SEScoops

Author: Mike Reichlin

  • WWE SmackDown Tonight (4/17/26): Start Time, Card & How to Watch

    WWE SmackDown Tonight (4/17/26): Start Time, Card & How to Watch

    WWE SmackDown airs tonight (Friday, April 17, 2026) from T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada, live on USA Network starting at 8 PM ET.

    This is the go-home show for WrestleMania 42, and the card is stacked. Tonight’s show features the Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royal, a Women’s United States Championship match between Giulia and Tiffany Stratton, and an eight-man street fight between The Wyatt Sicks and The MFTs.

    Undisputed Champion Cody Rhodes will address Pat McAfee and Randy Orton, and Jacob Fatu responds to Drew McIntyre’s attack from last week.

    Here’s everything you need to know including start times, how to watch, and the full card.

    How to Watch SmackDown Tonight

    Date Friday, April 17, 2026
    Venue T-Mobile Arena, Las Vegas, Nevada
    Channel/Stream USA Network (US) / Netflix (select international markets)
    US Start Time 8 PM ET / 7 PM CT / 5 PM PT
    UK Start Time 1 AM GMT (Saturday, April 18)
    India Start Time 5:30 AM IST (Saturday, April 18)
    Duration 3 hours

    SmackDown Match Card for April 17, 2026

    WWE SmackDown logo with match card for April 17, 2026 go-home show before WrestleMania 42

    Here are the matches and segments announced for tonight’s show:

    Giulia (c) vs. Tiffany Stratton (WWE Women’s United States Championship)

    Giulia puts the Women’s US Title on the line in a rematch against Tiffany Stratton. The two met in a non-title bout a few weeks back, which Giulia won, and Stratton gets her shot at the gold the night before WrestleMania. Giulia is in her second reign at 105 days and has one prior successful defense against Alexa Bliss.

    The Wyatt Sicks vs. The MFTs (Eight-Man Tag Team Street Fight)

    Uncle Howdy, Dexter Lumis, Joe Gacy, and Erik Rowan, with Nikki Cross in their corner, finally get their hands on Solo Sikoa’s MFTs. Bo Dallas retrieved Bray Wyatt’s lantern from the MFTs last week, setting up tonight’s no-disqualification brawl. Expect all five MFTs to find their way into the match before it’s over.

    Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royal

    The 12th edition of the annual battle royal returns to the go-home SmackDown. Past winners include Carmelo Hayes, Bronson Reed, Jey Uso, and Bobby Lashley. WWE hasn’t officially announced participants, but Raw and SmackDown Superstars will both be in the mix, and the winner takes the trophy 24 hours before Night 1 of Mania.

    Cody Rhodes Addresses Pat McAfee and Randy Orton

    The Undisputed WWE Champion has taken back-to-back beatings from Orton and McAfee — first the McAfee heel turn in St. Louis, then last week’s double attack in San Jose that also laid out Jelly Roll. Rhodes responds tonight before defending the title against Orton on Night 1 at Allegiant Stadium.

    Jacob Fatu Responds to Drew McIntyre

    McIntyre put Fatu through hell last week, and the Samoan Werewolf gets a microphone tonight before their Unsanctioned Match on Night 1. Fatu still believes McIntyre was behind the backstage attack that sidelined him last fall, and WWE has already said the promotion won’t be responsible for whatever happens between these two at Mania.

    Road to WrestleMania 42

    WrestleMania 42 takes place Saturday and Sunday, April 18-19 at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, Nevada.

    Tonight is the final chance for Superstars to make a statement before the biggest weekend of the year. Cody Rhodes vs. Randy Orton headlines Night 1, with McIntyre-Fatu and Jade Cargill vs. Rhea Ripley also on the two-night card.

    Follow SEScoops for live results, recaps, and all news out of WrestleMania 42 weekend.

  • Kazuchika Okada vs. Konosuke Takeshita Set for Double Or Nothing

    Kazuchika Okada vs. Konosuke Takeshita Set for Double Or Nothing

    Kazuchika Okada and Konosuke Takeshita will face off for the AEW International Championship at Double Or Nothing

    Kazuchika Okada will defend the AEW International Championship against Konosuke Takeshita at Double Or Nothing on Sunday, May 24. The match was officially confirmed on the April 17 episode of AEW Collision.

    The bout was originally agreed to before AEW Dynasty, with Okada and Takeshita working together against the Young Bucks as part of the arrangement. However, Takeshita walked out on Okada during that tag team match, leaving the champion to take the pinfall loss.

    Don Callis Attempts to Cancel the Match

    On Collision, Don Callis attempted to void the agreement, arguing that Takeshita’s actions at Dynasty nullified the deal. Callis stated he could get Okada out of the Double Or Nothing match given how Takeshita didn’t uphold his end of the bargain.

    Okada rejected that decision, insisting he still wanted the match. The champion made it clear he welcomes the challenge, pointing out that he is a champion unlike Takeshita.

  • Cody Rhodes, Giulia vs Tiffany Stratton Set for SmackDown

    Cody Rhodes, Giulia vs Tiffany Stratton Set for SmackDown

    SmackDown April 17 2026

    WWE Champion Cody Rhodes will make an appearance on Friday’s SmackDown from Las Vegas, the final show before WrestleMania 42 this weekend. Rhodes will deliver a message to Randy Orton and Pat McAfee ahead of his title defense Saturday night.

    The show also features a Women’s United States Championship match, as Giulia puts the title on the line against former WWE Women’s Champion Tiffany Stratton. This marks just the second defense of Giulia’s second reign and her first in three months.

    The bout serves as a rematch from their March 27 non-title encounter, which Giulia won. Stratton will look to capture her first singles championship since losing the WWE Women’s title earlier this year.

    WrestleMania 42 Build Continues

    Jacob Fatu will also appear on the show ahead of his unsanctioned match against Drew McIntyre at WrestleMania 42. The appearance gives Fatu one final opportunity to send a message before their highly anticipated clash.

    The new additions join the previously announced Andre the Giant memorial battle royal and an eight-man street fight pitting the MFTs against the Wyatt Sicks.

    SmackDown airs Friday night from Las Vegas, with WrestleMania 42 taking place Saturday and Sunday from the same city.

  • HOG Culture Clash 2026 Preview: Matches, How to Watch

    HOG Culture Clash 2026 Preview: Matches, How to Watch

    House of Glory Wrestling brings its biggest event in years to Las Vegas tonight as HOG: Culture Clash takes over the Pearl Theater at Palms Casino Resort. It’s WrestleMania week, the card is stacked with legitimate free agent and indie talent, and the show streams live on TrillerTV starting at 8:00 PM PT.

