AEW may have secured a major seven-show residency at the iconic 2300 Arena this August, but they\’ll be arriving after WWE. According to a report from WrestleVotes, WWE is planning a special edition of NXT on Tuesday, August 19 at the 2300 Arena in Philadelphia. If it happens, the show will take place just one week before AEW kicks off its extended residency at the same venue.
The move adds a new layer to the rivalry between AEW and WWE, with both companies now staking a claim on the historic ECW Arena. AEW previously confirmed its seven-show run at the venue, beginning with Dynamite on August 27 and continuing through Collision on September 11. This stretch will include three episodes of Dynamite, two Collision tapings, ROH Death Before Dishonor on September 5, and a special ROH-themed Collision finale.
WWE\’s decision to slide in with NXT just before AEW\’s takeover could easily be seen as the latest counter-booking between the two companies. In December, it was reported that AEW had blocked WWE from booking the Hammerstein Ballroom for that month.
The battle for the 2300 Arena is the latest front in a deeper war for pro wrestling’s most sacred spaces. With both promotions leveraging historic venues to enhance brand identity, fan engagement, and cultural clout, it remains to be seen which show will emerge the victor.
Taeler Hendrix\’s days in the ring may be over, but now the former ROH competitor is showing her skills in the world of writing. Behind These Whispering Walls is her debut novel, a psychological supernatural thriller that is bound to chill readers.
The book follows Emmeline, a young girl dealing with the tragic death of her brother. When Emmeline\’s family moves to an eerie estate, she must confront memories that aren\’t her own, secrets that refuse to stay secret, and a dread that the walls around her may be alive.
Speaking to AP, Hendrix shared how her wrestling past helped influence her writing present.
“Wrestling taught me how to tell a story without words. Now, I’m telling a story with every word I write. Through my pen, I intend to make every word count with purpose.”
In wrestling, Hendrix is best known for her time in Ring of Honor, but also competed for TNA wrestling after winning a 2012 Gut Check Challenge.Hendrix appeared for the first time in WWE on the June 6, 2014 episode of SmackDown where she was one of Adam Rose\’s rosebuds. She would also compete in Ohio Valley Wrestling, and would hold the promotion\’s Women\’s Championship on three occasions.
Behind These Whispering Walls is available now in paperback hardcopy and eBook formats on Amazon and other major book retailers.
Trick Williams’ star continues to rise—both inside and outside the ring as the popular WWE Superstar is capping off a huge week. Fresh off his TNA World Championship win, Williams revealed that he’s also hit a major milestone in his personal life: he recently purchased a house.
On Instagram, Williams shared some highlights of the past week. Among his victories include winning the TNA World Championship, celebrating his birthday, headlining to Premium Live Events and purchasing his new home.
It’s been a landmark week for Trick Williams who is the first wrestler since the WWE-TNA partnership began to capture gold from the other side. With a title defense against Mike Santana coming to the upcoming episode of WWE NXT, fans will be watching closely to see how Trick handles the role of being TNA\’s figurehead.
Karrion Kross has always embraced his role as a dark and intense character, and now the Monday Night Raw Superstar is ready to take on an icon of wrestling. Speaking to a fan ahead of a recent WWE event, Kross was asked about his dream opponent.
\”I think my dream opponent is Hulk Hogan. I want to kill Hulkamania.”
— James aka The World Wrestling Kid (@TheWWKid) May 28, 2025
While Kross may be a heel on WWE TV, he has grown increasingly popular with fans, so much so that his merch is now available at WWE events. Given Hogan\’s fall from grace, as seen during Raw\’s debut on Netflix, a showdown between the two would likely have the majority of fans rooting for the former NXT Champion.
Known for playing mind games and drawing intense reactions from audiences, Kross thrives on creating buzz. While a match with Hogan seems unlikely, Kross is ready to take on the \’Immortal\’ icon should the opportunity arise.
There\’s more than one way to make it in WWE, as former WWE LFG contestant Leigh Laurel found out during the May 28, episode of WWE EVOLVE. During a backstage segment on show, Stevie Turner delivered the new that Laurel has signed with the brand. Along with the contract came a new ring name—Jin Tala.
leigh laurel is now jin tala!!! she will be debuting against carlee bright next week!!! pic.twitter.com/5QLN1zWQ3C
The moment marked a powerful turnaround for Laurel, who was sent home by Booker T on the May 4 episode of LFG. Despite her elimination, Laurel remained optimistic and took to social media after her exit to say that she had received a \”hell of an opportunity to start my pro wrestling career as a Future Great.\”
Mere weeks later, that future is officially underway. It remains to be seen how Jin Tala fares in WWE EVOLVE, as she remains focused on her future as a WWE Superstar.
