Jacob Fatu might be injured heading into WWE Clash in Italy this weekend.
According to PWInsider Fatu was spotted limping after his WWE live event match against Solo Sikoa in Liverpool last night. There is no confirmation on the legitimacy and seriousness of the injury.
Fatu is scheduled to face Roman Reigns on May 31 for the World Heavyweight Championship in a highly anticipated rematch.
Despite coming up short at Backlash earlier this month, Fatu remains obsessed on claiming everything Reigns has and the Bloodline legacy for his own. However, the stakes have been raised with their match now officially taking place under Tribal Combat rules.
Jacob Fatu was seen limping last night after his bout with Solo Sikoa at the WWE live event in Liverpool.
“We have not yet heard whether he was just selling or not.”
Carmelo Hayes vs. Ricky Saints has now been added to the card for today’s SmackDown. It’s a rematch from two weeks ago where Hayes won by putting his feet on the ropes for leverage. They had an angle last Friday where Hayes attacked Saints during a backstage interview.
WWE makes a stop in Spain today to finish out the build to Clash in Italy. Ahead of his title defense against Gunther, Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes will be on the show to address Gunther’s attack from last week. Jade Cargill is also scheduled for an appearance where she will deliver one final message to WWE Women’s Champion Rhea Ripley ahead of their Clash in Italy title bout.
The Cargill segment is expected to open the show, according to Rope Break (formerly known as PWN and previously associated with Bodyslam.net).
Rhodes vs. Gunther and Ripley vs. Cargill are both slated for the first hour of Sunday’s Clash in Italy PLE, which will be simulcast on ESPN.
Today’s SmackDown is airing live on Netflix overseas before being shown in its regular time slot on USA Network tonight for U.S. viewers. The start time for the international broadcast is 2 p.m. Eastern.
WWE SmackDown (Friday, May 29) —
Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes addresses Gunther’s attack from last week
The Miz vs. Axiom
Carmelo Hayes vs. Ricky Saints
Jade Cargill has one final message for WWE Women’s Champion Rhea Ripley
Becky Lynch cast further doubt on Sol Ruca’s medical condition days before their feud at WWE Clash in Italy.
Continuing her series of daily rants on X, Lynch mocked Ruca claiming that she is still not medically cleared to compete.
“I told Sol Puka (cause she makes me want to puke!!!!!) she wasn’t ready to step in the ring with me and she didn’t listen!!!!! I hope she make it to Italy although she’s not medically cleared! Some people think it’s because she LOST HER MIND!”
Ruca sustained a leg injury during her SNME match against Lynch last weekend. It happened after an awkward landing while attempting her signature move, the Sol Snatcher. The referee stopped the match which led to Ruca winning via disqualification. The nature and impact of injury is undisclosed, and there is no official announcement by WWE nor Ruca on the matter.
Ruca moved to the main roster on the Raw after WrestleMania and shortly after clashed with Lynch backstage. The most significant confrontation happened when Lynch interrupted her Raw contract signing and chaos ensued when the champion accidentally struck Adam Pearce in the commotion.
The two are set to face off at Clash in Italy on May 31 for the Intercontinental Championship at the Inalpi Arena in Turin.
I told Sol Puka (cause she makes me want to puke!!!!!) she wasn’t ready to step in the ring with me and she didn’t listen!!!!! I hope she make it to Italy although she’s not medically cleared! Some people think it’s because she LOST HER MIND!
WWE is very happy with the success of its Vault channel on YouTube.
The WWE Vault has become a big hit with hardcore fans, uploading rare and sometimes never-before-seen footage from the company’s video library. The channel launched in 2024 and now has four million subscribers. This week, its uploads included a 1992 mask vs. mask match from Lucha Libre AAA that pitted a young Rey Mysterio against Mr. Condor. Mysterio recorded a brief introduction to help explain the match to new viewers.
Front Office Sports published a story on Friday looking at WWE’s YouTube strategy. In the article, WWE’s Head of Digital Media Steve Braband said it shocks him every week how well some content on the Vault performs.
