Category: WWE

Kevin Owens Gives Update on Neck Injury, Clarifies Surgery Status

Kevin Owens has provided a much-needed update on his health after weeks of speculation surrounding the neck injury that sidelined him from WrestleMania 41 — and from WWE programming entirely.

Owens was originally scheduled for a high-profile singles match against Randy Orton at this year’s WrestleMania, but ongoing neck issues forced him to pull out ahead of the event. Since then, details on his condition have been limited — until now.

Taking to social media, Owens addressed fans directly to set the record straight. He confirmed that while surgery is likely in his future, he has not yet undergone any procedure, despite conflicting reports circulating online.

“So, first, we don’t have a surgery date yet. I have not had surgery yet,” Owens said. “We’re still gonna try and figure out what the best way to go about it all is, exactly what needs to be done… Hopefully in the next few weeks, we get clarity and we do the surgery and then we go from there.”

Owens admitted there’s still “a lot of uncertainty” surrounding his condition, making it unclear exactly when he might return to the ring — or how long his recovery could take once a plan is in place.

The former Universal Champion has been absent from WWE TV since early spring, with his absence leaving a noticeable gap on Raw as the company builds toward its summer slate of events. Despite being on the sidelines, Owens remains a key part of WWE’s long-term plans — assuming his recovery goes smoothly once the path forward becomes clear.

For now, fans will have to wait as Owens and his medical team continue to assess his condition and determine the next step. But one thing’s for certain: KO’s trademark transparency and resilience are still very much intact.

We’ll keep you posted with any updates on Owens’ status as soon as they become available, right here at WrestlingNewsBlog.com.

Natalya Falls Short in NWA Women’s Title Bid at Crockett Cup 2025

WWE veteran Natalya stepped into unfamiliar territory this past weekend, making her long-awaited debut in the National Wrestling Alliance — but came up just short in her pursuit of gold.

Competing under the name Nattie Neidhart, the multi-time WWE champion challenged reigning NWA World Women’s Champion Kenzie Paige during the Crockett Cup 2025 event at the historic ECW Arena in Philadelphia. Despite a hard-fought effort, Neidhart was unable to unseat Paige, who retained her title in a match that was taped for an upcoming episode of NWA Powerrr.

This cross-promotional showdown had been brewing since last month’s GCW Josh Barnett’s Bloodsport XIII, where Paige ambushed Natalya following her victory over Miyu Yamashita. That post-match confrontation laid the groundwork for the NWA title clash, which marked Natalya’s first bout since Bloodsport — and her first ever inside an NWA ring.

Though not active in the WWE ring since that Bloodsport appearance, Natalya has continued to appear on Raw, occasionally featured in backstage segments alongside Maxxine Dupri and the Alpha Academy. For her NWA debut, she made a powerful statement with her presentation, once again entering to Rage Against the Machine’s iconic “Killing in the Name” — backed by her crew, giving the entrance a defiant and gritty vibe fitting the venue and occasion.

Natalya has been vocal about her passion for wrestling beyond the confines of WWE, citing her longtime friendship with NWA owner and Smashing Pumpkins frontman Billy Corgan as one reason she pushed hard to compete in the promotion. “I’ve wanted to wrestle in NWA for years,” she said in a recent interview, adding that she did “everything in [her] power” to make the Crockett Cup appearance happen.

While the NWA World Women’s Championship slipped through her fingers, Natalya isn’t slowing down. She remains ambitious about her future in WWE, where she’s got her eyes on newly launched titles: the Women’s United States Championship and the Women’s Intercontinental Championship. With decades of experience and a renewed fire, it’s clear that Natalya is looking to carve out her legacy both inside and outside of WWE rings.

WWE SmackDown Preview 5/16/2025

WWE SmackDown live tonight on USA Network and Netflix International, beginning at 8:00 pm ET. from the Greensboro Coliseum in Greensboro, NC.

