Last week’s AEW Dynamite featured an unusual moment involving Thunder Rosa, who ran in with a chair to help Kris Statlander but hesitated, creating an awkward pause. The segment was later heavily edited for AEW Collision, leaving fans wondering what went wrong.

Speaking on Busted Open Radio, Rosa acknowledged the mishap, explaining that she refrained from swinging the chair out of concern for safety. She emphasized the importance of communication in wrestling and reaffirmed her passion for the business.

Addressing speculation about potential backstage tensions, Rosa dismissed any notion of drama. She stated that she, Statlander, Penelope Ford, and Megan Bayne had a positive discussion afterward and took the situation as a learning experience. Rosa made it clear that mistakes happen, but the focus remains on growth and teamwork within AEW.

On the February 26 episode of AEW Dynamite, MJF opened the show with a pre-taped promo, criticizing fans and emphasizing his self-centered focus. The promo included footage of MJF undergoing laser removal of his AEW tattoo.

Later in the night, after Adam Page defeated Aaron Solo, MJF confronted Page and revealed that he had attacked Christopher Daniels backstage.

MJF originally got the AEW tattoo to commemorate his return to the company at the Double or Nothing pay-per-view in 2024. His contract situation had been a central part of AEW storylines, often referred to as the “bidding war of 2024.” This angle blended real-life contract negotiations with kayfabe, as MJF frequently teased the possibility of leaving AEW for a more lucrative offer, primarily from WWE.

By playing up this uncertainty, MJF reinforced his heel persona—portraying himself as someone driven by money and self-interest. He routinely taunted fans and fellow wrestlers with the idea of departing AEW, further blurring the lines between fiction and reality. His contract was indeed set to expire in 2024, adding genuine intrigue to his storyline and keeping fans speculating about his next move.

MJF vs. Hangman Page in a singles match has been booked for AEW Revolution.

TKO Group, the parent company of WWE and UFC, held an investor call on February 26, 2025, to discuss financial performance and strategic plans.

Key topics included WWE’s expanding global events, media rights negotiations, and financial outlook.

WWE Premium Live Events and Media Rights

• TKO CFO Andrew Schleimer revealed that Saudi Arabia will host three WWE Premium Live Events (PLEs) in 2026, including the Royal Rumble. One PLE is also scheduled for Saudi Arabia in 2025.

• WWE’s media rights deal with Peacock is set to expire in March 2026. TKO executives are evaluating new distribution opportunities.

Viewership Growth and Content Expansion

• Since moving from USA Network to Netflix in early 2025, Monday Night Raw has seen a 13% increase in viewership. NXT has also experienced strong audience growth on The CW Network.

• WWE President Nick Khan stated that Netflix is actively exploring additional WWE programming.

Financial Performance

• WWE reported $1.398 billion in revenue for 2024, though Q4 revenue declined by $33 million year-over-year to $298.3 million due to transitional media deals.

• Adjusted EBITDA for WWE in Q4 was $114.3 million, reflecting a 19% decrease from the previous year.

• TKO Group’s overall Q4 2024 revenue was $642.2 million, with UFC helping to balance WWE’s decline.

Cash Dividend and Future Projections

• TKO announced its first quarterly cash dividend of $0.38 per share, totaling $75 million, payable on March 31, 2025.

• The company projects total revenue between $2.93 billion and $3 billion for 2025, with adjusted EBITDA estimated between $1.35 billion and $1.39 billion.

TKO’s investor call highlighted WWE’s continued international expansion, growing streaming presence, and strategic efforts to secure long-term media rights deals amid revenue fluctuations.

In a groundbreaking announcement, WWE Chief Content Officer Paul “Triple H” Levesque revealed that Grammy-nominated rapper Travis Scott will make a special appearance at the highly anticipated WWE Elimination Chamber 2025.

The event, set to take place on March 1 at the Rogers Centre in Toronto, marks the final stop on the road to WrestleMania 41.

Scott, who has been collaborating with WWE on various projects, including providing the theme song for Monday Night Raw on Netflix, is expected to bring his unique energy to the wrestling world.

This partnership continues WWE’s trend of integrating pop culture into its programming, appealing to both wrestling fans and music enthusiasts alike.

