Author: John Bass

Internal Reaction to Corey Graves Replacing Pat McAfee on WWE Raw Revealed

There’s been a notable change at the WWE Raw commentary table in recent weeks, and while the voices behind the booth may have shifted, WWE appears confident in the direction things are heading.

Earlier this year, Pat McAfee made a high-profile return to WWE television, rejoining Michael Cole at the Raw announce desk. However, following Money in the Bank, McAfee quietly stepped away for what’s now being reported as a hiatus stemming from mental exhaustion. Wade Barrett initially filled in, but Corey Graves has since resumed a more permanent role on Raw alongside Cole.

According to Fightful Select, McAfee’s absence doesn’t signal any tension behind the scenes. WWE higher-ups continue to hold him in high regard and fully expect to continue working with him in the future. However, the frequency of McAfee’s WWE appearances remains uncertain due to his growing list of outside responsibilities.

McAfee is preparing for the upcoming return of ESPN’s College GameDay, where he serves as a key analyst — a commitment WWE was reportedly well aware of. In fact, the company anticipated McAfee stepping away around this time to focus on college football season duties, which officially kick off in late summer.

As for Corey Graves, his return to the Raw booth has been met with positive feedback internally. While Graves had been working commentary for WWE NXT earlier this year — a move he publicly expressed frustration over back in January — sources say the situation has since cooled off. WWE officials now see Graves as a reliable and adaptable voice across brands, and he’s recently been praised for his performances on events like WWE Worlds Collide.

One WWE source described Graves as “versatile,” adding that he’s someone the company can plug into any show with confidence. His reemergence on Raw wasn’t just a short-term fix; insiders suggest it was part of a longer-term plan tied to the company’s evolving commentary lineup.

With McAfee’s WWE future still open-ended and Graves once again at the forefront of Raw’s weekly presentation, it looks like WWE is leaning on proven voices to steer its broadcast as the road to Fall season programming ramps up.

Backstage Disruption: SummerSlam 2025 Set Construction Hit By Severe Weather in New Jersey

With SummerSlam 2025 just days away, WWE’s production crew is racing against the clock — and the elements. As Superstars get ready for “The Biggest Party of the Summer,” the weather in the tri-state area has thrown a wrench into the ambitious plans to transform MetLife Stadium into a two-night spectacle.

Set to take place August 2 and 3 in East Rutherford, New Jersey, SummerSlam’s setup was hit hard by intense storms on Thursday. According to Fightful Select, severe weather forced construction to halt temporarily, with crews ordered to evacuate the field at approximately 2:15 p.m. ET. A protective shelter was also brought in to cover the partially constructed set, which reportedly features a multi-tiered stage design.

New Jersey and parts of New York were placed under a State of Emergency, as heavy rainfall and flash flood warnings blanketed the area. The inclement weather also disrupted air travel, with numerous flights into Newark and New York airports delayed or canceled — adding yet another logistical headache for WWE ahead of its biggest summer event.

Despite the setbacks, WWE officials remain confident that the set will be completed in time for Saturday night’s kickoff. Construction crews are reportedly on standby, ready to resume work as soon as conditions improve.

Meanwhile, the SummerSlam weekend is still expected to deliver a loaded card. Friday night’s SmackDown will go down at the Prudential Center in Newark, featuring Giulia defending the WWE Women’s United States Championship against Zelina Vega.

On night one of SummerSlam, CM Punk is slated to challenge GUNTHER for the WWE World Heavyweight Championship in what’s expected to be a hard-hitting showdown. Then on night two, Cody Rhodes will put his Undisputed WWE Championship on the line against John Cena in a massive main event that promises to be a generational clash.

Weather may have slowed things down, but WWE is pushing full steam ahead. The countdown to SummerSlam is still on — rain or shine.

Report: Hulk Hogan’s Cause of Death Linked to Private Cancer Battle

Report: Hulk Hogan’s Cause of Death Linked to Private Cancer Battle

The wrestling world is still reeling from the loss of WWE Hall of Famer Hulk Hogan, who passed away just a week ago. While fans and fellow wrestlers have spent the last several days paying tribute to the iconic figure, a new report has shed light on a previously unknown struggle Hogan endured behind the scenes.

According to Page Six, official documents have confirmed that Hogan had been quietly battling chronic lymphocytic leukemia — a type of cancer that targets white blood cells. This diagnosis was never made public during Hogan’s life, and his death has officially been attributed to natural causes.

