WWE Women’s Champion Tiffany Stratton has shared her excitement about the recent announcement that WrestleMania 43 will be held in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, in 2027. Speaking with Scott Johnson for Going Ringside, Stratton discussed being part of the continued evolution of women’s wrestling in the region.
The decision to take WWE’s flagship event outside of North America for the first time has been met with a mixed reaction from fans, with many citing the country’s human rights record as a reason for their disapproval. Recalling a previous WWE trip to the country, Stratton said;
“I’m excited. The last time we were there I believe, we went on this little safari adventure, and I hope we get to do that again because that was super fun.”
Proud to be part of history
She then echoed a sentiment shared by many of her fellow female performers who have competed in Saudi Arabia, highlighting the significance of their presence in the country.
“I think Bianca mentioned women are making history over there, and I can’t wait to be a part of that myself. So I’m super excited and I can’t wait.”
WWE’s partnership with Saudi Arabia began in 2018 as part of the “Saudi Vision 2030” social and economic reform program. The long-term, lucrative deal has seen the company produce two large-scale premium live events in the kingdom almost every year.
The first-ever women’s match in Saudi Arabia took place at the Crown Jewel event in 2019, a bout between Natalya and Lacey Evans. Both women wore full-body suits to comply with the country’s conservative dress policy. Since that match, women’s wrestling has become a regular and featured part of every subsequent WWE event in Saudi Arabia, with multiple women’s championship matches taking place on those shows.
AEW star Kenny Omega stirred the pot on social media today with a post that appears to take a shot at wrestling legends who have chosen to participate in WWE’s Saudi Arabia events. In his tweet, Omega wrote:
“Another day and another ‘legend’ doing the splits on it for the yearly TKO gift basket… ?”
Another day and another “legend” doing the splits on it for the yearly TKO gift basket… ?
While Omega doesn’t name names, the message is clear. “Doing the splits on it” is a not-so-subtle jab at veteran wrestlers who, in Omega’s view, are eagerly taking lucrative offers — represented by the “TKO gift basket” — to perform at high-profile Saudi shows promoted by WWE’s owners, TKO Group Holdings.
The comment reignites conversation around sports washing, a term used for the Saudi government’s use of major entertainment events to improve its global image amid ongoing human rights criticisms. WWE has faced regular criticism for its partnership with Saudi Arabia, and Omega has previously spoken out against the practice.
This latest shot underscores the ongoing tension between AEW and WWE.
3-Hour Playlist of Kenny Omega’s Best AEW Singles Matches
NXT star Jazmyn Nyx is done with WWE. According to PWInsider, she turned down WWE’s contract offer.
Jazmyn Nyx, whose real name is Jade Gentile, is leaving the company after a promising run on the NXT brand.
A former pro soccer player, Nyx made a splash in WWE with her athleticism and striking offense, notably as a member of the “Fatal Influence” stable with Jacy Jayne and Fallon Henley.
Throughout her NXT tenure, she built a reputation as a skilled competitor and an opportunistic heel, often factoring into high-profile women’s tag and trios matches.
WWE hoped to keep Nyx on board with a new deal, but she chose to test free agency after being written off NXT TV by her former stablemates.
As she closes this chapter in WWE, fans can follow Jazmyn Nyx’s next moves and updates on Instagram at @jazmyn_wwe to see where her career goes next.
Stay tuned for more on Jazmyn Nyx as her story develops.
Another vision will be realized for promoter David McLane when WOW- Women Of Wrestling takes over the Fremont Street Experience in Las Vegas. The WOW Superheroes will perform under the iconic canopy for shows October 14 and 15 and October 21 and 22. McLane has always championed all-female presentations going all the way back almost 40 years with the trailblazing Gorgeous Ladies of Wrestling (GLOW).
In many ways, WOW picked up where the beloved brand left off and evolved to the syndicated series we see today. With the show recently starting its fourth season, McLane isn’t one to rest on past successes. He has a big goal in mind to take WOW to the next level.
“We’ve got to go live. We’ve got to get WOW live,” he said. “Any of you fans, we’ve got to rally for WOW Live. We have to go live versus taped programming and syndication only.”
For the go-getter businessman, eventually transitioning to a live format would maximize the audience and elicit engagement. He continued, “everything from social media to merchandise to marketing the Superheroes has been hampered in the fact it’s not live. We’ve got to go live. I was at another wrestling event, and when I flew in, I even went to a WNBA game in Vegas. I’m watching the fans interact with their phones in realtime. It’s just a great experience. It’s an engagement and family environment through your phone with technology. And to take part in that, we’ve got to get live.”
