WWE Backlash 2025 emanates live from St. Louis tonight and will stream globally on Peacock (U.S.) and Netflix (internationally).
Fans across the globe can catch the action at the following local times:
Stay tuned to SEScoops for our coverage of tonight’s big event
John Cena Sr. has his son’s back as he prepares for his final showdown with Randy Orton at tonight WWE Backlash. Cena says he’d bet on the “Real Champ” over the “Legend Killer,” but knows his son is in for the fight of his life.
“Backlash, or will the real champ destroy the legend killer?? Orton/Cena goes way back. I can still feel that kick in the head from Orton,” he posted, referencing a pivotal moment in their long-running feud from 2007.
Despite Orton’s recent momentum heading into the match, Cena Sr. expressed full confidence in his son\’s ability to walk out as champion. The match will be the final chapter of one of WWE’s most iconic rivalries.
WWE is speculating that Bill Goldberg could show up at tonight’s Backlash 2025 premium live event from St. Louis.
Goldberg is set to wrestle one more time for WWE before officially retiring and calling it a career. His final opponent is expected to be Gunther, after the two had an intense altercation back in October at Hell in a Cell.
The official Backlash predictions article at the WWE website gives some interesting takes for each match on tonight’s card. For the McAfee vs. Gunther special attraction, writer (and Pat McAfee Show correspondent) Mark Kaboly predicted a victory for Pat McAfee, with a possible appearance by the WWE Hall of Famer.
“This could get ugly, right? There is no way that McAfee can avoid getting the beating of his life by a monster like Gunther, and I would imagine that will happen… eventually. The only thing that makes sense with this impromptu match at a PLE is somebody coming to the rescue of McAfee getting put to sleep. But who? Jey Uso? Michael Cole? Goldberg? Corey Graves?”
Goldberg vs. Gunther is very likely where we’re headed, so this is a reasonable prediction. We’ll find out in just a matter of hours.
NJPW Resurgence 2025 took place on May 9 at the Toyota Arena in Ontario, California, showcasing high-profile matches, major title shifts, and notable returns.
In the night’s headline matches, AZM emerged as the new NJPW STRONG Women’s Champion, pinning Mina Shirakawa in a triple threat bout that also included Mercedes Moné. Moné nearly broke the fall but was a moment too late, allowing AZM to score a career-defining win.
The IWGP World Heavyweight Championship match between Hirooki Goto and Zack Sabre Jr. ended in a no-contest after a double pinfall. As a result, Goto retained the title, leaving the championship picture unresolved.
United Empire’s Templario and TJP dethroned The World Class Wrecking Crew to capture the NJPW STRONG Openweight Tag Team Titles, marking a key victory for the faction.
Tomohiro Ishii retained the NJPW STRONG Openweight Championship against Drilla Moloney, while Konosuke Takeshita successfully defended the NEVER Openweight Championship against El Phantasmo.
The Young Bucks teamed up with The Good Brothers to defeat BULLET CLUB War Dogs in an eight-man tag team clash. The match reinforced the dominance of the veteran duo in NJPW’s U.S.-based events.
Earlier in the night, Bea Priestley returned in a surprise pre-show appearance, defeating Viva Van. CJ Tino also picked up a win over Allan Breeze.
NJPW Resurgence 2025 continued the company’s push into the U.S. market, featuring title stakes and storyline developments that set the stage for upcoming events.
Alexa Bliss made her WWE return on Friday night, stepping back into the ring after a two-month absence. She appeared as the mystery partner of United States Champion Zelina Vega in a tag team match against Chelsea Green and Piper Niven
Bliss and Vega secured the win after Bliss executed her signature Twisted Bliss followed by a variation of Sister Abigail. The match marked Bliss’ first in-ring appearance since the Elimination Chamber event on March 1, where she competed in the number one contender’s match won by Bianca Belair.
Later in the show, Bliss was featured in a backstage segment with Charlotte Flair. The interaction followed Flair’s announcement that she was leaving the company in response to negative crowd reactions. The exchange hinted at the possibility of a future tag team alliance between Bliss and Flair.
Bliss previously made her initial return to WWE earlier this year at the Royal Rumble, ending a nearly two-year break from the company.
Jeff Cobb is expected to begin his tenure with WWE shortly, and internal speculation suggests he may be present at Backlash this weekend.
According to PWInsider, Cobb’s debut has been discussed creatively in recent weeks. While it remains uncertain whether he will appear on-screen during the event, those within WWE anticipate his arrival is imminent.
Cobb’s signing marks a significant addition to WWE’s roster, given his international experience and strong in-ring reputation.
TNA Wrestling has announced the signing of Harley Hudson, marking another key addition to its growing Knockouts division. The Liverpool-born wrestler will make her debut on the May 23 episode of Xplosion, where she faces fellow international competitor Myla Grace.
Hudson brings eight years of in-ring experience and becomes part of TNA’s ongoing effort to spotlight talent from across the globe. Her debut match airs as part of TNA’s two-night event in Brampton, Ontario, running May 23–24. The May 23 Under Siege event will stream live on the TNA+ app.
Following the announcement, Hudson tweeted, “i’m a knockout ???” as she joins a roster that continues to evolve with international talent.
