Tag: WWE news

WWE NXT live results: Tony D’Angelo vs. Kam Hendrix title match

Posted on by Joseph Collins

Kam Hendrix, one of the newest additions to the NXT roster, is looking to achieve the biggest win of his young career.

The NXT Championship will be on the line when Hendrix challenges Tony D’Angelo tonight. He already owns a victory over D’Angelo in tag team action, though D’Angelo did not take the fall in that match. Instead, Hendrix pinned Myles Borne after pushing his own tag partner Mason Rook out of the way, which led to issues between the two NXT newcomers.

Borne, the NXT North American Champion, has another tag match tonight, teaming with Tavion Heights against DarkState.

We’ll hear from NXT Women’s Champion Lola Vice, who promises that she’ll have a lot to say after defeating Izzi Dame last week. Also in the women’s division, Zaria clashes with Lizzy Rain.

Plus, the men’s Speed Championship is set to be defended with Lexis King vs. Romeo Moreno.

Join us for live coverage starting at 8 p.m. Eastern time.

**********

Live! From Orlando, Florida. 

Vic Joseph and Booker T were on commentary. 

The competitors in tonight’s main event were shown walking into the building to hype the Tony D’Angelo NXT title defense against Kam Hendrix. 

Zaria v. Lizzy Rain 

Zaria blocked a tornado DDT and knocked Rain to the mat with a pump kick. Zaria whipped Rain around the ring, targeting her injured back. The Women’s North American Champion Tatum Paxley came out to join the commentators in an attempt to distract Zaria. She was unfazed though, knocking Rain to the floor with a solid forearm shot. 

Back from a commercial, Rain took Zaria to the mat with a super hurricanrana. But Zaria sprang right back up and cut Rain in half with a spear. Both women exchanged forearms, and Rain ducked a charge and hit Zaria with a clothesline. Rain hit a tornado DDT off the ropes for a near fall. 

Zaria came back with a pop-up headbutt. Rain got a near fall with a victory roll. Zaria caught Rain with a knee out of the corner and a rolling lariat for another near fall. Rain fired up and caught Zaria with a cutter and then a modified DVD for a near fall. Zaria came back with a German suplex and a spear. Zaria finished off Rain with an F5. 

Match Result: Zaria pinned Rain (10:32). 

After the match, Zaria tried to beat up Rain some more, but Paxley stopped her by offering up a title match for next week. 

— Saquon Shugars attacked Dark State as they were on their way to the ring. After the break, Vic Joseph announced that the Dark State match would occur later tonight. He also hyped up Booker T as “Mr. Great American Bash” and… really? 

OTM (Bronco Nima & Lucien Price) v. The Culling (Shawn Spears & Nico Banks) (w/ Izzy Dame)

Nima and Price attacked Spears and Banks before the bell. Price and Banks had an awkward exchange that I think was supposed to end in Banks flipping over Price, but he didn’t clear him and basically planted his groin in Price’s face. They figured it out and then redid the spot. They went to the floor and Banks threw Price into the ring barricade. 

After a break, Nima suplexed Spears. Price got the tag, then dropped to the floor to suplex Banks on the apron. Price took both Spears and Price down at once. Price press-slammed Banks onto Spears. Price floored Banks with a knee for a year fall. Banks put down Price with a sharp elbow. Price shoved Spears into Banks. Nima and Price hit their finisher on Spears (kind of like a double-team Angle Slam) and got the pinfall. 

Match Result: OTM beat The Culling when Nima pinned Spears (9:27). 

This was moves with no real flow. 

— EK Prosper, Tate Wilder and Kam Hendrix chat in the locker room about their upcoming matches tonight. Well not EK Prosper, who doesn’t have a match. But he’ll get to tell his grandkids he was in the building when Kam Hendrix won the NXT Championship!  

Jackson Drake (w/ The Vanity Project) v. Tate Wilder 

Wilder took down Drake with a sling blade, and he dropped to the floor to regroup. So Wilder took all of them out at once with a cannonball off the stairs. 

CW paid a lot of bills with a long commercial break during this match. When they finally got back to it, Wilder hit Drake with a flying forearm. They fought on the ring apron. Wilder caught Drake with a gamengiri, but Drake came back with a spear to the floor. Back in the ring, Wilder avoided a 450, then hit Drake with a TKO (the move, he didn’t ask him to take a 50% pay cut) for a near fall. 

