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Maxxine Dupri Stuns Becky Lynch With Career Defining Performance on WWE Raw

Michael Reichlin
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Maxxine Dupri Stuns Becky Lynch With Career Defining Performance on WWE Raw

Maxxine Dupri delivered a star-making performance against Becky Lynch on the October 6, 2025 episode of WWE Raw, live on Netflix. Facing the Women’s Intercontinental Champion, Dupri matched Lynch move for move in an intense, technical battle. She endured early punishment, but fought back with athletic counters—a backslide, a knee strike, and a suplex—before applying a Kurt Angle-inspired Ankle Lock that had Lynch scrambling for the ropes.

As Lynch pressed her advantage outside the ring, her arrogance proved costly: she struck Dupri with a massive PRIME bottle, got distracted taunting fans, and was counted out by the referee while Dupri made it back into the ring. With this unlikely countout victory, Dupri earned her first singles win against Lynch, displaying guts, resilience, and execution in a match that raised her profile and stunned the WWE Universe.

Dupri’s win signals her arrival as a real contender in the Raw women’s division and sets the stage for an electrifying feud with Lynch moving forward. Expect Maxxine Dupri’s name to remain in the championship conversation as WWE heads towards Crown Jewel.

Stipulation Added To Roman Reigns vs. Bronson Reed Match At WWE Crown Jewel

Andrew Ravens
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Stipulation Added To Roman Reigns vs. Bronson Reed Match At WWE Crown Jewel

A new, violent stipulation has been added to the highly personal grudge match between Roman Reigns and “Big” Bronson Reed for this Saturday’s WWE Crown Jewel. On the October 6 episode of Monday Night Raw, it was announced that the two powerhouse superstars will now face each in an Australian Street Fight. The announcement was made during an opening segment that saw the two rivals come face-to-face for the first time since their encounter at Clash in Paris, and it ended with a wild brawl that had to be broken up by security.

The show kicked off with Roman Reigns addressing the WWE Universe, but he was quickly interrupted by Bronson Reed and his advocate, Paul Heyman. Heyman taunted Reigns, reminding him that after their match at Clash in Paris, Reigns was stretchered out of the arena for the first time in his career. Reed then took the microphone and invoked the names of Reigns’s legendary father, Sika, and his uncles, questioning how they would feel about his moment of vulnerability.

The personal insults enraged “The Tribal Chief,” who challenged Reed to a fight right then and there. Paul Heyman stepped in and declared that the match would happen on Reed’s terms, in his home country of Australia, and that it would be an Australian Street Fight. Reigns immediately accepted the challenge, leading to a brawl between the two men that spilled all over the ringside area before officials could separate them.

The Rock Took Significant Pay Cut For “The Smashing Machine”

Andrew Ravens
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The Rock Took Significant Pay Cut For “The Smashing Machine”

A new report from Deadline has revealed that Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson took a substantial pay cut for his new A24 drama, “The Smashing Machine,” a project he has been passionate about for years. The news comes as the film, a biopic about former UFC fighter Mark Kerr, experienced the lowest box office debut of Johnson’s illustrious acting career.

The film, which had a production budget of $50 million, grossed only $6 million in its opening weekend, falling well short of its projected range of $8 million to $15 million. According to the Deadline report, Johnson’s compensation for the film was a fraction of his typical asking price, and he even shared a portion of his earnings with his co-star and the man he portrayed.

“[Dwayne] Johnson took a $4M fee, significantly below his historical $20M+ paycheck plus points. Sources say he even gave a portion of his paycheck to Emily Blunt and [Mark] Kerr.”

The film finished third at the weekend box office, behind a new Taylor Swift documentary and the war drama “One Battle After Another.” The $6 million opening was lower than the $8.5 million debut of his 2010 film, “Faster,” making it a new career low for the global superstar. Following the disappointing opening weekend, Johnson took to his Instagram account to post a message to his fans, acknowledging the box office results but remaining proud of the film and the story it told.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Dwayne Johnson (@therock)

John Cena’s Final Opponent Revealed

Andrew Ravens
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John Cena’s Final Opponent Revealed

The opponent for John Cena’s final match has reportedly been chosen, and it will be one of the most dominant forces in WWE, “The Ring General” GUNTHER. According to a new report from Dave Meltzer, WWE has internally selected GUNTHER to face the 16-time world champion in his farewell match.

The encounter is scheduled to take place at a special Saturday Night’s Main Event on December 13 in Washington, D.C., an event that is being built entirely around the conclusion of Cena’s legendary career. The potential matchup is a true clash of eras and styles, pitting the face of a generation against the standard-bearer of the new era’s Ring General.

