Category: WWE

Sol Ruca Hints At NXT Exit Following Raw Debut

It looks like Sol Ruca may be closing the chapter on her NXT run after making waves on WWE’s main roster this week.

Ruca stepped onto Monday Night Raw for her first official match, squaring off against Liv Morgan in a competitive showing that quickly turned chaotic thanks to outside involvement from Zaria. While the match itself raised eyebrows, it was what followed that really got people talking about Ruca’s future.

Just days earlier, Ruca endured a brutal Last Woman Standing match at NXT Revenge, where she took a heavy fall off a raised platform and crashed through a table. The spot felt significant, and in hindsight, it may have served as a dramatic sendoff moment for her NXT tenure.

Fueling that speculation even more, Ruca took to Instagram shortly after her Raw appearance with a simple but telling message: “Thank you NXT, it’s been real.” The post included photos of her standing in front of her locker, a visual that many fans are interpreting as a farewell to the brand where she built her name.

Despite the strong hints, WWE has yet to make anything official. Ruca is still listed under the NXT roster on WWE.com, leaving just enough room for uncertainty. Still, between her Raw debut and her social media message, all signs are pointing toward a full-time move to the main roster.

If this really is the end of her NXT run, Ruca leaves behind a memorable stretch filled with standout athleticism and highlight-reel moments—and it looks like she’s ready to bring that same energy to a bigger stage.

“Fighting With My Family” (Paige’s Life Story) To Become A Stage Musical

Paige’s return to WWE has already delivered a major WrestleMania moment—but now her story is about to reach an entirely new audience outside the ring.

After spending years away from WWE working with AEW and pursuing projects beyond wrestling, Paige made a high-profile comeback at WrestleMania 42. Stepping in as a replacement for Nikki Bella, she teamed with Brie Bella and captured the WWE Women’s Tag Team Championships, instantly reestablishing herself as a key player in the division. But as it turns out, that in-ring success is just one part of a much larger resurgence.

According to a new report from Deadline, Paige’s life story—previously told in the 2019 film Fighting With My Family—is now being reimagined as a stage musical. The project already has some familiar names attached. Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, who helped produce and appeared in the original film, is returning as a producer alongside writer and director Stephen Merchant.

The creative team for the musical is also taking shape. British playwright Jon Brittain will handle the book and lyrics, while the music itself will come from songwriting duo Miranda Cooper and Nick Coler. The production is being developed under Cooper’s Tilted Musicals banner, with early plans aiming toward a public debut sometime in 2027.

Johnson spoke about the transition from screen to stage, emphasizing how naturally Paige’s story fits into a live performance setting. He noted that the blend of real-life emotion and the theatrical nature of professional wrestling makes it an ideal candidate for a musical adaptation, suggesting audiences could be in for something unique when it finally premieres.

The original Fighting With My Family film performed well relative to its budget, bringing in over $40 million worldwide and earning solid reviews. It also helped introduce wider audiences to Paige’s journey from a wrestling family in the UK to WWE stardom. Along the way, it gave a boost to rising actors Florence Pugh and Jack Lowden, who portrayed Paige and her brother Zak Knight, respectively, alongside a cast that included Nick Frost, Lena Headey, and Vince Vaughn.

With Paige back in WWE gold and her story heading to the stage, it’s clear her legacy continues to evolve in unexpected ways. From the squared circle to Hollywood—and now to theater—her journey is far from over.

WrestleMania 42 Attendance Numbers Reflect Dip In Line With Reported Sales

WWE made a point to highlight attendance figures across both nights of WrestleMania 42, and this time around, the numbers appear to closely mirror what independent trackers had already projected—just with a slight bump.

For Night 1, WWE announced an attendance of 50,816, which isn’t far off from WrestleTix’s estimate of 50,081. Night 2 saw a bit more separation, with WWE claiming 55,255 fans in attendance compared to WrestleTix’s reported 52,011. The discrepancy could come down to how WWE calculates attendance, as WrestleNomics noted that the company may be factoring in suite sales—something WrestleTix typically leaves out.

Even with those solid figures, WrestleMania 42 didn’t quite reach the heights of last year’s event, which took place in the same venue. WrestleMania 41 drew over 60,000 fans on both nights, setting a high bar and contributing to record-breaking gate numbers for the company.

So what changed this year? One likely factor is pricing. Ticket costs for WrestleMania 42 were a hot topic leading up to the event, even making their way into WWE storylines. As the show approached, both WWE and Allegiant Stadium reportedly rolled out discounts—some as steep as 30%—to help boost attendance.

While the numbers are still strong by most standards, the year-over-year decline suggests that pricing strategy may have played a role in keeping WrestleMania 42 from matching its predecessor’s turnout. Still, the relatively close alignment between WWE’s announced figures and third-party estimates could signal a shift toward more transparency when it comes to reporting attendance for major events.

Cody Rhodes Escapes Serious Injury Following Brutal WrestleMania 42 Encounter with Randy Orton

Cody Rhodes walked out of WrestleMania 42 still holding the Undisputed WWE Championship, but the victory over Randy Orton came at a physical cost that quickly became impossible to ignore.