Wilder went to the top, but Drake hit the ropes and crotched Wilder. Drake went to the top, but Wilder powerbombed him out of the corner. Wilder hit a twisting splash off the top for a near fall. The members of the Vanity Project jumped on the apron, but Wilder knocked them down. He tried to take out Myka Lockwood with a rana, but she blocked it, powerbombed Wilder into the ringpost and then onto the ring apron. Back in the ring, Drake finished off Wilder with a 450 splash. 

Match Result: Drake pinned WIlder (8:35). 

— Robert Stone was interviewed by Emily Agard about the upcoming Great American Bash. Someone comes in to start yelling at him, but Jasper Troy interrupted. They got in each other’s faces, and another member of Dark State attacked Troy and soon it was complete chaos in the back.

Lola Vice Sets Up Her Next Challenger

Lola Vice came out to the ring for a promo and talked up her recent victories in NXT and AAA. She wanted to know who her next challenger was going to be. This brought out Kelani Jordan. Jordan said that she’s proved herself by going to TNA and winning the Knockouts title, but she didn’t get the same praise that Lola Vice did for going out and winning the AAA Mixed Tag Team titles. Vice wasn’t impressed with Jordan’s TNA title right, because “if you blinked, you missed it.” 

Kendal Grey came out (with Wren Sinclair, hobbling behind her) to throw her name in the ring, too. She, after all, won the Iron Survivor and pinned both Jordan and Vice. Lola Vice got sick of all the complaining, and made the match between Grey and Jordan for next week, with the winner getting the title shot at the Great American Bash. On her way out, Jordan pulled at one of Vice’s title belts, causing her to spin into Grey and hit her with an elbow. 

— In the back, Zaria F5’d Tatum Paxley into a storage cage. 

— Mason Rook and Tony D’Angelo talked trash about each other until Robert Stone intervened and made a match for Rook and Naraku for next week. If Rook wins, he “cuts the line” and gets into title contention. (This was later made a #1 Contenders Match at the end of the show.)

Romeo Moreno (w/ Noam Dar) v. Lexis King (w/ Birthright) for the NXT Speed Championship  

Since this is a Speed Championship match, the time limit is five minutes. Moreno caught King with a sunset flip, then a dropkick. Moreno hit a German suplex and a dropkick off the middle ropes for a near fall. Moreno caught King with a cradle for a near fall. King came back and caught Moreno with a diving dropkick in the corner for a near fall. King repeatedly kept trying to cover Moreno, forcing him to kick out multiple times. 

King and Moreno exchanged a series of strikes. King went for a half-crab, but he didn’t lock it in. Moreno rolled King into a vertical suplex, then caught him with a superkick. Moreno tried for a crossface, but turned it into the Rings of Saturn. King escaped and dropped to the floor. Moreno took out the other members of Birthright with a dive off the top. 

Moreno tried for a dropkick off the top, but King stepped back and, if I can be serious for a minute, locked in a half-crab. Moreno escaped and caught King with a cradle. Moreno missed a move off the top, and King finished off Moreno with The Coronation, and modified swinging neckbreaker. 

Match Result: Kingpinned Moreno to retain the Speed Championship (4:34).

— Natalya and Jadia Parker exchanged words in the back. Natalya sees right through Parker’s act. Natalya knows that she’s soft. 

Dark State (Dion Lennox & Osiris Griffin) v. Tavion Heights & Miles Borne 

Cutler James was taken out of this match in the attack earlier by Saquon Shugars. 

There were a few instances of miscommunication between Borne and Heights in the early going. But they still combined to take Lennox out with a double dropkick. Borne clotheslined Griffin to the floor. Soon all four men were on the floor. Heights tossed Lennox over his head with a belly-to-belly. 

Dark State got the heat on Borne during the commercial. Lennox and Griffin worked over Borne in their corner. Borne backdropped Lennox out of his way to make the tag to Heights. Heights hit an amazing belly to belly on Lennox, then tossed Osiris around. Lennox tripped up Heights so Griffin could give him a headbutt. Dark State finished Heights off with the Doomsday Device. 

Match Result: Dark State won via pinfall (11:02). 

This didn’t feel like eleven minutes, probably because most of it was during the break. 

Next week’s show:

  • Kendal Grey v. Kelani Jordan to crown the #1 Contender for the NXT Women’s Championship
  • Mason Rook v. Naraku (later announced to be a #1 Contenders match for the NXT Championship)
  • Tatum Paxley v. Zaria for the NXT North American Women’s Title 
  • Shiloh Hill v. Tristan Angels in the Mr. NXT Pageant 

Tony D’Angelo v. Kam Hendrix for the NXT Championship

I’m not liking Hendrix’s chances here, since they’ve already set up another opponent for D’Angelo in Mason Rook. 

