Tag: Lana

Miro (Rusev)Reportedly Returning to WWE After AEW Departure

Another former AEW star is heading back to WWE, and this time, it’s none other than Miro. The man formerly known as Rusev was reportedly spotted at WWE headquarters in Stamford, Connecticut, with PWInsider reporting that he has signed a new deal with the company and is finalizing the details of his return.

Miro’s wife, CJ Perry (formerly known as Lana), was not seen at WWE HQ, leaving questions about her potential involvement in his return.

This marks the end of Miro’s five-year absence from WWE. After debuting in the company’s developmental system in 2010, he made a name for himself as Rusev alongside Perry, dominating as a powerhouse and winning the United States Championship three times. He had memorable rivalries with John Cena, AJ Styles, and other top names but struggled to break into WWE’s main event scene consistently.

Following his release in 2020 as part of WWE’s COVID-19 budget cuts, Miro made the jump to AEW, where he initially thrived as TNT Champion. However, after dropping the title to Sammy Guevara in late 2021, his in-ring appearances became sporadic, and he wrestled only 13 matches before requesting his release in 2024. He was officially let go this past February, opening the door for his WWE comeback.

Miro’s return is part of a growing trend in 2025, with multiple former AEW talents making the switch to WWE. Penta and NXT North American Champion Ricky Saints have already debuted, while Rey Fenix is set to appear for the first time this Friday. Meanwhile, Malakai Black is also rumored to be on his way back to WWE in the near future.

With Miro rejoining WWE, the big question now is how he will be reintroduced—and whether this will be the long-awaited push that eluded him during his first run.

CJ Perry Starring In “The Surreal Life” Reboot

VH1’s “The Surreal Life” returned to television for the first time in over six years last night on VH1, and among the cast members is former WWE star Lana (CJ Perry).

The reality competition series’ cast also includes another person that’s dabbled in pro wrestling — NBA legend Dennis Rodman, who competed in WCW for a brief period of time. Stormy Daniels, August Alsina, Tamar Braxton, Kim Coles, Manny MUA, and Frankie Muniz are also part of the cast of the reboot of this reality series on VH1.

The Surreal Life films groups of celebrities living in Glen Campbell’s former mansion in the Hollywood Hills for two weeks as they participate in group activities and develop relationships. The first two seasons were picked up by The WB before the show transitioned over to VH1, where it has been since 2004. As time has passed, more and more spinoffs from the show have occurred, including “Strange Love with Flavor Flav and Brigitte Nielsen,” “My Fair Brady with Adrianne Curry and Christopher Knight,” and “For the Love of Ray J.”

Perry, like her real-life husband, AEW’s Miro, was released from WWE in June 2021. She has yet to return to the realm of pro wrestling, but Perry was set to appear at the WES show that was canceled earlier this year. Perry was booked to face former “Raw” Women’s Champion Lina Fanene (Nia Jax) in Nottingham, England, back in June, but the event was rescheduled and then canceled due to reportedly poor ticket sales. It’s unclear if Perry will ever climb back inside the squared circle, but she has expressed interest in doing so as recently as this past summer.

Two Released WWE Stars Returning To Ring After Hiatus

Lina Fanene (Nia Jax) and CJ Perry (Lana) are set to return to the squared circle for the first time since their WWE releases last year.

The two women will renew their WWE rivalry in a match to crown the first-ever Women’s World Champion of Wrestling Entertainment Series (WES). WES is a new wrestling promotion created by Legion of Pain, FKA The Authors of Pain.

While Nia Jax wrestled her last match on the September 20, 2021 episode of RAW, Lana was last seen in action on the May 31, 2021 episode of RAW.

Other matches announced for the event include Adam ‘The Titan’ Scherr (Braun Strowman) vs. Alistair Overeem to crown the inaugural WES World Champion, Legion of Pain (Authors of Pain) vs. Westin Blake & Steve Maclin, and Killer Kross (Karrion Kross) vs. Samuray Del Sol (Kalisto) vs. JONAH (Bronson Reed).

The other top women’s match will see Deonna Purrazzo & Chelsea Green team up against Madison Rayne & Tenille Dashwood to crown the inaugural WES Women’s Tag Team Champions.

