In a brief but revealing interview with TMZ Sports, Shane McMahon addressed the swirling speculation about his and Vince McMahon’s next moves in the wrestling world. The former WWE executive made it clear that rumors of the father-son duo launching a new wrestling promotion are unfounded.
“You never know what’s gonna happen out there, of course, and it can happen in WWE,” Shane told TMZ. “But those rumors are false.”
While dismissing talks of a new promotion, Shane did confirm something that raised a few eyebrows—he’s had discussions with All Elite Wrestling. “Had a meeting with AEW and wish them continued success,” he said. “But it’s not WWE, it’s not the company I helped build. But you never know what’s gonna happen in this business.”
As for Vince McMahon, Shane offered a rare update on his father’s mindset and future plans following his resignation from WWE and TKO in early 2024. “He’s been doing really well. He’s enjoying life… but if you know my dad, he’s always gung ho, and he’s always doing the next thing, and that’s what he’s focused on.”
Though Vince is no longer actively involved in WWE’s day-to-day operations, Shane reminded everyone that he still maintains a significant role. “He’s a big part of TKO still, so we never know what’s gonna happen there, either. So I’m not trying to be vague. I’m just saying anything can happen.”
Former WWE star Bishop Dyer, previously known as Baron Corbin, has commented on the recent departure of R-Truth. The former WWE star thinks it’s a sign of a major cultural shift within WWE under TKO Group Holdings where talent loyalty is no longer important.
Speaking on Busted Open Radio, Dyer compared the current environment with the previous regime. “Say what you want about Vince, Vince cared about his talent and he cared about the fans,” Dyer stated.
“Guys like Taker, someone who’s been loyal. When you watch Vince talk about Taker, he starts crying because he loves him and his loyalty. R-Truth has been nothing but loyal, he’s done everything that’s ever been asked. He’s gotten everything to work, even some sh*t that’s really questionable over the years, he’s made very entertaining.”
Dyer believes this sends a clear message to the current locker room. “I think for the locker room, they’re gonna come to a harsh realization that loyalty no longer matters,” he said. “I think that it has become what the NFL a little bit is, a paper league, in my opinion, where it’s no longer about the person, it’s about what’s on paper.”
Shotzi made her surprise return to the independent wrestling scene on Friday, June 6, 2025, appearing at Hoodslam’s “Fearless” event in Oakland, California. This was her first in-ring appearance since her WWE contract was not renewed in May.
Taking to X, Shotzi commented on the sentimental night: “SURPRISE! I had to kick off this next chapter of my career where it all started for me! Wrestled one of my OG trainers last night in an emotional and sentimental match that really epitomized what you all are about to see from me.”
The match is available for viewing on TrillerTV. Shotzi’s WWE departure came after a six-year run with the company. With her non-compete period over, she is already scheduled for a GCW tour of Japan in late July and an appearance at MLW’s Summer of the Beasts event on June 26th.
The appearance marked a full-circle moment for the star, now using her full “Shotzi Blackheart” name, as she returned to the promotion where she began her career in 2014.
SURPRISE! I had to kick off this next chapter of my career where it all started for me! Wrestled one of my OG trainers last night in an emotional and sentimental match that really epitomized what you all are about to see from me. Watch it on @Triller_TV HOODSLAM FEARLESS https://t.co/9UKG1uFmal
Triple H filmed a segment before this week’s SmackDown.
WWE presented the Money In The Bank go home episode of the Blue Branded show from the Dignity Health Arena in Bakersfield, California. The show featured stars such as Stephanie Vaquer, Cody Rhodes, John Cena and Rhea Ripley.
Cena with his partner Logan Paul had the final confrontation with Cody Rhodes and Jey Uso before their match tomorrow, while Vaquer and Ripley teamed up for a six women tag. The most interesting segment of the day, however, may have been filmed before the show.
According to reports from Fightful Select, a black SUV was set up for shooting in the afternoon and WWE Chief Content Officer Triple H filmed some promotional material before the show went on air.
While the site did not reveal the full script for the segment, they noted that one of the lines used during the shoot was “anything worth doing, is worth doing twice.”
WWE had originally announced WrestleMania 42 from New Orleans. The company has since backtracked on their announcement, revealing that the city will now be hosting the 2026 Money In The Bank PPV instead.
While not confirmed, the belief is that officials are planning to bring the Show of Shows back to Las Vegas in 2026. The mentioned segment seems to be the preparation for the official announcement of the same.
