After years of fan speculation and demand, All Elite Wrestling is officially expanding its women’s division with the introduction of the AEW Women’s World Tag Team Championships.
The historic announcement was made by AEW President Tony Khan during the September 24 episode of AEW Dynamite. The creation of these new championships is a significant move for the company, providing a new goal for its deep roster of female talent.
The announcement came in an on-screen video segment from Tony Khan. He declared that after years of building the division, it was finally time to introduce the new championships. He also confirmed that a tournament will be held to crown the first-ever AEW Women’s World Tag Team Champions, with further details on the teams and the tournament structure to be announced soon.
Immediately following Khan’s video, the broadcast cut to Renee Paquette live in the arena, who was standing beside a podium. Paquette then unveiled the brand-new championship belts for the first time to the live Philadelphia crowd. The introduction of the championships has been a frequent topic of conversation in recent months, with many AEW stars, including Kris Statlander and Willow Nightingale, publicly stating their desire to compete for tag team gold.
It's a historic moment in #AEW as President + CEO @TonyKhan unveils the brand new AEW Women’s World Tag Team Championships!
“Freshly Squeezed” Orange Cassidy has made his return to All Elite Wrestling. After being sidelined for over five months with a shoulder injury, Cassidy appeared on the September 24 episode of AEW Dynamite, revealing himself as the mystery partner for Mark Briscoe and Hologram in a six-man tag team match.
The return was met with a strong ovation from the live crowd, who had been awaiting the comeback of one of the company’s most popular and reliable homegrown stars. His return provides a significant boost to the AEW roster at a time when several other top stars have recently been taken out of action with injuries.
The return took place during a trios match pitting Mark Briscoe and Hologram against three members of The Don Callis Family: the AEW Unified Champion Kazuchika Okada, G1 Climax winner Konosuke Takeshita, and Hechicero. When the time came for the third man on Briscoe’s team to be revealed, the familiar sound of “Jane” by Jefferson Starship hit the arena.
Cassidy has been out of action since March, when he suffered a torn labrum that required surgery. His long road to recovery has been a topic of discussion, with recent reports from both Bodyslam.net and Fightful Select indicating that he had been medically cleared and was expected to return “sooner rather than later.” Tonight’s appearance confirms those reports and officially marks his return to the active roster.
Adam Copeland’s future in All Elite Wrestling is now uncertain, atleast in storyline. On the September 24 episode of AEW Dynamite, Copeland addressed the vicious attack on his wife, Beth Copeland, that took place at the All Out pay-per-view. In an emotional in-ring promo, the WWE Hall of Famer stated that the events of the past weekend have forced him to re-evaluate his priorities, and he announced that he “has to go” and is unsure if or when he will return to the company.
The segment saw Copeland speak about how the dangers of his professional life have now directly impacted his family. He was then interrupted by Christian Cage, who coldly told him that he no longer has a family. Copeland responded by stating that he does, and the two shared a handshake before Copeland left the ring, seemingly signaling a temporary departure from AEW TV.
The entire situation stems from the brutal post-match angle at the All Out pay-per-view on Saturday, September 20. After Adam Copeland and Christian Cage were victorious in their match against FTR, their celebration was cut short by a violent attack from The Matriarchy. The faction, led by Nick Wayne’s mother, Shayna, ambushed Beth Copeland at ringside.
The angle ended in Shayna, Kip Sabian, and Killswitch holding Beth down, allowing Nick Wayne’s father to deliver a devastating piledriver to her, leaving her motionless in the ring.
WWE Hall of Famer Kevin Nash is recovering after a recent medical procedure to correct an irregular heartbeat. The wrestling legend took to social media to give his fans an update, and he did so with his signature brand of humor.
The post, while lighthearted, came after Nash had revealed some serious and surprising details about his heart health, including the discovery that he may have unknowingly suffered a heart attack two decades ago.
His health has been a topic of concern for fans, given his family’s history with heart disease, making this positive update a welcome piece of news. Nash shared the news of his successful procedure on his social media account.
“Procedure went fantastic. Penis reduction was a success. Actually the strain of no longer pushing blood in the entire hog brought my heart rhythm back to normal. Thanks to everyone concerned about my well being.”
Jokes aside, the procedure was a serious one designed to “zap” his heart and put it back into a normal rhythm. In the lead-up to the procedure, Nash had revealed on his podcast that his cardiologist discovered scar tissue on his heart. The doctor suggested this was likely the result of a heart attack that could have occurred twenty years ago when Nash had a stent inserted.
Nash’s father passed away from a heart attack at the age of 36. An autopsy later revealed that his father had suffered five heart attacks in total, with the fifth one being fatal.
Procedure went fantastic. Penis reduction was a success. Actually the strain of no longer pushing blood in the entire hog brought my heart rhythm back to normal. Thanks to everyone concerned about my well being.
