The WWE Universe can expect to see much more of TNA Wrestling’s Joe Hendry in NXT after his surprise appearance on the July 16, episode.

During the show, Hendry appeared after his name was said by Vic Joseph. The popular wrestler served as the special guest commentator for Gallus’ bout against The Rascalz (Wes Lee, Zachary Wentz, & Trey Miguel). The reunited Rascalz were victorious in an exciting six-man tag-team match.

In a backstage segment, a frustrated Gallus brought up Hendry and said his name. Just as his song suggests, Hendry appeared and said he’s become the most talked-about superstar in NXT. He went on to say that he will be sticking around because he likes it in NXT.

Joe Hendry In WWE NXT

Hendry made his NXT debut as part of a battle royal to crown a number one contender for the NXT Championship that was won by Je’Von Evans. Despite being the first person eliminated from the match, Hendry proved to be a hit and WWE’s video of his entrance would become the most-watched video WWE has put out in this post-WrestleMania season.

Related: Joe Hendry Plans On Going Even Further After Hitting WWE Milestone

Hendry returned weeks later as the surprise tag-team partner of Trick Williams. Not only did Hendry’s team win the main event match but Hendry got the win over Shawn Spears who teamed on the night with NXT Champion Ethan Page.

Fans are expecting to see more of Hendry in WWE NXT and his next appearance could see him bring some gold to the gold brand. Hendry will be part of a six-way for the TNA World Heavyweight Championship at this weekend’s Slammiversary pay-per-view.

The worlds of WWE and Street Fighter are teaming up for a special crossover event as part of the WWE SuperCard mobile game.

In a promo video, Xavier Woods, Rey Mysterio, and Zelina Vega were ‘promoted’ with new attires resembling some of the fighting game franchise’s top characters. The crossover will last from July 17 to August 15 and will include Ryu, Juri, Luke, and Chun-Li. The new Akuma Limited Edition card will also be unlockable.

Fans will be able to battle in special game modes, and collect incredible rewards, a statement from 2K Games added. Special in-game offers, daily streaks, bundles, Card Backs, and Equipment will also be available.

Harley Howe, Studio Manager of Cat Daddy Games (the creators of WWE Supercard) shared their excitement:

“Street Fighter game nights have been a staple of the studio for decades. We’re extremely excited to welcome this franchise to the world of WWE SuperCard as both fans and players. We have done our best to build an experience blending the fusion of both games and hope everyone thoroughly enjoys it.”

WWE’s Video Game Crossovers

WWE Supercard isn’t the only mobile game that is set to see a major crossover. Rock legend Ozzy Osbourne will be a part of WWE Champions as part of the upcoming ‘Summer of Darkness’ event. Osbourne, who was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2021, will be a character in the game and players will have the chance to collect Ozzy-themed items to progress in the Madman Collection Contest.

Call of Duty is also getting in on the crossover fun as part of the upcoming fifth season of the newest game. This update will see WWE Superstars appear in Call of Duty though at this time it is unknown who will be making their presence felt in the hit war game franchise.

Jalen Brunson of the New York Knicks is already eager to get back in the ring mere weeks after appearing for WWE on an episode of SmackDown.

The 27-year-old Basketball player appeared on the June 28, edition of the blue brand from Madison Square Garden. In a Money in the Bank qualifying match, Logan Paul asked for Tyrese Haliburton to fetch his brass knuckles but Brunson was on hand to stop his fellow basketball player. LA Knight would win the match, continuing his feud with the U.S. Champion but failed to capture the coveted briefcase.

Brunson’s WWE Return

Speaking on the Roommates Show Podcast, Brunson spoke highly of his time at WWE SmackDown in the Garden. The New York Knicks star added that he’d love to be part of a future WWE event should the company return to Indiana where Haliburton plays.

“One of the best things about WWE is the entrances. The pops you get and everything. Watching the best returns and seeing these dudes come out where it’s been a while. The next time, hopefully the next time I do it, I can do it in Indiana so it would be the opposite. See how that goes. Might as well keep the storyline going.”

Celebrities In WWE

If Brunson plans on stepping foot in the ring again, he would hardly be the first celebrity to do so. In addition to Logan Paul’s matches for WWE, fans saw Johnny Knoxville step into the ring in 2022 at that year’s Royal Rumble PLE and at WrestleMania 38. Grammy Award-winning artist Bad Bunny has appeared for WWE in recent years, showing that a celebrity can deliver a great match if the proper practice has been made.

Superstars released from the company will NOT be allowed to use their WWE names after being cut, despite recent claims to the contrary.

Earlier this month, WWE filed to trademark Ethan Page’s name and there was a discussion online about WWE’s usage of ring names. The notion spread online that WWE was now allowing talent to use their ring names after they exited, breaking from years of tradition. WWE trademarks terms for wrestlers so that when a Superstar exits the company, they cannot earn using a name WWE spent considerable time and money building up in another company.

These reports of WWE relaxing its stance on the use of ring names is not the case, both Fightful Select and PW Insider report. While some WWE alum have used their ring names after being released (CM Punk, Chris Jericho, Adam Cole etc), these wrestlers already had ownership of the name and they licensed WWE to use it.

