Category: WWE

Indie Legend Necro Butcher Signs WWE Legends Deal Despite Never Wrestling For WWE

Few names in professional wrestling are as closely associated with the independent scene and hardcore wrestling as Necro Butcher. That’s why many fans were caught off guard when the veteran brawler announced that he has officially signed a WWE Legends deal.

Necro Butcher, whose real name is Dylan Summers, shared the news through a post on Facebook, revealing that WWE approached him with an offer shortly after he left his previous job. According to Summers, the timing was unexpected, but the agreement has already opened the door for potential future projects with the company.

In his statement, Necro reflected on the significance of receiving recognition from WWE despite never having wrestled for the promotion. He emphasized that his career was built by working hard across the independent wrestling landscape rather than following the traditional path to WWE. He also assured fans that the deal would not affect his current bookings and that he intends to continue honoring his scheduled appearances.

Following the announcement, PWInsider’s Mike Johnson reported that WWE officials confirmed the agreement, describing it as the type of arrangement often referred to internally as a “nostalgia agreement.” These deals typically allow WWE to feature a wrestler’s likeness and legacy in various projects, including merchandise, documentaries, video games, and other content.

Necro Butcher’s profile has grown in recent years thanks in part to VICE’s Dark Side of the Ring. One episode focused heavily on his acclaimed 2005 match against Samoa Joe, a bout widely regarded as one of the most memorable matches in independent wrestling history. The documentary also highlighted Summers’ personal battle with Hodgkin lymphoma, a serious health struggle that left him using a wheelchair in 2020. Fortunately, he later announced that he had beaten cancer and was officially cancer-free.

Over the course of his career, Necro became one of the most recognizable figures on the independent circuit. He competed for a long list of promotions, including Ring of Honor, IWA Mid-South, Pro Wrestling Guerrilla, Full Impact Pro, Combat Zone Wrestling, Big Japan Pro Wrestling, and Juggalo Championship Wrestling, among many others. His reputation was built on an intense, no-nonsense style that often blended brawling and deathmatch wrestling, making him a cult favorite among hardcore wrestling fans.

Outside the ring, Necro also gained mainstream exposure through his appearance in the 2008 wrestling drama The Wrestler.

While WWE Legends deals are typically associated with former WWE stars, Necro Butcher’s signing stands out because he never spent time wrestling for the company. For many fans of independent wrestling, the agreement serves as recognition of a career that left a lasting mark on the industry without ever requiring a run in WWE.

WWE NXT Preview 10/06/2026

WWE NXT tonight at 8/7c on The CW.

  • NXT Women’s Championship #1 Contenders Battle Royal: Arianna Grace, Layla Diggs, Indi Hartwell, Xia Brookside, M by Elegance, Heather by Elegance, Ivy Nile, Kiana James, Adelicious, Lady Shani, Lizzy Rain, Thea Hail, Skylar Raye, Zaria, Izzi Dame, Kali Armstrong, Reina Volcan, Nikkita Lyons, Chantel Monroe, and La Catalina
  • Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic First Round Match: Sean Legacy & Dorian Van Dux vs Tokyo Bad Boys
  • Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic First Round Match: Shido Ash & Viktor Zanov vs Hank & Tank
  • Naraku vs. Shiloh Hill
  • Zilla Fatu goes after Lexis King

AJ Styles Makes Surprise Appearance To Rescue Son Avery Styles At Independent Wrestling Event

WWE Hall of Famer AJ Styles made an unexpected appearance over the weekend, coming to the aid of his son Avery Styles following a match at an Atlanta Wrestling Entertainment event.

Avery, who is continuing to gain experience ahead of his upcoming TNA Bound for Glory appearance, challenged Tristan Moody for the GWC Junior Championship on Sunday. While he came up short in his pursuit of the title, the drama didn’t end when the match was over.

After the contest, Avery was confronted and attacked by members of the Palmetto Boys, who launched a post-match assault on the rising star. As the beatdown continued, the crowd erupted when AJ Styles’ entrance music suddenly hit.