In the report posted on F4Wonline.com, Meltzer detailed the company’s plans, noting that while an on-screen tournament may be used to create a storyline path to the match, the final decision has already been made behind the scenes. For now, this is the direction.

WWE has already confirmed that Cena will take on AJ Styles this Saturday at WWE Crow Jewel. After this bout, he will have three appearances left.

Santos Escobar’s WWE Contract Is Up Soon

Andrew Ravens
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Santos Escobar’s WWE Contract Is Up Soon

A new report from Fightful Select has provided a major update on the future of WWE SmackDown superstar Santos Escobar, revealing that his contract with the company is set to expire “very soon.”

According to WWE sources cited in the report, the current expectation is that Escobar will be leaving the company when his deal is up, a move that would make him one of the most sought-after free agents in the professional wrestling industry.

The news comes after months of speculation about his status, as he has been used sparingly on television throughout 2025 and has been making a series of ominous posts on his social media accounts. The report states that while it was implied that WWE and Escobar had discussed a contract extension, it does not appear that the two sides will be coming to a new agreement. Escobar’s last official match for the company was at a non-televised WWE SuperShow live event in Mexico, and he has effectively vanished from weekly WWE programming.

Should he become a free agent, Escobar is expected to be in high demand. Before signing with WWE and becoming a staple of the NXT and SmackDown brands as the leader of Legado Del Fantasma, he had a long and highly successful career under the name El Hijo del Fantasma, where he was a top star in Mexico for both CMLL and AAA. He also had an run in the Lucha Underground promotion as the dark and menacing character, King Cuerno.

Brock Lesnar To Be Added To WWE 2K25

Andrew Ravens
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Brock Lesnar To Be Added To WWE 2K25

Brock Lesnar is officially being added back into the WWE 2K25 video game. “The Beast Incarnate” will be a key part of the upcoming “John Cena farewell pack,” a new downloadable content pack scheduled for release on Thursday, October 16. The news comes after the release of the latest game update, Patch 1.26, which added the names of the new characters to the game’s data, confirming their imminent arrival.

The new patch has revealed that several new character models will be included in the pack. In addition to the modern-day Brock Lesnar, who is reportedly set to have a 94 overall rating, the DLC will also feature a 2003 version of John Cena, a model based on his appearance at WrestleMania 41, and a playable version of his father, John Cena Sr. A new “John Cena farewell edition” of the entire game is also scheduled to be released on the same day.

Lesnar was previously removed from promotional material and a planned DLC release earlier this year after his name was mentioned in the Janel Grant lawsuit against Vince McMahon. His return to the video game now follows his shocking return to WWE programming at SummerSlam in August, where he attacked John Cena and later beat Cena at Wrestlepalooza. The official notes for Patch 1.26 are below:

  • Stability and Performance improvements
  • Added support for upcoming John Cena-related content

Andrade Fires Back at Dave Meltzer Claims “You Keep Killing the Business”

Dylan Bowker
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Andrade Fires Back at Dave Meltzer Claims “You Keep Killing the Business”

Dave Meltzer had several comments regarding Andrade’s return to AEW and the latter has responded to the tenured journalist in a fiery fashion. The October 1st edition of AEW Dynamite saw the return of the acclaimed competitor on the sixth anniversary of the promotion’s flagship TV show.

Dave Meltzer was recently pontificating on matters related to how El Idolo’s initial AEW exit was handled when it transpired in 2023. The Wrestling Observer figurehead noted that wrestlers who are preparing to leave All Elite Wrestling are generally kept off of television or booked in a fashion whereby they take multiple losses on their way out. Andrade was the exception to this standard method of behaviour in Meltzer’s eyes and the AEW returnee has refuted some of the claims from the journalist.

Taking to his personal X page to address some of these recent observations from Meltzer, Andrade said,

“@davemeltzerWON You talk too much s**t without proof, and Sir, I’ll only tell you one thing: when my contract with AEW ended, I personally went man to man to thank MR. TONY KHAN for the opportunity to be in AEW, and that’s all I’ll tell you.”

“If I wanted to talk more, I would show you that you’re wrong about many things. But you keep killing the business! Yo le deseo lo mejor!!”