WWE Locks Down Several Names Across NXT & Main Roster

Some former WWE talent have gotten around this by changing their legal names to the character name used in WWE. Both The Ultimate Warrior and Ryback were able to use their WWE names after leaving by changing their names from Jim Hellwig and Ryan Reeves respectively. While Metalik can use that name as he owns the term, he can’t use Gran Metalik as that collective term is owned by WWE.

While WWE’s new era has implemented several changes, relaxing its stance on names isn’t one of them. For now, Nic Nemeth will remain Nic Nemeth in TNA despite spending years building his career as Dolph Ziggler, and the same goes for Raj Dhesi/Jinder Mahal. While WWE may one day change its rules, it hasn’t happened yet.

Singer, rapper, and songwriter Jelly Roll is providing two of the theme songs for this year’s WWE SummerSlam premium live event. The soundtrack of WWE’s ‘biggest party of the ‘Biggest Party of the Summer’ will include the songs “Dead End Road” and “Liar” off his new album Lair due out this fall. Based on this interaction between the artist and WWE CCO Triple H, it looks like we may see Mr. Roll ‘roll’ up to the Cleveland Browns Stadium in person to perform on Saturday, August 3.

Jelly Roll & WWE

Jelly Roll’s wrestling fandom is hardly in question as he has shown time and time again to be a member of the WWE Universe. Last November, Jelly Roll appeared on WWE Monday Night RAW and got into an altercation with JD McDonagh and ‘Dirty’ Dominik Mysterio.

Jelly Roll is getting ready to embark on his The Beautifully Broken tour, with new dates just added. You can check out Jelly Roll’s Summer/Fall 2024 US tour dates below:

Sami Zayn Comedy Coming To Cleveland

It remains to be seen if Jelly Roll will perform at SummerSlam, but we know that Sami Zayn will be performing that weekend out of the ring. In a press release, WWE confirmed that the Sami Zayn & Friends Do Cleveland comedy show is coming to SummerSlam weekend on Friday, August 2. Tickets will go on sale July 17, at 10 a.m ET and there will be a limited number of post-show meet and greets.

This will be the latest example of the reigning Intercontinental Champion flexing his creative chops. The inaugural event happened earlier this month in Toronto for Money in the Bank weekend and in addition to Zayn, featured Cody Rhodes, Bayley, Johnny Knoxville, and others. Zayn also performed at this year’s Netflix Is A Joke festival and received rave reviews for his set.

Cody Rhodes made sure to thank The Undertaker after his victory at WrestleMania 40, but had some liquid courage in his belly before reaching out to the Phenom.

At WrestleMania 40: Sunday, Rhodes’ story was at long last finished as he defeated Roman Reigns to capture the Undisputed WWE Universal Championship. The win marked the end of a two-year quest that started when Rhodes returned to WWE in April 2022, as well as the end of Reigns’ 1,316-day run on top.

Texting The Undertaker

Rhodes’ win saw the American Nightmare be helped by various Superstars to even the odds with the Bloodline, including John Cena, Jey Uso, Seth Rollins, and The Undertaker. On the Insight podcast, Rhodes recalled what he did that fateful April night after WrestleMania went off the air.

“I didn’t sleep. I went right to the Today Show. I lay in a bunk and I texted a bunch of people including The Undertaker… I left him, what I would call, a rambling, ‘perhaps’ intoxicated little rant, just thanking him for being there. It’s the frickin’ sheriff. [He responded] Immediately after, he was [Grateful.]”

The Next Chapter

For two years, Rhodes had been focused on one story so there was plenty of speculation among fans as to what would be next for him after he won the gold. On the podcast, Rhodes admitted to being uncertain about his future as WWE Champion.

I worried that there would be a sense of completion, this sense of fullness. I was genuinely concerned like ‘Well, [the] story’s over.’ But as soon as it was done, I literally felt ten feet tall, I felt bulletproof. I felt younger, I felt faster. I didn’t feel grizzled at all. To the point where I thought ‘Oh this is going to be a lot of fun.'”

Rhodes’ fun has taken him across the world as he’s had title defenses in France, Saudi Arabia, and Scotland. His next title defense will come at WWE SummerSlam on August 3, when he defends against the ‘Tribal Chief’ Solo Sikoa.

For the use of quotes, please give an H/T to SE Scoops.

Rhea Ripley could be in store for all the waffles she could eat should the Judgment Day member take Jey Uso up on his offer of a date.

On the July 15, edition of Raw, Ripley confronted Dominik Mysterio about his ‘relationship’ with Liv Morgan. Despite Mysterio’s attempts to be forgiven, including dozens of black roses, Rhea wanted no part of it and slammed a door in the face of ‘Dirty Dom.’

Jey Uso Wants A Date

Raw also saw Jey Uso tease an interest in Ripley and even gave the former Women’s World Champion the hand-sign to ‘call me.’ Speaking after Raw in a WWE Digital Exclusive, Jey shared what could be in store for Rhea if she answers his call.

“I think she deserves better [than Dominik Mysterio.] If she needs a shoulder to cry on, holla at your Uce. You know what I’m saying? We can take it slow. Go to Waffle House. You probably ain’t never been to Waffle House, though, but you need to come this way, Rhea. It’s a little cheap, but it’s good. The quality’s good.”

