Tag: WWE news

Kevin Nash ‘would not have gotten rid of Motor City Machine Guns, that’s for damn sure’

Posted on by Joseph Currier

Kevin Nash wasn’t a fan of WWE’s decision to release the Motor City Machine Guns.

During the Q&A portion of his latest Kliq This podcast, Nash reacted to the round of roster cuts that WWE made on April 24. The WWE Hall of Famer said he was surprised to see Alex Shelley & Chris Sabin let go and would not have made the same decision if it were up to him.

“I would not have gotten rid of the Motor City Machine Guns, that’s for damn sure,” Nash said.

Nash worked with Motor City Machine Guns in TNA and had strong on-screen chemistry with Shelley when they were in Paparazzi Productions together. Nash was also a mentor to Shelley behind the scenes during this time, with Nash, Shelley, and Sabin all being from the state of Michigan.

Shelley & Sabin had a nearly two-year run with WWE that included one Tag Team title reign on SmackDown. There is an expectation that they’ll be heading to AEW once free to sign elsewhere.

When asked if he was surprised by the releases in general, Nash said he wasn’t after he saw how high the compensation is for TKO’s executives. Nash joked about Nick Khan’s salary but said he believes Khan has earned it given how much money Khan generates for WWE.

“Not after like two weeks prior when I see what the CEOs [are making]. What Nick’s getting paid. I mean, Nick took f***ing half of the WrestleMania net [laughs],” Nash said. “But I’m busting his balls because we sat here and went over the numbers and the year before was 1.4 billion. The next year, you’re 1.7 billion. So that’s 300 million.”

Khan — WWE’s President — received $24.3 million in compensation for the year 2025. His base salary was $2 million, and Khan received $11 million in stock awards and more than $10 million in bonuses.

Nash appeared for WWE last month when he helped induct NBA legend Dennis Rodman into the Hall of Fame during WrestleMania 42 weekend. Though he understands that business takes precedence, Nash described the whole weekend as feeling “kind of soulless” with how TKO handles things.

Kevin Owens announces new WWE Canadian tour dates

Posted on by Joseph Currier

WWE is heading up to Canada for three shows this August.

Enlisting the help of the injured Kevin Owens to deliver the news, WWE announced this morning that it has added three Canadian dates to the company’s summer schedule. One of the events is a house show, while the others are SmackDown/Raw episodes.

Here are the full details:

  • Thursday, August 20: Summer tour live event at Canada Life Place in London, Ontario
  • Friday, August 21: SmackDown at Scotiabank Arena in Toronto, Ontario
  • Monday, August 24: Raw at Canadian Tire Centre in Ottawa, Ontario

Tickets for the events are going on sale to the general public this Friday (May 8) at 10 a.m. Eastern time. A pre-sale will begin on Thursday at that same time.

WWE had Owens post a social media video announcing these events. Owens underwent neck surgery in 2025 and has now been out of action for more than a year. There has been no definitive word on when he’ll be able to return to the ring.

In the video, Owens joked that he hasn’t been doing much while out of action and has just been walking around aimlessly. He ended with a message telling the fans how much he misses them.

“So go buy the tickets, go to the shows, have a blast,” Owens said. “I really miss you guys, and I mean that 100 percent. Take care.”

Owens turns 42 years old this Thursday. While out of action, he’s taken on a coaching role on the new season of WWE LFG that recently premiered on A&E.

John Cena teases ‘history-making news’ for WWE Backlash

Posted on by Joseph Currier

John Cena plans on delivering some “history-making news” at WWE Backlash this weekend.

With his appearance at Saturday’s PLE now confirmed, Cena sent out a tweet this morning hyping that he’ll be breaking some news that will “change the WWE experience” for wrestlers and fans. The announcement will presumably be related to the company’s new Club WWE membership program that is in the process of being rolled out.

“It’s official! I’m headed to #WWEBacklash! After months of planning and effort, I am SO excited to break some history-making news!,” Cena wrote. “I can’t promise it’ll be perfect but I can promise it will change the WWE experience for Superstars and fans!

“C U Live Saturday in Tampa or at home on the @espn app!”

