More AEW talent could be on its way out following the recent departures of Malaki Black, Miro, and Ricky Starks, in early February.
One of the criticisms from fans regarding AEW is the amount of talent they have under contract. They have talent spread across ROH and AEW, in addition to talent they bring in from other promotions. With such a large roster pool, not everyone can be used on television every week. This causes frustration among talent and fans alike.
Leyla Hirsch’s contract expired on Friday, making her a free agent. Today on Wrestling Observer Live, Bryan Alvarez stated that more people are expected to exit the company in March.
This could range from talent getting released to talent not having their deals renewed. He added that Leyla will not be the last person to depart in the next 30 days. It’s unclear who exactly will be let go, but Keith Lee hasn’t been able to wrestle due to his medical clearance issue since December 2023.
Rey Fenix is another name that comes to mind, as they’ve put him on the sidelines after adding time to it. He’s expected to be WWE-bound once he’s free and clear.
WWE NXT star Ricky Saints has officially vacated the Defy World Championship, just weeks after securing the title. Defy Wrestling confirmed the news with a video featuring Saints, where he shared that while winning the championship was a major career milestone, he had to prioritize new opportunities.
“When opportunity knocks, you have to answer,” Saints stated in the video, referencing his recent move to WWE NXT.
With the title now vacant, Defy has announced that a new champion will be crowned through the DEFY SUPER 8XGP, an eight-person tournament set to take place at DEFY AFTERMATH on Saturday, March 15, at Washington Hall.
Details on participants and matchups will be revealed in the coming weeks, setting the stage for a highly competitive tournament as Defy Wrestling looks to crown its next world champion.
DEFY AFTERMATH
SAT. MARCH 15th | WA HALL
DEFY SUPER 8XGP will crown a new DEFY World Champion! Participants and matches will be announced soon.
A&E has officially renewed WWE LFG for a second season, with production already underway in Orlando, according to PWInsider.
The series, which provides an inside look at WWE behind the scenes, debuted to strong interest from fans and has now secured another season.
While details on Season 2 remain scarce, the continued partnership between WWE and A&E suggests the show will delve deeper into the world of professional wrestling.
With filming already in progress, stay tuned more updates on the release date and featured talent.
AJ Mendez, best known to WWE fans as AJ Lee, has a new Hollywood project coming out, as the movie “Sacramento” will feature the former WWE star.
It stars Michael Cera, Michael Angarano, Maya Erskine, and Kristen Stewart. The movie was directed by Michael Angarano. Lee shared she will have a role in the movie with a post on her Instagram stories.
Its plot involves Angarano’s character, Rickey, convincing his friend Glenn, played by Cera, to go on an impromptu road trip from Los Angeles to Sacramento. This happens after the death of Rickey’s father. Glenn’s pregnant wife Rosie, played by Stewart, encourages the adventure.
Lee has expanded her career beyond professional wrestling into acting and writing. She has appeared in films such as “Rabid” (2019) and has also done voice acting work, such as in “Scooby-Doo! WrestleMania Mystery” (2014). More recently, she has had a recurring role in the television series “Heels” season 2.
Lee retired from in-ring competition due to permanent damage to her cervical spine. She also expressed a desire to focus on her mental health and other personal projects. Her last match took place at WrestleMania 31, where she teamed with Paige to defeat The Bella Twins.
WWE Chief Content Officer Paul “Triple H” Levesque has touched down in Toronto, Ontario, ahead of tonight’s WWE SmackDown and Elimination Chamber: Toronto, set to take place this weekend. In a video shared online, Levesque referred to the upcoming events as an “industry-changing weekend,” suggesting WWE has something major in store.
While WWE events are always hyped—especially during WrestleMania season—Triple H’s wording implies something beyond the usual buildup. With Elimination Chamber being the final major stop before WrestleMania 41, speculation is running wild about possible surprises, returns, or announcements that could reshape the road to WWE’s biggest event of the year.
Toronto is set to host a stacked card for Elimination Chamber, including high-stakes matches determining championship contenders for WrestleMania. With the excitement surrounding Triple H’s remarks, all eyes will be on what WWE delivers during this pivotal weekend.
