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.
Brock Lesnar is already being advertised for WWE’s biggest event of the year in 2026. In a new promotional graphic released on Tuesday to promote the ticket pre-sale for WrestleMania 42, Lesnar is featured prominently alongside other top company stars, including Roman Reigns, Cody Rhodes, Rhea Ripley, and CM Punk.
His inclusion in the marketing for the event, which is still seven months away, is a strong indication that he is a key part of WWE’s long-term plans following his recent return to the company. Lesnar had been absent from the previous two WrestleMania events.
Lesnar’s last appearance at the annual spectacular was at WrestleMania 39 in 2023, where he defeated Omos. He was off of WWE programming for two full years after his name was mentioned in the Janel Grant lawsuit that was filed against Vince McMahon and WWE in early 2024.
Lesnar made his shocking return to the company at SummerSlam this past August under a new contract for limited dates. He competed in his first match back this past Saturday at the inaugural WrestlePalooza Premium Live Event, where he scored a decisive victory over John Cena. WrestleMania 42 is scheduled to take place on Saturday, April 18, and Sunday, April 19, 2026, from Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Fans will get to see one of the best rivalries of the modern era one last time, as a match between John Cena and AJ Styles has been made official for the WWE Crown Jewel on Saturday, October 11. The match, which will be Cena’s final time competing in Australia as part of his 2025 retirement tour, was built entirely on social media over the past several days.
Cena began lobbying for the match, leading to an acceptance from Styles, and was made official on Tuesday by WWE Chief Creative Officer Paul “Triple H” Levesque. The announcement confirms a big addition to the card for the upcoming international event. The match was confirmed in a post on Levesque’s social media account after the two superstars agreed to the bout.
“@JohnCena vs. @AJStylesOrg is a match we all want to see. And at #WWECrownJewel…we will.” Editor’s Note: The graphic in the post confirmed the event is Super Show-Down: Perth.
The rivalry between John Cena and AJ Styles is one of the most celebrated of the last decade, producing several classic encounters, most notably their matches at SummerSlam in 2016 and the Royal Rumble in 2017. This will be their first major one-on-one match since 2018. Cena is coming off a loss to the returning Brock Lesnar at the WrestlePalooza event this past Saturday and will be looking to regain momentum on his farewell tour. The event has a special start time of 8:00 AM Eastern and will stream live on ESPN platforms in the US and on Netflix internationally. The updated card for WWE Super Show-Down: Perth is below:
Champion vs. Champion Match: WWE Champion Cody Rhodes vs. World Heavyweight Champion Seth Rollins
Champion vs. Champion Match: WWE Women’s Champion Tiffany Stratton vs. Women’s World Champion Stephanie Vaquer
New WWE Women’s World Champion Stephanie Vaquer is ready to make history following her victory at WWE Wrestlepalooza. Appearing on Monday Night Raw, Vaquer soaked in the adulation of the live crowd. Vaquer then addressed her victory over IYO SKY in Indianapolis and was grateful for the support of the WWE Universe.
“This championship represents the motivation and support you have all given me. And every single [one] of you celebrated with me at Wrestlepalooza and every single [one of] you cried with me. I need to say thank you.”
Vaquer then turned her attention to the future and what she intends to be a lengthy reign as champion. After reaching the pinnacle of WWE Raw’s women’s division, less than a year after debuting in NXT, Vaquer is ready to make history.
“My fire will be making history and nobody, I say nobody can stop me. La Primera! WWE Women’s World Champion.”
"Nobody can stop me." ?
NEW WWE Women's World Champion Stephanie Vaquer thanks the WWE Universe for their support and promises a long title reign! pic.twitter.com/mx3zOOX4IV
With this win, Vaquer has secured herself a place on the card at WWE Crown Jewel. The Women’s World Champion will face the WWE Women’s Champion on October 11 in Perth, Australia. A title match will take place on SmackDown between Tiffany Stratton, Jade Cargill, and Nia Jax.
