WWE SmackDown airs tonight on the USA Network in the US and Netflix internationally, taped from the Van Andel Arena in Grand Rapids, Michigan.
Despite ongoing speculation surrounding Warner Bros. Discovery’s future and the possible sale of its cable properties, AEW’s television situation appears to be on solid ground for the foreseeable future.
During a recent Fightful Select Q&A, Sean Ross Sapp addressed concerns from fans about what a potential WBD sale could mean for AEW programming on networks like TBS and TNT. According to Sapp, there’s currently little reason for alarm. Any sale of WBD’s cable assets is not expected to be finalized until late 2026 at the earliest, and AEW’s existing television deal already provides built-in protection through that period.
As it stands, AEW is guaranteed at least one more full year on its current agreement, with an additional option year that can be exercised. That structure is important, as it gives any potential new ownership flexibility. If a buyer sees value in AEW’s programming, they can simply trigger the option year and continue business as usual. If not, they can opt out without major financial risk.
One of the key factors working in AEW’s favor is its cost efficiency. Sapp noted that AEW covers its own production expenses, making the product relatively inexpensive for a network compared to scripted programming. In an era where cable networks are tightening budgets, wrestling remains attractive due to its steady ratings and loyal audience without the massive overhead costs of traditional television shows.
That balance of dependable viewership and low operational burden makes AEW an easy property to keep, even amid corporate restructuring or ownership changes. While Warner Bros. Discovery has not publicly commented on how a sale might impact its wrestling content, all signs point to continuity rather than disruption.
AEW President Tony Khan has also expressed optimism about the relationship, recently stating his hope that the partnership with WBD continues for at least the next two years. Given the contractual safeguards already in place and AEW’s value as a consistent cable draw, that confidence appears well-founded.
For now, AEW fans can breathe easy. Even with uncertainty surrounding the broader media landscape, Dynamite and Collision don’t appear to be going anywhere anytime soon.
AEW Worlds End – Saturday December 27, 2025 – Now Arena – Chicago, IL
An unexpected title change on WWE NXT has reportedly led to some backstage frustration, following what many believe was a genuine in-ring mishap rather than a planned creative decision.
On the December 16 episode of NXT, Thea Hail captured the NXT North American Championship for the first time in her career, defeating Blake Monroe. While the moment came across as a big breakout win for Hail on television, multiple reports suggest the finish was not supposed to happen that way.
According to Fightful Select, the original plan called for Monroe to retain her championship. However, during the match, referee Felix Fernandez counted the three-count, officially crowning Hail as the new champion. Those close to the situation claim Monroe may have been injured prior to the pinfall, though the exact severity of the injury has not been confirmed.
The report notes that Monroe herself, along with members of her creative team, were unhappy with how the situation unfolded. Some criticism was directed toward Fernandez for completing the count, but NXT management reportedly sees things differently. Both Shawn Michaels and Matt Bloom are said to have praised the referee for following protocol and calling the match as he saw it, rather than stopping the finish mid-count.
The timing of the accidental title switch reportedly added to the frustration, as WWE had already filmed a significant amount of content ahead of the holiday season. An unplanned championship change can complicate storylines, especially when episodes are taped weeks in advance.
Despite the backstage noise, fans shouldn’t expect Blake Monroe to be kept out of the title picture for long. The former AEW standout has been heavily featured since arriving in WWE earlier this year, and the company appears ready to course-correct quickly. On this past week’s episode of NXT, Monroe confronted Hail and officially secured a rematch.
That rematch is now set for NXT: New Year’s Evil on January 6, 2026, where Hail will put her newly won North American Championship on the line against Monroe. Many expect the situation to be resolved there, potentially with Monroe regaining the title.
New Year’s Evil is shaping up to be a stacked show overall. WWE has also announced a Women’s Championship match featuring Jacy Jayne defending against Kendal Grey, as well as an NXT Championship bout between Oba Femi and Leon Slater.
Whether the accidental title win leads to longer-term plans for Thea Hail or simply serves as a brief detour remains to be seen, but one thing is clear: this unexpected moment has quickly become one of the most talked-about backstage stories in NXT heading into the new year.
Tonight’s taped AEW Christmas Collision takes place from the Hammerstein Ballroom in New York City, airing on TBS and HBO Max with a special 9:00 pm ET start time. Tonight’s Collision will have a 2-Hour run time.
