Tag: d-von dudley

Jim Ross responds to D-Von Dudley’s racism allegations

Posted on by Shounak Chakrabarti

Last year, WWE veteran D-Von Dudley dropped the bomb when he charged current AEW commentator and WWE Hall of Famer Jim Ross with racism allegations. While, Ross later responded and denied them, Dudley recently followed up on the allegations and shared more details about the incident. Now, just a few days later, Ross decided to not stay silent and responded to Dudley’s comments.

Speaking on the latest edition of the Grilling JR podcast, Ross responded and claimed that he’s not a racist and never has been one.

“How many times do I gotta address it to satisfy everybody? I am not a racist. I have never been a racist. Ask some of the African-American athletes that I’ve been around and worked with in my 50-year career. They’ll say the same thing, and like I said before, when you and I first talked about this, I don’t remember the first cross word I had with D-Von (Dudley),” Ross continued.

“The boisterous one was Bubba (Ray Dudley). But not in a bad way. He just had no problem expressing himself and Bubba had a lot of ideas. He was a throwback. A main event guy that wanted to be involved into booking his angle, and I loved that. If more guys would do that and today, they just wait for someone to tell ‘em what they’re gonna do tonight, and that’s the wrong approach in my opinion. But, I’d have no problem reconnecting with D-Von. I’ve never gotten mad at him. I was bewildered about how this could happen. Because like I said, I don’t remember any negative exchanges with him.“

Former WWE wrestler Maven had also reached out to Conrad Thompson and suggested the idea of Ross and Dudley meeting to discuss and settle out their differences. However, Ross claimed that while he is open to the idea of meeting D-Von because he ‘likes’ him, he is not interested in making a “TV show out of it” as well as monetize it.

Suffering from several recent health scares, Ross made his AEW return on their latest January 7th, 2026 edition of Dynamite.

D-Von Dudley gives further details on racism allegations involving Jim Ross

Posted on by Ian Carey

D-Von Dudley has responded to Jim Ross denying allegations that Ross made racist comments toward him during their time together in WWE.

In a video posted to his YouTube channel in late October, D-Von said that a WWE higher-up told him he did not like him because of the color of his skin, implying Ross was the person involved. Bully Ray backed up D-Von’s account. D-Von also described a second incident involving Ross that took place in the presence of Paul Heyman, Spike Dudley, and Tommy Dreamer.

Ross addressed the claim last month, saying he “never uttered those words” and that he does not recall ever having any conflict with D-Von.

On Wednesday, D-Von uploaded another video to his YouTube channel and provided additional details about the two incidents.

D-Von said of an interaction with Ross at WWF New York in 1999:

“It was at the WWE restaurant, the grand opening of it. We were mingling with some of the guests that were there. A lot of them were artists, musical artists, things like that. There were some actors and actresses that were there. WWE really rolled out the red carpet for this event.”

D-Von said he went down to a private room at the restaurant, where Ross later approached him and Bubba. According to D-Von, Ross told them they were doing really well in WWE, but said he was unsure about D-Von.

“He said, ‘You boys are doing really good, and this and that. I like you boys, I like you boys a lot. D-Von, I’m not too sure. The verdict’s still out on him. I’m not too sure how I particularly feel about this.’“

D-Von said Bully Ray interjected at this point.

“And Bubba knew what he was getting at. So Bubba butts in and goes, ‘You know something, JR, regardless of what, D-Von’s a hard worker. He never gives this company any problems.”

“And JR continued, ‘Well, you know, I get that. That’s all good, but there’s just something about him. I’m not sure.'”

“And finally, that’s when it comes out. ‘He’s Black. I just don’t know. That’s my hiccup.'”

D-Von said that Bubba again attempted to interject, telling JR that D-Von is a “good human being.”

D-Von says Ross continued, “‘I’m not saying that he’s not, but I just don’t know. You know, because he’s Black and I just don’t know about that.’”

D-Von continued:

“I had to think about it. If I hit him, we’re going to lose our jobs. If I say something, I can lose my job. Because at that time, I didn’t think that I would be able to fight that. Again, I’m a little fish in a big pond.“

D-Von added that Ross was heavily intoxicated during the incident.

“Remind you though, when he said it he was extremely drunk. He was extremely drunk, slurring his words. But they say when you’re drunk, the truth comes out.”

D-Von then described another incident that took place in Indianapolis.

“And then the other incident was in Indianapolis, where myself, Dreamer, Bubba, Heyman, and Spike were sitting at the table.”