Vaquer’s road to the gold saw her win a battle royal at WWE Evolution before defeating SKY at Wrestlepalooza for the vacant gold. At one point, she had been scheduled to face Naomi at Clash in Paris, but Naomi’s pregnancy changed plans.
Now, Vaquer will be the target of every woman on WWE Raw from former champions like SKY, Rhea Ripley, and Becky Lynch, to those yet to hold the gold. Nevertheless, the Women’s World Champion remains confident that her reign won’t just impress, but it will be historic.
For the second straight year, “The American Nightmare” Cody Rhodes has been ranked number one on the prestigious Pro Wrestling Illustrated 500 list. The official announcement from the magazine confirms that the reigning Undisputed WWE Champion has once again been selected as the top male professional wrestler in the world.
The achievement places Rhodes in truly elite company, as he becomes only the fourth wrestler in the history of the PWI 500 to top the list in back-to-back years, joining a group that includes Bret “The Hitman” Hart, “Stone Cold” Steve Austin, and John Cena. The evaluation period for this year’s list ran from August 1, 2024, through July 31, 2025. During that time, Rhodes had one of the most dominant years of any superstar, holding the Undisputed WWE Championship for the entire period.
His reign included numerous championship defenses, a main event victory at WrestleMania 41, and wins over top competitors such as Kevin Owens, GUNTHER, and Solo Sikoa. The PWI 500 criteria for ranking includes a wrestler’s win-loss record, influence on the sport, and success against the highest level of competition, all areas where Rhodes excelled during the evaluation period.
The rest of the top ten was a mix of stars from WWE, AEW, and CMLL. The top ten for the 2025 PWI 500 is below:
The September 22, episode of WWE Raw will be one that Rhea Ripley won’t want to remember anytime soon. Things started strong for the Australian Superstar, who was able to beat Asuka after the Empress accidentally struck her ally Kairi Sane.
Ripley ended Raw with a face full of paint, a fact that Bayley saw the funny side of. On X, Bayley shared that Ripley covered in the blue mist resembles a character from Avatar, but added that ‘Mami’ still looked pretty.
It wasn’t just Ripley who was left worse for wear by Asuka, as the Empress confirmed her heel turn with an attack on IYO SKY. Once again taking to X, Bayley struggled to find sympathy for her Damage CTRL alum, as it was IYO and the faction that ousted Bayley in 2024.
With Bayley undergoing a character change in WWE, it remains to be seen how she will fit into the Ripley-Asuka-SKY program. Whatever’s next for the Role Model, she certainly enjoyed what happened during WWE Raw.
Piper Niven has been sidelined with an injury since the August 22, 2025 episode of WWE SmackDown in Dublin, Ireland. Now, a concerning update has surfaced, with some fearing the setback could bring her wrestling career to an end.
On a recent episode of Wrestling Observer Live, Bryan Alvarez reported that there is internal concern within WWE that Niven’s injury may be career-threatening. This follows a report from Fightful Select, which confirmed that Niven is indeed injured, though the exact nature of the issue has not been publicly disclosed.
Niven, who began her pro-wrestling career in 2007, signed with WWE in 2019 as part of NXT UK. In 2021, she was called up to the main roster, where she was briefly paired with Eva Marie under the name “Doudrop.” More recently, Niven aligned with Chelsea Green, and together they captured the WWE Women’s Tag Team Championship.
In kayfabe, Green has explained Niven’s absence from WWE TV, saying she is undergoing a covert mission for the ‘Secret Hervice.’ Green has also shared that she is fielding applicants to join the group, once again raising questions about the length of Piper’s absence from TV.
Our beloved Head of SecHERity, Slaygent P, is currently out on a top-secret special assignment.
In her absence, the Secret Hervice will be accepting intel dossiers (a.k.a. resumes, for you dummies) and video submissions for a potential fill-in candidate.
With Niven out of action, Green has been working alongside Alba Fyre, the third member of the Secret Hervice. Stay tuned to SEScoops for the latest on Piper Niven and this unfortunate setback in her career.
