Category: WWE

Backstage Report On TNA Teasing Appearance By WWE Star AJ Styles

With TNA Slammiversary just days away, the company is pulling out all the stops to sell out Long Island’s UBS Arena — and it looks like they may be betting big on a blast from their past.

The buzz kicked off Tuesday when TNA President Carlos Silva dropped a not-so-subtle hint, promising fans that the pay-per-view would be “PHENOMENAL.” The choice of words sent the internet rumor machine into overdrive, with many interpreting it as a tease for an appearance by none other than AJ Styles.

Silva didn’t exactly pump the brakes when pressed about the tease in an interview with Fightful’s Sean Ross Sapp. In fact, according to Fightful Select, Silva doubled down, continuing to heavily imply that Styles might just show up. While TNA insiders stopped short of confirming anything, one source within the company reportedly believes Styles will appear — suggesting it would be a bad look for the promotion to hype a “phenomenal” surprise and not deliver.

AJ Styles, of course, is a cornerstone of TNA’s legacy. Long before becoming a WWE Grand Slam Champion, Styles made his name in TNA’s X-Division and held the World Heavyweight Title multiple times, becoming one of the faces of the promotion throughout the 2000s and early 2010s. His last TNA match came in December 2013 when he lost a world title unification bout to Nick Aldis. Styles nearly returned in 2015 before ultimately signing with WWE, where he’s been a top-tier star ever since.

As for Styles himself? The former “Face That Runs the Place” has kept quiet on the speculation. He’s currently wrapped up in a storyline with WWE Intercontinental Champion Dominik Mysterio, with no public indication that a TNA cameo is in the works.

Will TNA actually deliver AJ Styles at Slammiversary, or is this just a clever marketing swerve? Fans won’t have to wait long to find out. Either way, the buzz has done its job — and all eyes are now on Long Island this Sunday.

WWE Raw Preview 7/14/2025

WWE Raw airs live today globally on Netflix from the Legacy Arena at the BJCC in Birmingham, Alabama, beginning at 8:00 pm ET/5:00 pm PT.

  • Fallout from Saturday Night’s Main Event and Evolution
  • Newly crowned WWE Women’s World Champion Naomi to appear
  • Chelsea Green vs WWE Hall of Famer Nikki Bella
  • WWE World Heavyweight Champion Gunther to appear
  • Gauntlet Match, with the winner challenging Gunther at SummerSlam for the World Heavyweight Title: CM Punk vs. Jey Uso vs. LA Knight vs. Penta vs. Bron Breakker

Update on Seth Rollins’ WWE Saturday Night’s Main Event Injury

Seth Rollins sparked concern over the weekend after his match with LA Knight at WWE Saturday Night’s Main Event ended abruptly, with Rollins appearing to suffer a knee injury. The moment felt like a major blow — both to Rollins, who’s been riding high as Raw‘s top heel since WrestleMania 41, and to WWE’s rumored summer plans for him.

However, questions quickly emerged about whether the injury was legit or part of a storyline.

Dave Meltzer of Wrestling Observer Newsletter and John Pollock of POST Wrestling both reported that at least one WWE source claimed the injury angle had been mapped out days before the event, hinting it may have been a planned storyline twist rather than a real injury.

On Monday’s Wrestling Observer Radio, Meltzer revisited the situation and admitted the waters remain murky.

“Everyone is insisting it was legit — that it’s a knee injury,” Meltzer said. “I tried to get it confirmed, and someone I reached out to wouldn’t confirm it. I think it’ll all come out eventually… Everyone’s saying it’s real, but at the same time, nobody is outright denying John Pollock’s report either.”

Co-host Bryan Alvarez chimed in with a possible explanation for the conflicting reports: both sides might be telling the truth.

Alvarez suggested Rollins may have entered the match already dealing with a legitimate knee issue, and the injury spot with LA Knight was scripted to cover for the existing injury — a way for WWE to write Rollins off TV while he gets it taken care of.

“He is hurt, but what happened on Saturday was storyline,” Alvarez said. “That spot didn’t cause the injury — it was a cover for it. He’ll be out a little while, but they’ll probably say nine months or some long stretch for storyline reasons. But in reality, he’ll be back sooner.”

Meltzer agreed that theory fits with what he’s been hearing behind the scenes, especially when factoring in buzz about Rollins’ potential Money in the Bank cash-in down the line.

