Author: John Bass

Chad Gable Reportedly Injured, Surgery Scheduled for July

Another name has been added to WWE’s growing list of injured stars — and this time, it’s Chad Gable.

According to a new report from PWInsider, Gable suffered an injury during a recent match with PENTA and is scheduled to undergo surgery in early July. While details about the specific nature of the injury haven’t been made public, there’s currently no confirmed timetable for his return to action.

The setback couldn’t come at a more frustrating time for Gable, who has been heavily featured on WWE programming throughout 2024. Since turning heel earlier this year, the former Olympian has found new life as the leader of the “American Made” faction — a group that has helped redefine his on-screen persona.

Gable now joins a growing list of sidelined WWE Superstars, including Kevin Owens, Rey Mysterio, and Liv Morgan, all of whom are currently dealing with various injuries. With WWE in the middle of a summer stretch packed with international events and ongoing storylines, Gable’s absence could shake up some creative plans, especially if American Made was being primed for a larger push.

Gable’s in-ring talent and versatility have long made him one of WWE’s most reliable performers. Whether playing the underdog babyface or, more recently, embracing his arrogant heel persona, he’s consistently delivered in high-pressure spots.

We’ll provide updates on Gable’s condition and recovery timeline as more details become available. In the meantime, fans can only hope the “Master” of suplex precision will be back sooner rather than later.

Pat McAfee Opens Up About WWE Raw Hiatus

Pat McAfee has been noticeably absent from the WWE Raw commentary desk since Money in the Bank earlier this month, and now the outspoken former NFL punter has finally addressed why he’s been off the air.

During a recent episode of The Pat McAfee Show, McAfee shared that he’s been taking some much-needed time to recharge. After juggling multiple roles and his surprise in-ring return earlier this year, the fatigue started catching up with him.

“Continuing to just like kind of catch up on life as a whole, post Money In The Bank, pre-Night Of Champions feels like a good time,” McAfee explained. “I was getting pretty exhausted there. So shout out to everybody at the WWE looking out for me too. Very thankful.”

Since McAfee stepped away, WWE has leaned on some familiar faces to keep the commentary desk running smoothly. Wade Barrett filled in during McAfee’s first week out, and Corey Graves — typically seen on NXT or SmackDown — has joined Michael Cole for the last two episodes of Raw. It’s expected that Graves will continue in the role until McAfee is ready to return.

What remains uncertain is whether McAfee will be back for Night of Champions in Riyadh, or if fans will have to wait a bit longer to see him back behind the mic. WWE hasn’t made any official announcement regarding his return date.

Earlier this year, McAfee stepped back into the ring for a surprise one-on-one match at Backlash, taking on Intercontinental Champion GUNTHER in what was his first singles match in two years. Despite a hard-fought effort, McAfee was ultimately defeated, though he managed to survive nearly 15 grueling minutes with one of WWE’s most dominant forces.

With his trademark energy and fan-favorite commentary style, McAfee has become a standout part of WWE’s weekly programming. While it’s clear he needed the break, fans are undoubtedly eager to see when he’ll return to the announce table — or maybe even back inside the squared circle.

WWE NXT Preview 6/24/2025

WWE NXT tonight on The CW at 8pm ET.

  • Fatal 4-Way Match determines who challenges for the NXT Women’s Championship at WWE Evolution: Jordynne Grace vs. Jaida Parker vs. Lash Legend vs. Izzi Dame
  • Heritage Cup Match: Noam Dar (c) vs. Stacks
  • TNA World championship: Trick Williams (c) vs. Josh Briggs

Ronda Rousey Biopic Finds New Life at Netflix with Director Augustine Frizzell

After years of uncertainty, the long-awaited Ronda Rousey biopic is officially back in the spotlight — and it’s heading to Netflix. According to a new report from Deadline, director Augustine Frizzell has signed on to helm the film, which is based on Rousey’s memoirs My Fight/Your Fight and Our Fight.

The biopic, which has been in development limbo since 2015, was originally in the works at Paramount after the studio secured the rights to Rousey’s first memoir. However, following a string of behind-the-scenes management shake-ups, the project was shelved and largely forgotten — until now.

Netflix has picked up the rights and given the green light to a fresh vision, with Frizzell reportedly impressing execs and producers with her passionate pitch for the story. A longtime admirer of Rousey, Frizzell dove deep into both memoirs even before her initial meeting, and sources say she instantly knew this was a film she had to direct.