Leading the marketing of Club WWE’s launch is one of the first roles Cena has taken on in post-retirement life. WWE has yet to officially open sign-ups for the program, but a waitlist is currently available. Those who pay an annual membership fee for the gold tier will receive perks like access to ticket pre-sales, exclusive merchandise, and bonus content like inside scoops and behind-the-scenes footage.

The annual membership price has not been disclosed yet.

Cena also appeared at WrestleMania 42 last month when he hosted both nights of the event. Backlash is being held in Tampa, which is where Cena lives.

WWE Backlash 2026 (Saturday, May 9) —

  • World Heavyweight Champion Roman Reigns defends against Jacob Fatu
  • Seth Rollins vs. Bron Breakker
  • IYO SKY vs. Asuka
  • United States Champion Trick Williams defends against Sami Zayn
  • Danhausen and a partner vs. The Miz & Kit Wilson
  • John Cena appears

Update on ‘targeted’ WWE WrestleMania 43 date

Posted on by Joseph Currier

WrestleMania could be moving back to the end of March in 2027.

WrestleVotes reports that the weekend of March 27, 2027 is the “targeted” date for WrestleMania 43 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. That would coincide with the end of the annual Riyadh Season festival. WWE has not officially confirmed the date for the show yet — and WrestleVotes says the weekend of April 10 is also on the table.

Traditionally, most WrestleManias have been held in either late March or early April. WWE made a change starting in 2025 to push the event back to mid/late April so WrestleMania would avoid going against Final Four weekend of the NCAA basketball tournament.

The WrestleVotes report states that it’s possible but unlikely that, for one year only, WrestleMania could return to a one-night event for WrestleMania 43. Fightful adds that WWE’s broadcast partner ESPN is said to prefer two nights.

While there’s been some uncertainty amid the war between the United States & Israel and Iran, WWE is moving ahead with its plans for Saudi Arabia. The company announced today that Night of Champions 2026 will be held in Riyadh on Saturday, June 27.

WrestleMania 43 will be the first time WWE’s marquee event has ever been held outside of the United States or Canada.

Before Saudi Arabia was chosen, Nashville, Tennessee was in consideration as the host city.

Kevin Owens comments on new WWE LFG role

Posted on by Joseph Currier

Joining the cast of WWE LFG has helped Kevin Owens stay busy while he recovers from injury.

Season three of the A&E show premieres this Sunday (April 26) with Owens and Nattie replacing The Undertaker and Mickie James on the coaching roster. In a sneak peek clip from the season premiere, Owens said he was “losing his mind” not being around wrestling and was looking forward to helping the next generation in this LFG role. Owens was 8-9 months removed from neck surgery at the time.

“I’ve been wrestling for 25 years. Ultimately, for me, I just want to help the next generation,” Owens said. “And also, I don’t really know what I’d do with myself if it didn’t. This is just all I’ve done since I was 15. This is what I love, this is what I’ve always loved.

“Right now, I’ve been off for 8-9 months because of my neck surgery. I’m losing my mind. Like, I just want to be around it.”

Owens underwent neck surgery in July 2025 and does not have a definitive return date yet. The last time he wrestled was against Sami Zayn at WWE Elimination Chamber 2025 more than a year ago. Last November, he shared a brief clip of himself doing some cardio work at the WWE Performance Center.

The WWE LFG (Legends & Future Greats) season three premiere airs on A&E at 10 p.m. Eastern on Sunday. Booker T and Bubba Ray Dudley are the other coaches on the show, which spotlights Performance Center recruits as they attempt to move their way up into NXT.

North Carolina town honoring former resident Andre the Giant

Posted on by Joseph Currier

Ellerbe, a tiny town in North Carolina, is honoring a pro wrestling giant.

On Thursday (April 23), Ellerbe is unveiling a roadside marker celebrating the fact that Andre once called the town home. He owned a ranch just outside of Ellerbe town limits, and Andre’s ashes were spread there after passing away on a trip to France in 1993.

The marker will be located at the intersection of NC Highway 73 and Old NC Highway 220. It reads: “Andre The Giant. 1946-1993. Actor and professional wrestler. Was born Andre Roussimoff. Known for role in The Princess Bride in 1987. Lived nearby.”

Ellerber has a population of fewer than 1000 people, listed at 864 as of the 2020 census.

