While it was known the upcoming Ronda Rousey vs. Gina Carano MMA fight on Netflix was originally pitched to the UFC, what wasn’t known was that a date range was attached.
During Tuesday’s pre-event press conference in Los Angeles, Rousey was asked by event host Ariel Helwani about what happened in the UFC and she said a lot about that and other topics including her thoughts on TKO leadership.
She said she spoke to Dana White about it first due to her love and respect for him. She explained that it originally was being slated to be the final fight under the pay-per-view model that ended in December 2025 prior to UFC’s move to Paramount in January 2026.
An actual date wasn’t announced, but she said “New Year’s.” She also said the offer to her was “the best PPV structure ever.”
The reason that didn’t happen was Carano wasn’t ready, something Rousey said “was meant to be.” The two will fight on Netflix on Saturday, May 16.
She said White was the first one to know she was taking the fight to Netflix and that he gave it his blessing and that “he’s always been my friend first.” She said he wasn’t upset and that he was the one who wanted her to make as much money as possible.
Rousey said that her criticisms of the UFC over the last few days is because White “isn’t calling the shots” and is an employee of a company that isn’t focused on making the best fights possible but is beholden to their shareholders first.
“They are bleeding talent because of short-term greed. They’re thinking about the next quarter. They’re thinking about the shareholders. They’re not thinking about their responsibility to be stewards of the future of the sport,” he said.
“He knows the White House cards sucks,” she said. “I guarantee he’s not happy with it either. He taught me through example to speak my mind.”
She later was asked to describe White and said, “loyal to a fault.”
“The UFC is one of the worst places to go. So many of their top athletes are leaving to find pay elsewhere. It’s why their champions like Valentina (Shevchenko) are selling pictures of their titties on OnlyFans.”
Rousey said future fights depend on how the Carano fight goes, but that she wants more kids and to be more present for her family.
“When are you going to be impressed enough with yourself to spend more time with your family?” she said, adding this is a grand finale and a way to “rewrite her ending.”
Francis Ngannou and Philipe Lins were also at the presser and Ngannou was asked about fighting MVP promoter/owner Jake Paul in the future. Ngannou said he wasn’t interested in fighting him, but rather “beating his ass.” Paul later said he also wanted to do it which would be in boxing if it happens.
While promoting her return to mixed martial arts, Ronda Rousey took a shot at the UFC’s recently announced White House card.
Rousey will return to MMA when she faces off against Gina Carano on May 16. It was announced today that former UFC heavyweight Champion Francis Ngannou will also compete on the Netflix special, facing off against Philipe Lins in the co-main event. Rousey celebrated that addition today while slighting UFC in the process.
“NgannouVsLins joins #RouseyVsCarano on @Netflix May 16th! How’s THAT for a bamf laden double headliner? That’s what happens when you put fighters and fans ahead of shareholders @MostVpromotions,” Rousey tweeted. “P.S. @ufc’s White House card sucks”
This will be Rousey’s first MMA fight since 2016 and Carano’s first since 2009. Rousey initially pitched the fight to UFC, but negotiations ended up breaking down. The Netflix special is being promoted by Jake Paul and Nakisa Bidarian’s MVP Promotions. It’s the first MMA show MVP has promoted and the first MMA card to be broadcast live on Netflix.
UFC’s White House show is taking place in June as part of the United States’ 250th birthday celebration. The lineup was announced this past weekend with Ilia Topuria vs. Justin Gaethje and Alex Pereira vs. Ciryl Gane as the top two bouts. Both are title fights.
Dave Meltzer and Garrett Gonzales are back on Wrestling Observer Radio discussing the major stories from today’s issue of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter.
CM Punk shared his thoughts on the upcoming Ronda Rousey vs. Gina Carano fight during a recent interview.
While speaking with TalkSport, Punk was asked whether he feels Rousey still “has it” as she prepares for her first fight in nearly a decade.
Punk responded:
“I think it’s great. We’re gonna find out if she’s still got it. I think fighting at an older age, trust me, I am an expert on this. It’s not the easiest thing to do, but she’s fighting somebody who is age comparable, who also has had a long layoff. Both big names, both big superstars. I think people are gonna tune in to watch this, and I know I will.”
Rousey vs. Carano is set for Saturday, May 16, 2026, at the Intuit Dome in Inglewood, California. The event is being promoted by Jake Paul’s Most Valuable Promotions and will air live on Netflix.
Up next, Punk is scheduled to defend his World Heavyweight Championship against Finn Balor at Elimination Chamber on February 28 at the United Center in Chicago. He is then scheduled to face Roman Reigns at WWE WrestleMania 42.
Punk’s full interview with TalkSport is embedded below. The video is queued to his comments about Rousey vs. Carano.
