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After coming up short in his match against Sami Zayn at SummerSlam, Karrion Kross – along with his on-screen and real-life partner Scarlett – has found himself at the center of speculation regarding his WWE future. Notably absent from the post-SummerSlam episode of WWE Raw, the pair’s contract situation has raised eyebrows across the industry.
As reported by Wrestling Observer Radio, WWE has since extended a new contract offer to Kross, signaling that the company may not be ready to part ways with the former NXT Champion. While there’s no official confirmation from WWE just yet, longtime insider Dave Meltzer has indicated he expects Kross to re-sign. Kross responded to the chatter in a recent interview with Joey Karni, stating that while “a lot” of what’s been reported isn’t accurate, both he and Scarlett are hopeful to remain part of the Raw roster.
Fightful Select also weighed in, clarifying that while they couldn’t confirm if formal contract offers had been made, they did provide some context on the situation. Kross and Scarlett were originally booked to travel to Brooklyn for the August 4 episode of Raw, but those plans were scrapped at some point prior to the broadcast. The report also notes that as of that date, the duo had told people both inside and outside the company that WWE had yet to approach them about new deals – despite their current contracts reportedly expiring on August 10.
Interestingly, tentative creative plans for Kross had apparently been floated in recent weeks, though specifics remain under wraps. The idea that WWE would let their contracts lapse without any effort to retain them doesn’t seem to match the couple’s own expectations either.
It’s also worth noting that this kind of last-minute contract handling hasn’t been common in WWE over the past year and a half. The previous pattern of delayed offers was often associated with former WWE EVP of Talent Dan Ventrelle, who has since departed the company.
As it stands, it seems WWE isn’t ready to move on from Kross and Scarlett just yet — and judging by Kross’ own comments, the feeling may be mutual. Whether or not that culminates in a new deal before their reported expiration date remains to be seen, but it’s clear both sides are still talking.
A major shift is coming to how U.S. wrestling fans will watch WWE’s biggest shows. Beginning in 2026, WWE’s premium live events (PLEs) will stream exclusively on a brand-new direct-to-consumer platform from Disney-owned ESPN. The deal is reportedly worth a staggering $1.6 billion over five years, averaging $325 million annually, according to reports from The Wall Street Journal and CNBC.
That means starting with WrestleMania 42, fans will need to subscribe to ESPN’s upcoming streaming service to catch all major WWE events, including Royal Rumble, SummerSlam, Survivor Series, and Money in the Bank. The price tag? $29.99 per month—or $299.99 for the year—a significant increase compared to the current setup on Peacock.
The move marks WWE’s exit from its current deal with NBCUniversal’s Peacock, which began in March 2021 and reportedly brought in around $900 million over its term. That deal included both WWE’s live events and its massive video library. At this point, it’s unclear whether the Disney deal includes the WWE Network archives.
While the full scope of content hasn’t been confirmed, ESPN did announce that select WWE events will also air on its linear TV networks—potentially giving casual viewers a taste of WWE’s top-tier programming without a streaming subscription.
“This agreement, which features the most significant WWE events of the year, bolsters our unprecedented content portfolio and helps drive our streaming future,” said ESPN chairman Jimmy Pitaro, adding that WWE’s “immense, devoted and passionate fan base” was a key reason behind the partnership.
WWE’s SmackDown will remain on the USA Network, and replays of weekly programming will still be available on Peacock for the time being. However, if you’re a fan who tunes in for the big shows—the ones that define WWE’s calendar year—you’ll need to adjust your subscription habits by 2026.
This deal kicks off with WrestleMania 42, signaling the start of a new era for WWE’s distribution strategy in the U.S. With a direct-to-consumer model, ESPN and WWE are betting big on loyal fans being willing to pay a premium for exclusive access.
For WWE, the move is a financial windfall. For fans, it’s a shake-up—one that could lead to deeper content, more mainstream exposure, but also a higher monthly bill.