TNA Wrestling has signed Myla Grace, marking a major milestone as she becomes the first Irish talent to join the promotion. Her arrival highlights TNA’s continued push to grow its international Knockouts division.
The Northern Irish wrestler began her career in 2018 on the British independent circuit. She gained further recognition through her appearances in WWE NXT UK from 2021 to 2022 and recently competed for Japan’s Dream Star Fighting Marigold earlier this year.
Grace confirmed the news on social media, writing, “First ever Irish wrestler to sign with TNA! I’m officially a knockout!!”
Her addition reflects TNA’s broader strategy of diversifying its roster and spotlighting emerging talent from around the world.
With just a few more sleeps until WWE Backlash 2025, updated betting odds offer a clearer picture of how Sunday\’s high-stakes matchups could unfold. BetOnline has the latest lines, pointing to several strong favorites across the card.
In the WWE Undisputed Championship match, John Cena is a commanding -5000 favorite against Randy Orton, who enters the bout as a significant underdog at +1000. Cena\’s odds reflect strong confidence in his continued reign.
Jacob Fatu is another heavy favorite, sitting at -5000 in the Fatal Four-Way for the WWE United States Championship. Damian Priest (+1200), LA Knight (+900), and Drew McIntyre (+600) trail far behind in a match that\’s expected to solidify Fatu\’s reign.
Gunther is heavily favored at -1000 in his singles match against Pat McAfee (+550).
Dominik Mysterio stands as a strong favorite (-900) to retain the Intercontinental title against Penta, who is listed at +500. While Penta\’s odds indicate some potential for an upset, the numbers remain strongly in Dominik\’s favor.
The Women\’s Intercontinental Championship sees Becky Lynch as a solid -400 favorite over Women\’s Intercontinental champion Lyra Valkyria (+250), signaling a potential title change.
Fans will find out how these matches will unfold soon enough as WWE Backlash 2025 goes live this Sunday.
Over the past 24 hours, a heated social media exchange erupted between NXT star Je’Von Evans and AEW’s Ricochet, with AEW President Tony Khan taking the worst of it.
The situation began when a fan praised Evans as the \”best young prospect in wrestling.\” Ricochet, a former WWE star now with AEW, responded dismissively, saying he would “squash” Evans if they ever faced off. Evans fired back by highlighting his training under Shawn Michaels at WWE’s Performance Center, while Ricochet has downgraded since becoming All Elite.
The exchange escalated when Evans made a controversial comment, calling Tony Khan a “crackhead” and mocking Ricochet for performing “in front of 2,000 people, every week, for a crackhead.” Evans further suggested that Ricochet only engaged with him to generate attention, and is getting the most exposure he’s ever had in his career from their interaction.
Ricochet responded by mocking the size of NXT\’s audience sizes dismissed Evans energy, but the damage was done.
While Ricochet’s posts remain online, Evans has since deleted his tweets.
Cost Synergies: Corporate expense trimmed by $38 million as overlapping WWE/UFC roles were consolidated.
Management projects WWE will post its largest quarterly revenue ever in Q2 thanks to WrestleMania 41 and a spring Saudi premium live event.
Cost synergies and richer WWE TV contracts flipped last year\’s first quarter loss into a solid profit for TKO. With record Q2 revenue on deck and fresh growth plays—including a boxing venture and pending UFC rights renewal—the company raised full year guidance and continues to build on its combat sports portfolio.
WWE storms into St. Louis for WWE Backlash 2025 on Saturday, May 10, 2025, marking the first major PLE following WrestleMania 41. Hosted at the Enterprise Center, this year’s event is headlined by a generational clash as John Cena defends his record-setting 17th world title against hometown icon Randy Orton.
Backlash 2025 is stacked with personal grudges, title matches, and the first major steps into WWE’s post-WrestleMania landscape. With John Cena’s farewell run, Orton’s hometown pride, and the emergence of new alliances, every match carries weight.
Start Times:
Broadcast Details:
John Cena captured his 17th world title at WrestleMania, surpassing Ric Flair’s legendary record. But his celebration was short-lived, as Randy Orton-St. Louis’s own-ambushed Cena with an RKO on Raw, reigniting a rivalry that defined a generation. Now, these two veterans write the final chapter of their story in Orton\’s hometown.
Fresh off a dramatic split as tag champions, Becky Lynch’s heel turn on Lyra Valkyria has set up this all-Irish showdown. Valkyria, the rising star, faces her toughest test yet against a now-vicious Lynch, who’s determined to add more gold to her legacy.
Gunther, frustrated after his WrestleMania loss, targeted commentator Pat McAfee on Raw, leading to this unlikely but highly anticipated showdown. McAfee, a fan favorite and former NFL star, steps back into the ring to settle the score with “The Ring General”.
Jacob Fatu will defend the United States Championship in a Fatal Four-Way bout against Drew McIntyre, LA Knight, and Damian Priest. The match was authorized by SmackDown General Manager Nick Aldis following recent in-ring altercations among the participants.
Stay tuned to SEScoops for the latest WWE News on the road to WWE Backlash 2025.
Before becoming a WWE champion and making history as one half of the first African American women to main event WrestleMania, Bianca Belair battled inner demons that nearly derailed her athletic career.