Our annual awards issue is out covering the following topics:
Winners, top place winners, comments and every winner of every award dating back to 1980, from Wrestler of the Year, MMA MVP, Most Outstanding, Most Outstanding MMA Fighter, Tag Team of the Year, Best on Interviews, Promotion of the Year, Best Weekly TV show, Match of the Year, MMA Fight of the year, U.S./Canada MPV, Japanese MVP, Mexico MVP, Europe MVP, Best non-heavyweight, Women’s MVP, Women’s MMA MVP, Feud of the Year, Best Box Office Draw, Most Improved, Most Charismatic, Best Technical, Best Brawler, Best Flying Wrestler, Most Overrated, Most Underrated, Rookie of the Year, Best Non-WRestler, Best Television Announcer, Worst Television Announcer, Most major show, Worst major show, Best maneuver, Most Disgusting Promotional Tactic, Worst TV show, Worst match, Worst feud, Worst promotion, Best Booker of the Year, Promoter of the Year, Best Gimmick, Worst Gimmick, Best Book and Best Documentary.
Tons of news related to the build to WrestleMania, why the card may be changing, a major concern regarding ticket sales, predictability vs. surprises, How Bron Breakker’s injury changes things, Brock Lesnar situation, Becky Lynch situation, situation in Las Vegas, concerns in Las Vegas, why ticket sales are down, plus build to Elimination Chamber
Tadao Yasuda, a unique life of a former sumo star, IWGP champion, one of the biggest upsets in MMA history, the birth of the New Year’s Eve fighting tradition, gambling issues and more
Coverage of the New Beginning in Osaka, talent leaving, talent staying, what is the direction for New Japan the next few months and a worst and best match of the year candidate one right after the other
Betting odds for this week’s wrestling
Most detailed look at the TV ratings, a look at the red flags, streaming numbers and more.
Notes on the honoring and retirement of El Satanico and career highlights
Mistico sellout updates
The last Friday for a month at Arena Mexico with the biggest names
AAA TV tapings with WWE talent
Starddom PPV notes
Epstein files wrestling references
Biggest UK women’s show coming
Show coming up attempting to be the largest attendance for an all-women’s show in three decades
Paramount again trying to get WBD
How politics affects pro wrestling
Grand Slam Australia notes
MJF talks Punk
TV reviews
YouTube notes
CBS airing UFC on 3/7
Zuffa boxing defies Ali Act with world title announcement
WWE injury updates
Bad Bunny Super Bowl controversy
WWE Hall of Famer threatens to quit if another person isn’t removed
No worries. I won’t make the mistake of saying anything about The Young OG. I’ve read the comments, and I agree. If he fails, it’s on him. Haven’t seen a comment from anyone who’s made millions in the business. I didn’t coin him an ‘Original Gangster’ Won’t change my life either way.
‘Just Wanna Apologize Real Quick….Im Sorry For Being The Best In Da Game Right Now!! Elimination Chamber Bout To……Ya’ll Finish The Rest’ -Je’Von Evans #TheYoungOG
Paul “Triple H” Levesque posted a tribute to former WWE director Kerwin Silfies following his passing:
Today, the @WWE family lost one of our beloved members. Kerwin Silfies was a huge part of the company’s programming since the mid-1980s. Over his 35+ year tenure with WWE production, he directed countless episodes of Raw and Smackdown, PLEs, and of course WrestleMania. With a dry wit and an unmatched passion for his work and his coworkers, Kerwin affected hundreds of employees and millions of fans. Our thoughts are with his loved ones at this time.
When I started working on Raw and SmackDown back in 2015, you were so patient and accommodating as I found my way. Always a steady, calm voice with your trusty mini notepad in hand, ready to take note of what we had cooked up. ‘Ok whaddya got, Adam?’ you’d ask me as you went around the room, listening.
Teaching.
I learned to see what we do through your director’s eye, to understand camera placement in a way I hadn’t before, and I always wondered how you always stood so calm under intense fire.
Cool as the other side of the pillow. Experience, red wine, talent?
All of the above, I surmise.
Thank you for letting a punk kid sit under your learning tree. And though I’m no connoisseur, the next time I have a taste of the vino it’ll be in a toast to you.
WWE Hall of Famer Typhoon (Fred Ottman) shared that everything went well with his pre-surgery consultation and things look good heading into his operation on February 23. Ottman recently spent approximately a month in the hospital after his gallbladder “exploded” and released poison into his body.
On Instagram, Trish Stratus wrote a comment responding to WWE’s summer 2026 European tour announcement: “No but why do I suddenly feel like dusting off this ring rust”
In a tweet, Ronda Rousey said she believes her Netflix fight against Gina Carano will surpass the UFC’s numbers on Paramount Plus: “This rivalry has so many layers – @netflix isnt playing around – bet you we can beat @paramountplus’ @ufc numbers”
Dave Meltzer goes back to his MMA writing roots to explain the story behind Tuesday’s announcement of UFC Hall of Famer Ronda Rousey vs. former Strikeforce legend Gina Carano and the long road to get there.