Conversations have been ongoing with one network that has interest in testing a live format, but McLane doesn’t just want any network. He recalled meeting with executive Jeanie Buss when he was doing World Roller Hockey League.
McLane added, “I remember when I was launching that with ESPN and their then president Steve Bornstein, and they said, ‘let’s test it by putting on one or two roller hockey events on.’ I came back and said we can’t do it unless we go all in because with one test you’re not going to learn anything. It can’t be one event. You have to see how it goes over time and be committed to it. So, we’re looking for that right partner right now.”
He is also a realist when it comes to taking WOW on the road. McLaine’s thought process is to go live first and then think about touring. “If we did it today, we’d be dead meat financially,” he explained. “The cost to put it up and take it city to city would be very difficult. We’d be dead meat, but that is an ultimate goal to take it out and be in different cities. The UFC has even struggled with that. They would love, I’m sure, financially to be in one location and do their UFC fights, but their president and CEO Dana White once mentioned, and I agree with him, that to grow the brand and touch the fans he is obligated to take it out into the marketplace and take it to different cities. We will need to do the same.”
McLane credits working with Buss as a great partner. Someone who has been WOW’s biggest cheerleader. The controlling owner and president of the Los Angeles Lakers saw the importance of launching an all-female training facility to build homegrown talent. Under the leadership of veteran Selina Majors, the promotion continues to bring in new faces that bring the right balance of athleticism and pizazz.
“By the way, the tag line for the WOW Superheroes was created by Jeanie,” McLane revealed. “When she came to the matches prior to Jeanie’s engagement I was calling them the WOW girls. She said, ‘no, they are like real-life action superheroes when they fly off the ropes and do this and that. I fell in love with comic books as a kid. And these are real life comic book people who come to life, bigger than life. They should be called Superheroes. That’s how they became Superheroes through Jeanie Buss’ innate genius marketing skillset.”
When it comes to WOW’s early beginnings in this current run, McLane remains grateful to have had AJ Lee. Someone who came in as an executive producer and commentator during the first season.
“She took a chance with us and came to WOW,” he said. “I think she is proud of the product. She’ll be on that special with Jeanie Buss. I wanted to get her in the ring with WOW, but the timing wasn’t right. She wanted to make sure her body was at a 10 in conditioning and in shape.
She was writing movies and doing comic books when we were able to get her engaged. Just coming off the comic books and going into the movies. It was so fun.
“I never knew AJ until she started working with us. Now it’s so fun to watch her and see her prospering and do so well in the ring. I sent her a note when she was going in on the first night of her debut. I said, ‘just soak it in and enjoy it.’ I’m sure she did because I could see from the expression on her face. She knows she is getting a blessing of enjoying this with her husband and having fun with it one more time.”
As for what’s to come on WOW, McLane looks forward to digging a little deeper into the backstories of the Superheroes. He also teased some fiery competition to come for WOW Trio Tag Team Champions Coach Campanelli, Kandi Krush, and Gloria Glitter.
“This is Santana Garrett’s run,” McLane continued. “I didn’t realize it until we interviewed her in Florida but she has been with every wrestling organization. All the wrestling organizations including WWE and won championships everywhere. She somewhat started her career on a major level with us, with WOW.
“Her dad Kenny G participated before his passing. He was able to come to WOW events and see his daughter. This is like full circle with her back in WOW. I know she would like to make a run for that WOW title. Tormenta is back from Mexico with the championship. Paola Mayfield who was a reality show in 90 Day Fiancé and Amazon’s The Goat. So it’s going to be a great season and a lot of great competition.”
John Cena’s stunned fans by turning heel in March 2025 which marked his first time as a fully-fledged villain in over two decades. While the turn itself shocked fans, many felt that what followed failed to meet expectations.
Cena’s heel run began with an alliance with The Rock, though the “Final Boss” quickly disappeared from WWE television afterward. Speaking on UnSKripted, Cena’s father, John Cena Sr., reflected on his son’s final year in the ring.
“I think what he’s done is right, it’s good, it’s positive… Turning John Cena heel was a great idea. The shock factor was great.”
While Cena Sr. praised the turn itself, he agreed with fans who felt the follow-up fell flat.
“The storyline [after the turn] was destroyed. That was a very poor move in my opinion because it was a big gamble for everyone involved.”
Cena Sr. placed much of the blame on The Rock’s sudden absence, calling it a crushing blow to one of WWE’s biggest storylines in years.
“To see how it started, and then to see the characters who are involved no longer be present, the heel turn almost became non-essential. That was something I wasn’t really too hyped up on.”
Ultimately, Cena abandoned the heel turn ahead of SummerSlam 2025 and returned to the fan-favorite role that defined much of his career. With only a handful of appearances left before retirement, Cena is set to close out his legendary run as the beloved babyface, despite his father’s belief that the heel turn could have been so much more.
