Author: Joseph Currier

Joseph Currier is the lead editor of F4WOnline.com, directing daily news coverage and writing articles on professional wrestling. He is a graduate of the University of Massachusetts, obtaining a journalism degree in 2016. Joseph joined F4W during his time at UMass and has now been writing about the industry for nearly a decade. In addition to his work with F4W, Joseph has previously contributed to Sports Illustrated's wrestling coverage. He lives in Massachusetts and is a diehard fan of the Boston sports teams and Liverpool Football Club.

Dennis Rodman to be inducted into WWE Hall of Fame

Posted on by Joseph Currier

One of the NBA’s most colorful personalities of all time is set to be inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame.

It was confirmed today that Dennis Rodman — who worked multiple WCW matches in the 1990s as a member of the nWo — will be inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame during WrestleMania 42 weekend. The 2026 HOF class now consists of Stephanie McMahon, AJ Styles, Demolition (Ax & Smash), and Rodman with more to be announced.

The announcement of Rodman going into the Hall of Fame was made by Shams Charania, who is ESPN’s top basketball insider.

Rodman was involved with WCW Bash at the Beach in both 1997 and 1998. He teamed with Hulk Hogan both times, including facing off against fellow basketball legend Karl Malone & Diamond Dallas Page in a highly publicized bout the latter year.

In 2020, WWE produced an Untold documentary on Rodman’s crossover into pro wrestling. Rodman later made a couple of AEW appearances in 2023 and was in The Acclaimed’s corner at that year’s All Out pay-per-view in Chicago.

Rodman is one of the NBA’s greatest rebounders of all time and is best known for his stints on the Chicago Bulls and Detroit Pistons. He played an important role in the 1990s Bulls dynasty alongside Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen.

The 2026 WWE Hall of Fame ceremony is being held at Dolby Live at Park MGM in Las Vegas on the night of Friday, April 17.

New Japan Cup 2026 finals set

Posted on by Joseph Currier

Either Callum Newman or Yuya Uemura will be crowned the winner of New Japan Cup 2026.

The New Japan Cup finals are now set with Newman vs. Uemura scheduled to take place this Saturday (March 21). They each booked their place in the match with semifinal victories today. In the main event, Newman defeated Shota Umino to advance. Uemura had already defeated Oleg Boltin in the semi-main.

A confrontation between Newman and Uemura then took place at the end of today’s card.

“Your dreams finish tomorrow. I finished your best friend’s off tonight. You ain’t making it past me,” Newman told Uemura. “Do what you will Yuya, I’m going to f***ing murder you.”

Uemura responded by saying that he will not let Newman prevail in the tournament. No matter what heel tactics Newman tries to use, Uemura promised to stand tall.

An IWGP Heavyweight Championship shot is at stake with the Newman vs. Uemura winner going on to challenge Yota Tsuji for the title at Sakura Genesis on April 4. If it ends up being Tsuji vs. Newman, that would continue the rivalry between Tsuji’s Unbound Company faction and Newman’s United Empire. A Tsuji vs. Uemura match would pit two of NJPW’s most important building blocks for the present and future against each other.

Will Ospreay — who had a tense interaction with his former protege Newman back in January — was watching today’s show and reacted to Newman advancing to the New Japan Cup finals.

For both Newman and Uemura, this would be their first time ever winning the New Japan Cup. The finals are airing live on New Japan World on Saturday with a start time of 2 a.m. Eastern.

Daily Update: WWE auctions, Candice Michelle, Luca Crusifino

Posted on by Joseph Currier

Daily Update

Latest News

Latest Audio

Latest YouTube Video

This Week’s Wrestling Observer Newsletter

Among the topics covered:

  • Preview and business notes on AEW Revolution
  • Updates on WrestleMania, how we got to Rhodes vs. Orton and feuds that are starting
  • A look at the UFC White House show and how we got here
  • Full UFC 326 coverage including the most viewers of a TV UFC show since Paige Van Zant vs. Michelle Waterson
  • A look at the new AEW streaming service
  • NXT Vengeance Day coverage and poll results
  • Odds on upcoming pro wrestling matches
  • Logan Paul’s grandstand challenge to football players gets several takers, including some big names, but nothing can transpire and how it ended
  • Full coverage of the 16 Carat Gold tournament in German featuring many of the best independent wrestlers in the world
  • A complete look at the TV ratings from all the pro wrestling shows over the past week, including breakdowns in various categories, placings, how Raw did on Netflix, competition and more
  • CMLL’s lineup for its No. 2 show of the year next week
  • Full rundown of the CMLL all women’s show onFriday
  • Konnan news
  • Behnid the Nino Hamburguesa firing
  • Rey de Reyes notes
  • Stardom Cinderella tournament news
  • New Japan Cup and anniversary show news
  • Pro wrestler and MMA star looks back at a fixed fight and more comments including the Japanese attempt to get a major WWE star to job in an MMA match to theri guy
  • Notes on a new promotion debuting
  • Attendance updates for future WWE, AEW, TNA and other shows including Ronda Rousey vs. Gina Carano.
  • Giant weekend in Europe including the two big Eve shows and the controversy
  • TNA future direction
  • Notes from the Tony Khan media call
  • Putting recent Collision numbers into perspective
  • How Zuffa boxing’s biggest show did
  • Rousey vs. Carano and Rousey’s promotional tactics as well as responses from other fighters
  • Lots of new UFC fights
  • Jake Paul’s women’s boxing group makes ESPN deal
  • Changes to the WWE writing team
  • ESPN reporting side does exactly what they said they wouldn’t do regarding pro wrestling
  • More vacant WWE titles

This Week’s Back Issue

FIRST TIME SUBSCRIBERS GET 50% OFF YOUR FIRST MONTH

Thursday Update

American Gladiators logo
Logo for Amazon’s “American Gladiators” revival. (Image credit: Amazon)

WWE

  • Sports Business Journal reports that WWE is revamping its online auction platform and will be offering more event-used items:
    • WWE is revitalizing its auction platform with event-used products, starting by auctioning off a Stone Cold Steve Austin event-worn knee brace from WrestleMania 38 — the site of his final match. That piece sold for $58,000. The new auction platform will give fans access to purchase historically relevant and impactful products. WWE plans to auction more exclusive content during WrestleMania 42 weekend, set for April 16-20 in Las Vegas. More unique products will be announced at a later date.
  • In an Instagram post, The Miz wrote about how honored he is to be the host of Amazon’s American Gladiators revival:
    • If you grew up in the 80s and 90s like I did… you watched American Gladiators.
    • As a kid, there was nothing bigger than WWE and American Gladiators. The Superstars and the Gladiators were larger than life.
    • So to not only be a @wwe Superstar for the past 20 years… but to now be the host of this reboot… I’m incredibly proud and honored.
    • And let me tell you, this was a true team effort.
    • From the absolute powerhouse Gladiators… to the contenders with stories you’ll fall in love with…to @crose127 on commentary bringing the perfect mix of professionalism and humor…and @rocsidiaz absolutely knocking it out of the park.
    • Everyone brought their best to honor what you remember… and take it to a whole new level.
    • It’s a privilege to be part of it.
    • American Gladiators premieres April 17th on @primevideo.
    • Trust me… this is most must-see.
  • One week after his new persona was unveiled in a vignette, Luca Crusifino, a former member of the D’Angelo Family in NXT, was interviewed on WWE Evolve this week. Crusifino called himself the life of the party and said his rave-inspired character is all about PLUR (Peace, Love, Unity, and Respect).
  • WWE Vault uploaded a full house show that took place at the Boston Garden on March 8, 1986. It featured Hulk Hogan & Junkyard Dog facing off against Terry Funk & Dory Funk Jr.

Other Wrestling

  • Tommaso Ciampa shared footage of his daughter Willow performing his entrance before AEW Dynamite last night:
    • Willow has been asking for weeks if she could perform my entrance… well, last night the crew went above and beyond to make her wish come true.
    • And she CRUSHED it!
    • Not only did the kid have no fear at all, but she even came up with an entire ‘dance routine’ to go along with each beat. The air guitar was my personal favorite.
    • After filming her full rehearsal with music and lights (no fire)… I was able to bring Willow into the truck to see how everything works behind the scenes. And they even surprised her once again by placing her name on the lower third graphic.
    • When I say, I found my wrestling home, I’m 100% sincere. I love this family.
    • I may have peaked, guys. Hard to top this.
  • FTR filed a trademark for their logo on March 18.
  • Zayda Steel was the guest on AEW Unrestricted this week.
  • Ricochet’s wife Samantha Johnson (Samantha Irvin) shared more of the death threats she’s gotten in the wake of his social media controversy.
  • On Insight with Chris Van Vliet, Candice Michelle said she hopes her new backstage role as an agent in TNA leads to her making an in-ring comeback for the company as well:
    • Being called to TNA as an agent, I think was a hope spot for me. And it brings me longevity. And when I can get in there and help these men and women win their dreams and their championships, that lasts a lifetime for me. And I always believe, like, when I teach my kids something, I don’t ever tell them to do something I’m not willing to do. And so if I get to have the opportunity to start over again and have a comeback, it will be one hell of a comeback.
  • Zack Sabre Jr. will compete at Effy’s Big Gay Brunch in Las Vegas on April 18.
  • Persephone has been announced for Maple Leaf Pro Wrestling’s event in Vegas on April 17.
  • Busted Open Radio interviewed Killer Kross.
  • WRESTHINGS has an interview with Cedric Alexander.
  • Former WWE wrestler Michael Tarver appeared on the F’Yall Podcast.

