WWE has structured its creative team with multiple lead writers overseeing Monday Night Raw and Friday Night SmackDown.
SmackDown
According to the Wrestling Observer Newsletter, SmackDown is now led by Brian “Road Dogg” James and John Swikata, as the workload required more than one head writer.
James spoke about his role with WWE during his recent interview on Insight with Chris Van Vliet. Road Dogg he described himself as a “creative consultant” working across WWE. He also noted the increased creative freedom under WWE’s current leadership. More on that at the end of this article.
WWE Raw
Meanwhile, Raw is managed by Ryan Ward and Jon Baeckstrom, with Ed Koskey overseeing and editing scripts.
Leadership Structure
Bruce Prichard, WWE’s Executive Director of Creative Writing and Talent, serves as the liaison between the writing team and WWE’s Chief Content Officer, Paul “Triple H” Levesque.
Subscribe to the Wrestling Observer Newsletter at F4Wonline.com.
Xavier Woods has revealed his real problem with Cody Rhodes.
The New Day were interviewed recently by Shakiel Mahjouri to promote the upcoming release of WWE 2K25. They talked about things such as wanting nothing to do with Big E, a potential 2K showcase mode featuring their greatest matches and more.
Xavier Woods, who went to high school with the current Undisputed Champion was asked about his experience. The King of The Ring winner who has a background in amateur wrestling himself, did not take anything away from Cody’s wrestling ability but claimed that Rhodes is a horrible person in real life:
“Cody Rhodes. He is a second-generation wrestler, so you got all this family tree stuff. He’s got doors opening for him left and right regardless of where he goes..
He’s like a bad guy in an 80s movie. He is very good at wrestling. I can never take that away from him.
Very talented, multi-time state champion, tons of pins across the board. But his personality? Horrible. Made my life a living hell for years to the point where I wouldn’t have spit on him if he was on fire.”
Xavier Woods also discussed how Cody Rhodes has become a fan favorite in recent times. He questioned the fans forgetting his past misdeeds:
“So that’s my issue with Cody Rhodes. Now the fact that I see him as WWE champion, he’s got the fanfare, he’s got the fireworks, he’s in all the interviews, he’s in all the YouTube shorts, he’s in everything. He’s all over the place. And I just don’t understand.
I thought that you’re supposed to be rewarded for good behavior, not bad. Then you just see like ‘Oh because you got a family lineage, we just forget everything.’ I get it. It’s cool.”
During the heated Monday Night War, WWE and WCW went to extreme lengths to outmaneuver each other, including secret meetings and aggressive talent poaching behind the scenes. Over 20 years later, new information is still coming out about the tactics employed by each side.
Former WCW star Buff Bagwell has revealed a secret meeting he had with WWE’s McMahon family while still under contract with WCW. In a recent video on his YouTube channel, Bagwell shared how Vince McMahon personally invited him to discuss a potential jump to WWE in 1998 or 1999. At the time, Bagwell had just signed a new WCW contract while recovering from a broken neck.
“Vince McMahon calls me up and asks if I want to fly up and talk about future business,” Bagwell recalled. “I thought, ‘This would be heat, but I’ve got a three-year deal, so it wouldn’t be that bad.’”
However, when he arrived for the meeting, Vince McMahon was nowhere to be found. Instead, he was greeted by Shane McMahon at a Holiday Inn conference room.
“Looking back, I really believe this was during the time Vince was getting the rumbles of buying WCW,” Bagwell speculated.
Despite the conversation with Shane, nothing materialized because Bagwell’s contract was too restrictive. Vince later called him personally to break the bad news.
“Vince told me, ‘Your contract is ironclad. There’s no way you’re getting out,’” Bagwell revealed.
Ultimately, WCW folded in 2001, and Bagwell became one of the wrestlers brought into WWE under the new regime—but his tenure was infamously short-lived. Looking back, he wonders if a different contract could have changed his entire career trajectory.
Would Buff Bagwell have thrived in WWE’s Attitude Era if things played out differently? Fans can only speculate on what might have been.