Jey also predicted what Rhea would order if the pair stepped foot in one of the 1,900 locations of the popular restaurant chain that has been open since 1955.

“She looks like she would eat ten egg whites and a chicken, but I’m all about that triple hash-brown life, Uce. Double waffle, chocolate-chip cookie, Uce. We gonna get along just fine.”

Jey Uso & The Judgment Day

Ironically, this is not the first time that Uso and Ripley have been linked. In the summer of 2023, Jey moved to Raw and quickly found himself approached by the Judgment Day. The group went to great lengths to try and win over Jey and it was even suggested that Rhea would be ‘interested’ in him if he joined.

Ultimately, Jey rejected the faction’s advances and ended up feuding with the Judgment Day. Now, Uso is the one pursuing Ripley in the latest twist of the compelling love triangle that has proven to be one of Monday Night Raw’s most intriguing stories.

Sami Zayn had some strong words about Ilja Dragunov and the future of WWE after the July 15, edition of Monday Night Raw went off the air.

In the main event of the show, Intercontinental Champion Sami Zayn defended against Ilja Dragunov. The pair were on course for an instant classic before Bron Breakker emerged and attacked both men, abruptly ending the contest. Breakker, who had been banned from the building, laid out both men to end the show, making clear he still plans on winning the Intercontinental Championship.

After WWE RAW (July 15, 2024)

While Breakker may have left both the champion and challenger worse for wear, Zayn and Dragunov shared a segment after the show. Speaking to the crowd in the Nutter Center in Dayton, Ohio, Zayn gave credit to the Mad Dragon as someone for fans to keep an eye on.

“All of you are looking at the future of WWE right here and his name is Ilja Dragunov!”

Dragunov appreciated the high praise from Zayn. Despite the war they’d put each other through, the two men shook hands to the delight of the crowd.

“The Future Of WWE”

Ilja Dragunov does indeed look bright, as he’s quickly established himself as a formidable competitor on WWE Raw. This week’s title match with Zayn marks Dragunov’s third time headlining WWE’s longest-running weekly episodic show since being called up to the main roster in this year’s draft.

Dragunov has more than held his own, a promising sign that management will remain confident in his potential and will continue to put him in positions to succeed.

Related: Ilja Dragunov: “When I’m Pain, I’m an Entire Monster”

WWE Hall of Famer Kevin Nash is excited to see John Cena’s retirement tour, a tour that he believes the 16-time World Champion wholly deserves.

Unlike other wrestlers who have had retirement matches, Cena will have a whole tour that will see him make 100 dates in 2025. On his Kliq This podcast, Nash compared Cena’s final run to rock band KISS’ high-profile farewell tour.

“It’s the KISS retirement tour. It made the morning news, local, that John Cena was retiring and I had seen the Money in the Bank [event] and I was like ‘alright.’ He definitely deserves it, he’s worked his ass off. And the thing about John is that he’ll make a Make-A-Wish appearance at everyone [of the shows he appears at.]

John Cena’s Retirement

Cena announced during the Money in the Bank PLE that 2025 will be his final year in wrestling. Details are scarce regarding the retirement of John Cena but fans are already excited to see what’s to come. Despite his monumental star power, Cena has said he does not feel he’s in a position where he can make specific requests regarding opponents for his retirement tour.

5 Things We Want From John Cena’s WWE Retirement Tour

Whatever WWE has planned, fans are optimistic that Cena will be given a send-off fitting his legendary career in the ring. There’s no shortage of names from Cena’s past still in WWE who he could work with if he wishes to. On the flip side, working with younger talent who’ve yet to step in the ring with ‘Big Match John‘ would help these younger talents immensely. Whatever’s to come, expect to see plenty of John Cena ahead of his retirement in 2025.

Matt Cardona Hungry For John Cena Match On WWE Icon’s Farewell Tour

Erick Rowan delivered a passionate promo during this week’s Raw that blended the Wyatt Sicks angle with his real-life feelings of losing Brodie Lee and Bray Wyatt.

Lee passed away in December 2020 and Rowan appeared at AEW’s tribute show for the former TNT Champion. Less than three years later, Rowan appeared at WWE’s tribute show for Bray Wyatt after the former Universal Champion passed away at the age of 36.

Wyatt Sicks Hack Into The Pat McAfee Show Ahead of July 15 WWE Raw

Erick Rowan On Raw

As we’ve seen in recent weeks, the Wyatt Sicks delivered a VHS which was played during this week’s episode of Monday Night Raw. In the video, Rowan was seen being asked by an off-camera Uncle Howdy how he has been.

“I’m not gonna lie. The last few years have been very, very hard. You know I used to have a family. We were unstoppable, inseparable, always had each other’s backs, and then one day, the whole world changed. I lost a brother — the person in the world who believed in me more than anyone else — just gone.”

Rowan added that after Brodie’s passing, he tried to carry on and keep moving, feeling he had no other alternative.

“But just when I thought I had everything going, my other brother, he’s gone too.”

Rowan then shifted his comments to the Wyatt Sicks program as he was handed his sheep mask and asked how it makes him feel.

“It gives me hope… you reached out your hand [and] I accepted it… We’re gonna take our broken hearts and make some beautiful art.”