UFC Hall of Fame member Ronda Rousey attempted to get her newly-announced fight with Gina Carano in the Octagon, but there was apparently no interest from UFC in hosting it.
Announced on Tuesday, Rousey will fight Carano for the first time ever in both woman’s first fight in years and in a fight that was once attempted to be made in UFC but was derailed due to misrouted texts to Carano that referred to her as a “bitch.”
Speaking to ESPN MMA Tuesday, Rousey said she reached out to Dana White to ask if he was interested in it.
“…It didn’t exactly work out with the UFC, but it led us her today,” she said, not saying if White or TKO leadership turned down the idea and for what reason.
Rousey said the idea for the fight has been in process for more than a year as while she was pregnant with her second child, she saw Carano and didn’t think she looked good and wanted to do anything she could to help as “I owe her immensely.” She said as much as Carano needs this fight, she also needs it.
“We fought for this. We fought to fight each other,” Rousey said, mentioned both women had to work together to overcome obstacles to get to this point.
The 145-pound MMA fight will take place on Saturday, May 16 from Los Angeles’ Intuit Dome, promoted by Jake Paul’s MVP promotion and airing live on Netflix.
The 39-year-old Rousey last competed in December 2016 in a first round TKO loss to Amanda Nunes while the 43-year-old Carano last fought in August 2009 in a first round loss to Cris Cyborg.
Nearly a decade after her final UFC fight, Ronda Rousey is returning to mixed martial arts.
Women’s MMA legends Rousey and Gina Carano will face off for the first time ever on Saturday, May 16. The superfight is being held in Inglewood, California at the Intuit Dome and will stream live on Netflix, marking the first time the streaming giant has ever aired a live MMA event. MVP Promotions (founded by Jake Paul and Nakisa Bidarian) and Netflix are partnering together for the fight.
Rousey last competed in MMA when she lost to Amanda Nunes at UFC 207 in December 2016. She then transitioned over to pro wrestling for WWE and has recently been pursuing a career as a writer. Facing Carano is a dream fight that Rousey has wanted for a long time.
“Been waiting so long to announce this,” Rousey said in a press release. “Me and Gina Carano are gonna throw down in the biggest superfight in women’s combat sport history, and we’re partnering with the fighter-first promoter, MVP, as well as the baddest streamer on the planet, Netflix. This is for all MMA fans past, present, and future.”
The fight will be held inside of a hexagon cage and will be professionally sanctioned with five rounds of five minutes each. Rousey and Carano will fight at featherweight (145 pounds).
Like with Netflix’s boxing specials, this event will be available for all Netflix subscribers at no additional charge.
“After the record-breaking success in boxing, we wanted our first MMA event to be truly legendary,” said Netflix VP of Sports Gabe Spitzer. “These are more than just athletes — they are generational stars, and having them headline our MMA debut at the Intuit Dome is a defining moment for us.”
Rousey getting back into combat sports had been rumored in recent months, with speculation centered around either an MMA fight against Carano or boxing match against Katie Taylor.
“Ronda came to me and said there is only one person she would make a comeback for, and it’s been her dream to make this fight happen between us,” Carano said. “She thanked me for opening up doors for her career and was respectful in asking for this fight to happen. This is an honor. I believe I will walk out of this fight with the win, and I anticipate it will not come easy, which I welcome. This is as much for Ronda and I as it is for the fans and mixed martial arts community. What a time to be alive.”
Editor’s Note: Several weeks ago, we saw the following post on Reddit and with the permission of author Kanenums88, we are republishing it here as Wrestling Observer Newsletter award season voting has officially begun for subscribers.
The following has been edited slightly and there is some light opinion in the write-ups that reflects the views of the writer and not our website.
Since 1980, voters in the Wrestling Observer Newsletter Awards have highlighted the achievements of wrestlers in their first year of significant competition with the annual Rookie of the Year award.
To be fully transparent, this is copied from a user from a few days ago who copied this from another account’s post from four years ago. It wasn’t updated in such a long time and since a lot has changed in such a short amount of time, I thought it would be best to take it upon myself to do just that, as well as to give some of the entries more of a proper write-up with added bits of context I thought were necessary.
Wrestling Observer Newsletter Rookie of the Year Award:
1980 – Barry Windham
Windham went on to carve out a 30+ year career filled with many accolades in various promotions. He was most notable for his work in WCW where he became a member of The Four Horsemen and held the NWA World Championship. Most recently, he was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame for a second time, joining an elite class to do so, with his brother-in-law Mike Rotunda as part of the U.S. Express.
1981 – Brad Armstrong & Brad Rheingans
Son of “Bullet” Bob Armstrong, Brad Armstrong won numerous mid-card and tag team titles in different Southern promotions but never reached his ceiling. He signed with WWE in 2006, initially for the ECW brand, but soon became a producer. His career lasted for over 30 years before he died of a heart attack at the age of 50.
