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Pro Wrestling Is Undergoing A Tag Team Renaissance

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Tag team wrestling is a staple of pro wrestling history. This style of match allows promotions to vary a card and open up genuinely different storytelling possibilities among tag team rivalries, including but not limited to teams coming together, breaking up, and reuniting. Moreover, tag teams can offer a keen place for young talents to cultivate experience or for aging talents to lend their credibility on screen and mentorship backstage to up-and-comers while their actual in-ring work tapers off.

A lot of signs suggest a renewed focus on tag teams across major promotions. This dynamic tends to ebb and flow but, at least in the short term, there’s a lot of reason for excitement for tag team wrestling fans.

Major Reunions Have Brought Buzz to Tag Team Wrestling

Christian Cage, Cope
Image credit: AEW

There’s a lot to be said for the excitement of seeing a beloved tag team reunite, and pro wrestling has delivered on several such angles in recent months. In AEW, the biggest story is Adam Copeland (“Cope”) and Christian Cage finding themselves on the same page again. Longtime fans remember them as one of the very best tag teams in the stacked WWE Attitude Era, where in-ring ability, personality on the mic, and the kind of interpersonal chemistry that can only come with years of real-life friendship made this pair something special.

The team’s time together was deceptively short in WWE. The duo paired for less than three years full-time, as Edge in particular got major singles opportunities interspersed with their proper teaming. From there, Edge became a main eventer, while Christian had a respectable singles run of his own while also bouncing between tag teams and factions.

Extended periods followed with Edge in WWE, Christian going to TNA to get his own main event push, and later heading to AEW years ahead of his best friend. That’s not to mention both men suffering seemingly career-ending injuries that took each out of action for years. Though the two worked one-off tag matches together and enjoyed a reunion angle shortly before Copeland’s first retirement, it makes complete sense that fans are incredibly excited to see the pair teaming up again in 2025 as age dictates both men must be eyeing a more permanent retirement.

On a smaller scale, AEW also staged a Jurassic Express reunion at All Out. While Jack Perry and Luchasaurus don’t have the decades-long story of Cope and Cage, this does represent both men returning to their roots as a babyface tag team that fans still have a lot of nostalgia for after heel runs that drew mixed reactions (Perry a polarizing big-name heel, Luchasaurus a viable henchman for Cage, but he never really found another gear beyond big man mid-carder and tag team wrestler). This revisitation of the team invokes AEW nostalgia for a pairing that got over in the earliest days of AEW. Three years apart gave fans time to miss them, but also, the sudden reunion without any meaningful foreshadowing delivered a genuinely pleasing surprise for fans.

Meanwhile, on the WWE side of things, The Usos came back together over the summer with a renewed sense of credibility for Jey’s main event push—including main eventing SummerSlam as a singles star, winning a Royal Rumble, and capturing a world title at WrestleMania—besides Jimmy remaining viable as a mid-card act and factor in main event storylines. The duo had about 13 years as a team for the WWE main roster audience, but after spending most of two years apart (and even feuding against each other), it feels refreshing to see them paired again—even if recent creative has complicated whether they’ll keep teaming or what their face-heel alignment might be for the long haul.

The Tag Team Ranks Are a Great Place for Nostalgia

The Hardyz Backstage

One clear sign of the success of AEW and WWE tag team reunion angles is that the tag division is a great place for nostalgia, as fans love seeing meaningful alliances revisited.

TNA has been in on the act too, booking The Hardys vs. Team 3D for Bound For Glory. Alongside Edge and Christian, these two teams represented the foundation of perhaps WWE’s most successful tag team feud of all time, and arguably the company’s most successful period for tag team wrestling overall.

None of the four men involved in this TNA showdown are young anymore, so TNA is a good spot to highlight a match like this for its smaller stage and its hardcore fanbase that can definitely tap into the nostalgia of an attraction like this.

WWE had its own spin on this kind of matchup recently on its NXT Homecoming special, with DIY facing Trick Williams and Carmelo Hayes. Each pair felt representative of a distinctive generation of NXT, each with roots as partners and main event level foes. The tag team format—including The Miz interfering—kept everyone reasonably well protected in the process.

Such is the essence of nostalgia for nostalgia’s sake. The stakes are objectively low, but tag team matches can help cover for aging performers’ limitations, keep any single performer from being over-exposed, and allow fans to lose themselves in the rush of a hot tag and reunited pairs “playing the hits.”

Dream Matches Could Be in the Making

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With the recent resurgence of tag teams, there are possibilities around dream match scenarios. Cope and Christian Cage have lots of business left to settle with FTR, but after that dream scenario wraps, a showdown with The Young Bucks is appealing as well—not to mention the complicated history Cage has with Jurassic Express that might invite that tag team feud.

On the WWE side, The Usos represent great foils for just about any pairing, including an array that might emerge from NXT and also acts like The Judgment Day. And though the rivalry may have been overdone in the 2010s, there is something fun about imagining running back a Usos vs. New Day feud in 2025.

A Little Fantasy Booking

Jimmy and Jey 'The Usos'. Photo: WWE.com
Jimmy and Jey ‘The Usos’. Photo: WWE.com

Part of the fun of multiple major wrestling promotions operating at the same time is imagining dream scenarios pairing the best acts from one company against the best of another, in addition to speculation about what other tag teams might take shape.

Dream match scenarios start with stalwart talent who’ve stuck with the same promotion and thus haven’t had the opportunity to work with one another. The conversation starts with The Usos and New Day on WWE’s side opposite The Young Bucks in AEW; the Bucks working either of these teams would pay off years of lowkey debate around tag team supremacy.