“That makes the most sense,” Meltzer noted. “I’ve been told the cash-in will happen out of nowhere, so this lines up.”

Whether this is clever storytelling or a genuine setback, Rollins’ status remains one of the biggest questions heading into WWE’s summer season — and fans will no doubt be watching closely for the next twist.

WWE Evolution 7/13/2025 (Results)

WWE’s latest Evolution event delivered on all fronts, featuring a stacked card of women’s championship bouts, shocking moments, and a new era of champions. Here’s a full rundown of the night’s key matches and outcomes:

  • Women’s Intercontinental Championship — Triple Threat Match
    Becky Lynch (c) def. Bayley and Lyra Valkyria
    “The Man” proved why she’s still at the top of the mountain, surviving a tough challenge from both Bayley and rising star Lyra Valkyria to retain her Intercontinental Title.
  • NXT Women’s Championship Match
    Jacy Jayne (c) def. Jordynne Grace
    In a high-profile defense, Jacy Jayne managed to fend off TNA Knockouts Champion Jordynne Grace in a cross-promotional clash, keeping the NXT Women’s Championship firmly in her grasp.
  • WWE Women’s Tag Team Championship — Fatal 4-Way Match
    Raquel Rodriguez & Roxanne Perez (c) def. The Kabuki Warriors, Alexa Bliss & Charlotte Flair, and Sol Ruca & Zaria
    Chaos reigned in this high-energy Fatal 4-Way, but Raquel and Roxanne once again proved to be a dominant force, walking out with their titles intact after outlasting three tough teams.
  • WWE Women’s Championship Match
    Tiffany Stratton (c) def. Trish Stratus
    The Buff Barbie shocked the WWE Universe by successfully defending her title against the legendary Trish Stratus, solidifying her spot at the top of the women’s division.
  • No Holds Barred Match — Special Guest Referee: Bianca Belair
    Jade Cargill def. Naomi
    With Bianca Belair officiating, Jade Cargill unleashed her power in a brutal No Holds Barred encounter, picking up a hard-fought victory over Naomi.
  • WWE Evolution Battle Royal
    Stephanie Vaquer wins, earns Women’s Championship Match at Clash in Paris
    Vaquer outlasted a stacked field in the Evolution Battle Royal, securing a future title shot on one of WWE’s biggest international stages.
  • Women’s World Championship — Triple Threat Match
    Naomi def. IYO SKY (c) and Rhea Ripley — NEW CHAMPION
    In the night’s biggest shocker, Naomi cashed in during the Women’s World Title match, turning it into a Triple Threat — and left with the gold after pinning IYO SKY to become the new champion.

WWE NXT The Great American Bash 2025 Quick Results

Je’Von Evans def. Jasper Troy

NXT Women’s North American Championship: Sol Ruca (c) def. Izzi Dame

NXT North American Championship: Ethan Page (c) def. Ricky Saints

TNA Championship Match Contract Signing

The TNA Championship will be defended in a Triple Threat Match at Slammiversary when Trick Williams defends his title against Mike Santana and Joe Hendry. Saturday afternoon, they signed the contract for the pay-per-view main event.

All three said their piece, hyping up the main event of the July 20 extravaganza, with Williams showing the braggadocio that has helped him become an effective heel. Hendry and Santana, tired of the NXT star holding their title and running his mouth, put him through a table.

After the segment, Dark State appeared and laid out the challengers while Williams watched from the ramp.

NXT Championship: Oba Femi (c) def. Yoshiki Inamura

Jordynne Grace & Blake Monroe def. Fatal Influence

TNA Knockouts champion Masha Slamovich appearing and offsetting interference from Nyx, to pick up a win.

WWE Evolution 7/13/2025

WWE Evolution – All Women PLE – Sunday July 13, 2025 – State Farm Arena in Atlanta, GA

CARD

  • Women’s World Championship Match: Iyo Sky (c) vs. Rhea Ripley
  • WWE Women’s Championship Match: Tiffany Stratton (c) vs. Trish Stratus
  • NXT Women’s Championship Match: Jacy Jayne (c) vs. Jordynne Grace
  • WWE Women’s Intercontinental Championship Match: Becky Lynch (c) vs. Bayley vs. Lyra Valkyria
  • WWE Women’s Tag Team Championship Match: Raquel Rodriguez and Roxanne Perez (c) vs. Alexa Bliss and Charlotte Flair vs. The Kabuki Warriors vs. Sol Ruca & Zaria
  • Women’s Battle Royal (for a Championship match at WWE Clash in Paris): Nikki Bella, Zelina Vega, Giulia, Candice LeRae, Natalya, Maxxine Dupri, Izzi Dame, Tatum Paxley, Jaida Parker, Kelani Jordan, Lash Legend, Lola Vice, TBA
  • No Holds Barred Match: Jade Cargill vs. Naomi