Blending the real-life tragedies Rowan has gone through and the Wyatt Sicks storyline is an interesting move by WWE and certainly gives the faction a sense of realism. Outside of Bo Dallas/Uncle Howdy, nobody in the faction was closer to Bray than Erick Rowan, and his open testimony this week shows just how deeply both Wyatt and Lee affected the Wyatt Sicks member.

5 Years On: Looking Back At The Debut Of ‘The Fiend’ Bray Wyatt

On the July 15, 2019, edition of Monday Night Raw, the WWE Universe was introduced to one of the company’s most creepy yet captivating characters. Just over an hour into the show, Finn Balor defeated Samoa Joe, but the night was going to get much worse for the Irish Superstar. After the match, Balor would become the first victim of ‘The Fiend’ a demonic new side to Bray Wyatt that had been teased for months. Today, on the fifth anniversary of the character’s arrival, we look back on what brought the Fiend to TV.

Before The Fiend

In the six years on WWE’s main roster before the arrival of The Fiend, Bray Wyatt had been one of the most consistently captivating Superstars. In 2016, Wyatt captured the SmackDown Tag Team Titles and followed up by becoming WWE Champion the following year.

More important though than titles, was how Wyatt was able to draw in a crowd with his mastery of character work. From John Cena to The Undertaker to Roman Reigns, it seemed nobody could escape Wyatt’s mind games as he played on potential weaknesses in some of WWE’s biggest stars. This work rightly earned Wyatt a ‘cult-like’ following who were eager to see what was next for him.

LA Knight Wishes He Wasn’t Bray Wyatt’s Last Match

Teasing The Fiend

After vanishing from our screens in early 2019, Wyatt returned in April of that year with a character far different than what we’d seen. Gone was the Max Cady-inspired swamp-dweller, now replaced with an excitable sweater-donned Bray who looked like more like Mr. Rogers than an ‘Eater of Worlds.’

Introducing the WWE Universe to the Firefly Fun House was a brilliant stroke by Wyatt as it added some much-appreciated lore to a character fans had already learned so much (and yet not enough) about. The idea of a children’s presenter with a twisted side proved especially chilling for any parents watching and delivered a sense of dread never before seen in WWE.

The Fiend Arrives

In the episodes of the Firefly Fun House, the jovial Wyatt teased that somebody was coming and that he wouldn’t be able to stop them. That force proved to be the Fiend who from the moment fans saw him, captivated audiences. With a striking design crafted by horror effects staple Jason Baker, the Fiend’s chilling look was another success story to Bray’s latest creation.

The Fiend was able to handle himself in the ring, as seen with his two reigns as WWE Universal Champion, but the character’s best work arguably came outside the squared circle. In 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic forced WWE to think outside the box without crowds, and Wyatt would again show his creative chops in the cinematic Firefly Fun House match. The WrestleMania 36 showdown with John Cena saw both participants craft a rich story that saw The Fiend best the man he failed to defeat at the event six years earlier.

Braun Strowman: ‘I Feel Bray Wyatt In My Life Every Single Day’

The Fiend Today

In August 2023, Bray Wyatt passed away at the tragically young age of 36 and WWE has, for all intents and purposes, retired The Fiend character. Nevertheless, the creative vision of Windham Rotunda can still be felt today with the recently introduced Wyatt Sicks. Like all great creative minds, Rotunda’s legacy has surpassed his own mortal life, and the WWE Universe will always appreciate (and fear) The Fiend.

Ring of Honor founder Cary Silkin has spoken against Tony Khan’s handling of the promotion which he believes falls well below expectations.

On the Madison Square Garden podcast, Silkin shared his thoughts on Khan’s handling of the promotion that Silkin and others founded in 2022.

“Ring of Honor of that era tried to show some respect to professional wrestling. Sure we had some wacky stuff. Sure we had the the flippy dippy do was coming into fashion. The flippy dippy do was going on with Édouard Carpentier too…Ring of Honor, there was some good pro wrestling going on in that segment of it. Right now, Ring of Honor it’s like no one cares at all. I don’t care how much money Tony Khan has. It’s not being treated very well.”

Tony Khan and Ring of Honor

Khan announced in March 2022 that he had purchased ROH, mere months after the promotion went on an indefinite hiatus following the Final Battle pay-per-view. In April, ROH held its first event of the Khan era as Supercard of Honor XV saw Johnathan Gresham become the Undisputed ROH World Champion.

Unlike AEW Dynamite, Rampage, and Collision, Ring of Honor does not have a presence on syndicated television. Instead, it was announced in late 2022 that ROH shows would air on the relaunched Honor Club streaming platform.

Criticism Of Khan’s ROH

While Khan is to credit for allowing ROH to not finish for good in 2021, many feel that his handling of the promotion has been sub-par. On an episode of his K100 podcast, Konnan said in November 2023 that Khan was not appealing to a wider fanbase outside of “hardcore marks” who were always going to watch ROH anyway. Eric Bischoff said on his Strictly Business podcast in 2022 that buying ROH was a bad investment for Khan and that the company was “insignificant” in the eyes of the vast majority of fans.

