Maple Leaf Pro Wrestling has officially revealed the mystery behind its recent “Who Will Answer The Call?” promotional campaign, and the answer is a Canadian wrestling icon.
During Wednesday night’s MLP MAYHEM broadcast, it was announced that AEW World Tag Team Champion Adam Copeland will appear at Maple Leaf Pro Wrestling’s Northern Rising event on October 3.
Emotional Video Tribute Reveals Copeland
The announcement came through a cinematic vignette celebrating both Copeland’s career and the history of professional wrestling in Canada.
The video opened with footage of the legendary Maple Leaf Gardens, a venue deeply connected to Canadian wrestling history. As images of a young Copeland appeared on screen, the WWE Hall of Famer reflected on the significance of the building and his connection to it.
The segment built toward Copeland appearing on camera and asking whether the venue was ready for “one more incredible night,” officially confirming his involvement with the event.
Returning To A Historic Venue
Although Maple Leaf Gardens has since been transformed into the Mattamy Athletic Centre, the building remains one of the most iconic locations in Canadian sports and wrestling history.
According to Maple Leaf Pro Wrestling, Northern Rising will mark the first time Copeland has competed at the historic venue.
In a statement released following the announcement, Copeland spoke about the impact Maple Leaf Gardens had on him growing up.
The former AEW TNT Champion explained that much of his childhood was spent watching both Maple Leaf Wrestling and Toronto Maple Leafs games from the arena, making the opportunity to be part of Maple Leaf Pro Wrestling’s revival especially meaningful.
Copeland praised the promotion for helping restore a piece of Canadian wrestling history and expressed excitement about participating in what he described as a special night.
More Announcements Expected
While Copeland’s appearance has now been confirmed, Maple Leaf Pro Wrestling is not revealing all of its plans just yet.
The company stated that additional Copeland-focused vignettes will be released in the coming weeks, suggesting more details regarding his role at Northern Rising are still to come.
Whether that means a major singles match, a special attraction bout, or another surprise remains unknown.
Busy Schedule Continues For Copeland
The announcement adds another notable appearance to an already active period for Copeland.
Currently one-half of the AEW World Tag Team Champions, Copeland continues to play a prominent role on AEW programming while also taking part in select appearances outside the promotion.
His involvement with Northern Rising gives Maple Leaf Pro Wrestling a major attraction for one of its biggest events of the year and provides Canadian wrestling fans with an opportunity to see one of the country’s most accomplished performers return to a venue tied closely to his childhood memories.
As October approaches, anticipation is likely to grow regarding exactly what Copeland has planned when he steps into one of Canada’s most historic wrestling buildings.
We Told You
We told you someone answered the call.
Now the entire wrestling world is paying attention.
— MAPLE LEAF PRO Wrestling (@MapleLeafPW) July 30, 2026
Copeland’s appearance instantly adds star power to Northern Rising, and the combination of his Canadian roots and the history of Maple Leaf Gardens could make for one of the most memorable moments on the promotion’s 2026 calendar.
AEW World Trios Championships: The Conglomeration (c) vs. The Demand
TBS Championship Match: Maya World (c) vs. CMLL Women’s World Champion Persephone
3-Way AEW National Championship Match: Andrade El Idolo (c) vs. Nick Wayne vs. Jungle Jack Perry
Newly crowned AEW Women’s World Champion Willow Nightingale celebrates her victory after defeating Thekla for the title at Redemption
Renee Paquette sits down with the Young Bucks and AEW World Tag Team Champions Christian Cage & Adam Copeland. The Young Bucks will challenge Christian and Copeland for the tag titles at the All In pay-per-view at Wembley Stadium in London on Sunday, August 30.
Mara Sadé‘s future in professional wrestling appears to be up in the air following reports that her contract with TNA Wrestling has expired.
According to Fightful Select, sources close to Sadé have indicated that she is now a free agent after her TNA deal recently came to an end. While an exact expiration date has not been disclosed, the report notes that discussions between Sade and TNA regarding a potential new contract are ongoing.
At the same time, Sade is reportedly exploring other opportunities and has been in contact with additional wrestling promotions.
TNA Status Remains Unclear
Despite her contract situation, Sade has continued to be featured in TNA programming in recent weeks.
Her most recent appearance came during TNA’s television tapings in Albany, where she advanced in the tournament to crown the inaugural TNA Women’s Television Champion. However, it remains unclear whether she is involved in this week’s tapings in Philadelphia, including Thursday night’s live episode of TNA Impact.
With negotiations reportedly still taking place, her status with the company remains one of the more intriguing situations to watch in the Knockouts division.
From WWE NXT To TNA
Before arriving in TNA, Sade was known to WWE fans as Jakara Jackson.
