WWE has announced two big items for Monday’s Raw from the Schottenstein Center in Columbus, Ohio.
WWE rolls into Columbus for the final Raw before Clash in Italy, and the red brand has two segments locked in. Roman Reigns and Jacob Fatu hold a contract signing for their Tribal Combat match, and Oba Femi opens the show in the wake of Brock Lesnar’s surprise return.
WWE Raw Preview for May 25, 2026
Here are the segments announced for Monday’s show:
Roman Reigns and Jacob Fatu Contract Signing
World Heavyweight Champion Roman Reigns and Jacob Fatu put pen to paper Monday ahead of their Tribal Combat match at Clash in Italy. Fatu issued the challenge from the entrance stage on the May 18 Raw, and Reigns accepted after standing tall in a brawl with help from The Usos.
Oba Femi kicks off Monday’s broadcast and is expected to respond to Brock Lesnar’s return. Lesnar interrupted Femi’s weekly open challenge on the May 18 Raw and dropped The Ruler with four F5s in his first WWE television appearance since WrestleMania 42.
Lesnar had walked away from the ring after losing to Femi at WrestleMania 42, leaving his boots and gloves behind. That changed on May 18, when Paul Heyman handed Adam Pearce a Clash in Italy contract signed by Lesnar, confirming Lesnar is officially unretired for a rematch with Femi. Femi now gets the microphone to answer.
Road to WWE Clash in Italy 2026
Clash in Italy 2026 takes place Sunday, May 31 at the Inalpi Arena in Turin, Italy, WWE’s first Premium Live Event in the country.
Monday’s Raw is the last red-brand show before the event. The Reigns and Fatu signing locks in the Tribal Combat main event picture, while Femi’s promo sets the table for his rematch with Lesnar. Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes defends his title against GUNTHER on the same card.
Follow SEScoops for all news and developments from Monday’s WWE Raw.
WWE 2K27 is officially in development and slated for release within Take-Two Interactive’s fiscal 2027 window, the publisher confirmed during its fourth-quarter earnings call on May 21.
Take-Two listed WWE 2K27 among its scheduled fiscal 2027 titles alongside NBA 2K27 and PGA Tour 2K27, the three sports games on the company’s release calendar for the year. Chief Operating Officer Karl Slatoff told investors the publisher plans to release six additional titles in fiscal 2027 beyond Grand Theft Auto VI, which launches November 19, 2026.
Take-Two’s fiscal 2027 runs through the end of March 2027, a window that lines up with the WWE 2K series’ usual spring release pattern. WWE 2K26 arrived March 13, 2026, and recent entries have all landed in mid-March. No specific date for WWE 2K27 has been announced, with the company’s investor materials listing it as TBD.
Confirmation Follows A Divisive WWE 2K26 Launch
The announcement comes roughly two months after WWE 2K26 hit shelves. That entry, developed by Visual Concepts and published by 2K, drew criticism over its monetization, particularly the Ringside Pass battle pass system that gated content behind seasonal progression tiers.
WWE 2K26 was also the first game in the series to drop PlayStation 4 and Xbox One support, releasing only on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch 2, and PC. CM Punk served as the standard edition cover star, and the gameplay trailer debuted during the 2026 Royal Rumble.
2K has not released any details on WWE 2K27’s roster, modes, or cover talent. Reveal information for WWE 2K titles typically begins in January around the Royal Rumble. Full WWE 2K26 coverage remains available in the SEScoops WWE 2K26 guide.
All Elite Wrestling and the Minnesota Twins announced Tuesday that they will co-present Brawl in the Ballpark on Friday, July 10, marking what the companies are calling the first-ever postgame wrestling event held at a Major League Baseball venue. The roughly 75-minute show featuring AEW and Ring of Honor talent will run immediately after that night’s Twins vs. Los Angeles Angels game at Target Field in Minneapolis.
For the first time ever, a Major League Baseball game and All Elite Wrestling are teaming up!
It's "Brawl in the Ballpark" with the @twins – a high-octane postgame event on Fri., July 10 at Target Field!
First pitch for the Twins-Angels matchup is 7:10 PM CT, with Brawl in the Ballpark beginning shortly after the final out. The wrestling action will take place inside a specially constructed ring set up in the Gate 34 area of the ballpark, the same plaza that houses the Twins’ Golden Glove statue and TC Bear’s Clubhouse.
Any ticket purchased for the July 10 Twins game grants free admission to the postgame wrestling show. The two organizations have also rolled out three upgraded packages, including a co-branded Twins/AEW Lucha mask hat with the Theme Night bundle, VIP ringside access in the VIP Package, and a Truly On Deck patio reservation with $30 in loaded food and beverage credit.
Khan Calls It a Showcase Opportunity
“This collaboration is part of our ongoing efforts to create memorable, fan-first experiences that give people even more reasons to enjoy a visit to our ballpark,” Twins Executive Vice President and Chief Revenue Officer Sean Moore said in the announcement.
Tony Khan, AEW’s CEO, GM and head of creative, framed the event as a chance to put the product in front of a non-wrestling audience. “The event will mark another unforgettable night of All Elite Wrestling action in an incredible location, and we look forward to showcasing AEW to all Minnesota Twins fans,” Khan said.
The crossover lands in the middle of one of AEW’s biggest stretches of 2026. The promotion will tape Dynamite and Collision out of the OVO Hydro in Glasgow on August 26, then run All In London at Wembley Stadium on August 30, with the Target Field date sitting roughly seven weeks ahead of that international run.
July 10 also doubles as one of the Twins’ regular $2 Happy Hour Friday nights, with discounted beer, hot dogs and snacks available from 5 to 7:10 PM CT before first pitch. Tickets for both the game and the upgraded Brawl packages are on sale now at twins.com/tickets and twins.com/brawl.
Major League Wrestling will revive its flagship weekly series MLW Fusion on Saturday, May 30, with a two-hour season premiere streaming free on YouTube at 6:05 PM ET. An encore presentation will air the same evening at 10 PM ET on beIN Sports.
MLW announced the premiere Tuesday from its Charleston, South Carolina headquarters, locking in broadcast details after months of speculation. Subsequent episodes will air weekly at the same 6:05 PM ET Saturday slot, returning the company to a year-round, hour-long format for the first time since Fusion went on hiatus in December 2023.
The time slot itself is the story. Georgia Championship Wrestling settled into the 6:05 PM ET Saturday block on Ted Turner’s WTBS in 1972, and the slot remained the foundation of Southern wrestling for nearly three decades through WCW Saturday Night before disappearing from cable in 2000. MLW’s pivot to that exact airtime, 24 days after Turner’s May 6 death at age 87, reads as a deliberate tribute.
“6:05 is sacred ground,” MLW founder and CEO Court Bauer said in the company’s announcement. “That time slot belongs to the history of this sport as made famous by legendary Ted Turner. We’re not just bringing back a weekly show, we’re planting our flag and celebrating wrestling’s southern soul. MLW Fusion is back, it’s free, and it’s built for the fans who remember what Saturday night wrestling felt like.”
Loaded Roster Heading Into the Premiere
MLW has stacked the deck for the relaunch through an aggressive talent acquisition push. Recent signings include Shotzi, Lady Frost, and Trevor Lee on the free agent front, alongside Scottish heavyweights Joe Coffey, Mark Coffey, Wolfgang, and Big Damo from the UK independent scene. Prospects Brick Savage, Zamaya, and Jay Bishop round out the developmental layer.
