WWE raw live tonight at 8/7c on Netflix from the CHI Health Center in Omaha, Nebraska
John Cena has officially confirmed that he will be appearing at this Saturday’s WWE Backlash event in Tampa, Florida — and according to the Undisputed WWE Champion, he plans to make a major announcement.
Taking to X on Monday, Cena revealed that he will be live at Backlash inside Benchmark Arena and teased that he’ll be delivering “history-making” news during the show.
While keeping the details under wraps, Cena hinted that whatever is planned could have a significant impact on both WWE talent and fans moving forward.
“I can’t promise it will be perfect,” Cena wrote, “but I can promise it will change the WWE experience for Superstars and fans.”
This latest tease follows a message Cena posted on April 23, where he told fans he was still planning to do “something epic” in Tampa on May 9. At the time, he specifically referenced Club WWE and encouraged fans to stay tuned for further updates.
Speculation surrounding Cena’s involvement grew over the weekend after the venue began advertising him for the premium live event.
WWE Backlash will stream live this Saturday, with the event airing on ESPN Unlimited in the United States and on Netflix internationally. WWE also announced that the first hour of the show will be available free on ESPN 2 for U.S. viewers.
The event is scheduled to begin at 6:00 PM ET / 3:00 PM PT.
More details have emerged regarding the WWE departures of JC Mateo and Tonga Loa following reports that both stars are no longer with the company.
According to PWInsider, the exits of Mateo and Loa are officially being handled as roster cuts and releases rather than mutual departures. The report also notes that, as of now, these are expected to be the only WWE roster exits scheduled for today.
Both men had recently been featured as part of Solo Sikoa’s MFT faction on WWE programming. JC Mateo joined WWE last year and quickly became involved in the group alongside Solo, Tama Tonga, and Tonga Loa. Meanwhile, Loa had returned to WWE in 2024 after previously competing for the company years earlier.
Mateo’s final WWE match came shortly after WrestleMania 42 on an episode of Friday Night SmackDown. Teaming with Tama Tonga, he challenged Damian Priest and R-Truth for the WWE Tag Team Championships but came up short in the title match.
Tonga Loa last competed on the RAW episode leading into WrestleMania 42, where he teamed with Mateo and Solo Sikoa in tag team action.
The two stars also made what now appears to be their final WWE television appearance on the April 24 edition of SmackDown. During the segment, Jacob Fatu attacked both Mateo and Loa after defeating Solo Sikoa, further escalating tensions within the MFT storyline.
There is currently no word on what is next for either performer following their WWE departures.
More information has surfaced regarding the surprising exits of Kofi Kingston and Xavier Woods from WWE, with a new report shedding light on how the departures came together and the reaction behind the scenes.
According to Fightful, both members of The New Day were released from WWE through a mutual agreement with the company. The report states that the paperwork was finalized last week and that Kingston and Woods are expected to remain under WWE’s standard 90-day non-compete clause before they are able to appear elsewhere.
The news reportedly caught many within WWE completely off guard. Several talents were said to be stunned by the departures, especially in Kingston’s case. Internally, many viewed the former WWE Champion as someone who would spend his entire career with the company, making his exit particularly shocking to those backstage.
The situation has also reportedly sparked concern among WWE talent, with some now believing that no performer is truly safe from roster cuts or releases under the current system.
Fightful further noted that the departures are connected to larger financial directives from TKO Group Holdings, WWE’s parent company. Sources claim WWE has been instructed to reduce payroll expenses by millions of dollars, leading to difficult roster decisions involving high-earning talent.
Kingston and Woods reportedly signed lucrative new contracts in 2025 that paid both stars in the seven-figure range. Those deals were believed to run through 2030, which made the decision to part ways with the duo even more unexpected.
With their WWE exits now official, interest in the pair is already said to be strong across the wrestling industry. AEW is reportedly expected to pursue both talents once their non-compete periods expire.
The report also indicates that Kingston is likely to continue using the name “Kofi” moving forward. Woods, however, will not be able to use the “Xavier Woods” ring name since it is trademarked by WWE. Instead, he is expected to revert to “Austin Creed,” the name he previously used during his run in TNA Wrestling.
Additionally, WWE owns the rights to “The New Day” name and presentation, meaning the popular faction branding cannot follow the duo to another promotion.
AEW personality Rebel has shared a devastating update regarding her health, revealing that she has been diagnosed with terminal ALS following a difficult two-year medical journey.
The former on-screen manager, whose real name is Tanea Brooks, posted an emotional video to social media on Friday where she opened up about the struggles she has faced while searching for answers about her declining condition. In the video, Rebel spoke candidly about the uncertainty surrounding her health issues and the emotional impact of finally receiving a diagnosis.
According to Rebel, her medical problems began in 2024 after doctors discovered a mass in her lung. Since then, she has undergone extensive testing and treatment, including surgery in 2025, while physicians attempted to determine the cause of symptoms that progressively affected her ability to walk and speak.
Addressing fans directly, Rebel thanked supporters for standing by her throughout the ordeal.
