WWE Superstar Angel Garza and his family are celebrating as they SmackDown star welcomed his new daughter into the world this week. On X, fka Twitter, Garza shared a photo of himself, his wife, his daughter Dara, and Dara’s new sibling.
After Garza proposed to his wife Zadie, a sports journalist, in the ring, the couple tied the knot in July 2020. Two years later, the couple welcomed their first child Dara into the world. Now, the family has grown and Garza, Zadie, and Dara couldn’t be happier.
The birth of Alia comes at a pivotal time for Angel Garza, who is receiving more of a showcase on WWE SmackDown. Garza and Berto have been circling the WWE Tag Team Championship picture, though are yet to compete for the gold. Nevertheless, working with teams including the Motor City Machine Guns and reigning champions DIY have left fans believing a title shot for Garza and Berto isn’t a question of if, but when.
We at SEScoops would like to extend our congratulations to Angel Garza and his family at this joyous time.
During the latest tapings of Impact, for an episode set to air on March 6, Femi was again part of the show, but his moment was cut short when Moose and the System stormed the ring. Both Moose and Femi held up their titles, and a winner-takes-all match has been set for the pair. That showdown will come at NXT Roadblock on March 11, from The Theater at Madison Square Garden.
Regardless of who wins, this match will prove to be historic. Since TNA and WWE NXT began partnering in 2024, no wrestler has won a championship from the other show. That will change soon enough, as in addition to the winner of this match, Cora Jade hopes to become TNA Knockouts World Champion at Sacrifice.
As for whether it’ll be Moose or Femi who become a double champion, time will tell. One thing for certain though, is that NXT Roadblock in the Theatre at MSG will be the stage for arguably the biggest match in this multi-year partnership to date.
Female talents in WWE are not only frustrated with the creative direction heading into WrestleMania but they also feel insecure about their future in the company after the sudden release of Sonya Deville.
Deville’s run with WWE came to an abrupt end when officials told her that her contract would not be renewed earlier this month. This came as a surprise to the former champion as she had been in active negotiations with the promotion for a potential new deal.
Fightful Select in a new update noted that Deville had been told that she would be re-signed 4 days prior to the decision. So her sudden departure has made talents who are not being used much feel insecure about their spot in the company.
Female talents also feel frustrated at the lack of focus on developing contenders for the various titles and talents lower on the card not getting screen time. The issues are more glaring when compared to NXT where the women’s roster is given a lot more opportunities to develop characters resulting in the emotional investment of the fans.
Talents have also pointed out how a lot of the time the same names are featured at the top of the card and in the mid-card title scene as well, instead of lesser used talents getting the spotlight.
While the new regime gets praise for its focus on long-term storytelling from fans, the talents on the female side don’t seem to be benefiting a lot from it. According to the report, many have just been told that their time will come and asked to be patient when they inquired about their creative plans.
With The Rock making a last-minute return to insert himself back into the build for WrestleMania, the card will have to be shuffled around again. So it doesn’t seem like the concerns of the female division will be addressed anytime soon.
The Death Riders captured the AEW World Trios Championships at All In: London 2024 but fans have been far from impressed with their reign. In an AEW Digital Exclusive, Claudio Castagnoli, one-third of the reign champions, blamed AEW’s roster for why the titles are rarely defended.
“You wanna know why these titles haven’t been defended in over two, three months, huh?… That’s because the pool is so shallow when it gets to the level that we are at. It’s absolutely pathetic!”
Since winning the titles, the Death Riders have defended the titles just six times, two of these title defenses coming in February 2025. Prior to that, fans would have to go back to the November 7, edition of AEW Collision to see the championships on the line.
These sporadic title defenses have only the issue fans have with the Death Riders and AEW’s top storyline. Many feel the group lacks a clear creative direction, and that their mission to ‘reshape’ AEW has been too vague without clear goals. Fans have also taken issue to the faction briefly aligning with the Learning Tree, a somewhat comedic group that the ultra-serious Death Riders should, in theory, be opposed to in their mission to change AEW.
With a lack of clear challengers and a “pathetic” pool of talent, it remains to be seen how much longer the Death Riders hold the Trios titles. While the group is finally defending the titles more, the lengthy reign has proven an issue for countless fans.