Matt Hardy was as surprised by R-Truth’s WWE departure as the fans.
The Attitude Era star announced his release from the company earlier this month, ending his 17-year run with the promotion. Reports suggest that the decision was a financial one as the company believed that his currently salary was not justified in the way they were using him.
The Broken One reacted to the news on the latest episode of his podcast. Matt Hardy said he believed R-Truth to be a WWE lifer and things would have probably turned out differently if Vince McMahon was still in-charge of the company:
“I mean, it was shocking. You would think with the attitude and mentality he had — If Vince was there, I think he probably would’ve stuck around because Vince was such a big fan.
He was easy to work with, he wasn’t difficult, he wasn’t a challenge. It was shocking. I was shocked that they didn’t re-sign him. I would’ve thought that R-Truth would’ve been a WWE lifer at this point.”
Matt Hardy speculated about the reasons behind Truth’s unexpected exit noting that for TKO officials, it might have been a question of the bottom line. Though with WWE regularly touting record gates and unprecedented profits, the Attitude Era Star believes that Truth is a star that should have been kept around even if it meant paying him a little more than his perceived value:
“I feel like not only is he [good] for the fanbase, I think he’s good for morale. He’s a great employee to have, you know what I mean? He’s an ambassador, he’s the kind of guy you want there. I would’ve went out of my way but they’re looking at it differently apparently. I was shocked by it.”
Apart from this, Matt Hardy also discussed the potential of Truth joining the TNA roster. He spoke positively about it noting how the 53-year-old has history with the company. The TNA fans have since also made it clear that they’d love to have R-Truth in the promotion. You can check out more about it here.
The WWE Hall of Famer confirmed the news while speaking to People. Flair revealed that it’s the second time in three years that he’s been diagnosed with the disease and he’ll begin treatment for it starting next week:
“It’s the second time in three years that I’ve been dealing with skin cancer. I will be undergoing treatment next week.”
This comes only days after the 76-year-old denied reports of cancer in response to a tweet from his son-in-law, Conrad Thompson. Flair at the time had told fans that they’d have to put up with him for at least 25 more years.
The Nature Boy had been in the news recently for some harsh words for fellow wrestling veteran Jim Ross. The AEW announcer, who is recovering from cancer himself, was called an attention seeker by Ric Flair in a now-deleted tweet.
The Retired Professional wrestler has dealt with numerous health issues in recent years. Most notably, he faced a life-threatening crisis during his 2017 hospitalization as a result of multiple organ failure. Flair had to be put into a medically induced coma and had a lengthy stint at the hospital before being discharged.
NXT continues to expand its partnership with brands not owned by the company.
Booker T’s Reality of Wrestling promotion announced earlier today that the current NXT Tag Team Champions Tank Ledger & Hank Walker will be returning to the promotion.
The NXT stars will be competing at the ROW show set for the Walker Texas Lawyer Arena in Texas City, TX next Saturday on June 14.
The show titled ROW Power Shift will see the title holders putting the WWE championships on the line against the duo of Big Luther & Tempo:
? BREAKING NEWS ?
The @WWENXT tag team championships will be defended at Reality Of Wrestling on Saturday, June 14th in Texas City, TX at the Walker Texas Lawyer Arena!
Booker T currently serves as an announcer for NXT. So it’s no surprise that the brand sends some their stars to the Hall of Famer’s promotion from time to time.
Just last year we saw top NXT stars such as Lexis King and Roxanne Perez making appearances at ROW shows. Perez has since been called up to the main roster while King remains in the development brand.
This won’t be Hank & Tank’s first appearance for the indie promotion as they’ve previously wrestled for the company on many occasions. The duo even had a run with the ROW tag titles after winning them in December last year.
Though NXT titles being defended at an indie show is still a rare occurrence. They won the belts, defeating Fraxiom at NXT Stand & Deliver over the WrestleMania 41 weekend.
The TNA Wrestling fans made themselves loud and clear during Against All Odds: they want R-Truth inside the iMPACT Zone. During the June 6, event at the Mullett Arena in Tempe, fans broke out into loud “We Want Truth” chants during the TNA World Tag Team Championship match between The Nemeths and The Rascalz.
The chants weren’t acknowledged by commentary, but they are the latest example of the fan support behind Truth. Since his release from WWE, fans have been outraged over the decision with pro-Truth chants breaking out at both WWE Raw and WWE NXT. During Against All Odds, another Truth chant broke out during SmackDown, prompting John Cena to fire back.