While details of Scott’s role at the event remain under wraps, his involvement is likely to add an extra layer of excitement to an already stacked card featuring stars like John Cena, CM Punk, Bianca Belair, and more.

Fans can expect a fusion of music and wrestling entertainment as WWE continues to innovate its live events.

TKO Group Holdings is finalizing an agreement with Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF) to establish a new boxing league, according to TKO COO Mark Shapiro.

During the company’s 2024 earnings call, Shapiro detailed the structure of the potential deal, confirming that TKO would oversee production, promotion, and daily operations without providing financial capital. Instead, the company would receive a minimum $10 million annual fee and could earn equity over a five-year period, contingent on meeting performance benchmarks.

A TKO delegation, including CFO Andrew Schleimer, WWE President Nick Khan, and UFC COO Lawrence Epstein, recently met with Saudi representatives in London to advance negotiations. Shapiro indicated that while an official announcement is pending, discussions are nearing completion.

Additionally, TKO would promote and produce four major boxing events, with two expected to take place in 2025 and two in 2026. These may operate independently from the new league but would still involve TKO as the event operator.

UFC President Dana White has previously voiced interest in entering boxing promotion, while Saudi Arabia has solidified itself as a major boxing hub, hosting high-profile fights such as Tyson Fury vs. Oleksandr Usyk.

TKO Group has announced its first “TKO Takeover” event series featuring WWE, UFC, and PBR at Kansas City’s T-Mobile Center from April 24-28, 2025. TKO Press Release

The series will begin with Professional Bull Riders on Thursday (April 24), continue with UFC FIGHT NIGHT on Saturday (April 26), and conclude with WWE Raw on Monday (April 28).

VeChain, UFC’s Official Blockchain Partner since 2022, will be the inaugural presenting partner. An all-in-one ticket bundle will be available starting March 3.

Peter Dropick, TKO Executive VP, called it, “a unique opportunity to showcase these three premier properties in one city.”

Kathy Nelson of the Kansas City Sports Commission noted these events “will generate significant economic impact for our hotels and local businesses.”

The three organizations have a long history in Kansas City, collectively bringing more than 60 events to the city over the past two decades. Money in the Bank 2010 remains its most notable PPV/PLE at the T-Mobile Center.

Four WWE superstars are stepping into the world of tabletop role-playing as Dimension 20: Titan Takedown brings professional wrestling to the realm of Dungeons & Dragons.

Streaming platform Dropout has unveiled the first trailer for the highly anticipated crossover season, featuring WWE stars Bayley, Chelsea Green, Xavier Woods, and Kofi Kingston.

The five-part series, led by Dimension 20’s game master Brennan Lee Mulligan, debuts on April 2—just weeks before WrestleMania.

A Clash of Wrestling and Mythology

Set in ancient Athens, Titan Takedown transforms the WWE stars into “righteous wrestlers” battling for glory in an epic in-universe event. Each performer will step into a new fantasy persona:

• Bayley portrays Thea Kitterloo, a powerful minotaur barbarian.
• Chelsea Green takes on the role of Tabatha, a cunning tabaxi rogue.
• Xavier Woods, a longtime D&D fan, plays Julia Mortem, a disciplined monk.
• Kofi Kingston embodies King Adonis Thanaformus, adding royal flair to the adventure.

A New Frontier for Dimension 20

While Dimension 20 has featured guest players from Critical Role and The Adventure Zone, this marks the first time the series has enlisted professional athletes as players. The crossover follows the success of Dungeons and Drag Queens, the show’s first season to feature non-D&D players, which recently wrapped its second installment.

Release Date and Streaming Details

Dimension 20: Titan Takedown premieres exclusively on Dropout on April 2, with new episodes releasing every Wednesday for four weeks.

Veteran Wrestler Jazz Takes on New Role in TNA Wrestling

Former WWE Women’s Champion Jazz, a standout in the early 2000s, has returned to the ring and taken on a backstage role in TNA Wrestling. She recently wrestled for the first time in over three years, competing in a Knockouts No. 1 Contender Battle Royal on the February 6 episode of TNA iMPACT.

