Category: WWE

Backstage Update on AJ Styles’ WWE Status and Current Storyline

At 48 years old, AJ Styles has openly admitted his in-ring career is winding down, but The Phenomenal One isn’t done just yet. Recent events on WWE Raw have fueled speculation about both his future and his next big storyline.

During this week’s show, Styles cut a fiery promo during a commercial break in the U.S. — though it aired for international audiences. In it, he accused an unnamed figure inside WWE of trying to isolate him from his allies and force him out of the company. The cryptic words immediately had fans buzzing.

According to Dave Meltzer in the latest Wrestling Observer Newsletter, the promo is indeed part of a storyline. Meltzer also reminded readers that Styles’ current WWE deal is set to expire in February 2025. While AJ has previously stated he plans to retire by age 50 (2027), his decision could come sooner depending on how things unfold. WWE may be setting him up for one more major angle before he steps away.

This week’s Raw also saw Styles score a victory over El Grand Americano, getting a bit of payback after Americano’s interference cost him an earlier shot at Dominik Mysterio’s Intercontinental Championship.

Who was AJ referring to in his promo? That remains the looming question — but it seems WWE is planting the seeds for his next high-profile feud, which could double as one of the final chapters of his legendary career.

Triple H Reveals WWE is Building a “Bigger and Better” Performance Center in Orlando

Paul “Triple H” Levesque has had a busy week, popping up everywhere from The Pat McAfee Show to Tony Hinchcliffe’s Kill Tony taping, all while overseeing WWE’s huge crossover weekend in Las Vegas. Between WrestleMania 43 being announced for Saudi Arabia, the blockbuster WWE x AAA Worlds Collide event, and the Canelo Alvarez vs. Terence Crawford fight tied to TKO’s Saudi partners, The Game has been at the center of it all.

During his Vegas trip, Triple H joined Shannon Sharpe and Chad “Ochocinco” Johnson on their Nightcap podcast, where the conversation turned to WWE’s future and the development of the next generation of stars. That’s when the Chief Content Officer revealed some major news — WWE is currently building a new Performance Center in Orlando.

The existing facility, which first opened in 2013, has been the hub of WWE’s developmental system and home to NXT. Over the years it’s gone through upgrades as the brand evolved, and it’s also been central to WWE’s plans for a global talent pipeline, bolstered recently by the AAA acquisition, partnerships with TNA and Evolve, and the NIL/ID programs.

With WWE now part of TKO, there’s been speculation about relocating more operations to Las Vegas and possibly tying into UFC’s Apex facility. But according to Triple H, that’s not the case for developmental — Orlando will remain the home base.

“It’s in Orlando,” Triple H confirmed. “We’re in the process of building a new one now in Orlando — it’ll be even bigger and better.”

While no additional details were given, the comment signals that WWE is making a serious investment in its talent system. Given how much WWE has emphasized international expansion and cross-promotion lately, fans can expect the upgraded Performance Center to play a key role in shaping the company’s future stars.

WWE x AAA Worlds Collide 9/12/2025 (Results)

WWE and Lucha Libre AAA came together in Las Vegas for an unforgettable supershow, blending lucha libre tradition with WWE spectacle. Legends like Triple H, Shawn Michaels, Undertaker, Rey Mysterio, Marisela Peña, and Dorian Roldan were all in attendance. Aida Cuevas performed Mexico’s national anthem while Lilian Garcia handled the U.S. anthem. Commentary was split with Corey Graves, Konnan, and JBL calling the action in English, while Roberto Figueroa, Jose Manuel Guillen, and Marcelo Rodriguez handled the Spanish broadcast.

Penta’s Promise

Penta El Zero Miedo kicked off the night, rallying the crowd ahead of Mexico’s Independence Day celebrations. He vowed that he’d do what he’s never done in AAA—capture the Mega Championship.

Lucha Showcase – La Parka, Laredo Kid, Octagón Jr. & Mascarita Sagrada def. Cruz Del Toro, Joaquin Wilde, Lince Dorado & Mini Abismo Negro

The opener delivered everything you’d expect from a lucha free-for-all. Big dives, wild exchanges, and of course, La Parka’s dancing. The finish saw Mascarita Sagrada outsmart Mini Abismo with a slick roll-up for the win.

