WWE SmackDown live tonight at 8/7c on USA Network and Netflix internationally from the Charleston Coliseum in Charleston, West Virginia.
WWE Hall of Famer Shawn Michaels is reportedly expected to take over Bruce Prichard’s responsibilities following Prichard’s anticipated retirement after WrestleMania 43.
According to PWInsider, Michaels is expected to “essentially” step into Prichard’s role as Executive Director of Creative Writing and Talent. Prichard is reportedly planning to leave the full-time position while remaining connected to WWE in a consulting capacity.
The potential change would see WWE promote from within, with Michaels moving beyond his current responsibilities overseeing NXT and talent development.
Michaels has spent the past several years leading NXT as its head and serving as WWE’s Senior Vice President of Talent Development and Creative.
According to PWInsider, the plan for Michaels to succeed Prichard has “been in place for some time,” suggesting the transition has been under consideration well before the recent reports about Prichard’s retirement.
The exact timing of Michaels’ move remains unclear. However, the report indicates that he is expected to begin preparing for the expanded responsibilities in the coming months.
In the new role, Michaels would work closely with WWE Chief Content Officer Paul “Triple H” Levesque, his longtime friend and fellow D-Generation X member. Their established relationship could help maintain continuity within WWE’s creative leadership as the company prepares for the post-Prichard era.
With Michaels potentially moving into a broader WWE creative position, attention has turned to who could take on more responsibility within NXT.
According to False Finish, AJ Styles is expected to become more hands-on with the developmental brand, with sources within the WWE Performance Center reportedly indicating that he could take on a larger role.
Styles retired from in-ring competition in February and has already been involved with NXT on a limited basis. Over the past few months, he has helped produce matches, giving him some experience working behind the scenes.
His potential increased involvement could provide NXT with another experienced wrestling mind as the brand continues developing its next generation of WWE talent.
However, no official announcement has been made regarding Styles taking over Michaels’ current responsibilities, and the precise structure of NXT’s leadership moving forward remains uncertain.
If the reported plans come to fruition, WWE could see significant changes to its creative leadership after WrestleMania 43.
Michaels would be positioned to assume Prichard’s responsibilities while potentially passing more of his NXT workload to Styles. For now, the timing and exact details of the transition remain unconfirmed by WWE.
With Prichard reportedly preparing to step away from his full-time executive position, the coming months could offer a clearer picture of how the company intends to organize its creative and developmental operations.
Bruce Prichard is reportedly expected to step away from his full-time role in WWE following WrestleMania 43, bringing a potential end to his current run as one of the company’s key creative executives.
According to PWInsider, multiple sources within WWE have indicated that Prichard is expected to retire from his position as Executive Director of Creative Writing and Talent sometime after WrestleMania 43. Fightful has also reportedly confirmed the news.
Although Prichard is expected to leave his current position, the report indicates that he will remain connected to WWE in a consulting capacity.
Prichard returned to WWE in 2019 and has worked in a major creative role full-time since then, becoming a significant figure behind the scenes during the company’s latest era.
Under the reported plans, Prichard would no longer live in Stamford, Connecticut, and would no longer carry out his current executive responsibilities. However, his expected consulting arrangement would allow him to maintain a connection with the company after stepping away from his day-to-day duties.
The reported timeline places his departure after WrestleMania 43, meaning he is expected to remain in his current position through WWE’s next major WrestleMania cycle.
Neither WWE nor Prichard has been reported as making an official public announcement regarding the potential change.
At this stage, there is no word on who might succeed Prichard in the role or how WWE could restructure its creative leadership following his departure.
Given his lengthy history with the company and his involvement in WWE’s creative process since returning in 2019, his eventual transition could mark a notable change behind the scenes.
For now, the reported plan is for Prichard to step away from his full-time executive position after WrestleMania 43 while continuing to work with WWE as a consultant. Further details about the timing and any potential changes to the company’s creative structure have yet to emerge.
WWE NXT tonight at 8/7c on the CW Network and internationally on Netflix:
WWE /raw live tonight on at 8 ET on Netflix from the Save Mart Center in Fresno, California.
WWE’s upcoming Crown Jewel event in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, is facing renewed scrutiny amid growing security concerns in the Middle East.
With the premium live event less than a week away, a report from The New York Times has revealed that a recent U.S. intelligence memo warned of potential threats against American personnel in the Middle East and other regions.
The memo, reportedly sent by Director of National Intelligence Jay Clayton, indicated that Iran was in the “advanced stages” of planning attacks against Americans in the area.
While the report does not mention WWE or any other entertainment events, the intelligence warning has added to questions about whether Crown Jewel should proceed as scheduled.