Isla Dawn is far from finished in the world of professional wrestling, despite her recent exit from WWE. Taking to Instagram, the former Women’s Tag Team Champion reflected on her exit, the fan reaction to her departure, before making clear that she’s “not dead yet.”
“One of the sad facts of life is that you won’t hear all the good things people have to say about you until you’re gone. Everyone bottles up their emotions, only to pour them out over your lifeless body—just a little too late.
‘Oh my God, I’m gonna miss her. Oh my God, she was a champion. She was a star. She did not deserve this.’
Did I deserve it? No. But I did need it. I was bleeding out. This was pressure. I was crashing. And this—this is what revived me. My heart stopped on the table, but someone down there sent me back up, knowing it was not quite my time.
The White Witch is gone. The Unholy Enchantress, buried in the grave. A two-time tag team champion—ashes in an urn. But don’t grieve for me. Isla Dawn is not dead yet.”
Isla Dawn’s video caught the attention of several names in the wrestling world. NXT’s Kiana James shared a series of emojis to share her support for the video, while Scarlett told Dawn to ‘Get em girl!’ Samantha Irvin, who exited WWE last year, stated “Moves” and a fire emoji.
Dawn first made her mark in NXT UK, where she became a standout in the women’s division. In 2022, she transitioned to WWE NXT, where she formed a tag team with Alba Fyre. Highlights of her career include a reign as a NXT Women’s Tag Team Champion, as well as Dawn and Fyre winning the WWE Women’s Tag Team Titles in their native Scotland.
With Dawn’s 90-day non-compete clause in place, all eyes are on her next move and how she will reinvent herself. Given her talent and creativity, the possibilities are endless for the ex-Superstar.
Toni Storm is set for a Hollywood ending at the upcoming AEW Revolution PPV.
This week’s episode of AEW Collision opened with Mariah May attacking the AEW Women’s Champion backstage. May then dragged Storm onto the stage, holding the Women’s title in her hand.
The former protege laid out the Timeless star with a Storm Zero. Mariah then asked for the spotlight and cut an intense promo challenging Storm to a Revolution match:
“Look what you made me do. You never did know how to write an ending, did you? I guess I’m going to write one for you. I’m going to write it in your own blood. This is our spotlight; this is our moment. Let’s be stars together. At Revolution, let’s have a Hollywood ending.”
The match was later made official for the upcoming AEW PPV. Here is the update card for the show:
Steel Cage Match: Will Ospreay vs. Kyle Fletcher
AEW International Championship Match: Konosuke Takeshita (c) (with Don Callis) vs. Kenny Omega
Singles Match: MJF vs. “Hangman” Adam Page
AEW World Championship Match: Jon Moxley (c) vs. Cope
AEW TBS Championship Match: Mercedes Moné (c) vs. Momo Watanabe
AEW Women’s Championship Match: Toni Storm (c) vs. Mariah May
“Big Boom!” A.J. is also expected to be in action at the March 9 show but his opponent is yet to be confirmed. The AEW Revolution PPV will be taking place from the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles, California.
Former TNA X-Division Champion “Speedball” Mike Bailey is officially headed to All Elite Wrestling (AEW).
Bailey, who departed TNA Wrestling in late 2024, has been confirmed as the latest acquisition for Tony Khan’s promotion. A vignette hyping his arrival aired during tonight’s episode of AEW Collision.
The highly acclaimed Canadian wrestler, known for his dynamic striking ability and innovative offense, is currently finalizing his work visa requirements to perform in the United States.
Bailey’s impressive resumé includes three reigns as TNA X-Division Champion and a victory in the prestigious Battle of Los Angeles tournament in 2023. Many regarded him as one of the best wrestlers in the world during his 2023 run.
While awaiting visa approval, Bailey has been competing in select independent promotions across North America, including GCW, DEFY, and Pro Wrestling REVOLVER.
The wrestling world eagerly anticipates Bailey’s arrival in AEW, where he will undoubtedly bring his unique style and high-energy performances to an already stacked roster.
In the main event at QPW Super Slam III, Matt Cardona emerged victorious against Nic Nemeth to claim the QPW Middle East Championship at the Ladies Hall in Aspire Zone, Doha.
The match, which headlined the second night of the two-day wrestling extravaganza, had the audience on their feet throughout.