Former NXT UK Women’s Champion Meiko Satomura will compete at WWE live events later this month in the veteran’s first match since March of last year.

Satomura is being advertised for the upcoming tour of Japan that will begin in Osaka’s Edion Arena on July 25. The tour will then feature back-to-back events in Tokyo’s Ryogouko Arena on July 26-27. Other names being advertised for the show include Shinsuke Nakamura, Kairi Sane, Dakota Kai, Bianca Belair, and Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes. Interestingly, Asuka is also being advertised despite the Empress currently being out with an injury.

More On Asuka’s Injury That Has Kept the Empress On The Shelf

These events will mark Satomura’s long-overdue return to the ring as she has not been used in any capacity by the company in over 16 months. Satomura’s most recent match took place at WWE NXT Roadblock 2023 and saw her unsuccessfully challenge NXT Women’s Champion Roxanne Perez.

Meiko Satomura in WWE NXT

Satomura debuted in WWE in 2018 as part of the Mae Young Classic but was eliminated in the semi-finals by eventual winner Toni Storm. In October 2020, Satomura signed with WWE and in addition to being an on-screen talent, served as a coach in NXT UK.

In June 2021, Satomura captured the NXT UK Women’s Championship from Kay Lee Ray (now Women’s Tag Team Champion Alba Fyre.) Dubbed the ‘Final Boss’ long before Dwayne Johnson had the moniker, Satomura defeated all challengers for over a year. Her reign, alongside NXT UK, would end at Worlds Collide in September 2022 when she lost to then-NXT Women’s Champion Mandy Rose.

Meiko Satomura’s Pre-WWE Days

While Satomura hasn’t competed in WWE in some time, fans can see matches from her career outside of WWE on the Network/Peacock. Decades before joining WWE, a young Satomura competed in WCW as part of a cross-promotional effort with the Gaea Wrestling promotion.

Satomura competed in a tournament to crown the first WCW Women’s Champion. She was eliminated in the first round by eventual winner Akira Hokuto. Ironically, when Satomura entered a tournament to crown the first Women’s Cruiserweight Champion, she was eliminated in the first round by eventual winner Toshie Uematsu.

Bryan Danielson will join an ‘elite’ club at AEW All In: London 2024 when he challenges Swerve Strickland for the AEW World Championship.

Danielson earned the coveted title opportunity at AEW’s biggest event by winning the 2024 Men’s Owen Hart Foundation Tournament. Danielson’s road to Wembley saw him defeat Shingo Takagi in the first round before besting Pac and eventually ‘Hangman’ Adam Page in the finals.

More On Bryan Danielson’s Owen Hart Cup Tournament Win

Joining the Club

As pointed out by Dave Meltzer, Danielson will join a lucrative group of wrestlers, regardless of whether he wins or loses at All In. At the event, Danielson will become the fourth man to have competed at Wembley Stadium, Madison Square Garden, the Tokyo Dome, and Arena Mexico. Danielson will follow in the footsteps of Chris Jericho, Jon Moxley and John ‘Earthquake’ Tenta.

Danielson competed in MSG multiple times during his WWE career as Daniel Bryan. In early 2016, shortly after his retirement due to neck problems, WWE announced that a live event in the Garden would be ‘Daniel Bryan Appreciation Night.

Danielson competed in the iconic Tokyo Dome at Wrestle Kingdom 18 earlier this year, where he was defeated by Kazuchika Okada. Mere months later, he competed in Arena Mexico at a handful of CMLL shows. One such event saw him defeat Blue Panther in what the American Dragon called a dream match for him.

AEW All In: London 2024

All In: London 2024 will take place on August 25, from Wembley Stadium in London, England. The show will be AEW’s second event inside the massive arena after last year’s successful event. The matches announced for the show include:

• Swerve Strickland (c) Vs. Bryan Danielson (AEW World Championship)
• ‘Timeless’ Toni Storm (c) Vs. Mariah May (AEW Women’s World Championship)

Tony Khan Wants Bryan Danielson To Stay In AEW Forever

Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes is eager to see a Premium Live Event in Mexico after competing at an untelevised show in Monterrey.

In the show’s main event, Rhodes retained his championship against Santos Escobar. After the match, the American Nightmare said if anywhere deserves a PLE, it’s Mexico. Rhodes then encouraged the fans to make as much noise as they can, noting how raucous crowd reactions have been seen in England, France, and Scotland, all of which have hosted Premium Live Events.

WWE and Mexico

Rhodes isn’t the only WWE Superstar who hopes to see the company host a PLE in Mexico. WWE Hall of Famer Rey Mysterio has previously advocated for a major event to be hosted in the country that is synonymous with Lucha Libre wrestling.

Rey Mysterio Hoping for Mexico PLE In The Historic Estadio Azteca Stadium

While WWE has yet to host a PLE in Mexico, several TV events have been hosted in the country. WWE’s most recent televised event in Mexico took place in May 2011 and saw close to 20,000 fans fill the El Palacio de los Deportes in Mexico City.

It remains to be seen whether WWE will host a PLE in Mexico, though it certainly seems more likely now than ever before. With WWE being more open to hosting major events outside the United States, it may be just a matter of time before Mexico is the home of an official PLE.