The May 28 episode of AEW Dynamite featured a highly anticipated face-to-face segment between Mercedes Moné and Toni Storm as the pair kicked-off their feud in earnest. With their AEW Women\’s World title match now confirmed for AEW All In: Texas, the pair held nothing back and delivered some choice lines about one another and themselves.
Moné took the microphone and laid out her credentials: the greatest RevPro and TBS Champion ever, and now, the Owen Hart Foundation Tournament winner. Making reference to her idol Eddie Guerrero, the reigning TBS Champion declared that nobody compares to her.
Storm responded by reflecting on Moné’s AEW debut in Boston, noting how the show was named after her and how Moné has remained undefeated. Despite all that, Moné had never looked at or spoken to her until now. Storm asked, “What took you so long?”
AEW Women's World Champion "Timeless" Toni Storm has drawn the line in the sand for @MercedesVarnado!
In a pertient line referencing her WWE run as Sasha Banks, Moné declared that she is no longer \’The Boss,\’ but now the CEO. She pointed out that she has beaten opponents all over the world and promised to bring it all home at All In: Texas.
Storm then highlighted their shared paths: both started on the indies, made names for themselves, and became who they were meant to be in AEW. Storm added that she young female fans will be inspired by their match at All In.
The pair ended with a a tense handshake—Storm sniffed Moné and kissed her hand—before they countered each other’s finishers. Moné left the ring as Storm stood tall, posing for the crowd.
The TNA World Championship currently rests on the shoulders of a WWE NXT Superstar—a fact that hasn’t sat well with TNA Wrestling’s Nic Nemeth. In a recent interview with Andrew Pollard of WhatCulture Wrestling, Nemeth didn’t mince words about his frustration.
\”I\’m absolutely furious and pissed off about it, and that\’s not a joke… He lost our world title. I am not okay with that.\”
\”Trick Williams is a badass. He\’s awesome. He\’s got a great future, but he is an NXT talent who now is the TNA World Champion, and I am pissed off about it.\”
Nemeth went so far as to suggest reviving Wrestler’s Court—a backstage tribunal once used to address locker room issues—as a fitting consequence for Hendry’s failure to retain the title. While Wrestler’s Court is a thing of the past, Nemeth believes Hendry’s loss warrants internal accountability.
Hendry had held the TNA World Championship since January 2025, after defeating Nemeth in a victory many fans saw as a long-overdue moment. With Trick Williams scheduled to appear on this week’s TNA iMPACT, it remains to be seen how both Hendry and Nemeth will respond to this crossover fallout.
The first-ever WWE EVOLVE Women\’s Champion has been crowned, as one young Superstar has etched her name in the company\’s history books. Kali Armstrong made her mark in unforgettable fashion on the May 28 episode of WWE EVOLVE, and her attitude spoke volumes after the win.
Armstrong triumphed over Wendy Choo, Kylie Rae, and Kendal Grey in a Fatal 4-Way Elimination Match to claim the historic title. Rae took out Choo first, then eliminated Grey shortly after, setting up a final showdown between herself and Armstrong. Armstrong hit her signature finishing move—the Kali Connection—on Rae to secure the pinfall and the championship.
Following the victory, WWE veteran Natalya entered the ring to present the new championship. But in a striking moment that had the crowd buzzing, Armstrong snatched the title from Natalya’s hands and paraded around the ring, showing no respect to the veteran performer.
Following the victory, WWE veteran Natalya entered the ring to present the new championship. But in a striking moment that had the crowd buzzing, Armstrong snatched the title from Natalya’s hands and paraded around the ring
The Special Olympic Games in 2026 will take place in Minneapolis, Minnesota, the home of WWE Raw Superstar Chad Gable. Taking to X, Gable shared his involvement with next year\’s games, as he informed some athletes that they\’ll be representing Team Minnesota at the Special Olympics\’ USA Games next year. Not only did Gable break the exciting news, but he allowed the athletes to visit his home gym.
I had the incredible honor of breaking the news to these amazing human beings that they’ll be representing Team Minnesota at the @SpecialOlympics 2026 USA Games in our home state!