“First, I want to say thank you for all your prayers, because for those who know, I spent a two-year medical journey trying to find out what is wrong,” Rebel said in the video. “And finally, our prayers have been answered. The thing is, sometimes we don’t want to hear the answer to our prayers.”
She explained that the diagnosis came while she was preparing for lung surgery at the Mayo Clinic. Doctors ultimately informed her that she is battling ALS, also known as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, a progressive neurological disease that impacts nerve cells controlling muscle movement.
“The doctors have diagnosed me with terminal ALS,” Rebel revealed. “There is not a lot of research behind ALS, and we don’t know how long I have, but it explains why I have trouble walking and talking, and all my functions will soon decline.”
Even while sharing the difficult news, Rebel made sure to acknowledge the support she has received from AEW throughout the process. She specifically praised AEW President Tony Khan and the company for helping her during her ongoing medical care.
“I wanna say thank you to Tony Khan and AEW for supporting me on this medical journey,” she said. “It has been a blessing that is unheard of.”
Rebel has been part of AEW programming since the company’s early years and became well known to fans through her association with Dr. Britt Baker, D.M.D. Her announcement quickly led to an outpouring of support from fans and members of the wrestling industry across social media.
WrestlingNewsBlog.com sends their thoughts and support to Rebel and her loved ones during this incredibly difficult time.
AEW Collision live tonight at 8/7c on TNT and HBO Max in Peoria, IL.
WWE SmackDown live tonight on the USA Network in the United States and Netflix international from the BOK Center in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
WWE’s recent wave of roster cuts has sparked plenty of discussion among fans, but one particular backstage rumor is now gaining attention regarding the company’s creative direction under TKO Group Holdings.
According to a report from PWInsider, there has been internal speculation within WWE that certain decision-makers connected to TKO may not be especially interested in darker or supernatural-style wrestling characters. While nothing has been officially confirmed, that belief has reportedly become a talking point backstage following several surprising departures.
Among the names being linked to that theory are The Wyatt Sicks, Aleister Black, and Zelina Vega. Fans immediately questioned the release of The Wyatt Sicks due to the group’s strong connection to Bray Wyatt’s legacy and WWE’s continued emphasis on cinematic storytelling in recent years.
Aleister Black has also long been associated with darker presentation and occult-inspired character work, making his release another example some within the company are pointing toward when discussing the rumored shift in philosophy.
The report further notes that one person even referenced The Undertaker’s recent WWE appearances, suggesting that his increased use of the “American Badass” persona instead of the supernatural “Deadman” character may align with this broader creative preference.
Of course, it’s important to note that these discussions are currently speculation and have not been publicly addressed by WWE or TKO executives. WWE roster decisions are typically influenced by multiple factors, including creative plans, budget considerations, and long-term branding strategies.
Still, the conversation has fueled debate among wrestling fans about whether WWE could be moving away from some of the supernatural elements that have been part of the company’s identity for decades.
For now, the reported backstage chatter remains just that — internal speculation — but it has certainly added another layer to the discussion surrounding WWE’s latest releases.
TNA Thursday Night iMPACT! tonight at 9/8c on AMC.
WWE NXT gained another notable addition this week as former IWGP Heavyweight Champion EVIL officially made his debut appearance on Tuesday night’s episode of the brand.
With several NXT stars recently moving to WWE’s main roster, the developmental show is beginning to introduce a fresh wave of talent, and EVIL may be one of the most intriguing names yet.
During the show, NXT Champion Tony D’Angelo addressed the crowd and declared himself the centerpiece of the brand. D’Angelo confidently stated that nobody in NXT was capable of knocking him off the top spot.
That confidence was quickly interrupted.
A cloud of fog and dramatic lighting filled the arena before EVIL made his entrance wearing a dark black robe. The former NJPW star slowly approached the ring and came face-to-face with D’Angelo in a tense staredown.
Rather than speaking, EVIL handed the champion a shirt featuring Japanese text before turning and leaving the ring. The mysterious presentation left both fans and commentators speculating about his intentions.
Commentator Vic Joseph acknowledged EVIL’s accomplishments in Japan during the segment, referring to him as a former IWGP Heavyweight Champion. However, WWE stopped short of officially identifying him by the EVIL ring name, leaving some uncertainty surrounding what name he will ultimately use going forward in NXT.
Reports surfaced earlier this year that EVIL had signed with WWE following the expiration of his New Japan Pro-Wrestling contract. His final NJPW appearance took place on January 20 during the Road To The New Beginning tour, where he competed in an eight-man tag team match.
The segment also teased additional challengers for D’Angelo. Shortly after EVIL’s appearance, former No Quarter Catch Crew member Tavion Heights attacked the NXT Champion from behind. English wrestler Will Kroos then added to the chaos by landing a moonsault onto D’Angelo.
With several new threats emerging at once, Tony D’Angelo’s reign could soon become far more difficult — and EVIL’s arrival may end up being the biggest game changer of them all.
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