Shane McMahon was ghosted by Tony Khan after their viral meeting in the Summer of 2024 because the son of the former WWE chairman wanted control of AEW.
Photos of McMahon meeting with the AEW President at an airport became viral last year amid rumors of him joining the company. Many at the time believed Shane might appear on AEW TV soon but nothing came out of it.
Former WWE broadcaster Jonathan Coachman made the topic hot again recently after claiming some interesting things about the meeting on his podcast. Per Coach, Shane had demanded equity in the company and he wanted to run the entire show. Khan, not willing to give in to his demands, then ghosted McMahon.
Fightful Select has since provided an update on these claims confirming that Tony Khan did not follow up on his airport meeting with Shane McMahon. They also confirmed that McMahon did want to ‘run things’, believing that his insight and ability to run the show was ‘valuable’
Though despite the tall demands, Shane did not have familiarity with the AEW product or their business model and Khan almost thought that McMahon was joking when he mentioned the possibility of running things. Sources close to the high-flying star noted that Shane did not take the lack of further communication from the AEW owner personally.
As is always the case in wrestling, the possibility of Shane McMahon making a cameo appearance down the line has not been ruled out, but there never seems to have been an extensive plan for him to work in AEW.
The Undertaker is one of the longest-tenured locker room leaders in the history of WWE. During this time as an active performer in the company, he had to deal with many rumbustious talents behind the scenes. Though no one was a bigger thorn on his side than Shawn Michaels.
Even though the WWE Hall of Famer turned things around after his first retirement, stories of HBK’s mischiefs during his first WWE run are available in abundance.
The Dead Man talked about his chemistry with Michaels during his recent interview with Bully Ray for Busted Open. After having finished a whole bottle of Jack Daniels with the fellow legend, Taker did not hold back on his opinion on Michaels during those early years. Though he also praised Shawn’s in-ring abilities, saying that there was no one else he would have rather had a match against:
“It’s the craziest thing and that’s another example of this business. I tell this story quite a bit. In those early years, up until the time when Shawn took off because he had hurt his back. So WrestleMania was it 13 when he put Steve over? Then he left. He leaves for five years.
From that point all the way back to 1990 when I came in. I tell people this all the time. If I was to go backstage and see Shawn Michaels on fire, I wouldn’t piss on him to put him out. I didn’t care for him as a human being. But there’s nobody, that I had rather be in the ring with. Now that right there is a huge statement.
I’ve been in the ring with greats. I’ve been in there with the Mount Rushmore greats. Shawn had the ability; he could have a five-star match with a broomstick. We just had this magic chemistry that I knew anytime that I was in a match with Shawn, all I had to do was be Undertaker and he was going to be Shawn Michaels and it was just going to go.”
Shawn Michaels had to retire from active competition in early 1998 after suffering a major back injury in a casket match with Undertaker. It was during this time that Mr. WrestleMania turned things around and became a born-again Christian in 2002 before his return to in-ring action.
While talking about his matches with Michaels, Bully Ray discussed how there were many matches where Taker had to worry about getting his opponent through the bout. With Shawn however, he could be completely himself:
“That was the magic of WrestleMania 25, 26, 27 and 28 is that we had such trust in each other. We knew each other so well; our mindsets and our instincts were all on the same page.
I knew all I had to do was go out and be Undertaker because Shawn Michaels was going to be Shawn Michaels. The two knew exactly what to do together. I didn’t have to think for him, he didn’t have to think for me. That’s why it became so magical because it was just two guys doing what they do.”
The Rock has declared that he is coming to SmackDown from New Orleans tonight to ‘fuck up a certain someone’s life’ with his gospel.
WWE announced the return of the Hollywood star in a press release earlier on Thursday, claiming that ‘everything could change in an instant’ when The Final Boss shows up on TV this time of the year.
The Fast & Furious star himself provided an update on his mission on Instagram early on Friday morning, claiming that he is coming to handle business:
“The Final Boss is coming to handle business, deliver a big beautiful gift to the city of New Orleans and fuck up a certain someone’s life with the Final Boss gospel. ? #smackdown”
The city of New Orleans is believed to be the host city for WrestleMania 42. This new remark from The Rock only seems to confirm the rumors that the announcement will be made by the People’s Champion on the Blue Branded Show tonight.