Beyond her in-ring return, Jazz has also been working behind the scenes as an agent. According to Sean Ross Sapp of Fightful Select, she contributed at the latest iMPACT tapings at Full Sail University in Winter Park, Florida.

With her extensive experience, Jazz brings valuable knowledge to TNA’s women’s division. As the company continues to strengthen its Knockouts roster, her presence could play a crucial role in mentoring younger talent.

Whether she remains backstage or steps back into the ring, her involvement marks an exciting development for TNA and its fans.

Nia Jax is fully embracing her role as WWE’s most dangerous force. In her latest appearance on Ring the Belle, Jax jokingly admitted to her “criminal” intentions in the ring, referencing her brutal attacks on Lyra Valkyria and Michin. Regarding the scary finish of her match against Vakyria at King and Queen of the Ring:

“I was just trying to annihilate her!” Jax said.

Known for her powerhouse style, she has been wreaking havoc on WWE’s women’s division, leaving no opponent safe.

Her aggressive persona has sparked strong reactions from fans, with some praising her as a dominant force while others criticize her methods. But Jax isn’t fazed by the backlash.

“I do what I do best—destroy,” she said.

Jax also touched on her ongoing moments with Rhea Ripley, adding another layer to her growing reputation as WWE’s ultimate wrecking machine.

As she continues to leave a path of destruction, one thing is certain—Nia Jax is here to dominate, and she’s having fun doing it.

Check out Nia Jax on Ring the Belle:

Mercedes Moné isn’t just making waves in AEW—she’s pushing for real change in women’s wrestling. In a revealing interview on The Sackhoff Show, the AEW TBS Champion made it clear: women in wrestling deserve equal pay and opportunities.

“We put the same butts in seats as the men. We sell the merch, we bring in the ratings. So why not get paid equally?” Moné questioned.

She highlighted that despite proving themselves time and time again, women in wrestling still struggle for consistent screen time and financial recognition.

While she helped lead the women’s evolution in WWE—including becoming the first Black woman to main event WrestleMania—she emphasized that true equality has yet to be reached.

For Moné, leaving WWE was about more than creative freedom—it was about taking control of her career, branding, and finances. Adopting the “CEO” persona, she says, represents not just her character but her real-life determination to define her own worth.

“I wanted to take control of everything—control of my brand, my name, my finances, and where I want to be,” she said.

Wrestling’s gender pay gap reflects a larger issue seen across professional sports. While skeptics argue that women should be paid based on revenue generated, Moné insists that female wrestlers are already proving their value—and now it’s time for the industry to recognize it.

She’s not waiting for permission. Moné is determined to use her platform in AEW to elevate women’s wrestling on a global scale.

“If I can do it, so can they,” she said. “We’re not waiting our turn anymore—we’re taking it.”

WWE Superstar Sheamus (Stephen Farrelly) has signed with Paradigm Sports for representation. The “Celtic Warrior” recently secured a multi-year contract extension with WWE, further solidifying his place as one of the company’s top stars as Monday Night Raw prepares to transition to Netflix.

WWE and TKO Group have a direct pipeline to Paradigm, which also represents CM Punk, Liv Morgan, Drew McIntyre and Jade Cargill, among and others.

Sheamus is the first Irish-born WWE Champion, with accolades including four WWE World Championships, five Tag Team Championships, and three United States Championships. He is also a Grand Slam Champion and one of the select few to win the Royal Rumble, Money in the Bank, and King of the Ring. Fella!

Outside the ring, Sheamus has been branching out with appearances in sports media on ESPN College GameDay, The Pat McAfee Show, and Premier League on NBC/Peacock. He has also been involved in NFL and college football coverage, particularly with the Tennessee Titans and Notre Dame.

His growing list of credits in the entertainment world include roles in Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Out of the Shadows, Buddy Games, and Fighting with My Family. He has also appeared in NCIS: LA and contributed voice work to Scooby-Doo! and WWE: Curse of the Speed Demon and The Jetsons & WWE: Robo-WrestleMania! (More: Stephen Farrelly on IMDB)

He also runs the popular Celtic Warrior Workouts Youtube channel:

WWE has officially announced that CM Punk will be appearing at three upcoming international events this March, including two tapings of SmackDown.

