This week’s episode of WWE SmackDown opened with The Bloodline, but an unexpected twist involving Jade Cargill quickly became the show’s focal point.

During a Women’s United States Championship Triple Threat qualifying match featuring Bianca Belair, Chelsea Green, and Blair Davenport, a shocking moment unfolded. Midway through the match, the arena’s video screen revealed that Belair’s tag team partner, Jade Cargill, had been attacked backstage. The footage showed Cargill’s head slammed into a car windshield, leaving it visibly shattered.

Mystery Surrounds Cargill’s Attacker

The identity of the attacker remains a mystery, though speculation suggests it could involve someone linked to the ongoing match. Shortly before the footage aired, Davenport extended the match by kicking out of a pin attempt from Belair. Distracted by her partner’s condition, Belair rushed backstage, leaving an opening for Green to secure a pinfall victory over Davenport. This win advanced Green to the next round of the tournament, where she is set to face Bayley. The tournament finals are scheduled for Saturday Night’s Main Event on December 14, 2024.

Many fans suspect Piper Niven, Green’s tag team partner, may be involved in the attack, but no confirmation has been provided.

Survivor Series: WarGames Heats Up

The attack on Cargill adds a layer of intrigue to the upcoming Survivor Series: WarGames Premium Live Event. A blockbuster Women’s WarGames Match is set for November 30, 2024, at the Rogers Arena in Vancouver, Canada. The match features Rhea Ripley, Bianca Belair, Jade Cargill, Naomi, and Iyo Sky against The Judgment Day (Liv Morgan and Raquel Rodriguez), Nia Jax, Tiffany Stratton, and Candice LeRae.

With tensions escalating, all eyes are on SmackDown’s next episode for answers about Jade Cargill’s mysterious attack and the potential fallout heading into Survivor Series.

CM Punk is gearing up for his next Hollywood venture, as Variety reported today that the wrestling icon will join the cast of Revival, a televised horror series set to air on Syfy. The series, currently filming in New Brunswick, Canada, is an adaptation of the acclaimed Image Comics series of the same name.

Details about Punk’s character and the show’s release date remain under wraps. This announcement follows news from last month that Punk has secured a key role in the horror film Night Patrol.

The official description of Revival teases an intriguing storyline:

“On one miraculous day in rural Wisconsin, the recently deceased suddenly rise from their graves. But this is no zombie story as the ‘revived’ appear and act just like they once were. When local officer and single mother Dana Cypress (Scrofano) is unexpectedly thrown into the center of a brutal murder mystery of her own, she’s left to make sense of the chaos amidst a town gripped by fear and confusion where everyone, alive or undead, is a suspect.”

This marks another significant step in Punk’s acting career. Earlier this year, he appeared in the film Let’s Start a Cult and had a recurring role in the wrestling drama series Heels, which is now streaming on Netflix.

In the summer, Punk signed with Paradigm Talent Agency to expand his presence in the entertainment industry. His growing Hollywood portfolio suggests he’s making good on that commitment.

While Punk’s wrestling future remains uncertain following his win over Drew McIntyre in October’s Bad Blood Hell in a Cell match, his focus on acting has taken center stage.

As speculation mounts about Ricky Starks’ future in AEW, the former Tag Team Champion has added another independent wrestling date to his calendar.

Starks is slated to debut for House of Glory on Friday, January 17, in Chicago. The event, set to stream live on Triller, has yet to announce Starks’ opponent. This follows his surprise appearance for Glory Pro Wrestling in St. Louis, Missouri, which set up a match against indie standout Kody Lane this Saturday.

This appearance will mark Starks’ first in-ring action since May, when he faced QT Marshall at a Big Time Wrestling show in California. Notably, his last AEW match took place in March, sparking questions about his absence from the promotion.

Despite being vocal about his readiness to compete, Starks has expressed frustration over his lack of utilization in AEW. In August, AEW President Tony Khan praised Starks in public comments but offered no explanation for his continued absence from programming.