Tom Brady continues to take shots at ‘cute and scripted’ WWE

Posted on by Joseph Currier

NFL legend Tom Brady continues to take shots at WWE ahead of a rumored WrestleMania appearance.

Brady and WWE wrestler Logan Paul are both involved with the Fanatics Flag Football event that’s taking place this weekend. To help promote the game, Brady and Paul have gone back and forth about WWE being scripted and whether wrestlers are as good of athletes as football players.

That continued today with Sports Illustrated asking Brady how many WWE wrestlers it would take to sack him.

“All their stuff is so cute and scripted and they know what’s going on. In a football game, you don’t know it, so they wouldn’t even get near me,” Brady responded. “Plus, if I had a good offensive line, they’d punch those guys right in the throat and they’d be probably crying. You know, there’s no fake BS we do in American football. So for those guys, it’d be a whole different story for them.”

WWE star Charlotte Flair responded after the clip was posted, calling out Brady for needing an offensive line to protect him.

There has been no confirmation that Brady will be involved with WrestleMania 42, but WrestleVotes reported earlier this month that WWE has discussed the possibility with him and has worked on Brady-themed speciality merchandise. Brady is a part-owner of the Las Vegas Raiders, who play their home games at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas.

Allegiant Stadium hosted WrestleMania 41 last year and will also be the venue for WrestleMania 42. The two-night event is taking place on Saturday, April 18 and Sunday, April 19.

The Fanatics Flag Football event was initially schedule to be held in Saudi Arabia but has been moved to Los Angeles. It will air on Fox this Saturday (March 21) at 4 p.m. Eastern time.

Mojo Rawley on his talent agency, whether he’s retired

Posted on by Joseph Currier

In his post-wrestling life, Dean Muhtadi (former WWE wrestler Mojo Rawley) is working to help others who are still active in the business.

Muhtadi and his business partner Steven Kaye launched Paragon Talent Group in 2021. The talent agency represents wrestlers and helps them negotiate contracts and land advertisement deals. Along with that, Muhtadi told The Takedown on SI that they’ve helped to secure visas for clients. That’s an issue international wrestlers often run into when they’re released from a major promotion that had sponsored their visa.

“We do visas for the international talent, which we’re very proud of as well,” Muhtadi said. “When people get that call from the bigs and they’re now fired, they not are only losing their employment, but they also have to leave the country and go back to where they came from. Some of these people have spouses or significant others, I should say lives that have been established here. And to lose everything simultaneously is tough. So, you know, we’ve worked really hard to pivot based off of what our talent need.”

Muhtadi added that, with his wrestling background, he is able to help relate to clients and help them with what they’re going through.

Some of what we do isn’t just negotiating the contract, but it’s coming up with creative and being that sounding board. Sometimes it’s getting in the ring and training with these guys or girls before big upcoming shows.

“Sometimes it is venting. Sometimes it might be assistance with financial advice. Making sure talent know that this isn’t going to last forever and you’re making this money, but you got to be smart with it,” he said. “You got to invest it from the start and that’s how you end up having more money when you’re done than the people that were making multiples of your salary while you were still in the game.”

Paragon is working with TJPW, CMLL, House of Glory, Stardom, and Maple Leaf Pro Wrestling to stage Slam Fest in Las Vegas during WrestleMania 42 weekend. As for his own in-ring status, Muhtadi said he’s retired as a full-time wrestler but would consider another match if the right opportunity came up.

“I think I’m done with an in-ring career full-time,” he told The Takedown on SI. “Never say never. If we have one really good opportunity, and I’ll be straight up, it’s likely going to be an event that Paragon puts on. That would warrant a comeback for one night, but I think at this point, a full-time return to an in-ring career is just not possible.”

Update on potential Jelly Roll WWE WrestleMania 42 match

Posted on by Joseph Currier

If Jelly Roll competes at WrestleMania 42, it doesn’t sound like it will be in a tag team match with Royce Keys.