Mads Krule Krügger shocked the pro wrestling world when he became the MLW World Heavyweight Champion. The terrifying masked man of Contra Unit cashed in on his Gravity Gamble contract on September 13 at Fightland. He dethroned Matt Riddle, who had already been defending against Donovan Dijak.
“It’s still surreal a little bit,” Krügger said. “I’m always of the mind set of what’s next. I don’t really take a lot of time to revel in any big accomplishment. Obviously, this is a very big accomplishment, and I’m really proud of it. But it’s about what’s next. What do we do? How do we build this to make it successful?”
Since the title change, the 40-year-old journeyman has felt appreciation and respect from the fans. Many of whom were pleasantly surprised at the recent sequence of events.
“There is a responsibility, but I’ve always felt that responsibility from the day they brought me on the first time,” Krügger said. “In any company I work for, my job is to make it better. If I’m not making it better, then what’s the point of me being there. I’ve always had that mindset and it is true for any job you have in life. Now, yes, there is the pressure. I don’t feel that way because we now have to work harder, keep getting better and make sure we are telling stories the crowd and fans are going to engage with and want to see.”
The 20-year-vet has honed his skills and worked his way up the card for opportunities like the one MLW provided. Over the last five years, Krügger enjoyed evolving what is seen on television. He grew into “The Black Hand of Contra.”
“Contra was basically a pro wrestling terrorist organization bent on taking over MLW,” Krügger said. “I’ve often said that Jacob Fatu when he was here and the leader of that group, it was going to be very hard to go from that to something new just because of how great he is and work he did. I knew I had to take it in a darker direction. Less on the terrorist and more into the horror. That’s my character in itself. I base my character off of horror movies. I think it’s something that is lost on pro wrestling, real monsters. I wanted to be Jason Voorhees. We’re still in the process of it. I think changing it is slow for a reason. I think fans will see that as we continue forward from here. It’s going to grow and evolve into something completely different than before, which is necessary.”
Krügger looks to show more sides of his persona in the weeks to come, leaning into more cinematic elements. His posts on social media have been a little taste of what he looks to produce. The Georgian lives on a 100-year-old farm, which provides the perfect backdrop for segments that could be right out of a Blumhouse movie. Along with the darker presentation, Krügger has also been in his fair share of hardcore style matches that border on what would be considered death matches. These battlegrounds provided him the space to “create a monster within modern wrestling.”
“It’s not for the faint of the heart. It takes a lot of your body,” he explained. “My feelings on death match wrestling is it does have a place. Anything you do in the world of professional wrestling has a place as long as people are going to pay to see it and get invested in it. There is a place for it. Is it everyone’s cup of tea? Of course not. Do I think it’s overdone sometimes? Absolutely, especially being a professional wrestler in that mindset.
“I go in, even in a deathmatch, with the mindset of a professional wrestler. How do we tell a story? If we’re not telling a story, it’s just as pointless as any match in my opinion. I’m a fan of it obviously because I’ve done it, but in saying that, I think there are stories told in it. I think I’ve done that successfully by creating this monster that was undeniable because I walked through glass and everything they threw at me and came out of it on the other side.”
His first big test as MLW Champion comes October 4 when he defends against CW Anderson, Mr. Thomas, Matthew Justice, and two other challengers in a brutal Chamber of Horrors match. The Long Beach event will air on YouTube and beIN Sports.
“This is definitely my yard,” Krügger said. “This is what I’m made for and what the character is made for. Matthew Justice, he is also made for this environment. We’ve had our feud in the past, and it’s just going to continue to light back up and become a thing again. Mr. Thomas, I think is one of the most underrated talents in MLW. He doesn’t really work in other places outside of that. MLW is his home and where he works. I respect that. He is building himself now the last few months and really stood out and became a prominent member of the roster. CW is an old school guy. I have so much respect for him. I don’t know who the other two guys are, but I hope they’re coming ready to fight because it’s going to be one of those. It’s going to be violent and intense.”
Former WWE NXT star Jazmyn Nyx (Jade Gentile) has broken her silence following her recent exit from the company, sharing a heartfelt statement with fans and colleagues. In a video message posted on her Tik Tok, Nyx expressed gratitude for her time in WWE and cited personal reasons behind her decision to move on.
She reflected on her journey with the company, acknowledged the support from the WWE Universe, and expressed excitement for the new opportunities ahead in her career.
Why Jazmyn Nyx Left WWE
“As you know, there’s been things circulating and I kind of want to just set the record straight that I am not resigning with WWE. This was a personal decision I had to make for myself and for my future. Personally, the contract that they were offering me for the next three years just wasn’t going to cut it for me financially. And that’s okay.
