WWE SmackDown airs live tonight at 8/7c on the USA Network in the United States and Netflix for international fans from the Lenovo Center in Raleigh, North Carolina.
WWE may have quietly added another second-generation talent to its pipeline, as Marie Malenko—daughter of wrestling legend Dean Malenko—is reportedly headed to the company.
According to a report from BodySlam+, Marie has officially signed with WWE following a recent tryout at the Performance Center in Orlando. The opportunity came shortly after she made her professional wrestling debut, marking a quick rise for the newcomer.
Marie’s first match took place under the Pro Wrestling NOAH banner, giving her an early international spotlight before stepping into WWE’s system. Not long after that debut, she participated in a tryout session at the Performance Center, where it appears she impressed officials enough to earn a deal.
As the daughter of Dean Malenko—one of the most technically respected wrestlers of his era—Marie enters WWE with a strong wrestling lineage behind her. Malenko himself remains a highly influential figure in the industry, known for his work in WCW, WWE, and ECW, as well as his role behind the scenes in recent years.
While there’s no word yet on when Marie could make her official on-screen debut, she will likely begin training full-time in NXT as she develops her in-ring style and character.
With WWE continuing to invest in both legacy talent and fresh prospects, Marie Malenko’s signing is another example of the company blending wrestling heritage with its next generation of stars.
Matt and Jeff Hardy’s renewed connection with WWE just took another interesting turn, as the legendary tag team has officially locked in a new merchandise deal with the company.
Speaking on The Extreme Life of Matt Hardy podcast, Matt confirmed that The Hardy Boyz have signed an agreement with WWE that not only brings them into WWE 2K26, but could also lead to more collaborations down the line.
According to Matt, the deal is expected to extend beyond a one-off appearance, with plans for the duo to remain part of WWE’s video game landscape for the foreseeable future. He also hinted that this partnership could grow into additional opportunities, suggesting WWE may have more in mind than just nostalgia-driven content.
The Hardys’ inclusion in WWE 2K26—particularly in editions centered around the Attitude Era—feels like a natural fit. After all, Matt and Jeff were key figures during that time, redefining tag team wrestling with their high-risk style and unforgettable ladder matches. Matt noted that fan demand played a big role in making this happen, with many pushing for the brothers to be included in a game celebrating that era.
The response so far has reportedly been overwhelmingly positive, something that hasn’t gone unnoticed by WWE. That kind of feedback likely helped solidify the deal and could be a factor in expanding the partnership moving forward.
What makes this situation even more notable is that the Hardys haven’t been full-time WWE performers in years. Following their departure, both men spent time in AEW and later resurfaced in TNA Wrestling. However, the growing working relationship between WWE and TNA opened the door for crossover appearances, including matches on WWE NXT—appearances that may have ultimately paved the way for this new agreement.
While there’s no official word yet on whether this leads to a more permanent in-ring return, the door is clearly open wider than it has been in quite some time. At the very least, fans can expect to see plenty more of The Hardy Boyz in WWE projects moving forward.
There’s growing concern surrounding Toni Storm after her sudden removal from this week’s episode of AEW Dynamite, and it sounds like this wasn’t part of the show’s creative plans.
Storm had originally been scheduled to face Marina Shafir in a No Holds Barred match on the March 18 broadcast, a bout that was being positioned as the blowoff to their ongoing feud. Instead, AEW aired a backstage attack angle that wrote Storm out of the show, with Mina Shirakawa stepping in as her replacement—and ultimately picking up the win.
While it initially played out like a storyline development, new details suggest otherwise.
Speaking on Wrestling Observer Radio, Bryan Alvarez indicated that Storm’s absence was legitimate and not a planned angle. According to Alvarez, the decision to pull her came down at the last possible moment, despite AEW promoting the match right up until the show went live.
The belief is that Storm was not medically cleared to compete, with Alvarez noting that the company appeared to hold off on making a final call until just minutes before airtime. Dave Meltzer added that the injury could potentially stem from Storm’s recent match against Shafir at AEW Revolution, though that hasn’t been confirmed.
There’s also speculation that the late change could signal a more extended absence. Alvarez pointed out that if Storm were only going to miss a short period, it might have made more sense for Shafir to win and continue the storyline, rather than pivoting to Shirakawa scoring the victory. Still, he emphasized that this is only speculation, and there’s currently no official word on how long Storm could be sidelined.
If Storm is indeed dealing with an injury, it could also put her developing angle with Ronda Rousey on pause. Rousey made her AEW debut following Storm’s match at Revolution, teasing a high-profile program between the two. However, Rousey is already scheduled for an MMA return fight against Gina Carano, which may delay any immediate follow-up regardless of Storm’s status.
For now, AEW has yet to publicly address Storm’s condition, leaving fans waiting for further updates on one of the company’s top stars.
NBA legend Dennis Rodman has officially been announced for the Class of 2026.
