Rapper and wrestling promoter Westside Gunn expressed interest in buying TNA Wrestling on January 21, 2026, via Twitter, stating he wants to transform the promotion into what he calls \’Super Culture.\’
Westside Gunn, founder of the 4th Rope wrestling promotion which launched in 2024, outlined his vision to infuse TNA with \’#4THROPE energy\’ and \’#4BIDDEN door principles.\’
I Think I Wanna buy @ThisIsTNA and make it SUPER CULTURE!!!!!! Give it #4THROPE energy and #4BIDDEN door principles ???
4th Rope has hosted talents including Real1, Nic Nemeth, Killer Kelly, Cedric Alexander, Frankie Kazarian, and The Hardys, with the TNA World Championship defended at its November 2025 event.
Westside Gunn has prior wrestling ties, appearing on AEW Dynamite on September 18, 2022. He recently claimed removal from a November 2025 WWE RAW episode despite purchasing a $5,000 ticket.
Westside Gunn\’s proposal arrives as he distances from WWE, focusing on independent ventures that align with his vision.
WWE legend turned Hollywood heavyweight Dave Bautista has earned a Razzie Award nomination for Worst Actor for his performance as Boyce in the film In The Lost Lands. The film, which is based on a George R.R. Martin story, also features Milla Jovovich, who has been nominated for Worst Actress for her role as Gray Alys.
The Razzie Awards, short for the Golden Raspberry Awards, \”honor\” the year\’s worst films and performances. Bautista faces competition in his category.
The nominees for Worst Actor at the 46th Annual Razzie Awards, announced on January 21, 2026, are:
Dave Bautista – In the Lost Lands
Ice Cube – War of the Worlds (2025)
Scott Eastwood – Alarum
Jared Leto – Tron: Ares
Abel \”The Weeknd\” Tesfaye – Hurry Up Tomorrow
The \”winners\” will be announced on Saturday, March 14, 2026, the day before the 98th Academy Awards.
WWE has announced the passing of territorial wrestling legend Bobby Duncum Sr. at age 81.
The rugged cowboy from Austin, Texas, was one of the most feared villains of the territorial era. A graduate of West Texas State University—the same institution that produced Dusty Rhodes and the Funk Brothers—Duncum was selected by the St. Louis Cardinals in the 1967 NFL Draft and played four professional games in the NFL in 1968 before transitioning to wrestling.
Duncum became infamous for his brutal street fights and high-profile feuds against WWE Legends Bruno Sammartino and Bob Backlund. In the AWA, he achieved championship success as one-half of the tag team with Blackjack Lanza, winning the AWA World Tag Team Championship in 1976. Both wrestlers were members of the iconic Heenan Family, managed by WWE Hall of Famer Bobby \”The Brain\” Heenan.
Duncum is the father of the late Bobby Duncum Jr., who passed away in January 2000 at the age of 34. The younger Duncum achieved recognition in WCW as a member of the West Texas Rednecks stable.
WWE extended its condolences to Duncum Sr.\’s family, friends, and fans.
Johnny Gargano has responded to Tommaso Ciampa\’s WWE departure announcement with a poignant Instagram post that speaks volumes without saying a word.
Shortly after Ciampa confirmed his exit on January 21, Gargano shared a photo of himself backstage watching his longtime tag team partner on a television screen. The caption consisted of a single black heart emoji—a fitting tribute that mirrors Ciampa\’s own heartfelt goodbye to his \”black and gold\” NXT family.
The partnership spanned over a decade. Gargano and Ciampa first teamed together in the NXT Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic in September 2015, officially signing with WWE in April 2016. They\’ve been riding together ever since, from becoming NXT Tag Team Champions to their legendary rivalry that defined black-and-gold NXT, and eventually reuniting to capture the WWE Tag Team Championship twice on the main roster.
Ciampa\’s final WWE match came on the December 19 episode of SmackDown, where DIY lost to Ilja Dragunov and Carmelo Hayes. Since then, Gargano has continued appearing on SmackDown alongside his wife Candice LeRae, transitioning into a singles role.
In his departure statement, Ciampa wrote that his contract will end \”very soon\” and specifically thanked the black and gold era that made him a star: \”I would be remiss not to give a special thank you to my black and gold family. You will forever hold an incredibly special place in my heart.\”
Gargano\’s black heart emoji response suggests those feelings are mutual.
WWE Royal Rumble 2026 takes place on Saturday, January 31 from the King Abdullah Financial District in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. For the first time in the event\’s 39-year history, the Royal Rumble will be held outside of North America, and that means an unusual start time for fans around the world.
The event will begin at 10 PM local time in Riyadh, which translates to an afternoon start for North American viewers. This marks the latest local start time for any WWE Premium Live Event ever, with the show expected to end around 2 AM local time.