Many fans and insiders believe that once Starks’ contract expires, he could be WWE-bound. The rival promotion reportedly has an interest in signing the AEW star, who has been with the promotion for the last several years.

Nikki Garcia and Artem Chigvintsev have resolved their divorce through mediation, avoiding a trial that was set to begin in two weeks. According to TMZ, the former couple reached an agreement earlier this month, though the terms of the settlement remain undisclosed.

Previously, Chigvintsev, a former Dancing with the Stars performer, sought spousal support, while Garcia, a former WWE star, moved to block the court’s ability to award it. Whether this issue was resolved in the mediation remains unclear.

Earlier this year, the pair also dropped mutual restraining orders and agreed to shared custody of their four-year-old son. The divorce filing followed a series of turbulent events, including Chigvintsev’s late-August arrest on domestic violence charges at their Napa County home. However, the charges were dropped in September after the district attorney cited insufficient evidence to proceed.

Chigvintsev’s legal troubles also affected his professional life. Following his arrest, he was not invited back to compete on Dancing with the Stars. However, his attorney expressed optimism that he might rejoin the show in the future. Last week, Chigvintsev made an appearance as a guest in the studio audience for the show’s 500th episode, at the invitation of an executive producer.

Bobby Lashley made a significant impact on AEW Dynamite this Wednesday by making his in-ring debut, just days ahead of his scheduled match against former AEW World Heavyweight Champion Swerve Strickland at the Full Gear pay-per-view event this Saturday.

Since his AEW debut, Lashley has been embroiled in a feud with Strickland. Earlier in the evening, The Hurt Syndicate arrived in an SUV atop a parking garage. As MVP announced Lashley’s in-ring debut for the night, Strickland ambushed Lashley with a steel chain before fleeing the scene.

In his debut match, Lashley faced Joe Keys and Cheeseburger in a one-on-two handicap bout. Lashley swiftly defeated both opponents, demonstrating his dominance, with Keys passing out in the Hurt Lock. Post-match, Prince Nana appeared on the stage, distracting MVP and Shelton Benjamin long enough for Strickland to launch a surprise attack on Lashley.

As the Full Gear event approaches, Lashley is considered a heavy-betting favorite for defeating Strickland.

Toni Storm has revealed her decision to step away from professional wrestling, signaling the end of her celebrated career. This announcement follows a series of setbacks, including her recent loss of the AEW Women’s Championship to Mariah May at AEW All In. Storm has also competed in promotions like CMLL and STARDOM but failed to secure victories during her tenure.

In an interview with James Dator of SBNation, Storm confirmed her retirement and expressed no intention of making future public appearances. “I’m not used to being a loser,” Storm admitted. “I’ve failed at everything. I lost in AEW, I lost in Japan, I lost in Mexico.”

“This is the last you’ll hear from me again. Enjoy Mariah May as your champion. You can all enjoy that. AEW is just fine without me. Everything is going well for AEW. They don’t need Toni Storm.”

– Toni Storm

Storm concluded her statement with the enigmatic remark, “Chin down. Tits in. Don’t bother watching for the shoe.” The announcement comes shortly after the release of a cinematic video titled, ‘“’Where in the World is Toni Storm?” on October 30.

Despite her declaration, speculation is rife that Storm could make a surprise appearance at AEW Full Gear this Saturday, where Mariah May is set to host a championship celebration alongside Mina Shirakawa. For more, check out the full interview at SBNation.

AEW Full Gear 2024 Predictions: Jon Moxley vs Orange Cassidy and more

Is This Real or Storyline?

The tone of the interview and Toni Storm’s exaggerated remarks suggest this is likely part of an ongoing storyline rather than a genuine retirement announcement.

The dramatic, almost satirical comments, and the offbeat remarks about rhino-sized hamsters—fit her current over-the-top persona in AEW. Her statement that she hasn’t spoken to Tony Khan about her decision further implies this is a ‘work.’

