Tag: Sol Ruca

Sol Ruca contract signing booked for next WWE Raw

Posted on by Bryan Rose

Sol Ruca is heading to Raw.

It was announced during Monday’s show that the NXT star will officially join the red brand on next week’s Raw in Omaha, Nebraska. She officially made her main roster debut on the Raw following WrestleMania, coming close but ultimately failing to defeat Liv Morgan thanks to former tag team partner Zaria.

The two ended up wrestling in the main event on last week’s NXT, squaring off in a last woman standing match. Zaria ended up scoring the win after seemingly reuniting with her former friend,  only to turn against her once again, shoving her off a perch and through two tables, with only one breaking. Despite the nasty-looking fall, Ruca was reported to be alright following the match.

At the very end of this week’s Raw, an irate Jacob Fatu attacked Roman Reigns, making it clear he wanted the next shot at the World Championship.  After leaving him laying with the Tongan death grip, Reigns recovered and told Fatu he’d see him at Backlash on May 9. As he was walking up the up, Fatu told Reigns that he would see him next week.

WWE Raw (May 4)

  • Sol Ruca signs with Raw
  • More between Roman Reigns and Jacob Fatu

Kendal Grey describes backstage reaction to Sol Ruca table spot on NXT

Posted on by Ian Carey

Kendal Grey described the backstage reaction to the table spot that closed Tuesday’s NXT during a recent interview.

In the closing moments of Tuesday’s show, Zaria pushed Sol Ruca off the perch and through one of two stacked tables below.

Speaking recently on the Mark Hoke Show, Grey said everyone watching backstage was immediately concerned for Ruca after the spot, but were relieved when she returned backstage in positive spirits.

Grey said:

“Honestly, back there, we were all watching. We were speechless. Like, we were just mouth wide open, speechless. We didn’t know how to react in that moment.

And then when she came back, I mean, she’s awesome. She’s amazing at what she does. She comes back,she has a towel on her head and she’s like, ‘Heck yeah.’ She’s smiling, she’s awesome.

But definitely a scary moment for all of us and just like concern for her and obviously that could be really bad and it was bad, but it could always be worse. So, knowing that she came back with a positive mind and smiling and stuff was a good reassuring moment because all of us definitely were scared.”

Ruca posted a photo following the show that appeared to show staples having been placed in her head. Dave Meltzer spoke about the spot in Friday’s edition of The Wrestling Observer Newsletter, writing:

“Sol Ruca needed eight staples to the back of her head to close the cut form the 4/21 NXT match with Zaria when her hit head the floor and missed the table that was supposed to break the fall when falling off the perch in the balcony.”

Grey’s full interview with The Mark Hoke Show is available below. The video is cued to her comments about Ruca’s table spot on NXT.

Sol Ruca needed eight staples after NXT table spot 

Posted on by Rosanne Raphael

Sol Ruca had to get eight staples on her head in the aftermath of her Last Woman Standing match with Zaria on week two of NXT Revenge. 

Ruca shared a series of images on Instagram with snippets of her match with Zaria, behind the scenes photos, family pictures and one showing the staples she had to get after the bout. 

Ruca kicked off this week with her WWE Raw debut. While Liv Morgan celebrated her WrestleMania 42 victory with The Judgment Day, Ruca walked out and the encounter led to an impromptu, non-title match. Zaria attacked Ruca, costing her the match.

The next night on NXT, Ruca was set to face Zaria. Their fight spilled outside the ring. Towards the end, Zaria hugged Ruca teasing a truce between the two especially that it was her last match on the brand. That turned out to be a farce, and Zaria shoved Ruca from the ledge onto two tables below. On the landing, Ruca crashed through a table but appeared to bump her head on the edge of the other. The spot sparked widespread concern. 

Following the match, Ruca bid farewell to NXT amid an outpouring of love and support from her colleagues as she prepares for the main roster. 

Sol Ruca thanks WWE NXT: ‘It’s been real’

Posted on by Shounak Chakrabarti

Hours after her brutal match against Zaria on the April 21, 2026, edition of WWE NXT, Sol Ruca expressed her gratitude to the brand.

Former NXT Women’s North American Champion Sol Ruca recently confirmed her jump to the main roster with her latest social media upload. She shared a couple of pictures on Instagram, showing her sitting in the NXT locker room. “Thank you NXT, it’s been real,” she captioned the images.

Her Instagram upload was soon filled with emotional messages from her NXT colleagues, who expressed how much they would miss Ruca. Several top names, such as Lola Vice, Adrian Rizzo, Izzi Dame, and others, commented on her post.

Ruca recently performed on the April 20 edition of RAW after WrestleMania 42, where she faced off against Liv Morgan. Her kayfabe nemesis, Zaria, interfered and cost her the match. The two later clashed on NXT’s Revenge special episode on April 21, where Zaria won. The match concluded with Ruca suffering a nasty fall.

The 26-year-old is a former NXT Women’s North American Champion as well as a former WWE Women’s Speed Champion. Ruca is now a part of the recent NXT to main roster jumps that include Joe Hendry and Ethan Page.

Trish Stratus ‘blown away’ by WWE NXT star Sol Ruca

Posted on by Joseph Currier

WWE Hall of Famer Trish Stratus is impressed by what she’s seen from NXT’s Sol Ruca.

During WrestleMania weekend, SiriusXM spoke with Stratus and asked which current star makes her want to return for one more match. Stratus named Ruca as an opponent she’d be interested in facing, though any return for Stratus would be storyline-dependent.

“When I went to John Cena’s final match, I got to see Sol Ruca up close and personal — and I was blown away,” Stratus said. “A lot of great talent. It’s not just the talent, it’s the storyline, it’s the characters, so I need to think on that one a little bit.”