According to a tweet from WWE UK, Punk’s first stop will be in Brussels on March 17 for a special edition of Monday Night Raw. From there, the Straight Edge Superstar heads to Bologna on March 21 for SmackDown, before rounding out the month in London on March 28—also for SmackDown.

• March 17: Brussels #WWERaw
• March 21: Bologna #SmackDown
• March 28: London #SmackDown

Tickets for these events are now available at WWE.com/events.

CM Punk’s role at WrestleMania 41 is still undetermined, but by the time these shows take place, he’ll be locked in and just weeks away from battle.

Stay tuned to SEScoops for more updates on CM Punk’s international matches and all the latest Road to WrestleMania news.

WWE Hall of Famer Trish Stratus has announced that she will be present at the February 28th taping of WWE SmackDown this Friday at Scotiabank Arena in Toronto, Ontario. Stratus shared the news via tweet.

The announcement follows her return on the February 21st episode of SmackDown, where she was confronted and attacked by Nia Jax. Stratus is set to compete at WWE Elimination Chamber, teaming up with Tiffany Stratton against Jax and Candice LeRae.

Current Lineup for WWE SmackDown (February 28, 2025):

• WWE United States Championship: Shinsuke Nakamura (c) vs. LA Knight
• Chelsea Green in action
• Trish Stratus set to appear

New Merch: Tiffy & Trishy Time T-Shirt at WWE Shop

Sonya Deville has commented on her wrestling future following the abrupt end to her decade-long WWE career earlier this month.

The now-former WWE star appeared on Made It Out podcast recently. She talked about things such as growing up in a small town, how she got her break in wrestling, coming out on WWE TV and more.

Talking about her future, Deville noted that she is still processing her release and does not have all the answers yet. The former Absolution member revealed that she booked her first big movie project the same week she got released, and the former champion is not sure if she will be returning to the ring or not:

“I don’t know if wrestling is over for me yet, so that’s something that I’m figuring out right now too and I’m giving myself the time to really decide what the next moves are. But we have some really fun things in the works that I’m excited to share with everybody.”

• Drew McIntyre Provides Update On His Knee Before Elimination Chamber

Everything Is Going To Be Okay: Sonya Deville

Sonya Deville had been talking to WWE about a potential new contract and given the impression that she would be re-signed shortly before officials told her that her deal would not be renewed. Despite how things turned out, however, the former NXT star is not bitter about the situation:

“I’m very in the mentality of nothing happens to you, it happens for you. So I don’t have an ounce of anger, regret. Even the sadness, the sadness is just missing the moments, but the sadness isn’t like, ‘Oh my God, I want to be back there right this second.’ It truly isn’t. It’s Like ‘No, I’m so at peace with What’s happening because I’m such a strong believer in the Universe.’ Whatever the powers that be are, I’m a believer. Because I know that everything is going to be okay.”

While Sonya Deville herself does not sound too worried about her WWE departure, the abrupt end of her run has led to concerns among other female roster members. You can check out an update on how the locker room feels here.

• Mercedes Mone Opens Up About ‘Darkness’ Surrounding Her WWE Departure

WWE returns to Toronto this Saturday for the 2025 Elimination Chamber, the final stop on the road to WrestleMania 41. Taking place at the iconic Rogers Centre, this event promises high-stakes action, emotional rivalries, and a pivotal moment for the Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes as he faces an ultimatum from The Rock.

With two Elimination Chamber matches and a card packed with drama, fans are in for an unforgettable night.

How to Watch

Start Times:

• United States: 7:00 PM ET / 4:00 PM PT
• United Kingdom: 12:00 AM GMT (Sunday)
• India: 5:30 AM IST (Sunday)
• Australia: 11:00 AM AEDT (Sunday)

Broadcast Details:

• United States: Peacock
• International: Netflix

Match Card

Men’s Elimination Chamber Match

John Cena vs. CM Punk vs. Drew McIntyre vs. Logan Paul vs. Damian Priest vs. Seth Rollins

Six of WWE’s top stars will battle for a shot at the Undisputed WWE Championship at WrestleMania. This match marks John Cena’s final Elimination Chamber appearance as part of his farewell tour, while CM Punk looks to continue his resurgence in WWE. With unpredictable competitors like Logan Paul and seasoned veterans like Rollins and McIntyre, chaos is guaranteed inside the steel structure.