Hendrix hit the Showtime Kick out of nowhere for a near fall. Hangman’s neckbreaker got another near fall. After a DDT, Hendrix got a third near fall. Naraku was shown watching in the crowd. Hendrix started firing away with forearms on D’angleo. D’Angelo caught Hendrix and dumped him like a sack of potatoes. Hendix dropped to the floor to regroup. 

When Hendrix got back in the ring, D’Angelo was all over him with clobbering forearms and clotheslines. D’Angelo tossed Hendrix with a FU. D’Angelo tossed Hendrix over his head with a belly to belly, then clotheslined Hendrix to the floor. Hendrix went to grab the title belt, but Naraku stood up and shook his head at Hendrix, who left the belt alone and headed back into the ring. 

After a commercial break, Hendrix got a near fall after a suplex while Naraku looked on. D’Angelo came back with a series of release German suplexes. D’Angelo hit a spinebuster. D’Angelo hit a modified fisherman’s suplex for a near fall. D’Angelo ran into a knee and Hendrix went for a cradle with his feet on the ropes, but the ref caught him. 

D’Angelo tossed Hendrix down with a suplex. Hendrix hit a Showtime Kick, then followed up with a sit-out powerbomb for a near fall. Hendrix and D’Angelo started exchanging strikes, but Hendrix leapt into a powerbomb from D’Angelo for a near fall. 

Hendrix snapped D’Angelo’s neck against the top rope, then crawled to the floor to get a steel chair. Mason Rook cut him off. D’Angleo backdropped Hendrix onto the announcer’s table. Back in the ring, D’Angelo hit a variation on the Sky High to get the pinfall. 

Match Result: D’Angelo pinned Hendrix to retain (10:48). 

Naraku handed D’Angelo his title belt and offered him a bow after his match. It was made official that Rook and Naraku’s match next week will crown the #1 Contenders for the NXT title. 

Mick Foley explains decision to cut ties with WWE

Posted on by Joseph Currier

Mick Foley made the decision to cut ties with WWE so he could feel comfortable when looking at himself in the mirror.

Back in December 2025, Foley announced that he would not be renewing his WWE Legends contract when it expires this summer. He cited WWE’s “close relationship” with President Donald Trump as the reason and said Trump’s “incredibly cruel” comments about the death of director Rob Reiner (a frequent Trump critic) were the final straw.

Foley has now signed with AEW — and the 60-year-old Hardcore Legend appeared on The Ariel Helwani Show today to discuss that news. He also went into more detail about his WWE departure, saying he would have felt complicit in his silence if he continued representing WWE while Trump is in office.

“I just think WWE had a very cozy relationship where there was definitely the illusion of a relationship there — the perception, rather,” Foley said. “I think when five different people are posing in the Oval Office and they’ve all received Stone Cold Stunners, that’s a little cozy. And I felt like even though I wasn’t technically employed by the company, but because I had a Legends deal, because my name’s been associated with WWE for over 30 years, that I was complicit in my silence.

“And so I did speak up. I reached out to the head of talent relations, who I consider a friend, who I still write handwritten letters from Santa to every year… Basically, I give up the Legends deal. It runs out at the end of this month. I realized that by giving up two really easy, very high paying jobs at WrestleMania week for WWE that I had to work 24 hours on my own to make what I could’ve in six, and I’m okay with that.

“So I’m good with my decision. Everyone I think has to make a decision that’s right for them. And in my case, I just didn’t want to be in a position where my grandchildren are asking what their grandfather was doing when things were really, you know, tough. And I want my children to be able to say, ‘This is what grandpa did.’ So I made the move that I thought was right for me. I love that company. I’m not going to disparage them, but it didn’t seem like a good fit. Didn’t seem like a fit that would allow me to look at myself in the mirror before I went to bed.”

Foley said the head of talent relations told him that he respected his decision and would inform the people in charge. Though Foley did not hear from Paul “Triple H” Levesque or any members of the McMahon family, he did speak with an unnamed higher-up in WWE who tried to tell him that Levesque is only a member of Trump’s fitness council and that Linda McMahon, though a member of Trump’s cabinet, is not part of WWE. Foley did not fully agree with that, and he and the person he spoke with ended their conversation on respectful terms.