Cardona, who has been reinventing himself across various promotions since his WWE departure, adds another accolade to his growing collection of championships.
What a meet and greet yesterday for @QPWrestling! I can’t wait to wrestle tomorrow night in Qatar! Make sure to watch Super Slam III tonight AND tomorrow on @FiteTV! pic.twitter.com/16g3ZY6Oyn
The victory marks a significant milestone in QPW’s history, as the promotion continues to establish itself as the premier wrestling organization in the Middle East.
The match served as the finale to Super Slam III, which featured over 30 international wrestling superstars across 12 matches and 2 nights.
Former WWE superstar Nixon Newell, previously known as Tegan Nox, recently revealed the creative constraints she faced during her time with the company.
Some things are just out of your control and you can only do as much as you can. Let’s clear one thing up though. I’m ready. Ive been ready. Just have to show people what they’ve missed.
Speaking during a Highspots Sign-it-Live session on Facebook, Newell discussed how her on-screen persona differed significantly from her authentic self.
“This is me down to a T. I’m very emo pop-punk,” Newell explained, referring to her current appearance and style.
“The ‘Tegan Nox’ was so far removed from me, that I was trying to get this through but I just wasn’t allowed. They preferred me to be the ‘girl next door’ instead of tattooed-up punk kid.”
Her comments shed light on WWE’s character development process and their preference for certain character archetypes, particularly in their women’s division.
Newell’s revelation highlights the ongoing discussion about creative freedom and authentic representation in professional wrestling.
Matt Hardy says his brother Jeff Hardy wants to ‘right the wrongs’ with his WWE return.
The Hardy Boyz are set to make a return to WWE programming next week after years. The duo will be representing TNA Wrestling and face off against Tavion Heights and Myles Borne at the February 25 edition of NXT.
The Broken One opened up about his excitement about the upcoming appearance on his podcast. He revealed that the whole thing came together very quickly and he is not sure where it is headed:
“Really excited about this, man. All this stuff — even us popping up and responding to that challenge on NXT, that was a very last-minute thing. So it’s going to be interesting. It’s going to be fun.
I don’t know where this ride’s going. I really don’t want to know where this route is going in all capacities. Because I want, especially whatever we end up doing, I want everything to be as natural and as organic and as real as possible, as authentic as possible.”
For Jeff Hardy, the return would be a sort of redemption after his infamous walkout during a live event match that led to his WWE release in December 2021. After his failed AEW run, the Charismatic Enigma has expressed interest in making a return to the company in recent times believing that he could retire CM Punk before going into Hall of Fame.
Matt Hardy also revealed how his brother feels about the comeback claiming that Jeff wants to use the opportunity to show everyone who he really is:
“He’s very happy to be going back and I feel like he wants to right the wrongs, he wants to leave on a good note, no more erratic behavior. He wants to go back and show them who he is.”
The Attitude Era star expressed the belief that WWE waited this long to do something with The Hardys as part of the TNA deal because they wanted to see how Jeff fared in his TNA run.
The Rock has revealed the wrestling moment that almost made him quit the business.
The Great One’s misadventures as Rocky Maivia is a well-known chapter of wrestling history. Despite being pushed as a babyface in his early days, the fans did not connect with The Hollywood star’s first wrestling persona at all. WWE put the IC title on him only a few months after his debut in February 1997, but the fans kept booing him out of the building everywhere he went.
The People’s Champion remembered this time when asked about a moment that broke his spirits during the post-SmackDown press conference. He specifically remembered getting booed out of the building during his WrestleMania 13 match with Rikishi:
“I go into WrestleMania in Chicago at the Horizon at that time. It was sold out and I was the Intercontinental champion. And that entire arena booed me and they were chanting Rocky sucks. And it was very hard. I was just a kid, but also, I was what’s called a babyface, in wrestling binocular you’re a good guy. You’re not supposed to get booed.
That place, they [booed the shit out of me] that night. So much so I remember being on the mat and the guy I was wrestling was called the Sultan. He’s actually a family member of mine. He’s my cousin Rikishi. I remember him holding me in this wrestling move and he goes, ‘Don’t worry about it. Don’t listen to them, it’s okay.’ Meanwhile, there’s 15,000 people chanting ‘Rocky sucks.’ It’s like, man.”
