Saints, Hank & Tank vs. DarkState
The Speed Championship represents WWE’s push toward fast-paced, digital-friendly content designed for streaming audiences. With its strict 3-minute time limit, every second counts, creating an intense viewing experience that showcases athleticism and quick thinking.
NXT General Manager Ava’s announcement of this tournament signals a renewed focus on multi-brand women’s competition, giving female wrestlers from across the wrestling landscape a chance to prove they’re the fastest in the business.
The wrestling world was shocked to learn that Jonathan Gresham had suffered not one but two strokes, raising questions about his future. Now it appears that the former ROH World Champion is rapidly improving in a much-need positive update for his fans.
Appearing on the Unlikely podcast, WWE NXT’s Jordynne Grace shared the good news about her husband.
“Jonathan Gresham let the world know that unfortunately he did have two strokes… He’s actually bounced back incredibly well. Like he’s at 100%.”
In a social media post, Gresham recalled being unable to walk or move the left side of his body. It took him 30 minutes to dial 911 and he would later fall unconscious and wake up in the hospital.
Medical tests confirmed Gresham had experienced two strokes, though doctors were unable to determine a definitive cause. While knowing what caused it would be valuable, Grace is just happy that her husband is better.
“He’s cleared right now to do pretty much everything like work out—everything besides wrestle. They said it’s insane… maybe we’ll never know [why], maybe it was just a COVID complication.”
Gresham’s ordeal at the age of 37 shows how precious our lives are, and how things can change on a moment’s notice. We here at SEScoops are continuing to send our best to Gresham as he continues to recover from this scary situation.
Jordynne Grace has become a bonafide star in pro wrestling, and she isn’t going to forget those who helped her along the way. Speaking to the Unlikely podcast, Grace shared how Cody Rhodes played a huge role in her wrestling success.
“[Cody] got me on the first All In [2018] pay-per-view… that got me signed to TNA and that’s basically what got me here. It’s just crazy how everything works out.”
Cody isn’t the only name Grace appreciates. During her time with TNA Wrestling, the Juggernaut continued to develop under the watchful eye of Gail Kim. Though Grace’s time with TNA ended in early 2025, she and Kim, a TNA Hall of Famer, remain in contact.
“I text [Gail Kim] about working with WWE at least once a week… I just want to be around her—her mind, I’m very comfortable with her. She’s an incredible producer and wrestling mind in general.”
Now, Grace continues to have people she can turn to, from her fellow wrestlers in WWE NXT to the brand’s head Shawn Michaels. Already, Grace has challenge for the NXT Women’s Title multiple times, though she is yet to win the gold.
Grace’s story shows the interconnected nature of wrestling and how one talent can develop from many. Whether it’s leaning on WWE’s biggest star or being aided by a woman who won gold in her first WWE match, Jordynne Grace is grateful for all their help.
Naomi may have shocked many when she announced her pregnancy during the August 18, 2025, episode of WWE Raw, but Jordynne Grace wasn’t surprised at all. Speaking on Adrian Hernandez’s Unlikely podcast, the Juggernaut of WWE NXT shared that she had predicted that the former Women’s World Champion was with child.
“I guessed it honestly before anything else. I was texting someone and was like, ‘I bet that she was pregnant during evolution and that baby had a championship before it was even born.”
Grace added that it was “crazy” that Naomi was the Women’s World Champion while also being pregnant. The Juggernaut saw the funny side of things, saying that “the baby is already a legend” as an argument can be made that they are already a champion.
Naomi and Grace have yet to collide one-on-one in WWE, but their history is no secret. The pair both teamed and battled in TNA Wrestling, and it would be Grace who’d end Naomi’s reign as TNA Knockouts World Champion in January 2024.
Whether the pair face-off one-on-one in WWE, it won’t be for a long time yet. With Grace still part of NXT and Naomi gearing up to become a mom, time will tell what the future holds in the careers of both women.
Bronson Reed has revealed his first reaction to his 2024 injury.
The heavyweight star suffered a foot injury while competing in the WarGames match at the 2024 Survivor Series PLE in November. The injury kept him out of action for more than 6 months and led to him missing important events such as Raw’s Netflix debut and WrestleMania 41 before he returned in May this year.
The 37-year-old opened up about this time during a recent interview with Rolling Stone, while promoting the upcoming Crown Jewel: Perth event in October.
Revealing his immediate reaction to the injury, Bronson Reed claimed that he was in shock more than pain. The former NJPW star was being pushed by the company as a monster heel at the time, and he felt like the injury would derail his career:
“In the moment, I remember it happening, and I wasn’t even in pain. I think I was in more shock, like, ‘Oh no, what’s this gonna mean?’ I stood up and I walked backstage. The doctors didn’t think I had anything broken because I was able to walk.”
Bronson Reed mentioned that he couldn’t even stand on his foot after the adrenaline had worn off but the creative head Triple H reassured him about his spot:
“He called me himself, and he said, ‘Just worry about rehabbing and getting yourself right again…when you come back here, you’re gonna be in the right spot.”
Triple H fulfilled his promised as Bronson Reed joined The Vision faction upon his return, aligning himself with the World Heavyweight Champion Seth Rollins, Paul Heyman and Bron Breakker.
Kelly Kelly has taken a turn on her Evolution II absence.
The former Divas Champion was one of the names surprisingly missing from the All-Women PPV earlier this year. Reports had suggested that she had declined the offer for an appearance because she wanted to wrestle at the PPV but the management wanted her to just sit in the crowd.
Kelly herself had written ‘to sit in the crowd it just didn’t feel like the right way to come back’ while responding to a post about the PLE on social media at the time.
Thank you love ?,I was So honored to be invited to Evolution II, to sit in the crowd it just didn’t feel like the right way to come back. I’ll always be proud to have been part of the first, my heart is with every woman in that ring tomorrow. I’ll be back when the time’s right?? https://t.co/g5rbrNuasQ
During a recent interview with Chris Van Vliet, however, Kelly Kelly gave a different reason behind her refusal. The wrestling veteran was first asked about being a mom, and she discussed how her kids are her priority now and all her life decisions are based on what’s right for her children.
Discussing Evolution, the former champion claimed that she said no to the show because her kids would not have been able to attend:
“I wanted to talk about this, because it was a thing. So when I got the call, it was in Atlanta, obviously.
Again, it was one of the weekends, the only weekend I had off, and my kids, I think they had something going on. And I feel like when I come back, I want my kids to see me there and they wouldn’t been able to make it.”
Could Not Have Been Farther From The Truth: Kelly Kelly
Kelly Kelly later confirmed that she was only asked to attend the show last minute, and her husband was also working that weekend. When asked if she could have made things work if given more time, the female star who lives in LA replied positively, saying that she couldn’t fly to Atlanta on such a short notice:
“Somebody on the dirt sheets was like, ‘Oh, somebody in the higher ups said that she only wants to come back if she has a match’, which could not have been farther from the truth.
I didn’t need a match to come back. If it was in LA, I would have been there no questions asked. But to fly across the country to do that, like I said in the beginning, with my kids, I’m very picky about what I say yes and no to right now.”
The wrestling star later claimed that the WWE officials are well aware of the reason behind her decision and they were totally fine with it. Kelly Kelly explained that there was never a conversation about her having a match at the event.