“I didn’t close the door forever,” Foley said. “I said in my announcement, you know, as long as [Trump’s] in office.”

Foley said he’s always been friends with independents and conservatives whose politics aren’t as progressive as his own. He believes it’s important to have two strong political parties in the United States, but Foley feels Trump is a different type of person who has acted in ways that are cruel and selfish.

Mick Foley on signing with AEW —

In the Helwani interview, Foley said he first met AEW boss Tony Khan 15 years ago and had a really good lunch with him long before Khan ever got into pro wrestling. Foley took a break from watching wrestling for a couple of years but then became a fan of AEW and would direct message with Khan some. But talks about Foley signing with the promotion didn’t start until months after he announced his decision to cut ties with WWE. The “nostalgia world” of conventions and one-man shows has been very kind to Foley financially, so that had been his focus.

Foley views himself as a “Swiss army knife” in AEW who can work as a broadcaster, help with publicity, and maybe even serve as a manager. He is not ruling out the possibility of having one last match in AEW but says the stars would have to align perfectly.

Kevin Nash praises La Parka, WCW luchadores: ‘All those guys were sweethearts’

Posted on by Joseph Currier

Kevin Nash enjoyed working alongside the talented group of luchadores that were brought into WCW in the 1990s.

On his Kliq This podcast this week, Nash was asked if La Parka — a Wrestling Observer Hall of Famer primarily for his work in Mexico — was considered a top star in WCW. Nash responded by praising La Parka and all of the WCW luchadores as “sweethearts” that everyone got along with.

“He was definitely [a top star] as far as the Latin crew. He was one of the top guys. He was a good f***ing dude,” Nash said about La Parka. “I mean, everybody got along with him. But all those guys were sweethearts. So there wasn’t one of them that was a dick.”

Nash, on a past edition of Kliq This, said he remembers working one or two tag matches against La Parka when they were in WCW together. Nash thought Eric Bischoff’s idea of having the first hour of Nitro feature “car crash” cruiserweight matches was brilliant, especially when Nitro was three hours. Viewers weren’t going to turn the channel during those matches, and WCW could hype up what was going to happen later in the night.

Adolfo Tapia Ibarra as La Parka/LA Park —

The original LA Parka was played by Adolfo Tapia Ibarra, who still competes today under the name LA Park. Tapia lost the rights to the La Parka name due to a trademark dispute, with Jesus Huerta Escoboza becoming AAA’s second version of La Parka before passing away in 2020 following an in-ring accident. A third iteration of La Parka now wrestles for AAA and has made a couple of WWE main roster appearances since WWE’s acquisition of the lucha libre company.

When WWE accidentally used an image of the original La Parka to advertise a match last year, Tapia said he is not interested in joining a major American promotion again.

“I prefer to fight for my Mexican people than to return to a large company in the United States,” he wrote. “I’m staying here in Mexico.”

After his WCW stint, original La Parka’s most extensive work in the United States was his 2018-2022 MLW run where he was positioned as one of the top stars of MLW’s revival. That run included one MLW Tag Team title reign with his sons El Hijo de LA Park and LA Park Jr. Their Los Parks faction was fired from MLW in 2022 due to going off-script and getting too rough during a brawl with Jacob Fatu and Alex Hammerstone.

Mick Foley praises AEW boss Tony Khan, bids farewell to WWE

Posted on by Joseph Currier

Mick Foley is excited to join an environment in AEW where everyone is encouraged to take risks and swing for the fences.

In a video posted to his social media accounts on Monday, Foley reflected on now being more than a week removed from his AEW debut at Double or Nothing. Foley thanked everyone who made it a special night, including the fans who gave him more than just a nostalgia pop. To Foley, the reception felt like fans truly believe he can make a difference in AEW.

The 60-year-old hardcore wrestling icon, who chose not to renew his WWE Legends contract due to political differences, expressed how grateful he is for every opportunity WWE has given him. He then looked toward the future by sharing why he thinks Tony Khan is such a unique boss.

“In no way am I here to throw stones at WWE. I love the company, I always will. I will always be deeply appreciative for every opportunity they afforded me,” Foley said. “But there’s something unique about seeing the owner of the company just so obviously happy and excited. Mr. McMahon had a different way of doing things, but it wasn’t with that type of joy [laughs].”

Foley said AEW feels like WWE felt in the Attitude Era — everyone is pulling for each other and knows that failure is inevitably going to happen sometimes when you’re trying to hit a home run.

