MLW Fury Road 2025 airs as a free two-hour special tonight, Saturday, September 27 at 10 p.m. ET on both beIN SPORTS and MLW’s official YouTube channel.
The event features the newly crowned MLW World Heavyweight Champion Mads Krule Krugger clashing with Bishop Dyer, the start of the 2025 Opera Cup, and several high-profile singles and trios bouts.
Broadcast & How to Watch
Air time: Saturday, September 27, 2025, at 10 p.m. ET
Mads Krule Krugger (World Heavyweight Champion) vs. Bishop Dyer (Non-title match): This is Krugger’s first match since winning the title, and anticipation is high for how he’ll fare against another dominant powerhouse.
Alex Hammerstone Breaks Silence: After attacking Krugger with a steel chair, Hammerstone’s first public comments add intrigue to the night.
Opera Cup 2025 Opening Rounds
Austin Aries vs. KUSHIDA: First-ever meeting between the veteran Aries and Japan’s acclaimed junior heavyweight, KUSHIDA.
Titan vs. Volador Jr.: Two top CMLL luchadores go head-to-head in a showcase of Mexican wrestling.
Paul London vs. Okumura: Paul London faces the crafty CMLL veteran in a bout of unpredictable styles.
Additional Matches & Features
Shotzi Blackheart vs. Alejandra Quintanilla: Spotlight for MLW’s women’s division.
Atlantis, Blue Panther, & Diego Hill vs. El Galeón Fantasma (Zandokan Jr., Difunto, Barboza): Generational trios clash, featuring legends and rising stars.
Lightning Match: Satoshi Kojima vs. Mr. Thomas: A fast-paced bout featuring the Japanese legend and MLW’s hard-hitting heavyweight.
Additional Notes
CONTRA Unit is expected to unveil a new target.
MLW President Cesar Duran and Salina de la Renta will reveal future plans for the promotion, along with the mysterious Don Gato.
MLW Fury Road ‘25 is positioned as another strong card, combining international stars, legends, and plenty of chaos.
MLW FURY ROAD IS THIS SATURDAY, and with this lineup, it's can't-miss! Tune in at 10 pm ET on our official YouTube channel, or watch on @beINSPORTSUSA! pic.twitter.com/pgPJnJoP3E
Bishop Dyer remains motivated as ever to prove he can hang with the best pro wrestling has to offer. The former WWE superstar known to fans as Baron Corbin for 13 years works to reinvent himself in the next chapter of his career. He didn’t waste any time making his presence felt in Major League Wrestling starting at Battle Riot VII.
“I’m doing it backwards,” Dyer said of his journey. “I think for the most WWE talent, at least a vast majority of it, they did the independent scene prior to coming to WWE. That’s how they built their name. That’s how they built equity in their character and social media to get the attention of WWE. Whereas I was lucky and fortunate to get a tryout and made it that way.
“So, I never got to experience the wild west, if you will, of the independent scene. For me, when my career ended, I know I missed a lot in that aspect. I wanted to wrestle in some of these bigger independent companies because there is a ton of talent on these rosters, especially when you look at an MLW roster. The list of talent they have is amazing. It’s up-and-comers, it’s guys that are independently established, and true legends like [Satoshi] Kojima.”
The veteran considers himself lucky to be able to control where he works. This includes dates on the independent scene. His criteria for taking bookings comes down to how a particular promotion treats their talent and takes care of them. Dyer decided to work for MLW due to the way the company tells stories across continuous programming rather than just one-off matches. Controlling his schedule has also helped the dedicated husband and dad be home more.
“My wife works full-time. She owns her own company, so she is very busy as well,” Dyer explained. “When I was on the road with WWE, she would work five days a week. Then she’d come home to be a mom because I would be gone. A lot of times too I’d be gone on the weekends, which really sucked for her. When we’re doing full tours, I’m leaving the house Thursday, and coming home Monday or Tuesday. She works all week and has to keep the kids entertained Saturday and Sunday. They are young, 3 and 6, so they are busy bodies. For me to be home, I’m taking two shows a month, relatively. I told myself I would really enjoy this year and pump the brakes on things and be a part of it all. I’m very good at home at being that family man and being with my kids because that’s all that matters to me at the end of the day.”
He continued, “So, now I’m getting to take my kids to school every day, picking them up every day. It’s elevating a lot of stress from her. It’s also giving me a lot of joy because I get to be here and a part of everything. I’m not missing birthdays, school functions, and school events. Those kinds of things. I really do it as a blessing. Having the ability to go and wrestle twice a month, it doesn’t bother them like it used to when I was leaving every single weekend. They are excited for me. They are excited when I’m telling them who I’m working and where I’m working. I’ll show them videos of the guys because they are so used to the WWE thing and just know the main names. My daughter asked about John Cena all the time like they’re friends, which is hilarious. I think they are excited. I think with that too, if I’m doing shows in fun places, I can bring them and stay a few days. Like my wife’s favorite thing to say now is we can plan things.”
