Author: John Bass

The Rock Makes a Chilling Offer to Cody Rhodes on WWE SmackDown

The Rock may have arrived on SmackDown to announce WrestleMania 42 for New Orleans, but by the time he left, he had dropped a far more personal bombshell on Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes. In a dramatic in-ring segment, The Rock first extended his hand in friendship—before revealing a much darker intention.

“I Want Your Soul”

Earlier in the night, SmackDown General Manager Nick Aldis hinted that The Final Boss wanted a word with Rhodes, setting the stage for a tense confrontation. When The Rock finally addressed the WWE Champion, he reflected on their complicated history—how their paths clashed heading into WrestleMania 40, how their families had since grown close, and how much respect he had for Rhodes. At first, his words seemed almost benevolent.

“I want you to be my champion,” The Rock told Rhodes, promising to help him achieve all his dreams and even calling him his “brother.”

But the vibe quickly shifted. The Rock reminded Rhodes that last year, he had planned to main-event WrestleMania 40 against Roman Reigns—until Rhodes got in the way and even slapped him. That, Rock admitted, was why Cody was special. And now, he had an offer: Rhodes had until Elimination Chamber on March 1 to make a decision.

Rhodes, sensing where this was heading, asked if The Rock wanted a shot at his WWE Championship. But The Great One made his true intentions clear.

“No… I don’t want your title. I want your soul.”

The chilling declaration left the crowd stunned, as the WWE Universe tried to piece together exactly what The Rock meant by his ominous words.

The Rock’s Power Play

Beyond his challenge to Rhodes, The Rock also reminded everyone of his growing influence behind the scenes. He brought up his position on TKO Group Holdings’ board of directors—the parent company of WWE—and even joked that Ari Emanuel himself said The Rock practically owned the company.

That statement alone could have major implications. With The Rock’s power in both the corporate and creative side of WWE, is this a sign that he’s setting the stage for something bigger than just a match?

What’s Next for Cody Rhodes?

Now, the ball is in Cody Rhodes’ court. With Elimination Chamber just around the corner, what exactly does The Rock’s challenge mean? Is this leading to a match, an alliance, or something even more sinister?

One thing’s for sure—when The Final Boss makes a move, the entire landscape of WWE changes.

Stay locked on WrestlingNewsBlog.com for all the latest updates as this massive story unfolds!

The Rock Makes Major WrestleMania 42 Announcement

Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson made an appearance on “WWE SmackDown” on Friday and made a huge announcement for New Orleans, live from the city’s Smoothie King Center. The Rock appeared in the middle of the show with the announcement that WrestleMania 42 will take place in The Big Easy at the Caesars Superdome on April 11 and April 12 2026

The Rock’s Grand Reveal

Midway through the show, The Rock’s music hit, but with a unique New Orleans twist. As he stepped into the ring, the energy in the arena was off the charts. Before he could even finish his signature line, the crowd erupted, completing the iconic phrase for him:

“Finally… The Rock has come back to New Orleans!”

But The Rock had his own twist. He took the mic and declared, “Finally, WrestleMania is coming back to New Orleans!”—sending the WWE Universe into a frenzy. Fans even broke out in “holy s**”* chants as the People’s Champ basked in the moment. Always one to lean into the atmosphere, he led the crowd in a rendition of “When The Saints Go Marching In,” while balancing his persona between heel and babyface.

New Orleans Gets Its Third WrestleMania

With this announcement, New Orleans joins the select list of cities to host WrestleMania multiple times. The Caesars Superdome—now set to hold its third Mania—previously hosted:

  • WrestleMania 30 (2014): Where Daniel Bryan completed his legendary underdog story by winning the WWE World Heavyweight Championship.
  • WrestleMania 34 (2018): Headlined by Brock Lesnar retaining the Universal Championship against Roman Reigns in a match that left fans less than thrilled.

Now, the Superdome is gearing up for another historic WrestleMania in 2026, and with The Rock playing a major role in WWE’s future, speculation is already running wild on what this could mean for the event’s main event scene.

