WWE Unreal has been nominated for three Sports Emmy Awards, the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences announced on Wednesday. The Netflix reality series has earned nominations for Outstanding Serialized Sports Documentary Series, Outstanding Sports Editing: Long Form, and Outstanding Sports Graphic Design: Specialty.
The documentary series, produced by Netflix, Omaha Productions, NFL Films, Skydance Sports, and WWE, competes against Formula 1: Drive to Survive, Quarterback, Full Court Press, The Clubhouse: A Year with the Red Sox, and Built in Birmingham: Brady & The Blues in the serialized documentary category.
In the long-form sports editing category, WWE Unreal faces competition from American Thunder: NASCAR at Le Mans, America’s Team: The Gamble and His Cowboys, Butterfly in a Blizzard, Celtics City, Saquon, and We Beat the Dream Team.
Triple H celebrated the recognition on X, stating:
“WWE: Unreal’s nomination for three Sports Emmys is a testament to the work and dedication of every single individual @WWE whose work makes us run. Also, a massive thank you to our partners who helped bring this show to life and congratulations to all involved in the show and its production.”
WWE: Unreal’s nomination for three Sports Emmys is a testament to the work and dedication of every single individual @WWE whose work makes us run. Also, a massive thank you to our partners who helped bring this show to life and congratulations to all involved in the show and its… https://t.co/L4w92qZtaP
The UFC also received a Sports Emmy nomination for Outstanding Edited Sports Event Coverage for “The Walk” featuring Ilia Topuria and Charles Oliveira from UFC 317 last June.
The Sports Emmy Awards will stream on Tuesday, March 26th, at 7 p.m. ET on TheEmmys.com.
Steven Borden Jr., son of WWE Hall of Famer Sting recently made his NJPW debut at the promotion’s Academy third anniversary showcase on March 21st at the LA Dojo. The second-generation wrestler teamed with Allan Breeze against Hitt and Vin Parker in a tag team match.
As per a vlog shared by YouTuber Bighorn Blockbuster, Breeze and Parker kicked off the match with multiple attempts to wear each other down. Borden and Hitt were tagged in simultaneously, but despite Hitt’s overtowering physique, Borden managed to gain the upper hand.
Borden Pays Tribute to Father
Borden paid tribute to his father with his in-ring moves during the bout. He took a few brutal slams but sustained momentum throughout the match. Borden eventually pinned Parker to secure the win for his team.
Borden made his wrestling debut in October last year and has competed in fewer than 10 matches total. His experience includes appearances for DEFY Wrestling, AEW dark matches, and a Ring of Honor dark match in early February 2026.
Earlier this year, NJPW roster member Fred Rosser announced he was training Borden full-time. AEW President Tony Khan has also expressed interest in signing the second-generation wrestler, stating that developing Borden for the future is a priority within AEW.
Paul Heyman recently praised Jordynne Grace as “a magnificent athlete and performer” during an interview about WWE 2K26’s MyRise story mode. The SmackDown superstar is featured in a storyline where she is managed by Heyman in the game.
In an interview with VGC, Heyman was asked about the possibility of having a “Paul Heyman girl” on the current WWE roster. He declined to single out any specific performer out of respect for the women’s locker room.
“I’m a big fan of Jordynne Grace, who say that there is a female in the locker room today that should be the first Paul Heyman girl under the management and tutelage of Paul Heyman, would be a slight to the other women in this locker room,” Heyman explained.
Heyman Calls Grace a ‘Splendid Choice’
As he explained his reasoning, Heyman concluded with high praise for Grace and her inclusion in WWE 2K26.
“Jordynne Grace was the choice of 2K, a splendid choice indeed. What a magnificent athlete and performer Jordynne Grace is. I’m honored that I have a chance to work with her within WWE 2K26.”
Grace was recently promoted to the SmackDown main roster alongside Lash Legend and Trick Williams at NXT New Year’s Evil in January this year. She spent a year on NXT before her call-up.
The superstar recently suffered an ankle injury during a dark match at SmackDown on March 6th and has been seen wearing a walking boot. Despite the injury, Grace has been involved in storylines with Chelsea Green and WWE Women’s Champion Jade Cargill on SmackDown.
NFL legend Tom Brady and WWE are reportedly in talks for an appearance at WrestleMania 42 that takes place on April 18-19 in Las Vegas, NV.
As per Wrestling Observer Radio, no deal has been finalized, but discussions are ongoing. Talks reportedly began last year after WrestleMania 42 was announced for Las Vegas.
It is reported that the situation involving Logan Paul and Tom Brady is being presented as a scripted storyline rather than real tension. Their interactions are part of building an angle that could lead to something at WrestleMania, not genuine disrespect toward pro wrestling.