The Rock revealed he was making $150,000 per year at the time and didn’t have a lot of money left over after paying his taxes and various bills. When Vince McMahon decided to take the title off him after his WrestleMania match, he seriously considered switching careers to MMA:
“So then that was a big turning point for me. That was in March of 1997. And you think a year earlier I was, I just got cut from the CFL, the Canadian Football League. I had no money; I had seven bucks. Now I’m champion and everything is supposed to be amazing and I was getting booed out of the building.
Then that was at WrestleMania. That was my WrestleMania moment. After that night, I had a meeting with Vince. He said ‘Things aren’t working out. I’m going to take the title off you.’ A week later I got hurt. I tore a ligament in my knee. He said you got to go home. I went home for the rest of the summer and I didn’t know what I was going to do.
In that summer, I thought ‘Man I’ve got really no money. I’m getting booed out of the building. I went to WrestleMania. I don’t know what to do.’ At that time I thought maybe I should consider a career in MMA. At that time there was a company called; it was called Pride in Japan. They were making a lot of money and I thought maybe I should do that.”
Thankfully, The Rock did not pull the trigger on this career change. When McMahon decided to bring him back as a heel, the former world champion asked to be given 5 minutes of promo time. Vince only agreed to give him 2 minutes and that became the turning point of his career.
“We were going to be part of the Super Bowl and make the announcement at the Super Bowl. We had a couple of hiccups that we couldn’t make that happen.”
The Rock didn’t share what “hiccups” came in WWE’s way, but the Super Bowl did feature plenty of wrestling involvement. Vince McMahon made a rare public outing to attend the game and was joined by The Undertaker and his son Shane McMahon. WWE Hall of Famers The Bella Twins were spotted with Britt Baker, leading fans to speculate as to Baker’s future, months after her most recent appearance for Tony Khan’s promotion.
Plans remain scarce for WrestleMania 42 but The Rock’s involvement on this week’s SmackDown has led many to speculate that he will have a role with WrestleMania 41 this April in Las Vegas. With an appearance at Elimination Chamber confirmed, fans can expect to see much more of the Final Boss very soon.
Lawyers representing Vince McMahon, WWE, and John Laurinaitis have formally opposed Janel Grant’s amended lawsuit, which accuses McMahon of sexual abuse and trafficking. On Friday, February 21, legal teams for the defendants filed motions in the U.S. District Court in Connecticut challenging the amended complaint by Grant’s attorneys filed last month.
McMahon’s counsel, Jessica Rosenberg, contended that the revised lawsuit was filed in “bad faith.” She added that Grant should adhere to the non-disclosure agreement (NDA) she signed prior to initiating the original lawsuit.WWE’s legal representatives argued that the amended complaint did not counter their argument that this matter should be resolved through private arbitration. WWE, McMahon, and Laurianaitis have all argued for arbitration.
Grant’s amended filing introduced new evidence and allegations, asserting that certain WWE personnel were aware of McMahon’s alleged misconduct and participated in its cover-up. While her original lawsuit against WWE, Laurinaitis, and McMahon, was 68 pages in length, the amended version is now at 101 pages.
Janel Grant’s battle with the three parties has gained widespread attention, especially after Brock Lesnar was named in the updated complaint. The amended filing alleges alleges that McMahon attempted to involve Lesnar in the alleged misconduct against Grant.
McMahon stepped down from WWE in January 2024 though has denied all claims of wrongdoing, instead insisting that he and Grant had a consensual relationship. Stay tuned for updates on this case and the wider effects it could have on WWE and the wrestling world.
The Rock’s beef with Cody Rhodes may not culminate with a match between the two, according to the Final Boss. Speaking after his appearance on WWE SmackDown, The Rock shared his mentality when it comes to going one-on-one with the American Nightmare.
“The Final Boss and Cody Rhodes, it’s not about the WWE title, it isn’t about a match, it isn’t about bleeding or anything like that that’s part of our world. It never has to culminate into a match.“
The Rock shared that the fact that his feud with Rhodes is so ‘personal’ that it may not end with a match is a “very special place” from a creative standpoint. The Brahma Bull is ready to have “fun” with Rhodes, even if a match isn’t in the works, and The Rock also highlighted that this angle gives the chance to develop “creatively, character-wise.”
