WWE NXT tonight on The CW.
Former TNA World Champion Josh Alexander is one of the hottest free agents in professional wrestling right now, and it looks like he’s made his decision. While rumors have been swirling that The Walking Weapon is heading to AEW instead of WWE, nothing has been officially confirmed—yet. However, Dave Meltzer shed some light on the situation during a recent episode of Wrestling Observer Radio, confirming two key details about Alexander’s next move.
According to Meltzer, Alexander has already made his decision, and it ultimately came down to whoever offered the best deal financially. “His TNA contract is up, and obviously, he was going to go to AEW or WWE, and it looks like AEW,” Meltzer said. “The two things I do know is, number one, he has decided where he’s going, and number two, it’s to whoever the highest bidder was for him.”
While some fans will inevitably be disappointed no matter where Alexander ends up—because, let’s face it, wrestling fandom can get pretty tribal—this was a business decision. Alexander prioritized what was best for his family, and whoever put the biggest offer on the table is where he’s going.
Though financial details haven’t been revealed, Alexander’s deal with AEW (assuming that’s where he lands) could be a major payday, thanks in part to wrestling agent Barry Bloom. Bloom has helped negotiate major contracts for top stars like Kenny Omega, Kazuchika Okada, and Will Ospreay—each of whom has secured lucrative deals with AEW in the last two years. If Alexander is in that same category, he could be cashing in big-time.
With AEW continuing to bolster its roster with world-class talent, adding Alexander would be another major win for Tony Khan’s promotion. Now, fans just have to wait for the official announcement—and see how WWE responds.
Stay tuned to Wrestling News Blog for more updates on Josh Alexander’s next move!
Former TNA World Champion Josh Alexander is one of the hottest free agents in professional wrestling right now, and it looks like he’s made his decision. While rumors have been swirling that The Walking Weapon is heading to AEW instead of WWE, nothing has been officially confirmed—yet. However, Dave Meltzer shed some light on the situation during a recent episode of Wrestling Observer Radio, confirming two key details about Alexander’s next move.
According to Meltzer, Alexander has already made his decision, and it ultimately came down to whoever offered the best deal financially. “His TNA contract is up, and obviously, he was going to go to AEW or WWE, and it looks like AEW,” Meltzer said. “The two things I do know is, number one, he has decided where he’s going, and number two, it’s to whoever the highest bidder was for him.”
While some fans will inevitably be disappointed no matter where Alexander ends up—because, let’s face it, wrestling fandom can get pretty tribal—this was a business decision. Alexander prioritized what was best for his family, and whoever put the biggest offer on the table is where he’s going.
Though financial details haven’t been revealed, Alexander’s deal with AEW (assuming that’s where he lands) could be a major payday, thanks in part to wrestling agent Barry Bloom. Bloom has helped negotiate major contracts for top stars like Kenny Omega, Kazuchika Okada, and Will Ospreay—each of whom has secured lucrative deals with AEW in the last two years. If Alexander is in that same category, he could be cashing in big-time.
With AEW continuing to bolster its roster with world-class talent, adding Alexander would be another major win for Tony Khan’s promotion. Now, fans just have to wait for the official announcement—and see how WWE responds.
Stay tuned to Wrestling News Blog for more updates on Josh Alexander’s next move!
NXT Vengeance Day delivered a night of thrilling action, title changes, and unexpected chaos, leaving fans buzzing about what’s next for the black and gold brand. Here’s a full breakdown of the night’s biggest moments, including a historic title win, a brutal strap match, and a TNA crossover tease that could shake things up in NXT.
In one of the most exciting matches of the night, Fallon Henley defended her NXT Women’s North American Championship against Stephanie Vaquer in a hard-hitting encounter. The early moments saw Vaquer use her technical prowess to keep Henley grounded, locking in an STF and a figure-four headscissors. However, Henley turned the tide with a vicious right hand and underhanded tactics, thanks to interference from Jazmyn Nyx and Jacy Jayne at ringside.
Vaquer fought back with an explosive sequence, hitting a springboard crossbody and a Tiger Feint Kick, before spiking Henley’s head into the mat repeatedly. Despite Jayne’s attempts to interfere, Vaquer refused to stay down, eventually leveling Henley with a brutal Angel’s Wings on the apron followed by a diving splash to the floor.
