The TNA World Championship reign of Trick Williams will be in serious jeopardy at Bound for Glory when the NXT Superstar faces a familiar challenger. On the September 4 episode of Impact, Director of Authority Santino Marella announced that Williams will defend against Mike Santana at Bound for Glory, set to take place on October 12.
After the announcement, Santana came out and criticized Williams for “hiding out until his next TNA match.” Santana teased that if the TNA World Champion is going to avoid TNA Wrestling until Bound for Glory, then he may have to confront him in WWE NXT.
This will be the sixth match between Williams and Santana, who first battled for the TNA World Title during the June 3, episode of WWE NXT. Currently, the pair are tied with two wins each, which includes singles matches, a triple-threat, and tag team matches. The outlying match saw the pair on the same side, the losing side, of a six-man tag-team match against Dark State.
Santana has never held the TNA World Championship but plans to bring the gold home soon enough. Time will tell if he can do that, or if the NXT Superstar continues to hold hostage the richest prize in TNA Wrestling.
ROH Women’s World Champion Athena has lived up to her moniker as the ‘Forever Champion’ by reaching 1,000 days with the gold. Athena captured the title at ROH Final Battle 2022 on December 10, 2022 by defeating Mercedes Martinez and has been able to hold on ever since.
Along her title reign, Athena has dispatched of Billie Starkz, Mina Shirakawa, Nyla Rose, Thekla, Alex Windsor, Thunder Rosa, and Willow Nightingale, to name just a few. Her most recent title defence, her 31st overall, came at ROH Death Before Dishonor in August 2025, where she defeated Shirakawa.
It’s not just Ring of Honor that has been home to Athena’s dominant reign. She has also put her title on the line at AEW events, as well as in STARDOM, Maple Leaf Pro, and other promotions. Her reign is the longer than all other ROH Women’s World Title reigns combined, and the longest reign of any champion in ROH history, regardless of sex.
Athena has shown no sign of her title reign coming to an end anytime soon. As the War Goddess continues to thrive in this post-WWE chapter of her career, it remains to be seen who, if anyone, can topple the champ.
At WWE Clash in Paris, Nikki Bella challenged for the Women’s Intercontinental Championship against Becky Lynch. Nikki would come up short in her pursuit of gold, and a comment made by Wade Barrett on commentary has stirred some drama.
During the Clash in Paris pre-show, Barrett took issue with Bella calling Becky Lynch desperate to stay at the top. The British wrestler-turned-commentator said that Nikki was “desperate to prove she still has it against this new generation that have changed the game.”
On her Nikki and Brie Show, Nikki addressed the claim she is “desperate.” Nikki said she’d like to have a conversation with Wade, who “avoided me on Monday” at Raw in Paris. Nikki added that Wade avoided making eye contact with her in the hallway.” She later said that the line didn’t bother her, recalling sitting backstage getting ready for her match, hearing Barrett and feeling “I get it.”
Barrett has now responded on X, sharing that he had no idea she felt this way about his line. While Wade is eager to have a conversation with Nikki, he refuted the claim that he avoided her at Raw, calling it “simply not true.”
I had no idea Nicole felt this way, and I’m happy to have this ‘conversation’ any time she likes. I wish she’d brought it up when we said hello to each other at Raw, rather than via her podcast. I don’t understand the avoiding claim at all, simply not true. https://t.co/H7lkgKxkp0
Time will tell whether the two do indeed have the conversation both sides claim should happen. It’s clear that what Barrett said had an effect on the WWE Hall of Famer, though Wade remains a part of the WWE commentary team.
Alexa Bliss has seemingly responded to Ronda Rousey.
The former UFC star went on a bizarre rant during a recent interview with The Lapsed Fan about her time with WWE. She specifically questioned the decision to put her in a feud with Alexa Bliss after her WrestleMania 34 debut, only because Bliss was the most popular star on the roster:
“The fact that they had me fighting Alexa Bliss at all was f*cking ridiculous, and you wanna know why they had me against Alexa Bliss? Because she had the most merch sales at the time… Like, what the f*ck!? That’s your decision-making process?”
The Goddess seemingly responded to this rant from her old rival on Twitter early on Thursday. Alexa Bliss sent out a short tweet saying that she loves the wrestling business:
The current WWE star was not the only one who responded to Ronda Rousey’s remark. AEW star MJF also took shots at the former UFC star for not understanding the business decision.
Ronda Rousey challenged Nia Jax for the Raw Women’s Championship at the 2018 Money In The Bank PPV, in her first match since WrestleMania 34. Alexa cashed in her MITB contract won earlier in the to night to walk away with the title.
Bliss would then defend the title against Ronda at SummerSlam that year. She dropped the belt in a match that lasted less than 5 minutes, and many praised Alexa for being able to hide Ronda’s inexperience in the ring.
