Author: John Bass

Jake “The Snake” Roberts Undergoes Successful Hip Surgery

WWE Hall of Famer Jake “The Snake” Roberts is on the mend following a successful surgical procedure this week.

According to an update shared by his wife Cheryl Roberts, the legendary wrestler underwent hip surgery on Tuesday and is already back home recovering. Cheryl took to Facebook later that evening to let fans know the operation went extremely well and thanked everyone for the outpouring of support.

PWInsider later clarified that the procedure was a hip revision surgery, meant to address complications from a prior hip replacement that had become an issue. Given Roberts’ well-documented health battles over the years, the positive outcome is especially encouraging news for longtime fans.

Since officially stepping away from in-ring competition in 2018, Roberts has dealt with multiple medical challenges but has remained active in the wrestling world in other ways. He is currently signed to a WWE Legends contract, though he has also made occasional appearances in AEW. Last year, Roberts openly discussed how WWE approved those AEW appearances, noting that the company was supportive as long as it made business sense.

At 69 years old, Jake Roberts continues to be one of the most respected minds and personalities in professional wrestling, with a legacy that stretches across generations. Hearing that his surgery went smoothly is a welcome update for anyone who grew up watching “The Snake” captivate audiences with his promos and psychology.

We echo the well wishes being sent his way and hope Jake Roberts enjoys a smooth, full recovery.

WWE NXT New Year’s Evil 1/6/2026

WWE NXT ‘New Year’s Evil’ tonight live at 8e/7c on the CW.

  • Tatum Paxley vs. Izzi Dame 
  • NXT Women’s North American Champion: Thea Hail (c) vs. Blake Monroe
  • NXT Women’s Championship: Jacy Jayne (c) vs. Evolve Women’s Champion Kendal Grey
  • NXT Championship: Oba Femi (c) vs. TNA X-Division Champion Leon Slater

Report: Tommaso Ciampa Set to Exit WWE as Contract Nears Expiration

Tommaso Ciampa’s run with WWE appears to be nearing its end, as a new report has added important context to his current contract situation.

As previously noted over the weekend, Ciampa’s WWE deal is expected to expire soon and is not believed to be renewed. While initial reports were light on details, the latest episode of Wrestling Observer Radio has clarified that the decision was likely Ciampa’s to make.

According to the report, Ciampa informed WWE roughly five weeks ago that he would not be renewing his contract. At this time, there’s no indication that WWE pushed him out, with the choice said to have come from Ciampa himself. The specific reasons behind his decision have not been made public.

In recent weeks, WWE programming has subtly reflected Ciampa’s absence. Johnny Gargano and Candice LeRae have continued appearing on SmackDown without him, including during last week’s episode, signaling a possible creative shift ahead of his reported departure.

Ciampa has yet to comment publicly on the situation, and there is no information regarding where he may land next. If this does mark the end of his WWE tenure, it would close the book on an accomplished run. Ciampa is a former two-time NXT World Champion, a two-time WWE Tag Team Champion, and a former NXT Tag Team Champion, cementing his legacy as one of the most influential figures of the black-and-gold NXT era.

His most recent WWE appearance came on the December 19 episode of SmackDown. As Ciampa’s contract situation continues to develop, fans will be watching closely to see what the next chapter holds for “The Blackheart.”

WWE’s Longtime TV Partner USA Network Sold To Versant

A major shift in the television landscape has quietly closed the book on one of WWE’s most important partnerships of the modern era.

This week, USA Network officially separated from NBCUniversal as Versant completed its debut on NASDAQ, finalizing the sale of NBCUniversal’s cable holdings. With the move, USA Network is now fully owned by Versant, bringing an end to a relationship between NBCUniversal and USA that stretched back more than two decades.

For wrestling fans, the news carries significant historical weight. USA Network has been synonymous with WWE programming for much of the past 30 years. WWE RAW famously debuted on USA in 1993, helping redefine weekly pro wrestling television and becoming one of cable’s most consistent primetime draws. Although RAW briefly left the network in 2000, it returned in 2005 and remained a cornerstone of USA’s lineup for nearly 20 years.

USA’s ties to WWE didn’t stop there. The network has aired SmackDown during several major runs, most recently bringing the blue brand back in 2024. NXT also joined USA in 2019, giving the network a period where all three of WWE’s flagship weekly shows aired under the same roof — a rare and highly influential stretch for both sides.

