Author: Thomas Lowson

Excitement continues to grow that AJ Lee will finally return to WWE over a decade after her final match for the promotion. CM Punk has teased bringing his wife back as part of his feud with Becky Lynch and Seth Rollins, and now WWE Shop has seemingly given the game away.

On X, Wrestling YouTube content producer Wrestling Daze asked when fans can expect new AJ merch, jokingly horrified at the idea of not wearing her merchandise for a return. While Wrestling Daze likely didn\’t expect a response, the now-deleted reply from WWE Shop\’s official account speaks volumes.

This is the biggest sign yet that Lee will make her long-awaited return to WWE. It has been reported that Lee\’s in-ring return will come at WWE WrestlePalooza, kicking off WWE\’s new partnership with ESPN on a massive note. Lee last wrestled on the post-WrestleMania 31 edition of Raw in 2015. While she has done some things in wrestling, including being a presence on-and-off screen for WOW – Women of Wrestling, a return to WWE has been the dream of fans for years.

It remains to be seen whether AJ Lee\’s in-ring return is a one-off or the start of something bigger. What we can say is that according to WWE Shop, her return isn\’t a matter of if, but when.

The August 29, episode of WWE SmackDown will go down in history, albeit not for the right reasons. Programming Insider reports that the shoiw averaged 1.147 million viewers for the USA Network, down from the previous week\’s 1.258 million. This number is also the lowest viewership for a non-preempted episode of WWE SmackDown in the history of the blue brand.

The show took place at the LDLC Arena in Lyon, France, and due to the time difference, the show\’s results were well known by the time the show aired in the United States. Highlights of the show include Sami Zayn\’s U.S. Title win, John Cena and Logan Paul coming face-to-face, Michin\’s quick victory over Kiana James and a huge brawl between Drew McIntyre and Randy Orton.

This is certainly a record that WWE did not want, and it remains to be seen how the company will respond to this low rating. Stay tuned to SEScoops for the latest from WWE SmackDown.

Jordynne Grace has had a whirlwind couple of years, from being TNA\’s top woman, to launching the WWE-TNA partnership, to now being a fully-fledged WWE NXT Superstar. Speaking to Adrian Hernandez on the Unlikely podcast, Grace reflected on how things seem to be going from milestone to milestone. She also shared that she doubted she\’d make it to WWE but that all changed after the 2024 Women\’s Royal Rumble match

“Honestly, it’s been a crazy year… every time I think there’s no way possible this next year could get better, it does. I honestly never thought that I would actually get signed to WWE… TNA was like the ceiling for me, but I broke through my own glass ceiling with the Rumble.\”

Grace has competed in two Royal Rumbles, her first as part of the TNA roster and her second being her debut match as a WWE Superstar. Now, the Juggernaut can be found weekly in WWE NXT, and is already making her presence felt for 2026.

“Being in NXT, being on all the major pay-per-views this year is incredible. Being in the video game is awesome. I filmed some lines for 2K26 for next year already—a little spoiler there, but it’s insane.”

Jordynne Grace is no stranger to WWE video games, even though she only officially joined the promotion this year. For WWE 2K23, Grace performed some of the motion capture for the Ivy Nile character model while still being part of the TNA roster. Grace\’s work with Nile left an impression as she described the American Made star as \”dope.\”

Grace hasn\’t held gold in WWE yet, but many believe this will come eventually for the popular Superstar. As her star continues to grow, Jordynne Grace is ready to make the most of every moment to come.

Naomi may have shocked many when she announced her pregnancy during the August 18, 2025, episode of WWE Raw, but Jordynne Grace wasn\’t surprised at all. Speaking on Adrian Hernandez\’s Unlikely podcast, the Juggernaut of WWE NXT shared that she had predicted that the former Women\’s World Champion was with child.

“I guessed it honestly before anything else. I was texting someone and was like, ‘I bet that she was pregnant during evolution and that baby had a championship before it was even born.”