The Undertaker has recalled Vince McMahon being very angry with the finish to a classic SmackDown match.
The Dead Man invited Kurt Angle as a guest on the latest episode of his Six Feet Under podcast. They talked about things such as Angle’s career before WWE, his transition to wrestling and more.
Wrestling Observer July 8th, 2002: "The finish of the Undertaker vs. Angle main event was botched. After the building cleared out, they taped a second ending shooting tight and just filling in seats right in front of the camera."
During the session, they also discussed the infamous SmackDown match from July 2002 whose ending was shot twice. Undertaker mentioned how the match was supposed to end in a draw, but the camera crew messed up the angle and McMahon was not happy with it:
“So the finish was again, you end up in Hell’s Gate, yeah, and then you stack me, right? Or you stack me up. And it was supposed to be a simultaneous 1, 2, 3 on you and me, tap. We did at the same time.
One, two, three, tap, right, yeah. They missed the camera angle… They didn’t get the tap. And that was the end of the night. The bell rings. People start leaving. And Vince loses his mind. He is batsh*t crazy.”
The match that main evented the show saw Kurt Angle challenging The Phenom for the WWE Undisputed World Heavyweight Championship.
The Olympic Gold Medalist recalled how the fans started leaving after the bell rang and they had to re-shoot the ending using the employees:
“We had to wait till the whole arena left. And then we had to place all the employees in a corner of the arena to make it look like this whole arena. And so they have one camera shot on the opposite side showing our match.”
The two WWE legends would face each other many times after this infamous match, which The Last Outlaw picking the victory in the majority of their encounters.
Kenny Omega has directly addressed speculation surrounding his absence from AEW All Out, revealing that his time away involves planned medical treatment rather than impromptu personal time.
The former AEW World Champion took to social media to respond to reports suggesting he was simply taking time off. “Specialized hospital visits and work that had been planned for a year, but sure, let’s bait the trolls,” Omega wrote, clarifying the nature of his absence.
Omega expressed frustration with how his situation has been portrayed in wrestling media, specifically calling out misleading headlines. “Don’t be misleading with headlines, please and thank you,” he stated, directly addressing wrestling news outlets.
Time off?
Specialized hospital visits and work that had been planned for a year, but sure, let’s bait the trolls.
I’m just trying to improve what I can and represent the company in a positive way while not performing.
The Canadian wrestler emphasized his commitment to AEW during his recovery period, explaining his approach to representing the company while unable to perform. “I’m just trying to improve what I can and represent the company in a positive way while not performing,” Omega said.
This marks Omega’s first public comments regarding his extended absence from AEW programming.
WWE will begin streaming episodes of the beloved 1980s animated series ‘Hulk Hogan’s Rock’n’Wrestling’ on their WWE Vault YouTube channel, starting this Saturday, September 6th.
According to Variety’s Joe Otterson, the cult classic cartoon, which originally aired from 1985-1986, will be released in batches of four episodes every Saturday morning at 6 AM, 8 AM, 10 AM, and 12 PM ET.
Episodes will air in chronological order, beginning with ‘Junkyard 500/Junkenstein,’ ‘The Four-Legged Pickpocket,’ ‘Clean Gene/Andre’s Giant Problem,’ and ‘Gorilla My Dreams.’
The animated series ‘featured Hogan and a group of babyface (good guy) wrestlers facing off in various whacky situations against a group of heels (bad guys) led by Rowdy Roddy Piper.’
Other wrestling legends included Andre the Giant, Junkyard Dog, Jimmy ‘Superfly’ Snuka, The Iron Sheik, and Bobby ‘The Brain’ Heenan, with Mean Gene Okerlund also appearing as a character.
Interestingly, none of the wrestlers provided their own voices due to packed travel schedules, with comedian Brad Garrett voicing the Hulkster himself.
The announcement comes just over a month after Hogan’s passing at age 71 in Clearwater, Florida.
WWE Vault, launched in June 2024, has grown to nearly 3 million subscribers with over 217 million monthly views, featuring classic matches, unseen footage, and fan-requested content from WWE’s extensive library.
All 26 episodes of the series will eventually be available on the platform.
AEW star Maxwell Jacob Friedman has a simple and direct message for former WWE Women’s World Champion and UFC Hall of Famer, Ronda Rousey: pro wrestling is a business. MJF took to social media to respond to recent comments from Rousey, where she expressed her frustration over being booked in a feud with Alexa Bliss in 2018 based on merchandise sales.