The USA Network–NBC connection dates back to 2004, when NBCUniversal unified its broadcast and cable properties. Over the next 21 years, that partnership became deeply intertwined with WWE’s rise during the cable television boom of the 2000s and 2010s. This week’s separation officially closes that chapter, with both brands now moving forward independently.

Under Versant’s ownership, USA Network joins a portfolio that includes CNBC, E!, Syfy, Golf Channel, Oxygen, Rotten Tomatoes, and Fandango. The restructuring reshapes the broader entertainment landscape and could have ripple effects across sports and live programming as new strategies take shape.

While WWE’s current television plans — including SmackDown’s ongoing run — are not immediately affected, the sale could play a role in future rights negotiations once existing deals expire. As the media industry continues to evolve, USA Network’s sale marks a turning point for one of cable television’s most iconic homes for professional wrestling.

Report – Update On Women’s World Champion Stephanie Vaquer’s ‘Legit Injury’ After WWE RAW

There may be real concern surrounding Stephanie Vaquer after this week’s episode of WWE RAW, as a new report confirms that her apparent injury is not just part of a storyline.

During RAW, WWE subtly hinted that Vaquer could be dealing with an injury, especially after she was attacked by Raquel Rodriguez following her in-ring segment. The angle immediately sparked speculation among fans that the attack was designed to write Vaquer off television, raising questions about whether the injury was legitimate.

According to Sean Ross Sapp of Fightful Select, those concerns are valid. Sapp has confirmed that Vaquer is indeed dealing with a real injury, though the exact severity remains unknown at this time. The good news, however, is that there are at least some optimistic signs.

Sapp noted that Vaquer has been seen wearing a walking boot rather than a full cast and was still able to do limited physicality. That combination suggests the injury may not be severe enough to require a long-term absence. With Vaquer having successfully defended her championship just last week, WWE may have some flexibility when it comes to managing her schedule.

If the injury turns out to be relatively minor, WWE could potentially stretch things out for several weeks. With the Royal Rumble approaching, creative could buy time through the Chamber event, allowing Vaquer to recover without immediately vacating the title or rushing her back into action.

For now, Vaquer’s status is something to keep a close eye on. While the injury is legitimate, all signs point to WWE hoping it won’t derail her momentum — or her reign — as the company heads into one of the busiest stretches of the year.

JBL Teases Big Plans For 2026

JBL may be approaching 60, but the former WWE Champion is making it clear that he’s not done with the wrestling business just yet.

In a recent interview with VideoGamer, the WWE Hall of Famer opened up about his current training and teased that he has something in mind that could materialize in 2026. While JBL stopped short of outright confirming a full in-ring return, his comments suggest that fans shouldn’t rule anything out.

Bradshaw revealed that he’s been training with respected wrestling minds Jody Malenko and Gerald Brisco, sessions he’s also been sharing snippets of on social media. According to JBL, the motivation comes from a genuine love of the business and a desire to contribute on his own terms.

He explained that he’s exploring an idea that would allow him more control than in past situations, particularly when it comes to how things wrap up. JBL noted that in previous attempts, plans shifted due to booking changes, something he’s hoping to avoid this time around. Whether his idea fully comes together remains to be seen, but he’s optimistic that something could take shape sooner rather than later.

JBL last competed in the ring during a battle royal in 2023, marking his first match in over a decade. Since then, his involvement in wrestling has mostly come through appearances and managerial roles across several promotions. He’s popped up in AAA, TNA Wrestling, GCW, and MLW, often serving as a veteran presence rather than an active competitor.

Interestingly, JBL also revealed months ago that he was preparing for a more substantial role in TNA, including in-ring training, before those plans ultimately fell apart. That experience may be part of what’s driving his desire to have more creative control this time.

While nothing is official and timelines remain vague, JBL’s comments make one thing clear: he’s not just training for fun. Whether it leads to a match, a storyline-driven appearance, or something entirely different, 2026 could see the “Wrestling God” back in a meaningful way — proving once again that in pro wrestling, retirement is rarely permanent.

Report On Chris Jericho’s AEW Status After Possible WWE Return Tease

Chris Jericho’s name continues to hover over wrestling headlines as fans speculate about a possible WWE return, but a new report suggests the situation may be far less straightforward than social media buzz would have you believe.

With WWE kicking off the new year and the road to the Royal Rumble officially underway, rumors picked up steam that Jericho could be on his way back to “Raw.” However, Fightful Select is reporting that there has been no indication from within AEW that Jericho has left the company. In fact, sources told the outlet that Jericho remains under contract.