During her time in NXT, she was a member of the popular Meta-Four faction alongside Lash Legend, Noam Dar, and Oro Mensah. Jackson frequently teamed with Legend and was featured in several high-profile matches during her run with the developmental brand.
One of the most notable moments of her WWE career came at Crown Jewel 2024, where she and Legend competed in a Fatal Four-Way Match for the WWE Women’s Tag Team Championships.
Sade was released by WWE in April 2025 and signed with TNA just two months later, quickly becoming a regular presence in the Knockouts division.
Multiple Options Available
At just over a year removed from her WWE departure, Sade now finds herself in a position with several possible paths forward.
TNA remains a potential landing spot if the two sides can agree on a new contract, but her reported conversations with other promotions suggest she may be weighing all available options before making a decision.
Given her television experience in both WWE and TNA, Sade could attract interest from several major companies looking to strengthen their women’s divisions.
For now, her future remains undecided, but the former NXT standout has officially become one of the more notable free agents currently available on the wrestling market.
Sade’s contract situation will be worth monitoring in the coming weeks, especially as TNA continues to reshape its roster and other promotions look to add experienced talent to their women’s divisions.
The event, titled “AEW Rebel Heart Dynamite,” will take place on September 9 at Akins Ford Arena in Athens, Georgia, and will honor AEW personality Rebel (Tanea Brooks), who revealed in May that she had been diagnosed with ALS.
Rebel Scheduled To Appear
As part of the event, Rebel is expected to make a special appearance for fans in attendance.
AEW also announced several initiatives tied to the show that will help raise awareness and funding for ALS-related causes. According to the company’s press release, fans attending the event will receive a limited-edition Rebel trading card sheet from Upper Deck while supplies last.
In addition, AEW will make donations from the event to two organizations dedicated to supporting ALS patients and advancing research efforts: I AM ALS and Team Gleason.
Rebel currently serves as a spokesperson for I AM ALS, an advocacy organization focused on finding treatments and improving quality of life for those affected by the disease.
Connection To ALS Research Community
The location of the event carries additional significance.
Akins Ford Arena serves as the community home of the University of Georgia’s Regenerative Bioscience Center (RBC), where researchers are actively working on developing new therapies for ALS while also training the next generation of scientists in the field.
By hosting the event in Athens, AEW is helping shine a spotlight on the ongoing research efforts taking place within the local community.
Tony Khan Comments On The Event
AEW President Tony Khan issued a statement following the announcement, emphasizing the company’s commitment to supporting the cause.
Khan said AEW is proud to present Rebel Heart Dynamite and looks forward to honoring Rebel while raising both awareness and financial support for organizations working to combat ALS and assist those living with the disease.
The AEW President also praised the efforts of the charities involved and highlighted the importance of continuing the fight for better treatments and, ultimately, a cure.
Additional Fundraising Efforts Underway
The September event is part of a larger effort by AEW to support ALS-related initiatives.
The company is currently selling Rebel Heart t-shirts and bracelets, with 100% of proceeds benefiting I AM ALS and Team Gleason.
Khan has also previously expressed interest in reviving AEW’s Fight for the Fallen concept as a platform for raising awareness and funds for ALS research.
Meanwhile, the Ice Bucket Challenge has experienced a resurgence in recent months, with several AEW personalities taking part. Among those participating was Britt Baker, who has a longstanding on-screen association with Rebel.
AEW is also encouraging fans to get involved through donations, awareness campaigns, and participation in fundraising efforts.
Wrestling Community Rallies Around Rebel
Since revealing her diagnosis earlier this year, Rebel has received an outpouring of support from wrestlers, fans, and members of the broader wrestling community.
The announcement of Rebel Heart Dynamite represents another example of that support, with AEW using one of its flagship television programs to celebrate Rebel while helping advance the fight against ALS.
As September approaches, the event is expected to serve as both a tribute to Rebel and an opportunity to bring greater attention to the ongoing efforts to support those affected by the disease.
The special edition of Dynamite is set to combine wrestling and philanthropy, giving fans an opportunity to celebrate Rebel while contributing to organizations working to improve the lives of ALS patients and fund critical research.
Former TNA World Champion Mike Santana has officially embraced his new WWE identity, and the story behind the name carries deep personal significance.
After WWE filed a trademark for the name Cruz Montana last week, the NXT newcomer took to social media on Monday to confirm the change and explain the heartfelt meaning behind it ahead of this week’s episode of WWE NXT.
A Tribute To His Late Father
In a post shared on X, Montana revealed that the name was chosen as a way to honor his father, who passed away six years ago.
According to Montana, his father’s death played a major role in one of the most difficult periods of his life, a struggle that ultimately helped shape the person he has become today.