  • Fallout from Backlash
  • Cody Rhodes is set to make his first appearance on WWE programming since WrestleMania 41
  • The first set of qualifying matches for both the men’s and women’s Money in the Bank ladder matches. WWE
  • Jacob Fatu, Solo Sikoa and Jeff Cobb are all expected to appear

WWE Star Rey Mysterio to Receive Award From National Hispanic Media Coalition at 2025 Impact Awards Gala

WWE Hall of Famer Rey Mysterio is set to receive a prestigious honor recognizing his legendary contributions to sports entertainment and cultural representation. The National Hispanic Media Coalition has announced that Mysterio will be one of the honorees at this year’s Impact Awards Gala, taking place on Friday, June 6th, at the Beverly Wilshire Hotel in Beverly Hills, California.

Mysterio will be presented with the Legend Impact Award, a recognition of his groundbreaking influence in professional wrestling and his role in bringing Lucha Libre culture to a global audience. The longtime WWE star has long been celebrated for bridging the gap between cultures in sports entertainment, and his latest accolade cements his legacy not just in the ring, but also in the wider media landscape.

The 2025 ceremony will be hosted by comedians and actors Al Madrigal and Jessica Marie Garcia, and will honor a number of influential Hispanic figures across entertainment and media. Mysterio joins an impressive list of past honorees including Salma Hayek, Rosario Dawson, Danny Trejo, Diego Luna, and even James Cameron, who has been recognized for his inclusive storytelling.

Though Mysterio continues to earn accolades, the wrestling icon is currently on the sidelines recovering from a torn abductor muscle. The injury, which required surgery, has kept him out of the ring in recent months. According to Wrestling Observer Newsletter, Mysterio had aspirations of competing at WrestleMania 41, but doctors reportedly advised against it to avoid jeopardizing his long-term recovery. As of now, his in-ring return isn’t expected for another four to six months.

Despite his injury status, Mysterio is still actively involved in promoting the upcoming AAA x NXT: Worlds Collide event, scheduled for Saturday, June 7th. While his physical presence in the ring may be missed, his influence continues to loom large—both on television and in the cultural zeitgeist.

From his early days electrifying ECW and WCW crowds to becoming a global icon in WWE, Mysterio’s journey has inspired generations of fans and performers alike. His latest honor is yet another reminder of the powerful legacy he’s built—not just as a wrestler, but as a trailblazer for Hispanic representation in sports and entertainment.

Congratulations to Rey Mysterio on this well-deserved recognition from all of us here at Wrestling News Blog.

TNA Announces 4 of Their Stars Will Compete at AAA Triplemania Regia

TNA Wrestling has announced TNA World Champion Joe Hendry, TNA World Tag Team Champions Nic and Ryan Nemeth and X-Division Champion Moose will all complete at Triplemania Regia on June 15 in Monterrey, Mexico.

You can read the official announcement below:

TNA Wrestling & Lucha Libre AAA Worldwide Announce TNA Stars Who Will Compete At Triplemanía Regia on June 15 in Monterrey, Mexico 