John Cena and AJ Styles will battle at WWE Crown Jewel: Perth, in what will be one of the ‘Never Seen Seventeen’s’ final matches of his career. After the pair had a series of acclaimed matches in 2016 and early 2017, the two veterans are set to do battle one final time.
Cena had been pushing for the match, which Styles accepted, and Paul “Triple H” Levesque made it official on September 23. On X, Cena reflected on how the match—one long requested by fans for his retirement tour—was proof that WWE listens to its audience and that “listening to our audience is ALWAYS what’s best for business.”
I want to thank @TripleH for being flexible here and rewarding the true driving force behind #CenavsStyles .. the FANS! 2 posts over 10m views and so many of you let yourself be heard! #WWECrownJewel Perth and @AJStylesOrg you will get my everything. Listening to our audience is…
Cena vs. Styles is the third match confirmed for Crown Jewel. The event will also feature the Men’s and Women’s Crown Jewel Championship matches, currently set as Cody Rhodes vs. Seth Rollins and Stephanie Vaquer vs. Tiffany Stratton.
With Cena nearing the end of his in-ring career, many fans have stressed that his remaining matches should feel meaningful. His clash with Brock Lesnar at WWE Wrestlepalooza drew criticism, as some felt Lesnar’s decisive win wasted a rare Cena appearance with no rematch likely.
Now, WWE has the opportunity to deliver by revisiting one of Cena’s most celebrated rivalries. WWE Crown Jewel: Perth takes place on Saturday, October 11, at the RAC Arena in Perth, Western Australia.
Roman Reigns is one of WWE’s most dominant stars and a first-ballot Hall of Famer in the making. However, despite his accomplishments, Reigns is absent from the 2025 PWI 500 rankings.
The top 20 names on this year’s list have been revealed, featuring several of Reigns’ past rivals, including Cody Rhodes (#1), Seth Rollins (#8), and CM Punk (#15). While the full list will be released later this year, fans should not expect “The Tribal Chief” to appear at all.
The reason is tied to PWI’s evaluation criteria. The ranking period ran from August 1, 2024, through July 31, 2025, with each wrestler required to have at least ten singles matches during that time. Reigns only competed eight times within the period, with just two of those matches being one-on-one singles bouts.
Meanwhile, Cody Rhodes has claimed the #1 spot for the second consecutive year. Currently in his second reign as Undisputed WWE Champion, Rhodes becomes only the fourth wrestler to top the list in back-to-back years, joining Bret Hart (1993–94), “Stone Cold” Steve Austin (1998–99), and John Cena (2006–07).
Reigns has won the top spot twice, though not in back-to-back years. In adition to taking the #1 spot in 2016 and 2022, he has ranked in the top 10 eight times.
As for Reigns, he has been absent from WWE programming since being attacked by The Vision at WWE Clash in Paris. Unless he increases his singles competition schedule, his absence from the PWI 500 may continue in future editions.
An investigation has begun after accusations of domestic abuse were made against TNA Wrestling’s Masha Slamovich. On Tuesday, September 23, a friend of AKIRA, an independent wrestler and former partner of Slamovich, shared screenshots alleged to be between the ex-couple.
Masha is an abusive piece of shit who feels entitled to everything including a Ribera Jacket.
These messages have yet to be independently verified. In a statement to Sports Illustrated, TNA Wrestling shared:
“We take any allegations like this very seriously, and have begun an internal investigation.”
On X, Akira shared a lengthy statement, stating that he “Kinda wanna throw up, kindwa want to go away forever.” Akira’s post discussed a toxic relationship with somebody but stopped short of using Slamovich’s name.
I woke up to this and people asking me if I was okay. Kinda wanna throw up, kinda want to go away forever.
My friend held back for months because I asked her to, and I would have never said anything. I still really don’t want to. I didn’t want to lash out in anger, because I…
Slamovich has not publicly responded at this time. Masha signed with TNA in 2021 and is set to challenge Knockouts Champion Ash By Elegance at TNA Victory Road on September 27.
Adriana Rizzo is currently sidelined with an injury that will keep the WWE NXT Superstar out of action for several more months. During a Q&A with fans on social media, one fan asked, “When do you expect to be back in the ring?” Rizzo replied: “Sometime in the spring most likely.”
Back in August, Rizzo revealed that she had torn her ACL and meniscus, calling it a setback but “not the end.” This is only the latest challenge for the NXT star, who previously tore her Achilles in 2023 and suffered a partial ACL tear just a few months later.