Andrade’s prior AEW departure and his return timeline with All Elite Wrestling

Andrade did have showout performances in that Continental Classic tournament field prior to his departure from AEW a couple of years back. Through that stretch in the CC, Andrade earned several statement wins over the likes of Bryan Danielson, Brody King, as well as Daniel Garcia. The last AEW match of that prior tenure took place against someone who also would defect to WWE thereafter as Andrade took on Miro who would come back to WWE under his prior Rusev moniker.

Speaking of Andrade’s own WWE return efforr, reports would emerge that were tied to his September 13th release from the promotion centred on multiple violations of the wellness policy. The former WWE United states titleholder left the promotion without a non-compete clause which facilitated his quick turn around AEW comeback on the last Dynamite episode.

Hikaru Shida Announces Big AEW Re-Signing

Dylan Bowker
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Hikaru Shida Announces Big AEW Re-Signing

Hikaru Shida has been one of the more standout women’s wrestlers in All Elite Wrestling dating back to it’s inception and the former AEW champion has signed a new contract with the promotion. That was announced by Shida on her personal social media and was also something she touched on during a recent livestream on her YouTube channel.

While she has been absent from the AEW stage for almost a year now, Shida has been active on the Japanese wrestling circuit and also participated in a stage production in the role of a wrestler preparing to hang up their boots. Articulating on her YouTube channel that this was not a case of art imitating life, Shida said [via Vice],

“It’s about a wrestler [the stageplay]. The title was ‘Retirement’ and this is the story of the wrestler [who] just announced her retirement, and that’s me.”

“Actually, after the show many fans asked me like ‘Are you retiring or is it just a play?’ And of course it’s just a play. I’m not retiring.”

Hikaru Shida “I’m not retiring”

The 37-year-old has been kept outside of the United States over the last several months due to visa related complications but the former multi-time AEW titleholder is still very much All Elite. The social media statement she dropped, referenced above, related to her visa situation as Shida stated [via Vice],

“I just renewed my Visa and contract, so I’m not retiring. But fans asked me so that means my acting was too good.”

Hikaru Shida is a three time women’s champion second only to Toni Storm who has four reigns and Shida’s last AEW match, as of this writing came last November against current divisional titleholder Kris Statlander, who has been praised during her reign.

With Storm and Statlander competing for the latter’s AEW crown at the looming WrestleDream card, some are mulling over the idea of the native of Japan making her triumphant return with the aim of tying Storm’s overall record for cumulative AEW Women’s title wins.

Paul Walter Hauser Approached to Play WWE Legends in Biopics

Thomas Lowson
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0
Paul Walter Hauser Approached to Play WWE Legends in Biopics

Mick Foley’s life in and out of the ring would certainly be worthy of a biopic, one that could see Paul Walter Hauser portray the Micker. During an appearance on Inside the Ring, Hauser was asked which wrestler he’d like to play, and shared that he’s already been approached.

“I have been approached about playing Mick Foley. Really. I’ve also been approached about playing Jim Neidhart.”

Hauser shared that he’s also been presented with the chance of playing somebody else who “I won’t name out of respect for the project and the people involved.”

While best known to acing, Hauser’s connection to pro wrestling is well-established. Hauser has 17 official matches to his name, with his most recent seeing him beat QT Marshall at ROH Death Before Dishonor 2025. In PROGRESS Wrestling, Hauser currently holds the Proteus Title and has challenged for other titles in the past.

Hauser’s comments about Foley aren’t the first time his name has been connected to the WWE Hall of Famer. During an interview on Casual Conversations with The Classic in May 2025, Foley shared that Hauser had shown interest in portraying him. Foley gave Hauser his seal of approval, saying Paul could “find the spirit of that 1995 Cactus Jack.”

Jim Neidhart’s story would also make for quite the biopic as his career and life saw highs and lows before his passing in 2018. Whatever role is in the wings for Hauser, don’t be surprised to see him in the ring on the big screen.

Paul Walter Hauser Reps PROGRESS Wrestling At Fantastic Four Premiere

Mickie James Reveals Who Will Induct Her Into TNA Hall Of Fame

Andrew Ravens
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Mickie James Reveals Who Will Induct Her Into TNA Hall Of Fame

It has been announced that former WWE and TNA Women’s Champion Lisa Marie Varon, known to fans as Victoria and Tara, will be the one to induct her long-time friend and rival, Mickie James, into the TNA Wrestling Hall of Fame. The induction ceremony is scheduled to take place at the Bound For Glory pay-per-view this Sunday, October 12, in Lowell, Massachusetts. The choice is a fitting one, as the careers of the two women have been intertwined for decades, featuring memorable matches and feuds in both WWE and TNA.