In March 2024, Gable spoke to Fightful about the Special Olympics and shared his excitement for the 2026 games. At the time, Gavle confirmed that he had specifically requested to be part of the promotion for the games, and had been told \”I will be a huge part of that.\”
The partnership between WWE and Special Olympics is a longstanding and impactful collaboration that began in 1995 and has grown. For the 2014 USA Games, WWE participated in the opening ceremony, and The Big Show engaged with the athletes. The former WWE Champion also served as a goodwill ambassador at the World Games in 2015, and there have been several examples of partnership in the years since.
WWE is stepping into the ready-to-drink alcohol space for the first time with a new multi-year partnership. According to the Sports Business Journal, WWE has signed a deal with Seagram’s to launch a line of canned alcoholic beverages infused with WWE-style branding.
The collaboration, known as the Seagram’s Escapes Spiked WWE Series, will feature three unique flavors, each styled after WWE championship belts. The cans will be wrapped in jewel-encrusted designs crafted by design studio Sister Mary in partnership with brewing company FIFCO USA. Each drink sports its own “title belt” aesthetic, turning the packaging into collectible pieces of WWE merchandise.
This partnership will be on full display on June 7 with Seagram’s branding at WWE’s Money in the Bank event, including visibility on the LED ring skirt, ring posts, and a special sponsored match. Additional integrations are planned for other major events like SummerSlam and Survivor Series.
With this move, WWE joins a growing list of sports and entertainment brands tapping into the canned alcohol market. WWE\’s TKO partners UFC already have a partnership with Atomic Brands and the Los Angeles Dodgers’ enjoy a deal with Surfside.
Soon, WWE fans will be able to enjoy the promotion\’s programming with a refreshing can of Escapes Spiked. Stay tuned to SEScoops for the latest on WWE\’s business ventures.
Cody Rhodes may be \’undeniable\’ in WWE today, but there was a time when the heights of being a World Champion seemed lost amongst the stars. From 2014 to 2016, Rhodes competed as Stardust in WWE, before leaving to prove he could become a bigger star outside the promotion.
On the What Do You Want to Talk About? podcast, Brandi Rhodes addressed the dark period when Cody was locked into the much-maligned Stardust character, a time he admits nearly caused him to abandon wrestling entirely due to stress and creative frustration. While the character is seen as a low-point for Cody, Brandi remains a fan of the character.
\”I thought Stardust was one of the best wrestlers. Rene Paquette and I stand on that mountain that Stardust was great. And I never, never once had any shame in Stardust.\”
Brandi\’s unwavering support came at significant personal cost. As a WWE announcer responsible for introducing marquee superstars like The Undertaker and John Cena, she had to maintain professional composure while watching her husband struggle with a character he felt trapped within. The emotional toll of the situation wasn\’t lost on Cody, who now credits his wife\’s loyalty during his lowest point as the foundation of their relationship\’s strength.
\”The reason that is is because you stayed with me and you cared for me. When you were announcing superstars as big as the Undertaker and John Cena and you had to look in the ring and see Stardust and say, that\’s my husband.\”
Rather than focusing on public perception or career implications, Brandi\’s concern centered entirely on her husband\’s wellbeing and mental health during the challenging period. Though she had no issue with the bizarre being from the Fifth Dimension, she knew it bothered the man behind the paint.
\”The only thing that bothered me about Stardust is that it bothered you.\”
Her perspective differed markedly from Cody\’s internal struggles with the character. While he battled creative frustration and identity issues, Brandi genuinely believed in the quality of his in-ring work regardless of the character constraints.
\”You bit into that sucker and you just kept sinking in and kept sinking in.\”
Brandi\’s steadfast support during this crisis has shaped the foundation of their current success. Cody now attributes his willingness to share everything – from their tour bus to their possessions – to his wife\’s loyalty when others might have wavered.
\”And if you chose to leave, it\’s all yours… because you stayed with me and you cared for me.\”
The couple\’s experience during the Stardust era demonstrates that behind every wrestling comeback story often lies an untold narrative of family sacrifice and unwavering belief, even when public opinion suggests otherwise. Today, as Cody seeks to regain the Undisputed WWE Championship and Brandi runs a successful business, their journey from the Stardust period to current success serves as a testament to the power of partnership during professional adversity.
Aleister Black is back in WWE, and is ready to deal with \’unfinished business\’ between himself and Cody Rhodes. Speaking candidly on the Battleground Podcast, Black expressed his enthusiasm for rekindling the feud that captivated audiences during their previous encounters in AEW.