They join a roster led by reigning MLW World Heavyweight Champion Killer Kross, who captured the title at Battle Riot VIII on January 29 by going wire-to-wire from the No. 1 entry. Former UFC star Matt Riddle, Mexican box office draw Místico, The Good Brothers, The Skyscrapers (Bishop Dyer and Donovan Dijak), Satoshi Kojima, “Filthy” Tom Lawlor, and Austin Aries form the established core.
The Fusion launch also coincides with a packed live event slate. MLW returns to The Melrose Ballroom in New York City on June 11, followed by a two-night Philadelphia stand on June 12 and 13. Both events are expected to serve as Fusion television tapings.
Fusion originally premiered on beIN Sports on April 20, 2018, and ran for five seasons before its final 2023 episode aired on December 14. The MLW Fusion 2026 premiere airs Saturday, May 30 at 6:05 PM ET on the company’s official YouTube channel.
Tribal Combat is back. On the May 18, 2026 episode of Raw from the Greensboro Coliseum, Jacob Fatu challenged World Heavyweight Champion Roman Reigns to the Bloodline-exclusive stipulation, and commentary confirmed the match for WWE Clash in Italy on May 31 at the Inalpi Arena in Turin.
It will be only the third Tribal Combat in company history, and Reigns enters 2-0 in the stipulation he helped popularize. With a new Anoa’i family challenger lining up a shot at the Ula Fala, here is what the match actually is, where it came from, and what it has meant every time WWE has pulled the trigger on it.
What Is Tribal Combat?
Tribal Combat is a Bloodline-specific match type WWE built around Roman Reigns and the “Tribal Chief” mantle. The mechanics are simple. There are no disqualifications, no count-outs, and weapons such as chairs, tables, and kendo sticks are legal. A fall must occur inside the ring, and the only way to win is by pinfall or submission.
The stakes are what make it different from any other no-rules match. The winner walks away as the recognized Tribal Chief of the Anoa’i family and takes possession of the Ula Fala, the ceremonial necklace that signifies that authority. If a world title is on the line, that comes with it.
The match also carries a storyline requirement that the elders of the family must sanction it before it can be made official. That detail was emphasized heavily when the stip was introduced and has remained part of the framing in every subsequent build.
The “No Interference” Wrinkle
When the stipulation debuted, commentary framed it as a family tradition that forbade outside interference. The two chosen warriors would settle the matter alone, and the rest of the family was expected to stand back and accept the result. That was the pitch heading into the first Tribal Combat at SummerSlam 2023.
The pitch did not hold. The rule has been treated loosely in execution, with WWE leaning on drama over strict enforcement. By the time the second Tribal Combat rolled around, the framing had shifted toward “no rules, pinfall or submission, winner is Tribal Chief,” and interference was openly expected.
The First Tribal Combat: Reigns vs. Jey Uso (SummerSlam 2023)
The original Tribal Combat headlined SummerSlam 2023 on August 5 at Ford Field in Detroit. Roman Reigns defended the Undisputed WWE Universal Championship and his Tribal Chief status against Jey Uso, who had pinned him months earlier in the Bloodline Civil War at Money in the Bank.
Despite the no-interference language, the finish came after a hooded Jimmy Uso pulled Jey off a pinfall, superkicked his twin brother, and rolled him back into the ring. Reigns followed with a spear through a corner table to retain.
The Second Tribal Combat: Reigns vs. Solo Sikoa (Raw on Netflix Premiere)
The follow-up came on the January 6, 2025 episode of Raw, the first Monday night show on Netflix, live from the Intuit Dome in Los Angeles. The Ula Fala was in Solo Sikoa’s possession at that point, and the match was framed as the only way to settle which man was the rightful Tribal Chief.
Solo added a wrinkle on the build: if he won, Paul Heyman would be his Wiseman permanently. The bout itself was overrun with run-ins from both Bloodline factions, and Reigns sealed it with back-to-back spears. The Rock then walked out, placed the Ula Fala around Reigns’ neck, and acknowledged him as Tribal Chief.
How Tribal Combat Fits Among WWE Match Types
Strip away the lore and Tribal Combat is functionally a no-disqualification match with weapons allowed and falls required inside the ring. It is not a Texas Deathmatch or a Last Man Standing, since the only way to win is a pin or submission. There is no special fall rule, no KO count, no specific weapon attached.
The differentiator is presentation. The Samoan cultural symbolism, the involvement of the elders, the Ula Fala, and the idea that the entire family hierarchy is at stake all sit on top of what is otherwise a hardcore-rules brawl. That layer is the entire point.
Next: Reigns vs. Fatu at Clash in Italy
WWE
That brings the story to Turin. Reigns beat Fatu cleanly at Backlash 2026, but the Samoan Werewolf jumped him after the bell and stood over him with the title belt. On the Monday after, Fatu put the Tongan Death Grip on the Usos and attacked officials, prompting Raw GM Adam Pearce to move toward a firing before Fatu issued the Tribal Combat challenge. Reigns accepted.
At Clash in Italy, the World Heavyweight Championship and the Tribal Chief recognition will both be on the line, and Reigns will go for 3-0 in a match type that has yet to produce a new winner.
Chris Jericho has been sued over a t-shirt, licensed as a magician in Nevada, and almost arrested filming in front of the White House.
JERICHO, as he’s now known, spoke with David Shoemaker on The Masked Man Show ahead of AEW Double Or Nothing and pulled out the weirder corners of his career.
The Living Legend Lawsuit
Larry Zbyszko, best known for his run as the original “Living Legend” in AWA, once sued Jericho over a t-shirt design.
“You have to watch calling me a Living Legend, because Larry Zbyszko sued me once for making a t-shirt in WWE that said Living Legend Chris Jericho. There was a short period of time when I called myself that, and I had to go to an arbitration thing. Some of the evidence that was presented was from Pro Wrestling Illustrated. I had explained to the lawyer, like, Pro Wrestling Illustrated is all made up. 15 years later, I’m the living legend again.”
Jericho did not detail how the arbitration was resolved.
The Nevada Magician’s License
The fireball spot in Jericho’s arsenal is not just stagecraft. In Nevada, it requires actual paperwork.
“That was something that nobody had seen for years in pro wrestling. We were in Vegas and I had to get a magician’s license for real to throw a fireball, because that’s the rules that the commission has, which I still renew every year and carry with me at all times. So yes, I am a licensed magician in Nevada.”
The White House Scare
Jericho also recalled a Washington DC shoot that nearly ended in cuffs. The bit cast him as a “conspiracy victim,” but nobody on the crew had a plan when they got to the location.
“We went to Washington DC and I was a conspiracy victim, and when we showed up, I thought the camera guys were going to know what they wanted us to do and the camera guys thought that I would know. So neither one of us had any idea. We just walked around DC and the White House, and we were filming me in front of the White House doing this speech, and we almost got arrested because you can’t film the White House with cameras.”
Jericho is back in the ring this Sunday at AEW Double Or Nothing, leading the Stadium Stampede team of Kenny Omega, the Young Bucks, Jack Perry, Bobby Lashley, and Shelton Benjamin against Ricochet’s group at Louis Armstrong Stadium in Queens.
The acceptance closed a violent opening segment on Monday’s Raw, with the World Heavyweight Champion standing on the stage flanked by Jey and Jimmy Uso as he raised the title and said “I accept.”