Ticket prices for WWE events have been on the rise as of late, with TKO President Mark Shapiro recently sharing that the company has “a lot of room” to maximise profits. With the cheapest tickets for WrestleMania 42 starting at over $850, many fans have grown concerned that WWE is simply pricing out a large proportion of fans.
While speaking on the Inside the Ring podcast, MVP addressed concerns about WWE, including the growing number of ads at WWE PLEs. MVP, who is currently part of AEW, argued that the focus on profits is alienating fans, and this issue isn’t just with WWE.
“There’s been an emphasis on profit with the increasing corporatization of one side, without enough regard for the fans who helped make the company what it is. Sadly, that’s happening not just in wrestling.“
MVP added that the NFL and NBA are also participants in this ‘price-gouging.’ The Hurt Syndicate member shared that thanks to “price hikes,” a father taking their kids to an NBA game, once a fun day out, is now a “pretty substantial cut of your income.”
WWE’s record-breaking profits in recent years can’t be ignored, but many feel that these records are coming at the expense of fans. With tickets increasing and WWE introducing ads during PLEs, as seen at the recent Wrestlepalooza event, WWE’s focus on how much money they can squeeze out of fans remains the priority.
For MVP, the debate over ticket prices goes beyond pro wrestling. While wrestling has often been an entertainment enjoyed by fans of all classes, he fears that many fans who have supported the industry will ultimately be left behind.
The September 22 episode of WWE Raw ended in shocking fashion, as Asuka betrayed IYO SKY and ended a friendship that began long before either woman joined WWE. In the final moments of the show, Asuka struck Rhea Ripley with her trademark mist before delivering a spinning kick to SKY, her longtime ally and former protégé.
Footage taken after the broadcast showed Ripley and SKY checking on one another, drawing a loud reaction from the live crowd, who cheered to see two of WWE’s top women standing together.
Backstage, an emotional SKY broke down in tears as she reflected on Asuka’s betrayal.
“We were friends. I thought we were friends. I believed we were friends, Asuka and Kairi don’t want me. Devastated. No, but I wasn’t helpful to them. I realized that today. This hurts more than losing a match. I just don’t know. I’m done.”
Tension had been brewing for weeks, with Asuka claiming that SKY needed only her and Kairi Sane—not Ripley. But with SKY now cut off from some of her oldest allies and fresh off a loss in her bid for the Women’s World Title at Wrestlepalooza, her next move in WWE remains uncertain.
Multiple big matches have been announced for next week’s episode of Raw.
After Finn Balor refused to help Dominik Mysterio due to their confrontation last week, JD McDonagh reluctantly agreed to help the IC Champion in dealing with his ‘Rusev problem’ on this week’s Raw. This resulted in a match between JD and Rusev.
Dom tried to interfere in this bout but the referee warned him off, and the Bulgarian Brute picked up the victory with the Accolade. Rusev continued pushing on even after the bell rang, and Dom stayed frozen at the ringside until Finn Balor came out to make the save.
Balor then yelled at Mysterio for not helping JD. After this it was announced that Rusev will be challenging Dominik for the IC Title on Raw next week.
Jey Uso also made an appearance on tonight’s show after a concerning spot during the WrestlePalooza PPV. The former world champion showed a more intense side of him while interacting with his brother Jimmy Uso and Cody Rhodes backstage.
The Yeet Man went on to pick up a singles victory over LA Knight later in the show, thanks to some interference from Bron ‘n Bron Connection. Jimmy Uso showed up after the bell, trying to get his brother to help Knight fight the duo of Bron Breakker and Bronson Reed.
After Jey refused to get back in the ring, Jimmy picked up a chair and fought off the heels on his own. It was later announced that The Usos will face Bron ‘n Bron Connection in a WrestlePalooza rematch at Raw next week.
