Tag: austin theory

Maxxine Dupri says WWE heel might be ‘a little misunderstood’

Posted on by Rosanne Raphael

Maxxine Dupri addressed her conversations with Austin Theory over the past few months on WWE Raw. 

Dupri told Denise Salcedo during her interview that The Vision was misunderstood and Theory was being perceived in a different light. They have been featured in the background of multiple backstage segments on WWE Raw. 

“I’m a friendly girl. I get along with everyone. I’m friends with all the girls in the locker room. I’m friends with a lot of the guys on the roster.”

“I think that The Vision is doing what The Vision needs to do, and maybe they’re a little misunderstood.”  

“I think that if people took the time to get to know them and get to know Austin that maybe they would feel differently. I just think that I’ve gotten to see that other side.” 

She also talked about her feud with Becky Lynch, winning the Intercontinental Championship and training with Natalya at the dungeon. 

“It was nuts. Being in the dungeon is so spooky. Let me tell you, [laughter] it was, I feel so blessed that I was able to train with Natalya and with TJ (Wilson) and I learned so much from them. And one of the main things I learned, and it’s what we call our dungeon lungs, is really building that stamina because when you’re in there with someone like Becky Lynch, you have to have the stamina to not only keep up with her, but to be able to reverse everything she does and be able to stay active and to have the crowd, you have to be present and have those emotions. And you can’t be present if you’re huffing and puffing, you know? So, it was really that stamina that I built there that changed the game for me.”

Dupri won the Intercontinental Championship, which also marked her first WWE title win in November 2025. She defeated Lynch amid a rivalry that had been simmering for months and eventually implodd into a title feud. 

Her victory over Lynch under Natalya’s mentorship established her as a rising force in the women’s division, proving that she can hold her own against one of WWE’s most accomplished stars. 

WWE considering new additions to The Vision

Posted on by Joseph Currier

It sounds like Paul Heyman’s faction The Vision could be getting some reinforcements soon.

With Bronson Reed already sidelined, The Vision suffered another blow with Logan Paul tearing his triceps last weekend at WWE Saturday Night’s Main Event. The World Tag Team titles do still remain in The Vision’s possession with Bron Breakker filling in as Austin Theory’s partner. And Dave Meltzer reports that WWE has discussed the idea of adding other members to the group, even past the teased addition of Maxxine Dupri.

Meltzer wrote in the new edition of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter:

  • On Raw, they said that Paul Heyman had put ‘The Vision’ and not individual members of the team in all contracts related to the title, so Theory & Bron Breakker (the only members of the team right now not injured, although I expect them to add members–besides Maxxine Dupri – and there has been talk of that even before this injury) are going to be the tag team champions for now.

The Vision has been snakebitten by injuries since its introduction. Founding member Seth Rollins hurt his shoulder in 2025, which sped up the timeline for him to be kicked out of the group. Breakker then needed to undergo hernia surgery earlier this year before returning at WrestleMania.

A connection between Theory and Dupri has been forming on WWE programming ahead of Dupri possibly splitting off from Otis & Akira Tozawa. Past that, it’s not known who could potentially join The Vision.

Logan Paul’s recovery timeline —

Paul has already undergone triceps surgery and was given a six-month timeline for how long he’ll be out of action. He is hoping to make it back much sooner, though, writing that he wants to be back “in a couple weeks.”

“Tore my tricep, got surgery while wide awake, told doc I wanna feel it all. Still the Tag Team champ just FYI,” Paul wrote on Instagram this Wednesday. “They’re telling me 6 month recovery but I don’t believe them, I’ll be back in a couple weeks with some @drinkprime shake (32g protein).”

Austin Theory explains reason for 2025 WWE absence 

Posted on by Rosanne Raphael

In July 2025, Austin Theory was abruptly sidelined due to an injury, the nature of which was undisclosed.  

Speaking on the The Mark Hoke Show Pro Wrestling Radio / Podcast, Theory revealed that he was dealing with a hernia that had worsened over time. Despite the condition, he continued to compete regularly leading to an incident of being rushed to the Emergency Room before a Main Event match. 