The conversation began when Rousey, in a recent interview, shared her frustration with the creative process in WWE. She specifically pointed to her 2018 feud with Alexa Bliss as an example of what she felt was flawed decision-making. “The fact that they had me fighting Alexa Bliss at all was fcking ridiculous, and you wanna know why they had me against Alexa Bliss? Because she had the most merch sales at the time… Like, what the fck!? That’s your decision-making process?” Rousey said.
MJF, who has never been shy about his own focus on the financial side of the business, saw these comments on the social media platform X and offered a sarcastic response. He feigned surprise that a professional sport would be treated like a business, a clear shot at what he perceives as Rousey’s naivety about the industry.
“It’s almost like pro wrestling much like any professional sport functions as a business. Fucking crazy,” MJF wrote in response. His comment quickly went viral, sparking a debate among fans about the balance between creative purity and business considerations in professional wrestling.
MJF has always been open about his business-first approach to his career. He famously orchestrated “The Bidding War of 2024,” where he negotiated with both AEW and WWE before ultimately re-signing with AEW for what is believed to be a lucrative contract.
It’s almost like pro wrestling much like any professional sport functions as a business.
It appears that this week’s episode of Friday Night SmackDown could be a monumental show, as a new report from Fightful Select indicates that Brock Lesnar is expected to be in Chicago for the event. WWE sources have reportedly confirmed that “The Beast Incarnate” is scheduled to travel to the city, where SmackDown will be broadcasting live.
While his involvement in the show has not been officially confirmed, his presence strongly suggests a potential appearance as the company builds towards its next Premium Live Event, WrestlePalooza, on September 20. This comes after Lesnar made a shocking return at SummerSlam to attack John Cena, setting up a major match between the two legends.
Adding to the significance of the evening, John Cena is also expected to be at the show. According to a separate report from WrestleVotes, this Friday could mark Cena’s final appearance ever on the SmackDown brand as his retirement tour continues. With both Lesnar and Cena in the building, the stage is set for a confrontation to build to their rumored match at WrestlePalooza.
Sources have indicated that WWE is intentionally stacking this week’s show to serve as a major part of the build for the upcoming event in Indianapolis. Lesnar is reportedly scheduled to arrive in Chicago on Thursday, making his on-screen involvement a strong possibility for the live broadcast.
Former WWE star Matt Riddle has been removed from SiouxperCon in South Dakota following inflammatory remarks he made about sexual assault allegations during a recent online appearance.
While addressing accusations that he no-showed a Global Wrestling Kingdom event, Riddle dismissed what he called “MeToo bullsh*t,” referencing 2020 allegations made against him by Candy Cartwright during the #SpeakingOut movement. Cartwright had accused Riddle of sexual assault, though he denied the claims and maintained their relationship was consensual. The subsequent lawsuit was ultimately dropped.
SiouxperCon organizers swiftly responded to Riddle’s comments with an official statement:
“In light of recent public statements made by Matt Riddle regarding the topics of SA and DV, SiouxperCon has made the decision to cancel his appearance at this year’s convention. The statements that were made in no way represent our organization or event, and are not aligned with the mission, vision, and values of our organization.”
The convention announced automatic refunds for fans who purchased photo opportunities with Riddle and will donate 10% of SiouxperMania ticket proceeds to The Compass Center, which supports survivors of sexual assault and domestic violence.
This incident highlights the wrestling industry’s continued efforts to address misconduct allegations and maintain accountability standards for performers.
The world of professional wrestling is colliding with classic arcade gaming as WWE superstars Roman Reigns and Cody Rhodes have been cast in key roles for the upcoming Street Fighter movie, set to release October 16, 2026.
In a casting move that bridges sports entertainment with video game nostalgia, Reigns will portray the formidable Akuma, while Rhodes takes on the role of the patriotic fighter Guile. The announcement comes as part of Legendary Pictures’ ambitious live-action adaptation of Capcom’s iconic fighting game franchise.
From Championship Reigns to World Warrior Tournament
Reigns, known to WWE audiences as “The Tribal Chief,” brings his commanding presence to the role of Akuma, the series’ most feared dark warrior. Meanwhile, Cody Rhodes, “The American Nightmare” who recently completed his emotional championship story at WrestleMania, seems perfectly suited for Guile, the military hero known for his unwavering sense of justice.
The casting represents a natural evolution for both wrestlers, who have demonstrated dramatic range throughout their WWE careers. Rhodes, in particular, has shown storytelling prowess that extends beyond the wrestling ring, while Reigns’ intimidating screen presence aligns well with Akuma’s menacing character.
The wrestling stars join an eclectic cast that includes Jason Momoa as Blanka, Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson as Balrog, and Andrew Koji and Noah Centineo as the iconic duo Ryu and Ken Masters. Director Kitao Sakurai is helming the project, which promises to capture “the quarter-pumping, button-mashing spirit of the 90s classic while leveling up for a new generation.”
