Author: Bryan Rose

Bryan Rose is an editor from California that has been covering professional wrestling for well over a decade. He officially joined F4WOnline as an editor in 2017.

Shawn Michaels announces change to WWE NXT No Mercy card

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Laney Reid is not medically cleared.

Just minutes before Saturday’s No Mercy PLE was set to go on the air, the company posted a video of Shawn Michaels announcing that Reid was injured while training the previous night and as a result, was not medically cleared to compete. Michaels said that Ruca would still defend the Speed title at tonight’s event, but it would be against a mystery competitor instead.

Reid had won a tournament to face Ruca for the Speed Women’s Championship on Saturday, first defeating AAA’s Faby Apache then defeated SmackDown star Candice LeRae to earn the title match. At NXT Battleground, it was announced that the Speed titles would be defended in NXT moving forward, as the status of the show on X is currently in question.

Here is the updated card for No Mercy. Live coverage for the show can be found here:

WWE NXT No Mercy, Saturday, September 27 —

  • NXT Champion Oba Femi defends against Ricky Saints
  • NXT Women’s Champion Jacy Jayne defends against Lola Vice
  • WWE Women’s Speed Champion Sol Ruca defends against TBA
  • NXT North American Champion Ethan Page defends against Tavion Heights
  • Weaponized Steel Cage match: Blake Monroe vs. Jordynne Grace
  • Josh Briggs vs. Je’Von Evans

TNA Victory Road notes: Knockouts Tag Team title match moved, new champion crowned

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Here are some notes from Friday’s TNA Victory Road event.

Along with a new TNA Knockouts Champion, a new International Champion was crowned on Friday.

Frankie Kazarian emerged as the new champion after Steve Maclin was distracted by AAA’s El Mesias, who appeared at ringside. Maclin took out Mesias with a dive, but immediately got back up. That gave Kazarian an opening, kicking the ropes as Maclin was re-entering the ring then followed up with a slingshot cutter to become the new International Champion.

Earlier in the night, Mustafa Ali faced off against Moose, with the winner’s team getting the advantage in the upcoming Hardcore War bout at Bound for Glory next month. The finish came when the belly dancers for Ali’s entrance surrounded the ring. One of them snuck up from behind and low blowed Moose, allowing Ali to hit the 450 splash for the win, giving his team the advantage heading into Bound for Glory.

Originally, the Elegance Brand (Heather & M by Elegance) were set to defend the Knockouts Tag Team titles against The Inspiration on Friday. However, after Ash by Elegance announced she would have to step away from in-ring competition and vacate the Knockouts title, Santino Marella announced the Knockouts Tag Team title match would be moved to this Thursday’s Impact Wrestling. 

A battle royal took place instead, with Kelani Jordan and Lei Ying Lee qualifying for the title match later in the night, with Jordan becoming the new champion. 

NXT wrestler to challenge for X Division title at TNA Bound for Glory

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A new match for the X Division title is set for Bound for Glory.

After Leon Slater retained the title at Victory Road by defeating Myron Reed, TNA’s Director of Authority Santino Marella came out and congratulated Slater on the win, saying that’s what TNA is all about. He then said he had a major announcement, as he’s been talking to NXT’s General Manager Ava and revealed Slater’s opponent for Bound for Glory: Je’Von Evans, who appeared via video. He said he’s never had a chance to compete in a TNA ring until now and Bound for Glory is about to become real bouncy.

Slater defeated Reed in a hard-fought yet wild match featuring plenty of high risk offense, including a cutter to the floor by Reed and a brutal slumdog millionaire by Reed, also on the outside. Slater eventually got the win with the swanton 450 splash.

The weekend so far has been a busy one for Evans. In addition to his TNA cameo, he made a surprise appearance on Friday’s SmackDown, unsuccessfully challenging for Sami Zayn’s United States title. After the match, he was taken out by his opponent for Saturday’s NXT No Mercy PLE, Josh Briggs.

TNA Bound for Glory, Sunday, October 12 —

  • TNA World Champion Trick Williams defends against Mike Santana
  • TNA Tag Team Champions The Hardys (Matt and Jeff Hardy) defend against Team 3D (Bully Ray and Brother Devon) in a tables match
  • TNA Knockouts World Champion Kelani Jordan defends against Indi Hartwell
  • TNA X Division Champion Leon Slater defends against Je’Von Evans
  • Hardcore War: Mustafa Ali, Agent Zero, Jason Hotch, John Skyler, and Tasha Steelz vs. Eddie Edwards, Moose, Brian Myers, JDC, and Alisha Edwards
  • Call Your Shot gauntlet match

NXT star wins title at TNA Victory Road

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An NXT wrestler once again holds TNA gold.