“The Phenomenal One” rushed to the ring and quickly cleared out the attackers, sending the Palmetto Boys retreating. AJ then helped his son back to his feet, sharing a brief moment with Avery in the ring as the two embraced and spoke following the save.

The appearance comes at a busy time for Avery Styles, who has been building momentum on the independent wrestling scene. Since signing with TNA at Lockdown, he has competed for promotions including GCW, Juggalo Championship Wrestling, and ETU while preparing for the biggest opportunity of his young career.

Avery is scheduled to compete in the Call Your Shot Gauntlet match at TNA Bound for Glory on October 11. To help prepare for the event, he has been training under former TNA World Champion Frankie Kazarian.

As for AJ Styles, the surprise run-in marked another rare wrestling-related appearance since retiring from in-ring competition. Styles officially ended his legendary career after facing GUNTHER at the Royal Rumble in January. Since then, he has transitioned into a new role as a coach at WWE’s Performance Center while also wrapping up his popular The Phenomenally Retro Podcast, which concluded last month.

While AJ’s wrestling days may be behind him, he showed he still knows how to make an impact when his son needed help.

John Cena Reveals New Details On WWE’s First-Ever John Cena Classic Tournament

John Cena has shared additional details about the upcoming John Cena Classic, including when fans can expect the unique WWE event to take place.

Speaking during a recent appearance on TODAY, the 17-time world champion confirmed that the inaugural John Cena Classic is currently scheduled for December 2026. The tournament was originally announced by Cena during WWE Backlash in May, but new information has now emerged regarding its format and overall concept.

According to Cena, the event will be built around the values and themes that have defined his WWE career, including hustle, loyalty, respect, perseverance, and overcoming adversity.

One of the most unique aspects of the John Cena Classic is that match results alone will not determine the winner. While the tournament will feature traditional matches, Cena explained that fans will have the final say in selecting the overall champion through a vote conducted during the event.

That means competitors will not necessarily need to win every match—or even win a match at all—to be crowned the John Cena Classic champion. Instead, audience support will ultimately decide who leaves the event with the title, creating a format that places as much emphasis on fan connection and performance as it does on victories and losses.

Cena acknowledged that the concept is a bold experiment and admitted he is unsure how it will ultimately be received, but expressed excitement about introducing something different to WWE programming.

While many details remain under wraps, the fan-voting system appears designed to reward the competitor who best embodies the qualities associated with Cena’s career, rather than simply the wrestler with the strongest tournament record.

WWE has not yet announced a specific date, venue, or host city for the event.

The company is currently scheduled to hold Wrestlepalooza in Australia on December 12, leading to speculation that the John Cena Classic could be connected to that show. However, WWE has not confirmed any relationship between the two events.

More information about the tournament is expected to be revealed in the coming months as WWE moves closer to its planned December launch.

WWE Raw Preview 10/5/2026

WWE Raw live tonight at 8 ET/5 PT on Netflix from the Enterprise Center in St. Louis, Missouri.

  • WWE World Heavyweight Champion Roman Reigns returns to Raw
  • Je’Von Evans & Penta vs. The Vision (WWE World Tag Team Champions Bron Breakker & Austin Theory) – Non-Title Match
  • No. 1 Contender’s Match for the WWE Women’s World Championship: Becky Lynch vs. Liv Morgan
  • Sol Ruca & Lola Vice vs. Judgment Day (Roxanne Perez & Raquel Rodriguez)
  • Rey Fenix vs. Ethan Page

WWE SmackDown Preview 10/2/2026

WWE SmackDown live tonight at 9/8c on the USA Network in the US and on Netflix for international fans from the Ball Arena in Denver, Colorado.

  • Men’s Money in the Bank Qualifying Match: Johnny Gargano vs. Cody Rhodes vs. Kevin Owens
  • Women’s Money in the Bank Qualifying Match: Candice LeRae vs. Tatum Paxley vs. Tiffany Stratton
  • Giulia vs. Blake Monroe

WWE NXT Preview 9/29/2026

WWE NXT tonight at 8 ET on The CW.