Truth has a history with TNA and his future could see the former NWA Worlds Champion return to the promotion. Though R-Truth is a free agent, odds are he won’t be for long.
Former WWE Women’s Tag Team Champions have returned to wrestling.
TNA presented their Against All Odds PPV on Friday, June 6, from the Mullett Arena in Tempe, Arizona. The show featured matches such as Trick Williams defending the TNA title against Elijah and Mustafa Ali taking on Jason Hotch.
One of the most notable moments of the night came during the Countdown pre-show, however, when the duo of Cassie Lee & Jessica McKay, collectively known as The IInspiration, made their TNA return.
The female stars previously had a run with the Knockouts Tag Team titles. They confronted the current champs The Elegance Brand during their appearance:
This was the first appearance for The IInspiration in TNA since 2022. Though they did reunite for a match against Kylie Rae & Nicole Matthews at Prestige Nothing To Lose event during WrestleMania 41 weekend last month.
Previously known as The IIconics, the duo of Lee and McKay first made their name working on the NXT brand starting in October 2016. Then dubbed as Peyton Royce and Billie Kay, the tag team quickly became a fan favorite duo to their unique persona.
The IIconics made their main roster debut in April 2018. The team’s biggest win came at WrestleMania 35 when they defeated Sasha Banks and Bayley to win the Women’s tag team championship. They were released from their WWE contract in April 2021.
Alex Windsor is officially on her way to All Elite Wrestling after revealing that she is All Elite.
At the June 6 Pro-Wrestling: EVE event, Windsor challenged Syuri for the IWGP Women’s Championship. While Syuri retained her title, the bigger moment came after the match when Windsor took the microphone and sharred that it would be her last match on the independents for a long time. Windsor then stunned fans as she confirmed that she has signed with AEW.
Windsor has been wrestling for 16 years, and has become a mainstay across the U.K. independent scene. Her career has also taken her to Japan, where she wrestled for Tokyo Joshi Pro Wrestling, and she’s made appearances for NJPW. Windsor competed in AEW and Ring of Honor back in February and fans can expect to see more of her soon.
Now officially All Elite, Windsor is putting the independent circuit behind her as she prepares for the next chapter in AEW.
Uriah Connors is experiencing the painful realities of life in the ring after stepping inside the ring with Dark State. The fourth-generation WWE star and son of Fit Finlay suffered a brutal mouth injury during the June 3 episode of NXT, and he hasn’t hesitated to show fans just how real things got.
Connors teamed with Andre Chase and Kale Dixon as part of Chase U, but the trio fell to Darkstate’s Cutler James, Dion Lennox, and Osiris Griffin. The loss wasn’t Connors’ only takeaway from the night. Shortly after the match, he took to social media with a graphic injury update that had fans cringing.
The 20-year-old prospect later shared that he underwent dental work to repair the damage. Still in obvious discomfort, Connors kept his sense of humor.
On behalf of Dark State… I j took a needle to the face ? #newteeth
Previously known as Brogan Finlay, Connors signed with WWE in December 2023. He made his televised debut during NXT Roadblock in March 2024 in a match against Shawn Spears. By April, he had officially joined the revamped Chase U faction, continuing the Finlay family’s storied wrestling legacy. Though he’ll be back in the ring soon enough, he may have to think twice the next time he’s offered a match against Dark State.
Apollo Crews hasn’t competed for a long time, but now the former Intercontinental and United States Champion has reached a massive accomplishment out of the ring. On social media, Crews revealed that he has graduated college from Auburn University with honors.
“It took 37 years, but we got it done! It’s never too late to do anything! Today, it is official! College graduate with honors!—-?–I originally attended Auburn University, but left before finishing to chase my dream of becoming a Wrestler. I’m glad I decided to go back and finish what I started all those years ago.”
Crews’ news shared a flurry of positive messages from fans and wrestlers alike. Natalya, Andrade, Mark Henry, and JD McDonagh were among those who shared their excitement at seeing Crews graduate.
Apollo Crews is currently out of action with a torn pectoral and is clearly making the most of his time out of the ring. Stay tuned to SEScoops for the latest on Crews’ life in and out of the squared circle.