Press Release / May 13, 2025 / by TNA Wrestling Staff

  • Four TNA Wrestling champions are confirmed for matches at Triplemanía Regia, the major pro wrestling spectacular from Lucha Libre AAA Worldwide when, for the first time ever, wrestlers from TNA, AAA and WWE battle for bragging rights, as first reported by Sports Illustrated. 
  • Triplemanía Regia is Sunday, June 15, starting at 6 p.m. at Arena Monterrey in Mexico. 
  • TNA Wrestling World Champion Joe Hendry, a worldwide viral sensation over the past year, returns to Mexico for the showcase June event, along with reigning TNA X Division Champion Moose and the current TNA World Tag Team Champions, brothers Nic and Ryan Nemeth. 
  • “We’re thrilled to welcome these four incredible TNA stars to AAA,” said Dorian Joaquín Roldán Peña, CEO of Mexico City-based AAA. “This collaboration represents the best of both worlds – the passion and tradition of Lucha Libre, and the global momentum of TNA. Our fans are in for something truly special.” 
  • TNA Wrestling President Carlos Silva said Triplemanía Regia is a “milestone moment” in pro wrestling history as Triplemanía Regia will features iconic wrestlers from AAA, WWE and TNA. 
  • For tickets to Triplemanía Regia, go to: https://lucha-libreaaa.myshopify.com/. 
  • Hendry last wrestled on Mexican soil in 2023 in the Lucha Libre World Cup at Estadio de Béisbol Charros de Jalisco in Zapopan, near Guadalajara, Mexico. He was part of the three-person Team Europe squad as the 2023 tournament featured trios from around the world. The 2023 men’s tournament was won by Team Mexico (Taurus, Pentagón Jr., and Laredo Kid). 
  • Moose wrestled for AAA in Tijuana. 
  • Nic Nemeth had quite a memorable night for AAA in April 2024 in Monterrey: At Triplemanía XXXII, he defeated Alberto El Patrón by pinfall for the vacant AAA Mega Championship. Nemeth’s title reign lasted 112 days. 
  • JOE HENDRY 
  • Joe Hendry was a worldwide viral sensation in 2024 with his theme song, “I Believe In Joe Hendry,” being released as a single. It peaked at No. 4 on the UK Singles Downloads Chart and No. 6 on the UK Singles Sales Charts. The song peaked at No. 4 on the Official Big Top 40 Charts. Hendry’s worldwide fame has spanned from random mentions on TV news broadcasts to part of a Savannah Bananas baseball game, and everything in between. Joe defeated Nic Nemeth in January to win the TNA World Championship and, days later, was a surprise entrant in the 2025 WWE Royal Rumble. He was the surprise opponent for Randy Orton at WrestleMania 41 in April. 
  • NIC NEMETH 
  • Formerly known as Dolph Ziggler in WWE, Nic Nemeth made his TNA debut in January 2024 and won the TNA World Championship in July 2024. A Cleveland native who graduated from Kent State University after setting several school records as a wrestler, Nemeth made his pro wrestling debut in 2004. He was a champion in singles and tag team action during his near-20-year career in WWE, including a 2-time World Heavyweight Champion and 6-time Intercontinental Champion. Nemeth is a diehard fan of his hometown Cleveland Browns. Nic & Ryan won the TNA World Tam Team Championship in April 2025. 
  • RYAN NEMETH 
  • Ryan Nemeth is the younger brother of Nic Nemeth, and proud to let everyone know. Ryan has been wrestling professionally since 2010 and, on April 27, 2025, became half of the TNA World Tag Team Champions (with his brother Nic) when they defeated The Hardys (Jeff & Matt Hardy). Ryan also is an accomplished writer, actor and comedian. 
  • MOOSE 
  • Moose is the reigning and defending TNA X Division Champion, in his first-ever title reign with the prestigious TNA championship. His current run has already surpassed 200-days. Moose also is a former two-time TNA World Champion – and his combined 371-days as that titleholder is fourth-most in TNA history.  
  • Quinn Ojinnaka, the real-life Moose, played for four teams over seven seasons in the National Football League (NFL), including the New England Patriots, before transitioning to pro wrestling. He made his wrestling debut in 2012. His NFL career included time as teammates with legendary quarterback Tom Brady while playing for one of the best NFL head coaches in history, Bill Belichick.  
  • An offensive lineman, Ojinnaka played 62 NFL games after playing at Syracuse University and was selected in the fifth-round of the 2006 NFL Draft by the Atlanta Falcons. Moose and Bill Goldberg are the only former NFL players from the modern era to have gone from the NFL to become the World Champion of a pro wrestling company. In fact, there are only four others in addition to Moose & Goldberg to have ever gone from the NFL to World Championship glory in pro wrestling, including Bronko Nagurski, who is a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame. The others are Ernie Ladd, Dick the Bruiser and Gus Sonnenberg. 
  • # # # 
  • About TNA Wrestling: 
  • A subsidiary of Anthem Sports & Entertainment Inc. and a division of Anthem Sports Group, Total Nonstop Action (TNA) Wrestling® is one of the world’s top wrestling brands, producing over 200 hours of original content annually and televised in 200 countries including AXS TV in the United States. Founded in 2002, TNA Wrestling’s deep library of premium content is streamed across the world on key OTT platforms including Pluto TV, Roku SamsungTV Plus and its own on-demand subscription service TNA+©. TNA Wrestling has a powerful social media presence with over 10 million engaged followers across all major services. Ancillary businesses include live events, merchandise, licensing, and sponsorship. 