Outside the ring Dyer has also been able to explore his other interests. Whether it’s providing cook tips on TikTok or winning 14 gold medals through ju-jitsu, the performer is living his best life. Adding to his other business ventures along with working as an analyst and host for Pro Wrestling Nation 24/7 on Sirius XM is a budding coffee business.
“It’s called Open Air Coffee where we sell through ecommerce, but I’m building a facility in Tampa,” Dyer said. “I have 8,000 sq. ft. and I’m building a coffee roastery, a community roastery for all the coffee shops in the area, even Orlando…We’re doing something cool here. With that, not having that WWE paycheck consistently, it can add some stress when you’re financially building a company and things like that. It can be stressful, but I have the time to do that now. Also, exploring new things..
“We’re also getting to go to more concerts now, which I love so much because we can plan stuff again. Having that freedom to do my thing is really fun and allows me to be creative again. When you’re in that cog of WWE, the creativity of the talent gets lost a little bit. Someone else is writing the stories and helping you evolve your characters where as now, especially in the wrestling world I can do it all myself. I’m building the ‘Nomad’ Bishop Dyer. I can wear what I want to wear. I’m not wearing weird suit vests and stuff like that. I’m really getting to do me and be creative from social media to food to coffee to jiu jitsu to planning activities with the kids.”
Dyer has enjoyed his time in MLW, reconnecting with Dominik Dijak to form The Skyscrapers. Together the two imposing figures won the MLW Tag Team Championship alongside their savvy manager Saint Laurent.
“Working with Dijak is great because we were sharing the ring before in NXT,” said. “We were both grinding and always trying to better ourselves. When I got the email about the plan and that they were going to put me and Dijak together as a team as The Skyscrapers, instantly I smiled because what a really cool ode to the past. They do a great job of incorporating things from the past.
“Pairing me with him and giving us The Skyscrapers name, I was worried at first. But it has gotten a great reception. People love it because we have the same type of aura if you will. We’re big dudes who can move. We’re very athletic. We can be very violent and physical with our opponents. It’s a really cool thing. Having Saint Laurent as our manager, it’s extra heat poured on. I’ll take as much as I can get. We do a great job with that. It’s fun and exciting, but it’s nice too at MLW because you’re not pigeonholed to just that tag team. I’m also competing in the Opera Cup where I’m facing Kojima. I’m getting to do multiple things with one company with 95 percent of the roster I’ve never worked with.”
Dyer still remains a fan, watching pro wrestling across the board weekly. Not only to stay on top of things for his “Busted Open” work. He is proud to see his former tag team partner Bron Breakker continue his ascent to the top in WWE.
“I like him in The Vision, but I don’t like him in The Vision,” Dyer explained. “I think he is such a star. He carries so much personality, athletic ability, and with what he can do in the ring he is truly special. Obviously, I’m partial to him because we created The Wolf Dogs, and that woke a lot of people up to how good I am as well. We were doing some pretty incredible matches, and I think I did a good job bringing a little bit of personality out. Not just being the tough angry guy, but having fun with it. I think it helped him evolve. We bettered each other. So, when I see him in the background of a group because you have [Paul] Heyman, Seth [Rollins], Becky [Lynch], and then Bronson [Reed] and Bron are a step behind them.
“He is not a background player. I know it’s buying time and getting him reps, but you kind of just put him in another tag team. He is a singles star all the way through. The day he turns on Seth I’m going to be so happy whenever that happens because I think he is going to headline a WrestleMania at some point. I love supporting him and what he is doing and the stuff he is putting out there. He is out of his mind, and I love it. He does these crazy things, and I’m just like just be safe. It’s exciting. It’s fun to support guys.”
Despite WWE deciding to part ways with Dyer, he still has love for his former employer. The 41-year-old is grateful for the opportunities given. He stays in touch with colleagues there to catch up and share news like getting to wrestle the legendary former MLW World Heavyweight Champion Satoshi Kojima coming up at Slaughterhouse on October 4. The Long Beach event will air on YouTube and beIN Sports.
“When I found out I was wrestling Kojima, I’m texting [CM] Punk, I’m texting Finn Balor,” Dyer said. “Guys who appreciate it. It was really cool to get that response from them of how cool that is that I get to do this now.”
The talent is looking forward to stepping up against Kojima. Wrestling in Japan is also on Dyer’s to-do list because he finds his style likens to theirs.
“For me, it’s a test of am I as good as I think I am and I feel like I would have a lot of success over there,” Dyer said. “This will be a test to say yeah you will or keep working. It’s one of those things. I’m always under the mindset I can get better every day. I was training at Nattie’s gym Wednesday continuing to get better. I’m always bouncing ideas off of TJ [Wilson] because I want to make sure I give him the best opponent I can give him being the legendary he is. I think it’s definitely a place to plant my flag and say I’m for real. I respect him and look up to Kojima as a superstar and the things he has done and the physicality he brings.