The show began with Roman Reigns ready to call out Jacob Fatu, but the Samoan Werewolf had other plans. He hit the ring and had a confrontation with The Usos that got physical. Fatu attacked the Usos, and out came the Tribal Chief.
Reigns and the Usos got the best of Fatu and left him laying. As Reigns and the Usos were ready to make their exit, Fatu grabbed a microphone and shocked everyone in attendance. He laid out the challenge for a Tribal Combat match.
Roman Reigns has accepted Jacob Fatu’s challenge to a Tribal Combat match.
Tribal Combat carries weight beyond the championship. The stipulation is no disqualification, no count-out, and anything goes, with pinfall or submission to decide it. The loser is forced to acknowledge the winner as the Tribal Chief of the family.
Reigns last invoked it against Jey Uso at SummerSlam 2023, retaining the Undisputed WWE Universal Title and his standing as the head of the Bloodline.
The title and the family hierarchy both ride on the outcome. For Fatu, who has spent recent weeks tearing through Reigns and the Usos in pursuit of his first world title, the match is a chance to take everything. For Reigns, it’s a rivalry that could end with him losing both his championship and his standing in the family.
WWE Saturday Night’s Main Event XLIV streams live this Saturday, May 23, 2026, from Allen County War Memorial Coliseum in Fort Wayne, Indiana. The Peacock special slots between Backlash and Clash in Italy, with two championship matches and a six-woman tag setting the table for WWE’s European run.
Key Points
High Stakes Matches: Penta defends the Intercontinental Championship against Ethan Page, The Vision puts the World Tag Team Titles on the line against The Street Profits, and Rhea Ripley leads a six-woman tag against Jade Cargill’s faction.
How to Watch: Saturday, May 23 at 8 PM ET on Peacock in the US and YouTube internationally.
A Bridge Between Backlash and Italy
This is the first WWE televised event in Fort Wayne since 2014, and it lands in one of the tightest spots on the calendar. SNME XLIV airs seven days after Backlash 2026 in Tampa and seven days before Clash in Italy on May 31 in Turin, which forces the show to play two roles at once: post-Backlash reset and go-home build for the European event. Every confirmed match has direct implications for the Inalpi Arena card.
Full Match Card
Match
Stipulation
Penta (c) vs. Ethan Page
WWE Intercontinental Championship
The Vision (Logan Paul & Austin Theory) (c) vs. The Street Profits (Montez Ford & Angelo Dawkins)
WWE World Tag Team Championship
Rhea Ripley, Charlotte Flair & Alexa Bliss vs. Jade Cargill, Michin & B-Fab
Six-Woman Tag Team Match
Additional matches expected. Check back for updates as WWE finalizes the lineup on the May 18 Raw.
Match Previews
WWE Intercontinental Championship: Penta (c) vs. Ethan Page
Penta has been a fighting champion all spring, and Ethan Page is the newest threat after pinning the champion in tag action three weeks ago.
The reign: Penta won the title from Dominik Mysterio on the March 2 Raw in Indianapolis, retained at the WrestleMania 42 Ladder Match against five challengers, and has worked through Kofi Kingston, Rusev and Dragon Lee in defenses since.
The challenge: Page pinned Penta with an Ego’s Edge in a May 4 tag match alongside Rusev, then cashed the win on the following Raw to book the SNME title shot on a bigger stage.
The newcomer: Page was called up to Raw on April 20, the night after WrestleMania, after a run as NXT North American Champion. He has spent four weeks elbowing into the title picture and finally has the match he wanted.
The wrinkle: Rey Fenix publicly responded to the announced match, saying he loves his brother but wants his own chance at the title. Fenix has been searching for footing on SmackDown while Penta has become one of Raw’s most consistent mid-card draws, and the diverging trajectories are now part of the storyline.
What’s at stake: Penta’s reign and momentum heading into WWE’s European tour, plus Page’s first main-roster title opportunity and a possible LA Knight program waiting on the other side.
WWE World Tag Team Championship: The Vision (c) vs. The Street Profits
The Street Profits returned the night after WrestleMania 42 and called their shot at the World Tag Team Championship, and weeks of build have funneled toward Fort Wayne.
The numbers game: Logan Paul and Austin Theory hold the belts with Bron Breakker and Paul Heyman in their corner, the same numbers advantage that has frustrated every challenger this spring.
The flashpoint: On the May 11 Raw, the Profits teamed with Joe Hendry to beat The Vision in a six-man tag after Seth Rollins speared Breakker and Breakker accidentally took out Dawkins in the chaos.
The wild card: Rollins approached Ford and Dawkins backstage offering to even the odds against The Vision. The Profits turned him down, but his interest in cracking the champions remains.
What’s at stake: The World Tag Team Championship, and whether the Profits can solve the numbers problem without taking Rollins’ help.
Six-Woman Tag: Rhea Ripley, Charlotte Flair & Alexa Bliss vs. Jade Cargill, Michin & B-Fab
Jade Cargill has been chasing Rhea Ripley since WrestleMania 42, and this six-woman tag is the dress rehearsal for a Women’s Championship rematch at Clash in Italy.
The pursuit: Cargill returned after WrestleMania to attack Ripley on consecutive SmackDown episodes, and she has been operating as a unit with Michin and B-Fab to outnumber the champion at every turn.
The flashpoint: On the May 15 SmackDown, Charlotte Flair and Alexa Bliss beat Michin and B-Fab in tag action, but Cargill broke up the pinfall, which led directly to this Fort Wayne match.
The personal layer: Flair has clashed with Ripley for years and Bliss carries her own history with the Women’s Champion, which makes the babyface side an alliance of convenience with obvious cracks.
What’s at stake: Momentum heading into Cargill’s Women’s Championship rematch at Clash in Italy on May 31, and whether her group can crack Ripley’s trio before they get to Turin.
How to Watch
Date/Time: Saturday, May 23, 2026, 8 PM ET / 5 PM PT
Venue: Allen County War Memorial Coliseum, Fort Wayne, Indiana
WWE Superstars will be part of the live programming at the UFC Freedom 250 Fan Fest next month, the UFC officially confirmed in a news post on Sunday.
The announcement came as the UFC reopened its registration window for additional Fan Fest tickets, with the two-day free event set for Saturday and Sunday, June 13 and 14, at The Ellipse in Washington, D.C., just south of the White House grounds.
The official UFC promotional materials list “UFC Athlete and WWE Superstar Meet & Greets” among the headline attractions, alongside immersive fan experiences, live panels and Q&As, the UFC Freedom 250 ceremonial weigh-in, a Zac Brown Band concert fueled by Monster Energy, and the UFC Freedom 250 watch party. No specific WWE names have been disclosed yet.
It marks the most visible physical crossover yet between WWE and UFC under TKO Group Holdings, which has owned both promotions since the September 2023 merger. TKO has been openly pursuing cross-promotional activations, and sponsorship packages for Freedom 250 reportedly include WWE event integration ring signage, per The Independent.
The WWE-White House connection has been building independently of the UFC event. Last summer, WWE Chief Content Officer Triple H attended a Trump executive order signing for the Presidential Council on Sports, Fitness, and Nutrition, performing his signature water spray entrance at the residence. President Trump himself is a WWE Hall of Famer.