The Rock’s comments about a match, or lack thereof, contrast greatly with early plans for WrestleMania 41. While for a time, a match between the two seemed a guarantee, it now appears that the pair’s WrestleMania 40 tag match will be the only time the two lock horns in a match.
On SmackDown, The Rock said he wants Cody’s soul, and in essence, intends for the American Nightmare to work under him and do his bidding. The Rock has given Rhodes until Elimination Chamber to give an answer, an event that The Rock will be in attendance for.
Elimination Chamber will also see Rhodes learn who he’ll face at WrestleMania 41, but with The Rock’s involvement, fans can’t count out meddling from The Final Boss. No matter what’s to come, WWE Elimination Chamber will prove to be a pivotal point on Rhodes’ road to WrestleMania.
Alexa Bliss made her return at the 2025 Women’s Royal Rumble, and now the Goddess of WWE has shared her big plans. After a two-year absence, Bliss is back, and is ready to take control.
The February 21, edition of WWE SmackDown included a video segment with Bliss, where she reflected on her time away. She acknowledged that while the faces in WWE may have changed, she remains the same. She also emphasized her experience with the Elimination Chamber, reminding everyone that she’s won the match before. Bliss then promised her opponents in next weekend’s Women’s Elimination Chamber match a “hell they haven’t experienced before.”
Bliss ended by declaring that SmackDown’s women’s division belongs to her and that she’s in charge. The segment featured glitchy cuts, similar to what fans have seen from The Wyatt Sicks. Fans have already begun to speculate that Bliss’ comment about being in charge could be hinting at a major role with Uncle Howdy’s faction.
Alexa Bliss hablando de sus inseguridades… y de que la Elimination Chamber va a ser como un patio para ella. Recordando cómo ganó la primera Chamber femenina de la historia… y dejando entrever ese personaje diabólico. #SmackDownpic.twitter.com/i8bXAZ6oz6
The Wyatt Sicks have seemingly taken an interest in Bliss, with the group interrupting Bliss’ promo during the Februrary 14, edition of SmackDown. Since the group arrived in WWE, it had been speculated that Bliss would join, and now fans can expect a major role for the former WWE Women’s Champion going forward.
WWE Hall of Famer Trish Stratus was a part of the February 21, edition of WWE SmackDown, but the Canadian legend was left hurting in New Orleans. On the show, Tiffany Stratton defeated Candice LeRae, but was attacked by Candice and Nia Jax after the match. Though Stratus made the save, Nia and Candice were able to get the upperhand on the WWE Hall of Famer and WWE Women’s Champion. The segment ended with Jax laying out Stratton and Stratus with an Annihilator.
Tiffany Stratton VENCE a Candice LeRae con el Prettiest Moonsault tras que Nia Jax la intentase atacar en ringside, para hacerlo justo después en el ring. Un combate que ha tenido siu tiempo y en el que Tiffy tenía que ganar.
Stratus’ appearance comes ahead of her return to the ring at WWE Elimination Chamber 2025, where she will team with Stratton in tag-team action. The show will take place in Trish’s home town of Toronto, Ontario, Canada, on March 1.
Stratus’ most recent match was as part of the 2025 Women’s Royal Rumble match which was on by Charlotte Flair, Stratton’s WrestleMania 41 opponent. Whether she competes at Elimination Chamber or not, Stratus remains one of WWE’s most iconic women, and continues to have the fans on her side.
The Final Boss made his WWE return at tonight’s SmackDown from Smoothie King Center in New Orleans, Louisiana. As expected, he first announced WrestleMania 42 returning to New Orleans in 2026.
The Great One then called out the Undisputed Champion Cody Rhodes. When the champ came out, Rock first discussed how the two have become friends after their WrestleMania encounter last year and shared a drink at Raw’s Netflix premiere.
Things took an interesting turn after this, however, as The Hollywood star reminded Cody that he was a TKO board member and owned everything. He then presented an offer to the American Nightmare.
The Rock declared that he wanted Rhodes to be ‘his champion,’ claiming that it would help the former AEW star become an even bigger superstar than the Great One himself. The megastar gave Cody some time to think about his offer, declaring that he’ll return at Elimination Chamber for his answer.