Fans won’t have to wait long to see if the weekend lives up to the promise—WWE SmackDown airs tonight, followed by Elimination Chamber: Toronto on Saturday night.
WWE is set to return to Perth, Australia, in 2025 for a series of events following the success of the 2024 Elimination Chamber Premium Live Event held at Optus Stadium.
According to The West Australian, TKO Group Holdings, the parent company of WWE and UFC, has signed a deal with the Western Australian Government to host five events over the next 18 months.
This includes a weekend of WWE programming at RAC Arena, featuring Friday Night SmackDown, a Premium Live Event, and Monday Night Raw.
WWE Elimination Chamber: Perth (2024)
This agreement highlights Perth’s growing reputation as a hub for major international events. The 2024 Elimination Chamber was a significant success, drawing global attention and boosting the local economy.
The upcoming events are expected to further enhance Western Australia’s profile as a destination for large-scale entertainment and sports.
WWE has revealed a schedule of upcoming RAW and SmackDown events set to take place across the United States from April through June. Fans in multiple cities will have the opportunity to experience live WWE action, with RAW and SmackDown stopping at various arenas nationwide.
Monday, April 28 – RAW – T-Mobile Center, Kansas City, MO
Monday, May 12 – RAW – KFC Yum Center, Louisville, KY
Friday, May 16 – SmackDown – First Horizon Coliseum, Greensboro, NC
Monday, May 19 – RAW – Bon Secours Wellness Arena, Greenville, SC
Friday, May 23 – SmackDown – EnMarket Arena, Savannah, GA
Friday, May 30 – SmackDown – Thompson-Boling Arena, Knoxville, TN
Monday, June 2 – RAW – BOK Center, Tulsa, OK
Friday, June 13 – SmackDown – Rupp Arena, Lexington, KY
Monday, June 16 – RAW – Resch Center, Green Bay, WI
Friday, June 20 – SmackDown – Van Andel Arena, Grand Rapids, MI
Monday, June 23 – RAW – Nationwide Arena, Columbus, OH
Monday, June 30 – RAW – PPG Paints Arena, Pittsburgh, PA
With major stops in cities like Kansas City, Pittsburgh, and Lexington, WWE is gearing up for an exciting few months of action-packed shows. RAW will continue to air live on Monday nights, while SmackDown takes over Fridays, giving fans plenty of opportunities to witness their favorite WWE Superstars in person.
For years, WWE fans knew Roman Reigns as “The Big Dog,” a powerhouse babyface who headlined WrestleMania multiple times and dominated the ring with his signature Superman Punch and Spear. But in a recent interview with IGN to promote the release of WWE 2K25, Reigns made it clear: that version of him is gone for good.
“There is no Big Dog. He’s dead now… It didn’t happen.”
The remark came during a lighthearted segment where Reigns and his on-screen advisor, Paul Heyman, reviewed internet memes about himself. When presented with a meme contrasting his “Big Dog” era with his current “Tribal Chief” persona, Reigns dismissed it entirely, emphasizing that only one version of him matters now.
It’s a telling statement, considering Reigns’ massive transformation since returning to WWE in 2020. Under the guidance of Heyman, he rebranded himself as “The Tribal Chief,” a ruthless and calculating champion who has held the WWE Universal Championship for over 1,200 days. His reinvention turned him from a divisive figure into one of WWE’s most compelling characters.
This wasn’t the only time Reigns made headlines during his IGN appearance. While reviewing another meme about the NFL, he didn’t hesitate to take a shot at two major wrestling cities:
“Cleveland sucks. Pittsburgh sucks. Niner Gang.”
Given WWE’s deep ties to those cities—Pittsburgh is home to Kurt Angle, while Cleveland produced The Miz—his comment is sure to spark debate among wrestling and football fans alike.
Reigns also reacted to AI-generated memes, acknowledging the rise of artificial intelligence in online culture. Looking at an altered image of himself, he quipped:
“The advancements in AI… we were talking about that last night. This ain’t real. This is a five. An AI five.”