The news was revealed by Mickie James herself during a recent interview with WrestlingNews.co’s SoCal Val. She explained why she chose Varon for the prestigious honor.

“Someone who was pretty synonymous with the whole introduction of Hardcore Country. And I think that we made some incredible, historic moments together — and that would be our dear friend, Lisa Marie.”

James also noted that she personally requested Varon for the induction speech. She was initially unsure if Varon’s WWE legends contract would create an issue, but the request was quickly approved by TNA, which has a close working relationship with WWE. This year’s TNA Hall of Fame class is a celebration of the Knockouts division, as The Beautiful People (Angelina Love & Velvet Sky) will also be inducted alongside Mickie James.

Betting Odds Released For WWE Crown Jewel

Andrew Ravens
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0
Betting Odds Released For WWE Crown Jewel

The betting odds have been released via MyBookie for this Saturday’s major international Premium Live Event, WWE Crown Jewel. The event, which will take place in Perth, Australia, on October 11, is set to feature two “Champion vs. Champion” bouts, a historic final encounter on John Cena’s retirement tour, and a heated women’s tag team match.

In the men’s Champion vs. Champion match, the current World Heavyweight Champion, Seth Rollins, is a significant favorite to defeat the Undisputed WWE Champion, Cody Rhodes. In the women’s Champion vs. Champion encounter, the new Women’s World Champion, Stephanie Vaquer, is favored to win against the reigning WWE Women’s Champion, Tiffany Stratton. For his final match ever in Australia, John Cena is a massive favorite to defeat his long-time rival, AJ Styles.

A minus sign (-) indicates the favorite, while a plus sign (+) indicates the underdog. The current betting odds for the event are below:

Men’s Champion vs. Champion Match: Cody Rhodes (+200) vs. Seth Rollins (-300)

Women’s Champion vs. Champion Match: Tiffany Stratton (+160) vs. Stephanie Vaquer (-225)

John Cena (-1000) vs. AJ Styles (+500)

Big Match Expected To Be Added To WWE Crown Jewel

Laredo Kid Announces Departure From TNA Wrestling

Michael Reichlin
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Laredo Kid Announces Departure From TNA Wrestling

Laredo Kid has announced his departure from TNA Wrestling via social media, thanking the company while stating he is “on a new path.”

In a message posted to his official X account, the Mexican star wrote: “Thank you for everything to this great company and family… I appreciate your tremendous support. I hope to return to work in the future. We’re on a new path.”

The announcement comes after Laredo Kid had not wrestled for TNA since television tapings in May 2025. His most recent TNA run included winning the Digital Media Championship from Crazzy Steve at Rebellion 2024, before losing the title to AJ Francis approximately one month later during Impact’s anniversary show. He also competed in X-Division action and teamed with Octagón Jr. as the Aztec Warriors in 2025.

Laredo Kid remains active with AAA, where he currently holds the World Cruiserweight Championship. He has also appeared on AAA x WWE Worlds Collide events in 2025, including a North American Title four-way in June and a multi-man tag match in September.

While Laredo Kid expressed hope to return to TNA in the future, his immediate focus appears to remain outside the promotion.

You can keep up with Laredo Kid’s next moves on social media: on X @Laredokidpro1 and on Instagram @laredokidpro.

Zaria Makes Impressive SmackDown Debut, WWE Officials Taking Notice

Michael Reichlin
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Zaria Makes Impressive SmackDown Debut, WWE Officials Taking Notice

Australian powerhouse Zaria is generating major buzz following her SmackDown debut on October 3rd, with both WWE officials and fans taking notice of the rising star’s potential.

Zaria made her main roster debut alongside Sol Ruca on Friday’s SmackDown, defeating Chelsea Green and Alba Fyre in tag team action. The victory marked a significant milestone for the Adelaide native, transitioning from NXT to WWE’s main roster less than a year after her initial WWE debut.

According to sources, WWE officials were impressed with Zaria’s performance, adding to the momentum she’s been building since joining the company in October 2024. The response on social media was equally positive, with fans praising her in-ring presence and dominant style.

Zaria and Sol Ruca are being positioned as potential contenders for the WWE Women’s Tag Team Championships. Their chemistry has caught the attention of WWE brass, who see significant upside in the partnership between the Australian powerhouse and her high-flying partner.

Fast-Tracked to Success

WWE has been giving Zaria a strong push since day one. She was featured prominently at NXT Halloween Havoc and has been booked as a dominant force in the women’s division. The company’s confidence in her abilities is evident, with insiders describing her as “a champion in the making.”