Jericho reportedly re-signed with AEW following All Out 2022, with the deal said to run through 2026. While the former AEW World Champion has been absent from AEW television for much of the past year, his hiatus was written into storyline. After dropping the ROH World Championship to Bandido at Dynasty, Jericho told Big Bill and Bryan Keith that he needed to step away until his Learning Tree stable got itself back on track. Whether that time off resulted in any contract changes remains unclear.

Another notable detail is that Jericho is still listed on AEW’s official roster page. This stands out even more after multiple talents were quietly removed earlier this week following the expiration of their contracts. Fightful also attempted to get confirmation directly from AEW regarding Jericho’s status but reportedly received no response.

On the WWE side, sources told Fightful that Jericho was not part of creative discussions and was not included in plans for Monday’s episode of “Raw,” at least from what they had seen. That said, even those within WWE acknowledged that surprises happen and that misinformation isn’t exactly rare in wrestling circles.

Fueling the speculation further, WWE appeared to have some fun with fans when “Raw” General Manager Adam Pearce used the phrase “who can break down the walls” in a social media video promoting the show — a clear nod to Jericho’s iconic entrance theme. Despite the tease, both Fightful and PWInsider Elite reported that Jericho was not backstage at the Barclays Center for the show.

For now, the evidence points to Jericho still being an AEW talent, with WWE teases likely serving more as playful bait than confirmation of anything imminent. As always with Chris Jericho, though, the line between storyline and reality is never entirely clear — and that’s exactly how he likes it.

NJPW Wrestle Kingdom 20 Results 1/4/2026 – Hiroshi Tanahashi’s Retirement Match

New Japan Pro-Wrestling’s biggest night of the year lived up to the hype and then some. Wrestle Kingdom 20 took over the Tokyo Dome on January 4, 2026, and by the time the dust settled, NJPW had closed one legendary chapter while kicking the door wide open on its future.

The show will forever be remembered as the night Hiroshi Tanahashi wrestled his final match, but it was also packed with title changes, surprise moments, and major statements from the next generation.

Hiroshi Tanahashi’s legendary career came to an emotional close on Saturday night, but not before New Japan Pro-Wrestling delivered another historic Wrestle Kingdom from the Tokyo Dome. The January 4, 2026 event blended title changes, faction warfare, surprise appearances, and one final bow for “The Ace.”

Below is a full recap of Wrestle Kingdom 20.

Opening Match

Katsuya Murashima & Masatora Yasuda def. Shoma Kato & Tatsuya Matsumoto

The young lions set the tone with a hard-fought opener. After a competitive back-and-forth featuring suplexes and power wrestling, Murashima sealed the victory by forcing Kato to submit to a Boston Crab, giving the Tokyo Dome crowd an early glimpse of NJPW’s future.

NJPW World Television Championship

El Phantasmo (c) def. Chris Brookes

Phantasmo retained his title after a spirited clash with Brookes. Despite Brookes repeatedly cutting off the champion’s momentum and coming close with a Brainbuster, Phantasmo rallied with CR2 and capped things off with a decisive Thunderkiss 86 to remain champion.

NEVER Openweight Six-Man Tag Team Championship Rambo

TMDK (Zack Sabre Jr., Ryohei Oiwa & Hartley Jackson) win the match

Chaos reigned in the multi-team Rambo, with War Dogs, House of Torture, Bishamon, Team 100, and the defending champions all colliding. In the closing stretch, Zack Sabre Jr. neutralized Oleg Boltin’s power game and scored the final pinfall, crowning TMDK as the new NEVER six-man champions.

IWGP Women’s & NJPW Strong Women’s Championship (Winner Takes All)

Syuri (IWGP Women’s Champion) def. Saya Kamitani (Strong Champion)

Two champions entered, but only one left with both belts. Kamitani pushed the pace and came within inches of victory multiple times, but Syuri’s technical precision proved decisive. A Fujiwara Armbar followed by Syu-Sekai sealed Syuri’s status as double champion.

Eight-Man Tag Match

United Empire (Jake Lee, Andrade El Idolo, Callum Newman, Great-O-Khan & HENARE) def. War Dogs & Hiromu Takahashi/Shingo Takagi

This fast-paced faction battle broke down into chaos. Takahashi briefly stole the spotlight before Jake Lee shut things down with the Facebreak Shot for the pinfall. Post-match surprises followed, as Jakob Austin Young aligned with United Empire, along with the returning Francesco Akira.

IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship Contender Match

El Desperado def. Taiji Ishimori, SHO & Kosei Fujita

Alliances were temporary and chaos constant in this four-way. SHO attempted to evade danger but ultimately paid for it, as El Desperado capitalized with Pinche Loco to secure future title contention.