I kind of just wanted to give a backstory of everything. I was playing professional soccer in Iceland and then I got recruited obviously to WWE, which I left everything out there to come here for this opportunity, which I’m very, very grateful for. I was kind of held back a little in the beginning. I had four knee surgeries, so I had to recover and rebuild my knees in order to step in the ring. And as some of you know, I broke my nose—that’s why I was wearing the mask. I had other injuries, concussions that kind of kept me out of TV for a little bit.
I will say that there’s been a lot of opportunities that I’ve had to turn down and pass up, but now that I am out of the job, I can kind of explore these opportunities more and take them more seriously.
Love my Jasmine Nyx fans. Thank you guys so much for supporting me and having my back for the past three years. It’s been an amazing journey and I will miss you guys. And yeah, that is it for Jasmine Nyx. So, thank you guys for watching and I love you guys so, so much.”
For more on this story, read our initial report, with PWInsider breaking the news that Nyx declined to re-sign with WWE:
WWE Women’s Champion Tiffany Stratton made a memorable first impression at her WrestleMania debut earlier this year. Embracing her “Buff Barbie” persona, Stratton entered the stadium with a Barbie-inspired entrance, stepping out of a life-sized replica doll box with other boxes featuring videos of her in Barbie-esque costumes.
Speaking to Scott Johnson for Going Ringside, Stratton revealed that the idea had been in the works for years.
“So back in NXT, I had actually pitched this idea to come out of a Barbie box. However, I think with trademarking and stuff like that, it wasn’t going to really work out.”
Plans shifted when Mattel reached out to WWE ahead of WrestleMania, helping bring Stratton’s vision to life. For the Women’s Champion, finally realizing the entrance she had imagined was worth the wait.
“It was like a dream come true for me… So to have it debut at WrestleMania, my first WrestleMania, was just such an amazing opportunity and I wouldn’t have been able to do it without Triple H and Mattel.”
WWE Hall of Famer The Undertaker has addressed criticism of his Six Feet Under podcast following the addition of his wife, Michelle McCool, as co-host. On the latest episode, the Deadman pushed back at fans who claim McCool’s involvement has hurt the show’s quality.
“Look, this is where we’re at. This is the direction I wanted to take the show.”
For years, The Undertaker co-hosted the podcast with Matthew Lyda, who was removed after WWE acquired Six Feet Under. Despite fan backlash toward McCool, The Undertaker made it clear he isn’t letting negativity affect his passion for the project.
“Whether you like it or don’t like it, I do this, we do this for fun. And if you get entertained then be entertained, if you’re not entertained you don’t like it, this is America and you get to do whatever you want.”
McCool’s involvement extends beyond the podcast. She was also added to the second season of WWE LFG, reportedly at The Undertaker’s request. Her addition came as Mickie James was cut from the show, fueling speculation that James was removed to make room for McCool.
Closing out his remarks, The Undertaker urged listeners to embrace the new direction of the show, telling them, “Relax and enjoy the ride.” While some fans may prefer the old format, The Undertaker is focused on the future — with his wife by his side.
TNA Hall of Famer Gail Kim has revealed that she once pitched a major dream match against current AEW TBS Champion Mercedes Mone. The revelation came during a recent exchange on social media, where the former Knockouts Champion was discussing the current state of women’s wrestling.
The idea of a first-time-ever encounter between two of the most influential female wrestlers has fans dreaming of what-if. The conversation began after Kim posted a tweet offering a critique of AEW wrestler Riho’s ring attire and her believability in matches against larger opponents.
In response to her tweet, a fan suggested that Kim should face Riho’s most recent opponent, Mercedes Mone. Kim then replied to the fan, confirming that this was a match she had actively tried to make happen when Scott D’Amore was still the president of TNA Wrestling.
The potential match is now a fantasy booking scenario, as Gail Kim is no longer with TNA Wrestling, having departed from her long-time role as a backstage producer earlier this year. Scott D’Amore was also let go from his position as president.
I pitched it once to Scott when she was available but never came to be…. https://t.co/OsXejQ5G3i
Speaking with Scott Johnson for Going Ringside, Stratton provided an update on her condition. The “Buff Barbie” reassured fans that she is physically fine despite what she called “a bit of a rough landing.” She explained that her removal from NXT homecoming was “precautionary” and that WWE were simply seeing if anything was wrong with her after the rough landing.
Stratton’s comments come as she prepares to defend her WWE Women’s Championship against Nia Jax and Cargill on SmackDown. The high-stakes match will also decide who challenges newly crowned WWE Women’s World Champion Stephanie Vaquer for the Crown Jewel Women’s Title next month at WWE Crown Jewel in Perth.
Fortunately for fans, Stratton’s setback is not expected to derail her career or her title reign. Instead, she is set to continue what has already been a standout 2025, with another marquee match on the horizon.