In a surprise twist at TNA Victory Road on Friday, Kelani Jordan emerged as the new Knockouts Champion, defeating Lei Ying Lee in a surprise match for the vacant title. The finish had Lei scoring a visual pinfall on Jordan but the special referee, Indi Hartwell, was knocked out. Once Hartwell came to, Jordan made a comeback, hit a stunner, then pinned Lee with the one of a kind moonsault.

It was then confirmed that Jordan would defend the title against Hartwell at next month’s Bound for Glory.

Earlier in the night, Knockouts Champion Ash by Elegance announced that she was unable to compete and as a result, had to vacate the TNA Knockouts title. A battle royal was immediately held after the announcement, with Jordan and Lei emerging as the final two entrants in the ring. As a result, they advanced to the title match.

Originally, Ash was set to defend the Knockouts title against Masha Slamovich, with Hartwell as the special guest referee. After Slamovich’s domestic abuse allegations emerged, she was pulled from the card and instead it was pushed that Ash would have an announcement at the show.

Ash by Elegance stepping away from in-ring competition, TNA Knockouts title vacated

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The TNA Knockouts title has been vacated.

Ash By Elegance came to the ring during Friday’s Victory Road event on TNA+ and cut a promo saying that that she is no longer able to compete. As a result, she announced that she would be stepping away from in-ring competition and forfeited the TNA Knockouts title. An emotional Ash then handed the title to TNA President Carlos Silva and hugged him and Santino Marella as she made her exit.

Marella then announced that the planned Knockouts Tag Team title match at Victory Road would be moved to this Thursday’s Impact as a battle royal would take place on Friday to crown a new Knockouts Champion. NXT’s Kelani Jordan and Lei Ying Lee won the battle royal, advancing to a match later in the show to crown the new champion.

Originally, Ash by Elegance was set to defend the title against Masha Slamovich at Victory Road. However, any mention of Slamovich was removed in the week leading to Friday’s event due to allegations of domestic abuse. It was later revealed that Ash by Elegance would have an announcement to make at Victory Road.

Ash, 36, began wrestling in 2014 at the WWE Performance Center and competed in NXT and later WWE under the name Dana Brooke. After a long tenure with the company, she was released from WWE in September of 2023 and joined TNA the following February, forming the Elegrance brand with the Personal Concierge, Heather by Elegance, and M by Elegance. She won the TNA Knockouts title in a three-way involving champion Jacy Jayne and Slamovich back at NXT’s Heatwave event earlier this summer.

NXT star answers US title open challenge on WWE SmackDown

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An NXT star has challenged for the United States title.

On Friday’s SmackDown, United States Champion Sami Zayn held an open challenge for his championship. Je’Von Evans ended up answering the call as the two had a match. Evans put up a strong fight, even hitting the OG cutter for a close nearfall. However, Zayn managed to dodge Evans from the top rope and connected with the helluva kick. He finished Evans with the blue thunder bomb for the win.

After the match, Zayn hugged Evans and helped him to his feet as he raised his hand. As Evans was recovering on the outside, he was blindsided by his opponent at the NXT No Mercy PLE on Saturday, Josh Briggs.

Since winning the United States title last month, Zayn has mirrored John Cena in holding an open challenge for anyone in WWE to face him for the title. He kicked off the series with a match against Rey Fenix, successfully defending the title. He followed that with a match against Cena himself, which ended in a no contest after Brock Lesnar interfered. On last week’s show, Zayn retained the title against Carmelo Hayes.

Asuka reflects on 10th anniversary of WWE debut

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Asuka is reflecting on ten years in WWE.

On social media Tuesday, the former Women’s Champion wrote in detail about her goals in WWE as she enters her tenth year with the company.

“I believe that ideals and convictions, what one sets out to achieve, hold more value than what one has actually accomplished. I have obtained every record, everything there is to obtain, but these are all merely waypoints. What has universal value and beauty is pioneering a new era, possessing the power to change the times,” she wrote.