WWE Royal Rumble 2026 Start Times by Time Zone
Here\’s when the Royal Rumble kicks off in every major region:
North America
Eastern Time (ET): 2:00 PM
Central Time (CT): 1:00 PM
Mountain Time (MT): 12:00 PM (Noon)
Pacific Time (PT): 11:00 AM
Hawaii-Aleutian Time (HAST): 9:00 AM
Europe
Greenwich Mean Time (GMT) / United Kingdom: 7:00 PM
Central European Time (CET) / Germany, France, Spain, Italy: 8:00 PM
Eastern European Time (EET) / Finland, Greece, Romania: 9:00 PM
Middle East & Africa
Arabian Standard Time / Saudi Arabia, Kuwait: 10:00 PM
Gulf Standard Time (GST) / UAE, Oman: 11:00 PM
Israel Standard Time (IST): 9:00 PM
South Africa Standard Time (SAST): 9:00 PM
Asia
India Standard Time (IST): 12:30 AM (Sunday, February 1)
Pakistan Standard Time (PKT): 12:00 AM (Midnight, Sunday, February 1)
Singapore/Malaysia/Philippines: 3:00 AM (Sunday, February 1)
Japan Standard Time (JST): 4:00 AM (Sunday, February 1)
China Standard Time (CST): 3:00 AM (Sunday, February 1)
Korea Standard Time (KST): 4:00 AM (Sunday, February 1)
Australia & New Zealand
Australian Western Standard Time (AWST) / Perth: 3:00 AM (Sunday, February 1)
Australian Central Daylight Time (ACDT) / Adelaide: 5:30 AM (Sunday, February 1)
Australian Eastern Daylight Time (AEDT) / Sydney, Melbourne: 6:00 AM (Sunday, February 1)
New Zealand Daylight Time (NZDT): 8:00 AM (Sunday, February 1)
South America
Brasília Time (BRT) / Brazil: 4:00 PM
Argentina Time (ART): 4:00 PM
Chile Summer Time (CLST): 4:00 PM
Colombia Time (COT): 2:00 PM
Mexico City Time (CST): 1:00 PM
How Long Is the Royal Rumble?
WWE Premium Live Events typically run between three and four hours. Given the stacked card featuring both the Men\’s and Women\’s Royal Rumble matches plus championship bouts, fans should expect Royal Rumble 2026 to run approximately four hours. For Eastern Time viewers, that means the show will likely wrap up around 6 PM ET.
How to Watch WWE Royal Rumble 2026
Where you watch the Royal Rumble depends on your location:
United States: ESPN (streaming) — This marks the first Royal Rumble on ESPN after WWE\’s Peacock deal expired. Pricing ranges from $11.99/month (ESPN Select) to $29.99/month (ESPN Unlimited). Some Hulu+ Live TV, DIRECTV, Fubo TV, and Spectrum TV customers may have access included.
International markets: Netflix — Available in the UK, Canada, Australia, Germany, India, and most other countries worldwide.
Austria, Germany, Italy, Switzerland: WWE Network
Japan: Abema
Sub-Saharan Africa: SuperSport
WWE Royal Rumble 2026 Match Card
The confirmed matches for Royal Rumble 2026 include:
Men\’s Royal Rumble Match — Winner earns a World Championship match at WrestleMania 42. Confirmed entrants include Cody Rhodes, Jey Uso, Rey Mysterio, Dragon Lee, and Penta.
Women\’s Royal Rumble Match — Winner earns a Women\’s Championship match at WrestleMania 42. Rhea Ripley has declared for the match.
Gunther vs. AJ Styles — AJ Styles\’ career is on the line.
Drew McIntyre (c) vs. TBD for the WWE Championship — The challenger will be determined at Saturday Night\’s Main Event on January 25, where Randy Orton faces Trick Williams, Damian Priest, and Sami Zayn in a fatal four-way.
Why Is the Start Time Different This Year?
WWE scheduled the 10 PM local start time in Riyadh specifically to accommodate Western audiences. Previous Saudi events like Crown Jewel typically started at 1 PM ET (9 PM local time), but the Royal Rumble\’s importance as one of WWE\’s \”Big Five\” events warranted the later local time to capture more North American and European viewers during prime hours.
For UK and European fans, this is particularly good news — no late-night viewing required. The 7 PM GMT start means British fans can watch the entire show and still get to bed at a reasonable hour.
Stay tuned to SEScoops for complete WWE Royal Rumble 2026 coverage including live results, match recaps, and all the fallout heading into WrestleMania season.
Logan Paul has predicted that Vince McMahon will not only be inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame but will eventually return to the company.
Speaking on his Impaulsive podcast with guest Lil Yachty, The Maverick expressed confidence about McMahon\’s future despite the former WWE Chairman\’s departure from the company in January 2024 amid ongoing legal controversies.
Will Vince McMahon return to WWE?
When Yachty asked if he thought Vince would be inducted into the Hall of Fame, Paul responded confidently:
\”Yeah, he\’ll definitely get inducted. I also have a weird feeling he\’ll come back.\”
Yachty agreed with the sentiment, adding, \”I hope so. I really hope so.\”
The comments are notable given Paul\’s position within WWE. The social media star recently signed a long-term full-time contract with the company and currently performs as a member of The Vision faction under Paul Heyman\’s management.