Dave Meltzer noted on Wrestling Observer Radio that, after asking about rumors of Jelly Roll and Keys teaming together at Mania, he was told that it will not be happening. It’s not officially confirmed that Jelly Roll will be wrestling at the event, but Meltzer expects him to given what went down on SmackDown last week.

“I kind of wonder where they’re going with Jelly Roll,” Meltzer said. “It just feels to me they’re going to build to some gimmick match with Kit Wilson, maybe a tag with The Miz because The Miz has been involved in the storyline. They could do that. I had asked about the story because there was a story about Royce Keys, and I was told that it’s not Royce Keys, for whatever that’s worth. I wasn’t actually told that there is a match [for Jelly Roll], but when you look at it, it certainly seems like they’re building it.”

Last Friday’s SmackDown saw Jelly Roll return to WWE programming and interact with Miz and Wilson. The Miz TV segment ended with Jelly Roll inadvertently dropping Miz with a punch after Wilson moved out of the way.

A music superstar with an inspirational life story, Jelly Roll is a big WWE fan and has wrestled one match for the company so far, teaming with Randy Orton in a loss to Logan Paul & Drew McIntyre at SummerSlam 2025. He received significant internal praise within WWE for how hard he worked to prepare for that match but still came out of it thinking of all the things he could have done better.

The Jelly Roll-Wilson storyline will continue on SmackDown this week with Wilson calling Jelly Roll out.

The Bella Twins reveal WWE contract status, retirement timeline

Posted on by Joseph Currier

The Bella Twins are back in WWE for an extended period of time.

This Friday on SmackDown, Nikki & Brie Bella will challenge Nia Jax & Lash Legend for the WWE Women’s Tag Team titles. They spoke about the match on a new edition of the Nikki & Brie Show and revealed that, when Brie returned at the 2026 Royal Rumble, they signed new two-year contracts with WWE. They are planning for this to be their last wrestling contract before retirement.

“For me, I don’t think you and I will ever get that last retirement moment that like John [Cena] got and AJ Styles got,” Nikki said. “Let’s be honest, the men get, right?

“I don’t think you and I will ever get that, but I would love to have that. Because I do know that the contract that we signed, we signed a two-year deal starting Royal Rumble. And for you and I, the talks we’ve had and what I know just where I’m at, that’s it. That will be the end for me and for us.”

Nikki added that she’d love to have a moment where she gives a final bow and leaves her gear in the ring. She doubts she’ll ever get that, but she still really wants to have an iconic final run that their fans can be proud of.

“I want to have some of my best matches. I want to have a lot of fun,” Nikki said. “But I want to have like an iconic moment where it’s like, I could look back and go, ‘Damn, that was a great two years.’ We did it. I don’t want to walk away with any what ifs… I want to look back at these past two years that we’re about to create and be like, ‘Damn, girl. We did it.'”

In this final run, The Bellas are balancing who they are now with the people they used to be. Nikki & Brie are already WWE Hall of Famers — and becoming Women’s Tag Team Champions is one of the final things on their bucket list. Being able to accomplish this now that they are both mothers would be especially meaningful.

“This is like the final thing,” Nikki said. “So when I’m like 60, 70, 80, hopefully 90s, sitting with Brie on a porch, wine tasting, wine making, like we could, ‘Girl, we did that.’ We did Evolution. We did this. Tag team champs. Like, that’s how my mind works, like that’s accomplishments. But dang, to do it as moms. Nothing is better.”

The Lenovo Center in Raleigh, North Carolina is hosting this Friday’s SmackDown episode. After the show, there will only be four weeks left until WrestleMania 42.

Update on Ricochet AEW social media controversy

Posted on by Joseph Currier

Ricochet’s social media controversy has gotten some attention outside of wrestling with TMZ picking up on the story.

TMZ Sports published an articled on the situation on Wednesday, picking up Ricochet’s initial tweet and subsequent apology. The tweet was posted on Monday with Ricochet telling a fan he was “glad” she has multiple sclerosis after the fan criticized his acting ability. Ricochet then apologized the following day.

“I took out my hatred for the IWC on Sandi, and inadvertently others who are effected by MS,” he wrote. “She didnt deserve it and for that, I sincerely apologize. Moving forward I’ll do better.”

United Kingdom tabloid outlet The Sun has also posted an article on the situation.

On Wrestling Observer Radio, Dave Meltzer noted that Ricochet’s decision to delete the initial tweet came after a call from a friend who suggested that he do so. Meltzer said AEW did not force Ricochet to apologize.

“And then what ended up happening was, one of his friends called him and said, ‘You know, you really should take the tweet down.’ So he took the tweet down,” Meltzer said. “And upon thinking about it, he then apologized. Nobody forced his apology or anything like that. He decided to apologize and he did.”

