Bronson Reed is currently sidelined after sustaining a serious injury during the WWE Survivor Series: WarGames Premium Live Event. The injury occurred in the main event when Reed attempted a dive off the top of the cage. Following the incident, Reed underwent surgery on Wednesday, which was reportedly more complex than anticipated. Despite the complications, the surgery was successful, and Reed is now recovering. His expected return is projected for May or June 2025.

Bryan Alvarez reported on Wrestling Observer Radio that the procedure required additional measures due to the severity of the injury. Reed later addressed his condition in a detailed post on Twitter/X, clarifying misconceptions about the nature of his injury.

“Let’s clear up some things. Dirt sheets report ankle fracture or injury. I unfortunately smashed my talus bone completely in half. I had it surgically repaired with screws and fragments taken out. Also had some bone marrow taken from my hip and put into my foot.
Now this means I won’t be at the Raw Netflix Premiere, don’t expect a Rumble surprise, and the biggest loss is no Mania. Please keep up with me on social media at this time. Understand I’ve had a serious injury, undergone serious surgery, and have serious implications from that. It’s not merely a fracture!”
— @BRONSONISHERE

Reed’s absence has led WWE to adjust its plans, particularly as he was involved in prominent storylines heading into WrestleMania season. Fans have expressed support for the powerhouse, who has vowed to keep them updated on his recovery journey.

Drew McIntyre may claim he cares less about his legacy these days, but 2024 was a roller coaster year that saw him achieve—and lose—gold in dramatic fashion. At WrestleMania XL, McIntyre defeated Seth Rollins to capture the WWE World Heavyweight Championship, only to lose it moments later when Damian Priest cashed in his Money in the Bank contract after an attack by CM Punk.

The fallout led to a months-long feud with Punk, culminating in a Hell in a Cell match at WWE Bad Blood where McIntyre ultimately put Punk over. Reflecting on the past year during an interview with The Ringer, McIntyre shared his thoughts on his evolving perspective.

“I never thought there’d be a point in my career where I’d say, ‘I don’t care about the world title or my legacy as much as I used to,’ because inevitably, people are going to forget,” McIntyre said. “But I got more of an emotional response this year than I’ve ever gotten in my entire career—on TV, online, and from live crowds. It’s been an emotional roller coaster for me, and in the end, that’s what our industry is all about: making you feel.”

McIntyre’s next challenge is set for the premiere of WWE Raw on Netflix next Monday night, where he’ll face Jey Uso.

Tiffany Stratton has solidified her position as the top star on WWE SmackDown’s women’s roster by capturing the WWE Women’s Championship. The title change occurred during this week’s SmackDown after Nia Jax successfully retained the championship against Naomi.

Following the match, chaos erupted when Jax was confronted by Bianca Belair, leading to a brawl. Seizing the opportunity, Stratton rushed to the ring with her Money in the Bank briefcase. She delivered her signature moonsault finisher from the top rope on Jax, securing the pinfall and the championship.

Stratton had won the Money in the Bank briefcase at last summer’s themed premium live event, defeating Chelsea Green, Iyo Sky, Lyra Valkyria, Naomi, and Zoey Stark in the ladder match. She held the briefcase for over 153 days, making strategic alliances during her reign, including a partnership with Jax. Although she frequently teased cashing in the briefcase, she delayed until the opportune moment.

Earlier in the summer at SummerSlam, Jax captured the title from Bayley with assistance from Stratton. Stratton’s long-term strategy and alliance with Jax ultimately led to her triumphant cash-in and crowning as champion.

The 2026 WWE Royal Rumble is reportedly set to take place in Saudi Arabia, marking a significant international milestone for the iconic event. According to PWInsider, the deal has been finalized, and an official announcement could come as early as this Monday during the premiere of Raw on Netflix.

WWE is currently in the midst of a 10-year partnership with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, an agreement slated to run through 2028. This collaboration has resulted in 12 premium live events, two television tapings in the region, and the creation of the WWE Experience, a themed attraction.

Financially, the partnership has been highly lucrative, with WWE reportedly earning $50 million per event in Saudi Arabia, per SES reports. Turki Al-Sheikh, chairman of the Saudi General Entertainment Authority, recently revealed to ESPN that discussions are ongoing to enhance the deal. Al-Sheikh highlighted Saudi Arabia’s interest in hosting major events like WrestleMania or the Royal Rumble as part of these negotiations.