The UFC card on Sunday, June 14 will be staged on the South Lawn of the White House and air on CBS and Paramount+. It is headlined by an undisputed lightweight title unification fight between Ilia Topuria and Justin Gaethje, with Alex Pereira facing Ciryl Gane for the interim heavyweight title in the co-main.
Visit our partner site MMA News for the latest on UFC Freedom 250 and the build towards the historic event.
One WWE Superstar who accepted a 50% pay cut during the company’s recent effort to renegotiate contracts is still making “huge money” according to Kevin Nash. The multi-time World Champion and nWo founding member shared insider details from his “moles” in WWE on the latest episode of his Kliq This podcast.
Nash admitted he was stunned after learning how much one wrestler was earning prior to agreeing to a reduced contract.
“I’ve got enough moles in the business where — I mean, I know the people that took 50 percent cuts,” Nash said on his Kliq This podcast.
“I know one of the guys, and when I found out what the person was making, and after I just picked myself up off the ground that he was making that much money, and then realized that even at 50 percent, he was making huge money.”
Following WrestleMania, WWE made several roster cuts while reportedly approaching select wrestlers about reworking their existing deals for less money rather than being released outright.
Some performers reportedly accepted cuts as steep as 50 percent, while others like Kofi Kingston and Xavier Woods said “no thanks, we’re out.”
Nash Clarifies TKO Creative Comments
The WWE Hall of Famer also addressed recent comments he made regarding TKO’s involvement in WWE creative. Nash recently suggested TKO should stay out of the creative side and allow Triple H to handle things without interference.
However, Nash clarified that Triple H never personally told him TKO executives were meddling in the creative process.
“One thing Paul and I have never done is we have never talked business,” Nash explained. “Because that takes away the trust that he has with the people he works for. So that’s always been, it’s none of my business.”
Nash suggested his frustration may have boiled over after a long stretch of travel. “Maybe I got pissed off last week. Maybe it was just because I did a lot of driving. Maybe I thought I was a wrestler again,” he said.
Nash also spoke positively about his interactions with TKO CEO Ari Emanuel, noting Emanuel has always treated him respectfully. “He was such a gentleman. He came up, he shook my hand. I’ve never been treated better by anyone in management than the way he treated me,” Nash stated.
Randy Orton is not buying into the doom and gloom around his WWE status. Hours after a new report tied his post-WrestleMania 42 absence to a serious back injury, the 14-time world champion responded on X with a sarcastic message that confirmed his return plans without confirming much else.
“Lmao just milking it guys, leave me alone I’m trying to enjoy my summer before I come back and take that #15,” Orton wrote.
The “#15” reference is straightforward. Orton currently sits tied with Triple H at 14 world title reigns, behind John Cena’s 17 and Ric Flair’s 16. A 15th run would put him alone in third place on the all-time list.
The Report Behind The Tweet
Orton’s post came in direct response to comments from Dave Meltzer on Wrestling Observer Radio. Meltzer connected Orton’s absence since WrestleMania 42 to a back issue that has lingered for years.
“Back injury. That’s why he’s been gone since WrestleMania and it’s probably why he didn’t win the title,” Meltzer said. “He’s got a back injury and it’s significant. He’s had it for years. It almost ended his career, came back, still there and that’s why he’s been out.”
The injury Meltzer referenced is the same one that kept Orton out of action from May 2022 until his return at Survivor Series 2023, a roughly 18-month absence that was widely reported as potentially career-ending at the time.
Meltzer has previously reported that Orton was originally booked to dethrone Cody Rhodes for the Undisputed WWE Championship at WrestleMania 42, with WWE making a late call to keep the title on Rhodes. Rhodes has since moved into a program with GUNTHER, while Orton has been absent from television after closing WrestleMania weekend with a post-match beatdown that included a belt shot and a punt to the champion.
WWE has Orton advertised for the May 29 episode of SmackDown in Barcelona, Spain at Olympic Arena, the final blue brand show before Clash in Italy.
WWE RAW has announced new content for the May 18 episode. General Manager Adam Pearce revealed the additions through an Instagram video on May 17.
Pearce announced a six-man tornado tag team match featuring multiple masked competitors. The match will involve different versions of El Grande Americano and associated performers.
“Trios tornado tag. You heard me, right? El Grande Americano y los Americanos contra Grande Americano original y los Americanos hermanos. All six men in the ring at the same time, all wearing masks, all Grande Americano. If you’re confused, so am I,” Pearce stated in the video.
The announcement also referenced additional segments and matches for the broadcast. Pearce indicated that multiple storylines will continue from previous episodes.
The May 18 edition of WWE RAW streams live on Netflix from Greensboro, North Carolina. The episode will feature the announced tornado tag match along with other scheduled content.
Ronda Rousey ends her nearly decade-long MMA exile tonight, headlining the first-ever mixed martial arts event broadcast on Netflix against fellow women’s MMA pioneer Gina Carano. The card emanates from the Intuit Dome in Inglewood, California, with the main card kicking off at 9 p.m. ET.
The featherweight bout is the centerpiece of MVP MMA 1, the inaugural fight card from Jake Paul and Nakisa Bidarian’s Most Valuable Promotions. Both women hit their marks at Friday’s weigh-ins, with Rousey scaling 142 pounds and Carano coming in at 141.4 pounds for the 145-pound contracted weight.
Live Coverage At MMA News
Our partner site MMA News is providing full coverage of MVP MMA 1 throughout Saturday night, including round-by-round results, post-fight reaction, and full analysis from the Intuit Dome. The main card streams live globally on Netflix at 9 p.m. ET, with prelims starting at 5 p.m. ET on the Tudum website.
A Direct Shot At TKO
The fight carries unmistakable subtext for wrestling and MMA fans alike. Rousey has spent her media tour torching TKO Group Holdings, the parent company that now houses both WWE and UFC, while making a clear point to separate her criticism from Dana White personally.
“I would want to make something abundantly clear and that’s that I owe Dana and the Fertittas immensely and I’d be caught dead before you ever heard me say a bad thing about any of them,” Rousey said at Friday’s pre-fight press conference, per MMAWeekly. “But my loyalty is to them and not the company they sold. And I do not owe TKO’s UFC a damn thing.”
Rousey said in March that UFC is “one of the worst places to go” for fighters, pointing to the promotion’s recent $7.7 billion Paramount+ media rights deal alongside what she described as poverty-level pay for many on the roster.
She has specifically targeted UFC chief business officer Hunter Campbell rather than White, telling ESPN she believes White was overruled internally on the original plan to stage the Carano bout under the UFC banner.
The AEW Revolution Cameo
The most pointed shot came on March 15, when Rousey shocked fans by appearing at AEW Revolution to confront Toni Storm and align with her best friend Marina Shafir. In a follow-up vlog on her YouTube channel, Rousey openly called the appearance a “little bit of a f*ck you to the TKO group.”
“I figured it’d be easier to ask for forgiveness instead of permission on this one,” Rousey said. “Like, I’m promoting your show. It’s fine. We didn’t advertise it. It’s not like we boosted the ratings of it, so it should be fine.”
What’s At Stake Beyond The Main Event
MVP’s MMA debut represents the most credible direct challenge to UFC’s promotional model since Bellator’s peak years. Bidarian told Yahoo Sports the company is paying every fighter on Saturday’s card a minimum of $40,000, more than triple UFC’s typical introductory salary of $12,000 to show and $12,000 to win.