WWE’s Chief Content Officer Paul “Triple H” Levesque appeared on Wednesday’s episode of Get Up on ESPN.
Triple stated the PLE’s on ESPN will be more of a spectacle than they have been.
“There’s nothing bigger, there’s no bigger opportunity for us than this right now…Nick and I have been thinking about it for a long time, of it is the right home for it. It’s something that we’ve been trying to work through for a long time. Jimmy Pitaro making it happen, it’s thrilling for us. Can’t be more excited…from my point of view, nobody does large-scale, massive events like ESPN. Super Bowl, all of it, right? It’s what you do. And it’s what we like to think we do better than anybody else on the planet,” he said. “So this is the perfect marriage. When we get together, things like WrestleMania, SummerSlam, Royal Rumble are going to be bigger than ever. They’re going to be more of a spectacle than ever before. And we’re going to light the world on fire.”
WWE NXT live TONIGHT at 8 ET/7 CT on the CW Network
Karrion Kross and Scarlett’s time in WWE may be coming to an abrupt end.
According to a new report from Fightful Select, the on-screen duo was notably absent from this week’s episode of Monday Night RAW, and their absence could be tied to an expiring contract situation. Sources within WWE have confirmed that both Kross and Scarlett’s current deals are set to expire this weekend — and as of now, no new offers have been made.
Even more concerning, the couple reportedly hasn’t even been informed by WWE officials that their contracts are winding down. That radio silence behind the scenes has cast serious doubt on their future with the company, with one higher-up suggesting they may not be re-signed at all.
If no last-minute deal is reached, Kross and Scarlett will officially become free agents before the end of the week.
The duo returned to WWE in 2022 after a previous stint that ended with Kross’ underwhelming main roster run, during which he was infamously repackaged with a drastically different look and no Scarlett by his side. Since coming back under Triple H’s leadership, they’ve remained a package deal but haven’t had consistent storylines or major screen time.
Should they depart WWE, there’s bound to be interest from other promotions — especially given Kross’ past success in IMPACT Wrestling and Scarlett’s charisma as both a manager and performer.
We’ll keep an eye on this story as it develops. For now, the sands may be slipping through the hourglass for Kross and Scarlett in WWE.
The long-rumored WWE takeover of AAA is now official—and the shake-ups are already underway.
As confirmed in this week’s Wrestling Observer Newsletter, WWE has finalized its acquisition of the Mexican lucha libre promotion AAA, and with that comes a significant cultural and structural overhaul. At the heart of WWE’s plan: blending its trademark sports-entertainment formula with the rich traditions of lucha libre, while laying the foundation for long-term talent development south of the border.
One of the most immediate changes will be the launch of a WWE Performance Center in Mexico. According to Dave Meltzer, WWE plans to hire Mexican trainers, fly them to the U.S. for instruction in the “WWE style,” and then have them return to Mexico to teach a hybrid style that combines lucha libre flair with WWE’s polished in-ring storytelling. That means new AAA recruits will be learning how to work matches and cut scripted promos—a major shift from the more improvisational, in-ring-centric traditions of Mexican wrestling.
AAA’s current Spanish commentary team—Jose Manuel Guillén and Roberto Figueroa—is expected to stay in place, and most referees will be retained as well. However, the famously over-the-top antics of AAA referees are going to be scaled back, in favor of a more grounded presentation that aligns with WWE’s overall production style.
WWE is also reportedly not planning to hold onto most of AAA’s veteran talent. Instead, they’ll be looking to bring in younger indie stars and some crossover names from WWE’s own roster. One notable example is Dominik Mysterio, who is expected to work in AAA as part of the new creative direction, alongside newly-signed talent El Grande Americano.
While many speculated that WWE would raid rival promotion CMLL for talent to boost its revamped AAA brand, Meltzer shut that down—at least for now. WWE is reportedly trying to keep operating costs low and avoid an all-out promotional war. That said, Meltzer also noted that a “war is inevitable,” especially with CMLL recently locking down several of its luchadors through dual deals with AEW.
