Category: WWE

Backstage Update On AJ Styles’ WWE Future

AJ Styles has done just about everything there is to do in WWE — multiple-time world champion, Royal Rumble winner, WrestleMania main-eventer — and come January 2026, he’ll be hitting a huge milestone: 10 years with the company. But as Styles approaches that anniversary, questions are already swirling about whether his run with WWE could be nearing its final chapter.

Earlier this year, reports surfaced that “The Phenomenal One’s” contract was originally set to expire in the summer. However, Styles ended up signing a one-year extension, which quietly pushed his timeline forward. Now, new details have emerged from Fightful Select, confirming that his current deal is set to expire in February 2026. That puts his potential exit right before WrestleMania 42 — something WWE would no doubt prefer to avoid.

While WWE reportedly hopes to keep Styles around, the decision may ultimately rest on how much longer he wants to perform at a high level. Styles has openly discussed the idea of retirement in recent years, citing a desire to spend more time with his family. In fact, a cryptic social media post earlier this week had some fans speculating that he might be leaning toward hanging up the boots. Still, those talks have cooled off for now, and Styles remains active on WWE Raw, currently feuding with Dominik Mysterio over the Intercontinental Championship.

If Styles does choose to test free agency in 2026, there’s little doubt that other promotions would line up to sign him. AEW in particular seems like a natural landing spot, given his long history with Kenny Omega and The Young Bucks, not to mention Will Ospreay, who has publicly called a showdown with Styles a “dream match.”

Whether AJ Styles decides to extend his legendary WWE run or close the book on his in-ring career, his next move will be one of the most closely watched stories of 2026.

AJ Lee Returns to WWE in Chicago, Aligns With Her Husband CM Punk Against Rollins & Lynch

WWE fans in Chicago witnessed a moment many thought they’d never see again — AJ Lee is back. After more than a decade away from the company, the former Divas Champion shocked the wrestling world with a surprise return on the September 5 edition of Friday Night SmackDown.

The stage was set in the main event segment, where World Heavyweight Champion Seth Rollins introduced his wife, Becky Lynch. “The Man” wasted no time trashing CM Punk and his hometown, drawing the expected chorus of boos. The Chicago crowd, however, had other plans, drowning out Lynch with loud chants for AJ Lee.

That’s when business picked up. Punk came out to confront Lynch directly, branding Rollins a coward for “hiding behind his wife.” After a heated exchange, Lynch slapped Punk across the face, prompting him to fire back with a pointed line: while he’d never hit a woman, he knew someone who would.

Right on cue, the familiar music of AJ Lee hit to a massive ovation. Sprinting to the ring, Lee laid out Lynch with a spear and a rapid-fire flurry of offense before sending her retreating up the ramp. The emotional reunion of Punk and AJ in the ring closed out the show, as Rollins and Lynch fumed from the stage.

This shocking return all but solidifies WWE’s rumored plans for a blockbuster mixed tag team clash. AJ Lee & CM Punk are now on a collision course with Seth Rollins & Becky Lynch at WrestlePalooza on September 20. The feud stems back to Clash in Paris, where Lynch cost Punk the World Heavyweight Championship by interfering on Rollins’ behalf. AJ’s return evens the odds and injects major star power into one of WWE’s hottest storylines.

For fans who have been waiting years to see AJ Lee back inside a WWE ring, the moment finally came — and it couldn’t have happened in a more fitting city than Chicago.

John Cena’s Retirement Match Officially Set for Washington, D.C. — Boston & MSG Appearances Confirmed

The pieces are finally falling into place for John Cena’s farewell run in WWE. After weeks of speculation, it’s now confirmed that Cena’s retirement match will not be in his hometown of Boston, but instead will take place in Washington, D.C.

According to WrestleVotes and later confirmed by F4WOnline, the 16-time World Champion will wrestle his last match at Saturday Night’s Main Event on December 13th inside the Capital One Arena.

While Boston won’t get the honor of hosting the retirement bout, the city will still play an important role in Cena’s sendoff. The Boston Herald reports that Cena’s final Boston appearance is scheduled for the November 10th episode of Monday Night Raw at TD Garden. Just one week later, he’ll make his last Madison Square Garden appearance on the November 17th Raw, according to the New York Post.