The Beautiful People’s contributions to TNA Wrestling will be celebrated with the duo’s induction into the TNA Hall of Fame at this year’s Bound for Glory. TNA shared on social media that the team, consisting of Angelina Love and Velvet Sky, will soon be TNA Wrestling Hall of Famers.
Love and Sky will join Mickie James in the class of 2025, marking the first all-female group of inductees in the Hall of Fame’s history. The trio will be the fourth, fifth, and sixth female inductees, following on from Gail Kim, Awesome Kong, and Traci Brooks.
While it will only be Sky and Love being inducted, they aren’t the only wrestlers to have been part of the Beautiful People. Past members include Madison Rayne, Lacey Von Erich and Cute Kip, better known to fans as Billy Gunn.
The vain faction vowed to cleanse the TNA roster “one ugly person at a time.” In TNA, Love is a six-time Knockouts Champion, a title Sky held twice. The group also held the TNA Knockouts Tag Team Titles, often defending the gold with other members via the ‘Freebird Rule.’
Now, Angelina Love and Velvet Sky will join Sting, Kurt Angle, Raven, Rhino, Abyss, and others as WWE Hall of Famers. TNA Bound for Glory will take place on October 12, at the Tsongas Center in Lowell, Massachusetts.
The new WWE Women’s World Champion, Stephanie Vaquer, has spoken out for the first time since her historic victory at the WrestlePalooza Premium Live Event this past Saturday. The Chilean star defeated IYO SKY in a hard-fought match to capture the vacant championship, marking her first taste of championship gold on the WWE main roster.
In a new interview with the Chilean news outlet CHV Noticias, an emotional Vaquer reflected on what the championship win means to her after years of hard work and sacrifice.
“Emotional. I still feel like I’m in this dream that I still haven’t woken up. I’m enjoying it a lot, it has been a very big sacrifice many years ago. I’ve dreamed of this every day in recent years, and the happy truth,” Vaquer said (h/t to Fightful). “And what better, as you say, that the first Latin American is Chilean and WWE world champion.”
Before signing with WWE and quickly rising through the ranks of NXT, Vaquer was a top star in CMLL, where she held multiple championships. Her decision to leave that established career behind to pursue her WWE dream is the “big sacrifice” she referenced. Her victory at WrestlePalooza came after she won a number one contender’s battle royal at the Evolution PLE.
WWE Women’s Champion Tiffany Stratton has shared her excitement about the recent announcement that WrestleMania 43 will be held in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, in 2027. Speaking with Scott Johnson for Going Ringside, Stratton discussed being part of the continued evolution of women’s wrestling in the region.
The decision to take WWE’s flagship event outside of North America for the first time has been met with a mixed reaction from fans, with many citing the country’s human rights record as a reason for their disapproval. Recalling a previous WWE trip to the country, Stratton said;
“I’m excited. The last time we were there I believe, we went on this little safari adventure, and I hope we get to do that again because that was super fun.”
Proud to be part of history
She then echoed a sentiment shared by many of her fellow female performers who have competed in Saudi Arabia, highlighting the significance of their presence in the country.
“I think Bianca mentioned women are making history over there, and I can’t wait to be a part of that myself. So I’m super excited and I can’t wait.”
WWE’s partnership with Saudi Arabia began in 2018 as part of the “Saudi Vision 2030” social and economic reform program. The long-term, lucrative deal has seen the company produce two large-scale premium live events in the kingdom almost every year.
The first-ever women’s match in Saudi Arabia took place at the Crown Jewel event in 2019, a bout between Natalya and Lacey Evans. Both women wore full-body suits to comply with the country’s conservative dress policy. Since that match, women’s wrestling has become a regular and featured part of every subsequent WWE event in Saudi Arabia, with multiple women’s championship matches taking place on those shows.
AEW star Kenny Omega stirred the pot on social media today with a post that appears to take a shot at wrestling legends who have chosen to participate in WWE’s Saudi Arabia events. In his tweet, Omega wrote:
“Another day and another ‘legend’ doing the splits on it for the yearly TKO gift basket… ?”
Another day and another “legend” doing the splits on it for the yearly TKO gift basket… ?
While Omega doesn’t name names, the message is clear. “Doing the splits on it” is a not-so-subtle jab at veteran wrestlers who, in Omega’s view, are eagerly taking lucrative offers — represented by the “TKO gift basket” — to perform at high-profile Saudi shows promoted by WWE’s owners, TKO Group Holdings.
The comment reignites conversation around sports washing, a term used for the Saudi government’s use of major entertainment events to improve its global image amid ongoing human rights criticisms. WWE has faced regular criticism for its partnership with Saudi Arabia, and Omega has previously spoken out against the practice.