“So it could happen. Obviously, Logan Paul and Tom Brady are working. I mean, everyone knows they’re working the angle. There could be something in some form at WrestleMania. It would not be a surprise, and what they did in the football game was clearly to build it, just as all the talk of Tom Brady cutting down pro wrestlers and the wrestlers all responding. That is all storyline. That’s not like Tom Brady’s a d*ck and he doesn’t respect pro wrestling.”
WWE has also reportedly discussed merchandise and branding for Brady, including ideas like “T-Bone” and “The Untouchable Tom Brady.” Brady is a part-owner of the Las Vegas Raiders.
NXT star Hank Walker recently tied the knot with Natalie Harris in a private ceremony. The wedding was attended by several WWE personalities.
Roxanne Perez dropped a video on her Instagram Story of the couple cutting their wedding cake. Stevie Turner also shared a photo on social media featuring herself with Hank Walker, JD McDonagh, and Duke Hudson. Walker is known for his tag team with Tank Ledger and is a former WWE NXT Tag Team Champion.
The wedding was a joyous occasion for the WWE NXT family, with many superstars sharing their well-wishes for the happy couple. The presence of Roxanne Perez and Stevie Turner, among others, highlights the close-knit community within WWE NXT.
Liv Morgan recently made waves at the Boston Celtics vs. Minnesota Timberwolves NBA game on March 22nd after cameras caught her chugging a beer. The former Women’s World Heavyweight Champion quickly went viral on social media.
Morgan and Raquel Rodriguez attended the game, representing WWE. They were shown on the arena’s big screen and featured during the television broadcast.
AYOOOOO LIV MORGAN CHUGGED THE ENTIRE BEER AT THE BOSTON CELTICS GAME
Former NXT Champion Ethan Page recently received recognition from the Canadian government on March 22nd, for his outstanding global impact through sport and entertainment. Ned Kuruc, a Member of Parliament, presented Page with an official document of recognition in Hamilton, Ontario. Kuruc called Ethan Page a ‘Canadian hero’.
The recognition highlights Page’s positive representation of Canada on a global scale. Page also runs the Alpha-1 Wrestling promotion in the Hamilton area.
“Canadian Hero. Local Legend.” – Government of Canada
“Ethan, thank you very much for coming in today. We appreciate you. This is a recognition from myself and the Government of Canada and Parliament to Ethan Page in recognition of your outstanding global impact through sport and entertainment. You represent Canada tremendously. You are a Canadian hero in my eyes, so thank you for all the goodwill that you do for Canada and Stoney Creek and Hamilton because you are a local legend.”
Page added:
“Ladies and gentlemen, this is what I’ve been doing since I started wrestling,” he said while waving a small Canadian flag. “I will continue to do it, and it feels good to be recognized for it. I’ll be honest, Ned, when you invited me, I really thought you guys were gonna unveil a statue in Stoney Creek.”
Page is scheduled to be in Ricky Saints’ corner as the latter faces Tony D’Angelo on the Tuesday, March 24th edition of NXT.
Former WWE United States Champion Jacob Fatu recently shared his thoughts on his relationship with Solo Sikoa and teased a future interaction within the Bloodline storyline.
In an interview with Esteban Ramirez, Fatu reflected on his relationship with Sikoa, the first man to pin him in WWE. He acknowledged the “love-and-hate type of situation” between them.
Jacob Fatu said he respects what Solo Sikoa and his group have going on, but isn’t interested in joining them. He described his relationship with Solo as complicated—both positive and tense—while acknowledging Solo’s major role in his career, including being the first to pin him in WWE and helping bring him in. He also said Solo’s recent statements were genuine.
“Hey man, as of now, the MFTs have got something good going on over there. Do I want to be a part of the group? Come on now. But overall, it’s a love-and-hate type of situation with me and Solo. Solo was the very first man in WWE that pinned Jacob Fatu. Solo was the man that brought Jacob Fatu up in there.
“Let’s keep it 100, those promos – not even promos, that work of art – that Solo was talking about, it’s all 100. It was all real.
‘The Samoan Werewolf’ said he used to only care about himself, but acknowledges that Solo Sikoa gave him an opportunity when no one else would and genuinely looked out for him.
“Yeah, Jacob didn’t care about nothing but myself. Yeah, Solo did bring me in when nobody wanted to touch me. Yeah, Solo was really looking out, not only in his Bloodline, but in real. So yeah, it is love and hate, but overall, they up right now. Now you’ve got Tama Tonga, Tonga Loa, Talla Tonga, JC Mateo. They’re running it right now with The Wyatts, but I can’t even answer your question right now. All I can just say is our paths eventually are going to cross.”