Ruca, Oba Femi, and Je’Von Evans were the NXT talent that WWE chose to spotlight on the undercard of Cena’s final match last December. At the show, Ruca picked up a win against Bayley.

On the post-WrestleMania 42 edition of Raw this Monday, Ruca was in action ahead of a potential full-fledged call-up to the main roster. Ruca then faced Zaria in a Last Woman Standing match on NXT, which ended with Ruca taking a scary looking fall as her head smashed off a table that did not break.

Stratus competed for WWE three times in 2025 to celebrate the 25th anniversary of her debut. She remains open to a return if WWE has the right idea that would be interesting to the fans and help elevate her opponent.

SiriusXM also asked Lita and Kaitlyn who they’d want to face if they returned for one more match, with Lita naming IYO SKY and Kaitlyn naming AJ Lee.

WWE NXT notes: Joe Hendry, Sol Ruca, Myka Lockwood

Posted on by Bryan Rose

Here’s some notes from Tuesday’s NXT TV:

Both Joe Hendry and Sol Ruca appeared to make their final appearances on Tuesday’s show, losing both of their respective matches. Hendry was first up, losing to Keanu Carver after Carver mounted Hendry and repeatedly threw punches until the referee stopped the match.

Hendry is already advertised for a concert on next week’s Raw and it was said on Raw that he is now part of the roster.

In the main event, Zaria defeated Ruca to emerge victorious in their feud. A dramatic moment took place high on a perch near a set of two tables. Zaria suddenly had a change of heart, pleading with Ruca. The two grew emotional and hugged, seemingly working things out right then and there.

The two hugged, but Zaria revealed it was a ruse, shoving Ruca off the perch and sent her crashing through one of the tables, smacking her head on the other table that didn’t break.

While two wrestlers seemed on their way out, Myka Lockwood made her on-screen debut as a character as a potential new love interest of Jackson Drake. The storyline had Shiloh Hill setting up Drake on a date so they wouldn’t interfere in the Women’s North American title match, only to be disappointed that the date stood him up. Lockwood appeared and the two appeared to hit it off. Lockwood also deduced that Hill had Drake attempt to hook up with an AI chatbot. The skit ended with Lockwood walking out of the bar with all three Vanity Project members.

WWE NXT Revenge week two live results: Last Woman Standing

Posted on by Chris Aiken

Sol Ruca and Zaria will attempt to settle their rivalry on WWE NXT tonight.

The lineup for week two of NXT Revenge includes a Last Woman Standing match between former friends Ruca and Zaria. It’s taking place one night after Ruca made her Raw debut on the night after WrestleMania 42, where she faced Liv Morgan but lost due to an interfering Zaria.

The men’s and women’s North American titles will both be on the line tonight. In a casket match, Tatum Paxley defends her belt against Blake Monroe. Men’s champion Myles Borne is putting his championship up for grabs against Dion Lennox.

Another title match will see Lexis King and EK Prosper battle it out to determine a new men’s Speed Champion.

Plus, Joe Hendry, who is heading to the main roster with a call-up to Raw, will take on Keanu Carter.

Our live coverage begins at 8 p.m. Eastern time.

**********

NXT is back in on the air in front a live studio audience from a sound stage at the Performance Center in Orlando. This is week two of “Revenge”. The show is opening with a title match.

Myles Borne vs. Dion Lennox (with Darkstate) for the NXT North American Championship

—

The Darkstate cohorts involved themselves at ringside, and they distracted Borne so that Lennox could ambush him. Lennox works over Borne through a commercial break, and the beating continues after the break. Borne takes a bump on the ring steps, and he also took a slingshot into a sit-out powerbomb from Lennox for a near fall.

Comeback by Borne, and they trade near falls. Borne is cut off, and he takes a superplex off the top rope. Lennonx goes to cover him, and Borne hulks up. Another distraction from Darkstate at ringside, which allows Lennox to block a finisher from Borne. However, Borne counters Lennox and Darkstate’s interference. Borne then uses zig zag to set up the deciding pinfall.

Good opener.

Match result: NXT North American Champion Myles Borne defeated Dion Lennox via pinfall to retain this title.

— Blake Monroe is backstage with the Vanity Project, and they give her a pep talk as she stares into the reflection in her fake title belt. She says they can go party with “baddies” they matched with on a dating app. They assure her they are a text away, and they will be across the street. Turns out they are catfished by Shiloh Hill, which we learn in another skit after a commercial break where Hill is chatting with NXT Women’s North American Champion Tatum Paxley. She was concerned about Vanity Project interfering in her match later on against Monroe. Shiloh assures her they will not interfere, and he tells her about catfishing them.

Joe Hendry vs. Keanu Carver

—

The match goes through a commercial break. Carver uses his size to his advantage in the match, but Hendry was still competitive. Hendry gets worked over, with Carver targeting Hendry’s back. Hendry makes a comeback and he does a kip up. Hendry goes for his signature pose, only to walk into a lariat.

Spinebuster by Carver and he starts pounding on Hendry from a mounted position. The referee steps in to stop the match, as he calls her the bell.

Match result: Keanu Carver defeated Joe Hendry via referee stoppage.

— Lizzy Rain is the focus of a personality profile. Her in-ring debut on NXT is next week, and persona is a heavy metal gimmick.

Lexis King (with Birthright) vs. EK Prosper in the WWE Speed Championship tournament final

—

They have an exciting match with what time they had. Birthright members Arianna Grace and Stacks interfere, which allows King to win the tournament and the title. With under two minutes remaining, the fight spills outside.