\”I think having run my storylines with him has made me so much more hungry for more of it because I feel that there was a lot more that we could have tapped into.
There was so much left in the table both verbally and stuff that was written down that we never got to that hopefully now we can kind of like pivot because the contrast between the two characters is so vast.\”
Rhodes and Black are indee contrasting characters, as there\’s a clear difference between Rhodes\’ heroic American Dream narrative and Black\’s darker, more cerebral persona. It was this contrast that made their matches so compelling when they feuded shortly after Black\’s AEW debut.
\”The fact that for those brief months that him and me have our history it immediately sparks up that conversation. The second the opportunity arises, people immediately go, \’Well hey, what about Aleister and Cody Rhodes?\’
That says a lot and that makes me think that the work that we did previously was appreciated to the point where people would like to see more of it.\”
Black is eager to feud with Rhodes, but believes he can be patient enough for when the time is right. When asked directly about a potential WrestleMania match between the two, Black didn\’t hesitate.
\”I\’m game. If you guys are game, I\’ll do it. Either way, let\’s do it.\”
Rhodes is currently occupied with John Cena, the man who took the Undisputed WWE Championship at WrestleMania 41. But while Rhodes continues to close in on the \’Unseen Seventeen,\’ Aleister Black is waiting for the American Nightmare.
WWE Hall of Famer JBL has weighed in on the ongoing debate about John Cena\’s eventual retirement, directly contradicting Jim Cornette\’s prediction that the current Undisputed WWE Champion and record-breaking 17-time World Champion will end his career as a heel. During a recent episode of \”Something to Wrestle,\” JBL made a compelling case for why fan appreciation will ultimately triumph over any villainous persona.
When asked about Cornette\’s belief that Cena will retire as a heel because \”he doesn\’t see a way back for him as a face after eviscerating the fans,\” JBL was emphatic in his disagreement.
\”I don\’t see it. No. No. And I love Corny, but I disagree with that.\”
The former WWE Champion believes that regardless of the reigning WWE Champion\’s character alignment leading up to his retirement, the emotional weight of his final appearance will automatically turn him into a beloved figure. For JBL, the question of Cena turning face before his retirement isn\’t a question of if it\’ll happen, but when.
\”I think he\’s I think, you know, it\’s one of these things where they want him to come back to be seen so so badly that when it\’s all said and done, if he just comes out the next night as a baby face, the place will go nuts. They\’re going to thank him. They\’re going to thank him for everything.\”
JBL painted a vivid scenario to illustrate his point. He believes that even if Cena were to have his last match as a heel, the emotional resonance from his next appearance after his final match couldn\’t be anything but a face response.
\”If he stays a heel, let\’s say, and his last match is on a Sunday, he comes out on Monday Night Raw the next night, and you know, you know that that\’s the last time you\’re going to see him, and he comes out, that place is going to go crazy cheering for him because they\’re going to be so thankful for what he\’s done.\”
JBL was part of WWE during Cena\’s rise to the top, giving him a front row seat to fans turning on John for being \’overpushed.\’ Now, Cena is a respected figure cheered by fans, despite his on-screen heel persona.
\”It\’s amazing how the fans have changed. You know, at first they kind of resented him. First they kind of, you know, half liked him, half didn\’t like him. Then after a while, I just got where were everybody loved the guy, you know, and it\’s and it\’s an appreciation, I believe, of years of service is what it is.\”
JBL\’s analysis reflects how wrestling retirement moments have evolved into celebrations of legacy rather than adherence to character work, particularly relevant given Cena\’s recent heel turn after winning his record 17th championship at WrestleMania 41. His prediction suggests that John Cena\’s retirement will be defined by gratitude rather than heel heat, with years of service ultimately mattering more than any final storyline.
At just four years old, Liberty \”Libby\” Rhodes is already displaying the natural charisma and crowd instincts that have made the Rhodes family wrestling legends, according to her parents\’ revealing podcast discussion. The daughter of Cody and Brandi Rhodes has caught attention for her remarkable ability to read rooms and connect with people, particularly during high-profile wrestling events and celebrity encounters.
The most striking example occurred during the family\’s VIP experience at The Rock\’s Moana 2 premiere in Hawaii in November 2024. While initially reserved around other celebrities and refusing photos on the red carpet, Liberty\’s entire demeanor shifted when she recognized Dwayne Johnson\’s star power.