Set in 1993, the film follows estranged fighters Ryu and Ken as they’re recruited by Chun-Li (Callina Liang) for the World Warrior Tournament, uncovering a deadly conspiracy that forces them to confront their past.
Wrestling’s Hollywood Evolution
The casting continues wrestling’s successful transition into mainstream entertainment, following in the footsteps of Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, John Cena, and Dave Bautista. For Reigns and Rhodes, the Street Fighter movie represents an opportunity to showcase their talents to a global audience beyond wrestling fans.
Filmed for IMAX and distributed through Legendary’s new partnership with Paramount Pictures, Street Fighter promises to deliver the high-octane action that both gaming and wrestling audiences crave. With Hadoukens, Sonic Booms, and the star power of WWE, this adaptation is positioning itself as a must-see spectacle.
Jim Ross, the legendary wrestling commentator, has publicly endorsed AJ Lee’s return to the wrestling ring, expressing his admiration and support for the former WWE Divas Champion. On the latest episode of his Grilling JR podcast, Ross praised AJ Lee’s passion for the business and her resilience, stating, “I’m pulling for her. She’s always been a tremendous talent and a great ambassador for wrestling.”
Ross highlighted AJ Lee’s impact on women’s wrestling, noting that her unique charisma and in-ring skills helped pave the way for the current generation of female wrestlers.
“AJ brought something different to the table,” he began. “She wasn’t just another face in the crowd—she had a spark, a real connection with the audience.”
The Hall of Famer also addressed the challenges AJ Lee faced during her career, including overcoming injuries and breaking through in a male-dominated industry.
“She’s tough as nails. Coming back after all she’s been through shows her dedication and love for wrestling. I have no doubt she’ll make a big impact again,” Ross added.
Fans have been buzzing about AJ Lee’s potential return, and Ross’s endorsement has only fueled excitement. Social media has been flooded with messages of support, with many echoing Ross’s sentiments and expressing hope that AJ Lee will inspire a new era in women’s wrestling.
As speculation continues about where and when AJ Lee will make her in-ring return, Jim Ross’s words serve as a powerful reminder of her legacy and the high expectations for her comeback.
“Wrestling needs people like AJ Lee—people who are passionate, talented, and unafraid to be themselves. I’m excited to see what she does next,” Ross concluded.
Ronda Rousey’s arrival in WWE in 2018 was a massive deal that made headlines in the mainstream for the wrestling giant. Now though, Rousey’s time in WWE is history, and she believes that her legacy in the ring will soon be swept under the rug.
While speaking on the Lapsed Fan podcast, Rousey was asked about the ongoing growth of WWE’s women’s division, and whether she will be recognized. Rather than be highlighted as a massive female star who helped WWE’s women’s division grow in significance, Rousey said that “I don’t know if I’ll be part of that story about how women are main eventers.”
Rousey was part of the first women’s match to headline WrestleMania, a feat many feel would not have happened if not for the star power of the UFC alum. That match saw Rousey, then the Raw Women’s Champion lose to Becky Lynch in a winner-takes-all triple threat which included SmackDown Women’s Champion Charlotte Flair.
While Rousey believes WWE won’t give her the proper credit, the former Raw and SmackDown Women’s Champion “don’t give a f***!” Rousey claimed that there’s a lot of “badass f***** gangster s*** that no one’s ever gonna know about.” Rather than be annoyed, Rousey doesn’t care, saying that she does this “gangster s***” not for the praise or credit, but because it’s what she wants to do.
Rousey parted ways with WWE in 2023 and took a loss on her way out to her friend Shayna Baszler. Rousey has spoken critically of her time with WWE, especially the time under Vince McMahon. While Rousey has also spoken highly of her fellow women as part of the roster, she believes their names will be etched in the history books, without her involved.
The September 3, episode of AEW Dynamite aired from the legendary 2300 Arena in Philadelphia, a venue that was a home to the original ECW. With extreme energy at fever pitch, it was fitting that an ECW original was honored after the show.
Once Dynamite stopped rolling, AEW President and CEO Tony Khan emerged and spoke highly of Taz. The former ECW World Champion received a warm welcome from the Philly crowd before a banner was revealed, cementing Taz’s place in the venue’s Hardcore Hall of Fame.
Taz was handed the mic and reflected on his time in the 2300 Arena. The Human Suplex Machine remained humbled that the crowd in Philly never made him feel like an outsider despite his New York home.
“Wrestling here, performing here as a New York guy, Philadelphia opened up their arms to a New York guy which I’ll never forget that.”
Taz was part of the original ECW for years and became one of the company’s most iconic stars before his exit in 2000. Years later, Taz would be part of WWE’s revival of ECW and would get physical at the One Night Stand events before settling into his role as a commentator.