“And I think JR had just come in catering. He had just gotten out of a meeting, and he comes over. He says hello to everybody but me.”

D-Von says that Heyman called Ross out for saying hello to everyone but D-Von.

“Paul pretty much called him out, says, ‘What? You don’t want to say nothing because what? Why don’t you want to say hello to D-Von? What’s wrong with D-Von? What, ’cause he’s Black?’”

“And JR went, ‘You’re damn right cause he’s Black, you’re damn right.”

“I don’t know if he got mad at that and that’s why he said what he said, because his ego got in the way or what have you. But that’s what was said.”

D-Von also said he never had any issues with other WWE executives regarding race, specifically mentioning Vince McMahon and Michael Hayes. He also said he holds no hard feelings for Ross.

D-Von’s full video is available below:

Jim Ross denies D-Von Dudley racism allegation: ‘I never uttered those words’

Posted on by Joseph Currier

Legendary wrestling announcer Jim Ross has issued a response after being accused of racism by D-Von Dudley.

Back in October, Dudley alleged that — when they were both with WWE around 1999-2000 — Ross told him that he did not like him because of the color of his skin. Bubba Ray Dudley backed up his tag team partner’s account, and D-Von said Paul Heyman, Spike Dudley, and Tommy Dreamer were also there for the incident.

Ross addressed the allegation during a Q&A on the latest episode of his Grilling JR podcast, noting that it only took him this long to respond because he was going through health issues in October. Ross said he was puzzled by Dudley’s comments and denied that the alleged incident ever happened.

“Recently I heard that D-Von Dudley thought I was a racist,” Ross said before a clip of Dudley’s comments was played.

“That’s so absurd. It’s not even — it doesn’t merit a response. I like D-Von. I like him today. I hired he and Bubba. I thought we did a good job of booking them. They made money. They were put in situations where they could do the things they do best. You know, those TLC matches were pieces of art. They’ll last forever. The Dudleys were a major part of that. I know Bubba for sure because I’ve heard it was involved in the booking of that stuff.

“And I don’t know. I was shocked to hear that, because I don’t recall ever having a cross word with D-Von Dudley. I always respected him and his work. I loved the Dudley tag team. So I was — it took me totally off guard. I never said that to D-Von Dudley. And why he would conjure up that, I guess to get attention. I thought, well, maybe he’s not as happy with his post-wrestling life as Bubba is, because Bubba’s made a tremendous success of himself as a broadcaster — and still works. So, I never said that. Some people I’m sure are going to still believe it, and that’s their prerogative, but I’m not angry at D-Von. I just am curious and don’t understand why he went there. Just don’t get it.”

Ross named Shelton Benjamin, Junkyard Dog, and Ernie Ladd among the Black wrestlers he either signed to contracts or loved working with over the years. Despite this allegation, Ross added that he still respects Dudley as well.

“I still have great respect for D-Von and I’m glad that we got to work together,” Ross said. “But I never uttered those words.”

Ross, 73, will be in attendance when AEW comes to his home state of Oklahoma on January 7. He’s under contract with AEW for a role that sees him provide commentary at pay-per-view events.

D-Von Dudley accuses Jim Ross of racism in WWE Attitude Era incident

Posted on by Joseph Currier

After accusing an unnamed former WWE higher-up of racism, D-Von Dudley has confirmed that Jim Ross is the person he was talking about.

Dudley uploaded a YouTube video this month speaking with Bully Ray and Maven. During their conversation, Dudley addressed whether he experienced racism in pro wrestling. Dudley said that, around 1999-2000, there was someone in WWE who directly told him that they did not like him because of the color of his skin. Dudley did not name Ross as the individual at the time, but he heavily hinted at it by speaking with a Southern accent and mentioning 10-gallon hats.

A recent interview with Videogamer also saw Dudley address the situation without mentioning Ross by name.

Because fans were now speculating on who he was talking about, Dudley confirmed that the individual was not Vince McMahon, Michael Hayes, John Laurinaitis, or Pat Patterson. Dudley said WWE as a company has been great to him and helped him put a roof over his head during his career.

“Was it JR? Yes. I did have a problem with JR back then — and I didn’t know why,” Dudley said on Devon and The Duke. “I’m not angry at the man today. I know the man is going through some health problems, some health issues. And just to show you where I am and the place that I’m in, I pray [that] God, you know, can heal his body. But was I disappointed with that man when he said the things he said to me back then? Yes I was.”

