In an interview with Scott Fishman of TV Insider, Nia Jax expressed her pride in Ava’s progress and shared her hopes of seeing her move up to the main roster.
Ava, the daughter of Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, began training at the WWE Performance Center in 2020. Formerly a member of Schism in NXT, she transitioned into an authority role, becoming the General Manager of WWE NXT in January 2024. Since then, she has been a prominent figure on NXT programming.
“I’m so proud of her. She has really come into her own. Who would have thought just being the NXT general manager she would just shine in?
I even said to her the other day, ‘This year has been so good for you.’ I feel her confidence has gotten bigger. She is running that show and with ease. I can’t wait to see where it goes.
I want to see her up here on the main roster, possibly doing a similar role as well,” Jax said.
Jax is set for an in-ring appearance at WWE Elimination Chamber 2025 this Saturday, teaming with Candice LeRae to face Tiffany Stratton and Trish Stratus.
The Rock is coming to Elimination Chamber: Toronto, and the Final Boss is ready to disrupt the status quo. On X, fka Twitter, The Rock promised “disruptive moves” coming soon.
Thanks for watching the show, we got some disruptive moves coming up so tune in.
Love playin’ this audacious, unpredictable character known as Final Boss ?
Rock’s bold comment comes after he appeared on the February 21, edition of WWE SmackDown, where he confronted Cody Rhodes. Rather than come to blows with his nemesis, The Rock expressed his desire for Cody to be his champion. The Final Boss wants Cody’s ‘soul’ and is awaiting the Undisputed WWE Champion’s answer at Elimination Chamber: Toronto.
The return of the Brahma Bull in the midst of WrestleMania season has led to speculation of what role The Rock will play this April in Las Vegas. While Cody’s WrestleMania 41 challenger should be determined in the Men’s Elimination Chamber match, fans can’t count out The Rock disrupting plans to fuel his own agenda. Whatever’s coming, The Rock is ready to make some serious waveson March 1, in Toronto.
Many wrestlers from the Attitude Era battled with issues like addiction but a lot of them do not like to talk about it. Kurt Angle is different, however, as the Olympic Gold Medallist does not shy away from discussing his past mistakes. He is very open about his pill and alcohol addiction through his early WWE and TNA days.
The WWE Hall of Famer recently had an interview with TribLive to talk about a new movie about his life that is in the works. The film will focus on Angle’s journey from his childhood through his victory in the Olympics.
During the interview, Kurt Angle also talked about his past demons and explained that he always talks about it in hopes that people will learn from his mistakes:
“It is important I use that platform to be able to talk about my life story and hopefully help people out by talking about mistakes I’ve made about my addiction, how I overcame that, and what I had to do to make that happen,”
Kurt Angle explained that he wants people dealing with similar issues to take inspiration from his own journey and know that they can also get their life in order if they try:
“I am a pretty open book about my life. I want to share that with people to hopefully give them motivation to go ahead and get their lives in order if it has turned into a mess.
I tell them my story and how I have been clean and sober for more than 14 years. I get a lot of great responses. I am just happy to be able to motivate people to better their lives.”
The wrestling legend had recently detailed his mindset during those times and opened up about the passing of his sister due to drug overdose. You can check out his comments on the matter here.
Drew McIntyre has opened up about getting his knee drained and his status for Elimination Chamber this Saturday.
The Scottish Warrior wrestled a singles match against Jimmy Uso on this past Friday’s SmackDown. In an Instagram story, the WWE star revealed that he had to get his knee drained 45 minutes before the bout that opened the show.
The former World Champion was asked if he has any concerns about the knee during a media call to promote Saturday’s PLE. McIntyre noted that the doctor was not thrilled about the whole thing but he does not have a lot of concerns:
“I mean, I have no concerns with the knee personally. I couldn’t bend it fully, unfortunately, and I told the doctor, ‘Listen, like let’s get this fluid out.’ He wasn’t exactly over the moon about it, but medically it was safe or I wouldn’t have done it in the first place. But it was legitimately 45 minutes before the match. I told him, ‘This is going to hinder me in the match.'”