Years after his in-ring career ended, Taz’s time in ECW remains iconic to fans. It was only fitting that the ECW legend was honored in the building he fought in and wowed fans for so many years.
This week’s episode of Friday Night SmackDown from the Allstate Arena in Chicago could be a historic one. A new report from WrestleVotes indicates that some within WWE are “quietly expecting” that tonight’s show will be the final SmackDown appearance of John Cena’s legendary career.
The report, which was released on Thursday, details the thinking behind the expectation. “We’re told some within WWE are quietly expecting tomorrow night to be John Cena’s final SmackDown,” WrestleVotes reported.
The news comes as Cena’s year-long retirement tour is beginning to wind down, with only a handful of dates remaining on his schedule before his final match in December.
According to the source cited in the report, the logistics of his remaining schedule make a return to the Friday night show unlikely. “According to a source, with only seven remaining dates left—and just two yet to be announced—it’s unlikely another will be a SmackDown event,” the report continued.
We’re told some within WWE are quietly expecting tomorrow night to be John Cena’s final SmackDown. According to a source, with only seven remaining dates left—and just two yet to be announced—it’s unlikely another will be a SmackDown event, meaning Cena will have debuted and…
If this week is indeed his final appearance, it would be a poetic, full-circle moment for Cena’s career. His official WWE television debut took place on an episode of SmackDown on June 27, 2002, in the very same building where tonight’s show is being held: the Allstate Arena in Chicago, Illinois. On that night, he famously answered an open challenge from Kurt Angle, kicking off one of the most decorated careers in WWE history.
With his final SmackDown appearance now potentially in the books, Cena’s farewell tour will continue with its final stretch of premium live event matches. He is reportedly scheduled to face Brock Lesnar at Wrestlepalooza on September 20, and his final match ever is set for the Saturday Night’s Main Event special on December 13.
Matt Riddle finds himself in hot water once again, this time over a controversial no-show situation involving a UK charity wrestling event that has spiraled into a public war of words and personal attacks on fellow wrestlers.
The Initial Incident: A Charity Event Gone Wrong
The drama began when Matt Riddle was scheduled to appear at Global Wrestling Kingdom’s charity event “A New Kingdom Rises” in Barnsley, England, on August 31. The event was organized to support important causes—specifically charities helping homeless veterans and survivors of bereavement by suicide.
When showtime arrived, Riddle was nowhere to be found. Global Wrestling Kingdom publicly stated that the former WWE star had “no-showed” the event, keeping his deposit in the process. The promotion revealed they had been left waiting at the airport for Riddle’s arrival and were forced to issue refunds for meet-and-greet packages that disappointed fans had purchased.
Adding insult to injury, reports surfaced that Riddle was actually wrestling in Florida that same weekend instead of honoring his UK commitment. SEScoops originally reported on this story here.
Riddle Fires Back: A Profanity-Laced Defense
Never one to stay quiet when controversy strikes, Matt Riddle responded with a heated video on social media that raised eyebrows for multiple reasons. In the expletive-filled rant, Riddle vehemently denied that he had no-showed the event.
According to Riddle’s version of events, Global Wrestling Kingdom failed to meet his travel and booking requirements. He claimed the promotion didn’t initially present the show as a charity event and criticized the flight arrangements they had made. Riddle also complained about being scheduled to stay in a Barnsley hotel for two days with minimal activity planned, suggesting the booking was poorly organized from the start.
This directly contradicts Global Wrestling Kingdom’s claim that the charity aspect was announced in July, with Riddle maintaining the charitable branding was a last-minute addition.
On Wednesday, Matt Riddle sat down with TMZ Sports for an extensive interview where he provided much more detail about his side of the controversy, revealing the personal and professional pressures behind his decision.
Death Threats and Timeline Disputes
Riddle revealed the serious personal consequences he’s faced from the backlash: “I woke up this morning to a bunch of death threats… How dare you scam a charity? I’m like, dog, four months ago, this wasn’t a charity event. Three months ago, it wasn’t a charity event. This week was the first time I got a message saying, ‘What? You’re going to do this to a charity event?'”
Riddle Takes Aim at CM Punk and AJ Lee
What started as a dispute over a booking quickly spiraled into something much more controversial. Riddle called CM Punk “fake and a creep,” alleging that the WWE Champion spends too much time around younger female talent.
He then crossed a major line by making disparaging comments about AJ Lee, implying she “got around” during her wrestling career—though he added “no disrespect” as if that somehow softened the blow. These comments about Punk and Lee appeared completely unrelated to the UK booking situation, raising questions about Riddle’s judgment and professionalism.