“That’s why I pursue how I can bring change and ideals to the ring, creating ‘before and after Kana’ and ‘before and after Asuka.’ Creating a path is far more difficult than walking down a path that others have made. And therein lies the most beautiful aesthetic of all. For me, living as a pioneer and living with conviction, philosophy, and aesthetics is a very important way of life,” she added.

Asuka signed with WWE in 2015 and made her first NXT appearance back on the September 23 edition of the program. Two years later, she made her main roster debut. Throughout the years, she has won the WWE Women’s Championship three times, the Women’s World Championship once, and is a four-time WWE Women’s Tag Team Champion, holding the title twice with Kairi Sane as The Kabuki Warriors.

TNA invasion takes place on WWE NXT

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TNA and NXT still have two different champions.

Tuesday’s show saw Trick Williams exchange words with TNA’s Mike Santana, who was on commentary during the title-for-title match between TNA Champion Williams and NXT Champion Oba Femi. Williams slapped Santana, leading him to strike back as the referee called for the bell. TNA talent who were seen sitting in the crowd got up and entered the ring as they began fighting with the NXT roster, causing the show to end in a wild interpromotional brawl.

Throughout Tuesday’s show, various TNA stars were seen roaming around the backstage area, including Matt Cardona, Moose, Eric Young, Xia Brookside, Lei Ying Lee, Victoria Crawford, Steve Maclin, Steph De Lander, Mance Warner, Cedric Alexander, and Zachary Wentz. The IInspiration and Frankie Kazarian were also seen in the crowd during the title match as the rest of the TNA roster entered to watch.

After the show went off the air, Shawn Michaels posted a video of himself reacting to the angle taking place.

“This doesn’t end here @ThisIsTNA. #WeAreNXT,” he wrote.

On last week’s NXT, much of the TNA roster posted messages on social media becoming frustrated about the relationship between NXT and TNA. Those messages continued when it was announced on the Grayson Waller Effect that a title for title match between Femi and Williams would take place next week.

TNA opens investigation into Masha Slamovich following domestic abuse allegations

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Masha Slamovich is currently under investigation by TNA.

The promotion told Sports Illustrated Tuesday evening that they will be looking into Slamovich following allegations of domestic abuse that surfaced on social media earlier in the day.

“We take any allegations like this very seriously, and have begun an internal investigation,” the promotion said in a statement.

Slamovich was previously in a relationship with former MLW wrestler AKIRA. A friend of his on social media shared a Dropbox link on Tuesday that allegedly contained text messages between the two. Additionally, pictures of AKIRA showing injuries were also shared.

AKIRA wrote about the situation on social media later in the day. While not referring to Slamovich by name, he talked about their relationship, sharing intimate and difficult details. He wrote that during their relationship, he attempted to commit suicide on three different occasions.

Prestige Wrestling has already announced that Slamovich will not be appearing on their October 5 show. Additionally, West Coast Pro announced that she will be no longer competing at their upcoming How The West Was Won show.

Slamovich began wrestling for TNA regularly in 2021 and won the Knockouts title from Jordynne Grace last year. She also has made appearances on NXT through TNA’s relationship with WWE, taking the pinfall in a three-way match between herself, Jacy Jayne, and winner Ash By Elegance at NXT Heatwave this past summer in a match that was for Jayne’s TNA Knockouts title.

Daily Update: PWI 500 list out, IYO SKY, Shotzi

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WWE NXT wrestlers appear at Pro Wrestling NOAH show, future matches set

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NXT stars made their presence felt at Korakuen Hall.

Charlie Dempsey and Harlem Lewis made their debut on Wednesday morning at Korakuen Hall during the N1 Finals. Dempsey announced that they will have at least two matches in NOAH. The first will take place on October 4 in Nagoya when they face each other in a singles match. A second match will then take place on October 11 when they team together to face a Pro Wrestling NOAH team at the Wrestle Odyssey event in Ryogoku Sumo Hall. Dempsey seemingly confirmed a third match at Korakuen Hall, though a date wasn’t given.

NOAH announced the arrival of the two wrestlers during the weekend. On last week’s NXT, Dempsey told Wren Sinclair that he was heading to Japan for a month and to hold the fort down, despite them being the only members of the No Quarter Catch Crew left.