Meltzer said there has been no word from AEW about the controversy:

“As far as where it stands elsewhere, as far as I know he has gotten no — I’ve heard nothing from AEW or anything like that as far as what happened.”

Ricochet, who lost the AEW National Championship at Revolution on Sunday, did not appear on Dynamite last night. His wife Samantha Johnson has deactivated her X/Twitter account after receiving violent threats.

Oba Femi details learning from Shawn Michaels in WWE NXT

Posted on by Joseph Currier

Coming up in WWE NXT, Oba Femi was able to learn a lot from Shawn Michaels.

Femi reflected on his tenure in developmental while appearing on this week’s edition of Stephanie McMahon’s “What’s Your Story?” podcast. When he was in NXT, Femi would come up with elaborate finishes for his matches. It initially bothered him when Michaels would reject those ideas, but Femi learned an important lesson in the process. Everyone is part of the show and all of those elements have to fit together to form a complete picture.

“You can, but I don’t think that’s going to work. You will be very frustrated,” he responded when asked if it’s possible to be a perfectionist in wrestling. “And I think I learned that lesson quickly. So here in NXT when I was in developmental, I’ll come up with these matches and come up with these elaborate finishes and stuff like that. And Shawn would always change it. Shawn Michaels would always change it. And I’m just like — and it used to like eat at me at first. But I’m like, he knows where we’re going after this. I don’t know where we’re going after this. So you kind of have to just lend yourself as a tool to make the art come to life and be okay with where it goes.”

Femi was more than happy to have Michaels tell him what to do given all that Michaels has accomplished in wrestling.

“And at the end of the day, I’m like, okay, whatever I have in mind, I have to put that to the side. It’s what Shawn wants, to give him what he wants. And I will give him what he wants,” Femi said. “So I learned quickly, that’s part of being a student of the game. Like, sometimes I would ask him what he’s looking for and then go draft something. And then he still doesn’t like it — and that’s fine too. But at least that’s part of the learning process, seeing where his mind is at, what direction he’s trying to go on, and learning from him.

“Because I don’t know how to book wrestling. I’m not a booker, but it’s an important skill to learn. I feel like a lot of guys, they’re just like, ‘Make me champion.’ You know, ‘Do this for me, do that for me.’ But they don’t even understand the patterns and the way in which the booking works. The ‘why.’ So I just lent myself to Shawn and I let him take me where I needed to be.”

Matt Bloom, Ivar, and Terry Taylor are some of the other people Femi was able to learn from in NXT. He and Taylor would often disagree about things, but Taylor helped Femi understand the minutiae and nuance of pro wrestling.

Outside of the ring, Femi learned a lot about respect from his father and a lot about love from his mother. He learned to dream big through public figures like Elon Musk, Joe Rogan, and former Navy SEAL David Goggins.

Femi was called up to the WWE main roster near the start of 2026 and is now set for a WrestleMania 42 clash against Brock Lesnar.

Oba Femi on drawing WWE inspiration from Bray Wyatt

Posted on by Joseph Currier

Oba Femi was a huge fan of The Wyatt Family and has even drawn inspiration from the late Bray Wyatt in his WWE career.

On a new episode of Stephanie McMahon’s “What’s Your Story?” podcast, Femi discussed what it was like trying to follow WWE as he was growing up as a fan in Nigeria. The product wasn’t available live, but he built up a collection of tape-delayed broadcasts from 2011-2017. One of the acts he took to was The Wyatts.

“I loved Bray. I really, I loved the original Wyatt family,” Femi said. “I just felt so passionately about [them]. The NXT version and when they first got to the main roster. I remember there was one line that they hit. I actually used that line in a promo a few years ago. He said, ‘You can send anybody after us, but like, don’t send anyone that you want back.’ And I was like, ‘This is the greatest bar ever.’ What a bar, what a mic drop. So I loved Bray, I loved watching Bray.”

Femi also really liked Triple H, viewing him as a complete wrestler who was good at everything.

“At this time, your husband,” Femi responded when McMahon asked who his favorite wrestler was. “I’ve watched his stuff, I’ve studied him. It was the way he worked. Just the intensity, the precision. I liked the way he worked in the ring. He was like more of a complete superstar. Like, he was good at everything. Nothing was lacking.

“And I like that. You know, you have your promo guys and your body guys and your workrate guys and all that stuff. But he was complete. The total package, and I respected that.”

Femi said he’s always liked heels and thinks villains might be more important to any story than the hero is. Without a strong villain, there is nothing for the hero to overcome.