A spring return would keep Rizzo out for at least another six months, though her absence could extend even longer. When sharing her latest injury update in August, she stated that she was ready to face the recovery process head-on and “come back 100% healthy for the first time in my WWE career.”
Rizzo was once part of the Tony D’Angelo Family, but with that faction now dissolved, her next steps in NXT remain unclear. For now, her in-ring future won’t be determined until well into 2025.
An invasion angle had been teased last week when WWE announced a winner-takes-all match between TNA Champion Trick Williams and NXT Champion Oba Femi for this week’s episode of the development show.
TNA stars started showing up in the crowd as the double title main event progressed. Names such as Eric Young, Frankie Kazarian, Steve Maclin, Jessie McKay, and Cassie Lee were all shown during the bout. The appearance of Matt Cardona especially got a big pop from the crowd.
Mike Santana joined the commentary halfway through this bout. The action went outside the ring towards the ending of the show as Femi delivered a big clothesline to his opponent.
Trick sent the NXT champion crashing through the steel steps before turning his attention towards the announce table. The TNA champion made the first move when he slapped Mike Santana and then all hell broke loose.
The TNA stars crowded the ring as NXT roster started emptying as well and a brawl broke out. Ricky Saints was the last to come out, though he didn’t join the fight.
Saints instead went around the ring where the NXT title had been placed and tried to pick it up. Oba Femi however, stopped him from doing so and the broadcast ended with the two No Mercy opponents staring each other.
Shawn Michaels later posted a video of himself reacting to the whole thing in the Gorilla and warning TNA roster that this was not over. The Anthem-owned promotion will be holding the Victory Road PPV on September 26 and it’s likely that some NXT stars will show up as a response to tonight’s angle.
Kenan Thompson’s production company Artists For Artists is developing the first-ever narrative feature film about wrestling legend “Macho Man” Randy Savage, according to an exclusive report from Deadline.
The Saturday Night Live star and his partner Johnny Ryan Jr. are producing “Macho,” based on a completed script by Savage’s late brother Lanny Poffo and Eric Shapiro. Poffo, who died in February 2023, co-wrote the screenplay as a tribute to his iconic sibling.
Thompson brings a personal connection to the project, having worked with Savage on a Nickelodeon promotional campaign back in 1999. The nostalgic collaboration sparked Thompson’s longtime admiration for the wrestling superstar.
“Macho man Randy Savage was the greatest showman of all time and the OG bad boy of entertainment,” Ryan Jr. was quoted. “His outfits were as electric as his personality and he’s so much more than an artist, he’s an icon.”
Thompson expressed his enthusiasm, stating he’s “beyond excited” to bring Savage’s story to the big screen, calling him “hands down one of the greatest of all time.”
Randy Savage’s Legacy
Born Randy Mario Poffo, Savage became one of wrestling’s most influential figures from the 1970s through early 2000s. After a shoulder injury ended his baseball aspirations with the Cardinals and Reds farm systems, he redirected his athletic drive toward wrestling, eventually becoming a six-time World Heavyweight Champion.
Savage died suddenly of a heart attack at age 58 in May 2011 and was posthumously inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2015. While his life has been featured in documentaries and WWE specials, this marks the first narrative feature film adaptation of his remarkable story.
WWE Superstar ASUKA marked the 10-year anniversary of her WWE signing with a deeply philosophical reflection on her career and legacy.
The Grand Slam champion shared her thoughts on Twitter, emphasizing that ideals and convictions hold more value than achievements alone.
“I believe that ideals and convictions, what one sets out to achieve, hold more value than what one has actually accomplished,” ASUKA wrote. “I have obtained every record, everything there is to obtain, but these are all merely waypoints.”
The Japanese wrestling icon, who competed as Kana before joining WWE, expressed her vision of creating lasting change in the industry.
“What has universal value and beauty is pioneering a new era, possessing the power to change the times,” she continued. ASUKA’s reflection highlighted her mission to establish a transformative legacy, stating her pursuit of “creating ‘before and after Kana’ and ‘before and after Asuka.'”
She emphasized the difficulty and beauty of forging new paths rather than following established ones.
“Creating a path is far more difficult than walking down a path that others have made. And therein lies the most beautiful aesthetic of all,” ASUKA concluded, describing her approach to life as centered on “living as a pioneer and living with conviction, philosophy, and aesthetics.”
Asuka is currently making headlines on WWE Raw after turning heel by attacking her former ally IYO SKY, ending their partnership in dramatic fashion following Asuka’s loss to Rhea Ripley on the September 22, 2025 episode. In the closing moments, Asuka unleashed her green mist on Ripley, then, with Kairi Sane, assaulted IYO when she tried to intervene, effectively forming a new allegiance with Kairi and making a strong statement against both IYO and Ripley.