The triple main event is stacked beyond the headliner. Nate Diaz meets Mike Perry in a five-round welterweight bout, while former UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou returns to MMA against 2018 PFL Heavyweight Tournament winner Philipe Lins. Bidarian has indicated MVP is targeting four to six MMA events per year starting in 2027 if Saturday’s debut delivers.
Rousey enters with a 12-2 professional record, while Carano carries a 7-1 mark into her first fight since losing to Cris Cyborg in 2009. The two pioneers of women’s MMA have been linked in fan debate for nearly two decades.
Wrestling legend Mick Foley has shared a deeply personal tribute to filmmaker Barry Blaustein, the writer and director behind the landmark 1999 documentary Beyond the Mat. Blaustein died Tuesday at his Los Angeles home at age 72 after a battle with pancreatic cancer and Parkinson’s disease.
Foley posted his remembrance to Facebook, recounting a friendship that spanned more than three decades and began in an unlikely setting.
Foley wrote that he first met Blaustein in the fall of 1994 at a small motel off the Las Vegas strip, where he was resting up before a match with Sabu. Wrestling agent Barry Bloom, who would later become Foley’s longtime manager, brought Blaustein along to pitch him on a planned wrestling documentary.
Beyond the Mat hit theaters in 1999 and was named a finalist for the Academy Award for Best Documentary. Its climactic sequence captured Foley’s Royal Rumble 1999 “I Quit” match against The Rock, in which he absorbed a series of unprotected chair shots while his family watched in tears from the front row.
Foley said the film created real friction with WWE. “Vince McMahon was not nearly as enthusiastic about the film as I was, feeling it took away the magic of the on-air product,” he wrote, adding that the company once warned him, “you think that guy (Blaustein) is your friend. He’s not your friend.”
Foley pushed back in his tribute, noting that the events of the following decades told a very different story.
A Letter That Arrived Six Hours Too Late
Foley described flying to Los Angeles on one day’s notice for a recent Beyond the Mat screening and Q&A, after Blaustein’s wife reached out to say he had been diagnosed with stage four pancreatic cancer and was too weak to attend himself. Following the event, Foley spent hours at the Blaustein home with family and friends, calling the visit “extraordinary, even magical.”
When Foley was told Blaustein was down to his final days, he wrote a letter that evening and sent it next day air the following morning. “The letter arrived at the Blaustein home at 8 AM, just six hours after Barry had passed,” Foley wrote. “But I hope it serves as a reminder that I loved Barry, thought the world of him, and considered him one of my best friends.”
Blaustein’s Hollywood Legacy
Outside the wrestling world, Blaustein built a celebrated career in comedy. He wrote for Saturday Night Live from 1980 to 1983, where he and partner David Sheffield helped craft some of Eddie Murphy’s most enduring characters, including Buckwheat, Gumby, and Mr. Robinson. The duo went on to co-write Coming to America, The Nutty Professor, its 2000 sequel, and 2021’s Coming 2 America. Blaustein also directed the 2005 Johnny Knoxville comedy The Ringer.
Blaustein is survived by his wife Debraa, his children Corey and Kasey, and his granddaughter Daisy.
Ring of Honor presents Supercard of Honor tonight from the Wicomico Civic Center in Salisbury, Maryland. The pay-per-view event streams live at 8:00 PM ET on HonorClub, with eight title matches scheduled across the card.
Key Points
Main Event: Bandido defends the ROH World Championship against Blake Christian.
First-Ever Women’s Survival of the Fittest: Athena faces five challengers in an elimination match for the ROH Women’s World Title.
How to Watch:Friday, May 15 at 8:00 PM ET on HonorClub (US, Canada, Mexico, India) or MyAEW (international).
ROH’s Marquee Annual Event
Supercard of Honor has been Ring of Honor’s flagship show since 2006, traditionally tied to WrestleMania weekend before shifting later into the calendar. The 2026 edition stacks eight title matches onto a single card, including the AEW National Championship being defended on a Ring of Honor PPV.
Full Match Card
Match
Stipulation
Bandido (c) vs. Blake Christian
ROH World Championship
Athena (c) vs. Maya World vs. Trish Adora vs. Yuka Sakazaki vs. Billie Starkz vs. Zayda Steel
ROH Women’s World Championship, Survival of the Fittest
Lee Moriarty (c) vs. Ace Austin
ROH Pure Championship
Deonna Purrazzo (c) vs. Diamante
ROH Women’s Pure Championship
AR Fox (c) vs. Lio Rush
ROH World Television Championship
Red Velvet (c) vs. Viva Van
ROH Women’s World Television Championship
Mark Davis (c) vs. Xelhua
AEW National Championship
Nigel McGuinness vs. Josh Woods
Pure Wrestling Rules Match
Match Previews
ROH World Championship: Bandido (c) vs. Blake Christian
Bandido enters Salisbury on a reign that has run more than a year, with the most recent retention coming at Final Battle 2025 in December. His title run has been built on technical exchanges and high-flying spots that translate cleanly to the ROH style, and the Maryland defense is one of the most hyped of his championship reign to date.
Blake Christian arrives with momentum after months of climbing the AEW and ROH ranks, his profile rising further when he was tapped to face Will Ospreay in Ospreay’s in-ring return on AEW Dynamite in March. ROH has framed the build as months of turmoil between the two, positioning Christian as the most credible challenger Bandido has faced this calendar year.
A title change here would reshape ROH’s main-event scene heading into the summer and open the door for fresh matchups against the company’s mid-card contenders.
ROH Women’s World Championship, Survival of the Fittest: Athena (c) vs. Maya World vs. Trish Adora vs. Yuka Sakazaki vs. Billie Starkz vs. Zayda Steel
Tony Khan announced the first-ever women’s Survival of the Fittest tournament at the April 6 ROH TV taping, with five qualifying matches producing the challengers for Athena. Persephone was originally one of the five but was pulled in early May after an injury, with Zayda Steel taking her place by defeating Hyan in a replacement qualifier.
Athena’s reign as ROH Women’s World Champion stretches back to October 2022, making her the longest-reigning singles champion in the company. The six-way elimination format presents the most realistic threat to that run since it began.
Yuka Sakazaki, Billie Starkz, and Trish Adora all enter with international and indie credentials deep enough to win on a different night, which makes the field as deep as any women’s match ROH has put together.
ROH World Television Championship: AR Fox (c) vs. Lio Rush
AR Fox won the ROH World Television Championship from Nick Wayne in the run-up to the event, making Supercard of Honor his first defense. Lio Rush is the right kind of first-defense opponent: a former champion in multiple promotions whose pace and style match Fox’s step for step.
This is the kind of match that lives or dies on workrate, and both wrestlers have spent the last two years specifically building reputations for delivering it.
ROH Pure Championship: Lee Moriarty (c) vs. Ace Austin
Ace Austin’s TNA background and pace make him a stylistic match for the Pure Rules format, where rope breaks and closed-fist limits change how every exchange plays out.
ROH Women’s Pure Championship: Deonna Purrazzo (c) vs. Diamante
Deonna Purrazzo has used the ROH Women’s Pure Championship as a platform to highlight her technical wrestling, picking matchups that lean into mat work over storyline-driven feuds. Diamante challenges with a more aggressive offensive approach that should force Purrazzo out of her usual rhythm.