Rheingans was a prolific Greco-Roman wrestler before entering pro wrestling. He didn’t do much as a pro wrestler, though, and had a better career as a trainer, training the likes of Brock Lesnar, JBL, and Vader.
1982 – Steve Williams
“Dr. Death” had a solid career in the U.S., but an even better one in Japan. One of the top gaijins of all time, he was a former Triple Crown Champion and eight-time AJPW Tag Team Champion. His career was slowed after a throat cancer diagnosis in 2004 which returned in 2009 and worsened, leading to his passing in December 2009 at the age of 49.
1983 – The Road Warriors
Joe Laurinaitis and Mike Hegstrand were given the names Hawk (Mike) and Animal (Joe) and joined “Precious” Paul Ellering as the Road Warriors in Georgia Championship Wrestling in 1983. What followed was a team that is often recognized by many as the greatest of all-time and certainly went on to become one of the most popular acts of the 1980s. They held gold in multiple promotions, and, despite both having since passed on, their impact on wrestling still persists to this day.
1984 – Tom Zenk & Keiichi Yamada (the future Jushin Thunder Liger)
The Z-Man (not to be confused with Brian Zane) was a perennial mid-carder throughout much of his career, being more of an impressive bodybuilder than a wrestler. He passed away at the age of 59 in 2017.
Yamada, on the other hand, went on to become arguably the greatest junior heavyweight in Japan as Jushin Thunder Liger. A record 11x IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion, he retired in 2020 until 2025 when he came out of retirement to answer Joey Janela’s open challenge at the WrestleCade Supershow in Winston-Salem, North Carolina.
1985 – Jack Victory
Victory never really amounted to anything despite boasting a 37-year career. He was mostly an undercard guy in WCW, but his most notable run was in ECW when he was aligned with Steve Corino. He retired in 2021, teaming in a match alongside Steve’s son, Colby.
1986 – Bam Bam Bigelow
Scott Bigelow was a bounty hunter with a prison stint in Mexico before deciding to get into wrestling. What resulted was an all-around great talent, who found success in the U.S. and Japan. He was a former ECW Champion and a WrestleMania main eventer when he took on Lawrence Taylor at WrestleMania 11 (he also won the Slammy for Best Head in 1987 which is the greatest achievement on this list).
He unfortunately passed away at the age of 45 in 2007 due to an accidental drug overdose, a fate that has plagued way too many. His legacy as one of the best big men wrestlers lives on to this day.
1987 – Brian Pillman
One of the most innovative and best workers of his generation as “Flyin’ Brian” and the “Loose Cannon,” Pillman is remembered as a great “what if” case in wrestling. He unfortunately passed away from a heart attack at the age of 35 in 1997, right in the midst of his WWF run. People often wonder if he could have been a bigger name if not for the unfortunate circumstances he faced in life. His son, Brian Jr., carries on his legacy in WWE NXT as Lexis King.
1988 – Gary Albright
Originally from Stampede Wrestling, Albright had a much better career in Japan with runs in AJPW as a two-time World Tag Team Champion, but he was never as big as the other top gaijins. He sadly passed away at 36 years old while at an indie show in 2000. As a side note, he married Afa’s daughter and therefore was a member of the Anoa’i family through marriage. He was even included in the Rock’s Bloodline family tree during the buildup to WWE WrestleMania 40.
1989 – Dustin Rhodes
Dustin never managed to get over the shadow of his father in WCW, but after a repacking to the weird, androgynous character Goldust in WWF, he quickly carved out his own legacy as one of the most memorable performers of all time. He never quite reached the main event level in his many runs, but he’s always been seen as a great worker with character skills that can only be matched by a few. He joined AEW in 2019 where he’s been ever since, most recently winning the TNT Championship at All In Texas at the age of 56. He is working toward a comeback after undergoing double knee replacement surgery.
1990 – Steve Austin
There’s not really much to say about “Stone Cold” that hasn’t already been repeated to death. Simply put, he became the biggest name in all of wrestling during one of the hottest boom periods for the industry with his rivalry with Vince McMahon as one of the most defining fixtures of the Attitude Era.
After stepping away super young in 2003 due to nagging neck issues, he returned 19 years later to defeat Kevin Owens in the main event of WWE WrestleMania 38. An iconic household name of the business forever, Austin is by far the most successful star on this list.
1991 – Johnny B. Badd
Whether as a Little Richard impersonator or as a boxer, Marc Mero saw success with runs in WCW and WWF, always being a decently popular act. He was a bit overshadowed by his own former valet and then-wife, Sable, near the end of his run and didn’t do anything else of note as a wrestler after his departure from the WWF in 1999. He has since gone on to have a successful career as a motivational speaker, touring schools across the country to lecture on the dangers of bullying and drug abuse.