“The success of that came with no new resources [needed],” Braband said. “We tapped into a few people that were passionate about our archive, saw the engagement on our main channel, and just moved our whole vault to this page. We’re about to hit the four-million sub mark—and it shocks me every week how some content does.”
On the Vault channel, WWE regularly uploads full matches, events, and compilation videos on specific storylines. The company has also started up a similar WCW-focused channel.
“As of mid-May, the Vault page had 133.6 million hours viewed over the previous year, representing 131 percent year-over-year growth,” Front Office Sports wrote.
WWE’s overall YouTube strategy —
The Front Office Sports story is largely focused on the fact that AAA Noche de Los Grandes is airing on YouTube this Saturday. That broadcast will be headlined by the mask vs. mask match between El Grande Americano (Ludwig Kaiser) and Original El Grande Americano (Chad Gable). Braband said WWE views YouTube as an important marketing tool that can help get talent over.
“We’re looking at it as a way to share content, create good content, drive business goals, but also remember how YouTube is connected to the whole Google sphere of it all,” he told Front Office Sports. “It’s a marketing tool. You’re able to show off this brand and grow it and grow new superstars.”
Gunther is impressed with Oba Femi’s in-ring ability and commanding presence in his limited main roster run. He also addressed an important factor to consider if the two square off against each other in the future.
Gunther praised Femi on the latest episode of the No Contest Wrestling Podcast. He described Femi as a ‘standout talent’ but reaching such a high level in his WWE career so early on could also come with pressure. Despite which, Gunther hopes to see Femi succeed.
“I honestly don’t really spend too much time on looking what the other ones do. But I always keep an eye on the big picture and obviously Oba is a standout talent. I think in the short time he’s been in the company, he’s taken huge steps. But I think that’s also, we will see how he deals with that. That’s a big burden or a big responsibility right from the get go.”
“I want to see him succeed in that, because I think he’s an amazing talent and the future is very bright for him. I hope he maintains that, stays around, so when it comes down to us two, he’s gonna be ready for it.”
Gunther highlighted the possibility of a feud with Femi noting their contrasting physical appearances. He added that facing a more experienced opponent like himself would be the true test of Femi’s in-ring endurance.
“And that’s a little to just clarify quickly because I’m tall and I’m a heavyweight, but people often, when they think about matches with Oba, it’s not gonna be like how Oba and Brock is. I wouldn’t meet up with Oba on a physical level. He’s stronger than I am, I don’t know if he’s a little bit taller or not, and he’s younger than I am. So it makes absolutely no sense, I think what would make that interesting is seeing me work from underneath a little bit, wrestle from underneath against a stronger opponent.”
“I think that’s a test that would be interesting for him, how to last in a longer match, how to endure 20 minutes with somebody much, much, much more experienced than him.”
“And that’s why I need him to gain experience himself first, because when I meet him, I wanna meet him on eye level.”
This weekend at Clash in Italy, Gunther challenges Cody Rhodes for the Undisputed WWE Championship. Meanwhile, Femi collides with Brock Lesnar in a rematch following their WrestleMania showdown.
R-Truth credited Vince McMahon for his promo and gimmick citing John Cena is his childhood idol.
Truth revealed on the Six Feet Under Podcast that his promo declaring Cena as his childhood hero was written by McMahon.
“That was a Vince write. Vince wrote that. And the first time I did the promo and said I grew up watching Cena. You know, I would sit there and watch him do his Saturday morning, you know what I’m saying, challenges. And people bought it. They bit hard. He grew up watching John Cena and John Cena is his childhood hero. They went with it, you know what I’m saying. They (the fans) did.”
Truth initially asked Cena if he could imitate his signature look with the jorts, and he ideated the Ron Cena t-shirt.