Interestingly, Boston had been heavily pushing to host Cena’s official farewell match. Jon Alba of The Takedown on Sports Illustrated noted that WWE asked the city to help cover event costs — something not typically requested in the past. Ultimately, it seems that hurdle kept the match from taking place in Cena’s backyard.

With his retirement match now locked in for D.C., and farewell stops in two of his most iconic wrestling cities, Cena’s final chapter is shaping up to be an emotional ride for fans who have followed his two-decade career.

WWE SmackDown Preview 9/5/2025

WWE SmackDown airs live tonight on the USA Network for fans in the United States and on Netflix internationally from the Allstate Arena in Rosemont, Illinois just outside of Chicago.

  • John Cena’s final appearance in Chicago
  • CM Punk returns to smackdown in is hometown of Chicago
  • Rumors suggest that AJ Lee may return during tonight’s show or WWE may tease her potential return at Wrestlepalooza
  • The new United States Champion Sami Zayn to appear

Matt Riddle Explodes on Social Media After No-Show Allegations, Insults Fans Over 2020 “Speaking Out” movement Accusations

Matt Riddle’s name has been making plenty of headlines yesterday, and not for the best of reasons. The former WWE star and current MLW World Heavyweight Champion was called out over the weekend for reportedly no-showing a charity wrestling event in the UK. On top of that, the organizers claimed he refused to return the deposit he had already been paid.

Riddle initially addressed the situation with a video on X, attempting to give his side of the story. But instead of cooling things down, the “Original Bro” poured gasoline on the fire with a second video that quickly went viral for all the wrong reasons.

In the profanity-laced clip, Riddle unloaded on critics and fans who have questioned him in recent years. Much of his anger was directed toward those who believed the accusations made against him during the 2020 “Speaking Out” movement. Riddle was accused at the time by independent wrestler Candy Cartwright, who later filed a lawsuit against him, WWE, EVOLVE, and Gabe Sapolsky. WWE, EVOLVE, and Sapolsky were dismissed from the case in 2021, and Cartwright voluntarily dropped the suit entirely soon after.

In his rant, Riddle dismissed those allegations as “bulls***” and took aim at fans who supported them. He bragged about continuing to get booked, teased a possible return to fighting, and even promoted his OnlyFans account, making sure to emphasize he wasn’t worried about backlash. His message was blunt: those who don’t like him should unfollow him, because he doesn’t care.

While Riddle insisted “the cream rises to the top,” this latest outburst has left many wondering if he’s doing more harm than good to his own career. MLW has not yet commented on the controversy, but it remains to be seen if Riddle’s unfiltered social media presence will impact his standing with the promotion—or future opportunities elsewhere.

#DIY Make Shocking NXT Return, Celebrate 10 Years With WWE

The black-and-gold brand got a huge blast of nostalgia this week as #DIY — the beloved duo of Johnny Gargano and Tommaso Ciampa — made a surprise return to NXT. The reunion wasn’t just a homecoming, though. It turned into a heated confrontation with none other than TNA World Champion Trick Williams.

Williams, who’s now held the TNA World Title for over 100 days, has been boasting nonstop about being the top star to ever set foot in NXT. Even after coming up short in a recent bid to earn a shot at Je’Von Evans’ NXT Championship, he continued to hype himself as “untouchable” in the brand’s history. During this week’s promo, he even admitted that he didn’t care much about NXT anymore, claiming he’ll have the same mindset once he gets to the main roster.

That’s when the music hit — and out came Gargano and Ciampa to mark their 10-year anniversary with WWE. The two reminded Williams of their own championship accolades, stacking up their resumes against his. Ciampa, a two-time NXT Champion, and Gargano, a record-setting three-time North American Champion, made it clear that Williams still has plenty to prove before he can lay claim to being the best NXT has ever seen.

The war of words quickly broke down into action, and fans got the payoff they were waiting for. #DIY stood tall to close the segment, dropping the TNA World Champion with their signature tandem superkick.

With #DIY back in the mix — at least for now — and Trick Williams continuing to stir the pot, NXT could be on the verge of one of its most intriguing cross-promotional feuds in years.

Matt Riddle Reportedly No-Shows UK Charity Event, Deposit Still Unreturned

Former WWE star Matt Riddle is once again making headlines for the wrong reasons. According to a new report from Cultaholic, Riddle was scheduled to appear at a charity wrestling event in Barnsley, England this past Sunday but failed to show.