1992 – Rey Misterio Jr.
With great runs in AAA, WCW, and ECW, Rey’s run in the WWE is what truly led him to become the most popular luchador of his generation. Despite his small stature, he won three World Championships in the WWE and became a globally recognized name. He was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame as an active wrestler in 2023 and shows no signs of stopping any time soon. Currently, he’s wrapped up in a perpetual feud with his son, Dominik.
1993 – Jun Akiyama
Akiyama managed to carve out a respectable Hall of Fame worthy career as one of the best technical wrestlers of his generation. Having success in promotions AJPW and NOAH as a two-time Triple Crown Champion and three-time GHC Heavyweight Champion, he currently competes in DDT where he is also a former KO-D Openweight Champion.
1994 – Mikey Whipwreck
A former ring-crew worker turned wrestler, he became a hugely popular underdog babyface in ECW. He reached his peak by winning the ECW World Heavyweight Championship at the age of 22, the youngest World champion of a major promotion. He continued to work sporadic indies through August 2024, but mostly remains a cult favorite amongst the loyal diehard ECW fanbase.
1995 – Perro Aguayo Jr.
Aguayo Jr. was mostly known for being the leader of the Los Perros del Mal stable in CMLL which was a big draw for the company. He was well on his way to becoming one of the biggest names in Mexico with AAA before his sudden passing in the ring. He tragically suffered a cardiac arrest as a result of three broken vertebrae in a 2015 match. In the wake of his death, he was honored greatly, and it raised many questions on the safety of wrestlers in the industry as a whole.
1996 – The Giant
The Giant debuted by beating Hulk Hogan to become the WCW World Heavyweight Champion. What followed was a respectable career for Paul Wight, better known as the Big Show where he had as many ups and downs as he had heel and face turns throughout his career. In WWE, he ended his 22-year run as a four-time World champion for the company. In 2021, he left WWE to join AEW where he’s worked as an analyst and occasional wrestler ever since.
1997 – Mr. Aguila
Aguila has had a career as a respected veteran in the lucha scene, but he’s known by many for his brief stint in the WWF as lower card wrestler Essa Rios. He eventually joined the aforementioned Los Perros del Mal stable in CMLL and now finds work in the Mexican independent scene.
1998 – Goldberg
Goldberg’s look, intensity, presentation, and charisma all led to him becoming WCW’s most popular act despite his lack of in-ring prowess. His undefeated streak and popularity as the WCW Heavyweight Champion were synonymous with that era of wrestling as a whole. His later WCW run and future runs in the WWE made him one of the most polarizing figures in wrestling, but at his peak, there was just about no one who was bigger than Bill Goldberg.
He officially retired earlier last year, losing to Gunther at Saturday Night’s Main Event in July 2025.
1999 – Blitzkrieg
Blitzkrieg was an insanely fun wrestler to watch with his brief stint in WCW being somewhat of a predecessor to the high-flying car crash style. He retired in 2004 to focus on a career as a computer technician, bestowing the gimmick on Jack Evans for a short period of time. He now works as a registered nurse in Texas.
2000 – Sean O’Haire
One of the biggest cases of a “what if,” his runs in WCW and the WWE showed he had the potential to be a main eventer but was never granted a real opportunity. He was released in 2004 and his life spiraled afterward. He had many demons and was sadly not able to overcome them, passing away in 2014. It’s a tragic reminder that if you ever feel alone or lost, please reach out and seek the help you need.
2001 – El Hombre Sin Nombre
El Hombre Sin Nombre is a title passed on to many luchadors and thus, it is hard to place the exact one this is referring to. The original author attributed this to Ephesto, but not only is the award not listed on his Wikipedia, he also didn’t use the “Sin Nombre” name until 2005. I don’t have much knowledge of Mexican wrestling and therefore, I’m stumped. If anyone can help identify this guy, please do.
2002 – Bob Sapp
Did somebody say Sapp Time? After failed careers as a football player and wrestler, he became a star in MMA and kickboxing during the boom period of PRIDE and K1. With wrestling and MMA intertwined in Japan at the time, he was used in places such as NJPW and AJPW, even holding the IWGP Championship for a run.
At his peak, he was a massive celebrity in Japan and a huge draw. His larger-than-life character keeps him memorable in MMA and wrestling today and at 52, he still does occasional fights. Expect to see him vs. Jake Paul in the not so distant future.
2003 – Chris Sabin
Sabin was one of the best workers in TNA history with memorable runs in the X-Division and alongside Alex Shelley as the Motor City Machine Guns. Despite holding the TNA World Championship for a brief period, he was never really valued as a main eventer. Despite this, he’s wrestled pretty much everywhere for over two decades with he and Shelley ultimately signing with WWE in 2024, becoming prominent figures in their tag division ever since.
