According to PWInsider.com, WWE has signed former IWGP Heavyweight Champion EVIL.
The signing ends months of speculation about where the 39-year-old would land following his departure from New Japan Pro Wrestling in January. PWInsider describes the deal as signed and sealed with WWE.
EVIL made a name for himself in NJPW in 2020 after executing one of the more shocking betrayals in recent Japanese wrestling history. Originally a member of the beloved Los Ingobernables de Japón faction, EVIL turned on the group and aligned himself with Bullet Club. Shortly after the turn, he defeated Tetsuya Naito to become a double champion, simultaneously holding both the IWGP Heavyweight and IWGP Intercontinental Championships.
Before his NJPW run, EVIL debuted in professional wrestling in 2011 and spent time in the United States with Ring of Honor as well as appearances for Global Force Wrestling.
PWInsider also notes that the expectation in Japan is that EVIL will not keep his current ring name upon arriving in WWE. What his new character and presentation will look like has not been revealed.
Kevin Owens is channeling his energy into helping the next generation while he continues his recovery from neck surgery, taking on a coaching role for Season 3 of WWE LFG on A&E alongside Nattie.
The season premieres Sunday, April 26 at 10 p.m. Eastern on A&E, with Owens and Nattie replacing The Undertaker and Mickie James from previous seasons. A preview clip released ahead of the debut showed Owens opening up about how difficult the extended time away from competition has been.
“I’ve been wrestling for 25 years. Ultimately, for me, I just want to help the next generation,” Owens said. “And also, I don’t really know what I’d do with myself if it didn’t. This is just all I’ve done since I was 15. This is what I love, this is what I’ve always loved.”
At the time of filming, Owens was roughly eight to nine months removed from neck surgery performed in July 2025. He was candid about the mental toll the absence has taken.
“Right now, I’ve been off for 8-9 months because of my neck surgery. I’m losing my mind. Like, I just want to be around it,” he said.
Owens’ last match took place against Sami Zayn at WWE Elimination Chamber 2025, making it more than a year since he has competed. WWE has not announced a return timeline.
Seth Rollins walked off the set of Good Morning Football after host Kyle Brandt made a comment about Becky Lynch that Rollins visibly did not appreciate during a live segment.
Rollins had been discussing with Brandt whether it is harder to main event WrestleMania in your late thirties or play in the NFL in your early forties when Brandt pivoted to a joke suggesting Lynch should come in instead and would be the one to get them a win on the topic.
At that point, Rollins began removing his microphone and earpiece without saying much. He told Brandt he could finish the segment on his own before walking away from the desk, remarking as he left that his morning had already been long.
Brandt attempted to keep the show moving and drew a comparison to Rollins’ history with Paul Heyman as Rollins headed off set.
The walkout stood out because Rollins is typically relaxed and engaged during his Good Morning Football appearances, making the abrupt exit all the more noticeable. The incident came just days after WrestleMania 42, where Rollins lost to GUNTHER on Night One while Lynch won the WWE Women’s Intercontinental Championship from AJ Lee on the same night.
“maybe we can get Becky to come in and actually win something for us”
why involve Becky in this??? Kyle only made Seth more pissed off, this is disrespect on another level pic.twitter.com/wnutEhdxes
— ??????? ? ??? ?????? ??? (@uceyrollinsx) April 23, 2026
Danhausen turned WrestleMania 42 weekend into one of the more surprising merchandise success stories the event has seen in recent memory, with sales so strong that Fanatics had to restock his products multiple times throughout the weekend to keep up with demand.
According to WrestleVotes, Fanatics staff were caught off guard by the volume of Danhausen merchandise moving through WWE World during WrestleMania 42 weekend in Las Vegas. The level of fan interest is unusual for a performer who has yet to secure a consistent top-of-card position on weekly television.
The strong numbers are expected to have real consequences for Danhausen’s visibility going forward. Based on the sales performance, Fanatics is expected to add him to the lineup for an upcoming Fanatics Fest, giving him a platform at one of the more prominent fan-facing events on the calendar.
Merchandise performance has historically been one of the more reliable internal indicators of a performer’s organic connection with fans.
Whether WWE moves to capitalize on that interest with a more prominent role at future premium live events remains to be seen, but the data from Las Vegas makes the conversation harder to avoid.