    HOG Culture Clash 2026 event poster featuring match card at Pearl Theater Las Vegas

    Key Points

    • Main Event: HOG Heavyweight Champion Charles Mason defends against Ring of Honor standout Michael Oku in Oku’s HOG debut.
    • Iconic Tag Match: The Hardys put the HOG Tag Team titles on the line against The Good Brothers in a dream matchup 20-plus years in the making.
    • How to Watch: TrillerTV, live tonight at 8:00 PM PT / 11:00 PM ET, Pearl Theater, Las Vegas

    HOG has positioned Culture Clash as a showcase event for WrestleMania weekend, pulling together talent from AEW, TNA, Ring of Honor, and the global independent scene. The promotion’s New York City roots are on full display here — Amazing Red, HOG’s founder, is competing on his own show against one of the most celebrated luchadors working today.

    Full Match Card

    Match Stipulation
    Charles Mason (c) vs. Michael Oku HOG Heavyweight Championship
    The Hardys (Jeff Hardy & Matt Hardy) (c) vs. The Good Brothers (Doc Gallows & Karl Anderson) HOG Tag Team Championship
    Shotzi Blackheart (c) vs. Charlie HOG Women’s Championship
    Brody King vs. Zilla Fatu Singles Match (Non-Title)
    Amazing Red vs. Bandido Singles Match
    Ken Broadway vs. Ricky Sosa Singles Match

    Match Previews

    HOG Heavyweight Championship: Charles Mason (c) vs. Michael Oku

    Mason won the HOG Heavyweight title in June 2025, completing a Grand Slam in the promotion. He’s been a fixture in HOG for years — dark, methodical, and fully at home as the top villain carrying the company’s biggest belt into its biggest event.

    Michael Oku is making his HOG debut here. The British grappler has built his name on the Ring of Honor circuit, earning a reputation as one of the most polished technical workers on the scene. Bringing him in cold for a world title match is a statement from HOG about where they see this event landing in the wrestling calendar.

    Mason’s character work thrives on environments like this — big room, skeptical crowd, outsider challenger with momentum. If Oku connects with the Vegas audience right away, this could be the match that puts him on the North American map in a serious way.

    HOG Tag Team Championship: The Hardys (c) vs. The Good Brothers

    The Hardys won the HOG Tag Team titles in October 2025 and have been one of the most active championship-collecting teams in wrestling this past year, holding gold simultaneously across TNA, WWE NXT, and HOG. Pro Wrestling Illustrated named them the top tag team of 2025.

    Doc Gallows and Karl Anderson need no introduction to anyone who has followed the last 15 years of tag team wrestling. The Good Brothers have championship history across WWE, NJPW, TNA, and the independent circuit. This is a WrestleMania week marquee tag match: two legendary teams, one set of titles, Vegas crowd.

    HOG Women’s Championship: Shotzi Blackheart (c) vs. Charlie

    Shotzi defends the HOG Women’s title against Charlie in what shapes up as a high-energy title match. Shotzi brings her usual chaotic energy to the Vegas crowd while Charlie looks to pull off the upset on the biggest HOG stage to date.

    Brody King vs. Zilla Fatu

    This is the first-ever meeting between these two. King is one of AEW’s most physically imposing workers — a freight train in the ring with legitimate striking credentials and a reputation for making big matches feel violent. Zilla Fatu is the HOG Crown Jewel Champion, a second-generation star from the Samoan wrestling family who has been on a rocket trajectory through the independent scene.

    Power versus power, first-time-ever, no title on the line.

    Amazing Red vs. Bandido

    Red co-founded House of Glory and remains one of its spiritual anchors. He was a pioneer of the high-flying style in the United States, and his fingerprints are all over a generation of luchadors and spotfest wrestlers who came up behind him.

    Bandido is an AEW luchador who combines aerial offense with surprising strength — exactly the kind of opponent that makes Red’s style look best. This is the first-ever meeting between them.

    How to Watch

    • Date/Time: Thursday, April 16, 2026, 8:00 PM PT / 11:00 PM ET
    • Venue: Pearl Theater at Palms Casino Resort, Las Vegas, Nevada
    • Streaming: TrillerTV

    Stay tuned to SEScoops.com for post-event fallout.

  • Danhausen WrestleMania 42 Segment Plans Revealed

    Danhausen WrestleMania 42 Segment Plans Revealed

    Danhausen is scheduled to appear in a segment at WrestleMania 42 this weekend in Las Vegas. According to PWInsider, WWE has already mapped out plans for how the superstar will be featured on the company’s biggest stage.

    The segment will reportedly involve mini-wrestlers and is being structured as a character-driven moment rather than a traditional match. This approach appears designed to showcase the “Very Nice, Very Evil” presentation that has been generating strong crowd reactions on recent SmackDown episodes.

    Growing Momentum on SmackDown

    Danhausen’s WrestleMania 42 inclusion comes after a noticeable shift in fan response since his WWE debut earlier this year. Despite initial backlash, recent SmackDown appearances have shown growing support from live crowds.

    Last week’s SmackDown featured a pyro-assisted win that generated strong reactions. Merchandise presence has also increased, with autograph sessions selling out ahead of established stars.

    WrestleMania 42 Platform

    WWE is positioning Danhausen for a WrestleMania moment that could stand out as one of the more unique segments on the card. The decision to feature him in a character-driven segment rather than a standard match reflects the company’s approach to capitalizing on his recent momentum.

    WrestleMania 42 takes place this weekend in Las Vegas. The segment plans indicate WWE’s commitment to showcasing Danhausen’s character work on the Premium Live Event stage.

  • Paul Heyman Joins TikTok from Las Vegas for WrestleMania 42

    Paul Heyman Joins TikTok from Las Vegas for WrestleMania 42

    Paul Heyman Crashes TikTok

    Paul Heyman has officially joined TikTok, and the timing could not be more perfect. The WWE Hall of Famer launched his new account from the Park MGM in Las Vegas this week, dropping his debut video in the middle of WrestleMania 42 fight week.

    Heyman’s own outlet, the Heyman Hustle, framed the moment as “Paul Heyman Crashes TikTok,” with a debut post talking Brock Lesnar and the road to Allegiant Stadium.

    Heyman’s TikTok Debut

    The first video on the new @PaulHeyman TikTok account opens with Heyman’s trademark greeting before he pivots straight into WrestleMania week talk, teasing what is coming for Lesnar in Las Vegas. You can follow along here:

    @paulheyman

    Ladies and Gentlemen, my Name is Paul Heyman. Welcome to WrestleMania Week, LIVE from the Park MGM in Las Vegas, Nevada!

    ? original sound – Paul Heyman

    For fans who want the full run, the account is live and building now at @paulheyman. It is pitched as a direct feed into Heyman’s corner of the WWE and entertainment worlds, which, given his current role, is about as close to the creative center of the company as outside access gets.