During the match, Rhodes suffered a nasty eye injury after taking a stiff shot from Orton, and things only got worse after the bell. In the post-match angle, Orton delivered his signature punt to Rhodes’ head, leaving the champion with visible damage that carried over into the following night.

By the time Rhodes appeared on Monday Night Raw, the aftermath was clear. Sporting a heavy black eye, “The American Nightmare” also reportedly needed stitches for facial damage along with four staples to close a wound on the back of his head. Despite how severe it looked, early indications suggest Rhodes avoided the worst-case scenarios.

According to reports, there’s currently no belief that Rhodes suffered a concussion or a broken orbital bone, even though he was placed in concussion protocol as a precaution. Internally, there’s said to be a sense of relief within WWE that the injury wasn’t more serious.

Rhodes himself echoed that sentiment in a recent social media update, sharing a blunt but telling remark from his doctor: being told he wouldn’t lose his eye was both reassuring and surreal given the situation.

While the champion appears to have avoided long-term damage, his immediate in-ring future remains uncertain. WWE has yet to confirm whether Rhodes will be cleared in time for Backlash, which is just a few weeks away. Although the rivalry with Orton is far from finished, the company could opt to give Rhodes additional time to recover before booking the next chapter in their feud.

For now, Rhodes remains champion—but clearly, the battle with Orton left its mark.

WWE NXT Revenge Week 2 Preview 4/21/2026

WWE NXT Revenge Week 2 tonight on The CW and Netflix internationally.

  • NXT Women’s North American Championship Casket Match: Tatum Paxley (c) vs. Blake Monroe
  • WWE Men’s Speed Championship: EK Prosper (c) vs. Lexis King
  • NXT North American Championship: Myles Borne (c) vs. Dion Lennox
  • Last Woman Standing Match: Sol Ruca vs. ZARIA
  • Keanu Carver vs. Joe Hendry

NXT Stars Ethan Page & Joe Hendry Officially Moved to Raw as WWE Bolsters Post-WrestleMania Roster; Sol Ruca Note

The annual post-WrestleMania shake-up is already in motion, and this year’s wave of call-ups has officially brought two standout NXT names to Monday nights. Ethan Page and Joe Hendry are now confirmed members of the WWE Raw roster, signaling a fresh injection of talent into the red brand.

Ethan Page wasted no time making an impression. Appearing in a backstage segment alongside Raw General Manager Adam Pearce, Intercontinental Champion Penta, and Je’Von Evans, Page was formally introduced as Raw’s newest addition. The announcement quickly turned physical, as Page squared off with Evans in a match later in the night.

Thanks to a timely assist from Rusev, Page picked up the win—though the chaos didn’t end there. Rusev continued the assault on Evans after the bell, prompting Penta to intervene. However, Page re-entered the fray to tip the scales back in Rusev’s favor, leaving both men standing tall. With that, Page has immediately positioned himself in the middle of a heated Intercontinental Title scene that now includes Penta, Evans, and Rusev.

Joe Hendry’s arrival was handled a bit differently, but no less officially. While he didn’t appear live on the show, WWE aired a graphic promoting a “celebration concert” for next week’s Raw. Commentary confirmed that Hendry is now part of the Raw roster, fresh off his recent appearance in the Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royal on SmackDown. His full debut looks set to bring a unique flair to Monday nights.

Meanwhile, another NXT name teased a potential call-up. Sol Ruca made a surprise appearance to confront newly crowned Women’s World Champion Liv Morgan. The confrontation led to an impromptu match, where Morgan managed to escape with a win after interference from Zaria. While Ruca hasn’t officially been moved to the main roster, her involvement—and her ongoing rivalry with Zaria—suggests it may only be a matter of time.

With Page already mixing it up in a title picture and Hendry’s debut looming, WWE is clearly leaning into fresh talent to reshape Raw’s landscape in the post-WrestleMania season.

Former WCW Star Van Hammer Passes Away at 66

The wrestling world is mourning the loss of former WCW talent Van Hammer, real name Mark Hildreth, who has passed away at the age of 66. The news was shared by longtime friend and fellow wrestler Marc Mero, who announced the passing on social media over the weekend.

Mero paid tribute to Hammer with a heartfelt message, remembering him as someone who faced life’s challenges head-on and never stopped pushing forward. He also noted that those close to Hammer are still awaiting more information regarding the cause of death.

The two shared a deep bond that went back to their earliest days in the business. According to Mero, Hammer once drove him eight hours to secure his first WCW contract—a moment that spoke volumes about their friendship. They trained together, lived together, and eventually worked side-by-side promoting WCW during their early careers.

Van Hammer was signed to WCW in 1991 by Dusty Rhodes and debuted with a memorable “Heavy Metal” rock star persona. He remained with the company through early 1995 before stepping away for a period. Hammer later returned in 1997 as part of Raven’s Flock, showing a different side of his character during one of WCW’s more unique factions.

His run with the group included a notable storyline where he defeated Perry Saturn in a “loser leaves the Flock” match—only to be ousted from the faction anyway. He later experimented with a short-lived hippie-style gimmick as his WCW run wound down. While Hammer challenged for the United States Heavyweight Championship during his time with the company, he never captured a major title.