The other part of his message however is still open to interpretation with multiple potential top stars who could be the one that the Great One is coming to confront.
Roman Reigns would be the most obvious guess but The Rock still has unfinished business with Undisputed Champion Cody Rhodes. Even someone like John Cena who is on his retirement tour could be on his radar, so fans will have to tune in tonight to see who he is talking about.
Do WWE fans want to see Logan Paul get his comeuppance in the ring, or do they just not want to see him at all. Paul himself thinks it is the latter. On a recent edition of his ImPaulsive podcast, Paul shared that he believes fans truly would rather see him gone from wrestling above anything else.
“I think I have go away heat. So, the only reason why it works is because I’m a great wrestler. There’s a handful of the audience that is genuinely like, ‘Get this guy out of here.'”
Go away heat occurs when fans legitimately dislike a wrestler to an extent that they would rather not see them in any role, even if they are getting beaten up. In the early 200s, Sean ‘X-Pac’ Waltman received so much go away heat that many dubbed it ‘X-Pac heat.’
A more recent example of go away heat is playing out in TNA Wrestling with fans wanting to see Tessa Blanchard gone rather than seeing the heel get beaten up. During the latest iMPACT, fans chanted “please don’t wrestle” at Blanchard when Santino Marella ordered Tessa to wrestle next week or be fired.
As for Paul, he will be a part of the Men’s Elimination Chamber match, set for the March 1, PLE in Toronto, Canada. With a WrestleMania 41 oportunity awaiting the victor, fans may soon be seeing much more of Logan Paul, despite his alleged go away heat.
The NXT-TNA collaboration will see one of the silver brand’s best and brightest challenge for the Knockouts World Championship at the upcoming Sacrifice event. During the February 20, edition of TNA iMPACT, Tessa Blanchard refused to wrestle her planned opponent for the show, much to the ire of the Orlando crowd. Knockouts Champion Masha Slamovich appeared to chastise Blanchard and made quick work out of Tessa’s would-be opponent.
Before Slamovich could celebrate for too long, NXT’s Cora Jade ambushed the reigning Knockouts Champion. Santino Marella, TNA’s Director of Authority, would then announce that Jade will challenge Slamovich for the gold at Sacrifice on March 14.
Jade has previously shown interest in winning the TNA Knockouts Title, and will make history if she wins the gold. A victory at Sacrifice will make Jade the first-ever active WWE talent to win a title from TNA Wrestling. In the past, Izzi Dame, Wendy Choo, and Karmen Petrovic have challenged for the gold, but were unsuccessful.
Jade’s involvement with Genesis represents the strength of the TNA-WWE partnership, a multi-year deal that has already seen plenty of crossover. Whether Jade makes history at Sacrifice or not remains to be seen, but neither she nor Slamovich will hold back with the title on the line next month.
WWE NXT Champion Oba Femi was confronted by TNA X-Division Champion Moose on the February 18, edition of WWE NXT and now The Ruler has returned the favor. During the February 20 episode of TNA iMPACT Wrestling, Oba Femi made a surprise appearance, interrupting Moose to the delight of the live crowd in Orlando’s Full Sail University.
Although Femi didn’t get physical, his presence alone made Femi and The System running, leaving Femi to stand side-by-side with The Hardys and JDC. Following the confrontation, Santino Marella made a match for next week: Eddie Edwards, Brian Myers, and Moose will take on the Hardy Boys and Oba Femi.
Femi and Moose’s face-to-face on WWE NXT saw the pair vow that a match between the two is coming, with Moose adding that it’s just a few weeks away. Though no date has been confirmed, speculation is growing among fans that TNA Sacrifice on March 14 could be when this showdown takes place.
Femi’s arrival on iMPACT shows that even the top stars of NXT aren’t afraid to ‘cross the line’ as part of the WWE-TNA partnership. With a six-man tag-team match set for next week’s iMPACT, and the Hardys heading to NXT next week, fans have plenty to look forward to in this exciting crossover.