Before joining WWE, Zaria (real name Daria Hodder) dominated the Australian wrestling scene, capturing multiple championships in the same promotions that previously featured stars like Rhea Ripley. That pedigree has given her instant credibility as a serious threat on the main roster.

With her imposing presence, impressive in-ring skills, and WWE’s clear investment in her success, Zaria appears to be on a fast track to championship contention. Her SmackDown debut may be just the beginning of what could be a breakout year for one of WWE’s most promising new stars.

AEW Star Teases Champion vs. Champion Bout

Andrew Ravens
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AEW Star Teases Champion vs. Champion Bout

A potential “Champion vs. Champion” dream match is being teased following the recent Ring of Honor debut of the reigning IWGP Women’s Champion, Sareee. The Japanese star, formerly known as Sarray in WWE, made her first appearance for the promotion in a tag team match, and it immediately caught the attention of the dominant and long-reigning ROH Women’s World Champion, Athena.

An exchange on social media between the two champions has sparked excitement among fans for a potential first-time-ever encounter between two of the most acclaimed women’s wrestlers in the world. Following Sareee’s debut, in which she teamed with Alex Windsor against Billie Starkz and Diamante, Athena posted a cryptic, emoji-filled message on X (formerly Twitter).

The post was noticed by Sareee, who responded with a direct and intriguing challenge.“I wanted a match since the first time I met you…”

While the two have never faced each other in the ring, they were both on the WWE roster between 2020 and 2021, when Sareee was known as Sarray and Athena was Ember Moon. Athena has been the ROH Women’s World Champion since defeating Mercedes Martinez at Final Battle in December 2022, a historic reign that has now surpassed 1,000 days. Sareee’s immediate focus in ROH is a scheduled defense of her IWGP Women’s Championship against Alex Windsor, but this social media exchange has firmly planted the seeds for a major future showdown with Athena.

WWE Raw Preview – October 6, 2025

Michael Reichlin
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WWE Raw Preview – October 6, 2025

Tonight’s WWE Raw from the American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas serves as the go-home show for Crown Jewel this Saturday, October 11 in Perth, Australia. The show airs at 8:00 PM ET / 5:00 PM PT on Netflix.

Confirmed Matches

Becky Lynch vs. Maxxine Dupri – Women’s Intercontinental Championship match following Lynch’s backstage attack on Dupri last week after Maxxine referenced AJ Lee

Lyra Valkyria vs. Roxanne Perez – This comes after Valkyria came to Bayley’s aid when Perez attacked her following Bayley’s loss to Raquel Rodriguez

Appearances

Roman Reigns is advertised to kick off the show after making his return last week to help The Usos during their match against Bron Breakker and Bronson Reed

CM Punk makes his return to Raw for the first time since Wrestlepalooza, where he and AJ Lee defeated Seth Rollins and Becky Lynch in a mixed tag team match

Key Storylines

  • The Kabuki Warriors (Asuka & Kairi Sane) vs. Rhea Ripley and IYO Sky heading into their Crown Jewel tag team match
  • The ongoing Dominik Mysterio Intercontinental Championship storyline
  • Final Crown Jewel hype with potential new match additions

This is an important show as WWE builds toward one of their biggest international premium live events of the year.

Carlos Silva: TNA Wrestling “Has No Plans To Slow Down”

Andrew Ravens
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Carlos Silva: TNA Wrestling “Has No Plans To Slow Down”

TNA Wrestling President Carlos Silva recently sat down for an interview to discuss the company’s recent momentum and his vision for the future as they head towards their biggest pay-per-view of the year, Bound For Glory. Since taking the helm last December, Silva has overseen a period of significant growth and buzz for the promotion, highlighted by a partnership with WWE’s NXT brand.

Speaking with Justin Barrasso of Sports Illustrated’s “Undisputed,” Silva talked about TNA’s place in the wrestling industry and its commitment to the fan experience.

“It’s very important that we do everything we can for our fans. WWE is at the top of the space and sport, but we have our own place in wrestling. We have a lot of goals to accomplish, especially with the best fan experience.”

He also gave credit to the team he has assembled behind the scenes, a mix of wrestling veterans and experienced sports executives, for the company’s recent success.

“We have some great minds in the company, like Eric Tompkins, Tommy Dreamer, and Ross Forman. We brought in sports executives for production and marketing, too. We’re bringing best practices from sports and applying them to our live events. It’s a team that is pulling all together, and that makes a big difference. It’s been a great nine months, but we’re not going to slow down.”

