Mickie James Shocks TNA Crowd With Return At No Surrender 2026

The TNA Asylum in Nashville got a blast from the past on Friday night as “Hardcore Country” Mickie James made her long-awaited return at No Surrender 2026.

It had been nearly three years since James last appeared inside a TNA ring, but the former Knockouts legend chose the perfect moment to reemerge — and she didn’t come alone with just nostalgia. She came with a fight in mind.

The surprise unfolded after The Elegance Brand’s Heather and M successfully retained the Knockouts World Tag Team Championships against Indi Hartwell and Xia Brookside. With the champions celebrating, James’ music hit, instantly shifting the energy inside the building.

James made her way to the ring and quickly locked eyes with Ash by Elegance, signaling exactly who was on her radar. Ash didn’t waste time charging at the returning veteran as she stepped onto the apron — but the gamble backfired. James fired off a flurry of punches, reminding everyone why she’s one of the most respected brawlers in Knockouts history.

Of course, the numbers game soon caught up with her as Heather and M jumped into the fray. Before things could spiral out of control, Hartwell and Brookside rushed back to even the odds, leading to a chaotic scene that left fans buzzing about what comes next.

While this marked her first TNA appearance in quite some time, James hasn’t exactly been inactive. Nearly a year ago, in July 2025, she captured the ABC (Association Biterroise de Catch) Women’s Championship by defeating Mila Smidt — a title she still holds over 200 days into her reign. Even outside the ring, she’s remained a prominent figure in the industry, joining the 2025 TNA Hall of Fame class and serving as a coach on the debut season of WWE’s LFG.

Her last TNA match prior to this return came at Bound for Glory 2023, where she fell short in a Knockouts World Title challenge against Trinity (WWE’s Naomi). Now, with her focus clearly set on The Elegance Brand, it looks like James may be gearing up for another meaningful run in the company she helped define.

Whether this was a one-night appearance or the beginning of something bigger remains to be seen — but one thing is clear: the Knockouts division just got a lot more interesting.

AEW ‘Grand Slam: Australia’ Preview 2/14/2026

AEW ‘Grand Slam: Australia’ tonight at 8 p.m. ET/7 p.m. CT on TNT and streaming on HBO Max! The event took place at the Qudos Bank Arena in Sydney, Australia.

  • AEW World Championship: MJF (c) vs. Brody King 
  • AEW Women’s World Tag Team Championship: The Babes of Wrath (c) vs. MegaBad (“Megasus” Megan Bayne & Penelope Ford) 
  • Winner Gets AEW World Title Match at Revolution: AEW World Trios Champion “Hangman” Adam Page vs. Andrade El Ídolo
  • TNT Championship Ladder Match: “The Protostar” Kyle Fletcher (c) vs. Mark Briscoe
  • AEW Continental Championship: Jon Moxley (c) vs. “The Alpha” Konosuke Takeshita
  • Mixed Tag Team Tornado Hair Match (Loser of the Fall Must Have Their Head Shaven): “Timeless” Toni Storm & Orange Cassidy vs. “The Problem” Marina Shafir & Wheeler Yuta of the Death Riders

CNN Report Claims Warner Bros. Discovery Holds Minority Stake In AEW, Examines Politics In Modern Pro Wrestling

A new feature published by CNN.com examining the growing intersection between professional wrestling and political themes has sparked conversation for more than one reason.

While the article primarily focuses on what it describes as a “politically shaded rivalry” between AEW and WWE, it also makes a notable claim: that Warner Bros. Discovery — CNN’s parent company — owns a minority stake in AEW.

CNN’s Ownership Claim

In the piece, CNN writes:

“The embrace of contemporary issues is part of a larger, politically shaded rivalry playing out in the industry, between the 7-year-old AEW and the industry’s ruling juggernaut for generations, WWE (Warner Bros. Discovery, CNN’s parent corporation, owns a minority stake in AEW).”

That line has raised eyebrows, as AEW President Tony Khan has consistently avoided confirming whether WBD holds any equity in the promotion. Since at least 2023, Khan has repeatedly stated that he maintains full control over AEW’s decision-making, though he has not directly confirmed or denied whether Warner Bros. Discovery owns a financial stake.

If WBD’s ownership were to exceed 10 percent, it would generally require public disclosure due to securities regulations tied to publicly traded companies. As of now, no such filing has been publicly highlighted.