With Henley reeling, Vaquer sealed the victory with a spectacular Spiral Tap, becoming the new NXT Women’s North American Champion.
Fraxiom (Axiom & Nathan Frazer) put their NXT Tag Team Titles on the line against the powerhouse team of Josh Briggs & Yoshiki Inamura in a high-energy clash. Frazer and Axiom used their speed and precision to control the early minutes, but Inamura’s brute strength soon shifted the momentum.
As both teams battled back and forth, the match reached a fever pitch when Briggs delivered a devastating avalanche chokeslam, sending Frazer crashing into Axiom. The champions barely held on, eventually countering Inamura’s offense and hitting a missile dropkick-assisted reverse STO to retain their titles.
However, the celebration was short-lived. The mysterious masked faction that has been disrupting NXT events struck again, ambushing both teams and leaving them laid out. Dion Lennox was singled out by commentary, suggesting he may be involved with the group.
The Eddy Thorpe vs. Trick Williams strap match didn’t follow the traditional “touch all four corners” rule but instead allowed the strap to be used as a legal weapon. Williams jumped Thorpe before the match officially started, and the two brawled all around the ringside area, whipping each other against the barricade.
Inside the ring, Williams nearly put Thorpe away with a Trick Shot, but the impact sent Eddy rolling out of the ring, saving him from being pinned. Thorpe capitalized on a momentary opening, delivering a low blow with the strap before finishing Williams with a brutal knee strike for the victory.
In his first major NXT match, Ethan Page squared off against rising star Je’Von Evans, and the two went all out. Evans started hot, launching himself over the announce desk with a torpedo dive and punishing Page with stiff strikes. However, “All Ego” turned the tide by targeting Evans’ leg, locking in an Achilles lock and an ankle lock to slow him down.
Despite absorbing an avalanche Ego’s Edge, Evans refused to stay down, mounting a comeback. However, Page delivered a stiff punch that sent Evans’ mouthpiece flying before planting him with Twisted Grin to secure the win. Post-match, Evans was seen bleeding from the mouth as medical personnel checked on him.
The NXT Championship was on the line in a chaotic triple-threat match featuring Oba Femi, Grayson Waller, and Austin Theory. Waller and Theory briefly worked together to wear down the dominant champion, but their alliance quickly crumbled.
Femi’s raw power was on full display as he suplexed both challengers at once and later sent Waller crashing through the announce desk. Theory nearly stole the win with A-Town Down, but Waller yanked the referee out of the ring before he could complete the count.
Femi capitalized on the distraction, delivering Fall From Grace on Waller to retain his title. But as soon as the match ended, the mysterious masked faction struck again, attacking Femi and laying him out with an assisted double powerbomb.
With this group now targeting champions, NXT management will have to address their growing influence.
In a surprising backstage moment, Arianna Grace returned and introduced TNA Director of Authority Santino Marella to NXT GM Ava Raine. The two shared a moment of mutual respect, with Santino noting he hadn’t seen Ava since she was a child.
The segment ended with Santino and Ava heading off to discuss potential cross-promotional ideas, hinting at a deeper collaboration between NXT and TNA.
The main event saw Giulia defend her NXT Women’s Championship against Bayley, Cora Jade, and Roxanne Perez in a thrilling four-way bout. Giulia smartly let her challengers fight early before asserting dominance with vicious strikes and submission attempts.
The match featured incredible moments, including a double pin attempt by Giulia, stereo superkicks from Perez and Jade, and a Tower of Doom spot that had the crowd on their feet. Bayley nearly won after hitting middle rope Stunners, but the champion regained control, landing Arrivederci on Jade before finishing Perez with a Northern Lights Bomb to retain her title.
As Giulia celebrated, Stephanie Vaquer—her fellow champion—entered the ring, holding up her newly won NXT Women’s North American Championship in a show of unity.
But just as they embraced, a siren blared through the arena…
Jordynne Grace appeared!
Grace stepped into the ring, staring down both champions in a non-confrontational but intense moment.
NXT Vengeance Day delivered on every front—great wrestling, a title change, and major storyline developments. Stephanie Vaquer’s title win, the masked faction’s continued attacks, and Jordynne Grace’s appearance make it clear that the road to NXT Stand & Deliver is already heating up.