Cedric Alexander has been cut from WWE but now he is making waves in the world of free agency. It has been confirmed that Alexander has signed with the Paragon Talent Group, signaling his intent to stay active and explore new opportunities.
Alexander’s decision to sign with Paragon puts him in the company of top-tier talent who have also signed with the talent agency. Last year, CM Punk, Drew McIntyre, Tiffany Stratton, Liv Morgan, Damian Priest all signed with Paragon, as has Jade Cargill. Paragon, operated by former WWE Superstar Dean ‘Mojo Rawley’ Muhtadi, also played a key role in Alexa Bliss’ contract negotiations, culminating in her return at the 2025 WWE Royal Rumble Premium Live Event.
Cedric Alexander: All Elite?
While Alexander is ready to be represented in non-wrestling projects, his in-ring future could see him join AEW. Tony Khan’s first promotion is already home to the Hurt Syndicate, comprising of Alexander’s former allies Bobby Lashley, Shelton Benjamin, and MVP. Alexander himself has teased joining the group, leaving fans excited to see the high-flyer reunite with his peers.
Whatever comes next for Cedric Alexander, it is clear he’s just getting started. After many years with WWE, fans are excited to see what he can do, both in and out of the ring, now his days as a Superstar are in the past.
The Rock announced late Thursday night on his social media accounts that he will appear on this week’s episode of WWE SmackDown at the Smoothie King Center in New Orleans. However, it remains unclear what his role will be on the show.
He captioned his post:
“Bold and disruptive. Unpredictable and dangerous. The Final Boss returns, LIVE on #SmackDown tomorrow at 8ET/7CT on @USANetwork.”
WWE Chief Content Officer Paul “Triple H” Levesque added in a statement:
“Strap in. When The Final Boss shows up at this time of year, the audience knows absolutely anything is possible. Everything could change in an instant.”
The Rock was last seen on the January 6 Raw premiere episode on Netflix. On Raw, Roman Reigns defeated Solo Sikoa in a Tribal Combat match. Afterward, The Rock placed the Ula Fala around Reigns’ neck and embraced him. This moment followed a babyface promo from The Rock, where he seemingly dropped his “Final Boss” persona. He followed it up with making an appearance on NXT the next night.
While WWE was planning to do Rock vs. Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes at WrestleMania 41, it has been reported that Rock isn’t currently planned to wrestle at the show. However, he decides whether he wants to do something, and should he feel he is in ring shape, then its always a possibility he wrestles at the show.
Former WWE performer Elijah, previously known as Elias, has signed with TNA Wrestling and made his first appearance on the February 20 edition of Impact.
Elijah debuted during TNA World Champion Joe Hendry’s “Encore Championship Concert” segment. The segment began with Hendry in the ring before being interrupted by The Colons (Carlito and Eddie Colón).
Elijah then made his entrance and joined Hendry for a musical performance. The segment also included TNA authority figure Santino Marella. During his appearance, Elijah took time to address the TNA audience directly.
Fightful Select first reported Elijah’s signing with TNA Wrestling earlier today.
Elijah spent several years with WWE, where he developed his musical performer character and competed across various programs including Raw and SmackDown. His signing continues TNA’s recent talent acquisitions as the company moves forward under its restored TNA branding.
A panel discussion at The City College of New York will analyze Linda McMahon’s nomination for Education Secretary following her advancement by the Senate HELP Committee. The committee approved her nomination in a 12-11 party-line vote on February 20, 2025, sending it to the full Senate for final consideration.
“Understanding Linda McMahon: Secretary of Education in an age of TrumpMania” will examine McMahon’s proposed policies, including her support for reducing federal education oversight and emphasizing state control.
The event features Staten Island Technical High School Principal Mark Erlenwein, The City Tutors Executive Director Garri Rivkin, and journalist Brian R. Solomon, with S Jay Levy Fellowship Managing Director Lavie Margolin moderating.