A petition to honor the life and legacy of the British Bulldog, Davey Boy Smith, has gathered thousands of signatures from dedicated fans. Created by Michael Finney, the petition seeks to have Smith added to the Walk of Fame in his hometown of Wigan, England.
Smith is remembered as one of the most successful and beloved wrestlers to come out of the United Kingdom. Speaking exclusively to SEScoops, Finney recalled the pride he felt seeing his fellow countryman perform in the ring.
“As a British person myself, he respected me and our country. He was like our Superman or our late great Hulk Hogan.”
Finney’s passion for Smith led him to launch a petition in 2013 for the wrestler’s posthumous induction into the WWE Hall of Fame. That campaign was ultimately successful, with Smith being inducted eight years later. Still, Finney wasn’t finished.
“Davey’s daughter [Georgia Smith] spoke about the Walk of Fame in Wigan, and a fan tagged me into Georgia’s post and asked if I could get involved. I reached out to Georgia and asked if she would like me to get involved.”
Finney’s connection to the Smith’s has been strong since his initial 2013 campaign, and he and the family remain close to this day. For Finney, having Smith honored in Wigan wouldn’t just be for the late wrestler, but for those who knew him best.
“They are good people, and we’ve always had respect for each other in both our personal lives and through our campaigns. I really want this to happen for Georgia because she has so much love for her dad.”
The campaign has drawn support from public figures across entertainment, politics, and professional wrestling. Former WCW World Champion David Arquette and WWE Hall of Famer Kurt Angle are among those backing the effort.
“Kurt and Davey teamed up for a short time, and I knew Kurt always respected the business and the legends who were there before him.”
With over 7,000 signatures, the petition has plenty of support, but that hasn’t translated into a spot on the Walk of Fame yet. Instead, Finney shared that it’s been radio silence from those who’d be making the decision.
“I haven’t heard anything. I’ve reached out to the MP of Wigan and had no success. I’ve reached out to the council and even asked to travel to Wigan for a meeting to push for Davey to receive a Walk of Fame star, but I haven’t heard back from them.”
Still, Finney remains determined to see the first-ever WWE European Champion honored in his hometown. He believes a place on the Wigan Walk of Fame would be meaningful not only for Smith’s family and local fans but also for wrestling supporters worldwide.
“Davey deserves that spot for everything he has done for British wrestling and for representing the UK… I want this to happen for the country, and for the fans from all over the world to come to the UK and pay their respects to Davey.”
Finney concluded with a sentiment shared by many fans: when wrestling fans think of the UK, the British Bulldog immediately comes to mind.
“Davey was — and always will be — the most outstanding British wrestler of all time.”
Click here to find out more about the Wigan Walk of Fame petition, including how to show your support for the campaign to honor Davey Boy Smith.
Brock Lesnar is already being advertised for WWE’s biggest event of the year in 2026. In a new promotional graphic released on Tuesday to promote the ticket pre-sale for WrestleMania 42, Lesnar is featured prominently alongside other top company stars, including Roman Reigns, Cody Rhodes, Rhea Ripley, and CM Punk.
His inclusion in the marketing for the event, which is still seven months away, is a strong indication that he is a key part of WWE’s long-term plans following his recent return to the company. Lesnar had been absent from the previous two WrestleMania events.
Lesnar’s last appearance at the annual spectacular was at WrestleMania 39 in 2023, where he defeated Omos. He was off of WWE programming for two full years after his name was mentioned in the Janel Grant lawsuit that was filed against Vince McMahon and WWE in early 2024.
Lesnar made his shocking return to the company at SummerSlam this past August under a new contract for limited dates. He competed in his first match back this past Saturday at the inaugural WrestlePalooza Premium Live Event, where he scored a decisive victory over John Cena. WrestleMania 42 is scheduled to take place on Saturday, April 18, and Sunday, April 19, 2026, from Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Fans will get to see one of the best rivalries of the modern era one last time, as a match between John Cena and AJ Styles has been made official for the WWE Crown Jewel on Saturday, October 11. The match, which will be Cena’s final time competing in Australia as part of his 2025 retirement tour, was built entirely on social media over the past several days.
Cena began lobbying for the match, leading to an acceptance from Styles, and was made official on Tuesday by WWE Chief Creative Officer Paul “Triple H” Levesque. The announcement confirms a big addition to the card for the upcoming international event. The match was confirmed in a post on Levesque’s social media account after the two superstars agreed to the bout.
“@JohnCena vs. @AJStylesOrg is a match we all want to see. And at #WWECrownJewel…we will.” Editor’s Note: The graphic in the post confirmed the event is Super Show-Down: Perth.