But perhaps the most surprising twist? Rousey herself reportedly penned the script. After reading through several drafts from other writers and not quite connecting with any of them, the former UFC and WWE star took matters into her own hands. In just seven days, she wrote a version that stunned her agents — a move that reflects her trademark all-or-nothing approach, whether in the octagon, the ring, or now, in Hollywood.

Frizzell’s growing relationship with Netflix makes her a natural fit for the project. She’s currently set to direct half the episodes of the upcoming Netflix sci-fi series The Boroughs, and her collaboration with the streamer seems to be just getting started.

As of now, casting details and a release window for the Rousey biopic haven’t been announced, but with momentum finally back on its side — and with Rousey herself writing the script — fans could soon see her real-life fight story play out on the small screen.

Stay tuned to WrestlingNewsBlog.com for more updates as this project develops.

WWE Raw Preview 6/23/2024

WWE Raw airs live tonight globally on Netflix from the Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Ohio, beginning at 8:00 pm ET/5:00 pm PT.

  • WWE Women’s Intercontinental Championship: Becky Lynch (c) vs. Bayley
  • Queen of the Ring Semifinals Match: Jade Cargill vs. Roxanne Perez
  • King of the Ring Semifinals Match: Cody Rhodes vs. Jey Uso
  • Bron Breakker vs. Penta
  • We will hear from Seth Rollins
  • Sit-down interview with WWE Hall of Famer Bill Goldberg

WWE Reportedly Upset Over AEW Talent Appearing Alongside The Miz on American Gladiators Reboot

The revival of American Gladiators on Amazon Prime Video is generating a lot of buzz — and some behind-the-scenes tension. The show, which features former WWE Champion The Miz as its host, has cast several wrestlers as modern-day Gladiators, including former WWE Superstar Rick Boogs, OVW’s J-Rod, and former TNA Tag Team Champion Jessie Godderz. But what’s causing the biggest stir is the involvement of current AEW talent: Kamille and Wardlow.

According to Wrestling Observer Newsletter, WWE isn’t thrilled that one of their marquee personalities, The Miz, is sharing the screen with wrestlers still under AEW contract — even if Kamille and Wardlow haven’t been actively featured on AEW programming for a while. The concern reportedly centers on potential brand crossover, especially if the AEW stars are promoted on-air alongside Miz, or worse, if The Miz ends up in segments that could inadvertently shine a spotlight on AEW.

The tension illustrates WWE’s longstanding policy of keeping its talent (and by extension, its brand) distinct from rival promotions — a stance that’s being tested more often as wrestlers branch out into mainstream entertainment.

This isn’t the first time WWE has found itself in a promotional tug-of-war. Just last week on the June 16 episode of RAW, WWE took issue with Netflix airing a trailer for Happy Gilmore 2 — which prominently features MJF, a top AEW star, in a major role as one of Gilmore’s sons. WWE stars Becky Lynch and Nikki Bella also appear in the film, though in smaller roles.

WWE reportedly pushed for a customized trailer that completely omits MJF, which Netflix agreed to air during RAW. Despite Netflix’s desire to market Happy Gilmore 2 as one of its biggest summer titles, WWE is unwilling to indirectly promote AEW by giving screen time to one of its breakout stars.

From AEW’s perspective, there’s less cause for concern. Sources suggest that AEW isn’t bothered by Lynch and Bella being involved in the same project as MJF. While it’s unlikely that AEW will do a full promotional push for Happy Gilmore 2 — especially since Netflix isn’t a direct partner — the exposure MJF gains from the film is likely seen as a net positive, especially following the success of The Iron Claw last year.

As mainstream media continues to embrace pro wrestlers from all promotions, expect more crossover complications like these. While fans enjoy seeing their favorite stars in new arenas, promotions like WWE remain hyper-aware of where and how their brand — and their competitors’ — is represented.

AEW Collision Preview 6/21/2025

AEW Collision live tonight on TNT and Max at 8:00 PM EST rfom the Accesso ShoWare Center in Kent, Washington.