The free forum takes place Tuesday, March 11, 3:30-4:45pm EDT in Shepard Hall (Room SH-350) at City College, 160 Convent Avenue. Registration is available through Eventbrite. Panelists will explore McMahon’s background as WWE co-founder and her vision for federal education policy, as her nomination currently awaits Senate consideration.
During an Instagram Live session on Thursday, WWE superstar Charlotte Flair shared insights into her intense training regimen while engaging with fans. When asked who she sees as the “next big thing” in WWE’s women’s division, Flair immediately singled out NXT standout Roxanne Perez.
“I was extremely, extremely impressed by Roxanne in the Royal Rumble. I think she killed it. So, my vote is Roxanne, she has a really bright future,” Flair said. (H/T Landon Buford)
Perez, a former NXT Women’s Champion and ROH Women’s Champion, showcased her speed, agility, and technical skills during the Royal Rumble, standing out against top-tier competitors. At just 22, she is already considered one of the most promising young talents in WWE.
After losing her NXT Women’s Championship to Giulia at New Year’s Evil on January 7, “The Prodigy” competed in her final major NXT event at Vengeance Day on February 15. She has now successfully transitioned to the main roster and will be competing in the Women’s Elimination Chamber match alongside Alexa Bliss, Liv Morgan, Naomi, Bayley, and Bianca Belair.
Flair’s endorsement carries weight, given her decade-long dominance in women’s wrestling. As Perez continues to impress, fans will be watching closely to see if she can meet the high expectations set by one of WWE’s greatest champions.
Kofi Kingston isn’t holding back. The former WWE Champion took to social media in a fiery video, ripping into WWE fans who questioned his claim that he has been with the company longer than Rey Mysterio. In an unapologetic and blunt rant, Kingston called out “keyboard commandos” and “smart fans” for relying on Wikipedia and Google instead of doing “real” research.
Kingston doubled down on his statement, breaking down the numbers to prove his point. While Mysterio debuted with WWE in 2002, he took a hiatus from 2014 to 2018. Kingston, on the other hand, signed with WWE in 2006 and has remained an active competitor ever since. To further back himself up, Kingston revealed match statistics:
“As of today, February 19, 2025, Rey Mysterio has had 682 televised matches with WWE. You know how many I’ve had? 886. I have spent more time in a WWE ring than Rey Mysterio, which means that I have been here longer than Rey Mysterio—like I said.”
But it wasn’t just the numbers that caught attention—it was Kingston’s attitude. His tone throughout the video was confrontational, and he ended it by directly insulting the WWE Universe:
“Do you feel as dumb as we think you are? … It’s a rhetorical question. The only answer is yes. Y’all dumb, man.”
Reactions to the video are split, with some fans cheering on Kingston’s darker attitude, while others miss the feel-good New Day we’ve grown to love after all these years. We’re hoping someone can talk some sense into Kingston and Woods one of these days.
Would-be wrestlers will have the opportunity to learn from industry veteran Donovan Dijak as part of the ex-WWE Superstar’s new online wrestling academy. Speaking to The A2theK Wrestling Show, Dijak shared that the online courses will help aspiring wrestlers learn a vital side of the business outside of the ring.
“There’s a huge part of professional wrestling that’s mental and learning and applying concepts and psychology and even about the physicality. We can talk about the physicality and some of the pitfalls and things that I see.”
Dijak aims for his online courses to be an “introduction to professional wrestling” but acknowledged that it should not be a trainee’s only guide to the ring. Instead, Dijak hopes for his courses to be used in parallel to physical wrestling training to help craft an all-round talent.
When asked what he’ll be looking for in talent as part of the Dijak Wrestling Academy, the former WWE star had one word in mind: effort.
“I don’t need you to be the greatest wrestler in the world. I don’t need you to be the most charismatic person in the world. I need nothing besides 100% effort.”
Those willing to make the effort can learn more about the Dijak Wrestling Academy at the official website, including the full eight-week program that covers match basics and in-ring psycholgy. While Dijak’s career in the ring is far from over, the former WWE Superstar is ready to feast his eyes on the potential stars of the future.
