Dakota Kai Clears the Air on WWE Absence

Dakota Kai may have been off WWE TV for over a month, but fans worried about an injury can breathe a sigh of relief — she’s perfectly fine.

Kai hasn’t wrestled since the March 27th episode of WWE Main Event, sparking speculation about her status, especially given her history with injuries. However, the Damage CTRL member recently took to Twitter to squash the rumors and reassure her supporters. In a simple but heartfelt post, Kai said:

“I miss wrestling and I miss you guys. Not hurt btw!”

While she didn’t go into specifics about the reason for her absence, Kai’s message confirms that her time away from the ring isn’t medically related. Whether it’s storyline-driven or simply a creative reset, it seems the New Zealand native is just as eager to return as her fans are to see her back in action.

As of now, there’s no official word on when she’ll return to WWE programming. But given the ongoing shake-ups in the women’s division and Damage CTRL’s recent internal drama, her reappearance could come at a pivotal moment.

Could Dakota Kai be lying in wait for a major return angle?

WWE SmackDown Moving Back To A Two-Hour Format, When It’ll Happen

WWE’s bold attempt to extend SmackDown to three hours appears to be nearing its end. According to longtime insider Dave Meltzer on Wrestling Observer Radio, the company is expected to return the blue brand to its traditional two-hour format by the end of May, wrapping up a trial run that kicked off back in January. Fellow observer Bryan Alvarez added that June 6th has been floated as a possible final date for the experiment.

The third hour was initially introduced as a way to provide more room for longer matches and expanded storytelling, giving WWE creative a chance to flesh out characters and feuds with more breathing room. However, the response has been a mixed bag. While some fans appreciated the added depth, others felt the pacing suffered, echoing long-standing criticisms of Monday Night Raw’s three-hour structure.

Internally, reactions within WWE have also been divided. While some saw the extended runtime as a valuable creative opportunity, others reportedly felt it diluted the show’s energy and made it harder to maintain consistent quality week to week.

If the return to two hours does happen as expected, it’ll be seen as a move to recapture SmackDown’s tighter, more focused pacing — something that had made it a fan-favorite brand in recent years. With key storylines heating up heading into summer, the timing may be ideal to sharpen the format once again.

Are you in favor of a shorter SmackDown, or were you enjoying the longer weekly shows?

Hulk Hogan & Eric Bischoff Launch Real American Freestyle Wrestling League

Wrestling fans were thrown for a loop this week when WWE legends Hulk Hogan and Eric Bischoff teased a major announcement with a cryptic nWo-style video on social media. Given Bischoff’s prominent role in the podcasting world, most assumed the pair were reviving something audio-based, perhaps with frequent collaborator Conrad Thompson. But when the curtain was pulled back, the surprise was something no one saw coming: a brand-new freestyle wrestling league.

On Wednesday morning, Hogan and Bischoff revealed the launch of the Real American Freestyle Wrestling League (RAFWL), a new organization focused on amateur-style freestyle wrestling. Joining them as the all-important “third man” is Izzy Martinez, a renowned freestyle coach who’s trained top UFC talent like Jon Jones and Holly Holm — the latter of whom he coached to her legendary upset victory over Ronda Rousey.

In interviews with both the Associated Press and Forbes, Hogan explained that the idea for RAFWL sparked earlier this year while watching Oklahoma State’s Wyatt Henderson defeat Gable Steveson at the NCAA Championships. That bout, which saw a college standout topple a former WWE star and Olympic gold medalist, inspired Hogan to explore a new vision for the sport. Now, he, Bischoff, and Martinez are aiming to build something big, and they’re already eyeing both Henderson and Steveson for involvement in the league.

RAFWL is set to feature eight men’s weight classes and four women’s divisions, with Olympic silver medalist Kennedy Blades already confirmed as part of the roster. Hogan has declared Blades the “face” of the women’s division — a bold move signaling their commitment to showcasing high-level female athletes from the jump.

The league’s leadership structure is also coming into focus: Hogan will act as commissioner, while Martinez has been named Chief Operating Officer. Bischoff’s role remains a bit mysterious for now, though Hogan noted he’ll be contributing on the production side, which makes sense given Bischoff’s long history behind the camera.