In the initial YouTube video, Bully Ray corroborated that the interaction D-Von was talking about did happen. D-Von said Paul Heyman, Spike Dudley, and Tommy Dreamer were also there.

“I was very hurt, very bothered by what the man had said on two separate occasions,” D-Von said about Ross. “And like I said about [Hulk] Hogan, I’m not asking you to forget what was said, but you have to forgive. And I’ve forgiven him in my heart.

“I have not talked to him. When I see him, I don’t say anything to him. Because not once has he come to me and apologized for the things that he said. And he might say he don’t remember, that’s fine…

“I don’t hold any ill feelings towards the man. Again, I won’t forget. But I do have to forgive him. And whether he wants to be, you know, stubborn about it or what have you, that’s on him. But my heart of hearts is letting it go.”

Ross was a commentator for WWE during this Attitude Era period and also served as WWE’s Head of Talent Relations. The 73 year old now works for AEW in a part-time announcing role.

At TNA Bound for Glory on October 12, Dudley retired from the ring with his last match being one final bout between The Dudleys and Hardys.

Daily Update: NJPW, D-Von Dudley, Jelly Roll

Posted on by Joseph Currier

Daily Update

Latest News

Latest Audio

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This Week’s Wrestling Observer Newsletter

Notes from the new issue which apparently has been the talk of the social media wrestling world:

  • Seth Rollins injury and how this will lead to numerous changes in booking plans, including what was scheduled short and long-term for Rollins through Mania and after.
  • Full coverage of Crown Jewel, business notes and match coverage
  • The Media Ratings Council has questions about the new numbers
  • Just how far Smackdown has dropped with younger viewers based on the new sampling and NXT isn’t much different, nor is AEW
  • Konosuke Takeshita beats Zack Sabre Jr. to win the IWGP title, a look at King of Prm Wrestling, WrestleKingdom, first thoughts on Aaron Wolf, and the angles on the show
  • WrestleDream preview, business notes, as well as Saturday Night’s Main Event in Salt Lake City needs the entire show revamped
  • Odds for upcoming big matches
  • TNA Bound for Glory notes
  • A detailed story on WWE cuts focusing on Ridge Holland and Wes Lee
  • Pro Wrestling NOAH at Sumo Hall
  • A huge story on the 2025 Hall of Fame U.S. & Canada candidates
  • What the awards voting over the last 45 years says about those who fare better not in than those who are in.
  • The most detailed look at the ratings for all the wrestling shows of the past week
  • It’s women’s month at Arena Mexico but one person is still the star, a look at the recent main events
  • A look at two PPV shows from Arena Mexico coming
  • Who is the obvious choice for tag team of the year that nobody is talking about
  • Best of the Super Juniors tournament
  • Japanese referee dies in bear attack
  • Update on Smashing Machine business
  • They named a bridge after Stu Hart and more notes
  • NFL star copying Ric Flair
  • Fantastica Mania UK
  • The Andrade situation
  • Lots of background details on similar stories
  • Kota Ibushi update
  • Notes on Chris Jericho and Britt Baker
  • Darby Allin talks about the cancers that used to be in AEW
  • Update on a training camp for AEW in Asheville, NC
  • Rematch of a match of the year candidate coming to AEW show in Edinburg, TX
  • Updates on YouTube numbers for September
  • Debate over the new and old Ali Act
  • Details on Zuffa Boxing deals
  • How much UFC makes in profit per Saturday show
  • New UFC fights
  • Sad BJ Penn story
  • Stories on fighters getting screwed by promoters
  • Ticket demand for John Cena’s last show
  • New WWE hire, usage of AI for wrestling storylines and some are worried about their jobs
  • AJ Styles talks retiring
  • WWE injury updates