Dirty Dom vs. Rey Mysterio – Family Tension Heats Up

Dominik Mysterio continued to stir the pot, demanding that his father Rey strap the AAA Mega Championship around his waist when he wins it. Finn Balor, however, insisted Dom should do it on his own.

#1 Contender’s Match – Natalya def. Faby Apache

This one was a physical clash that turned into a mat-based chess game. After escaping Faby’s attempt at a Sharpshooter, Natalya countered into a series of pin attempts and managed to secure the win. The tension post-match showed this rivalry is far from finished.

Tag Team Title Drama – Psycho Clown & Pagano (c) def. Kofi Kingston & Grayson Waller

With Xavier Woods sidelined from a neck injury, Grayson Waller teamed with Kofi Kingston in an attempt to dethrone AAA’s hardcore duo. Woods still made his presence felt at ringside—only to run in fear after Psycho Clown tore off his own mask mid-match. That left Kingston and Waller vulnerable, and the champs hit double Mexican Destroyers before Psycho cradled Waller for the pin.

But the celebration was short-lived. The Wyatt Sicks appeared in the dark and brutalized the champs. Erick Rowan, Dexter Lumis, and Uncle Howdy left both men destroyed, holding up the AAA Tag Titles to close the segment.

Mixed Tag Mayhem – Mr. Iguana & Lola Vice def. Finn Balor & Roxanne Perez

This one turned chaotic thanks to puppet warfare between La Yesca and Demonito. The comedy didn’t overshadow the action though. After Balor nearly stole it, Lola Vice fired off a spinning backfist on Roxanne to seal the victory for her team.

Latin American Championship – El Hijo de Dr. Wagner Jr. (c) def. Dragon Lee, Ethan Page & JD McDonagh

A four-way car crash saw all four men throwing bombs. In the end, Wagner capitalized after a series of rapid counters, planting JD with the Wagner Driver to retain his title.

Main Event – Dominik Mysterio def. El Hijo del Vikingo (c) to win the AAA Mega Championship

The unthinkable happened in the main event: Dirty Dom is the new AAA Mega Champion.

The crowd was surprisingly pro-Dominik, chanting for him throughout as Vikingo received a mixed reaction. The bout was filled with interference—Balor and JD McDonagh tried to tilt things, but Rey Mysterio and Dragon Lee evened the odds. At one point, El Grande Americano yanked the referee out, keeping Vikingo from getting a sure win.

After a series of near falls, Dom loaded his mask with a foreign object and cracked Vikingo with a flying headbutt, followed by a frog splash. This time the ref was in position, and the three-count sealed it.

Post-match, Dominik forced his father to strap the belt around his waist, then celebrated with The Judgment Day and El Grande Americano, cementing his shocking title win.

WWE Officially Announces WrestleMania 43 To Take Place In Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

WWE officially announced today what was reported yesterday, that WrestleMania 43 will take place in 2027 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

WWE officially announced that WrestleMania 43 will be held in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, in 2027, marking the first time the flagship event will take place outside of North America. The historic announcement was made by WWE Chief Content Officer Paul “Triple H” Levesque in Las Vegas, with the event being part of Riyadh Season. The decision was made in part to celebrate the 300th anniversary of the First Saudi State

The announcement featured Joe Tessitore, Turki Al-Sheikh (Chairman of the General Entertainment Authority in Saudi Arabia), The Undertaker, Shawn Michaels, Seth Rollins, Logan Paul, Bianca Belair, Liv Morgan, Stephanie Vaquer and Charlotte Flair.

WWE has had some form of a partnership with the government in Saudi Arabia since 2014, when they began hosting live events in the country. The agreement has expanded several times since, with WWE now hosting multiple major events there each year.

