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Watch: WWE Uses Alternate Version of John Cena Segment For SmackDown USA Broadcast

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WWE made a curious change to one of the SmackDown segments for the USA broadcast.

The latest episode of the Blue Branded show was held in 3Arena in Dublin, Ireland, before the Clash in Paris PPV. The show was broadcasted live on Netflix for international audience while a taped version was shown in the US later in the day.

One of the prominent stories of the show was the continued rivalry between Logan Paul and John Cena, who are set for a singles match at the upcoming PLE.

The two former champions came face to face in a heated promo battle during the show which ended with the Cenation Leader delivering an Attitude Adjustment to the YouTube star.

Alternate Version of John Cena Segment

This wasn’t their last interaction, however. The ending of the broadcast saw Nick Aldis finding John Cena backstage to tell him something about Brock Lesnar. Logan Paul came from the side and attacked Cena before Aldis could complete.

Though the company seemingly re-shot this angle for the US broadcast of SmackDown. Paul can be seen emerging from behind Aldis to slap Cena as seen in the updated version:

It’s unknown why the company decided to use an alternate version of the angle but it makes more sense for the 17 time world champion to be caught off guard with Paul emerging from behind the SmackDown GM instead of the side.

And New! Mercedes Moné Adds Ninth Title To Collection

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Mercedes Moné is proving to be unstoppable wherever she goes as the AEW TBS Champion has added a ninth title to her collection. At the RevPro’s Global Wars UK event, Moné captured Discovery Wrestling Scottish Women’s Championship. It took close to 20 minutes for Mone to wrestle the title away from Emersyn Jayne.

Moné’s victory adds yet another title to the collection of one of wrestling’s biggest female stars. Moné is also AEW’s TBS Champion, the Undisputed British Women’s Champion,and CMLL’s World Women’s Champion, among several other accolades.

This was Moné’s second of four matches set for this week in Europe. At Dynamite, Moné won the main event of the show, teaming with Athena to defeat Toni Storm and Alex Windsor. On August 23, she will team with Dani Luna and Kanji to take on the Cut Throat Collectiv at Rev Pro’s 13th anniversary event.

Moné’s biggest challenge will come at Forbidden Door this Sunday, where she will defend her TBS title against Windsor, Persephone, and Bozilla. Though the odds will be against her, fans know to never count out Mercedes Nine-Belts.

Mercedes Moné & Bayley Ready For NXT Classic Rematch

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Bayley and Mercedes Moné wowed fans at NXT TakeOver: Brooklyn in August 2015, putting on what many consider WWE’s best women’s match. The pair recently marked a decade since their instant classic that saw Bayley win the NXT Women’s Title, and a sequel could be in the works.

On Instagram, the pair participated in a live stream to reflect on the match. When Bayley teased going after one of the eight titles held by her friend, Moné didn’t back down.

“Come face me then, dude. Give the people what they want, one more match. What do you think about one more match.”

The pair then discussed when such a rematch will happen, as neither plans on waiting another decade. Despite being in different companies, Moné hopes to face Bayley again soon, adding that “I can’t imagine not wrestling you for ten years.”

The pair last shared the ring in February 2021 as part of a six-person tag-team match during an episode of SmackDown. Though it’s been years since the duo were last opponents, both remain hopeful of facing off again sooner than later.

Hangman Page Explains Why He Calls His Title The ‘Men’s World Championship’

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AEW World Champion “Hangman” Adam Page has opened up in a new interview about his career focus. He explained why he has never seriously considered a move to Hollywood like some of his peers and detailed his personal reasoning for referring to his title as the “Men’s World Championship.”

Speaking with Bleacher Report ahead of his title defense at Forbidden Door, Page was asked if he had any interest in crossing over into acting. He stated that his focus has always been on professional wrestling.

“It’s not really something I’ve seriously entertained,” Page responded. “Like with any opportunity, I’m not just going to shut the idea of it down, but it’s just not something I’ve seriously entertained or where my focus is.”

“My focus really always has been and still is on being a professional wrestler. That is my career. That is my one and only real ambition in terms of work,” he continued. His comments stand in contrast to his Forbidden Door opponent, MJF, who recently starred in “Happy Gilmore 2” and has stated his goal is to be a full-time actor and wrestler.