Event Announcements

NJPW officially announced “Death Vegas Invitacional” for April 16, 2026, in Las Vegas. Additional upcoming events include the New Japan Cup, Sakura Genesis, Wrestling Dontaku, Wrestling Red Zone (Hiroshima), and G1 Climax 36, including U.S. dates.

NEVER Openweight Championship

Aaron Wolf def. EVIL (c)

In a physical and interference-heavy bout, Wolf shed his judogi and embraced a gritty approach. Despite House of Torture’s involvement and EVIL’s trademark shortcuts, Wolf survived everything thrown at him. He ultimately rendered EVIL unconscious with a brutal submission to capture the NEVER Openweight Championship.

IWGP World Heavyweight & Global Heavyweight Championship

Yota Tsuji def. Konosuke Takeshita (c)

One of the night’s standout matches saw Tsuji outlast Takeshita in a grueling war. After surviving multiple Power Drives and near-falls, Tsuji locked in a deep Boston Crab, forcing Takeshita to tap out. Tsuji walked away as both IWGP World Heavyweight Champion and still Global Champion. Post-match, Jake Lee blindsided Tsuji, immediately establishing new tension.

Retirement Match

Kazuchika Okada def. Hiroshi Tanahashi

In the main event, Tanahashi’s final match delivered emotion, callbacks, and intensity. The longtime rivals pushed each other to the limit, with Tanahashi summoning flashes of his prime. Ultimately, Okada’s relentless Rainmakers proved too much, and Tanahashi was pinned in the center of the ring.

Post-Match Tribute to Hiroshi Tanahashi

After the bell, Okada bowed to Tanahashi and simply said, “Thank you.” The ring filled with flowers and tributes from NJPW legends and former stars, including Jay White, Will Ospreay, Kenny Omega, Kota Ibushi, Katsuyori Shibata, Keiji Muto, and Tatsumi Fujinami. Even former NJPW stars BUSHI and Tetsuya Naito appeared to pay their respect. Tanahashi closed the night with heartfelt words and his trademark air guitar, greeting fans as Wrestle Kingdom 20 faded to black.

WWE RAW GM Adam Pearce Uses Interesting Phrase In Preview Video – Fans Are Now Buzzing

WWE Raw General Manager Adam Pearce may have dropped an unexpected nugget that has wrestling fans buzzing ahead of this week’s episode of Monday Night Raw.

Pearce took to social media to promote the upcoming show, which doubles as Raw’s one-year anniversary on Netflix, and did so in a casual video filmed while walking his dog. While running down the card, Pearce used a phrase that instantly caught the attention of longtime fans: “break down the walls.”

The line, of course, is famously associated with Chris Jericho, and its use immediately sparked speculation online about whether the former multi-time world champion could be on WWE’s radar. Jericho has been absent from AEW television for months, with reports suggesting he’s nearing the end of his current deal, leaving plenty of room for rumors to swirl.

In the video, Pearce highlighted several major talking points for the night, including Liv Morgan’s first singles match in six months as she takes on Lyra Valkyria. He also emphasized that Raw will feature three championship bouts, with particular focus on the Women’s Tag Team Championship clash. Iyo Sky and Rhea Ripley are set to challenge the Kabuki Warriors in what Pearce described as a high-stakes showdown for the gold.

Whether Pearce’s wording was a playful coincidence or a subtle tease remains to be seen. WWE has a long history of leaning into fan speculation, and even a small reference is enough to set the internet alight — especially when it involves a name as big as Jericho’s.

What is confirmed is that the first Raw of 2026 will take place at Brooklyn’s Barclays Center, and WWE is clearly positioning the show as a major milestone episode. Between the stacked card, championship implications, and intriguing choice of words from Raw’s on-screen authority figure, Monday night is shaping up to be one worth watching.

WWE Raw Preview 1/5/2026

WWE Raw airs live tonight on Netflix from the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York with a start time of 8:00 pm ET/5:00 pm PT.

  • World Heavyweight Championship: CM Punk (c) vs. Bron Breakker
  • WWE Women’s Intercontinental Championship: Maxxine Dupri (c) vs. Becky Lynch
  • WWE Women’s Tag Team Title Match: The Kabuki Warriors (c) vs. Rhea Ripley & Iyo Sky
  • Raw is Stranger Things – (Stranger Things and WWE crossover)
  • Speculation on if Chris Jericho will return to WWE tonight