In a candid conversation with Stephanie McMahon on her podcast \”Stephanie\’s Places,\” Belair revealed the powerful mantra from her father that continues to guide her through life\’s challenges: \”It\’s okay to be nervous, just don\’t be scared.\”
This distinction between nervousness and fear has been crucial for Belair, who admits she still gets nervous before every performance, whether it\’s WrestleMania or a routine live event.
\”My daddy helped me with that. He\’s the one that always told me it\’s okay to be nervous cuz it means you care and when you stop being nervous, that means you don\’t care, and it\’s time to move on, to find something else that you\’re passionate about,\” Belair explained.
Behind the confidence Belair exudes as \”the EST of WWE\” lies a deeply personal story of mental health struggles, particularly during her years as a competitive track athlete.
\”I was my own worst enemy,\” she admitted, describing how her perfectionism and obsession with success became destructive.
\”I was so obsessed with being the best, I was so obsessed with my dream and I felt like if I didn\’t do everything that I could do, then it was my fault,\” Belair said. This mindset led her down a dangerous path.
\”I developed eating disorders and I hid it from my coaches, I hid it from my parents, but I ran faster, which is crazy, and I got a scholarship and I went to college, but then it caught up with me and I got injured and I know for sure it was because I was not healthy.\”
Belair\’s college years brought additional challenges as she struggled with her identity being tied exclusively to her athletic performance.
\”My identity was track, my identity was my performance. If I didn\’t perform well, I felt like, well, nobody wants to be friends with the lame girl who doesn\’t perform very well.\”
The pressure mounted as she worried about losing her scholarship and facing the embarrassment of returning home without achieving her dreams.
These pressures led to depression, and eventually, Belair began taking medication without her parents\’ knowledge. When she decided to stop the medication abruptly—without medical supervision—her mental health deteriorated dramatically.
\”I just felt like I was trying to swim back to the top, and I had like a weight on my ankle and I\’m like, I don\’t know what\’s going on,\” she recalled of that dark period.
It was her coach at Texas A&M who recognized Belair\’s struggle and intervened.
\”You\’re not getting on that track until you get yourself together,\” he told her, prioritizing her wellbeing over her athletic contributions.
\”I care about you more as a person than an athlete,\” he said, insisting she get help.
This intervention proved pivotal. Belair\’s parents came to support her, and she made the difficult decision to take time away from track.
\”At one point I was like, I\’m finished. I don\’t want to run anymore because I need to get myself together,\” she said. However, after focusing on her mental health, she realized her passion remained.
\”That burning love is still there, I love track, I miss it, I wanna finish this off.\”
When Belair returned to the sport at the University of Tennessee, two coaches played transformative roles in her recovery. First, Heather Van Norman gave her a chance despite her competitive gap, allowing her to train for a year before rejoining the team. Then, coach Sharon Couch implemented a powerful daily practice.
\”Every morning I want you to send me three affirmations,\” Couch instructed, requiring Belair to start each day with positive self-talk.
\”It was just something about being intentional about when you first wake up and just starting your day off positive, and having somebody that\’s investing in you and that cares,\” Belair explained.
The combination of mental health support and athletic guidance allowed Belair to finish her college career stronger than ever.
\”I PR\’D. I ran faster than I\’ve ever ran before,\” she said, referring to achieving her personal record. Though her childhood dream of becoming an Olympic track athlete didn\’t materialize, Belair found peace with her journey.
\”I said, I gave everything that I had, and I grew from this. And that\’s what this should be about. If you grew from it, that\’s a better life lesson than winning the 100-meter hurdles.\”
This perspective shift—valuing growth over achievement—has served Belair well in her WWE career, though she admits to still battling imposter syndrome at times.
\”I didn\’t come from this business,\” she explained, describing how she felt out of place among lifelong wrestling fans who had dreamed of WWE careers since childhood.
\”When I was at the WrestleManias and main eventing, I\’m like, am I supposed to be here? But no, I\’ve worked for this. I do deserve this because I\’ve earned it.\”
Now at the top of WWE, Belair emphasizes the importance of understanding the difference between giving up and pivoting.
\”I think there\’s an importance of knowing the difference between giving up and pivoting, and always moving,\” she advised.
\”Whatever is for you will find you, and sometimes when you\’re trying so hard… and it just feels like, why is this so hard? Why is this so complicated?… Sometimes it\’s because it\’s time to pivot. Because when what\’s for you finds you, it becomes so easy.\”
This wisdom extends to her approach to failure and vulnerability.
\”Don\’t be afraid to try. Don\’t be afraid to embarrass yourself. We\’re on live TV every week, it might be a possibility, you might go out there and embarrass yourself… But you gotta be okay with it.\”
For athletes, performers, and anyone facing mental health challenges, Belair\’s journey offers valuable insights about resilience, self-acceptance, and the courage to seek help. Her story demonstrates that even at the highest levels of achievement, mental health struggles are common—and overcoming them often requires both personal determination and the support of others who recognize when something isn\’t right.
As Belair prepares for her next WrestleMania appearance, she carries her father\’s wisdom with her: It\’s okay to be nervous—it means you care. Just don\’t be scared.