Page also explained his personal choice to refer to his championship as the “Men’s World Championship,” a move designed to show respect and equality for the women’s division.

“Our women’s roster in AEW is incredible… To have two divisions, a men’s and a women’s division, but to have to call one by the Women’s World Championship and the other as if it’s the more important one, you don’t make the distinction,” he said. “I feel like that’s not how we present our rosters on television, so why should we refer to the championships in that way either?… It’s just a personal choice that I hope other people take up.”

Logan Paul Says He Intends To Take John Cena’s Spot As The ‘Greatest Of All Time’

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Logan Paul has his sights set on more than just a victory over John Cena at the upcoming WWE Clash in Paris premium live event. In a new episode of his podcast, “The Maverick” stated that he intends to take Cena’s spot as the “greatest of all time” in WWE.

Speaking on his Impaulsive podcast, Paul discussed his upcoming dream match with the 17-time World Champion. He made it clear that he views the match as an opportunity to prove he belongs at the very top of the industry.

“John Cena is the greatest of all time. For now. I intend to be the greatest of all time, if not one of the greatest of all time,” Paul said. “I want my name thrown in the hat. A way to do that is to go toe-to-toe with John Cena in every faucet of wrestling. That’s on the mic, that’s in the ring, that’s even backstage.”

Paul stated he believes he has what it takes to be a locker room leader and the face of the company, a role Cena held for nearly two decades. “John Cena has been that guy for 20-25 years and I fully believe I have the capacity to do all of that,” he stated.

“I’ve taken my notes, I’ve learned from him. He’s the master. I got to tag team with him and learn from him, but now I’m going to use the things he taught me to beat his f*cking ass in front of everyone in Paris,” he declared. “I’m not an outsider, I belong here and I intend to show everyone that in Paris.”

Daniel Cormier On Brock Lesnar: “It Was One Of The Safest Fights I Could Have Had”

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Former two-division UFC Champion Daniel Cormier has revealed the reason his fight with Brock Lesnar never materialized, stating that a lucrative offer from WWE ultimately kept “The Beast Incarnate” out of the octagon.

Speaking with Shannon Sharpe on the Club Shay Shay podcast, Cormier discussed the infamous confrontation he had with Lesnar inside the octagon at UFC 226 after he had won the UFC Heavyweight Championship. He explained that WWE’s financial offer was too good for Lesnar to pass up.

“The WWE got him. The WWE took him back. That was my golden goose,” Cormier said. “We had that moment in the ring. I pushed him, he pushed me. WWE paid him back. They were paying Brock like $6-7 million a year. Maybe $10 (million). You’re telling me, ‘Brock, you can go fight DC and lose.’”

Cormier was strong in his belief that he would have defeated Lesnar, citing Lesnar’s previous loss to Cain Velasquez at UFC 121 as a blueprint for his own success.

“I’m beating Brock Lesnar. I was beating Brock. It was one of the safest fights I could have had. It’s just the truth,” Cormier stated. “I like Brock. He’s a great guy, but I watched what Cain did to him. I watched how he would react to getting punched. I was going to punch him. He would have to take me down to win the fight. I can wrestle… That’s what happened with Cain. He took Cain down. Cain got up and started kneeing him in his face. I saw Brock recently. He still has that scar under his eye from when Cain kneed him in the face. Still has that big scar.”

Make sure to check out MMANews.com for all the latest UFC-related news.

Tony Khan Gives Update On The Future Of AEW Video Games

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AEW President Tony Khan has addressed the future of the company’s video game division. During his pre-Forbidden Door media call, Khan admitted that while he doesn’t know what the definitive future holds, he expects more games will be produced and that the company has “learned a lot” from its first console release, “AEW: Fight Forever.”

When asked about the potential for a sequel to “Fight Forever,” Khan was candid about his own experience in the gaming world but expressed his commitment to learning from the first experience.

“I love pro wrestling, and I’ll be the first to say that I’m not the biggest expert in the world on video gaming. I like to play games, but I’m not the expert,” Khan said. “There are great, great experts in the world about it and I tried to take insight and advice from people in AEW and people around the developers. And absolutely, we learned a lot in the making of the game and could take that in the future, I really believe to make the next game much, much better and learn from the experiences of doing that.”