Meanwhile, the 2025 Royal Rumble is scheduled for Saturday, February 1, 2025, at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, Indiana.

Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson closed out 2024 on a high note, as a new SEC filing released Friday night revealed he was awarded 96,557 Class A shares of TKO stock on December 31. The award stems from an arrangement made upon his return to WWE in late January 2024, when he joined the TKO Board of Directors.

As part of his January return, Johnson also gained full intellectual property (IP) ownership of “The Rock” name and other character-related trademarks. The December stock allotment holds a present-day value of $13,749,716.80. This represents half of a total grant of 193,115 restricted stock units he was awarded on January 23, 2024. The remaining shares will be distributed in monthly installments throughout 2025.

According to the filing, Johnson currently owns 289,673 TKO shares, valued at over $41 million. Nearly 97,000 of those shares were earned following his appearance on the first night of WrestleMania 40 earlier in 2024.

While The Rock has not appeared on WWE programming since October’s WWE Bad Blood, speculation is rife that he may feature in the debut episode of Raw on Netflix next week. However, this has yet to be confirmed.

WWE Women’s World Champion Liv Morgan recently appeared on Entertainment Tonight, where she offered fans a glimpse into her life outside the ring, including a tour of her Florida farm. Morgan revealed that she owns seven-and-a-quarter acres of land, home to a variety of animals: five chickens, two cows, a pig, two cats, and two dogs.

When asked about her love for animals, Morgan expressed her lifelong compassion for them, noting that maintaining her farm is both fulfilling and enjoyable. “I’ve always loved animals,” Morgan shared. “Having this farm allows me to connect with them in a meaningful way.”

The tour also included a peek inside her home, where Morgan showcased her closet and her private wrestling ring. The ring is a unique feature that highlights her dedication to her craft, even in her personal space.

Morgan’s farm life provides a stark contrast to her high-energy persona in WWE, giving fans a more grounded and personal look at the champion outside of the squared circle. Morgan also shared a picture of one of her cows on Twitter, as seen below:

Morgan will defend the WWE Women’s World Championship against Rhea Ripley at the WWE Raw on Netflix premiere next Monday.

Costco Guy AJ Befumo, also known as Big Boom AJ, is gearing up for an in-ring return with AEW after making his promotional debut a few months ago. Befumo’s first AEW bout, a showdown with QT Marshall, took place at the AEW Full Gear pay-per-view at the Prudential Center in Newark, NJ. The match featured dramatic outside interference from Paul Wight and Aron Solo, with Solo distracting QT Marshall and subsequently getting laid out. As the referee’s attention was diverted, Big Justice (Eric Befumo) delivered a spear to QT, setting the stage for AJ to secure the victory with a powerbomb.

Befumo and his son Big Justice, who wrestled alongside him, recently spoke to Cultaholic about plans for their next AEW appearance. According to the duo, AJ’s next match is tentatively scheduled for the AEW Revolution pay-per-view in March.

“He’s going to wrestle in March,” Big Justice told Cultaholic. “We’re looking at—talking to the AEW team—it looks like I’ll be at Revolution in March,” Befumo confirmed. “That’s what we’re gunning for right now. Maybe an appearance before that, but that’s the plan.”

AEW Revolution is set to take place at Crypto.com Arena (formerly the Staples Center) in Los Angeles on Sunday, March 9.

Before achieving social media fame, AJ Befumo worked on the independent wrestling scene. He and his son gained widespread recognition as the “Costco Guys” on platforms like TikTok, where they documented their visits to the wholesale retailer and rated products from its food court. Their unique blend of humor and relatability helped the father-and-son duo transition from influencers to professional wrestlers in AEW.

Ric Flair was originally scheduled to make a cameo appearance at this Saturday’s AEW Collision event at the Bojangles Coliseum in Charlotte, NC. However, according to a report by PWInsider.com, those plans have changed, and Flair is no longer expected to attend.

Instead, AEW has tapped local wrestling legends Ricky Morton and Robert Gibson, better known as The Rock ‘n’ Roll Express, to appear at the event. The report also noted that the duo is slated to make additional appearances at future AEW events in the coming weeks.

Flair joined AEW in 2023, debuting as Tony Khan’s surprise gift to Sting ahead of Sting’s retirement at the Revolution pay-per-view. His appearances in AEW have been tied to a sponsorship deal with Wooooo Energy, which funded his involvement. This arrangement mirrors a similar sponsorship model used by WCW with Randy Savage in the 1990s. Since Revolution, Flair has not been featured on AEW programming.