Defending His Charity Credentials
Riddle pushed back against suggestions he’s anti-charity. “I do multiple charity events where I don’t get paid a dime… But I’ll tell you this, I’m not flying to London in a middle seat with no meal with no check bag.” He made clear he’s willing to work for charity but not under what he considers unreasonable conditions.
Communication Breakdown and Promoter Issues
The interview revealed deeper issues with the promotion’s organization. Riddle explained: “The biggest concern was they flew me out Thursday… I hit this guy up two, three weeks ago. I’m like, ‘Hey, what’s up with Friday and Saturday?’ And they go, ‘Oh, they haven’t got back to us.'”
He also criticized the promoter’s overall approach: “You can look at the promoting and booking. It’s just one of those trashy… I’m not trying to bury ’em, I wish them the best, but I hope this is a good learning lesson not to throw the King of Bros under the bus.”
Additionally, Riddle accused the promotion of deceptive marketing practices: “They kept promoting me like I was still coming… even after they knew I wasn’t coming, which—it’s a scumbag move. I’ve had other promoters do this.”
Personal and Financial Motivations
Riddle opened up about the personal pressures driving his decisions: “I have five kids. I have an ex-wife who’s a real [expletive]. Plus, I take care of my girlfriend’s kid who has special needs… I need to make money.”
He explained his choice to stay in the US: “I stayed in the US and I made that paper. I can pay my bills. I can even pay these guys back.”
Broader Industry Commentary
The interview also touched on wider issues in international wrestling economics. Riddle was blunt about overseas pay: “They don’t pay enough. Their economy’s in the tanker… I get paid about 10 times what they want to pay me everywhere else. That’s why I don’t wrestle in Japan.”
Combative Response to Critics
Riddle ended the interview with a defiant message to his detractors: “If you’re bashing me, you can go [expletive] yourself, you know. Why don’t you go subscribe to my OF and see what a real man looks like?”
He also added: “At the end of the day, I know what I gotta do to keep my head on a swivel and make the right choices…”
Resolution and Aftermath
In a lengthy Facebook post, Global Wrestling Kingdom announced that the situation had been partially resolved. Riddle had repaid the deposit he initially kept and promised to reimburse other expenses related to his non-appearance. The promotion emphasized this update was meant to “set the record clear” and allow everyone to move past the controversy.
While the financial aspects appear to be settled, the TMZ interview reveals this controversy touches on much larger issues within the wrestling industry, from international pay disparities to communication failures between wrestlers and promoters.
The Bigger Picture
The TMZ interview paints a more complex picture than the initial social media outburst suggested. However, Riddle’s unprovoked attacks on CM Punk and AJ Lee remain indefensible, and he risks significant damage to his reputation.
The wrestling community will likely be watching closely to see if Riddle can learn from this situation or if similar controversies will continue to follow him on the independent scene. His TMZ comments suggest he’s unlikely to change his approach, which could prove problematic for future bookings and professional relationships.
WWE Hall of Famer Nikki Bella has revealed that her recent Women’s Intercontinental Championship match against Becky Lynch was originally scheduled to take place on an episode of Monday Night Raw, not the Clash in Paris premium live event. The change was made at the last minute after another championship match was pulled from the PLE card.
Speaking on the latest episode of “The Nikki & Brie Show,” Nikki discussed the build to her first singles championship match in over seven years. She explained that the initial plan was for the title bout to happen on the August 25 episode of Raw from Birmingham, England. The week prior, Nikki had even cut a promo during a commercial break, challenging Lynch for the following week’s show. However, that plan was soon changed.
The decision to move the match to the premium live event was made after it was announced that the reigning Women’s World Champion, Naomi, was pregnant and had to relinquish her title. Her scheduled championship defense against Stephanie Vaquer at Clash in Paris was subsequently canceled, which opened up a spot on the card. Nikki said that she was informed about the change about a week before the event.
The match at Clash in Paris was a hard-fought encounter that saw Becky Lynch retain her championship. In the main event of the show, Lynch would go on to interfere on behalf of her husband, Seth Rollins, helping him to retain the World Heavyweight Championship against CM Punk. This has led to speculation of a potential mixed tag team match pitting the two couples against each other at the upcoming Wrestlepalooza event.
During her conversation on the podcast, Nikki also confirmed that cameras are currently filming for the second season of the “WWE: Unreal” docuseries on Netflix. The new season is reportedly set to be released in early 2026. This means that the backstage drama and last-minute changes surrounding the Clash in Paris event will likely be a featured part of the new season.
The promotion issued a detailed public statement addressing Riddle’s claims about the booking, revealing that “his flights were booked and approved by his manager back in April. No issue was raised at the time.”
According to GWK’s timeline, communication issues plagued the booking from the start. After months of chasing Riddle’s manager for promotional materials, they finally received content just days before the show. When Riddle’s driver waited at the airport for hours, the wrestler claimed flight issues and decided to take “other bookings instead.”