Further details indicate that the 70-year-old legend will be cremated following his memorial services.

Close friends of Hogan, including fellow WWE Hall of Famer Ric Flair, appeared unaware of the cancer battle. Speaking on The Ariel Helwani Show, Flair shared that his last conversation with Hogan revolved around business ventures — specifically Hogan’s Real American Beer company and a looming $10 million lawsuit. Flair expressed deep admiration for Hogan’s charitable efforts, especially his longstanding involvement with the Make-A-Wish Foundation.

Flair also noted that Jimmy Hart, Hogan’s longtime confidant and frequent on-screen ally, gave no indication that Hogan was in declining health during their last exchange — which reportedly took place just one day before Hogan’s passing. This suggests that aside from close family and possibly Hart, very few knew the true state of Hogan’s health in recent years.

Hulk Hogan was not just a wrestling legend — he was a cultural icon. And while his death marks the end of an era, revelations like this highlight the quiet resilience of a man who chose to keep his personal struggles private while continuing to be a larger-than-life presence for millions.

TNA IMPACT Preview 7/31/2025

We are officially on The Path to Bound For Glory! Don’t miss an all-new TNA iMPACT! this Thursday at 8/7c on TNA+ worldwide, Sportsnet 360 in Canada, and at 9/8c on AXS TV in the US.

  • The System vs. First Class & Trick Williams
  • TNA Knockouts World Championship: Jacy Jayne (c) vs. Masha Slamovich
  • Mike Santana to address Slammiversary
  • TNA X-Division championship: Leon Slater (c) vs. Cedric Alexander vs. Jason Hotch
  • The Rascalz vs. The Nemeths
  • Sami Callihan will break his silence in an exclusive sit-down interview
  • Indi Hartwell & Dani Luna vs. Jody Threat & Arianna Grace

Drew McIntyre Returns to the U.S. – SummerSlam Tag Match Locked In

Drew McIntyre is officially back on American soil, and his WWE SummerSlam 2025 status is no longer in question.

In a video shared on social media, McIntyre confirmed he’ll be teaming with Logan Paul at this year’s SummerSlam — putting to rest speculation about his availability. The clip also featured a cheeky dismissal of The Miz’s offer to step in as Logan’s new tag partner, with Paul responding to the idea with a definitive “hell no.”

McIntyre, never one to shy away from humor, joked that country music star (and apparent heel for the night) Jelly Roll tried to stop him from making the trip. But, thanks to Logan Paul’s connections, a private jet was dispatched to bring the Scottish Warrior back in time.

Now, the match is set: Logan Paul and Drew McIntyre will go toe-to-toe with the unlikely duo of Jelly Roll and Randy Orton in what’s shaping up to be one of SummerSlam’s most unpredictable showdowns.

Whether fans are tuning in for the celebrity crossover appeal, the ongoing tension with Orton, or just to see if Jelly Roll can hang in the ring, this tag team clash is bound to get people talking.

AEW Collision Preview 7/31/2025

AEW Collision airs live again Thursday Night from the Byline Bank Aragon Ballroom in Chicago, Illinois as part of the promotion’s residency with the venue on TBS and HBO Max.

  • TNT Championship – Chicago Street Fight: Dustin Rhodes (c) vs. Kyle Fletcher
  • AEW World Tag Team Eliminator Tournament Quarterfinal: Gates of Agony vs. Brodido (Brody King & Bandido)
  • AEW World Tag Team Eliminator Tournament Semifinal: FTR vs. Bang Bang Gang (Austin Gunn & Juice Robinson)
  • Willow Nightingale vs. Thekla
  • Kris Statlander in action

WWE Dynamite Preview 7/30/2025

AEW Dynamite airs live again from the Byline Bank Aragon Ballroom in Chicago, Illinois as part of the promotion’s residency with the venue on TBS and HBO Max.

  • AEW World Heavyweight Championship (Everyone is banned from ringside): “Hangman” Adam Page (c) vs. Jon Moxley
  • AEW World Tag Team Eliminator Tournament: The Outrunners vs. The Young Bucks
  • MJF will appear live

Former WWE Tag Champs The War Raiders Set For Bloodsport XIV, Natalya vs. TNA’s Masha Slamovich, Plus a Few Other WWE Stars

While WWE gears up for its two-night SummerSlam extravaganza at MetLife Stadium this weekend, the underground fight scene in pro wrestling is heating up just a short drive away. Game Changer Wrestling’s Josh Barnett’s Bloodsport XIV is set to kick off Saturday afternoon in New Jersey, and a pair of former WWE World Tag Team Champions are officially stepping into the no-ropes ring for the very first time.