McMahon resigned from TKO Group Holdings, WWE\’s parent company, in January 2024 following sexual assault allegations filed by former employee Janel Grant. The lawsuit remains ongoing, and McMahon has denied the allegations.
Defending Triple H
During the same interview, Yachty also defended Triple H against fan criticism, claiming insider knowledge that the Chief Content Officer isn\’t to blame for unpopular creative decisions.
\”The fans right now love blaming Triple H. I don\’t think that\’s fair. It\’s also not his fault,\” Yachty said. \”I\’m telling you as an insider, it\’s not his fault. It\’s a company, you know?\”
Paul\’s prediction about McMahon\’s return comes at a time when the Netflix docuseries WWE: Unreal continues to provide behind-the-scenes access to the company\’s operations under Triple H\’s creative leadership.
The Rock has confirmed he\’s been in discussions with Saudi Arabia regarding WrestleMania 43, which will mark WWE\’s first-ever WrestleMania held in the Kingdom in 2027.
Speaking about the historic event, The Rock stated, \”I\’m excited for the WrestleMania 43 showcase in Saudi Arabia, and regarding whether there have been conversations between me and Saudi Arabia? Yes, and there are always good conversations between us.\”
The confirmation fuels speculation about The Rock\’s potential involvement in the landmark show, whether in an in-ring capacity or as a featured presence. The WWE megastar last competed at WrestleMania 40 in April 2024, teaming with Roman Reigns against Cody Rhodes and Seth Rollins in a tag team match.
WrestleMania 43 represents a major milestone for WWE\’s ongoing partnership with Saudi Arabia, which has hosted premium live events since 2018. As both a top-tier WWE performer and TKO board member, The Rock\’s involvement carries significance beyond just his potential in-ring role.
The event will be WWE\’s biggest international WrestleMania to date, and The Rock\’s comments suggest he\’ll play some part in the show\’s presentation. Further details about his specific role are expected to be announced as the event draws closer.
Sean Legacy has officially joined the WWE NXT roster. Shawn Michaels announced the signing on X, welcoming Legacy and booking him in a qualifying match for the NXT Championship ladder match against Eli Knight on the January 20, 2026 episode of WWE NXT.
Legacy was first announced as a WWE ID prospect in November 2024. He has previously competed on NXT TV, facing opponents including Jackson Drake, Je\’Von Evans, and Ashante Adonis.
The winner of Legacy vs. Knight advances to the ladder match for the NXT Championship. This immediate push highlights Legacy\’s rapid rise from WWE ID and Evolve events to the main NXT brand.
Legacy\’s NXT debut match airs tonight, marking a significant step in his WWE career.
TNA Impact officially debuted on AMC on Thursday, January 16, 2026, drawing 173,000 viewers for its first episode on the cable network.
The two-hour broadcast, which aired from 9:00 to 11:00 PM ET, recorded a 0.04 rating in the 18-49 demographic. The corrected viewership figure comes from Wade Keller of PWTorch.com, while the demographic ratings data was reported by Programming Insider.
Update: This article has been updated with corrected viewership figures. The originally reported number of 95,000 viewers was inaccurate.
TNA Impact AMC Debut Ratings Breakdown
Metric
Value
Total Viewers
173,000
Adults 18-49 Rating
0.04
Males 18-49 Rating
0.06
Males 25-54 Rating
0.08
Network
AMC
Air Time
9:00 PM ET
Duration
2 hours
How Does This Compare to AXS TV?
The 173,000 viewers represents roughly double what Impact regularly drew on AXS TV, where the show averaged around 80,000 viewers. This increase tracks with AMC having approximately double the household reach of AXS TV.
The stronger male demographics—0.06 in M18-49 and 0.08 in M25-54—indicate the core wrestling audience is tuning in on the new network.
The episode was taped during a live event in Garland, Texas, which drew an estimated 2,830 tickets distributed, according to WrestleTix.
What Do the Numbers Mean for TNA?
While the 0.04 in 18-49 and 173,000 viewers is modest by cable standards, it represents solid growth for TNA. The move to AMC, which reaches nearly 60 million U.S. households compared to AXS TV\’s roughly half that figure, gives TNA a larger platform to potentially grow its audience over time.
TNA\’s television deal with AMC represents a significant shift for the promotion, which had been airing on AXS TV since 2019. The debut numbers will serve as a baseline for measuring TNA\’s performance as the promotion continues to build its presence on the network throughout 2026.
Becky Lynch has revealed that her current WWE contract will be her last with the company.
On the new WWE Unreal season two that dropped today on Netflix, Lynch opens up about her mindset heading into what she knows will be her final run with the promotion. The former multi-time Women\’s Champion admitted she was \”pretty burnt out\” in 2024, which led to her taking time away from the ring.
\”This is probably it, this is the final run. This is the final contract,\” Lynch said. \”So I suppose it\’s a matter of knowing that, understanding that and enjoying that the best I can.\”
Lynch explained that she spoke with Triple H in May 2024 about her mental state, which resulted in her contract being paused. When she was ready to return, she renegotiated her deal with WWE.