“Everything happens for a reason. But, I was actually wrestling with a hernia for a very long time, and as gross as it is, I was having to pop it back in after certain matches and yeah, just stuff people don’t know about. They don’t know when somebody goes to the ring what the damage is but, I was in a good spot, and even when it was hitting a low for me, I was doing everything that I could to just stay and keep the wheels turning on the car, and it reached a point, I had a match on Main Event, and it would not go back in. So that night, I went to the emergency room, and it blew my mind because I was like, ‘wow, I just had my gear on, and I went out there and I wrestled and now I’m in the E.R.’, and now it’s like, well, ‘where does this go from now?’ Because now I’m out of the picture.” 

He elaborated that his WWE contract was nearing expiration at the time which became an additional cause of worry. 

“My contract was actually coming up so, a lot of things were hitting me personally and that’s kind of one of those things, that’s a low point in your life where you get really rocked, and to me, those points are where you really,  you either stay down or you pick yourself up and you become a version of yourself that’s always been in you but it takes you to that next level, and it helped me reframe my mindset and everything and coming back, I just knew, this is my value and this is what I need to be doing. So, and as you see, it’s clear vision now.”

In December 2025, Theory returned to WWE and revealed his identity as the masked man who targeted Seth Rollins at Survivor Series:WarGames. This forged his union with The Vision.  

Last month, he and Logan Paul defeated The Usos to win the World Tag Team Championship. At WrestleMania 42, the champions will team up with IShowSpeed against The Usos and LA Knight. This escalated after IShowSpeed cost The Usos their tag team titles on the March 30 edition of Raw leaving them furious. 

Matt Hardy reacts to WWE Raw Tag Team title change

Posted on by Rosanne Raphael

Matt Hardy, a veteran of the tag team division, reacted to The Vision’s victory over The Usos on Raw. 

Hardy commented on Logan Paul and Austin Theory’s WWE Tag Team Title win while teasing a return for WrestleMania 42. He cited the fans would go wild if The Hardy Boyz targeted their titles at the Premium Live Event next month. 

“It’s a travesty to watch the @WWEUsos get beaten by @LoganPaul & @_Theory1 for the @WWE Tag Team Titles on #WWERAW. I bet the@WrestleMania 42 crowd would go CRAZY if The Hardy Boyz beat their ass & brought the titles back home to our home, the WWE.” tweeted Matt Hardy. 

Matt and Jeff Hardy’s surprise return at WrestleMania 33 is considered one of the best fan-favorite moments in WWE. They were a mystery tag team added at the last minute to the Raw Tag Team Championship ladder match. 

The brothers competed on NXT last year amid the brand’s partnership with TNA. They are in their fourth reign as TNA World Tag Team Champions. 

In WWE, The Vision were persistent in their pursuit of tag team gold backed by Paul Heyman. LA Knight was ringside at commentary during the Raw title match. 

Chaos erupted when Logan Paul’s mother handed him brass knuckles to use in the match but Knight prompted to stop him. IShowSpeed got involved when he fell over the barricade and accidentally knocked out Knight with the brass knuckles. Paul used the weapon against The Usos. And ultimately leading Theory to pin Jimmy Uso. 

Tag Team titles to be defended on WWE Raw

Posted on by Joseph Currier

WWE has raised the stakes for one of the matches scheduled for Raw next Monday.

On WWE’s website, it’s listed that Logan Paul & Austin Theory will challenge The Usos for the World Tag Team titles on the March 23 episode of Raw. The matchup had already been announced for the show but was not listed as being for the titles until now.

“Paul Heyman has made it clear to Austin Theory and Logan Paul that they need to take down The Usos,” WWE.com wrote. “Jimmy Uso and Jey Uso will put the World Tag Team Title on the line against Theory and Paul, Monday on Raw at 8 ET/5 PT on Netflix.”

If The Vision were to win the belts, this would be Paul’s first Tag Team title reign in WWE. He previously had a run as United States Champion in 2023-2024. Theory is a former WWE Tag Team Champion with Grayson Waller.