Drew McIntyre unfortunately ended up losing the bout against Jimmy Uso. He then brutally attacked the Bloodline member after the bell. Talking about his post-match actions and the upcoming Elimination Chamber match, he said that he wouldn’t miss the PPV even if he had to duct tape himself together for it:
“I’m not one to make excuses, I’m not going to say that’s why Jimmy got himself the biggest victory of his damn career and had his WrestleMania moment at my expense, but yeah, to put it simply, I’m not a pussy. A lot of the guys are now.
I said get that out. I’ve got a show to put on. I’ve got a performance to do and this is affecting me, so we took that fluid out. I got in the ring and I did my job. I left Jimmy not looking like a winner, that’s for sure. I’ll be good by Elimination Chamber.
If I have to tape myself together to get in the ring with the likes of Punk, Seth, and John Cena, people I really want to be in there with. Show the world that Drew McIntyre belongs on top. You don’t have to hand me a thing, I’ll keep taking and taking and taking and showing why I belong on top. That’s a match I’m not going to miss, if I have to hold myself together with duct tape.”
Drew McIntyre will be entering the Elimination Chamber cage hoping to win a shot at Cody Rhodes’ WWE Championship at WrestleMania. You can check out more details about the show here.
Vince McMahon may have plans to launch a new entertainment production company, once his legal matters with Janel Grant are behind him. Now, new revelations have suggested that McMahon could be looking at stepping back in the ring with a new wrestling promotion. UPDATE –
On the 83 Weeks podcast with Eric Bischoff, Conrad Thompson shared that he’d heard rumors of McMahon rehiring former WWE execs as well as speaking with experienced wrestling camera operators. Bischoff shared that he’s heard similar rumblings.
Thompson explained that he’s heard that FOX may be “holding a spot” for McMahon and his hypotehtical wrestling promotion. He pointed out, however, that FOX and wrestling have a complicated relationship, with FOX execs reportedly unhappy with how SmackDown fared on the network from 2019 to 2024. Thompson cast doubt over the idea of McMahon re-enterinng the wrestling world, he wasn’t prepared to ignore “these whispers in the background.”
When pondering if McMahon would like to return to the world of wrestling promotion, Bischoff believes McMahon’s answer would be an emphatic “F*** yeah!” While Bischoff believes that McMahon’s ideology to “conquer” whatever he wishes has never waned, he shared that this doesn’t necessarily mean the 79-year-old billionaire will try and launch a new promotion.
All plans for McMahon in the entertainment world could hinge on the Janel Grant lawsuit, which continues to loom over McMahon, WWE, and former Head of Talent John Laurinaitis. With McMahon’s past in business, one can’t count out a promotion by the former WWE chief, no matter how unlikely it may seem.
WWE NXT rolls into Cincinnati, Ohio, tonight with championship stakes, legendary returns, and fresh rivalries igniting the Andrew J. Brady Music Center.
The February 25, 2025, episode, airing live at 8 PM ET on The CW, promises a night of memorable action. Headlining the show, NXT Women’s North American Champion Stephanie Vaquer defends her title for the first time against Karmen Petrovic. After Petrovic outlasted the competition to earn her shot, she’ll look to topple “The Dark Angel” in a high-energy showdown.
Meanwhile, TNA X-Division Champion Moose crosses over to NXT, putting his gold on the line against NXT Heritage Cup Champion Lexis King in a clash of titans that’s sure to steal the spotlight.
The Hardy Boyz—Matt and Jeff Hardy—bring their iconic legacy back to a WWE ring, facing off against No Quarter Catch Crew’s Tavion Heights and Myles Borne. This tag team collision blends nostalgia with hard-hitting action.
Plus, newcomer Ricky Saints makes his in-ring debut alongside Je’Von Evans, taking on the dangerous duo of Ethan Page and Wes Lee in a match ripe with tension and potential fireworks.
WWE NXT Preview: February 25, 2025
Confirmed matches and segments:
NXT Women’s North American Championship: Stephanie Vaquer (c) vs. Karmen Petrovic
TNA X-Division Championship: Moose (c) vs. Lexis King
The Hardy Boyz (Matt & Jeff Hardy) vs. Tavion Heights & Myles Borne
Ricky Saints & Je’Von Evans vs. Ethan Page & Wes Lee
What Happened Last Week?