With NXT’s Roadblock special coming up on March 11 and the looming presence of TNA talent, the landscape of WWE’s developmental brand is more unpredictable than ever.
WWE NXT Presents Vengeance Day PLE – Saturday, Feb. 15, 2025 – Entertainment & Sports Arena in Washington, D.C.
CARD
THE NXT CHAMPIONSHIP – TRIPLE THREAT:
Oba Femi (c) vs. Austin Theory vs. Grayson Waller
NXT WOMEN’S CHAMPIONSHIP – FATAL 4-WAY:
Giulia (c) vs. Bayley vs. Cora Jade vs. Roxanne Perez
NXT WOMEN’S NORTH AMERICAN CHAMPIONSHIP:
Fallon Henley (c) vs. Stephanie Vaquer
STRAP MATCH:
Eddy Thorpe vs. Trick Williams
Je’Von Evans vs. Ethan Page
NXT TAG TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH:
Axiom & Nathan Frazer (c) vs. Josh Briggs & Yoshiki Inamura
It looks like one of WWE’s most dominant tag teams from the late ’80s is back in the fold. According to PWInsider Elite, Demolition—comprised of Bill Eadie (Ax) and Barry Darsow (Smash)—have reportedly signed legends deals with WWE.
The news comes as a significant development, given the history between the former three-time WWE World Tag Team Champions and the company. The duo originally teamed together from 1987 to 1991, cementing their legacy as one of WWE’s longest-reigning tag teams during their era. They officially retired from in-ring competition in 2017.
While Demolition’s return to the WWE umbrella may excite longtime fans, it’s notable considering past legal disputes between the team and the company. Eadie previously fought WWE over the rights to the Demolition name and gimmick but was unsuccessful in his legal battle. Additionally, both Eadie and Darsow were part of a 2016 class-action lawsuit against WWE, alleging that the company concealed the risks of traumatic brain injuries suffered by wrestlers. That lawsuit was ultimately dismissed in 2018.
Interestingly, speculation about Demolition’s renewed relationship with WWE began swirling when their profiles were recently re-added to the Alumni section of WWE.com. Now, with reports of legends deals in place, fans may wonder if this could lead to future WWE-related appearances or even a long-overdue Hall of Fame induction.
For now, it seems WWE and Demolition have put past disputes behind them, and the legendary tag team is once again part of the company’s extended family.
Tonight’s WWE SmackDown will air live on the USA Network in the United States and on Netflix internationally, beginning at 8:00 pm ET from the Capital One Arena in Washington, DC.
The WWE Hall of Fame Class of 2025 just gained another legendary name—Michelle McCool. The former Divas and Women’s Champion was surprised with the news earlier today by Paul “Triple H” Levesque during an appearance on ESPN’s Get Up. This comes just two weeks after The Undertaker and Shawn Michaels shocked Levesque with his own Hall of Fame induction announcement.
During the segment, Levesque praised McCool’s contributions to WWE, emphasizing her role in evolving women’s wrestling. “It’s long overdue,” he told her. “You’re one of the women that transformed what we do and brought it into the modern era… Just amazing. So happy for you and such a well-deserved honor.”
McCool’s WWE journey began in 2004 as a participant in the WWE Divas Search. Despite finishing seventh, her athleticism and charisma earned her a contract, leading to a successful in-ring career during the Ruthless Aggression era.
In 2008, McCool made history by becoming the inaugural WWE Divas Champion, defeating Natalya at The Great American Bash. After dropping the title to Maryse later that year, she embraced a new persona as a dominant heel, setting the stage for her iconic partnership with Layla as LayCool. The duo ran roughshod over the SmackDown women’s division, with McCool capturing both the Women’s Championship and a second Divas Championship—winning the latter in a historic unification match against Melina at Night of Champions 2010.
McCool stepped away from full-time competition in 2011 after losing a Loser Leaves WWE match to Layla. However, she has made sporadic returns, appearing at WWE Raw 25 Years, WWE Evolution, and multiple Royal Rumble matches.
