AEW presents the AEW Collision Playoff Palooza show tonight. Tonight’s show will air immediately following the NBA Playoffs on TNT.
TNA Rebellion Pay-Per-View – Sunday, April 27 – Galen Center in Los Angeles, California.
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After weeks of cryptic vignettes keeping fans on their toes, Aleister Black made his highly anticipated return to WWE Friday night on SmackDown — and he didn’t waste any time making an impact.
The Miz was in the ring, venting his frustrations over being left off the WrestleMania 41 card. A WrestleMania mainstay since 2007, Miz felt blindsided after not even getting a cameo at this year’s biggest show. Adding to his fury, Miz called out the recent surge of newcomers, specifically targeting El Grande Americano, who recently clashed with Rey Fenix, and TNA Champion Joe Hendry — revealed as Randy Orton’s surprise tag partner after Kevin Owens was sidelined with an injury. Miz didn’t hold back, mocking Hendry as nothing more than a “meme” who turned the ring into a musical theater stage.
But before Miz could get too deep into his rant, the arena lights dropped — signaling something big was about to happen.
Out came Aleister Black, making a chilling entrance that paid homage to his original WWE persona, complete with a remixed version of his first theme. The crowd erupted as Black stepped into the ring. Miz barely had time to react before Black leveled him with a devastating Black Mass, leaving the “A-Lister” laid out to a thunderous ovation.
Black’s return comes after finishing up his run with AEW earlier this year. While he wrapped things up there in January, it’s believed his free agency wasn’t finalized until late February or early March. Fans will remember Black’s initial WWE stint beginning in 2016, where he quickly became a standout star before his release in 2021 led him to AEW.
Now, Aleister Black is back on WWE soil — and if Friday night was any indication, the blue brand just got a whole lot darker.
SmackDown just got a serious boost in its tag team division. Fraxiom — the dynamic duo of Nathan Frazer and Axiom — officially made their blue brand debut on this week’s episode, and they wasted no time making a statement.
Facing off against Los Garza (Angel & Berto), the former NXT Tag Team Champions looked right at home under the SmackDown lights. The match reached its climax when Axiom nailed Angel with a beautiful Spanish Fly, perfectly setting up Frazer to hit his signature Phoenix Splash for the three-count.
While this was their first official outing as a team on SmackDown, both Frazer and Axiom have been making solo appearances recently. Frazer battled Rey Fenix on the April 4 episode, while Axiom tested himself against the powerhouse GUNTHER back on March 14.
WWE has confirmed that Fraxiom will be sticking around on the SmackDown brand moving forward, adding some fresh energy — and high-flying fireworks — to the tag team scene. Get ready for more show-stealers from these two.
WWE SmackDown live tonight on USA Network and Netflix International, beginning at 8:00 pm ET. from the Dickies Arena in Fort Worth, TX
The wrestling world is still buzzing after WWE’s surprise announcement last week that it has acquired Lucha Libre AAA. While the company made headlines by confirming a crossover NXT Worlds Collide event with AAA this June, new details are surfacing about how this deal came together—and who else is involved behind the scenes.
According to the latest from the Wrestling Observer Newsletter, WWE isn’t going it alone in this deal. They’re partnered with Fillip, a Mexico-based sports and entertainment holding company that’s quietly been building a portfolio across international markets. While WWE holds the majority stake in the acquisition, Fillip is reportedly the minority partner.
So who is Fillip? The private capital firm may not be a household name to wrestling fans, but they’ve got ties to global ventures like Kings League Soccer—an innovative sports project operating in countries like Spain, Italy, and Brazil—and Tycoon Enterprises, which handles brand licensing in Latin America. With that kind of background, their involvement signals that WWE’s move into the Mexican wrestling scene might be part of a much bigger play.
Talks between WWE and AAA go way back—nearly two decades, in fact. WWE first showed interest in acquiring a piece of AAA as far back as 2007, following the passing of AAA founder Antonio Peña. While WWE wanted creative and operational control, the Roldán family, who have run AAA since Peña’s death, repeatedly turned down offers that would’ve meant giving up a majority stake.
What’s different this time? The addition of Fillip appears to have made the deal more palatable. Sources say negotiations have been ongoing for over a year, with WWE execs even attending recent AAA events—like the show at Juan de la Barrera Gym—to keep tabs on the product. The eventual announcement during WrestleMania weekend reportedly caught many in the industry off guard, even those who knew talks were happening.
While WWE has sealed the deal, the official takeover won’t go into effect until Q3 of this year. Until then, AAA will continue to operate as normal. Currently, the promotion has thirteen wrestlers signed under contract, though it’s unclear how WWE’s involvement will impact the roster long-term.
As for the financials? Official figures haven’t been disclosed, but a number floating around in Mexican media puts the acquisition price at a staggering $50 million.
With WWE now firmly planting its flag in the Mexican wrestling scene and the NXT Worlds Collide event on the horizon, fans can expect to see major changes in how AAA operates—and who gets the spotlight.
TNA Wrestling will present a new episode of Impact tonight on AXS TV, as the build continues for Rebellion on Sunday.
Ring of Honor will present a new episode of ROH TV tonight on Honorclub.
The wrestling and sports worlds are mourning the loss of a true warrior today, as Steve “Mongo” McMichael has passed away at the age of 67. The former Chicago Bears defensive standout, turned WCW star, died Wednesday following a four-year fight with ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis).
McMichael’s legacy spans far beyond the gridiron. A cornerstone of the legendary 1985 Super Bowl-winning Chicago Bears—famously dubbed the “Monsters of the Midway”—McMichael was enshrined into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2024. But wrestling fans remember him just as fondly for his larger-than-life persona in the squared circle.
“Mongo” made a smooth transition from football to pro wrestling in the mid-90s, becoming a colorful figure in WCW. He initially joined the promotion as a commentator but quickly stepped into the ring, aligning himself with one of the most iconic factions in wrestling history: The Four Horsemen. During his in-ring tenure, McMichael captured the WCW United States Heavyweight Championship in 1997 by defeating Jeff Jarrett, a moment that cemented his place in wrestling lore.
McMichael’s later years were marked by a brave public battle with ALS, which he was diagnosed with in 2021. His health struggles became increasingly severe, and earlier this year he was hospitalized with MRSA and required a blood transfusion. On Wednesday, reports emerged that McMichael had entered hospice care after being taken off a ventilator. His passing was confirmed by WGN’s Jarrett Payton, who was with him during his final moments.
“With deep sorrow, I share that Steve McMichael passed at 5:28 PM after a brave fight with ALS surrounded by loved ones,” Payton posted on X (formerly Twitter). “I’m grateful to have been with him in his final moments. Please keep Steve and his family in your prayers.”
From hard-hitting tackles to Horsemen beatdowns, Steve McMichael lived every moment with intensity and charisma. Whether you knew him from Soldier Field or the WCW ring, “Mongo” left a lasting impression. His resilience, both as an athlete and as a man fighting a devastating disease, will not be forgotten.
WWE issued the following statement on Mongo’s passing on X (formerly Twitter):
“WWE is saddened to learn that Steve “Mongo” McMichael has passed away. WWE extends its condolences to McMichael’s family, friends, and fans.”
AEW Dynamite airs live tonight coast-to-coast on TBS and live on Max, from the UNO Lakefront Arena in New Orleans, Louisiana.
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