Apart from this, a singles match between Bayley and Raquel Rodriguez, and a tag team bout where AJ Styles and Dragon Lee will face two of the three El Grande Americanos, has also been confirmed for the September 29 show.
AEW star and leader of The Hurt Business, MVP, has responded to a recent report from Fightful Select, which stated that there have been discussions within the company about adding a new, younger member to the faction. The report sparked speculation among fans about who could potentially join the dominant trio of MVP, Bobby Lashley, and Shelton Benjamin.
The group has been a major force in All Elite Wrestling, and the idea of them adding a new member to their ranks is an intriguing prospect for future storylines. Speaking on the “TMZ’s Inside The Ring” podcast, MVP addressed the report, confirming that the group has always been open to the idea of expansion, though he downplayed the notion that any definitive discussions have happened recently.
“Of course it’s possible. It’s always possible. We have said for a long time that’d we’d be interested in adding a fourth member, a younger member, kinda like how Cedric was. I don’t know currently what his status currently is.”
He then revealed that their discussions in the past have not been limited to just adding another male superstar.
“I know somebody reported recently that ‘there are talks about adding a fourth member to the Hurt Syndicate.’ News to me. I guess what is misleading about that ‘news’ is that we’re always interested in potentially adding a new member. In the past, we’ve had talks about adding a woman to the group. With professional wrestling, like everything in life, it comes down to timing. It’s all timing. Is it the right person at the right time to what the bigger picture is? There hasn’t been any definitive discussion recently where, ‘Okay, let’s call a meeting.’ It’s always a conversation that we’re open to. There are some people that we like, like yeah man, he or she would be pretty cool. It all comes down to timing and that’s life as well as the nature of the business.”
The Hurt Syndicate lost a trios match at the AEW All Out pay-per-view against the team of Ricochet and The Gates of Agony.
An update has been provided on the status of Jey Uso following the steel chair shot he took to the face at the WWE WrestlePalooza Premium Live Event this past Saturday. During the tag team match that saw The Usos face The Vision’s Bron Breakker and Bronson Reed, Jey was struck with the chair, leaving him busted open.
Due to the nature of the blow to the head, he was immediately placed in WWE’s concussion protocol as a precautionary measure. The protocol is a standard procedure for any performer who appears to have suffered a potential head injury, even if a concussion has not been officially diagnosed.
On today’s episode of Wrestling Observer Live, Bryan Alvarez provided the latest on Jey’s condition, suggesting that he has avoided a serious injury. “As of this morning, WWE claims that he’s fine, which sounds to me like he’s been cleared.”
The positive report from Alvarez aligns with an update from Jey Uso himself. Following the event on Saturday night, he took to his social media accounts to give a simple message to his fans, letting them know that he is “good.”
A new report from PWInsider has revealed the ticket prices for next year’s two-night WWE WrestleMania 42 Premium Live Event, and fans planning to attend the show in Las Vegas can expect to pay premium prices. The pricing structure reflects the new strategy under TKO Group Holdings, which aims to maximize revenue for the company’s biggest events. The high cost positions WrestleMania as a premier destination event, with prices that are comparable to other major sporting event like the Super Bowl.
The report details the cost for a two-day ticket across various sections of Allegiant Stadium, where the event will be held for the second consecutive year. According to the report, the highest-priced two-day ticket on the floor will cost nearly $9,000 before any additional handling fees, while the lowest-priced tickets in the upper sections will start at over $850.
This pricing continues the trend of increased ticket costs for major WWE events that was recently discussed by TKO COO Mark Shapiro, who stated the company would be replicating the successful “ticket yield” strategy of the UFC.The reported two-day ticket prices are as follows:
Section A1 on floor – $8,998.00
Section B on floor – $3,868.00
Section R101 – $2,200.75
100 level – $1,495.00, $1,303.54, $1,174.80
200 level – $1,303.54, $1,174.80
300 Section – $1,174.80
400 Section – $854.15
WrestleMania 42 is scheduled for Saturday, April 18, and Sunday, April 19, 2026, at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas. Tickets for the event will go on sale to the general public this Wednesday, September 24.