“AEW: Fight Forever,” which was developed by Yuke’s, was released in 2023 to mixed reviews from fans and critics. Khan stated that he is trying to “learn from that feedback.”

He explained that while his primary focus is on the core wrestling product, he understands how important gaming is to the fanbase. “I’m not sure what the future would hold. I do think eventually there will be further AEW forays into gaming, different kinds of games, mobile games, different concepts, different platforms,” Khan said.

In the past, there have been reports that AEW is considering working with a different developer for its next console game. The company has also released a few mobile games, including “Rise to the Top” and “Elite GM.”

While the future of AEW’s gaming division is uncertain, Khan’s immediate focus is on this weekend’s pay-per-view event. The AEW x NJPW: Forbidden Door show takes place this Sunday, August 24, from Wembley Stadium in London.

Will Ospreay Reveals He Has Herniated Discs Pushing Against His Spinal Cord

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Just days before his main event match at the AEW x NJPW: Forbidden Door pay-per-view, Will Ospreay has provided a candid and concerning update on his neck injury. “The Aerial Assassin” confirmed that he is “compromised” but will still be competing in the Lights Out Steel Cage match this Sunday.

Speaking with Jon Alba on Sports Illustrated’s The Takedown, Ospreay detailed the specifics of the injury he sustained at the All In: Texas pay-per-view last month.

“I am compromised, I’ve got a few herniated discs pushing against my spinal cord, which is affecting a couple of my nerves,” Ospreay revealed.

Despite the serious nature of the injury, Ospreay stated that he is determined to compete in front of his home country crowd in London this weekend. He explained that this will be his final match before he takes time off to get the injury corrected.

“But, I can do stuff and I can perform one last time before I need to go get it all corrected,” he said.

He also assured fans that he has a “huge medical team” around him and that he is not being put in unnecessary danger. “Guys that work with AEW, they would not allow me to go into the ring if it was a huge percentage of a risk of me getting hurt,” he stated.

This Sunday, August 24, at the AEW x NJPW: Forbidden Door pay-per-view from Wembley Stadium in London, Ospreay will team with The Golden Lovers, Darby Allin, and Hiroshi Tanahashi to take on the team of the Death Riders, The Young Bucks, and Gabe Kidd in a Lights Out Steel Cage match.

SmackDown Preview: John Cena Returns, 4 Matches (August 22, 2025)

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Here’s a preview for tonight’s (August 22, 2025) WWE SmackDown from the 3Arena in Dublin, Ireland.

Advertised matches and segments for the show include:

  • John Cena returns: Cena is expected to make a major announcement, possibly related to his feud with Brock Lesnar ahead of ‘WWE Wrestlepalooza.’
  • Motor City Machine Guns (Alex Shelley & Chris Sabin) vs. Melo Don’t Miz (Carmelo Hayes & The Miz)
  • Aleister Black vs. R-Truth
  • Street Profits (Montez Ford & Angelo Dawkins) vs. The MFT (Talla Tonga, JC Matteo, or Tonga Loa)
  • Charlotte Flair vs. Piper Niven

Plus, we’ll see more build to next weekend’s big WWE Clash in Paris premium live event (Aug 31).

Phoenix Mercury’s Kalani Brown Open to WWE Future

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Phoenix Mercury center Kalani Brown could be the next athlete to crossover into WWE after being contacted for a tryout. On X, Brown shared a post revealing that WWE has been in touch.

When another X user highlighted how WWE may pay more for Brown than she makes in Basketball, Brown said she isn’t going to say no to WWE, but is instead weighing her options.

Standing at six-foot-seven, Brown would tower over the women of WWE if she transitioned from the court to the ring. The idea of the basketball star joining WWE quickly had fans of her excited.

Brown’s revelation comes after Olympic Rugby star Ilona Maher shared that she is open to a future in WWE. As the promotion continues to grow as an entertainment powerhouse, more and more athletes are considering a future under WWE’s spotlight.