North Carolina’s Department of Natural & Cultural Resources wrote:

  • On Aug. 22, 1978, Roussimoff made a decision that surprised many fans but delighted local residents. He purchased nine acres of land near Ellerbe in Richmond County. Over the next decade he continued to expand his property until he owned a 194-acre ranch along Big Mountain Creek. This land became his refuge. Although he was one of the most famous athletes in the world, in Ellerbe he could enjoy a slower pace of life, participate in the community, and even take part in local civic efforts. One of these efforts involved opposing a proposed radioactive waste site in Richmond County, where his voice carried significant influence.
  • The people of Ellerbe came to know Roussimoff as a gentle, thoughtful man who valued privacy and friendship.

WWE also celebrated Andre last week by inducting his match against Hulk Hogan from WrestleMania III into the Hall of Fame as the 2026 Immortal Moment Award winner. Andre’s daughter Robin and Hogan’s son Nick were there to receive the award.

Andre was the WWE Hall of Fame’s first-ever inductee, having been posthumously honored in 1993.

WWE returning to Saudi Arabia for Night of Champions 2026

Posted on by Joseph Currier

WWE has officially set a date for its return to Saudi Arabia.

Confirming what had previously been reported, the company announced today that Night of Champions 2026 will be held in Riyadh on Saturday, June 27. This is WWE’s second trip to Saudi Arabia this year, with the country already having hosted Royal Rumble at the end of January.

There had been some uncertainty over whether the war between United States & Israel and Iran would impact WWE’s plans for Saudi Arabia, but the promotion is continuing with this event and moving forward with WrestleMania 43 in Riyadh in 2027.

Night of Champions was also held in Saudi Arabia in 2023 and 2025, with the latter being headlined by a match between John Cena and CM Punk on Cena’s retirement tour.

With this addition, here’s a look at WWE’s updated PLE schedule for 2026:

  • Saturday, May 9: Backlash at Benchmark International Arena in Tampa, Florida
  • Sunday, May 31: Clash in Italy at Inalpi Arena in Turin, Italy
  • Saturday, June 27: Night of Champions at Kingdom Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
  • Saturday, August 1 and Sunday, August 2: SummerSlam at US Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, Minnesota
  • Sunday, September 6: Money in the Bank at Smoothie King Center in New Orleans, Louisiana

Stephanie McMahon says McMahons ‘were never supposed to be’ in WWE Hall of Fame

Posted on by Joseph Currier

When she was growing up in the business, Stephanie McMahon was taught that McMahon family members should not be inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame.

McMahon joined the WWE Hall of Fame when she was inducted last Friday during WrestleMania 42 weekend. Aside from her husband Paul “Triple H” Levesque, she is only the second member of the McMahon family to be inducted, joining her grandfather Vincent J. McMahon who was posthumously honored in 1996.

On a new episode of “What’s Your Story?,” Paige praised McMahon’s induction and asked why it took so long for this to happen.

“Well, the McMahons were never supposed to be in the Hall of Fame, as I was always brought up,” McMahon responded. “You know, we were characters that were intentionally designed to get other talent over. So it was never about us. And that’s just sort of like ingrained in my brain.”

Paige called McMahon an inspirational figure and thanked her for how she’s always helped female talent.

“You’ve done so much in your career. Like, you’re very inspiring for women and anyone that’s worked, any woman or man, but just speaking from a woman’s perspective here, any woman that’s worked with you have only ever said positive things,” Paige said. “You’re very inspirational for a boss. You are so caring, empathetic, you’re understanding, and you stick up for us as women too. You’re an advocate for us and you’ve always been like that and I always appreciated that about you.”

McMahon’s three daughters, along with her mother Linda, helped induct her into the Hall of Fame. Her father Vince has been gone from the company since January 2024, when he resigned in the wake of Janel Grant’s sexual abuse lawsuit against him and WWE.

WWE had two conditions Paige needed to meet for return

Posted on by Joseph Currier

WWE had two conditions Paige needed to meet for her return — she had to get medically cleared and pass a drug test.