The segment ended with the 52-year-old pointing at Cody saying that he wanted to own ‘it.’ When Rhodes mistook it for his championship belt, Rock clarified that he wanted to own Cody’s ‘soul.’
What being The Rock’s champion would mean for Cody Rhodes is unclear. We’ll have to tune in to Elimination Chamber from Toronto on March 1 to find some answers.
WWE today announced that WrestleMania 42 will take place at the Caesars Superdome in New Orleans, Louisiana on Saturday, April 11 and Sunday, April 12, 2026. The announcement was made during Friday Night SmackDown by Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson.
The two-night premium live event will mark WrestleMania’s return to New Orleans, where the Caesars Superdome has previously hosted several historic WWE events. The venue, a cornerstone of major sporting and entertainment events in the Southeast, offers state-of-the-art facilities and can accommodate over 70,000 attendees.
Additional details about WrestleMania Week events, including WWE Hall of Fame, SmackDown, and Monday Night Raw, will be announced in the coming months.
Drew McIntyre revealed on Instagram that he had fluid drained from his knee ahead of the February 21st episode of WWE SmackDown. Despite the setback, he competed in an 11-minute match against Jimmy USO.
The bout featured key moments, including Jimmy landing a suicide dive and a spear for a near fall. The match ended when Jimmy countered McIntyre’s attempted reverse Alabama Slam into a victory roll for the pin.
Following the loss, McIntyre attacked Jimmy in frustration, declaring that he meant nothing to him. He attempted to slam Jimmy’s head into the ring post before being stopped by officials, but later returned to deliver a Claymore Kick while laughing at his fallen opponent. While the match was solid, its post-match chaos overshadowed the in-ring action.
McIntyre is now set to compete in the Men’s Elimination Chamber match on March 1 at WWE Elimination Chamber, where his physical condition will be closely watched.
La historia que había subido Drew McIntyre a Instagram antes de su combate ante Jimmy Uso. A saber qué es ese líquido amarillo. #SmackDownpic.twitter.com/8W74Dlv6xm
WWE Hall of Famer and boxing legend Mike Tyson will be a special guest at WWE World in Las Vegas on Sunday, April 20, as part of WrestleMania weekend festivities.
WWE World, a five-day fan experience, offers attendees the chance to meet WWE Superstars, participate in autograph sessions, and enjoy exclusive photo opportunities. Tyson’s appearance adds to an already exciting lineup, with more announcements expected in the coming weeks.
Former WWE SmackDown Women’s Champion Carmella is no longer under contract with WWE following the expiration of her deal, marking the end of her 12-year tenure with the company. The 37-year-old wrestler had been inactive since March 2023 due to severe medical complications after childbirth, which ultimately prevented her from making a return to the ring.
Medical Challenges Hindered Comeback
Carmella, whose real name is Leah Van Dale, faced significant health issues following the birth of her first child with WWE commentator Corey Graves in November 2023. She suffered from nerve damage and foot-related complications that made an in-ring return impossible.
In a recent update, she shared that she had been consulting with neurologists and spine specialists in hopes of recovering. However, despite more than 14 months of rehabilitation, she was unable to compete again before her contract expired.
During her time with WWE, Carmella achieved several major milestones. She became the first-ever Ms. Money in the Bank, held the SmackDown Women’s Championship for 131 days, and captured the WWE Women’s Tag Team Championship alongside Queen Zelina. Her last active period in WWE was in 2022 before taking maternity leave.
Carmelo Hayes is making it clear—he’s coming for John Cena. During an interview with MuscleManMalcolm for Muscle Memory, the former NXT Champion reflected on his brief but memorable interaction with Cena in NXT. While it was a huge moment, Hayes sees it as just the beginning.
“Cena, you know, as all of us… you’re about the same age as me… we looked up to him. He was our superhero,” Hayes said. “Getting to do that thing with John Cena was really cool.”
But Hayes isn’t just satisfied with a backstage moment—he’s looking to step into the ring with the 16-time world champion. He knows John Cena is busy man with a long line of people eager to be one of his final opponents. However, Melo isn’t going to be left out.
“Even at that time, I said, ‘I’m going to be seeing you.’ Most people can’t [see him], but I will. I’ll be seeing you across the ring, and tomorrow might be the day. And if it ain’t tomorrow, it’ll be the day after that. So we’re going to make it work.”