From erasing his past to dismissing entire cities, Reigns continues to embrace his role as WWE’s most dominant figure. One thing is clear—The Big Dog is gone, and The Tribal Chief isn’t letting anyone forget it.
Christopher Daniels says he will be thanking people for a long time.
The Fallen Angel touched the lives of many wrestling talents and fans through his storied career. Both as a wrestler for three decades as well as in his role as the head of AEW talent relations, there are a lot of people who will credit Daniels for their success in one way or the other.
The wrestling veteran who retired from active competition just last month appeared on AEW Unrestricted podcast to talk about his career. When asked about the lives he has affected, CD got emotional and said that it’ll be him who will be saying thank you to all those people for letting him live his dream for so long:
“It gets me emotional honestly. I think about having to go to every guy in that locker room at some point and I’m still doing it. I haven’t finished. I haven’t even scratched the surface. But there’s going to be a moment where I’m probably going to walk up to every person I’ve ever wrestled in that locker room and be like, ‘Thanks for letting me wrestle.’
There’s a movie that I just watched called My Old Ass and it’s very poignant. There’s a scene where a guy goes, ‘You know, there’s going to be a day where you’re going to go out with your friends and you’re going to play pretend and you’re going to come home and that’ll be the last time you ever play pretend.’
That hit me really hard because I watched it right when I had retired, right when I had made the decision. I thought to myself like, I’ve spent my life playing pretend. So I’m going to go up to each one of these guys and let them know it meant so much to me to be able to share a ring with all of them and play pretend.”
Christopher Daniels said if he has inspired or helped anyone through his career then it’s only gravy on top of his own work. The former ROH Champion claimed that he cherishes even the worst wrestling match he has had because it was a moment that allowed him to do what he loved to do:
“Even the worst wrestling match I ever had was wonderful in that sense of doing what you love to do and doing what you felt you were sort of born to do. I got to do it for 32 years and each match I ever had, even the worst one was fun.
So I’m going to go up to each one of these guys and say I appreciate how much, we risk our lives, we risk our health to get in the ring and do this ridiculous dance called professional wrestling. It just means a lot to me to be able to have gone out there and affect the lives of fans like I have. If working with these guys has benefited them in any way, if I’ve made anyone happier or better as a professional wrestler, then that to me is just gravy.
I’m so happy that if I’ve had that experience with people, I’m thrilled to have done that. But honestly, they enriched my life by giving me the opportunity to do what I did for as long as I did. I think I’ll be thanking people for the next 10 years. I’ll be walking up to them and ‘Hey, I remember this match and I appreciate it and thank you.'”
Wrestling brothers Dustin and Cody Rhodes recently shared heartfelt tributes to their late father, The American Dream Dusty Rhodes, celebrating his lasting influence on their lives and careers.
Dustin, a 37-year veteran of the industry, took to social media on February 26, expressing how much he wished their father could be there to witness their success. “I know he’s there with us, but I mean here,” he wrote, emphasizing how proud Dusty would be of his family.
Cody, WWE’s reigning main event star, responded with a vivid recollection of Dusty’s daily habits—his love for a Wheatley Vodka hoodie, an RWA baseball cap, and his passion for film and classic wrestling storytelling. He humorously described how Dusty would quote Anthony Hopkins to young talent and recommend must-watch movies before they could consider themselves true wrestlers.
Picture it everyday love
Wheatley vodka hoodie he got for free, RWA baseball cap, approaching talent telling them Anthony Hopkins quotes and telling them what movies they need to watch before they can call themselves a wrestler, asking for his own golf cart at the big shows
Dusty Rhodes, a WWE Hall of Famer, was not only a legendary performer but also an influential booker, trainer, and broadcaster. His legacy continues to shape professional wrestling, with his sons carrying on his impact in their own ways.
Dusty Rhodes’ contributions to WWE extended far beyond his legendary in-ring career, with his work as a trainer and mentor at WWE’s developmental system, NXT, leaving an indelible mark on the industry. Known as “Dusty’s Kids,” the roster of talent he helped shape includes some of the biggest names in wrestling today, such as Roman Reigns, Seth Rollins, Becky Lynch, Kevin Owens, and Sasha Banks.