Finally, he detailed his philosophy for the TNA roster, which aims to be a platform for both the next generation of stars and established legends.

“We have a lot of goals. We can develop young stars. Joe Hendry is a great example. I know he wrestled elsewhere, but TNA provided a platform for him to reach new levels–then you saw him at WrestleMania. TNA is a place for young stars like Leon Slater. It’s a place for legends like The Hardys and stars like Eric Young, Nic Nemeth, Matt Cardona, and Frankie Kazarian–and I could go on and on.”

Big Match Expected To Be Added To WWE Crown Jewel

Andrew Ravens
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Big Match Expected To Be Added To WWE Crown Jewel

A new report from Dave Meltzer has provided a potential spoiler regarding a new match for this Saturday’s WWE Crown Jewel Premium Live Event in Perth, Australia. According to an internal lineup sheet for the show, the match between Roman Reigns and “Big” Bronson Reed is currently listed as the final match to be added to the card.

The report also noted that as of last week, the match was listed internally as having a “stipulation to be determined,” suggesting that a final angle to add a stipulation could take place on tonight’s episode of Monday Night Raw. Tonight’s show, which will emanate from Dallas, Texas, is the final episode of Raw before the international PLE, and it has a strong advance of over 10,719 tickets sold. The final build for the entire Super Show-Down card is expected to happen on tonight’s broadcast.

The match between Reigns and Reed stems from Reed’s attacks on Reigns and his family, which led to Reigns returning to WWE programming to seek revenge. The current card for the Perth event features five matches, including two major non-title “Champion vs. Champion” bouts and a match on John Cena’s farewell tour. Here is the current Crown Jewel card:

* Men’s Crown Jewel Championship Match: Cody Rhodes vs. Seth Rollins

* Women’s Crown Jewel Championship Match: Stephanie Vaquer vs. Tiffany Stratton

* John Cena vs. AJ Styles

* Rhea Ripley & IYO SKY vs. The Kabuki Warriors

Wayne And Wyatt Rhodes Sets Sights On WWE Tag Teams

Thomas Lowson
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Wayne And Wyatt Rhodes Sets Sights On WWE Tag Teams

Wayne and Wyatt Rhodes may have experience competing in AEW and Ring of Honor, but the duo are already eyeing up potential dream matches in WWE. Speaking to MuscleManMalcolm, the pair were asked who they would like to wrestle in WWE.

Wayne is eager to step in the ring with the Motor City Machine Guns (Chris Sabin and Alex Shelley) and added that the Rhodes met the guns recently. He added that DIY is another team he and Wyatt would love to work with. Wyatt went on to say that he’s hoping for a full-time reunion for The Usos. Though Jimmy and Jey are one of WWE’s most dominant teams of all time, Wyatt was confident, saying he and Wayne would “kick their ass!”

Wayne and Wyatt are the nephews of Cody and Dustin Rhodes. Together, they have competed as ‘The New Texas Outlaws,’ an homage to the tag team of Dick Murdoch and their grandfather, Dusty Rhodes. The pair defeated Aaron Solo and Jon Cruz during their AEW debut in August 2024, and defeated Solo and Cruz again in Ring of Honor in February 2025.

Wayne and Wyatt were backstage at WWE SmackDown in January 2025, giving the pair a taste of what they can expect if they become Superstars. On social media, Cody was proud of his nephews’ development so far, calling the duo “future tag champs.”

Whether Cody’s prediction comes true, time will tell. Nevertheless, Wayne and Wyatt Rhodes are determined to face the very best teams that WWE has to offer.

The Smashing Machine Opens to Career-Low Box Office for Dwayne Johnson

Thomas Lowson
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0
The Smashing Machine Opens to Career-Low Box Office for Dwayne Johnson

The Smashing Machine set an unfortunate record for Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson in its opening domestic weekend in theaters. The Mark Kerr biopic, produced by A24, scored $6 million for its opening weekend. This is the lowest box office opening ever for a film led by Johnson.

The previous record was held by Faster (2010,) which opened at $8,523,153. The numbers are just for the domestic opening, and do not include international.

The Smashing Machine tells the story of Mark Kerr, one of the pioneering names in UFC. The film sees Kerr (Johnson) rise in the world of Mixed Martial Arts while deal with personal problems, including substance abuse. The film sees Johnson reunite with Jungle Cruise co-star Emily Blunt, who plays Kerr’s girlfriend Dawn.

The Smashing Machine was smashed at the box office by Taylor Swift… Showgirl. The presentation that coincides with the music sensation’s latest album earned $33 million over a three-day period.