An FTR vs. Street Profits showdown also has to be in the conversation. These teams did work some house shows in NXT and a battle royal together at Survivor Series 2019, but it’s a case of FTR being a generation ahead of Montez Ford and Angelo Dawkins, who are just starting to come into their own on the WWE main roster after FTR moved on to AEW.

A hard-hitting heavyweight clash pitting Bobby Lashley and Shelton Benjamin against Bron Breakker and Bronson Reed also has a lot of appeal. This is even before considering reigning tag champs like Brodido, The Wyatt Sicks, and The Judgment Day, or other masters of the tag team form like The Motor City Machine Guns or the inevitable Lucha Bros reunion as Pentagon and Rey Fenix team together for the first time under the WWE banner.

Finally, while women’s tag teams have in most cases not had as much time to gel or cultivate nostalgia, the pairing of Alexa Bliss and Charlotte Flair has the name recognition and experience to be entertaining opponents against just about any pairing. Moreover, AJ Lee and Nikki Bella’s returns to WWE, alongside speculation about a comeback tour for Paige, have fans hungry for a WrestleMania 31 rematch of Lee and Paige versus The Bella Twins.

AEW Dynamite Celebrates 6th Anniversary with 2.5-Hour Special

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All Elite Wrestling marks a major milestone this Wednesday, October 1, as AEW Dynamite celebrates its sixth anniversary with an extended 2.5-hour special event live from the Hard Rock in Hollywood, Florida.

The anniversary show, airing at 8 PM ET/7 PM CT on TBS and HBO Max, features a loaded card headlined by a Trios Match pitting AEW World Champion Hangman Adam Page, Powerhouse Hobbs, and Samoa Joe against Jon Moxley, Daniel Garcia, and Claudio Castagnoli.

Also scheduled for the evening:

  • TNT Championship: Kyle Fletcher defends against Orange Cassidy
  • Mixed Tornado Tag Match: Darby Allin and Kris Statlander vs. Wheeler Yuta and Marina Shafir
  • Trios Match: Josh Alexander and Young Bucks take on AEW World Tag Team Champions Kenny Omega and Brodido

The special broadcast also promises the Hollywood, Florida return of “Timeless” Toni Storm, plus the highly anticipated return of Jurassic Express.

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Since its debut in October 2019, AEW Dynamite has established itself as a major force in professional wrestling, and this anniversary celebration looks to deliver one of the biggest episodes in the show’s history.

Tune in Wednesday night for what promises to be a memorable celebration.

Mark Henry Calls For Randy Orton To Turn Heel

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WWE Hall of Famer “The World’s Strongest Man” Mark Henry believes that if Randy Orton is to have another run as WWE Champion, it must be as a heel. In a recent interview, Henry made a passionate case for Orton to return to his heel roots, arguing that “The Viper” is one of the few superstars in history who is definitively better as a heel than a babyface.

Orton has been a beloved fan favorite since his return from a career-threatening back injury, but Henry feels that a return to the heel persona that defined much of his career is the “tailor-made” story for his next main event run. Speaking with TMZ, the former World Heavyweight Champion explained exactly what he wants to see from a future Randy Orton championship reign.

“I wouldn’t want Randy to be champion as good guy Randy. I want Randy… the story is tailor made. Have Randy come in now and start punting people again, RKO’ing people’s grandmothers and children. Have him stomping people. Let Randy be Randy.”

He emphasized that Orton’s greatest strength has always been his ability to be a compelling and hated villain.

“I don’t know if you can say more definitively that a guy’s a better heel than he was a babyface.”

Henry also compared Orton’s current situation to that of John Cena, who is in the midst of his farewell tour.

“I think Randy wants to be in the same regard as Cena. He deserves it too. But while Cena is doing that, you can’t actively have two people doing the same story.”

Britt Baker Thanks Fans After Missing Hometown AEW Dynamite

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Britt Baker is showing love to her fans as questions continue to grow around her absence from AEW programming. The September 24, episode of AEW Dynamite was in Baker’s hometown of Pittsburgh, PA, but the DMD was not featured on the show.

Baker took to X to thank the fans who continue to show her support every day. While acknowledging that social media can be filled with “trolls,” she wanted to highlight the real fans who always have her back.

Once the top star of AEW’s women’s division, Baker has seen her presence fade in recent years. Her last match came in November 2024 on Dynamite, capping off a year in which she wrestled only five times. That’s a sharp decline from her most active year in 2021, when she competed in 30 matches for AEW.

While Baker hasn’t been active, her days in the ring are not over. In August, Baker made clear she’s not retired, despite not competing for close to a year. The previous month, Tony Khan said he likes Britt a lot and they’ve never had any talks about her leaving AEW. Khan explained that TV time is limited, and Baker would be used when the time is right.

Months later, that time still hasn’t come. For now, though, Baker is keeping the focus on the positives—and on the fans who continue to stand by her.

WWE Changes NXT-TNA Invasion Event Name to Showdown

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WWE and TNA Wrestling will collide on October 7, but fans won’t be seeing an “Invasion.” Instead, the event will officially be branded as “Showdown.” During the September 30 episode of WWE NXT, the upcoming crossover was referred to as Showdown, with the “Invasion” name quietly dropped. WWE’s original choice had been a nod to the 2001 storyline where WCW and ECW talent “invaded” the WWF.