John Cena is not finished with WWE after WrestleMania 42, and he is already teasing something for Backlash weekend.
The 17-time world champion took to X on Thursday to hint at a potential appearance at Backlash 2026 in Tampa, Florida on May 9, referencing a promise he made to Club WWE members.
“Man if only it were 2023 again!! I might have different business at WWE Backlash Alas, the years pass. I am still gonna try to do something epic in Tampa for 5/9. I promised Club WWE something special… stay tuned,” Cena wrote.
Whatever he has planned appears to be tied to Club WWE, the company’s fan membership program, rather than anything on the main card. The specifics remain unknown.
Cena retired from in-ring competition on December 13 at Saturday Night’s Main Event, losing his final match to GUNTHER. He then returned to WWE television as the host of both nights of WrestleMania 42 at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, marking his first appearance back on screen since his farewell match.
Backlash 2026 takes place Sunday, May 9 at Amalie Arena in Tampa, Florida, streaming live on the ESPN app in the United States.
Trish Stratus has identified her dream opponent for a potential WWE return, and the name might surprise some fans.
Speaking with SiriusXM during WrestleMania 42 weekend in Las Vegas, Stratus was asked which current star makes her want to lace up her boots one more time. Her answer was Sol Ruca, the NXT standout who has been generating significant buzz in recent months.
“When I went to John Cena’s final match, I got to see Sol Ruca up close and personal — and I was blown away,” Stratus said. “A lot of great talent. It’s not just the talent, it’s the storyline, it’s the characters, so I need to think on that one a little bit.”
Stratus made clear that any return would need the right creative foundation rather than simply being a match for the sake of it, keeping the door open without making a firm commitment.
Ruca was one of three NXT talents, alongside Oba Femi and Je’Von Evans, that WWE chose to feature on the undercard of Cena’s final match at Saturday Night’s Main Event last December. Ruca picked up a win against Bayley on that show, a result that underlined how seriously WWE was treating her positioning heading into 2026.
On the post-WrestleMania 42 edition of Raw this past Monday, Ruca appeared on the main roster, with the appearance being viewed as part of a potential full-time call-up to Raw. She subsequently competed in a Last Woman Standing match against Zaria on NXT, though that match produced a frightening moment when Ruca took a hard fall and her head connected with a table that did not break on impact.
Stratus last competed in a WWE ring at SummerSlam 2023, making her the only woman to participate in that event’s main event.
The long-running conflict between Bret Hart and Hulk Hogan over what happened at WrestleMania IX has been revisited in the third episode of the docuseries Hulk Hogan: Real American, and both men’s accounts of the same night reveal just how differently they experienced it.
The episode, titled Hollywood Hogan, documents the aftermath of the WrestleMania IX main event, where Hart lost the WWF Championship to Yokozuna after Yokozuna’s manager Mr. Fuji threw ceremonial salt in Hart’s eyes. Hogan then ran out to assist Hart before challenging Yokozuna himself and winning the title in an impromptu match.
The docuseries alternates between Hart and Hogan’s perspectives as each man recounts what he remembers. Hart’s account begins with a moment of deliberate and pointed silence.
“I remember walking up to him, I was like, ‘Hey Terry.’ I stood up with my hand out to shake his hand for about 30 seconds but he wouldn’t even look at me. He just kept talking to Beefcake,” Hart said.
Hogan acknowledged something may have been off without accepting full responsibility. “I can’t imagine doing that intentionally. Maybe I had an off day. Maybe I was drunk, maybe I was high. I don’t know. I don’t know what to tell you, but it wouldn’t have been intentional.”
Hart said the moment told him everything he needed to know about where he stood with Hogan. “I knew right then and there. I was like, ‘I’ve got the belt and I’ve got what he wants and I’m the enemy now.’”
Hogan was candid about the leverage he carried with WWE leadership at the time. “I had that Hogan stroke back then. Me and Vince were just bonded at the hip and I could pull the plug on certain things and certain people.”
Hart was unsparing in how he describes the way the angle played out. “That day I remember thinking what a step backwards. It was a whole different audience and they were liking me, not Hulk Hogan. I said it’s going to backfire and it’s going to be really bad.” He described the result as exactly the kind of match Hogan would engineer to position himself as the hero at someone else’s expense. “He was a good guy once upon a time, but in the end he was a backstabbing, knife-wielding piece of sh*t.”