It also remains unclear whether any ownership component may have been included as part of AEW’s most recent media rights agreement with WBD.

What Happens If AEW Leaves WBD?

The ownership question becomes even more interesting when considering the broader corporate landscape.

Warner Bros. Discovery has been the subject of acquisition discussions, with Paramount and Netflix both reportedly exploring different types of deals.

  • Netflix’s reported proposal would involve acquiring WB’s film studio, HBO, and HBO Max, with linear television assets potentially spun off.
  • Paramount’s reported interest is in acquiring the entire company, keeping television networks and streaming assets under one umbrella.

If WBD does in fact own a minority stake in AEW, questions naturally follow:

  • What would happen if AEW signs a future media deal outside of WBD?
  • Would ownership transfer in a corporate acquisition?
  • Could that impact AEW’s long-term television positioning?

At this point, those questions remain speculative.

Politics In Pro Wrestling: A Long History

Beyond the ownership note, the article focuses heavily on how political themes continue to surface in wrestling storylines and fan reactions.

CNN points out that wrestling has historically drawn from real-world political tensions for dramatic effect. The article references Sgt. Slaughter’s infamous Gulf War-era heel turn, in which he aligned himself with Iraqi sympathies during the height of U.S. tensions — one of the most controversial angles in WWE history.

More recently, AEW has found itself at the center of attention following politically charged chants at live events.

“F— ICE” Chants At AEW Events

The article highlights chants that occurred during recent matches involving MJF and Brody King.

At AEW Grand Slam Mexico last June, King wore an “ABOLISH ICE” shirt. Fans in attendance at AEW Grand Slam Australia reportedly chanted “F— ICE” during King’s title match against MJF. That event is scheduled to air on tape delay at 8:00 PM ET on TNT and HBO Max.

CNN also quoted Eero Laine, a theatre professor at SUNY Buffalo who studies the history of professional wrestling. Laine noted that the chants were unusual in wrestling terms:

“They are interesting in that they support a political stance associated with one of the wrestlers, but they are not necessarily directly related to what’s happening in the ring. And the chant is not part of the repertoire of standard wrestling chants.”

AEW vs. WWE: A “Politically Shaded Rivalry”?

The broader framing of the article suggests that AEW and WWE’s competition is no longer limited strictly to ratings and creative direction, but also cultural positioning. While WWE has largely avoided overt political messaging in recent years, AEW crowds — and occasionally talent — have shown a greater willingness to reference contemporary issues.

Whether that reflects company philosophy or simply organic fan behavior is open to interpretation.

What is clear is that CNN’s mention of a potential Warner Bros. Discovery minority stake in AEW is likely to fuel renewed discussion about the true nature of the partnership between the media giant and the wrestling promotion.

As of this writing, AEW has not publicly addressed the claim.

TNA No Surrender 2/13/2026 (Results) – Mickie James Returned

Countdown To No Surrender

Sinner & Saint def. Brad Attitude & TW3

The local duo brought plenty of energy, but Sinner & Saint were clearly on another level. After absorbing some early offense, they sealed the deal with a sharp combo kick into a perfectly executed bridging suplex.


Mance Warner Calls Out “Action” Mike Jackson

Mance Warner and Steph De Lander interrupted the legendary Mike Jackson during a segment. Jackson didn’t flinch — but he made it clear that disrespect toward Gia Miller wouldn’t be tolerated. Warner questioned whether Jackson could still go. Jackson answered by accepting a match later in the night.


King’s Speech Leads To Frankie Kazarian vs. Alan Angels

Ryan Nemeth and Alan Angels were scheduled to wrestle, but Frankie Kazarian hijacked the segment for an impromptu edition of “King’s Speech.” Nemeth was fine with it — so long as he still got paid.

Angels refused to leave. Kazarian threatened to drop the mic and punch him — and followed through. Unfortunately for Kaz, Angels fired back.

In his official TNA return, Alan Angels made it clear he wasn’t there to waste time and challenged Kazarian on the spot.

Frankie Kazarian def. Alan Angels

Angels impressed immediately, flying around the ring and even locking in the Wings of Saturn. A missed moonsault proved costly, though. Kazarian capitalized and cinched in the chickenwing submission to force the tap.