The Smashing Machine’s opening weekend is a rough start for Johnson’s latest film, which sees WWE’s Final Boss ditch his usual action blockbuster work for a more serious role. With a $50 million production cost, The Smashing Machine has its work cut out to earn its money back.

Adam Pearce Warns Fans About Fake TikTok Impersonators

Thomas Lowson
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0
Adam Pearce Warns Fans About Fake TikTok Impersonators

Adam Pearce’s name is known around the world thanks to his role as an on-screen WWE personality. Now, the Monday Night Raw General Manager has warned fans of those impersonating him for their own gain.

On his Instagram Stories, Pearce shared a screenshot of an ‘official’ account, claiming to be him on TikTok. Pearce made clear that the account is not genuine and told fans “Beware of goofs that pretend I’m on TikTok.”

image

There has been no shortage of wrestlers and wrestling personalities who have been the subject of impersonators and scammers. In November 2024, it was reported that a scammer posing as Alexa Bliss conned a man out of $1 million of his savings, as well as his granddaughter’s college fund. Bliss herself has spoken numerous times about people falling victim to scammers impersonating her online.

Hopefully, there comes a time when these impersonators and scammers are a thing of the past. Until that day comes, Raw’s General Manager wants fans to be vigilant if they see somebody on TikTok pretending to be him.

Joe Hendry’s Role Confirmed For WWE NXT Vs. TNA Showdown

Thomas Lowson
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0
Joe Hendry’s Role Confirmed For WWE NXT Vs. TNA Showdown

Joe Hendry will be part of the WWE NXT Vs. TNA Wrestling ‘Showdown’ event, but the popular star won’t be competing. On X, TNA Director of Authority Santino Marella shared that Hendry will be the special guest referee of the Men’s eight-man tag-team elimination match.

Team NXT will feature WWE NXT Champion Ricky Saints, TNA World Champion Trick Williams, Je’Von Evans, and Myles Borne. As for Team TNA, they will be represented by Moose, Leon Slater, Mike Santana and Frankie Kazarian.

It will be interesting to see where Hendry’s loyalties rest in this important tag-team elimination match. It has been reported that Hendry is expected to join WWE full-time when the time is right and he has made several appearances for the brand. TNA President Carlos Silva recently clarified that Hendry is still part of TNA Wrestling, despite his appearances for WWE.

Outside WWE NXT and TNA Wrestling, Hendry has appeared on WWE’s main roster. The TNA talent was part of the 2025 Men’s Royal Rumble match. He also appeared at WrestleMania 41 as the surprise opponent of Randy Orton.

Hendry’s situation at Showdown mirrors that of Jordynne Grace, who will officiate the Women’s Elimination Tag Team Match. Stay tuned to SEScoops for the latest from Showdown, including breaking news and live results.

TNA’s Joe Hendry Headlines WWE NXT Event Ahead Of Showdown

Shiloh Hill & Dani Sekelsky Win WWE LFG Season 2, Earn NXT Deals

Thomas Lowson
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0
Shiloh Hill & Dani Sekelsky Win WWE LFG Season 2, Earn NXT Deals

The winners of season two of WWE: Legends & Future Greats (WWE LFG) have been crowned. In the season finale, Dani Sekelsky and Shiloh Hill, both of whom were representing Team Undertaker, got the win.

Sekelsky defeated Penina Tuilaepa (PJ Vasa) in the finals, sealing the victory with The Undertaker’s Hell’s Gate submission move. On the men’s side of things, Hill defeated Harlem Lewis. The winners were chosen by WWE NXT head Shawn Michaels.

With their victories, Sekelsky and Hill have earned contracts with WWE NXT, though it’s unclear when the pair will be officially joining. Hill is no stranger to WWE NXT, as he debuted as part of NXT LVL Up back in July 2024. Sekelsky made her WWE NXT debut in April 2025, but is yet to have a match on TV.

Tyra Mae Steele (mentored by The Undertaker) and Jasper Troy (mentored by Booker T) won WWE LFG season one, and both have become part of WWE NXT. The Undertaker also earned the LFG Championship as best mentor, as he had the most team points.

It remains to be seen what’s next for Sekelsky and Hill, both of whom failed to win WWE LFG season one but have now emerged triumphant. Stay tuned to SEScoops for the latest on their careers.