  • All-Star Eight-Woman Tag Team Match: Thunder Rosa, Queen Aminata, Anna Jay, and Tay Melo vs. Athena, Thekla, Megan Bayne, and Penelope Ford
  • AEW World Champion Jon Moxley vs. AR Fox
  • Shane Taylor vs. Swerve Strickland
  • AEW Women’s Champion “Timeless” Toni Storm to speak live

Backstage Friction Keeps Rush & Dralistico Out of CMLL Despite AEW Push

The wrestling landscape between AEW and CMLL has been shifting fast — and mostly for the better. Over the past year, AEW’s partnership with the historic Mexican promotion has opened doors that once seemed firmly closed. We’ve seen Bandido defend the ROH World Championship inside Arena Mexico, Mistico team with The Lucha Brothers, and even The Beast Mortos (formerly known as Black Taurus) clear a longstanding ban to appear at the AEW x CMLL “Grand Slam Mexico” show. But while many talents have benefitted from this new alliance, two notable names remain on the outside looking in: Rush and Dralistico.

According to Dave Meltzer in the latest Wrestling Observer Newsletter, both Rush and Dralistico have been actively pushing AEW to negotiate with CMLL on their behalf. Their goal? A potential program between Dralistico and Mistico — a feud that could light up Arena Mexico and generate serious buzz (and money) for CMLL. But despite the clear potential, CMLL isn’t budging.

The root of the tension appears to stem from past exits and burned bridges. Rush’s departure from CMLL back in 2019 was anything but smooth. Instead of appearing at CMLL’s marquee 86th Anniversary Show, Rush opted to wrestle for Ring of Honor’s Death Before Dishonor, a decision CMLL didn’t take lightly. Officially, the promotion claims it fired Rush — not the other way around — and they’ve harbored resentment ever since. The situation wasn’t helped by the perception that Rush encouraged talent to explore better-paying offers outside the company.

Dralistico, on the other hand, left CMLL under far less dramatic circumstances in 2021. At the time, he was performing under the Mistico persona and eventually chose to join his brothers in AAA. While his exit didn’t stir as much controversy, CMLL’s blanket stance on keeping both him and Rush away from their events still stands.

Interestingly, Dralistico reportedly respects CMLL’s decision, even if he’d jump at the opportunity to represent AEW and La Facción Ingobernable (LFI) inside Arena Mexico. But the door remains shut — for now.

With AEW and CMLL continuing to deepen their partnership, it’s worth watching whether time — and business opportunity — will eventually thaw the ice. A Dralistico vs. Mistico program writes itself, and fans across Mexico and the U.S. would be more than willing to buy in.

But until CMLL is ready to forgive and forget, the Ingobernables remain persona non grata in Arena Mexico.

Report: Fan Reportedly Goes After MJF at Hotel Following AEW Grand Slam Mexico

The buzz from AEW Grand Slam Mexico didn’t end when the cameras stopped rolling — and not all of it was positive. According to a report from Fightful Select, a fan allegedly attempted to confront MJF at the hotel where he was staying after the controversial conclusion to his match against Mistico.

Sources claim the incident occurred shortly after Wednesday’s AEW event, with one individual reportedly “going after MJF” in what appears to have been an emotionally charged reaction to the show. Thankfully, the situation didn’t escalate further. MJF was unharmed and, true to form, reportedly laughed off the encounter. According to those close to the situation, he remained in good spirits and even expressed pride in the electric crowd reaction he generated throughout the night.

MJF certainly gave fans plenty to talk about in Mexico. During his match with Mistico, the former AEW World Champion brought the heat by hitting a low blow, getting himself disqualified. He then ripped Mistico’s mask off — a major sign of disrespect in lucha libre culture — before mocking the crowd by donning the mask himself and flipping them off.

The post-match chaos didn’t end there. Members of The Hurt Syndicate — Speedball Mike Bailey, Kevin Knight, Templario, and Titan — rushed to the ring to check on Mistico and run MJF off, reinforcing their new alliance and continuing AEW’s cross-promotional heat in the region.

This incident serves as a reminder that while wrestling thrives on passionate fans, there’s always a line that shouldn’t be crossed. Fortunately, cooler heads prevailed, and the AEW star walked away unscathed — and apparently, even more fired up than before.

WWE SmackDown Preview 6/20/2025

WWE SmackDown airs live tonight from the Van Andel Arena in Grand Rapids, Michigan on the USA Network in the United States and on Netflix for international fans.

  • Undisputed WWE Champion John Cena vs. Ron “The Truth” Killings (non-title)
  • King of the Ring Semifinal Match: Randy Orton vs. Sami Zayn
  • Queen of the Ring Semifinal Match: Alexa Bliss vs. Asuka
  • LA Knight, WWE Women’s Champion Tiffany Stratton, Miss Money in the Bank Naomi and Nia Jax are expected to appear