Hogan framed the whole situation as a creative decision from McMahon rather than his own doing. “Bret got all up in my face and he got all riled up. I said, ‘What’s up with this guy? I thought he was a team player, man.’ Vince made the decision, it’s just one of those things.”
Je’Von Evans already knows that the flips and high-flying moves getting him over right now are not the long-term foundation of a top-tier WWE career, and he is thinking several steps ahead.
Speaking on the Club 520 Podcast, Evans described his current in-ring approach as a tool for building a connection with audiences rather than his permanent identity as a performer, and said he is already planning how his style will evolve as he gets older.
“Honestly, it’s just something that I’m doing right now for real. I want to be a top dog here. I know me doing all these cool moves is going to get my foot in the door, but it’s not going to keep me in the room. I’m doing all this now just to have fun with the crowd and build a connection with the kids and stuff like that. By the time I get older, I’m trying to be one of them dogs, you know? Somebody that don’t gotta do the flips,” Evans said.
He also opened up about the adjustment of being called up to the main roster before he had finished establishing himself as a top act in NXT, describing the experience of having to essentially restart his connection with audiences in front of much larger and less familiar crowds.
“I think when I was in NXT I was working my way up to become a top guy there, and right before that happened, main roster snatched me up, and I had to restart. Now I’m wrestling in front of bigger crowds and people that don’t know who I am at all outside of NXT fans.
I feel like just adjusting to, and learning what different wrestling crowds like, because not every wrestling crowd loves the flips I do, some crowds just love you talking to them during the match and they’re like, ‘oh this is the best match ever.’ So I feel like learning that and developing that, that’s what my biggest challenge is right now.”
Evans was 19 years old when WWE signed him in 2023 and became a fan favorite through his athletic in-ring style. He officially joined the Raw roster in January. Last weekend, he made his WrestleMania debut in the six-man Intercontinental Championship Ladder Match at WrestleMania 42.
Sean Waltman has added his voice to the growing chorus of WWE talent speaking out about the security failures at the MGM Grand hotel during WrestleMania 42 weekend, revealing he was physically assaulted and stalked in a bathroom during the events.
Waltman posted on X, addressing both the CM Punk phone incident and his own experiences at the hotel, where WWE talent were staying throughout the weekend, with insufficient security to manage the volume of fans who had access to the lobby, elevators, and common areas.
“That guy and all the rest like him can get f***ed,” Waltman wrote about the fan from the Punk incident. “It was insane how these people were. I got physically assaulted and camera shoved in my face, stalked in the bathroom, and more.”
In a follow-up post, Waltman clarified that his frustration is not with fans taking photos or recording in public spaces, but with those who invade personal space and cross clear boundaries. He also noted that the situation at the Horseshoe hotel, where WrestleCon was held, was significantly better, with fans described as completely respectful in that environment.
PWInsider had flagged security concerns as early as Thursday of WrestleMania week, with talent expressing hope that measures would be added before the weekend reached its peak.
Booker T also spoke out following the weekend, describing the fan behavior at the hotel as the worst he had ever witnessed, including an individual who filmed him inside a bathroom.
Waltman is a WWE Hall of Famer as a member of both D-Generation X and the nWo and serves as a coach in WWE’s ID program for independent talent. He also helped induct Dennis Rodman into the WWE Hall of Fame during WrestleMania 42 weekend.
That guy & all the rest like him can get fucked. It was insane how these people were. I got physically assaulted & camera shoved in my face, stalked in the bathroom, & more. https://t.co/tq7rtC2wlX
I dont have a problem w people taking pictures or recording in public. It's when you invade someone's space, stick cameras in peoples faces, I have a problem with that. https://t.co/70tDFhpbNh
Shawn Michaels is not apologizing for putting the NXT Women’s Championship on Jacy Jayne, and nearly 280 days of hindsight has given him plenty of ammunition to defend the decision.
The WWE Hall of Famer and NXT Head of Creative joined Peter Rosenberg on Cheap Heat during WrestleMania 42 weekend in Las Vegas to discuss the booking philosophy behind one of NXT’s most criticized title changes in recent memory.