Dustin Rhodes Recovering After Double Knee Replacement Surgery

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Dustin Rhodes has shared a major update with fans, one that’ll keep the veteran out of the ring for the foreseeable future. In a video shared online, Rhodes shared that he has undergone double knee surgery.

This surgery has been a long-time coming for Rhodes, who recently lost the AEW TNT Championship. Rhodes had previously shared that both his knees were “destroyed” leaving surgery the only viable solution to reduce the pain he has been in.

With such a lengthy career that has seen him work for WWE, AEW, TNA Wrestling, WCW, and beyond it’s hardly a surprise that Rhodes has been dealing with nagging injuries. Recovery from double knee replacement surgery can take up to six months to a year or even longer, depending on the individual’s situation.

Though Rhodes has a long journey to recovery ahead, he is confident that fans will see him in the ring again. We’re wishing Dustin all the best in his recovery.

TNA Star Tells All On Roster’s Charity Softball Game

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The TNA Wrestling roster were able to put their differences aside for a good cause as part of a recent charity softball game. In a video shared on her YouTube channel, Tessa Blanchard shared some clips of the fun day out.

Matt and Jeff Hardy served as the game’s pitches, though Blanchard wasn’t impressed, joking that the pair “shouldn’t quit wrestling” for softball. Ash By Elegance also stepped up to the pitching mound at the “super awesome event.” Some wrestlers, including Brian Myers, Steve Maclin, and Frankie Kazarian were dressed to win complete with cleats and “full-on softball gear.”

The game was held the night before TNA Slammiversary with the wrestlers teaming up with the local children’s softball team. Not only did the wrestlers have a great time on the field, but they made sure to sign autographs and meet their younger counterparts.

Several of TNA’s top stars were at the game, including Joe Hendry, Nic Nemeth, and reigning TNA World Champion Trick Williams from WWE NXT. Valuable moments like these show how wrestlers can be larger than life personalities, both in and out of the ring.

AEW Returning to Australia In 2026

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AEW will be heading down under once again in 2026, it has been confirmed. TEG Sport, a premier sporting outlet in Australia, shared the following statement.

All Elite Wrestling returns in 2026… and it’s going to be EPIC.
The energy. The chaos. The spectacle. It all goes down right here.

Don’t miss your shot, join the waitlist NOW to score access to the presale very soon and lock in your place when history is made Down Under.

AEW. Australia 2026. Be ready.

AEW’s Australia debut came in February 2025 with the Grand Slam event. Though initially planned for Suncorp Stadium, the show instead took place at the Brisbane Entertainment Centre in Brisbane, Queensland, AUS. The event drew 13,000 fans.

The show was headlined by ‘Timeless’ Toni Storm defeating Mariah May (now Blake Monroe) to capture the AEW Women’s World Championship, a title she holds to this day. With Storm still riding high, fans can expect AEW’s 2026 show down under to prove ‘Timeless’ once more.

Fans can register for pre-sale tickets for AEW’s 2026 event in Australia here.

Elayna Black Responds To WWE Bullying Accusations

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Elayna Black spent years in WWE as Cora Jade, where she became an NXT Women’s Tag Team Champion and someone fans expected big things from on the main roster. Black was released from WWE before a move to Raw or SmackDown could happen and she’s now facing accusations of bullying within the promotion.

Alexis Lete, who signed with WWE in 2022 and was cut in 2023, recently appeared on That One Time podcast to discuss her experiences. Speaking about her former colleagues, Lete called Roxanne Perez “such a sweet human” but claimed that Black was one of the “main bullies” at the Performance Center. Lete claimed that Black once pressured her to delete a TikTok video Black claimed exposed the business.

On X, Black responded to what Lete had to say.

In a separate post, Black posted what appeared to be a phonecall with a lawyer, implying that she could pursue legal action against Lete and her claims.

Lete hasn’t wrestled since her exit from WWE while Black has competed in several promotions, including GCW, since being cut. It remains to be seen if Lete will have anything more to say, but Black isn’t taking her comments lightly.