King takes a bump on the apron and floor. Prosper comes off the top with a moonsault onto a pile of bodies. Under a minute remaining, and Grace slaps Prosper across the face. Prosper then superkicks Uriah Connors and Stacks at ringside. However, that distraction allows King to recover and execute a Coronation. Three count later, and new…

Match result: Lexis King defeated EK Prosper via pinfall after outside interference to win the WWE Speed Championship.

— Following up on a earlier skit, Jackson Drake is with Vanity Project. Drake is upset he got “stood up” by the mystery date, which is a catfish situation.

— Playing off an earlier skit with Robert Stone. Saquon Shugars informs Dion Lennox and Darkstate he got them a rematch for the Men’s North American Championship. Shugars got himself booked in a title match.

Tatum Paxley vs. Blake Monroe in a casket match for the NXT Women’s North American Championship

—

As the story goes, Shiloh Hill built the casket used in the match. They brawl throughout the match. Of course, the casket is frequently used as a prop. Other props used early on in the match include a bouquet of flowers and a dollhouse. Paxley takes a bump on the dollhouse at ringside just before the show cuts to a commercial break.

The brawl continues throughout the break, and they are fighting in the ring when the show returns from the break. They fight standing in the casket and top of it. Spanish Fly off the casket to the floor in a spot where the studio audience chanted “holy s***.”

Monroe sprays Paxley with a fire extinguisher, and Paxlet takes an implant DDT on the floor. Monroe puts Paxley inside the casket and shuts the lid. Monroe thinks she won, but Paxley uses Monroe’s fake title belt to block the casket from closely completely.

Tug-o-war over the fake title belt, and Monroe appears to win that battle. Monroe reveals a loaded pillow she used earlier in the match is filled with gimmicked diamonds. Paxley executes her finisher on the pile of diamonds. Following up with a running dropkick on Monroe, and Monroe tumbles into the casket. Paxley tosses the fake title belt into the casket, and Paxley shuts the win. And still…

Match result: NXT Women’s North American Championship Tatum Paxley defeated Blake Mornoe in a casket match to retain her title.

— Jackson Drake leaves the bar with a muscular woman that he met. They hit it off and she tells him he was catfished. They then leave together.

— NXT Women’s Champion Lola Vice enters the ring for her first promo since winning the title. She puts over Jacy Jayne as the former champion. Vice then cuts a good babyface promo before being interrupted by Izzi Dame and The Culling.

Vice is wearing her newly won NXT title around her waist, and her AAA Mixed Tag Team title belt is hanging from her waist. Niko Vance and Shawn Spears circle Vice, and Vance snatches the Mixed title belt. That distracts Vice, which allows Dame to drop Vice with a high kick. Dame poses with the NXT title while standing over a fallen Vice. The theme for heels tonight are distractions often and always.

— New Speed Champion Lexis King is being interviewed alongside Birthright when he confronted by EK Prosper and Dorian Van Dux. This sets up a tag team match against two members of Birthright.

— Kendal Grey is the focus of a great “Chronicle” segment. She narrates a video package talking her upbringing and journey to becoming a wrestler. This is a pretty great personality profile.

— Lola Vice tells Robert Stone she has “the perfect person is mind” to even the score with The Culling after the ambush earlier. A sudden commotion in Stone’s office, and Ricky Saints apparently lured Shiloh Hill into the office by using Stone’s cellphone. Hill was attacked and has a shelf laying on top of him as Stone and security run into the room. This puts their next match in jeopardy. Will Hill recover?

— NXT Champion Tony D’Angelo receivers a mystery gift box while talking with Robert Stone, who tells D’Angelo that next week Stone will have better idea who is his next challenger. Keanu Carver confronts D’Angelo with a warning about “sharks” circling the champ.

Sol Ruca vs. Zaria in a last woman standing match

—

Zaria sneaks into the ring during her entrance for an ambush. Ruca fights off Zaria and Zaria is scrambling at ringside. Zaria turns the proverbial tables with a shot from a trash can. A kendo stick soon becomes involved, as does more trash cans. Zaria whips Ruca with cable wire. They do a modified hangman spot for heat.

The brawling continues back in the ring, where Ruca delivers an X-Factor. They do some spots with a kendo stick, and Zaria has to answer a ten count. They tease a powerbomb off the apron, but Zaria escapes to boot Ruca at ringside.

The studio audience chants for tables as the fight continues. Soon thereafter, they do a stunt where Ruca spears Zaria through a gimmicked wall.

They go through a commercial break with more brawling around ringside. Back from the commercial break, and they perched on the barricade. That set up a stunt where Zaria gives Ruca an F5 on the broadcast booth. The desk implodes on impact, and Ruca must answer a ten count. Ruca barely beats the count as Zaria sets up a table at ringside.

Comeback by Ruca, but she is on rubber legs. More tables are set up ringside, complete with Slim Jim logos.Two tables set side-by-side. That leads to a big spot where Ruca climbed on a perch overlooking the ring. She looks to set up a spot with Zaria laid out on the tables.

Zaria disappears from the tables by the time Ruca climbs on the perch. Zaria surprises Ruca on the perch, but Ruca is able to leapfrog a spear. Ruca then executes a Sol Snatcher on the perch. The move looked to hurt Ruca for real. They both rise to heir feet and trade punches atop the perch. Slugfest develops as they tease knocking each other off the perch.

Teetering on the edge, Zaria flails with Ruca holding on to her. Zaria begs off and pleads with Ruca. Zaria says she is sorry, and Ruca pulls her away from the edge. There is an awkward moment where they look into each other’s eyes. They cry tears and hug. Zaria’s face melts into a sinister grin, and she shoves Ruca off the perch.