When Jayne defeated Stephanie Vaquer for the NXT Women’s Championship in May 2025 with help from her Fatal Influence stablemates, the backlash was immediate and loud. Michaels was not spared from it.
“I was the worst dude in the world when Jacy Jayne beat Stephanie Vaquer for the title,” Michaels told Rosenberg. “Worst decision in the world, dumbest thing I’ve ever seen.”
Jayne held the title across two reigns spanning roughly 280 days before losing it to Lola Vice in a triple threat at Stand and Deliver on April 4. The length of that run, and what Jayne became during it, is Michaels’ answer to every critic.
“280-some odd days later, she is a complete superstar,” Michaels said. “I would argue that a lot of people when it came to Toxic Attraction, she was number three. And that is not the case these years later.”
He credited Jayne’s own self-awareness for the growth, suggesting the extended championship run served as the development tool she needed. “I have no doubt, and I’m sure Jacy would say the same, that at some point many of those years earlier, she felt she was ready then. She’s a more complete individual now. And we have to balance that.”
Michaels also used the moment to explain why NXT resists the pressure to reward rising talent too quickly, warning that modern wrestling audiences move on almost immediately when a title change does not land with the intended impact.
“It’s always kind of easy to go for the instant gratification. Sometimes that will work and be a positive thing,” Michaels said. “But my feeling is in today’s environment, they move on pretty quick. So you have to be very careful about when and where you do it.”
Jayne is now reportedly being considered for a main roster call-up following her Stand and Deliver loss, joining a list that includes Ethan Page, Ricky Saints, and Blake Monroe.
Shawn Michaels says WWE’s revived Evolve brand has become one of NXT’s most important behind-the-scenes assets, and the talents generating the most excitement internally are the ones nobody predicted would connect with audiences.
Speaking with Peter Rosenberg on Cheap Heat during WrestleMania 42 weekend in Las Vegas, the NXT Head of Creative explained how Evolve has functioned as a developmental safety net during a period when NXT has been sending significant talent to the main roster at an accelerated pace.
“The idea of having been able to move them up into NXT in such a quick fashion has been a huge plus for us,” Michaels said. “All coincidental at the time, we obviously lose a lot of people. So the timing there was really positive for us.”
The 2025 and early 2026 period saw NXT lose Stephanie Vaquer, Oba Femi, and others to Raw and SmackDown, creating exactly the kind of roster vacancy that Evolve was positioned to backfill. Michaels has also reportedly pushed back internally when creative has sought to promote talent before he believes they are ready.
On the subject of standout prospects, Michaels said his greatest excitement comes not from the names everyone is already buzzing about but from the performers who find traction in ways that surprise even the people booking them.
“What’s been honestly even more positive is those people that you may not have had your eye on, and you see a few people getting over in ways that, oh, I didn’t know that would happen. That’s pretty interesting,” Michaels said. “I’m always more excited about the ones that you couldn’t quite call.”
He also addressed the double-edged nature of fast-moving fan enthusiasm, warning that today’s environment can crown a prospect too quickly and create problems for the talent themselves.
“In today’s environment, in about two or three weeks they’re putting you in the Hall of Fame,” Michaels said. “So yes, you have to be careful. And then what it does to the superstars themselves, you never know on a personal level, are they starting to believe their own hype or are they not.”
He singled out Kendal Grey as a talent who has remained grounded despite the rapid expectations placed on her since arriving in NXT. Grey competed in the Stand and Deliver triple threat that crowned Lola Vice the new NXT Women’s Champion on April 4.
Brock Lesnar appeared to retire from professional wrestling at WrestleMania 42, leaving his MMA gloves and boots in the ring following his loss to Oba Femi before embracing Paul Heyman and waving to the crowd as they chanted his name. The moment had all the hallmarks of a farewell, but new reports suggest the situation may be more complicated than it appeared.
According to Dave Meltzer on Wrestling Observer Radio, WWE believes Lesnar has not actually retired, despite what unfolded in Las Vegas. Meltzer noted that multiple people inside the company share the view that Lesnar is not done yet, while acknowledging the uncertainty surrounding the situation. Internally, the feeling is that retirement is likely coming at some point this year, with no confirmed timeline beyond that.