“I called John and asked him, could I use his shorts. John suggested I do the moves. He said, you should do everything. This shirt, Ron Cena, was John’s idea. He said, I think you do the shirt the same way I do mine. And you put your face there. I was like, I said, you serious? He was like, yeah, we’re brothers, right? I said. That is genius. Like he’s so smart. He was smart with the whole thing with it, man. And I just ran with it. It works, right?”
Last year, during Cena’s heel turn, Truth made an effort to confront his ways. He also took on the Ron Cena persona, imitating Cena’s signature attire and claiming to be his brother.
When Truth returned a week later from being released in 2025, he targeted Cena at Money in the Bank which ultimately led to their showdown at SNME in May.
THIS MAN R-TRUTH JUST MADE HIS ENTRANCE DRESSED AS JOHN CENA.
The Undertaker addressed the overwhelming reaction to R-Truth’s WWE release in 2025.
During his appearance on Six Feet Under with The Undertaker, R-Truth’s WWE exit in 2025 was discussed. Truth revealed how his colleagues, production and camera crew had a united front backstage to speak up on his behalf, and how appreciative he is of their gesture.
“Like, my peers at work, the ring crew, the camera crew, the crew in the truck, every part of that machine that makes it work spoke up, again, for me. We always ask, are we worthy? And it brings such joy it almost makes me wanna cry, because it’s like, to feel that kind of love is like, I want everybody to feel that at some point.”
The Undertaker stated that the backstage reaction to his release demonstrated the impact he had on the locker room, and had high praise for the wrestling veteran.
“You know what that says? It says you did it right. Because in our industry, to have your colleagues put themselves out there where they could (be) in a position where they could be reprimanded. It could come back a little bit. That means you touched a lot of people’s lives.”
“And what you’ve done, you’ve done it the right way man. It was incredible. For an old salty guy like me who’s been around and seen so much, I was genuinely moved, to like ‘Dang, this guy has made an impression in people’s lives.’ And when you can do that with your colleagues and the people that surround us, our production, like you said the production crew. That just says a whole lot about the human being right there.”
“And if nothing else ever great happened in your career, having that, having your fan base go to bat for you, and your colleagues. Good on you brother, that’s awesome.”
R-Truth announced his WWE release on June 1, 2025 ending his 17 year run with the company. However, the fans clamored for his return which led to his comeback at Money in the Bank a week later.
On the March 20 edition of SmackDown this year, Truth and Damian Priest defeated The MFTs to become the WWE Tag Team Champions.
One of the most crucial figures in the modern pro-wrestling industry, Cody Rhodes, recently opened up and reflected on his 2016 WWE exit.
Following several creative differences and an unsatisfactory run, Rhodes requested his release from WWE on May 21, 2016. Shortly after being granted one, Rhodes went on to reinvent himself and wrestle all across the world.
Following runs across several indie promotions, Impact Wrestling, and NJPW, Rhodes, The Young Bucks, Kenny Omega, and Adam Page became a crucial part of the inaugural All In event, which eventually led to the formation of AEW.
Speaking on the Rich Eisen Show, Rhodes reflected on that moment and how he gained confidence from seeing the fans supporting him.
“When I left, when I put my statement out, when I hadn’t even signed my release papers, when I just walked, when the world mobilized on social media to support me, and then the list comes out, here’s who I’m going to be wrestling.
“Not only did they support me on socials, they did so with their own wallets and came to these small shows. It was a very big bluff, this is a big card game, and it was a big bluff,” he said.
Rhodes further explained that his character stopped being a “bluff” when the fans started standing behind him. “The suit and ties, the braggadocio, the confidence, all of it ceased being a bluff the moment the fans actually stood behind me. I’m very much propped up by that fandom, and I’ve continued to be through every endeavor I took. The only thing I can say for those who are out there and they’re wanting to do more, it’s easy for me to say it now having got to the top of the mountain in the wrestling space and trying to build a new mountain. Then, it was a matter of surrounding myself with people who would support me.”
Rhodes is currently scheduled to face Gunther at Clash in Italy on May 31, 2026, with his Undisputed title on the line.
