Hart Vs. Austin At WrestleMania XIII To Be First Match Inducted Into WWE Hall Of Fame – “Immortal Moment”

WWE is set to break new ground with its 2025 Hall of Fame class, introducing a brand-new category of recognition: the induction of individual matches. During WWE SmackDown, the company announced that the legendary WrestleMania 13 bout between Bret “The Hitman” Hart and “Stone Cold” Steve Austin will be the first match honored as an “Immortal Moment.”

A Defining Match in WWE History

The Hart vs. Austin showdown from WrestleMania 13 (1997) is widely regarded as one of the greatest matches in WWE history. Not only did it showcase elite in-ring storytelling, but it also played a pivotal role in shaping the landscape of WWE’s most successful era. The match is best remembered for its dramatic double-turn, where the fan-favorite Hart became a villain while the rebellious Austin won over the crowd despite losing the match.

The unforgettable finish saw a bloodied Austin refusing to tap out to Hart’s Sharpshooter, ultimately passing out due to the pain. Hart’s refusal to release the hold cemented his heel turn, while Austin’s resilience solidified his status as WWE’s next breakout star. This match played a crucial role in launching the Attitude Era, with Austin eventually becoming one of the most iconic figures in wrestling history.

Bret Hart & Steve Austin Set to Appear at Hall of Fame

Both Austin and Hart, who have previously been inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame for their individual careers (Austin in 2009, Hart in 2006), will be present at the 2025 ceremony to accept this historic honor. With this recognition, Bret Hart also becomes the first-ever three-time inductee, having been previously honored in 2019 as part of The Hart Foundation.

2025 Hall of Fame Class

This year’s WWE Hall of Fame class already boasts an impressive lineup, including:

  • Paul “Triple H” Levesque
  • Lex Luger
  • Michelle McCool
  • The Natural Disasters (Earthquake & Typhoon)

With WrestleMania season approaching, WWE’s decision to honor WrestleMania 13’s defining match as an “Immortal Moment” is a fitting tribute to the impact Austin and Hart had on shaping the industry. Fans can look forward to their appearance at the ceremony, which promises to be one for the history books.

Stay tuned for more Hall of Fame announcements as WWE continues to build an unforgettable Class of 2025!

AEW Collision Preview 3/29/2025

AEW Collision live tonight on TNT at 8/7c from the The UW–Milwaukee Panther Arena in Milwaukee, WI.

  • Jamie Hayter vs Queen Aminata
  • Top flight vs. Big Bill & “Bad Apple” Bryan Keith
  • Jay White vs, Kevin Knight
  • Wheeler Yuta vs. Dax Hardwood
  • AEW TBS Champion Mercedes Moné in action

WWE SmackDown Preview 3/28/2025

WWE SmackDown tonight on USA Network from the O2 Arena in London, England

  • WWE United States Championship: LA Knight (c) vs. Braun Strowman
  • WWE Tag Team Championship: The Street Profits (c) vs. Pretty Deadly
  • Roman Reigns, CM Punk and Seth Rollins sign contract for Wrestlemania match
  • Drew McIntyre to appear

Gail Kim Issues Statement On Her Shocking Firing From TNA

Gail Kim worked as the Head of Talent Relations. Her departure came as a shock to many. The TNA Hall of Famer issued the following statement on her Instagram page earlier today:

“I Just wanted to say thank you to the fans, friends and especially my peers for all the support you have given me over the last few days. I’ve received such an enormous amount of love and it really has helped process this change for me. More than anything I am grateful for all the years and opportunities I was given to help build something I always dreamed of. The KO division is and will always be my heart and all the women who were a part of it. Thanks to the incredibly hard working and passionate TNA talent & crew that I have had the pleasure of working with. This will not end my passion or my love for wrestling and this is not the end of Gail Kim in the wrestling world. You don’t put in 17 years in one company and stop when you are this passionate. I look forward to sharing my journey and am taking some time for myself and prepare for what’s ahead. Looking forward to the future.

THANK YOU ❤️❤️ and one last thought……. More women in leadership roles. Not less. ????????

#womenswrestling #wrestling #TNA #WWE #AEW #NXT #champion #knockout #tnawrestling”

Below is the same statement she posted on X.

WWE Introduces New SmackDown Ring Announcer Mark Shunock (Mark Nash)

WWE’s blue brand is getting a fresh voice, as Mark Shunock has officially been named the new ring announcer for Friday Night SmackDown. Shunock, a seasoned host with experience in sports and entertainment, is set to bring his signature energy to WWE starting this week.