This latest shot underscores the ongoing tension between AEW and WWE.
3-Hour Playlist of Kenny Omega’s Best AEW Singles Matches
NXT star Jazmyn Nyx is done with WWE. According to PWInsider, she turned down WWE’s contract offer.
Jazmyn Nyx, whose real name is Jade Gentile, is leaving the company after a promising run on the NXT brand.
A former pro soccer player, Nyx made a splash in WWE with her athleticism and striking offense, notably as a member of the “Fatal Influence” stable with Jacy Jayne and Fallon Henley.
Throughout her NXT tenure, she built a reputation as a skilled competitor and an opportunistic heel, often factoring into high-profile women’s tag and trios matches.
WWE hoped to keep Nyx on board with a new deal, but she chose to test free agency after being written off NXT TV by her former stablemates.
As she closes this chapter in WWE, fans can follow Jazmyn Nyx’s next moves and updates on Instagram at @jazmyn_wwe to see where her career goes next.
Stay tuned for more on Jazmyn Nyx as her story develops.
Another vision will be realized for promoter David McLane when WOW- Women Of Wrestling takes over the Fremont Street Experience in Las Vegas. The WOW Superheroes will perform under the iconic canopy for shows October 14 and 15 and October 21 and 22. McLane has always championed all-female presentations going all the way back almost 40 years with the trailblazing Gorgeous Ladies of Wrestling (GLOW).
In many ways, WOW picked up where the beloved brand left off and evolved to the syndicated series we see today. With the show recently starting its fourth season, McLane isn’t one to rest on past successes. He has a big goal in mind to take WOW to the next level.
“We’ve got to go live. We’ve got to get WOW live,” he said. “Any of you fans, we’ve got to rally for WOW Live. We have to go live versus taped programming and syndication only.”
For the go-getter businessman, eventually transitioning to a live format would maximize the audience and elicit engagement. He continued, “everything from social media to merchandise to marketing the Superheroes has been hampered in the fact it’s not live. We’ve got to go live. I was at another wrestling event, and when I flew in, I even went to a WNBA game in Vegas. I’m watching the fans interact with their phones in realtime. It’s just a great experience. It’s an engagement and family environment through your phone with technology. And to take part in that, we’ve got to get live.”
Conversations have been ongoing with one network that has interest in testing a live format, but McLane doesn’t just want any network. He recalled meeting with executive Jeanie Buss when he was doing World Roller Hockey League.
McLane added, “I remember when I was launching that with ESPN and their then president Steve Bornstein, and they said, ‘let’s test it by putting on one or two roller hockey events on.’ I came back and said we can’t do it unless we go all in because with one test you’re not going to learn anything. It can’t be one event. You have to see how it goes over time and be committed to it. So, we’re looking for that right partner right now.”
He is also a realist when it comes to taking WOW on the road. McLaine’s thought process is to go live first and then think about touring. “If we did it today, we’d be dead meat financially,” he explained. “The cost to put it up and take it city to city would be very difficult. We’d be dead meat, but that is an ultimate goal to take it out and be in different cities. The UFC has even struggled with that. They would love, I’m sure, financially to be in one location and do their UFC fights, but their president and CEO Dana White once mentioned, and I agree with him, that to grow the brand and touch the fans he is obligated to take it out into the marketplace and take it to different cities. We will need to do the same.”
McLane credits working with Buss as a great partner. Someone who has been WOW’s biggest cheerleader. The controlling owner and president of the Los Angeles Lakers saw the importance of launching an all-female training facility to build homegrown talent. Under the leadership of veteran Selina Majors, the promotion continues to bring in new faces that bring the right balance of athleticism and pizazz.
“By the way, the tag line for the WOW Superheroes was created by Jeanie,” McLane revealed. “When she came to the matches prior to Jeanie’s engagement I was calling them the WOW girls. She said, ‘no, they are like real-life action superheroes when they fly off the ropes and do this and that. I fell in love with comic books as a kid. And these are real life comic book people who come to life, bigger than life. They should be called Superheroes. That’s how they became Superheroes through Jeanie Buss’ innate genius marketing skillset.”
When it comes to WOW’s early beginnings in this current run, McLane remains grateful to have had AJ Lee. Someone who came in as an executive producer and commentator during the first season.
“She took a chance with us and came to WOW,” he said. “I think she is proud of the product. She’ll be on that special with Jeanie Buss. I wanted to get her in the ring with WOW, but the timing wasn’t right. She wanted to make sure her body was at a 10 in conditioning and in shape.
She was writing movies and doing comic books when we were able to get her engaged. Just coming off the comic books and going into the movies. It was so fun.
“I never knew AJ until she started working with us. Now it’s so fun to watch her and see her prospering and do so well in the ring. I sent her a note when she was going in on the first night of her debut. I said, ‘just soak it in and enjoy it.’ I’m sure she did because I could see from the expression on her face. She knows she is getting a blessing of enjoying this with her husband and having fun with it one more time.”