Ruca takes an ugly bump off the perch on to the tables. One table broke, and Ruca hit her head on the either table. It looked brutally painful. Ruca cannot answer the ten count, and Zaria is the last woman standing.

Match result: Zaria defeated Sol Ruca in a last woman standing match.

Sol Ruca names IYO SKY as dream opponent after WWE Raw debut

Posted on by Rosanne Raphael

Sol Ruca is officially a part of the WWE Raw roster after nearly four years on NXT. 

On Raw Recap, Ruca discussed nervousness before her debut on the brand. She also spoke about going up against Liv Morgan, who is supported by fans despite being a heel, in her first Raw match. She initially assumed her Raw debut would be a brief on-screen moment or a backstage segment instead of a full-fledged match.

“Absolutely incredible. I mean, this is not what I was expecting at all. I came here to do some world matches, some media stuff, and then a few days in, they were like, actually, you’re gonna be on Raw and I was like, ‘oh, okay, cool. Good thing, I brought extra clothes in here and stuff.’ And honestly, I thought it was gonna be like a crowd shot, or backstage or what have you. And getting here, they’re like, promo match interviews, all that. And I’m like, ‘Alright, this is it, this is my time to make my moment and prove myself, and especially being in the ring with Liv Morgan, who just came off of a huge win at WrestleMania, and her mic work, her ring work, is incredible. And to be able to be put in that position, it honestly gave me confidence.”

Ruca added that she was genuinely surprised by the crowd’s reaction, noting that fans knew who she was despite many main roster audiences not being familiarized with NXT talents. 

“A lot of the time, people at Raw, people who watch at home, don’t watch NXT as well. So coming out there, coming from NXT, is a big gamble on I don’t know if these people are gonna know who I am. I don’t know if they’re gonna care for what I have to say. Again, going into Liv Morgan, like, yes, she is a heel, but people do love her as well. So I’m like, I could be booed I don’t know. So, yeah, going out there, you just kind of have to be confident and go for it. And it definitely threw me off a little bit as soon as I said my first line, they popped, and I was like, ‘okay, they know who I am’. But it’s a learning curve, going from NXT to here to listen to the crowd and be able to have a little bit slow of a pace and feed off the crowd and just have your moments.”

When asked about dream opponents, Ruca instantly mentioned IYO SKY. She proceeded to mention Randy Orton, if it ever came down to it given their signature moves style. 

“So, my dream match is IYO SKY. But for this scenario, if it can be anyone, it’d probably be Randy Orton. The RKO, the Sol Snatcher, we’re gonna see whose is better. Maybe throw Je’Von in there too. We can all just go crazy.”

Last year in July, Ruca made her SmackDown debut in a fatal 4-way match against Alexa Bliss, Roxanne Perez and Kairi Sane. In October, Ruca and Zaria competed against then-Women’s Tag Team Champions, Bliss and Charlotte Flair for the titles. 

The Raw after WrestleMania added three new members to their roster – Ruca, Ethan Page, and Joe Hendry. While Page and Ruca made their in-ring debuts, Hendry will appear on the show next week. 

Title matches, last woman standing match part of two-week WWE NXT Revenge lineup

Posted on by Bryan Rose

A two-week event will kick off next week with two title matches.

Tony D’Angelo will defend the NXT title next week at NXT Revenge week one on The CW against Ethan Page. They, along with Joe Hendry and Ricky Saints, scored the win in an eight-man tag team match against DarkState on Tuesday. Page pinned Saquon Shugars after pushing away D’Angelo to get the glory for his team.

After the match, D’Angelo laid him out with the dead to rights chokeslam. Robert Stone later made a title match between the two official for next week’s show, the first night of Revenge.

Also set for night one is Jacy Jayne getting her NXT Championship rematch against Lola Vice. As the new NXT Champion was celebrating in the ring, Jayne interrupted and demanded another shot. Stone came out and made the second title match official for next week.

In addition to the two title matches, week one of Revenge will see Jaida Parker face Kelani Jordan, EK Prosper facing Dorian Van Dux in another Speed tournament qualifier, and Hendry will hold a concert to discuss his future following his title loss.

Week two of Revenge will see Sol Ruca taking on Zaria in a Last Woman Standing match. The latter made it clear on Tuesday it wasn’t over between them, spearing Ruca during her match against Izzi Dame. In addition, the men’s Speed tournament finals will take place to crown a new champion and EVOLVE standout Kali Armstrong will make her debut.

WWE NXT Revenge (April 14)

  • NXT Championship: Tony D’Angelo defends against Ethan Page
  • NXT Women’s Championship: Lola Vice defends against Jacy Jayne
  • Jaida Parker vs. Kelani Jordan
  • WWE Speed tournament: EK Prosper vs. Dorian Van Dux
  • Joe Hendry concert

WWE NXT Revenge (April 21)

  • Last Woman Standing: Sol Ruca vs. Zaria
  • WWE Men’s Speed title tournament finals
  • Kali Armstrong debuts

Sol Ruca vs. Izzi Dame, Lola Vice celebration set for next WWE NXT

Posted on by Bryan Rose

A celebration and a new match have been added to Tuesday’s NXT.

After winning the NXT Women’s title at the start of Stand & Deliver, Lola Vice met Sexxy Red backstage. As the two celebrated, Robert Stone announced a title celebration for Vice on the next episode of NXT. Vice won the title on Saturday after pinning longtime champion Jacy Jayne with a spinning backfist.

Meanwhile, Sol Ruca emerged victorious over former friend Zaria at Stand & Deliver, pinning her after multiple sol snatchers. She’ll only have a few days to recover as she is now set to square off against former North American Champion Izzi Dame.