# EST of Fashion: Bianca Belair Dreams of Bringing WWE Style to Fashion Week
WWE Superstar Bianca Belair is making a compelling case for professional wrestling\’s place in the world of high fashion, revealing ambitious plans to showcase WWE-inspired designs on prestigious runways while questioning why WWE Superstars aren\’t invited to events like the Met Gala.
\”I would love to somehow bring the fashion of WWE and the gears and the entrance pieces. And do some outfits that are inspired by that and put that on the runway and showcase how much fashion there is in WWE,\” Belair shared in a revealing interview with Stephanie McMahon on her podcast \”Stephanie\’s Places.\”
The self-proclaimed \”EST of WWE\” — signifying she\’s the strongest, fastest, and toughest competitor — may soon add \”most fashionable\” to her list of superlatives. Belair, who creates all her own in-ring gear without any formal training, sees WrestleMania entrances as fashion shows deserving of recognition from the broader fashion industry.
\”When you think about WrestleMania, right? And you think about everybody\’s entrance pieces and how when we walk down that ramp, that\’s a fashion show,\” Belair explained, highlighting the visual spectacle that has become synonymous with WWE\’s biggest annual event.
What makes Belair\’s fashion ambitions particularly noteworthy is that she\’s entirely self-taught.
\”I\’ve never taken a sewing class. Everything that I\’ve learned, I\’ve learned from either the Internet, YouTube, or just trial and error,\” she revealed. This DIY approach has become central to her WWE character and personal brand.
The WWE champion\’s passion for fashion dates back to her childhood, when she would find a needle and thread in her family\’s cookie tin and mend socks as young as six years old. This early interest evolved through high school, where she designed matching outfits for her track team and created jersey dresses \”before they were a thing.\”
When Belair transitioned to CrossFit competitions, she embraced fashion as a way to express herself and have fun after years of intense athletic training.
\”I started going out there in tutus and flowers,\” she recalled, noting how her distinctive style caught people\’s attention. \”They were saying, I\’m coming to see what Bianca\’s gonna wear.\”
This flair for fashion eventually helped Belair get discovered by WWE Hall of Famer Mark Henry, who noticed her elaborate CrossFit competition outfits resembled wrestling gear.
\”You\’re basically wearing wrestling gear. I was wearing entrance pieces,\” Belair recounted.
Now, as one of WWE\’s top stars, Belair\’s creative process often becomes a family affair. For her recent WrestleMania gear, she enlisted her parents and husband (fellow WWE Superstar Montez Ford) in an \”assembly line\” of gear creation.
\”My mom\’s pulling stuff off handed to my dad, he\’s covering in glitter. They\’re handing it to me, I\’m hot gluing it, and my husband\’s helping me,\” she described.
As for the future, Belair\’s ambitions could potentially elevate WWE\’s cultural status while creating new opportunities for wrestlers to be seen as fashion influencers. When asked about the Met Gala, one of fashion\’s most prestigious events, Belair expressed enthusiasm despite admitting she\’d be nervous. The question \”Why aren\’t our superstars at the Met Gala?\” posed by McMahon during the interview highlights a potential untapped crossover opportunity.
Belair has already demonstrated her high-fashion capabilities, creating her own red carpet gown when she and Sasha Banks won an ESPY Award — a project she completed last-minute when she realized she didn\’t have appropriate attire for the event.
\”I would love to do something with fashion and wrestling and mixing it and I think of New York Fashion Week,\” Belair said, articulating a vision that could bring fresh creativity to both industries.
As Belair continues to push boundaries with her in-ring fashion, her ambitions represent a significant opportunity for both WWE and the fashion world to create a mutually beneficial cultural crossover that acknowledges professional wrestling\’s often-overlooked visual artistry and theatrical fashion sensibilities.
For a performer who once told her mother as a child that all she wanted was for \”people to throw roses at my feet,\” Belair\’s fashion dreams represent yet another avenue for the multi-talented athlete to express herself while elevating WWE\’s presence in mainstream culture.
WWE veteran Natalya Neidhart has revealed she\’s been in communication with former WWE Divas Champion Paige about training together at her private facility, potentially setting the stage for Paige\’s return to the company.
In a recent interview, Natalya confirmed she\’s discussed bringing Paige to train at \”the dungeon,\” her invitation-only wrestling facility that continues her family\’s storied wrestling legacy.
\”I have been talking to Paige about coming to train with me at the dungeon. And so, I\’m really excited about her coming down,\” Natalya revealed. \”I would love to see Paige come back and train with me. And then of course, you know, I would love to work with Paige again in WWE one day. We have a lot of unfinished business.\”
The third-generation wrestler explained that her training facility, an extension of her grandfather Stu Hart\’s original \”Dungeon\” in Calgary, has already welcomed other former WWE stars looking to sharpen their skills.
\”Nikki Bella has been coming and privately training with me and TJ [Kidd] for the last few months now,\” Natalya shared. \”I just saw her a few weeks ago and she was in my ring for 4 hours training.\”
Natalya suggested that similar opportunities await Paige, whose WWE career was cut short by neck injuries in 2018 before departing the company in 2022.
\”We\’ve had Nikki down training and then I would love to have Paige down. She wants to come down. So, we\’ll see what happens,\” Natalya added, seemingly confirming Paige\’s interest in the opportunity.