Grace added that it was \”crazy\” that Naomi was the Women\’s World Champion while also being pregnant. The Juggernaut saw the funny side of things, saying that \”the baby is already a legend\” as an argument can be made that they are already a champion.

Naomi and Grace have yet to collide one-on-one in WWE, but their history is no secret. The pair both teamed and battled in TNA Wrestling, and it would be Grace who\’d end Naomi\’s reign as TNA Knockouts World Champion in January 2024.

Whether the pair face-off one-on-one in WWE, it won\’t be for a long time yet. With Grace still part of NXT and Naomi gearing up to become a mom, time will tell what the future holds in the careers of both women.

The fun didn\’t stop after the cameras stopped rolling following the September 1, edition of WWE Monday Night Raw in Paris, France. In the show\’s main event, Jey Uso and LA Knight battled \’Big\’ Bronson Reed and Bron Breakker. The segment ultimately saw Jimmy Uso reunite with his brother, much to the delight of the fans in La Defense Arena.

After the show, Rhea Ripley made her entrance in the French capital. As back in the U.S. and around the world, Ripley received a huge reaction as fans sang to her theme.

In the ring, Ripley thanked the fans for being \”awesome,\” though didn\’t make reference to being mobbed before Clash in Paris. Jey Uso was then handed the mic and shared a YEET with the crowd as his theme song played.

LA Knight and Rhea Ripley had some fun in the ring. In fan-recorded footage, the pair can be seen sharing a high five and a hug before participating in some unique dance choreography.

While Knight, Uso, and Ripley had fun after Raw, none were in a joking mood during the show. Knight and Jey shared their frustrations over not leaving Clash in Paris as the World Heavyweight Champion. Meanwhile, Ripley had a segment with Asuka, who made clear that IYO SKY didn\’t need anyone but the Empress of Tomorrow.

New developments have emerged in the Shawn Chan, the Canadian man charged with one count of interstate domestic violence against Liv Morgan. It is alleged that Chan traveled to the United States and loitered for hours at Morgan\’s Florida home, waiting for her to arrive.

According to court filings shared by PW Insider, Chan flew from Scarborough, Ontario, to Orlando, Florida, on May 26. Customs agents were told that he would be staying at WWE\’s Performance Center, though the facility does not provide housing. Four days later, Chen traveled to Morgan\’s residence, circled the property several times, before entering through the backyard. Attempts to enter through the front door failed and Chan reportedly left a note and waited for several hours before departing.

The note is quoted in part in the criminal complaint:

\”It\’s me Shawn, the guy you all hang out with on [gaming platform deleted] online. You\’ve been trying to contact me, or should I say reach out to me when I\’m absent from that game. So who\’s the stalker huh?! I NEVER said and did anything bad for over 10 years, yet you all dared hating me for no reason. I came here to pay just a friendly visit, nothing more. Yet, I\’m the one who looks like a stalker thx to all of you. And you all think I\’m going to have empathy, sympathy and care about any of you anymore? I will start talking and doing whatever I want despite all your shoosh finger faces that you all make. Yea, I just wanted to let you know that I was here.\”

WWE security who reviewed surveillance footage identified Chan and alerted the authorities, resulting in the FBI arresting him on June 3. He was indicted on June 25 and if convicted, could face as much as five yearrs in prison.

On August 20, Chan filed a motion asking the court to reconsider his detention without bail. His attorneys argued that Chan could stay at a Salvation Army facility while awaiting trial. Chen has signed a waiver of Speedy Trial, allowing time for a psychiatric evaluation. He is expected to stand trial in November.

This case is a scary ordeal and bears striking resemblance to the Sonya Deville stalking incident of 2020. Thankfully, Morgan is okay, but this situation shows why fans need to know never to cross the line.