Women’s Elimination Chamber Match

Liv Morgan vs. Bianca Belair vs. Alexa Bliss vs. Bayley vs. Naomi vs. Roxanne Perez

The winner of this match will secure a Women’s World Championship opportunity at WrestleMania. Liv Morgan has momentum after a crafty win over Iyo Sky, while Bianca Belair and Alexa Bliss bring their championship pedigree into the mix. Rising star Roxanne Perez and returning Naomi add intrigue to what promises to be a show-stealing contest.

Sami Zayn vs. Kevin Owens — Unsanctioned Match

Longtime friends turned bitter enemies collide in an unsanctioned match that guarantees no rules and no limits. Owens’ betrayal of Zayn after the Royal Rumble has reignited their storied rivalry, which spans over two decades. With both men fighting in their home country of Canada, this could be the most personal and brutal chapter in their saga.

Tiffany Stratton & Trish Stratus vs. Nia Jax & Candice LeRae

Hometown hero Trish Stratus returns to action alongside WWE Women’s Champion Tiffany Stratton in a tag team clash against Nia Jax and Candice LeRae. Stratton’s ongoing feud with Jax adds tension to this matchup, while Stratus aims to deliver “Stratusfaction” to her Toronto fans.

Cody Rhodes Gives The Rock an Answer

The Rock has issued an ultimatum to Cody Rhodes: embrace his offer to become “his champion” or face the consequences. As Rhodes approaches one year as Undisputed WWE Champion, this decision could alter his legacy forever. Fans are eager to see how this confrontation unfolds.

With WrestleMania on the horizon, every match at Elimination Chamber carries immense stakes. Don’t miss this blockbuster event live from Toronto!

WWE recently filed to trademark the name “Fraxiom” on February 25, 2025, with the US Patent & Trademark Office. Fraxiom is the tag team name for the current NXT Tag Team Champions, Nathan Frazer and Axiom.

The trademark application outlines the use of the name for “entertainment services, namely, wrestling exhibitions and performances by a professional wrestler and entertainer rendered live and through broadcast media, including television and radio, and via the internet or commercial online service.”

The move to trademark Fraxiom comes as the popular duo is firmly established as one of the premie tag teams in all of WWE. By securing the trademark, WWE ensures that the name “Fraxiom” is protected for future use across merchandise, promotional materials, and other related services.

Fraxiom’s Eventful 2025

• Fraxiom debuted in TNA Wrestling at Genesis, defending their NXT Tag Team Titles against The Rascalz on the January 23 episode of Impact.
• They successfully defending their titles at NXT Vengeance Day against Josh Briggs and Yoshiki Inamura, but were attacked by a new faction afterward.
• On February 7, they retained their championships against Nic and Ryan Nemeth in the main event of TNA Impact.
• Most recently, on February 25, they challenged The Hardy Boyz for the TNA Tag Team Championships at the upcoming NXT Roadblock PLE.

Reports suggest Fraxiom may be called up to WWE’s main roster after WrestleMania 41.

Matt Morgan has revealed that his horrible stuttering gimmick was originally meant for The Beast Incarnate Brock Lesnar.

The wrestler-turned-politician recently had an interview with Jonathan Coachman on his YouTube channel. They talked about things such as Morgan’s journey to sobriety, his time in WWE and TNA, and more.

During the interview, the 48-year-old recalled the stuttering gimmick given to him back in 2005. He told the story of Vince McMahon pitching the gimmick and his initial reaction to it:

“He goes, ‘Could you imagine? You, six feet, whatever you are, six ten, six eleven, you’ve all these physical, body perfections, and you have that Achilles’ heel to you that nobody sees coming. And you start to stutter.’ And I’m like, ‘With respect sir, I graduated top of my class in college with a public speaking degree. Are you sure?'”