Ahead of tonight’s WWE NXT, here’s a quick recap of last week’s show:
Karmen Petrovic won a Triple Threat match to become No. 1 Contender for the NXT Women’s North American Championship
Lexis King called out Moose, setting the stage for their title clash
Ethan Page and Wes Lee ambushed Je’Von Evans backstage
Ricky Saints signed his NXT contract in a celebratory segment
Mick Foley is known among fans as the Hardcore Legend, but the former WWE Champion has no problem with WWE’s modern-day, more safety-driven era. Speaking to SportingTalk, Foley shared why the introduction of PG, a gripe among countless fans, was necessary.
“Wrestling is always evolving and we have to for survival.”
Foley highlighted how WWE changed the wrestling world in the 1980s in a manner that upset “purists” at the time. Not only does Foley not have an issue with how the industry has changed since his days in the ring, but he believes things have improved since then.
“I think the matches are better on a whole than they’ve ever been, and I see danger in a different way.”
Foley highlighted how the much quicker style of wrestling today can be just as dangerous for wrestlers, even without the use of hardcore weapons of gallons of blood being lost. Reflecting on the Attitude Era many fans hold dear to this day, Foley pointed out how the violent, risque nature of programming at the time created its own problems.
“I know how frustrated we were in the Attitude Era that our ratings were through the roof and we couldn’t get sponsors like nobody would touch us yes and so I definitely understand why WWE moved in the direction they did they.”
While many fans still hold the Attitude Era near to their hearts, wrestling’s constant evolution led to changes that have proved beneficial to WWE and its parent company TKO. While Foley’s days in the ring are over, the legend is pleased that the business is still going strong to this day.
Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson recently made a blockbuster return to WWE, but the Final Boss is now mourning the loss of his beloved pooch Hobbs. On Instragram, Johnson shared that Hobbs, named after his Fast & Furious franchise character, passed away this week. Though Johnson and his family have been left “numb over this loss,” they are grateful for the love Hobbs gave them and that “he didn’t suffer long” before passing away “quietly and bravely in the night.”
Johnson’s comments reflect the deep connection he had with the dog and is sadly not the only name in wrestling to have loved a furry family member. In October 2024, Cora Jade shared that her dog Stitch had died after previously going missing. Mere months earlier, ‘Joe Gacy ‘Stone Cold’ Steve Austin shared that his cat Lefty had passed away, leaving Pancho, another pet, upset. Austin rectified this by adopting a kitten named Macho, with the moniker coming from fellow WWE Hall of Famer ‘Macho Man’ Randy Savage.
The Rock will be a part of this weekend’s Elimination Chamber PLE in Toronto, where he hopes to get the ‘right answer’ from Cody Rhodes. During the February 21, edition of WWE SmackDown, The Rock confronted Rhodes, who he hopes will agree to be the Final Boss’ Champion.
We here at SEScoops would like to share our condolences to Johnson and his family over the passing of Hobbs.
On the February 24, edition of WWE Raw, Ludwig Kaiser handed Penta his first loss on the red brand by winning a triple-threat that included Pete Dunne. The finish of the match saw Kaiser push Penta out of the ring so that he could captalize and pin the Bruiserweight.
In a WWE Digital Exclusive, Cathy Kelley alluded to Kaiser ‘stealing’ the win from Penta, an accusation the German rejected.
“Penta has been stealing attention from Ludwig Kaiser since the day he walked into this company, isn’t that right? And you’re standing here talking to me like I was stealing anything, no. I wasn’t stealing anything.”
Not only did Kaiser reject the idea that he ‘stole the win,’ but he shared to Kelley what he actually has been doing throughout his singles run.
“What I’ve been doing is working hard, being humble, going out there, hitting every ball they’re throwing at me out the park, that’s what I’ve been doing, I have not been stealing anything.”
Amidst all he’s been doing, Kaiser “punished” Penta this week by taking what Ludwig believes Penta cares about most, the attention that has been on the masked star since his arrival. Kaiser concluded by vowing that 2025 will be his year and that Penta will soon be “no more.”
Kayla Braxton has detailed her reaction to her only bump in WWE.