    A Busy WrestleMania Weekend

    Heyman is not arriving in Las Vegas to sit quietly. He is scheduled to be in Brock Lesnar’s corner for Lesnar vs. Oba Femi, and his Vision clients Logan Paul and Austin Theory are in a six-man tag with iShowSpeed against LA Knight and The Usos.

    He is also woven into the Seth Rollins vs. GUNTHER storyline that has built across recent Raw broadcasts.

    Per PWInsider, Heyman and Lesnar have already been spotted around town, with more WWE personalities arriving daily ahead of Saturday’s opening night at Allegiant Stadium.

    Why the Timing Matters

    Heyman has had a presence on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram for years through the Heyman Hustle brand, but TikTok is a new glimpse into his world. Launching it during WrestleMania week, with content that leans into Lesnar, The Vision, and the Rollins storyline: this gives the account an instant runway into the biggest wrestling weekend of the year.

    WrestleMania 42 takes place this Saturday, April 18, and Sunday, April 19, at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas.

  • Stone Cold Steve Austin Fortnite Skin: Release Time, Price, Bundle

    Stone Cold Steve Austin Fortnite Skin: Release Time, Price, Bundle

    Stone Cold Steve Austin Fortnite

    Stone Cold Steve Austin officially joins Fortnite today, marking the latest WWE crossover timed to WrestleMania 42 weekend.

    Epic Games confirmed the Texas Rattlesnake’s debut with a teaser trailer showing Austin making his entrance to his shattered glass theme before performing his signature beer smash, swapped out for Slurp Juice cans in the Fortnite-friendly version. The skin hits the item shop Thursday, April 16, during the daily reset at 5 PM PT / 8 PM ET.

    Stone Cold Fortnite Skin Details

    The Austin skin is priced at 1,500 V-Bucks as a standalone purchase, with a full bundle expected to include a back bling, pickaxe, and likely an emote. His in-game model features his traditional jean shorts, leather vest, and knee braces.

    WWE x Fortnite Roster Grows

    Austin joins a growing list of WWE characters on the Fortnite island. Previously released skins include John Cena, Becky Lynch, Bianca Belair, and most recently Cody Rhodes and The Undertaker, who dropped ahead of WrestleMania 41 weekend in 2025.

    Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson also appears in the game, though not as his WWE persona. He is featured as The Foundation, a central character in the ongoing Fortnite storyline who returned as part of Chapter 7 Season 2’s battle pass.

    A Packed Week for WWE Gaming

    The Fortnite drop caps a busy stretch for WWE video game crossovers. WWE 2K26 launched its Ringside Pass Season 2 on April 15, adding Kelly Kelly, Ax, Crush, and Smash as playable superstars.

    Austin has been a recurring presence in the wrestling gaming space this year, with his appearance in WWE 2K26 now joined by his Fortnite debut. Beyond the virtual world, Austin is scheduled to be backstage at WrestleMania 42, according to reports, with meet and greet appearances lined up at WWE World across the weekend.

    WrestleMania 42 takes place April 18-19 at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas.

  • “Absolute Time of My Life” – CM Punk Opens Up on WrestleMania Run with AJ Lee

    “Absolute Time of My Life” – CM Punk Opens Up on WrestleMania Run with AJ Lee

    CM Punk opened up about what AJ Lee’s WWE return has meant to him personally during an appearance on ALL THE SMOKE: Unplugged. The World Heavyweight Champion said traveling and performing alongside his wife since her September comeback has been the best period of his career.

    “The worst thing about me coming back and being gone so frequently is that I was gone so frequently,” Punk told hosts Matt Barnes and Stephen Jackson. “I get sad when I have to kiss my wife goodbye, even if it’s for two days. But now she’s with me. We get to travel together, experience things together. I’m so much more calm when she’s around.”

    “Absolute Time of My Life”

    Punk described a specific moment that captures what the arrangement means to him.

    “I can hear her laughing in the locker room down the hall. It’s such a calming, zen thing for me. Sharing a ring with her and doing stuff on TV with her, absolute time of my life. What a dream my life and my career has been since she came back in September.”

    He also spoke about AJ Lee’s larger impact on the women’s division. Punk referenced an interview where Lee expressed a desire for Paige to experience how different WWE is now.

    “My wife kicked down a lot of doors and made it easier and better for the next generation,” Punk said. “She’s not demanding payment or credit. But I think there’s a lot of women on this crew that are grateful for the things that she did.”

    AJ Lee returned to WWE after an 11-year absence last September and has since been featured in on-screen segments alongside Punk. WrestleMania 42 takes place April 18-19 in Las Vegas.

  • WWE Seats Fans on Stage, Moves Pyro for WrestleMania 42

    WWE Seats Fans on Stage, Moves Pyro for WrestleMania 42

    WWE is making a significant change to the WrestleMania 42 stage setup, seating fans directly on the stage and repositioning pyrotechnics behind the main stage. The shift marks a major departure from the company’s traditional WrestleMania production design.

    Construction is already underway inside Allegiant Stadium ahead of the April 18 and 19 shows. According to PWInsider, the new layout will feature fans seated on both sides of the stage, with an entrance aisle running down the center.

    New Stage Configuration

    The redesigned stage will include two large square columns on each side to frame the entrances and overall presentation. With fans now part of the visual backdrop, pyrotechnics will fire from behind the stage rather than from the traditional positions.

    This configuration represents a notable shift from WWE’s standard WrestleMania setup, where the stage area is typically kept clear for entrances and production elements. The change could create a more immersive atmosphere for both live attendees and viewers watching at home.

    WrestleMania 42 takes place this weekend at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, with Night 1 on April 18 and Night 2 on April 19.

    Can they top last year’s set?

  • Randy Orton Hurting Days Before WrestleMania 42 Title Match

    Randy Orton Hurting Days Before WrestleMania 42 Title Match

    Randy Orton prepares for his WWE Championship match against Cody Rhodes at WrestleMania 42

    Randy Orton is reportedly dealing with physical issues just days before his WWE Championship match against Cody Rhodes at WrestleMania 42. The news raises questions about the outcome of one of the event’s marquee matches.

    According to Dave Meltzer in this week’s Wrestling Observer Newsletter, Orton is “hurting” heading into the Premium Live Event. While the storyline suggests Orton is positioned to win, the result may not be set in stone due to his physical condition.

    Pat McAfee Stipulation Complicates Outcome

    On the April 10 episode of SmackDown, Pat McAfee cut a promo stating he would never do anything involving WWE again if Orton fails to defeat Rhodes for the title. That stipulation would typically indicate a clear Orton victory.

    However, Meltzer noted the uncertainty surrounding the finish. He wrote in the Newsletter that “Orton is hurting so there is a possibility that would change, as it would make no sense for Orton to win if he has to take time off.”