• Drew McIntyre Provides Update On His Knee Before Elimination Chamber

The Next Big Stutterer

During the interview, Matt Morgan also discussed how Vince had been obsessed with the gimmick for some time. According to him, the boss originally wanted to give the character to Brock Lesnar:

“Vince trying to sell the stuttering character, he actually wanted to put this on Brock Lesnar as God as my witness. He wanted to find somebody that’s jacked and has all these great physical attributes. That looks like a warrior as he put it. But that when they opened their mouth there was this verbal imperfection. Coach we could have had ‘The next Big Stutterer.'”

Morgan debuted the stuttering gimmick in April 2005, defeating then-unknown Matt Cardona in his debut. He then aligned himself with Carlito as his backup in May. The gimmick did not last long and Morgan was released from his contract in July that year after Carlito was drafted to Raw.

• Carmella Breaks Silence After Unceremonious End To WWE Run

Despite being one of WWE’s top stars, Bianca Belair admits that stepping into a leadership role in the company wasn’t always easy. In a recent interview with CBS Sports’ Shakiel Mahjouri, the former Raw and SmackDown Women’s Champion reflected on the challenges of moving from a rising star to a veteran presence in the locker room.

“When I first came onto the main roster, I was thrown into things very quickly,” Belair recalled. “I won the Royal Rumble, I main-evented WrestleMania. But I was used to being led. I was in the ring with a vet like Sasha [Banks], then Becky [Lynch], then Asuka, then Bayley. I wanted to soak up and absorb as much as I could from them.”

That dynamic changed when she became one of WWE’s most decorated superstars.

“I remember when I became Raw Women’s Champion, and all of a sudden, I was like, ‘Oh, okay… I’m not in the ring with them anymore. I have to lead now,’” she admitted.

“I got a little uncomfortable because I was so used to feeling safe. I knew we were going to have a great match, and they were leading me. Now, I was in this new role where I’m looked at as the vet, but I still felt like I was learning.”

Belair’s evolution extended beyond singles competition. Her time as a tag team wrestler alongside Naomi has helped her grow in new ways.

“I’ve learned more in a different way this past year than I’ve learned on the main roster,” she said. “I’ve learned how to be a better partner, how to take the ego out of things, and that it doesn’t always have to be about you for you to accomplish something.”

As she prepares for Elimination Chamber and a potential WrestleMania 41 showdown with Rhea Ripley, Belair continues to embrace her role as a leader.

“The division needs to evolve. That’s the whole point of all of this,” she said. “And I want to be part of that.”

WWE Elimination Chamber 2025 takes place this Saturday, March 1 from Toronto.

WWE power couple Bianca Belair and Montez Ford support each other in everything—but Belair draws the line at one of Ford’s bizarre diet habits. In a CBS Sports interview, Belair revealed her husband drinks raw egg whites every morning.

“That’s such a toxic trait to me,” she joked. “But you know what? I actually tried it, and it’s not that bad.”

Despite giving it a chance, Belair isn’t making it a habit.

“No, but you know what? I would rather drink the egg whites than eat boiled eggs at this point,” she admitted.

Years of training and meal prep left her burned out on traditional protein sources.

“I was eating so many boiled eggs that I don’t think I could eat another one in my life.”

The couple’s busy WWE schedule means they often rely on quick nutrition on the road—even gas station hard-boiled eggs in desperate situations. But Ford’s dedication to his raw egg whites remains unmatched.

“Maybe if I leave some in my purse for three days, Montez will still drink them,” Belair joked.

Bianca Belair isn’t just aiming for another WrestleMania moment—she wants two.The former WWE Women’s Champion revealed in a CBS Sports interview with Shakiel Mahjouri that she hopes to wrestle on both nights of WrestleMania 41, aiming for singles gold while also competing for the Women’s Tag Team Championships.

“I want to win the Elimination Chamber… I’ve won it before, so I want to win it again and go to WrestleMania. I want to face Rhea Ripley,” Belair said, calling it a “dream match” for both herself and fans.

But her ambitions don’t stop there. With WrestleMania now a two-night event, Belair wants to make history by wrestling on both nights on the show. In the interview taken before this week’s Raw, the EST said that she would love to walk out of the Show of Show with two titles:

“I would love to defend our tag team titles at WrestleMania. I would love to wrestle two nights and walk out with two titles.”