While WWE hasn’t given a public reason for the rebrand, the change comes after backlash surrounding the word “Invasion.” The October 7 event takes place exactly two years after Hamas’ deadly October 7, 2023, attack on Israel. Israeli outlet Israel Hayom criticized WWE’s choice of wording, writing:

“The term Invasion, on such a sensitive date, which directly recalls the infiltration of Hamas terrorists into the southern communities and the mass killings of Israelis and Americans, raises questions about who in the organisation is responsible for this preposterous decision.”

Some fans also took issue with the Invasion logo using a prominent red V. While this was the logo used back in 2001, it was argued that the red V was similar to a red downward triangle, a Hamas symbol.

With the ‘InVasion’ name ditched, the two teams were selected during WWE NXT for the upcoming Showdown. The event will feature two four-on-four elimination tag-team matches, as well as a winner-takes-all tag-title match between TNA’s Hardy Boyz and NXT’s Dark State.

This rebranding highlights the importance of cultural awareness when making creative decisions in wrestling. Fans can expect a historic crossover when NXT-TNA Showdown takes place on October 7.

Teams Selected For NXT Vs. TNA, NXT Star Sides With TNA

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The battle lines have been drawn for the WWE NXT Vs. TNA Wrestling Showdown event that will take place on October 7. During the September 30, episode of WWE NXT, the teams for the two Survivor Series elimination matches were revealed.

WWE NXT GM Ava shared that NXT Champion Ricky Saints and NXT Women’s Champion Jacy Jayne will captain their respective teams. Later in the show, Saints picked Trick Williams and Je’Von Evans. The final spot was decided later in the night when Myles Borne defeated Josh Briggs, thanks to an assist from TNA’s Matt Cardona.

Jayne chose Jaida Parker and Sol Ruca for her team, and Lola Vice and Fallon Henley both wanted the last spot. A match was made during the show which was won by Vice, earning her the final spot on the women’s team.

As for TNA, Santino Marella ruled out TNA World Champion Trick Williams being the captain, instead selecting Mike Santana. Santana shared that his team will consist of himself, Moose, Leon Slater, and Frankie Kazarian.

The women of TNA will be led by Knockouts Champion Kelani Jordan, despite Jordan being a WWE NXT star. In response, Jacy Jayne dubbed Jordan a “two-timing traitor” for siding with the competition. Jordan, who won the title at TNA Victory Road, selected The IInspiration (Cassie Lee and Jessica McKay,) and Mara Sade to represent TNA Wrestling.

With talent from both sides in the ring, it wasn’t long until a brawl ensued. With these matches, and a winner-takes-all tag-team title match between The Hardys and Dark State, the October 7, event will be one to remember.

WWE LFG’s BJ Ray Reveals He Competed With Torn Shoulder

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WWE LFG’s BJ Ray has been dealing with some notable injuries, but that hasn’t stopped him from competing. On X, Ray revealed that he’s been wrestling while injured, sharing that he’s been dealing with a torn rotator cuff and labrum.

“Ever since my return on LFG season one I have been competing with a 100% torn rotator cuff and labrum. The surgeon asked me, ‘Bro, how have you been wrestling? The only thing holding your shoulder together is your muscle fibers.’ I told ’em, ‘The show must go on.’”

Ray has been a stand-out star of WWE LFG with his brash personality over ensuring him a spotlight. In his video, Ray shared how his personality helped carry him through both seasons of WWE LFG, and now he’s healed up.

I wrestled both seasons of LFG basically not even able to wrestle because I knew that my personality was more than any other contender had. I have absolutely zero regrets and my shoulder is now repaired.”

Ray has dubbed himself the ‘ratings machine’ on WWE LFG, and while he didn’t win the show’s first season, his work could land him a WWE contract. With his shoulder now repaired, it remains to be seen what’s next for him in the ring.

Triple H & Stephanie McMahon Visit White House, Meet President Trump

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Paul ‘Triple H’ Levesque and Stephanie McMahon were at the White House this week as part of a new executive order from President Donald Trump. Speaking to reporters, McMahon discussed the order, which relates to using AI to help improve treatments for childhood cancer.

“Kids shouldn’t even know what cancer is, let alone have to face it. And this incredible team believes that too. This executive order makes kids with cancer the first focus of AI innovation across health care in America.”

On social media, Levesque praised his wife for her efforts and referenced Connors Cure, a WWE initiative named after Connor ‘The Crusher’ Michalek, a young fan who died of cancer.

This appearance in the White House isn’t the only tie between Trump and the WWE power couple. Both Levesque and McMahon are part of the President’s Council on Sports, Fitness, and Nutrition, a body in which Levesque serves as vice-chair. Earlier this year, the pair met with US Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.

Linda McMahon, Stephanie’s mother, also serves as Trump’s Secretary of Education. While WWE avoids bringing politics to its programming, the company’s leaders remain entrenched with the President’s ongoing campaigns.

Orange Cassidy Praises Kris Statlander’s Historic AEW Title Win

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Orange Cassidy has had his ups and downs with Kris Statlander but the former did take time to acknowledge the historic moment recently generated by the latter. At AEW All Out, Statlander unseated then-champion Toni Storm from her throne in a fatal four way match. It was a feat that not only saw Statlander claim the AEW women’s title, but she became the first woman in company history to hold the women’s world title and the TBS championship.

Cassidy recently returned to the AEW fold after Statlander accomplished this feat and while The Best Friends had a public, bitter breakup last year, the former AEW international champion was clearly watching from afar to take in Kris Statlander’s big accomplishment. Speaking to The Takedown on SI about Statlander’s history making christening in Toronto, Cassidy said,

“She is the definition of working hard. She works very, very hard. And personally, you know, she’s going through some stuff and she’s made some decisions, and I’ll never hold that against her.”