The Usos’ current reign began when they won the belts from AJ Styles & Dragon Lee at the end of December 2025. Their only televised defense so far has been a victory over Akira Tozawa & Otis.

TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts is hosting Monday’s Raw. It’s one of only four Raw episodes remaining before WrestleMania 42. Brock Lesnar is slated to make an appearance, which comes one week after he was laid out by his WrestleMania opponent Oba Femi.

WWE Raw (Monday, March 23) —

  • World Tag Team Champions The Usos defend against Logan Paul & Austin Theory
  • Brock Lesnar reacts to being taken out by Oba Femi

The Vision vs. The Usos added to next week’s WWE Raw

Posted on by Bryan Rose

A tag team match is set for next week’s Raw.

It was announced that next week’s show in Boston will see The Vision’s Logan Paul and Austin Theory taking on The Usos, who they have been feuding with for the last several weeks. Paul Heyman instructed The Vision backstage to focus on The Usos for the time being, with both agreeing they needed to be taken out.

Several weeks ago, Heyman was attacked by Seth Rollins, who struck Heyman with a steel chair and gave him the stomp. As Heyman was being stretchered out, The Vision were jumped by The Usos as LA Knight was seen speeding away in the ambulance with the battered Heyman.

This week’s show opened with Heyman returning to television, disheveled but bringing in someone to confront Seth Rollins: Brock Lesnar. The two met face-to-face after Lesnar took out Rollins’ group of masked men. Plans were interrupted when Oba Femi came out. Rollins exited the ring, causing a brief distraction on Lesnar’s part that allowed him to walk into a pop-up powerbomb by Femi, who then placed his foot on Lesnar and pointed at the WrestleMania sign.

WWE Raw (March 23)

  • Logan Paul & Austin Theory vs. The Usos
  • Brock Lesnar will appear

Paul Heyman compares Austin Theory to WWE Hall of Famer

Posted on by Bryan Rose

Paul Heyman is setting the bar high for Austin Theory.

In an interview with Busted Open, Heyman compared the newest member of The Vision to one of the biggest stars in WWE history, noting that he had the size and discipline to become a major player.

“He’s Shawn Michaels when Shawn Michaels was in The Rockers,” he declared. “My apologies to Austin Theory if that’s too low of a bar to set for him. Why not? Why not. If that kid can’t figure out the things that he’s doing wrong and accentuate the things that he’s already doing right then please tell me who can. What doesn’t he have? He has decent size and he’s only getting bigger. He has tremendous discipline, he’s not one of these guys that is out all night in Europe at the eurotrash rave in Paris at 4:30 in the morning, he’s in the gym at 4:30 in the morning and he’s back in the gym as soon as the matches are over.”

Heyman went as far to say that if Theory was able to get everything together, he would be ‘untouchable.’

“He’s highly intelligent. He speaks to the youth. He looks great and can work his balls off,” he added. “So once he figures out the difference between a really good match and a money match, once he understands that being out of character while in character and relaxing within the skin of that character, Austin Theory is going to be untouchable.”

Theory was introduced as the newest member of The Vision at the end of last year after aiding the group at Survivor Series, helping them win their War Games match. In the months since, he has regularly teamed with stablemates Bronson Reed and Logan Paul.

Austin Theory officially joins The Vision on WWE Raw

Posted on by Vincent Verhei

The top heel faction on WWE’s flagship show has officially added a new member.

Austin Theory was formally named as a member of the group on Monday Night Raw. Theory was seen warming up backstage for a singles match against Mysterio when he was approached by Paul Heyman and the other members of the Vision. Heyman extended a hand to Theory, saying “Welcome to the Vision.” Paul, Reed, and Bron Breakker all vowed to watch Theory’s back, and he vowed to watch theirs in return.

Theory lost the match by DQ after Paul interfered, allowing the two to gang up on Mysterio until a returning Penta made the save.

