Tonight’s WWE SmackDown is the go-home show for Saturday’s Elimination Chamber premium live event and will air live on the USA Network in the US and Netflix internationally. from the Scotiabank Arena in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
With WrestleMania 41 fast approaching, WWE’s top stars are locking in their spots for the grandest stage of them all. Now, a new report suggests that Randy Orton could soon be back in the mix, just in time for the event in Las Vegas, Nevada.
According to PWInsider Elite, Orton is expected to return to WWE by March, potentially making his in-ring comeback during WWE’s Road to WrestleMania tour in Europe. This timeline would put “The Viper” on track to compete at WrestleMania itself, marking his 19th appearance at WWE’s biggest event.
Orton has been out of action since November 2024 after WWE says he suffered a cervical cord neurapraxia following a brutal piledriver from Kevin Owens. The injury put a sudden halt to Orton’s momentum, but with WWE officials reportedly expecting his return soon, the speculation has already begun about what his WrestleMania match could look like.
One likely scenario? A showdown with Owens. The two superstars initially teamed up heading into WrestleMania 40, joining forces with Cody Rhodes to battle The Bloodline. However, after Owens turned on Rhodes at Bash in Berlin, he also betrayed Orton, setting the stage for a heated rivalry. With Owens already set to face Sami Zayn in an unsanctioned match at Elimination Chamber this weekend, Orton could make his return soon after to reignite their unfinished business.
If Orton does compete at WrestleMania 41, it will further solidify his status as one of WWE’s most consistent performers on the grandest stage. With 18 previous WrestleMania matches, he trails only Triple H (23 WrestleMania appearances) and The Undertaker (27 WrestleMania appearances) in all-time history.
Despite missing WrestleMania 32 (2016) and WrestleMania 39 (2023), Orton has been a fixture at the event ever since his first appearance at WrestleMania 20 in 2004. Whether he faces Owens or another top WWE star, his return would add another major name to an already stacked WrestleMania 41 card.
With March right around the corner, Orton’s return could be imminent—will he get revenge on Owens, or does WWE have another plan in store for “The Viper”? Stay tuned as the Road to WrestleMania heats up!
Rumors have been swirling about Vince McMahon making a return to the professional wrestling industry, with speculation that he’s looking to recruit former WWE executives and experienced production staff for a new promotion. However, multiple sources have now debunked these claims.
On the latest 83 Weeks podcast, Eric Bischoff and Conrad Thompson entertained the idea that FOX could be involved in this supposed new wrestling venture. However, The Athletic’s Andrew Marchand reported that a FOX spokesperson denied any involvement with McMahon, stating that the rumors were false.
Additionally, Dave Meltzer addressed the speculation on Wrestling Observer Radio, firmly stating, “He’s not starting a wrestling promotion. I can tell you that.” While fellow analyst Bryan Alvarez mentioned that McMahon wants to start a company, Meltzer clarified that it would be an entertainment company—not a wrestling promotion.
Meltzer also pointed out that even if McMahon did launch a wrestling promotion, he’d face a steep uphill battle. Alvarez noted that he would initially rank as the fourth-biggest company in the industry, behind WWE, AEW, and TNA. Meltzer suggested that McMahon could eventually surpass TNA, but with top-tier talent already locked into existing contracts, establishing a competitive promotion would be extremely difficult.
After his highly publicized exit from WWE amid legal controversies, McMahon’s future remains uncertain. While he may be exploring new business ventures, all credible reports indicate that a return to wrestling is not on the table.
A major champion in WWE NXT is reportedly dealing with an injury, which may explain the high-stakes title match set for NXT Roadblock.
On this week’s episode of NXT, General Manager Ava announced that NXT Women’s Champion Giulia will face Women’s North American Champion Stephanie Vaquer in a rare double-title match, with both championships on the line. However, new reports suggest that this match may have been booked due to an injury concern.
Bryan Alvarez of Wrestling Observer Live revealed that one of the competitors is currently banged up and needs time off, though he didn’t specify which one. However, WrestlePurists and Ibou of Self Made later confirmed on social media that Giulia is the one dealing with an injury. PWInsider Elite also reported that the NXT Women’s Champion is hurt, though the exact nature of her injury remains unknown. Despite this, multiple sources confirm that Giulia is still scheduled to compete at Roadblock.
Giulia has been on a dominant run since capturing the NXT Women’s Championship from Roxanne Perez at New Year’s Evil on January 7. She successfully defended the title against Perez, Bayley, and Cora Jade in a Fatal 4-Way at Vengeance Day, and her upcoming clash with Vaquer marks her second defense.