ROH Women’s World Television Championship: Red Velvet (c) vs. Viva Van
Red Velvet has held the ROH Women’s TV title since winning it back from Mercedes Moné at Final Battle 2025. The Salisbury defense is her fourth since regaining the title and her first since March, with Viva Van entering after losing in the Survival of the Fittest qualifying round to Yuka Sakazaki.
AEW National Championship: Mark Davis (c) vs. Xelhua
Mark Davis brings the AEW National Championship onto a Ring of Honor PPV, the kind of cross-promotional booking Tony Khan has used regularly since acquiring ROH in 2022. Xelhua’s lucha background sets up a stylistic clash against Davis’s heavy hard-hitting offense.
Pure Wrestling Rules Match: Nigel McGuinness vs. Josh Woods
Nigel McGuinness returning to in-ring action under Pure Rules is the curio of the card. The former ROH World Champion has spent most of the past decade in a commentary role, with occasional matches over recent years carefully chosen and Pure Rules giving him a stylistic framework that suits his current pace.
Josh Woods is a former ROH Pure Champion and one of the most accomplished Pure Rules wrestlers on the current roster, making him the right opponent to test what McGuinness still has left.
How to Watch
Date/Time: Friday, May 15, 2026, 8:00 PM ET / 5:00 PM PT
Ronda Rousey credited Paul Heyman with teaching her crucial media skills during her WWE tenure that she continues to use today. The former UFC champion discussed Heyman’s influence during a media scrum Thursday ahead of her fight with Gina Carano.
Rousey explained how Heyman’s guidance shaped her approach to press conferences and promotional work. When asked what aspects of her WWE experience she applies now, she pointed specifically to organizing her thoughts for media appearances.
“I don’t think in the training, but definitely in the preparation for press conferences and how I organize my thoughts. I learned so much from Paul Heyman, and he told me that no matter what you’re saying, always bring it around to the fight, you’re always trying to sell a fight, and always end on the best line,” Rousey stated.
Rousey’s WWE History With Heyman
Rousey worked closely with Heyman throughout her WWE runs. The Olympic bronze medalist first appeared for WWE at WrestleMania 31 in 2015 and made her formal debut three years later at the Royal Rumble.
After headlining WrestleMania 35 in 2019, she took a leave and had her first child. She returned at the Royal Rumble in January 2022 before eventually departing the company.
The full media scrum video is available below. Rousey’s fight with Carano is scheduled for this Saturday night on Netflix.
Chris Jericho was the surprise headliner of the Minnesota Vikings’ 2026 NFL schedule release video on Thursday night. The AEW star and self-described lifelong Vikings fan stars alongside kicker Will Reichard in a restaurant-themed skit that “serves up” all 17 games on Minnesota’s upcoming slate.
The Ticketmaster-presented video follows Jericho as a waiter delivering each opponent as a custom dish from the kitchen, from a cheesehead board for the Week 1 Packers opener to flame-kissed fish for the Dolphins. A broken table during the Buffalo Bills section played as a wink to wrestling fans, while a sneaky Dianna Russini reference slipped into the Patriots leg.
The bit closes with Jericho cornering Reichard for an autograph “for a friend” named Chris Jericohen, a comedic alias that played to the wrestling-aware audience. The Vikings’ own schedule writeup referred to Jericho as a “longtime devoted Vikings fan” making a “special cameo,” underscoring that this was passion casting rather than a generic celebrity grab.
Latest Chapter In A Big NFL-Wrestling Crossover Year
Jericho’s appearance extends what has already been an unusually heavy stretch of pro wrestling crossover with the NFL in 2026. Three weeks ago, Swerve Strickland, Sheamus, and Raquel Rodriguez announced picks at the 2026 NFL Draft for the Jaguars, Titans, and Texans, respectively. Britt Baker also appeared on NFL Network’s draft coverage in her hometown of Pittsburgh.
The Miz has previously fronted Cleveland Browns schedule reveal videos, and Seth Rollins has done the same for the Chicago Bears, turning schedule day into something of an unofficial wrestling holiday. Jericho’s restaurant gag continues the tradition with arguably the most ambitious production yet.
WWE SmackDown Tonight (5/15/26): Start Time, Card & How to Watch
WWE Friday Night SmackDown airs tonight (Friday, May 15, 2026) from the Colonial Life Arena in Columbia, South Carolina, live on USA Network starting at 8 PM ET.
WWE returns to weekly programming in the first Friday Night SmackDown after Backlash 2026 in Tampa. Tonight’s two-hour broadcast is built around the Cody Rhodes vs. Gunther march toward Clash in Italy on May 31, the fallout from Jacob Fatu’s post-match attack on Roman Reigns, and Trick Williams returning to his hometown crowd as United States Champion. Here is everything you need to know including start times, how to watch, and what to expect.
How to Watch SmackDown Tonight
Date
Friday, May 15, 2026
Venue
Colonial Life Arena, Columbia, South Carolina
Channel/Stream
USA Network (US) / Peacock on-demand
US Start Time
8:00 PM ET / 7:00 PM CT / 5:00 PM PT
UK Start Time
1:00 AM BST (Saturday, May 16)
India Start Time
5:30 AM IST (Saturday, May 16)
Duration
3 hours
SmackDown Match Card for May 15, 2026
WWE has not officially announced specific matches as of Friday morning, which is typical for the first show after a Premium Live Event. Here are the storylines and appearances confirmed for tonight’s broadcast.
Cody Rhodes and Gunther Continue the Road to Italy
Both men are advertised for Columbia. Paul Heyman delivered the Clash in Italy contract last Friday in Jacksonville, and Gunther tried to choke out Rhodes on the way out the door. With 16 days separating tonight from Turin, expect a verbal escalation rather than physical contact, plus a possible singles match for the champion against an opponent of Gunther’s choosing.
Jacob Fatu’s Future After the Backlash Assault
Roman Reigns retained the World Heavyweight Championship over Fatu in an 18-minute Backlash main event. Fatu attacked Reigns and WWE officials after the bell, and his brother Zilla Fatu was shown in the front row during the match. Tonight should establish whether Fatu faces on-screen consequences or doubles down on the family civil war that’s been simmering since WrestleMania 42.
Trick Williams Returns Home as US Champion
Williams retained the United States Championship over Sami Zayn at Backlash for the second consecutive Premium Live Event and walks back into Columbia as the hometown act. He played college football at South Carolina, the post-Backlash crowd in Tampa chanted for Carmelo Hayes, and Hayes is advertised for tonight on the Colonial Life Arena listing. The pieces are in place for a confrontation that sets up the next US title challenge.
Rhea Ripley’s Three-Front War
The WWE Women’s Champion is dealing with returning challengers and an active rivalry on the same brand. Jade Cargill, Michin, and B-Fab cost Ripley, Charlotte Flair, and Alexa Bliss their six-woman tag last Friday, with Cargill positioning herself for a title rematch after WrestleMania 42. Jacy Jayne and Fatal Influence have not gone away either. Ripley needs to pick a fight tonight, or one will pick her.
Danhausen and Royce Keys in the Midcard Mix
Danhausen and his Minihausen partner beat The Miz and Kit Wilson at Backlash. Ricky Saints and Royce Keys have built momentum across the last three weeks of SmackDown television without yet getting a marquee program. Tonight is the natural pivot point to give all three acts new dance partners.
Tiffany Stratton Advertised
The Women’s United States Champion is on the local advertising for Columbia after retaining over Kiana James in the Backlash go-home show. No challenger has been named, but Stratton has been a fixture of the SmackDown opening hour in recent weeks.