This Week’s Back Issue

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Thursday Update

WWE

  • On Insight with Chris Van Vliet, Jelly Roll detailed pitching to Paul “Triple H” Levesque why he wanted to lose his in-ring debut at SummerSlam:
    • It was an easy pitch. I was just like, it took three things. One, it’s the right thing to do, let’s just start at core values here. No celebrity has any business coming in and pinning a wrestler on their first run without some extreme circumstance. [Like] if Randy comes out and double RKOs everybody while I’m out and puts me on top of somebody.
    • But two, I can always come back, I don’t think any other celebrity ever really cared enough to think full angle through. If I lose this, I love Logan. That’s my friend in real life. But every time he’s in that ring, now he’s got to wonder if at some point he’s going to hear, ‘You know I got it, so come and get it’ [Who’s Your Daddy? By Toby Keith]. He’s got to wonder about that a little bit. Drew too. If I really owe one of them, it’s Drew. So that was part two of it. I was also smart enough to be like, Yo, I want to angle in. And I was like, I don’t want to be remembered as a celebrity who did the thing, and then Triple H stopped me. This will probably be on Unreal because it was so gangster. He said, ‘I will tell you this though.’ He said Floyd wanted to lose to The Big Show. I don’t know if I should be sharing that, but he told me that, and I thought that was cool.
  • The Battleground Podcast has an interview with Jacy Jayne.
  • Denise Salcedo interviewed Natalya about her upcoming book.
  • Titus O’Neil appeared on TMZ’s Inside the Ring podcast.
  • Former WWE wrestler Hornswoggle was a guest on “What’s Your Story?” with Stephanie McMahon.
  • WWE Vault uploaded the full “Triumph & Tragedy of World Class Championship Wrestling” documentary that WWE produced in 2007.
  • The Vault channel also shared behind-the-scenes footage of a CM Punk Hell in a Cell commercial shoot from 2012.

Other Wrestling

  • D-Von Dudley spoke to Video Gamer about racism in pro wrestling:
    • I’ve said this before and I’ll say it again. The Klan wore sheets on their heads. The Ku Klux Klan wore sheets over their heads. And I felt that a lot of those Klan members made their way into wrestling, traded in their sheets for suits. 
    • It was definitely a behind the scenes thing. I’ve dealt with it with certainly higher ups like MVP said. I dealt with that certain higher up that told me to my face, they don’t like me because of the color of my skin. And they work for other organizations now, and this person knows who he is. I have no respect for that person. I don’t really care for him. Now that he’s not in the position that he once was, I just really don’t care for him.
  • Dudley addressed whether he would like to work behind the scenes again now that he’s retired from the ring:
    • I have a very successful YouTube channel that’s doing extremely well. So I’m doing that and I still have my legends deal with WWE, I’m doing that. I still have my wrestling school in Winter Park, which is right down the road from the PC in Florida. And I have my detailing business in Fort Lauderdale. So I’m set. I’m good and hopefully God continues to bless me and I continue to strive in what I do and be successful. Right now my life is my family, my businesses. And that’s it now.
  • Due to illness, Katsuya Murashima missed today’s NJPW event at Korakuen Hall in Tokyo. Zane Jay replaced him on the card, teaming with Hiroshi Tanahashi in a loss to Shingo Takagi & Yota Tsuji.
  • NJPW Super Junior Tag League 2025 kicked off with the following results:
    • B Block: Robbie Eagles & Kosei Fujita defeated El Desperado & KUUKAI
    • A Block: YOH & Master Wato defeated Ryusuke Taguchi & Dragon Dia
    • B Block: KUSHIDA & Yuki Yoshioka defeated Tiger Mask & YAMATO
    • A Block: Hiromu Takahashi & Gedo defeated Clark Connors & Daiki Nagai
    • B Block: Taiji Ishimori & Robbie X defeated Yoshinobu Kanemaru & Dick Togo
    • A Block: DOUKI & SHO defeated Templario & Jakob Austin Young
  • Marko Stunt (real name Noah Nelms) – who retired from wrestling last year – posted a Tiktok video documenting his new career as a car salesman.
  • Eric Bischoff spoke to Undisputed ahead of Real American Freestyle holding its second-ever event this Saturday:
    • This hits different for me. I love starting something from scratch and building it. That’s always appealed to me. And this one is special. We’re taking an idea we discussed over coffee. We’re literally starting this from the ground up–every aspect of it. That’s what excites me the most.
    • I can’t wait for Saturday. And we have a surprise on standby that will light everyone up. It’s going to be a big night.
  • Goldberg was a guest on Real Talk with Mike Burke.
  • Aubrey Edwards & Will Washington reacted to WrestleDream on a new episode of AEW Unrestricted.

D-Von Dudley recalls meetings with AEW’s Tony Khan: ‘All three were a bust’

Posted on by Joseph Currier

When D-Von Dudley departed his WWE behind-the-scenes role in 2023, he had some discussions with Tony Khan about potentially joining AEW.