Photo: WWE
Dusty was instrumental in helping these young performers find their voices, hone their characters, and develop their promo skills—a craft he himself had mastered. His unique ability to inspire confidence and creativity in his students has been widely celebrated, with many crediting him for their success. The Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic tournament, introduced in NXT after his passing, serves as a lasting tribute to his mentorship and influence.
This legacy has even been woven into WWE’s storytelling. During the feud between Roman Reigns and Cody Rhodes leading up to WrestleMania 39 and 40, Paul Heyman emphasized Dusty’s role in mentoring Reigns, referring to him as “the son Dusty always wanted.”
This narrative added emotional depth to the rivalry, highlighting Dusty’s dual impact on both his biological sons and the broader wrestling world. Cody’s journey to fulfill “The American Dream” by capturing the WWE Championship—a title Dusty never held—has been deeply tied to his father’s legacy.
WWE’s incorporation of Dusty’s influence into this storyline not only honors his memory but also underscores the profound way he shaped the careers of those around him.
TNA Wrestling has officially announced the signing of Elijah, the wrestler formerly known as Elias in WWE. This move comes after his WWE release in September 2023 and a brief run of appearances in Ring of Honor. While there were reports that he had signed with ROH/AEW, those turned out to be inaccurate.
Elijah has already made an impact in TNA, appearing alongside TNA World Champion Joe Hendry.
With his unique in-ring charisma and musical persona, his addition to the roster adds another dynamic performer to the company’s growing lineup.
TNA expressed excitement about Elijah’s signing, stating that his presence will bring a fresh energy to the promotion. Fans can expect to see more of the guitar-strumming competitor as he carves out his next chapter in professional wrestling.
Tonight, WWE SmackDown goes live from the Scotiabank Arena in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, at 8 PM ET on the USA Network. With WWE Elimination Chamber just one day away, here’s what’s happening:
WWE United States Championship Match: Shinsuke Nakamura (c) vs. LA Knight
Nakamura has been playing mind games since winning the title from Knight at Survivor Series: WarGames. After weeks of attacks and taunts, Knight is determined to reclaim his gold.
Chelsea Green vs. Mystery Opponent
In her home country of Canada, our Women’s United States Champion Chelsea Green faces an unknown challenger hand-picked by General Manager Nick Aldis. Green is eager to shine in front of her hometown fans, but will her mystery opponent spoil the moment?
Cody Rhodes Appearance
Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes is set to address the crowd just one day before his confrontation with The Rock at Elimination Chamber. Last week, The Rock challenged Rhodes to abandon his principles and become the “corporate champion.” Will Rhodes provide any hints about his decision tonight?
Trish Stratus Returns to Toronto
WWE Hall of Famer Trish Stratus will appear in front of her hometown crowd. Ahead of her tag team match at Elimination Chamber alongside Tiffany Stratton against Nia Jax and Candice LeRae, Stratus is expected to deliver a message. Could this segment escalate into a physical altercation?25
What Else to Expect
The final build for Elimination Chamber matches, including potential appearances from Drew McIntyre and Damian Priest, who are set to compete in the WWE Championship Elimination Chamber match tomorrow night.
Stay tuned to SEScoops for all the latest WWE news all weekend as we head towards Elimination Chamber 2025.
WWE NXT personality Mr. Stone dusted off his old Jersey Shore-inspired Robbie E persona in a humorous skit released on social media.
The video portrays Mr. Stone arriving at Full Sail University, the venue for recent TNA iMPACT tapings, accompanied by his children. Intent on reconnecting with his TNA roots, Stone faces an unexpected hurdle when security denies him entry. In a comedic twist, he channels Robbie E to gain access.
With the dream partnership between TNA/NXT thriving I decided it was time to show my kids a glimpse of my past.
With TNA back in Orlando tonight at Full Sail, I figured I’d reconnect w/ old friends and remind myself just how great I am.
Despite his enthusiastic transformation, Stone’s efforts are thwarted. He receives a video message from his former tag team partner, Rob Terry, who revokes Stone’s TNA VIP status. It culminates with Stone awakening from what is revealed to be a dream.