WWE SmackDown Preview 2/21/2025 – The Rock

Tonight’s WWE SmackDown will air live on the USA Network in the United States and Netflix Internationally, from the Smoothie King Center in New Orleans, Louisiana,

  • The Rock coming to SmackDown tonight. – The Rock took to social media hyping up his return to SmackDown, noting that The Final Boss is coming to handle business
  • WWE Tag Team Championship: DIY (c) vs. Pretty Deadly
  • WWE Undisputed Champion Cody Rhodes, Braun Strowman and Damian Priest vs. Jacob Fatu, Solo Sikoa and Tama Tonga
  • Judgment Day’s Liv Morgan vs. WWE Women’s Tag Team Champion Naomi
  • Drew McIntryre vs. Jimmy Uso

Scott Steiner’s Son, Brock Rechsteiner, Signs WWE NIL Deal

WWE has officially added another member of the Steiner wrestling dynasty to its pipeline, as Brock Rechsteiner, son of WWE Hall of Famer Scott Steiner, has signed a Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) contract with the company.

A Future in Wrestling After Football

Currently playing football for the Jacksonville State Gamecocks, Brock has long been on WWE’s radar. His father, Scott Steiner, previously revealed in a December interview with ESPN that his son fully intends to pursue a professional wrestling career once his time on the gridiron comes to an end.

The news of Brock’s NIL deal was confirmed by his brother, Brandon Rechsteiner, during a recent interview with Jim Varsallone. Brandon spoke highly of his brother’s potential, saying:

“My brother, he’ll be a superstar in WWE, for sure… He really wants to be in WWE. He has signed an NIL deal with WWE, so my dream for him would be to do really good in football, try to take it to the NFL, whatever that means, and then… he will be a WWE superstar because he’s so talented, and he has the charisma that my dad has.”

Following in the Family Footsteps

Brock’s cousin, Bron Breakker—the current WWE Intercontinental Champion—has already proven that the Steiner family name carries weight in the wrestling world. After transitioning from a football career to pro wrestling, Breakker quickly rose through the NXT ranks and is now a rising star on WWE’s main roster.

With Brock now in WWE’s NIL program, it seems like only a matter of time before another Steiner steps into the squared circle.

What’s Next for Brock Rechsteiner?

While he remains focused on his football career, this NIL deal ensures that Brock has a clear path to WWE once he’s ready to make the jump. If his athletic background and family pedigree are any indication, fans may be looking at a future powerhouse in the company.

WWE and TNA’s Groundbreaking Partnership Confirmed to Run Through 2028

The details surrounding WWE and TNA Wrestling’s unprecedented working relationship are becoming clearer, and it looks like this alliance is built for the long haul.

During an appearance at Monopoly Events’ For The Love of Wrestling convention, JDC (formerly known as Fandango in WWE) revealed a key detail about the agreement. According to JDC, WWE and TNA have signed a three-year partnership deal, meaning their collaboration will extend through 2028.

A New Era of WWE-TNA Collaboration

This revelation solidifies what many fans had speculated since the January 16 announcement of the partnership. Prior to that, crossovers between the two companies had already begun taking shape in early 2024, with TNA Knockouts Champion Jordynne Grace making a surprise appearance in the WWE Royal Rumble match. The agreement has since paved the way for further interactions between WWE’s NXT brand and TNA talent, creating exciting possibilities for both promotions. Given how historic this partnership already feels, the possibilities are endless.

Former WWE Stars The Colons and Elijah (Elias) Make Surprise TNA Debuts on iMPACT!

TNA iMPACT! delivered yet another shocker on Thursday night, as three former WWE stars made their presence felt in a big way. The show opened with TNA World Champion Joe Hendry doing what he does best—entertaining the crowd with one of his signature musical performances. But his concert was soon interrupted by two unexpected guests: The Colons – Eddie and Orlando (Primo and Epico Colon).

The Colons Arrive in TNA for “Business”

The former WWE Tag Team Champions introduced themselves to the TNA audience but made it clear they weren’t here for applause—they were here for business. Just as it seemed like they were about to get physical with Hendry, the lights in Full Sail University flickered, setting the stage for another major debut.