Canadian rock band Our Lady Peace made a notable choice during their Wednesday night performance in Calgary, Alberta, as part of their 30th Anniversary Tour, performing their song “Whatever” – a track that has largely remained absent from their setlists for over 15 years due to its complicated history.
The song, which gained prominence in professional wrestling circles, served as WWE Superstar Chris Benoit’s entrance music from 2002 until 2007. While “Whatever” was initially released on the WWE compilation album “WWF Forceable Entry,” Our Lady Peace also included a live version on their 2003 album “Live.”
Following Benoit’s shocking murder-suicide in June 2007, which claimed the lives of his wife Nancy and young son Daniel, the band’s relationship with the song changed dramatically.
In 2012, Our Lady Peace made the definitive decision to remove the song from their catalog and announced they would never perform it again, citing the negative emotional impact and tragic associations the song had come to carry.
Lead singer Raine Maida has recently spoken about the band’s desire to “reclaim” the song from its dark associations, marking a significant reversal from their 2012 position.
The decision to perform “Whatever” in Calgary represents a momentous step in separating the track from its troubled history and returning it to its original artistic context.
The song, which originally appeared on Our Lady Peace’s 1997 album “Clumsy,” stands as one of the band’s more aggressive rock compositions, with themes of perseverance and determination – themes that now carry a markedly different weight given its historical context.
Our Lady Peace’s performance in Calgary marks a turning point in the song’s legacy, as the band works to preserve their artistic creation while acknowledging its complex past.
The performance demonstrates the challenges artists face when their work becomes inexorably tied to tragic events, and their efforts to move forward while remaining sensitive to the gravity of such associations.
WWE may be considering a change to the format of the 2025 WWE Hall of Fame ceremony.
While the event was never officially announced along with the other WrestleMania activities, it was widely believed to be scheduled for April 18, 2025, at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas—the night before WrestleMania 41. Traditionally, the ceremony airs immediately after SmackDown in the same arena, streaming on Peacock and other platforms.
However, WrestleVotes reported today that WWE officials are reconsidering this format, as some within the company are unhappy with the event following SmackDown.
“After speaking with sources, we’ve heard varying speculation about when and where the 2025 WWE Hall of Fame ceremony will take place. Some within the company strongly dislike the recent format of the ceremony following SmackDown. We’re told WWE is considering a change, with no mention of the time or place in any WM promotional material so far.”
Paul “Triple H” Levesque is set to headline the 2025 Hall of Fame class, with Michelle McCool as the only other announced inductee so far. Additional names are expected to be revealed soon.
The Hall of Fame ceremony will be part of a packed WrestleMania weekend, including NXT Stand & Deliver on the afternoon of April 19, followed by WrestleMania 41 – Night 1 that evening.
A major pitch is in development for an untitled drama directed by Martin Scorsese, starring Dwayne Johnson, Leonardo DiCaprio, and Emily Blunt.
According to Deadline, the film is inspired by a real-life Hawaiian crime boss, described as a ruthless figure who fought off encroaching rivals to control organized crime in Hawaii. The character is likened to Robert De Niro’s Jimmy the Gent from Goodfellas.
Nick Bilton is set to write the screenplay, with Scorsese, Johnson, Blunt, DiCaprio, Bilton, Dany Garcia, Lisa Frechette, and Rick Yorn attached as producers. The project is particularly meaningful to Johnson, who has deep ties to Hawaii and has long aspired to make a film set there.
Synopsis: The article notes the film is about, “a turbulent time on the island paradise when an aspiring mob boss battled rival crime factions to wrest control of the underworld of the Hawaiian islands. It was a bloody battle, the kind of terrain Scorsese covered in both Goodfellas and The Departed. In 1960s and 70s Hawaii, this formidable and charismatic mob boss rises to build the islands’ most powerful criminal empire, waging a brutal war against mainland corporations and rival syndicates while fighting to preserve his ancestral land. It’s based on the untold true story of a man who fought to preserve his homeland through a ruthless quest for absolute power — igniting the last great American mob saga, where the war for cultural survival takes place in the unlikeliest of places: paradise.”