While this doesn\’t guarantee Paige\’s WWE return, it represents a significant step toward a potential comeback, especially with Natalya\’s \”unfinished business\” comment suggesting storyline possibilities should Paige make her way back to WWE rings.
Here’s the preview for tonight’s WWE SmackDown, broadcasting live at 8/7c on USA Network from the Nutter Center in Dayton, Ohio.
WWE SmackDown Preview: May 9, 2025
Additional storylines to watch include the fallout from Aleister Black’s return and confrontation with Carmelo Hayes, and ongoing drama between Piper Niven and Chelsea Green after Niven’s failed bid for the Women’s United States Title
This episode is the final stop before WWE Backlash, setting the stage for major championship clashes and potential surprises as the road to St. Louis reaches its peak.
In the world of professional wrestling, on-screen marriages almost universally end in disaster. Yet the union between Indi Hartwell and Dexter Lumis (nicknamed \”Index\” by fans) stands as a rare success story that continues to resonate with wrestling audiences years later. In a recent interview with Chris Van Vliet on Insight, Hartwell shared insights into the unlikely pairing and its lasting impact.
When asked about her current relationship status with the silent, enigmatic Lumis, Hartwell playfully kept kayfabe alive:
\”It\’s complicated. As you look at your… I\’m not wearing the ring. Everyone asks me that. Like all these signings that I\’ve done recently, they\’re like, \’Are you still with Dexter?\’ I\’m like, \’Ah, it\’s complicated.\’\”
What makes the \”Index\” storyline particularly notable is how it bucked wrestling tradition:
\”It was good because almost every wedding marriage in wrestling either ends in just a bunch of people beating each other up. Or it turns into you guys somehow fighting each other or a mixed tag or something like that. I think everyone thought that it would like go wrong. Yes. But it didn\’t. No, it actually went very right. And again, one of the very few wrestling weddings that is call it successful.\”
The unlikely pairing began as an impromptu moment that wasn\’t originally planned as a long-term storyline:
\”I think it was just a… It was supposed to be a one-off thing. I think it started with Johnny [Gargano] was having a match with Dexter and they had me ringside and we just had this moment where we looked at each other and I think I backed up and I hit the ring post and that\’s something that I did in rehearsal like as a joke which a lot of things I would do as a joke and they\’d be like, \’Oh, do that on TV.\’ So, we did it and it got really good reaction. So, then every week the creative was like something with me and Dexter and I didn\’t know what it was going to turn into honestly.\”
The spontaneous origin makes the storyline\’s massive success even more remarkable. Hartwell expressed surprise at how strongly it connected with fans, especially considering it took place during the pandemic era with limited live crowds:
\”When I do the signings and stuff, like 98% of people will bring up Index, which I love. I love that people loved it.\”
The contrast between Hartwell\’s expressive character and Lumis\’s silent, stoic persona created a dynamic that fans couldn\’t get enough of:
\”He\’s a man of very few words. He talks a lot to me. That\’s why I tell people he doesn\’t shut up. Like I just saw this clip yet yesterday on Twitter and it was like when the story line first started and he\’s on the apron and I\’m in the ring and he\’s just standing there and I\’m saying to him like, \’Shut up. You talk too much.\’ And he\’s not saying anything. He\’s just like… so good.\”
Despite both performers now being in different companies, the Index storyline remains a highlight of both careers. It demonstrates the power of unexpected wrestling pairings when executed with commitment and creativity, allowing both performers to showcase different dimensions of their characters.
Former WWE Superstar Indi Hartwell recently opened up about the surprising timing of her release and the emotional journey that followed in a revealing interview with Chris Van Vliet for his Insight podcast.
In a candid conversation, Hartwell described the ironic timing of her WWE departure, which came just as she began feeling secure in her position for the first time:
\”My whole time at WWE, I was always scared of getting released. And add another factor to it is that I\’m an international. So people don\’t really understand like visas, green cards…
But that was something that was like always in the back of my mind, like being scared of being fired. But it wasn\’t until my last two weeks at WWE, I finally felt like comfortable and I finally felt like, yeah, okay, I\’m part of the roster. Like I did the Netflix shoot and then and then I got released.\”
Perhaps even more unusual was how Hartwell learned about her release. Rather than receiving the news directly, she initially missed the call:
\”I missed the call when they called me to release me. So, I made the call to get fired. I had a text message. I didn\’t see I had a missed call and then I had a text message saying, \’Hey, it\’s blah blah blah from TR. Like, can you call us back?\’
So, I called back and I thought it was like for a completely different topic and I had lost my voice as well. So, when I called back, I was like, \’Oh, hey, sorry. Like, I lost my voice. Haha.\’ They\’re like, \’Oh, we\’re calling with some unfortunate news.\’\”
Adding to the strange circumstances, WWE aired a match featuring Hartwell the same day she was released:
\”I was so confused because I wanted to say, \’But like what do you mean? Like, I\’m on the show tonight. Like, my match was taped last week. Like, I\’m on the show tonight.\’ But yeah, it was weird… It\’s a nice little promotion for you. Like, I guess, hey, this person doesn\’t work here anymore, but they\’re good enough to be on the show.\”
The 28-year-old Australian wrestler described the emotional roller coaster that followed her unexpected release:
\”It\’s been like up and down, like a roller coaster. Like I remember the first week after I got released, I just felt like really grateful. This is how my emotions went. First week I was just super grateful for what I had. You know, I\’m kind of like you. I like to saturate my mind with gratitude and that helps me like keep perspective. So, first week I was really grateful.