“He has beaten countless people by a clothesline. That’s as old school and rough as it gets. For me, it’s an honor to step in the ring with him, but when the bell rings, I’m going to set all of that aside and we’re going to fight. This is to continue to the next level of the Opera Cup. That’s the ultimate goal, to walk away with that. If I have to put Kojima down in the process, I will. And I will give him his respect afterward and prior to. But between those bells, this is what we do. We’re prize fighters in a sense and will go to war. For me too, I think it will open people’s eyes that Bishop Dyer is for real. That I’m just not some WWE guy. He is out here making a name for himself, accomplishing big things, and continuing to further his career between those ropes.”
NXT No Mercy 2025 airs live Saturday, September 27, 2025, at 8 p.m. ET from the FTL War Memorial in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, with streaming available on Peacock in the United States and Netflix internationally.
Match Card
NXT Championship: Oba Femi (c) vs. Ricky Saints
NXT Women’s Championship: Jacy Jayne (c) vs. Lola Vice
NXT North American Championship: Ethan Page (c) vs. Tavion Heights
Weaponized Steel Cage Match: Jordynne Grace vs. Blake Monroe
WWE Women’s Speed Championship: Sol Ruca (c) vs. Lainey Reid
Singles Match: Je’Von Evans vs. Josh Briggs
How to Watch
In the United States, stream NXT No Mercy 2025 live on Peacock (desktop, mobile, and TV app).
Outside the U.S., watch live on Netflix (check local app for event availability).
The event begins at 8 p.m. ET, with Countdown coverage starting at 7 p.m. ET on WWE’s YouTube and social media channels.
Additional Streaming Details
If using Peacock, create an account and download the app to stream on supported devices.
International users with Netflix can access the event through their subscription; connection via VPN may be required if traveling.
Stay tuned to SEScoops for the latest WWE news throughout NXT No Mercy weekend.
The updated card for TNA Bound For Glory 2025, following the events of Victory Road and the latest news, is as follows:
Bound For Glory 2025 Match Card
TNA World Championship: Trick Williams (c) vs. Mike Santana
TNA World Tag Team Championship Tables Match: The Hardys (Matt & Jeff Hardy) (c) vs. Team 3D (Bully Ray & Devon)
TNA X-Division Championship: Leon Slater (c) vs. Je’Von Evans
TNA Knockouts World Championship: Kelani Jordan vs. Indi Hartwell
Hardcore War: The System (Moose, Eddie Edwards, Brian Myers, JDC, Alisha Edwards) vs. Order 4 (Mustafa Ali, John Skyler, Jason Hotch, Agent Zero, Tasha Steelz)
Call Your Shot Gauntlet Match: Features Mance Warner (#20), Léi Y?ng Lee (#1), plus other entrants to be announced. Winner gets a title shot at any championship, any time, within a year.
Bound for Glory, TNA’s biggest show of the year, takes place October 12, 2025, at the Tsongas Center in Lowell, Massachusetts, and will air live on pay-per-view and TNA+.
Kelani Jordan, a WWE NXT Superstar, won the vacant TNA Knockouts World Championship at TNA Victory Road on September 26, 2025. The title had been relinquished earlier in the event by Ash by Elegance, who announced she was stepping away from in-ring competition.
After a battle royal, Jordan and Lei Ying Lee became the final two competitors, and Jordan ultimately defeated Lee in a match officiated by special referee Indi Hartwell to claim her first TNA Knockouts title.
Kelani Jordan will now defend the TNA Knockouts Championship against Indi Hartwell at the upcoming Bound for Glory pay-per-view.
Alexa Bliss and WWE Hall of Famer The Undertaker are coming to the world of Call of Duty: Mobile as part of a new cross-promotional campaign with WWE. On social media, Call of Duty: Mobile shared that the duo will take center stage in the game on Wednesday, October 1.
Lights down. Arena full. CODM x @WWE is about to take center stage.
This isn’t the first time WWE has allowed its talent in non-WWE video games. In 2023, Becky Lynch and Bianca Belair were added to Fortnite, a game that has also seen John Cena and The Rock involved. A year earlier, The Undertaker, Asuka, and Xavier Woods were all in-game costumes in Fall Guys.
— ? Krxnky – Fall Guys Leaks (@KrxnkyFG) July 14, 2022
Back in the world of WWE gaming, Bliss and The Undertaker continue to be regulars in the WWE 2K franchise. Including the Deadman Edition of WWE 2K25, The Undertaker has been on the cover of 18 WWE video games, an honor Bliss has yet to reach.
Now, fans and gamers alike can look forward to Bliss and the Phenom being part of the world of Call of Duty: Mobile. Their role in the game proves how the popularity of the pair is able to extend far beyond the squared circle.