Backstage, dissension started to build between Saquon Shugars and Dion Lennox of DarkState, with Shugars accusing Lennox of looking out for himself rather than DarkState after he jumped Myles Borne following his North American title match. Lennox rejected the idea and told the rest of the group that he would have a plan for all of the group on Tuesday.

WWE NXT (April 7)

  • Lola Vice title win celebration
  • Sol Ruca vs. Izzi Dame
  • Josh Briggs vs. Keanu Carver vs. Jasper Troy
  • Men’s WWE Speed tournament begins
  • Dion Lennox has a plan for DarkState

Sol Ruca, Jacy Jayne comment on NXT Stand & Deliver schedule change

Posted on by Ian Carey

Sol Ruca, Jacy Jayne and several other members of the NXT roster addressed Stand & Deliver taking place separately from WrestleMania weekend this year in a recent interview.

Ruca told Fox News that while some are “bummed about it,” she believes having the show separate from WrestleMania has its benefits.

Ruca said:

“I think it’s pretty cool. I think a lot of us would love to be involved in the whole WrestleMania weekend, but I do think this gives us an opportunity to potentially draw a bigger crowd now that we’re separate because having to go to multiple shows in the same weekend – it can be a lot for the fans,” she said. “I think us having it a little bit separate from everything else and still having our own moment can also be beneficial. I know a lot of us are gonna be at WWE World anyway, so it’ll be kind of like having the two little WrestleMania moments. I think some of us are a little bummed about it, but I think it’ll be a good thing for us.”

The Fox News article also included comments from Ricky Starks, Tony D’Angelo, and others from the NXT roster about what having Stand & Deliver on a different weekend means for the show.

NXT Women’s Champion Jacy Jayne said that she has “mixed feelings” about the change.

Jayne said:

“Yeah, I have mixed feelings about it, but I feel like this is the perfect opportunity for us to show that we really are the third brand,” she told Fox News Digital. “It’s not just a developmental brand. We can stand on our own. We can sell tickets. We’re not just the future, we’re the now.”

The full article from Fox News is available here.

NXT Stand & Deliver 2026 takes place Saturday, April 4, 2026, at The Factory at The District in Chesterfield, Missouri. As of this week’s Wrestling Observer Newsletter, 1,656 tickets have been distributed for the show.

WWE NXT Stand & Deliver card | This Saturday | St. Louis, MO

  • NXT Championship: Joe Hendry defends against Ricky Saints, Ethan Page, and Tony D’Angelo
  • NXT Women’s North American title: Tatum Paxley defends against Blake Monroe
  • Sol Ruca vs. Zaria
  • NXT North American title: Myles Borne defends against Johnny Gargano
  • NXT Tag Team titles: The Vanity Project defend against Los Americanos
  • Kickoff: Birthright (Lexis King, Stacks, Charlie Dempsey, Uriah Connors, and Arianna Grace) vs. Eli Knight, Shiloh Hill, Hank & Tank, and Wren Sinclair

Daily Update: CM Punk & Roman Reigns, Sol Ruca & Zaria

Posted on by Bryan Rose

Daily Update

Latest News

Latest Audio

Latest YouTube Video

This Week’s Wrestling Observer Newsletter

Among the topics covered:

  • A look back at the career of Dennis Condrey of Midnight Express fame
  • Update on WrestleMania, both the matches, business update the ticket demand at the present time
  • An updated look at AEW’s All In on 8/30 at Wembley Stadium as well as a look at the Dynasty show and ticket demand for the show
  • Coverage of El Homenaje a Dos Leyendas, CMLL’s second biggest show of the year, with El Satanico’s retirement at 76, The Death Riders appear, the heavyweight title changes hands and Mistico returns
  • A look at the NCAA Division I tournament including a look back 79 years when future pro wrestling legends dominated the heavyweight division and how it ties into the most recent tournament. We also look at the rivalry that could define college wrestling for years to come between a coach and his former pupil, a guy who was in high school in December and wins the NCAA title in March, as well business notes on the show, both attendance and television ratings
  • A look back at Sid Vicious, Badnews Allen and Dennis Rodman’s pro wrestling days
  • Trying to explain the latest controversy in television ratings and how this related to pro wrestling
  • How ratings differ from a sports survey about wrestling fans
  • The most complete look at the ratings for all the pro wrestling television shows over the past week,including competition, demos and comparisons with one year ago, as well as competition in the time slot.
  • Notes on CMLL talent coming to WrestleMania week
  • Major injury to arguably CMLL’s best worker
  • Notes on the 83rd anniversary of pro wrestling in one of its most famous arenas
  • Notes on tentative plans for a major mask vs. mask match
  • Callum Newman and Yuya Uemura tear it up in the New Japan Cup finals
  • Next major New Japan show thoughts with Ospreay’s returnh
  • Tanahashi talks goals to turn the company around
  • Kazusada Higuchi retirement notes
  • Thoughts on Satoru Sayama and his impact on pro wrestling
  • Aja Kongs 40th anniversary show
  • Gable Stevesn and RAF
  • Ted DiBiase Jr acquitted in his case
  • The end of CBS News Radio and what former WCW announcer was an anchor there
  • Notes on the announcing at the orignal When Worlds Collide AAA show
  • Lots of WrestleMania week show notes
  • FantasticaMania comes to the U.K.
  • Update on WBD sale to Paramount Skydance
  • Update on Revolution PPV buys
  • Jeff Jarrett becomes co-owner of a sports franchise
  • Jericho talks about working today
  • More on the Ali Revival Act
  • A list of a lot of PPV buy numbers for UFC
  • Ari Emanuel’s role in getting President Trump to stop the case against Ticketmaster/Live Nation.
  • WWE star training for a bodybuilding contest soon
  • Jesse Ventura rants but his timeline makes sense