Bodyslam reported that only a small number of people knew Lesnar would be removing his gear and leaving it in the ring at WrestleMania, while many inside WWE assumed a formal retirement would come later this year at SummerSlam in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The surprise nature of the gesture caught a significant portion of the company off guard.
On the Raw after WrestleMania, WWE aired a video package celebrating Lesnar’s career. Heyman, in an emotional segment, praised his long-time friend and advocated for Lesnar to be placed in the permanent section of WWE’s Then. Now. Forever. opening, arguing that Lesnar would forever be the most dangerous man to step inside a WWE ring.
Meltzer also reported that the program between Lesnar and Femi was originally conceived as a multi-match feud before the creative direction shifted in the weeks leading up to WrestleMania, ultimately becoming a one-and-done affair with Femi defeating Lesnar in four minutes on Night Two.
The Street Profits are back on WWE television, and they made their return count.
During the post-WrestleMania 42 edition of Raw at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Angelo Dawkins and Montez Ford returned to save Seth Rollins after he found himself outnumbered following an attack on Bron Breakker and The Vision.
When it appeared Rollins was about to take a serious beating, The Street Profits’ music hit and the duo made their way out to even the odds, marking their most significant television appearance in months.
Street Profits’ Road Back to WWE TV
The last time the team had been seen on main roster programming was October 24, 2025, when they picked up a win over Los Garza on WWE Main Event.
Aside from a handful of NXT matches in early 2026, the pair had been largely absent from WWE television in the months since.
Their return comes with the backdrop of significant personal news for Ford. His wife Bianca Belair announced her pregnancy live at WrestleMania 42 in one of the most emotional moments of the weekend, taking to Instagram afterward to share how nervous she had been before stepping out in front of the Las Vegas crowd to share the news.
Randy Orton has given fans a clearer picture of how much time he has left in WWE, and he already has a plan for what comes after.
Speaking to The Schmo before his WrestleMania 42 match against Cody Rhodes, Orton revealed he has four years remaining on his current contract and outlined exactly what he envisions for the chapter that follows.
“I do have four years left on my contract and maybe when that’s over, I’ll get The Undertaker schedule and pop around for WrestleMania every year and then ride until the wheels fall off, literally,” Orton said.
The comment suggests Orton sees himself remaining connected to WWE long after his full-time run concludes, following the model The Undertaker established in the final years of his career, making select appearances at the biggest events rather than working a full schedule.
Orton, 46, has been part of the WWE roster since 2002 and confirmed signing a five-year contract extension in 2024. “I just signed a five-year extension to my contract. I’ve got some time left to do this. I feel better than I’ve felt in over a decade,” he said at the time. With four years now remaining on that deal, Orton is entering the final stretch of his contracted run at what appears to be a strong physical point in his career.
His WrestleMania 42 Night One main event against Rhodes was one of the most physical matches of the weekend, leaving both men bloodied before Rhodes retained the Undisputed WWE Championship. Despite the loss, Orton stood tall at the close of the night following a post-match attack that left Rhodes needing medical attention, positioning the feud to continue in the weeks ahead.
Ethan Page is officially a member of the WWE Raw roster, and his first night on the main roster ended with a statement made by an unlikely source.
On the post-WrestleMania 42 edition of Raw in Las Vegas, Page was introduced by SmackDown General Manager Adam Pearce as Raw’s newest superstar during a backstage segment involving Je’Von Evans and Intercontinental Champion Penta.
Pearce made a match between Page and Evans official on the spot, and Page won the bout to kick off his main roster run with a victory.
The night did not end there. Following the match, Rusev attacked Evans before Penta ran in to make the save. Page then stepped in to distract Penta, allowing Rusev to shift his assault onto the champion. Rusev stood tall holding the Intercontinental Championship to close the segment, setting up what appears to be a clear program for the title in the weeks ahead.
Page joined NXT in May 2024 and quickly established himself as one of the brand’s top performers. He held both the NXT North American Championship and the NXT Championship during his developmental run, most recently competing in a title match against Tony D’Angelo at NXT Revenge before the call-up.
While Page had appeared on WWE’s main roster programming before, the April 20 Raw marks the first time he has competed in a match on the red brand.
Joe Hendry appears to be the next NXT name heading to WWE Raw, and his introduction to the main roster audience could come with one of his most recognizable calling cards.