2004 – Petey Williams
Another TNA X-Division talent, the inventor of the Canadian Destroyer is considered one of TNA’s best workers of all time who never made it out of the mid-card. He had many on-and-off again runs with the company until 2022 when he joined WWE as a producer, where he remains today.
2005 – Shingo Takagi
Takagi was one of Dragon Gate’s biggest stars in its history, amassing 15 titles during his run with the company. He joined NJPW in 2018 and is one of the most consistent main event workers. In 2021, he won the vacant IWGP World Heavyweight Championship and led the company as its top act during his run.
2006 – Atsushi Aoki
Aoki was one of the best junior heavyweights of his generation, working for both AJPW & NOAH. He was in the middle of his fourth reign as AJPW World Junior Heavyweight Champion when he tragically died in a 2019 motorcycle accident. The company honored his reign as champion until the six month defense clause kicked in after his death.
2007 – Erick Stevens
Stevens was a promising talent in ROH, mostly known for his feud with Roderick Strong on the late 2000s indie scene. His career never really panned out and he’s retired and come back numerous times since 2010. His most recent comeback happened last year where he even got to reignite his feud with Strong in Deadlock Pro Wrestling.
2008 – Kai
Kai was primed to be a potential future “face” of AJPW, but he was one of the many that joined Keiji Mutoh in the exodus towards WRESTLE-1. He was a focal point in the company, becoming their third Wrestle-1 Champion, but he did not go far in terms of long term popularity. He left in 2016 to become a freelancer and currently does most of his work in Dragon Gate.
2009 – Frightmare
Frightmare was one of the top acts of CHIKARA when it was at its peak as a top indie promotion. He stayed with Chikara until the company’s death and never really got out of the indie circuit. He continues to take various bookings at indies today.
2010 – Adam Cole
One of the best workers of the 2010s, Cole went on to have successful runs in all the promotions he’s worked for. He was the top heel in both ROH and NXT before he arrived in AEW in 2021. After returning from a nasty concussion in 2023, he began an oddball friendship with MJF and the two main evented AEW’s All In from Wembley Stadium.
His career was sadly cut short he was forced to vacate the TNT Championship before last July’s All In Texas due to undisclosed health issues. His future as a performer remains in jeopardy, but the time we’ve had with him on our screens cannot be forgotten so easily.
2011 – Daichi Hashimoto
Son of the late three musketeer Shinya Hashimoto, Daichi saw decent success early on but failed to overcome the shadows of both his father and the other two three musketeers. He left promotion Zero1 in 2014 and joined deathmatch promotion Big Japan Wrestling where he remains today.
2012 – Dinastia
Dinastía was practically the face of AAA’s Mini Estrella division winning the AAA World Mini’s Championship twice. With a total combined reign of 2,888 days, the title was vacated and abandoned once he left the company. There isn’t much more information about him online, but according to Cagematch, he still works on the Mexican independent scene.
2013 – Yohei Komatsu (the future YOH)
After an excursion, he was repackaged as YOH and had a successful junior heavyweight tag team run as Roppongi 3K with Sho Tanaka (repackaged as SHO). SHO turned on YOH in 2021 and the two would feud. YOH has continued to be a mainstay in the junior division ever since.
2014 – Dragon Lee
One of the best luchadors today, Lee was a multi-time champion across CMLL and NJPW. In 2022, he won the AAA World Tag Team Championships with his brother Dralistico and announced to the world that he had signed with WWE. His run in WWE got off to a shaky start, but it’s recently come around after WWE bought AAA earlier this year. He held the WWE World Tag Team titles alongside AJ Styles before losing them to The Usos on the final Raw of 2025.
2015 – Chad Gable
Starting in NXT with Jason Jordan as part of American Alpha, they had tons of potential to be a great tag team but never panned out. He coasted for a while and was saddled with an awful Shorty G gimmick that would have killed anyone else. It’s a testament to his skills as a performer that he not only overcame it but also became a naturally popular act in the company.
His recent heel run has been a mixed bag, especially when a mysterious new talent in El Grande Americano joined the company and took his spot. He has been out with an injury since June 2025 and only time will tell what’s in store for him in his future. According to reports, he is expected back imminently.
2016 – Matt Riddle
The UFC fighter turned wrestler joined WWE in 2018 and became an incredibly popular mid-card act in the WWE. After his pairing with Randy Orton ended with “The Viper” getting put on the shelf, it looked as if he was primed to be a main eventer. Real life controversies and general unprofessional behavior got in the way and he was fired from WWE in 2023. He’s popped up in a few places since, but hasn’t gotten close to the heights he was reaching before. He’s currently in MLW.
2017 – Katsuya Kitamura
Kitamura was one of the more unique looking young lions in NJPW, mainly due to his massive size, and was touted as the most promising of his class. He won the Young Lions Cup in 2017 but suffered a cerebral concussion that ended his career in 2018, quietly leaving New Japan in 2019. In 2022, he was tragically found dead at the age of 36 with no cause ever being publicly released.