CM Punk’s tenure in AEW elevated the company to unprecedented heights, achieving milestones it has struggled to replicate since his departure. During his time, Punk delivered unforgettable moments, including feuds with top stars like MJF and “Hangman” Adam Page. However, his legacy in AEW is equally defined by the notable backstage controversies that plagued his run.

The most infamous incident was the AEW All Out brawl, stemming from tensions between Punk, Ace Steel, and The Elite (Kenny Omega and The Young Bucks, Matt and Nick Jackson). This altercation followed Punk’s scathing remarks at the post-event press conference, where he criticized several wrestlers. Another notable controversy involved Jack Perry during All In 2023, which ultimately led to Punk’s departure from the company.

In an interview with Peter Rosenberg, Punk reflected on his time in AEW. When asked if there were any stories he wished he had the chance to tell, Punk replied:

“No. I feel like I wasted some matches on some people, for sure. That is what it is. Some people understand the business, and some people don’t. I think everybody here [in WWE] understands the business.”

Punk’s remarks highlight his candid perspective on his AEW stint, suggesting both professional regrets and a sense of closure. His departure left a significant void in AEW, underscoring the profound impact of his turbulent but memorable run.

AEW has revealed its Winter 2025 live event schedule, spanning from December 18, 2024, to March 12, 2025. The lineup features several notable debuts, including AEW’s first-ever event at New York City’s historic Hammerstein Ballroom and the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles.

The winter tour kicks off on December 18 with Dynamite at the Entertainment and Sports Arena in Washington, D.C., and culminates with a special Dynamite and Collision taping at Fresno’s Save Mart Center on March 12. Notably, the schedule includes a special Fight for the Fallen edition of Dynamite on January 1 in Asheville, N.C., marking AEW’s debut broadcast on the Max streaming platform. Proceeds from this event will benefit victims of Hurricane Helene.

AEW’s Hammerstein Ballroom debut is slated for three consecutive nights, starting with the Ring of Honor Final Battle on December 20, followed by Collision on December 21, and a special Dynamite taping on December 22. The Crypto.com Arena will host the AEW Revolution pay-per-view on March 9, marking another milestone for the company.

Winter 2025 Event Highlights

• Hammerstein Ballroom Debut: December 20–22 in New York City.
• Fight for the Fallen: January 1 in Asheville, N.C., benefiting hurricane victims.
• AEW Revolution Pay-Per-View: March 9 at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles.

Full Winter 2025 Schedule

• Wednesday, December 18: Dynamite – Entertainment and Sports Arena, Washington, D.C.
• Friday, December 20: Ring of Honor Final Battle – Hammerstein Ballroom, NYC.
• Saturday, December 21: Collision – Hammerstein Ballroom, NYC.
• Sunday, December 22: Special Dynamite taping – Hammerstein Ballroom, NYC.
• Wednesday, January 1: Dynamite: Fight for the Fallen – Harrah’s Cherokee Center, Asheville, N.C.
• Saturday, January 4: Collision – Bojangles Coliseum, Charlotte, N.C.
• Wednesday, January 8: Dynamite – F&M Bank Arena, Clarksville, Tenn.
• Saturday, January 11: Collision – Akins Ford Arena, Athens, Ga.
• Thursday, January 16: Special Collision taping – Broadbent Arena, Louisville, Ky.
• Wednesday, January 22: Dynamite – Knoxville Coliseum, Knoxville, Tenn.
• Wednesday, January 29: Dynamite and special Collision taping – Probst Arena, Huntsville, Ala.
• Saturday, February 8: Collision – Fort Bend County Epicenter, Houston, Texas.
• Tuesday, February 11: Special Dynamite taping – H-E-B Center, Cedar Park, Texas.
• Wednesday, February 19: Dynamite and special Collision taping – Arizona Financial Theater, Phoenix, Ariz.
• Wednesday, February 26: Dynamite and special Collision taping – Frontwave Arena, Oceanside, Calif.
• Sunday, March 9: AEW Revolution – Crypto.com Arena, Los Angeles, Calif.
• Wednesday, March 12: Dynamite and special Collision taping – Save Mart Center, Fresno, Calif.

