WWE SmackDown live Friday night on USA Network and Netflix International, beginning at 8:00 pm ET. from the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, NV
WWE SmackDown airs live tonight on the USA Network and Netflix International, beginning at 8:00 pm ET. from the Climate Pledge Arena in Seattle, Washington
WrestleMania season just took a major hit. On Friday night’s WWE SmackDown, Kevin Owens delivered a heartbreaking update: he’s undergoing neck surgery and will be sidelined indefinitely — including missing out on a highly anticipated showdown with Randy Orton at WrestleMania 41.
SmackDown General Manager Nick Aldis opened the segment, setting a somber tone and reminding fans why WWE always warns against trying this at home. Aldis then brought Owens to the ring so the former Universal Champion could break the news himself.
Owens revealed that he’s been quietly battling a neck injury for the past four months but only recently discovered the full extent of the damage. The diagnosis? Surgery is required — and the timing couldn’t be worse. Owens admitted that missing WrestleMania stings, especially since he was set to face a legend like Randy Orton on the grandest stage of them all.
In an emotional moment, Owens thanked WWE for letting him speak directly to the fans, unsure of when he’ll be able to perform in front of them again. He expressed his gratitude and apologized, visibly emotional as he walked away.
But the moment didn’t end there.
As Owens made his exit, Orton’s music hit. The Viper walked to the ring and locked eyes with Owens on the apron. No words were exchanged — just a silent, mutual moment of respect. With Owens gone, Aldis told Orton the reality of the situation: with Owens out, Orton has no WrestleMania opponent.
Orton’s answer? A thunderous RKO to the General Manager.
While Owens begins his road to recovery, the question now looms large: what’s next for Randy Orton heading into WrestleMania 41? And more importantly, when — or if — we’ll see KO back in the ring.
Stay with Wrestling News Blog for updates on Owens’ recovery.
Pwinsider is reporting that according to multiple WWE sources, the situation is serious, with Owens likely needing surgery — potentially spinal fusion.
WWE SmackDown airs live tonight on the USA Network and Netflix International, from the Allstate Arena in Rosemont, Illinois.
The WWE roster just got even more exciting, as Rey Fenix is officially set to debut on SmackDown next week. The announcement was made during WWE SmackDown in London, England, confirming that the high-flying luchador will appear on the blue brand when WWE returns to the United States ahead of WrestleMania 41.
After weeks of video teases and reports of his WWE signing, fans were eager to see what name Fenix would use in his new home. Unlike his brother and longtime tag partner Penta—formerly Pentagon Jr., whose name was shortened upon joining WWE Raw—Fenix will continue wrestling under the Rey Fenix moniker.
The decision follows a recent trend of WWE tweaking names for incoming talent. Former AEW star Ricky Starks, for example, recently rebranded as Ricky Saints upon joining WWE NXT. However, Fenix keeping his established ring name suggests WWE recognizes his international appeal.
Fenix’s jump to WWE comes after months of speculation regarding his AEW status. AEW President Tony Khan initially extended Fenix’s contract due to injury time, preventing him from signing with WWE alongside his brother, Penta. However, Khan ultimately reversed his stance and granted Fenix his release in early May, paving the way for his WWE debut.
Reports had circulated that the Lucha Bros were in discussions with WWE before their AEW contracts expired, making Fenix’s arrival in WWE highly anticipated. With his explosive lucha libre style and a resume that includes championship reigns across multiple promotions, Fenix could quickly become a major player on SmackDown.
Now that Fenix is officially WWE-bound, the big question is: How will he be introduced? Will he immediately enter the singles scene, or will WWE reunite the Lucha Bros on-screen? With WrestleMania 41 just around the corner, there’s no better time for Fenix to make an impact.
Fans won’t have to wait long to find out—Rey Fenix makes his WWE debut next Friday on SmackDown!
WWE SmackDown tonight on USA Network from the O2 Arena in London, England
With WrestleMania 41 fast approaching, fans have been wondering about the status of Alexa Bliss and the eerie Wyatt Sicks faction. Bliss made a surprise return at the Royal Rumble in February, fueling speculation that she would soon align with the group inspired by the late Bray Wyatt. However, after falling short in the Elimination Chamber match, Bliss has been absent from WWE programming—just like the Wyatt Sicks, who haven’t been seen since their loss to Karrion Kross’ Final Testament (a faction that has since mostly disbanded).
So, what’s going on with Bliss and the Wyatt Sicks? And will they be involved in WrestleMania?
According to the Wrestling Observer Newsletter, WWE plans to keep Bliss off TV until the Wyatt Sicks return to SmackDown. Meanwhile, Fightful Select reported that the reason for the group’s lengthy absence was an injury to their leader, Bo Dallas (Uncle Howdy). However, Dallas—and the faction as a whole—has now been medically cleared to compete.