“It just seems like, to me, the AEW wrestlers are out there and they are playing to win because it is understood that failure is part of the process,” he said. “I’ve seen so many people over the years almost petrified to walk through that curtain because they didn’t know whether they would get the thumbs up or the thumbs down, figuratively speaking. Tony’s excited. Tony loves what he’s doing. He’s happy to be there, and I think that type of enthusiasm makes me feel enthusiastic.”

Mick Foley on his AEW role —

At Double or Nothing, Foley co-hosted the preshow alongside Renee Paquette. He has officially signed an AEW deal for that broadcasting role but considers himself a “Swiss army knife” who can help in a variety of ways.

“I consider myself a Swiss army knife, and I can be used in a lot of different ways,” he said. “I’m excited about the future. And I’m excited about wrestling in a way that I haven’t been in a few years. And I want to thank AEW fans and the AEW product for helping me fall in love with wrestling all over again.”

It remains to be seen how physically involved Foley will get in AEW. He did take part in an angle at Double or Nothing where MJF gave him a low blow.

WWE confirms Raw wrestler ‘traded’ to SmackDown

Posted on by Joseph Currier

We now have official confirmation that Finn Balor is a member of the WWE SmackDown roster.

When the King of the Ring 2026 bracket was unveiled, Balor was curiously listed as a member of the SmackDown brand. That was addressed during today’s Raw in Turin, Italy, where WWE stated that Balor has been “traded” to SmackDown. The announcement was made during a commercial break segment where Byron Saxton was interviewing Judgment Day’s Dominik Mysterio & JD McDonough.

It wasn’t stated if Raw will be receiving a SmackDown wrestler in return for Balor.

Balor was formerly a member of Judgment Day before splitting off from the faction and turning babyface. Joining SmackDown moves Balor away from that Judgment Day story and into a new direction.

Finn Balor in WWE King of the Ring —

Balor’s first-round match in King of the Ring will pit him against Jey Uso, LA Knight, and Royce Keys. The winner advances to face either Seth Rollins, Je’Von Evans, Talla Tonga, or Ricky Saints in the semifinals.

Oba Femi is the only wrestler to have advanced in the tournament so far, winning a fatal four-way match on Raw today.

The winner of King of the Ring earns a World Championship shot at SummerSlam. On SmackDown, Cody Rhodes currently holds the Undisputed WWE title.

Two matches announced for WWE Raw next week

Posted on by Joseph Currier

A pair of tournament matches have been made official for WWE Raw next week.

The June 8 episode of Raw is set to be held in Paris, France at Accor Arena. WWE has announced that King & Queen of the Ring will continue to play out with first-round matches in each tournament. On the men’s side, it will be Seth Rollins vs. Je’Von Evans vs. Talla Tonga vs. Ricky Saints. The women’s bout is Liv Morgan vs. Becky Lynch vs. Alexa Bliss vs. Chelsea Green.

Both tournaments kicked off today with Oba Femi and IYO SKY becoming the first participants to advance to the semifinals. The remaining first round and semifinal matches will take place on Raw and SmackDown in advance of the June 27 finals at Night of Champions in Saudi Arabia.

At stake in the tournament are World title shots at SummerSlam. Though Morgan is already the Women’s World Champion on Raw, her explanation for still participating in Queen of the Ring is that she wants to take everything she can.

Next week’s Raw, like today’s episode from Turin, has a special start time of 2 p.m. Eastern. It’s airing live on Netflix during WWE’s ongoing European tour.

WWE Raw (Monday, June 8) —

  • King of the Ring first-round match: Seth Rollins vs. Je’Von Evans vs. Talla Tonga vs. Ricky Saints
  • Queen of the Ring first-round match: Liv Morgan vs. Becky Lynch vs. Alexa Bliss vs. Chelsea Green

Updated brackets for King & Queen of the Ring —

WWE King of the Ring 2026 bracket (Image credit: WWE)
WWE Queen of the Ring bracket
WWE Queen of the Ring 2026 bracket. (Image credit: WWE)

First name advances to WWE Queen of the Ring semifinals

Posted on by Joseph Currier

IYO SKY is moving forward in her quest to be crowned WWE’s Queen of the Ring for 2026.

The tournament began on Raw in Turin, Italy today with SKY winning a fatal four-way match to advance to the semifinals. Her opponents in the bout were Giulia, Roxanne Perez, and Lash Legend — and a moonsault onto Giulia got the victory for SKY.