Fatu debuted on SmackDown in June 2024 and joined Solo Sikoa’s version of The Bloodline. However, The Bloodline turned into MFT in June last year and Fatu turned on Solo at Money in the Bank. They were eventually involved in a rivalry.
The plans of WWE Night of Champions 2026 in Saudi Arabia are up in the air due to the ongoing regional conflict. The Premium Live Event was penciled in for June 27th, 2026, in Riyadh. Ongoing military conflict in the Middle East is raising questions about the event.
WWE has a 10-year deal with Saudi Arabia’s General Entertainment Authority, worth at least $50 million per PLE. According to an insider report, the event is now considered “doubtful at best.”
WWE’s Night of Champions PLE has been slated to take place in Saudi Arabia, but we have learned from sources in Stamford that it is now “doubtful at best” due to the ongoing conflicts across the region.
TKO reportedly sent an internal message to staff on March 4th, 2026, reiterating U.S. State Department guidance to leave Saudi Arabia and other Middle East regions due to expected increased hostilities. Riyadh has been targeted by Iranian drone attacks and counterattacks since late February 2026.
WWE’s Perspective
Dave Meltzer has reported that the general sentiment within WWE regarding the likelihood of the event proceeding as planned due to the ongoing regional conflict. Meltzer said that “many within WWE are now under the impression that the summer pay-per-view event in the region is unlikely to go ahead unless the situation improves.?”
WWE held last year’s Night of Champions in Riyadh on June 28th and it took place after the 2023 edition in Jeddah. King and Queen of the Ring 2024 was also held in Jeddah in May. WrestleMania 43 remains scheduled for 2027 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Formula One canceled its April 2026 races in Saudi Arabia and Bahrain due to the conflict. Riyadh hosted the Royal Rumble earlier in 2026.
NFL legend Tom Brady has continued his verbal sparring with WWE, calling the promotion “cute and scripted” in a recent interview. The NFL legend’s comments drew responses from WWE superstar Charlotte Flair and former WWE United States Champion Logan Paul.
Brady and Paul are both involved with the Fanatics Flag Football event taking place this weekend in Los Angeles. The two have traded barbs about WWE’s authenticity and the athleticism of its performers.
In an interview with Sports Illustrated, Brady responded to a question about how many WWE wrestlers it would take to sack him by saying:
“All their stuff is so cute and scripted and they know what’s going on. In a football game, you don’t know it, so they wouldn’t even get near me.”
He added that WWE performers “wouldn’t even get near me” in an unscripted football game.
Brady also trolled Logan Paul about his WWE rookie card on a Fanatics Collect livestream on March 18, 2026, calling him “not an athlete.”
There has been speculation that Brady might appear at WrestleMania 42, which will be held at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas. Brady is a part-owner of the Las Vegas Raiders. No confirmation has been given about Brady’s involvement with WrestleMania 42, but WWE has reportedly discussed the possibility with him.
Gzim Selmani, the man WWE fans knew as Rezar of the Authors of Pain, never watched wrestling growing up. He was scouted cold at a training camp in Dubai, never fully felt at home, and only stayed as long as he did because of the time and work he had already invested.
Speaking on The Ariel Helwani Show, Selmani told the full story of how a legitimate combat sports prospect from the Netherlands ended up a two-time WWE Tag Team Champion — and why the fit was never entirely natural.
“I didn’t even know about WWE at that time. I wasn’t a wrestling fan at all. Here in the Netherlands, we just watched kickboxing and MMA. I was at a training camp in Dubai and there were guys walking around from WWE looking for talent and they just came up to me and said, ‘Are you interested?’”
His reaction to the tryout offer was far from enthusiastic.
“I wasn’t excited about it. In the beginning I did the tryout — the tryout was hard, like 60 guys and only three got a contract offered. I just thought, ‘Forget it, I’m going to go to Florida to their Performance Center and see what’s up.’ And as months go by, they start liking you and investing time and money in you. Eventually you’re there so long, you think, ‘Everything I did till now is for nothing, so I better go through with it.’”
The Performance Center Culture Clash
Arriving as a legitimate fighter with combat sports credentials created friction with veterans who felt Selmani hadn’t earned his place through the traditional wrestling pathway.
“They didn’t like me backstage in the beginning — especially the wrestlers who had been wrestling for 10, 15 years and finally got their way to the Performance Center. They didn’t respect it. They didn’t like having guys that weren’t wrestlers or hadn’t paid their dues in little bingo halls. But I didn’t beg them to go there. They wanted me.”
Being a legitimate fighter, however, also provided its own protection.
“They tried to give me a hard time, but at the end of the day, they knew I was a legit killer. So they didn’t want to mess with me backstage too much either.”