Tony Khan Addresses WWE’s Counter-Programming Strategy Against AEW

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AEW President Tony Khan has responded to WWE’s recent strategy of running its premium live events on the same day as AEW pay-per-views. During a media call ahead of this Sunday’s Forbidden Door, Khan stated that his focus remains on his own company and making it the best promotion it can be.

When asked about being counter-programmed, Khan emphasized AEW’s successful year and the importance of focusing on their own product.

“We’ve had a great 2025 in AEW and I believe that, in large part, that’s because everyone in AEW is really focused on making AEW a tremendous promotion and continuing this excellent year we’re having,” he said (H/T to Fightful). “The most important thing for us is to talk about AEW and work really hard on AEW every week. It means not necessarily focusing on what every wrestling promotion is doing, but I do like watching wrestling and keeping up with what other wrestling promotions are doing.”

Throughout 2025, WWE has scheduled its NXT premium live events on the same day as AEW’s pay-per-views. This Sunday’s NXT Heatwave will run after Forbidden Door, and NXT’s Great American Bash went up against AEW’s All In weekend. In September, WWE will escalate the strategy by running a main roster PLE, Wrestlepalooza, on the same night as AEW All Out.

Despite the increased competition, Khan believes that by focusing on their own product, AEW will continue to thrive. “At the very best of AEW, we’ve been super focused on what we’re doing. Not being the only wrestling company in the world, but trying our best to be the best,” he stated. “I know we have the best wrestlers, and this year I think we’re doing the best TV shows and pay-per-views. I know we have the best fans.”

Pat McAfee Is Returning To WWE Commentary

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WWE Chief Content Officer Paul “Triple H” Levesque has announced that Pat McAfee will be a part of the upcoming Wrestlepalooza premium live event on September 20 in Indianapolis, Indiana. The appearance will mark McAfee’s first time on a WWE broadcast since his recent hiatus.

Triple H made the announcement during an appearance on ESPN’s SportsCenter, where he was promoting the new partnership between WWE and the sports media company. The inaugural Wrestlepalooza event is taking place in McAfee’s home base of Indianapolis.

The popular podcaster and ESPN analyst stepped away from his role as the color commentator for Monday Night Raw in June of this year. At the time, McAfee stated that he was taking a break due to burnout from his demanding schedule, which includes his daily “Pat McAfee Show” and his upcoming role on the “College GameDay” panel for the new college football season.

Since his departure, his spot on the Raw commentary team alongside Michael Cole has been filled by Corey Graves. It is not yet known what McAfee’s specific role at Wrestlepalooza will be.

The September 20th show from Gainbridge Fieldhouse will be the first-ever WWE premium live event to air on ESPN’s new streaming service.

Triple H Addresses The Possibility Of More Two-Night WWE PLEs

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Following the successful debut of the two-night SummerSlam format earlier this month, WWE Chief Content Officer Paul “Triple H” Levesque has addressed the possibility of expanding other premium live events into two-night events in the future.

Speaking during an appearance on ESPN’s SportsCenter, Levesque was asked about the potential for more two-night events. While he did not confirm any specific plans, he made it clear that the company is open to the idea if it serves the fans.

“I think time will tell. It’s really, for us, about super-serving our fans,” Levesque said. “Just like for ESPN, you guys thrive on super-serving your fan base and the people that watch. So do we. It’s what we want to do.”

He elaborated on the philosophy behind the two-night model, explaining that the goal is to create larger-than-life “destination weekends” for the WWE fans.

“So when we can turn these into bigger events, make them destination weekends for fans, that’s what we will do,” he stated. “It’s all about our fans—our WWE Universe—and making them happy.”

 The success of both the two-night WrestleMania and now SummerSlam has led to widespread speculation that other events, like the Royal Rumble, could also be expanded in the future. While Levesque remains open to the idea, a recent report from the Wrestling Observer Newsletter on WWE’s new deal with ESPN indicated that the current plan for 2026 and beyond is for 12 premium live events per year, with only WrestleMania and SummerSlam being scheduled as two-night events. 

Medical Malpractice Claims Emerge After Hulk Hogan’s Death

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Hulk Hogan’s death stunned the wrestling world in July 2025, and now startling claims have come to light about his passing. TMZ reports that Law enforcement sources have claimed that an occupational therapist was present when Hogan stopped breathing. The occupational therapist, who is not named in the report, reportedly claimed that Hogan had been the victim of medical malpractice.