Harlem Lewis hasn’t made NXT television yet but has been making appearances during the second season of LFG and has also wrestled on NXT Level Up. 

Turn takes place at the end of WWE Raw

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IYO SKY and Asuka don’t seem to be friends any longer.

The end of last night’s Raw saw SKY attempt to make the save for Rhea Ripley, who Asuka misted after she lost their match. Asuka at first seemed to calm down, but then struck SKY, who was sent to the floor as Asuka demanded Kairi Sane continue the beatdown. Sane hesitated, but eventually joined in as the two beat down both SKY and Ripley, standing tall as Raw went off the air.

Tensions between SKY and Asuka had been building in recent weeks, with Asuka appearing upset that her former Damage CTRL partner didn’t want her or Kairi’s help in matches, including the one at Wrestlepalooza where SKY ultimately came up short against Stephanie Vaquer for the Women’s World Championship. Kairi has also been seen playing a more subservient role, hesitatingly following Asuka’s demands.

The match between Asuka and Ripley was set up on Raw after Ripley issued the challenge, having enough of Asuka’s arrogance in a backstage segment. Before she went out for her match, SKY asked Ripley to call it off. Ripley refused, telling SKY to be careful around Asuka. SKY became irate, telling Ripley that Asuka was like family.

John Cena teases potential match on social media

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John Cena is hinting at his next match.

Shortly before Raw began on Monday, Cena posed a question for fans, asking what they thought of another match between himself and AJ Styles. The two feuded with one another back in 2016 and 207, with Styles defeating Cena at Money in the Bank 2016, then later at that year’s SummerSlam.

Cena was last seen at Saturday’s Wrestlepalooza, quickly losing to Brock Lesnar who won in dominant fashion. Much of this year has seen Cena face some of the top rivals of his past, including Randy Orton and CM Punk. 

AJ Styles, meanwhile, has been embroiled in a feud with El Grande Americano, who cost him the Intercontinental title several weeks ago. Two new masked men were formally introduced on Raw as Los Americanos, who have been seen helping Americano in his matches.

The record-breaking seventeen time world champion only has only five dates left before retiring from in-ring competition. Three of those dates are confirmed: Crown Jewel on October 11 in Perth, Australia, Survivor Series on November 29 in San Diego, and his final match at Saturday Night’s Main Event on December 13 in Washington DC.

WWE ID provides update on status of Women’s Championship

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The status of the WWE Women’s ID Championship has become clear.

WWE ID announced on Monday that the title is now vacated after champion Kylie Rae announced over the weekend that she was pregnant. 

“The WWE ID Women’s Championship is now vacant,” they wrote on social media. “WWE ID is proud that Kylie Rae will go in the record books as the first ever champion and sends congratulations on the addition to her family. Thank you, Kylie!”

Rae announced her pregnancy when a fan asked why she recently had to vacate another championship on the independent scene, showing off a picture of her baby bump.

This will be Rae’s second child with independent wrestler Isais Velazquez, previously gave birth back in October of 2023. A year later, she signed with WWE’s ID program, becoming the first WWE ID Women’s Champion back on August 1 at a GCW event defeating Zara Zakher and Zayda Steel in a tournament final triple threat match.

MVP says he still has ‘zero respect’ for Triple H

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MVP still has no respect for Triple H.

Talking to TMZ’s Inside the Ring, MVP reaffirmed comments made earlier this year when he said he didn’t have any respect for Triple H . However, he will will go into detail on why at a later time on his podcast Marking Out with MVP and Dwayne Swayze into why he feels that way.

“But I stand by those words,” he said. “I have zero respect for him personally or professionally. And when I tell why, people will be like okay, that makes sense. Because again, and I’ll just say this, if I say something about you, I will say it to you. And if you come and ask me about what I said, I’m not gonna say I didn’t say it.”

MVP first stated he had no respect for WWE’s CCO back in May in an interview with BetIdeas. He said it wasn’t based on racism, but rather what he saw on a personal level.

“And I’ll be honest with you, my issues with him have nothing to do with race,” MVP said at the time. “My issues have to do with him as a person and our personal interactions and things that he said and did that caused me to have zero respect for him.”

MVP, Shelton Benjamin, and Bobby Lashley joined AEW last year and have been a dominant force, holding the AEW Tag Team titles. However, they came up short at All Out when The Demand (Ricochet and the GOA) defeated them in a trios match.