This Week’s Back Issue

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Tuesday Update

WWE NXT March 24 ratings
Sol Ruca and Zaria appear on March 24 episode of WWE NXT. (Image credit: WWE)

 WWE

AEW & Other Wrestling

  • Don Callis spoke to CTV ahead of AEW’s shows in Winnipeg this week.
  • Hechicero told Sports Illustrated he’s ready to defend the CMLL Heavyweight title anywhere, including AEW, and praised Claudio Castagnoli’s reign as champion: “There is nothing to complain about with Claudio Castagnoli. He did it so well with great defenses not only in Mexico with the CMLL shows, but also to make some defenses in the United States with AEW. And that’s something now I really want. Not to defend the championship in Mexico with CMLL, I also want to defend the championship all around the world because it is a world championship, so that’s something that I really want. So that’s my main goal with this championship.”
  • JetSpeed vs. Angel de Oro & Niebla Roja has been added to CMLL’s Saturday show in Arena Coliseo.
  • Lady Frost is set to be a free agent with her AEW contract expiring at midnight.
  • A trailer for Slowburn Shoot: An Indie Wrestling Story, a documentary focused on Absolute Intense Wrestling. The trailer features the likes of Nick Gage, Hornswoggle, Britt Baker, and Ethan Page, among others. It will screen for the first time on April 13 as part of the Cleveland International Film Festival.
  • Tessa Blanchard vs. Jody Threat in a Bunkhouse match is set for this week’s Impact.
  • United Japan Pro Wrestling, a group consisting of most of the major promotions in Japan including NJPW, NOAH, Dragongate, and DDT, have announced a “FACE THE NEXT” event featuring younger talent for May 12 at Shinjuku FACE.
  • Dragon Dia announced on social media that he would be leaving Dragongate as of April 1.
  • Layla El has been announced for WrestleCon.

NXT title match, Sol Ruca vs. Zaria set for Stand & Deliver

Posted on by Bryan Rose

The NXT Championship will be defended in a four-way next month.

The main event of Tuesday’s NXT saw Ethan Page interfere in the main event, joining Ricky Starks to attack Tony D’Angelo. Joe Hendry came out for the save, but also chose to lay out D’Angleo with the standing ovation, gaining a measujre revenge over a recent D’Angelo attack. Backstage, Robert Stone announced a four-way match for Stand & Deliver.

All three challengers had been in the hunt for the title, with D’Angelo declaring his intentions after defeating Dion Lennox at Vengeance Day. Ethan Page recently scored a win over Hendry in a tag match.

Sol Ruca and Zaria, former tag team partners, will also meet. The two had a face-to-face on this week’s show, with Ruca accusing Zaria of fighting for herself rather than fighting for their team while Zaria accused Ruca of stealing the spotlight for herself. The two agreed to a match for St. Louis, with Zaria telling Ruca that she wasn’t the villain in her story, but a mistake.

WWE NXT Stand & Deliver (April 4)

  • NXT Championship: Joe Hendry defends against Ethan Page, Ricky Saints, and Tony D’Angelo
  • NXT North American title: Myles Borne defends against Johnny Gargano
  • NXT Women’s title: Jacy Jayne defends against either Kendal Grey or Lola Vice
  • NXT Tag Team titles: Vanity Project defend against either Los Americanos or Birthright
  • Sol Ruca vs. Zaria

WWE NXT live results: Booker T Appreciation Night, three title matches

Posted on by Chris Aiken

WWE NXT is live tonight from Houston, Texas — with see three title matches and Booker T honored in his hometown.

NXT Women’s Champion Jacy Jayne will defend against former partners and current rivals Sol Ruca and Zaria after defending against both of them recently.

In a rare steel cage match in NXT, Women’s North American Champion Tatum Paxley will defend against former champion Izzi Dame. Paxley defeated Dame for the title at the recent Vengeance Day and their feud continued last week.

The Women’s Speed title will also be on the line as Fallon Henley defends against Wren Sinclair. The Texas native earned her opportunity by winning a tournament.

The rest of the card will feature Hank & Tank facing off against Birth Right’s Lexis King & Uriah Connors in the first round of NXT’s Tag Team title number one contender’s tournament, and six-man tag action with Los Americanos taking on Vanity Project.

Our live coverage kicks off at 8 p.m. Eastern.

**********

NXT is live from the 713 Music Hall in Houston in front of a hot crowd. Opening the show is a triple threat title match.

Jacy Jayne (with Fatal Influence) vs. Sol Ruca vs. Zaria in a triple threat match for the NXT Women’s Championship

—

NXT Women’s Speed Champion Fallon Henley & Lainey Reid are ringside in Jayne’s corner. So far, Henley has the best St. Patrick’s Day gear on the show.

Lots of nifty spots, leading to near falls where Hayne delivers a codebreaker. Ruca breaks the count by springboarding into a Superfly splash, and Ruca gets a two count on Jayne. Vic Joseph and Booker T on commentary played up the champ being at a disadvantage not having to drop the fall to lose her title.

Ruca barely cleared the ropes on a Space Flying Tiger Drop, and the audience collectively held their breath for a moment. Outside the ring, Lainey Reid interferes to give Jayne an underhanded advantage. While Zaria and Ruca sell, Fatal Influence taunts and poses as the show goes into a commercial break. The match continues in a split-screen.