As for what’s to come on WOW, McLane looks forward to digging a little deeper into the backstories of the Superheroes. He also teased some fiery competition to come for WOW Trio Tag Team Champions Coach Campanelli, Kandi Krush, and Gloria Glitter.
“This is Santana Garrett’s run,” McLane continued. “I didn’t realize it until we interviewed her in Florida but she has been with every wrestling organization. All the wrestling organizations including WWE and won championships everywhere. She somewhat started her career on a major level with us, with WOW.
“Her dad Kenny G participated before his passing. He was able to come to WOW events and see his daughter. This is like full circle with her back in WOW. I know she would like to make a run for that WOW title. Tormenta is back from Mexico with the championship. Paola Mayfield who was a reality show in 90 Day Fiancé and Amazon’s The Goat. So it’s going to be a great season and a lot of great competition.”
John Cena’s stunned fans by turning heel in March 2025 which marked his first time as a fully-fledged villain in over two decades. While the turn itself shocked fans, many felt that what followed failed to meet expectations.
Cena’s heel run began with an alliance with The Rock, though the “Final Boss” quickly disappeared from WWE television afterward. Speaking on UnSKripted, Cena’s father, John Cena Sr., reflected on his son’s final year in the ring.
“I think what he’s done is right, it’s good, it’s positive… Turning John Cena heel was a great idea. The shock factor was great.”
While Cena Sr. praised the turn itself, he agreed with fans who felt the follow-up fell flat.
“The storyline [after the turn] was destroyed. That was a very poor move in my opinion because it was a big gamble for everyone involved.”
Cena Sr. placed much of the blame on The Rock’s sudden absence, calling it a crushing blow to one of WWE’s biggest storylines in years.
“To see how it started, and then to see the characters who are involved no longer be present, the heel turn almost became non-essential. That was something I wasn’t really too hyped up on.”
Ultimately, Cena abandoned the heel turn ahead of SummerSlam 2025 and returned to the fan-favorite role that defined much of his career. With only a handful of appearances left before retirement, Cena is set to close out his legendary run as the beloved babyface, despite his father’s belief that the heel turn could have been so much more.
John Cena and AJ Styles will battle at WWE Crown Jewel: Perth, in what will be one of the ‘Never Seen Seventeen’s’ final matches of his career. After the pair had a series of acclaimed matches in 2016 and early 2017, the two veterans are set to do battle one final time.
Cena had been pushing for the match, which Styles accepted, and Paul “Triple H” Levesque made it official on September 23. On X, Cena reflected on how the match—one long requested by fans for his retirement tour—was proof that WWE listens to its audience and that “listening to our audience is ALWAYS what’s best for business.”
I want to thank @TripleH for being flexible here and rewarding the true driving force behind #CenavsStyles .. the FANS! 2 posts over 10m views and so many of you let yourself be heard! #WWECrownJewel Perth and @AJStylesOrg you will get my everything. Listening to our audience is…
Cena vs. Styles is the third match confirmed for Crown Jewel. The event will also feature the Men’s and Women’s Crown Jewel Championship matches, currently set as Cody Rhodes vs. Seth Rollins and Stephanie Vaquer vs. Tiffany Stratton.
With Cena nearing the end of his in-ring career, many fans have stressed that his remaining matches should feel meaningful. His clash with Brock Lesnar at WWE Wrestlepalooza drew criticism, as some felt Lesnar’s decisive win wasted a rare Cena appearance with no rematch likely.
Now, WWE has the opportunity to deliver by revisiting one of Cena’s most celebrated rivalries. WWE Crown Jewel: Perth takes place on Saturday, October 11, at the RAC Arena in Perth, Western Australia.
Roman Reigns is one of WWE’s most dominant stars and a first-ballot Hall of Famer in the making. However, despite his accomplishments, Reigns is absent from the 2025 PWI 500 rankings.
The top 20 names on this year’s list have been revealed, featuring several of Reigns’ past rivals, including Cody Rhodes (#1), Seth Rollins (#8), and CM Punk (#15). While the full list will be released later this year, fans should not expect “The Tribal Chief” to appear at all.
The reason is tied to PWI’s evaluation criteria. The ranking period ran from August 1, 2024, through July 31, 2025, with each wrestler required to have at least ten singles matches during that time. Reigns only competed eight times within the period, with just two of those matches being one-on-one singles bouts.
Meanwhile, Cody Rhodes has claimed the #1 spot for the second consecutive year. Currently in his second reign as Undisputed WWE Champion, Rhodes becomes only the fourth wrestler to top the list in back-to-back years, joining Bret Hart (1993–94), “Stone Cold” Steve Austin (1998–99), and John Cena (2006–07).