Arianna Grace and Stacks vowed backstage that they would leave No Surrender as champions, promising to become wrestling’s ultimate power couple — and to make Santino Marella proud.


No Surrender Main Card Results

Knockouts Battle Royal

Winner: Jody Threat (Earns Knockouts Championship Match)

The Knockouts division brought chaos from the opening bell.

Late in the match, Mila Moore and Victoria Crawford tried to eliminate Jody Threat. Tessa Blanchard crashed into the pile — accidentally eliminating her own allies. Threat narrowly survived by hanging onto the bottom rope with her feet while the field assumed she was gone.

Blanchard thought she had it won after eliminating Mara Sade. Instead, Threat popped back in and sent Blanchard to the floor to secure the victory and a future Knockouts Championship opportunity.


Mike Santana cut a focused promo acknowledging Nic Nemeth and Eddie Edwards’ world title opportunities, warning that he sees “the snakes” lurking. Leon Slater also returned from visa-related absence and shot down the idea of using Option C — especially against Santana.

Oh — and yes, Jelly Roll was in attendance.


TNA International Championship

Trey Miguel def. Stacks (c) to win the title

Stacks had Arianna Grace in his corner — and she didn’t hesitate to get involved. However, the referee caught her slapping Trey Miguel and ejected her from ringside.

From there, Trey turned the tide. A sliding DDT on the floor shifted momentum before he put Stacks away with the Lightning Spiral to capture the International Championship.

Trouble in paradise for the “power couple.”


AJ Francis stormed the stage next, boasting that if Jelly Roll wants to wrestle in TNA, he’ll be waiting. Francis declared himself the real ratings mover and invited himself to commentary for the remainder of the night.


Mance Warner def. “Action” Mike Jackson

The 70+ year-old Jackson stunned the crowd with a suplex on the floor and a suicide dive. Warner recovered by avoiding a crossbody and leveling Jackson with a lariat before finishing him with a lifting DDT.

Post-match, Warner and Steph De Lander showed respect to Jackson — teasing a possible shift in attitude. A brief staredown with AJ Francis followed, but no punches were thrown.


Backstage, Arianna Grace berated Stacks for losing his title, warning him that one more embarrassment could mean the end of their relationship.


Knockouts Tag Team Championship

The Elegance Brand (c) def. Indi Hartwell & Xia Brookside

Mr. Elegance’s interference helped swing control early. Indi Hartwell eventually got the hot tag and cleaned house, but The Elegance Brand weathered the storm.

A brutal corner assault and their bow-and-arrow flying stomp finisher put Hartwell down for the three-count.

Moments later…


Mickie James Returns

Hardcore Country is back.

Mickie James stormed the ring and immediately targeted Ash. The Elegance Brand retreated before Mickie could land her jumping DDT, clearly setting up unfinished business.


Eric Young def. BDE

Before the bell even rang, BDE launched a series of dives onto Young. Once the match officially began, things turned nasty.

There was biting. There were low blows. There was referee distraction.

BDE nearly stole it with a Canadian Destroyer, but Young survived. A shove into the ropes knocked BDE off the top, and Young capitalized with a piledriver for the win.


Jody Threat celebrated her title opportunity until Tessa Blanchard and company interrupted. The trash talk quickly escalated into a singles challenge for Impact.


Knockouts Championship

Arianna Grace def. Lei Ying Lee (c) to win the title

Despite earlier tension, Stacks remained at ringside.

Lei Ying Lee dominated early with strikes and suplexes. Chaos erupted when Dani Luna appeared on stage, demanding the title shot she never received due to visa issues. Security restrained her, but the distraction gave Arianna the opening she needed.

Stacks attempted to assist with the belt. Lee fought him off, but upon returning to the ring, Arianna kicked the ropes into her face. She then struck with the Cobra — yes, Santino’s Cobra — before finishing Lee with a fireman’s carry knee strike to win the Knockouts Championship.

Arianna Grace is now champion.


Santino later confronted Arianna backstage, only for Daria Rae to answer the door. Rae verbally tore into Santino, accusing him of failing both professionally and personally. When Santino reached for the Cobra — it was gone. Rae warned she would fire him if he used it and reminded him of her MMA background.


Order 4 def. The Hardys & The Righteous

Questions about trust between The Hardys and The Righteous lingered throughout the match. At one point, they appeared fully united, even delivering stereo Twists of Fate and Swantons.