According to WrestleVotes on Fightful Select, Hendry is planned to appear on the April 27 episode of Raw, with his segment expected to include a concert. “WrestleVotes on Fightful Select has learned that Joe Hendry is planned to appear on the April 27th, 2026 edition on WWE Raw. More specifically, he is planned to have a concert. We can’t confirm at this time if it’s a permanent call up,” the report states.
Whether the appearance marks the beginning of a full-time main roster run or a one-off introduction has not been confirmed. What is clear is that WWE is moving quickly to inject new faces into Raw’s post-WrestleMania landscape.
Tonight’s Raw already features two NXT call-ups stepping into prominent spots. Ethan Page is competing in an Intercontinental Championship No. 1 Contender match against Je’Von Evans, while Sol Ruca is scheduled to face Women’s World Champion Liv Morgan.
Hendry has built one of NXT’s most distinct characters around his live musical performances and the organic crowd reactions they generate. Opening his Raw chapter with a concert would put his most recognizable quality front and center for an audience encountering him for the first time, a logical way to establish who he is before the in-ring work begins.
Bianca Belair saved one of WrestleMania 42’s most memorable moments for herself, and she did it without throwing a single punch.
Belair made a surprise appearance at WrestleMania 42 at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, the same venue where she competed a year earlier, and announced her pregnancy to the crowd. The moment sent the arena into an immediate emotional reaction and quickly became one of the most talked-about highlights of the weekend.
Taking to Instagram afterward, Belair opened up about just how much the moment meant and how difficult it was to share something so personal in such a public setting.
“Same venue. Different result. This year. I win,” Belair wrote alongside a photo from the announcement.
She then went into the full weight of what led to the moment and what it took to step out in front of that crowd.
“I was so nervous to pop my little private bubble and share this moment but I’m so overwhelmed and truly overjoyed with the outpouring love and support. I was literally shaking and crying backstage before I came out. This year has been so hard in ways you guys just REALLY don’t even know but everything TRULY happens for a reason. There has been so many twists and turns but ending here has made it all worth it. I’ll be back! But until then enjoy this ride with me!”
Belair and her husband Montez Ford, whom she tagged in the post, are expecting their first child. The EST of WWE confirmed she will be taking time away from competition but made clear her absence is temporary.
Roman Reigns is a world champion again, and he had a message for the man he took the title from.
Reigns defeated CM Punk in the Night Two main event of WrestleMania 42 at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas to capture the WWE World Heavyweight Championship, ending Punk’s reign and securing Reigns’ first world title since losing the Undisputed WWE Championship at WrestleMania 40 after a record-setting 1,316-day reign.
Following the match, Reigns posted a message to Punk on social media that acknowledged the complexity of their history while giving credit where it was due.
“Despite all the sh** you’ve put me through over the years, I can honestly say under those bright lights… we made magic. I still hate you, but last night will live forever,” Reigns wrote.
The statement captured the tone of a rivalry built on genuine animosity. Triple H had described the tension between the two men in the lead-up to WrestleMania as something that did not stop backstage, calling the atmosphere palpable enough to cut with a knife whenever both were in the same building. The match itself lived up to the intensity of that build, delivering the kind of main event moment Allegiant Stadium had been waiting for across both nights.
Reigns is already advertised for tonight’s episode of Raw as the new World Heavyweight Champion and has indicated he plans to remain active throughout the summer. Reports emerging after WrestleMania suggest GUNTHER and Oba Femi are among the opponents being lined up for his upcoming program as WWE builds toward its next phase of major championship feuds.
Despite All The Shit You’ve Put Me Through Over The Years, I Can Honestly Say Under Those Bright Lights… We Made Magic.
The CM Punk phone-slapping incident at the WWE hotel after WrestleMania 42 was not an isolated moment. It was the visible flash point of a security situation that had been building all weekend.
TMZ posted footage of Punk approaching a fan in the hotel lobby and slapping a phone out of their hand. The fan had been filming Bayley hugging someone, and while TMZ did not identify the other person, Punk’s wife, AJ Lee. Two hotel security guards are visible in the footage, but only after the fact. Not before.
That pattern, security arriving after something has already happened rather than preventing it, defined the entire WrestleMania 42 weekend at the company hotel, according to multiple accounts gathered by PWInsider.