The first RAFWL event is scheduled for August 30 in Cleveland, Ohio, with additional shows expected to be announced in the coming months. While the transition from sports entertainment to true freestyle wrestling might seem like a curveball, Hogan and Bischoff have never been afraid to disrupt the status quo — and with a proven coach like Martinez steering the ship, this may just be the beginning of something big.

Are Hogan and Bischoff about to shake up wrestling all over again — this time, on the mat instead of the mic? We’ll find out soon enough.

WWE NXT Preview 4/29/2025

WWE NXT live tonight on The CW.

  • WWE NXT North American Championship: Ricky Saints (c) vs. Lexis King
  • WWE NXT Tag Team Championship: Hank & Tank (c) vs. Josh Briggs & Yoshiki Inamura
  • Tony D’Angelo and Stacks meet face-to-face
  • Women’s World Champion IYO SKY to appear
  • TNA world Champion Joe Hendry has open invitation to appear

WWE Hall of Famer Reveals He Broke Both of His Heels at MLW Battle Riot VII

WWE Hall of Famer Rob Van Dam shocked fans recently with a painful revelation: he broke both of his heels during his surprise appearance at MLW Battle Riot VII earlier this month. The injury occurred during the April 5 event in Los Angeles, and RVD opened up about the incident on the latest episode of his One Of A Kind podcast.

RVD entered the chaotic 40-man Battle Riot match as the final surprise entrant at #40, only to be eliminated by eventual winner Matt Riddle. The injury happened in the final moments of the night when Riddle shoved him off the top rope. Van Dam landed on his feet, but not in the way he intended.

“A lot of people don’t know that I got hurt because it was the very last move in the night. But I went up to the top rope and Matt Riddle pushed me off and then I landed on my feet. Normally I kind of like, hug the guardrail and my weight goes into it. This one I must have misjudged it a little bit, and I just landed on my feet...both heels blew. I thought that my ankles were sprained. I crawled out of there. I haven’t been able to walk since. And so I got the x-rays, both heels broke. It’s not something that I’m not used to, I kind of routinely kind of go through this thing, but, man, it definitely made me cancel a lot of plans that I had for the next few months and Wrestlecon and WrestleMania week, I made it through all the obligations.”

Despite the injury, RVD still managed to honor a handful of commitments during WrestleMania week, including WrestleCon appearances. However, he admitted that the break has forced him to cancel several plans moving forward.

RVD, known for his high-risk, high-impact style, has dealt with numerous injuries throughout his legendary career. But breaking both heels in one move is a rare and brutal reminder of the toll pro wrestling can take — even on the most seasoned veterans.

Ricky Morton Speaks Out on Risky Spot at TNA Rebellion: “Leon Gave You His Trust”

Wrestling legend and WWE Hall of Famer Ricky Morton is never shy about speaking his mind, especially when it comes to the safety of today’s talent. Following a jaw-dropping — and dangerous — moment at TNA Rebellion, Morton took to social media to call out what he saw as a breakdown in one of wrestling’s most sacred codes: trust.

The incident occurred during the multi-man TNA X Division Championship match, where reigning champ Moose defended his title against five challengers. At one point, rising star Leon Slater scaled a steel beam more than 15 feet in the air and launched himself with a Swanton Bomb onto the crowd of wrestlers waiting below on the outside. But instead of catching him and absorbing the impact — a standard in high-risk spots like this — Slater crashed through them and hit the floor hard. Miraculously, he walked away seemingly unscathed.

Morton, watching from afar, didn’t hold back in his criticism. “I’m disappointed,” he wrote on X (formerly Twitter). “Leon gave you his trust and body on the line for an amazing moment & all of you DROPPED him. Thank God he walked away. In our business, trust is everything and his trust may never be the same.”

The Rock ‘n’ Roll Express veteran wasn’t trying to throw anyone under the bus, though. In a follow-up post, he urged younger wrestlers to speak up when they’re not fully confident in a planned move. His message was as much about accountability as it was about protection.