Reigns has won the top spot twice, though not in back-to-back years. In adition to taking the #1 spot in 2016 and 2022, he has ranked in the top 10 eight times.
As for Reigns, he has been absent from WWE programming since being attacked by The Vision at WWE Clash in Paris. Unless he increases his singles competition schedule, his absence from the PWI 500 may continue in future editions.
An investigation has begun after accusations of domestic abuse were made against TNA Wrestling’s Masha Slamovich. On Tuesday, September 23, a friend of AKIRA, an independent wrestler and former partner of Slamovich, shared screenshots alleged to be between the ex-couple.
Masha is an abusive piece of shit who feels entitled to everything including a Ribera Jacket.
These messages have yet to be independently verified. In a statement to Sports Illustrated, TNA Wrestling shared:
“We take any allegations like this very seriously, and have begun an internal investigation.”
On X, Akira shared a lengthy statement, stating that he “Kinda wanna throw up, kindwa want to go away forever.” Akira’s post discussed a toxic relationship with somebody but stopped short of using Slamovich’s name.
I woke up to this and people asking me if I was okay. Kinda wanna throw up, kinda want to go away forever.
My friend held back for months because I asked her to, and I would have never said anything. I still really don’t want to. I didn’t want to lash out in anger, because I…
Slamovich has not publicly responded at this time. Masha signed with TNA in 2021 and is set to challenge Knockouts Champion Ash By Elegance at TNA Victory Road on September 27.
Adriana Rizzo is currently sidelined with an injury that will keep the WWE NXT Superstar out of action for several more months. During a Q&A with fans on social media, one fan asked, “When do you expect to be back in the ring?” Rizzo replied: “Sometime in the spring most likely.”
Back in August, Rizzo revealed that she had torn her ACL and meniscus, calling it a setback but “not the end.” This is only the latest challenge for the NXT star, who previously tore her Achilles in 2023 and suffered a partial ACL tear just a few months later.
A spring return would keep Rizzo out for at least another six months, though her absence could extend even longer. When sharing her latest injury update in August, she stated that she was ready to face the recovery process head-on and “come back 100% healthy for the first time in my WWE career.”
Rizzo was once part of the Tony D’Angelo Family, but with that faction now dissolved, her next steps in NXT remain unclear. For now, her in-ring future won’t be determined until well into 2025.
An invasion angle had been teased last week when WWE announced a winner-takes-all match between TNA Champion Trick Williams and NXT Champion Oba Femi for this week’s episode of the development show.
TNA stars started showing up in the crowd as the double title main event progressed. Names such as Eric Young, Frankie Kazarian, Steve Maclin, Jessie McKay, and Cassie Lee were all shown during the bout. The appearance of Matt Cardona especially got a big pop from the crowd.
Mike Santana joined the commentary halfway through this bout. The action went outside the ring towards the ending of the show as Femi delivered a big clothesline to his opponent.
Trick sent the NXT champion crashing through the steel steps before turning his attention towards the announce table. The TNA champion made the first move when he slapped Mike Santana and then all hell broke loose.
The TNA stars crowded the ring as NXT roster started emptying as well and a brawl broke out. Ricky Saints was the last to come out, though he didn’t join the fight.
Saints instead went around the ring where the NXT title had been placed and tried to pick it up. Oba Femi however, stopped him from doing so and the broadcast ended with the two No Mercy opponents staring each other.
Shawn Michaels later posted a video of himself reacting to the whole thing in the Gorilla and warning TNA roster that this was not over. The Anthem-owned promotion will be holding the Victory Road PPV on September 26 and it’s likely that some NXT stars will show up as a response to tonight’s angle.
Kenan Thompson’s production company Artists For Artists is developing the first-ever narrative feature film about wrestling legend “Macho Man” Randy Savage, according to an exclusive report from Deadline.
The Saturday Night Live star and his partner Johnny Ryan Jr. are producing “Macho,” based on a completed script by Savage’s late brother Lanny Poffo and Eric Shapiro. Poffo, who died in February 2023, co-wrote the screenplay as a tribute to his iconic sibling.
Thompson brings a personal connection to the project, having worked with Savage on a Nickelodeon promotional campaign back in 1999. The nostalgic collaboration sparked Thompson’s longtime admiration for the wrestling superstar.
“Macho man Randy Savage was the greatest showman of all time and the OG bad boy of entertainment,” Ryan Jr. was quoted. “His outfits were as electric as his personality and he’s so much more than an artist, he’s an icon.”
Thompson expressed his enthusiasm, stating he’s “beyond excited” to bring Savage’s story to the big screen, calling him “hands down one of the greatest of all time.”
