WWE SmackDown live tonight at 8/7c on USA Network and Netflix internationally from the MVP Arena in Albany, New York.
The Motor City Machine Guns may be getting closer to revealing their next move in professional wrestling.
Chris Sabin and Alex Shelley were among the WWE talents released shortly after WrestleMania 42, and both men have remained inactive due to the standard 90-day non-compete period attached to their departures. With that restriction nearing its end, the veteran tag team has begun dropping hints about what could be next.
In a recently released video on their YouTube channel, Shelley and Sabin took a humorous approach to addressing life after WWE. The skit centered around Sabin working through the five stages of grief following the duo’s release, with Shelley acting as his guide throughout the process.
As the segment progressed toward the final stage—acceptance—Shelley revealed a box filled with wrestling contracts from a variety of promotions. The pair jokingly sorted through offers from several companies, including well-known Japanese organizations such as FMW and WAR, along with promotions connected to the CyberFight group.
The video also featured several fictional or tongue-in-cheek promotion names, leading to some comedic moments. At one point, Sabin expressed frustration that one particular unnamed company had even attempted to recruit them.
The biggest tease came at the end of the skit. After reviewing multiple contracts, the duo arrived at a final offer that was never shown on camera. Neither wrestler revealed the name of the promotion, but their reaction spoke volumes. Both appeared excited by what they saw, and Shelley declared that Sabin had finally reached the acceptance stage of grief.
The mystery has naturally fueled speculation throughout the wrestling world.
Many fans believe All Elite Wrestling is the most likely destination for the former WWE Tag Team Champions. Sabin and Shelley have previous history with AEW and were heavily linked to the company before ultimately choosing to sign with WWE in 2024.
TNA Wrestling has also emerged as a possibility given the team’s long and successful history with the promotion. Reports in recent weeks have indicated that TNA would be open to bringing the Motor City Machine Guns back into the fold if the opportunity arose.
However, according to sources close to TNA, there remains a belief that Sabin and Shelley are ultimately AEW-bound once their non-compete clauses expire.
For now, the Motor City Machine Guns are keeping fans guessing, but their latest video has only intensified speculation that a major announcement could be on the horizon.
Sami Callihan’s next chapter in professional wrestling may already be underway.
After departing TNA Wrestling in June 2026, the former TNA World Champion has reportedly been spending time backstage at recent AEW events. While there is currently no indication that Callihan has signed an official contract with All Elite Wrestling, multiple reports suggest he has been involved in a production capacity at several recent television tapings.
According to Bodyslam.net, Callihan was present backstage for AEW’s Beach Break edition of Dynamite on July 8, as well as the July 11 episode of Collision in Roanoke, Virginia. He was also reportedly part of the production team during AEW’s television tapings in Boston on July 15 and July 16.
Sources within AEW indicated that Callihan’s role has primarily been that of a backstage producer. The position is familiar territory for the veteran performer, who handled a variety of responsibilities during his time in TNA beyond his in-ring work.
Despite his recent involvement, reports state that Callihan is not currently under contract with AEW. Details regarding the nature of the arrangement remain unclear, and it is unknown whether he is working under a temporary agreement or simply assisting the company on a trial basis.
The situation has drawn comparisons to Chris Hero’s path into AEW. Hero initially worked backstage as a producer before eventually securing a full-time role with the promotion after what was viewed as an evaluation period.
Callihan’s extensive experience outside the ring could make him a valuable asset for AEW. During his tenure with TNA, he contributed to several areas of the company’s operations, including marketing, merchandise, and the production of pre-recorded segments. His experience running Wrestling REVOLVER has also given him firsthand knowledge of event planning and creative development.
Ironically, Callihan reportedly believed he was in line for a larger creative role within TNA following Tommy Dreamer’s departure from the company earlier this year. Instead, the phone call he expected to bring a promotion delivered different news, as he was informed that TNA would not be renewing his contract.
Whether these recent AEW appearances lead to a permanent position remains to be seen, but Callihan’s growing presence backstage suggests he may already be making an impression within the company.
TNA Thursday Night iMPACT! tonight at 9/8c on AMC.
WWE and AEW will go head-to-head on September 26, as WWE has officially scheduled its next WWE x AAA Worlds Collide event for the same day as AEW’s annual All Out pay-per-view.
The date was revealed as part of a WWE press release announcing multiple upcoming event locations and schedules. According to the announcement, Worlds Collide will take place on Saturday, September 26, at the Allstate Arena in Rosemont, Illinois.
The announcement is notable because AEW had already confirmed that All Out will be held that same day at the NOW Arena in Hoffman Estates, Illinois. The two venues are located less than 30 minutes apart, setting up a rare situation where WWE and AEW will be running major events in the same market on the same night.
At this time, WWE has not announced a start time for Worlds Collide. AEW’s schedule for All Out is already in place, with the Buy In pre-show set to begin at 7 p.m. ET and the main pay-per-view card scheduled for an 8 p.m. ET start.
The decision creates an interesting dynamic for wrestling fans in the Chicago area, particularly those hoping to attend both events. Depending on WWE’s eventual start time, fans could be forced to choose between the two shows if there is significant overlap.