The former WWE broadcaster recently had an interview with After We Wrap podcast. She talked about things such as working with Roman Reigns in WWE, her love for horror movies, and more.
During the interview, Braxton also told the story of her only bump in WWE. She revealed that announcers used to have to take bump classes to protect themselves from any unforeseen incidents in the ring:
“The announcers used to have to take a bump class just in case we’re in the ring and something went wrong we had to learn how to fall without getting hurt, in our high heels.
So I put on, I don’t know if you ever saw tough enough, but I had a tough enough helmet to make sure I was all locked in. Michael Cole was watching me with his camera because he thought it would be really funny to show everybody.”
Unfortunately for Kayla Braxton, she forgot the basic rule for taking bumps and ended up getting the wind knocked out of her:
“Then I fell on my back and I didn’t tuck, you have to tuck your chin and I didn’t tuck my chin so my neck snaps back. Felt like I got hit by a truck. I crawled away whimpering.
That was the only time I ever took a bump. Anytime someone’s like, ‘Would you ever consider getting in the ring and wrestling?’ ‘No, absolutely not.’ It’s terrible. But they make it look easy.”
Kayla Braxton ended her 8-year-long WWE run in July last year. According to her, she had outgrown her role in the company and decided to end her tenure to be able to pursue other projects.
World Heavyweight Champion GUNTHER plans to not only beat Jey Uso at WWE WrestleMania 41 but also end the career of the ‘Main Event’ talent. Taking to X (fka Twitter) after defeating Akira Tozawa on the February 24, edition of WWE Raw, GUNTHER compared the man he beat to the man he’ll face this April.
“Last week, I let the people know that they’re not smart enough to understand my art. So today, I had to send an official example to a person that is exactly like Jey Uso. [Akira] Tozawa is a clown. So much potential, just like Jey but they both made the wrong decision. Tozawa paid for it today. Jey is going to pay for it at WrestleMania.”
GUNTHER ended by threatening to end Jey Uso’s wrestling career when they battle in April and had another job propspect lined up for former Intercontinental and Tag Team Champion.
“[Facing me is] the greatest mistake he’s ever made. His career is going to end at WrestleMania, and he can look into a future as a server at his favorite Waffle House.”
Jey earned his title shot against GUNTHER by winning the 2025 Men’s Royal Rumble match, shockingly eliminating John Cena in the WWE icon’s final Rumble match. While the vast majority of the WWE Universe are behind Jey heading into WrestleMania, GUNTHER is prepared to spoil the party for the YEET army, and end Jey Uso’s career in the process.
The action didn’t stop after the February 24, edition of WWE Monday Night Raw went off the air as LA Knight wowed the crowd in Cincinnati, Ohio. In a dark match, Knight faced off with Ohio’s own The Miz in singles competiton. Despite the match coming in Miz’s home-state, the Cincinnati crowd were firmly behind Knight, who got the win to send the crowd home happy.
Though Knight is a SmackDown Superstar, his appearance after Raw wasn’t entirely a surprise. Shortly before the show went life, it was reported that Knight had been spotted in Cincinatti. Though this left some speculating he’d appear on the broadcast, his role was only for those live in the arena.
WWE Raw – February 24, 2024
WWE Raw served as the final episode of the red brand ahead of Elimination Chamber 2025, with several storylines connecting into the show. On Raw, Cody Rhodes addressed The Rock’s offer to be his champion, and admitted that he has to think about what’s best for his family. Raw also saw Liv Morgan and Raquel Rodriguez win the WWE Women’s Tag Titles, with the duo becoming the first-ever team to win the gold on three occasions.
Ari Emanuel, the corporate powerhouse who serves as CEO and executive chairman of TKO Group Holdings, has reached billionaire status for the first time of his life. Emanuel was added to the Bloomberg Billionaire index for his personal wealth, signifying his vast fortune. In addition to his role with TKO, Emanuel serves as the CEO of Endeavor Group Holdings, who launched TKO (which consists of WWE and UFC) in September 2023.