As early as Thursday, PWInsider Elite had already flagged the problem. “There’s already been some concerns among talent about the company hotel this year,” the outlet reported. “Last night, there was no additional security beyond the hotel itself and since the hotel is part of a major casino, there was no real ability to restrict the flow of fans.
We are told there were tons of fans in the lobby and camped out by the elevators who mobbed everyone they saw, even referees, trying to get photos and autographs. The hope among the talents we heard from is that there will be some additional measures taken tonight to assist them when they are coming in and out.”
Those measures either did not materialize or were insufficient. A long-time PWInsider reader who was staying at the same hotel and asked not to be identified told the outlet that just minutes before the Punk incident, WWE’s Damian Priest had to step in personally to help a female WWE talent get away from a group of fans surrounding her for photos and autographs. Multiple similar situations unfolded throughout the weekend.
Social media footage circulating during WrestleMania weekend showed Randy Orton and Drew McIntyre being surrounded and mobbed by fans as they tried to move through the hotel. Some kept walking and tried to navigate through.
Others stopped for photos in an attempt to manage the situation. What is absent from all of that footage is any security presence stopping fans from following these performers.
PWInsider also confirmed knowledge of at least one instance where a referee was nearly knocked down by a crowd of fans inside the hotel.
Cody Rhodes successfully defended the Undisputed WWE Championship against Randy Orton at WrestleMania 42, but questions about his physical status are now front and center heading into the post-WrestleMania stretch.
Rhodes was pulled from his scheduled WWE World meet-and-greet appearance after the match due to injuries sustained during the Night One main event. WWE posted a notice to affected fans confirming the cancellation.
“Due to injuries sustained at WrestleMania, Cody Rhodes is no longer able to make it to WWE World. Unfortunately, this means your photo op and/or autograph have been cancelled.”
The announcement prompted immediate speculation about whether Rhodes would be able to continue as Undisputed Champion in the near term. Orton delivered a vicious post-match assault that included a punt kick, which visibly swelled the side of Rhodes’ face and left him in rough condition as the show concluded.
Bodyslam has since provided an update that should ease some of those concerns. According to the report, Rhodes is not expected to relinquish the championship at this time, with WWE set to monitor his health in the coming days ahead of SmackDown.
The title retention itself came amid ongoing debate about the direction of Rhodes’ reign, with a section of the fanbase voicing frustration throughout the build-up to WrestleMania 42.
Dominik Mysterio arrived at WrestleMania 42 in style, and the luchadores surrounding his throne entrance were not just extras in masks.
According to Bodyslam, the masked performers accompanying Dominik to the ring for his match against Finn Balor were real luchadores, including Gravity, Rayo Star, Anubis, Mexa Boys members Noisy Boy and Spider Fly, Calibus, Diablo Azteca, Skalibur, and Enigma, also known as Rey Mysterio under his King persona.
Dominik arrived on a large throne surrounded by the luchadores in white masks as a nod to his King of the Luchadores status, creating one of the more visually striking entrance moments of the weekend.
The report notes that WrestleMania entrances have historically featured extras who later went on to bigger things within WWE, with CM Punk and Charlotte Flair cited as examples. The use of real luchadores in such a prominent setting could help put those performers on WWE’s radar at a time when the company is actively working with AAA and expanding its presence in the Mexican market.
Dominik currently holds the AAA Mega Championship, making his connection to the lucha libre world a natural fit for the visual presentation WWE built around his WrestleMania entrance.
Nikki Bella sparked an unexpected social media debate after WrestleMania 42 with a single Instagram caption, and Bayley was not having any of it.
After the Women’s Tag Team Championship match, Nikki posted a backstage photo with Brie Bella and Paige and attached a caption that immediately drew attention from fans familiar with one of wrestling’s most established group names.
“The Original Four Horsewomen.”
Bayley, who is widely recognized as part of WWE’s Four Horsewomen alongside Charlotte Flair, Becky Lynch, and Sasha Banks, jumped into the comments with a direct rebuttal.
“NEVER IN MY LIFE HAVE I EVER HEARD ANYONE CALL YOU GUYS THAT.”
The exchange came off the back of one of the more dramatic sequences of the night. Nikki had arrived at ringside on crutches after suffering an ankle injury before the match, telling fans she was not cleared to compete. Rather than pulling out entirely, she introduced Paige as her replacement, generating one of the biggest reactions of the evening.