Card for Saturday’s AEW Collision:

• TNT Championship: Daniel Garcia (c) vs. Mark Briscoe
• AEW Tag Team Championship: Private Party (Brother Zay & Marq Quen) (c) vs. Lio Rush & Action Andretti
• Toni Storm vs. Deonna Purrazzo
• Rated FTR (Cope, Dax Harwood & Cash Wheeler) vs. The Learning Tree (Chris Jericho, Big Bill & Bryan Keith)
• Jeff Jarrett in action
• The Rock ‘n’ Roll Express to appear

Although Flair’s cameo has been removed from the lineup, the inclusion of The Rock ‘n’ Roll Express continues the show’s nod to wrestling history, especially given Charlotte’s deep wrestling roots.

Alicia Taylor is set to become the new ring announcer for WWE Raw as the company reshuffles its announcer lineup for Raw and SmackDown. The announcement comes ahead of Raw’s debut on Netflix, which will premiere next Monday from the Intuit Dome in Inglewood, California.

According to a report by PWInsider.com, Taylor, who previously served as the ring announcer for SmackDown, will officially transition to Raw beginning with the Netflix premiere. Taylor joined WWE in 2018 and was promoted to SmackDown in May 2024, where she has been a prominent presence ever since.

Meanwhile, Lilian Garcia will return as SmackDown’s ring announcer starting this Friday night and is expected to remain in that role going forward. Garcia took over ring announcing duties on Raw in October following Samantha Irvin’s departure from WWE. A veteran of the company, Garcia originally worked for WWE from 1999 to 2009 and again from 2011 to 2016, with occasional appearances in the years since.

This Friday’s episode of SmackDown, emanating from the Footprint Center in Phoenix, Arizona, marks another significant change as the show extends to three hours.

Ric Flair wrestled his final match on July 31, 2022, teaming up with his son-in-law, Andrade El Idolo, to defeat Jay Lethal and Jeff Jarrett. The bout, billed as Flair’s retirement match, drew concern from fans due to Flair’s age and his health condition, including the presence of a pacemaker. These concerns intensified during the match, as Flair’s performance appeared to be hindered.

Flair later attributed his struggles in the match to dehydration caused by a strict diet and weight management routine during his preparation. Despite this, Flair remains confident in his ability to step back into the ring. Appearing on the Five Star Podcast, Flair was asked whether he thought he could still compete in a match. His response: “Hell yeah, I do.”

Flair joined AEW in 2023, debuting as Tony Khan’s surprise gift to Sting ahead of Sting’s retirement at the Revolution pay-per-view. Flair expressed that he couldn’t pass up the opportunity to join AEW and be part of Sting’s farewell journey.

Since the Revolution event, Flair has not appeared on AEW programming. According to Tony Khan, Flair’s appearances were tied to a sponsorship deal with Wooooo Energy, a brand that has paid AEW for each of Flair’s appearances. This arrangement echoes a similar deal Randy Savage had with WCW in the mid-1990s, leveraging sponsorship to fund his participation in the promotion.

While Flair’s in-ring career appears to have concluded, his presence in AEW highlights his enduring connection to the wrestling world and his ability to draw attention and excitement, even in a non-wrestling capacity.

During Wednesday’s episode of AEW Dynamite, FTR (Dax Harwood and Cash Wheeler) joined forces with Adam Copeland, now known “Cope,” to take on The Death Riders (Jon Moxley, Wheeler Yuta, and Claudio Castagnoli) in a heated trios match. The bout took place in FTR’s hometown of Asheville, North Carolina, adding an extra layer of intensity to the showdown.

Jay White got involved by attacking Yuta. The babyfaces hit their finishers to end the match.

This rivalry stems from an attack on FTR by The Death Riders during the December 14th episode of Collision. While FTR confirmed they would be medically cleared to wrestle at Fight for the Fallen on January 1, they hinted that they wouldn’t be entering the match alone. That prediction came true when Copeland made his shocking return at the Worlds End pay-per-view.

At Worlds End, Copeland returned from injury in dramatic fashion, attacking Jon Moxley after he retained the AEW World Heavyweight Championship in a fatal 4-way match. Joined by FTR, Copeland’s post-match ambush on The Death Riders set the stage for this week’s trios match.