In the middle of the match, Los Americanos are shown preparing for their match tonight when the show returns. Teammates turned rivals, Sol Ruca and Zaria finally square off. They trade strikes until Jayne bursts into the ring with a senton. Jayne is thwarted as Ruca leapfrogs a spear from Zaria, and Jayne takes the spear. Ruca then spears Zaria, and the live audience comes unglued.

In their take on a Tower of Doom, Zaria leaps on the ropes for a German suplex on Jayne while Ruca flips over taking a back suplex. Zaria tries to cover the other two, but both kick out. Zaria looks to pummel Ruca, but Jayne land a missile dropkick and a cannonball. Zaria cuts off Jayne to deliver the F-5 to the champ, but Ruca breaks up the pinning attempt. Zaria goes for the F-5 on Ruca, only to get an X-factor from Ruca. Really good sequence.

Zaria take a bump out for the ring as they go home, and Ruca crushes Jayne with a Sol Snatcher. Ruca goes for a sure pin, and Zaria pulls Zaria out of the ring to break the count. Zaria then executes the F-5 on the outside, and Ruca takes a bump on the floor. Fatal Influence’s Henley and Reid interfere by keeping Zaria from getting back into the ring. Zaria drops Reid with a headbutt, and Henley takes the F-5 on the floor. Meanwhile, Jayne crawls over to steal the win by pinning Ruca. Great opener. And still…

Match result: NXT Women’s Champion Jacy Jayne defeated Sol Ruca and Zaria in a triple threat match when Jayne pinned Ruca to retain her title.

— Ricky Saints is supposed to “call someone out” in the next segment on the show. He is heading to the ring as the show cuts to a commercial break. Saints gets a full entrance after the break. With RodeoHouston taking place head-to-head tonight with NXT, Saints is dressed for the rodeo complete with cowboy boots, leather vest and a bolo tie. A talking segment leads to dissension between Saints and his cohort, Ethan Page. NXT Champion Joe Hendry then confronts both of them. Tony D’Angelo then lays out everyone

NXT Champ Joe Hendry plays challengers against each other, and Tony D’Angelo strikes

—

Saints first delivers a monologue saying the main event (himself) is standing before you. He boasts about himself while talking about driving three hours from Austin to Houston. He pivots to talking about his tag team with Ethan Page. He brags about how they can pivot, mentioning there win last week against the team of Joe Hendry and Myles Borne.

Saints dubs himself and Page as “The Slump Busters” for their team name. If their other cohorts in Vanity Project were not in the title mix, Saints and Page would go for the tag titles. Out comes Ethan Page to join alongside Saints. Page likes the name, but he was thinking “Bounce-Back Boys” instead. Saints tells Page he can call out NXT North American Champion Myles Borne to issue a challenge. Page informs Saints that Page does not want to be North American Champion anymore. Rather, Page wants to be a two-time champion.

Saints is at a lose for words as he processes the intentions of Page. The tension is broken by the entrance of Joe Hendry, who enters holding the NXT title belt.

Hendry cuts a promo that pits Saints against Page. Hendry claims Saints uses Page to cover for his own loses. Hendry points out Saints cannot regain the title. Saints cannot play guitar, and he cannot sing. Henry then mentions that Saints and Page once wrestled each other at Stand & Deliver.

Page and Saints then get into an argument and they exchange barbs. They look ready to fight each other when they instead attack Hendry. He fights then off and give each a fallaway slam.

Suddenly, Tony D’Angelo runs in to attack all three. D’Angelo wrecks shop and lays everyone out, and he stands menacingly over all.

Birthright is backstage along with Fit Finlay and William Regal. As Regal tells Birthright they must win the tag team tournament, up walks Robert Stone. Regal talks Stone aside trying to gain favor with the new general manager of NXT, and Regal offers to put in a word with Shawn Michaels on making it a permanent role as GM.

Los Americanos (El Grande Americano Nuevo, Rayo Americano & Bravo Americano) vs. Vanity Project (Brad Baylor, Ricky Smokes & WWE Evolve Champion Jackson Drake)

—

The heel trio takes over before the match goes through a commercial break. Heat on Rayo Americano when the show returns from the break, leading to El Grande Americano running wild after a hot tag.

Americanos with a stereo dives while wearing cowboy hats, and Grande gets a near fall in the ring. He then trades near falls with the heel trio, and Grande kicks out after taking a Burner Hammer and a 450 splash from Drake.

The crowd is clearly behind El Grande Americano as he hulks up. In the closing moments, Drake rolls up El Grande Americano and uses the ropes for illegal leverage. Brad Baylor also helps with an assist, and the referee catches the heels in the act. Meanwhile behind the ref’s back, El Grande is handed a gimmick and he loads his mask.

Grande Americano knocks Baylor off the apron with the shot from the loaded mask, but Drake dodges the loaded mask to deliver a running knee strike. Rayo with a blind tag, followed by another blind tag by Bravo. Russian leg sweep, flying headbutt combo by Rayo and Bravo, followed by a flying headbutt with the loaded mask by El Grande Americano. He then covers Smokes for a pinfall.

Match result: Los Americanos defeated Vanity Project when El Grando Americano pinned Ricky Smokes.

— In a backstage skit, Sean Legacy is on crutches and says he cannot wrestle. Robert Stone rules that Eli Knight must find a replacement to team with him or forfeit their spot in the tag team tournament. That led to WWE Speed Champion Elio LeFleur offering to team with Knight, and Stone okays the new team.

Keanu Carver crashes Booker T Appreciation Night

Vic Joseph hosts a segment for Booker T Appreciation Night ceremony, and Joseph introduces Booker T to the crowd. Booker T is the focus of a great video package honoring his career in wrestling as both a performer and mentor.