Elijah (FKA Elias) Joins TNA

When the lights came back up, fans were greeted by another musical act—Elijah, the artist formerly known as WWE’s Elias. Strumming his guitar, Elijah used his signature lyrical storytelling to confirm that he had officially signed with TNA Wrestling. Fightful Select later backed up the claim, reporting that Elijah had put pen to paper with the promotion, though details on the length of his contract remain undisclosed.

Main Event Set: Hendry & Marella vs. The Colons

Following Elijah’s unexpected debut, TNA Director of Authority Santino Marella wasted no time in booking a match. He announced that he would team up with Hendry to take on Eddie (Primo) and Orlando (Epico) in the night’s main event.

Elijah’s arrival continues the trend of ex-WWE talent finding a new home in TNA. After parting ways with WWE in September 2023 amid a wave of releases that also included Nic Nemeth (Dolph Ziggler), Ash By Elegance (Dana Brooke), and Mustafa Ali, Elijah re-emerged on the independent wrestling scene, making appearances for Wrestling Revolver, International Wrestling Cartel, and World Series Wrestling. He was also recently spotted in a social media teaser alongside The Righteous, an AEW and Ring of Honor-affiliated faction.

TNA’s Growing Roster of Ex-WWE Talent

With Elijah, Ali, and Nemeth now officially part of the TNA roster, the promotion continues to build momentum with a mix of familiar faces and homegrown talent. As TNA looks to re-establish itself as a top wrestling destination, the addition of these former WWE names could bring even more eyes to the product.

TNA Impact Preview 2/20/2025

TNA Wrestling will present a live episode of Impact tonight on AXS TV from Full Sail University in Orlando. The lineup includes:

  • NO DQ: JDC vs. Leon Slater
  • Tyriek Igwe & Tyson Dupont vs. The Rascalz
  • Rosemary vs. Lei Ying Lee
  • Tessa Blanchard in action
  • Joe Hendry in concert
  • We’ll hear from the Northern Armory

ROH TV Preview 2/20/2025

Ring of Honor will present a new episode of ROH TV tonight on HonorClub, with several matches announced. The lineup includes:

  • ROH World Television Championship: Komander (c) vs. Lee Johnson
  • Rachael Ellering vs. Abadon
  • Wheeler Yuta vs. Fuego Del Sol
  • Fuego, Dark Panther, & Sammy Guevara vs. Hechicero, Soberano Jr, & Barbaro Cavernario
  • The Gates of Agony (Bishop Kaun & Toa Liona) in action
  • Billie Starkz in Action

WWE & TNA Partnership Heats Up With TNA X-Division Champion Moose, Hardy Boyz Return To WWE On NXT

The working relationship between WWE and TNA Wrestling continues to shake up the wrestling landscape, and this week’s episode of NXT delivered another major crossover moment. Not only did TNA X-Division Champion Moose make his presence felt, but the legendary Hardy Boyz confirmed their return to a WWE ring for the first time in nearly five years.

Moose Confronts Oba Femi, Puts X-Division Title on the Line

NXT Champion Oba Femi was riding high after his successful title defense at Vengeance Day, but his celebration was cut short when TNA’s Moose made a surprise appearance. The reigning X-Division Champion wasted no time stepping up to Femi, making it clear that he wasn’t someone the dominant NXT Champion could overlook.

While the tension between Femi and Moose left fans buzzing, it was Lexis King who made the first move. Later in the night, King challenged Moose to a match next week in his hometown of Cincinnati, Ohio, with the TNA X-Division Championship on the line. This marks another huge inter-promotional showdown, as WWE and TNA continue to break new ground in their ongoing partnership.

The Hardy Boyz Set to Return to WWE on NXT for a Huge Match

The surprises didn’t stop there. During a backstage segment, No Quarter Catch Crew issued a bold challenge, calling out none other than Matt & Jeff Hardy for a match on next week’s NXT. The legendary duo, who haven’t competed in a WWE ring together since April 2019, wasted little time responding.