With both titles at stake, Roadblock could significantly shake up NXT’s women’s division. However, with Giulia reportedly competing through an injury, fans will be watching closely to see how it impacts the match—and what the future holds for her reign.
The wrestling world is buzzing with speculation that Vince McMahon might be eyeing a return to the business. Reports suggest that the former WWE Chairman could be looking to bring back ex-WWE executives and reconnect with veteran wrestling production staff. The topic was recently discussed on the 83 Weeks podcast, where Eric Bischoff and Conrad Thompson even speculated that FOX could be backing a new McMahon-led wrestling promotion.
However, The Athletic’s Andrew Marchand has poured cold water on those rumors—at least as far as FOX is concerned. Marchand reported that a network spokesperson denied any involvement with McMahon in such a project. He stated, “There is a report that Vince McMahon might start a wrestling company with FOX as a partner. If McMahon is planning that or not, I don’t know, but the FOX part is not true, according to a network spokesman.”
While McMahon’s next move remains uncertain, the idea of him re-entering the wrestling landscape isn’t far-fetched. After selling WWE to Endeavor and stepping away following multiple controversies, some believe he might not be ready to stay on the sidelines permanently. Whether this is just speculation or the beginning of something real, one thing is clear—when it comes to Vince McMahon, the wrestling world will always be watching.
WWE NXT live tonight on The CW from the Andrew J. Brady Music Center in Cincinnati, Ohio.
As WWE continues to rake in record-breaking revenue following its merger with UFC under the TKO umbrella, behind the scenes, employees are feeling the pressure—and not in a good way. Despite the company’s booming financials, many WWE staff members are seeing cutbacks in benefits, limited promotions, and heavier workloads, leading to growing frustration and declining morale.
TKO Group Holdings is set to report its fourth-quarter and full-year 2024 earnings, with projections placing revenue between $2.67 billion and $2.75 billion and an adjusted EBITDA of up to $1.24 billion. These figures come on the heels of WWE’s most lucrative period ever, marked by a $5 billion streaming deal with Netflix, record-breaking live event ticket sales, and blockbuster deals such as its ongoing partnership with Saudi Arabia.
However, despite the company’s financial windfall, employees say they aren’t seeing the benefits. In an anonymous report to Wrestlenomics, multiple WWE staff members described a significant decline in workplace morale. Their concerns? Reduced benefits, stagnant pay, and increased workloads—all while WWE’s corporate messaging continues to emphasize “valuing” its workforce.
One of the major sore points for employees is the elimination of several perks that once made working for WWE more rewarding. Among the key changes:
For many employees, these cutbacks come at a time when workloads have only increased. With WWE and UFC operations consolidating under Endeavor’s oversight, many staff members report working 50 to 60 hours a week, particularly as WrestleMania season approaches. Some have even seen their job responsibilities expand beyond WWE, now tasked with supporting Endeavor properties like UFC and Professional Bull Riders (PBR) without additional compensation.
While WWE employees are being told that financial constraints are limiting raises and benefits, top TKO executives have been raking in massive payouts. CEO Ari Emanuel received a $20 million cash bonus on top of stock grants, while other executives were awarded millions in bonuses and stock options following the merger.
At the same time, TKO recently announced a $2 billion stock buyback program and continues to pay out quarterly dividends to institutional investors. While these moves benefit shareholders and executives, they do little for the rank-and-file employees who help drive WWE’s success.
For years, WWE has thrived on a culture of passion and dedication, with employees willing to go the extra mile to help put on world-class entertainment. However, with morale at an all-time low, some staff members now say they’re hesitant to give the same level of effort.
With WWE employees not unionized and limited avenues for recourse, many fear that workloads will continue to increase without additional benefits or compensation. With TKO likely to pursue further acquisitions, concerns are growing that the situation could get even worse.
For now, WWE may be setting financial records, but internally, its workforce is feeling increasingly undervalued. If this trend continues, the company could soon find itself facing another challenge—retaining the very employees who helped make its success possible.
The wrestling world is buzzing with speculation that Vince McMahon may not be done with the industry just yet. On a recent episode of 83 Weeks, Conrad Thompson and Eric Bischoff discussed the rumors making the rounds—suggesting that McMahon could be assembling a new wrestling promotion with former WWE executives and seasoned production crew members. Even more intriguing? There’s talk that FOX might have a spot open for such a venture.
During the podcast, Thompson revealed that he’s been hearing whispers about McMahon reaching out to wrestling cameramen and other experienced industry professionals. Given McMahon’s long history of turning wrestling into a media empire, the idea of him launching another project isn’t entirely out of the realm of possibility.