AEW Adjusts Venue Strategy

With recent reports of lower attendance figures, there have been rumors that AEW may shift towards hosting shows in smaller venues. The 2025 schedule reflects this shift, with several events booked at intimate locations such as the Hammerstein Ballroom and regional arenas across the Southeast and Southwest.

Rhea Ripley made her highly anticipated return on this week’s episode of Raw, which was taped last week at the Van Andel Arena in Grand Rapids, MI.

Ripley had been sidelined due to a fractured right orbital socket, an injury that forced her off television. The storyline injury was depicted earlier this month on NXT when Women’s World Champions Liv Morgan and Raquel Rodriguez attacked Ripley with baseball bats.

The segment showed Ripley lying next to her car, with a cut on her head and fake blood pouring out. Reports suggest the injury stemmed from a headbutt spot during the October 21st episode of Raw.

As a result of Ripley’s absence, WWE had to make adjustments to the Crown Jewel premium live event, where she was originally scheduled to face Rodriguez in a singles match.

Ripley made a dramatic comeback at the start of Raw, targeting Women’s World Champion Liv Morgan. The confrontation escalated into a chaotic brawl involving Ripley, Bianca Belair, Jade Cargill, Naomi, and IYO SKY, who stood tall over Morgan, Rodriguez, Tiffany Stratton, and Nia Jax.

While not yet confirmed, the events appear to be setting up a women’s WarGames match at Survivor Series next Saturday, adding to the excitement for the highly anticipated event.

Cathy Kelley and Kevin Owens experienced a dune buggy accident ahead of WWE’s Crown Jewel event from Saudi Arabia. As part of the pre-show festivities, WWE talent and staff participated in various activities, including dune buggy rides. During the Crown Jewel pre-show broadcast, it was revealed that Kelley and Owens had been involved in the accident.

Owens was originally scheduled to compete in a match against Randy Orton. However, the match took a dramatic turn as the two brawled outside the ring, leading to Orton being stretchered out of the venue. Speaking on B4TheBell, Cathy Kelley provided more details about the incident and reflected on her long-standing friendship with Owens. She shared:

“He’s been one of my friends for years. I’ve had many conversations with him off camera. We just got into a kind of traumatizing accident when we were in Saudi Arabia in a dune buggy. I kind of credit him for saving my life in that moment.

We rolled three and a half times in a dune buggy. He said his initial instinct was to protect me. I was holding onto a safety rail, he was right behind me. We could have gotten much more banged up than we did. We were really lucky that we walked out of it relatively unscathed.”

– Cathy Kelley on B4theBell

Kelley added that she came away with just a minor scratch on her hand, while Owens’ quick instincts potentially prevented more serious injuries.

Despite the harrowing experience, Owens is set to appear in a face-to-face segment with the Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes on this Friday’s episode of SmackDown.

AEW star Britt Baker is stepping into a new arena as part of Netflix’s Cobra Kai. Baker plays a fighter on the Tiger Strike team in the show’s final planned season, which continues the story of The Karate Kid film series. Fans can catch her in multiple episodes, featuring intense fight sequences filmed prior to her AEW return over the summer.

Baker’s AEW comeback was intentionally delayed to accommodate her work on the series. Notably, Cobra Kai star Martin Kove (John Kreese) has previously made appearances alongside Baker on AEW television, further solidifying the crossover appeal.

Netflix has split the final season into two parts. The first batch of episodes sets the stage for an epic tournament, and the second batch premieres on Friday.

Britt Baker’s AEW Return

On this week’s episode of AEW Dynamite, Baker returned to action after being sidelined for a month due to strep throat. She secured a victory over Penelope Ford in a singles match. Post-match, Serena Deeb confronted Baker, hinting at a potential rivalry brewing between the two.

For fans of both AEW and Cobra Kai, Baker’s dual appearances on TV promise a thrilling mix of action and drama.