Naomi won’t be competing in WWE for several more months, but that hasn’t stopped the Raw Superstar from taking a kicking. The former WWE Women’s World Champion took to social media to update fans on her pregnancy, posting a sonogram video. Naomi appreciated the irony of her active child-to-be, adding that “Being out of in-ring action and still getting kicked is crazy.”
Naomi plans on returning to the very top of WWE when she can come back, and also has eyes on working with AJ Lee again. For now, the former Women’s World Champion’s child is proving that they can throw kicks like so many members of their wrestling family.
The excitement didn’t stop at WWE SmackDown in Orlando’s Kia Center after the show went off the air. In a dark match for the live crowd, IYO SKY picked up a hard-fought victory over The Judgment Day’s Roxanne Perez.
This win was a much-needed victory for SKY who was betrayed by Asuka during the previous episode of Monday Night Raw. SKY also came up short at WWE Wrestlepalooza, where she faced Stephanie Vaquer for the vacant Women’s World Championship.
As for Perez, she and Raquel Rodriguez continue to pursue the Women’s Tag Team Championships. The duo are the only currently active members of the Judgment Day without gold as JD McDonagh and Finn Balor hold the World Tag Team Titles while Dominik Mysterio is a double champion. Perez will also have to be wary about Liv Morgan who had her issues with The Prodigy prior to her injury earlier this year.
This dark match demonstrated the skills of the two former NXT Women’s Champions and allowed the fans to leave the Kia Center on a high. Stay tuned to SEScoops for the latest from WWE both on and off-screen.
Asuka betrayed IYO SKY during the September 22, episode of WWE Monday Night Raw, but that’s not how the Empress of Tomorrow sees things. While Asuka delivered a painful kick to SKY moments after delivering the mist to Rhea Ripley, Asuka believes that she is the one who was betrayed.
Taking to her YouTube channel, Asuka addressed her actions on Monday Night Raw. Despite a video after Raw showing SKY breaking down in tears after being attacked, Asuka argued that SKY isn’t the one who should feel hurt.
“You. Are. Such. An. Idiot! I saw you crying. You betrayed me. You’re the one who betrayed me! Don’t play victim, I’m the victim! Don’t you dare play victim… You’re a traitor!”
The issues between SKY and Asuka have been simmering for weeks. At WWE Wrestlepalooza, SKY failed to regain the Women’s World Championship after turning down help from Asuka and Kairi Sane.
“You LOST to Stephanie! I told you. Me and Kairi would help you become champion but you said no. That’s why you lost. You were such a loser! You’re a loser, you’re a loser!”
With the long-standing friendship of Asuka and SKY in the past, the pair will be at eachother’s throats moving forward. With Kairi Sane clearly conflicted as Raw went off the air, it remains to be seen where her allegiances will rest in this high-profile feud.
The TNA X-Division Championship will be on the line at Bound for Glory when Leon Slater puts the gold on the line against one of WWE’s brightest prospects. At Bound for Glory, which will take place October 12, in Lowell, Massachusetts, Slater will put the gold on the line against Je’Von Evans.
This match was confirmed at TNA Victory Road following Slater’s victory over Myron Reed. With TNA President Carlos Silva and the Director of Authority Santino Marella present, a video played confirming that Evans will challenge for the gold.
WWE NXT is already home to the TNA World Championship, currently held by Trick Williams. At Victory Road, NXT also captured the TNA Knockouts Championship as Kelani Jordan won the gold. The title was vacated by Ash By Elegance, ending her reign that had begun with her taking the title from NXT’s Jacy Jayne.
As for Slater, the British star is the youngest-ever TNA X-Division Champion and has been endorsed by the inaugural champion, AJ Styles. Fans can expect a high-flying effort from both men at TNA Bound for Glory.
Je’von Evans answered Sami Zayn’s United States Championship open challenge on WWE SmackDown, delivering a breakout performance but ultimately falling short after Zayn retained his title with the Helluva Kick.
The match took place on the September 26 episode of SmackDown at the Kia Center in Orlando, Florida, giving Evans a major main roster spotlight.
Evans’s strong showing on SmackDown has already made an impact, marking him as one of the brightest prospects from NXT to challenge for main roster gold.
Je’von Evans will next appear at NXT No Mercy in a match against Josh Briggs.
WWE Crown Jewel 2025 will feature a blockbuster Women’s Crown Jewel Championship match between Stephanie Vaquer and Tiffany Stratton on October 11, 2025, at RAC Arena in Perth, Australia.
The champion vs. champion bout was set after Tiffany Stratton successfully retained her WWE Women’s Championship on SmackDown in a triple threat match against Nia Jax and Jade Cargill. Following her victory, Stratton immediately confronted WWE Women’s World Champion Stephanie Vaquer to close the show, setting up this highly anticipated clash.