Copeland had been sidelined due to injury but remained active during his recovery, even working on a film project. He was medically cleared for in-ring action several weeks ago, making his return to AEW programming at the perfect moment to assist FTR.

With tensions escalating between these factions, the clash on Dynamite was another step in what promises to be an explosive rivalry heading into 2025.

Ricochet cemented his heel turn in dramatic fashion on AEW Dynamite, intervening violently during a triple threat match between Swerve Strickland, Roderick Strong, and Jay White. Emerging through the crowd, Ricochet shockingly struck Strickland in the head with golden scissors, setting the stage for White to secure victory over Strong with his finisher. As a result of the win, White earned the coveted #1 spot in next week’s Casino Battle Royale.

The aftermath was even more shocking. A bloodied Strickland crawled around ringside as Ricochet, clad in a suit and glasses, stared him down coldly. Ricochet dragged Strickland into the ring and continued his vicious assault until members of the Undisputed Kingdom stormed in to chase him off.

This heated moment followed the events of the AEW Worlds End pay-per-view, where Ricochet faced Kazuchika Okada in the Continental Classic League Semifinal. After Okada defeated Ricochet, Strickland appeared on the stage to taunt him. Strickland mocked Ricochet’s confidence, claiming he would “blow it” and that he was all talk since joining AEW. Escalating the insult, Strickland handed out toilet paper to fans, calling it the “best way to clean up a mess.”

The tension between Ricochet and Strickland has now exploded into outright hostility, leaving AEW fans eager to see what’s next for the bitter rivals.

Kenny Omega is officially returning to AEW as a permanent roster member on next week’s episode of AEW Dynamite. The announcement came via a video package aired during this week’s show, confirming Omega’s comeback after a prolonged absence.

Omega made a dramatic return at the Worlds End pay-per-view, following the Kazuchika Okada vs. Will Ospreay Championship Finals for the AEW Continental Championship. After the match, Christopher Daniels took the mic, revealing that he was stepping down as an EVP and introducing Omega as his successor. In a symbolic moment, Omega presented Okada with the Continental Title, marking his return to AEW programming.

Omega’s first match back will take place at Wrestle Dynasty, a multi-promotional event at the Tokyo Dome on January 5th, where he is scheduled to face Gabe Kidd. This bout will mark his first in-ring action since December 2023.

Omega had been sidelined for much of the year due to a combination of health issues, including a bout with diverticulitis that required surgery in May. Although he briefly appeared on AEW television that same month, an ambush by a reformed version of The Elite postponed his full-time return even further.

With Omega now back and cleared for action, fans can look forward to the next chapter in his storied AEW career.

Julia Hart is back in action after spending the majority of 2024 away from the ring. A key figure in AEW’s women’s division, Hart was sidelined following her April 2024 loss to Willow Nightingale at AEW Dynasty, where she dropped the AEW TBS Championship.

Speculation about Hart’s return began months ago when her House of Black stablemate, Brody King, teased that fans might see her back soon. By November, rumors intensified, with reports indicating Hart was expected to return in the near future. AEW further fueled anticipation by airing vignettes building up to her comeback.

Hart made her official return on the December 14th episode of Collision by attacking Jamie Hayter. On this week’s Dynamite, Hart stepped back into the ring, facing Hayter in her first match since April. Hayter went over after distracting the referee with an arrow to spit black mist in the eyes of Hater.

Hart’s re-emergence adds depth to AEW’s women’s roster as she seeks to reclaim her momentum following her championship reign and subsequent hiatus. With her in-ring return now underway, fans are eager to see what’s next for the former TBS Champion.

This week’s episode of WWE Raw featured the semi-final matches of the Women’s Intercontinental Championship Tournament, narrowing the field to two competitors. Dakota Kai secured her place in the finals by defeating Zoey Stark earlier in the show.

In the other semi-final match, fellow Damage CTRL member IYO SKY faced former NXT Women’s Champion Lyra Valkyria. Despite SKY’s best efforts, Valkyria emerged victorious, setting up a highly anticipated finals showdown against Kai. The tournament finals will take place on January 13, 2025, at the sophomore installment of WWE Raw on Netflix, live from the SAP Center in San Jose, CA.