    Meltzer added that McAfee’s statement “came across like it’s as close to a lock as possible,” suggesting WWE creative had been leaning toward an Orton championship win before his physical issues emerged.

    Backlash Tag Match Still Scheduled

    Despite the injury concerns, the tag team match pitting Jelly Roll and Cody Rhodes against Pat McAfee and Randy Orton remains scheduled to headline the May 9 Backlash Premium Live Event. That booking indicates WWE currently has no plans for McAfee to leave or for Orton to take extended time off immediately following WrestleMania.

    The full Wrestling Observer Newsletter is available at F4WOnline.com for subscribers.

  • Wade Barrett: Joe Tessitore, I Were “Caught Cold” by Pat McAfee Return

    Wade Barrett: Joe Tessitore, I Were “Caught Cold” by Pat McAfee Return

    Wade Barrett says the SmackDown commentary team had no idea Pat McAfee was coming out to align with Randy Orton on the April 3 episode, with blank pages on their rundown sheet where the segment should have been.

    Speaking in a new interview with Sporf, the former WWE Superstar confirmed that his broadcast partner Joe Tessitore’s on-air reaction was genuine, not performance. He said both announcers were caught as cold as the live audience when McAfee walked out in St. Louis.

    Barrett and Tessitore Had Blank Pages on the Rundown

    Wade Barrett and Pat McAfee

    Barrett explained that commentators are not always clued in to every segment, and the McAfee reveal was one of the moments kept completely off their sheet heading into the show.

    “Well, I was very surprised when Pat McAfee came out with the Randy Orton stuff on SmackDown. Sometimes there are blank pages on the sheet that I get as a commentator. That was blank. I had no idea Pat McAfee was coming out, I didn’t know what he was gonna say, so it was a shock to me, and it was a shock to Joe Tess on commentary, too. We were caught just as cold as the entire audience, and I was scratching my head.”

    The former Intercontinental Champion said parts of McAfee’s promo confused him in the moment, pointing to references that did not fit the current product.

    “I didn’t really understand why Pat was saying certain things. He was taking shots at people who didn’t deserve to have a shot taken at them. He was also coming up with some references to 40-minute Ironman matches, and I don’t know what show he was watching there. So, yeah, I was caught cold by it.”

    Barrett added that he enjoyed Cody Rhodes’ immediate response later in the night and singled out CM Punk’s Raw promo the following Monday as one of the funniest retorts he has seen in a long time.

    “I Don’t Know Where the Reality Ends and the Story Begins”

    Barrett went on to praise the angle itself, suggesting that the blurred line between storyline and real-life friction has created exactly the kind of buzz WWE wants before WrestleMania.

    “I think the brilliance of this whole situation, it’s gone from an initial head scratcher to now the lines have been completely blurred, and I don’t know what is storyline, what is real life. Are they angry? I think when you get to that point, it just creates buzz, and I think the three of those guys you just mentioned have created some serious buzz going into WrestleMania.”

    He acknowledged the fan division around the segment, including complaints about Punk going off-script, but framed the resulting noise as a net positive for the show.

    “I’ve been watching this game a long time, I’ve been behind the curtain for over 20 years at this point. I don’t know where the reality ends and the story begins at this point, so they’ve got me too. So I think it’s exactly what you need this time of year, heading into WrestleMania. You want buzz, you want people talking, you want eyeballs on it. Whether this is by design or by accident, whatever it is, it’s worked.”

    McAfee’s Reveal Sets Up WrestleMania 42 Night 1

    McAfee was unveiled as Randy Orton’s mystery caller on the April 3 edition of SmackDown, attacking Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes and declaring that Orton would save the business. He is set to be in Orton’s corner when The Viper challenges Rhodes for the title on Night 1 of WrestleMania 42 at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas on April 18.

    The angle has drawn heavy fan backlash, with Rhodes calling it the most ill-received thing in wrestling history and labeling McAfee a “full-blooded rat” on ESPN’s Get Up.

  • Jim Ross Suspects Vince McMahon is Playing Key Role in WrestleMania 42

    Jim Ross Suspects Vince McMahon is Playing Key Role in WrestleMania 42

    Jim Ross isn’t guessing about Vince McMahon’s involvement in WrestleMania 42. He’s convinced.

    Speaking on Grilling JR with Conrad Thompson, the WWE Hall of Famer and former AEW commentator offered his most direct assessment yet of McMahon’s role in WWE creative heading into WrestleMania weekend.

    “I don’t think there’s any doubt in my mind that Vince will be instrumental in this year’s WrestleMania as far as creative is concerned,” Ross said.

    When Thompson asked point-blank whether McMahon is involved in creative for this year’s show, Ross didn’t flinch:

    “Oh yeah. Okay. Yeah.”

    McMahon Is “In the Kitchen Making Pies”

    Ross used a colorful metaphor to describe what he believes McMahon is doing behind the scenes. Pointing to WrestleMania 42’s loaded match card, Ross said he sees McMahon’s fingerprints all over it.

    “There are some massively marquee matches. And I think Vince is in the kitchen and he’s making pies, and we’re going to see how his pies taste sooner than later,” Ross said.

    He later extended the analogy, adding: “He’s hungry. If he’s making pies, we know he’s in the kitchen.”

    Ross clarified that he doesn’t think McMahon is writing scripts line by line. Instead, he sees the former WWE Chairman operating the way he always has: setting direction and choosing who to elevate.

    “How’s it going to hurt for Vince to chip in with an idea or two and a general direction? He was always really good at picking out somebody he wanted to get over and having a plan to make that happen. And I think that’s kind of where we are right now.”

    “It Will Remain That Way Until They Bury Him”

    Ross grounded his belief in decades of firsthand experience working alongside McMahon as WWE’s Executive Vice President.

    “It comes back to one person: Vince. No matter what his other issues may or may not be, all that stuff, it’s still Vince,” Ross said. “And anyone that’s been listening to this who has worked in WWE knows full well it’s all about Vince, and it will remain that way until they bury him.”

    Ross’s comments come amid the ongoing TKO investor lawsuit, which surfaced leaked Signal messages showing McMahon was actively tracking WrestleMania creative even after his departure from the company.

    Triple H also appeared on Cody Rhodes’ podcast the same day this episode was recorded, where he acknowledged McMahon was involved in creative decisions during that period.

    With WrestleMania 42 set for this weekend, Ross’s assessment adds yet another voice to the growing chorus suggesting McMahon’s influence never truly left WWE.

