A member of the legendary Anoa’i wrestling family is preparing to step away from the ring.
Lance Anoa’i announced on Instagram that he plans to retire from professional wrestling in March 2027, bringing an end to a career that will span nearly 17 years.
The former WWE and MLW performer shared a lengthy statement reflecting on his time in the business and explaining why he has decided that the next chapter of his life will focus on family.
Lance Anoa’i Announces Retirement Plans
In his post, Anoa’i expressed gratitude to the fans, promoters, and fellow wrestlers who have been part of his journey since his debut.
“After almost 17 years in professional wrestling, I will be officially calling time on my in-ring career in March 2027, once I reach that 17-year milestone.”
Anoa’i noted that wrestling has provided him with countless memories and experiences, but he has reached a point where he wants to dedicate more of his time to his wife and children.
“For so many years, wrestling has taken up my weekends, my time, and countless moments away from the people I love most. I’ve reached a point where I want to dedicate that time to my wife and my kids and be there for the moments that matter most.”
He also praised his family members who continue to carry on the Anoa’i legacy in professional wrestling.
“I love what they’re building, I love being part of it in any way I can, and I will always support them 100% in everything they do going forward.”
While retirement is on the horizon, Anoa’i emphasized that he is not finished just yet.
“This isn’t goodbye just yet though. We still have a few months to go!”
Career Spanning Nearly Two Decades
Anoa’i made his professional wrestling debut in April 2010 and spent much of his career competing on the independent wrestling scene.
One of his most notable runs came in Major League Wrestling (MLW), where he captured the MLW World Tag Team Championship during his time with the promotion.
He also made several appearances on WWE television throughout the mid-to-late 2010s as enhancement talent before eventually signing a WWE contract in 2024.
WWE Run Cut Short By Injuries
After joining WWE, Anoa’i was expected to begin the next phase of his career within the company’s developmental system. However, multiple injuries prevented him from making an official in-ring appearance for WWE.
He was ultimately released by the company in October 2025 without ever wrestling a televised match under contract.
Following his WWE departure, Anoa’i shifted some of his focus toward Power Slap while continuing his involvement in combat sports and entertainment.
Final Year Begins
With retirement now officially planned for March 2027, Anoa’i enters what will be the final months of his wrestling career.
As a member of one of wrestling’s most famous families, he leaves behind a career that included nearly two decades of competition and contributions to promotions across the wrestling landscape.
For now, fans still have several months remaining to see Lance Anoa’i compete before he officially calls time on his in-ring career.
WWE has seemingly revealed the identity of Shinsuke Nakamura’s mystery partner, and the reveal points to another major international signing joining the SmackDown roster.
After making his first WWE appearance since May during a pre-recorded backstage segment last week, Nakamura promised that he had found an ally to help him take the fight to Tama Tonga and Talla Tonga, collectively known as The MFT’s.
Nakamura Sends Warning To New WWE Tag Team Champions
Friday night’s edition of SmackDown saw Tama Tonga and Talla Tonga capture the WWE Tag Team Championship, defeating Damian Priest, R-Truth, and AAA Tag Team Champions The War Raiders in a triple threat match.
Following the show, WWE released a digital exclusive featuring Nakamura addressing the new champions.
“Congratulations MFT’s. You are now the champions. Are you savoring the feeling, knowing it will be gone soon? Was the victory as sweet, knowing what’s coming next? Me, my partner, your destruction.”
As the promo continued, WWE showed brief glimpses of Nakamura’s mystery partner while teasing his arrival on SmackDown.
“My partner is what you all pretend to be. Experienced, vicious, deadly. He is chaos. He is a ticking time bomb. Take cover.”
Hiromu Takahashi Appears WWE-Bound
The phrase “Ticking Time Bomb” immediately caught the attention of New Japan Pro-Wrestling fans, as it has long been associated with Hiromu Takahashi.
Takahashi, one of NJPW’s most accomplished junior heavyweight stars, departed the promotion earlier this year after a 15-year run.
In February, NJPW officially announced his departure following discussions with company management.
During his career, Takahashi became one of the most recognizable stars in Japanese wrestling and competed for several major promotions, including:
New Japan Pro-Wrestling
AEW
Ring of Honor
CMLL
Pro Wrestling NOAH
The former IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion has been heavily linked to WWE since becoming a free agent, and Nakamura’s latest promo strongly suggests that he will soon arrive on SmackDown.
WWE Continues Adding Free Agents
Reports earlier this year indicated that Takahashi was among several notable free agents believed to be WWE-bound.
Since then, a number of those names have already debuted, including:
Big Cass
Baron Corbin
Cruz Montana
Zilla Fatu
If the tease proves accurate, Takahashi would become the latest high-profile addition to WWE’s growing roster.
When Will Takahashi Debut?
As of now, WWE has not officially announced a debut date for Takahashi.
However, with Nakamura openly teasing his arrival and positioning him as a key ally against the newly crowned WWE Tag Team Champions, it appears only a matter of time before the former NJPW star makes his first appearance on Friday Night SmackDown.
Should Takahashi arrive as expected, WWE fans could soon see one of Japan’s most decorated wrestlers join forces with Nakamura in a battle against The MFT’s and the WWE Tag Team Champions.