Jake “The Snake” Roberts Undergoes Successful Heart Surgery

Wrestling legend Jake “The Snake” Roberts is on the mend after undergoing successful heart ablation surgery—and if all goes well, he could be back on the road with fans before the month is out.

The WWE Hall of Famer and current AEW personality had the procedure on May 13 to address an irregular heartbeat. Roberts, who also manages chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), discovered the arrhythmia earlier this year while hospitalized for pneumonia. He first mentioned the issue on a February episode of his podcast The Snake Pit, saying:

“I got a problem with my ticker. But by going in, I caught it, and we got to go have a couple of procedures done, and it’ll be all hunky dory then.”

The heart ablation procedure—commonly used to correct arrhythmias by targeting problematic heart tissue—appears to have gone smoothly. His wife, Cheryl Roberts, shared the good news via Instagram shortly after the surgery, noting that Jake was already making strong progress and expected to be discharged soon. She added that following a week of recovery, Roberts plans to resume traveling and appearances.

Jake himself later chimed in with his own post-op update, letting fans know he’s doing well and eager to get back out there. His next scheduled appearance is at Iron City Comic Con in Birmingham, Alabama on May 31 and June 1, and all signs point to Roberts being ready to go for the event.

It’s nothing short of remarkable given Roberts’ past health battles and storied personal journey, and even more so considering he turns 70 later this month. As always, “The Snake” continues to prove he’s one of the toughest icons in wrestling history.

WWE NXT Preview 5/13/2025

WWE will present a new episode of NXT tonight on The CW from the Performance Center, as the build continues for NXT: Battleground 2025.

  • Oba Femi vs. Charlie Dempsey
  • Tony D’Angelo vs. Wes Lee
  • Joe Hendry and Trick Williams have a contract signing.

WWE Draft Likely Slated for Late May as Main Roster Call-Ups Loom

WWE’s annual Draft is still on the calendar for 2025 — and it looks like it could be coming sooner rather than later.

According to Wrestling Observer Radio, Bryan Alvarez reports that WWE is likely planning to hold this year’s Draft during its packed Memorial Day weekend in Tampa, Florida. That weekend already features Saturday Night’s Main Event, NXT: Battleground, Monday Night RAW, and NXT TV — all running out of the Yuengling Center. Slotting the Draft into that schedule would give WWE a high-energy backdrop to shake up its rosters.

While the date isn’t officially confirmed, Alvarez said it’s “very likely” the Draft could take place “on that weekend or that week,” suggesting WWE may finally be ready to reshuffle its roster and pull the trigger on some long-anticipated call-ups.

Chief among those expected to be moved up are NXT standouts Roxanne Perez and Giulia. Despite her frequent appearances on the main roster since the Royal Rumble, Perez is still technically listed as an NXT talent. “She should be petitioning for main roster back pay,” Alvarez joked, referencing how often she’s already been involved with RAW and SmackDown.

Giulia, the high-profile signing from Japan, has yet to officially debut in-ring, but buzz around her has remained high — and the Draft would be a natural time to transition her into a featured role on the main stage. Stephanie Vaquer and Kelani Jordan were also named as strong candidates for a call-up, though Alvarez noted WWE won’t be promoting everyone at once.

“There’s a reason that a lot of women were cut in the last couple of weeks,” Alvarez said, pointing to recent roster trimming. “They are making room on the roster for a lot of other women to get called up.”