Paige made an immediate impact once in the match, trading shots with Nia Jax, getting involved with Bayley and Lash Legend, and ultimately hitting Alexa Bliss with a Rampaige after countering Twisted Bliss to help win the championship. Paige then celebrated with both Bella Twins to close out the moment.
Pat McAfee has detailed the physical toll WrestleMania 42 took on his body, revealing he is wearing a neck brace and awaiting scan results after being put through a table by Jelly Roll and hit with an RKO by the man he came to support.
Speaking on The Pat McAfee Show the day after the event, McAfee walked through his injuries from a night that began with him being laid out on the announce table by Cody Rhodes before Jelly Roll delivered an elbow drop through it, and ended with Randy Orton hitting him with an RKO after Rhodes kicked out of a pin McAfee was counting as a replacement referee.
“I’m wearing this thing since I got Jelly Roll’d,” McAfee said of the neck brace. “I’m wearing this just to keep it secure. They ran scans. I’ll get it back tomorrow morning. I’m very grateful and hopeful that I will be completely healthy. But there is some soreness, obviously.”
The neck was not the only thing he came away with. “Got some cuts and bruises, too. Hand right here, cut. I think that’s because the table exploded. I got some shrapnel, and somehow I got a splinter in my crotch.”
He also addressed the concern that came from how he appeared after being stretchered out during the match. “I did want to let everybody know that I am okay, just in case people were worried, because I did seem lifeless there for a bit.”
Despite the physical damage and the mission failing, McAfee spoke generously about Rhodes and acknowledged the result spoke for itself.
“So I would like to let everybody know that although the mission was supposed to be Randy Orton saving the business, I think what happened instead was Cody Rhodes proving he’s the one,” McAfee said. “Cody Rhodes was obviously very admirable. Randy Orton is still everything that I said he was, but the good news is the business doesn’t need to be saved after all.”
McAfee confirmed his departure from WWE following the WrestleMania 42 weekend, having set that stipulation himself before the show.
Trick Williams is the new WWE United States Champion, and according to a new report, the groundwork for his babyface turn was laid more than a month before he claimed the title at WrestleMania 42.
Williams defeated Sami Zayn on Night Two at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas to win his first main roster championship, with Lil Yachty in his corner for the occasion. The match positioned Williams as the crowd favorite, and the reaction he received reflected a shift that had been building organically for several weeks.
According to Fightful Select, internal discussions about a babyface turn for Williams began over a month ago, with his growing popularity and the response to his entrance music becoming increasingly difficult to ignore in the lead-up to WrestleMania.
Williams had spent the final stretch of his NXT run as a heel, a direction he had been working since TNA Rebellion 2025. When he debuted on the main roster in January, he was positioned as a heel, making his first appearance by interrupting Randy Orton, who was a babyface at the time. The crowd’s reaction to Williams, however, began telling a different story in the weeks that followed.
The United States Championship is Williams’ first main roster title and represents a significant step forward for one of WWE’s more naturally charismatic performers. His WrestleMania 42 win now sets up what figures to be a prominent babyface run heading into the post-WrestleMania season.
Roman Reigns’ path forward after WrestleMania 42 is already taking shape, and WWE has two major programs in mind for The Tribal Chief.
According to Bodyslam, both GUNTHER and Oba Femi are expected to be part of Reigns’ upcoming feuds following his World Heavyweight Championship victory over CM Punk in the Night Two main event at Allegiant Stadium.
The report aligns with information shared by Dave Meltzer on Wrestling Observer Radio, who noted that a Reigns and GUNTHER program has been discussed internally as a major direction moving forward.
GUNTHER competed on Night One of WrestleMania 42 against Seth Rollins, while Femi defeated Brock Lesnar on Night Two in what was widely viewed as Lesnar’s retirement match. Both men now emerge from WrestleMania weekend with momentum, making them natural candidates for top-level programs with the newly crowned champion.
Reigns returned to the top of WWE’s championship picture by winning the World Heavyweight Championship from Punk, ending a title reign that had been building since Punk’s return to the company.
Reigns himself had been without a championship since losing the Undisputed WWE Championship at WrestleMania 40 after his record-setting 1,316-day reign.
