Tonight’s WWE SmackDown is the go-home show for Saturday’s Elimination Chamber premium live event and will air live on the USA Network in the US and Netflix internationally. from the Scotiabank Arena in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
It’s been nearly a year since Eddie Kingston last stepped inside the squared circle, and while fans have been eagerly awaiting his return, it looks like “The Mad King” is still battling through the recovery process.
Kingston suffered a broken tibia and additional injuries during an NJPW STRONG match in May 2024, where he lost the NJPW STRONG Openweight Championship to Gabe Kidd in a brutal no-rope, last man standing match. Since then, he’s been on the road to recovery—but it hasn’t been easy.
According to a new update from PWInsider, Kingston is dealing with more than just his leg injury. Speaking candidly about his struggles, Kingston admitted:
“S** is hard and when it rains, it pours. I f**ed my stomach up from stress and I am waiting for results, then back to physical therapy. I got new insurance that cost an arm and leg.”
While the original expectation was for Kingston to return sometime in summer 2025, it’s unclear if his latest health setback will push that timeline even further.
Despite the challenges, Kingston is still keeping his love for wrestling alive. He revealed that throughout his rehabilitation, he’s been immersing himself in classic ’90s wrestling—particularly ECW, AJPW, and NJPW—and encouraged fans to do the same.
Meanwhile, the title Kingston lost to Kidd has remained in the spotlight, with Kidd holding onto the NJPW STRONG Openweight Championship ever since. His most recent defense came at NJPW Battle in the Valley, where he fought Tomohiro Ishii to a 30-minute draw.
Kingston’s return to AEW and NJPW is still uncertain, but if there’s one thing fans know about him, it’s that he never stays down for long. Whether it’s this summer or later in 2025, expect Eddie Kingston to come back with a vengeance—and probably with a few more ‘90s wrestling tapes to recommend along the way.
With WrestleMania 41 fast approaching, WWE’s top stars are locking in their spots for the grandest stage of them all. Now, a new report suggests that Randy Orton could soon be back in the mix, just in time for the event in Las Vegas, Nevada.
According to PWInsider Elite, Orton is expected to return to WWE by March, potentially making his in-ring comeback during WWE’s Road to WrestleMania tour in Europe. This timeline would put “The Viper” on track to compete at WrestleMania itself, marking his 19th appearance at WWE’s biggest event.
Orton has been out of action since November 2024 after WWE says he suffered a cervical cord neurapraxia following a brutal piledriver from Kevin Owens. The injury put a sudden halt to Orton’s momentum, but with WWE officials reportedly expecting his return soon, the speculation has already begun about what his WrestleMania match could look like.
One likely scenario? A showdown with Owens. The two superstars initially teamed up heading into WrestleMania 40, joining forces with Cody Rhodes to battle The Bloodline. However, after Owens turned on Rhodes at Bash in Berlin, he also betrayed Orton, setting the stage for a heated rivalry. With Owens already set to face Sami Zayn in an unsanctioned match at Elimination Chamber this weekend, Orton could make his return soon after to reignite their unfinished business.
If Orton does compete at WrestleMania 41, it will further solidify his status as one of WWE’s most consistent performers on the grandest stage. With 18 previous WrestleMania matches, he trails only Triple H (23 WrestleMania appearances) and The Undertaker (27 WrestleMania appearances) in all-time history.
Despite missing WrestleMania 32 (2016) and WrestleMania 39 (2023), Orton has been a fixture at the event ever since his first appearance at WrestleMania 20 in 2004. Whether he faces Owens or another top WWE star, his return would add another major name to an already stacked WrestleMania 41 card.
With March right around the corner, Orton’s return could be imminent—will he get revenge on Owens, or does WWE have another plan in store for “The Viper”? Stay tuned as the Road to WrestleMania heats up!
Another name is hitting the free-agent market as “Legit” Leyla Hirsch is set to part ways with All Elite Wrestling (AEW). According to PWInsider Elite, Hirsch’s contract is set to expire at the end of February, and she has opted not to re-sign with the company. Since her deal is simply running out rather than being terminated, she will not be subject to a non-compete clause, meaning she’ll be free to wrestle elsewhere immediately.
Hirsch first appeared in AEW in 2020, making her debut on AEW Dark during the pandemic-era tapings at Daily’s Place. Her performances impressed AEW management, leading to a multi-year contract in March 2021. She quickly became a regular in the AEW women’s division, gaining traction throughout the year before entering a notable feud with Kris Statlander leading into Revolution 2022.
However, just as Hirsch’s momentum was building, an unfortunate injury derailed her career. In April 2022, she suffered a torn ACL during a dark match, which required surgery and sidelined her for over a year.