The event, hosted by Global Wrestling Kingdom, was organized to raise funds for survivors of domestic abuse and homeless veterans. Riddle had been advertised for a high-profile bout against YouTuber-turned-wrestler Simon Miller. However, the former WWE Superstar never boarded a flight to the UK, leaving promoters scrambling on the night of the show.

Making matters worse, it’s being alleged that Riddle has yet to return the deposit he was paid to secure the booking. Organizers are reportedly frustrated, with the situation casting a shadow over what was intended to be a positive night for charity.

Riddle has faced controversy since his WWE release in September 2023. His exit came after an incident at JFK Airport, where witnesses claimed he was intoxicated and causing a disturbance after a flight. Since then, the “Original Bro” has been apart of MLW, appeared at NJPW events and has made occasional indie appearances, but this latest story won’t do his reputation any favors.

At this point, it remains unclear whether Riddle intends to pay back the money owed or publicly address the no-show. For fans who were hoping to see him in Barnsley, it was a major disappointment — and for the charity, it was a setback in their mission to help those in need.

Report: AJ Lee Set For WWE Return, Possible Tag Match With CM Punk At WrestlePalooza

It looks like the long-awaited return of AJ Lee is finally on the horizon. Nearly a decade after her WWE retirement, the former Divas Champion is rumored to be lacing up the boots again—this time teaming with her husband, CM Punk, at the upcoming WrestlePalooza event.

According to Fightful Select, WWE has penciled in Lee’s comeback for September 20, when the company launches its first premium live event on ESPN’s new streaming platform. Sources indicate her on-screen return is “imminent.”

Speculation caught fire this past weekend at Clash in Paris when Becky Lynch got involved in Seth Rollins’ World Heavyweight Championship match, delivering a low blow to Punk. Things escalated further on Raw, where Punk warned Lynch she’d “regret putting her hands on him.” That storyline direction points strongly toward a mixed tag showdown: Punk and Lee vs. Rollins and Lynch at WrestlePalooza.

Wrestling journalist Bryan Alvarez also backed up the report, noting WWE has indeed been planning the match. Fightful added that creative pitches for AJ’s return have been floating around for some time. Punk himself hinted at something brewing when he teased GM Adam Pearce on Raw about this week’s SmackDown being in Chicago—the couple’s hometown.

Perhaps the biggest note: insiders stress that Lee’s comeback might not be a one-time deal. WWE reportedly has bigger hopes for her beyond WrestlePalooza. While many on the roster haven’t seen AJ since her 2015 exit, there’s no bad blood between her and the company, and word is several of today’s top female stars—who grew up as AJ fans—are thrilled about the possibility of finally sharing the ring with her.

If the reports hold true, WrestlePalooza could mark one of the most talked-about WWE returns in years.

WWE NXT Preview 9/2/2025

WWE NXT tonight on The CW.

  • WWE Women’s Speed Championship Tournament First Round Match: Candice LeRae vs. Xia Brookside
  • Oba Femi, Ricky Saints, Hank & Tank vs. DarkState
  • Lash Legend vs. Jaida Parker

Former AEW/ROH Tag Team The Righteous Wrapping Up Indie Dates, Could Be WWE-Bound

It looks like The Righteous may be on the move again. According to Fightful Select, Vinny and Dutch have begun letting promoters know that they’re finishing up their independent dates in the coming months, fueling speculation that a WWE signing could be right around the corner.

This isn’t the first time WWE has circled the duo. Back in December 2022, both men took part in a tryout alongside KC Navarro and Kylie Rae. Unfortunately for all involved, that same period saw Vince McMahon force his way back into the company, triggering a hiring freeze that effectively slammed the brakes on WWE’s recruiting efforts for several months.

Since then, Vinny and Dutch found a home in AEW/ROH, where they made their presence felt before eventually parting ways earlier this year. With their release now behind them, the door appears open for the long-rumored WWE run.

Interestingly, several notable names have been backing The Righteous along the way. Former WWE star Elijah (known to fans as Elias) is said to have worked on vignettes with them, while the late Bray Wyatt had reportedly gone to bat for their signing after that 2022 tryout.

If the rumors prove true, WWE could be on the verge of adding a duo with both unique presentation and proven experience. For fans of The Righteous, it might just be a matter of when, not if, they make their way onto the company’s stage.