This marks another collaboration between DiCaprio and Scorsese, following their recent work on the Best Picture-nominated Killers of the Flower Moon. Their past films together include The Aviator, The Departed, Gangs of New York, and The Wolf of Wall Street. Meanwhile, Johnson and Blunt, who previously co-starred in Disney’s Jungle Cruise, are also set to reunite in A24’s Smashing Machine, directed by Benny Safdie and slated for release later this year.
Johnson and Blunt initially brought the idea to Scorsese and DiCaprio, who quickly joined the project. With Bilton now onboard to write, the film is moving toward development.
After a decade with WWE, Sonya Deville (real name Daria Rae) was blindsided by the company’s decision not to renew her contract. Speaking candidly for the first time on her YouTube channel, Deville detailed the emotional rollercoaster of receiving the news and why she ultimately sees it as a blessing in disguise.
Deville revealed that she was in the middle of contract negotiations with WWE when she received the unexpected phone call.
“I was in Washington, D.C., for a cheer tournament with our little one, running on the treadmill, when I got the call,” she shared. “We were in the middle of negotiations, so I thought it was going to be the middle ground we met on. Instead, they said, ‘We are not renewing your contract.’”
The news came as a complete shock to Deville, who had spent ten years building her career within the company. She had developed strong relationships backstage and was deeply invested in her role.
“I had a great relationship with almost everybody—from backstage to talent. It felt like family,” she explained. “You work somewhere for 10 years, you don’t expect that kind of call.”
“I Have No Choice But to Listen to the Universe”
Despite the initial shock, Deville quickly found peace with the decision. She believes fate had a bigger plan for her—one that aligns with her lifelong dream of acting.
“You can’t fight fate,” she said. “That chapter was meant to close, and all these new beautiful blessings were meant to come. The irony of it all is that the same week they didn’t renew my contract, I booked my first big film project.”
Deville admitted that while wrestling became an unexpected passion, acting had always been her first love.
“The way people turn to music for comfort is how I turned to television and film. Acting was my dream since I was 12,” she shared. “I fell in love with wrestling along the way, but this is what I always wanted.”
No Bitterness, Only Gratitude
Unlike some former WWE stars who leave the company with resentment, Deville holds no ill will. She remains grateful for the opportunities WWE gave her and sees her release as a new beginning.
“I see people leave and talk bad about the company, but I cannot relate,” she stated. “I loved every minute of it. I loved everybody there. I loved everything I got to do. But that was a chapter, and now it’s time for the next.”
With a major acting role already lined up and a positive mindset about the future, Deville is ready to embrace what comes next.
“I have no choice but to listen to the universe. That was good, but here’s what’s next,” she said. “And I’m excited.”
Donovan Dijak was disappointed to be released from WWE in 2024, but isn’t going to hold too big of a grudge over what was ultimately a business decision. Speaking to The A2TheK Wrestling Show, Dijak reflected on his abrupt exit in June of last year.
“At the end of the day it’s a business decision, right? Of course I wanted to say. I made that very clear in in the the letter that I wrote and things like that.”
While Dijak’s days as a WWE Superstar are a thing of the past, his time with the company continues to prove beneficial. Not only did Dijak’s name in wrestling circles grow considerably thanks to his WWE run, but his time as a Superstar allowed for immense growth as a character.
“There was a ton of things that happen in WWE that are helping me to this day, right? Whether it be the the the picture of me in the jacket and the glasses with that character… all of that wouldn’t exist without the opportunity that I was given.”
Since his WWE exit, Dijak has wasted no time in re-establishing himself outside the Sports Entertainment juggernaut. With matches for Rev Pro, Beyond, House of Glory, MLW, Limitless, DPW, and more, Dijak is ready to prove his value in the ring, but will never forget how WWE helped him, and continues to help him to this day.
WWE 2K25 is set to launch on March 14, 2025, featuring an extensive roster of over 300 Superstars, Legends, and Hall of Famers. Players can experience new gameplay modes, including intergender matches and the immersive “The Island” mode, exclusive to PS5 and Xbox Series X|S. Pre-ordering the Deadman or Bloodline Editions grants early access starting March 7, 2025.