If the Draft does land at the end of May, it will mark the first major reshuffle of WWE’s roster in 2025, and potentially the start of a new era for several NXT favorites. With Memorial Day weekend already shaping up to be a big one for WWE programming, fans might want to keep their eyes on Tampa — the future of RAW and SmackDown could be decided there.

Shotzi Set to Debut in MLW, Expected to Have Creative Input on Revamped Women’s Division

Shotzi’s post-WWE journey is already taking shape, and it’s looking like a bold new chapter. According to Fightful Select, the soon-to-be former WWE Superstar is officially headed to Major League Wrestling, with her debut set for the June 26 Summer of the Beasts event — a move that MLW had been teasing in recent weeks.

Sources within MLW indicate the company has big plans for Shotzi right out of the gate. Her upcoming appearance won’t be a one-off, either; she’s expected to become a recurring presence, with multiple appearances already lined up. More interestingly, she’ll reportedly have a significant level of creative input in her presentation — including a say in who she faces.

Shotzi’s arrival comes as MLW is putting serious focus on rejuvenating its women’s division. The division is now under the creative direction of Salina De La Renta and is being infused with top international talent, especially from Japan’s Tokyo Joshi Pro Wrestling (TJPW). Expect joshi wrestlers to be featured prominently moving forward, with MLW also scouting talent from CMLL, the indie circuit, and recently released names from other major promotions.

One potential marquee match already being discussed: Shotzi vs. MLW World Featherweight Champion Shoko Nakajima. The reigning champ from TJPW won the title in April and has quickly become a cornerstone of MLW’s women’s division. A clash between Nakajima and Shotzi would be a major spotlight bout — a fusion of star power, styles, and fan intrigue.

Shotzi, known for her high-octane, risk-taking style, seems like a perfect fit for MLW’s evolving brand of wrestling. With the promotion prioritizing both international talent and creative freedom, her arrival could be a game-changer not just for her career, but for the entire women’s division.

Expect fireworks when Shotzi lands in MLW this summer.

The Miz Tapped to Host Amazon’s Reboot of American Gladiators

WWE’s resident A-Lister is heading back to reality TV — this time, as the face of a legendary competition series. Mike “The Miz” Mizanin has officially been named the host of Amazon Prime Video’s upcoming American Gladiators reboot.

The revival, which is being developed by Amazon in partnership with producers John Ferraro and Daniel Calin, marks a modern comeback for the classic series that originally ran from the late ’80s through the ’90s. Amazon is looking to deliver more than just nostalgia — they’re aiming for a full-fledged cultural moment.

“We’re excited to officially welcome WWE Superstar Mike ‘The Miz’ Mizanin to the American Gladiators family,” said Barry Poznick, general manager of MGM Alternative, Evolution Media, and Big Fish Entertainment. “He’s the perfect host for the new era of this iconic franchise.”

The new version will spotlight a diverse lineup of athletic competitors, including CrossFit stars, bodybuilders, Division I athletes, and elite fitness trainers from around the globe. These gladiators-in-the-making will face revamped challenges designed to test both physical prowess and on-screen charisma — two areas The Miz knows a thing or two about.

While Miz will lead the charge, don’t be surprised if more WWE faces pop up along the way. Past reports have suggested that other wrestlers could eventually join the show, either as contestants or special guests, bridging the gap between pro wrestling and mainstream athletic entertainment.

For Miz, this is another notch on his already stacked entertainment résumé. Before becoming a WWE Champion, he cut his teeth in reality TV on The Real World and The Challenge. Since then, he’s hosted everything from Cannonball to Champs vs. Stars, and starred in multiple films and WWE-related projects.

With Amazon throwing serious weight behind the reboot — including a live tour and a 24/7 Gladiators streaming channel — the return of American Gladiators is shaping up to be a massive event. And with The Miz holding the mic, the show’s larger-than-life energy is practically guaranteed.

Stay tuned — American Gladiators is about to get awesome.