The Women’s Crown Jewel Championship follows the same format as last year’s event, where the top women’s champions from each brand compete for brand supremacy and the honorary title.
Both competitors enter the match with considerable momentum. Vaquer captured her Women’s World Championship by defeating IYO SKY at Wrestlepalooza, while Stratton’s recent triple threat victory showcased her championship credentials against top-tier competition.
The match is positioned as one of the marquee bouts for Crown Jewel 2025, promising a top-tier clash between two of WWE’s brightest rising stars on an international stage. With both champions representing the peak of their respective brands, this encounter will determine who claims the prestigious Women’s Crown Jewel Championship.????????????????
CHAMPION vs. CHAMPION.
WWE Women's Champion Tiffany Stratton will take on Women's World Champion Stephanie Vaquer for the Women's Crown Jewel Championship at #WWECrownJewel Perth!
TNA Knockouts Champion Ash by Elegance delivered a shocking announcement at Victory Road, vacating her championship without providing a specific reason for her decision.
The evening began with uncertainty as the scheduled title defense against Masha Slamovich was canceled due to ongoing internal investigations regarding domestic violence allegations against Slamovich. TNA President Carlos Silva and Santino Marella were present in the ring when Ash by Elegance made her unexpected revelation.
“I am no longer able to compete and am vacating the Knockouts Championship,” Ash announced, leaving fans and officials stunned by the abrupt decision.
TNA quickly restructured the evening’s card to address the sudden vacancy. The Knockouts Tag Team Title match was moved to next week’s iMPACT episode, replaced by a Knockouts Battle Royale to determine the new champion. The tournament format saw the final two competitors advance to compete for the vacant title later in the evening.
The battle royale concluded with Lei Ying Lee and NXT’s Kelani Jordan emerging as the final two competitors, setting up an intriguing cross-promotional championship match. Jordan’s participation highlights the continued collaboration between TNA and WWE’s developmental brand.
The championship vacancy creates immediate uncertainty in TNA’s women’s division, with fans speculating about the circumstances surrounding Ash by Elegance’s decision to relinquish the title.
WWE superstar AJ Styles has officially announced his retirement plans for 2026, revealing that next month’s WWE Super Show Japan will mark his final performances in the country that helped define his career.
In an interview with Tokyo Sports, the 48-year-old “Phenomenal One” confirmed his intention to retire, likely at WrestleMania 2026 in Las Vegas.
“I think it will probably be in WrestleMania, but it has not been confirmed yet,” Styles explained. “The details are undecided, but there is no doubt that I will retire within the next year.”
The upcoming WWE Super Show Japan events on October 17-18 at Ryogoku Kokugikan hold special significance as Styles’ farewell to Japanese wrestling fans. “I think this will probably be the last game in Japan, so I’m really looking forward to it,” he stated.
The Reason AJ Styles is Retiring
Styles cited physical preservation as his primary motivation:
“I don’t want to show my fans that I’m not AJ Styles. That’s the main reason. I decided to retire before my body couldn’t move.”
The announcement coincides with fellow New Japan alumnus Hiroshi Tanahashi’s planned retirement at Tokyo Dome on January 4, 2025. Styles praised his former rival, saying, “Tanahashi is a really great player, and I don’t think there are many players who have contributed to the industry so much.”
After retirement, Styles indicated interest in remaining with WWE in a training capacity to develop future talent.
Former WWE Women’s Tag Team Champion Chelsea Green recently pulled back the curtain on the creative process in WWE, providing a detailed breakdown of how a show like Monday Night Raw or Friday Night SmackDown comes together.
In a recent interview with WKMG in Orlando, the leader of “The Secret Hervice” was asked about how a show evolves from the page to the screen. It all starts with Triple H and the creative team.
“Basically, it goes from Triple H down to the creative team, and they’ll spend the week molding the show, molding the look of the show, the theme, the arc of the show, and the storylines. Then it’ll trickle down to another team of writers, and they’ll write out the pre-tapes and the scripts and things like that. Then it’s given to the talent, and depending on who it is, we either memorize the script and go out there or improvise. It just depends on the trust and faith that WWE has in you, and also maybe how creative you are, maybe how much you love to improvise.
I love improvisation, and I love comedy, so I like to rework a script to be really outlandish and ridiculous, and then I like to surprise my scene partner with things that I’ll say in the moment to try to make them break character. But we do have little things like rehearsals and stuff like that when we’re going through backstages and things that are going to go live, because at the end of the day, we’ve only got X amount of time we cannot go over. The minute that we go over that time, we’re taking out of somebody else’s precious minutes in the ring or backstage, and you just never want to do that. I want to make sure that as many wrestlers are seen on TV every week as we can possibly see.”
Green is currently in pursuit of the WWE Women’s Tag Team Championships, which are held by Charlotte Flair and Alexa Bliss. Last week on SmackDown, Green and Alba Fyre lost to the champions with the titles on the line.