Whether those AEW-CMLL contracts influenced WWE’s current strategy is unclear, but it’s evident that the rivalry between the two major Mexican promotions—and their respective U.S. partners—is starting to heat up.
WWE’s full-scale entry into the lucha libre world is one of the most ambitious international moves in company history. With a Performance Center on the way, younger talent being scouted, and its own stars primed for crossover appearances, WWE is setting the stage to reshape Mexican wrestling—and the global wrestling landscape—in a major way.
Brock Lesnar made headlines with his shocking return at SummerSlam 2025, appearing moments after Cody Rhodes dethroned John Cena to become the new Undisputed WWE Champion. “The Beast Incarnate” marched down to the ring and laid out Cena with a brutal F5, instantly igniting what appears to be the final chapter in their long-running rivalry. But behind the scenes, Lesnar’s comeback wasn’t just a creative decision—it was a legally calculated move that’s been in the works for weeks.
According to Wrestling Observer Radio’s Dave Meltzer, Lesnar was quietly cleared by WWE’s legal team roughly four weeks before his return. The delay in bringing him back reportedly stemmed from concerns surrounding the ongoing Janel Grant lawsuit, in which Lesnar’s name was indirectly tied to allegations against Vince McMahon. While WWE had previously stayed silent on Lesnar’s future, it appears they were simply waiting for the legal green light.
“It wasn’t a moral decision to keep him off TV,” Meltzer explained. “It was purely legal. The moment the lawyers said yes, he was back in the fold.”
Interestingly, Meltzer also revealed that WWE chose not to hold its usual post-SummerSlam press conference this year specifically to avoid media questions about Lesnar’s return and the legal situation surrounding it. Despite the controversy, Lesnar was never suspended or released during his absence. He remained under contract the entire time—and continued receiving his regular pay.
“They never fired Brock. He was always under contract. He was always getting paid,” Meltzer added.
While Lesnar’s return has received a mixed reaction from fans and critics alike, there’s no denying the buzz it’s generated heading into the fall. With Cena now locked into a farewell feud with his longtime rival, WWE is betting big on nostalgia and star power to carry the story forward—controversy and all.
John Cena’s dramatic heel turn at WrestleMania 41 had fans buzzing, but just a few months later, the 17-time world champion is once again flashing that trademark smile. Now we’re learning more about why WWE scrapped his villainous persona—and what it means for his final run.
On a recent episode of Wrestling Observer Radio, Dave Meltzer and Bryan Alvarez broke down the decision to pivot Cena back to a babyface. According to Meltzer, WWE “dropped [the heel story] because it sucked,” but also because a feud with Brock Lesnar—now in motion—makes far more sense with Cena as the fan favorite and Lesnar playing the monster heel. Alvarez added that Cena simply performs better in the ring and connects more naturally with the audience when he’s playing the hero.
Cena’s return to the light officially happened on SmackDown, when he cut a passionate promo alongside Cody Rhodes, setting the tone for a more heartfelt run. That momentum carried into SummerSlam 2025, where Cena came up short against Rhodes in a hard-fought battle for the Undisputed WWE Championship. The real shocker came moments later, when Brock Lesnar made a surprise return and dropped Cena with a brutal F5—immediately launching what’s expected to be Cena’s final major rivalry.
During the post-show press conference, WWE Chief Content Officer Paul “Triple H” Levesque revealed that Lesnar’s comeback wasn’t just a creative decision—it was personally requested by Cena. As part of his retirement tour, Cena reportedly gave Levesque a list of opponents he wants to face one last time, and Lesnar was at the top.
“This is Cena writing his final chapter,” Levesque said. “We’re just helping him tell the story the way he wants to.”
With Cena’s farewell tour in full swing and a marquee clash with Lesnar looming, WWE fans can expect more high-profile moments as the company gives one of its all-time greats a send-off worthy of his legacy.
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