In a new interview, Dudley told Video Gamer that his agent contacted AEW about a potential job after Dudley’s WWE exit. That job did not come to fruition, though, because Dudley was only interested in being an agent/producer. Dudley says Khan wanted him to compete in the ring or be a manager:

  • I was looking to become a producer. I wasn’t looking to become a wrestler. And the only reason why my agent even contacted them was because of the fact that I left WWE and I wanted to still do the agent role. But my sons were there at the time and I was gonna try to do anything I could to help my sons out. I expressed to Tony that I didn’t wanna wrestle. He kept trying to push it. He would have loved me to go out there and do a couple of things, maybe be a manager and maybe even do a six-man tag match. And I told him, I said, ‘If I do a six-man, let me know right now. I’ll be on [the] apron and the boys are gonna do all the work.’
  • I told him I don’t wanna wrestle anymore. And he wasn’t taking no for an answer. He couldn’t get that through his head. He was like stringing me along and even though I kept telling him I don’t wanna wrestle. I was literally when we had those meetings really fresh off a back surgery. I really couldn’t do it like that back then. It takes time for your body to heal and to be able to do what you got to do after back surgery.
  • So I basically kept emphasizing that I wanted to be a producer. I did not wanna wrestle. I wanted to work behind the scenes and he kept asking me if I wanted to wrestle and get back in the ring. And I’m like, ‘Dude, you’re not getting what I’m saying. I don’t want to wrestle. I just wanna be a producer. I wanna help my sons out. I wanna help get them where they are.’ Like what Billy Gun was doing for his sons, you know? I’ve done everything in my career. I don’t need that. He just wasn’t taking no for an answer. I’ve had three meetings with him and all three were a bust!

Dudley’s sons — Terrell & Terrence Hughes — are an indie tag team named TNT. They worked dates on AEW Dark from 2020-2022.

After his 2022 spinal surgery, Dudley worked very few matches. He wrapped up his in-ring career this month when The Dudleys lost to their legendary rivals Matt & Jeff Hardy at TNA Bound for Glory.

Dudley told Video Gamer that — while he does not have anything against AEW as a company or Khan personally — he is not a fan of how the promotion is run and would not have wanted to have his final match there:

  • I just wanted to end my career the right way and it had no bearing on where I did it, just as long as it was the right way. I would not have done it for AEW just because I don’t think AEW was ever a fit for the Dudleys. For other people probably, yes, but to me, not the Dudleys. I don’t know if I would’ve felt comfortable. There’s just certain things about the organization. I love the talent. I think the talent is great. There’s no question about that, but there’s a feeling that certain people in the organization that call the shots, I’m not a big fan of them. 
  • And Tony Khan lets that happen. So I don’t ever think that it would’ve ever been able to take place in AEW. I’ve got nothing against AEW as a company. I’ve got nothing against Tony Khan. I just don’t like the way the organization is run. And that’s about it. Again, I’ve got friends in AEW. I’ve met new people at autograph signings, like Will Ospreay who is a great guy and a lot of the talent in AEW have the same frustration that I see. They just wish that certain people wouldn’t be calling the shots and that Tony would take more control, but yet give it to somebody that knows what they’re doing.

At the moment, the 53-year-old Dudley is focused on expanding his presence on YouTube. His channel currently has almost 200,000 subscribers.

TNA announces Hardys-Dudleys ‘Final Negotiation’

Posted on by Joseph Currier

Before their match at Bound for Glory, The Hardys and Dudley Boyz will interact on an upcoming episode of TNA Impact.

TNA Wrestling has announced that Matt & Jeff Hardy and Bully Ray & D-Von will all be in attendance at the company’s TV taping in Minneapolis this Friday night. They’ll take part in a “Final Negotiation” segment to build up their TNA Tag Team title match at Bound for Glory.

Bound for Glory will be the last time The Hardys and Dudleys — legendary rivals dating back to the Attitude Era — ever face each other. The match was set up when Bully Ray confronted The Hardys after their TNA Tag Team title victory this July at Slammiversary.

D-Von Dudley has mostly been away from the ring since 2016. He suffered a stroke in 2020 and underwent spinal surgery in 2022 but had a few matches from 2023-2024. Ahead of returning for this final match, D-Von is feeling good physically after dropping a significant amount of weight.

Bound for Glory is taking place on October 12 in Lowell, Massachusetts.

Minneapolis is hosting a live TNA Impact episode this Thursday and then TV tapings the next night. The live episode will include a six-person tag match with The Hardys & Mara Sade facing John Skyler, Jason Hotch & Tasha Steelz.

The Hardy Boyz, Dudleyz appear at WWE SummerSlam

Posted on by Joseph Currier

Two all-time great tag teams were in attendance for night two of WWE SummerSlam 2025.