Before WWE, Penta and Rey Fenix dominated tag-team divisions worldwide as the Lucha Bros. While the pair have been kept apart since both arrived in WWE in early 2025, Penta is confident that a reunion is coming.
Speaking to the In The Kliq podcast, Penta addressed possibly teaming with his brother down the line. For Penta, who has been a hit as a singles star since debuting in January, a reunion isn’t a question of if, but when.
“I know one day, when the Lucha Brothers return, the world will explode... When? I don’t know. How? I don’t know, but I’m sure of it, I feel it in my heart.”
Together, the Lucha Bros. have held tag team gold in AEW, TNA, MLW, ROH, PWG, and beyond. But now, Penta is ready to work with Fenix in the biggest promotion of them all.
“Imagine this, the best tag-team in the universe returns in the best company in the universe.”
For now, the pair remains separated across brands, with Penta impressing on Raw while Rey Fenix continues to find his place on SmackDown. But with Rey’s recent tag-team partner Andrade parting ways with WWE, a Lucha Bros reunion could be coming sooner than later.
Drew McIntyre has officially been cast in Amazon MGM Studios’ Highlander reboot from United Artists, directed by Chad Stahelski, where he will star opposite Dave Bautista and Henry Cavill as Angus MacLeod, the brother of Cavill’s character, MacLeod. This news was first reported by Rosy Cordero for Deadline.
The movie is expected to modernize the Highlander mythos, adding new dynamics with the MacLeod brothers storyline.
This marks a major Hollywood role for McIntyre, who is a two-time WWE Champion and has previously acted alongside Dave Bautista. The cast also includes Russell Crowe, Marisa Abela, Karen Gillan, Djimon Hounsou, and Max Zhang.
Drew McIntyre’s casting alongside Henry Cavill in Highlander brings a high-profile wrestling star into a major film franchise, elevating both the reboot and McIntyre’s profile beyond WWE.
The screenplay is written by Michael Finch and reimagines the 1986 cult classic Highlander, which originally centered on immortal warriors battling through centuries.
Filming was set to begin soon, but production is now anticipated to start in early 2026 after Henry Cavill sustained an injury during pre-production.
In the 1980s, WWE became the dominant force on the pro wrestling landscape when a national expansion saw the company breakdown territorial boundaries by touring across the country and around the world, besides leveraging syndication, cable, and pay-per-view TV models to broadcast into the homes of fans all over.
The back half of the 1990s were largely defined by the Monday Night War when WWE found itself in its first and arguably only real dog fight as WCW surged and, in the short-term, actually got bigger than WWE by a number of metrics. By 2000, WWE had taken a decisive advantage and 2001 saw the company achieve its most decisive victory of all: buying the competition.
While roughly two decades to follow saw new talents emerge, new changes to the business model, and new considerations, the truth remained that WWE was on top of the wrestling world and, within the sphere of pro wrestling, there wasn’t really any competition for them.
Between the rise of AEW, Vince McMahon’s fall from grace, and TKO acquiring WWE, recent years have seen the next evolution of WWE as a business and how it’s approaching the larger wrestling landscape. One consistent thread has been progress toward world domination. WWE is not settling for being the top wrestling promotion in the world, but rather seems intent on owning the business from top to bottom. This multi-part series will consider the new opportunities, growing pains, and nuanced factors that fans are watching play out before their eyes.
The ID Program Was Established In 2024
In October 2024, WWE rolled out its ID program, which saw it flag a select number of indie promotions and schools for resources and direct pathways to eventual careers with WWE.
The development of this program is too recent to have amounted to much just yet, but, for better or worse, it clearly positioned WWE as more formally associated with the larger world of professional wrestling. Indeed, while casual or non-fans might altogether equate WWE with pro wrestling, the ID program took a step toward that connection proving literally true, as even some objectively small, local wrestling outfits became affiliated with the largest entity in the business.
The ID Program Looks Like A Win-Win-Win
Image credit: WWE
On paper, the ID Program stood to benefit everyone involved. For many talents, WWE is the ultimate goal. So, constructing a better-defined path to lead from a training program or small-scale promotion benefits talents with a better chance to be seen by WWE.
The program also benefits the affiliated indies themselves. A WWE ID designation is a mark of credibility to distinguish a little-known company. On top of that, a WWE partnership can help local companies attract the best talents available—ones who may not be ready for WWE just yet, but who really do have the potential to grow into that kind of spot.
Finally, the ID program benefits WWE. During the national expansion, the company infamously raided top talents from a range of promotions, with names ranging from Hulk Hogan to Roddy Piper to Junkyard Dog to The Texas Tornado less homegrown than poached after proving their top star potential in regional territories.