“We implored him to try and get a flight over as fans had paid to see him,” GWK stated. “He was reminded again, that this was a charity event for ‘Survivors of Bereavement by Suicide’ and ‘help 4 homeless veterans.'”
The promotion contradicted Riddle’s claims about flight arrangements, providing screenshots showing two meals were included in his booking. They emphasized that any luggage issues “could have been quickly sorted out by a quick message or phone call.”
Despite the disappointment, GWK praised the talent and fans who attended, noting “the reaction of the crowd when Grado’s music hit nearly knocked us out of our chairs.”
Mick Foley had a crazy character idea that never became a reality.
The wrestling legend recently sat down with The David Difference for an interview. During the talk, he was asked which one of his three faces he would use if he had to make his wrestling debut today, or if he would use some other character that never saw the light of day.
Foley gave a two-part answer, first saying that if he had to choose between his three famous characters, he would choose to debut as Cactus Jack:
“I’ll give you a two-part answer. I think Cactus Jack, I’m really grateful for Mankind, but if you only have one shot, I think you go with what is most legit and most true, and that was Cactus Jack, just as an extension of my personality.”
Mick Foley however, then revealed a crazy character idea which he had pitched during his TNA days. It would have seen him being introduced as the son of the company’s resident monster at the time, Abyss:
“The one character that got away from me, oh man. This was money. You can almost…the smell of money is still around. This was at a time when Hulk Hogan came into Impact Wrestling, and he took Abyss under his wing.
I wanted Hulk to have a man-to-man talk with Abyss and tell him that the way he had of expressing his love 18 years earlier had actually, resulted in a child who would be revealed to be the Son of Abyss. That’s me. Son of Abyss. I just imagined it like Abyss and a secret partner working against two of Eric Bischoff’s guys.
I would be the secret partner, come down in the Abyss mask. I just imagined Eric Bischoff in the middle of the ring going, ‘Son of Abyss, Son of Abyss.’ That’s where I have to say with all due respect to Austin 3:16, Steve, you’re darn lucky the Son of Abyss shirts never hit the market.”
Tiffany Stratton wants Sabrina Carpenter to be part of her WrestleMania moment.
The WWE Women’s Champion recently appeared on the No-Contest Wrestling podcast. She talked about things such as her mom being a wrestling fan, the process of developing her character and more.
During the talk, Stratton was also asked which musician she would like to play her to the ring for a WrestleMania entrance. The Buff Barbie Doll manifested Sabrina Carpenter creating a special theme song just for her:
“Sabrina Carpenter would be so cool. She’s really hot right now, she just came out with a whole new album.
I think that would be a banger and I would want her to create my own entrance music and have her perform it for the first time at WrestleMania for me. Sabrina, if you’re listening, let’s do this … It needs to happen, let’s manifest it.”
In recent years, we have seen Slayer’s Kerry King performing Damian Priest’s WrestleMania entrance while Living Color did the same for CM Punk. WWE veteran Bayley has also expressed interest in having Paramore accompanying her for an entrance but it hasn’t happened yet.
So Sabrina Carpenter being part of Tiffany Stratton’s entrance for a future show does not seem completely out of question. Though considering her popularity, the company will have to pay a lot of money if they do want the pop star to make an appearance at the Show of Shows.
Maven has recalled being part of Brock Lesnar’s WWE debut.
The former WWE star spoke to Chris Van Vliet for a new interview recently. He talked about things such as beating the Undertaker for the Hardcore title not long after his wrestling debut, the infamous promo of Ric Flair on him and more.
During the interview, they also talked about Maven being the first person who took an F5 from Brock Lesnar on TV, during the Beast’s March 2002 Raw debut. The former WWE star revealed the conversation he had with Lesnar before the show:
“There was no telling me how I’m gonna take it. It’s ‘I’m gonna grab you, put you up on my shoulders.’ ‘What do you need from me Brock?’ ‘Nothing, just lay flat.’ He’s like, ‘I’ll do the rest.’ And he did.”
Maven then explained that Brock is as strong as he is presented on TV and the former UFC star was able to handle him like a child during the segment:
“I even asked him while we were working on it during the day. I was like, ‘Do you need me to hoist myself up? You need me to boost?’
He laughed at me. He said, ‘No, I got you.’ And then once he grabbed me, I realized I’m a child to him. Literally, the way you probably run and grab and pick your two-year-old up, that’s how he was with me.”
Apart from this, Maven also discussed his in-ring status. The 48-year-old said that he would be open to wrestling again if the situation was right.
Maven has reflected on one of his career highlights.