Self-professed ‘Indy God’ Matt Cardona is hoping to step in the ring with John Cena as part of the 16-time WWE World Champion’s impending retirement tour.

At WWE Money in the Bank, Cena shared that 2025 will be his final year in the ring, ending a 23-year wrestling career in WWE. In a recent interview with SE Scoops’ own Scott Fishman, Cardona made it clear he hopes to face John before Cena hangs up his jorts.

“I would love to wrestle John Cena one last time. I think with the way WWE is now, it’s something that could happen where I could just walk in, whether it be for one day, or make a return… Zack Ryder vs. John Cena, those matches were fine. They were what they were. John Cena vs. Matt Cardona, that’s that’s where the story is.”

John Cena’s Retirement

Details are scarce regarding the retirement of John Cena but fans are already excited to see what’s to come. Despite his monumental star power, Cena has said he does not feel he’s in a position where he can make specific requests regarding opponents for his retirement tour.

5 Things We Want From John Cena’s WWE Retirement Tour

John Cena and Matt Cardona

Cena and Cardona (Zack Ryder at the time) became a duo on WWE TV in late 2011 and early 2012 during Cena’s feud with the recently-returned Kane. To get in Cena’s head, Kane repeatedly attacked Ryder and also targeted Zack’s on-screen girlfriend Eve Torres. During an infamous episode of WWE TV, Cena would save Eve from an attack by Kane, only to be kissed by the former Divas Champion. The camera would pivot to reveal Ryder (now in a wheelchair after weeks of attacks) had seen the kiss.

Could Matt Cardona return years later to get revenge on ‘Big Match John’? Given WWE’s willingness to work with others outside the promotion, it certainly seems more possible than ever before.

WWE NXT may be where talent go to hone their skills ahead of a move to the main roster, but it appears there’s plenty of romance in the Performance Center.

In this article, we’ll look at the relationships that exist within NXT that have seen talent date fellow NXT stars, main roster talent, or other wrestlers.

Kelani Jordan & Carmelo Hayes

The first-ever NXT Women’s North American Champion, Kelani Jordan is currently dating WWE SmackDown Superstar & former NXT Champion Carmelo Hayes. In October 2023, the pair went public with their relationship with a series of Instagram posts celebrating Jordan’s birthday.

Trick Williams & Lash Legend

The Kiss Heard Around the World earlier this year between Trick Williams and Lash Legend wasn’t just for show. The Meta-Four member and the former NXT Champion are in a relationship, though keep their private lives to themselves on social media.

Sol Ruca & Tyler Bate

Sol Ruca has been making a splash in WWE NXT and is currently dating the inaugural WWE United Kingdom Champion Tyler Bate, who is unfortunately out with an injury. The couple went public with their relationship in early 2024 with an Instagram post by the English Superstar.

Stevie Turner & Kit Wilson

Turner, who is currently looking to be the official assistant of Ava, has been with Pretty Deadly’s Kit Wilson for some time now. In March 2022, the happy couple shared that they are engaged to be married.

Riley Osborne & Blair Davenport

When not attacking people in the Performance Center parking lot, Blair Davenport can be found going on dates with Chase U’s Riley Osborne. In December 2023, the couple shared that they are engaged.

Roxanne Perez & Gino Medina

Since arriving in WWE NXT, Roxanne Perez has been a force to be reckoned with, despite her diminutive size. The reigning WWE NXT Women’s Champion has been dating independent wrestler Gino Medina since 2022.

Alexa Bliss has been seen training in the ring as fans await the return of the former Raw and SmackDown Women’s Champion.

On her Instagram Stories, Bliss shared footage of herself in training and hitting her ‘Twisted Bliss’ finishing move.

Alexa Bliss’ WWE Hiatus

Bliss hasn’t competed for WWE since January of 2023 when she challenged for the RAW Women’s Championship at that year’s Royal Rumble PLE. In May of 2023, Bliss shared that she was pregnant with a social media post describing her child as the “best oops ever.” She and Ryan Cabrera welcomed their daughter Hendrix into the world in November 2023.

Alexa Bliss & Ryan Cabrera Welcome Baby Girl Hendrix Into the World

What’s Next For Alexa Bliss?

Eight months on from the birth of Hendrix Cabrera and there’s still no sign of when Bliss will return, or what she will do once she’s back. Some have suggested that she will ae a program with the Wyatt Sicks, especially as her Royal Rumble 2023 appearance concluded with Uncle Howdy appearing on a screen and asking if she felt in control.

Bliss could work as either an ally of the Wyatt Sicks or perhaps as an adversary. After all, it was Bliss’ interference that cost Bray Wyatt his WrestleMania 37 match against Randy Orton, in what would be Bray’s final WWE match before his 2021 release. With that said, Bliss downplayed the idea of being linked to the QR codes that teased the Wyatt Sicks and she has not teased being a part of the faction.

Plenty went down at WWE’s live event in Mexico City including the continuation of the ‘romance’ between Women’s World Champion Liv Morgan & Dominik Mysterio.

At the July 13, event, Morgan defended her title against Shayna Baszler. After the match, Morgan introduced Dominik for his match against his father Rey. Contrary to what we’ve seen on TV, Dominik didn’t seem as opposed to Liv’s proximity at this event.