In his WWE career, Femi’s goal is to make people feel the same way he did when he was a fan.

“I want to sound real. I want to be real. I want to make people feel things,” he said. “I want to give and then take it away. And I want them to go on that ride with me. That’s what I want to do in wrestling. I mean, championships and conquest is going to come. You know, The Ruler is The Ruler. But I think that’s my big takeaway. I think that’s like when I’m done, I want people to feel Oba Femi.”

It was confirmed on Raw this Monday that Femi will face off against Brock Lesnar at WrestleMania 42. This will be Femi’s first WrestleMania since being called up to the main roster from NXT.

Daily Update: Sgt. Slaughter, Lilian Garcia, Ricky Saints

Posted on by Joseph Currier

Daily Update

Latest News

Latest Audio

Latest YouTube Video

This Week’s Wrestling Observer Newsletter

Among the topics covered:

  • Preview and business notes on AEW Revolution
  • Updates on WrestleMania, how we got to Rhodes vs. Orton and feuds that are starting
  • A look at the UFC White House show and how we got here
  • Full UFC 326 coverage including the most viewers of a TV UFC show since Paige Van Zant vs. Michelle Waterson
  • A look at the new AEW streaming service
  • NXT Vengeance Day coverage and poll results
  • Odds on upcoming pro wrestling matches
  • Logan Paul’s grandstand challenge to football players gets several takers, including some big names, but nothing can transpire and how it ended
  • Full coverage of the 16 Carat Gold tournament in German featuring many of the best independent wrestlers in the world
  • A complete look at the TV ratings from all the pro wrestling shows over the past week, including breakdowns in various categories, placings, how Raw did on Netflix, competition and more
  • CMLL’s lineup for its No. 2 show of the year next week
  • Full rundown of the CMLL all women’s show onFriday
  • Konnan news
  • Behnid the Nino Hamburguesa firing
  • Rey de Reyes notes
  • Stardom Cinderella tournament news
  • New Japan Cup and anniversary show news
  • Pro wrestler and MMA star looks back at a fixed fight and more comments including the Japanese attempt to get a major WWE star to job in an MMA match to theri guy
  • Notes on a new promotion debuting
  • Attendance updates for future WWE, AEW, TNA and other shows including Ronda Rousey vs. Gina Carano.
  • Giant weekend in Europe including the two big Eve shows and the controversy
  • TNA future direction
  • Notes from the Tony Khan media call
  • Putting recent Collision numbers into perspective
  • How Zuffa boxing’s biggest show did
  • Rousey vs. Carano and Rousey’s promotional tactics as well as responses from other fighters
  • Lots of new UFC fights
  • Jake Paul’s women’s boxing group makes ESPN deal
  • Changes to the WWE writing team
  • ESPN reporting side does exactly what they said they wouldn’t do regarding pro wrestling
  • More vacant WWE titles

This Week’s Back Issue

FIRST TIME SUBSCRIBERS GET 50% OFF YOUR FIRST MONTH

Wednesday Update

Booker T WWE NXT Appreciation Night
WWE celebrates Booker T on NXT in Houston. (Image credit: WWE)