After making her WWE return, Paige joined Stephanie McMahon for a new episode of “What’s Your Story?” Paige revealed that Jelly Roll actually played a part in her WWE comeback. She appeared on a live episode of Jelly Roll’s wife Bunnie’s podcast. Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson’s agent Brad Slater was also there, and Jelly Roll asked him why WWE hasn’t brought Paige back yet. That led to a meeting being set up between Paige and Nick Khan.

“So he calls Nick and within 30 minutes, Nick had said, ‘Sure, let’s get a meeting with her.’ A week later, he flies to LA to the WWE offices out there,” Paige said. “I went and met him for about 10 minutes, you know, great guy. Love him. Big fan of him. Super smart. He’s got a business brain on him.

“I thought I’d be intimidated by him. But going in there, he’s easygoing. He goes, ‘Two things — your neck has to be okay and we have to do a drug test.’ I was like, ‘Fair enough.’ I was like, ‘Hey, I can control the drug test.’ I’m clean as a whistle. And so I was like, ‘I don’t know how my neck’s been. It’s been a few years since I got it checked. The last time I got it checked, it was perfect. So I’m not really concerned about it.’ And so, the next week I fly to Birmingham.”

Paige said she is now eight years sober. Her first stint with WWE, she was “a bit of a mess” and failed two drug tests. Stephanie admitted that there was a lot of concern for Paige within the company during that time because they could see her going down a bad path. When Paige first returned back in 2017, Stephanie gave her a hug and told her she was glad she was still alive.

Neck issues led to Paige being medically disqualified from WWE after a December 2017 match. She departed the company before returning to the ring for AEW in 2022.

To get cleared for this WWE return, Paige had a 10-hour appointment in Birmingham. She cried her eyes out after receiving the good news that she was now medically cleared to wrestle in WWE again.

“It was a couple of things. The fact that my neck was good,” Paige said. “And the last time I was in WWE, my neck wasn’t, and I had to retire. And I had to miss out on all these massive things like the Royal Rumble, Elimination Chamber, all these things I didn’t get to be a part of, even though I was part of the group that helped kind of ignite that, right? And it’s just the fact that I’m going to be okay.”

Paige then entered into contract negotiations for her return. She was brought back in time for WrestleMania 42, where Paige teamed with Brie Bella to win the WWE Women’s Tag Team titles. Paige replaced Nikki Bella in the match after Nikki suffered an ankle injury on the road to WrestleMania.

Daily Update: WrestleMania ESPN viewership, ROH Pure title, Big Damo

Posted on by Joseph Currier

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Wednesday Update

WWE

  • WWE uploaded the full Sol Ruca vs. Zaria Last Woman Standing match that headlined NXT last night.
  • NXT wrestler Brooks Jensen is set to challenge coach Steve Corino for the PWF Championship at the indie promotion’s event in Newport, North Carolina this Sunday.
  • Ryan Glasspiegel of Front Office Sports reported the viewership numbers for ESPN’s TV simulcasts of the first hours of WrestleMania 42:
    • Night one (ESPN2): 1.62 million viewers
    • Night two (ESPN): 1.82 million viewers
  • Joe Jonas, who sang the National Anthem at night two of WrestleMania, uploaded a vlog from the event.
  • Jelly Roll also has a vlog with some WrestleMania footage.
  • Rapper Cam’ron made an Instagram post issuing a SummerSlam challenge to Jey Uso and his entire family: 
    • All I can do is laugh at you @romanreigns staying for Monday Night Raw after WrestleMania is like eating thanksgiving leftovers on Monday after thxgvn The Rock would Never
    • But you’re @tripleh lil lil employee. You better do what he says
    • @uceyjucey bring ya whole family and let’s settle this in August at #SummerSlam
    • @rosenbergradio make it happen
  • Big E tweeted about meeting up with AEW’s Kevin Knight and TNA’s Leon Slater during WrestleMania weekend:
    • Ran into @Jet2Flyy & @LEONSLATER_ at the gym in Vegas a few days ago. Glad I got to tell those brothers what a joy it is to watch them do incredible things in this industry. Pro wrestling’s youth movement is a beauty to behold.
  • The Wrestling Classic interviewed Alba Fyre.