  • TNA Lockdown Returns In 2026, First All-Cage PPV Since 2016

    TNA Lockdown Returns In 2026, First All-Cage PPV Since 2016

    TNA Lockdown 2026

    TNA Wrestling has a name for its August 23 Chicago pay-per-view, and it comes with history. The company announced on Thursday that Lockdown, the all-steel-cage event it ran annually from 2005 through 2016, is returning at Credit Union 1 Arena.

    The reveal fills in one of the two unnamed dates on TNA’s 2026 live events schedule released earlier this month. A second still-unnamed PPV remains scheduled for Edmonton on November 15.

    First Lockdown Event Since 2016

    Lockdown’s defining gimmick is simple: every match on the card takes place inside a steel cage. TNA debuted the concept in 2005 with A.J. Styles vs. Abyss, and it also introduced Lethal Lockdown, the company’s WarGames-style main event where two teams enter a weapon-filled cage in alternating fashion.

    The last Lockdown ran in 2016 at Wembley Arena in London, where Matt Hardy beat EC3 for the TNA World Championship. An Impact Lockdown event was briefly announced for March 2020, but that show was cancelled when the venue shut down all events due to the pandemic.

    Talent Confirmed For Chicago

    TNA has confirmed a wide slate of talent for the card without yet announcing specific matches. The names include Jeff and Matt Hardy, Nic Nemeth, Mustafa Ali, Moose, AJ Francis, Mike Santana, Steve Maclin, Brian Myers, Eric Young, and Leon Slater.

    The Knockouts Division will also feature prominently, with Ash By Elegance, Tessa Blanchard, Elayna Black, and Indi Hartwell scheduled to compete inside the cage. Full match card details will be announced this summer.

    Credit Union 1 Arena Has Deep Wrestling History

    Credit Union 1 Arena, formerly known as the UIC Pavilion, is a first-time venue for TNA but not for major wrestling. WCW ran Chi-Town Rumble at the building in 1989, a card headlined by Ricky Steamboat beating Ric Flair for the NWA World Championship.

    Lockdown pre-sale begins Wednesday, April 22 at 10 a.m. ET. The general on-sale opens Friday, April 24 at 10 a.m. ET. Ticket information is available at TNAWrestling.com.

  • TNA iMPACT Tonight (4/16/26): EC3 Returns, Start Time & Card

    TNA iMPACT Tonight (4/16/26): EC3 Returns, Start Time & Card

    TNA iMPACT airs tonight (Thursday, April 16, 2026) from the Medical University Arena in Syracuse, New York, live on AMC, AMC+, and TNA+ starting at 9 PM ET.

    The first episode of Rebellion fallout is headlined by the first iMPACT match of EC3’s return to TNA. He goes one-on-one with Eric Young after clearing him from the ring in Cleveland on Saturday. KC Navarro also gets his hands on AJ Francis after turning on him at Rebellion, and TNA World Champion Mike Santana is in the iMPACT Zone. Here’s everything you need to know including start times, how to watch, and the full card.

    How to Watch TNA iMPACT Tonight

    DateThursday, April 16, 2026
    VenueMedical University Arena, Syracuse, New York
    Channel/StreamAMC / AMC+ / TNA+ (Sportsnet 360 in Canada)
    US Start Time9 PM ET / 8 PM CT / 6 PM PT
    UK Start Time2 AM BST (Friday) on DAZN and TNA+
    India Start Time6:30 AM IST (Friday) on Euro Sports Network and TNA+
    Duration2 hours

    TNA iMPACT Match Card for April 16, 2026

    Here are the matches and segments announced for tonight’s show:

    EC3 vs. Eric Young (EC3’s First iMPACT Match Back)

    EC3 calls this “not a comeback, a correction.” That was his framing in a post on X promoting tonight’s episode, which TNA is branding as #ECM3. It’s a statement of intent from a two-time TNA World Champion whose first run ended with the 2018 Feast or Fired pink slip, and who spent the last four years as the face of the NWA before departing in January.

    Young set this up at Rebellion by calling EC3 a “nepo baby” and reminding him that Dixie Carter isn’t around anymore. EC3 answered the call in his hometown of Cleveland, ducked a Young cheap shot, sent him over the top with a clothesline, and cut the promo that put tonight’s match on the books. Young won’t give him a soft landing, and EC3 has built the last week of social media content around the idea that his TNA story wasn’t finished. Tonight is where he starts writing the next chapter.

    KC Navarro vs. AJ Francis (Grudge Match)

    Navarro cost Francis the Rebellion match with Nic Nemeth, setting up Bernie Kosar’s chair shot and the Fameasser finish. It was his first appearance since an ACL injury took him out in August 2025, and he came back specifically to turn on his former FIR$T CLA$$ partner. Francis replaced him during the layoff, and Navarro made sure his first move back was personal.

    Francis is furious and will bring the aggression. Navarro’s speed gives him a puncher’s chance in his first singles match back in eight months.

    Jada Stone vs. Tasha Steelz

    Steelz attacked Stone the week after Steelz beat Dani Luna, so this is the pay-off. Stone has been on a strong run, but Steelz doesn’t tend to travel alone. Order 4’s presence at ringside is the variable that likely decides this one.

    Mike Santana Addresses the iMPACT Zone

    The TNA World Champion retained at Rebellion in a main event that featured Eddie Edwards cashing in his Feast or Fired contract and Alisha Edwards working with The System to try to strip him of the title. Santana survived it, and now he speaks for the first time since. Whatever he says tonight sets the direction for his reign heading into the summer run toward Slammiversary.

    The Undead Realm: Part 3

    Rosemary’s mission to resurrect Allie continues tonight. At Rebellion, Father James Mitchell and Abyss reconciled in what was the emotional peak of the arc so far. Part 3 is the next turn in one of TNA’s most distinct ongoing stories.

    Road to TNA Slammiversary 2026

    Slammiversary 2026 takes place Sunday, June 28 at Agganis Arena in Boston, Massachusetts.

    With Rebellion in the rearview, tonight starts the two-month build to TNA’s midsummer premium event. Santana’s first words as the post-Rebellion champion will shape the title picture, and EC3’s path forward begins with whether he can get the win over Eric Young in his return match.

    Follow SEScoops for any news developments from tonight’s TNA iMPACT.

  • Je’Von Evans Names The Legends Mentoring Him Before WrestleMania

    Je’Von Evans Names The Legends Mentoring Him Before WrestleMania

    Je’Von Evans is 21 years old and headed to his first WrestleMania, but the calmest part of the build has been the locker room around him.

    The Young OG appeared on the Battleground Podcast ahead of his Intercontinental Championship Ladder Match and credited a short list of WWE icons with shaping how he approaches the biggest stage of his career so far.

    The first lesson came from Randy Orton, after the two shared a ring.

    “I learned this from Uncle Randy, that it’s okay to be nervous. He was like, ‘Bro, you should look nervous. You’re going against a legend.’ Ever since then, I was like, dang, it makes sense to be nervous in certain situations.”