The former WWE star recently had an interview with Chris Van Vliet. He talked about things such as becoming a YouTube personality, if he’s retired from wrestling, taking the first F5 and more.
During the interview, Maven also discussed one of his biggest career moments, when he beat The Undertaker for the Hardcore Championship. The 48-year-old mentioned how The Rock interfered in the bout leading to his win, and explained that being paired with such huge stars was big for him:
“It’s big for me because it was The Rock. He’s [Undertaker] got me in the dragon sleeper, and you can physically see my eyes looking up the ramp, because I knew that was the spot when The Rock was coming out with the chair.”
Maven had made his wrestling debut only 4 months before this match as part of the Tough Enough reality show. The former champion discussed how life was moving very fast for him at the time and only a few months back he was working as a teacher:
It’s just crazy again, how life works out. A year and a half prior to that, I’m a sixth-grade school teacher with a ‘The Rock says…’ bulletin board in my classroom, and they just a year and a half later, I’m in a match where he’s hitting The Undertaker with his finish to allow me to beat him. How does life work out that way?”
The wrestling veteran also revealed that he used to go under the elevated ramps to listen to the pop for big stars and claimed that the pop for The Rock during this match was insane.
Kenny Omega was potentially written off TV after Dynamite.
This week’s episode of the Wednesday night show, coming live from the 2300 Arena, featured an 8-man tag team match in the main event. The Cleaner teamed up with “Hangman” Adam Page & JetSpeed to take on the Don Callis Family & Young Bucks in this bout.
After a chaotic fight, the heels won the match. The ending saw Kyle Fletcher delivering a brainbuster on Kevin Knight to get the pin for his team.
Things didn’t end there, however, as the heels continued beating their opponents. Page was put through an open chair by Fletcher after which Omega covered his friend to save him from further damage.
A table was set up outside for the current AEW Champion, but Kenny Omega interfered in these plans. The former NJPW star tried to fight off the heels on his own but the numbers proved too much. Kenny was then put through the table outside, originally intended for Hangman.
The show went off air with the medics checking on the former AEW champion. The company later posted a video of Omega being stretchered off after the broadcast ended as the fans cheered him on.
Kenny is reported to still be dealing with the effects of his diverticulitis diagnosis, and he is said to be in a lot of pain. It’s possible that this angle was done to write Omega off for recovery following his brutal steel cage match at Forbidden Door.
This week’s episode of AEW Dynamite featured a backstage segment where Ricochet and Gates of Agony challenged the Hurt Syndicate to a match at the upcoming All Out PPV. The One and Only specifically mentioned that he wasn’t laying out a challenge but demanding the match.
MPV later accepted the challenge in another backstage segment during the September 3 episode, confirming his in-ring return:
This wasn’t the only All Out match announced for the show tonight. A returning Riho was confirmed to be challenging Mercedes Mone for the TBS Championship after she saved Alex Windsor from a post-match attack.
Since joining AEW in September 2024, MVP has wrestled only one match for the company. He joined his Hurt Syndicate partners to defeat Mark Briscoe & Private Party during the January 15 episode of Dynamite this year.
Though he has stayed active in the independent circuit, competing for promotions such as NEW, and CCW since his AEW in-ring debut.
AEW All out will be taking place from the Scotiabank Arena in Toronto, Ontario, Canada on September 20, 2025. The show was recently moved up in the day to avoid competition with WWE WrestlePalooza on the same day. You can check out details of this change here.
The Dungeon 2.0, the training facility of Natalya and Tyson Kidd, is busy training the next generation of wrestlers within its walls. On Instagram, Natalya shared a photo from the latest training session, revealing that Aalyah Mysterio, daughter of Rey Mysterio, has been getting in the ring. Aalyah had plenty of names to learn from, including Natalya, Kidd, her father Rey Mysterio, Apollo Crews, Angelo Dawkins, and B-Fab, among others.
Aalyah is no stranger to appearing in wrestling. An interruption of her birthday would kick off Rey’s feud with CM Punk in 2010, a feud that resulted in Punk losing his hair. Years later, Aalyah got in the face of her brother Dominik at WrestleMania 39, and had a drink thrown on her by her big bro.
These weren’t the only notable names at the Dungeon’s latest training session. Eagle-eyed fans will spot WWE Hall of Famer Tatanka on the left-hand-side of the image. In recent days, Tatanka’s sons Jeremiah and Joseph have also been training at the Dungeon 2.0.
Time will tell if Aalyah or Jeremiah ever make it to WWE, or if their time in the ring is more-so about their own physical fitness rather than pro-wrestling aspirations. Whatever the case may be, the Dungeon 2.0 is proving to be a hot bed of notable young names, leaving fans excited to see who’s next to step out of the Dungeon and carve a legacy in the squared circle.