The former United States Champion had disappeared from WWE in the middle of the summer, but he made his return at Survivor Series WarGames in late November, wearing a mask and attacking CM Punk to help the Vision, Drew McIntyre, and Brock Lesnar win the men’s WarGames match.  He then returned on the December 15 episode of Raw, attacking Rey Mysterio to help Logan Paul to a win. Punk hit the ring but Theory fled to the crowd, where he pulled his mask off and revealed his face. He teamed with Bronson Reed to defeat Punk and Mysterio in a tag match a week later. 

Fight Game: What will keep WWE hot in 2026?

Posted on by Garrett Gonzales

John LaRocca and I return with a brand-new Fight Game to discuss some of the most interesting topics in pro wrestling this week.

After doing our Thumbs Up/Thumbs Down segment, we hit on our major topics of the week which included:

  • Austin Theory unmasking
  • If WWE can stay hot in 2026 and how
  • AEW Continental Classic update
  • AEW Worlds End lineup thus far

Click Here to Listen (sub needed)

Mystery attacker revealed on WWE Raw

Posted on by Bryan Rose

The mystery attacker helping The Vision has been revealed.

During the main event of Raw, the attacker struck once more, taking out Rey Mysterio with a curb stomp. That allowed Logan Paul to hit the frog splash, scoring the win. After the match, Paul and the attacker had a staredown until CM Punk arrived with a chair, sending the mystery assailant into the crowd. It was there that he finally revealed himself to be none other than Austin Theory, sporting a newly-shaved head.

As Punk was digesting what was going on, Bron Breakker arrived and speared Punk, telling him to never talk about his family again, a reference from Punk’s promo earlier in the night. The show closed with Breakker posing with the World Heavyweight title ahead of their title match on Janaury 6.

Theory had been absent from television since July, with former tag team partner Grayson Waller abandoning him in favor of a new association with the New Day. The finish of the men’s WarGames match at Survivor Series saw a masked man help the Vision score the win for their team. In the weeks since, Adam Pearce had been attempting to get answers from Paul Heyman, who feigned ignorance up until tonight’s show. Pearce earlier in the night told Heyman he wanted answers by the end of the night.

Former champion ruled out as mystery attacker on WWE Raw

Posted on by Shounak Chakrabarti

Rumors linking former WWE Tag Team Champion Montez Ford as this week’s mystery attacker on Raw have been debunked, according to Bryan Alvarez on Thursday’s Wrestling Observer Live.

Speculations intensified after the mystery man resurfaced on this past Monday’s Raw, but Alvarez confirmed that Ford was not the man behind the appearance, although Austin Theory’s identity as the attacker still looms.

Alvarez explained that social media users attempted to determine the attacker’s identity based on his physique with many concluding it was Ford.

“So, Monday, another mystery man showed up, and it was not Austin Theory,” he continued. “Now, if you go on social media, I swear to God, everybody was trying to figure out who the new mystery man was based on his butt. And, everyone concluded that it was Montez Ford,” Alvarez noted.

Alvarez added that while he does not know who the masked wrestler was, he was “told specifically it was not Montez Ford.”

Theory has long been rumored to join The Vision and was widely reported to be under the mask at Survivor Series when the mystery man laid out CM Punk, leading to The Vision’s win in the men’s WarGames match.

Update on identity of masked man from WWE Raw and Survivor Series

Posted on by Ian Carey

An update is available regarding who has portrayed the masked man who attacked LA Knight and Rey Mysterio on Monday’s WWE Raw and CM Punk at Survivor Series.

Our own Bryan Alvarez posted to subscribers on X that in an attempt to throw fans off, at least two different people have portrayed the masked character thus far.

Alvarez wrote:

“In an effort to throw fans off, it appears at least two different people have been under the mystery man mask”

The mystery masked character first appeared during the Men’s WarGames Match at WWE Survivor Series in San Diego. The person scaled the cage and gave Punk a curb stomp while mimicking other Seth Rollins mannerisms.

Dave Meltzer addressed the character in the December 8 edition of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter, writing that it was Austin Theory, who had once been scheduled to be on the heel men’s WarGames team, under the mask. Meltzer wrote that Paul Heyman wants Theory in The Vision to take pins for the faction.