Championships — But Always Within Their Rules
Selmani ultimately made peace with the realities of the industry. He and Akam won the NXT Tag Team titles, the RAW Tag Team titles, and the Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic. His 2023 return was endorsed by Paul Ellering and done on specific terms — Triple H in full creative control was a prerequisite.
“You learn, and they’re good at staying in contact with you, explaining how it works. Eventually you’ve got to agree with them and do whatever they say. That’s just part of their business and I accepted it. I had put too much time and work into it. I wanted to be successful there, become a champion — and I did. Two times. We won the World Dusty Cup. I achieved the things I wanted to achieve.”
Before WWE ever entered the picture, Selmani was on a different path entirely. Scouted by Golden Glory at 16, he trained alongside Alistair Overeem and the Black Zillians in Boca Raton, turned pro at 18, and had near-misses with the UFC after a high-profile Bellator finish.
“After the fight we had talks with the UFC, but because I was still young, they said to wait a little bit before we start negotiating. And then obviously WWE came around the corner.”
He describes the entire WWE chapter with a kind of sober clarity:
“We met good people, but at the end of the day it wasn’t really my world. I was never 100% comfortable. I need to be fighting.”
Former WWE United States Champion Jacob Fatu recently said WWE is letting him be himself and not trying to change him. The superstar is happy with how WWE is handling his character.
In an interview with TV Insider, Fatu stated that WWE is letting him be who he is. He expressed his satisfaction with the company’s approach to his character.
“Nah, the improv…yeah, you know they can hang with that. They are still trusting with the process, but it’s also something I love about WWE. They are letting me be who I am. They ain’t here to change me. I’m going to say it again. They ain’t here to change me. They ain’t doing none of that. They are letting me be me and tapping into what people like me. Just to let them know anything possible. It has been going good,” Fatu said.
Feud with Drew McIntyre
Fatu is currently on the SmackDown brand. He is involved in a feud with Drew McIntyre. The former Undisputed WWE Champion was upset about dropping the title due to Fatu’s interference. Last week on SmackDown, he said that he had ‘quit.’
However, later in the show, Fatu faced Trick Williams, but McIntyre attacked Fatu and threw him into the turnbuckle, which eventually led to his defeat. SmackDown GM Nick Aldis then announced a match between Fatu and McIntyre at next week’s SmackDown in Raleigh, North Carolina.
Wren Sinclair recently emerged victorious over Fallon Henley to become the new NXT Women’s Speed Champion on the March 17th episode of WWE NXT from Houston, Texas. Sinclair forced Henley to submit with approximately one minute remaining in the five-minute match. This marks Sinclair’s first championship win in WWE.
Sinclair, who hails from Dallas, Texas, won the right to challenge by winning a Women’s Speed Tournament. Henley’s Speed title reign lasted 120 days. Sinclair is the fourth WWE Women’s Speed Champion, following Candice LeRae, Sol Ruca, and Fallon Henley.
WWE legend Stone Cold Steve Austin recently addressed Kevin Owens’ neck injury during an appearance on The Takedown on SIthis week, calling him a Hall of Fame-level talent and revealing he personally reached out to Owens after learning about the injury.
“I called Kevin a couple of months ago,” Austin said. “He’s got a great doctor. I care about the guy, love the guy. He’s a Hall of Fame talent.”
Austin also shared a story about a chance encounter with Owens roughly 25 years ago at an airport, when he spotted the then-young wrestler and offered him a piece of advice that proved prescient.
“I remember meeting him in the airport 20, 25 years ago — I’d seen him work — and I told him, ‘Hey kid, you don’t need to worry about all those fancy moves. You need to learn how to talk,’” Austin said. “And of course he did, and he’s great.”
Dealing With Injuries
Austin, who had his own career derailed by a serious neck injury, drew on personal experience when reflecting on Owens’ situation.
“It’s a rough business. No matter what style you work, you’re going to take a bump. Even the most simple bump can be the devastating one — it’s the straw that broke the camel’s back,” he said.
Austin also spoke candidly about the psychological toll of being sidelined, something he experienced firsthand when a neck fusion forced him to step away from in-ring competition.
“When I got my neck fused, I had to stop watching for a while,” he said.
“You’re frustrated, you want to get back out there, everybody else is thriving. You want the business to be great, but there is that selfish part — that competitive part of you. It’s like, ‘I should be out there and I ain’t.’”
Owens announced in April last year that he would be stepping away from the ring due to a neck injury. There is currently no public timeline for his return to WWE programming.
Ask WWE Hall of Famer Rey Mysterio to pick one match from his legenadary career — and he can’t quite do it.
Speaking with Adrian Hernandez of the Unlikely podcast at a WWE community event in Las Vegas ahead of WrestleMania 42, the WWE Hall of Famer was posed a variation of the question WWE has been leaning into with their recent “moments and matches” video packages: if you could put one match in the Hall of Fame, what would it be?