While WWE’s creative team is actively discussing their return, there’s no official word on exactly when they’ll be back. The company is reportedly waiting for the perfect moment to bring them back into the fold.
Since Bliss’ return, WWE has dropped multiple hints about her potential involvement with the Wyatt Sicks, including subtle flashes of the faction’s emblem appearing on screen when she was on camera. Given her history with Uncle Howdy, dating back to early 2023 before she took time off for pregnancy, many believe she’s destined to be the sixth member of the group.
Recent reports caused some confusion when Bliss was removed from certain WrestleMania Week appearances, but it was later clarified that these were WWE World events, not WrestleMania itself. While it’s unclear if Bliss and the Wyatt Sicks will be part of The Show of Shows, their return seems inevitable.
With WrestleMania just weeks away, could we see the Wyatt Sicks and Alexa Bliss make their return on the Grandest Stage of Them All? Or will WWE hold off and bring them back in a more calculated fashion after the event?
For now, it’s a waiting game, but when the Wyatt Sicks do return, expect them to make an impact—and possibly bring Bliss along for the ride.
WWE is on the verge of adding another high-flying sensation to its roster, as reports indicate that Rey Fenix has officially signed with the company. The news follows a mysterious vignette aired last week on WWE SmackDown, which many fans speculated was teasing Fenix’s arrival. Now, per Fightful Select, those suspicions have been confirmed.
According to reports, WWE plans to introduce Fenix on SmackDown, the same brand where his teaser aired. However, an exact debut date remains unknown. The signing comes after weeks of speculation, as Fenix underwent routine medical evaluations before finalizing his WWE deal.
This move marks the latest chapter in the career of the former AEW Tag Team Champion, who made a name for himself alongside his brother Penta as one of AEW’s most dynamic duos. While both men had been linked to WWE interest as early as last year, Fenix’s jump to WWE was delayed due to injury-related contractual obligations in AEW. Initially, Tony Khan extended Fenix’s contract to account for missed time, but he later reversed the decision, ultimately granting Fenix his release.
Fenix now joins a growing list of former AEW stars transitioning to WWE. In the past year alone, WWE has welcomed the likes of Ethan Page, Ricky Saints (formerly Ricky Starks), Shawn Spears, and his own brother Penta, who debuted on WWE Raw in January with a win over Chad Gable.
With Fenix expected to join SmackDown, the question now is: How will WWE utilize one of the most electrifying luchadors in modern wrestling? Could a reunion with Penta be in the cards, or will Fenix carve out his own singles path in WWE? Fans won’t have to wait much longer to find out.
UPDATE
The latest Rey Fenix teaser video:
WWE SmackDown from the Unipol Arena in Bologna Italy.
Over the past few months, speculation has been running wild about former AEW stars making the jump to WWE. But few names have generated as much buzz as Malakai Black and Rey Fenix. Now, WWE has seemingly added fuel to the fire with two cryptic video packages that aired during SmackDown this past Friday—both of which have fans convinced that these two stars are on their way.
The first teaser was brief but packed with intrigue. The video opened with a crack of orange lightning before revealing a shadowy figure perched atop a turnbuckle. With eerie ambient noise buzzing in the background, the screen flashed again, and just like that—it was over.
Despite lasting only six seconds, the imagery was enough to send social media into a frenzy, with many speculating that the vignette was hinting at the arrival of Rey Fenix. The former AEW star, best known for his jaw-dropping high-flying abilities alongside his brother Penta as part of the Lucha Brothers, reportedly finished his AEW contract in early March.
The big question now is: If this is indeed a teaser for Fenix, will he be joining Penta on Raw, or will he be making his mark as a solo star on SmackDown?
While Fenix’s vignette was mysterious, the second teaser was even more cryptic. It began with swirling grey smoke over a black background before a pulsating white “4” appeared at the center of the screen. The sixteen-second clip then abruptly cut to black.
This immediately led to speculation that Malakai Black—formerly known as Aleister Black in WWE—could be making his long-awaited return. The number “4” could signify several things, including his ties to the occult-inspired “House of Black” faction in AEW or his previous WWE character’s fascination with symbolism and darkness.
Black, who was released by WWE in 2021, had a memorable run in NXT and a solid, albeit short-lived, main roster stint before his departure. His last WWE match was a brutal no-disqualification loss to Kevin Owens on Raw in 2020. Now, with rumors swirling that he parted ways with AEW in January, fans are wondering if he’s set to rejoin WWE—potentially alongside his wife, Zelina Vega, who currently wrestles for the company.
With WrestleMania season behind us and WWE entering a new creative phase, it wouldn’t be surprising to see major signings debut in the coming weeks. If these vignettes are truly hinting at Fenix and Black’s arrivals, WWE could be setting up two major shake-ups for the SmackDown brand.
Until then, fans will be keeping a close eye on the next set of teasers—because if WWE has taught us anything, it’s that the best surprises are always just around the corner.
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