In honor of August being the 25th anniversary of the first-ever TLC match, The Hardy Boyz and Dudleyz attended SummerSlam at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey tonight and were shown in the front row. Along with Edge & Christian, they pioneered the TLC match with the bout first taking place at SummerSlam 2000.

Edge & Christian, the victors of the inaugural tables, ladders & chairs match, are both signed to AEW and therefore were not at SummerSlam tonight. Michael Cole did mention them on commentary, however.

WWE recently did a countdown of the top 25 matches in SummerSlam history, ranking The Hardyz vs. Dudleyz vs. Edge & Christian at number six.

Matt & Jeff Hardy are the current TNA Tag Team Champions — and they’re set to face off against Bubba Ray & D-Von Dudley one last time at TNA Bound for Glory this October. With the close working relationship WWE has with TNA, Cole plugged the Bound for Glory matchup when the two legendary teams appeared tonight.

The SmackDown tag division was featured in a six-pack TLC match on tonight’s card, with Dexter Lumis & Joe Gacy of The Wyatt Sicks defeating Motor City Machine Guns, The Street Profits, DIY, Fraxiom, and Andrade & Rey Fenix to retain the WWE Tag Team titles.

D-Von Dudley addresses returning for one final match

Posted on by Joseph Currier

D-Von Dudley insists that his next match will truly be his final one.

At TNA Slammiversary, it was revealed that The Dudley Boyz and Hardys will face off for one last time at Bound for Glory this October. It will only be the fourth match D-Von has had since 2016. Following a seven-year absence, he returned to the ring on the 1,000th episode of TNA Impact in 2023.

D-Von suffered a stroke in 2020 and underwent spinal surgery in 2022, but he’s feeling good physically after dropping 85 pounds through DDP Yoga and focusing on his diet. Appearing on a new episode of Insight with Chris Van Vliet, D-Von said he is not worried about getting injured by returning to the ring.

“Is there moments where I feel like if I get back in the ring, I’m going to get hurt? No, I don’t,” he said. “I have the wrestling school in Winter Park, Florida, which is doing extremely well. And the great thing about that is, is that I roll around with some of the guys sometimes in the ring. So every once in a while I take bumps and I feel good when I’m in there. So there’s no hesitation in how I think or feel about what I do in that ring now.”

The Insight episode was recorded last week prior to Slammiversary, so D-Von’s Bound for Glory return had not been officially announced at the time. D-Von told Van Vliet that, if he were to wrestle again, it would only be for one final match and not a more expansive run.

“But, you know, at 50 years old, I don’t want to go in here and do it, like I said, until I’m 70 and 80. That’s not going to happen. If we were to do one more match, it would be the last one and that would be it,” he said. “There is no one more, ‘Can you come back one more time, one more time?’ No, because — and I tell this to everybody when they ask — I go, every time I do one more time, that one more time is over, let a year go by, ‘Hey, you guys look great, you can go another match.’ No, we can’t, stop, stop.”

D-Von added that The Hardys would be the ideal opponents for his final match because of how much he trusts Matt and Jeff.

“If I was to do anything in the ring again, it would have to be with Matt and Jeff,” D-Von said. “And, you know, I would say Edge and Christian too, but they’re in the other, you know, organization, AEW, and I don’t think that would ever happen. When the opportunity came, when Edge left WWE and went to AEW, you had Christian and Edge there, and then The Hardys were there. And it was like, we were wondering why, you know, Tony [Khan], who is a huge fan of the business and always had it, why wouldn’t he take the opportunity to be the one to put those three teams together and to do that, but he never did. So I think that opportunity is lost.

“But, you know, if I was to come back and do something, it would have to be with The Hardys. And those are the only two I trust. Even though I think Jeff is out of his damn mind [laughs], but those are the only two I would trust [with] my body on the line and to go in there one more time.”

Bound for Glory 2025 is being held at the Tsongas Center in Lowell, Massachusetts on October 12. The Dudleyz vs. Hardys match was set up for the pay-per-view when Bully Ray issued a challenge to Matt and Jeff following their TNA Tag Team title win at Slammiversary.

D-Von worked as a producer for WWE from 2016-2023. At the end of 2024, he launched a new YouTube channel that has now grown to having more than 160,000 subscribers.

D-Von Dudley among surprise appearances on WWE NXT at former ECW Arena

Posted on by Ethan Renner

Wednesday’s WWE NXT show at the former ECW Arena featured surprise appearances from former ECW stars in addition to the advertised stars from yesteryear.