Second week I kind of got like frustrated and mad. Third week I kind of got sad and then after that like I felt I felt fine. And now it\’s been like 5 months I think 6 months almost. And yeah, I\’ve been feeling really good. Excited because like there\’s just so much to do.\”
Hartwell also revealed another unusual circumstance surrounding her release – she received the news just before attending former WWE star Mandy Rose\’s wedding:
\”When I got released, I had just flown in for Mandy Rose\’s wedding. And so then I got the call that I was released and then 2 hours later had to go to like cocktail hour at her wedding and then go to the wedding the next day. So it\’s good that I had that distraction.\”
Despite the career setback, Hartwell has maintained a positive outlook and believes everything happens for a reason. She has since signed with TNA Wrestling and launched a growing YouTube channel, demonstrating resilience in the face of career uncertainty.
Former WWE star Mandy Rose has spoken out about the recent wave of talent releases from WWE, firmly debunking rumors that performers like Kora Jade, Gigi Dolin, and Dakota Kai were let go due to alleged laziness or poor work ethic. Speaking on her Power Alphas podcast with husband \”Sabby\” Piscitelli (Tino Sabbatelli), Rose offered a candid insider perspective on WWE\’s release cycles, drawing from her own experience with the company.
Rose didn\’t mince words when addressing speculation about why wrestlers get released, emphasizing that WWE operates on a calculated business model rather than making decisions based on individual performance issues.
\”Let me just put a squash all that [expletive] right now,\” Rose stated firmly. \”It\’s a business model with a revolving door. Meaning as their guys who sit in offices are dorks and nerds and they punch numbers all day and they know that WWE has x amount of money for their salary.\”
She explained that releases occur in predictable cycles, regardless of talent or effort:
\”Every 8 weeks, 6 weeks, 10 weeks they have layoffs. That\’s what they do. And at that moment or whatever in that time… they probably sit in the room and say, \’We have cuts this week. Here we go. Who\’s running cold? Who\’s not cooperating?\’
And they go down this list and they say, \’Okay, well we got to eliminate 10 people so we could hire 10 new people.\’ And that\’s just the way the revolving door works.\”
Rose\’s explanation directly contradicts online rumors suggesting that recently released talent weren\’t putting in sufficient effort at the WWE Performance Center.
Rose specifically took issue with claims questioning the work ethic of recently released performers, noting that the rigorous schedule at WWE\’s Performance Center makes laziness virtually impossible.
\”A couple of the girls, Kora and Gigi, actually made a comment about it on Twitter. And I like that they spoke up because I think that\’s BS,\” Rose said. \”It\’s so stupid because we\’ve been there and we know like how it works when it comes to releases.\”
She continued her defense of the released talent:
\”You can\’t even sit and say there was like a specific reason or like you make up a reason of being someone that was didn\’t put enough work… there\’s no time to be lazy when you\’re at the PC. You\’re training all week. You\’re putting in the work. Some of these girls have been there for a couple years now at this point. You\’re going to live events. You\’re traveling all around Florida.\”
Rose also specifically mentioned Dakota Kai, noting:
\”Dakota Kai had like two or three injuries at one point. Like you know what it takes to get back from a knee injury to get back into, you know, full tiptop shape.\”
Rose emphasized that each talent release situation is unique, with multiple potential factors at play beyond simple performance metrics. The decisions often come down to financial calculations rather than talent assessment.
\”The reality is everybody\’s in different situations, different scenario,\” Rose explained. \”One person could be getting paid too much. One person could be not being used, kind of fizzling out, not getting up. They don\’t want to renew your contract. Everyone\’s every single person that gets released is in a different scenario.\”
Sabby added a comparison to his NFL experience:
\”I got caught in that bubble in the NFL. In my year seven, they want younger and cheaper. That was what I figured out when I was trying to get back in the NFL at year seven where I knew my minimum was a million bucks. At that time, you can get three rookies for me. So, younger and cheaper.\”
Rose also noted changes in WWE\’s approach to talent retention since the formation of TKO Group Holdings, which combined WWE and UFC under the same parent company.
\”Their big thing right now I\’ve noticed with like now with TKO and how they\’re hiring people and maybe they\’re paying people a little bit more which is great for those people but they have to cut the others,\” she explained. \”They got to look at their books. They got to figure out who deserves how much and who doesn\’t and then they got to get rid of that waste in a sense.\”
She contrasted this with previous management:
\”Back when Vince [McMahon] was in charge, Vince kept a lot of talent. If he wasn\’t using them or whether he liked it… I think it\’s a different business model plan how they do it now.\”
Rose suggested contract negotiations have become more challenging:
\”Word on the street is that if they are some, you know, my co-worker over here is making that much money, well, why shouldn\’t I be making that much money? So they go in with an offer and they don\’t want to give that offer. So at the end of the day they\’re going to say, \’Well, you know what, we\’re going to have to cut you because we don\’t want to renew your deal.\’\”
Perhaps most notably, Rose, who was surprisingly released by WWE in December 2022 after losing the NXT Women\’s Championship, revealed that she has found greater success outside the company.