The Man also discussed the challenges of balancing her wrestling career with being a mother to her daughter with husband Seth Rollins, expressing the guilt she sometimes feels leaving her child to go to work.
With WrestleMania 41 on the horizon, Lynch appears focused on making the most of her remaining time in WWE while enjoying every moment of her final chapter with the company.
Seth Rollins recently opened up about his infamous 2019 Hell in a Cell match with the late Bray Wyatt, expressing regret that WWE cameras didn\’t capture the full behind-the-scenes story of that controversial weekend.
Speaking on the My Mom\’s Basement podcast with Robbie Fox, Rollins revealed he wishes the reality of what happened backstage had been documented.
\”I wish they were there for the Hell in a Cell match with Bray Wyatt. I wish they were there for that whole weekend so they could really see what went down,\” Rollins said. \”No one really knows what happened there and I can\’t describe it to a point that it makes sense where people have a different feeling about it.\”
The October 6, 2019 match at Hell in a Cell has gone down as one of the most criticized matches in WWE history. The Universal Championship bout ended in a controversial referee stoppage after Rollins used a sledgehammer on Wyatt, leading to a disqualification finish that defied the no-disqualification nature of Hell in a Cell matches. The match was later voted \”Worst Match of 2019\” by the Wrestling Observer Newsletter.
Rollins emphasized his comments were primarily about defending Wyatt\’s legacy. \”That one I can name and say it mostly because it\’s a defense for Windham, who\’s not here to defend himself, and I know that experience really bothered him,\” Rollins explained, referencing Wyatt by his real name, Windham Rotunda, who passed away in May 2023.
Seth Rollins says WWE fans don\’t know the full story
The former WWE Champion suggested that seeing the complete context of that week would give fans more empathy for both performers.
\”If you could have seen that from start to finish that week, all the way up to the end of that match and the next day, I think people would have a different… not appreciation, but a little more empathy, maybe,\” Rollins said.
Rollins concluded by expressing his wish that both he and Wyatt could have had another opportunity to deliver what fans deserved. \”I wish we would have had an opportunity to show what happened there, and then come back and do it better.\”
Both Rollins and Wyatt have previously stated the controversial finish was not their decision, with Rollins revealing in past interviews that Vince McMahon refused to budge on the creative direction despite their objections.
WCW legend Buff Bagwell has confirmed he invented the Blockbuster move that\’s still being used in wrestling today, including by WWE star Logan Paul just weeks ago.
Speaking on Insight with Chris Van Vliet, the five-time WCW Tag Team Champion discussed his lasting contributions to professional wrestling and shared his picks for the greatest physiques in wrestling history.
Buff Bagwell Says He Invented The Blockbuster
\”Did you invent the blockbuster? I invented the blockbuster. It\’s a giant deal that the move that I named and created is on television right now. That was 25 plus years ago,\” Bagwell confirmed. \”Logan Paul did it just two weeks ago and 10 texts came through.\”
Bagwell revealed the move was inspired by his admiration for Rick Rude and the Rude Awakening. Looking to create something different, he developed the off-the-ropes neckbreaker variation with his tag team partner Scotty Riggs.
\”Me and Scotty Riggs in Cedar Rapids, Iowa before Soul Out was in the hotel room and we were practicing it on the beds, how to land. That day was swamped with pretapes. So, we never practiced it once. The first time I hit it ever was on live television, Soul Out, and it was probably the best one I ever did.\”
While Disco Inferno is credited with naming the move \”Blockbuster,\” the creation and execution belong entirely to Bagwell.
When asked about his greatest wrestling accomplishment, Bagwell pointed to a record he believes has never been matched in a single company.
\”I\’m most proud of being a five-time world tag team champion with four different guys. I\’m pretty sure I\’ve asked this several times. I think it\’s never been done… in one company, in a 10-year stint in one company, nobody has five world titles.\”
Buff\’s Mount Rushmore of Pro Wrestling Physiques
Bagwell also weighed in on the greatest physiques in wrestling history, naming his personal Mount Rushmore while expressing frustration that the industry never fully appreciated his own contributions to that category.
\”My Mount Rushmore would be Luger, Warrior (Jim Hellwig), Steiner for sure when he was Big Poppa Pump,\” Bagwell said. \”Do you feel like you had one of the best physiques in wrestling? I do. I really do. But I don\’t think the business does, which kind of upsets me.\”
He recalled being snubbed from Flex Magazine\’s list of top wrestling physiques, with the publication reportedly responding that \”we were talking about talent\” when questioned about his omission.
The former WCW star also addressed comparisons between himself and Scott Steiner, noting the locker room frequently debated who had the better physique.
\”The biggest compliment I got was one that he wouldn\’t even want. And it was, \’I look like I was clean.\’ You know what a compliment,\” Bagwell laughed, adding that Steiner\’s physique sometimes looked enhanced while his appeared more natural.