Dean Muhtadi (Mojo Rawley), Lince Dorado and Dirty Dango (Fandango) will also be wrestling at the event.

WES’ debut show will take place June 4th at the Motorpoint Arena in Nottingham, England. The pay-per-view event will be available to stream on FITE.

Source: Wrestling Inc.

WWE Releases Braun Strowman And Other Superstars

WWE has reportedly parted ways with several top talents, according to Fightful Select.

Braun Strowman, Aleister Black, Lana, Ruby Riott, Buddy Murphy and Santana Garrett were all released today.

It was reported earlier this week that these releases were being made due to budget cuts. These come after an initial round of talent cuts in mid-April, another round of talent cuts in mid-May, and a number of significant office/corporate departures in May that were part of a major restructuring.

Strowman had been with the company since 2013. His last match came at the WrestleMania Backlash pay-per-view in the Triple Threat with Drew McIntyre and WWE Champion Bobby Lashley, but he has not been seen since then. He leaves a one-time Universal Champion, a one-time Intercontinental Champion, a two-time RAW Tag Team Champion, the 2019 Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royal winner, the Greatest Royal Rumble winner, and the 2018 Men’s Money In the Bank winner.

Lana had also been with WWE since 2013. She just wrestled on this week’s RAW, teaming with Naomi for a loss to Dana Brooke and Mandy Rose.

Black signed with WWE in 2016. He was away from the storylines for 6 months but just returned in April with new vignettes after being re-packaged on SmackDown. His big TV return came on the May 21 SmackDown and it looked like he was about to feud with Big E. They were held off last week’s SmackDown but it was reported that this was a creative decision to allow for some time before they did the follow-up. Black leaves a one-time WWE NXT Champion, and the 2019 Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic winner with Ricochet. His wife Zelina Vega was released in late 2020 but was reportedly recently re-hired. There is no word yet on if WWE still plans to bring her back.

Riott also signed with WWE in 2016. She just competed on last Friday’s SmackDown, teaming with Liv Morgan for a loss to WWE Women’s Tag Team Champions Natalya and Tamina Snuka.

Murphy signed with WWE in 2013 and leaves the company as a one-time NXT Tag Team Champion, a one-time WWE Cruiserweight Champion, and a one-time RAW Tag Team Champion. He last competed in the Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royal in April. Before that his last singles match was a DQ loss to Cesaro on the March 12 SmackDown.

Garrett originally began working with WWE in 2013 and officially signed a contract in 2019 after making various appearances over the years. She last competed in the Women’s Royal Rumble Match in January, and before that her last singles match was the loss to Mercedes Martinez at NXT’s Great American Bash Night 2 in July 2020.

Source: Wrestling Inc.

Rusev Test Positive For Coronavirus, Gives Update On Lana’s Parents (Video)

Below is video of former WWE star Rusev, where he gives and update on Lana’s parents who have the coronavirus and announced that he has tested positive for Covid-19.

 

Bobby Lashley And Lana Make A Steamy Return To WWE TV

WWE Raw this week ended with the returns of Bobby Lashley and Lana whose surprise appearance together included an uncomfortably long steamy makeout session.

This week’s Raw was originally scheduled to feature Seth Rollins vs. Rey Mysterio in the main event. Mysterio and his son Dominick was taken out by Brock Lesnar at the top of show and was  later replaced by Rusev.

Mid-way through the match, while cutting to commercial, a limousine was shown pulling up.

The match ultimately came to a no-contest ending when Lashley’s music hit and he hit the stage to taunt Rusev. Moments later, Lana joined Bobby onstage and they started their long steamy kissing session as Lana’s husband Rusev watched from the ring.

Lana Finally Returning To WWE TV Soon?

Lana could finally be returning to WWE TV soon.

WWE recently brought Rusev back to RAW but there was no sign or mention of Lana. The Wrestling Observer Newsletter reports that Lana wasn’t brought back with Rusev because WWE officials have other ideas for her character.

There’s no word yet on what WWE has planned for Lana, but they do want to use her in the storylines.