\”They want to make you believe that you can\’t survive without them. So that\’s why there\’s always that fear that is instilled in every single one of us in that company,\” Rose reflected. \”We all went through it. But two and a half years later for me, you know, I can sit here and say I\’m it\’s the best thing that\’s ever happened to me and I\’m blessed.\”
She offered encouragement to recently released talent:
\”Don\’t just come out and take every offer that comes your way because let\’s be honest, it\’s sometimes scary when you get released. And if you didn\’t save your money and you didn\’t make a whole lot of money to be able to save or invest, you might be in a little bit of a pickle. But there are plenty of opportunities. And trust me when I tell you, you will be just fine.\”
Rose even positioned herself as a mentor for wrestlers navigating their post-WWE careers:
\”When these women find out their release… the smart ones, I should say… they know who to call.\” She emphasized her willingness to help former colleagues leverage their WWE name recognition into new opportunities: \”Being in WWE is a blessing. It\’s a huge spectacle. Like we always say, it\’s the cream of the crop. And you developed a name there and you have equity in your name.\”
Both Rose and her husband stressed the importance of financial planning for inevitable career transitions, offering practical advice to current WWE performers.
\”Take care of your money because taking care of your money is definitely a scenario where it takes a little bit of pressure off you. It takes a little bit of anxiety away,\” Sabby advised. \”At this point of my life and your life, we don\’t have the pressure that we have to do anything, which is great. And I would tell anybody in WWE, and I know some of them aren\’t getting paid as much as you think, but if you are getting paid a good amount, take care of your money, save it a little, invest a little bit of it.\”
Rose added her own perspective on financial security:
\”Nothing lasts forever. So don\’t think that it\’s going to last forever because it\’s not. We always talk about all the time, hopefully this train runs, but we know this train will run out and then you will transition to something new and something new and something new.\”
The couple\’s candid discussion offers a rare glimpse into the business realities of professional wrestling, contradicting simplistic narratives about talent releases while providing valuable perspective for both fans and performers about the cyclical nature of the industry.
In the high-stakes world of WWE, careers can change in an instant—sometimes over the most unexpected things. For Pat McAfee, the former NFL Pro Bowl punter turned WWE commentator, his entire WWE journey almost ended before it truly began because of a pair of tuxedo shorts and a heated confrontation with WWE broadcasting veteran Michael Cole.
During a recent ESPN interview, McAfee revealed the shocking backstage incident at WrestleMania 35 that nearly cost him his WWE career. Arriving at the event in what he considered his \”Sunday best\”—a suit jacket paired with tailored tuxedo shorts—McAfee found himself in an unexpected confrontation.
\”I go, \’Mr. Cole, is it time to rehearse?\’ And he goes, \’Not like that.\’ And he spazzes. I mean, full on tantrum,\” McAfee recounted. \”He goes, \’You\’re not going on the air like that.\’ Kicks me out of gorilla. And I\’m like, \’Who the are you talking to right now?\’ Like legit. I almost was about to fight Michael Cole.\”
The humiliation was compounded by the fact that this confrontation happened in front of WWE legends, including The Undertaker and Triple H.
What made the situation even more frustrating for McAfee was his genuine belief that his outfit was appropriate and fashionable. \”I was proud of what I was doing,\” McAfee explained. The outfit wasn\’t without precedent, either—someone showed Cole a picture of NBA superstar LeBron James sporting a similar look.
This evidence forced Cole to backtrack.
\”So Michael Cole had to walk into where I was, tail between his legs, and he had to come in and say, \’Um, it\’s actually okay if you wear those,\’\” McAfee said with evident satisfaction.
The relationship between Cole and McAfee, now considered one of WWE\’s strongest commentary partnerships, nearly ended that day.
\”This whole partnership on Raw, that thing was almost very quickly over. Very, very quickly over,\” McAfee admitted.
However, both professionals found a way to move forward.
\”Cole calls me back a few days later. We have it out full conversation and literally since then… like best of friends,\” McAfee revealed. \”And I think he learned a lot about me in that moment. I learned a lot about him.\”
The incident serves as a reminder of how tenuous opportunities can be in the entertainment world, where small disagreements can escalate quickly. For McAfee, whose WWE career has since flourished both as a commentator and occasional in-ring performer, that moment of tension ultimately led to a stronger working relationship with Cole and a deeper understanding between two passionate professionals.
From the gridiron to the squared circle, Pat McAfee\’s journey from NFL Pro Bowl punter to WWE personality has been anything but conventional. Yet behind the larger-than-life persona and boundless energy that have made him a fan favorite, McAfee harbored serious doubts about his abilities as a wrestler—doubts he candidly shared in a recent ESPN interview.
\”I was nowhere near at a level of being good enough to be like in the ring with anybody that\’s actually good. And I very much understood that,\” McAfee confessed, revealing the vulnerability beneath his confident exterior.
McAfee\’s wrestling aspirations might have taken a very different path if not for the intervention of WWE legend Paul \”Triple H\” Levesque, who saw potential in the former footballer that McAfee himself couldn\’t recognize.
