Author: John Bass

Update On Alberto El Patron’s Status With WWE & AAA

With WWE now officially owning AAA, several of the Mexican promotion’s top stars have already started finding their way onto WWE programming. But one name noticeably missing from the spotlight is Alberto El Patron — and his future remains very uncertain.

According to the Wrestling Observer Newsletter, WWE inherited Patron’s AAA contract when they acquired the company. However, the former WWE Champion hasn’t been used on television, nor has he been featured in major AAA events like Worlds Collide or Triplemania.

Despite still having a strong fan following in Mexico — with crowds regularly chanting his name during AAA shows — WWE has no immediate creative plans for Patron. His history of personal controversies, combined with his rocky past relationship with WWE, has reportedly made the company hesitant about committing to him in any major capacity.

Patron most recently competed on September 26 at an AAA affiliate event, teaming with Mr. Iguana in a winning effort. But storyline-wise, he was written out of AAA after losing a “Loser Leaves Town” match, further fueling speculation about whether WWE will ever bring him back into the fold.

At this point, Patron’s future is up in the air. WWE may simply keep him under contract without using him, or they could look for a way to test the waters with a one-off appearance down the line. For now, though, fans hoping to see Alberto El Patron back on a big stage will have to keep waiting.

Backstage News on Why NJPW Has Cut Back on U.S. Shows in 2025

New Japan Pro Wrestling’s footprint in the United States has noticeably shrunk this year, and new details are shedding light on why fans aren’t seeing as many American dates from the promotion in 2025.

According to Fightful Select, NJPW has only run three shows in the U.S. by the end of August. That’s a sharp decline compared to six in 2024 and eight in 2023 — and that doesn’t even factor in the company’s collaborative events with other promotions.

The reasons behind the pullback appear to be a mix of business and talent concerns. Ticket sales for NJPW’s American events have been slipping, which has made the financial side of the expansion harder to justify. On top of that, some wrestlers within the company reportedly aren’t enthusiastic about making the trips across the Pacific, leading management to rethink how often they stage shows in the States.

This isn’t the first time NJPW’s U.S. strategy has shifted. Years ago, the company pushed hard to build its presence in North America, bolstered by a roster of international stars. Even after the exodus of talent to AEW, NJPW pressed ahead with its expansion, introducing the STRONG brand during the pandemic to keep its U.S.-based wrestlers active. That initiative eventually came to an end, but NJPW still maintained some of its championships and sporadically held American shows.

The landscape, however, has changed dramatically since AEW’s arrival. With AEW now firmly established as the number two promotion in North America — and offering the kind of in-ring product that once drove fans to NJPW — New Japan’s influence outside Japan has diminished.

For now, it seems the company is prioritizing stability at home rather than overextending abroad. American fans may have fewer chances to see NJPW live in 2025, but the promotion continues to focus on strengthening its core product in Japan.

TNA Wrestling Is ‘In Active Negotiations’ With A New Broadcast Partner

TNA Wrestling may be on the verge of its biggest move in years, as company president Carlos Silva has revealed that the promotion is now in active talks with a new broadcast partner.

Speaking to TV Insider, Silva confirmed that negotiations have officially gone beyond the “feeling out” stage, with one network showing serious interest in bringing TNA to its lineup. While Silva stopped short of naming names, it’s worth noting that TNA has recently been linked to networks like The CW and A&E — both of which already feature WWE programming.

“We’re now in active negotiations with a partner,” Silva explained. “The good news is the process has started. We’re no longer just talking to a bunch of people to gauge interest. Now we have an interested partner, and we’re working through, potentially, a deal for 2026.”

TNA has called AXS TV home since 2019, but the promotion has been openly exploring new broadcast opportunities throughout 2024. With the company looking to expand its footprint — including a show earlier this year at Long Island’s UBS Arena — Silva is confident that a bigger television deal could be the next major step in TNA’s resurgence.

The timing couldn’t be more interesting, as TNA continues to ride the wave of mainstream attention from its ongoing working relationship with WWE. That partnership has brought more eyes to the product, and the company isn’t shying away from the competition either. In fact, TNA is set to go head-to-head with WWE NXT on October 7 when NXT presents its Showdown edition.

Silva made it clear that while there’s no finalized timeline just yet, the wheels are in motion: “It’s done when it’s over the finish line. We’re excited about it and keep pushing it forward.”