Goldberg is preparing for his final match in 2025, prioritizing health and recovery in the process. He previously stated on ESPN’s College GameDay last year that his retirement match would take place in WWE.
The WWE Hall of Famer recently underwent stem cell treatment, a procedure he prepared for by making significant lifestyle changes. On his CarCast podcast, Goldberg revealed that he had to eliminate bad habits, such as tobacco use and poor dietary choices.
While the treatment was successful, he is currently in a three-week recovery period during which he cannot lift weights. The date and opponent for his farewell match remain unknown.
“I feel like a trillion bucks. Whether it’s from the stuff that I altered in my life prior or the stem cell treatment after a day, I feel like a million bucks, comparatively,” Goldberg shared.
“You have to be logical, but it’s like you’re a racehorse again, and you’re being held in a stall, and you can’t come out for a period of time. I have a match sometime this summer. I don’t know exactly when it is, but I know it’s coming up, and I know at 58 years old, I have to be in my underwear in front of everybody, and I hold a very high standard for myself.
I need to get to work yesterday. The long-term benefit and the benefit for me in the ring will be much more if I just calm my ass down.”
Goldberg had a confrontation with World Heavyweight Champion GUNTHER at Bad Blood this past October. His last match took place in 2022 at the Elimination Chamber Premium Live Event, where he faced Roman Reigns.
Liv Morgan’s return to WWE wasn’t just about getting back in the ring—it was personal. After being sidelined for six months due to an injury inflicted by Rhea Ripley, Morgan came back with a mission: to take everything from the woman who took everything from her.
“I was going to take away everything she loved because she took everything that I ever loved,” Morgan said on the No-Contest Wrestling Podcast.
That mission led to the creation of the Liv Morgan Revenge Tour, a ruthless campaign that has seen Morgan align with The Judgment Day and even stake a claim to Dominik Mysterio.
Morgan’s transformation from fan-favorite underdog to a cunning, dominant force has been one of WWE’s most surprising turns in recent years. While her methods have drawn boos from some fans, she remains unapologetic.
“I felt so justified in every single fiber of my being. I knew that I was right and that I was in the right.”
Her comeback was fueled by months of frustration and reflection.
“All I ever loved was WWE, and she took six months from me—not knowing if I’d make a full recovery, if I’d come back the same, or if my career was even over.”
That realization only strengthened her resolve to dismantle Ripley’s world piece by piece. Now, with WWE Elimination Chamber on the horizon, Morgan’s focus remains locked on championship gold. As the last person to defeat Ripley, she may be the biggest threat to the Women’s World Champion yet.
WWE has ‘The American Nightmare’ Cody Rhodes donning the red, white and blue, but have a Hall of Famer returning to the company to hoist up ‘Ol’ Glory,’ tough guy! I can report exclusively for SEScoops that ‘Hacksaw’ Jim Duggan has put pen to paper in signing a new Legends deal with WWE. Duggan has not been under a legends deal for several years so him signing a new contract opens him up for the obvious possibilities that come with it.
“Hacksaw” Jim Duggan
Duggan became a household name for WWE in the company’s ‘Golden Era’ and was ultimately inducted into the Hall of Fame back in 2011. On an upcoming episode of ‘The Hacksaw Hour’ Duggan expressed his excitement for being on WWE games and apart of the their Mattel action figure line.
One man who will be excited to hear the news of Jim Duggan rejoining WWE is actor Matthew McConaughey. The Hollywood megastar has previously expressed that his favorite wrestler of all time is Hacksaw and McConaughey was at ringside recently for SmackDown at the behest of Kevin Owens.
WWE has kept busy in signing legacy talent under legends contracts. Most recently, the company finally got Demolition under deals which nearly felt impossible as the tag team was in a previous lawsuit dispute with the company. However, Demolition Ax (Bill Eadie) and Demolition Smash (Barry Darsow) are now back with the company and their odds of finally getting inducted into the WWE went up exponentially.