TKO has nearly doubled in value over the past 12 months, with the share price increasing by 48% over the last year. The company is now valued at over $27 billion, and recently added Professional Bull Riders to its portfolio. While Emanuel isn’t an on-screen figure for WWE, he has been referenced on programming by Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson, who serves as part of TKO’s Board of Directors.
While Emanuel’s fortunes continue to soar, many in TKO have been left feeling drained. This week, it was reported that there are several backstage issues, including an increased workload that can reach up to 60 hours a week. Reducing employee perks has also led to staff members increasingly feeling undervalued. WWE has ditched its previous policy allowing employees to purchase stock with a 15% reduction in price. Complimentary WWE tickets have also been nixed, in another blow to company morale.
With WWE’s female Superstars also having concerns, morale has taken a turn in WWE on the road to WrestleMania 41. Nevertheless, the success of TKO can’t be ignored, while Ari Emanuel will be more than pleased to have reached billionaire status.
WWE has been experiencing a period of record growth and posting unprecedented profits but the benefits of this boom do not seem to be far-reaching within the organization. A new report from Wrestlenomics has chronicled multiple issues that have led to a decline in employee morale behind the scenes since the WWE-UFC merger in September 2023.
A big reason for this merger was to consolidate services under the branding of Endeavor, which resulted in significant layoffs in multiple departments at the time. Since then, the workload for the remaining employees has increased significantly with some people saying that they’re working 50 to 60 hours per week, particularly during the WrestleMania season. In addition to the responsibility in their WWE role, many have also been assigned additional UFC-related tasks.
The compensation for employees has not kept up with the increased workload, however, with multiple staff members saying that they’ve received a meagre 3% cost-of-living raise this year. Many with strong performance reviews, have been told they would not be receiving comparable raises due to budget constraints set by upper management.
The same constraints do not seem to apply to the top brass, however. In addition to bonuses received by top executives at the time of the merger, the nearly 50% increase in Endeavor Group Holdings shares since the time has helped people in administrative positions amass more wealth. The TKO Group Holdings CEO Ari Emanuel has reached billionaire status for the first time thanks to this significant increase in share values this month. This is in stark contrast to the cost-of-living raises given to employees which many argue hardly keeps pace with the rising living costs around the areas of WWE Headquarters in Connecticut and New York
In addition to the limited increase in pay, reducing employee perks has also led to staff members increasingly feeling undervalued, while the management continues to emphasize the value of its workforce in town hall meetings. Some significant perks that have been discontinued include the removal of the peer-recognition initiative called ‘WWE Superstar’, as well as the elimination of complimentary live event tickets for employees.
This decline is in addition to frustration within the talent side, specifically among the female roster members. It’s been reported recently that female talents have been frustrated with their WrestleMania build and a recent WWE departure has left many feeling insecure about their position. You can check out more about it here.
Liv Morgan & Raquel Rodriguez are the new WWE Women’s Tag Team Champions after winning the gold in the main event of the February 24, edition of WWE Monday Night Raw. The finish of the match saw Raquel prevent Naomi from hitting the split legged moonsault and then ram Naomi head into the post. With Naomi out cold, Morgan got the pinfall to end the reign of the Glow and Bianca Belair.
Belair and Naomi had been recognized as tag team champions since November 2024. Belair had held the gold since August’s Bash In Berlin PLE, where she won the gold since Jade Cargill. After Cargill was taken out by a mystery assailant, Naomi replaced her in the tag team.
This loss raises questions as to how Cargill will respond once she’s back, as she has lost a title in WWE without even being a part of the match. Many fans predict that either Belair or Naomi were behind the attack, an act that would turn either woman heel. Both have accused Liv and Raquel of being the attackers, though they have denied the claim.
This victory makes Liv Morgan a record-tying four-time WWE Women’s Tag Team Champion, while Raquel Rodriguez is now a three-time champion. As a team, this is the third reign for the Judgment Day members.
The Rock returned to WWE last week to cut an awkward promo on Cody Rhodes and help kick the SmackDown ratings into the WrestleMania gear.
The months after Royal Rumble is usually the period that sees an increased interest in WWE programming as the company builds storylines for the Show of Shows. This hadn’t been the case for SmackDown whose ratings had more or less been steady in the past few weeks but it changed with the February 21 show.