2018 – Ronda Rousey
Rousey was the first female UFC fighter signed to the company and one of the big faces of MMA at her peak. She made her long awaited debut at WrestleMania 34, which may have been her peak as a wrestler. She quickly went on to become one of the most polarizing, if not downright hated, wrestlers for multiple reasons, both in and out of the ring.
However, she did manage to boast an impressive resume as a multi-time women’s champion and one of the first women to main event WrestleMania, but her star faded in her second run. She left WWE in 2023 and quietly retired in 2025.
2019 – Jungle Boy/Jack Perry
Son of late actor Luke Perry and nephew of famed Simpsons character Krusty the Clown, Jack Perry joined AEW as one of its young prospects. Seeing early success alongside Luchasaurus (and Marko Stunt) as Jurassic Express, his heel run was not perceived as well. After mocking CM Punk on the Zero Hour to All In in 2023 about an incident involving “real glass,” the two got into a legit fight backstage.
Perry was suspended but used his heat to become the Scapegoat character, joining The Elite and winning the TNT Championship. After a lengthy absence, he returned, turned face, and reunited with Luchasaurus. He also was an injury sub for this last year’s Continental Classic.
2020 – Pat McAfee
Not a wrestler in the traditional sense, McAfee is mostly known as an NFL punter turned sports analyst with The Pat McAfee Show as one of the most popular sports talk shows today. He joined WWE in 2019 to become an analyst, but he also had a feud with Adam Cole in NXT where he had an impressive debut match.
He’s mostly known to wrestling fans today as one of the most polarizing commentators of all time. Pat is a guy you either really love or really hate. He still wrestles occasionally with matches at WrestleMania’s 38 and 39, SummerSlam 2022, and last year’s Backlash.
2021 – Jade Cargill
Cargill was primed to be a major star in AEW right out of the gate, becoming the inaugural TBS Champion. She held the title for 373 days, boasting a 60-0 win streak at the same time. She left the company in 2023, joining WWE as a “monumental signing” for them.
Her initial run was used to strengthen up the women’s tag division alongside Bianca Belair to mixed results. A 2025 turn led to her becoming the WWE Women’s Champion as a dominant heel where she stands today.
2022 – Bron Breakker
Son and nephew to Rick and Scott Steiner, respectively, Bron burst on the scene with insane momentum. His skills as a performer as well as his intensity led to him winning the NXT championship four months after his debut, ultimately becoming the top star for the brand.
On the main roster, it’s already clear he is being primed to become the future of the company. A two-time Intercontinental Champion and a member of The Vision, Breakker scored the deciding fall in WarGames by pinning WWE World Heavyweight Champion CM Punk.
Despite losing to Punk on the first Raw of 2025, Breakker has perhaps the brightest future of anyone else on this list.
2023 – Yuma Anzai
A very hot prospect in the Japanese wrestling scene, Anzai won the Triple Crown Heavyweight Championship in 2024, becoming the youngest to do so at the age of 24. He continues to wrestle in All Japan today, so we’ll just have to see what’s in store for him in the future.
2024 – Je’Von Evans
Signing with WWE in 2023 at the age of 19, Evans has already become one of the most impressive and popular prospects in the company today. He has essentially become WWE’s go to guy for crossovers, competing in AAA, TNA, on SmackDown, and most recently on Raw as the sole NXT rep in John Cena’s Last Time is Now tournament. He was officially called up to Raw last week.
Who will be this year’s WON Rookie of the Year? Find out soon.
A couple of years ago, in 2023, Ronda Rousey wrestled her last WWE match against Shayna Baszler in an MMA Rules match at that year’s SummerSlam. However, since her departure, Rousey has not been very positive while reflecting on her WWE run, although Baszler believes an in-ring return could be in the cards for Rousey.
Recently speaking to Chris Van Vliet on Insight, Baszler addressed the chances of Rousey’s return while comparing it to CM Punk’s long-awaited pro-wrestling comeback.
“I never think Ronda [Rousey] is done. She’s a crazy person,” she added. “I don’t know. She loves being a mom. It would take a bit, but CM Punk came back. Ronda Rousey can come back.”
Rousey was an active part of the WWE roster from 2018 to 2019 before going on a hiatus. She later returned at the 2022 Women’s Royal Rumble and stayed at the Stamford-based promotion till 2023. Following a brief comeback from retirement in 2023, Rousey wrestled at a few indie and ROH shows before going on a long hiatus again.
Shayna Baszler opens up about Ronda Rousey’s last WWE match
In the same interview on Insight, Baszler reflected on Rousey’s last WWE match in 2023. Claiming that she knew about it being Rousey’s final bout, Baszler said,
“So I knew, because I’m very close with her. That was the last date on her contract, because she had planned to have another baby, and that was the plan. I mean, Ronda loves nothing more now than being a mom, and so I knew for a while, for so long we wanted to start that story,” she continued. “I think if we would have had longer, I think that would have benefited us a lot, because I think we did a great job with the time that we had.”