When asked if he would have become WCW World Champion had the company not folded, Bagwell was emphatic: \”100%. There\’s not a doubt in my mind.\”
Major League Wrestling has officially announced the return of MLW Fusion in 2026. The promotion released a promo video on their YouTube channel today (January 20) with the message:
\”You waited, you demanded, soon it returns… MLW Fusion 2026.\”
As first reported by Sean Ross Sapp on Fightful Select in September 2025, MLW had been in talks to develop a new weekly show. The company moved away from the weekly format several years ago, with the last episode of Fusion airing in December 2023.
That event will feature appearances from Shotzi, CONTRA Unit, The Skyscrapers (Bishop Dyer & Donovan Dijak), The Good Brothers, Alex Hammerstone, and others.
MLW in 2026
The Fusion revival comes during a period of expansion for MLW, which relocated its headquarters to Charleston, South Carolina in November 2025. The company maintains its longstanding broadcast partnership with beIN Sports, with programming also available on YouTube.
Coming up for MLW is Battle Riot VIII on January 29 at the Osceola Heritage Park Events Center in Kissimmee, Florida. The event features a 40-man Battle Riot match where the winner earns a guaranteed title shot against current MLW World Heavyweight Champion Mads Krule Krügger.
Former WCW star Buff Bagwell is defying expectations just five months after having his leg amputated, revealing he\’s now walking without a cane and considering a return to the wrestling ring.
Speaking on Insight with Chris Van Vliet, Bagwell shared an update on his remarkable recovery following the amputation that ended a five-year medical nightmare stemming from a 2020 car accident.
\”That\’s only two weeks old without a cane. I didn\’t believe I was ever going to walk without a cane because that\’s how much I needed a cane,\” Bagwell said, demonstrating his mobility during the interview.
The five-time tag team champion endured 41 surgeries over three to four years after his kneecap exploded in the accident. When doctors finally presented him with the option of a risky procedure with only a 20% success rate, Bagwell made a quick decision.
\”He was talking about pulling a skin graft off of this shoulder to close it up… I said, \’What\’s the percentages of all that working?\’ And he said, \’About 20%.\’ And I said, \’Let\’s cut it off.\’\”
Buff Bagwell Says Amputation Brought Relief After 5 Years of Misery
Bagwell revealed he suffered through five years of misery with a leg that couldn\’t bend, affecting every aspect of daily life from sitting in cars to using restrooms. The relief was immediate after the amputation.
\”I was miserable for five years. Every car seat, every toilet seat, every church, restaurant, hotel, airplane, 5 years… I remember waking up the next morning from that car ride and I told Stacy, \’If this was it, if there was no such thing as a prosthetic leg, we made the right decision because my life was going to be better.\’\”
Buff Bagwell\’s Bionic Leg
Now fitted with a $135,000 microprocessor prosthetic leg, Bagwell has gained a new appreciation for the human body.
\”The knee, the human knee is magic. It\’s magic, brother… That\’s a $135,000 leg and it doesn\’t do this,\” he said, demonstrating a simple leg movement. \”That one was free. This one came from God.\”
Looking ahead, Bagwell hasn\’t ruled out returning to the ring, though he\’s setting high standards for himself. He recently made a return to Memphis Wrestling in a managerial role.
\”I know I could wrestle again, another match or two. But if I can\’t do it where it\’s ugly, I\’m not going to do it. And I\’m not sure that\’s possible. If it\’s ugly at all, I\’m not going to do it. But I think I can.\”
The amputation was documented by fellow wrestling veteran Maven, whose YouTube video about the procedure has garnered over a million views.
Former WCW star Buff Bagwell has opened up about the depths of his addiction, revealing he spent two decades under constant sedation before finally getting clean with Diamond Dallas Page\’s help.
In an interview on Insight with Chris Van Vliet filmed at DDP\’s Yoga Performance Center in Atlanta, Bagwell disclosed shocking details about his substance abuse, including consuming a case of beer, 15-20 Lortabs, and 30-35 Somas daily at the height of his addiction.
\”I sedated myself and I was under sedation for 20 consecutive years. There wasn\’t a day that didn\’t go by for 20 years that I wasn\’t some percent sedated,\” Bagwell admitted.
Bodybuilding and Addiction
The five-time WCW Tag Team Champion explained that his bodybuilding discipline ironically made him an efficient addict, organizing his substance use with the same precision he applied to his physique.
\”A bodybuilder makes a really good drug addict or a really bad one, however you want to look at that, but it\’s very organized,\” Bagwell explained.
How DDP Changed Buff Bagwell\’s Life
The turning point came when DDP delivered an ultimatum that would change Bagwell\’s life. With only Page and one other friend remaining in his corner, the WWE Hall of Famer made it clear: get help or lose everyone.
\”Dallas said \’no, no, no, it\’s this or I\’m out of your life and John is out of your life\’ and that was the only two people I had in my life at that stage. So I went and it was the best thing I\’ve ever done in my life,\” Bagwell recalled.