Late chaos saw Tasha Steelz throw powder into Dutch’s eyes. Mustafa Ali exploited the confusion, leading to a spinning side slam on Matt Hardy before Ali hit a 450 splash for the win.

Afterward, Elijah appeared with a guitar-case “casket” ahead of his upcoming match with Ali. Ali attacked a decoy, only for Elijah to emerge from inside the case and brawl with him.


Main Event

Mike Santana & Leon Slater def. Nic Nemeth & Eddie Edwards

The looming threat all night was whether Nemeth, Edwards, or Slater would cash in their world title opportunities mid-match, which would have immediately halted the tag bout.

Instead, we got chaos.

Steve Maclin brawled Santana into the crowd. The System interfered. The referee was knocked down. Moose ran in for the save and fought Edwards to the back.

It ultimately came down to Slater vs. Nemeth.

Nemeth connected with a Fameasser and signaled for a superkick, but Slater beat him to the punch with a spinning heel kick. Slater then soared with a swanton 450 splash to secure the victory in a breakout performance.

No cash-ins. No world title shockers.

Just momentum shifting across the TNA landscape heading out of No Surrender.

TNA No Surrender 2/13/2026 (Card)

TNA No Surrender – Friday , February 13, 2026 – The Pinnacle in Nashville, Tennessee

CARD

  • TNA International Championship: Stacks (c) vs. Trey Miguel.
  • TNA Knockouts World Championship: Léi Yǐng Lee (c) vs. Arianna Grace.
  • TNA Knockouts World Tag Team Championship: The Elegance Brand (c) vs. Indi Hartwell & Xia Brookside.
  • TNA Knockouts Championship #1 Contenders Battle Royal: Competitors TBA.
  • The Hardys & The Righteous vs. Order 4.
  • Mike Santana & Leon Slater vs. Nic Nemeth & Eddie Edwards
  • Eric Young vs. BDE

WWE SmackDown Preview 2/13/2024

WWE SmackDown airs live from the American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas. tonight on Syfy in the United States, due to the USA Network’s coverage of the Winter Olympics. International fans can watch the show on Netflix.

  • WWE Women’s Tag Team Championship: RHIYO (Rhea Ripley & IYO SKY) (c) vs. Nia Jax & Lash Legend
  • WWE Women’s Championship: Jade Cargill (c) vs. Jordynne Grace
  • Men’s Elimination Chamber Qualifying Match: Cody Rhodes vs. Jacob Fatus vs. Sami Zayn
  • Women’s Elimination Chamber Qualifying Match: Alexa Bliss vs. Giulia vs. Zelina
  • Rey Fenix vs. Trick Williams

WBD and AEW Shut Down Rumors Surrounding Brody King’s Dynamite Absence

Brody King’s absence from this week’s episode of AEW Dynamite quickly sparked speculation online — but both Warner Bros. Discovery and AEW are now firmly pushing back on the rumors.

The former challenger to MJF, who demolished the outspoken star last week to secure an AEW World Championship opportunity at Grand Slam: Australia, was noticeably missing from Wednesday night’s broadcast. That absence raised eyebrows, especially after Dave Meltzer reported that King had allegedly been pulled from the show at the request of Warner Bros. Discovery. According to the report, network officials were concerned King’s appearance could trigger more anti-ICE chants from fans, similar to the “F**k ICE” chants heard before his match with MJF.

However, WBD has flatly denied the claim.

In a statement issued to Wrestling Inc., the company made it clear they had no role in King’s scheduling.

“Warner Bros. Discovery did not have any involvement in Brody King’s upcoming AEW schedule,” the statement read. “Any speculation to the contrary is categorically false. Brody is scheduled to appear during the next AEW event, which will air this Saturday on TNT and HBO Max.”

When further pressed by Voices of Wrestling regarding the wording of the statement — specifically whether “upcoming” left room for involvement in King missing Dynamite — WBD reportedly reiterated that they had no part in his absence.

AEW also denied the rumors. According to Fightful Select, company sources stated that King’s absence had nothing to do with the network or last week’s chants. In fact, some within AEW reportedly said that Meltzer’s report was the first they had heard of such speculation.

So where was Brody King?

The answer appears far less controversial. PWInsider reports that King was among several AEW talents flying from LAX to Sydney, Australia, in preparation for Grand Slam: Australia. As a result, he was never scheduled to appear on Dynamite in the first place.