“She hasn’t lost my phone number, and, yeah, I personally really have a special place [for her]. And I don’t think it’s really hit to anybody yet that she’s the first ever person to get both the TBS and the Women’s [World Championship]. That’s incredible. She’s had two knee [surgeries]. She works very, very hard. It’s nice to see when people that work hard get success.”

Orange Cassidy’s road to returning and his own pursuit of a second singles title in AEW

Orange Cassidy addressed the injury related hinderances that Kris Statlander recently overcame but the man who is freshly squeezed had his own difficult road that kept him sidelined. A torn pectoral muscle kept Cassidy out of the ring since April and he made his AEW return on last week’s instalment of AEW Dynamite in a winning effort alongside compatriots, Mark Briscoe and Hologram. The trifecta got the victory over The Don Callis Family and guides OC toward an important opportunity to claim even more singles gold within All Elite Wrestling.

Orange Cassidy will test skill with Kyle Fletcher for the latter’s TNT championship on the next episode of AEW Dynamite which celebrates the six year anniversary of the television program. Cassidy and Fletcher have a bit of a longer history with one another clashing for AEW gold although the champion and challenger roles will be reversed in this next meeting.

Jack Perry Opens Up About Unexpected Length of AEW Absence: “I Didn’t Know I’d Be Gone So Long”

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Jack Perry’s AEW return at their All Out card drew an uproarious reaction from the Toronto crowd but Perry expected to be back in All Elite Wrestling far sooner than he was. This was expressed by the former TNT champion during a recent exclusive interview conducted with Vice. It has been close to nine months overall that Perry has been out of wrestling and a year since he was seen specifically inside an AEW ring.

Speaking to Haley Miller for Vice about how his idea of what he thought his comeback timeline would look like versus what ended up transpiring, Perry said:

“I did not know I was gonna be off for as long as I was. I thought I was gonna be off a month or two and then be back. But then things just change a lot and that’s how it goes. I will say, Luchasaurus and I were always going to be back together doing something. We knew that from the day that we broke up as a tag team the first time. I also felt I had such a good run the year before. I was like, ‘I don’t know if I’m gonna be able to top that right now.’ We concluded this is probably the best time for us to do this.”

Jack Perry & Luchasaurus: History and Reunion

Jack Perry getting the band back together with a returning Luchasaurus at AEW All Out delighted longtime fans of the promotion who still had that soft spot for Jurassic Express.

The 28-year-old and his daring dinosaur carved out a path that saw them eventually become AEW tag team champions. The California native just seems excited to return to the fold with a familiar compatriot as Jack Perry stated [via Vice],

“I feel great to be back. Especially under these circumstances with someone who’s one of my best friends, and I mean, so much has happened. It’s something that was always gonna happen, us coming back together. So many things have gotten in the way so for it to finally come to fruition and then get that kind of response feels great.”

With Jack Perry and Luchasaurus reunited, their renewed partnership looks set to mark the beginning of a new chapter in the tag team division, bringing fresh energy to their longterm storyline.

Jack Perry Calls “Four Pillars” Storyline The “Most Miserable I Had Ever Been”

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AEW star Jack Perry has opened up about his experience during the “Four Pillars” storyline in 2023, revealing that the period was the most miserable of his professional wrestling career. The high-profile angle brought together four of AEW’s top “homegrown” talents—Perry, MJF, Darby Allin, and Sammy Guevara—and culminated in a four-way match for the AEW World Championship at the Double or Nothing pay-per-view.

While it was a main event program, Perry felt the timing was wrong and that the storyline ultimately benefited only one person. In a recent interview with Haley Miller of VICE, Perry was candid about his feelings on the storyline and revealed that he had pleaded with management to postpone it.

“The pillars thing up to that point was the most miserable I had ever been, I didn’t wanna do that at that time. I literally said, I begged, I was like, ‘Can we do this later? I feel like this is only really benefiting one person. And we all could grow so much more.’ I had just beaten Christian when that happened and then Christian got injured and that whole thing took way longer than it was supposed to. I was kinda floating around killing time until he got back so I could beat him. After I beat him, the next thing I got put in was that. I was like, ‘Could you guys let me get going a little bit? Sammy could be built up even more, Darby, and this could be a huge thing where any one of us could win the world title at the end of this.”

Perry also believes that the storyline led to fans beginning to turn on his “Jungle Boy” babyface character, and he wanted to embrace that with a heel turn, a move that was initially rejected.

“I felt so not good about what I was doing at the point I was at. I really felt people were starting to turn on me a little there. And I thought, ‘I think I should lean into that and like make this story here. Am I gonna turn to win the world title?’ That was met with people being like, ‘No, you gotta stay [face]! You’re Jungle Boy,’ yeah, but Jungle Boy has nothing to say and people are starting to not like me. As soon as I started to tease that I was gonna go the other way, people were interested again because I was interested again. The heel turn was like a whole new world for me. My main thing there was people told me, ‘you’re never gonna be able to be a heel.’ I knew I could. Obviously, I wasn’t the greatest in the world. There were parts of it that were rocky and I had to figure it out ’cause I’d been Jungle Boy my whole life. To me, it was just to prove that I could do it.”

At AEW All Out, Perry reunited with Killswitch to reform Jurassic Express. They will break their silence on the reunion this Wednesday on Dynamite.

Matt & Jeff Bringing The Hardy Party To NYC On November 22

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Matt and Jeff Hardy will be hosting their own live event from New York City on November 22, giving fans a unique experience from one of wrestling’s most popular tag teams. As per Jon Alba, the November 22, show will kick off with a live edition of The Extreme Life of Matt Hardy, hosted by Matt and Alba.