If TNA does land a new broadcast partner, it could mark one of the company’s biggest opportunities in over a decade — giving them a national platform just as momentum around the brand is starting to climb again.

TNA IMPACT Preview 10/2/2025

Witness the fallout from Victory Road as the Path to Bound For Glory continues on TNA iMPACT! this Thursday at 8/7c on TNA+ around the world, AXS TV in the US, and Sportsnet+ in Canada.

  • Fallout from Victory Road
  • TNA Knockouts Tag Team Championship: The Elegance Brand (c) vs. The IInspiration
  • Nic Nemeth vs. The Home Town Man
  • Tasha Steelz vs. Alisha Edwards
  • Xia Brookside & Lei Ying Lee vs. TBD
  • The King’s Speech w/ Frankie Kazarian – Special Guest Kelani Jordan

ROH TV Preview 10/2/2025

ROH TV tonight, streaming exclusively on HonorClub

  • Pure Rules: Yuka Sakazaki vs. Zoey Lynn
  • Pure Rules: Katie Arquette vs. Serena Deeb
  • Dralistico vs. Beef
  • Johnny TV vs. AR Fox
  • MxM TV (Mansoor, Mason Madden & Taya Valkyrie) vs. Skyflight (Top Flight & Leila Grey)
  • Aaron Solo vs. Jay Lethal
  • The Workhorsemen vs. TBD
  • Premiere Athletes vs. TBD
  • The Frat House Initiation

Andrade Returns to AEW and Aligns with the Don Callis Family

Andrade El Idolo has officially made his way back to AEW, closing the loop on one of the most unusual journeys we’ve seen in modern wrestling. After bouncing between WWE and AEW over the last few years, Andrade has now returned to Tony Khan’s promotion, making his shocking reappearance during the sixth anniversary episode of Dynamite.

The surprise came at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino when Kenny Omega was addressing the fans. Just as Omega was wrapping up a heartfelt promo, the arena lights went out. When they came back up, a masked figure was lurking behind Omega — only to unmask himself as Andrade. The former WWE and AEW star wasted no time reminding fans of his intensity, drilling Omega with his signature move, The Message. Moments later, he shook hands with Don Callis, officially joining forces with the Callis Family.

This return also marks a unique milestone: Andrade is now the first wrestler to make the jump from WWE to AEW, return to WWE, and then head back to AEW again. His career path has been anything but conventional, and this latest twist keeps him firmly in the spotlight.

What Led to His AEW Comeback?

Andrade’s WWE comeback earlier this year was short-lived. Reports suggest he was released in mid-September after disciplinary issues, despite still having significant time left on his contract. With no non-compete clause in play, AEW was able to bring him back immediately. According to Fightful Select, Andrade has signed on full-time with AEW, meaning fans can expect to see him regularly on Dynamite and Collision moving forward.

His first AEW run ended somewhat chaotically, with rumors of a backstage altercation with Sammy Guevara and speculation he was pushing to leave early. Despite that, Tony Khan spoke highly of him upon his 2023 departure, leaving the door open for a return — a door Andrade has now walked back through.

Andrade vs. MJF Brewing?

The timing of Andrade’s comeback is also interesting considering his recent online back-and-forth with MJF. What started as a playful exchange about meeting up in Mexico quickly escalated, with Andrade challenging Friedman to a potential Mask vs. Hair match. MJF brushed it off, but not before throwing some personal jabs Andrade’s way, referencing his divorce from Charlotte Flair and past backstage conflicts.

With Andrade now standing alongside Don Callis, who has been staking claims against the Hurt Syndicate (MJF’s crew), it feels inevitable that these two will cross paths sooner rather than later.

What’s Next for El Idolo?

Outside of AEW, Andrade is also booked for House of Glory’s Superclash on November 15th, though his opponent has yet to be announced. With AEW and TNA talent also set to appear at the event, his schedule looks busier than ever.

One thing is clear: Andrade’s latest AEW run isn’t just a cameo — it’s the start of a new chapter. And with Don Callis in his corner, it might be the most dangerous version of Andrade El Idolo we’ve seen yet.

AEW Dynamite 6th Anniversary Preview 10/1/2025

AEW Dynamite’s 6-Year Anniversary 2.5 hour special airs live tonight on TBS and HBO Max, beginning at 8:00 pm ET. from the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Hollywood, Florida.