The rivalry between John Cena and AJ Styles is one of the most celebrated of the last decade, producing several classic encounters, most notably their matches at SummerSlam in 2016 and the Royal Rumble in 2017. This will be their first major one-on-one match since 2018. Cena is coming off a loss to the returning Brock Lesnar at the WrestlePalooza event this past Saturday and will be looking to regain momentum on his farewell tour. The event has a special start time of 8:00 AM Eastern and will stream live on ESPN platforms in the US and on Netflix internationally. The updated card for WWE Super Show-Down: Perth is below:
Champion vs. Champion Match: WWE Champion Cody Rhodes vs. World Heavyweight Champion Seth Rollins
Champion vs. Champion Match: WWE Women’s Champion Tiffany Stratton vs. Women’s World Champion Stephanie Vaquer
New WWE Women’s World Champion Stephanie Vaquer is ready to make history following her victory at WWE Wrestlepalooza. Appearing on Monday Night Raw, Vaquer soaked in the adulation of the live crowd. Vaquer then addressed her victory over IYO SKY in Indianapolis and was grateful for the support of the WWE Universe.
“This championship represents the motivation and support you have all given me. And every single [one] of you celebrated with me at Wrestlepalooza and every single [one of] you cried with me. I need to say thank you.”
Vaquer then turned her attention to the future and what she intends to be a lengthy reign as champion. After reaching the pinnacle of WWE Raw’s women’s division, less than a year after debuting in NXT, Vaquer is ready to make history.
“My fire will be making history and nobody, I say nobody can stop me. La Primera! WWE Women’s World Champion.”
"Nobody can stop me." ?
NEW WWE Women's World Champion Stephanie Vaquer thanks the WWE Universe for their support and promises a long title reign! pic.twitter.com/mx3zOOX4IV
With this win, Vaquer has secured herself a place on the card at WWE Crown Jewel. The Women’s World Champion will face the WWE Women’s Champion on October 11 in Perth, Australia. A title match will take place on SmackDown between Tiffany Stratton, Jade Cargill, and Nia Jax.
Vaquer’s road to the gold saw her win a battle royal at WWE Evolution before defeating SKY at Wrestlepalooza for the vacant gold. At one point, she had been scheduled to face Naomi at Clash in Paris, but Naomi’s pregnancy changed plans.
Now, Vaquer will be the target of every woman on WWE Raw from former champions like SKY, Rhea Ripley, and Becky Lynch, to those yet to hold the gold. Nevertheless, the Women’s World Champion remains confident that her reign won’t just impress, but it will be historic.
For the second straight year, “The American Nightmare” Cody Rhodes has been ranked number one on the prestigious Pro Wrestling Illustrated 500 list. The official announcement from the magazine confirms that the reigning Undisputed WWE Champion has once again been selected as the top male professional wrestler in the world.
The achievement places Rhodes in truly elite company, as he becomes only the fourth wrestler in the history of the PWI 500 to top the list in back-to-back years, joining a group that includes Bret “The Hitman” Hart, “Stone Cold” Steve Austin, and John Cena. The evaluation period for this year’s list ran from August 1, 2024, through July 31, 2025. During that time, Rhodes had one of the most dominant years of any superstar, holding the Undisputed WWE Championship for the entire period.
His reign included numerous championship defenses, a main event victory at WrestleMania 41, and wins over top competitors such as Kevin Owens, GUNTHER, and Solo Sikoa. The PWI 500 criteria for ranking includes a wrestler’s win-loss record, influence on the sport, and success against the highest level of competition, all areas where Rhodes excelled during the evaluation period.
The rest of the top ten was a mix of stars from WWE, AEW, and CMLL. The top ten for the 2025 PWI 500 is below:
The September 22, episode of WWE Raw will be one that Rhea Ripley won’t want to remember anytime soon. Things started strong for the Australian Superstar, who was able to beat Asuka after the Empress accidentally struck her ally Kairi Sane.
Ripley ended Raw with a face full of paint, a fact that Bayley saw the funny side of. On X, Bayley shared that Ripley covered in the blue mist resembles a character from Avatar, but added that ‘Mami’ still looked pretty.
It wasn’t just Ripley who was left worse for wear by Asuka, as the Empress confirmed her heel turn with an attack on IYO SKY. Once again taking to X, Bayley struggled to find sympathy for her Damage CTRL alum, as it was IYO and the faction that ousted Bayley in 2024.
With Bayley undergoing a character change in WWE, it remains to be seen how she will fit into the Ripley-Asuka-SKY program. Whatever’s next for the Role Model, she certainly enjoyed what happened during WWE Raw.