“I will add, don’t agree to stuff if you don’t feel confident and comfortable. Speak up. I assure you, it won’t make you any less of a wrestler,” Morton advised. “I just genuinely hoped that everyone could take something from what happened, learn from it, and focus on fixing what’s next. We all make mistakes, myself included.”

The spot has sparked debate online, with some fans applauding Slater’s fearlessness and others echoing Morton’s concerns about safety and timing. Regardless of where you stand, it’s clear the conversation about risk and responsibility in modern wrestling isn’t going away anytime soon.

One thing’s for sure — when a veteran like Ricky Morton speaks, the industry listens.

Moose successfully defended his title against Slater, Matt Cardona, KC Navarro, Sidney Akeem, and El Hijo del Vikingo, and is closing in on 200 days with the title.

WWE Raw Preview 4/28/2025

WWE Raw airs live globally tonight on Netflix from the T-Mobile Center in Kansas City, Missouri.

  • Rhea Ripley vs. Roxanne Perez
  • Becky Lynch will explain her attack on Lyra Valkyria
  • Paul Heyman, Bron Breakker and Seth Rollins to appear
  • Pat McAfee has requested time to address being attacked by Gunther
  • SmackDown General Manager Nick Adis will fill in for Adam Pearce this week only
  • Logan Paul to appear

Naomi Opens Up About Nearing The End Of Her Wrestling Career, Wants To Be A Mother

During a heartfelt conversation with The Bella Twins, Naomi revealed that she’s preparing for life after wrestling as she hopes to start a family soon.

Naomi pointed out that she is currently 37 and has a limited timeframe remaining to start a family.

She said, “I always wanted kids young. I always wanted a lot. Your girl is getting up there. I’m 37. Time. I’ve got to figure this out like yesterday. I’m asking myself and struggling with that question. I’m definitely leaning towards it, but I’ve had health issues. I only have one ovary. Even if I wanted to continue wrestling longer, my biological clock, I can’t. We got a lot to figure out. I have to step away and take care of my health and myself. If we’re going to have kids, I have to start that process very soon. With that on my mind and on my plate, I think that makes my time left here even more special and valuable to me. That’s why I’m so passionate about what I’m doing because I think this might be it.”

Indi Hartwell Signs With TNA

TNA made a major addition to its Knockouts roster, officially announcing the signing of Indi Hartwell during the Rebellion pay-per-view on April 27, 2025.

In a backstage segment, Hartwell shared her excitement about this next chapter, calling it a dream come true. “It’s officially official. Indi Hartwell has crossed the line,” she said, referencing TNA’s iconic slogan.

The Australian star brings a strong résumé to the table. Hartwell is a former NXT Women’s Champion and former NXT Women’s Tag Team Champion, where she teamed with Candice LeRae. She also gained popularity as part of the faction The Way, alongside LeRae and Johnny Gargano, and was involved in a memorable storyline romance with Dexter Lumis. Hartwell was released from WWE on November 1, 2024, making her a highly sought-after free agent.

Fans won’t have to wait long to hear more — Hartwell is set to speak on the upcoming live episode of Impact Wrestling this Thursday, May 1, 2025.

TNA Rebellion 4/27/2025 (Results)

TNA Rebellion 2025 delivered plenty of chaos, title defenses, and a few major surprises. Here’s a full rundown of everything that went down:

Pre-Show Action

Fallon Henley, Jacy Jayne, & Jazmyn Nyx def. Rosemary, Xia Brookside, & Lei Ying Lee
In a high-energy six-woman tag, the TNA side looked strong early, especially after Rosemary speared Henley on the floor. Brookside and Lee kept the momentum going with tandem dives, but the tide turned when Rosemary slipped brass knuckles to Brookside, urging her to take the shortcut. Brookside refused, tossing the knucks away — but the distraction let Jayne shove her into Rosemary before landing a nasty discus punch to steal the win for the NXT trio.

Johnny Dango Curtis Out; Deaner Rejected by The System
Travel issues kept Johnny Dango Curtis off the card, leaving Moose to pull double duty. Deaner, whose contract is set to expire May 1, volunteered as a replacement — but Eddie Edwards quickly shut him down, mocking Deaner’s recent refusal to accept a “young boy” spot. No second chances here.