The news was first reported by ESPN’s Shams Charania, confirming that the five-time NBA Champion will be recognized for his contributions to the wrestling world—specifically his unforgettable run during the height of WCW’s popularity in the late ‘90s.
Rodman, known as much for his larger-than-life personality as his dominance on the court, became a major part of WCW programming in 1997 when he aligned himself with the New World Order. Dubbed “Rodzilla,” he quickly became a headline attraction, stepping into the ring alongside Hulk Hogan in a high-profile tag team match against Lex Luger and The Giant at Bash at the Beach.
His commitment to wrestling didn’t stop at cameo appearances. During the 1998 NBA Finals, Rodman made headlines by skipping a Chicago Bulls practice after Game 3 to appear live on WCW Monday Nitro, where he and Hogan launched an attack on Diamond Dallas Page. That crossover momentum carried into another marquee match, as Rodman teamed with Hogan to face Karl Malone and DDP at Bash at the Beach 1998—a rare moment where NBA and wrestling worlds collided on a major stage.
Rodman continued his in-ring run with a notable singles bout against “Macho Man” Randy Savage at Road Wild 1999, further cementing his place in wrestling pop culture history.
Now, decades later, WWE is recognizing that impact. Rodman joins an already stacked 2026 Hall of Fame class that includes Stephanie McMahon, AJ Styles, and the legendary tag team Demolition.
The ceremony is set to take place on Friday, April 17, in Las Vegas as part of the WrestleMania 42 festivities, and Rodman’s induction is sure to bring a dose of attitude-era chaos and nostalgia to the celebration.
photo credit to WWE
TNA Thursday Night iMPACT tonight on AMC at 9/8c.
ROH TV on #HonorClub at http://WatchROH.com 7/6c
AEW/ROH talent Leila Grey has officially taken the next step in her recovery journey after confirming she recently underwent knee surgery.
Grey shared the update through her Instagram Stories, revealing that the procedure went smoothly following the torn ACL she suffered late last year. She told fans she’s already back home and preparing to start rehabilitation immediately.
“Hey guys. I finally had my knee surgery yesterday. Everything went well. I’m home recovering and starting therapy tomorrow. Thank you all for the support during this time,” Grey wrote.
The injury dates back to the December 6 episode of AEW Collision, where Grey challenged Mercedes Moné for the TBS Championship. The match was cut short after it became clear something was wrong, with Moné securing the win shortly after. Grey later explained the moment things went south, noting that she felt a pop in her knee after an awkward step while being driven into the corner. A second pop followed minutes later during a knee strike, confirming the severity of the situation.
Despite the setback, Grey didn’t immediately go under the knife. She previously shared that limited mobility in her knee delayed the surgery process into early 2025. Even more impressive, she pushed through the injury to compete in the World Beauty Fitness & Fashion competition just one week after the match.
Wearing a decorated knee brace, Grey managed to capture first place in the Diva Fitness Model 35+ category—an achievement that turned heads given the circumstances. She even brushed off any doubts about competing while injured, making it clear she wasn’t about to back down.
Now with surgery behind her, Grey’s focus shifts fully to recovery and rehab. There’s no timetable yet for her return to AEW action, but if her resilience so far is any indication, she’ll be one to watch once she’s cleared to step back into the ring.
AEW Dynamite airs live tonight at 8pm ET/5pm PT on TBS and HBO Max from the Save Mart Center in Fresno, California.
WWE’s long-term plans for WrestleMania 43 don’t appear to be changing—for now—but there’s clearly some behind-the-scenes caution as global tensions continue to rise.
According to a new report from PWInsider Elite, WrestleMania 43 is still scheduled to take place in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia in 2027. Despite ongoing conflict in the Middle East, including recent U.S. military action involving Iran, WWE has not made any official adjustments to the event’s location.
That said, the company isn’t ignoring the situation. Sources indicate WWE has contingency plans in place for events scheduled in the region, should conditions change. While no specific alternatives have been outlined, officials are reportedly monitoring developments closely and are prepared to pivot if necessary.
The uncertainty comes as several major international events have already been impacted. Formula 1 recently canceled its Bahrain and Saudi Arabia Grands Prix, both originally slated for April, due to the escalating conflict. WWE, however, is still moving forward with its Saudi partnership, with another event expected in the Kingdom this summer—though an official date has yet to be announced.
This isn’t the first time geopolitical tensions have threatened WWE’s plans in the region. Back in 2025, Night of Champions was briefly in jeopardy when Saudi Arabia closed its airspace amid missile exchanges between Israel and Iran. Travel disruptions even left some WWE production staff stranded in Qatar, though the event ultimately went on as scheduled.
As for WrestleMania 43, WWE has options if a change becomes necessary. The company has previously promised WrestleMania hosting duties to multiple U.S. cities, including Indianapolis and New Orleans, either of which could potentially step in if plans in Saudi Arabia fall through.
For now, though, WWE is staying the course—while quietly preparing for anything that might come next.
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