The January 13 episode already boasts a stacked card, including:

• CM Punk vs. Seth Rollins
• Tribal Combat: Roman Reigns vs. Solo Sikoa
• Women’s World Championship – Last Woman Standing Match: Liv Morgan (c) vs. Rhea Ripley
• Jey Uso vs. Drew McIntyre
• Women’s Intercontinental Championship Tournament Finals: Dakota Kai vs. Lyra Valkyria
• John Cena’s Retirement Tour Kickoff

The inaugural Women’s Intercontinental Champion will be crowned as Kai and Valkyria face off in what promises to be an exciting finale to this groundbreaking tournament.

After a brief hiatus from WWE television, Sheamus made his triumphant return during the December 30th episode of Raw by taking out Ludwig Kaiser. The Celtic Warrior interrupted Kaiser’s in-ring promo, storming the ring and delivering a devastating Brogue Kick to lay him out.

While it’s unclear when the two will officially face off, WWE is heavily promoting the Raw on Netflix premiere episode next week, making it a potential stage for their showdown. Another possibility could be Saturday Night’s Main Event on January 25th.

Sheamus had been sidelined since Survivor Series: WarGames, where he suffered a cracked rib during a Triple Threat Match for the Intercontinental Championship against reigning champion Bron Breakker and Kaiser. Kaiser later claimed credit for the injury, adding fuel to their current rivalry.

Before his injury, Sheamus had an eventful year. After returning from a prior injury on the April 15, 2024, episode of Raw with a victory over Ivar, Sheamus quickly made his presence felt. During the summer, he feuded with Pete Dunne and set his sights on the Intercontinental Championship, the one title that has eluded him throughout his storied career.

Sheamus now looks poised to settle the score with Kaiser, signaling a strong start to 2025 for The Celtic Warrior.

Welcome back to FIGHT NIGHT!#WWERaw pic.twitter.com/H8spH1IYjN

— WWE (@WWE) December 31, 2024

The countdown to Penta El Zero Miedo’s WWE debut is officially on.

WWE provided the biggest hint yet regarding Penta’s anticipated arrival, with the latest vignette aired during the December 30th episode of Raw. At the end of the teaser, Penta El Zero Miedo’s iconic mask was prominently displayed, confirming weeks of speculation about his signing.

The cryptic vignettes began airing several weeks ago, with one featuring a zero symbol crossed by a line, sparking speculation among fans about the arrival of a former AEW star. Penta departed AEW earlier this month and was rumored to be heading to WWE. His trademark for “Cero Miedo,” translating to “Zero Fear,” added further credibility to the rumors.

Penta is expected to join the Raw roster just in time for the January 6th Netflix debut episode in Los Angeles, marking a significant milestone for WWE programming.

Meanwhile, Penta’s tag team partner, Rey Fenix, has also drawn interest from WWE. However, with AEW reportedly extending Fenix’s contract to account for missed time, it’s believed his deal now has close to a year remaining. Once Fenix is free and clear of his AEW obligations, he is expected to reunite with his brother Penta in WWE.

WWE introduced a new entrance theme for Judgment Day during this week’s episode of Raw, marking a notable change for the faction. The new theme debuted ahead of a six-man tag team match featuring Dominik Mysterio, JD McDonagh, and Finn Balor against The War Raiders and Damian Priest. The babyface team secured the victory in the bout.

The year has been a rollercoaster for Judgment Day. Both Damian Priest and Rhea Ripley left the faction earlier in 2023, with each member experiencing significant individual storylines. Ripley, while still a part of the group, held the Women’s World Championship before being forced to vacate it due to injury.

Priest had his moment in the spotlight by winning the World Heavyweight Championship after cashing in his Money in the Bank briefcase on Drew McIntyre, only to lose the title to GUNTHER at SummerSlam.

Next week’s Raw—the highly anticipated Netflix debut episode—will feature Liv Morgan defending her World Championship against Ripley in a match billed as the definitive end of their rivalry. However, as of now, there are no announced plans for Priest or Judgment Day to appear on the show.

WWE is bringing back Big E for the premiere festivities surrounding WWE Raw on Netflix, set to debut on January 6. During this week’s episode of Raw, Joe Tessitore announced that he, Wade Barrett, and Big E would host the post-show for the premiere episode. Commentary for the event will feature Michael Cole and Pat McAfee.

Big E, a former WWE Champion, has not wrestled since suffering a neck injury on the March 11, 2022, episode of SmackDown. The injury occurred when he took an overhead belly-to-belly suplex at ringside from Ridge Holland, landing on his neck and fracturing his C1 and C6 vertebrae. Despite his recovery progress, Big E has yet to be medically cleared to return to in-ring action.