Now, with her place in WWE history officially recognized, McCool joins an already star-studded 2025 Hall of Fame class. With WrestleMania weekend approaching, fans will soon see The All-American Diva take her rightful place among the greats.
Ricky Starks wasted no time making an impact in WWE, debuting on NXT just one day after receiving his release from AEW. The former AEW World Tag Team Champion shocked fans by appearing through the crowd and declaring himself the “absolute superstar of the future.” However, one detail stood out—commentary and WWE’s social media team never actually referred to him by name during the broadcast.
According to WalkwayFight.com, this omission was due to how quickly the deal came together. Starks’ WWE signing happened so fast that there wasn’t even time to produce merchandise for him. Additionally, with Starks previously filing to trademark his in-ring name through his company, Dream Palace LLC, there’s now speculation that WWE may rebrand him under a new name.
WWE has a long-standing preference for owning their talents’ ring names, ensuring exclusivity if they leave the company. However, there have been exceptions in recent years. Stars like Ethan Page and Jade Cargill have kept their AEW names, while others—such as Brian Pillman Jr. (now Lexis King) and Bea Priestley (now Blair Davenport)—underwent rebranding.
Given Starks’ established reputation, it would be surprising if WWE opted to change his name. However, history suggests it’s still a possibility. Whether he remains Ricky Starks or adopts a new persona, one thing is clear—his NXT arrival has already turned heads, and fans will be eager to see what’s next.
Stay tuned for updates as more details emerge about Starks’ WWE future.
The ongoing legal troubles surrounding Vince McMahon took another strange turn this week, as conflicting reports emerged about the status of a federal investigation into the former WWE Chairman.
Last month, McMahon reached a settlement with the SEC after failing to disclose NDA payments made to Janel Grant—who is currently suing him for sex trafficking and abuse—as well as another unnamed woman. At the time, McMahon seemed to suggest that the federal probe into him had concluded. However, that narrative was cast into doubt when an appellate court ruled that over 200 documents, previously withheld by McMahon’s legal team, must be handed over to a grand jury.
The revelation of this ruling suggested that the investigation was still active. But now, McMahon’s lawyer, Robert W. Allen, is pushing back on that notion. Speaking to the New York Post, Allen stated definitively that the case had been closed.
“This is simply the result of an appeal of a procedural matter that was argued five months ago. We have been in consistent communication with the government since that time and understand, with no ambiguity, that the investigation has definitively concluded and will not result in charges.”
A separate source familiar with the case also told The Post that federal prosecutors had declined to press charges at some point between September 18 and January 10—the same day McMahon settled with the SEC.
Despite these statements, there’s still a lingering question: If the case is truly closed, why did the appellate court rule that the documents must be turned over to a grand jury? The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York has declined to comment, leaving the situation murky.
For now, McMahon and his legal team maintain that he is in the clear, but with ongoing litigation from Grant and the SEC settlement fresh in the public eye, this saga may not be over just yet.
Just one day after officially parting ways with AEW, Ricky Starks made an unexpected splash in WWE, appearing live on NXT and delivering a fiery promo from the crowd at the WWE Performance Center.
With no entrance music and no prior announcement, Starks stepped into the spotlight as the ring crew set up for the night’s steel cage main event. The only cue for fans at home was a stunned “Holy crap!” from commentator Vic Joseph, as the NXT crowd erupted in chants of “Ricky! Ricky!”
Grabbing a microphone, Starks wasted no time in making his intentions clear:
“If ‘NXT’ is the future of professional wrestling, well guess what? You need an absolute superstar of the future. If this is the hottest brand, well, you need the hottest free agent right now, baby. Everyone’s been asking when the revolution will be televised again. Well, I’m right here, aren’t I?”
News of Starks’ AEW departure broke earlier this week, with reports confirming that his contract had expired and that he was free to sign anywhere without a non-compete clause. AEW had previously exercised the option year on his deal, but Starks had been largely absent from television leading up to his exit.
His NXT appearance raises plenty of questions about his future. While he didn’t confirm whether he’d be involved in Saturday’s Vengeance Day premium live event, his presence alone signals that WWE may have big plans for the former AEW standout.
For now, all eyes are on what’s next for Starks—will he make an impact in NXT, or is this just the first step toward an even bigger stage on Raw or SmackDown?
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