WWE’s Crown Jewel event is scheduled to take place at Riyadh Season Stadium, a temporary venue expected to accommodate a sizable audience.
The event will also involve a significant number of American personnel traveling to Saudi Arabia to help produce the show. With the region continuing to face security concerns and reports of attacks, the latest intelligence memo has prompted renewed discussion about the risks surrounding WWE’s plans.
Construction of the temporary stadium was reportedly underway as of late last week, suggesting preparations for the event remain in progress.
However, the intelligence warning has led some to question whether WWE should postpone Crown Jewel or relocate the event to a venue outside Saudi Arabia.
Despite the concerns, current indications suggest that WWE is still preparing to hold Crown Jewel in Riyadh.
TKO CEO Ari Emanuel addressed the situation last week, explaining that the company was monitoring developments in the region on a daily basis and would consider moving the event if necessary.
Emanuel indicated that, at the time, the signs pointed toward Crown Jewel and other TKO events in the Middle East proceeding as planned.
WWE also continued promoting the event during the most recent episode of SmackDown. The company announced that Cody Rhodes would face Randy Orton in a Last Man Standing match at Crown Jewel, further reinforcing the expectation that the show will take place in Saudi Arabia.
At this time, WWE has not announced any changes to Crown Jewel’s location or schedule.
The intelligence memo does not specifically reference WWE, Crown Jewel, or the Riyadh event venue. However, its reported warning about potential attacks against Americans has intensified the broader security discussion surrounding the show.
With the event approaching, WWE and TKO are expected to continue assessing the situation. For now, the company’s public plans remain unchanged, though the developing security situation could still affect the final decision.
Charlotte Flair has reassured fans that her father, WWE Hall of Famer Ric Flair, is expected to be okay after he was hospitalized following a fall outside a restaurant in Orlando, Florida.
Ric reportedly suffered cuts to his head and eye in the incident and was taken to a local hospital for treatment.
Charlotte shared an update on social media Friday evening, adding a touch of humor while confirming that her father was doing alright.
“Not my dad telling the doctor he fell bc of warrior dropping him on his head…
(ps: he’s going to be ok)”
The comment referenced The Ultimate Warrior, Ric’s former wrestling rival, with Charlotte joking about her father’s explanation to medical staff.
The incident came shortly after Ric announced that he would be unable to attend Washington State Horror Con in Seattle.
The 16-time world champion explained that his doctors had limited his travel to around three or four hours due to a blood clot in his leg.
Flair’s fall and subsequent hospitalization raised concern among fans, but Charlotte’s message offered reassurance that he is expected to recover.
At this time, no further details regarding the extent of his injuries or his recovery timeline have been shared.
WWE may be considering bringing back the Sin Cara character, with PWInsider Elite reporting that the company has floated the idea of reviving the masked wrestler’s gimmick.
The character was last seen in WWE in 2019, but the reported early pitches could signal a new chapter for one of the promotion’s most recognizable masked personas.
Sin Cara made his WWE debut in 2011, originally portrayed by the Mexican wrestling star known as Mistico. The character was introduced with considerable attention, bringing a high-flying style and a distinctive presentation to WWE.
However, Mistico’s run as Sin Cara was interrupted when he received a 30-day suspension under WWE’s Talent Wellness Program. During his absence, the company had Hunico take over the character.
When the original Sin Cara returned, the two performers became involved in a storyline that saw them portrayed as Sin Cara Azul and Sin Cara Negro. Their rivalry culminated in a Mask vs. Mask match at the October 16, 2011, WWE SmackDown taping in Mexico City, with the Azul character winning.
The latest report indicates that WWE has discussed the possibility of bringing the character back, though no details have been provided regarding who might portray Sin Cara or when the gimmick could return.
At this stage, the idea appears to be in the early pitching process. There has been no official WWE announcement confirming a revival, and the report does not establish whether the company has settled on a performer for the character.
If WWE does move forward, the return would revive a gimmick that has been absent from the company’s programming since 2019.
WWE SmackDown live tonight, beginning at 8:00 pm ET on the USA Network in the United States and Netflix for international fans, from the Toyota Arena in Ontario, California.
WWE Women’s Championship Match: Chelsea Green (c) vs. Roxanne Perez
WWE Women’s Tag Team Championship Match: Tatum Paxley & Alexa Bliss (c) vs. B-Fab and Michin
Street Fight: Giulia vs. Blake Monroe
Non-Title: WWE Tag Team Champions The MFT (Tama & Talla Tonga) vs. Bakusai (Shinsuke Nakamura & Kyoki)
WWE NXT tonight on The CW at 8/7c.