D-Von Dudley made a surprise appearance following the Trick Williams & Bubba Ray Dudley vs. Ethan Page & Ridge Holland match on Wednesday’s show, bringing his trademark table with him. The Dudleys and Williams put Page through a table to extract some revenge after Holland defeated Williams with a quick roll-up to win the tag team bout.

Rhyno was another surprise appearance on Wednesday’s show as the newly-minted TNA Hall of Famer speared Mr. Stone:

Nunzio and Tony Mamaluke were also featured on Wednesday’s WWE NXT episode, as Mamaluke cornered Nunzio in an unsuccessful North American title challenge against Tony D’Angelo:

Rob Van Dam, Dawn Marie, Francine, and Bubba Ray were the advertised ECW stars who appeared on Wednesday’s show. Our full coverage from the event is available here.

D-Von Dudley: Returning to the ring at Impact 1000 was ‘truly amazing’

Posted on by Joseph Currier

Returning to the ring at Impact 1000 was a great experience for D-Von Dudley.

At the tapings for Impact Wrestling’s 1000th episode this past Saturday, D-Von wrestled his first match since 2016. He reunited with Bully Ray for a tag team match against Champagne Singh & Rohit Raju.

In a post on Instagram, D-Von shared a couple of brief clips from the event. D-Von wrote that being back in the ring again was “truly amazing.” He noted that he was welcomed back with open arms and everyone in the Impact locker room was respectful. D-Von thanked his family and friends for all of the support they’ve given him during his career.

Though he was sore after the match, D-Von didn’t close the door on wrestling again in the future.

“I’ve said it before that this would be it, but you never know lol,” D-Von wrote.

His full Instagram post can be read below:

Being back in the ring again after 7 years for the 1000 episode of TNA was truly amazing. I would to thank Bubba, Tommy Dreamer, Scott F. D’Amore and the whole impact locker, for welcome me back with open arms. Everybody in the locker room was truly respectful very genuine for my come back. I’ve said it before that this would be it, but you never know lol. Here is some video of what transpired last night . i’m a little sore, but to be expected training and off thank you fans to my family and all my friends support over the 32 year career. ……OH MY BROTHER TESTIFY!!!

Impact 1000 is airing on AXS TV this Thursday night. Spoilers from the taping can be found here.

In 2016, D-Von began working for WWE as an agent. He became a coach for NXT last year and worked in that role until departing WWE this January.

D-Von underwent spinal fusion surgery in February 2022. At the time, he was told that he wouldn’t be able to wrestle again because he could do more damage to his back.

The Dudley Boyz/Team 3D are members of both the WWE and Impact Wrestling Hall of Fames.

Dudley Boyz to team up for first time in seven years at Impact 1000

Posted on by Josh Nason

The Dudley Boyz/Team 3D will unite for the first time in seven years for the 1000th episode of Impact Wrestling.

The show will be taped on Saturday, September 9th in White Plains, New York, and will air the following Thursday on AXS TV. Their opponents were not named.

Bully Ray & D-Von Dudley last shared the ring in a trios match in a December 2016 indie show while their last tag team match in Impact was at October 2014’s Bound For Glory when they defeated Tommy Dreamer & Abyss in a hardcore match.

The two were two-time Impact/TNA Tag Team Champions as Team 3D’s Brother Ray & Brother Devon.

While Ray has continued to wrestle for various promotions and currently has a home in Impact as a singles competitor, D-Von has not been in action since that aforementioned December 2016 indie show. He had worked as a WWE agent and then an NXT coach starting in 2016 before he departed this past January. 

D-Von underwent spinal surgery in February 2022 and was told at the time his wrestling days were over which he was fine with. His twin sons, Terrell and Terrence Hughes, wrestle as the tag team TNT on the indies, and have appeared for AEW and NWA in the past.

While there has been little announced for the event thus far, Impact has announced both Awesome Kong and The Beautiful People’s Angelina Love & Velvet Sky will make appearance.

The Dudleys to reunite at Impact 1000

Posted on by Ian Carey

One of the greatest tag teams of all time is set to reunite for the first time in seven years. 

Bully Ray and Devon (aka Bubba Ray & D-Von Dudley) have been announced for Impact Wrestling’s 1000th episode on September 9 in White Plains, New York. The news was announced today on Busted Open Radio.  

Other Impact Wrestling legends already announced for the show include Awesome Kong and The Beautiful People’s Angelina Love & Velvet Sky.