Josh Barnett took to social media to break the news himself, declaring: “WAR is coming to Bloodsport.” That’s right—Erik and Ivar, collectively known as The War Raiders, are making their long-awaited debut at the gritty hybrid shoot-style event.

Last seen on the July 10 episode of WWE Main Event, where they steamrolled LWO’s Joaquin Wilde and Cruz Del Toro, Erik and Ivar will now test their mettle in one of wrestling’s most unforgiving formats. True to Bloodsport tradition, their match will be contested in a ring stripped of ropes and turnbuckles, with a hard-hitting MMA-meets-pro-wrestling ruleset. Their opponents for the event have yet to be revealed.

They won’t be the only WWE talents on the card, either. Raw veteran Natalya is set to face off against TNA Wrestling’s dangerous and unpredictable Masha Slamovich, while SmackDown‘s Pete Dunne brings his brutal British strong style to a clash with Jonathan Gresham. Also announced: NXT’s Charlie Dempsey returns to Bloodsport following his loss to Tavion Heights earlier this month. His opponent remains under wraps for now.

WWE’s growing crossover with Bloodsport isn’t exactly new. Last year’s Bloodsport X featured Shayna Baszler and Charlie Dempsey, both of whom picked up big wins—Baszler over Slamovich (with Zoey Stark in her corner) and Dempsey over Matt Makowski. The appearances signaled a surprising but intriguing collaboration between WWE and GCW, one that seems to be gaining more momentum with each event.

Josh Barnett’s Bloodsport XIV kicks off Saturday at 1 PM ET, offering a violent, visceral counterpoint to the polished spectacle of SummerSlam. Whether it’s WWE talent, indie legends, or international heavy-hitters, expect no frills—just fights.

Backstage Update on Pete Dunne: What’s the Bruiserweight Been Up To?

It’s been a quiet few months for Pete Dunne on WWE TV, and fans have been wondering what’s next for the Bruiserweight—especially after his New Catch Republic partner, Tyler Bate, made a brief return earlier this year. While the duo had a glimmer of main roster exposure with a short-lived feud and an appearance in the Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royal, they’ve since faded from the spotlight, primarily popping up on “WWE Main Event.”

But behind the scenes, Dunne has been far from idle.

According to Wrestling Observer Radio’s Dave Meltzer, Dunne has been putting in work backstage with WWE’s involvement in AAA (Lucha Libre AAA Worldwide), though the specifics of his role are still under wraps. Meltzer noted that Dunne hasn’t wrestled for AAA, but has been a consistent backstage presence at shows, potentially in a producer or agent-like capacity.

“Pete Dunne’s now working on… kind of the AAA side anyway right now,” Meltzer said. “They’re using him as… I don’t know if it’s like an agent or whatever.”

The revelation came during a conversation about this week’s Raw, where Finn Bálor and JD McDonagh defended the World Tag Team Titles against Legado Del Fantasma members Cruz del Toro and Joaquin Wilde. The match featured interference from a mysterious third El Grande Americano—an increasingly recurring masked gimmick on WWE TV that has previously involved Ludwig Kaiser and Chad Gable. While Meltzer didn’t confirm Dunne was under the mask this time, he acknowledged it’s “possible,” even if he remained skeptical.

So what does all this mean for Dunne’s future?

WWE might be testing the waters with him in a backstage role or simply keeping him engaged while creative determines the next on-screen step. With Triple H’s increasing influence behind the curtain and a track record of reinvigorating overlooked talent, a repackaged or re-energized Dunne might not be out of the question—especially with Bate back in circulation.

For now, Dunne fans will have to stay tuned. Whether he’s working in gorilla, donning a mask as El Grande Americano, or plotting his in-ring return, it’s clear WWE still sees value in the Bruiserweight—even if it’s just not on our screens… yet.

WWE NXT Preview 7/29/2025

WWE NXT tonight on The CW.

  • NXT North American Championship: Ethan Page (c) vs. Santino Marella
  • Jaida Parker vs. Jazmyn Nyx
  • Lash Legend vs. Fallon Henley