  • TNT Championship Match: Kyle Fletcher (c) vs. Orange Cassidy
  • Mixed Tag Team Tornado Match: Darby Allin & AEW Women’s Champion Kris Statlander vs. Wheeler Yuta & Marina Shafir of the Death Riders
  • Trios Match: Death Riders (Jon Moxley, Daniel Garcia & Claudio Castagnoli) vs. AEW World Champion “Hangman” Adam Page, Powerhouse Hobbs & Samoa Joe
  • Trios Match: Josh Alexander & The Young Bucks vs. AEW World Tag Team Champions Brodido (Brody King & Bandido) & Kenny Omega 
  • Jurassic Express Returns (“Jungle Boy” Jack Perry & Luchasaurus)
  • “Timeless” Toni Storm to appear live

Why NXT/TNA “Invasion” Special Renamed To Showdown

WWE made a quick change this week to the name of its highly-anticipated NXT and TNA crossover special. What was originally announced as “NXT vs. TNA: Invasion” will now go forward under a new title — “Showdown.”

The event, set for October 7, was still being promoted with the “Invasion” branding earlier in the day, but by the time NXT aired Tuesday night, the name had been officially swapped out. The change sparked plenty of conversation, and it wasn’t just about WWE’s history with the “Invasion” label from the 2001 WCW/ECW storyline.

Why WWE Dropped the “Invasion” Title

The decision comes after backlash from Israeli fans and media outlets, who pointed out the sensitivity of branding the show “Invasion” on October 7. That date marks the second anniversary of the 2023 Hamas attack on Israel, which left over 1,200 people dead. Critics described WWE’s choice as “insensitive,” noting both the word itself and the accompanying logo — which featured a bold red “V” — unintentionally resembled imagery associated with Hamas.

One viral post on X (formerly Twitter) even highlighted the resemblance, questioning how WWE’s marketing team could miss the connection, even if it was unintentional.

WWE Responds Quickly

Once the controversy began to circulate, WWE and TNA quietly pulled advertising for the event before reintroducing it on Tuesday’s NXT broadcast with its new name. On-screen, the change was woven into the storyline by TNA’s Director of Authority, Santino Marella, who lightheartedly reframed the show as more of a “showcase” than an “invasion,” ultimately dubbing it a “Showdown.”

Behind the scenes, WWE wasted no time moving forward with the rebrand — filing a trademark for “Showdown” almost immediately after the new name was announced.

Looking Ahead

The rebranding doesn’t change the fact that this crossover is a landmark moment for both NXT and TNA, as two promotions come together for a rare interpromotional showcase. With “Showdown” now locked in, fans can expect the focus to return to what matters most: the matches, the surprises, and the potential for new dream encounters between NXT and TNA’s top stars.

WWE NXT Preview 9/30/2025

WWE NXT live tonight on The CW.

  • Lash Legend vs. Jaida Parker
  • Ava and Santino Marella choose their teams for InVasion
  • TNA Stars to appear
  • Newly crowned NXT Champion Ricky Saints
  • The fallout from NXT No Mercy

WWE’s Ridge Holland Sidelined with Serious Foot Injury After TNA Tapings

Bad news has hit Ridge Holland’s momentum. The NXT/EVOLVE standout, who has been a regular face in the ongoing WWE–TNA partnership, announced that he’s dealing with a significant injury that will put him on the shelf for the foreseeable future.

Holland was in action this past weekend at the TNA iMPACT tapings from the Edmonton Expo Centre in Alberta, Canada. On Friday, he wrestled at the Victory Road 2025 special, suffering a loss to Mike Santana. The next night, he stepped into the ring with Moose for matches taped to build toward TNA’s marquee event, Bound For Glory, scheduled for October 12 in Lowell, Massachusetts.

Unfortunately, things didn’t end well for Holland. On Monday, he took to Twitter to confirm the nature of his injury, writing:

“Lisfranc Injury. Surgery Friday. See ya in a bit.”

The Lisfranc injury — which affects the midfoot — is no small matter, often requiring surgery and months of recovery time. That means Holland will be missing a crucial stretch of TV, including Bound For Glory, at a time when WWE and TNA’s partnership has created some high-profile crossover opportunities.

It’s a tough setback for the powerhouse, who had been gaining traction by mixing it up with some of TNA’s biggest names. While no timetable has been given for his return, fans will no doubt be eager to see him bounce back once he’s cleared.