\”And as he does it, my daughter, who is only not even four yet, turns around and waves. And she welcomed him in for a hug, full smile.\”
Cody Rhodes was amazed by his daughter\’s intuitive understanding of the moment and The Rock\’s significance.
\”It was what it took me from 18 to 25 to garner, she has it all. She gets it.\”
Speaking on the What Do You Wanna Talk About? podcast, Brandi observed that Liberty possesses what wrestling families call \”the carny bone\” – an innate understanding of entertainment, crowd psychology, and when moments matter most. Cody recalled his daughter being well aware during WWE events, and gave her reaction to his victory at WrestleMania 40 as a prime example.
\”When I walked out there, she looked at me as if I was the greatest thing ever. That is not how Libby looks at me on a daily basis. I\’m the guy stomping, I made the waffle wrong, whatever.\”
Liberty\’s natural instincts extend beyond celebrity encounters to everyday situations where she shows remarkable emotional intelligence and performance awareness for her age. Her parents noted that she can distinguish between casual family time and special occasions, adjusting her behavior and energy accordingly – a skill that typically takes performers years to develop.
\”She don\’t wanna, it\’s allowed, kids, it\’s allowed. There\’s stuff blowing up. When I walked out there, she looked at me as if I was the greatest thing ever.\”
While Liberty is obviously years away from any potential wrestling involvement, her natural charisma and crowd awareness suggest the Rhodes wrestling dynasty may continue into another generation.The combination of her father\’s championship pedigree and her mother\’s executive experience provides Liberty with unique exposure to wrestling\’s entertainment aspects from multiple perspectives.
Mark Copani remains open to a potential WWE return but maintains strict conditions about reviving his controversial Muhammad Hassan character. During an appearance on Ten Count Media with Steve Fall, the former wrestler addressed speculation about future WWE involvement
\”I would be open to it depending on what they had in mind. I don\’t think that there\’s any interest in them as far as marketability to bring back the guy who played Muhammad Hassan, but that would be pretty much all they could do.\”
The Hassan character was killed off by The Undertaker in 2005 following intense real-world controversy, and Copani believes both sides understand it should remain buried. His current career as Director of Human Resources in a city school district adds another layer of complexity to any potential return to the pro wrestling juggernaut.
\”Don\’t forget I am the director of human resources in a city school district. So, it would be inappropriate, insensitive, and honestly, I would never do it to begin with.
\”That character is dead and was killed by the Undertaker in 2005 viciously on television. But in spirit, you know, that is 2005, this is 2025. To try to do that again would be insensitive.\”
While Copani misses the crowd reactions and performing aspects of wrestling, any potential WWE return would require completely separating him from the Muhammad Hassan persona. His willingness to return as Mark Copani suggests a possible return to wrestling exists, but only under very specific circumstances that respect both cultural sensitivity and his current professional obligations.
Deonna Purrazzo made her AEW debut in 2024, but her appearances on television have been few and far between. Now, The Virtuosa has taken a swing at AEW by sharing her frustrations in a subtle post. On X, a fan asked if Purrazzo will be \”pulling up to Dynamite\” ahead of the May 28, episode. Purrazzo responded with a passive-aggressive jab: “During picture in picture, probably.”
The comment was widely interpreted as shade toward AEW, and it didn’t go unnoticed—Thunder Rosa reacted with a string of laughing emojis, signaling she got the joke.
Purrazzo’s comment comes amid reports that she has previously pitched ideas to AEW management, though no creative plans have surfaced. In March, Sean Ross Sapp of Fightful Select shared that no creative plans were in place for Purrazzo at the time.
Her last televised appearance came on the February 26 episode of AEW Dynamite, where she lost to Harley Cameron. While she remains under contract, it remains to be seen when Purrazzo, a former TNA Knockouts Champion, will be back on TV.
Earl Hebner is making waves with his passionate call for WWE to finally recognize referees as worthy of the WWE Hall of Fame. During a recent interview on Muscle Memory with MuscleManMalcolm, the iconic official didn\’t hold back when discussing what he sees as a glaring oversight by WWE.