    From Childhood Hero To Mentor

    Evans grew up watching John Cena and now finds himself in regular conversation with him. The relationship has shifted from poster-on-the-wall fandom into something closer to a working mentorship, which is exactly what he needed in a year that’s pushed him from a fast-tracked NXT call-up straight to the WrestleMania card.

    Shawn Michaels added the simplest piece of advice on the list, and Evans said it’s the one he leans on hardest.

    “Just be yourself.”

    Coming from a Hall of Famer who openly pushed to keep Evans in NXT longer, the line carries weight. Michaels watched Evans build his entire identity in the developmental brand and trusts him to bring that same identity to Raw without re-engineering it for a bigger crowd.

    The Royal Rumble Reality Check

    Evans tries to keep his fan side in check around the people he came up watching, but one entrance theme broke through during the Royal Rumble.

    “I heard Brock Lesnar’s theme song. I was looking, I was like, ‘Dang, I’m really here.’ I was still in the ring to experience all this.”

    Evans steps into the Intercontinental Championship Ladder Match at WrestleMania 42 this weekend, with a homecoming Raw scheduled for May 18 at the Greensboro Coliseum waiting on the other side.

  • Darby Allin Wins AEW World Championship from MJF

    Darby Allin Wins AEW World Championship from MJF

    Darby Allin is the new AEW World Champion.

    Allin defeated MJF in the main event of AEW Dynamite Spring BreakThru on Wednesday night to capture the title for the first time. The win came in his home state of Washington, just minutes from where he first trained to wrestle.

    The match took place at Angel of the Winds Arena in Everett.

    The finish came after four Coffin Drops and a headlock takeover, the same move MJF used to beat Allin in the opening match of Full Gear 2021. Allin had promised earlier in the night that he would beat MJF with a headlock takeover.

    This called back to their first singles meeting in AEW nearly four and a half years ago.

    Allin Becomes The Second Founding Pillar To Win AEW World Title

    The victory makes Allin the second of AEW’s original Four Pillars to capture the company’s top prize, following MJF himself. Sammy Guevara and Jack Perry round out the group, all of whom were positioned as the future of the promotion when AEW launched in 2019.

    The match was set up at AEW Dynasty on April 12, when Allin defeated Andrade El Idolo to earn the title shot. MJF retained the championship in the same night’s main event over Kenny Omega, with Allin then calling his shot for Spring BreakThru in his backyard.

    MJF’s Reign Ends In Everett

    MJF’s reign ends after a run that included high-profile defenses against Kenny Omega and other top contenders. The champion arrived at the arena unaware that the title match had been moved to the show.

    He protested the booking before Bryan Danielson informed him he would be stripped of the title if he refused to defend.

    The babyface locker room emptied to celebrate with Allin after the match, including Sting, who came out to share the moment with his longtime tag team partner and former AEW World Tag Team Championship co-holder. The show went off the air with everyone celebrating.

    The new champion stood tall in his home state.

  • AEW Forbidden Door, TNA Slammiversary Set For Same Night

    AEW Forbidden Door, TNA Slammiversary Set For Same Night

    AEW and TNA are on a collision course. Both promotions have locked in major pay-per-views for Sunday, June 28, 2026, setting up the first direct PPV showdown between the two companies in the modern era.

    AEW x NJPW Forbidden Door 2026 will emanate from the SAP Center in San Jose, California. TNA Slammiversary 2026 is scheduled for the same night as part of the promotion’s newly announced 2026 touring schedule.

    From Talent Pulls To PPV Warfare

    The scheduling conflict marks a sharp escalation in what has been a rapidly deteriorating relationship between the two promotions. Just over a week ago, TNA President Carlos Silva pulled Nic Nemeth from a scheduled Create A Pro match against AEW World Champion MJF, citing conflicts after AEW Collision aired on Impact’s traditional Thursday night.

    That decision set off a chain reaction. Nemeth publicly called the cancellation “crushing” on Busted Open Radio, while Will Ospreay slammed TNA on social media, labeling the talent pulls “cowardly.” The independent scene, long a neutral ground where AEW and TNA talent crossed paths freely, has become a front in a promotional cold war.

    Now that war is moving to the main stage.

    What’s At Stake On June 28

    Forbidden Door has been one of AEW’s marquee events since its debut, built around dream matches between AEW’s roster and stars from New Japan Pro-Wrestling and other international partners. The San Jose date was confirmed earlier today, with the SAP Center announcement setting the stage for another star-studded card.

    Slammiversary is TNA’s flagship event, historically the promotion’s biggest night of the year outside of Bound For Glory. The June 28 date was part of TNA’s 2026 schedule reveal last week.

    Neither promotion has publicly acknowledged the head-to-head scheduling, but the timing, coming days after the MJF match cancellation fallout, is difficult to read as coincidence.

    AEW or TNA?

    For wrestling fans, the Sunday night scheduling creates a choice that hasn’t existed in years. Split audiences historically benefit the promotion with the deeper roster and broader reach, and AEW enters June with significantly more mainstream visibility. TNA, however, has momentum from recent international broadcast deals and a resurgent in-ring product.

    Match cards and start times for both events have yet to be announced. Expect more details in the coming weeks as both promotions begin hyping their respective PPVs.

  • Joe Jonas To Perform National Anthem At WrestleMania 42 Sunday

    Joe Jonas To Perform National Anthem At WrestleMania 42 Sunday

    Joe Jonas is set to open WrestleMania 42. WWE announced that the multi-platinum and Grammy-nominated recording artist will perform the National Anthem to kick off Sunday’s show.

    https://x.com/joejonas/status/2044507525882536078?s=46

    The anthem performance has become a signature opening moment for WrestleMania Sundays, with WWE typically tapping a high-profile mainstream artist for the spot. Jonas now joins that lineage.

    His inclusion adds another pop-culture name to the WrestleMania 42 weekend, continuing a pattern of celebrity-heavy WrestleMania guest lists that the company has leaned into in recent years.

    WrestleMania 42 concludes on Sunday with a card that will be headlined by Roman Reigns challenging CM Punk for the World Heavyweight championship.

  • AEW Dynamite Tonight (4/15/26): Start Time, Card & How to Watch

    AEW Dynamite Tonight (4/15/26): Start Time, Card & How to Watch

    AEW Dynamite: Spring BreakThru airs tonight (Wednesday, April 15, 2026) from Angel of the Winds Arena in Everett, Washington, live on TBS and streaming simultaneously on HBO Max starting at 8 PM ET.

    AEW follows up on Sunday’s Dynasty pay-per-view with a special themed episode loaded with championship gold. Tonight’s card features three title matches, headlined by MJF defending the AEW World Championship against Darby Allin. Here’s everything you need to know including start times, how to watch, and the full card.