The duo of Bianca and Naomi lost the tag titles to Liv Morgan and Raquel Rodriguez at this past Monday’s show. While it makes achieving her dream harder, she can still fulfil it by cashing in the rematch and challenging for both singles and tag gold at the two-night PPV.

Belair’s undefeated record at WrestleMania also adds intrigue to her plans. She currently holds a 4-0 streak at WWE’s biggest event and is determined to keep it alive.

“It’ll be number five, so I want to continue to be undefeated.”

With the Elimination Chamber match on March 1 serving as her path to Ripley, Belair’s road to WrestleMania 41 could lead to one of the most dominant weekends of her career.

WWE Elimination Chamber 2025 takes place this Saturday, March 1 from Toronto. WrestleMania 41 is scheduled for seven weeks later – Saturday, April 19 and Sunday April 20 from Las Vegas.

TNA X-Divison Champion Moose has was part of the February 25, edition of WWE NXT, where he retained his championship against Lexis King. After the match, it was confirmed that Moose will challenge NXT Champion Oba Femi at the March 11, NXT Roadblock event.

In a WWE NXT Digital Exclusive, Moose discussed his “awesome experience” with WWE NXT so far and how his journey to the brand has been a long time coming.

“Every weight I’ve ever lifted, every flight I’ve ever boarded on, every country I’ve ever went to, every championship I’ve ever won prepared me for this moment.”

Moose admitted to being surprised by the fans cheering him in WWE NXT, as he’s used to being booed by TNA crowds. The leader of The System, Moose admitted that he’s been waiting to face Oba Femi for a “very long time.”

“I have a ton of respect for Oba. He’s done a lot of great things in the last two years. But let’s be honest, without me, there wouldn’t be no Oba. At Roadblock, I’m gonna prove that to him.”

Moose’s arrival in NXT, as well as Femi’s recent role in TNA, comes thanks to a multi-year partnership between WWE and TNA Wrestling. This partnership has also seen the women of both brands get involved, with Cora Jade set to challenge for the TNA Knockouts Title at Sacrifice.

With everything to gain, Moose hopes to do what Joe Hendry failed to do last October and become the WWE NXT Champion. While The Ruler of NXT won’t make things easy, Moose intends to prove why everyone should “trust the System” on March 11.

H/T – Fightful

Mercedes Mone has detailed her mental health struggles following her WWE departure.

The current AEW star recently had an interview with fellow Mandalorian star Katee Sackhoff. She opened up about her departure from the promotion then owned by Vince McMahon during the talk. Mone noted how it was not an easy decision because it meant potentially saying goodbye to the Sasha Banks character forever.

Mercedes Mone explained that she wasn’t sure what to do even after her departure and her run in Japan was a way for her to figure out if she still wanted to continue wrestling. When asked if she considered leaving the business for good, the wrestling star revealed that she did have those thoughts:

“I did. I did because of how hurt I was by it and how much it drove me into a place of darkness. I couldn’t believe something that brought me so much light in my life, that saved me so many times when I was a kid, brought me so much darkness.

I was just like ‘I don’t want to feel like this.’ I don’t want to have so much stress where I’m legit killing myself because of all the stress that I’m creating or the sadness that I’m bringing to myself because of this bad constant mental talk in my head.”

• Carmella Breaks Silence After Unceremonious End To WWE Run

A Lot of Healing: Mercedes Mone

The former Sasha Banks had been frustrated with her booking for a long time before she finally decided to quit WWE in May 2022. The decision was not an easy one, however, and the former WWE star struggled with it for a long time.

Thankfully in the end, Mercedes Mone decided not to give in to those voices. She decided that she would continue pursuing her dreams instead of letting people who wanted her to quit win:

“So just a lot of healing. Just a lot of healing and I told myself ‘No, this is still what I freaking love. I love wrestling. I still have the same goal of when I was 10 years old. No one’s going to take that away.’ I felt like at this time maybe they want to see me gone forever.

Maybe people want to see me disappear and I’m like ‘I can’t give that to people. I can’t give up on myself and I can’t give up on my dream. I still have so much light and passion for this and such a chase and a drive.'”

Mercedes Mone also discussed potential retirement from wrestling and noted that she wants to start setting up her post-retirement career soon. You can check out her comments on the matter here.