The 2026 WWE Royal Rumble will also take place in Saudi Arabia, but before WrestleMania heads there, next year’s edition of the event will return to Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas for the second year in a row. Since merging with the UFC to form TKO, WWE has been especially eager to plan its major events around who can offer the largest site fee, and despite an initial announcement that the show would take place in New Orleans, Louisiana, the company later made the decision to move it back to Vegas.

WWE SmackDown Preview 9/12/2025

WWE SmackDown airs live tonight at 8pm ET on the USA Network in the United States and on Netflix for international fans from the Scope Arena in Norfolk, Virginia.

  • WWE Women’s Championship Match: Tiffany Stratton (c) vs. Jade Cargill
  • Brock Lesnar to appear live in person
  • Drew McIntyre vs. Randy Orton

Jerry “The King” Lawler Suffers Another Stroke, Pulled Out of Appearance

WWE Hall of Famer Jerry “The King” Lawler is once again facing health challenges. According to TMZ Sports, the legendary commentator and former wrestler recently suffered another stroke, forcing him to cancel an upcoming convention appearance.

Lawler’s ex-fiancée shared that the stroke occurred last week while he was in Florida. Thankfully, reports indicate that he has since recovered enough to leave medical care, with his daughter planning to bring him home so he can rest for the next several weeks before resuming his normal routine.

The 75-year-old icon has battled through serious health scares in the past. He suffered strokes in both 2018 and February 2023, the latter of which required an ICU stay after he was rushed from his home to the hospital. Fans also remember the frightening scene in 2012 when Lawler collapsed on live WWE television due to a heart attack during Raw. Remarkably, he recovered and even returned to the ring in the years that followed.

While Lawler had been scheduled to appear at the HorrorHound event on September 12, organizers later confirmed his withdrawal due to “personal matters.” His last WWE appearance came earlier this year in February at a SmackDown taping in Tennessee, while his most recent in-ring match took place in 2023 at an AML Wrestling event.

Despite his setbacks, Lawler has consistently shown resilience throughout his career. Wrestling fans everywhere will be wishing “The King” strength and a smooth recovery as he takes time away from the spotlight to focus on his health.

WWE X AAA: Worlds Collide 9/12/2025 (Card)

WWE x AAA World Collide – Friday September 12, 2025 – The Pavilion at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas

CARD

  • AAA Mega Championship: El Hijo del Vikingo (c) vs. Dominik Mysterio
  • AAA World Tag Team Championships: Psycho Clown & Pagano (c) vs. The New Day
  • AAA Reina de Reinas Championship #1 Contender’s Match: Natalya vs. Faby Apache
  • Mixed Tag Team Match: Finn Balor & Roxanne Perez vs. Mr. Iguana & Lola Vice
  • AAA Latin American Championship: El Hijo de Dr. Wagner Jr. (c) vs. Dragon Lee vs. JD McDonagh vs. Ethan Page
  • Lucha Showcase: La Parka, Mascarita Sagrada, Octagon Jr. & Nino Hamburguesa vs. Cruz Del Toro, Joaquin Wilde, Lince Dorado & Mini Abismo Negro

Report: WrestleMania 43 Reportedly Set for Saudi Arabia in 2027

WrestleMania may soon be heading to brand-new territory. According to a new report, WWE is preparing to stage its biggest annual event, WrestleMania 43, in Saudi Arabia in 2027.

PWInsider noted that a press release in Arabic briefly surfaced online this week, confirming the event before it was quickly pulled back. While it looks like the news went out ahead of schedule, the outlet has verified that the announcement is legitimate and should be made official in the near future.

Adding fuel to the speculation, a now-deleted X post from user @MajedM60 shared video of Turki Alalshikh—the chairman of Saudi Arabia’s General Entertainment Authority—seemingly revealing the news on Snapchat. Translations of the clip referenced WrestleMania as “the biggest WWE wrestling festival,” lending further credibility to the report.

This wouldn’t be Saudi Arabia’s first step into the WWE spotlight. Earlier this year, it was confirmed that the Kingdom will host the 2026 Royal Rumble, and rumors quickly followed that the country was pushing to land WrestleMania itself. Dave Meltzer previously reported that Saudi officials had long been interested in bringing the event overseas, with significant financial backing behind the effort.