    How to Watch AEW Dynamite Tonight

    Date Wednesday, April 15, 2026
    Venue Angel of the Winds Arena, Everett, Washington
    Channel/Stream TBS / HBO Max (simulcast)
    US Start Time 8 PM ET / 7 PM CT / 5 PM PT
    UK Start Time 1 AM BST (Thursday)
    India Start Time 5:30 AM IST (Thursday)
    Duration 2 hours

    AEW Dynamite Match Card for April 15, 2026

    Here are the matches and segments announced for tonight’s show:

    MJF (c) vs. Darby Allin (AEW World Championship)

    Allin earned this shot by defeating Andrade El Idolo at Dynasty and immediately called for his title match to happen in Everett, where he first trained as a wrestler. He isn’t waiting for Double or Nothing. MJF retained the AEW World Championship against Kenny Omega in Dynasty’s main event and now faces a quick turnaround against one of the hottest challengers in the company.

    The two have met in singles competition only once before, at AEW Full Gear 2021, where MJF won. Allin has been undefeated in singles matches throughout 2026, picking up wins over PAC, Gabe Kidd, Rush, and Clark Connors among others. Whether MJF can overcome the hometown energy working against him and Allin’s momentum is the biggest question of the night.

    Kevin Knight (c) vs. Claudio Castagnoli (TNT Championship)

    Knight won the TNT Championship at Dynasty by winning the Casino Gauntlet match for the vacant title after Kyle Fletcher was forced to relinquish it due to a meniscus injury. Knight sealed the win by pinning Castagnoli’s Death Riders stablemate Daniel Garcia, which sets the stage for tonight’s first defense.

    A win for the Death Riders member would give the faction championship gold and shift power in AEW’s midcard picture.

    Willow Nightingale (c) vs. Kamille (TBS Championship)

    Kamille made a violent return at Dynasty’s Zero Hour pre-show, attacking Nightingale backstage and preventing her from competing in the TBS Championship Open Challenge. After picking up a squash win of her own, Kamille attacked the champion again.

    Nightingale has confirmed she’s been medically cleared and wants payback.

    This is Kamille’s first significant match in AEW since her loss to Kris Statlander on Dynamite in October 2024. The former NWA Women’s World Champion is looking to restart her AEW run with a title win, while Nightingale aims to shut down the comeback before it gains any more traction.

    Road to AEW Double or Nothing 2026

    AEW Double or Nothing 2026 takes place Sunday, May 24 at Louis Armstrong Stadium in Queens, New York.

    Tonight’s Spring BreakThru marks the beginning of the road to AEW’s first-ever pay-per-view inside New York City’s five boroughs. The outcomes of all three title matches could reshape the championship picture heading into Memorial Day weekend.

    Thursday’s Collision will also be taped from Everett following tonight’s live broadcast.

    Follow SEScoops for any news and developments from tonight’s AEW Dynamite.

  • Diana Hart Fires Back at Bret Over SummerSlam 92 Account

    Diana Hart Fires Back at Bret Over SummerSlam 92 Account

    Diana Hart has gone public with a pointed rebuke of her brother Bret Hart, disputing his long-standing claims about the condition of her late ex-husband Davey Boy Smith during their iconic SummerSlam 1992 match at Wembley Stadium.

    In a lengthy Instagram post, Hart accused Bret of stating his version of events “as facts” rather than opinions, and said many of his claims about Davey’s physical or mental state at the 1992 show are “simply not true.”

    https://www.instagram.com/p/DXIawyUGAmk/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==

    The SummerSlam 1992 Dispute

    Bret has spoken publicly on multiple occasions about carrying Davey Boy Smith through the 25-minute Intercontinental Championship match at Wembley Stadium, stating that Smith was in poor physical condition on the night. Diana directly challenges that narrative.

    She revealed that Davey was in fact recovering from necrotizing fasciitis, a serious and life-threatening flesh-eating infection, at the time of the match.

    Diana said the family has proof of the diagnosis and noted that Davey chose not to disclose his condition publicly. “He simply did the work,” she wrote.

    Diana argued that the match footage itself contradicts Bret’s characterization. “Davey’s performance shows no evidence of impairment,” she wrote. “On the contrary, it reflects Davey’s professionalism, strength and focus.”

    Accusations Against Bret Hart

    Diana also took aim at Bret’s broader retelling of the bout, writing that he now “cites this incredible match as great solely because of his own alleged brilliance, assigning himself all credit while diminishing Davey’s invaluable role.”

    She further suggested Bret’s current recollections may be influenced by the stroke he suffered in the summer of 2002, and noted that Davey died in May 2002 prior to that stroke. That left a full decade from 1992 to 2002 during which Bret could have raised his concerns directly with Smith. Diana said he never did.

    “The absurd and hurtful accusations began after Davey was no longer alive to respond,” she wrote.

    Diana stated she has made multiple appeals to Bret to “restrain and refrain” but said he has refused.

    She described what she called a “long-standing pattern of self-aggrandizement” and said she bases that view on her lived experience growing up with him. “What I will not accept is history being rewritten after the fact,” she wrote, “especially when the person being totally discredited is no longer alive to defend himself.”

    The Hart vs. Smith match at SummerSlam 1992 is widely regarded as one of the greatest matches in WWE history. Davey Boy Smith, who passed away in May 2002 at age 39, was posthumously inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame as part of the class of 2020. Diana was among the family members who accepted his induction on his behalf.

  • Cody Rhodes Teases Heel Turn Ahead of WrestleMania 42

    Cody Rhodes Teases Heel Turn Ahead of WrestleMania 42

    Cody Rhodes dropped the clearest hint yet that a character change may be on the horizon.

    Speaking on The Rich Eisen Show ahead of WrestleMania 42, the Undisputed WWE Champion openly mused about turning heel for the first time in years, citing the repeated provocations from Pat McAfee and the escalating tension surrounding his title defense against Randy Orton.

    “Maybe it’s time for me to change,” Rhodes said. “I’ve been saying for so long, ‘I don’t think I could do heel stuff.’ But after a while, it starts to feel like it’s almost expected, like the audience would expect, yeah, this guy’s going to lose it at some point. He’s going to snap. And how does that look?”

    Competing With Himself

    Rhodes connected the potential character shift to a broader philosophy about his career. He described the moment the American Nightmare persona came together as the direct result of stopping the comparison game with other wrestlers.

    “The greatest competitor you’re going to have in terms of entertainment or WWE is yourself,” Rhodes said. “The moment I stopped looking at the rest of the roster going, ‘Well, he has this or she has this,’ and I just started looking at being the best me, that’s really where the whole American Nightmare thing came to be. I felt reborn coming back to WWE, taking everything I’d learned away, whether it was the indies or AEW, everything I’d done, and putting it finally together and executing it.”