Despite The Rock’s WWE return coming together very quickly, the Great One’s comeback generated enough buzz for The Blue Branded show to garner 1,736,000 viewers overnight per Programming Insider.
This is a huge increase for the show from last week’s 1,384,000 overnight viewers, which featured multiple qualifying matches for the Elimination Chamber and an appearance from Cody Rhodes.
The show also saw an increase in the key 18-49 demo which rose up to 0.51. This is a significant increase from last week’s 0.42 rating.
The Rock is not advertised for this week’s episode of SmackDown but the company will continue to unravel the meaning of his promo on the show.
The People’s Champion will return to WWE programming the night after. The Hollywood star has been announced for the Elimination Chamber PPV on March 1, where he will expect an answer from The American Nightmare on his proposal.
Carmella has broken her silence for the first time since the unceremonious end of her 12-year run with WWE earlier this month.
The former Women’s Champion posted a short video on Instagram thanking fans who have reached out and shown their appreciation since the news broke. She also mentioned how there’s a lot of uncertainty around her future. The female star noted that she has ‘a lot’ to say and promised to jump on a podcast this week to address her WWE departure in more detail:
“Hi guys. I am aware I’ve been MIA for the last week. If you can’t tell I’m so sick. I’ve been sick for over a week now. There’s also obviously been a lot happening. Some news broke last week and I just wanted to let you know that I’ve seen all of your texts and tweets and messages and DMs and like oh my god, you guys are just the best.
I’m so grateful for you and everything that you’ve been saying about Carmella and my career and I’m so blessed. So thank you. I know there’s a lot of questions and uncertainty around everything. I will be going on a podcast later this week, answering some of those questions and telling my side because I have a lot to say about the situation. So yes, stay tuned, I’ll give you the details later when I can and I can’t wait to fill you guys in.”
The news of Carmella’s WWE deal expiring first broke out earlier last week. The company then moved her to the alumni section of their website. The former champion herself also changed her name on various social platforms to essentially confirm that the two parties were no longer working together.
The Staten Island Princess had not been active in the ring since March 2023, when she took maternity leave from the company. She gave birth to a son in November 2023, but health complications arising from childbirth have prevented the wrestling veteran from making an in ring return.
WWE Superstar Sami Zayn recently shared his thoughts on why the company avoids political themes in its storytelling, contrasting the current approach with past eras when real-world conflicts often influenced wrestling narratives.
During a media call on Monday to promote this weekend’s WWE Elimination Chamber event from Toronto, Zayn talks about professional wrestling’s history of reflected societal issues, citing past examples such as Sergeant Slaughter’s controversial Iraq storyline in the early ’90s and the presence of stereotypical foreign villains in the mid-20th century. However, he pointed out that today’s WWE takes a different stance, deliberately steering clear of political content. In response to a question from Jan Murphy of the Toronto Sun, Zayn said:
“Wrestling is sort of a reflective art form. It mirrors societies and the times,” Zayn explained. “Now, I think in a strange way, we’re doing a sort of weird anti-reflection reflection wherein we just simply don’t touch politics. As a company, nothing about the political climate is reflected in the product anymore.”
Zayn attributed this shift to the heightened sensitivity surrounding political issues, as well as WWE’s role as a form of escapism. He suggested that, in an era where real-world challenges like economic concerns impact daily life, wrestling provides a space where fans can disconnect from those stresses.
“WWE is meant to be like an escape from all that stuff—especially when people feel it in their day-to-day lives,” he added.
The approach marks a departure from previous decades, when wrestling often incorporated contemporary political tensions into its storytelling. While some fans appreciate the shift toward pure entertainment, others debate whether avoiding political narratives entirely limits creative possibilities.
Escapism vs. Realism in Wrestling
WWE’s current stance reflects a broader trend in entertainment, where some franchises choose to keep politics out of their content to maintain universal appeal. With a diverse fanbase spanning multiple demographics and political beliefs, WWE’s decision to remain neutral allows it to cater to as wide an audience as possible.
At the same time, some wrestling promotions continue to embrace real-world issues in their storylines, showing that there remains an appetite for blending reality with fiction. For now, the company appears committed to maintaining a space where fans can simply enjoy the spectacle without outside distractions, brother.