Since his injury, WWE has utilized Big E in various non-wrestling roles, including as a scout, host, and behind-the-scenes contributor. Most recently, his status as “not medically cleared” was referenced in a storyline on the December 2 episode of Raw. During the segment, Xavier Woods and Kofi Kingston dramatically ousted Big E from The New Day, marking the start of their current heel turn.

This new direction for Woods and Kingston has resonated strongly with fans, with The New Day emerging as one of the most over heel acts on the roster. Big E’s involvement in the WWE Raw on Netflix premiere highlights his continued value to WWE, even outside the ring.

Former WWE Superstar Eva Marie has filed for divorce from her husband of 10 years, Jonathan Coyle. According to a report by TMZ Sports on Monday, Marie filed the paperwork earlier this month, citing irreconcilable differences as the reason for their separation.

Eva Marie is best known for her two stints in WWE. During her initial run, she became a prominent figure on Total Divas, the reality series on the E! Network, where she was paired with The Bella Twins before transitioning to SmackDown. Her second tenure included appearances in NXT and a return to the main roster before departing WWE in 2021.

Court documents reveal that the couple, who tied the knot on October 20, 2014, separated in October 2023. The pair first met during a CrossFit workout, and Coyle proposed after just a few months of dating.

Their decision to elope was featured on Total Divas, followed by a formal ceremony in Napa, California. The event was attended by notable names from the wrestling world, including Nikki and Brie Bella, Summer Rae, Cameron, and Layla.

Outside the wrestling ring, Eva Marie has had a successful career in entertainment. She competed on Celebrity Big Brother, finishing in seventh place, and has appeared in several films, showcasing her versatility beyond professional wrestling.

Cody Rhodes is riding high as the Undisputed WWE Champion, solidifying his place at the top of professional wrestling. After dethroning Roman Reigns at WrestleMania 40 following his second consecutive Royal Rumble victory, Rhodes has successfully defended his title against top-tier challengers such as AJ Styles, Kevin Owens, and more.

However, Rhodes recognizes that his time as an active competitor won’t last forever. Speaking on the 2 Bears, 1 Cave podcast, the 39-year-old champion revealed that he doesn’t plan to wrestle full-time beyond the age of 45.

“Well, 39 now, I’d say, my contract is running until…I don’t want to wrestle full-time definitely past 45. Drop in, for sure, keep myself in shape. I could see [being involved in the wrestling world]. I would love to tell stories like we do in the ring in a different fashion.”

Rhodes also expressed an interest in creative endeavors outside the ring, such as producing shows and movies:

“I’d absolutely love to do it [when asked about making shows and movies]. But I’ve always been so linked into wrestling and coming back to WWE where winning the championship for WWE is essentially like being the quarterback of the team.”

Despite his aspirations outside the ring, Rhodes remains committed to wrestling at a high level for the foreseeable future:

“I don’t think I’d be able to do it on this level [beyond 45]. Because I feel the best I’ve ever felt. Plus, we have all these new kids. I was working with one the other day, Carmelo Hayes, and to be able to see him hear things and hear an audience—this is why that didn’t work, this is why it did work. I’d love to do it at this level up until probably 45.”

For now, Rhodes continues to defend his Undisputed WWE Championship, with his next challenge coming at the Royal Rumble. He is set to face Kevin Owens in a high-stakes ladder match, promising yet another thrilling chapter in his championship reign.

The Young Bucks recently opened up about the creative changes that shaped their third reign as AEW Tag Team Champions, culminating in their loss to Private Party. The title change occurred on the October 4th episode of Dynamite after the Bucks had successfully retained the titles against Private Party at Wrestle Dynasty.

Speaking on the Tunnel Talk podcast, Nick Jackson revealed that their creative plans shifted multiple times during their reign, including changes to which team they would eventually drop the belts to:

“This last run we just had, we were supposed to drop those titles months and months before we actually dropped them, but creative changed I would say 4-5 different times in the last like six months,” Nick said. “At one point, we were going to lose the belts to a certain team. And then a month later, it changed to another team.”

Nick also recalled a pivotal moment when Private Party expressed interest in a long-term program with the Bucks:

“I remember Private Party came up to us actually and they mentioned about wanting to do like a long-term program with us. And we were like, ‘Well, sorry man, Tony [Khan] just gave us the layout of what we’re doing, and that’s not in the cards.’”