This playful homage not only showcases Mr. Stone’s versatility and willingness to engage with his wrestling history but also highlights the collaborative spirit fostered by the WWE-TNA partnership.
As WWE gives its talent more latitude to explore creatively, everybody wins. The talent gains additional outlets to develop their characters and reach a broader audience, while the fans get more content to enjoy.
Becky Lynch and Seth Rollins recently met up with Naoto Inoki, the grandson of Japanese wrestling legend and WWE Hall of Famer, Antonio Inoki.
Lynch, a seven-time women’s world champion, has been on a hiatus since May 2024. Her departure followed a series of intense matches, culminating in a title loss to Liv Morgan at the King and Queen of the Ring event.
Subsequent reports indicated that her WWE contract expired on June 1, 2024, rendering her a free agent. Despite this, in January 2025, Fightful confirmed that Lynch had signed a new contract with WWE, though her return date remains TBD.
Naoto Inoki, following in his grandfather’s illustrious footsteps, has been making strides in the wrestling world as he looks to embark on his own career.
WWE NXT talent Dani Palmer has reportedly sustained an injury during a recent EVOLVE taping. This incident adds to WWE’s current challenges, as NXT Women’s Champion Giulia is also dealing with an injury.
Dani Palmer, 26, transitioned from a career as a fitness instructor and tumbler to professional wrestling, signing with WWE in 2022. Over the past 18 months, she has showcased her skills primarily at live events and on NXT Level Up. In 2023, Palmer participated in the NXT Women’s Breakout Tournament.
The EVOLVE brand, known for its role in developing emerging wrestling talent, is set to premiere its new series on March 5. The show will be available on Tubi in the United States and will air on YouTube for international audiences.
To date, two EVOLVE tapings have been completed, with notable occurrences such as a WWE referee wrestling under a mask during one of the shows.
Lex Luger has reflected on one of his most memorable moments in wrestling.
The retired wrestling star recently had an interview with Chris Van Vliet. He talked about things such as working on his recovery with DDP, being responsible for the death of Ms. Elizabeth, potential Hall of Fame induction, and more.
During the interview, the former WCW World Champion also discussed potentially his most famous moment in wrestling – the time when he body slammed Yokozuna. Lex Luger revealed that he was actually really nervous before the spot and it was Yoko who calmed him down:
“We’re supposed to be trash-talking, but I’m telling Yoko we can’t do it. I was panicking. I got no footing. Yoko actually was a cool as ice Samoan. We call him the dancing bear. He was so agile for a guy at 600 pounds. He looks at me and goes ‘No problem, brother. Just get a wide stance, I’ll do the rest.’”
Widely considered Lex’s star-making moment in wrestling, the spot happened in 1993 after the departure of Hulk Hogan. WWE was looking to replace Hulk with Lex and they tried to recreate the famous Hogan slamming Andre The Giant moment from WrestleMania III.
The whole thing took place aboard USS Intrepid where the nearly 600-pound Yokozuna challenged people to body slam him. After a number of WWF wrestlers as well as athletes from NBA and NFL failed to do so, The All American arrived on the deck by helicopter and finally did the impossible.
The Total Package revealed that they had done a walkthrough before but not practiced the actual spot. At the time of the actual performance however, Yokozuna took care of things:
“We did a walk through, but I’ve never slammed him. They didn’t want me in the walk through to hurt Yoko. I go hurt Yoko? What about me? I’m going to get double hernia trying to slam the guy. But we did it live first time in that ring, so I was really nervous. With no footing. Yoko just pushed himself around me.
I had to help turn him and that ain’t easy, so I played a part. I go, Yoko basically slammed himself. He was that agile. He flipped himself off of me by getting a wide stance. Unbelievable athlete. One of the best big men ever. He doesn’t get credit for one of the best.”
Apart from this, Lex Luger also talked about other memorable moments from his wrestling career including becoming the co-winner of the 1994 Royal Rumble with Bret Hart and much more.
Osamu Nishimura, a revered figure in professional wrestling and a master of the technical “MUGA” style, passed away on February 28, 2025, at the age of 53 after a courageous battle with esophageal cancer.