Following his departure from WCW in 2000, Hammer continued wrestling on the independent scene, including a stint with Maryland Championship Wrestling and a tour with Big Japan Pro Wrestling in 2001. He remained active in the ring for several years, with his final match taking place in April 2009, where he picked up a win over Champ Champagne.

Van Hammer may not have held championship gold, but his contributions to WCW and the friendships he built along the way left a lasting impression. He is remembered by fans and peers alike as a resilient figure who stayed passionate about the business throughout his life.

WWE Reportedly Scaled Back Pat McAfee Angle Following Fan Backlash

With WrestleMania now in the rearview, attention has quickly shifted to the fallout from WWE’s biggest event of the year—and it looks like Pat McAfee may be one of the first major pivots coming out of the weekend.

Leading up to WrestleMania, the reveal that McAfee was the mystery person Randy Orton had been referencing didn’t exactly land the way WWE may have hoped. Instead of excitement, many fans were left scratching their heads. That confusion only grew after McAfee delivered a pair of promos that were widely criticized, including comments that seemed to take aim at the product itself.

Fan reaction turned negative in a hurry, and according to Wrestling Observer’s Dave Meltzer, that response may have forced WWE to rethink its plans in real time. While McAfee was generating buzz, it reportedly wasn’t the kind of heat the company was aiming for. Meltzer noted that WWE ultimately “backed off” the storyline, suggesting that whatever direction was originally planned got scrapped once it became clear the audience wasn’t buying in.

There had been talk of a tag team match at Backlash featuring Cody Rhodes and celebrity guest Jelly Roll teaming up against Orton and McAfee. However, Meltzer indicated there were no clear signs at WrestleMania that such a match was still on track, reinforcing the idea that the company pulled back on the angle altogether.

Despite the pivot, McAfee’s involvement did bring extra attention to WrestleMania, which may have been part of WWE’s initial goal. Still, the situation highlights how quickly plans can change when fan reaction doesn’t align with expectations.

Injury concerns may have also played a role in the shifting landscape. Orton was reportedly dealing with some level of physical issues heading into the event, though the severity remains unclear. Meanwhile, Cody Rhodes appeared worse for wear after his match, with noticeable swelling around his eye. That injury has already impacted his schedule, as a planned fan appearance was canceled, and his in-ring status moving forward is uncertain.

All in all, WrestleMania’s aftermath is already proving to be unpredictable, with WWE seemingly adjusting on the fly—starting with the sudden cooling of the McAfee storyline.

WWE Raw After Mania Preview 4/20/2026

WWE Raw After Mania live tonight at 8pm ET/ 5pm PT on Netflix from the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada.

There is no information about tonight’s Raw or matches announced at the time of this posting. Below is what will and could be expected tonight.

  • Fallout from WrestleMania 42
  • Likely appearances from new WWE World Heavyweight Champion Roman Reigns, new Women’s World Champion Liv Morgan, new Women’s IC Champion Becky Lynch.
  • Seth Rollins will probably looking for payback on Bron Breakker
  • We may see the new WWE Women’s Tag Team Champions Brie Bella and Paige (who made her WWE return at Mania 42)
  • We could see some main roster callups from NXT

Update On Cody Rhodes’ Condition Following WWE WrestleMania 42

Cody Rhodes may have survived WrestleMania 42 with the Undisputed WWE Championship intact, but the physical toll of his main event clash with Randy Orton is becoming a major talking point coming out of the weekend.

During the WrestleMania 42 night two pre-show, Jackie Redmond revealed that “The American Nightmare” has not yet been medically cleared following Saturday’s brutal encounter. While Rhodes celebrated a successful title defense, it came at a steep cost. Reports indicate he needed three stitches to close a facial wound, along with four staples in the back of his head after being busted open during the match.

The damage didn’t stop there. Rhodes’ right eye was visibly swollen shut, and WWE is attributing that to the vicious punt kick Orton delivered after the match had already concluded. Even nearly 24 hours later, the swelling reportedly hadn’t subsided, leaving serious questions about the condition of his orbital area.

Additional details suggest the injury may have started earlier than initially thought. According to backstage reports, Orton landed a punch late in the match that contributed to the orbital damage before escalating the chaos with an RKO to referee Charles Robinson. From there, things only spiraled further.

Because of the injuries, Rhodes was pulled from a scheduled appearance at WWE World on Sunday, and there’s currently no firm timetable for when he’ll be cleared to return to action. WWE officials are said to be monitoring the situation closely.

Rhodes only recently reclaimed the Undisputed WWE Championship, defeating Drew McIntyre on the March 6 episode of SmackDown. His WrestleMania opponent, Randy Orton, earned his title shot by winning the 2026 Men’s Elimination Chamber, setting the stage for what ultimately became one of the most chaotic main events of the year.

With Rhodes’ condition still uncertain, it remains to be seen how WWE will handle the immediate future of its top champion—and whether Orton’s brutal assault will have longer-term storyline implications.