  • NXT Championship Match: Grayson Waller (c) vs. Mason Rook.
  • NXT Women’s North American Championship Match: Zaria (c) vs. Thea Hail.
  • Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic First Round Match: Fraxiom vs. DarkState.
  • Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic First Round Match: BirthRight vs. Mini Vikingo & Chazz ‘Starboy’ Hall.
  • Myles Borne to appear

Report: WWE Preparing For Naomi’s Return Following Jaida Parker Joining 946

Naomi’s WWE return may finally be drawing closer.

The former Women’s World Champion has been away from WWE television for more than a year following her pregnancy and the birth of her first child with Jimmy Uso. While fans have continued to speculate about when she might return, a new report suggests WWE is actively preparing for her comeback.

According to False Finish, WWE is currently making plans for Naomi to return to television in the near future. No timetable or creative plans were revealed, but the report indicates that her lengthy absence could soon be coming to an end.

“WWE is currently preparing for a Naomi return in the near future.”

While nothing has been confirmed regarding where Naomi would fit into current storylines, one possibility could be WWE’s ongoing feud involving The Bloodline and 946.

Jaida Parker Joins 946 On WWE RAW

The latest development in that storyline came during Monday night’s episode of WWE RAW, which featured a surprise appearance by Jaida Parker.

Early in the show, cameras showed a vehicle arriving backstage. Believing members of 946 had arrived at the arena, Jacob Fatu and The Usos rushed to intercept them.

Instead, Jaida Parker stepped out of the vehicle and claimed she was simply there to meet with RAW General Manager Adam Pearce before walking away.

That explanation turned out to be misleading.

During the closing moments of RAW, Parker was revealed as the person driving the vehicle that struck Fatu in the arena parking garage. After initially suggesting the incident was an accident, she made her allegiance clear by repeating 946’s signature phrase:

“Ain’t nobody safe!”

Parker previously aligned with Bronco Nima and Lucien Price as part of the Out The Mud faction in NXT before quietly moving away from the group in late 2024.

Naomi’s potential involvement at this time is just speculation, but would make sense given her long-standing connection to The Bloodline. She is married to Jimmy Uso in real life and has frequently been associated with the Anoa’i wrestling family throughout her WWE career. While she has rarely been directly involved in Bloodline storylines, her ties to Jimmy, Jey Uso, Solo Sikoa, and other members of the family could make her a natural fit if WWE decides to incorporate her into the ongoing rivalry between The Bloodline and 946.

WWE Raw Preview 9/28/2026

WWE Raw live tonight at 8 ET/5 PT on Netflix from the Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

  • The Bloodline to address Royce Keys and the kidnapping of Solo Sikoa
  • LA Knight will speak about WWE World Heavyweight Champion Roman Reigns
  • WWE Women’s World Champion Stephanie Vaquer will discuss her next challenger
  • Oba Femi has a message for The Vision
  • Lola Vice vs. Judgment Day’s Roxanne Perez
  • Big Cass vs. Dragon Lee

WWE Fan ‘Sign Guy’ Rick Achberger Passes Away

WWE superfan Rick Achberger, known to generations of fans as the company’s beloved “Sign Guy,” has passed away at the age of 67.

The news was shared by Lance Peterson on social media, who announced that Achberger passed away on September 27.

Achberger became a familiar face to wrestling fans through his regular appearances at WWE events across the country. Often wearing his trademark blue work shirt and red hat, he could frequently be seen seated near ringside holding signs during television broadcasts and premium live events.

Over the years, Achberger earned recognition from both fans and WWE personnel for his dedication to the company, reportedly attending as many as 40 to 50 WWE events annually. His most recent appearance was at the May 1 edition of WWE SmackDown.

While never an on-screen performer, Achberger became one of the most recognizable members of WWE’s fan community, with many viewers instantly identifying him whenever he appeared in the crowd.