Other Wrestling

Hulk Hogan was taking ‘deadly’ amount of fentanyl while with TNA

Posted on by Joseph Currier

While he was with TNA Wrestling, Hulk Hogan was using a dangerous amount of fentanyl to deal with all of the pain his body was in.

Netflix’s new “Hulk Hogan: Real American” docuseries premiered today with all four episodes now available to stream. In the final part, Hogan, in one of his final interviews, opens up about the difficult time he went through after getting divorced from his first wife Linda. Joining TNA helped save Hogan financially, but his body was in tremendous pain whenever he had to get physically involved in the ring.

Hogan said there were times where — after so many hip, knee, and back surgeries — he had to sleep in a chair because the bed was too painful. At other points, Eric Bischoff had to help Hogan get out of bed and get ready.

“I was taking 80-milligram fentanyls, two in the morning, stuffing them under my gums,” Hogan said. “I had two 300-milligram patches of fentanyl on my legs. And they gave me six 1500-mg fentanyl lollipops to eat. And I went to the pharmacy, he goes, ‘You should be dead. We have never seen a human being take this much fentanyl.'”

Hogan was with TNA from 2009-2013 and had the final match of his career there in 2012. He passed away at 71 years old in July 2025, with his death coming after several weeks of complications following another surgery.

Ric Flair ‘wouldn’t be surprised’ if Tony Khan buys WWE one day

Posted on by Joseph Currier

Ric Flair wouldn’t be surprised if we someday end up living in a world where WWE is run by Tony Khan.

During his appearance on The Ariel Helwani Show on Wednesday, Flair — who is under contract with AEW — praised Khan as one of the best people he’s ever known. With all of the money the Khan family has, Flair believes they could end up buying WWE one day.

“Tony Khan is one of the greatest people I’ve ever met in my life. And you know what, I wouldn’t be surprised — because he has the money to do it — if he doesn’t buy WWE one day,” Flair said. “The Khan family’s got more money than God, you know that, right? That $9 billion price on the WWE is nothing to Shad Khan.

“But more than that, Tony’s provided an opportunity for guys who would never get a chance to work anywhere else, because the WWE is a very difficult, very selective organization. And Tony has offered all of these opportunities. And he pays the guys good. All he cares about is making a product and making sure that people are happy. He’s a very personable guy.”

Khan did make a nearly $7 billion bid for WWE when the company was up for sale in 2023, but Endeavor ultimately won out in that process and now runs WWE and UFC under the same umbrella in TKO Group.

Also in the Helwani interview, Flair said he’s a fan of AEW star MJF — who Flair says used to have a little bit of an ego problem but has now calmed down.

“He had a little bit of an ego problem, but he’s calmed that down now,” Flair said about MJF. “When I see him, it’s like, ‘Hey, Mr. Flair’ and sh*t like that, you know what I mean? He used to blow by me like I was just… But it’s a whole different world. And I’m very, very proud of his success, as I am all of the guys there. They have a lot of great talent there.”

Flair only makes very sporadic on-screen appearances for AEW despite being under contract. He was originally brought into the company for Sting’s retirement tour and a brand deal with his Wooooo! Energy drink.

Ric Flair: Every wrestling fan should be thanking Vince McMahon

Posted on by Joseph Currier

Ric Flair believes all pro wrestling fans should be showing their appreciation for Vince McMahon.

During a Wednesday appearance on The Ariel Helwani Show, Flair was asked to give his thoughts on the “Thank you, Vince” chants that were heard from fans during Stephanie McMahon’s WWE Hall of Fame speech.

“They should,” Flair responded. “They should all be thanking Vince. Everybody. Everybody in the world that likes wrestling should be thanking Vince McMahon.”

Vince was not at the ceremony and has been gone from WWE since January 2024, when he resigned in the wake of a lawsuit filed against him and the company by former employee Janel Grant. The still-ongoing suit accuses McMahon of physical and emotional abuse, sexual assault, and sex trafficking.

During the Helwani interview, Flair was asked if he has been in contact with McMahon recently.

“No, I have not. I feel like there’s so much that’s going on that I would be wasting his time,” Flair said. “He knows how I feel about him. He lent me $800,000 [in the 2000s], and unlike what people portray, it was not for the IRS. It was to help me get through three divorces at one time. And the thing of it is, they hate hearing this, I paid him back every dime. When he called me and said I can write this off, I paid him back because I didn’t want to let him down.”