AEW’s Mercedes Moné has added another title to her growing list of accolades—this time from Austria. Moné made a surprise appearance at the European Wrestling Association’s Prater Catchen event in Vienna, the promotion’s biggest annual show. In a triple-threat match, Moné defeated Mila Smidt and reigning champion Lexa Valo to capture the EWA Women’s Championship.
The EWA Women’s title is the latest addition to Moné’s already impressive championship collection. The AEW star has held the TBS Championship for over a year and currently reigns as Rev Pro’s Undisputed Women’s Champion. At Double or Nothing, she added the Owen Hart Foundation Women’s Tournament Championship to her résumé by defeating Jamie Hayter in the finals. Previously, Moné also held the NJPW Strong Women’s Championship, which she recently lost to AZM.
— Mercedes Moné Varnado (@MercedesVarnado) June 6, 2025
Next on her radar is the AEW Women’s World Championship. Moné is scheduled to face current champion Toni Storm at AEW All In: Texas, where she hopes to continue her gold-laden run. Whether she adds another major title to her name remains to be seen.
Tonight’s Money In The Bank go home episode of SmackDown featured a number of notable moments, including a big heel turn in the women’s division.
Former NXT Women’s Champion Giulia, who has been feuding with Women’s US Champion Zelina Vega, met her rival in a backstage segment at tonight’s show. Vega told the Japanese star that she’d have to pry the title from her lifeless body, to which Giulia said that she likes the idea. The current champion apparently also told her opponent to ‘bring it on’ in Japanese during this confrontation.
Zelina Vega then came out later in the show for a Bakersfield Brawl with Piper Niven. The ending of the bout saw the US Champion delivering an avalanche Code Red on her opponent and going for the pin. Alba Fyre however, appeared out of nowhere and pulled Vega out of the ring.
Zelina Vega to Giulia backstage (in Japanese): "Bring it on!"
She and Chelsea Green then started beating Zelina down. The trio set Vega on a table inside the ring, and Niven went on top. Though Giulia appeared out of nowhere and took out both Green and Fyre with a dive.
Zelina Vega then grabbed Piper for a powerbomb as Giulia helped her with a kendo stick. The defending champion finally sent her opponent crashing through the table to get the pin and retain her title.
The former NXT Champion picked up a confused Zelina Vega after the bell and raised her hand. Giulia then turned on the US champion and dropped her with a headbutt. The Beautiful Madness delivered a northern lights bomb. She repeated Vega’s words from earlier in the night while raising the US title to end the segment.
John Cena acknowledged the R Truth chants at tonight’s SmackDown.
The wrestling veteran surprisingly announced his departure from the company earlier this month on June 1. Neither the fans nor the people within the company were happy with this decision.
Fans have been showing their displeasure with the release of the beloved Attitude Era star by chanting his name at every WWE show since the news came out. CM Punk had even acknowledged the chants off air at this past Monday’s Raw.
The Cenation Leader did the same on the Blue Branded Show tonight, this time reacting to the ‘We Want Truth’ chants while the show was still on air. John Cena grabbed the mic and told the audience that ‘You can’t handle the truth’:
Prior to this, Cena beat up the duo of Cody Rhodes and World Heavyweight Champion Jey Uso with help from his tag team partner, Logan Paul.
Rhodes and Uso were already in the ring when Cena came out. Before interacting with either, however, the 17-time world champion demanded a proper introduction from the ring announcer. During the introduction, Logan Paul came out of nowhere and attacked Jey Uso from behind.
Cody Rhodes grabbed Paul but Cena took out the American Nightmare. The YouTube star and the Hollywood actor then took their time beating their Money In The Bank opponents. The show ended with Logan Paul raising the World title while Cena held up the WWE title up in the air.
WWE has announced the return of the King and Queen of The Ring tournaments, with the winners receiving a future title shot.
The announcement was made by the Raw General Manager, Adam Pearce, and the SmackDown General Manager, Nick Aldis, on this week’s episode of the Blue Branded Show.
The WWE officials confirmed that the upcoming tournament will be a cross-brand competition. The winners of the respective tournaments will receive a title shot at the champion of their brand at the upcoming SummerSlam PPV.
Both of WWE’s premier brands will be holding two four-way bouts to determine the talents advancing to the semi-finals of the tournament. The finals will be held at the upcoming Night of Champions PPV on June 28 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
WWE utilised the same formula for the competition last year, with the Saudi PPV where the finals took place being named after the tournament itself.