In a video posted on X (formerly Twitter), the Hardys not only accepted the challenge but confirmed they will be putting their TNA World Tag Team Championships on the line. To make things even more interesting, they personally invited the NXT Tag Team Champions to sit ringside and watch the action unfold.

This will be a massive moment for NXT, blending nostalgia with the current generation of talent. The Hardys are one of the most decorated tag teams in wrestling history, and their return under the WWE/TNA alliance proves that anything can happen in this new era of inter-promotional competition.

What’s Next?

With Moose vs. Lexis King and The Hardy Boyz vs. No Quarter Catch Crew both set for next week’s NXT, the show is shaping up to be one of the most must-see episodes in recent memory. The partnership between WWE and TNA has already delivered some shocking moments, and with major championship matches now in play, it’s clear this is just the beginning.

Could we see more TNA stars stepping into WWE rings? And what does this mean for future crossover events? One thing is for sure—next week’s NXT is going to be can’t-miss TV.

WWE Star Ricky Saints (Ricky Starks) Discusses Name Change And AEW Departure

The wrestling world just witnessed a major shift as Ricky Starks, now going by Ricky Saints, made his NXT debut official. On this week’s episode of WWE NXT, Saints put pen to paper on his new contract in a segment that also featured Ethan Page and Wes Lee, setting the stage for his first match in WWE’s developmental brand.

A New Name, A Fresh Start

Fans speculated for weeks about whether Starks would keep his well-known name upon joining WWE. The suspense ended Tuesday night when, after a heated exchange with Ethan Page and Wes Lee, Saints cleared the ring and finalized his contract. As the camera zoomed in, his new in-ring moniker—Ricky Saints—was revealed.

Immediately following NXT, Saints appeared on Busted Open Radio, where he addressed the name change and why he embraces it.

“It’s going to take time for [fans] to get used to it,” Saints admitted. “I respect that they care so deeply about me that they rebel against the name change. But at the same time, I am a product of New Orleans, first and foremost, and I want to pay respect to that as well. I think this is the best of both worlds and that means a lot to me.”

While WWE is known for altering ring names when signing new talent, Saints’ name still carries a connection to his previous persona. He reassured fans that, despite the rebranding, he’s still the same competitor they’ve followed for years.

What Went Wrong in AEW?

Saints’ move to WWE comes after an extended period of inactivity in AEW, where he had been under contract since 2020. Reports indicated that he originally asked AEW not to exercise his contract’s option year in late 2023, but the company did so anyway, keeping him under contract through early 2024. However, rather than featuring him on TV, AEW largely kept him on the sidelines until his release on February 10.

When asked what ultimately led to his AEW exit, Saints acknowledged multiple factors but didn’t pinpoint one defining issue.

“You could say it was Punk leaving and things kinda fell apart. Absolutely, I probably agree with you on that,” Saints said. “Or you could say Ricky didn’t play the politics well enough. Alright, for sure… there’s so many things you can say.”

His final AEW match was in March 2024 when he and Big Bill lost to Top Flight in an AEW Tag Team Tournament match. Saints suffered a stinger during that bout, which required an on-the-fly finish adjustment. After that, his time in AEW quietly faded.

“After that, no, no dice, no communication. No nothing,” Saints revealed. “And that is okay because… I ended up here. And it’s fine. Everything worked out.”

He also hinted that certain backstage veterans played a role in his creative stagnation.

“There are some people who stuck their nose in my creative business that shouldn’t have,” Saints said. “Veterans. And that’s it, I’ll leave it at that. And if they got a problem with me, they got my number.”

Looking Ahead to NXT

With his AEW chapter closed, Saints is set to make his WWE in-ring debut next Tuesday in Cincinnati. He will team up with Je’Von Evans to take on Ethan Page and Wes Lee in what promises to be an explosive introduction to the NXT audience.

While the road to WWE wasn’t smooth, Ricky Saints is ready to prove himself on a new stage. And if his debut is anything to go by, he’s wasting no time making an impact.