\”We belong in the WWE Hall of Fame. You know, and I could give names like Mike Chioda, Nick Patrick, Teddy Long, Joey Marella, and you know, the guys that, old school, not young school, old school, sir. Guys that work their ass off and knows what\’s going on in there. We deserve it.\”
Hebner is already a first-ballot Hall of Famer in the eyes of many fans. Earl was part of some of WWE\’s most memorable matches including the infamous Montreal Screwjob in November 1997. Hebner\’s frustrations stems from years of watching wrestlers, managers, and announcers receive Hall of Fame recognition while referees remain largely ignored.
Only one referee has been inducted, that being Tim White who was posthumously honored as the Warrior Award Recipient in 2003. Now, Earl Hebner is ready to see a major change.
Chelsea Green has never been quiet about her love for Kelly Kelly, often citing her as an inspiration for her own in-ring career. Speaking to Tyler Breeze on Topps\’ Ripping Packs, Green gushed about Kelly Kelly when handed a card of the former Divas Champion.
\”She\’s my favorite woman in the history of all wrestling because she\’s the most amazing beautiful talented girl ever. Let me tell you something, when she did her back hamstring elbow and she was wearing a purple outfit, I\’ll never forget that day. She\’s perfect and look at it [shows off card,] she looked perfect right there too.\”
Kelly Kelly hasn’t regularly competed in WWE since 2012 but has appeared in three Royal Rumble matches, the most recent of which was in 2022. Green would make her return to WWE the following year and has since gone on to become the first-ever Women\’s United States Champion.
For Chelsea Green, Kelly Kelly was more than a popular name of her era, but a true inspiration to the Canadian. It remains to be seen if Chelsea ever gets the chance to share the ring with her idol in WWE, either as allies or as opponents.
Mariah May is setting the record straight, making clear she\’s not gone from AEW, but she\’s merely enjoying a vacation. When a fan on X made reference to calling May \’jobless,\’ the former AEW Women\’s World Champion responded.
Despite this clarification, some still argued that May was jobless, which one telling her to \”Stop being unemployed and wrestle.\” This earned another response from the Glamor.
May\’s comments come after weeks of online chatter about her AEW status. Speculation ramped up after her loss to Toni Storm at AEW Revolution, her most recent match for AEW. In the months since her recent match, May has shared some social media posts which some fans have interpreted as signs she might be on the way out of the company.
As for when May will return, time will tell. With this reportedly being a contract year for the Glamour, big things could be coming, but for now, May is enjoying her vacation.
Chelsea Green has fought Michin several times in WWE, but their journey dates back long before either was known as a fully-branded \’Superstar.\’ Speaking to Tyler Breeze on \’Ripping Packs.\’ Green explained her connection to Michin after pulling a card of hers from a Topps trading card pack.
\”Michin is like the story that never ends. I just can\’t get rid of her she just keeps coming back but, you know, it\’s been like that for eleven years, we\’ve been like this. It\’s crazy, every single time one of us goes somewhere then the other is there within months. It\’s a wrestling marriage.\”
Green and Michin battled for the first time in 2016 as part of TNA Xplosion, according to data provided by Cagematch. Since then, the pair have competed over a dozen times against one another in both TNA and WWE. The pair\’s most high-profile match came at Saturday Night\’s Main Event in December 2024, where Green bested Michin to become the first-ever Women\’s United States Champion.
A rematch between Michin and Green is likely a question of when, not if. Close to a decade after their first-ever encounter, this is a \’marriage\’ that remains as strong as ever.
Jacy Jayne shocked the NXT Universe on May 27 by defeating Stephanie Vaquer in the main event of WWE NXT to become the new NXT Women’s Champion. Shortly after the broadcast concluded, Jayne took to X to address her critics directly.
“To everyone who ever doubted me, called me the third wheel, said I’d never make it… HAHAHAH!!!!!!!!!!!! Never doubt me again.”
To everyone who ever doubted me, called me the third wheel, said I’d never make it…
Jayne\’s post followed a chaotic, interference-laden title match that ultimately saw Fallon Henley play a pivotal role. After Vaquer connected with her signature Devil’s Kiss, Henley struck with a surprise kick, giving Jayne the opening she needed to secure the pinfall. On X, Henley mocked those who had argued that there had been tensions within Fatal Influence.
Vaquer had only just defended the title against Jordynne Grace at WWE Battleground, adding to the shock of her sudden loss. Now, Vaquer may not be finished chasing championship gold, but for now, NXT has a new queen.
In May 2025, WWE released several Superstars from the main roster and WWE NXT, greatly affecting several storylines at the time of the cuts. While talent won\’t be seeing these released wrestlers on WWE TV anymore, unless one or some of them are rehired, they\’re not gone from programming completely.