WWE has officially launched a tournament to crown the inaugural WWE Women’s United States Champion. The competition began on this week’s episode of SmackDown and will culminate at WWE Saturday Night’s Main Event on December 14, where the first-ever champion will be crowned.

Ahead of SmackDown, Triple H unveiled the tournament bracket, which features an innovative format: four triple-threat matches in the opening round. The winners of these matches will advance to the semifinals, with the final two competitors battling for the championship at SNME.

Tournament Brackets

Bracket 1

• Bayley vs. Candice LeRae vs. B-Fab: This match took place on SmackDown, with the winner set to face the victor of the second triple-threat bout:
• Bianca Belair vs. Chelsea Green vs. Blair Davenport

Bracket 2

• Jade Cargill vs. Michin vs. Piper Niven: The winner will move on to face the winner of:
• Naomi vs. Tiffany Stratton vs. Elektra Lopez

The Women’s United States Championship represents a significant milestone, marking the first secondary women’s title on WWE’s main roster. It follows the introduction of the Women’s North American Championship on NXT. WWE formally announced the new championship during last week’s SmackDown, with anticipation building for the groundbreaking tournament.

Shinsuke Nakamura made a surprise return to WWE television on this week’s episode of SmackDown. The show featured LA Knight successfully defending his WWE United States Championship against Humberto. However, the celebration was short-lived as Nakamura ambushed Knight from behind, making a bold statement upon his return.

While WWE has not officially announced when Nakamura will challenge Knight for the US Title, his actions suggest a brewing rivalry.

Nakamura has been absent from WWE television since April 22, when he faced Sheamus on Raw. Since then, he has only participated in dark matches and house shows, including appearances on the European tour in August ahead of Bash in Berlin. Reports indicate that WWE had no creative plans for Nakamura during this hiatus, leaving him off television for an extended period.

Fans can also look forward to Nakamura’s international appearance in January 2025, when he is scheduled to face Ulka Sasaki.

LA Knight has significantly climbed the WWE ladder over the past two years, returning to the persona that initially made him a standout in NXT following a brief run as Max Dupri. Currently reigning as the WWE United States Champion for three months, Knight has successfully defended his title five times, solidifying his status as a fan favorite.

A key factor in Knight’s popularity is his undeniable charisma and exceptional promo skills. However, his off-the-cuff speaking style occasionally clashes with WWE management’s preference for structured dialogue. In an interview with SPORTbible, Knight admitted that his improvisational approach has sometimes landed him in hot water.

“Sometimes I get myself in trouble because I like to work a little more off the cuff, and sometimes they [WWE management] like a little structure. I try to meet them in the middle on that. For me, I want to listen and react instead of thinking of all this prefab. It didn’t feel right to me.

If I want to be as authentic as I can be and connect with everybody out there, I need to listen. Instead of going out there pre-planned, just being able to be authentically me has been a godsend. Sometimes I have to meet them in the middle, but for the most part, they’re like, ‘We’ll let you do your thing, but just don’t push it!’”

Knight, a prominent member of the SmackDown roster, recently defended his United States Championship at Crown Jewel. In a thrilling triple-threat match, he defeated Carmelo Hayes and Andrade to retain his title, further cementing his place as a top-tier WWE superstar.

Becky Lynch recently concluded her WWE commitments following the expiration of her contract on June 1. Opting not to re-sign at the time, Lynch took a break with the expectation of returning in the future. Prior to her departure, she helped elevate Liv Morgan by putting her over in two matches.

According to PWInsider, Lynch is expected to return in time for the premiere of WWE Raw on Netflix this January. This development suggests that the two sides are either close to finalizing or have already agreed to a new contract.

This weekend marks Lynch’s first public appearance since stepping away from WWE. She is scheduled to appear in Los Angeles to discuss her memoir. The promotional material for the event describes the occasion as follows:

“WWE Superstar, trailblazer, and New York Times best-selling author Rebecca Quin will join us for a conversation about her recent memoir, Becky Lynch: The Man: Not Your Average Average Girl. We’ll look back on her legendary career — from her early days grinding on the road to being in the first-ever women’s match to main event WrestleMania — and just maybe get a glimpse at what The Man has in store for us next.”