Hogan’s widow Sky told TMZ Sports that Hulk’s phrenic nerve was “compromised” during a recent surgery. The phrenic nerve stimulates the diaphragm, which controls breathing. Sky added that an autopsy has been conducted on her late husband, but did not share the results. Sky was the one to call 911 after seeing that her husband had stopped breathing.

TMZ were also told by their sources in law enforcement that there was a discussion by officers at the scene about the occupational therapist’s claims, and these talks are on body cam footage. Brooke Hogan recently claimed that police footage could change the narrative about her father’s death.

Hogan has not yet been cremated, Sky shared, amid ongoing questions about the wrestling icon’s final days. Our thoughts remain with Hogan’s family and friends at this sad time.

CM Punk On Seth Rollins’ Injury Ruse: “He Even Lied To His Daughter”

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CM Punk has reflected on the rollercoaster of emotions he experienced in the main event of WWE SummerSlam Night One, where he won the World Heavyweight Championship from GUNTHER, only to lose it moments later to a cashing-in Seth Rollins.

Appearing on the latest episode of ESPN’s First Take, Punk was asked about the memorable moment. He described the grueling nature of his match with GUNTHER and the subsequent shock of Rollins’s appearance.

“I got the absolute dog c*ap beat out of me by Gunther. Not an enjoyable experience,” Punk said. “You wind up not beating him, but surviving Gunther and now I’m the champion for the first time in 12 years and I think I’ve made it back to the top of the mountain and here comes old tiny tim limping out on his crutches. Turns out, it was all phony, he even lied to his daughter. That’s the kind of man I’m dealing with it.”

Punk also addressed the fan question of why he didn’t simply leave the ring to avoid Rollins’s cash-in attempt. He gave a two-part answer.

“Why didn’t I just run away is the question a lot of people are asking me and the simple answer is, I don’t run away,” he stated. “I also don’t think I could at that point, I was too exhausted.”

Mercedes Mone Reveals New Acting Project, Teases Future Movies

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Mercedes Moné has proven herself to be a force in and out of the ring, and the AEW TBS Champion has revealed her latest acting project. Sitting down with Scott Fishman of TV Insider, Moné shared how recently shooting a Christmas movie could lead to bigger things.

“I just shot a Christmas movie. When I was on set, a couple of directors told me it was so amazing that they wanted to put me in their movie. I definitely see more acting in my future.”

Moné’s comments come after a recent list was shared by the Hollywood Reporter about the best wrestlers-turned-actors. While Dave Bautista, Dwayne Johnson and John Cena took the gold, silver, and bronze respectively, Moné believes she should have been in contention.

“I saw that list, and I should have been number 2 on the list. Don’t you think?”

With five episodes of The Mandalorian to her name as well as a role in 2023’s The Collective, Moné continues to have fans talking both in and out of the squared circle. It remains to be seen what will come of this upcoming Christmas movie, and what it will lead to for the belt collector.

Brooke Hogan: Police Footage Could Change The Narrative On Hulk’s Death

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The narrative about the final days of Hulk Hogan’s life could soon change, according to the wrestling icon’s daughter Brooke. In an Instagram Story, Brooke shared that eyewitnesses present when her father passed have reached out to her.

“I’ve 100% gotten legit calls from professionals—from police officials to nurses—that were supposedly with my dad on the day of his death telling ME I need to see body cam footage and I need to get a hold of the 911 tapes because they supposedly contain information that could potentially shed enough light to change the narrative we/I/everyone’s been hearing.”

“Those same professionals feel so passionately about what they witnessed, they have continued to contact me and push me to find specific answers to this very day. They are quite literally putting their careers at risk because they feel so compelled to do the right thing.”

Brooke added that she has zero control over this situation, with control instead resting with Hulk’s wife Sky. Not only does Brooke not have any say over her father, but she suggested that she has been kept in the dark about what has transpired since his death.

“I do not have any information on if or when he is being cremated. Could have been right after he died, could be tomorrow. I do not know. I have been told by my brother there will be an autopsy. I do not know who will be performing the autopsy. Any information I receive from an autopsy—if one happens—whether I believe it or not, I will be keeping private out of respect for my father.”