This episode of the Extreme Life podcast will look back at the iconic Royal Rumble 2000 tables match between the Hardy Boyz and the Dudley Boyz. In a statement, Matt shared his excitement for the event.

“My brother and I are excited to bring the Hardy Party to the Big Apple, New York City. NYC carries so much tradition with the Hardys, and we cannot wait to share stories that many fans have never heard before. We’re looking forward to having the biggest Hardy Party of all time on Nov. 22!”

Following the podcast, Jeff Hardy will take the stage for a musical performance featuring both original songs and covers that he says have “helped shape his personal and professional journey.” Both events will take place at Connolly’s Restaurant & Pub, 121 W 45th St, New York, NY 10036.

Tickets are priced at $50 for general admission, while VIP tickets are available for $250. The VIP package includes a meet & greet with both Matt and Jeff, a personal photo, a signed item, and priority seating for both shows.

This news comes as the Hardys prepare for their upcoming showdown with the Dudleyz at Bound for Glory, as well as their involvement in the NXT–TNA InVasion storyline. Decades after breaking out in WWE, Matt and Jeff Hardy continue to captivate fans with their enduring star power.

Tickets can be purchased at HardyBoyzLive.com

Adam Copeland Joins Jason Statham in The Beekeeper 2

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The buzz around Adam Copeland’s acting career continues to grow, as the AEW star has landed a role in Miramax’s The Beekeeper 2, Variety reports. The film is a sequel to 2024’s The Beekeeper, which followed a government assassin who comes out of retirement on a quest for vengeance.

Copeland joins an impressive cast led by Jason Statham, who will reprise his role in the sequel. Returning stars include Jeremy Irons (Die Hard), Emmy Raver-Lampman (The Umbrella Academy), and Bobby Naderi (The Better Sister). Pom Klementieff (Guardians of the Galaxy) and Copeland are set to appear as new additions to the ensemble.

The WWE Hall of Famer is no stranger to acting. He appeared in 42 episodes of Haven and more recently played Ares in Disney+’s Percy Jackson and the Olympians.

In AEW, Copeland recently announced he would be stepping away from the ring, admitting he was unsure when—or if—he would return. While some speculated this could set up a WWE comeback as John Cena’s final opponent, it now appears his time away will be spent filming The Beekeeper 2.

Details of Copeland’s role remain under wraps, but Hollywood clearly has its eye on the former Edge. With his in-ring career winding down, fans should expect more screen roles in his future.

Mr. Thomas Talks Staying Loyal to MLW, Training & Warning for ‘Chamber of Horrors’ Mystery Participants

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Mr. Thomas has been one of the names to have broken out in Major League Wrestling. Often the veteran would find himself helping another like Alex Kane within the Bomaye Fight Club. Now the Philadelphia native is focused on building on the momentum he has created in the last year in MLW. It’s one of the big reasons Thomas decided to sign a new deal with the promotion. 

“There is very little loyalty in this business unfortunately,” he said. “MLW has always been loyal to me. I worked a good amount of time without a deal and was okay with that and was always loyal to the brand. I put in my time and effort, so when it was time to sign again, there was nowhere else I would rather be when it comes to my ability to have input into what I do, the matches, things of that nature. 

“The schedule is more to my liking. I like to live a normal, peaceful, successful life outside the wrestling world. Right now, MLW allows me the ability to do that. Not to say the schedule won’t become more intensive as we move forward with things changing in life. I’m prepared for that. I think it’s the perfect split between real life and professional wrestling that people don’t tend to have.” 

 For the star, who got the Mr. Thomas name based on what his cleaning lady would call him over the years, MLW is the top priority. This is why you won’t see him doing much outside that arena. He also takes a more fight camp approach in between matches. 

“The last time I stepped in the ring to practice so to speak on a Tuesday or Wednesday and tried to work on my skills, I immediately tore my ACL. In this aspect of wrestling, I try to limit my injuries as much as possible,” Thomas explained. “I have a very close strength and conditioning coach I work with here in Tampa two and three times a week. We’re doing a lot of different things that aren’t necessarily shooting the ropes, doing dropdowns, leap frogs, drills of that nature. 

“We try to incorporate more real-life aspect training into what goes into wrestling. There is more than just doing grapples and things like that. And between you and I, my timing is perfect brother so I don’t have to brush up on that. Likely, I know whatever I have coming up, I’ll always be paired off with a top-notch individual in this wrestling world we live in. I’m not in there solo. I’m in there with people I know and trust and are capable of bringing me up if needed and vice versa.” 

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He is grateful to be stepping foot in the ring with the likes of Satoshi Kojima. Thomas has enjoyed getting the chance to spotlight his skills in a singles capacity. At the same time, the performer enjoyed the dynamic between himself and Alex Kane. 

“We were kind of thrown together,” he said of their origin story. “I’ve known of him before. We really just meshed. Luckily enough to be on the same page as someone. I’m a little older than him, but I’m not saying that I was there to babysit or guide him. But [I could] set him in the right ways and try to figure out what works best for him, his character, my character, how we can play off each other. It worked out for the best. 

“He went from being an unsigned, no-name person that gets drafted to MLW in the 2021 draft, we popped up our first time together and he is the MLW Openweight champion. We steamrolled through everyone he won the world title, black world champion, it was good to see the highs and lows. I learned a lot from him, and I  hope he learned from me. We really worked together as a team inside and outside the ring. We traveled together, hung out together, and we still talk every day. That relationship can’t be broken. We did have our one-on-one match in the Opera Cup last year. I think we’ll probably do that at some point when the time is ready. I don’t know if he’ll ever turn on me or I’ll turn on him, but we’ll see what happens when the time comes.” 