Mark Shunock Steps Into the WWE Spotlight

Shunock made the big announcement himself on social media, posting on X:

“Stepping into a new ring with @WWE. Thrilled to join Friday Night SmackDown. Mark ‘Nash’ will see you tomorrow night @TheO2. #WWE #WWESmackDown #SmackDown #RingAnnouncer”

With Alicia Taylor handling duties on Raw and Mike Rome on NXT, Shunock now completes WWE’s ring announcer lineup across all three major brands.

A Voice with Experience

While this may be Shunock’s first role with WWE, he’s no stranger to hyping up a live crowd. A former Canadian Hockey League player turned performer, he has an extensive background in both entertainment and sports announcing.

Fans may recognize him from his time as the in-arena host for the NHL’s Vegas Golden Knights and the NFL’s Las Vegas Raiders. He has also worked as the ring announcer and host for Top Rank Boxing, bringing excitement to some of the biggest fights in the sport.

Replacing a WWE Veteran

Shunock takes over the SmackDown ring announcer role from Lillian Garcia, who has been handling the position since early January. Before that, Garcia was the voice of Raw following her return to WWE in late 2023.

With his mix of sports, theater, and hosting experience, Shunock seems like a natural fit to carry the energy of SmackDown into this new era. Fans will get their first taste of his WWE debut at The O2 Arena in London, where he’ll introduce the superstars of Friday Night SmackDown.

TNA Impact Preview 3/27/2025

TNA Wrestling will present a new episode of Impact tonight on AXS TV, with several WWE superstars set to compete.

  • Nic Nemeth vs. Leon Slater
  • Masha Slamovich vs. Jacy Jayne
  • Chavo Guerrero Jr. and the Aztec Warriors vs. First Class & Frankie Kazarian
  • Ash & Heather by Elegance vs. Gigi Dolin & Tatum Paxley
  • Eric Young vs. Ace Austin
  • What’s next for Joe Hendry?

ROH TV Preview 3/27/2025

Ring of Honor will present a new episode of ROH TV tonight on HonorClub.

  • Athena and Diamante team up
  • Okumura vs. Dark Panther
  • Dustin Rhodes, Sammy Guevara & Willie Mack vs. MxM Collection & Johnny TV
  • Tony Nese & Ariya Daivari vs. Dark Order (Alex Reynolds & Evil Uno)
  • Queen Aminata vs. Viva Van
  • Atlantis Jr., Fuego & Titan vs. Vorador Jr., Rugido & Bárbaro Cavernario

AEW Dynamite Preview 3/26/2025

AEW Dynamite airs live tonight on TBS and Max from the Roy Wilkins Auditorium at St. Paul RiverCentre, in St. Paul, Minnesota.

  • Kyle Fletcher vs. Brody King
  • MJF gives his answer to MVP
  • Mark Davis vs. Powerhouse Hobbs
  • Mark Briscoe vs. Konosuke Takeshita
  • AEW International Champion Kenny Omega vs. Blake Christian (non-title)
  • AEW Women’s World Champion Toni Storm and Thunder Rosa vs. Megan Bayne and Penelope Ford
  • Swerve Strickland to call out AEW World Champion Jon Moxley
  • Rated FTR (Cope, Dax Harwood and Cash Wheeler) sit-down interview with Tony Schiavone

TNA Wrestling Confirms Major Executive Departures and New Hires

As reported here earlier today, TNA Wrestling is undergoing a significant leadership shakeup, as President Carlos Silva has confirmed the departure of eight key executives from both TNA and parent company Anthem Sports & Entertainment. These changes, which include the exit of TNA Hall of Famer Gail Kim and longtime creative leader Ariel Shnerer, mark a major transition for the company as it continues its ongoing partnership with WWE.

Key Departures from TNA and Anthem

Among the most notable exits are:

  • Ariel Shnerer (Executive Producer & Head of Creative) – Shnerer, who had been a key figure in shaping TNA’s creative direction, is stepping away from the company. In his place, former Ring of Honor booker Hunter “Delirious” Johnston will take over as the new head of creative, with Tommy Dreamer remaining involved in the department.
  • Gail Kim (Talent Relations & Producer) – A legendary figure in TNA, Kim has officially left her role in talent relations and producing. Having been with the company in various roles since 2005, her departure marks the end of an era for the Knockouts division. Tommy Dreamer will now oversee talent relations moving forward.
  • Rob Klingman (Chief Revenue Officer) – Klingman, who held the role since June 2024, is also exiting.
  • Michael Shewchenko (Digital Department) – Shewchenko will remain with the company until April 30.
  • Karen Clevett, Romy Glazer, and Sebastian Dastrani – All three are leaving from different departments within TNA and Anthem.
  • Rafael Morfi (Live Event Consultant) – Morfi, who has played a key role in TNA’s event operations, will also be stepping away.