Brooke has plenty of unanswered questions, but is trusting her brother Nick to do his best to get answers. Brooke ended with a pertient message to those she believes are misrepresenting her.

“So please stop misquoting, speculating, and ASKING me if I know anything. I cannot get any information. I know you’d think I could being his blood, but I can’t. We are already dealing with enough. I will not be talking about this ‘mystery’ anymore.”

Much has been said about Hulk Hogan following his death aged 71 of a heart attack. While Brooke believes there may be more to his death than first meets the eye, it remains to be seen if there are any official updates on the end of the life of one of wrestling’s biggest stars.

Seth Rollins Says WWE Partnership With ESPN Helps ‘Legitimatize’ The Industry

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The new World Heavyweight Champion, Seth Rollins, has commented on the new partnership between WWE and ESPN. Speaking on ESPN’s “Get Up,” Rollins called the deal “huge for us as an industry” and a step in “legitimatizing” what WWE superstars do as both artists and athletes.

Rollins appeared on the Thursday morning sports talk show to discuss the news that WWE’s premium live events will begin airing on ESPN platforms in September, much earlier than the originally announced 2026 start date.

“The fact that we’re here teaming up with ESPN, it’s like my two favorite things in the world — sports and WWE — coming together. It’s huge for us as an industry,” Rollins said.

He went on to explain why he believes the partnership is so important for the perception of professional wrestling as a whole. “Professional wrestling has been a part of Americana for many, many, many years… and as we start to dip our toe further into the mainstream and really integrate ourselves into the mainstream, this is a huge step for us legitimatizing what we do as artists, as athletes,” he stated.

“For me personally, to be a part of the ESPN family is huge. I’m looking forward to this partnership and everything that is brings,” Rollins added.

The new partnership will officially kick off with the first-ever WrestlePalooza premium live event on Saturday, September 20, from Indianapolis, Indiana. The show will be the first WWE PLE to air on ESPN’s new direct-to-consumer streaming service.

Montez Ford Thinks The Fans Will Support Bianca Belair Heel Turn

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Montez Ford has weighed in on the possibility of his wife, Bianca Belair, ever turning to the “dark side” in WWE. The Street Profits member stated that the fans would likely continue to cheer for “The EST” regardless of her character alignment.

Speaking with O’Shea Jackson Jr and TJ Jefferson of the No Contest Wrestling Podcast, Ford was asked about the potential for Belair to one day become a heel on the main roster. He shared his belief that she is too popular with the fans to ever be truly booed.

“I told her that. She can try to go heel, she can try to go bad, they just gonna rock with her man,” Ford said.

During her time in NXT, Bianca Belair showcased her versatility as both a babyface and a heel. However, since her main roster debut in 2020, she has been presented exclusively as one of the company’s top babyfaces, winning multiple world championships in that role.

Belair has been out of in-ring action since suffering a finger injury at WrestleMania 41 in April. In a recent interview, she stated that she is “closing in” on a return to the ring and could be medically cleared as early as this month.

WWE’s Big Move: From Peacock to ESPN (Complete Guide)

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Starting September 20, 2025, all WWE Premium Live Events (PLEs) will stream in the U.S. exclusively on ESPN’s new direct-to-consumer streaming service. The first event, Wrestlepalooza, kicks off this partnership.

How to Access WWE Content on ESPN

Subscription Requirements

To watch WWE PLEs, you’ll need the ESPN Unlimited plan at $29.99/month. This plan includes all ESPN channels and major sports content, including WWE. Sign up for ESPN Unlimited here or through the ESPN app.

Provider Authentication: If you already subscribe to ESPN through select pay-TV or streaming providers (DirecTV, Hulu + Live TV, Charter, FuboTV, Verizon Fios), you may authenticate through your provider to access ESPN’s streaming service—including WWE—at no extra cost. Note that YouTube TV and Xfinity currently do not offer this authentication for WWE PLEs.