• Drew McIntyre Provides Update On His Knee Before Elimination Chamber

On the February 25, edition of WWE NXT, Ricky Saints made his in-ring debut by teaming with Je’Von Evans to defeat Wes Lee and Ethan Page. Speaking in an NXT Digital Exclusive, Saints reflected on his journey to the NXT roster.

“Wild, absolutely wild. My story isn’t that not-told, as they say. It’s pretty well known at this point, and I think I overcame a lot of things just to make it in this moment.”

Saints shared that in his past two appearances for WWE NXT, he didn’t know what to expect, but that things felt “different” once he was in the ring. Saints added that his tag-team victory felt like a fever dream “that I don’t want to ever wake up from.”

An emotional Saints then looked back at signing with WWE NXT and declaring that he plans on winning titles and headline every NXT PLE. After a succesful in-ring debut, Saints is confident that he’s on the right track.

“If this wasn’t a start, I don’t know what was. I am very honored to be here standing with you, I’m very honored to be standing in front of this camera, in front of NXT.”

Saints’ in-ring debut was a “love letter” to those who have supported him, as well as a tease of the “future Ricky” fans can expect. With bold plans in the mind of the former AEW talent, Ricky Saints remains confident that he will be the next top star of WWE’s silver brand.

H/T – Fightful

Will Sasso is both a celebrity and a wrestling fan, but he doesn’t want to see individuals like himself picking up victories in the squared circle. On the Insight podcast, Sasso shared his concerns about celebs, including the likes of Logan Paul and IShowSpeed, overshadowing full-time talent.

“I don’t want to see celebrities getting a leg up on wrestlers; wrestling should always be on top.”

Though best known for his comedy, Sasso has had involvement in wrestling, including facing Bret ‘Hitman’ Hart during an episode of WCW Monday Nitro, a match Sasso would lose. Not just a name in WCW, Sasso appeared as a ‘Stone Cold’ Steve Austin impersonator during the Attitude Era and ate a stunner by the Texas Rattlesnake himself.

On the podcast, Sasso reflected on how his love for wrestling has influienced his impressions of legends including Ric Flair, Randy Savage, and Jesse Ventura.

“I love Jesse Ventura, so I will catch a story more often than not.”

Sasso’s love for wrestling extends to the modern day, as he expressed excitement with the current product as well as the returns of John Cena and The Rock. With Triple H at the creative helm, Sasso is excited to what’s to come in the industry he has seen evolve over decades.

Mercedes Mone is not thinking about hanging her wrestling boots anytime soon but she definitely wants to take more time off to pursue her other interests and set up a post-wrestling career.

The wrestling veteran had already started exploring outside roles during her time in WWE, staring in Star Wars series The Mandalorian. She has only expanded her scope following her departure from the company in 2022, having made both her modelling and film debut since then.

The TBS Champion was asked if she has thought about her retirement from in-ring action during a recent interview with Katee Sackhoff. Mercedes Mone claimed that she is scared of the thought of hanging her wrestling boots, though she does want to start taking more time off to try out new things:

“You’re giving me goosebumps. That scares me, I don’t want to think about the word retirement but I do think about slowing down because I’ve been doing it for so long and aches and pains start to catch up and different dreams start to happen.

Life starts to grow and I just have so many more dreams that I want to go pursue and chase and go accomplish while I still can, being young and feeling good and having my body feel good.”

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I Really Enjoy The Process of Creating: Mercedes Mone

Mercedes Mone later explained that she wants to stay connected to the wrestling world long after she has stopped competing. The current TBS Champion noted that she enjoys the creative process of putting together matches and it’s something she’d like to continue doing:

“I don’t want to put a time frame of when that exact moment I will slow down, but I know sooner than later, I definitely want to take more time to pursue other things and just really set that place of what am I going to do when I’m done wrestling.

What’s going to bring me the most joy, what is still my passion, and I still love this business so much so I always want to be a part of it whether that’s being a producer or a coach which is putting the matches together and creating something or just always being involved with that,

I really enjoy the process of creating and forming matches and I feel like I’m really good at that, especially for a women. So I feel like when I’m done with wrestling, that’s an aspect or avenue that I want to go into.”

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