New Senior Executives Join TNA

Despite these high-profile departures, TNA has also announced the hiring of two new senior executives to help steer the company’s future:

  • David Clevinger (Senior Vice President of Digital) – Clevinger, set to join next month, brings experience from top-tier organizations such as the NFL, UFC, and NBA.
  • Nicole Rachine (Senior Vice President of Sales) – Rachine has already started in her new role, coming from a background in World Team Tennis.

What’s Next for TNA?

This executive restructuring comes at a pivotal time for TNA, which recently solidified a multi-year partnership with WWE that has seen talent cross between both promotions. While the departures of creative minds like Shnerer and industry veterans like Kim may raise concerns, the additions of Clevinger and Rachine suggest that TNA is looking to evolve its business strategy moving forward.

UPDATE

According to Fightful Select, Romy Glazer in Marketing and Sebastian Dastranj were also let go.

Mina Shirakawa Set to Leave STARDOM, Heading to AEW

Mina Shirakawa’s time in STARDOM is coming to an end, as the former multi-time champion is set to depart the promotion when her contract expires at the end of March. According to Tokyo Sports’ Kimoto Riju, Shirakawa plans to move to the United States, where she has already made a name for herself with appearances in AEW and NJPW.

A Championship Legacy in STARDOM

Since joining STARDOM in 2020, Shirakawa has built an impressive résumé, capturing multiple championships:

  • Wonder of STARDOM Champion
  • Future of STARDOM Champion
  • Goddesses of STARDOM Champion
  • Two-time Artist of STARDOM Champion

Her run in STARDOM has solidified her as a major force in women’s wrestling, and her transition to the U.S. could open even more doors for her career.

AEW Bound

After months of speculation, Mina Shirakawa has confirmed that she is officially joining AEW full-time. The former STARDOM star, who has already been heavily involved in AEW storylines over the past year, announced her decision following her exit from STARDOM.

“I, Shirakawa Mina, will be leaving STARDOM,” she said in a statement. “It is only thanks to the fans who have always believed in me and supported me that I have been able to continue to pursue my dreams and pursue my career as a professional wrestler. Thank you so much. As for the future, I, Shirakawa Mina, will be joining AEW.”

A press conference is expected later this week to announce the signing, which has reportedly been in the works for quite some time.

AEW’s growing women’s division has seen a surge of international talent in recent years, and Shirakawa’s addition could be a significant boost. She has already competed for AEW in the past, and with her connections to NJPW, she could play a key role in AEW’s ongoing relationship with Japanese wrestling promotions.

Shirakawa’s AEW Journey So Far

Although not officially signed until now, Shirakawa has played a key role in AEW’s women’s division. She made her AEW debut nearly a year ago, defeating Anna Jay on an episode of Dynamite in April. From there, she became intertwined with the storyline between “Timeless” Toni Storm and Mariah May, eventually earning two AEW Women’s World Championship opportunities.

Her first title shot came at AEW x NJPW Forbidden Door 2024, where she challenged Storm but was unable to capture the gold. Later in the year, tensions rose between Shirakawa and May, culminating in another title opportunity at Winter Is Coming in December. This time, she faced May for the championship, but once again came up short.

A Rising Star on the Global Stage

Beyond AEW, Shirakawa has made waves in NJPW as well. In January, she competed against Mercedes Moné at Wrestle Dynasty in a high-stakes title match, with both Moné’s NJPW STRONG Women’s Championship and Shirakawa’s RevPro Undisputed British Women’s Championship on the line. While Shirakawa was unable to secure the victory, Moné expressed interest in a rematch, hinting that their rivalry may not be over.

Though Shirakawa suffered an injury during the Wrestle Dynasty bout, she has since recovered and returned to the ring, setting the stage for what could be an explosive run in AEW.

What’s Next for Shirakawa in AEW?

Now that she’s officially All Elite, Shirakawa’s next move will be closely watched. Could another clash with Mariah May be in her future? Will she cross paths with Toni Storm once again? And with Moné’s arrival in AEW seemingly imminent, a rematch between the two could be on the horizon.

One thing is for sure: Shirakawa is ready to make an impact in AEW, and her journey is just getting started.

Before her AEW debut, Shirakawa is scheduled to appear at NJPW Windy City Riot on April 11, which could serve as a preview of what’s to come. With her talent, charisma, and championship pedigree, she has the potential to be a major player in AEW’s women’s division.