Thomas has his sights set on dethroning new champion Mads Krügger in the Chamber of Horrors match at Slaughterhouse on October 4. Other participants revealed thus far include Matthew Justice and CW Anderson with two other mystery participants. The Long Beach event will air on YouTube and beIN Sports. 

“As much as I love surprises, I hate surprises,” Thomas said. “CW Anerson is a great veteran and competitor from the ECW days. We’ve had our feud the last year, year-and-a-half where the Rogue Horsemen went up against the Bomaye Fight Club  with Matthew Justice on the same team in the War Chamber, which I came out victorious in,  for the record. When it comes to cage matches this year, Mr. Thomas is 1-0 amongst everyone else. With that being said, Mads is just fresh off a world title victory and hate to say it transition champion possibly. 

“I want that belt more than anything in life right now. The way it is being described to me is we get in this cage and fight til someone becomes world champion. I know there will be weapons involved and we will be caged in and not sure there will be something at the top as much as I or Matthew Jusciee want to jump off and dive through everything. I will be a very safe wrestler this weekend. I’m going to utilize my technical ability instead of jumping off things or going through things, but I will take a shortcut and hit someone over the head with what is available to me at that moment because anything goes.”

As for who the other two getting added to the mix, Thomas has his suspicions. No matter who it is, he’ll be ready to take them down a peg.  

“I’m not spoiling anything because I don’t ask questions, but the things I’ve seen and heard and tweets I read in between the lines is we got someone new coming in who might have been around a few times,” Thomas hypothesized. “Someone who might have just gotten let go from somewhere else, which is fine. I’ll tell him the same thing as I’ll tell anyone else. Don’t come to MLW thinking this is your meal ticket to the top because you have to go through a lot of other people to get through the top spot in the company, me being one of them. 

“I will fight and do whatever it takes to make sure my spot is not taken by some guy who got released or couldn’t politic himself into getting re-signed somewhere else. That is a personal shoutout to anyone who wants to Tick Tock, times ticking, this sun dial bullshit of time and measurement is, I don’t want to hear about it. Come see me to my face in LA on October 4 and we’ll see who walks out world champion.” 

Winning the top prize in MLW would mean a lot to Thomas. In his eyes, it would signify confidence from the company and confidence within himself that he could rise above the rest. 

“For me, the world title being my first singles title in MLW would be crazy,” the challenger added. “I would love that more than anything. It’s exactly what I’m going for. I’m on to bigger and better things. Everyone once and a while I get grouped with the Bomaye Fight Club thinking I was just a sidekick or bodyguard or the strategist,  whatever you want to call me. I’m on my own now. I have a name to prove to myself now. In the ring, outside the ring with everyone watching.” 

Trailer Released For Dave Bautista’s New Film “Trap House”

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The official trailer has been released for the upcoming action-comedy “Trap House,” starring former WWE Champion Dave Bautista. The film is set to hit theaters on November 14, 2025. The release of the first official trailer gives fans their first look at it.

“Trap House” centers on a team of elite DEA agents who are shocked to discover that their own rebellious teenage children have been using their parents’ covert tactics and skills—such as surveillance, infiltration, and non-lethal weapons—to pull off a daring heist against a ruthless drug cartel. The film boasts an impressive ensemble cast alongside Bautista, including Jack Champion (Avatar: The Way of Water, Scream VI), Sophia Lillis (It, Dungeons & Dragons), Tony Dalton (Better Call Saul), Whitney Peak (Gossip Girl), Kate Del Castillo (Cleaning Lady), Zaire Adams (FreeRidge), and Bobby Cannavale (The Irish Man, Ant-Man). The combination of a veteran action star in Bautista and a talented group of up-and-coming young actors is a perfect fit for the film’s premise.

Before becoming a legitimate Hollywood leading man, Dave Bautista established a successful career in WWE as “The Animal” Batista. He was one of the biggest stars of the “Ruthless Aggression” era, a multi-time world champion, and a key member of thr Evolution faction alongside Triple H, Ric Flair, and Randy Orton. After leaving WWE to pursue acting, he had his breakout role as the hilariously literal Drax the Destroyer in Marvel’s blockbuster Guardians of the Galaxy franchise.

Since his success as Drax, Bautista has built an impressive and diverse acting resume, earning critical acclaim for his roles in major films such as Denis Villeneuve’s sci-fi epics Blade Runner 2049 and Dune, as well as playing a formidable Bond villain in Spectre. Check it out below:

Jey Uso: “I Want To See 20 Years Of The Usos”

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“Main Event” Jey Uso has set his sights on a major career milestone that would solidify his and his brother Jimmy’s legacy as one of the greatest tag teams in WWE history. After a successful and eventful run as a singles competitor that saw him become a main event star and capture the Intercontinental Championship, Jey has recently reunited with his twin brother.

Now, he has revealed that his new goal is to continue competing long enough for The Usos to celebrate a remarkable 20-year anniversary with WWE. In a recent interview with Justin Barrasso of Sports Illustrated‘s “Undisputed,” Jey Uso discussed his desire for longevity and his pride in the career he and his brother have built together since their debut in 2010.

“This isn’t a job, it’s a lifestyle. For me, this is a 16-year run. I want to hit 20. That’s a big goal for me. You’ve seen 20 years of Rey Mysterio, Randy Orton, John Cena, and all the greats. I want to see 20 years of The Usos.”