Current Undisputed Champion Cody Rhodes believes moving into Hollywood from WWE is a “definite natural extension.”
Recently appearing and speaking on The Rich Eisen Show, Rhodes was asked about his retirement plans and a potential jump to Hollywood. A part of a few films and television shows, Rhodes is also known for studying acting for a year at the Howard Fine Acting School.
With Street Fighter coming out later this year, Rhodes did not brush aside the chances of a Hollywood jump. “I definitely want to grow beyond telling stories in the ring. I got the opportunity to do Street Fighter, it comes out this October. Kitao Sakurai directed this movie. I saw bits of it the other day. I think it’s going to be a huge hit. I hope it is, because I had such a fun time making it.
“I want to do more of that. What we do in the ring is tell stories, I’d love to do it outside of falling down in the pro-wrestling ring, but that’ll come when this is done. Everyone who carried the actual main title in the industry has to carry it with the responsibility that comes with it, and the responsibility has a timeline on it. Keeping this as long as I can is the immediate goal,” he added.
Rhodes also opened up on how moving into Hollywood is the natural extension, as he shared examples of Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, Dave Bautista, and John Cena. “Moving into Hollywood is a definite natural extension of what we do next. Just being able to tell stories. Batista, Dwayne, Cena, Terry Funk even. There has been so many examples of guys who really did well with it, and brought their skillset over to it.“
However, despite his interests, Rhodes is not in a hurry to make the move.
What is stopping WWE Champion Cody Rhodes from entering Hollywood?
In the same interview, Rhodes also explained why he is taking his time before potentially switching gears to acting. The 40-year-old believes he still has a few matches to compete in WWE before making a move.
“Beyond that, there’s a few matches left on the board at WWE I haven’t had, and there will be new matches coming about each day, because we have so many guys getting locked and loaded down in NXT that I’ll probably want to touch before all is said and done.”
Rhodes is currently scheduled to defend his Undisputed title against Gunther at Clash in Italy on May 31, 2026.
Out and injured for several months now, Rhea Ripley has shared a major update on her husband Buddy Matthews’ return timeline.
While Ripley is one of the biggest stars on the WWE roster, her husband, Matthews, was also one of the most popular names in AEW. However, after suffering an injury last year in February 2025, Matthews has not been seen on AEW television.
“He’s still starting to get back into the ring stuff because he got injured over a year ago in February when they [AEW] went to Australia. So he got injured then, so he’s just started getting back into the ring now, and just trying to rehab it and see what he can do. He’ll get in, and we’ll run the ropes,” Ripley said.
“I’ve been teaching him some rolls, since the boys’ class didn’t do as many rolls as the girls ‘class, apparently… We’ve been getting in a little bit. Also, I get nervous about getting hurt, especially these days, because I’m always on the road, I’m always doing stuff. I want to stay sharp, but I also don’t want to get beat up more than I get beat up. So I go a little bit easier. He’s definitely going harder than me right now because he’s trying to get back into that mode.” (H/T Fightful)
Where is Buddy Matthews now?
It has been almost 15 months since Matthews was ruled out of action with an injury. He last wrestled Kazuchika Okada at Grand Slam Australia, where he suffered an ankle injury.
However, recovering and preparing for his in-ring comeback, Matthews recently shocked the world when he made his surprise appearance for World Series Wrestling. Following that, he was also announced for an upcoming indie tour across New Zealand and Australia.
On Thursday, WrestleVotes Radio on Fightful Select reported that TKO is looking at holding Verano de Escándalo on Saturday, July 25. However, the report notes that plans could be “more fluid” as a result of Triplemania being announced for two nights in September.
Following Saturday’s AAA Noche de los Grandes event at Arena Monterrey in Monterrey, Mexico, AAA also has a taping set for June 20 at the Foro GNP Seguros in Mérida, Yucatán. As recently announced, AAA will present Triplemania 34 on September 11 and 13 this year.