With King en route to Australia and a World Championship opportunity looming, it looks like this situation may simply be a case of travel logistics — not network interference.

All eyes now turn to Grand Slam: Australia, where King will look to capitalize on the momentum he built by steamrolling MJF and attempt to shock the world on an international stage.

WWE Holds Internal Meeting As WrestleMania 42 Ticket Sales Trail Behind Last Year’s Pace

WrestleMania season is officially underway, but it appears WWE has some ground to make up when it comes to filling Allegiant Stadium for WrestleMania 42.

After early reports suggested ticket sales for this year’s two-night spectacle in Las Vegas were lagging behind expectations, WWE has reportedly taken action behind the scenes. According to WrestleVotes Radio on Fightful Select, the company recently held a multi-department meeting focused specifically on boosting ticket sales for the April event.

The internal discussion reportedly involved multiple areas of the company being tasked with ramping up promotional efforts. With just over two months remaining until WrestleMania 42, departments were encouraged to implement new strategies to drive interest and increase momentum heading into WWE’s biggest weekend of the year.

Sales Numbers Behind Last Year’s Pace

Per WrestleTix, WrestleMania 42 has currently distributed around 36,000 tickets for both Saturday and Sunday. While that’s a strong number by most standards, it falls well short of where WrestleMania 41 stood at this same point last year. By February 2025, WWE had already moved approximately 10,000 more tickets per night for the previous Las Vegas installment, which ultimately drew between 56,000 and 60,000 fans on both evenings.

One notable detail: WWE reportedly has no plans to reduce ticket prices to stimulate sales. As of now, the least expensive seat available for either night sits at $266.80 before fees. That pricing strategy suggests the company is confident it can build demand through marketing and storyline developments rather than adjusting its premium-event model.

Watch Party Restrictions Stir Frustration

Adding another layer to the situation, Fightful Select’s Sean Ross Sapp recently reported that WWE is prohibiting WrestleMania watch parties at venues within a 50-mile radius of Allegiant Stadium. The move has reportedly caused frustration among local establishments, especially considering Las Vegas paid a significant site fee to host the event, with the expectation that WrestleMania week would drive tourism and related business activity throughout the city.

Blocking nearby watch parties could be viewed as an effort to funnel more fans directly into the stadium. However, it may also create tension with local businesses that were hoping to capitalize on the influx of wrestling fans.

Star Power Still to Be Announced

At the moment, only one match has been officially confirmed for WrestleMania 42: 2026 Royal Rumble winner Roman Reigns challenging CM Punk for the World Heavyweight Championship. While that’s a marquee main event by any standard, WrestleMania cards typically rely on a full slate of high-profile bouts to drive last-minute ticket movement.

With major storylines expected to intensify in the coming weeks, WWE will likely lean heavily on its television programming to build urgency and excitement. Historically, once the full card takes shape and celebrity involvement rumors begin circulating, ticket sales often receive a late push.

For now, all eyes are on how WWE’s internal strategy shift impacts sales momentum. WrestleMania remains the crown jewel of the company’s calendar, and with Las Vegas hosting once again, expectations are sky-high — even if the current numbers haven’t quite caught up yet.

TNA Thursday Night iMPACT! Preview 2/12/2026

TNA Thursday Night iMPACT!  tonight on AMC.

Watch on AMC, AMC+, & TNA+ (US), Sportsnet & Sportsnet 360 (Canada), TNA+ (internationally)

  • Moose opens the show
  • Albuquerque Street Fight: Mara Sade vs. Ryan Nemeth
  • Nic Nemeth vs. Rich Swann
  • The System takes on Mike Santana, Moose & The Hardys
  • We’ll hear from Eric Young
  • we’ll hear from Elijah
  • Moose opens the show

ROH TV Preview 2/12/2026

Watch ROH TV on #HonorClub at WatchROH.com 7/6c

  • Persephone vs. Julissa Mexa
  • The Von Erichs & Michael Oku in action
  • ROH World Tag Team Championship: L.F.I. (Sammy Guevara & Beast Mortos) (c) vs. Top Flight
  • The Swirl & Premier Athletes vs. ROH World Champion Bandido, Komander, Mascara Dorado & Xelhua
  • Lance Archer in action
  • Dalton Castle & the Outrunners in action