Lana last appeared on WWE TV for the April 23 post-Shakeup SmackDown episode, and last competed at WrestleMania 35 for the Women’s Battle Royal.

Source: Wrestling Inc.

Lana Claims WWE Stealing Her Storyline Ideas And Giving Them To Other Talent

Lana is claiming WWE’s creative team is stealing her ideas.

The WWE Superstar took to social media late Sunday night / early Monday morning to call WWE out for taking an idea she pitched to creative for herself and giving it to another Superstar to use.

“I love watching shows and seeing stories I wrote and pitched given to other people,” Lana wrote. “This might be the 10th time this has happened in the past year.”

Lana added, “Good to know I’m really creative that my ideas are given to others.”

She did not elaborate on which storyline idea she was referencing.

https://twitter.com/LanaWWE/status/1130335103262044161

Rusev Says 99.9% Of The WWE Roster Feels Overlooked, Lana Says Husband Rusev Is Overlooked

Lana recently spoke with Express UK and said she agrees with WWE fans who say husband Rusev is overlooked.

Lana also agreed with fans who say Rusev deserves many more world title shots than he’s received, like the WWE Title shot from then-champion AJ Styles at Extreme Rules 2018, the one he’s had in 6 years of being with the company.

“I mean, Rusev should get more title opportunities,” she said. “He should be champion, that’s just the bottom line. He’s been there six years and he’s had one title opportunity, I had three. I’m not the Super Athlete, my first Singles Match was for the title.

“There’s no question if Rusev should be champion. That’s just a given, it’s true, we all know that he’s the best and #1.”

Rusev also spoke with Express and claimed that almost the entire WWE roster feels underestimated because they are all very passionate and talented. It was noted that it’s up to every Superstar to figure out how to stick out because there are only a few titles for a large roster.

“It’s not just us, 99.9 per cent of the roster feels overlooked because we’re all so good and we’re all so passionate,” Rusev said. “Everybody wants to be a champion and everybody can be a champion because we’re that good. It’s just that there’s only so many titles. You gotta find what sticks out, you gotta be different.

“It doesn’t matter if [we hear] Rusev Day or Lana Day chants or whatever it is, the most hyped thing doesn’t make you a champion. There’s so many moving parts to become a champion, it’s beyond my head. Only Vince McMahon knows these things.”

Source: Wrestling Inc.

Lana And Rusev Have Been Dropped From Total Divas

Image result for Lana And Rusev Have Been Dropped From Total Divas

Lana and Rusev’s tenure on Total Divas is coming to an end, and Lana isn’t happy about it.

Lana — who joined Total Divas as a main cast member in the show’s sixth season — announced that the couple would no longer be involved with the E! reality series while being interviewed by Lillian Garcia on the most recent episode of Chasing Glory.

“Kevin Dunn told me that E! Executives took a poll and that we are strongly disliked by the demographic,” Lana told Garcia, after mentioning that she and Rusev had once been told they were going to get their own spin-off series. “They do not like us and that I’m hated, we’re hated, and that the E! Executives thought that our stories were very slapstick, and they were a strong no,” she added.

“I was shocked. I just sat there. It was like my tryout for WWE all over again. I’ve gone through a lot of different range of emotions. I’ll cry, but when I get hurt, I get really angry. That’s how I deal with hurt, I get really angry. Like, who is this new E! Executive?”

The clearly distraught superstar continued: “It’s just that I’m not liked and one part of me is like – and I said that – Mark Carrano and Kevin Dunn was there and I said, ‘Maybe, I’m just not a likable person.’ I know I’m a good person, but maybe I have a boring personality because I’m just not liked.”

The Ravishing Russian went on to say that the way the show was edited to make her look bad:

“There’s so many things in edit that I was royally screwed over,” she claimed, before acknowledging that she knew what she was signing up for. “I understand that when you sign up for reality TV, you have to be ready to be not perfect and I was OK with that.”

“I’ll make my own show. Once I get rejected from somewhere or whatnot, I’m moving on,” Rusev chimed in.

Listen to the full interview below. The aforementioned convo begins at the 38-minute mark.

https://app.stitcher.com/splayer/f/199606/58705473

Source: Pro Wrestling Sheet