Buff Bagwell and Sobriety
The breakthrough came on the fifth night of rehab when Bagwell realized he could actually sleep without substances—something he had convinced himself was impossible.
\”I remember going to rehab and about the fifth night, I remember waking up and I had slept through the night… I remember going, I may be able to get clean when I knew I could sleep.\”
Bagwell celebrated his sobriety birthday on August 27, 2022, and has now been clean for over three years and five months. He credits DDP\’s intervention and his faith as the keys to his recovery.
The former WCW star\’s journey from addiction to sobriety was documented in A&E\’s Change or Die, filmed in 2021—about a year before he finally got sober. Bagwell now describes himself as \”giddy\” about life and has reconnected with his true self.
\”Marcus Alexander Bagwell in 1991 was a great guy. Everybody in the locker room loved Marcus Alexander Bagwell… I believe when the drinking and drugging stopped, Marcus instantly started slowly coming back.\”
Netflix has announced that more episodes of WWE: Unreal are coming later this summer 2026. The teaser appeared at the end of the final episode of Season 2, which is now streaming on the platform.
WWE: Unreal provides an unprecedented behind-the-scenes look at WWE operations, from writers\’ room discussions to superstars planning matches. Watch WWE Unreal on Netflix
Season 1 covered events like John Cena\’s heel turn and decisions on Royal Rumble winners by Chief Content Officer Paul \”Triple H\” Levesque.
WWE Unreal: Season 2 builds on this with wild plot twists, larger-than-life personas, and backstage drama leading to SummerSlam 2025.
Season 3 will heavily focus on John Cena\’s retirement run, including moments like Brock Lesnar\’s attack on Cena and post-match scenes with CM Punk and Cody Rhodes.
The series, produced by WWE, Omaha Productions, NFL Films, and Skydance Sports, features five episodes per season, each around 50-60 minutes.
This renewal ensures WWE: Unreal remains a key documentary series on Netflix, offering deeper access to the industry\’s inner workings throughout 2026. The \”look behind the curtain\” nature of the show has drawn mixed reviews from some people in WWE, but this news assures fans they can expect plenty more backstage insights this summer.
WWE Superstar Logan Paul turned down a staggering $10.2 million private offer for his PSA 10 Pikachu Illustrator card, choosing instead to let the historic auction play out at Goldin Auctions.
OnlyFans model and Pokémon collector Emmi Bunni submitted the offer directly to Paul, doubling the card\’s current auction price at the time.
\”I offered Logan two times what it is being bid at auction for right now,\” Bunni told The Blast. \”$10.2 is a LOT for a Pokémon card, but it has true meaning to me. I think it took Logan a minute, but ultimately he did not want to pull from auction.\”
Bunni explained her motivation was personal rather than financial. \”I grew up loving Pokémon. If I get it, I\’m giving the card to my dad. He\’s the reason I started collecting.\”
She added: \”It\’s only six months of OnlyFans. But this card is history. You don\’t hesitate when something like this comes up.\”
The auction for Paul\’s card—the only PSA 10 Pikachu Illustrator in existence—has already surpassed $5.9 million with weeks remaining before the February 15 close. Pre-auction estimates range from $7 million to $12 million.
Paul purchased the card in 2021 for $5.275 million, setting a Guinness World Record. The winning bidder will receive the card, the custom diamond necklace Paul wore at WrestleMania 38, and personal hand-delivery from Paul himself.
Bunni confirmed she has set a hard ceiling on any future bid: \”The max I will bid is 10.2M, not a penny more.\”
the real star of Wrestlemania — my 1/1 PSA 10 Pikachu Illustrator that I purchased for $5,275,000, officially setting the Guinness World Record for “most expensive Pokémon trading card sold at a private sale” pic.twitter.com/nrAyvrytCB
Jim Ross will miss this week\’s AEW Dynamite from Orlando, Florida, after suffering an untimely fall at home. The legendary wrestling commentator, who was scheduled for the January 21 event at Addition Financial Arena, revealed the incident on X.
Ross explained that he lay on his living room floor for five hours following the fall. He posted from Jim Ross\’s X account (via Post Wrestling):
My trip to Orlando for @AEW Dynamite is postponed due to an untimely fall that saw me lying on my living room floor for 5 hours. I’ll be watching!
Ross, 74, had recently returned to the AEW broadcast booth on January 7 in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
He has faced health challenges, including colon cancer diagnosed in 2025, from which he recovered after surgery, and a prior fall before AEW All In 2025, which he still worked despite the injury.
Under his one-year deal signed in August 2025, Ross handles pay-per-view commentary and select TV appearances. He assured fans he will watch Dynamite from home while recovering.
WWE: Unreal Season 2 is now streaming on Netflix, bringing fans back behind the curtain of WWE\’s creative process just days before the Royal Rumble. The five-episode docuseries picks up after WrestleMania 41 and follows the company\’s journey to the first-ever two-night SummerSlam at MetLife Stadium in August 2025.