Known for his grace in the ring and his dedication to preserving the art of classic wrestling, Nishimura leaves behind a legacy that spans decades and continents.
Debuting in 1991 for New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW), Nishimura quickly established himself as a skilled technician, drawing inspiration from legends like Antonio Inoki and Dory Funk Jr.
His career highlights include two reigns as IWGP Tag Team Champion and memorable matches across Japan, Europe, and North America. Nishimura also held titles such as the GWF Light Heavyweight Championship and the NKPWA World Heavyweight Championship, showcasing his versatility on the global stage.
Despite facing significant health challenges, including two battles with cancer, Nishimura’s resilience was unparalleled.
After overcoming his first diagnosis in 1998, he returned triumphantly to the ring in 2000. Even during his second fight with cancer in 2024, he wrestled twice, including a barbed wire explosion match alongside Dory Funk Jr., exemplifying his indomitable spirit.
Outside the ring, Nishimura served four terms in the Tokyo Bunkyo Ward Assembly, advocating for food education and preventive health measures inspired by his own experiences. He is survived by his wife and young son.
Osamu Nishimura’s contributions to wrestling and his unwavering determination will be remembered by fans and peers alike. Rest in peace, Osamu Nishimura.
‘Stone Cold’ Steve Austin is swapping stunners for sand dunes after being announced as the grand marshal for the 2025 BFGoodrich Tires Mint 400. Austin will kick off race week in style, leading the Mint 400 parade on Wednesday, March 5, at 3 p.m. Mint 400 CEO Matt Martelli couldn’t hide his excitement about having the wrestling legend on board.
“We are thrilled to have Steve leading all the main Mint 400 festivities as grand marshal, including the Mint 400 Parade, The Mint 400 kick-off party, Mint 400 Off-Road Festival, and of course, he will be dropping the green flag at the start of the race on Saturday.”
Austin won’t be just a bystander after kicking off the race, however, as he will also race his Kawasaki KRX UTV on Saturday. In typical Austin fashion, the Bionic Redneck shared that competing in the race has been a long-time dream.
“It has been a goal of mine to race The Mint since I first got introduced to off-road racing. ‘The Great American Off-Road Race’ is going to be very special – and ‘that’s the bottom line, cause Stone Cold said so!’”
The action kicks off Wednesday, March 5, with the 12th Annual Mint 400 Vehicle Procession, followed by the Mint 400 Off-Road Festival on Thursday, March 6, on Las Vegas’ Fremont Street East. With over 150 off-road vendors, the festival is free to the public and promises a wild time. The real horsepower takes over on Friday, March 7, and Saturday, March 8, with racing action roaring out of Buffalo Bill’s Hotel and Casino in Primm, NV.
Tessa Blanchard’s first match on TNA iMPACT since her controversial return proved to be a successful one, with another match set for the Diamond. On last week’s iMPACT, Blanchard refused to face her assigned opponent, claiming she wasn’t cleared. Furious at her attitude, Santino Marella would then declare that Tessa would have to wrestle her next match, and if she didn’t, she’d be fired.
On this week’s show, Blanchard was in action to face Kelsey Heather, with Blanchard getting the win. This was the former World Champion’s first match for a TNA TV show since the April 5, 2020 edition of iMPACT, where she and Eddie Edwards battled Ethan Page & Josh Alexander.
Tessa Blanchard competes on #TNAiMPACT for the first time in FOUR YEARS..NEXT!
Fans won’t have to wait another five years to see Blanchard next in the ring. In a backstage segment on iMPACT, Blanchard and Lei Ying Lee got into a backstage confrontation. That was broken up by Santino who declared that the pair will battle at TNA Sacrifice.
Tesaa Blanchard’s Sacrifice Entrance
Blanchard not only plans on beating Lee at TNA Sacrifice, but plans to arrive in Style, OnInstagram, Krystall Poppin shared that she will be performing Blanchard’s theme song at Sacrifice, which is scheduled to take place on March 14th.