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

Max Caster Is Done With Rapping, Doesn’t Want To Get AEW Canceled

Thomas Lowson
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Max Caster Is Done With Rapping, Doesn’t Want To Get AEW Canceled

Max Caster’s days of cutting freestyle raps in AEW are officially over, according to “The Best Wrestler Alive.” Appearing on Hey! (EW), Caster discussed his frustrations with some of the questions fans frequently ask him.

“When is The Acclaimed gonna come back?’ When are you gonna rap again?’ The thing is, I’m not, first of all, I’m never ever gonna rap at AEW again.”

For Caster, stepping away from rapping is a business decision. Referring to recent controversies involving comedians, he explained that he doesn’t want his words to put AEW’s television presence at risk.

“You see what’s happening to Jimmy Kimmel and Stephen Colbert for saying (bleeps) on TV, getting the shows canceled. Imagine if I get AEW Dynamite canceled or Collision canceled.”

Caster’s freestyles have previously sparked backlash, including a line years ago that many felt mocked Olympian Simone Biles’ mental health. In December 2024, AEW cut a line referencing Luigi Mangione, the man accused of killing United Healthcare CEO Brian Thompson.

While Caster has ditched rapping, he doesn’t regret what he has said. Even when concerned about being ‘canceled,’ Platinum Max remains defiant.

“people need to realize that. Don’t apologize for anything you do or say if it’s just people calling for your head. It’s pointless. That’s how I’ve survived.“

Caster remains active on the mic with plenty to say, but his days cutting raps are over. Instead, Caster will let his actions in the ring do the talking.

Max Caster Is The “Worst Rapper Alive” In Brand New Album

Mercedes Moné Announced For Independent Event In Denmark

Thomas Lowson
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Mercedes Moné Announced For Independent Event In Denmark

Wrestling fans in Denmark will soon get the chance to see Mercedes Moné in action as the CEO proves to be an international hit. BODYSLAM Wrestling has revealed that Moné will be part of their event on October 10 in Portalen, Greve. The match will be the AEW wrestler’s first time competing in Denmark.

If history is any indicator, Moné could be leaving Denmark with more than just memories. Currently, the CEO holds nine championship belts, several of which come from European promotions. Her collection includes titles from RevPro (United Kingdom,) EWA (Austria,) PTW (Poland,) and BestYa Wrestling (Italy.)

Moné’s international tour comes amid ongoing success in AEW. Moné captured the AEW TBS Championship in her first match for AEW, a title she holds to this day. So far, Moné has been beaten just once in singles action, with her loss coming to ‘Timeless’ Toni Storm at AEW All In: Texas.

Moné’s success certainly justifies her decision to bet on herself and walk away from WWE in 2022, an act that brought an end to Sasha Banks. Stay tuned to SEScoops for the latest on Mercedes Moné’s work around the world.

Mercedes Moné Eyes NJPW & STARDOM Gold For Belt Collection

Hulu Shuts Down: Former WWE Streaming Hub Officially Closes

Michael Reichlin
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Hulu Shuts Down: Former WWE Streaming Hub Officially Closes

Hulu, once a landmark in the world of streaming and a crucial next-day destination for WWE fans, is officially going away. After more than 20 years, Disney is retiring Hulu as a standalone app, with all its content — including its wrestling library — set to be fully integrated into Disney+ by 2026. For fans of professional wrestling, this marks the end of an era where Hulu served as a key platform for next-day WWE Raw, SmackDown, NXT, and a range of WWE programming that powered countless water cooler discussions and headline recaps for a generation.

For over a decade, Hulu was the home where many wrestling fans caught up on weekly WWE action. It offered next-day viewing of Raw, SmackDown, and NXT, became the streaming hub for reality shows like Total Divas and Miz & Mrs., and was a reliable source for those who couldn’t tune in live. The platform’s accessible on-demand model made it a significant part of the WWE universe — a bridge between old-school cable and the digital era of wrestling fandom.

However, contracts and the streaming landscape have shifted. WWE programming departed Hulu beginning September 25, 2024, with flagship shows now moving to other homes: SmackDown to Peacock, Raw soon to Netflix, and NXT to The CW. While some WWE-branded originals and documentaries will remain in the Disney ecosystem, the classic Hulu experience for wrestling fans is over.

With the curtain closing on Hulu’s run, WWE’s history with streaming takes a new turn. The end of Hulu as a standalone app is more than just corporate reshuffling — for wrestling fans, it’s the finale of a chapter where compelling action, late-night viewing, and headline-generating moments were a click away. As the digital distribution of wrestling content continues to evolve, fans and publishers alike will remember Hulu as a foundational streaming home for WWE — one that’s now making its final count.

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