Key Highlights
Season 2 Premiere: All five episodes (approximately 50 minutes each) are now available exclusively on Netflix worldwide.
Main Focus: The season documents WWE\’s road to SummerSlam 2025, featuring Seth Rollins\’ \”Ruse of the Century,\” R-Truth\’s controversial release, and Naomi\’s reflections on her 2022 walkout.
Featured Talent: Seth Rollins, Becky Lynch, Cody Rhodes, Rhea Ripley, Pat McAfee, Jelly Roll, R-Truth, IYO SKY, Naomi, Chelsea Green, Penta, and Lyra Valkyria.
Seth Rollins\’ \”Ruse of the Century\”
The centerpiece of Season 2 is the elaborate deception surrounding Seth Rollins\’ faked knee injury. After an awkward landing against LA Knight at Saturday Night\’s Main Event in July, Rollins sold the injury publicly for weeks, appearing on crutches and speaking cautiously in interviews. The docuseries reveals how tightly coordinated the angle was, with showrunner Erik Powers comparing the behind-the-scenes footage to \”seeing the Constitution being written.\”
The storyline culminated at SummerSlam 2025 when Rollins dramatically revealed the ruse before cashing in his Money in the Bank contract on CM Punk, who had just won the World Heavyweight Championship from Gunther. Despite his prominent role in Season 2, Rollins has been candid about his discomfort with the series, telling ESPN New York that he\’s \”super uncomfortable\” with how it exposes the business.
R-Truth\’s Emotional Contract Saga
One of the most compelling storylines this season chronicles R-Truth\’s turbulent contract dispute with WWE. On June 1, 2025—just days after wrestling his childhood hero John Cena at Saturday Night\’s Main Event—Truth announced on social media that he had been released from the company.
Rhea Ripley: “It was just like a wave of sadness kind of took over everyone here in the WWE.” Cody Rhodes: “Can’t touch him. We need R-Truth.”
R-Truth was taking his daughter to dance when he found out he was getting released ?@WWE: Unreal Season 2 is now playing. pic.twitter.com/EMSRIFYaTL
The announcement sparked an overwhelming fan response that included arena-wide chants and public support from fellow performers. Triple H addresses the situation in the documentary, explaining that Truth was never officially fired but that contract negotiations had simply gone sideways. Truth returned at Money in the Bank less than a week later, briefly rebranding as Ron Killings before reverting to his R-Truth persona.
In the series, Truth opens up about the emotional toll: \”I was hurt…I\’m human just like everybody else. I bleed. I hurt. I cry.\” The episode also features a touching moment where Truth\’s son told him, \”Dad, it wasn\’t a waste. Look at those people that love you.\”
Naomi Addresses 2022 Walkout
Naomi\’s episode revisits her controversial 2022 departure from WWE alongside Sasha Banks (now Mercedes Moné in AEW). The two walked out during a Raw broadcast amid frustrations over creative direction and the treatment of the Women\’s Tag Team Championship. \”There was a lot that happened that led us to literally walk out,\” Naomi says in the trailer.
The docuseries tracks Naomi\’s decision to reset her career, her time wrestling elsewhere, and the circumstances that led to her eventual WWE return in 2024. While Banks is not mentioned by name in the footage, her parallel move to AEW provides context for how unresolved creative disputes can fracture even top-tier partnerships.
Jelly Roll\’s In-Ring Debut
Country music star Jelly Roll, who made his in-ring debut at SummerSlam 2025 teaming with Randy Orton against Logan Paul and Drew McIntyre, is featured discussing his journey from performer to wrestler. The Grammy-nominated artist spent significant time training at the WWE Performance Center in preparation for the match.
\”I haven\’t felt fear like that in a long time,\” Jelly Roll admits in the trailer, reflecting on the pressure of performing in front of a stadium crowd.
Pat McAfee\’s Return to the Ring
Pat McAfee, who faced Gunther at WWE Backlash in his first singles match since WrestleMania 39, is also featured throughout Season 2. The former NFL punter turned broadcaster provides his unique perspective on balancing his commentary duties with in-ring competition.
Season 2 also provides insight into Brock Lesnar\’s surprise return at SummerSlam 2025—his first WWE appearance since 2023. WWE Vice President of Creative Writing Michael Hayes explains in the documentary that the decision played into John Cena\’s storied history with The Beast Incarnate.
\”Brock versus Cena is a big, huge marquee matchup. It\’s Army-Navy. It\’s Georgia-Alabama,\” Hayes says. \”Coupled with the fact that I think Brock was gone from the ring two years. When you don\’t see something coming, it\’s really good.\”
Paul Heyman Sets the Tone
The trailer opens with WWE manager Paul Heyman delivering a blunt disclaimer about the show\’s premise. \”Sorry to disappoint everyone, but I am not a fan of this show,\” Heyman says. \”I grew up in an era where you defended the secrecy of this business. That\’s how we earn our living.\”
Despite his reservations, Heyman features prominently throughout the season, particularly in segments involving Rollins\’ injury storyline.