WWE has been running premium live events in Saudi Arabia since striking a 10-year partnership with the nation back in 2018. Fans have seen shows like Crown Jewel and Night of Champions take place in Riyadh and Jeddah, though it remains unclear which city would land WrestleMania 43.

For now, the official word is still pending. The big question is whether WWE will announce it themselves or if Saudi officials will beat them to the punch once again.

If confirmed, WrestleMania 43 in 2027 would mark the first time “The Showcase of the Immortals” has taken place outside North America, making it a historic milestone in the event’s storied history.

Tyler Breeze Stuns NXT Crowd With Surprise Return Ahead Of Homecoming Title Match

WWE is pulling out all the stops for next week’s NXT Homecoming at Full Sail University, and the brand just got a huge blast from the past. Former NXT Tag Team Champion Tyler Breeze made a shocking return on Tuesday night’s episode of NXT, setting himself up for a high-stakes championship opportunity.

The surprise came right after a unique Flag Match between Tavion Heights and Ethan Page. Heights managed to grab his United States flag before Page could reclaim his Canadian banner, earning the win and draping the maple leaf over a fallen Page for added insult. While Heights celebrated with Old Glory from the stage, the Full Sail faithful erupted as Breeze emerged from the crowd, selfie stick in hand, for the first time in years.

In true “Prince Pretty” fashion, Breeze struck a pose in the middle of the ring, snapping a trademark selfie with Page still sprawled out behind him. Moments later, WWE confirmed that the return wasn’t just for nostalgia—Breeze will challenge Ethan Page for the NXT North American Championship at NXT Homecoming on September 16.

This marks Breeze’s first in-ring appearance for NXT since June 2021, when he and longtime partner Fandango defeated Imperium’s Ludwig Kaiser and Giovanni Vinci. Both men were released shortly after, with Breeze shifting into work on WWE’s UpUpDownDown channel before officially joining NXT’s creative team earlier this year.

Ethan Page, meanwhile, has been carving out an impressive run since capturing the North American Title in May, already turning back challenges from Sean Legacy, Santino Marella, and Ricky Saints. But now he faces a whole new kind of test—a returning NXT original with nothing to lose and everything to prove.

With NXT Homecoming designed to spotlight the past colliding with the present, Tyler Breeze’s comeback couldn’t be timed any better. The only question is whether “Prince Pretty” still has enough in the tank to walk out of Full Sail with championship gold.

AJ Styles Drops “Shoot-Style” Promo During RAW Break – Subtle Shot at Triple H?

AJ Styles made some waves on this week’s episode of WWE RAW—and not just for what aired on TV.

Before his match with El Grande Americano, “The Phenomenal One” grabbed a mic and let loose with a fiery promo that had more of a worked shoot flavor than the usual scripted WWE dialogue. Styles told the live crowd (and Netflix viewers tuning in internationally) that he feels someone inside WWE is actively working against him.

Styles pointed to the recent departures of his longtime allies, Luke Gallows and Karl Anderson, as well as the fact that Michin (Mia Yim) is tied up on SmackDown. He essentially claimed the deck has been stacked against him, leaving him without backup for the first time in years.

In one of the most eyebrow-raising moments, Styles broke from the usual “commercial break” routine and told fans:

“I’m gonna tell you something you’re not supposed to hear, but somebody doesn’t want me here. So tonight, you’re going to beat the piss out of Grande Americano for me, so that person feels some of this pain too.”

Styles went on to score a much-needed win over Americano, snapping a two-week skid and possibly putting management on notice in the process.

While AJ never dropped names, fans immediately began speculating that his words were aimed at Triple H, given The Game’s role in WWE’s creative direction. Whether this was a fully scripted moment or Styles venting some real frustrations remains to be seen—but it definitely added some intrigue to his current storyline.

One thing is clear: “The Phenomenal One” isn’t staying quiet, and if this leads to a bigger push or even a heel turn, we might be seeing AJ Styles entering a very interesting new chapter.