The Usos are already one of the most decorated tag teams of all time, holding the record for the longest tag team championship reign in WWE history. After spending the last couple of years on separate paths, their recent reunion has re-energized the tag team division.

AEW Blood & Guts Date And Location Announced

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AEW’s most violent tradition, the Blood & Guts match, will make its return on Wednesday, November 12, at a special edition of AEW Dynamite emanating from the First Horizon Coliseum in Greensboro, North Carolina. The company officially announced the date and location for its fifth Blood & Guts event, a show that promises to continue the legacy of the two-ring steel cage match.

In a post on X, AEW wrote, “On Wed, Nov 12, AEW’s most violent match will take over the First Horizon Coliseum! Early Access Premium Seating starts tomorrow; tickets on sale 10/3”. One of the most intriguing possibilities is the first-ever women’s Blood & Guts match. On a recent episode of AEW Collision, former AEW Women’s World Champion Jamie Hayter teased that the violent stipulation may be the only way to settle the escalating, multi-woman feud involving herself, The Triangle of Madness, Queen Aminata, Harley Cameron, and others.

AEW’s Blood & Guts is the company’s modern take on the classic WarGames concept created by Dusty Rhodes. The match features two teams locked inside a massive, roofed steel cage that encloses two rings, a setup that is closer to Rhodes’ original vision of “The Match Beyond.” Since its debut in 2021, the Blood & Guts match has become an annual tradition for AEW, consistently delivering some of the most memorable and violent spectacles in the company’s history. Past editions have featured clashes between factions like The Inner Circle and The Pinnacle, the Jericho Appreciation Society and the Blackpool Combat Club, and The Golden Elite versus the Blackpool Combat Club.

This will be AEW’s first event in the historic Greensboro venue since the Revolution pay-per-view in March 2024, a show that was main-evented by the emotional and historic retirement match of the legendary Sting, who teamed with Darby Allin to defeat The Young Bucks for the AEW World Tag Team Championships.

Robert Patrick Told John Cena He Could Be The Next Terminator

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Robert Patrick believes John Cena has what it takes to become the next Terminator, a sentiment he first expressed to the WWE G.OA.T nearly two decades ago.

The actor, who memorably portrayed the T-1000 in Terminator 2: Judgment Day, revealed in a new interview with Monopoly Events that he pitched the idea to Cena while they were filming WWE Studios’ The Marine in 2006.

“Oh, I told John that early on when we were doing the Marine,” Patrick said. “I said, when I was doing the Marine with him, I said, ‘you could be the next Terminator, man.’ He could be. He’d be great.”

The Marine marked one of Cena’s first major acting roles, launching what would become a successful transition from WWE Superstar to Hollywood actor. Nearly 20 years later, the pair have reunited on screen for Peacemaker Season 2, which is currently airing on Amazon Prime Video.

Patrick’s endorsement carries significant weight given his iconic status in the Terminator franchise. While no official plans exist for Cena to join the series, the veteran actor’s confidence in Cena’s abilities speaks to the physical presence and charisma the 16-time WWE Champion brings to action roles.

Interestingly, Cena recently admitted he didn’t take filming of The Marine seriously at the time, viewing it primarily as a promotional vehicle for WWE. His career trajectory since then suggests Patrick’s early assessment was prescient.

WWE Vault Unveils Indie Footage of Current Superstars

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The WWE Vault delivered a treasure trove of nostalgia this week, releasing an hour-plus compilation video showcasing seven matches from current WWE stars during their independent wrestling days.

The collection spans over a decade of indie wrestling history, featuring some surprising matchups that hardcore fans will appreciate. Seth Rollins, performing as Tyler Black, takes on the late Jay Briscoe in a 2007 encounter. CM Punk faces off against Ace Steel in a 2005 bout that predates his WWE Championship reign.

Current Intercontinental Champion GUNTHER, then known as WALTER, battles the hardcore legend Nick Gage in a 2018 match that highlights his pre-WWE dominance. Aleister Black (Tommy End) showcases his striking prowess against TJP in 2016, while Adam Pearce tests his skills against X-Pac (Sean Waltman) in 2005.

The compilation also includes Jeff Cobb, wrestling as JC Mateo, against Jaka in 2017, and Joaquin Wilde (DJZ) facing Mustafa Ali in 2018.

While WWE’s premium live events remain on paid streaming platforms, the company continues to reward fans with free classic content through its YouTube channel. The WWE Vault has become a goldmine for wrestling enthusiasts seeking rare footage and historical perspectives on today’s top performers.

Former NWA Champion Appears On WWE RAW As Backstage Extra

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Eagle-eyed fans spotted a former champion of the NWA during the September 29, episode of WWE Raw, playing a role outside of the ring. During the show’s opening segment, a confrontation between Asuka, Kairi Sane, IYO SKY, and Rhea Ripley ended with SKY getting misted by Asuka.

Later in the show, SKY was seen backstage getting medical help. Fans familiar with the NWA spotted Ella Envy as one of the medics tending to the former Women’s World Champion.

Envy, real name Madison Hardin, is a four-time former NWA World Women’s Tag Team Champion. In 2022, her efforts alongside Kenzie Page saw the duo place #71 in PWI’s ranking of the top 100 tag teams of the year.

BK Westbrook was the other extra during the segment backstage with SKY. Westbrook is a regular on the independent scene and regularly competes for Deadlock Pro Wrestling. Both he and Envy are based in North Carolina, the home of this week’s WWE Raw.

For Envy and Westbrook, their roles on Raw gave the pair a taste of the high-production that is a WWE TV event. With some notable names first appearing as extras in WWE, including Sheamus, Wade Barrett, and Tomasso Ciampa, perhaps these cameo roles will be the start of bigger things for the pair.