Meltzer wrote:

“Austin Theory was the guy under the mask. Paul Heyman had wanted to bring Theory into the Vision, largely to make him a star and to protect Breakker and Reed from having to take pins. He would have been in this match had Jacob Fatu not gotten hurt, which sped up the Cody Rhodes vs. Drew McIntyre feud since they were going to be on this show originally instead of the prior show which was to be Fatu vs. McIntyre to set up this show with McIntyre winning. The Fatu injury led to Rhodes moving into the WarGames team, and with him in the match, McIntyre made far more sense than Theory.”

Report: Ex-champion identified as mystery man at WWE Survivor Series

Posted on by Shounak Chakrabarti

Multiple reports have now emerged on the identity of the mysterious figure at WWE Survivor Series: WarGames 2025.

The final moments of the men’s WarGames match saw a mysterious hooded figure interfere. The unidentified man went onto superkick and stomp CM Punk, allowing Bron Breakker to spear Punk and secure the victory. Now, multiple reports have emerged confirming the identity of the mysterious man.

According to PWInsider, Austin Theory was the one in the black outfit who got involved in the main event. Even before the segment happened, PWInsider had noted that Theory was present backstage, and the plan was to get him involved in a disguise.

Shortly after the match finished, Fightful Select published a similar report. Fightful Select noted that WWE sources close to them claimed that the masked figure tonight was Austin Theory.

During the Survivor Series post-show, Paul Heyman was asked to reveal the identity of the attacker, but Heyman refused to answer the question on multiple occasions. Despite numerous reports circulating, WWE has yet to officially acknowledge the situation.

Austin Theory, a former United States Champion, has been absent from WWE television for several months. Previously reported as dealing with an injury, Theory may now be on his way back. Also, before plans changed due to Seth Rollins’ injury, he was planned to be part of the WarGames team alongside Bronson Reed, Bron Breakker, and Seth Rollins.

Report: Update on Austin Theory potentially joining The Vision

Posted on by Ian Carey

Austin Theory is reportedly still factored into creative plans involving The Vision.

Dave Meltzer reported in the October 13 Wrestling Observer Newsletter that Theory was planned to team with Seth Rollins, Bron Breakker, Bronson Reed, and Brock Lesnar in the men’s War Games match at Survivor Series. On Tuesday, WrestleVotes reported that there are “voices” in WWE pushing to keep Theory involved in creative plans despite the injury Rollins suffered at Crown Jewel.

WrestleVotes wrote:

“Sources indicate there are still voices within the company pushing to keep Austin Theory involved in creative plans, even after the recent shuffling caused by Seth Rollins’ injury. The idea of Theory joining The Vision was at least discussed, and he still has internal support moving forward to reappear on TV in a significant manner.”

Meltzer addressed the latest regarding Theory in Friday’s edition of the Newsletter, noting that Theory joining The Vision would have led to CM Punk and Roman Reigns aligning. He mentioned there had been talk of Theory debuting for The Vision on the October 13 Raw.

“Theory’s involvement would have in some form led to Reigns and Punk coming together on the same unit against The Vision in War Games, since Reigns was beaten at Crown Jewel by Reed, with help from Breakker,” Meltzer wrote.

Theory hasn’t wrestled since the July 14 taping of Main Event, where he lost to El Grande Americano.

WOR: John Cena’s last matches, final WON HOF discussion

Posted on by Garrett Gonzales

Dave Meltzer and I are back with the Friday edition of Wrestling Observer Radio, talking about some of the major stories from today’s Wrestling Observer Newsletter.

We discuss the following:

  • Dave’s story on the new TV ratings
  • John Cena’s last matches
  • Seth Rollins and CM Punk scheduled to face each other at Saturday Night’s Main Event
  • Austin Theory being in WarGames
  • Andrade not working WrestleDream
  • Dave’s review of The Smashing Machine

For the second half of the show, John Muse, Ethan Tyler, and Phil Lions joined us for the last part of the Wrestling Observer Hall of Fame discussion for this year.

Click here to listen (sub needed) or watch on YouTube