AAA Noche de los Grandes lineup
May 30, 2026 lineup:
El Grande Americano vs. “The Original” El Grande Americano – Mask vs. Mask match
El Hijo de Dr. Wagner Jr. (c) vs. El Hijo del Vikingo for the AAA Latin American Championship
Laredo Kid (c) vs. Rey Fenix for the AAA World Cruiserweight Championship
Pagano & Psycho Clown (c) vs. War Raiders (Ivar & Erik) for the AAA World Tag Team Championship
June 6, 2026 lineup:
Bayley, Lola Vice & La Catalina vs. Las Toxicas (Flammer, Maravilla & La Hiedra)
We’re a few days out from Turin, and if I can give one message to the fans: Believe me, this will mean as much to us and the WWE Superstars as it does to each and every one of you. We cannot wait to get there.
One of the great things about being a WWE Superstar is that global nature of what we do. The ability to go to countries where maybe they don’t speak the same language, maybe the culture is completely different to ours. It really points out the similarities, as opposed to the differences, between us all.
I’ve heard people say before that music is the universal language, but I think maybe WWE is the universal action genre. It connects with everybody. It’s simple to understand. It’s not country vs. country. It’s an escape. It’s larger-than-life superheroes solving their conflict in our ring. There’s a universal language to that.
WrestleVotes reports that, while WWE is being flexible with AAA’s scheduling ahead of this year’s two-night Triplemania, AAA Verano de Escandalo 2026 is planned for late July.
In an interview with Huge Pop, Gunther discussed the quick success Oba Femi has found on the WWE main roster:
He came in guns blazing, really good for him. Hasn’t been in the ring with me 20 minutes yet, so let’s see. I feel like down the line, that’s going to be something that’s very interesting. I think he’s a super exciting talent, and very much looking forward to seeing what he’s going to do in the next years. I think he’s got the potential to be a big superstar in this company, be one of the pillars down the line.
Yeah, I’ll never forget it. It was very early on, probably the first four months of Create A Pro. It’s kind of funny, because it’s a very similar mentality, he committed to something in college football, but he really had his heart set on wrestling. I think it kind of hit a wall with what he was doing and what his parents wanted him to do and what he wanted to do. I was in a very similar situation, because when you tell people you want to be a wrestler, it’s not really that believable. His dad came in with him, and it almost felt like, ‘Here, he’s your problem now, this is what he wants to do.’ I was like, let’s go. So pretty early on, we did a promo class where he just murdered this kid, and I was like, okay, and there’s something about this guy.
Myers called MJF’s in-ring ability “wildly underrated” and said MJF’s work ethic is something younger wrestlers should emulate:
He should be studied for young guys too, like just doing everything that you’re supposed to do to make it. Getting in the car, making the drives, making the connections, you know what I mean? Max is a people person. So he gets your number, ‘What’s your number?’ He stays on top of you for opportunities, things that a go-getter does, he did all those things. He checked all those boxes.
An update is available regarding Brock Lesnar’s WWE schedule for the next few months.
On Thursday, WrestleVotes Radio on Fightful Select reported that Lesnar is expected to continue with WWE following his rematch with Oba Femi at Clash in Italy on Saturday in Turin. However, the report also notes that Lesnar is not scheduled for the upcoming Saturday Night’s Main Event at Madison Square Garden on July 18.
Dave Meltzer addressed what is being said internally regarding Lesnar in the April 27, 2026 edition of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter, noting that he was told to treat Lesnar’s retirement angle after his loss to Oba Femi at WrestleMania 42 as an angle, and that most expect his retirement to take place at this year’s SummerSlam since it is taking place in Minnesota.
Meltzer wrote:
“Most in the company believed that was not his retirement and nobody would confirm that it was a true retirement. We were outright told to treat it as an angle including from the same person who warned us to treat the first Seth Rollins injury as an angle. Lesnar’s stuff by design is almost always kept secretive, Lesnar was very convincing and the situation came across so big that it would almost be a letdown for him to retire again. Most had expected his retirement at SummerSlam, since it is in Minneapolis this year.”