Sign-Up Steps

  1. Visit ESPN.com or open the ESPN app
  2. Create or log into your ESPN account
  3. Select ESPN Unlimited ($29.99/month) for full access to all WWE PLEs
  4. Complete payment and activate your subscription
  5. If you have a qualifying pay-TV subscription, select your provider and follow authentication steps

What’s Included

Your ESPN subscription covers all major WWE events including WrestleMania, SummerSlam, Royal Rumble, Survivor Series, and Money in the Bank—no additional pay-per-view fees required.

Bundle Option

An introductory bundle with ESPN Unlimited, Hulu, and Disney+ is available for $39.99/month.

Important: WWE PLEs will no longer be available live on Peacock after August 31, 2025.


Saturday Night’s Main Event: The Peacock Exception

While most WWE content moves to ESPN, Saturday Night’s Main Event (SNME) is heading in a different direction—exclusively to Peacock as a separate deal.

SNME Details

Peacock will stream four SNME specials per year, starting with two events in 2025 (November 1 and December 13, with John Cena’s retirement match on the latter). These events will not air on linear TV or ESPN—Peacock has exclusive live rights.

WWE’s Fragmented Streaming Landscape

Here’s where to find WWE content across platforms:

  • ESPN Unlimited: All main roster Premium Live Events starting September 2025
  • Peacock: Saturday Night’s Main Event (4x/year), WWE Network library through 2025, NXT Premium Live Events through March 2026
  • Netflix: WWE Raw (Monday nights) starting January 2025, plus international WWE content
  • USA Network: SmackDown (continues on traditional TV)
  • CW: Weekly NXT programming

Does This Affect WWE’s Netflix Deal?

No. The Netflix deal covers WWE Raw for U.S. audiences and international WWE programming. Peacock’s SNME exclusivity is separate and doesn’t interfere with Netflix’s rights. These deals are complementary, with each platform serving different pieces of WWE’s content strategy.


Frequently Asked Questions

When do WWE events start streaming on ESPN? September 20, 2025, beginning with Wrestlepalooza.

Do I need to pay extra for WWE on ESPN? Yes, you need an ESPN Unlimited subscription ($29.99/month). Some pay-TV subscribers can authenticate at no extra cost, but YouTube TV and Xfinity are excluded.

Will WWE still be on Peacock after August 2025? Live WWE Premium Live Events will not be on Peacock after August 31, 2025. However, Peacock retains Saturday Night’s Main Event and the WWE Network library through the end of 2025.

Which WWE events are included with ESPN? All major Premium Live Events including WrestleMania, SummerSlam, Royal Rumble, Survivor Series, and Money in the Bank.

Can I bundle ESPN with other services? Yes, an introductory bundle with ESPN Unlimited, Hulu, and Disney+ costs $39.99/month.

Where can I watch different WWE shows?

  • Premium Live Events: ESPN Unlimited
  • Saturday Night’s Main Event: Peacock
  • Monday Night Raw: Netflix (starting January 2025)
  • Friday Night SmackDown: USA Network
  • Weekly NXT: CW

The bottom line: WWE fans will need multiple subscriptions to catch all content, as the company has split its programming across several platforms rather than consolidating under one streaming home.

U.S. Olympic Rugby Star Ilona Maher Open To WWE Future

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United States Rugby star Ilona Maher is ready for life beyond the field, including a potential future in professional wrestling. Speaking to BBC Sport, Maher first discussed going into acting, and following other athletes who have turned to the silver screen.

“I would love to get into the acting space, the scripted space. I think that a John Cena, Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson progression [would be great.]”

When asked about a potential move to WWE, Maher revealed that she’s been approached before. While she hasn’t thought too much on the matter, a move to WWE would make a lot of sense.

“I should [join.] Great money in it, great money in it… Maybe, I’ll think about that.”

Maher did share her qualms about wrestling, including bringing up the scripted nature of programming. If she were to join WWE, Maher would follow in the footsteps of Ridge Holland, who played Rugby for year before the Welsh Superstar signed with WWE.

Maher is an Olympic Bronze Medalist, another accolade that could catch the attention of WWE if she pursues a future in the ring. With Maher set to compete in the 2025 Women’s Rugby World Cup that kicks off on August 22, it remains to be seen if a future in the ring happen.