The latest battle of the Mysterios ended in a DQ when Carlito interfered to aid Dominik but Dragon Lee arrived to back up Rey. This set up a tag-team match the faces would win.

Dominik and Liv being aligned at this WWE live event comes at an interesting time considering the return of Rhea Ripley on Monday Night Raw. It has been confirmed that Ripley will open up the next episode of Raw and will address the Dominik-Liv situation.

Dominik: ‘Rhea Ripley’s Been Avoiding Me, I’ll Try To Fix Things On Raw’

Tiffany Stratton’s Cash-In Attempt

Liv wasn’t the only woman making waves at the event in Mexico City. During the show, WWE Women’s Champion Bayley defended her title against Bianca Belair. After the match, Tiffany Stratton attempted to cash in her Money in the Bank briefcase but Belair put a stop to her plans. Since the bell never rang though, Stratton’s cash-in attempt never officially started and therefore she still holds the briefcase and the coveted title shot.

Stratton attempted to cash in during the most recent episode of SmackDown but had second thoughts after being confronted by her ally Nia Jax. The 2024 Queen of the Ring will challenge Bayley for the title at SummerSlam, if Stratton does not cash in first.

Former WWE Superstar Donovan Dijak has captured his first championship in close to seven years, in what is the wrestler’s second match since being released.

At a July 13, event, Dijak captured the Ryse Wrestling Grand Championship. On Twitter, Ryse Wrestling shared some photos of the new champion. Dijak himself shared a photo with the gold and had a message for his followers.

This championship victory has been a long time coming for Dijak. The last time Dijak won a title came in July 2017 when he captured the Pro Wrestling Resurgence Heavyweight Championship, according to ProFight. In WWE, Dijak challenged for the NXT, NXT Tag, and North American Championships but never won the gold.

Leaving WWE

Dijak’s victory comes mere weeks after his abrupt exit from WWE. On Twitter, the former Retribution alum shared that not only would he be leaving WWE, but very little effort had been made by the company to retain his services. Dijak had been called to the main roster during the 2024 WWE Supplemental Draft after years of re-establishing himself in WWE NXT. Despite the call-up, Dijak was not used in any capacity as a RAW Superstar and has since said that he was sure he was doomed when he was the last pick in the Supplemental Draft.

This win is certainly a strong start for Dijak now that his career with WWE has come to an end. The question now is whether Dijak will be able to keep this momentum going forward in Ryse Wrestling and other promotions.

Dominik Mysterio is hoping to fix things with Rhea Ripley on the next episode of Raw following the climactic ending to this week’s show.

In the main event, Dominik and Liv Morgan defeated Rey Mysterio & Zelina Vega, marking Dom’s first WWE victory over his father. After the match, it appeared that Dominik was ready to give in to Morgan’s advances until Rhea Ripley returned and confronted her ‘Dom Dom.’

Making Things Right

While Mysterio is well and truly in the ‘doghouse’ the former NXT North American Champion is ready to fight for his (on-screen) relationship with Rhea Ripley. Speaking to ESPN, Mysterio gave his happiness on a scale of 1-10 during the Raw main event.

“I had finally beaten that deadbeat, I was about a ten. I was about a solid 9.5-10. Not even taking Liv into consideration. Just the fact that I had beaten that deadbeat. Once Mami’s music hit and everything happened afterward, I felt like I was at about a two, maybe a one.”

When asked about his current situation with Ripley, Mysterio admitted that it’s been tough to talk to her in recent days, but he’s confident thing will work out.

“I tried my best to communicate with her. She’s kind of avoided me as of now, but she kind of has no choice but to see me on Mondays. So, I’m going to fix things. I’m going to do my best to fix things on Monday.”

What’s to Come?

We don’t know what will be said between the two on next week’s Raw but fans won’t have to wait long. It’s been confirmed that Rhea will open the show and fans will no doubt be intrigued to hear what she has to say in her first promo since vacating the WWE Women’s World Championship.

As for Liv Morgan, she’ll likely continue to try and play Ripley and Dominik against one another. While Liv quickly ran from the ring when Ripley returned, backstage footage suggests that she is happy to see Rhea back (and at odds with Dominik.) With SummerSlam around the corner, some have predicted a Ripley-Morgan title match but that has yet to be confirmed. Until then, fans will remain gripped by what has become one of the most popular love triangles we’ve seen in years.

AEW wrestler Trent has been sidelined with an injury that has kept him from receiving a push that the promotion had in the works for him.

On the July 13, edition of AEW Collision, Trent was taken out by Orange Cassidy who used a monkey wrench to attack his former friend from behind. The pair have been feuding for months and Trent delivered an attack to Chuck Taylor back in May that has raised serious questions about Taylor’s future in the ring.

Chuck Taylor’s Career-Ending Injury Reportedly Legitimate

While Trent has been feuding with OC, the 37-year-old hasn’t competed since Double or Nothing 2024. That’s because Trent has been sidelined with an injury, Fightful Select reports. There had been plans for Trent to receive a push before the injury, but he hasn’t been cleared to compete for quite some time.

AEW’s Injuries

Trent is the latest AEW name confirmed for the injury list, a list that many believe is worryingly long. Other names out of action at this time include Adam Cole, Adam Copeland, Jamie Hayter, and ‘Switchblade’ Jay White.