The nature of the business in 2025 means that it’s hard for a truly breakout star to emerge in the US outside WWE, AEW, and maybe TNA. Just the same, having a finger on the pulse of top training programs and indies gives WWE a chance to snap up the cream of the crop for their own developmental system, if not the proper main roster, before they think of going abroad or signing with AEW.
The Raja Jackson Issue Sheds Light On Major Issues
Beyond the opportunities outlined above, WWE’s ID Program looks as though it would offer a nice balance of indies maintaining their autonomy while still having some access to WWE resources. On the flip side, WWE wouldn’t necessarily have to expand to manage another promotion, but rather enjoy the benefits of an independent feeder system.
The incident of Raja Jackson brutally injuring Syko Stu at a Knokx Pro event on August 23 complicated things for the WWE ID Program. Knokx Pro had a WWE ID designation, with WWE legend Rikishi at the indie’s helm. The apparent miscommunication between Jackson and Stu—Stu seemingly thinking he was working an angle with Jackson only for Jackson to give him a disproportionate receipt in the ring—led to an ugly scene. The aftermath and fuller explanations for what happened are still unraveling.
Before the incident could reflect poorly on WWE, WWE seemed to quietly sever the relationship, removing KnokX Pro from at least their public records. On one hand, this happening demonstrated a real vulnerability for WWE—to have its name associated with a small promotion that may well play host to objectionable activity, whether it’s real violence like this incident entailed, an offensive angle, or other issues.
On the other hand, it’s also arguably not a great look for WWE that they cut ties the moment things got rough—distancing themselves from a PR problem while also seeming to demonstrate they wouldn’t stand by or support a promotion that found itself in real trouble.
Assuming the WWE ID Program carries forward into the future, there’s little doubt it will continue to evolve perhaps with a wider reach or perhaps reining in oversight of indies they associate with. Regardless, the first year of the program has highlighted both opportunities and pitfalls as just one aspect of WWE’s march toward further domination of the wrestling world.
The Miz has made a bold declaration, stating that he believes the current era of WWE is bigger and better than the Attitude Era of the late 1990s. The Miz, who has been with the company for over two decades and grew up as a fan during that popular period, made the comments during a recent interview with The Schmo.
While the Attitude Era is widely regarded as the commercial peak of professional wrestling, The Miz argues that by every modern metric, from live event revenue to the depth of the roster and storylines, today’s WWE has surpassed it.
“Last year was a record-breaking year. It’s the biggest WrestleMania we’ve ever had. I’ll say this time and time again, there was an Attitude Era. This is bigger than the Attitude Era. The storylines are bigger than they’ve ever been. The stars, our roster is deeper than it’s ever been, whether you’re cheering someone or booing someone. WWE always finds a way to do better the next year. As best as you could possibly do, which I think we did amazingly last year here at Allegiant Stadium, it’s going to be nothing compared to what happens at WrestleMania 42 at Allegiant Stadium.”
While the Attitude Era boasted massive television ratings, the current era under TKO has seen WWE’s overall revenue, live gates, and global media rights deals reach record-breaking highs.
Tonight, WWE SmackDown broadcasts live from the Kia Center in Orlando, Florida. The blue brand continues its build toward WWE Crown Jewel, the next premium live event on the schedule. The fallout from WrestlePalooza is still fresh, and top superstars will be in action as storylines heat up en route to the global spectacle that is Crown Jewel.
This week’s marquee showdown is a WWE Women’s Championship Triple Threat Match, where Tiffany Stratton defends her title against the formidable Jade Cargill and Nia Jax.
Confirmed Matches & Appearances
WWE Women’s Championship: Tiffany Stratton (c) vs. Jade Cargill vs. Nia Jax
Giulia & Kiana James vs. Michin & B-Fab
Also advertised to appear are Randy Orton, Solo Sikoa, Charlotte Flair & Alexa Bliss, Damian Priest, Drew McIntyre, Jacob Fatu, Jimmy Uso, and more
Catch SmackDown tonight at 8pm ET on USA Network (Netflix internationally).
Stay tuned to SEScoops for complete WWE coverage and the latest news on the road to Crown Jewel on Saturday, October 11, 2025.
Matches confirmed for Crown Jewel: Perth include:
John Cena vs. AJ Styles
Men’s WWE Crown Jewel Championship: Seth Rollins (Raw World Heavyweight Champion) vs. Cody Rhodes (SmackDown Undisputed WWE Champion)
Women’s WWE Crown Jewel Championship: Stephanie Vaquer (Raw Women’s World Champion) vs. SmackDown Women’s Champion (TBD after SmackDown’s triple threat)
Penta has his sights set on the Intercontinental Championship. The WWE star has publicly pitched a big match for next year’s WrestleMania 42, calling for a championship rematch against his former rival and current Intercontinental Champion, Dominik Mysterio.
Speaking on the “In the Kliq” podcast, Penta discussed his ambitions for the next WrestleMania, making it clear that winning his first singles championship in WWE is his top priority.