WWE Saturday Night’s Main Event 7/12/2025

WWE special event – Saturday Night’s Main Event live on NBC and Peacock from the State Farm Arena in Atlanta, GA

  • World Heavyweight Championship: Gunther (c) vs. Goldberg (Goldberg’s Retirement Match)
  • Drew McIntyre vs. Randy Orton
  • LA Knight vs. Seth Rollins

WWE NXT The Great American Bash 7/12/2025

WWE NXT The Great American Bash – Saturday July 12, 2025 – 3pm ET/12pm PT – Center Stage in Atlanta, Georgia.

CARD

  • NXT Championship: Oba Femi (c) vs. Yoshiki Inamura
  • Jordynne Grace & Blake Monroe vs. Fatal Influence (Fallon Henley and Jacy Jayne)
  • NXT North American Championship – Falls Count Anywhere: Ethan Page (c) vs. Ricky Saints
  • NXT Women’s North American Championship: Sol Ruca (c) vs. Izzi Dame
  • TNA World Championship Contract Signing – Trick Williams, Joe Hendry, and Mike Santana
  • Je’Von Evans vs. Jasper Troy

TNA Knockouts World Champion Masha Slamovich reportedly set to appear.

WWE SmackDown Preview 7/11/2025

WWE SmackDown live on USA Network from the Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tn.

  • WWE Tag Team Championship: Street Profits (c) vs. Wyatt Sicks (Joe Gacey & Dexter Lumis)
  • Ron “The Truth” Killings vs. Aleister black
  • Jelly Roll to appear

Shayna Baszler Opens Up About Backstage Presence At NXT, Future In WWE, and Interest in Japan Return

Shayna Baszler sparked plenty of chatter earlier this week after being listed as a producer for the Kelani Jordan vs. Lainey Reid match on WWE NXT. While rumors suggested the Queen of Spades might be transitioning into a backstage role, Baszler took to Twitch to clear the air—and tease what could lie ahead.

During a recent livestream, Baszler confirmed that she was indeed at the WWE Performance Center, but insisted her presence was more about learning than producing. “I happened to be at the PC working with people,” she explained. “I’m not gonna out the people that requested I work with them. So please, the dirt sheets are usually wrong, so do not believe stuff.”

Baszler shed more light on her visit, revealing that she was taking inspiration from a piece of advice given to her by Bryan Danielson (formerly Daniel Bryan in WWE). “He always told me he learned the most just sitting on the headset backstage,” she said. “Learning what the cameras look for, timing, cues—it helped him as a performer. So I figured, while I was home, I’d go to NXT and sit on the headset.”

According to Baszler, the unique atmosphere at NXT allowed her to take advantage of that opportunity. “On RAW or SmackDown, you’re not usually allowed in Gorilla unless you’re in the segment, unless you’re a top guy,” she noted. “But at NXT, because I was a top talent there, I could do it. I was there to learn.”

She also took part in some in-ring work, noting that she’s still technically under WWE contract during her 90-day no-compete window. “A couple of my friends got the okay for me to help out in the ring. It just happened to be on a Tuesday. I sat on a headset, that’s it,” she said, downplaying any official producer role. “Could the possibility be there? Sure. But I’d have to decide if I’m ready to be done [with wrestling]. I still think I have some stories to tell.”

That said, Baszler didn’t close the door on working behind the scenes one day. “A part of me hopes the powers that be at WWE see all the talk online and think about it,” she admitted. “That would be great, right? I can’t throw myself on the floor until I’m 60.”

As for what’s next, Baszler hinted that her in-ring journey might still have a few detours—possibly overseas. “Honestly, I really kind of want to go back to Japan,” she said. “I’ve wrestled most of the Joshi talent I’ve wanted to—except for a couple.”

Whether it’s one more run inside the ring or a future behind the curtain, it’s clear Baszler isn’t done with pro wrestling—she’s just evolving. And for fans of the former NXT Women’s Champion, that’s a storyline worth following.