Nia Jax won the Queen of The Ring tournament at the PPV last year, defeating Lyra Valkyria in the finals. Jax went on to defeat Bayley at SummerSlam to win the Women’s World Championship.
Gunther similarly became the King of the Ring by defeating Randy Orton and earning a shot at Damian Priest’s World Heavyweight Championship. The Ring General would go on to defeat Priest at the PPV as well.
Liberty Rhodes, daughter of Cody and Brandi Rhodes, may come from wrestling royalty, but there’s no expectation for her to follow in the family’s footsteps. Speaking with BET, Brandi Rhodes shared that despite being surrounded by the wrestling world, Liberty has yet to actually watch a match.
“She runs around the ring and plays, but she has no idea what’s going on. She’s turning four this month and has never seen a wrestling match. That’s a personal decision. One day she’ll get it—but there’s no pressure.”
With her father Cody, mother Brandi, uncle Dustin Rhodes, and late grandfather Dusty Rhodes all deeply rooted in wrestling, Liberty certainly has the pedigree. Still, her future isn’t being mapped out for her.
“Every time I post her, someone’s like, ‘Next generation!’ And I’m like—maybe not. If she wants to wrestle, sure. But just because her parents did it doesn’t mean she has to.”
While Liberty’s path remains open, her father’s wrestling plans are more defined. Cody Rhodes is set to team with Jey Uso to face John Cena and Logan Paul at WWE Money in the Bank 2025. Brandi will be cheering him on—but both parents are united in letting Liberty choose her own path, wrestling or otherwise.
Drew McIntyre has commented on reports from the 2025 WWE Royal Rumble, where he was reportedly screaming and cursing backstage and stormed out of the building over frustrations with the men’s Rumble match.
Speaking on the Gorilla Position podcast, McIntyre confirmed he did indeed leave the arena. He explained it’s his way of handling his temper professionally.
“I will tell you that I was not happy. I invented a few swear words, and then I left the building,” McIntyre stated. “I left the building because I’m a professional… I blow up big time every couple of years, but every time I get upset, it somehow makes the internet because it’s such a scene. Generally, I don’t, but my thing is, I’m going to leave the building.”
He detailed his reasoning for walking away from a volatile situation. “I would walk down and punch somebody in the face, because that’s who I am. But I’m also professional, so I’d rather take myself out of this situation because I know how bad my temper is,” he explained.
“And sometimes, when you calm down, things are not as they seem. So I’ve learned to just walk away. That’s the adult thing to do.” He then added his final thought on the process: “Calm down, look at the things, and then, if you still feel the same, knock somebody out.”
Vince McMahon officially resigned from WWE and TKO Holdings in 2024 following Janel Grant filing her lawsuit claiming sexual abuse and trafficking. Speaking on The Rise Guys, Bret Hart was asked for his take on McMahon in 2025.
“But, you know, I’ve had my ups and downs with Vince McMahon. In a lot of ways, I have a lot of respect for him. But at the same time, I find what happened there inexcusable. There’s no place for that.”
Hart went further, stating he believes McMahon became a predator who used the wrestling industry as a facade for his misconduct. For Hart, McMahon’s actions demonstrate how massive wealth corrupts people.
“I think Vince McMahon became a predator and used wrestling as his backdrop for all of his evil. And it just tells me that too much money can turn you into a bad person. And it’s true.”
Grant’s lawsuit was initially filed against McMahon, WWE, and John Laurinaitis, the latter of whom has been dropped as a defendant. In exchange, the former Raw and SmackDown General Manager is now reportedly cooperating in the case against McMahon. As the legal process unfolds, it’s clear that Hart’s perspective on McMahon is firmly set—and unlikely to change.
WWE has added a rare domestic, non-televised live event to its summer schedule. The company has announced a “WWE Supershow” for Saturday, July 19, 2025, at the American Bank Center in Corpus Christi, Texas.
This marks a notable addition to the calender. WWE has significantly reduced the amount of house shows it runs aside from international dates and the annual Christmas season tour in the US.
This Texas live event takes place just one week after AEW’s All In: Texas pay-per-view and WWE’s own major weekend in Atlanta, which includes NXT Great American Bash, Saturday Night’s Main Event, and Evolution 2.