A movie based on Nattie Neidhart’s 2025 autobiography, The Last Hart Beating, could be in the works.
According to a report from WrestleVotes Radio on Fightful Select on Thursday, several Hollywood names have “expressed strong interest” in turning the book into a movie. An “A-list production company” is said to be interested.
In early 2024, Nattie posted a message to Instagram that she was working on a project “near and dear” to her heart, and tagged Rory Culkin and Yale Productions.
Later that year, Nattie spoke to TV Insider about The Iron Claw, the movie based on the Von Erichs, and also teased that a movie based on her family could be in the works. She also mentioned Paul Walter Hauser as someone who could potentially play her father, Jim “The Anvil” Neidhart.
Nattie said:
“If I were going to do a movie and could choose who I would personally want to play my dad, it would be Paul Walter Hauser. Paul is a huge wrestling fan. He just won the Emmy Award and called out Matt Cardona in his acceptance speech. I love Paul’s passion for the industry. I see old footage of my dad and think, ‘If there was a movie on the Hart family, call Paul Walter Hauser.’ I can’t unsee him as my dad. He has to be my dad. I love Paul. I think it’s so commendable that someone from his world has so much respect for us.”
During a dark period in her life, Rhea Ripley suffered a panic attack backstage at a WWE show and “collapsed” in catering.
Ripley, appearing on the latest episode of Stephanie McMahon’s “What’s Your Story?” podcast, opened up about how she’s learned to become less of a people pleaser and end friendships that are no longer working. There was a moment in time last year where Ripley had to cut a friend out of her life. On top of that, she was feeling a lot of self-imposed pressure at work surrounding Crown Jewel 2025 in her home country of Australia. It all boiled over with Ripley collapsing at the end of the Australia tour.
“The toughest time for me hit when we were in Australia,” Ripley said. “So I had that on my mind, I had the people pleaser in me trying to see everyone at home. I had me trying to please everyone in Australia because I felt like the face of Australia in WWE. So I was like, I take full responsibility for everything that’s happening here. I take responsibility for how I perform. I take responsibility for how these fans treat my peers. I took responsibility for too much, and I just wanted to make sure everyone was happy. And I was just at such a really low point. Even after — because we had the three shows, I had SmackDown, then we had Crown, and then we had Raw — by the time Raw was done, I like collapsed in catering.”
“It was bad. I had like a full panic attack and I just couldn’t — I hadn’t eaten, I hadn’t drank water, my body was shutting down, and I was probably the skinniest I’ve ever been. And I was just like dying.”
The “What’s Your Story?” episode was recorded prior to WrestleMania 42, where Ripley defeated Jade Cargill to win the WWE Women’s Championship. Around that time, Ripley disclosed that she’s suffered from an eating disorder, which is triggered by stress and not feeling in control. She credited her husband Buddy Matthews for being a “strong point” who helps her through these struggles.
Rhea Ripley at WWE Clash in Italy —
This Sunday, a WrestleMania rematch will take place at Clash in Italy when Ripley defends the WWE Women’s Championship against Cargill. The bout is scheduled for the first hour of the PLE broadcast, which begins at 2 p.m. Eastern time and will be simulcast on ESPN.
Ripley has dedicated this match to her late grandmother who grew up in Italy.
“I’ve always wanted to go to Italy but never had the opportunity. This weekend I finally get to live that dream at #ClashInItaly!,” Ripley wrote. “My Nonna was one of the most important and strongest people in my life. Going to the country where her and my Nonno grew up feels like I’m about to visit a home I’ve never had the pleasure to experience. I miss you every day! This one’s for you! I hope I make you proud when you look down on me.”
I’ve always wanted to go to Italy but never had the opportunity. This weekend I finally get to live that dream at #ClashInItaly! My Nonna was one of the most important and strongest people in my life. Going to the country where her and my Nonno grew up feels like I’m about to… pic.twitter.com/2N93eSgsmY