In the next round, it will be SKY facing either Bayley, Raquel Rodriguez, Jacy Jayne, or Kiana James.

SKY is attempting to become the third-ever Queen of the Ring in WWE history, following victories by Jade Cargill and Nia Jax in 2025 and 2024. Zelina Vega also won a similarly named Queen’s Crown tournament in 2021 before WWE secured rights to the Queen of the Ring trademark.

This year’s Queen & King of the Ring are set to conclude at WWE Night of Champions in Saudi Arabia on June 27. World title shots at SummerSlam will be awarded to the winner of each tournament.

Updated WWE Queen of the Ring bracket —

Thirteen competitors are still in contention to win Queen of the Ring: SKY, Bayley, Rodriguez, Jayne, James, Liv Morgan, Becky Lynch, Alexa Bliss, Chelsea Green, Sol Ruca, Lyra Valkyria, Charlotte Flair, and Cargill.

The updated bracket can be seen below:

WWE Queen of the Ring bracket
WWE Queen of the Ring 2026 bracket. (Image credit: WWE)

WWE airing El Grande Americano mask vs. mask match on Netflix

Posted on by Joseph Currier

WWE is hoping to get as many eyes as possible on the El Grande Americano mask vs. mask match from Lucha Libre AAA.

The rivalry between El Grande Americano (Ludwig Kaiser) and Original El Grande Americano (Chad Gable) culminated with Kaiser getting the victory at AAA Noche de Los Grandes this past Saturday. The match has become an instant classic, earning Kaiser and Gable praise from fans and their WWE peers. WWE management apparently thinks very highly of the match as well, with it being announced during Raw today (June 1) that, immediately after the episode ends, WWE will be airing an encore presentation of the mask vs. mask match on Netflix.

Kaiser vs. Gable originally aired on WWE’s YouTube channel, where AAA’s TV is broadcast for free every week for viewers outside of Mexico, Central America, and South America (except Brazil). AAA airs on Fox Mexico in those markets.

The Kaiser vs. Gable rivalry is likely to be in strong contention for 2026’s Feud of the Year in all of professional wrestling. Though Gable originally introduced the character, Kaiser assumed the Americano gimmick last year when Gable was forced out of action due to injury. The two started feuding after Gable returned, and Kaiser became a huge babyface in Mexico during the process.

Kaiser’s May arrest briefly put this mask vs. mask match in jeopardy, but the state of Florida did not object to his motion to continue traveling domestically and internationally while the battery case plays out. A pre-trial conference in the case, where the alleged victim is a male resident of Kaiser’s apartment complex, is scheduled for July 16.

AAA’s next major events —

Coming out of Noche de Los Grandes, AAA has Triplemania 34 — its biggest annual event — set to be held over two nights on September 11 and 13. Night one is set for Las Vegas, with night two being held in Mexico City.

AAA could potentially add another big show to its upcoming schedule with Verano de Escandalo 2026 rumored for July 25.

First competitor advances to WWE King of the Ring semifinals

Posted on by Joseph Currier

It didn’t take Oba Femi very long to bounce back from his loss to Brock Lesnar at WWE Clash in Italy.

The 2026 King of the Ring tournament began on Raw today with Femi defeating Solo Sikoa, Penta, and Carmelo Hayes in a fatal four-way match to advance to the semifinals. His opponent in that round is set to be either Dominik Mysterio, Bron Breakker, Trick Williams, or Damian Priest.

Femi got the victory with a Fall From Grace on Sikoa. During the match, WWE teased that interference from Talla Tonga was going to remove Femi from contention — but Femi was able to return after Tonga had sent him into the crowd. He emerged from the barricade and took out Tonga, Hayes, and Penta before pinning Sikoa.

In a post-match promo, Femi addressed his loss to Lesnar from Sunday. He took Lesnar’s best shot and is still standing the next day. He reminded Lesnar that they are tied up at 1-1, and he’ll see Lesnar down the line.

Updated WWE King of the Ring bracket —

King of the Ring is Femi’s immediate focus, though, with the tournament set to play out on Raw and SmackDown over the next few weeks in advance of the finals taking place at Night of Champions in Saudi Arabia on June 27. The Queen of the Ring finals are also being held at that PLE, with the winners earning World title shots at SummerSlam.

Femi, Dominik, Breakker, Williams, Priest, Seth Rollins, Je’Von Evans, Talla Tonga, Ricky Saints, Jey Uso, LA Knight, Royce Keys, and Finn Balor are the competitors still in the running to win King of the Ring.