Flair — who is currently under contract with AEW — wasn’t in attendance at the WWE Hall of Fame ceremony. Dennis Rodman wanted Flair to induct him, but Flair never got a call back after inquiring about it. Flair believes there is a “lack of respect” for him in WWE but doesn’t know where it stems from.

Along with being there for Rodman’s induction, Flair wishes he could have attended the ceremony for Stephanie.

“I don’t think I’m in bad graces with any of the talent. I don’t think I’m in bad graces with Hunter,” Flair said. “But here’s the deal, one of my favorite heels of all time — and I honestly believe she is one of the top 10 heels in the history of the business was Stephanie McMahon. I needed to be there.”

WWE SmackDown draws best viewership in months

Posted on by Paul Fontaine

Last Friday’s WrestleMania 42 go-home episode of WWE Smackdown averaged 1.58 million viewers on USA Network, up 11.9 percent from the previous week. It’s the best audience total for the show since September 5 of last year.

In the 18-49 demo, SmackDown drew a 0.42 rating. That’s up 16.7 percent from the prior week and is the second-largest rating the show has done in that category since the September 5 episode.

SmackDown led all of television in the 18-49 demo on a night with no major sports competition. The next highest-rated show was Celebrity Jeopardy which averaged a 0.28 rating.

As compared to the same week in 2025, SmackDown’s overall viewership was down 9.3 percent while the 18-49 rating was down 23.6 percent.

Listed below are the last 11 weeks of viewership numbers and 18-49 demo ratings for SmackDown, as well as the 10-week average in both categories. This episode was up 19.1 percent in viewers and 27.3 percent in 18-49 as compared to the recent averages.

WWE SmackDown ratings —

Date18-49Total viewers
2/6/20260.351,459,000
2/13/20260.261,042,000
2/20/20260.291,113,000
2/27/20260.341,379,000
3/6/20260.271,190,000
3/13/20260.321,419,000
3/20/20260.321,439,000
3/27/20260.331,308,000
4/3/20260.431,508,000
4/10/20260.361,412,000
4/17/20260.421,580,000
10-week average0.331,326,900

WWE touts business success of WrestleMania 42

Posted on by Joseph Currier

TKO has issued its annual press release touting the business success of WWE WrestleMania weekend.

Though down from recent heights, TKO says WrestleMania 42 was still among the highest-grossing events in company history. A gate figure was not provided, but the press release claims an attendance of 106,072 across the two nights. That’s down from the attendance number of 124,693 that WWE self-reported for WrestleMania 41 last year.

Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas hosted both WrestleMania 41 and 42. Returning to the same city so soon is likely one of the reasons for the year-over-year attendance drop, with high ticket prices also playing a factor. WWE President Nick Khan, when asked about there being a downtick in business metrics, said the decreases are small and pointed to how WWE has focused on building for the future over the past year.

In the press release, TKO said WrestleMania 42 had record or near-record performances in sponsorship, merchandise, and digital metrics:

  • WrestleMania 42 featured a record 32 marketing partners, including Snickers, 2K, Riyadh Season, Ram, DoorDash, Wingstop, Wheatley American Vodka, Minute Maid, The General Insurance, PepsiCo’s MUG Root Beer and Chumba Casino.
  • At WWE World, a five-day interactive fan experience in partnership with Fanatics, paid experience sales reached all-time highs. WWE World also featured a lounge for attendees who signed up for Club WWE, the recently announced Gold membership experience for fans.
  • Additionally, WrestleMania 42 set a new digital record, generating more than 1.3 billion views across all social platforms – up 18 percent from the record set at WrestleMania 41.

This was the first time WrestleMania aired on the ESPN app (in the United States). The first hour of each night was also simulcast on television. Full viewership is not available, but the press release highlighted the success of those TV simulcasts:

  • WrestleMania Saturday was the most-viewed telecast of the year on ESPN2, while WrestleMania Sunday was the most-viewed telecast of the entire weekend on ESPN.

WrestleMania won’t be back in the United States until at least 2028, with Saudi Arabia set to host WrestleMania 43 next year.