Former Major League Wrestling (MLW) World Heavyweight Champion Alexander Hammerstone has been medically cleared to return to the ring.
Hammerstone suffered a knee injury at TNA Turning Point in November, which required surgery. Now, in an update on his official X account, he has revealed that his rehabilitation is complete and he has received medical clearance to return to action. In his post, Hammerstone reflected on his experience before announcing that he is now accepting bookings.
Well.. being out with injury sucked. But I worked hard, did the rehab and am officially cleared and back.
Former world champion World traveled Current TNA superstar As seen on TNA and NXT
The 34-year-old Hammerstone has been part of the professional wrestling industry since 2013, competing for promotions such as MLW, Pro Wrestling NOAH, and TNA. During his tenure, he held the MLW World Heavyweight Championship and won the promotion’s National Openweight Championship Tournament in 2019.
Hammerstone officially signed with TNA in February of last year. In September, as part of WWE and TNA’s talent exchange agreement, he made his NXT debut as Tony D’Angelo’s hand-picked opponent for North American Champion Oba Femi. Hammerstone ultimately lost the non-title match.
Now medically cleared, Hammerstone can resume his in-ring career and look to regain momentum under the TNA banner.
Sami Zayn is keeping quiet about the status of his current contract with WWE. During a media call to promote this weekend’s WWE Elimination Chamber PLE, Sean Ross Sapp of Fightful asked how much time remains on his contract.
“I’m usually kind of private about that stuff, to be honest with you,” Zayn said. “But, I don’t think I’m going anywhere. I think I’ve got kind of a good thing going here, and I see it continuing for the foreseeable future.”
Zayn, 40, has been with WWE since 2013. During his tenure, he has won the Intercontinental Championship four times and held both the RAW and SmackDown Tag Team Championships. Before joining WWE, he competed in promotions such as Pro Wrestling Guerrilla, Chikara, Ring of Honor, Dragon Gate, and more.
The former NXT Champion has become a fan favorite on Monday Night RAW, especially after his rise in popularity due to his involvement in The Bloodline storyline alongside Roman Reigns and The Usos.
Currently, Zayn is on the road to WrestleMania, having recently reignited his feud with longtime friend Kevin Owens. The two are set to collide in an unsanctioned match at Elimination Chamber this Saturday.
All Elite Wrestling star Hook has signed with sports agent Barry Bloom ahead of upcoming contract negotiations. According to PWInsider, Bloom actually signed Hook several months ago, but the news is only now coming to light. AEW is expected to make efforts to ensure the second-generation talent remains with the company.
Bloom represents several notable wrestling personalities, including Kenny Omega, Josh Alexander, and announcer Jim Ross.
Hook made his AEW debut in 2020 as part of Team Taz, aligning with his father, Taz, as well as Brian Cage, Ricky Starks, and Powerhouse Hobbs. He transitioned to singles competition in 2021 and, in July 2022, defeated Ricky Starks to win the FTW Championship—a title originally established by his father in ECW.
He held the championship for an extended period and feuded with Jack Perry over the FTW Title in the summer of 2023. He later regained the title in August 2023 before retiring it and presenting it to his father, Taz, in September 2023.
Currently, Hook is aligned with Samoa Joe and Katsuyori Shibata. As of this writing, he’s not scheduled to compete at AEW Revolution on March 9th.
Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson’s production company, Seven Bucks Productions, has signed a first-look television deal with 20th Television, a division of Disney TV Studios. The agreement, as first reported by Deadline, will allow Seven Bucks to develop and executive produce comedy, drama, adult animation, limited series, and unscripted content for both streaming platforms and traditional networks.
The deal further strengthens Seven Bucks’ relationship with Disney, following a first-look agreement signed in June 2024 for film development across theatrical and streaming releases.
In a joint statement, Johnson and Seven Bucks co-founder Dany Garcia expressed their excitement about expanding their collaboration with Disney:
“Disney has been our trusted partner in storytelling and entertainment for years now, and we’re ecstatic to expand our partnership with them beyond film as we set out to work hard and achieve the same success in the television space.”
They also praised 20th Television’s leadership, calling the deal an “unlimited opportunity for creative storytelling.”