Road to WWE Clash in Italy 2026
WWE Clash in Italy 2026 takes place Sunday, May 31 at the Inalpi Arena in Turin, Italy. It’s WWE’s first-ever Premium Live Event on Italian soil.
Cody Rhodes vs. Gunther for the Undisputed WWE Championship is the locked-in main event.
Piper Niven shared an update Wednesday after undergoing neck surgery to address an injury that has sidelined her since August 2025. The WWE superstar posted from a hospital bed following an anterior discectomy, a procedure that removes a damaged or herniated disc in the neck through a small incision in the front of the throat.
I went to California and all I got was this lousy anterior discectomy. ?
I have so much I want to say about the past 8 months but we can get to that later.
For now, I just want to express my endless love and gratitude for every single soul that has helped me and cared for me… pic.twitter.com/iBrLDKj4pD
The 35-year-old Raw superstar expressed gratitude to those who supported her during what she described as a difficult and scary time. She indicated the surgery was successful and that she already felt improvement.
“I went to California and all I got was this lousy anterior discectomy,” Niven wrote on X. “I have so much I want to say about the past 8 months but we can get to that later. For now, I just want to express my endless love and gratitude for every single soul that has helped me and cared for me during this difficult and really scary time.”
She continued: “Pain and heartbreak are incredible teachers and the lessons I have learned from this will stay with me forever. I am so grateful to wake up from surgery already feeling better and I know I am coming out the other side of this so much stronger for the experience.”
Niven’s last match was a win over Charlotte Flair on SmackDown in Dublin, Ireland last August. As recently as February, she expressed hope about returning to wrestling, something she has done since her teenage years.
No timeline has been announced for her return to in-ring action, but we wish her a full and speedy recovery.
AEW Dynamite returns tonight, Wednesday, May 13, 2026, live from the Harrah’s Cherokee Center in Asheville, North Carolina, at 8 p.m. ET on TBS and HBO Max. Darby Allin defends the AEW World Championship against Konosuke Takeshita in the main event, with four other matches and an MJF segment on tap heading into AEW Double or Nothing on May 24.
AEW World Championship: Darby Allin (c) vs. Konosuke Takeshita (Takeshita replaces Kazuchika Okada, who was pulled for family obligations in Japan)
10-Man Tag: Adam Copeland, Christian Cage, Orange Cassidy & The Young Bucks vs. FTR, Tommaso Ciampa & The Dogs (preview of Copeland and Cage vs. FTR for the AEW World Tag Team Championships at Double or Nothing)
Will Ospreay vs. Ace Austin (Ospreay’s first Dynamite match since being cleared after a stint training with the Death Riders)
TNT Championship Open Challenge: Kevin Knight (c) vs. TBA (Knight’s fourth title defense)
Triangle of Madness vs. Brawling Birds & Hikaru Shida (trios match previewing the AEW Women’s World Title 4-Way at Double or Nothing)
Segments
MJF speaks live, responding to Darby Allin’s challenge of a title rematch at Double or Nothing if MJF puts his hair on the line. Allin tied the stipulation to a contract signing, so expect a face-to-face before the night is out.
The 2026 Owen Hart Foundation Tournament brackets for the men’s and women’s sides will be revealed on the broadcast, kicking off the road to AEW All In.
Looking Ahead
AEW Double or Nothing: Sunday, May 24, at Louis Armstrong Stadium in Queens, New York
Adam Copeland and Christian Cage challenge FTR for the AEW World Tag Team Championships
Thekla defends the AEW Women’s World Title in a 4-Way vs. Jamie Hayter, Kris Statlander, and Hikaru Shida
Kazuchika Okada vs. Konosuke Takeshita for the AEW International Championship
How to Watch
Show: AEW Dynamite
Date: Wednesday, May 13, 2026
Time: 8 p.m. ET / 7 p.m. CT
Location: Harrah’s Cherokee Center, Asheville, North Carolina
Network: TBS and HBO Max
Stay with SEScoops for live coverage, results, and highlights from tonight’s AEW Dynamite.
TKO Group Holdings has announced a three-year agreement with the Arizona Sports & Events Alliance to stage seven events in Arizona featuring WWE, UFC, PBR, and Zuffa Boxing.
The deal will bring a series of live sports and entertainment events to the state across multiple TKO properties, though the company has not yet disclosed specific event dates, venues, or ticketing details — those announcements are expected at a later date.
What Was Said
Peter Dropick, Executive Vice President of Event Development and Operations for TKO, expressed enthusiasm for the partnership:
“We’re excited to build this long-term partnership with the Arizona Sports & Events Alliance to bring some of our biggest events to the state.”
Jay Parry, President & CEO of the Arizona Sports & Events Alliance, said the agreement reflects Arizona’s capacity to host major sports and entertainment events.
Part of a Broader Strategy
TKO described the Arizona deal as part of a wider series of partnerships the company has formed with government and private entities across various locations to bring its live events to new markets.
TKO Group Holdings owns WWE, UFC, PBR, and holds a stake in Zuffa Boxing. The company also operates IMG, a global sports marketing agency, and On Location, an experiential hospitality company.
TKO’s Recent Business Momentum
The announcement comes on the heels of a strong Q1 2026 for TKO, which reported a 26% year-over-year revenue increase to $1.597 billion. While the company fell slightly short of its earnings per share forecast — posting $1.12 against an expected $1.19 — investor sentiment remained broadly positive.
Bernstein SocGen Group reiterated its Outperform rating on TKO stock with a $240.00 price target, citing strong monetization prospects across its sports properties.
WWE fans in Arizona will want to stay tuned for future announcements as specific event details are confirmed in the coming months.
AJ Styles has denied claims that he is interested in pursuing a WWE producer role, setting the record straight after fan speculation misconstrued recent comments about his post-retirement career path.
The former two-time WWE Champion responded bluntly with “Nope” on Twitter when a fan suggested he was eyeing a producer position.
The confusion stemmed from comments Styles made on his podcast about his current work with WWE as a scout and trainer.
AJ Styles’ Role in Wrestling After Retirement
Styles retired from in-ring competition following his loss to GUNTHER at Royal Rumble 2026, ending a decorated WWE career that saw him capture the WWE Championship twice and achieve Grand Slam Champion status. Since stepping away from active competition, the veteran has transitioned into a behind-the-scenes role focused on talent development.
Rather than producing, Styles clarified that his interests lie in scouting new talent and training wrestlers, utilizing his extensive experience to help develop the next generation of WWE superstars. This role allows him to remain connected to the wrestling business while stepping back from the physical demands of regular competition.
The clarification puts to rest speculation about Styles moving into a creative or production capacity within WWE’s corporate structure, confirming his focus remains on the talent development side of the operation.
Naraku debuts tonight on WWE NXT as more than just a new face on the developmental brand, because the man WWE is introducing under that name is former IWGP Heavyweight Champion EVIL, who already signaled his intentions by confronting NXT Champion Tony D’Angelo before his first official match.
WWE formally revealed the Naraku name in a vignette on the May 5 episode and announced his in-ring debut for the May 12 show, making it clear this is being presented as an immediate storyline move rather than a slow-burn introduction.