Tonight’s taped AEW Dynamite On 34th Street takes place from the Hammerstein Ballroom in New York City, airing on TBS and HBO Max with a special 6:00 pm ET start time.
WWE NXT tonight on The CW. The episode was taped last Wednesday along with next week’s show.
Several rising NXT stars may be getting the call sooner rather than later, as a new backstage report suggests WWE is actively lining up its next wave of main roster promotions.
According to Dave Meltzer on Wrestling Observer Radio, discussions within WWE have intensified following the recent Saturday Night’s Main Event special, with multiple performers now firmly on the company’s internal call-up radar. While names like Trick Williams and Je’Von Evans were part of the broader conversation, Meltzer specifically pointed to Joe Hendry and Sol Ruca as talents being seriously considered.
Meltzer noted that Sol Ruca, in particular, appears to have gained significant momentum after her appearance on the special, where she was positioned strongly against Bayley. That showing reportedly stood out backstage, with Meltzer saying he was told as early as the following Sunday that Ruca’s main roster future was already being discussed. While there’s no confirmed timeline for her move, the belief is that her call-up is no longer a matter of “if,” but “when.”
Another name drawing major internal praise is Oba Femi. Meltzer indicated that WWE sources see Femi as more than just a typical NXT standout, describing him as someone the company views as legitimate main event material on the main roster. That level of confidence suggests WWE may have big plans once he officially transitions out of NXT.
One of the key takeaways from Meltzer’s comments was the importance WWE placed on how these talents connected with a broader, more traditional WWE audience during Saturday Night’s Main Event. The response from that crowd reportedly played a role in accelerating discussions, potentially fast-tracking call-ups that may have originally been planned further down the line.
While nothing has been officially announced, the backstage buzz points to WWE continuing its trend of refreshing the main roster with younger, homegrown talent. If these reports hold true, fans could soon see familiar NXT faces stepping into much bigger spotlight — and possibly making an immediate impact — on Raw or SmackDown.
Andrade El Idolo’s path back to the ring just became a lot clearer, and it opens the door for some major possibilities across the wrestling landscape.
According to recent reports, Andrade’s contractual ties to WWE officially ended on December 12, meaning he is now free to sign with any promotion he chooses. While his WWE departure dates back to September, the biggest hurdle was a reported year-long non-compete clause that could have kept him sidelined well into 2025. That obstacle, however, has now been removed.
Fightful Select reports that Rush played a key role behind the scenes by connecting Andrade with an attorney and representative who has an extensive working history with WWE. That assistance helped lead to an agreement that waived the non-compete entirely. Since Andrade had not been paid by WWE since his September release, both sides were able to reach terms allowing him to immediately explore opportunities elsewhere.
As a result, Andrade could soon appear in AEW once again. Andrade is now free to negotiate with any promotion, including AEW, CMLL, AAA, TNA, or others around the world. There were also visa-related complications after WWE’s sponsorship ended, but those issues are reportedly being addressed, and Andrade is said to be back in the United States.
On the AEW side, Tony Khan has remained openly optimistic. During the Worlds End media call earlier this week, Khan spoke highly of Andrade, noting mutual respect and interest between both parties. While Khan stopped short of confirming any immediate appearances, his comments only fueled speculation that Andrade’s AEW return could be closer than ever.
AEW has reportedly been cautious throughout the situation, especially following Andrade’s surprise appearance on AEW programming earlier this year, when he aligned with Don Callis and attacked Kenny Omega. Once WWE’s legal stance became clearer, AEW aimed to ensure the transition wouldn’t create further complications.
Adding even more intrigue, Andrade recently announced his return to NJPW, where he is scheduled to appear at Wrestle Kingdom 20 as part of the United Empire. That confirmation further supports the idea that his contractual limitations are now fully behind him.
With his non-compete waived, international bookings lined up, and AEW interest still very much alive, Andrade finds himself in one of the strongest positions of his career. Wherever he lands next, it’s clear that his name is once again a major player in the global wrestling conversation.
Tonight’s episode of WWE Raw, which was taped on December 19, emanates from the Van Andel Arena in Grand Rapids, Michigan – airing on Netflix at 8pm ET/5pm PT
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