AEW’s Kazuchika Okada Announced As Hiroshi Tanahashi’s Final Opponent At Wrestle Kingdom 20

The end of an era is officially upon us. New Japan Pro Wrestling has confirmed that Hiroshi Tanahashi’s final match will be against none other than his greatest rival, Kazuchika Okada, at Wrestle Kingdom 20 on January 4, 2026.

The announcement went down during NJPW’s Road in Anjo event, where Okada made a surprise return to the company for the first time since moving to AEW in early 2024. The Tokyo Dome crowd won’t just witness Tanahashi’s farewell—they’ll see one of the most iconic rivalries in wrestling come full circle.

In an emotional moment, Okada stepped into the ring and echoed the same words he said to Tanahashi over a decade ago, following their legendary 2012 encounter:

“Congratulations on your retirement, and thanks for all your hard work.”

Longtime NJPW booker Gedo joined Okada in the ring, emphasizing that there was no better way for Tanahashi to close his career. “Okada is on a whole other level,” Gedo said, promising a sendoff worthy of The Ace of New Japan.

Tanahashi and Okada’s feud helped define modern New Japan, producing classics that elevated both men to icon status and drew international attention to the promotion. From their epic Tokyo Dome clashes to their fierce battles over the IWGP Heavyweight Championship, their rivalry has become the stuff of legend.

Now, after decades of carrying NJPW on his back, Tanahashi will have one final chance to go out on the biggest stage against the opponent who pushed him to his limits—and ultimately helped shape the legacy of both men.

The emotional showdown is set for January 4, 2026, live from the Tokyo Dome and streaming worldwide on NJPW World.

The Ace’s final match. The Rainmaker’s return. One more Tokyo Dome classic awaits.

WWE SmackDown Preview 11/7/2025

WWE SmackDown airs live tonight on the USA Network in the United States and Netflix for international fans, emanating from the Bon Secours Wellness Arena, Greenville, SC.

  • WWE Women’s US Championship: Giulia (c) vs. Chelsea Green
  • WWE US Title Open Challenge: Ilja Dragunov (c) vs. TBA
  • Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes to appear
  • Rey Fenix vs. Talla Tonga
  • Charlotte Flair vs Nia Jax
  • Newly WWE Women’s Champion Jade Cargill to appear

Florida High School Renames Wrestling Tournament to Honor Bray Wyatt

The late Windham Rotunda, better known to the wrestling world as Bray Wyatt, is being honored by the school where his athletic journey began. Hernando High School in Brooksville, Florida — Wyatt’s alma mater — has renamed its annual wrestling tournament the Windham Rotunda Memorial Invitational, celebrating the life and legacy of one of its most accomplished former students.

The announcement came via social media from the Hernando High School Wrestling Club, which also revealed plans to establish an annual scholarship in Rotunda’s name. The award will be presented each year to a senior wrestler during the tournament finals, beginning with this year’s event on December 5–6.

“With the blessing of the Rotunda family and the Brooksville Kiwanis, we are changing the name of the long-standing Kiwanis Invitational to the Windham Rotunda Memorial Invitational,” said David Pritz, who now oversees the wrestling club and was once a teammate of Rotunda’s at Hernando. “Windham was my teammate and one of the most memorable athletes to ever wear the Purple and Gold. I hope this can be a small tribute to his lasting legacy. He is a true legend and someone we will never forget.”

Rotunda’s sister Mika shared that the gesture moved her and their father, WWE Hall of Famer Mike Rotunda, to tears. Mike is currently recovering from a major heart attack suffered in September, which left him in a coma for a week and required a lengthy hospital stay.

Before captivating millions as Bray Wyatt in WWE — where he became a three-time world champion and one of the most creative minds in modern wrestling — Windham Rotunda was a standout athlete at Hernando High, excelling in both wrestling and football.

Wyatt tragically passed away on August 24, 2023, at just 36 years old after suffering a heart attack in his sleep. His influence, however, continues to be felt across the wrestling world — and now, through the halls of his hometown high school.

The renaming of the tournament and the creation of the scholarship ensure that Windham Rotunda’s legacy of passion, creativity, and perseverance will inspire young athletes for generations to come.

Raven Opens Up About Mental Health Struggles in New Documentary

ECW legend and former WWE, WCW, and TNA star Raven is known to wrestling fans as one of the sharpest minds and most captivating talkers of the 1990s. But behind the dark promos and brooding character, the man behind the persona—Scott Levy—was fighting an emotional battle that fans never saw.

In his newly released documentary, Nevermore: The Raven Effect, the hardcore icon opens up about his journey to sobriety and the mental health challenges that shaped both his life and career.

Raven revealed that he lives with multiple personality disorders, a diagnosis he discovered by accident during treatment. “You’re not supposed to know your diagnosis,” he explained, “but I happened to read it upside down on my doctor’s desk… it said histrionic personality disorder and narcissistic personality disorder. To me, it was freeing—now I understood why I behaved the way I did.”

The former ECW World Champion went on to describe how those disorders affected his life and relationships. “Narcissistic Personality Disorder is basically egomania,” he said. “But histrionic is more twisted—needing to be the center of attention, being overly dramatic, using appearance to draw attention. I checked all the boxes.”

Raven connected much of his emotional turmoil to his complicated relationship with his father. He recalled that his dad’s constant insults and sarcasm shattered his self-esteem, leading him to overcompensate through ego and bravado. “If I brag about myself and convince you that I’m great,” Raven admitted, “maybe you’ll convince me that I am.”