\”I was like, \’Hey, I\’m gonna go hit the indies and like see if I can do this or not.\’ And he was like, \’Don\’t you even think about it,\’\” McAfee recalled. \”He was like, \’You need to be doing it with us if you\’re going to do it at all.\’\”
This vote of confidence from one of wrestling\’s most respected figures proved pivotal in McAfee\’s decision to pursue wrestling within the WWE system rather than cutting his teeth in independent promotions.
Despite his self-doubt, McAfee\’s in-ring debut at NXT TakeOver exceeded expectations, showcasing his natural athleticism and innate understanding of performance. The match represented more than just a career transition—it was the fulfillment of a lifelong dream.
\”The amount of text messages I got from people that have been through my life… it was a very emotional thing for me,\” McAfee shared, his typically exuberant demeanor giving way to genuine sentiment.
While McAfee maintains a realistic view of his wrestling abilities—\”I\’m not good enough to be full-time professional wrestler,\” he admits—his gratitude toward Triple H for providing the opportunity shines through.
\”Obviously I\’m incredibly thankful for the opportunity from Paul, Mr. H, Papa H. Like that\’s really cool moment,\” McAfee said.
McAfee\’s story stands as a testament to the power of taking chances despite the dreaded \”impostor syndrome.\”
WWE Superstar has Logan Paul has publicly apologized to wrestling legend \”Stone Cold\” Steve Austin for revealing private business negotiations, including a million-dollar offer for Austin to promote Paul\’s Prime hydration brand by dressing up as a Prime bottle at WrestleMania 41.
In his most recent vlog, Paul addressed Austin directly, acknowledging that he had inappropriately disclosed confidential business discussions during a podcast appearance following what he described as \”a crazy night in Vegas.\”
\”Mr. Cold, I\’d like to take this opportunity to apologize. I didn\’t mean to expose any private business conversations,\” Paul stated in the video. He continued with a candid explanation of his tendency to overshare, saying, \”I was hung over… sometimes I say too much. In fact, most times I say too much, Steve.\”
The apology confirms rumors that Paul and his Prime business partner KSI had approached Austin with a significant endorsement opportunity that the WWE Hall of Famer ultimately declined.
\”I completely understand why you wouldn\’t accept a million dollars to get in the Prime bottle,\” Paul acknowledged, adding, \”It\’s not your thing. We knew it was a reach, Steve, but you\’re a legend.\”
Despite the rejection, Paul expressed hope for future collaborations, concluding his apology with, \”You miss 100% of the shots you don\’t take, Steve. So, we tried. It didn\’t work out this time, but I hope to see you in the future. And I hope you\’re not mad at me, Mr. Cold.\”
Neither Austin nor representatives have publicly responded to Paul\’s apology at the time of publication.
Unfortunately for Steve Austin, he wound up going viral at WrestleMania 41 for another reason entirely:
Here are the key results and takeaways from Wednesday\’s AEW Dymamite from Detroit:
Key Results
Announcements and Segments
Looking Ahead
A new challenger has emerged for the NXT Championship, and it’s not who fans expected. Following a 25-man battle royal on WWE NXT, Myles Borne has earned the right to face Oba Femi at WWE Battleground.
The stacked match featured top names such as Trick Williams, Ethan Page, Lexis King, Wes Lee, and Shawn Spears. Adding to the surprise, TNA’s Elijah (best known to WWE fans as Elias) made a notable appearance that drew a strong reaction from the crowd.
As the match narrowed down, the final four included Je’Von Evans, Shawn Spears, Ethan Page, and Borne. In a chaotic ending, Evans was eliminated by both Spears and Page, who then turned on each other.
Page attempted to throw out Spears but failed, and Borne seized the moment by eliminating Page. In a final twist, Page dragged Spears out with him, leaving Borne as the last man standing.
With this victory, Myles Borne now heads into WWE Battleground as the number one contender to Oba Femi’s NXT Championship.
The third NXT Battleground event takes place Sunday, May 25, 2025. The event will stream live on Peacock/Netflix.
NXT Championship:
Oba Femi (c) vs. Myles Borne
NXT Women’s Championship:
Stephanie Vaquer (c) vs. Jordynne Grace
TNA World Championship:
Joe Hendry (c) vs. Trick Williams
(First time the TNA World Title will be defended on a WWE event)
AEW Dynamite returns tonight live from the Masonic Temple Theatre in Detroit, Michigan. tonight, May 7, 2025.
In a featured singles match, Samoa Joe takes on Claudio Castagnoli.
Meanwhile, the AEW Women\’s World Championship picture heats up with a four-way eliminator match featuring Toni Storm, Thunder Rosa, Penelope Ford, and Anna Jay.
Kazuchika Okada continues his pursuit of the AEW Continental Championship in another eliminator bout, facing rising star \”The Jet\” Kevin Knight.
The show will also feature exclusive interviews, with Jamie Hayter sitting down with Renee Paquette and Will Ospreay making a live appearance to address the AEW audience.
Capping off the night, we\’ve got a trios match featuring The Young Bucks (Matthew and Nicholas Jackson) teaming with Ricochet to face Swerve Strickland, Mike Bailey, and Mark Briscoe.
AEW Dynamite airs live at 8 p.m. ET on TBS and streaming on Max.