Walk with Elijah Open Challenge: Elijah def. Shane Haste
NJPW’s Shane Haste answered Elijah’s open challenge, but it didn’t end well for him. After shouting “I walk alone” and trying to rally, Haste ran right into a flying knee strike. Elijah sealed the deal moments later with a tombstone piledriver.

Main Card

TNA X-Division Championship – Ultimate X: Moose (c) def. Leon Slater, Matt Cardona, Hijo del Vikingo, KC Navarro, and Sidney Akeem
Despite his fear of heights, Moose retained his title in a wild Ultimate X match. Alisha Edwards even tried climbing for him at one point but lost her grip. Leon Slater stole the show with a daring Swanton 450 from the truss, but just when it seemed like he’d secured victory, Moose speared him out of mid-air to snatch the win.

TNA Knockouts Tag Team Championship: Ash & Heather by Elegance (c) def. Dani Luna & Jody Threat, Jakara Jackson & Lash Legend, Gigi Dolin & Tatum Paxley
The champs found a way to survive a chaotic four-way. Tower of Doom suplexes erupted in opposite corners, but Elegance’s new recruit Maggie Lee held Ash’s legs down to avoid being tossed. That positioning let Ash hit a Swanton Bomb on Threat to retain.

Trey Miguel, Zachary Wentz, & Ace Austin (w/ Sean Waltman) def. Eddie Edwards, Brian Myers, & Moose (w/ Alisha Edwards)
With Curtis unavailable, Sean Waltman got involved to even the odds. Channeling D-Generation X energy, the faces hit classic moves before Waltman laid out Alisha Edwards with the X-Factor. The Rascalz and Ace followed up with Bronco Busters, and Wentz sealed the win with a UFO Cutter on Moose.

TNA International Championship: Steve Maclin (c) def. Eric Young
Maclin stood tall against Eric Young, rejecting offers to join the Northern Armory. Despite interference from Judas Icarus and Travis Williams, Maclin survived a gritty slugfest, countering a piledriver attempt into a roll-up for the win. Post-match, Northern Armory laid out Maclin, hanging him over the ropes in a brutal scene.

Falls Count Anywhere: Mike Santana def. Mustafa Ali
In a wild brawl packed with table spots and Cabinet interference, Santana overcame the odds. After handcuffing the Great Hands and powerbombing Tasha Steelz through a table, Santana fought off a barbed wire bat attack from Ali and ended it with a bloody, defiant Spin the Block discus lariat.

Breaking News: Indi Hartwell Signs with TNA
During the show, it was announced that former NXT standout Indi Hartwell has officially joined TNA.

TNA Knockouts Championship: Masha Slamovich (c) def. Tessa Blanchard
Slamovich wasted no time, launching a suicide dive before the bell. Blanchard focused on Masha’s injured knee and nearly stole the win with a cutter and Buzzsaw DDT, but the champion weathered the storm. A brutal avalanche Death Valley Driver set up Slamovich’s submission win via armbar, forcing Blanchard to tap out in a huge moment.

TNA World Tag Team Championship: Nic & Ryan Nemeth def. The Hardy Boyz (Matt & Jeff Hardy) (c)
Matt’s focus on punishing Ryan backfired. After Ryan backdropped Matt onto a chair, Nic capitalized on the chaos, low-blowing Jeff and hitting the Danger Zone. Ryan tagged in to cover Jeff for the win — crowning the Nemeth brothers the new tag champs.

TNA World Championship: Joe Hendry (c) def. Frankie Kazarian & Ethan Page
In a frantic triple threat, Hendry survived Kazarian and Page’s assaults. He took Kaz out with an Attitude Adjustment off the apron through a table, then finished Page after a series of counters, hitting the Standing Ovation to retain.

The Aftermath: Trick Williams Arrives
As Hendry celebrated, NXT’s Trick Williams made a shocking appearance, dropping the champion with a spinning kick and the Trick Shot knee. Looks like Hendry has a new threat on the horizon!