The Supershow, which will feature wrestlers from both Raw and SmackDown, is conveniently scheduled between a SmackDown taping in San Antonio on July 18th and a Raw taping in Houston on July 21st. Advertised stars for the event include “Cody Rhodes, Jey Uso, Gunther, Jacob Fatu, Solo Sikoa, Tiffany Stratton, Liv Morgan, Raquel Rodriguez, Rhea Ripley, Seth Rollins, Kofi Kingston, and Xavier Woods.”
Tickets for the Corpus Christi Supershow are set to go on sale to the general public on Friday, June 13th.
Julia Reilly—best known to wrestling fans as Claire Lynch from one of TNA’s most infamous storylines has sadly passed away. According to the Wrestling Observer Newsletter, Reilly died two months ago in Orlando. Her body was discovered in her home after she failed to appear for a scheduled event. It is believed she died of natural causes.
Reilly debuted in TNA in 2012 as Claire Lynch, a character who, according to storyline, had an affair with AJ Styles and was supposedly pregnant with his child. The angle, driven by Christopher Daniels and Frankie Kazarian, became a central plot point until fans took things too far once Reilly’s true identity was revealed.
Reilly faced intense online harassment across her personal platforms—including her website, YouTube channel, and LinkedIn profile. The backlash quickly escalated, prompting her to exit the storyline abruptly. Her exit was explained on TV with a statement from Lynch’s ‘lawyer,’ who revealed that AJ Styles was not the father and that she had never been pregnant.
Reilly later explained that she left the role out of concern for her long-term career. The response was so severe that she reportedly never included the TNA appearance on her acting resume again. In recent years, Reilly worked as a presenter and MC for events in Central Florida, like trade shows.
We at SEScoops would like to share our condolences to Reilly’s friends, family, and those who knew her at this sad time.
Following WWE’s acquisition of Lucha Libre AAA Worldwide in April, the creative structure for the Mexican promotion has been solidified with a three-person team leading the company’s creative direction under WWE’s oversight.
According to PWInsider, AAA Creative going forward will be led by Jeremy Borash, Konnan, and newly-signed Hector “Moody Jack” Melendez. The announcement comes as both promotions prepare for their first joint event, WWE x AAA: Worlds Collide, streaming live on YouTube this Saturday from Los Angeles’ Kia Forum.
Konnan has long been a booker for AAA, while Borash was brought in as a WWE representative on the creative team. Borash, who serves as WWE’s Vice President of Content and Development, brings extensive wrestling production experience from his tenure at TNA Wrestling and his current role overseeing WWE content initiatives.
The addition of Melendez represents a strategic hiring to bridge both companies’ creative visions. Speaking to Contralona, Melendez confirmed his new role, stating: “Being part of the creative with WWE & AAA is the crowning moment of my life after everything I’ve gone through”. The Puerto Rican announcer and producer has extensive experience with both AAA and TNA Wrestling, having previously worked alongside Borash during their TNA tenure.
WWE announced its acquisition of AAA in partnership with Mexico-based entertainment company Fillip during WrestleMania 41 weekend, with the transaction expected to close in Q3 2025. The creative team appointments signal WWE’s commitment to maintaining AAA’s cultural identity while integrating the promotion into WWE’s global operations.
Both Konnan and Melendez are expected to be present at this weekend’s Worlds Collide event, with Melendez having visited the WWE Performance Center earlier this week alongside fellow Puerto Rican wrestling veteran Savio Vega.
The Saturday event will feature matches blending WWE’s NXT brand with AAA talent, including Chad Gable challenging El Hijo del Vikingo for the AAA Mega Championship and a Fatal Four-Way match for the NXT North American Championship.
Industry observers view the creative team structure as WWE’s approach to preserving AAA’s lucha libre traditions while leveraging WWE’s production capabilities and global reach to expand the Mexican promotion’s audience.
AEW’s MVP recently discussed his issues with WWE Chief Content Officer Paul “Triple H” Levesque, stating in a recent interview with BetIdeas that he has “zero respect” for him.
According to a report from Dave Meltzer in the Wrestling Observer Newsletter, one past instance of issues between them involved a storyline where Triple H pitched an angle for MVP to be mesmerized by Eve Torres.
MVP reportedly pushed back, arguing his “million-dollar athlete” character wouldn’t act that way, a response Levesque “wasn’t happy with at all.” MVP has also stated that Triple H turned down a reformation of The Hurt Business in WWE. The group has since reformed in AEW as The Hurt Syndicate.