He gave two answers. Both tell you everything about who Rey Mysterio is.
WrestleMania 21: The Eddie Match
“I’m a big fan of Eddie and I — WrestleMania 21, WrestleMania Goes Hollywood,” Mysterio said.
The match took place on April 3rd, 2005, at the Staples Center in Los Angeles. It was the opening match of the evening — both men were the reigning WWE Tag Team Champions at the time, and Chavo Guerrero had spent weeks planting the seed of jealousy in Eddie’s mind.
Rey won via a reversal into a hurricanrana pin, and the two shook hands in the ring afterward in one of WrestleMania’s most genuinely warm moments.
The match turned out to be Eddie Guerrero’s final WrestleMania appearance. He passed away in November 2005, and the months that followed saw Rey dedicate his 2006 Royal Rumble win — and eventual World Heavyweight Championship reign — to his late friend.
There is an additional layer of irony in Rey choosing this match now. The custody storyline that followed WrestleMania 21 — Eddie claiming to be Dominik’s real father, culminating in a ladder match at SummerSlam 2005 — is the very origin point of the on-screen DNA that Dominik Mysterio has been leaning into throughout his heel run.
Rey’s second pick was his very first WWE pay-per-view match: Kurt Angle vs. Rey Mysterio at SummerSlam 2002 on August 25th at the Nassau Coliseum in Uniondale, New York.
“I’m also a big fan of my first pay-per-view with WWE — SummerSlam,” Mysterio said. “Kurt Angle versus Rey Mysterio.”
The match opened a card that is widely considered one of the greatest SummerSlam events ever assembled — Angle vs. Mysterio, RVD vs. Benoit for the IC title, Edge vs. Eddie, and Shawn Michaels returning for an unsanctioned street fight against Triple H.
Mysterio had debuted on Raw just weeks before and was still largely unknown to WWE audiences. He lost to Angle via ankle lock in around nine minutes, but the crowd — raucous and immediately converted — treated him like a star from the first spot.
Angle himself later reflected that the result was the right call at the time, but argued the loss didn’t hurt Rey — it helped establish his signature as someone who could compete with anyone at any level.
The host’s response after Rey named the match — “You should have won, dog. We don’t got time to get into it” — captured the fan sentiment perfectly. It remains one of the more hotly debated results in SummerSlam history.
Two picks. Two opening matches at two legendary events. That pattern isn’t an accident.
Will Ospreay recently revealed that he was cleared to return to AEW on February 25th, 2026, after undergoing double fusion surgery on September 17th last year. Ospreay made his return at AEW Revolution in Los Angeles, CA, on March 15th, confronting Jon Moxley.
Ospreay’s return comes as the ticket pre-sale for All In 2026 begins. According to Will Ospreay’s tweet, he was cleared a few weeks after AEW began building hype for his return.
At AEW Revolution, Moxley defeated Konosuke Takeshita to retain the Continental Championship. After the match, Ospreay emerged and fought off the Death Riders before Moxley escaped.
— Will Ospreay • ????????? (@WillOspreay) March 16, 2026
Ospreay’s Road to Recovery
Ospreay had been recovering from surgery and during the rehab he stayed involved in wrestling through his role as a producer for the U.K. women’s indie promotion Pro Wrestling Eve. He last wrestled in August last year before the surgery. His return at Revolution saw him immediately target Jon Moxley, setting up a potential feud. Ospreay figures to play a big part at All In 2026 in his home country of the United Kingdom.
AJ Styles retired from in-ring competition just few weeks ago, but he is already back at work — this time in a talent relations and scouting capacity with WWE.
Speaking on the Phenomenally Retro Podcast, Styles explained what drives him in his new behind-the-scenes role.
The 2026 WWE Hall of Fame inductee said that returning to the locker room so quickly after retiring caught some of his former colleagues off guard — but his intentions are simple.
“Some of the guys come up like, ‘Did you just retire two weeks ago? Why are you here?’ It was a little emotional when you left, but now you’re here already,” Styles said. “It was always good to see those guys and hang out with them. I want to be able to just see how everybody’s doing. ‘Hey, I’m here for you, man. Take my number. If you have any questions, give me a call. If you just need to talk to somebody, give me a call. I’m your guy.’”
Mental Wellness in Wrestling
Styles made it clear that his availability to talent goes beyond professional mentorship. He sees himself as a confidential resource — someone wrestlers can trust without fear of their conversations being passed along.
“I think that we need everybody like that in any kind of office space or workplace — there’s got to be someone you could talk to that you could trust, that isn’t gonna go blab,” he said. “Or if there’s something going on that you could trust them to go talk to someone else and see if we can get this handled.”