Meanwhile, WWE is planning a star-studded card for the Raw debut on Netflix, with names like John Cena expected to appear. As of now, it remains unclear what specific role Lynch will play in the event.

AEW has announced new matches for the upcoming AEW Full Gear 2024 pay-per-view event, including a highly anticipated bout featuring MJF. The updated card was revealed on this week’s episode of Dynamite, adding Will Ospreay vs. Kyle Fletcher and MJF vs. Roderick Strong to the lineup.

As stipulated by the former World Heavyweight Champion, MJF, Strong or Adam Cole needed three consecutive singles wins to qualify for the match. Strong secured a victory over Lance Archer in a Falls Count Anywhere match. Cole lost to Konosuke Takeshita after Takeshita used MJF’s Dynamite Diamond Ring to secure the win.

On Dynamite, Ospreay and Fletcher took part in an in-ring promo, marking Ospreay’s first appearance since Fletcher betrayed him at WrestleDynasty. Ospreay agreed to give Fletcher his “five minutes of fame” by facing him at Full Gear. The promo culminated in a brawl that included Fletcher, Ospreay, Brian Cage, Lance Archer, Powerhouse Hobbs, and Mark Davis.

AEW Full Gear 2024 is set for Saturday, November 23, at the Prudential Center in Newark, NJ. AEW World Heavyweight Champion Jon Moxley is expected to defend his title against Orange Cassidy in the main event.

As anticipated, John Cena will be part of next year’s Royal Rumble, scheduled for Saturday, February 1, 2025, at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis.

Cena’s upcoming retirement from WWE in-ring competition was announced earlier this summer during a surprise appearance at the Money in the Bank event. After some initial speculation, Cena clarified that the Royal Rumble, Elimination Chamber, and WrestleMania 2025 will serve as his final appearances in WWE.

The former WWE Champion plans to wrestle throughout 2025, with a target of 36 dates across the year. Cena is also confirmed to appear on Netflix’s first episodes of Raw, as well as at the Royal Rumble and WrestleMania 41.

Today, WWE released a video clip featuring Cena promoting ticket sales for the upcoming Premium Live Event. In the video, Cena confirms he will be competing in the Men’s Royal Rumble match.

Meanwhile, fans are speculating about whether Cena could break the current World Title record. Cena and Ric Flair are currently tied at 16 reigns, and a 17th title win would cement Cena’s place in history as the sole record-holder.

Liv Morgan’s streak of Royal Rumble appearances will end in 2025. WWE’s upcoming Royal Rumble Premium Live Event is set for Saturday, February 1, 2025, at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis.

Morgan, the current WWE Women’s World Champion, has competed in six consecutive Royal Rumble matches, with her participation dating back to 2018. However, if she remains the top women’s champion on the Raw brand through February, she will be exempt from entering the bout. Although she may still have a match on the card, it would not be in the Royal Rumble match, which determines a contender for WrestleMania 41 who might choose to challenge her.

Appearing on The Pat McAfee Show today, Morgan shared her thoughts on potentially missing her first Royal Rumble. “I’m not going to enter the Royal Rumble this year because I’m going to walk in as the Women’s World Champion,” Morgan explained. “I’ve been in every single one, too. So, I’m actually going to miss this one.”

Morgan continued, reflecting on her participation over the years and suggesting that she might not be the most strategic choice for a WrestleMania challenger. “If they choose me. I don’t think they would [choose me] because it’s not very smart to choose me. Have you been watching, Pat? Raquel, Judgment Day, Daddy Dom… I don’t know who’s going to want to take their chance against me.”

WWE fans may only have to wait a few more months for the return of Pat McAfee, potentially at the event that launches WrestleMania season: the Royal Rumble.