Despite his critiques of WWE’s booking, MVP clarified in the interview that the problems are personal, not racial. MVP used his former Hurt Business stablemate Bobby Lashley as an example of his booking concerns under Triple H.
“Let’s just say this, Bobby Lashley was a two-time WWE Champion, and after he took over, Bobby Lashley was reduced to the mid-card.”
When addressing fans who think he’s just “griping,” MVP said, “Okay, well just watch the program. Who were the people in the top spots under his leadership? Who were given the opportunities?… I’m talking about the main show.”
However, MVP made it clear his core issues are personal. “I’ll be honest with you, my issues with him have nothing to do with race. My issues have to do with him as a person and our personal interactions and things that he said and did that caused me to have zero respect for him,” MVP stated, promising to detail these issues on his own show.
The 29-year-old is one of the most famous and successful pro wrestlers not only in AEW but all of wrestling. With the fame however, comes jealousy of peers, especially because of his young age. So it’s not a surprise that the Salt of the Earth has been involved in a number of backstage incidents since joining the company in 2019. Though latest reports suggest that things have changed recently.
Sean Ross Sapp of Fightful Select recently provided an update on the former AEW Champion’s stature behind the scene. He revealed that the wrestling star has worked hard on his image among his co-workers in the last few months:
“It’s improved a lot over the last nine or ten months, and he’s worked hard at that. There were times when it wasn’t great and the perception of him backstage wasn’t great. I think a lot of that comes with being the top singles act, top tag act, and the main guy getting promo time all at once.”
MJF had been off TV recently filming Happy Gilmore 2 featuring Adam Sandler in the title role. The movie interestingly also features a cameo from WWE star Becky Lynch and both the wrestling stars have shown respect for each other after working on the same project.
Since returning to AEW TV in March, Maxwell has been involved in a storyline with The Hurt Syndicate. He had been trying to join the group and Friedman was officially accepted into the faction during the May 14 episode of Dynamite.
Tomorrow presents an unprecedented challenge for select WWE superstars. The marathon Saturday features Worlds Collide at 3 PM followed by Money in the Bank at 7 PM. For Chad Gable and Stephanie Vaquer, this means wrestling twice in four hours.
The Physical and Mental Gauntlet
Wrestling twice in one day demands extraordinary conditioning. The physical toll extends beyond typical match fatigue. Recovery time becomes compressed, injury risk multiplies, and performance quality faces inevitable scrutiny. Mental focus presents equal challenges as performers must switch between different character presentations and storylines while maintaining peak concentration.
The logistics alone create complexity. Travel between the Kia Forum and Intuit Dome, costume changes, and character transitions all occur under time pressure. Medical staff faces increased responsibility ensuring wrestler safety between appearances.
Chad Gable’s Career-Defining Day
Gable confronts the ultimate double challenge. At 3 PM, he faces El Hijo del Vikingo for the AAA Mega Championship as Chad Gable. Four hours later, he climbs a ladder as El Grande Americano in the Men’s Money in the Bank match.
Can Gable maintain peak performance in a dangerous ladder match after a championship bout? The narrative genius lies in how WWE uses this exhaustion as a plot device—does fatigue expose his masked identity or fuel desperate determination?
Success in both matches would create an unprecedented achievement.
Stephanie Vaquer’s Breakout Opportunity
Vaquer’s double duty carries different stakes. Her 3 PM tag team match with Lola Vice against Dalys and Chik Tormenta serves as a showcase for WWE’s women’s division integration with AAA. The 7 PM Women’s Money in the Bank ladder match could launch her main roster career into overdrive.
Recent call-up status adds pressure. Vaquer must prove she belongs on WWE’s biggest stages while managing the physical demands of two matches. Her Worlds Collide performance could generate momentum or drain energy needed for the ladder match’s chaos.
The women’s Money in the Bank maintains a perfect success rate—every winner has successfully cashed in their contract. Vaquer entering this match after earlier competition creates an intriguing variable in this historic pattern.
Historical Precedent
Double duty performances carry rich wrestling history. WrestleMania events featured multiple-match performers like Daniel Bryan and Seth Rollins, who demonstrated that exhaustion can enhance storytelling. Their successes proved that modern athletes can handle expanded workloads when properly motivated.
Iron man performances from earlier eras provide context. Wrestlers like Ric Flair and Harley Race routinely worked multiple matches during territory days. Today’s controlled environment and medical support theoretically make double duty safer, though the athletic demands have intensified.