The fate of the vacant WWE Women\’s World Championship will be decided when two of Raw\’s very best battle for the gold at WrestlePalooza on September 20. During the September 1, episode of WWE Raw, General Manager Adam Pearce confirmed that Stephanie Vaquer and IYO SKY will battle for the gold as part of WWE\’s first PLE as part of their ESPN partnership.

Both women have rightful claims for the gold. Stephanie Vaquer won a battle royal at WWE Evolution to earn herself a shot at the gold at Clash in Paris. Vaquer had been due to battle Naomi before the latter was forced to vacate the gold due to her pregnancy.

As for SKY, she also holds a valid claim for a title shot. SKY lost the Women\’s World Championship at Evolution when Naomi cashed in Money in the Bank during her title match with Rhea Ripley. Now, SKY is ready to relcaim the title she lost in controversial fashion.

WrestlePalooza will kick off a new era and a new title reign. Will Vaquer cement her arrival on Raw with a title win, or will SKY prove yet again that 2025 is her year? Only time will tell…

Nikki Bella didn\’t leave Paris as the new WWE Women\’s Intercontinental Champion, but the Hall of Famer is not down and out just yet. Taking to X, Nikki reflected on her match with Becky Lynch. Nikki thanked her \’Bella Army\’ fanbase. While acknowledging that she \”fell short,\” Nikki vowed that this is \”only the beginning\” and found beauty that her return has just begun.

Nikki battled Becky Lynch for the Women\’s Intercontinenal Title, as the Hall of Famer hoped to capture her first championship in wrestling in a decade. While it was Lynch who left Paris with the gold, Nikki\’s comments certainly suggest that things are only just getting started.

Lynch would make herself known later in the show as she would prove crucial in Seth Rollins retaining the World Heavyweight Championship. With Nikki\’s return far from over and Lynch set to do more with her husband, it remains to be seen if fans could soon see Bella sharing the screen with the top men of Monday Night Raw.

Rhea Ripley\’s time in Paris will be an experience she likely won\’t forget anytime soon, albeit not for good reasons. In a clip that has gone viral, Rhea was mobbed by fans in France, resulting in her struggling to get into a car and carry on with her day.

This videa has once again sparked a discussion about the role of wrestlers in public and the appropriateness of fans wanting to meet them. On X, CM Punk called at these fans as showing an \”insane\” behavior, and could only imagine how Ripley felt in the moment.

Rhea herself also shared a statement on the matter via X. In it, Ripley hoped that fans remember she is a human being worthy of respect like anybody else, and added that \”no means no.\”

The topic of fans going too far with wrestlers often comes up, with Saraya recently changing her policy for meeting fans because of an unfortunate incident. Until fans learn to respect boundaries, fans shouldn\’t be surprised if more wrestlers become stricter about whether fans can get near them.

CM Punk is ready to bring in some back-up after his loss at WWE Clash in Paris\’ main event. During the World Heavyweight Title match, Punk appeared poised to win before he was low-blowed by Becky Lynch. Lynch\’s attack would allow for her husband Seth Rollins to get the win and retain the WWE World Heavyweight Championship.

Lynch\’s attack has had fans excited at the prospect of AJ Lee\’s return over a decade after her final match in WWE. After the show, Punk seemed intrigued at a fan\’s sign encouraging him to bring his wife back to wrestling.

It\’s not just in Paris that Punk has suggested a Lee return. On X, Punk shared a gif of AJ from her WWE days, sending those in the comments into a frenzy about a potential return.

During the Clash in Paris post-show, attention also turned to AJ Lee. Big E suggested that Punk bring in his wife to combat the Rollins/Lynch combo.

\”This man CM Punk, he’s got a wife too. I’ve known her to kick some ass. I’m just saying. I’m just saying… Something people have wanted for many, many years.\”

Whether AJ Lee returns or not, traction behind the idea of Lee\’s return has reportedly never been higher. Whatever comes next, fans will continue to live in hope that AJ\’s return is a question of when, not if.