The passion behind his words appears to come from experience. Styles said he has witnessed the toll that life on the road can take on wrestlers firsthand.
“I really do care. I know what it’s like and I’ve seen it damage so many people,” he said. “I don’t want that to happen. I want everybody to understand who they are and where they’re at — and that, if you haven’t had that opportunity, it’s coming. Just stay ready.”
Styles will be inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame Class of 2026 this spring. His transition into a front office role is a notable development for WWE, adding a respected veteran voice to its talent infrastructure at a time when performer well-being has become an increasingly prominent topic across the industry.
AEW recently opened extra seats for Revolution 2026 at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles just hours before the show. The event is set to begin at 4:00 PM PT on March 15, 2026, with doors opening at 3:00 PM. Tony Khan announced that AEW Revolution has sold out with a live gate over $1 million.
WrestleTix reported that limited view seats were added to the map and are priced at $34.83 per ticket. These extra sections have likely been freed up after production and camera needs were finalized.
Limited view seats were just added to the map as highlighted below. They are priced at $34.83 per ticket. Next update will include these. pic.twitter.com/T0peehR6Px
“Limited view seats were just added to the map as highlighted below. They are priced at $34.83 per ticket. Next update will include these.”
AEW Revolution 2026 has sold 11,077 tickets thus far.
2026 AEW Revolution match card
AEW World Championship — MJF (c) vs. “Hangman” Adam Page (Texas Deathmatch)
Brody King vs. Swerve Strickland
Continental Championship — Jon Moxley vs. Konosuke Takeshita (No Time Limit match)
Andrade El Idolo vs. Bandido
AEW World Tag Team Championships — FTR (Cash Wheeler & Dax Harwood) vs. The Young Bucks (Matt Jackson & Nick Jackson)
“Timeless” Toni Storm vs. Marina Shafir
AEW Women’s World Championship — Thekla (c) vs. Kris Statlander (Two out of Three Falls match)
Darby Allin, Orange Cassidy, and Roderick Strong vs. The Dogs (David Finlay, Clark Connors & Gabe Kidd)
AEW World Trios Championships — The Don Callis Family (Kazuchika Okada, Kyle Fletcher & Mark Davis) (c) vs. Mistico and JetSpeed (Kevin Knight & “Speedball” Mike Bailey)
AEW Women’s World Tag Team Championships — The Babes of Wrath (Harley Cameron & Willow Nightingale) (c) vs. Megan Bayne and Lena Kross.
Pre Show:
Boom & Doom (“Big Boom!” A.J. & Q.T. Marshall) vs. The Infantry (Capt. Shawn Dean & Carlie Bravo)*
TBS Championship — Willow Nightingale (c) vs. Lena Kross*
National Championship — Ricochet (c) vs. Tommaso Ciampa vs. 19 TBA (Blackjack Battle Royal)*
AJ Styles revealed that WWE once considered having Abyss appear in a Royal Rumble match. Styles expressed his disappointment that the appearance never materialized, wishing the Abyss character could have had a moment in WWE.
Speaking on the Phenomenally Retro Podcast, Styles revealed that Abyss nearly appeared during the WWE Royal Rumble, but the plan ultimately fell through. The former WWE Champion said he regrets it because it would have given the character a proper WWE moment, but the idea was apparently rejected by someone in the company.
“There was a moment in time where we thought we were going to have him in the Royal Rumble and it didn’t go through and I hate that for him. I wish it hadn’t. It would have been just like, ‘Ah, okay, stamp on Abyss, the character finally made it to the WWE.’ I would have wanted that, but it never happened. I guess somebody didn’t agree with it, who knows.”
Styles considers Abyss one of the best big men he has ever wrestled, praising his ability to do it all. While the Royal Rumble appearance never happened, Abyss remains a memorable figure from TNA’s early years, and Styles believes the character deserved a moment on WWE’s biggest stage.
AJ Styles and Chris Park
Abyss (Chris Park) is retired from in-ring competition and has been focused on being a producer for WWE. Despite spending nearly two decades wrestling on television, Abyss never got a chance to compete in WWE in his monster persona. However, he recently did make an appearance during Styles’ tribute night on Raw.
Abyss’ alter ego, the mild-mannered and timid Joseph Park also made a brief on-screen appearance in 2020. He showed up alongside AJ Styles as his personal analytics expert.
The moment served as a lighthearted mini reunion from their days in Total Nonstop Action Wrestling and provided some entertainment during the global pandemic, when WWE events were being held without live audiences.
AJ Styles recently addressed the tribalism between WWE and AEW fans, encouraging them to appreciate the variety of wrestling available.
During the latest edition of Phenomenally Retro Podcast, he highlighted that different promotions offer unique experiences and that negativity surrounding wrestler movement is unnecessary.