On the latest episode of their “Being The Elite” YouTube series, The Young Bucks (Matthew & Nicholas Jackson) seemingly confirmed the end of The Elite as a faction, acknowledging that after a year of challenges, the group is now down to just the two of them.
Matt Jackson: “Who’s even in The Elite anymore? Is it? Like Okada is in Don Callis’ family and Jack just turned on us.”
Nick Jackson: “I think it’s just us.”
Matt: “Kenny’s not really around.. Hangman’s kinda doing his own thing.”
Nick: “Yeah it’s just us.”
With all of their former allies either injured, estranged, or having turned against them, The Young Bucks are now on their own for the first time in years.
The slow dissolution of the group has been a central story in AEW. Former members “Hangman” Adam Page and Kenny Omega became estranged after Kazuchika Okada and Jack Perry were brought into the fold. Since then, it’s all been fractured. Kazuchika Okada has since aligned himself with the rival Don Callis Family.
Jack Perry made his surprise return at the All Out pay-per-view this past Saturday, where he viciously attacked both Matt and Nick. Meanwhile, Kenny Omega is currently out of action with a long-term injury, and “Hangman” Adam Page has been focused on his own successful run as the AEW World Champion.
Former WWE Champion Alberto El Patron has landed in the world of reality TV after recently being exiled from AAA. TV Azteca announced on X that Alberto will be part of the La Granja VIP on Azteca Uno. The show will see celebrities live on a farm, where they must survive their new surroundings as well as one another.
From the squared circle to the farm… the champion is ready to take on a new challenge. Can he dominate the farm like he dominates the ring? Get ready, because “El Patrón” arrives with everything.
De los cuadriláteros a la granja… el campeón está listo para enfrentarse a un nuevo reto.? ¿Podrá dominar la granja como domina el ring? Prepárense, porque "El Patrón" llega con todo. ??#LaGranjaVIP, estreno 12 de octubre por #AztecaUno. ? pic.twitter.com/kmFMuMwTuh
El Patron’s role on the show comes after he was forced to leave AAA after losing to El Mesias on the July 25 episode of AAA Alianzas. Prior to this loss, Alberto had lost the AAA Mega Championship and WWE had avoided referencing him after announcing their acquisition of AAA during WrestleMania week.
CM Punk is no stranger to the world of comic books, and now he’s ready to make a bloodied splash on the big screen. Appearing on GQ’s YouTube channel, Punk was asked about his dream superhero role, and had one name in mind: Marvel’s The Punisher.
“Frank Castle wants to be CM Punk. No, not really. I want to be Frank Castle, The Punisher.”
Punk’s choice may surprise some fans, given that his iconic “It’s Clobbering Time!” battle cry is borrowed from Marvel’s The Thing. Beyond those two characters, Punk has also contributed to Marvel Comics directly—writing a story for Thor Annual #1, co-writing a series featuring Drax the Destroyer, and penning a Master of Kung Fu one-shot starring Shang-Chi.
The worlds of WWE and Marvel have crossed paths many times. Dave Bautista’s Hollywood breakthrough came as Drax the Destroyer, years after his mentor Triple H appeared in 2004’s Blade: Trinity. More recently, Seth Rollins and Becky Lynch both filmed scenes for Marvel projects, though their roles were ultimately cut.
Natalya is one of the longest-serving members of the WWE roster, having made her television debut on SmackDown in 2008. Now, 17 years later, a major change could be coming for the Queen of Harts, according to her uncle Ross.
Speaking on the Wrestling Life with Ben Veal podcast, Ross discussed the grittier “Nattie Neidhart” persona that the WWE veteran has used at non-WWE events. Ross—Stu and Helen Hart’s tenth of 12 children—suggested that WWE could soon be “reinventing” his niece, potentially even bringing her back under a different name.