Randy Savage’s Legacy
Born Randy Mario Poffo, Savage became one of wrestling’s most influential figures from the 1970s through early 2000s. After a shoulder injury ended his baseball aspirations with the Cardinals and Reds farm systems, he redirected his athletic drive toward wrestling, eventually becoming a six-time World Heavyweight Champion.
Savage died suddenly of a heart attack at age 58 in May 2011 and was posthumously inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2015. While his life has been featured in documentaries and WWE specials, this marks the first narrative feature film adaptation of his remarkable story.
WWE Superstar ASUKA marked the 10-year anniversary of her WWE signing with a deeply philosophical reflection on her career and legacy.
The Grand Slam champion shared her thoughts on Twitter, emphasizing that ideals and convictions hold more value than achievements alone.
“I believe that ideals and convictions, what one sets out to achieve, hold more value than what one has actually accomplished,” ASUKA wrote. “I have obtained every record, everything there is to obtain, but these are all merely waypoints.”
The Japanese wrestling icon, who competed as Kana before joining WWE, expressed her vision of creating lasting change in the industry.
“What has universal value and beauty is pioneering a new era, possessing the power to change the times,” she continued. ASUKA’s reflection highlighted her mission to establish a transformative legacy, stating her pursuit of “creating ‘before and after Kana’ and ‘before and after Asuka.'”
She emphasized the difficulty and beauty of forging new paths rather than following established ones.
“Creating a path is far more difficult than walking down a path that others have made. And therein lies the most beautiful aesthetic of all,” ASUKA concluded, describing her approach to life as centered on “living as a pioneer and living with conviction, philosophy, and aesthetics.”
Asuka is currently making headlines on WWE Raw after turning heel by attacking her former ally IYO SKY, ending their partnership in dramatic fashion following Asuka’s loss to Rhea Ripley on the September 22, 2025 episode. In the closing moments, Asuka unleashed her green mist on Ripley, then, with Kairi Sane, assaulted IYO when she tried to intervene, effectively forming a new allegiance with Kairi and making a strong statement against both IYO and Ripley.
A petition to honor the life and legacy of the British Bulldog, Davey Boy Smith, has gathered thousands of signatures from dedicated fans. Created by Michael Finney, the petition seeks to have Smith added to the Walk of Fame in his hometown of Wigan, England.
Smith is remembered as one of the most successful and beloved wrestlers to come out of the United Kingdom. Speaking exclusively to SEScoops, Finney recalled the pride he felt seeing his fellow countryman perform in the ring.
“As a British person myself, he respected me and our country. He was like our Superman or our late great Hulk Hogan.”
Finney’s passion for Smith led him to launch a petition in 2013 for the wrestler’s posthumous induction into the WWE Hall of Fame. That campaign was ultimately successful, with Smith being inducted eight years later. Still, Finney wasn’t finished.
“Davey’s daughter [Georgia Smith] spoke about the Walk of Fame in Wigan, and a fan tagged me into Georgia’s post and asked if I could get involved. I reached out to Georgia and asked if she would like me to get involved.”
Finney’s connection to the Smith’s has been strong since his initial 2013 campaign, and he and the family remain close to this day. For Finney, having Smith honored in Wigan wouldn’t just be for the late wrestler, but for those who knew him best.
“They are good people, and we’ve always had respect for each other in both our personal lives and through our campaigns. I really want this to happen for Georgia because she has so much love for her dad.”
The campaign has drawn support from public figures across entertainment, politics, and professional wrestling. Former WCW World Champion David Arquette and WWE Hall of Famer Kurt Angle are among those backing the effort.
“Kurt and Davey teamed up for a short time, and I knew Kurt always respected the business and the legends who were there before him.”
With over 7,000 signatures, the petition has plenty of support, but that hasn’t translated into a spot on the Walk of Fame yet. Instead, Finney shared that it’s been radio silence from those who’d be making the decision.
“I haven’t heard anything. I’ve reached out to the MP of Wigan and had no success. I’ve reached out to the council and even asked to travel to Wigan for a meeting to push for Davey to receive a Walk of Fame star, but I haven’t heard back from them.”
Still, Finney remains determined to see the first-ever WWE European Champion honored in his hometown. He believes a place on the Wigan Walk of Fame would be meaningful not only for Smith’s family and local fans but also for wrestling supporters worldwide.
“Davey deserves that spot for everything he has done for British wrestling and for representing the UK… I want this to happen for the country, and for the fans from all over the world to come to the UK and pay their respects to Davey.”
Finney concluded with a sentiment shared by many fans: when wrestling fans think of the UK, the British Bulldog immediately comes to mind.
“Davey was — and always will be — the most outstanding British wrestler of all time.”
Click here to find out more about the Wigan Walk of Fame petition, including how to show your support for the campaign to honor Davey Boy Smith.