A lot has been said about AEW talent getting injured and why (in the eyes of some) it seems more prevalent in the promotion compared to WWE. Some have chalked this up to a more hard-hitting, violent style in AEW, while others have suggested that a facility akin to WWE’s Performance Center would lower the rate of injuries.

Oddly enough, those at WWE believe AEW’s high injury rate stems from not wrestling enough. The belief among many is that the rigorous schedule of WWE allows for the bodies of Superstars to callus and grow more immune to bumps and scrapes in the ring. AEW has a more relaxed schedule which may see a wrestler compete once or twice a week, which those in WWE feel allows for too long a gap between matches to properly toughen up.

Trent Gets Admonished By Mama Sue Following Actions Against The Best Friends

Stephanie Vaquer’s debut match in WWE proved to be a successful one for the company’s latest signing at a live event in Mexico City.

Before the show even started, WWE hyped Vaquer’s appearance at the show by sharing a video of her arrival at the arena.

At the July 13, event, Vaquer defeated current WWE Women’s Tag Team Champion Ilja Dawn. After the match, Vaquer said that it was a dream come true to be part of WWE.

Vaquer certainly proved to be a hit with the crowd in Mexico City and fans won’t have to wait long before they see her again. WWE’s newest signing is also expected to be at tonight’s WWE live event in Monterrey.

Stephanie Vaquer Joining WWE NXT

Vaquer officially joined WWE this past Wednesday after it was announced she had left CMLL. On Twitter, SVP of Talent Development and Head of NXT Shawn Michaels welcomed Vaquer to the family, which some have taken as a sign she’ll start in WWE on the gold brand.

In a post-match interview at the Mexico City live event, Vaquer told the cameras “NXT, see you soon” seemingly confirming the notion that she’ll be joining the gold brand.

Vaquer’s Journey To WWE

WWE and AEW had been interested in Vaquer following her show-stealing performance at last month’s AEW x NJPW: Forbidden Door 2024 pay-per-view. Though she lost to Mercedes Mone at the event, Vaquer was praised for how she won the crowd over, despite them being more familiar with Mone and her work in and out of WWE.

While Vaquer only signed with WWE in recent days, this isn’t her first time being associated with the company. In 2018, Vaquer had a tryout for the promotion but was not signed.

Stephanie Vaquer: ‘2018 WWE Tryout Taught Me What I Needed To Do’

The Motor City Machine Guns have bid goodbye to the independent scene amid growing speculation that the tag team will soon be ‘All-Elite.’

At Prestige Wrestling’s Combat Clash event, Chris Sabin defeated Alex Shelley in the second match of the night. After the match, the pair hugged and waved goodbye to the fans, which many saw as them saying goodbye for good. On commentary, Brian Zane and Jordan Castle asked what’s next for the pair and suggested this may be the last time fans see the Guns in Prestige Wrestling.

What’s Next For The Motor City Machine Guns?

Shelley and Sabin became free agents on April 1, after ending their most recent run as part of TNA Wrestling. That same month, it was reported that the pair will be joining AEW and that the two sides were finalizing a deal. While it was said that a deal would not be finalized for a bit, the decision had been made at the time for MCMG to join AEW.

Joining WWE?

Despite this report of signing with AEW, more recent reports have stated that the pair have been in discussions with higher-ups at WWE. Tag Team Champion Tommaso Ciampa further fuelled these rumors by posting a photo of the duo on his Instagram stories.

Shelley himself recently hinted at a move to WWE with an Instagram post that stated “This past week, I celebrated the 4th of July by (maybe) having my final match at @beyondwrestling for awhile.” Some have seen this apparent exit from the indies as a sign the team has joined WWE as AEW would be more inclined to allow talent to work independent dates.

More On Alex Shelley Teasing Signing With WWE

Wherever is next for the Motor City Machine Guns, the duo will continue to excel in the ring as tag-team specialists or as singles talent. Either AEW or WWE would be fortunate to have them on the roster, but it remains to be seen where they’ll go.

Both AJ Styles and IYO SKY were successful in this week’s matches that took place outside of WWE as the company continues to work with other promotions.

For Styles, he defeated Naomichi Marufuji at Pro Wrestling NOAH’s Destination 2024 event. This match marked Styles’ first non-WWE match in eight-and-a-half years and his first time ever competing for NOAH. Styles had quite the entrance that saw him don a black mask; a staple of his time competing in Japan.

Despite a valiant effort by Marufuji, a three-time GHC World Champion, it was Styles who got the win with his Styles Clash. After the match, Styles and Marufuji shared a sign of respect in the ring by bowing to each other.

IYO SKY Wins At Marigold

Styles wasn’t the only top WWE name in action outside of the company today. IYO SKY competed in her first non-WWE match since 2017 at the Marigold ‘Summer Destiny’ event. At the show, SKY defeated Utami Hayashishita.

It remains to be seen what companies WWE will work with next, though many feel it is likely under the post-McMahon administration. In the meantime, WWE NXT will continue to welcome TNA talent and don’t be surprised if we see Superstars appearing outside the Sports Entertainment juggernaut.