‘The Phenomenal One’ addressed the online negativity that tends to follow wrestlers who move between promotions. He said the constant criticism and fan arguments over those moves miss the bigger picture.
Instead, Styles encouraged fans to simply appreciate the fact that wrestling currently has more options than it did in the past.
Styles stated:
“Yeah, I mean this is — you’re right — it’s a great time to be a wrestling fan. If you like wrestling, then take part in it. There are so many things going on right now.”
“NXT is different than Raw and SmackDown. AEW is different than Raw and SmackDown and NXT. There are a lot of things going on and a lot of wrestling to watch, so enjoy it.”
“You don’t have to hate one or the other. There’s enough out there for you to enjoy a little bit of everything. I think that’s what WWE is trying to do — give you a little bit of everything. Because you want to be entertained, you want to laugh, you want to cry, and you want to enjoy the wrestling. Trying to find all of that in one show is very difficult.”
“But then you’ve got people hating on this because this guy left here and went there, or that guy moved somewhere else. Don’t do that, man. Just enjoy what you’ve got, because who knows how long it lasts.”
Styles, who retired from in-ring competition after losing to Gunther at the Royal Rumble, recently signed a new WWE contract for a backstage role scouting and coaching talent. He was also inducted into the 2026 WWE Hall of Fame.
As part of his new WWE duties, Styles will scout independent talent, facilitate WWE ID contracts, and check in on main roster and NXT talent to offer help.
The incident occurred as Edwards took a forearm from the top rope during OVW’s Rise TV show at Davis Arena in Louisville, Kentucky. Edwards is currently in the ICU.
The referee legitimately suffered a seizure after a forearm from Brendan Balling in a Four Corners of Chaos match. The match continued for about a minute while Edwards convulsed. Wrestlers dragged him aside before the match was stopped.
Al Snow’s Statement
Al Snow posted a statement on X, addressing the incident, acknowledging the risks involved in wrestling and explaining the situation.
Snow stated:
“Hello everyone, this is Al Snow. I want to speak directly to our fans and the wrestling community regarding the incident involving Referee Dallas Edwards at last week’s event.
Professional wrestling has always carried an inherent risk of injury for everyone who steps into the ring. On March 12th, during a live OVW television event, Dallas was involved in a planned moment of physical contact with a wrestler that resulted in him suffering a head injury.
Traditionally, when an in-ring injury occurs, the referee is the central point of communication, assessment, and decision-making. In this unprecedented situation, the person who would normally make that assessment was the one who needed assistance. That unforeseen breakdown in communication contributed to a delay in stopping the match and concluding the show.
We are relieved to hear that Dallas is recovering and receiving the medical care he needs. Our thoughts are with him, and we’re hoping for his continued improvement.”
Snow added that OVW is reviewing its existing procedures and updating several of its in-ring and ringside protocols to ensure they continue to meet the highest expectations for performer safety.
These updates include enhanced communication systems, additional referee training, and expanded ringside response measures. OVW issued a statement expressing distress over the incident and wishing Dallas Edwards a speedy recovery.
“At OVW, the health and safety of our performers and officials has always been our top priority. We are proud of the standards we’ve maintained over the years, but we also recognize that there is always room to strengthen and improve. With that in mind, we are reviewing our existing proceduresand updating several of our in-ring and ringside protocols to ensure we continue to meet the highest expectations for performer safety.
These updates include enhanced communication systems, additional referee training, and expanded ringside response measures to help ensure that a situation like this is identified and addressed as quickly as possible.
We appreciate the concern and passion from our fans, and we understand the importance of transparency during moments like this. We will continue to share updates when appropriate, and we ask everyone to keep Dallas in your thoughts as he continues his recovery.
The frightening moment served as a reminder of the very real dangers involved in professional wrestling, even during controlled and scripted situations.
As Dallas Edwards continues to receive treatment in the ICU, the wrestling community has rallied around him with messages of support and well-wishes
WWE Chief Content Officer Triple H recently paid tribute to WWE’s international touring manager Davey Coates, who has passed away. Coates was instrumental in setting up WWE’s international shows.
Coates monitored and helped in setting up all WWE international shows, both large and small. He also worked extensively with NXT UK and at the UK Performance Center.
Triple H’s Tribute to Davey Coates
Triple H shared a photo of himself with Coates from 30 years ago. He posted on X:
“Learned of the sad news of Davey Coates passing. Davey was @WWE’s international touring manager and was largely responsible for making all international shows, large and small happen. He ensured our wrestling rings got to the most remote corners of the world, our backstage ran smoothly and always took great care and personal pride in assisting our NXT UK talent at the “UK Performance Centre.”