Montana explained that he has always tried to keep his father close throughout his wrestling journey and viewed the new name as another way to carry that connection forward as he begins the next chapter of his career.
He concluded the message by describing himself as “addicted to greatness,” a phrase that appears poised to become part of his WWE presentation moving forward.
Alongside the statement, Montana shared new promotional photos that appeared to have been taken backstage in WWE and included a tag for NXT.
First Appearance Created Immediate Buzz
The name change follows Montana’s surprise appearance on last week’s edition of NXT.
The former TNA standout made his debut moments after NXT Champion Tony D’Angelo successfully retained the NXT Championship against Naraku in a brutal street fight. As D’Angelo celebrated his victory, Montana emerged from the crowd inside the WWE Performance Center and locked eyes with the champion.
The segment ended without Montana saying a word, but the confrontation immediately sparked speculation that he could be positioning himself as a future challenger for the NXT Championship.
WWE Confirms New Identity
When Montana first appeared, WWE commentators Vic Joseph and Booker T deliberately avoided mentioning his former ring name. WWE’s social media accounts also referred to him only as a “new face,” leading many fans to suspect a name change was coming.
Those suspicions intensified when WWE filed the trademark for Cruz Montana, and Montana’s social media post has now effectively confirmed that the name will be his new in-ring identity moving forward.
While rebranding established wrestlers has become increasingly common in NXT, Montana’s explanation has already resonated with fans due to the personal story attached to the name.
New Name, Same Championship Ambitions
Though the name may have changed, Montana’s goals appear unchanged.
His debut confrontation with Tony D’Angelo strongly suggested that the former TNA World Champion has his sights set on NXT’s top prize. With his new identity officially unveiled, all eyes will now be on Tuesday night’s NXT to see what comes next for one of the brand’s newest arrivals.
If his first appearance was any indication, Cruz Montana isn’t planning on easing into WWE—he’s arriving with championship aspirations from day one.
Montana’s explanation adds an emotional layer to what could have otherwise been viewed as a standard WWE rebranding, turning the name change into a tribute to the person who helped shape his journey both inside and outside the ring.
CRUZ MONTANA
A name I put together as a tribute to honor my late father. Who I’ve always made sure to keep as close as possible to my journey.
Losing him 6 years ago, is what sent me on the spiral that I’d eventually rise from, to become the man you see today. And today, that… pic.twitter.com/idROguLV3W
WWE fans will soon have another way to watch NXT each week.
ESPN announced on Tuesday that CW Sports programming will begin streaming live through the ESPN app starting August 4 as part of the ESPN Unlimited subscription package. The move is part of the previously announced partnership between ESPN and The CW, which was first revealed earlier this year.
As a result, WWE NXT will be available live on ESPN Unlimited beginning with the August 4 episode. Future weekly episodes will also stream live on the platform while continuing to air on The CW network.
NXT Premium Live Events Also Headed To ESPN
The agreement extends beyond weekly television.
Starting with NXT Heatwave on August 30, NXT Premium Live Events will also be available through ESPN Unlimited. The addition further expands WWE’s presence on ESPN platforms, which began carrying WWE premium live events last September with Wrestlepalooza.
The partnership comes at a busy time for WWE programming on ESPN, as the company prepares for its two-night SummerSlam event on August 1 and August 2.
CW Sports Expanding Its Reach
When the partnership between ESPN and The CW was initially announced, CW President Brad Schwartz highlighted the benefits of combining traditional television with streaming accessibility.
According to Schwartz, the agreement represents a major step forward for CW Sports, allowing fans to access live content across multiple platforms while significantly expanding the reach of the network’s sports programming.
The CW currently offers more than 800 hours of live sports content annually, and much of that programming will now be available through ESPN Unlimited.
More Than Just Wrestling
In addition to NXT, the ESPN-CW partnership includes a wide range of sports programming.
Subscribers will have access to live coverage of NASCAR events, professional bull riding, college football, college basketball, and other CW Sports broadcasts through the ESPN app.
Fans can access ESPN Unlimited through participating television and mobile providers, while standalone subscription options are also available.
NXT Remains On The CW
Despite the new streaming option, WWE fans who prefer watching on traditional television won’t see any changes.
NXT will continue airing live every Tuesday night on The CW while simultaneously becoming available to ESPN Unlimited subscribers.
The addition of ESPN streaming gives WWE’s developmental brand another major platform and could help expand its audience as the company continues to grow the NXT product heading into the remainder of 2026.
The new arrangement gives NXT increased visibility across both broadcast television and streaming, providing WWE with another significant distribution outlet as the brand continues to evolve.
Wrestling News Blog 