When Hirsch finally returned in mid-2023, she found herself primarily competing in Ring of Honor (ROH) rather than AEW’s main roster. There, she delivered standout performances, including a Texas Death Match against Diamante at Death Before Dishonor 2024 and a title challenge against Red Velvet for the ROH Women’s World Television Championship at Final Battle. Her match at Final Battle ultimately marked her last appearance under the AEW/ROH umbrella.
Now, with her contract expiring, Hirsch is officially a free agent, opening the door for new opportunities across the wrestling world. Whether she finds a new home in another major promotion or hits the independent scene, one thing is certain—she brings experience, resilience, and a hard-hitting style wherever she goes.
TNA Wrestling will present a new episode of Impact tonight on AXS TV, with NXT champion Oba Femi appearing on the show. The lineup includes:
Ring of Honor will present a new episode of ROH TV tonight on HonorClub, with several matches announced. The lineup includes:
Rumors have been swirling about Vince McMahon making a return to the professional wrestling industry, with speculation that he’s looking to recruit former WWE executives and experienced production staff for a new promotion. However, multiple sources have now debunked these claims.
On the latest 83 Weeks podcast, Eric Bischoff and Conrad Thompson entertained the idea that FOX could be involved in this supposed new wrestling venture. However, The Athletic’s Andrew Marchand reported that a FOX spokesperson denied any involvement with McMahon, stating that the rumors were false.
Additionally, Dave Meltzer addressed the speculation on Wrestling Observer Radio, firmly stating, “He’s not starting a wrestling promotion. I can tell you that.” While fellow analyst Bryan Alvarez mentioned that McMahon wants to start a company, Meltzer clarified that it would be an entertainment company—not a wrestling promotion.
Meltzer also pointed out that even if McMahon did launch a wrestling promotion, he’d face a steep uphill battle. Alvarez noted that he would initially rank as the fourth-biggest company in the industry, behind WWE, AEW, and TNA. Meltzer suggested that McMahon could eventually surpass TNA, but with top-tier talent already locked into existing contracts, establishing a competitive promotion would be extremely difficult.
After his highly publicized exit from WWE amid legal controversies, McMahon’s future remains uncertain. While he may be exploring new business ventures, all credible reports indicate that a return to wrestling is not on the table.
A major champion in WWE NXT is reportedly dealing with an injury, which may explain the high-stakes title match set for NXT Roadblock.
On this week’s episode of NXT, General Manager Ava announced that NXT Women’s Champion Giulia will face Women’s North American Champion Stephanie Vaquer in a rare double-title match, with both championships on the line. However, new reports suggest that this match may have been booked due to an injury concern.
Bryan Alvarez of Wrestling Observer Live revealed that one of the competitors is currently banged up and needs time off, though he didn’t specify which one. However, WrestlePurists and Ibou of Self Made later confirmed on social media that Giulia is the one dealing with an injury. PWInsider Elite also reported that the NXT Women’s Champion is hurt, though the exact nature of her injury remains unknown. Despite this, multiple sources confirm that Giulia is still scheduled to compete at Roadblock.
Giulia has been on a dominant run since capturing the NXT Women’s Championship from Roxanne Perez at New Year’s Evil on January 7. She successfully defended the title against Perez, Bayley, and Cora Jade in a Fatal 4-Way at Vengeance Day, and her upcoming clash with Vaquer marks her second defense.
With both titles at stake, Roadblock could significantly shake up NXT’s women’s division. However, with Giulia reportedly competing through an injury, fans will be watching closely to see how it impacts the match—and what the future holds for her reign.
AEW Dynamite will air live tonight coast to coast on TBS and will also air live on Max from the Frontwave Arena in Oceanside, California.
The wrestling world is buzzing with speculation that Vince McMahon might be eyeing a return to the business. Reports suggest that the former WWE Chairman could be looking to bring back ex-WWE executives and reconnect with veteran wrestling production staff. The topic was recently discussed on the 83 Weeks podcast, where Eric Bischoff and Conrad Thompson even speculated that FOX could be backing a new McMahon-led wrestling promotion.
However, The Athletic’s Andrew Marchand has poured cold water on those rumors—at least as far as FOX is concerned. Marchand reported that a network spokesperson denied any involvement with McMahon in such a project. He stated, “There is a report that Vince McMahon might start a wrestling company with FOX as a partner. If McMahon is planning that or not, I don’t know, but the FOX part is not true, according to a network spokesman.”
While McMahon’s next move remains uncertain, the idea of him re-entering the wrestling landscape isn’t far-fetched. After selling WWE to Endeavor and stepping away following multiple controversies, some believe he might not be ready to stay on the sidelines permanently. Whether this is just speculation or the beginning of something real, one thing is clear—when it comes to Vince McMahon, the wrestling world will always be watching.
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