During the May 27, edition of WWE NXT, Tatum Paxley made her entrance clutching two dolls. Eagle-eyed fans will have spotted that these were dolls of Gigi Dolin and Shotzi, both of whom were released by WWE. Prior to being cut, the pair had been on-screen allies of Paxley.
This isn\’t the first time the pair have been released on WWE NXT. While not mentioned by name, it was the releases of Shotzi and Dolin which recently led to Paxley turning heel and attacking Thea Hail. Paxley defeated Hail in a match on the May 13 edition of WWE NXT and continued to claw at the face of Thea Hail after the match.
While releases are rarely a good thing, it has led to a major character development for Tatum Paxley, and we’ll have to see if WWE can keep the momentum going forward.
The May 27 episode of WWE NXT delivered a standout night of action, kicking off with a high-stakes title change. In the show\’s opener, Ricky Saints defended his NXT North American Championship against Ethan Page in an intense bout. NXT General Manager Ava appeared early in the segment, insisting that the match must produce a clear winner.
The contest spilled over into a commercial break, with the action escalating around the announce table. As the referee urged the competitors back into the ring, Ethan Page hit an RKO onto a steel chair at ringside, targeting Ricky Saints’ throat.
Page continued targeting Ricky’s throat, eventually snapping the top rope into him before delivering his finisher. That final sequence secured the victory and crowned Ethan Page as the new NXT North American Champion.
Later in the show, Page appeared once again and gloated with his title. It was then announced that a huge title match is coming for the new North American Champion.
This marks the latest piece of gold for Page, who is already a former NXT Champion. After capturing NXT\’s two top titles for men, all within a year of his arrival in NXT on May 28, 2024, the future looks bright for the \’All Ego\’ Superstar.
Earl Hebner has shared his pointed criticism of AEW referee Aubrey Edwards, questioning both her attitude and the company\’s presentation of modern officials. Speaking on Muscle Memory with MuscleManMalcolm, the legendary WWE referee offered a mixed assessment of Edwards\’ approach to officiating, which started positive.
\”Well, Aubrey, she thinks she\’s a big superstar, but she\’s a good ref. I\’ll give her credit for that.\”
Hebner argued that Edwards seeing herself as a \’big superstar\’ does nobody any favors. He questioned AEW\’s decision to involve Edwards in physical altercations, recounting a conversation with AEW management.
\”Last time I was at the AEW show, I asked the upper office, \’Why\’d y\’all hit her in the head with the guitar? It just makes her damn head bigger than what it is, you know?\’\”
Hebner\’s comments reflect a generational divide in the use of referees. The old-school approach emphasized that officials should remain largely invisible, and only make themselves known for counting falls. Edwards, by contrast, represents a modern trend where referees occasionally become integral parts of ongoing narratives and character development.
There is some irony to Hebner\’s comments as the refereeing icon is no stranger to the spotlight himself. Despite being an official, Hebner would often stand up to heels in WWE, and even holds a tag-team victory over Triple H and \’Road Dogg\’ Jesse James.
Despite acknowledging Edwards\’ technical skills as an official, Hebner\’s assessment suggests concern that modern wrestling may be elevating referees beyond their traditional supporting roles. For Hebner, he\’d be happier to see the official once again take a back seat behind the talent in the ring.
AEW commentator Jim Ross is again battling cancer, this time in the colon of the WWE Hall of Famer. Now, the man behind some of the most iconic calls in pro wrestling is recovering after coming out of surgery.
On social media, Conrad Thompson, Ross\’ co-host on his Grillin\’ JR podcast, shared the positive news about the commentator.
Just heard from @rmorfnyc that JR’s surgery went well and they hope to have successfully removed all of his cancer this morning! Please keep @JRsBBQ in your thoughts and prayers as he begins his recovery! ? ? ?? https://t.co/P1n91ebuRj
— Conrad the Mortgage Guy (@HeyHeyItsConrad) May 27, 2025
Ross shared his unfortunate diagnosis via a post on X on May 15, 2025, adding that \”I appreciate your concern and support.\” Since then, fans and wrestlers alike have rallied to support Ross, including his friend \’Stone Cold\’ Steve Austin. Ross has previously battled skin cancer in 2021 and 2024 and has suffered multiple bouts of Bells Palsy during his life.
We at SEScoops are continuing to wish Mr. Ross the absolute best in this battle with cancer.