Hayes’ confidence is undeniable, and with Cena’s in-ring career winding down in 10 months, a potential match could be a passing-of-the-torch moment for the young star.
If the 16-time champ is looking for a fresh challenge in his final year as an active Superstar, Hayes is more than ready to step up.
Former AEW star Ricky Starks made his debut in WWE NXT on last week’s episode after being sidelined by AEW for months. Starks had requested his release from AEW, but CEO Tony Khan initially refused to grant it.
It was widely believed that Starks would have to wait out the remainder of his contract before pursuing other opportunities, including the possibility of going to WWE. During this time, Starks made it clear that he wanted to wrestle, even booking independent dates while being kept off AEW TV.
According to the latest edition of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter, Dave Meltzer reported that Khan expected Starks to leave AEW for WWE once his contract expired due to his close friendship with Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes.
This week on NXT, Starks introduced his new ring name: Ricky Saints. Following the show, he appeared on Busted Open Radio, where he denied that his AEW status had been affected by his past appearances at WWE events, such as the Royal Rumble and WrestleMania to support Rhodes.
Starks emphasized that Khan had approved his presence at those events and claimed that certain AEW veterans interfered with his creative direction.
Mark Henry’s journey to the top of WWE wasn’t a straight path—it was filled with setbacks, pain, and resilience.
Henry joined WWE on a ten-year contract after the 1996 Olympics, but broke his leg in his first year. Through the 2000s, he became a dominant force, capturing the ECW Championship in 2008 at Night of Champions by defeating Kane and Big Show, making him the fourth African-American world champion in WWE history.
However, plans for him to win the more-prestigious WWE World Heavyweight championship were sadly derailed due to another injury.
Speaking with Monopoly Events’ Jamal Niaz at the For The Love of Wrestling 2025 convention, the former World Heavyweight Champion revealed that he was originally slated to win the World Heavyweight title three years before his 2011 reign, but an untimely injury derailed those plans.
“I was supposed to be Champion three years earlier, but I got injured… It was good that I was still relevant and talented enough to get another opportunity.”
Despite the delay, Henry’s Hall of Pain persona became one of the most dominant and memorable runs in WWE history, proving that persistence pays off.
Henry also discussed one of the most physically punishing moments of his career—the infamous 2011 ring collapse during his match against The Big Show at Vengeance.
“The weight of both of us made it faster for whatever reason, and when it hit, it was just really explosive… My teeth clattered together, it felt like lightning struck me.”
Moments like these remind fans just how brutal professional wrestling can be, even for powerhouses like Henry. His story is a testament to perseverance and the physical toll that comes with the pursuit of greatness.
Today, Mark Henry’s legacy continues to grow through his son Jacob, who recently signed with WWE’s NIL program. Jacob will compete as a heavyweight for the University of Oklahoma’s prestigious wrestling team while pursuing his WWE dreams.
The father-son duo recently appeared together on RAW in Austin, Texas, marking Mark’s return to WWE programming after a three-year absence.
With Jacob’s impressive high school wrestling record and his aspirations to main event WrestleMania, the Henry family’s impact on professional wrestling is poised to continue for another generation.
Rising NJPW star Kevin Knight has caught the attention of several top promotions, including AEW and WWE.
According to Fightful, Knight recently spoke with AEW CEO Tony Khan and Rocky Romero following his appearance for ROH. He is also in discussions with NJPW regarding a potential new contract. Additionally, Knight has expressed interest in exploring opportunities with WWE before making a final decision about his future. However, it remains unclear whether any formal discussions have taken place between WWE and Knight.
In the latest edition of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter, Dave Meltzer reported that there has been significant industry talk about Knight potentially joining WWE. However, Meltzer has not yet confirmed whether he has officially signed with the company.
Following the expiration of his NJPW contract in early January, Knight’s next move has been a major topic of speculation. Since losing the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Titles, he has remained active, competing in tapings for MLW, ROH/AEW, and returning to GCW/JCW for the first time since 2023.
Knight began his NJPW career as a Young Lion, the promotion’s developmental system for training and building future stars. He graduated from the system in 2022 and has since become a two-time IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Champion, frequently teaming with KUSHIDA as part of the Intergalactic Jet Setters.