Legacy in Japan
For fans who did not follow his New Japan Pro-Wrestling run, Naraku arrives in NXT with one of the stronger résumés of any recent newcomer to the brand. Takaaki Watanabe began as an NJPW Young Lion in 2011, returned from excursion in 2015 under the EVIL persona, and aligned himself with Tetsuya Naito and Los Ingobernables de Japon before eventually taking a much darker turn in his career.
In 2020, he betrayed Naito, joined Bullet Club, and later became the central figure in the House of Torture subgroup, a faction that came to define the later stage of his New Japan run.
Reaching the Top of the Mountain
That same year, EVIL reached the peak of his NJPW career when he defeated Naito at Dominion to win the IWGP Heavyweight Championship, with Dick Togo’s interference playing a key role in the title change.
He also captured the IWGP Intercontinental, IWGP Tag Team, NEVER Openweight, and NEVER Openweight 6-Man Tag Team titles during his time in the promotion, which underscores that WWE is not bringing in an unproven prospect but a decorated veteran with main-event experience.
NJPW announced in January that EVIL would leave the company when his contract expired at the end of that month, and his final stretch there included a loss of the NEVER Openweight title to Aaron Wolf at Wrestle Kingdom 20 before his last match on January 20.
NXT Arrival
What his arrival means for NXT is fairly obvious from the way WWE has handled him so far. Naraku was placed opposite Tony D’Angelo almost immediately, and reports around his debut framed him near the top of the card rather than as a talent expected to spend months finding his footing on television.
That positioning suggests WWE sees him as an instant upper-card heel who can give NXT a more seasoned, internationally accomplished threat in the title picture.
Where He Fits In
As for where he fits on the brand, Naraku looks like the kind of act who slots into the space between featured attraction and immediate contender. NXT often blends homegrown prospects with established names, and Naraku gives the roster a veteran with credibility who can work with champions and top babyfaces without needing an extended rebuilding phase first.
If WWE keeps him focused on D’Angelo and the championship scene, it would reinforce that his role is to raise the stakes at the top of the show rather than develop in public like a traditional newcomer.
What to Expect
Fans unfamiliar with his NJPW work should expect a wrestler whose presentation is rooted in menace, darkness, and disruption. His most notable run in Japan was tied to the House of Torture era after his betrayal of Naito, and even the Naraku name carries a dark meaning that fits the aura WWE is preserving in this rebrand.
In other words, NXT viewers should not expect a fresh-faced recruit trying to win the audience over, but a cold, established antagonist arriving with championship ambition and the résumé to make that threat feel real on night one.
WWE NXT airs tonight (Tuesday, May 12, 2026) from the WWE Performance Center in Orlando, Florida, live on The CW starting at 8 PM ET.
Tonight’s episode delivers the long-awaited in-ring debut of Naraku, the former IWGP Heavyweight Champion who spent more than a decade in New Japan Pro-Wrestling as EVIL.
Noam Dar also returns to action against Jackson Drake, and the brewing four-way feud over the NXT Women’s North American Championship gets another round when Zaria and Nikkita Lyons face Tatum Paxley and Lizzy Rain. Here’s everything you need to know.
How to Watch WWE NXT Tonight
Date
Tuesday, May 12, 2026
Venue
WWE Performance Center, Orlando, Florida
Channel/Stream
The CW (US) / Netflix (International)
US Start Time
8 PM ET / 7 PM CT / 5 PM PT
UK Start Time
1 AM BST (Wednesday, May 13)
India Start Time
5:30 AM IST (Wednesday, May 13)
Duration
2 hours
WWE NXT Match Card for May 12, 2026
Here are the matches and segments announced for tonight’s show:
Naraku Makes His In-Ring NXT Debut
The former EVIL appeared in NXT on April 28 to confront NXT Champion Tony D’Angelo, then aired a vignette on May 5 confirming his new ring name and his sights on the title. His opponent for tonight has not been announced, but WWE has used the debut spot to set up his championship pursuit. The 12-year NJPW veteran brings the heaviest international resume to land on the brand in years.
Noam Dar vs. Jackson Drake (w/ Brad Baylor and Ricky Smokes)
Dar returns to in-ring action after time away with injury, his first televised match in weeks. Drake comes in flanked by The Vanity Project’s Brad Baylor and Ricky Smokes, which immediately tilts the numbers. Expect the babyface Dar to deal with the outside interference factor before the bell even sounds.
Kendal Grey vs. Kelani Jordan (w/ Wren Sinclair)
Both women are positioning for a path back to the NXT Women’s Championship picture. Grey came up short at Stand & Deliver in the triple threat that Lola Vice won, and Jordan has been chasing rhythm since her cross-promotional run. Sinclair in Jordan’s corner suggests this won’t stay a clean one-on-one.
Zaria and Nikkita Lyons vs. Tatum Paxley and Lizzy Rain
The four-way pile-up around the NXT Women’s North American Championship continues. Champion Tatum Paxley aligned with the newcomer Lizzy Rain after weeks of confrontations with Zaria and Lyons, who have made it clear they both want a shot at the title. Tag-team chemistry is the test tonight, but the title scene is the real story.
Sean Legacy, Tate Wilder and EK Prosper vs. BirthRight (Lexis King, Channing “Stacks” Lorenzo, and Uriah Connors w/ Arianna Grace)
BirthRight has been one of the most active heel groups on the brand, with Arianna Grace running point at ringside. Legacy, Wilder, and Prosper make for an athletic babyface trio with something to prove. Watch for Charlie Dempsey on the floor, since BirthRight tends to travel deep.
Road to NXT Great American Bash 2026
NXT Great American Bash 2026 is reportedly scheduled for the final week of July at the WWE Performance Center in Orlando, Florida, per a Bodyslam.net report. It will be the first NXT Premium Live Event on The CW under the brand’s new multi-year deal with the network.
Tonight’s show is the early stage of the road there. Naraku’s debut, Dar’s return, and the women’s title scene churn all start building toward a card that will mark NXT’s biggest broadcast television moment yet. More on the Great American Bash 2026 timeline and CW deal here.
Follow SEScoops for any news and developments from tonight’s NXT.
Asuka is in Knoxville and ready to appear on tonight’s RAW if creative dictates, per Mike Johnson of PWInsider Elite. That detail tempers some of the more dramatic reporting that has emerged since her loss to IYO SKY at WWE Backlash on Saturday. Sean Ross Sapp now says she’ll be on Raw:
Asuka is planned to be on WWE Raw tonight
— Sean Ross Sapp of Fightful.com (@SeanRossSapp) May 11, 2026
The new information lands in the middle of a tangled reporting cycle. Dave Meltzer reported on Wrestling Observer Radio that Asuka is “semi-retired” and that people backstage said their goodbyes after Backlash.
ViperReports (via BodySlam) pushed back on that framing, characterizing Asuka as out indefinitely for undisclosed personal reasons but not retiring.
Fightful Select called the situation “a mystery” even to people inside WWE, though their sources said they don’t believe she’s had her final match.
Contract Context
Asuka signed a long-term deal with WWE in the summer of 2024, reportedly running roughly five years. Plenty of time left on paper, which is part of why an outright retirement struck people as off, though stepping away for personal reasons while under contract isn’t unprecedented.
Neither WWE nor Asuka have issued any public statement, and her social media has been quiet since Backlash.
Where it stands as of Monday afternoon: Asuka is reportedly at the RAW venue, the Japan family-matter story is unverified, and the broader “semi-retired” versus “personal leave” framing remains contested. Tonight’s show should answer at least one question — whether she’s on television.