WWE King of the Ring 2026 bracket (Image credit: WWE)

Bayley praises Chad Gable following AAA Noche de Los Grandes

Posted on by Joseph Currier

Bayley was happy to see her friend Chad Gable get a chance to shine at AAA Noche de Los Grandes.

In a career highlight, Gable (as Original El Grande Americano) headlined the May 30 event in a mask vs. mask match against Ludwig Kaiser (El Grande Americano). Gable lost and is now forced to give up the Americano gimmick — but Bayley is confident that only great things are in his future. She was in Mexico for the show and made an Instagram post joining in on the chorus of praise for the main event.

“It’s not everyday that you get to watch your friend create magic in front of the most pure and passionate fans in the world!!,” Bayley wrote. “I’m so proud to know you, @wwegable! You take control of your opportunities and have always made everything count. It’s only up from here my dude!!”

Bayley and Gable came up together in the same era of NXT and have both now been with the company for more than a decade. When part two of Noche de Los Grandes airs this coming Saturday (June 6), a six-woman tag match with Bayley, Lola Vice & La Catalina vs. Flammer, Maravilla & La Hiedra will be part of the lineup.

Chad Gable comments on Noche de Los Grandes match —

It’s been less than two days since the match, but Gable took a moment to make his own Instagram post reflecting on the moment and how much the crowd meant to him.

“What an atmosphere. What a crowd. What a moment,” he wrote. “Thank you Mexico.”

Gable also shared an Instagram stories post from Finn Balor, who called the mask vs. mask match a “masterpiece” and said he’s already watched it multiple times.

“So good I already had to watch it twice,” Balor wrote. “I encourage you also. Masterpiece.”

Je’Von Evans lists his WWE mentors: Roman Reigns, Seth Rollins, more

Posted on by Joseph Currier

Je’Von Evans has some of the biggest names in WWE helping to guide him through his early main roster run.

Speaking with Denise Salcedo during Clash in Italy weekend, Evans said the veterans in WWE have been very willing to help him out and give him advice. His mentors include current champions Roman Reigns and Cody Rhodes, the now-retired John Cena, and NXT boss Shawn Michaels.

“A lot of people. I ask everybody like, ‘Hey, if you see something, let me know,’ especially if they have a lot of experience here on main roster,” Evans said. “But right now, of course Roman Reigns, Seth Rollins, Becky Lynch, CM Punk, and John Cena. Those are like my OGs — of course Randy Orton and Cody Rhodes. They all look out for me. Those are the people that help me out the most, they look out for me. And Papa Shawn.”

Orton has spoken publicly about giving advice to Evans. While Evans is an “incredible” talent who is capable of doing so many spectacular things in the ring, Orton has spoken with him about the importance of preserving his body by not doing all of those moves every single night.

The 22-year-old Evans is still seeking his first WWE gold after losing to Intercontinental Champion Penta on Raw last week. Despite the loss, Evans told Salcedo that the match was one of his favorites since joining the main roster. Evans also named his November 2025 bout against Gunther in the Last Time is Now tournament as a highlight.

Je’Von Evans in WWE King of the Ring tournament —

Evans did not have a match at Clash in Italy, but it was announced that he’ll be one of the 16 entrants vying for the King of the Ring 2026 crown. He’ll get to face off against one of his mentors in the first round, with Evans and Rollins set to clash in a four-way match that also includes Talla Tonga and Ricky Saints.

WWE’s King & Queen of the Ring tournaments are both taking place over the next few weeks before culminating at Night of Champions in Saudi Arabia on June 27. The winners earn World title shots at SummerSlam.

Cody Rhodes names dream ‘wildcard’ WWE venue

Posted on by Joseph Currier

Cody Rhodes would like to see WWE turn back the clock to 1993 when the company placed a wrestling ring on the deck of a decommissioned Navy ship.

To celebrate the Fourth of July that year, WWE held a bodyslam challenge on the USS Intrepid in New York City, where Lex Luger slammed Yokozuna on the road to SummerSlam 1993. WWE’s attempt to turn Luger into its next Hulk Hogan-level star ultimately wasn’t successful, but the Intrepid slam is still one of the most memorable WWE moments of that early 1990s era and of Luger’s Hall of Fame career.

Rhodes pointed back to the moment when TMZ asked — with UFC’s White House event coming up — if there are any “wildcard” venues he would like to see WWE run.