Piper Niven has been sidelined with an injury since the August 22, 2025 episode of WWE SmackDown in Dublin, Ireland. Now, a concerning update has surfaced, with some fearing the setback could bring her wrestling career to an end.
On a recent episode of Wrestling Observer Live, Bryan Alvarez reported that there is internal concern within WWE that Niven’s injury may be career-threatening. This follows a report from Fightful Select, which confirmed that Niven is indeed injured, though the exact nature of the issue has not been publicly disclosed.
Niven, who began her pro-wrestling career in 2007, signed with WWE in 2019 as part of NXT UK. In 2021, she was called up to the main roster, where she was briefly paired with Eva Marie under the name “Doudrop.” More recently, Niven aligned with Chelsea Green, and together they captured the WWE Women’s Tag Team Championship.
In kayfabe, Green has explained Niven’s absence from WWE TV, saying she is undergoing a covert mission for the ‘Secret Hervice.’ Green has also shared that she is fielding applicants to join the group, once again raising questions about the length of Piper’s absence from TV.
Our beloved Head of SecHERity, Slaygent P, is currently out on a top-secret special assignment.
In her absence, the Secret Hervice will be accepting intel dossiers (a.k.a. resumes, for you dummies) and video submissions for a potential fill-in candidate.
With Niven out of action, Green has been working alongside Alba Fyre, the third member of the Secret Hervice. Stay tuned to SEScoops for the latest on Piper Niven and this unfortunate setback in her career.
Ticket prices for WWE events have been on the rise as of late, with TKO President Mark Shapiro recently sharing that the company has “a lot of room” to maximise profits. With the cheapest tickets for WrestleMania 42 starting at over $850, many fans have grown concerned that WWE is simply pricing out a large proportion of fans.
While speaking on the Inside the Ring podcast, MVP addressed concerns about WWE, including the growing number of ads at WWE PLEs. MVP, who is currently part of AEW, argued that the focus on profits is alienating fans, and this issue isn’t just with WWE.
“There’s been an emphasis on profit with the increasing corporatization of one side, without enough regard for the fans who helped make the company what it is. Sadly, that’s happening not just in wrestling.“
MVP added that the NFL and NBA are also participants in this ‘price-gouging.’ The Hurt Syndicate member shared that thanks to “price hikes,” a father taking their kids to an NBA game, once a fun day out, is now a “pretty substantial cut of your income.”
WWE’s record-breaking profits in recent years can’t be ignored, but many feel that these records are coming at the expense of fans. With tickets increasing and WWE introducing ads during PLEs, as seen at the recent Wrestlepalooza event, WWE’s focus on how much money they can squeeze out of fans remains the priority.
For MVP, the debate over ticket prices goes beyond pro wrestling. While wrestling has often been an entertainment enjoyed by fans of all classes, he fears that many fans who have supported the industry will ultimately be left behind.
The September 22 episode of WWE Raw ended in shocking fashion, as Asuka betrayed IYO SKY and ended a friendship that began long before either woman joined WWE. In the final moments of the show, Asuka struck Rhea Ripley with her trademark mist before delivering a spinning kick to SKY, her longtime ally and former protégé.
Footage taken after the broadcast showed Ripley and SKY checking on one another, drawing a loud reaction from the live crowd, who cheered to see two of WWE’s top women standing together.
Backstage, an emotional SKY broke down in tears as she reflected on Asuka’s betrayal.
“We were friends. I thought we were friends. I believed we were friends, Asuka and Kairi don’t want me. Devastated. No, but I wasn’t helpful to them. I realized that today. This hurts more than losing a match. I just don’t know. I’m done.”
Tension had been brewing for weeks, with Asuka claiming that SKY needed only her and Kairi Sane—not Ripley. But with SKY now cut off from some of her oldest allies and fresh off a loss in her bid for the Women’s World Title at Wrestlepalooza, her next move in WWE remains uncertain.
Multiple big matches have been announced for next week’s episode of Raw.
After Finn Balor refused to help Dominik Mysterio due to their confrontation last week, JD McDonagh reluctantly agreed to help the IC Champion in dealing with his ‘Rusev problem’ on this week’s Raw. This resulted in a match between JD and Rusev.
Dom tried to interfere in this bout but the referee warned him off, and the Bulgarian Brute picked up the victory with the Accolade. Rusev continued pushing on even after the bell rang, and Dom stayed frozen at the ringside until Finn Balor came out to make the save.
Balor then yelled at Mysterio for not helping JD. After this it was announced that Rusev will be challenging Dominik for the IC Title on Raw next week.
Jey Uso also made an appearance on tonight’s show after a concerning spot during the WrestlePalooza PPV. The former world champion showed a more intense side of him while interacting with his brother Jimmy Uso and Cody Rhodes backstage.