Busy Week for The Rock
This announcement adds to an eventful week for Johnson. He was recently confirmed to star alongside Leonardo DiCaprio and Emily Blunt in an upcoming crime drama directed by Martin Scorsese. Additionally, he made his highly anticipated return to WWE on SmackDown (Feb. 21), where he confronted Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes in a heated segment.
While his long-term WWE plans remain unclear, The Rock is set to appear at Elimination Chamber in Toronto on March 1, where he expects Rhodes’ response to his challenge.
SmackDown star LA Knight has been seen in Cincinnati, Ohio, ahead of tonight’s episode of WWE Raw on Netflix (February 24).
The final Raw before WWE’s Elimination Chamber event will take place at the Heritage Bank Center. According to PWInsiderElite, the former United States Champion is in town.
Confirmed for tonight’s show are appearances from three competitors in Saturday’s Men’s Elimination Chamber match—Logan Paul, Seth Rollins, and CM Punk.
Additionally, two championship bouts are set: Lyra Valkyria will defend the Women’s Intercontinental Championship against Dakota Kai, while Women’s Tag Team Champions Bianca Belair and Naomi put their titles on the line against Liv Morgan and Raquel Rodriguez.
Nearly fifteen years after his passing, ‘Macho Man’ Randy Savage remains a pop culture phenomenon, with Heritage Auctions’ recent ring-worn collection sale and his Super Bowl commercial appearance both testifying to the wrestler’s timeless appeal.”
An exclusive Heritage Auctions sale of ring-worn memorabilia from WWE Hall of Famer “Macho Man” Randy Savage concluded on February 23, 2025, featuring iconic outfits spanning his legendary wrestling career from the late 1980s through 2000.
Auction Highlights
Total Items Sold: 16 ring-worn outfits and memorabilia pieces
Total Revenue: $197,531.00
Highest Sale: $45,140.00 for a 1990’s Macho Man Randy Savage worn jacket and outfit with glasses
Average Sale Price: $12,345.69
Notable Items
1990’s Era Jacket & Outfit with Glasses – $45,140.00
1992 Twice-Signed Outfit – $12,810.00
1991 Ring Worn & Signed Outfit (Used in Royal Rumble) – $19,520.00
1990 Ring Worn & Twice Signed Outfit (Checkered) – $26,840.00
The collection featured memorable pieces from different eras of Savage’s career, including Halloween Havoc outfits, World Championship wrestling gear, and NWO-era items. Each piece was authenticated by Heritage Auctions (Auction 50075) with specific lot numbers.
Most items were not only ring-worn but also signed by Randy Savage himself, with several pieces bearing double signatures, significantly increasing their collector value.
The auction demonstrates the enduring popularity of the Macho Man’s flamboyant wrestling persona nearly 15 years after his passing, with collectors willing to pay premium prices for authentic pieces of wrestling history.
WWE 2K25’s Showcase Mode will highlight The Bloodline and the legendary Anoa’i family, one of wrestling’s most iconic dynasties. Now, the full list of Bloodline members featured in the game has been revealed.
With a roster of over 300 playable characters, WWE 2K25 will be the largest WWE game ever.
All Bloodline Members in WWE 2K25
Headshrinker Fatu (NEW)
Headshrinker Samu (NEW)
Haku
Islander Tama (NEW)
Jacob Fatu (NEW)
Jey Uso
Jimmy Uso
Naomi
Nia Jax
“High Chief” Peter Maivia (NEW)
Rikishi
Rosey (NEW)
Roman Reigns
Solo Sikoa
Sami Zayn
Tama Tonga (NEW)
Tamina
The Rock
Tonga Loa (NEW)
Umaga
Afa (NEW)
Sika (NEW)
Yokozuna
WWE 2K25 Release Details
WWE 2K24 will be available in three editions: the Standard Edition releasing on March 14, 2025 with a pre-order bonus of the Wyatt Sicks Pack and digital game, and the Deadman and Bloodline Editions, both offering early access on March 7, 2025 with pre-order, including the digital game, Wyatt Sicks Pack, and additional extras, with the Bloodline Edition containing even more exclusive content.