“Ohh, I would like to do a decommissioned — what do they call them? Where you put the planes on it,” Rhodes responded. “Luger did the slam on Yokozuna on the Intrepid, basically a decommissioned battleship. That’s a really great outlook. I would hope so, that would be really cool. Unique locations is always fun because then you can play them in the [WWE 2K] game.”

When asked what’s next for him in WWE, Rhodes claimed to TMZ that he did not know. An Undisputed WWE Championship rematch against Gunther looks like a possibility after Rhodes retained in controversial fashion at Clash in Italy on Sunday. WWE is also teasing Rhodes and World Heavyweight Champion Roman Reigns picking back up their rivalry.

Cody Rhodes on ‘Street Fighter’ movie —

Rhodes (playing Guile) and Reigns (Akuma) both have roles in the upcoming “Street Fighter” movie from Legendary Entertainment, which is set for an October 16, 2026 release. Rhodes spoke to TMZ about the project.

“Street Fighter is an absolute hit. [Director] Kitao Sakurai did a great job with that movie — great job. I saw a piece of it the other day. [You’ll] be very impressed,” he said. “It’s amazing. I hope people go and see it, October. Really fun time making it.”

NJPW wrestler Hirooki Goto is also in “Street Fighter,” playing the character E. Honda.

WWE Clash in Italy main event potentially in jeopardy

Posted on by Joseph Currier

The Clash in Italy main event might be in jeopardy after Jacob Fatu suffered an injury at a WWE European tour house show.

Earlier today, word was going around that Fatu was seen limping after facing Solo Sikoa at a Thursday WWE live event in Liverpool, England. PWInsider now reports that Fatu did legitimately get hurt — and WWE is concerned that he might not be cleared in time for Clash in Italy. Fatu is scheduled to face World Heavyweight Champion Roman Reigns in a Tribal Combat match at Sunday’s PLE.

PWInsider writes that WWE “is mulling over alternative plans” in the event that it needs to pivot away from Fatu taking on Reigns. It’s not known what those alternative plans are.

Cory Hays of False Finish adds that, while WWE is looking into possible pivots, the assumption is that Fatu will be fine for Sunday. False Finish notes that Fatu’s injury is said to be a back injury.

Reigns vs. Fatu is advertised as the main event of the show, with the Undisputed WWE Championship match between Cody Rhodes and Gunther set to open the action during the hour one ESPN simulcast.

The start time for Clash in Italy is 2 p.m. Eastern. Five matches are announced for the PLE:

WWE Clash in Italy (Sunday, May 31) —

  • Tribal Combat: World Heavyweight Champion Roman Reigns defends against Jacob Fatu
  • Women’s Intercontinental Champion Becky Lynch defends against Sol Ruca
  • Oba Femi vs. Brock Lesnar
  • WWE Women’s Champion Rhea Ripley defends against Jade Cargill
  • Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes defends against Gunther

WWE reveals Clash in Italy opening match

Posted on by Joseph Currier

The Undisputed WWE Championship will be on the line to kick off Clash in Italy.

During Friday’s episode of SmackDown, WWE announced that Cody Rhodes vs. Gunther for the Undisputed WWE title will be the opening match of Sunday’s broadcast. The first hour of the PLE is being simulcast on ESPN, with the entire show airing on the ESPN app in the United States and on Netflix internationally.

Another big title match will be going on second with Rhea Ripley vs. Jade Cargill for the WWE Women’s Championship also scheduled for the ESPN simulcast portion of the PLE.

Clash in Italy is Rhodes’ first televised defense of the Undisputed WWE Championship since retaining against Randy Orton at WrestleMania 42. In the aftermath of WrestleMania, Gunther moved over to the SmackDown roster to begin this title feud with Rhodes.

Inalpi Arena in Turin is hosting Sunday’s PLE and the following day’s episode of Raw. Here is the updated PLE lineup:

WWE Clash in Italy (Sunday, May 31) —

  • Tribal Combat: World Heavyweight Champion Roman Reigns defends against Jacob Fatu
  • Women’s Intercontinental Champion Becky Lynch defends against Sol Ruca
  • Oba Femi vs. Brock Lesnar
  • WWE Women’s Champion Rhea Ripley defends against Jade Cargill
  • Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes defends against Gunther

WWE considering new additions to The Vision

Posted on by Joseph Currier

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

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

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

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

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

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

Logan Paul’s recovery timeline —

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

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