Learned of the sad news of Davey Coates passing. Davey was @WWE’s international touring manager and was largely responsible for making all international shows, large and small happen. He ensured our wrestling rings got to the most remote corners of the world, our backstage ran… pic.twitter.com/4lbTbVH8HE
Former NXT GM William Regal also paid tribute to Davey:
I’m beyond deeply saddened to hear my close friend and colleague Davey Coates has passed. We’ve been on tour with WWE for 20+ years in over 20 countries. We shared the same interests in British sub cultures and music. We laughed harder than anyone has the right to. We’ve shared our closest moments that we couldn’t tell anyone else. We both knew that we had charmed lives because of our work that we would never of had without it and both could have ended up going down a wrong path in our teens and later life. My deepest condolences to Henry and Davey’s friends and family. I’ll miss you forever.x
I’m beyond deeply saddened to hear my close friend and colleague Davey Coates has passed. We’ve been on tour with WWE for 20+ years in over 20 countries. We shared the same interests in British sub cultures and music. We laughed harder than anyone has the right to. We’ve shared…
The passing of Davey Coates marks the loss of a behind-the-scenes figure whose work helped bring WWE events to fans across the globe. Our thoughts and deepest condolences go out to Coates’ family, friends, and everyone in the WWE community during this difficult time.
The Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes was given an added scene in the upcoming Street Fighter movie due to his good working relationship with director Kitao Sakurai. The announcement was made recently, with Rhodes playing Guile in the film.
The movie, set for theatrical release on October 16th, 2026, also features several other wrestlers. The movie is set in Hollywood and was previewed with a trailer at the Game Awards.
“I hope people really enjoy Guile. I don’t want to give too much away, Capcom Cup is happening right now, for example.
“I don’t want anyone who loves this game to take something I said and think… I want them just to watch what Kitao Sakurai has put together with this movie. Man, he gave me an added scene, just because we were having such a good time.”
Wrestlers Invade Hollywood
The Street Fighter movie boasts a cast with several wrestlers taking on iconic roles. With Cody Rhodes as Guile, Hirooki Goto as E. Honda, and Roman Reigns as Akuma, the film is sure to attract wrestling fans. The movie is directed by Kitao Sakurai.
Cody Rhodes is also currently preparing for a WrestleMania 42 main event defense of the WWE Championship against former mentor and teammate Randy Orton in Las Vegas. On the latest edition of SmackDown, ‘The Viper’ turned heel and brutally assaulted Rhodes, leaving him bloodied.
Danhausen is making waves in WWE, as the company has filed trademarks for several Danhausen-related terms, including ‘Girlhausen’, ‘Kid-hausen’, ‘Kidhausen’, and ‘Ghoulhausen’. The filings suggest WWE is investing in the superstar’s brand and future.
The trademarks cover entertainment services such as wrestling exhibitions and performances. They also include a wide range of merchandise, including tops, shirts, jackets, and costumes.
Danhausen is currently listed as a free agent within WWE, without being assigned to a specific brand. Despite this, Danhausen’s WWE t-shirts are top sellers at WWE Shop.
Danhausen’s Expanding Universe
The trademark filings indicate WWE’s plans to expand Danhausen’s brand. The trademarks cover entertainment services, specifically wrestling exhibitions and performances by a professional wrestler. The filings also cover clothing, including tops, shirts, jackets, and costumes.
Danhausen debuted at Elimination Chamber as he emerged from a mystery box. He has been heavily featured on WWE Raw and SmackDown, where he has continued to curse certain talents backstage.
UFC Hall of Famer Ronda Rousey is set to make her return to MMA on May 16th against Gina Carano at the Intuit Dome in Inglewood, California. Rousey’s longtime friend Marina Shafir has now expressed her excitement for Rousey’s return. The fight is promoted by Jake Paul’s Most Valuable Promotions and will be streamed on Netflix.
Shafir revealed she will be in attendance at the Intuit Dome to support Rousey. The fight is scheduled for five 5-minute rounds at 145 pounds, using 4-ounce gloves in a hexagon cage. A kickoff news conference was held on March 5th at the Intuit Dome.
Speaking on Busted Open, Shafir shared her enthusiastic support:
“Oh my God, I’m so excited for her. This is visceral for her. In a non-gay way, I have gotten really hard nipples for her. I’m just very excited for her because she has — you guys just have no f*cking idea what people go through, and for her to be doing the thing that she loves, so wholeheartedly and so passionately, I’m just so excited. I’m really f*cking excited to see what happens, what’s to come. I’m really excited to be there actually too so…”
Rousey vs. Carano
Ronda Rousey’s MMA record stands at 12-2. Gina Carano’s MMA record is 7-1. Rousey was the inaugural UFC women’s bantamweight champion and holds the record for six consecutive title defenses. She was inducted into the UFC Hall of Fame in 2018.