Wrestling Observer Radio with Bryan Alvarez and Dave Meltzer is back with tons to talk about including updates on Joe Doering and Jon Gresham, the RAW report from Monday night, a great article about Tanahashi’s final match and the road to get there, Ronda Rousey wanting a big boxing match, the weekend preview, and tons more! A fun show as always so check it out~!
Timestamps: Start: Joe Doering battling cancer for third time, Jonathan Gresham returning to the ring 2:48: TNA may be heading to AMC 11:08: ‘The Final Road’ article from Social Suplex re: Tanahashi/Okada Wrestle Kingdom 20 match 28:40: Dave’s thoughts from the AAA show last Friday, ‘Zootopia 2’ opens big 33:46: Ronda Rousey may try boxing, Tom Aspinall’s eye hasn’t healed, Dave’s thoughts on Kayla Harrison/Amanda Nunes fight 45:01: Lineups for the coming week 48:45: More WarGames thoughts, WWE Raw report
In a twist few saw coming, Ronda Rousey is reportedly in talks to return to the combat sports world, but not in the Octagon or wrestling ring.
Instead, Rousey’s return could be as a boxer.
Boxing Scene’s Lance Pugmire reported Monday that Rousey and two-time undisputed women’s World Champion Katie Taylor are in “active” negotiations for a 2026 fight in Las Vegas. No other details were provided other than a source noted Netflix — the same outlet that aired a rematch between Taylor and rival Amanda Serrano — is interested.
Rousey hasn’t fought professionally since getting knocked out in 48 seconds by all-timer Amanda Nunes in December 2016 that was preceded by a second round knockout loss to Holly Holm in November 2015. Rumors grew this year that she could return to UFC for a special fight after footage was released of her in training.
While she has never boxed professionally and lost violently in her last two MMA fights that were nearly a decade ago, Pugmire writes:
“Although she won many of her UFC bouts by armbar submission, Rousey was schooled heavily in boxing by then-coach Edmond Tarverdyan in Glendale, California, and her confidence in fighting from the stand-up stance increased into her final bouts.”
The 38-year-old jumped to WWE in 2018 starting at WrestleMania 34, departing in April 2019 after WrestleMania 35. She returned for a maligned run in January 2022, departing for a second time in August 2023. She made her indie debut in October 2023 and wrestled two matches before making a surprise appearance for Ring of Honor in November 2023.
Ronda Rousey recently commented on her reaction to the backstage environment in WWE.
Rousey appeared on Bert Kreischer’s Bertcast and said she didn’t feel any pressure making the move to WWE, though she admitted it could sometimes be stressful working there due to what she called a “s–t show” backstage.
“The funny thing is it was zero pressure, zero stress for me but everybody else who’s done only that their whole life, it’s very stressful,” she said.
“So it’d be kind of funny for me when everyone was all stressed out and I’m like, ‘Guys, we’re playing around out here, we’re gonna have fun, it’s cool.”
“But there were times I was stressed,” she continued. “When it would be such a s–t show backstage that I would be going out to do a match that I don’t even know what it is and have to improvise it out there with zero experience, basically. Or I just got handed some promo that I have to say that I don’t believe in that everyone is going to s–t on. Those are kind of stressful experiences.”
“But in general, if you know what the match is and you know it’s going to be a good match, I’d be in a great mood and excited to jump out there.”
Rousey recently shared footage of her training in MMA again, saying she is using it to get back in shape after giving birth to her second child. However, in interviews since, she’s mentioned that she doesn’t believe “anyone’s ever really done,” noting Mike Tyson’s fight against Jake Paul on Netflix earlier this year. Dana White has said that the door is open for Rousey to return if she ever decides to.
Rousey’s full interview with Bert Kreischer can be viewed below:
Wrestling Observer Radio with Bryan Alvarez and Dave Meltzer is back with tons to talk about including the WWE Crown Jewel PPV and fallout, Survivor Series teams, Bound for Glory, WWE releases, New Japan Sunday night line-up, Smashing Machine flopped, Ronda is in training, Collision notes, and tons more. A fun show as always so check it out~!
Timestamps: Start: WWE Crown Jewel recap 29:22: Wes Lee among WWE NXT & ID releases 34:58: TNA Bound for Glory lineup, Tessa Blanchard returns to CMLL, NJPW King of Pro Wrestling lineup 43:07: Go Shiozaki returns to AJPW, Mercedes Mone wins 10th belt, more Arena Mexico thoughts 50:55: Dave’s thoughts on ‘The Smashing Machine,’ UFC notes from Saturday’s show, Ronda Rousey is training in MMA again 1:00:08: AEW Collision notes