Thompson laid out the speculation:
“Allegedly, Vince McMahon’s people have made contact with people who have experience shooting wrestling, maybe cameramen. And allegedly… the whispers say perhaps FOX is holding a spot.”
Thompson admitted he was skeptical, especially considering that FOX just parted ways with WWE after SmackDown moved to the USA Network. However, he also noted McMahon’s appearance at the Super Bowl—broadcast on FOX—as something that piqued his curiosity.
Bischoff, who has worked both with and against McMahon in the past, didn’t dismiss the idea outright but remained cautious. While he admitted to hearing similar rumors, he pointed out that just because something makes sense doesn’t mean it’s a done deal.
“There’s too many things that make sense in this rumor… but it’s not the complete picture. There’s a couple of other things that would have to happen that I just can’t imagine happening.”
One major sticking point for Bischoff? The idea that FOX, which opted not to renew WWE SmackDown, would suddenly be willing to invest in a brand-new wrestling company.
“Do I really believe there’s a scenario where FOX would lay down that big of a bet on another wrestling company? I just can’t wrap my head around that part.”
While the idea of FOX outright broadcasting a new McMahon-led wrestling company seems far-fetched, Bischoff entertained a different possibility—what if FOX became a stakeholder in the promotion itself?
“What if FOX is a partner and not just a distribution partner? What if they’re building their own version, and they’re gonna own it?”
This would be a game-changer, as it would mean FOX wouldn’t just be paying for wrestling content but would actually hold a financial stake in the product. While it’s purely speculation at this point, it’s an interesting angle to consider.
Perhaps the biggest question is whether McMahon himself would even want to start over. At 78 years old and after stepping away from WWE following a series of controversies, most would assume he’d retire and enjoy a stress-free life. But Bischoff doesn’t think that’s in McMahon’s DNA.
“He could have his own little island down in Bimini… he could live an amazing life and never have to experience one moment of stress again. And he ain’t gonna do that.”
McMahon has always been a relentless competitor, and if he sees an opportunity to make an impact in the wrestling business again, it’s hard to rule out the possibility.
Could he really be working on a new promotion? Would FOX get involved? Or is this just a case of trying to connect dots that aren’t actually there?
For now, we wait. But if Vince McMahon has taught us anything over the years, it’s that you should never count him out.
The Hardy Boyz are heading back to WWE—this time for their NXT debut. The legendary tag team, currently holding the TNA World Tag Team Championship, is set to take on No Quarter Catch Crew on Tuesday’s episode of NXT. This marks Matt and Jeff Hardy’s first WWE match in years, with Matt last competing in 2020 and Jeff departing in 2021.
Since leaving WWE, the brothers had stints in AEW and later TNA, where they are now a key part of the promotion’s resurgence. Their NXT appearance is the latest crossover in the growing partnership between WWE’s developmental brand and TNA, which has seen talent like Joe Hendry and Moose step into the NXT ring.
Speaking on The Extreme Life of Matt Hardy podcast, Matt revealed that this match came together at the last minute but sees it as a major opportunity for both parties.
“It’s very cool because… NXT and TNA have this partnership right now… It has been so beneficial for TNA and it has also been so beneficial for NXT,” Hardy explained.
Matt also emphasized that the Hardys’ popularity remains strong despite the ups and downs of their careers.
“Our popularity is great right now. It’s been off the charts… The people have a connection with us and that connection is very strong. It hasn’t faded away.”
While their return to WWE programming is an exciting development, Matt reflected on their time in AEW, admitting they never fully regained momentum there. Jeff’s DUI arrest in 2022 led to a suspension, and according to Matt, it may have permanently damaged their standing with AEW President Tony Khan.
“I think we’re still a draw… I think we could’ve been that in AEW,” Matt said. “I understand, my brother, he made that mistake. I understand Tony didn’t feel good about trusting him… It just didn’t happen [there].”
Now, with a fresh opportunity in WWE’s NXT, the Hardys have a chance to remind fans why they are one of the most iconic tag teams in wrestling history. Whether this is a one-off appearance or the start of something bigger remains to be seen, but one thing’s for sure—the Hardy Boyz are still extreme and ready to thrill the WWE Universe once again.
Stay tuned for NXT this Tuesday to see the Hardys in action!
WWE Raw airs live tonight globally on Netflix, beginning at 8:00 pm ET/5:00 pm PT from the Heritage Bank Center in Cincinnati, Ohio.
Wrestling News Blog 