Production Details
WWE: Unreal returns with the same creative team that made Season 1 a breakout hit. Chris Weaver directs while Erik Powers serves as showrunner. The series is produced by Omaha Productions, NFL Films, Skydance Sports, and WWE, with executive producers including Peyton Manning, Jamie Horowitz, Ross Ketover, and Lee Fitting.
The first season premiered in July 2025 and earned strong reception, including an 82% user rating on Rotten Tomatoes and an 8.0 rating on IMDb. That season documented WWE\’s road to WrestleMania 41, including John Cena\’s heel turn and his 17th world championship victory.
CM Punk Declined to Participate
While CM Punk appears throughout the season due to omnipresent cameras, he refused formal interview requests for Season 2. On Notsam Wrestling, Punk explained: \”I know they\’re asking me to do an interview for it…and I kept saying, \’no, no, I\’m not gonna be [there].\’\”
Despite opting out of sit-down interviews, Punk acknowledged enjoying the first season: \”I thought it kind of brought a human element to like Charlotte [Flair] or Rhea [Ripley], or even me.\”
How to Watch WWE Unreal Season 2
All five episodes of WWE: Unreal Season 2 are now streaming exclusively on Netflix. Each episode runs approximately 50 minutes. The release comes strategically timed just days before the 2026 Royal Rumble premium live event.
WWE: Unreal has already been renewed for additional seasons on Netflix, though specific details about Season 3 have not been announced.
Daria Rae, formerly known as Sonya Deville in WWE, revealed she received death threats from fans during her controversial storyline with Naomi.
Speaking on Busted Open TNA, Rae discussed the darker side of playing a heel authority figure, recalling how her on-screen confrontations with Naomi crossed a line for some viewers.
\”The times that it has gotten scary in the past is when people — I get death threats a lot,\” Rae said. \”I did the storyline with Naomi. I was in her face and she couldn\’t hit me because I was authority and I slapped her and she just had to eat it on the chin. Like it was really, really, really messed up stuff and I was getting like legitimate death threats.\”
The storyline ran on SmackDown from August 2021 through early 2022, with Deville using her authority position to antagonize Naomi at every turn.
The feud concluded at Elimination Chamber 2022 when Naomi teamed with Ronda Rousey to defeat Deville and Charlotte Flair.
Why Daria Rae Returned to Pro Wrestling
Rae also opened up about her decision to leave WWE after spending her entire adult life with the company.
\”From 21 years old to 31 years old, I was in the WWE. My entire adult life, my identity was WWE,\” she explained. \”And so I needed to find out who the hell I was as a person.\”
After announcing her retirement from in-ring competition in July 2025, Rae made a surprise return to wrestling on January 15, debuting as TNA\’s Director of Operations during Impact\’s AMC premiere. She said the collaborative creative environment was a major draw.
\”Just being able to come in and put things in my own words and bring in true things from my life into my character, just having that ability to have a voice, I think makes all the difference,\” she said. \”No one knows you better than you.\”
Rae is also continuing to pursue acting, with multiple film projects currently in production.
WWE SmackDown General Manager Nick Aldis has voiced his desire to return to the ring. Speaking on the Keepin\’ It 100 podcast, Aldis confirmed he wants to wrestle again, though no discussions have taken place with WWE.
Aldis, who signed with WWE in 2023 and has not competed in a match since, emphasized his commitment to his current role as SmackDown GM. He is neither injured nor retired, and remains in excellent physical condition after focusing on recovery and training.
Aldis referenced former WWE star Matt Cardona\’s approach of staying prepared for opportunities.
\”It’s not really been talked about one way or the other. Of course, dude [I want to wrestle]. I mean, you know, it’s like Matt Cardona is a perfect example, where it’s like, ‘stay ready.’\”
— Nick Aldis on the Keepin\’ It 100 podcast
While WWE has no confirmed plans for an in-ring return, the comments keep the door open for a future match given his ongoing fitness and prominence on SmackDown.
This development highlights Aldis\’ dual readiness as both an authority figure and performer, potentially aligning with WWE\’s use of on-screen GMs in action.
Finn Bálor delivered an emotional address to his hometown Belfast crowd following Monday Night Raw, declaring the evening the highlight of his entire wrestling career.
The Irish-born star, visibly moved by the reception, reflected on the significance of performing in front of family and friends after 25 years in professional wrestling.
\”I\’ve done a lot in my 25-year career in this business, and tonight is, without question, the most memorable night of my career so far,\” Bálor told the crowd.
The moment became even more personal when Bálor revealed he had just celebrated his mother\’s birthday with her for the first time in nearly 15 years. He then led the Belfast audience in singing \”Happy Birthday\” to his mother, Leonie.
\”This week was very special because yesterday, for the first time in almost 15 years, I got to celebrate my mother\’s birthday with her,\” he shared.
Bálor concluded his speech by addressing the crowd in Irish Gaelic before declaring, \”There is no place like home. Thank you very much, Belfast!\”
The segment was captured after Raw went off the air, giving fans an intimate look at The Prince\’s emotional homecoming.