However, everything changed after the Bucks faced Private Party at WrestleDream:

“And something changed, and we ended up wrestling them in a match [at WrestleDream]… but we tore the house down. As soon as we got backstage, we knew, ‘Oh alright.’ It’s in Tony’s eyes. He was like, ‘I think we have something, I think we have something.’ And Matt and I thought the same exact thing. We were like, ‘We’ve got to pivot. We’ve got to change our plans again.’”

The Young Bucks ultimately dropped the titles to Private Party and were satisfied with the outcome:

“We were happy though because we wanted to put those guys over. They deserved the spotlight. It’s been five years now, so they were ready for a big push. And I’m just glad Matt and I got to give them that last shove before we left.”

Fightful Select reports The Outrunners were actually considered for the spot to win the titles from The Bucks. Following their title loss, the Young Bucks have been absent from AEW television but are set to return to in-ring action at Wrestle Dynasty on January 5, where they will challenge for the vacant IWGP Tag Team titles.

Upon their AEW return, they are expected to feud with Jon Moxley’s Death Riders faction, setting the stage for an intense rivalry.

CM Punk is set to compete for the WWE World Heavyweight Title in a highly anticipated dream match against GUNTHER. The match is scheduled for the December 29th WWE house show at the Allstate Arena in Chicago.

Punk remains a major draw in the Chicago market, owing to his deep connection with the city. Notably, he captured the WWE Championship at the Allstate Arena during the iconic Money in the Bank pay-per-view in 2011.

In 2024, Punk’s return to prominence has been marked by memorable feuds with Drew McIntyre and Seth Rollins. Meanwhile, GUNTHER has established himself as a dominant force in WWE this year as World Heavyweight Champion, with high-profile victories over stars like Damian Priest and Randy Orton, since winning the title at SummerSlam.

Initially, the December 29th main event was set to feature GUNTHER vs. Damian Priest. However, the lineup has since shifted to include Punk in what promises to be a marquee matchup.

Other highlights of the event include Sami Zayn challenging Bron Breakker for the Intercontinental Title. Seth Rollins, who has been facing Dominik Mysterio at recent house shows, is also expected to appear. Additionally, Rey Mysterio, Wyatt Sicks, Women’s World Champion Liv Morgan, Raquel Rodriguez, and more are advertised for the show.

Karl Anderson revealed in November that he underwent surgery, sidelining him for the foreseeable future. Speaking on Talk N Shop, Anderson confirmed the procedure was necessary to repair a torn rotator cuff tendon and a partially torn labrum.

The injury initially occurred during a match, but Anderson didn’t think much of it until it worsened during another match the following week. After competing in three or four more matches, the pain became unbearable, causing sleepless nights due to constant aching and throbbing. At the time, Anderson estimated his recovery would take six to nine months.

Providing a recent update on Talk N Shop, Anderson shared, “I’m at home now, obviously with my injured shoulder. I am out indefinitely for at least six or seven more months with a torn rotator cuff and a torn labrum. The labrum…I think before you wondered if that was an old injury, and I have to say, it was not. It’s coming back. I’m able to [move] a little,” he explained.

Anderson, one half of the tag team The OC alongside Luke Gallows, has been absent from television since the September 24 episode of NXT, where they lost to Hank Walker and Tank Ledger. The duo later appeared in a dark match at an NXT event in Chicago the following week.

This week’s episode of WWE Raw continued the Women’s Intercontinental Championship Tournament with an intense triple-threat match. Natalya, Alba Fyre, and IYO SKY clashed in the final first-round bout, originally scheduled to include Kairi Sane. However, Sane was sidelined after an attack by Pure Fusion Collective, and SKY stepped in as her replacement.

IYO SKY secured a decisive victory, making Sane proud by defeating Natalya with her signature moonsault. With this win, SKY advances to the next round of the tournament, where she will face Lyra Valkyria. The date for their semi-final matchup has yet to be announced.

On the other side of the bracket, Dakota Kai is set to take on Zoey Stark in another semi-final bout, bringing fans closer to discovering who will be crowned the inaugural Women’s Intercontinental Champion.

WWE has not yet confirmed when the first Women’s Intercontinental Champion will be crowned. In contrast, the finals for the Women’s U.S. Title Tournament took place at Saturday Night’s Main Event on December 14, with Chelsea Green becoming the inaugural champion.