TNA remains committed to Blanchard, despite the issue many fans have taken with her return, and she’ll certainly have the spotlight at Sacrifice with her match and special entrance.
Malakai Black’s return to WWE isn’t a question of if, but when, according to some fans, especially after a post by the Dutch wrestler on Instagram. On his Instagram Stories, Black shared a fan-created video, highlighting some of his best matches and moments from his tenure as a WWE Superstar.
Black’s post is the latest that fans have seen from the Dutch wrestler that has seemingly hinted at an impending WWE return. Ahead of the 2025 Royal Rumble PLE, Black shared footage of himself watching a previous Royal Rumble, leading fans to speculate on an appearance at this year’s event. On social media, many have predicted a Black return to WWE sooner than later, both before, and after this post on Instagram.
Would love to see Malakai/Aleister Black return to WWE now his AEW contract has expired however as I’ve always said as long as he’s happy then that’s most important. Under Triple H I think just in NXT he’d be an absolute star. #WWE#WWERawpic.twitter.com/QbY1NVX73l
#WWE should bring Malakai Black back and make him the leader of Judgement day. Have Balor start a faction of him, Karrion Kross & JD Mcdonagh to take on JD. Kross needs more TV time and could work either in JD or a faction to oppose them.
Black parted ways with AEW earlier this year, alongside Miro and Ricky Saints, the latter of whom has since joined WWE NXT. With Black’s wife Zelina Vega a part of WWE, a return would allow the couple to spend more time together. Black fared much better in WWE under Triple H’s leadership in NXT, and with the Game now running all of WWE’s creative, a return certainly seems plausible.
The ever-controversial Eric Bischoff always finds himself in headlines due to his wrestling opinions and his remarks often lead to strained relations with superstars. Though he got to turn things around and make up with one such superstar during his recent wrestling appearance.
Donovan Dijak is one name that has made MLW his home in recent months just as the former WCW President has made appearances for the brand.
During a recent interview with Fightful Overbooked, Dijak was asked about meeting Bischoff in MLW after the two traded some harsh words during Donovan’s time in Retribution back in 2020. The former T-Bar said their previous exchange was all water under the bridge:
“Nothing too dramatic. He and I have no actual history before, that was the first time we had ever met, as far as I know, besides the time we were yelling at each other Twitter in 2020 when I was T-BAR, but it’s water under the bridge.”
The wrestling star explained that they were all on the edge due to the pandemic at the time. There is no ill will between the two because both him and Eric Bischoff were only doing their job:
“We were all going through COVID and it was a mess. His job is to talk about pro wrestling and my job was to defend what was happening at that point. It was a tall task for both of us, but there’s no issue there or anything like that. It was nice to meet him in person and tell him I was a big fan of his work.”
Donovan Dijak announced in June last year that he would be leaving WWE after the company had decided not to renew his deal. He has been wrestling in the indie circuit since then, and been a regular for MLW.
Tyrese Haliburton would’ve loved the chance to compete in the Men’s Royal Rumble match, but it wasn’t meant to be thanks to Paul ‘Triple H’ Levesque. Appearing on The Pat McAfee Show, the Indiana Pacers star shared that he had hoped to be in the 30-Man contest with a World Title opportunity at WrestleMania 41 on the line.
“Me and Triple H talked about it. He was like, ‘A lot of people are asking if you’re going to be in the Rumble. I just laughed in their face.’ ‘What the f**k?’”
Haliburton speculated that Triple H was “a little scared” about letting him get physical, especialy in the middle of the NBA season. The NBA star referenced Jalen Brunson’s appearance in 2024 with a broken hand, to which “Triple H kind of had a heart attack.” While Haliburton didn’t compete this year, the Rumble did see celebrity involvement from IShowSpeed, who had a brief, painful, and viral interaction with Bron Breakker.
Though Haliburton didn’t appear in the 2025 Men’s Royal Rumble, his WWE standing can’t be denied. The Indiana Pacer has already appeared for WWE NXT and WWE SmackDown, meaning fans can’t count out a future role at a WWE PLE. With plans already in place for the 2026 Royal Rumble, a show IShowSpeed is already preparing for, perhaps Haliburton will get his spot in the iconic match stipulation next year.