“At WrestleMania 42, I’m ready to conquer everything. To conquer maybe my first title, or… I have a lot of options for the next WrestleMania. But now I am focused on (winning) the Intercontinental Championship from Dominik Mysterio. Why not have a rematch at the next WrestleMania? At WrestleMania 42, we can conquer everything.”
The two men previously faced off for the Intercontinental Championship at the WWE Backlash Premium Live Event in May of this year. In that bout, Dominik Mysterio was able to defeat Penta and retain his championship. Now, it appears Penta is looking to avenge that loss and finally capture the prestigious championship that has eluded him so far in his WWE career.
An update has been provided on the status of “The Samoan Werewolf” Jacob Fatu, whose absence from WWE programming over the past month has been a topic of discussion among fans. According to a new report from Dave Meltzer in the Wrestling Observer Newsletter, Fatu is expected to make his return to television imminently.
This is welcome news for fans who felt that the powerhouse superstar’s momentum had been derailed after a strong start to his WWE career in 2025.
The brief but direct report from the newsletter states: “Jacob Fatu will be back imminently.” The last time fans saw Jacob Fatu on television was during the main event of the August 29, 2025, episode of Friday Night SmackDown. On that night, he played a key role, helping his cousin Sami Zayn defeat Solo Sikoa to become the new United States Champion.
Despite being on the winning side of that major angle, Fatu has not appeared on television in the weeks since. During his absence from the main broadcast, he has reportedly been competing in non-televised dark matches for the live crowd after the SmackDown tapings have concluded. It is unclear what WWE has planned for his return, but fans are eager to see the former United States Champion back on television.
Zaria and Sol Ruca have proven to be an impressive duo in WWE NXT, but how well do the pair know each other outside of the ring? On social media, the pair recently took part in a ‘How Well Do You Know Each Other?’ quiz with some interesting results.
The pair agreed that Zaria would over-indulge at a restaurant, and make a joke at a bad time. Zaria is also more likely to hurt herself doing something stupid and embarrass herself in front of a wrestling crowd. As for Ruca, the pair agreed that out of the two, she’d spend too much money on clothes, be more likely to appear on Love Island, and would also be more likely to win a reality show.
The pair, known affectionately by fans as ZaRuca, didn’t agree on everything. When asked who’d be more likely to get a driving ticket, Ruca and Zaria both picked themselves. The pair both believed that they had the better chance of surviving a haunted house.
Sol Ruca and Zaria both believed that the other would be willing to lie about their birthday for free cake at a restaurant. Thinking highly of one another, the pair believed that the other would have the better chance of becoming a successful private detective.
While the pair have their share of agreements and disagreements, ZaRuca have proven to be dominant on WWE NXT programming. With Ruca already a double champion as Women’s North American Champion and WWE Speed Women’s Champion, time will tell when Zaria goes for gold of her own.
Mr. Anderson has made his return to the ring in TNA Wrestling, close to a decade after his previous match with the promotion. During the go-home episode of TNA Impact before Victory Road, Anderson teamed up with Steve Maclin in tag team action and picked up a victory over Jake Something and Frankie Kazarian.
While Anderson was part of the previous week’s episode of Impact, this was his first match with TNA Wrestling since 2016. Before this tag-team victory, his previous TNA match saw him earn a disqualification victory over Eric Young. This week’s match was also only Anderson’s second match in any promotion since 2022. He made his in-ring return this past July for Battleground Championship Wrestling.
Anderson joined TNA in 2010 after four years on WWE as Mr. Kennedy and is a two-time former TNA World Champion. During his tenure, he was part of some of TNA’s highest-profile storylines, including being involved with Immortal and also being a high-ranking member of Aces and Eights.
IYO SKY will compete outside WWE this October, as part of Marigold Wrestling’s Grand Destiny 2025 at Ryogoku Kokugian in Tokyo, Japan. In a video, SKY shared that she’ll be part of the event where she will take on Mayu Iwatani.
“Marigold fans, long time, no see. It’s WWE Superstar IYO SKY. So why am I here? There’s one reason. Mayu Iwatani! Over the past few years, when you and I didn’t meet, we’ve each walked such wonderful paths. Let’s speak to our hearts’ content and tell our story inside of the ring. October 26 at Marigold’s Ryogoku Kokugikan show, Mayu Iwatani vs. IYO SKY is official! Hey Mayu, let’s shock the world with an amazing match we’ll have. See you soon!”
SKY and Iwatani wrestled several times in STARDOM before IYO joined WWE. In 2017, the pair battled for the World of STARDOM Championship at that year’s Galaxy Stars event, where Iwatani emerged on top. SKY’s final STARDOM match saw herself and Iwatani team up to battle Hazuki and Kagetsu.
Now, SKY has the chance to prove herself outside WWE. Marigold Wrestling’s Grand Destiny 2025 will take place on October 26.