WWE

  • WWE uploaded the full Tatum Paxley vs. Izzi Dame steel cage match for the Women’s North American Championship that headlined NXT last night.
  • A video package celebrating Booker T aired during the NXT episode, which took place in Houston and was Booker T Appreciation Night. 
  • Ricky Saints spoke with KRON 4 News about his acting ambitions:
    • It’s so taboo to talk about like, ‘Oh, he’s a wrestler and he’s talking about wanting to go from wrestling to acting.’ Yes, for sure, my body won’t be able to do this forever. So, for those who hate hearing it, yes, I want to get into acting. Who cares? I loved acting. I loved [CW’s] Wild Cards. I loved the whole experience. I thought it was really good, and it really gave me a sense of something that I’m able to do after this. [When] this life is over, and so, you know, the hope is more of that to come. And the network, they love me. They really did. They enjoyed me. They cherished me. All my fans. They said, ‘well, Ricky, you did great. You were a natural.’ And I say, ‘Yeah, can’t help it.’
    • I’ve always said I think I could play a really, really good Gambit [from X-Men]. I just need to learn how to throw cards and, you know, shuffle a deck. But, yeah, that’s like the top of the list. If I can get Gambit, it’s a wrap or Blade. Imagine me as Blade. I think I look good in leather.”
  • Sgt. Slaughter told Going Ringside that he was the only wrestler to go to Iron Sheik’s funeral when Sheik passed away in 2023:
    • In 2023, he passed. And I was the only wrestler at his funeral, which I thought was pretty horrendous, that I was the only wrestler to go to his funeral. And he lived in Atlanta where all the wrestlers lived, so I thought that was kind of a slap in the face. [Sheik did] so much not only for wrestlers but for the professional wrestling business.
  • Lilian Garcia was a guest on Busted Open Radio today. She noted that she’ll be doing some ring announcing at WWE’s summer 2026 European tour and will be in Las Vegas for WrestleMania 42 weekend:
    • To be able to get called back, to come back and still have a role. You know, Saturday Night’s Main Event, Worlds Collide. I’ll be doing some of the Europe tour now, they just let me know. And some things here at WrestleMania. It’s just always fun. It’s just in my blood.
  • When asked how WWE has changed across her different stints with the company, Garcia pointed to how much the Wellness Policy has cleaned up things in the locker room:
    • I just listened to the podcast with Chris Masters and Chris Van Vliet actually, and he was talking about some of the things that were happening with the Wellness Policy and how things have changed now and the partying that was before and the Wellness Policy, how it cleaned up a lot. And so it changed.
    • I think for me, that was really great to see too. Obviously, I think for all of us. You know, Tommy [Dreamer], you and I have experienced the loss of so many wrestlers dying way too young. When I started counting it one day, I’m like, ‘I’ve lost my fingers. All my fingers are gone. All my toes are gone. It’s crazy.’ And so I think that’s the biggest thing, that the wellness is better in there. And you’re not expected to be this monster of a wrestler to be able to be effective.
  • Liv Morgan will be appearing at a live podcast taping for Cody Rhodes’ “What Do You Wanna Talk About?” during the Wednesday of WrestleMania week.
  • Complex’s Graps podcast interviewed Jade Cargill.
  • Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson will be featured in the next season of the video game Fortnite.
  • For a 3:16 Day video, Danhausen tried to trick wrestlers into thinking he was “Stone Cold” Steve Austin.

Other Wrestling

  • In an interview with High Times, Marina Shafir opened up about her relationship with husband Roderick Strong:
    • He’s such an amazing partner. I love that I can speak my love language with my husband while training together. That’s a different level of trust. He understands who I am, and I understand who he is.
    • There’s so much going on outside of my bubble that I can’t control…  It’s a lot. So I take it one week at a time.
    • We really try hard to carve out time for our son, too. Soccer practice, going to the farmers market, and just making time for family.
  • MVP appeared on Your Entertainment Escape in Fresno ahead of tonight’s Dynamite.
  • Denise Salcedo uploaded video of her live show with Willow Nightingale from Revolution weekend.
  • AJPW Tag Team Champions Titans of Calamity (Ren Ayabe & Tolos) will compete in the 2026 NWA Crockett Cup in Forney, Texas on April 4.
  • During an Instagram Q&A, Maki Itoh was asked what her biggest career goal is right now: “Go to the Tokyo Dome with STARDOM. And suddenly show up in AEW again..make the crowd want me, and leave for Japan right away lol”

Matt Jackson: FTR are ‘a true titan of tag team wrestling’

Posted on by Joseph Currier

The Young Bucks believe FTR have already solidified themselves as all-time greats of tag team wrestling.

At Revolution this past weekend, the latest chapter in the Young Bucks-FTR feud played out with Dax Harwood & Cash Wheeler retaining the AEW Tag Team titles. Matt Jackson spoke with Undisputed after the match and had high praise for his rivals.

“FTR, that’s an all-time great tag team,” Jackson said. “There are champions and there are dynasties. Much like the Boston Celtics, whose colors they wore at Revolution, FTR represents a dynasty. A team that’s been around for so long and dominated at such a high level for so many years…

“Dax and Cash, they’re a true titan of tag team wrestling. Does their greatness eat at me and bother me sometimes? Sure. But it also makes me better and pushes me to want to be the best. I’m sure we haven’t had our last encounter, one way or another.”

Revolution was a bucket-list moment for Jackson with the pay-per-view taking place at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles, where he and his brother Nick grew up going to wrestling shows. They wore Los Angeles Lakers-inspired gear and brought their children and other family members out with them as they made their entrance.

Having family so heavily involved in the match was an idea the Bucks came up with to help differentiate this from their other encounters with FTR.

“This was different from the other times we feuded,” Jackson told Undisputed. “We’d already explored the idea of our styles clashing, and the story of which team is truly the best team in the world, in previous matches. We thought, ‘How can we make it different and more personal this time?’ We decided family would be the subject matter. There’s nothing more personal than your relationship with your mom, dad, brother, sister, and your kids. It’s well known me and my brother are family men with family values, so we thought, ‘Let’s use that!’”