The Mysterio family’s legacy in WWE could soon be expanding.
According to a report from PWInsider, Aalyah Gutierrez, the daughter of WWE Hall of Famer Rey Mysterio, has been added to WWE’s internal roster after recently reporting to the WWE Performance Center for training.
The report notes that Aalyah is currently listed under her real name rather than the famous Mysterio surname.
Aalyah Continues WWE Training
While Aalyah has never competed in a WWE match, she has become a familiar face to fans over the years through her appearances alongside her father and brother, Dominik Mysterio.
Most notably, she was involved in a storyline during 2020 that centered around a romantic relationship with then-WWE star Buddy Murphy. The angle became a major part of the feud between Rey Mysterio, Dominik Mysterio, Seth Rollins, and Murphy at the time.
However, Aalyah’s previous appearances were limited to acting roles rather than in-ring competition.
Over the last year, that has reportedly changed.
Full-Time Wrestling Career In The Works
Aalyah first visited the WWE Performance Center last fall, where she participated in basic in-ring drills while Rey Mysterio was preparing for his own WWE return.
She later returned to the facility in February for a more extensive training session.
Following that visit, Rey revealed that his daughter had committed to pursuing professional wrestling on a full-time basis with WWE.
Her continued training appears to be progressing, as she was recently featured in a photo alongside fellow WWE Performance Center trainee Marie Malenko and NXT stars Uriah Connors, Lexis King, and Brooks Jensen.
Another Generation Of The Mysterio Family
Should Aalyah eventually make her WWE debut, she would become the latest member of the Mysterio family to compete for the company.
Rey Mysterio made his WWE main roster debut in 2002 and went on to become one of the most decorated stars in company history, earning a place in the WWE Hall of Fame.
Dominik Mysterio followed in his father’s footsteps, making his WWE in-ring debut in 2020 and becoming a former Intercontinental Champion. He currently remains one of the top stars on the Raw roster.
While WWE has not officially announced any plans for Aalyah’s debut, her addition to the company’s internal roster suggests that her journey toward becoming a WWE Superstar is continuing to move forward.
WWE SmackDown may not remain a two-hour show for much longer.
According to a new report from WrestleVotes via Fightful Select, sources at USA Network expect SmackDown to return to a three-hour format beginning in January 2027.
SmackDown Expected To Expand Back To Three Hours
The report states that the tentative date for the change is the January 8, 2027 episode of SmackDown, though WWE has not officially confirmed the move.
The expected adjustment is reportedly tied to USA Network’s programming plans for the new year and would mark another shift in the blue brand’s broadcast length.
SmackDown returned to a two-hour format in July 2026 after previously airing as a three-hour program. At the time, reports indicated that the shortened runtime could remain in place through the end of the year.
WWE Expected To Alternate Formats
Since WWE’s television rights agreement with USA Network began in 2024, reports have suggested that SmackDown could alternate between two-hour and three-hour formats throughout the duration of the five-year deal.
If the latest report proves accurate, January’s return to three hours would be the latest example of that strategy.
Neither WWE nor USA Network has publicly commented on the reported change.
Timing Coincides With WWE’s European Tour
WWE has not yet announced a location for the January 8 episode of SmackDown.
The show is scheduled to take place one week before WWE kicks off its annual European tour on January 15.
The tour will begin in Brussels, Belgium, before SmackDown heads to Manchester, England. Meanwhile, Raw is scheduled to visit Glasgow, Scotland, and Dublin, Ireland as part of the international run.
For now, SmackDown remains a two-hour broadcast, but according to the report, fans may see the blue brand return to a three-hour format shortly after the start of 2027.
Former WWE Tag Team Champions Kofi Kingston and Austin Creed have been announced for Chris Jericho’s Rock ‘N’ Wrestling Rager At Sea, marking one of their first major wrestling-related appearances since becoming free agents earlier this year.
The cruise revealed the news on social media, confirming that Kingston and Creed will be part of the event as “Super Massive Guest Captains.” The pair are also listed on the official cruise website among the featured talent scheduled to appear.
First Major Appearance Since WWE Departure
Kofi and Creed became free agents following their WWE releases in April 2026 as part of the company’s post-WrestleMania 42 roster cuts.
Since then, speculation has continued regarding what the future holds for the longtime tag team stars and whether they will remain together wherever they land next.
Their inclusion on Jericho’s cruise marks another public appearance for the duo as fans continue to await news regarding their next move in professional wrestling.
Loaded Lineup Announced
The upcoming cruise is set to feature a number of wrestling legends and current stars.
Among those currently advertised are:
The Hardys
The Great Muta
Nic Nemeth
Harley Cameron
Kofi
Austin Creed
Additional wrestling personalities and musical acts are expected to be part of the event as well.
Cruise Sets Sail In November
Chris Jericho’s Rock ‘N’ Wrestling Rager At Sea is scheduled to take place from November 7-11, 2026.
The cruise will depart from Miami, Florida, and travel to Bimini, Bahamas, offering fans several days of wrestling-themed entertainment, live performances, meet-and-greets, and special events featuring some of the biggest names in the industry.
While Kofi and Creed’s long-term wrestling futures remain unknown, their appearance on the popular wrestling cruise is sure to fuel further discussion about what’s next for the former WWE stars.
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