Booker T is in tears while surrounded by his wife and kids and two students from his Reality of Wrestling school. Joseph presents Booker with a plaque commemorating Booker T Appreciation Night. The crowd chants “you deserve it” as Booker T displays the plaque.

Booker gets the house microphone and says he has been doing this for 35 years. Booker thanks the fans for making it all possible. Keanu Carver suddenly interrupts the ceremony. Carver yells for everyone to shut up, and he shoves aside a referee on his way to the ring.

Several students try to intervene, but Carver tosses them aside with ease on his way into the ring to confront Booker. Carver is squaring off with Booker when in runs Jasper Troy to brawl with Carver. They briefly fight before Troy clotheslines Carver out of the ring. Referees pour out to keep Carver separated from Troy.

Carves exits and out comes the NXT roster to honor Booker. The roster is joined by Robert Stone. Booker says to cut the music. Booker cuts a promo saying someone needs to take control, and Booker yells at Stone that kind of stuff should not happen in Booker’s hometown city. Booker’s theme music then awkwardly blares over the house speakers, and the show cuts to commercial while Booker is still cutting a promo. The segment inexplicably ends without sound during a split-screen break.

Fallon Henley (with Fatal Influence) vs. Wren Sinclair (with Kendak Grey) for the WWE Speed Championship

—

Five-minute time limit for this title bout. Sinclair is billed from Texas, which got a decent enough pop from the crowd. The home state aspect might have popped the crowd more at first if the match had not followed a segment already playing on hometown vibes. However, the crowd still popped big for the title change, as Sinclair won the title in her home state.

For the finish, Sinclair counters an O’Connor Roll with about a minute-and-a-half remaining in the bout. Sinclair then catches Henley with “The Final Wrench” (cattle mutilation hold), and Henley submits. And new…

Match result: Wren Sinclair defeated WWE Women’s Speed Champion Fallon Henley via submission to win the title.

— Ethan Page and Ricky Saints have stormed into Robert Stone’s office, and they are angry about Tony D’Angelo ambushing them earlier tonight. They demand that Stone take action. Page then says Saints wants D’Angelo in a singles match next week. Saints is taken aback at first, but Page talks him into it so long as Page is in his corner. Saints against D’Angelo is set for next Tuesday.

— A commercial for NXT Stand & Deliver announces the show is April 4 at The Factory in St. Louis.

Hank Walker & Tank Ledger vs. Birthright (Uriah Connors & Stacks with Arianna Grace, Charlie Dempsey & Lexis King) in a number one contender’s tag team tournament quarterfinal match

—

Heat on Hank, until a hot tag to Tank. The babyface duo then a superplex/swanton bomb combination. Reception issues while trying to watch on my local CW affiliate, so my feed is choppy for a bit. Reception clears up in time for Hank to plant Stacks with a Bossman slam. Lexis King jumps into the ring and takes a bullet for Stack.

Somehow the interference by King does not qualify as a disqualification, and King is sandwiched with a stereo splash by Hank & Tank. Stacks then makes Hank & Tank’s combo finisher, but Connors already made a bling tag. Connors rushes in to roll up Hank for a three count. Birthright wins to advance in the tournament.

Match result: Birthright defeated Hank & Tank when Uriah Connors pinned Hank.

— NXT Champ Joe Hendry demands Robert Stone book a match with the champ against Tony D’Angelo. Stone could like to oblige, but he already booked Saints against D’Angelo for next week.

— Timing was tight as the show crept closer to the top of the hour, and they rush into the main event.

Tatum Paxley vs. Izzi Dame in a steel cage match for the NXT Women’s North American Championship

—

Winner by pinfall or submission, no climbing out to win. They still tried to climb out, and the fight began before they ever got in the cage. This was a wild brawl with Paxley retaining her title. The reception on my CW broadcast was in and out at times. They used weapons like chairs, along with using the cage itself as a weapon at time. They looked to have a gritty cage match without blood.

They build to a superplex, and then they build to a powerbomb spot on a metal folding chair. Paxley counters with a code red on the chair, and Paxley follows up with Cemetery Drive on Dame. Paxley covers Dame for a pinfall.

Match result: NXT Women’s North American Champion Tatum Paxley defeated Izzi Dame via pinfall to retain her title.

— In a cliffhanger ending, Paxley was celebrating and posing with the title belt the ramp. Blake Monroe popped out of a trap door like The Undertaker. She pulls Paxley down through the trap door, and Monroe poses as the show goes off the air.

Ricochet agrees with Sol Ruca’s racial identity statement

Posted on by Shounak Chakrabarti

AEW National Champion Ricochet has agreed with Sol Ruca’s recent racial identity statement.

Former NXT Women’s North American champion Sol Ruca appeared on Stephanie McMahon’s podcast, where she opened up about her mixed racial identity. Shortly after the clip went viral on the internet, AEW’s Ricochet shared his take on it and agreed with Ruca’s statements.

“I agree with her. As a mixed kid growing up in Kentucky in the early 90’s I was a black kid to the white people and I was a white kid to the black people,” he said.

“But as I grew older I felt so much more acceptance and most all my friends were from the black community. So naturally thats what felt right for me. But it took me a while to understand and realize that being mixed is the best!“

Ruca, 26, is currently one of the most popular women’s wrestlers on the NXT roster. Currently in a feud with her former tag-team partner, Zaria, Ruca also recently participated in the women’s Royal Rumble and impressed everyone with her performance.

On the other hand, Ricochet is scheduled to defend his AEW National title in a 21-man Blackjack Battle Royal at AEW Revolution 2026.