    Rhodes also framed his repeated encounters with outside interference during WrestleMania season as something he has accepted. He cited The Rock, Travis Scott, and now McAfee as figures who have inserted themselves into his biggest moments.

    “If you’re going to be in the big moments, you have to be ready for the big jobs,” he said.

    Whether Rhodes follows through on the tease or uses it as fuel for his babyface fire remains to be seen. He defends the Undisputed WWE Championship against Orton in the Night 1 main event at WrestleMania 42 on April 18 at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas.

  • Lissy Almeida Named MLW’s First Female Ring Announcer

    Lissy Almeida Named MLW’s First Female Ring Announcer

    Major League Wrestling has signed Lissy Almeida as its official ring announcer, making her the first woman to hold the role in company history. She has inked a multi-year deal with the promotion.

    Almeida got her break with the promotion in January, serving as an announcer to warm up the crowd at a Florida event. According to sources within MLW, the company came away impressed with her energy and how well she worked within the team environment, leading to the long-term commitment.

    You can follow Lissy Almeida on Instagram @Lissyalmeida.

    MLW Continues Roster Expansion

    The signing is the latest move in what has been an aggressive talent acquisition push by MLW as the promotion marches toward the return of MLW Fusion. Details on the new season of the flagship series have not yet been announced.

    MLW has been on a significant growth trajectory of late, taping new episodes of Fusion at a sold-out Cicero Stadium in Chicago and hosting Fantastica Mania USA in Charleston alongside NJPW and CMLL. The company has also recently signed former WWE performer Trevor Lee to a contract, further stacking its roster ahead of the new season.

  • Rapper Wale’s Persistence Convinced Kali Armstrong to Pursue WWE Career

    Rapper Wale’s Persistence Convinced Kali Armstrong to Pursue WWE Career

    Kali Armstrong wasn’t thinking about professional wrestling when Grammy-nominated rapper Wale started messaging her on social media. She was working a 9-to-5 as a marketing specialist at a Metro bus station in Los Angeles, fresh off a professional track and field career that had run its course.

    Then the DMs started arriving.

    “I’m good friends with rapper Wale. At that time he was doing Rallymania and stuff,” Armstrong said in an interview with Peter Rosenberg and Stat Guy Greg for Cheap Heat.

    “So anytime I’d post for track and field or just being charismatic, he’d hit me up like, ‘Hey man, you’re beautiful. You have this charisma. You have the physique. I really think that you’d be a good WWE wrestler.’”

    Armstrong laughed it off at first. Wrestling wasn’t something she’d considered as a career path.

    “When you first hear it the first time, you’re like what? Like that’s not something you could be. So I just kind of brushed it off. I laughed it off.”

    Wale Wouldn’t Let It Go

    But Wale kept messaging. Two or three more times, he made the same pitch.

    “After that second or third one, I was like, ‘Okay, let me really look into this,’” Armstrong said. “So I started looking into it. I started watching wrestling. I started seeing their NIL deals and things they were doing with current athletes. And I was like, ‘Wow, so they’re really big on athletes at this time.’ So I reached out to a recruiter, they got me into a tryout, and that was all she wrote.”

    Perhaps most notably, Wale refused to use his industry connections to help her get in the door. When Armstrong asked for an assist, he declined.

    “He’s like, ‘No, whatever you do, whatever you get, I want it to be 100% you. If you get to make it to WWE, I want it to be solely because of you and your talents.’ He didn’t want to have any influence.”

    From Evolve Champion to NXT

    Armstrong went on to win the inaugural WWE Evolve Women’s Championship in May 2025 and held the title for 139 days before dropping it to Kendal Grey at the Succession special. Now she’s heading to NXT full-time after WWE aired a promotional package announcing her arrival during Stand and Deliver weekend.

    The adjustment from track and field to wrestling wasn’t smooth. Armstrong’s athletic instincts worked against her in the ring.

    “Who falls on purpose?” she said. “I’m purposely just falling, how do you even do that well? None of it was making sense. First I had to make it make sense, and then I had to learn how to do it well.”

    Her coaches are still telling her to slow down. Speed was her greatest asset in track, but wrestling requires patience.

    “Once I hear the gun and you say go, I’m ready. When the bell rings, I’m ready to go. He’s like, ‘You don’t have to just get right to it just ‘cuz the bell rang.’”

    Wale hosted the annual WaleMania event each year during WrestleMania weekend for a decade after ending it last year. The rapper has been a public wrestling fan for years, appearing on WWE programming multiple times including hosting a rap battle between The Usos and The New Day in 2017. He now has a WWE prospect to add to his resume, even if he won’t take any credit for it.

  • John Cena Set for Another WrestleMania Weekend Appearance

    John Cena Set for Another WrestleMania Weekend Appearance

    John Cena will make an appearance at WWE World convention in Las Vegas this Saturday, April 18, ahead of his hosting duties at WrestleMania 42. Fanatics announced the addition to the guest lineup last night.

    The limited photo opportunities with Cena were made available for purchase and sold out immediately after being listed. The convention takes place during WrestleMania weekend, which runs through Sunday, April 19.

    WrestleMania 42 Hosting Role

    Cena is scheduled to host WrestleMania 42 at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas. The appearance at WWE World marks another commitment during what will be a busy weekend for the WWE legend.

    WWE World is Fanatics’ wrestling convention that brings together fans, wrestlers, and exclusive merchandise during major WWE events. The Las Vegas edition coincides with WrestleMania 42 weekend festivities.

  • MLW Fightland Returns to Charleston on September 12

    MLW Fightland Returns to Charleston on September 12

    Major League Wrestling is returning to Charleston, SC on Saturday, September 12 for Fightland, one of the promotion’s marquee annual events, paired with a Fusion TV taping.

    The event takes place at Festival Hall in downtown Charleston. Tickets go on sale this Wednesday at 10 a.m. ET at MLWgo.com, with prices starting at $10.

    Charleston Sellout Streak Continues

    Charleston has become MLW’s home base, with the promotion headquartered in the city. Every MLW event held there has sold out well in advance, including the most recent Fantastica Mania USA show on April 12, which sold out days before the event.

    Fans are encouraged to purchase tickets early. MLW says demand for Fightland is expected to be even higher than recent shows.

    What Is Fightland?

    Fightland is one of MLW’s signature supercard events, running annually since 2018. Last year’s edition took place in North Richland Hills, Texas, where Mads Krule Krügger cashed in his Gravity Gamble contract to win the MLW World Heavyweight Championship in a dramatic triple threat finish.

    No matches have been announced yet for the September 12 card. MLW is expected to reveal matchups in the weeks ahead.