Known as Team 3D in the promotion, Bully and Devon were inducted into the Impact Wrestling Hall of Fame in 2014. They twice held the TNA Tag Team Championships and once held the NWA World Tag Team Championships while in the promotion. Bully also won the TNA World Heavyweight title twice and Devon held the promotion’s Television Championship once. Outside of Impact, the Dudleys are nine-time WWE Tag Team Champions, one-time WCW Tag Team Champions (while the belts were used in WWE), eight-time ECW Tag Team Champions, and were inducted into the WWE Hall Of Fame in 2018. 

D-Von Dudley announces departure from WWE

Posted on by Ian Carey

D-Von Dudley is no longer with WWE. 

The 50-year-old posted to social media on Thursday that he and the company have mutually agreed to part ways. Dudley worked as a WWE agent from 2016 until moving into an NXT coaching role last June. 

Dudley wrote:

The company (wwe)and I have decided to parted ways, and feel this is the best Decision for all parties it’s been a pleasure and an honor to work with the young talent when bubba as well as everyone over in NXT. As well as working with some of the best producers in the world.

would mike to thank Vince , Paul(HHH), Stephanie, and my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ for the Opportunity that was given. I’m very excited to see where God brings me next, Oh my brother……. TESTIFY!!!!

https://twitter.com/TestifyDVon/status/1616154483012010019https://twitter.com/TestifyDVon/status/1616154574225539085

Dudley’s departure from WWE comes one month after the company prevented him from appearing on an ECW tribute show. He was scheduled to be part of Battleground Championship Wrestling’s “A Tribute to the Extreme” at the 2300 Arena in Philadelphia on December 17, 2022. PWInsider would report that BCW received a legal letter from WWE that led to Dudley being pulled. Dudley is said to have reached out to Triple H regarding the matter but was unsuccessful in getting the decision reversed. 

Dudley was also removed from the Icons of Wrestling convention held in conjunction with the show. 

Icons of Wrestling posted the following to Facebook in regards to Dudley being pulled from the show:

Here we go: Due to circumstances beyond my control D-Von will no longer be at Icons & Battleground. D-von is beyond devastated by this and I want everyone to know that this turn of events had absolutely NOTHING to due with D-von. Currently I’m hesitant to put the reasoning in writing but I will have zero hesitation telling the entire wrestling world why this happened inside the ring. To those who made this decision you will not deter us. You will not stop us. You may think you have control but rest assured you do not. All Dudley boy presales will be refunded first thing Monday Morning. The Dudleys platinum VIP will be replaced by 3 guests of your choosing. One final message to those responsible, I’ll see you in the ring and we shall let the people be the judge & jury.

D-Von and his longtime tag team partner, Bubba Ray Dudley, were inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame Class of 2018. 

WWE pulled D-Von Dudley from ECW tribute show

Posted on by Joseph Currier

WWE pulled D-Von Dudley from making a scheduled appearance at an ECW tribute event over the weekend.

Dudley was supposed to appear at Battleground Championship Wrestling’s “A Tribute to the Extreme” show at the 2300 Arena in Philadelphia on Saturday night, but he was pulled from the show with Battleground Championship Wrestling saying it received a legal letter from WWE. Dudley was also removed from the Icons of Wrestling convention that was being held in conjunction with the show.

“The promotion’s side is that they received a legal letter from WWE this past Thursday upset about BCW promoting a ‘Tribute to the Extreme’ at the show, playing off the ECW intellectual property, which is obviously now owned by WWE,” PWInsider wrote. “D-Von was then pulled from the show, despite, according to the promotion, personally reaching out to WWE Chief Content Officer Paul Levesque to get the edict reversed, which was not successful.”

Dudley works for WWE as an NXT coach and producer. He was supposed to appear during a match between Bully Ray and Matt Cardona at A Tribute to the Extreme.

Icons of Wrestling wrote about the situation last Friday:

Here we go: Due to circumstances beyond my control D-Von will no longer be at Icons & Battleground. D-von is beyond devastated by this and I want everyone to know that this turn of events had absolutely NOTHING to due with D-von. Currently I’m hesitant to put the reasoning in writing but I will have zero hesitation telling the entire wrestling world why this happened inside the ring. To those who made this decision you will not deter us. You will not stop us. You may think you have control but rest assured you do not. All Dudley boy presales will be refunded first thing Monday Morning. The Dudleys platinum VIP will be replaced by 3 guests of your choosing. One final message to those responsible, I’ll see you in the ring and we shall let the people be the judge & jury.

The Dudley Boyz (D-Von & Bubba Ray) were inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2018.