The Yeet Man went on to pick up a singles victory over LA Knight later in the show, thanks to some interference from Bron ‘n Bron Connection. Jimmy Uso showed up after the bell, trying to get his brother to help Knight fight the duo of Bron Breakker and Bronson Reed.
After Jey refused to get back in the ring, Jimmy picked up a chair and fought off the heels on his own. It was later announced that The Usos will face Bron ‘n Bron Connection in a WrestlePalooza rematch at Raw next week.
Apart from this, a singles match between Bayley and Raquel Rodriguez, and a tag team bout where AJ Styles and Dragon Lee will face two of the three El Grande Americanos, has also been confirmed for the September 29 show.
AEW star and leader of The Hurt Business, MVP, has responded to a recent report from Fightful Select, which stated that there have been discussions within the company about adding a new, younger member to the faction. The report sparked speculation among fans about who could potentially join the dominant trio of MVP, Bobby Lashley, and Shelton Benjamin.
The group has been a major force in All Elite Wrestling, and the idea of them adding a new member to their ranks is an intriguing prospect for future storylines. Speaking on the “TMZ’s Inside The Ring” podcast, MVP addressed the report, confirming that the group has always been open to the idea of expansion, though he downplayed the notion that any definitive discussions have happened recently.
“Of course it’s possible. It’s always possible. We have said for a long time that’d we’d be interested in adding a fourth member, a younger member, kinda like how Cedric was. I don’t know currently what his status currently is.”
He then revealed that their discussions in the past have not been limited to just adding another male superstar.
“I know somebody reported recently that ‘there are talks about adding a fourth member to the Hurt Syndicate.’ News to me. I guess what is misleading about that ‘news’ is that we’re always interested in potentially adding a new member. In the past, we’ve had talks about adding a woman to the group. With professional wrestling, like everything in life, it comes down to timing. It’s all timing. Is it the right person at the right time to what the bigger picture is? There hasn’t been any definitive discussion recently where, ‘Okay, let’s call a meeting.’ It’s always a conversation that we’re open to. There are some people that we like, like yeah man, he or she would be pretty cool. It all comes down to timing and that’s life as well as the nature of the business.”
The Hurt Syndicate lost a trios match at the AEW All Out pay-per-view against the team of Ricochet and The Gates of Agony.
An update has been provided on the status of Jey Uso following the steel chair shot he took to the face at the WWE WrestlePalooza Premium Live Event this past Saturday. During the tag team match that saw The Usos face The Vision’s Bron Breakker and Bronson Reed, Jey was struck with the chair, leaving him busted open.
Due to the nature of the blow to the head, he was immediately placed in WWE’s concussion protocol as a precautionary measure. The protocol is a standard procedure for any performer who appears to have suffered a potential head injury, even if a concussion has not been officially diagnosed.
On today’s episode of Wrestling Observer Live, Bryan Alvarez provided the latest on Jey’s condition, suggesting that he has avoided a serious injury. “As of this morning, WWE claims that he’s fine, which sounds to me like he’s been cleared.”
The positive report from Alvarez aligns with an update from Jey Uso himself. Following the event on Saturday night, he took to his social media accounts to give a simple message to his fans, letting them know that he is “good.”
A new report from PWInsider has revealed the ticket prices for next year’s two-night WWE WrestleMania 42 Premium Live Event, and fans planning to attend the show in Las Vegas can expect to pay premium prices. The pricing structure reflects the new strategy under TKO Group Holdings, which aims to maximize revenue for the company’s biggest events. The high cost positions WrestleMania as a premier destination event, with prices that are comparable to other major sporting event like the Super Bowl.
The report details the cost for a two-day ticket across various sections of Allegiant Stadium, where the event will be held for the second consecutive year. According to the report, the highest-priced two-day ticket on the floor will cost nearly $9,000 before any additional handling fees, while the lowest-priced tickets in the upper sections will start at over $850.
This pricing continues the trend of increased ticket costs for major WWE events that was recently discussed by TKO COO Mark Shapiro, who stated the company would be replicating the successful “ticket yield” strategy of the UFC.The reported two-day ticket prices are as follows:
Section A1 on floor – $8,998.00
Section B on floor – $3,868.00
Section R101 – $2,200.75
100 level – $1,495.00, $1,303.54, $1,174.80
200 level – $1,303.54, $1,174.80
300 Section – $1,174.80
400 Section – $854.15
WrestleMania 42 is scheduled for Saturday, April 18, and Sunday, April 19, 2026, at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas. Tickets for the event will go on sale to the general public this Wednesday, September 24.