WWE’s Royal Rumble Premium Live Event is scheduled for Saturday, February 1, 2025, at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis—the same state where McAfee resides, setting the stage for a potential comeback. During today’s episode of The Pat McAfee Show, the former NFL punter teased a return to WWE at the Royal Rumble.

McAfee originally joined WWE a few years ago, following a handful of matches in NXT, as a color commentator on SmackDown alongside Michael Cole. McAfee quickly became a fan favorite due to his energetic style at the announce booth. After a hiatus to focus on College GameDay, he returned full-time to Raw with Cole earlier this year.

However, in August, McAfee took another break from WWE to concentrate on his duties with ESPN’s College GameDay. Many fans anticipate his return once the college football season wraps up in early January.

At a time when WWE is holding more international premium live events than ever, Grayson Waller has serious doubts about the company bringing its biggest annual event, WrestleMania, to his home country of Australia.

WWE has held three major events in Australia, starting with the Global Warning Tour: Melbourne in 2002, released on home video. They returned for Super Show-Down in 2018 at Colonial Stadium, marking their first live premium live event (PLE) in the country. This year, WWE returned once more in February to host the Elimination Chamber at Perth Stadium.

Speaking with Chris Van Vliet, Waller explained why he doesn’t believe WrestleMania will ever take place in Australia:

“If I have to be honest, no, Australia, I’m sorry, it’s not going to happen. The time zone is rough, and I get that. WrestleMania is such a big show—it’s our showcase, and we want the most eyes on it. I think in Australia, that would be a very difficult process, especially with flying everything down. It’s a big effort. But I think having something like the Elimination Chamber there is massive. I don’t think people realize how big it was. That show sets up WrestleMania. All the things that happen on that show lead into the biggest show of the year.”

He continued, “So for me, I don’t think WrestleMania will ever be in Australia. Would I love it to happen? Obviously, it would mean the world to me, but I’m realistic. I think Australia has the opportunity to host more big shows. I’ve heard some whispers that we might be heading back somewhat soonish, and I think I’d rather have us stand alone and say, ‘Hey, this is Australia, and this is what we do.’ We have so many Aussies in WWE right now that we could almost fill a show with Australians.”

To date, WrestleMania has only been hosted outside the United States twice, with both instances in Canada. WrestleMania 41 is slated to take place in Las Vegas next year.

WWE has added a twist to the upcoming WarGames match at Survivor Series, where The OG Bloodline (Roman Reigns, Jimmy Uso, Jey Uso, and Sami Zayn) will face off against The Bloodline (Jacob Fatu, Solo Sikoa, Tama Tonga, and Tonga Loa) inside the WarGames cage.

Originally, fans expected this match to be a traditional four-on-four, based on the number of members in each faction. However, Monday’s WWE Raw confirmed that the match will be a five-on-five bout. In a backstage segment, Sami Zayn hinted to the Usos that he might know someone willing to join their team, though the identity of this potential fifth member remains a mystery.

This WarGames showdown comes on the heels of an intense rivalry. At the Crown Jewel event in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, Solo Sikoa led his team to victory over Roman Reigns, Jey Uso, and Jimmy Uso by landing two powerful Samoan Spikes on Reigns. Since then, Sami Zayn has aligned himself with Reigns and the Usos, further intensifying the feud.

Meanwhile, Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes has also been associated with Reigns in recent events. The two stars teamed up to defeat Sikoa and Fatu at Bad Blood, with The Rock making a surprise appearance after the match.

There was a backstage segment on Raw, where Zayn told Seth Rollins that he thinks he is their fifth man. Rollins said that Zayn was out of his mind due to their history and said the answer was no.

Dakota Kai made her highly anticipated return on this week’s WWE Raw after being sidelined for over four months due to injury. Kai joined forces with IYO SKY and Kairi Sane to face the Pure Fusion Collective (Shayna Baszler, Zoey Stark, and Sonya Deville). In a key moment, Kai broke up Baszler’s submission on SKY in the closing moments, allowing SKY to execute her signature moonsault on Baszler and secure the victory for her team.