The Bucks and FTR have each held the AEW Tag Team titles three times. Harwood & Wheeler’s ongoing reign kicked off in November 2025 when they won the belts from Brody King & Bandido.

Ricky Saints says Undertaker has given him ‘so many gems’ of WWE advice

Posted on by Joseph Currier

Getting advice from his favorite wrestler of all time has been a wild experience for Ricky Saints.

In an interview with KRON 4 News, Saints named The Undertaker, The Rock, and Mankind as his three favorite wrestlers. Undertaker takes the top spot on that list, and it’s still surreal for Saints to be in the same company as Undertaker and receiving advice from him.

“I met The Undertaker several times. He’s awesome, given me so many gems of advice and knowledge that he’s dropped on me,” Saints said. “It’s wild. It’s wild to see every time I see him at the [Performance Center] or at some of these shows that we go up and greet each other and, you know, catch up a little bit. But, yeah, it’s insane, like watching as a kid and now being on the same show, being a part of the same company with him, is wild.”

Saints and Undertaker actually first met in a gym while Undertaker was training for his WrestleMania 32 match against Shane McMahon, and Saints later helped Undertaker’s wife Michelle McCool prepare for a Royal Rumble appearance.

Undertaker’s behind-the-scenes influence has grown over the past year with him becoming an important voice in Lucha Libre AAA’s creative after the promotion was acquired by WWE.

At NXT Vengeance Day earlier this month, Saints came up short in his attempt to win the NXT Championship from Joe Hendry. A match between Saints and Tony D’Angelo is set to take place on NXT next week.

Amazon reveals premiere date for Miz-hosted ‘American Gladiators’ series

Posted on by Joseph Currier

Amazon’s “American Gladiators” revival hosted by WWE star The Miz is set to premiere next month.

The show will arrive on Amazon Prime Video with three episodes premiering on Friday, April 17. Three more episodes will then debut on April 24, with the season closing out with four episodes on May 1. Along with Miz hosting the series, several wrestling names are part of the Gladiator cast, including AEW’s Wardlow, Kamille, former WWE wrestler Rick Boogs, Jessie Godderz, and J-Rod (Jessica Roden).

“American Gladiators” first debuted in the late 1980s and lasted for several seasons. The concept was later briefly revived in 2008.

In a press release, Amazon noted that this new series will feature both classic and new Gladiator events:

The iconic competition returns with each episode featuring weekend warriors from across the nation stepping into the Arena to face 16 powerful new Gladiators. From classic events like Joust, Powerball, Hang Tough, and The Wall, to high-impact new challenges including The Ring and Collision, every showdown demands pure grit, strategy, and heart. Only one man and one woman will conquer the Arena, claim $100,000, and earn the title of American Gladiator Champion.

Television host Rocsi Diaz is co-hosting the series with Miz. The show is produced by Amazon MGM Studios.

Pete Dunne match set for Josh Barnett’s Bloodsport XV

Posted on by Joseph Currier

Pete Dunne’s opponent for Josh Barnett’s Bloodsport XV has now been revealed.

It was announced today that Dunne vs. Masashi Takeda will take place at the April 17 event in Las Vegas. Takeda is a Japanese wrestler and MMA fighter who has specialized in death matches. During his career, he’s competed for promotions like Big Japan, All Japan, FREEDOMS, and GCW.

This is the first match officially booked for the Bloodsport card, which will stream live on TrillerTV+ with a start time of 6 p.m. Eastern/3 p.m. Pacific on the Friday of WrestleMania week.

Since WWE started to allow some of its talent to compete at Bloodsport, Dunne has worked two shows with a 2-0 record. Both of those matches took place in 2025 with him defeating Jonathan Gresham and Timothy Thatcher.

Dunne currently plays the character Rayo Americano in WWE but will be wrestling as himself at Bloodsport. In WWE, he’s part of a faction with El Grande Americano (Ludwig Kaiser) and Bravo Americano (Tyler Bate).

Takeda’s last Bloodsport appearance was a 2019 victory over Gresham.

Here is the list of announced talent for the April 17 show:

Josh Barnett’s Bloodsport XV participants —

  • Josh Barnett
  • Yuji Nagata
  • Ulka Sasaki
  • Timothy Thatcher
  • Pete Dunne
  • Shayna Baszler
  • Erick Stevens
  • Fuminori Abe
  • Ray Jaz
  • Angel Verduzco
  • Joe Dashou
  • Masashi Takeda
  • Matt Mako
  • Royce Isaacs
  • Miyu Yamashita