John Cena’s Final Match Set For Washington, D.C., WWE Confirms

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John Cena’s final match will take place in Washington, D.C. on December 13, WWE has confirmed. During the September 29, episode of WWE Monday Night Raw, it was revealed that Washington will play host to Saturday Night’s Main Event in December, and it will be the host of the final match in Cena’s storied career.

The 17-time WWE World Champion now has five appearances confirmed before he retires from in-ring competition.

  • October 11: WWE Crown Jewel: Perth (Perth, Australia)
  • November 10: WWE Raw (Boston, MA)
  • November 17: WWE Raw (New York, NY)
  • November 29: WWE Survivor Series (San Diego, CA)
  • December 13: Retirement Match (Washington, DC)

Cena’s next match will see him battle AJ Styles at WWE Crown Jewel: Perth. This match came about after Cena requested the bout and fans were eager to see the former rivals face off one more time.

Cena’s farewell tour kicked off in January and has seen him win his record-breaking 17th World Title, as well as a polarizing heel turn. Now, John’s career will culminate in Washington, giving fans months to prepare for the end of one of the most influential careers in pro wrestling.

Hologram Injury Update, How Long He’ll Be Out Of Action For

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Hologram has been on a roll since debuting in AEW, but is currently out of action with an injury. Now, more has come to light about his setback and fans shouldn’t expect him back anytime soon.

According to Bryan Alvarez, Hologram is dealing with a knee injury and will be out of action “for a long, long time.” The setback forced AEW to scrap plans for a TNT Title match against Kyle Fletcher that was scheduled for the October 1 edition of Dynamite. A planned feud with his “clone” has also been postponed indefinitely.

On the September 27 episode of AEW Collision, Hologram was attacked by TNT Champion Kyle Fletcher following a cryptic video message from the clone. Tony Khan later confirmed that Hologram is dealing with “significant injuries” and will likely miss the remainder of the year.

Since his debut in July 2024, Hologram has remained undefeated in both singles and tag team competition. Unfortunately, this is not his first setback—he also suffered an ankle injury in late 2024.

Whatever comes next, it won’t be until Hologram is fully healed, which will be a lengthy process according to reports. For now, Hologram will need to focus on getting back to 100% and hope to avoid another serious setback.

Roman Reigns Returns On WWE Raw

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“The Tribal Chief” Roman Reigns has made his surprise return to WWE television. On the September 29 episode of Monday Night Raw, Reigns appeared during the main event, attacking Bron Breakker and Bronson Reed of The Vision and helping his cousins, The Usos, secure a victory in a chaotic Tornado Tag Team match.

The return marks Reigns’s first appearance on WWE programming in a month and signals a major escalation in the ongoing war between his family and the Vision faction. The return came during the final moments of the brutal Tornado Tag Team main event.

As Breakker and Reed had Jey and Jimmy Uso stacked up and were preparing to finish the match, Reigns’s music hit to a massive ovation from the Raleigh, North Carolina crowd. “The Head of the Table” came down to the ring with a steel chair and, since the weapon was legal under the match’s no-disqualification rules, proceeded to lay out both members of The Vision. His interference allowed The Usos to recover and get the pinfall victory.

This was Roman Reigns’s first appearance since the WWE Clash in Paris Premium Live Event on August 31. On that night, after successfully defeating Bronson Reed in a singles match, Reigns was the victim of a post-match assault by the entire Vision faction, which was the storyline reason for his month-long absence.

Tag Team Match Set For WWE Crown Jewel

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A major women’s tag team match has been made official for the upcoming WWE Crown Jewel in Perth, Australia. On the September 29 episode of Monday Night Raw, it was confirmed that former rivals Rhea Ripley and IYO SKY will join forces to take on the Kabuki Warriors, Asuka and Kairi Sane.

The match is a result of the implosion of the Damage CTRL faction. The feud has been building for weeks, centered on the growing mutual respect between Ripley and SKY, which appeared to cause a rift within Damage CTRL. The tension finally exploded on last week’s episode of Raw, when Asuka and Kairi Sane viciously turned on their long-time partner, IYO SKY, attacking her after Asuka had blinded Ripley with her signature poison mist.

The updated card for WWE Crown Jewel is below:

  • Champion vs. Champion Match: Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes vs. World Heavyweight Champion Seth Rollins
  • Champion vs. Champion Match: WWE Women’s Champion Tiffany Stratton vs. Women’s World Champion Stephanie Vaquer
  • John Cena vs. AJ Styles
  • Rhea Ripley & IYO SKY vs. The Kabuki Warriors (Asuka & Kairi Sane)

Idenity Behind New WWE Ring Name Revealed

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WWE LFG competitor Penina Tuilaepa has officially been given her new in-ring name. The rising star took to social media on Monday to announce that she will now be known as PJ Vasa.

The announcement came just one day after WWE filed an official trademark for the “PJ Vasa” name with the United States Patent and Trademark Office for entertainment services. The Washington native was introduced to the WWE Universe as one of the featured recruits in the first season of the “WWE LFG” reality series, which chronicled the journey of new talent at the WWE Performance Center.

Since making her in-ring debut on the show, she has become a regular on the NXT live event circuit, gaining experience and honing her skills. Throughout the past year, Vasa has competed against a variety of opponents from the NXT women’s division, including Thea Hail, Zena Sterling, and Sirena Linton.

Now, with a new official and trademarked ring name, fans will be watching closely to see what the next chapter holds for PJ Vasa. It’s unclear when she will make her debut on NXT.