This return also comes at a pivotal time, as SKY recently became the #1 contender for the Women’s World Title and will soon challenge Liv Morgan for the championship.

Kai last competed on July 27 at a live event in Tokyo, Japan, where she faced Jade Cargill and Bianca Belair. Shortly afterward, she was written off WWE television following an on-screen attack from the Pure Fusion Collective. Kai suffered a meniscus tear in August, with an estimated recovery timeline of eight to ten weeks. Backstage, there was reportedly significant sympathy for her, as she is highly respected and well-liked within WWE.

This latest injury follows an ACL tear in May 2023 that kept Kai out of action for nearly a year.

One of the key matches has been confirmed for WWE Survivor Series, which will be held on Saturday, November 30, 2024, at Rogers Arena in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.

On this week’s Raw episode, the WWE announced that GUNTHER will defend his World Heavyweight Championship against Damian Priest. GUNTHER has held the title since defeating Priest at SummerSlam 2024 and has been on an impressive winning streak since.

After claiming the WWE World Heavyweight Championship, GUNTHER entered into a feud with Randy Orton, ultimately prevailing at Bash in Berlin. His next title defense saw him retain against Sami Zayn on the October 7 episode of Raw. However, he later fell short in a tag team match where he and Ludwig Kaiser lost to Orton and Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes. GUNTHER also lost to Rhodes in a title match at Crown Jewel.

Last week on Raw, WWE held a Fatal Four-Way match to determine GUNTHER’s next challenger. The competitors included Priest, Dominik Mysterio, Seth Rollins, and Sheamus, with Priest securing the victory and earning his shot at Survivor Series.

The only other match currently confirmed for Survivor Series is the OG Bloodline vs. Bloodline in a WarGames match. The event will air live on Peacock.

WWE has introduced a new Women’s United States Championship after years of discussion from wrestlers and fans alike about a secondary women’s title on the main roster. Raw and SmackDown roster members are eligible to challenge for the Women’s US belt.

WWE has made major strides in elevating its women’s division for the last decade after pushing its female stars as Divas. NXT was already a step ahead of WWE in this respect, with an NXT Women’s Champion and an NXT Women’s North American Champion.

The introduction of secondary titles for female superstars could bring greater depth, more storylines, and additional title opportunities to the women’s roster, giving a platform to more wrestlers outside the main title picture.

WWE/NXT Women’s Championships

With the addition of the United States title, there are now seven sanctioned women’s championships in WWE and NXT.

• Women’s World Championship: Liv Morgan
• WWE Women’s Championship: Nia Jax
• WWE Women’s Tag Team Championship: Bianca Belair and Jade Cargill
• WWE Women’s United States Championship
• WWE Women’s Speed Championship: Candice LaRae
• NXT Women’s Championship: Roxanne Perez
• NXT Women’s North American Championship: Fallon Henley

WWE’s Saturday Night’s Main Event is set to return, airing live on NBC and simulcast on Peacock on December 14 at 8 p.m. ET from the Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum on Long Island, N.Y. WWE announced today via email that additional tickets for the event have been released, stating, “We’re bringing that old school look and feel to Nassau Coliseum on December 14 for the return of Saturday Night’s Main Event!“

According to PWInsider.com, WWE plans to fully embrace the classic style beyond just promotional hype. The broadcast presentation and the arena itself will reflect this retro theme, aiming to recreate the vibe of the original Saturday Night’s Main Event era. For instance, the event will feature full arena seating rather than closing off a portion of the venue for Titantron staging, as typically seen in Raw and SmackDown tapings.

In a recent Wrestling Observer Newsletter, Dave Meltzer reported that the main event matchups are expected to include Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes vs. Kevin Owens and World Heavyweight Champion GUNTHER vs. Damian Priest.

Ticket demand for the event has been high. WrestleTix recently reported that WWE had distributed 10,259 tickets, with 817 tickets remaining for a setup capacity of 11,076 seats. Over 300 tickets were sold in the last week alone.