Speculation about Natalya’s WWE future comes after she was honored with the Lou Thesz Award at the 59th Cauliflower Alley Club reunion. Becoming the first female recipient of the award, Natalya earned high praise from her uncle, who said it celebrates “grit and hardness and real wrestling ability.” Unlike flashy gimmicks, the award recognizes the hard worker who can endure and go the distance.
Natalya’s gritty character has already delivered results in the ring. At WWE Worlds Collide II, Nattie defeated Apache to become the #1 contender for the AAA Reina de Reinas Championship. With more than eight years since her last singles title reign, a victory could finally break a difficult streak for the Canadian star.
On WWE programming, Natalya has recently been aligned with Maxxine Dupri. But with the possibility of a character reinvention on the horizon, her next chapter could mark a major turning point in an already storied career
Wrestling legend and 11-time women’s world champion Mickie James will be the next inductee into the TNA Wrestling Hall of Fame. The surprise announcement was made on Monday, September 22, during a live episode of “Notsam Wrestling Live!” on SiriusXM. While James was being interviewed on the show by Sam Roberts and TNA legend Tommy Dreamer, TNA Wrestling President Carlos Silva made a special appearance to officially inform her of the induction.
The official induction ceremony is scheduled to take place at TNA’s biggest pay-per-view event of the year, Bound For Glory, on Sunday, October 12, at the Tsongas Center in Lowell, Massachusetts. Mickie James is the first announced member of the Hall of Fame’s Class of 2025 and will be the fourth woman to receive the honor, joining an elite group that includes Gail Kim, Awesome Kong, and Traci Brooks.
Throughout her career, which began in 1999, James has been a trailblazer in women’s wrestling, capturing multiple world championships in both WWE and TNA. Her 2021 match against Deonna Purrazzo at Bound For Glory was voted the TNA Knockouts Match of the Year.
Outside of the ring, she has had a successful career as a country music singer and is an inductee into the Native American Music Awards Hall of Fame. Her induction will be a highlight of a star-studded Bound For Glory event, which is also set to feature the final match between The Hardys and Team 3D.
Major League Wrestling presents MLW Fury Road ’25 this Saturday, September 27 at 10pm ET, featuring a two-hour special on beIN SPORTS and MLW’s YouTube channel.
Main Event: Champion vs. Destroyer
Newly crowned MLW World Heavyweight Champion Mads Krule Krugger faces Bishop Dyer in a non-title encounter. Both competitors have established themselves as dominant forces in MLW’s heavyweight division.
The broadcast will also feature Alex Hammerstone’s first comments since his chair attack on Krugger following the title change. Hammerstone is expected to address his actions and intentions moving forward.
Opera Cup 2025 Tournament Advances
Three opening round matches in the prestigious Opera Cup tournament are scheduled:
Austin Aries vs. KUSHIDA marks the first meeting between the veteran Aries and the Japanese technical specialist. Both competitors bring extensive international experience to the tournament.
Titan vs. Volador Jr. pits two established lucha libre stars against each other in what should showcase high-flying Mexican wrestling at its finest.
Paul London vs. Okumura rounds out the Opera Cup action, with the unpredictable London facing the two-time MLW World Tag Team Champion.
Additional Matches Set
The women’s division will be represented as Shotzi Blackheart meets Alejandra Quintanilla in singles competition.
A six-man tag team match features the legendary Atlantis and Blue Panther teaming with rookie Diego Hill to face El Galeón Fantasma’s trio of Zandokan Jr., Difunto, and Barboza.
Two-time MLW World Champion Satoshi Kojima returns for a lightning match against Mr. Thomas.
Developing Storylines
CONTRA Unit has reportedly identified a new target, with the reveal promised during the broadcast.
MLW President Cesar Duran and Salina de la Renta are scheduled to appear alongside Don Gato to discuss upcoming plans for the promotion.
MLW Fury Road ’25 airs Saturday, September 27 at 10pm ET on beIN SPORTS and streams free on MLW’s YouTube channel at Youtube.com/MLW.