He shared that it wasn’t until his father’s passing that he was finally able to move forward. “When he died, that’s when I finally became an adult. I was 35, but before that, I was still a kid chasing my dad’s approval.”

For fans who followed Raven’s career through the chaos of ECW, the bright lights of WWE, and the creative freedom of TNA, this revelation offers a deeply human look at the man behind one of wrestling’s most complex characters.

Raven’s story is a reminder that even the toughest minds in the business fight battles that go unseen—and his willingness to open up about those struggles continues to make him one of wrestling’s most compelling voices, both in and out of the ring.

TNA iMPACT ‘Open Fight Night’ Preview 11/6/2025

TNA Impact returns tonight with an Open Fight Night special episode. Open Fight Night makes its highly anticipated return for the first time since 2017. Anyone can make a challenge, and everyone must accept! When the opportunities are endless, what chaos will unfold? It all goes down this Thursday at 8/7c on TNA+ around the world, AXS TV in the US, and Sportsnet 360 in Canada.

  • The System vs. The Rascals vs. The Great Hands vs. Sinner & Saint
  • Sitdown Interview With Kelani Jordan
  • More Open Fight Night Challenges

ROH TV Preview 11/6/2025

ROH tonight on HonorClub at http://WatchROH.com 7/6c

  • Hechicero & Lance Archer in action
  • Skyflight vs. Daddy Magic & The Kingdom
  • ROH World Six-Man Tag Team Championship: Shane Taylor Promotions (c) vs. The Workhorsemen & Beef
  • ROH Pure Championship Proving Ground Match: Lee Moriarty (c) vs, Kommander
  • The Swirl vs. Alex Zayne & Willie Mack
  • Satnam Singh in action

AEW Introducing New National Championship

AEW is adding some fresh gold to its lineup — and the first-ever AEW National Champion will be crowned later this month.

During this week’s AEW Dynamite, Tony Khan officially announced that a Casino Gauntlet Match will take place at Full Gear 2025 on November 22 to determine the inaugural champion. The new title pays tribute to the classic NWA National Championship, a belt that debuted in 1980 and was once held by legends like Jack Brisco, Dusty Rhodes, and Tully Blanchard. The original NWA version was unified with the U.S. Title in 1986 before being reintroduced years later — but as Khan pointed out, a “National Championship” hasn’t been featured on TBS in nearly four decades.

Khan also revealed that the AEW National Championship won’t be limited to AEW rings. The new title is designed as a traveling championship, meaning it can be defended across promotions worldwide, including New Japan Pro Wrestling and Ring of Honor, as well as on AEW programming.

So far, the lineup for the Casino Gauntlet is already shaping up with some big names. Bobby Lashley, Shelton Benjamin, and Ricochet were confirmed as the first three competitors, and more entrants are expected to be announced in the coming weeks.

With AEW Full Gear 2025 just around the corner, fans can expect plenty of speculation — and surprises — as the company crowns its newest champion and adds another layer to its growing championship scene.

NJPW Star Tomohiro Ishii Sidelined with Shoulder Injury Following AEW Collision Match

New Japan Pro-Wrestling has confirmed on their website that Tomohiro Ishii will be out of action for the foreseeable future after suffering a dislocated shoulder during his recent AEW Collision bout with PAC.

Fans were quick to notice Ishii’s absence from the upcoming Blood & Guts lineup on AEW Dynamite, where the Conglomeration (Darby Allin, Orange Cassidy, Mark Briscoe, Kyle O’Reilly, and Roderick Strong) are set to battle the Death Riders (Jon Moxley, Claudio Castagnoli, PAC, Wheeler Yuta, and Daniel Garcia). Many assumed Ishii had simply returned to Japan for NJPW duties—but it turns out the “Stone Pitbull” is on the shelf instead.

In a statement, NJPW expressed regret over the situation, apologizing to fans and wishing Ishii a quick recovery. No specific timetable has been announced for his return, with the company noting that his status will be evaluated later.

For a competitor as notoriously tough as Ishii, this injury comes as a rare setback. Over nearly three decades in the ring, the NJPW Strong Openweight Champion has built a reputation for his unbreakable spirit and punishing style, rarely missing time due to injury. In fact, outside of pandemic-related breaks, Ishii has competed almost continuously for 29 years.

Given that history, this shoulder dislocation could mark the longest layoff of Ishii’s storied career. Wrestling fans around the world will no doubt be hoping the “Stone Pitbull” bounces back soon and returns to delivering the hard-hitting battles he’s known for.

AEW Dynamite Preview 11/5/2025

AEW Dynamite airs live tonight on TBS and HBO Max from the Bayou Music Center in Houston, Texas.

  • Trios Match: Hangman Adam Page, Hook & Eddie Kingston vs. The Opps
  • AEW Women’s Tag Team Championship Quarterfinal Match: Mercedes Mone and Athena vs. Harley Cameron and Willow Nightingale
  • Men’s Blood & Guts Advantage Battle Match I: Orange Cassidy vs. Claudio Castagnoli
  • Men’s Blood & Guts Advantage Battle Match II: Darby Allin vs. Daniel Garcia
  • Women’s Blood & Guts Advantage Battle Match I: Megan Bayne vs. Queen Aminata

WWE NXT Preview 11/4/2025

WWE NXT tonight on The CW.

  • NXT Women’s Speed Title Tournament Begins: Competitors TBA
  • Fatal Influence vs. Tatum Paxley, Izzi Dame & Lola Vice
  • Je’Von Evans vs. Saquon Shugars