Since arriving in WWE NXT, Myles Borne has been making a name for himself and is currently part of the impressive No Quarter Catch Crew faction. With his ring-attire, physique, and looks, many have compared Borne to one of WWE’s biggest stars of all time, Randy Orton.
On X (formerly known as Twitter,) Borne found the comparrison amusing, and pointed out one key difference between himself and the 14-time WWE World Champion.
Bro I’m not Randy Orton, he hears voices… I don’t hear shit
Borne’s tweet is alluding to the fact that he is partially deaf, and at this junction is the only partially deaf wrestler employed bt WWE. The NXT standout was born with Persistent Pulmonary Hypertension of the Newborn, a treatable condition but one of the major side effects of the treatment is hearing loss. Despite this, Borne has perservered and proven himself a talent on the rise as part of the No Quarter Catch Crew and WWE NXT.
Being compared to one of WWE’s biggest success stories of all time is hardly a bad look for Borne, who appears regularly in NXT alongside Charlie Dempsey, Tavion Heights, and Wren Sinclair. On the February 25, edition of WWE NXT, Borne and Heights battled the returning Hardy Boyz, and commentary quipped that even Borne could hear the massive pop Matt and Jeff received. During the match, Borne delivered a slam straight out of Orton’s playbook.
Borne and Heights came up short in the match, and the NQCC were later found to have been ambushed by NXT’s mysterious new faction. Nevertheless, Borne remains determined to become a top name in WWE, just like the man so many fans compare him to.
Jey Uso knows he has a lot to prove at WrestleMania 41.
The Bloodline member received mixed reactions online after winning the 2025 Men’s Royal Rumble match. Many people questioned the decision to put him ahead of other participants of the bout like CM Punk, John Cena and Drew McIntyre.
Uso acknowledged his doubters during a recent interview with CBS Sports. He noted that a lot of fans don’t believe him to be the right choice for the world title picture heading into Mania and Jey is determined to prove them wrong:
“This is do or die for me, I feel like I am doubted a lot. A lot of people are doubting me right now, Uce. I’m not supposed to be in this position. I know that. They know that. But I’m going to shut them all up.”
One of the big arguments against Jey Uso’s opportunity against World Champion Gunther is the lack of memorable singles performances. The Yeet Man got a chance to prove himself last year when he squared off against brother Jimmy Uso at WrestleMania 40 in what many considered a dream match.
The bout, however, ended up being a disappointment after time was cut from the match. After the debacle of his last Mania performance, Jey is definitely feeling the pressure to redeem himself:
“I always thought we put on great matches. If you look at it, we had great matches with The Wyatt Family, The Shield, The New Day. Now, I feel like I’ve had a couple of good matches but not ones that stick in people’s minds. This is redemption time on the big stage. The pressure is on.”
Though it’s not all bad for Jey Uso. Despite the online negativity, he continues to garner strong reactions from the crowd in arenas. Per the former IC Champion, people are rooting for him because they know where he comes from and he has grown in front of them.
The following article contains potential spoiler for NXT Roadblock event
A lot of people were concerned about Giulia’s status heading into the big title vs. title match at NXT Roadblock special.
It was reported that the bout was booked because the NXT Women’s Champion was dealing with an injury, making many question about the company’s decision to book her for the show at all.
PWInsider which originally reported the news of her health recently provided an update. Per sources of the site, the Japanese star is banged up from physicality associated with her style of wrestling.
The Women’s Champion is not dealing with a major injury but there are ‘bumps and bruises’ she needs time off to recover from. Though this is not expected to affect her standing for Roadblock and Giulia is 100% expected to work the match against the NXT Women’s North American Champion Stephanie Vaquer.
It’s believed that the former NJPW star will be dropping the title to Vaquer at the show. Though how long she will be out of action afterward is unknown.
Giulia will not be the only star wrestling in a champion vs. champion match at the upcoming March 11 PPV from The Theater at Madison Square Garden.
On this week’s episode of NXT, multiple NXT champion vs. TNA champion matches were made official for the upcoming event. You can check out more about it here.