The upcoming Worlds Collide event will continue WWE’s partnership with AAA following WWE’s acquisition of the legendary Mexican promotion earlier this year. Previous Worlds Collide events have showcased talent from both companies, blending WWE’s global reach with AAA’s rich lucha libre tradition.
Meanwhile, All Out remains one of AEW’s signature annual pay-per-views and has historically been closely associated with the Chicago market, which has served as one of the promotion’s strongest fan bases since its launch.
With both companies now scheduled to run major events just miles apart on the same day, September 26 is shaping up to be one of the most talked-about dates on the wrestling calendar.
AEW Dynamite live tonight on TBS and HBO Max from the MGM Music Hall at Fenway in Boston, Massachussetes.
WWE NXT tonight on The CW at 8/7c.
Robert Stone took to social media on Monday evening to announce the unfortunate news that Diggs was injured at an “NXT” live event over the weekend. A new Number One contender will be named and a match will take place tonight
Lilian Garcia will be announcing tonight on NXT
AEW has reportedly taken legal action against the production company responsible for the wrestling biopic Queen of the Ring, alleging that the company failed to pay the full amount owed under a promotional sponsorship agreement.
According to a report from POST Wrestling, AEW filed a lawsuit against Ring Productions, LLC, claiming the company still owes more than $100,000 related to AEW’s promotion of the film, which was released last year.
The movie, based on the life and career of pioneering women’s wrestling star Mildred Burke, featured appearances from several wrestling personalities, including AEW stars Toni Storm, Britt Baker, and Kamille. Throughout the film’s promotional campaign, AEW provided significant exposure by featuring sponsored matches, airing trailers during events, and spotlighting members of the cast on its programming.
Court filings reportedly state that Ring Productions paid $205,000 toward its obligations by May 2025. However, AEW alleges that a remaining balance of $100,000 was never paid. The company is also seeking an additional $5,000 in travel expenses tied to talent appearances connected to the promotional agreement.
In addition to the outstanding payments, AEW is reportedly pursuing contractual interest charges of 1.5 percent per month on the overdue balance.
The lawsuit claims that AEW attempted to resolve the issue outside of court, sending multiple communications between September and December 2025 regarding the unpaid amounts. After those efforts failed to produce a resolution, AEW’s legal team reportedly became involved in March 2026.
The filing further alleges that Ring Productions Chief Operating Officer Paul Leighton acknowledged the debt, with the amount reportedly totaling $105,262.51 at the time of the legal action.
As of now, Ring Productions has not publicly responded to the lawsuit and has not yet been formally served. Once service is completed, the company will have a limited period to file an official response.
Queen of the Ring had a brief theatrical run and generated approximately $657,000 at the box office. In addition to AEW talent, the film featured WWE star Naomi, wrestling manager Jim Cornette, and included AEW commentator Jim Ross as an executive producer.
The movie’s promotional campaign generated attention within the wrestling world, including a widely discussed appearance by actress Damaris Lewis during AEW Revolution weekend. Numerous AEW personalities, including Mercedes Moné, Harley Cameron, and Christopher Daniels, also helped support the project through premiere appearances and social media promotion.
The legal dispute now adds an unexpected chapter to the relationship between AEW and the film’s production team, with the matter set to play out in court unless a settlement is reached.
WWE Raw live tonight at 8:00 pm ET/5:00 pm PT on Netflix from the American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas
WWE Women’s Champion Rhea Ripley has confirmed that she is currently recovering from a knee injury that has kept her out of in-ring action for more than a month.
Speaking with Nina Drama during the July 10 Power Slap event, Ripley disclosed that she suffered a slight meniscus tear and is still working through the recovery process. While she noted that her knee has improved since the injury occurred, she admitted that it continues to limit her mobility.
According to Ripley, the injury has made it difficult to fully bend her knee, and certain movements still cause discomfort. She explained that the tear occurred in an unusual area, making it difficult to predict exactly how long recovery will take.
The reigning WWE Women’s Champion said she has been sidelined for approximately six weeks and is gradually regaining strength, though lingering pain and stiffness remain concerns. Ripley also noted that crouching, bending down, and moving laterally can still be challenging due to the injury.
Ripley’s most recent match took place at a WWE live event in Portugal on June 3. During that bout, she teamed with Charlotte Flair and Tiffany Stratton in a victory over Fatal Influence. Footage from the event showed Ripley competing while wearing a knee sleeve, the same protective gear fans recently noticed during her appearance on SmackDown.
Despite not wrestling in recent weeks, Ripley has remained a prominent figure on WWE programming. Her latest appearance saw her confront several potential challengers, signaling that the women’s championship scene continues to revolve around her even while she recovers.
With SummerSlam now just weeks away, Ripley’s condition has become a major topic of discussion. Previous reports suggested WWE had already begun considering creative alternatives in case the champion’s recovery timeline extends longer than expected.
At this stage, WWE has not officially announced whether Ripley will be cleared to compete at the two-night premium live event. For now, fans will have to wait and see whether “Mami” can return to action in time for one of WWE’s biggest shows of the year.
As Ripley continues her rehabilitation, the status of the WWE Women’s Championship picture heading into SummerSlam remains one of the company’s biggest question marks.
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