Category: WWE

Update On Chris Jericho’s AEW Status And Possible WWE Return

Chris Jericho’s future in AEW appears to be up in the air, and it’s once again sparked serious talk about a potential return to WWE.

According to multiple reports, Jericho’s current deal with All Elite Wrestling is set to expire on December 31, 2025, unless a new agreement has already been finalized behind the scenes. As of now, there’s been no confirmation that an extension is in place.

What’s adding fuel to the speculation is chatter coming out of WWE circles. PWInsider reports that several WWE licensing partners are operating under the assumption that Jericho may soon be available for use on their products. WrestleVotes has also noted that some within WWE have been anticipating a Jericho comeback dating back to August of last year.

On the AEW side, Jericho hasn’t been seen on television since April 2025, when he suffered a loss to Bandido. Since that match, there’s reportedly been no creative direction for him, and his absence was especially noticeable at AEW’s Worlds End 2025 pay-per-view. With no on-screen role and no storyline movement, questions about his status have only intensified.

Outside the ring, Jericho has kept busy. He was recently spotted in Vancouver while working on an undisclosed Disney-related project. While details are scarce, it’s clear the former world champion is exploring opportunities beyond wrestling as his AEW contract winds down.

Jericho himself hasn’t exactly shut the door on WWE. During a December 27 YouTube livestream, he responded to questions about a return by saying, “You never know,” leaving plenty of room for interpretation. He has also previously mentioned that he expects to wrestle again “somewhere” in 2026.

Despite rumors circulating online, PWInsider has pushed back on claims that Jericho was set to appear on RAW this week, stating there was no credible sourcing behind those reports. Still, once his AEW deal expires at midnight on December 31, Jericho would officially be a free agent heading into the new year.

With WWE’s January 5, 2026 episode of RAW scheduled for the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, some fans believe that show could be the stage for Jericho’s return. If it happens, it would mark his first appearance with WWE since 2018 — and one of the more significant comeback moments in recent memory.

Penta Returns From Injury On WWE Raw, Saves Rey Mysterio From The Vision

Penta is officially back, and he didn’t waste any time making an impact on Monday Night Raw.

The masked star made his return from injury during this week’s episode, rushing to the aid of Rey Mysterio after things broke down following Rey’s match with Austin Theory. Mysterio had the bout well in hand before Logan Paul inserted himself, tripping Rey as he went for the 619 and causing an immediate disqualification.

The numbers game quickly caught up to the WWE Hall of Famer, as Paul and Theory laid into Mysterio after the bell. That’s when Penta’s music hit, bringing the crowd to its feet as he sprinted to the ring and cleaned house, taking out both members of The Vision and evening the odds in a big way.

Penta had been absent from WWE programming since late November after suffering a shoulder injury on the November 24 episode of Raw. His quarterfinal match against Solo Sikoa in the “Last Time Is Now” tournament was abruptly stopped when Penta was hurt attempting a diving hurricanrana from the barricade. The referee called for the stoppage, awarding the match to Sikoa as medical officials checked on Penta.

The injury also forced Penta to miss a highly anticipated appearance at AAA’s Guerra de Titanes on December 20, where he was scheduled to reunite with his brother Rey Fenix as the Lucha Bros. Instead, Rey Mysterio stepped in as a replacement for that match.

Now cleared to compete again, Penta’s return instantly injects fresh energy into Raw and sets the stage for what looks like a growing issue with Logan Paul, Austin Theory, and The Vision. More importantly, it puts a dangerous ally back in Rey Mysterio’s corner — something their enemies may quickly regret.

WWE Confirms Dominik Mysterio’s Shoulder Injury, Announces He’s Out ‘Indefinitely’

WWE has officially confirmed that Intercontinental Champion Dominik Mysterio is sidelined with an injury, and it doesn’t sound like he’ll be back anytime soon.

During Monday night’s episode of Raw, commentator Joe Tessitore announced that Mysterio is out “indefinitely” due to a shoulder injury. The situation was first hinted at earlier in the show when Liv Morgan mentioned backstage that Dominik would be gone “for a little while,” but the commentary team later made it clear that the absence is more serious than initially implied.

The injury reportedly occurred at AAA’s Guerra de Titanes event, where Dominik teamed with El Grande Americano against Rey Mysterio and Rey Fenix in the main event. According to reports, the shoulder issue happened during a DDT spot. Following that match, Dominik was noticeably absent from WWE’s holiday live event tour, further fueling speculation about his condition.

Earlier in the day, Bodyslam+ described the situation as an “injury scare,” noting that Dominik was in good spirits despite the setback. Still, WWE’s use of the word “indefinitely” suggests the company is preparing for a potentially extended absence.

At this point, WWE has not announced what this means for the Intercontinental Championship. Whether the title will be vacated, defended in Dominik’s absence, or put on hold remains to be seen. The situation is even more interesting considering Dominik is also the reigning AAA Mega Champion after defeating El Hijo del Vikingo at Worlds Collide back in September.

To make matters worse for Judgment Day, Dominik isn’t the only member dealing with health issues. JD McDonagh is also out of action as he continues to recover from surgery on his right hand, leaving the faction short-handed heading into the new year.

As always, we’ll keep an eye on updates regarding Dominik Mysterio’s recovery timeline and the future of the Intercontinental Title as more information becomes available.

WWE Raw Preview 12/29/2025

WWE Raw airs live today on Netflix from the Kia Center in Orlando, Florida with a start time of 8:00 pm ET/5:00 pm PT.

  • The Vision (Paul Heyman, Bronson Reed, Bron Breakker, Logan Paul & Austin Theory) to open the show
  • WWE Women’s World Championship Triple Threat Match: Stephanie Vaquer (c) vs. Nikki Bella vs. Raquel Rodriguez
  • WWE World Tag Team Championship Match: Dragon Lee & AJ Styles (c) vs. The Usos
  • Austin Theory vs. WWE Hall of Famer Rey Mysterio

WWE SmackDown Preview 12/26/2025

WWE SmackDown airs tonight on the USA Network in the US and Netflix internationally, taped from the Van Andel Arena in Grand Rapids, Michigan.

  • Ilja Dragunov‘s WWE United States Championship Open Challenge
  • Joe Hendry concert
  • Christmas Street Fight: Joe Hendry vs. The Miz
  • Charlotte Flair vs. Lash Legend
  • Giulia and Kiana James vs. Alba Fyre and Women’s US Champion Chelsea Green
  • WWE Undisputed Champion Cody Rhodes to appear
  • Drew McIntyre to appear

Update On Unhappiness Over Thea Hail/Blake Monroe Accident

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.

WWE NXT Preview 12/23/2025

WWE NXT tonight on The CW. The episode was taped last Wednesday along with next week’s show.

  • WWE Women’s United States Championship: Chelsea Green (c) vs. Sol Ruca
  • WWE Men’s Speed Championship #1 Contenders Tournament: Competitors TBA
  • Stacks & Arianna Grace vs. Shiloh Hill & Skylar Raye
  • Lola Vice vs. Izzi Dame

Report On Possible Upcoming WWE Main Roster Call-Ups

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.

Update On Andrade El Idolo’s WWE Non-Compete

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.

WWE Raw Preview 12/22/2025

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

  • Je’Von Evans vs. Rayo Americano
  • Bayley vs. Roxanne Perez
  • Rhea Ripley vs. Asuka
  • What’s next for Women’s Intercontinental Champion Maxxine Dupri
  • Gunther to appear