Tag: WWE

AJ Styles Gets Emotional Raw Farewell, Leaves Gloves In The Ring, Named As An Inductee For WWE Hall of Fame Class of 2026

Monday night’s episode of WWE Raw delivered an unforgettable send-off for one of the most influential performers of the modern era. AJ Styles closed the show in an emotional main event segment that not only celebrated his legendary career but also confirmed his place in WWE history — as the first announced inductee into the 2026 WWE Hall of Fame class.

A Night Built Around “The Phenomenal One”

Throughout the broadcast, WWE paid tribute to Styles with a series of video packages highlighting his journey from international standout to WWE Champion and locker room leader. Several WWE Superstars offered words of appreciation, reflecting on his impact inside and outside the ring.

The tribute extended beyond the current roster. In attendance were longtime friends and former allies from multiple chapters of Styles’ career. TNA legends Frankie Kazarian and Christopher Park — the latter appearing in his iconic Abyss persona — were present for the occasion. Former WWE and NJPW stars Karl Anderson and Luke Gallows, known collectively with Styles as The Good Brothers and members of Bullet Club and The OC, also showed up to support their longtime teammate. Even Omos, Styles’ former tag team partner, made a rare appearance for the celebration.

It was a gathering that underscored just how wide Styles’ influence stretches across the wrestling world.

An Emotional Goodbye

When Styles made his entrance for the final segment, the crowd immediately filled the arena with chants of “Thank you, AJ.” Clearly overwhelmed, Styles soaked in the moment before delivering a heartfelt promo that traced the arc of his career — from his early days to becoming one of WWE’s most respected performers.

In classic AJ fashion, he mixed humor with sincerity, joking that he would have worn a suit for the occasion, but the last time he did that he ended up fighting Cody Rhodes.

As the moment grew more emotional, Styles removed his jacket and laid it in the center of the ring. He followed by placing his signature gloves on the mat — a symbolic gesture long associated with retirement in pro wrestling. With his family watching from ringside, Styles offered one final “thank you” and “I love you” before the locker room emptied onto the stage. Paul “Triple H” Levesque joined the group in applauding Styles, creating a powerful scene of respect from peers and executives alike.

The Undertaker Delivers A Final Surprise

Just as it appeared the night was coming to a close, the familiar gong echoed through the arena. The lights went out, and when they came back up, The Undertaker emerged on his motorcycle.

In a fitting bit of theatrics, The Deadman asked Styles if he was really planning to leave his gear in the ring and simply walk away. He then revealed there was still “unfinished business” — announcing that AJ Styles will be the first inductee into the WWE Hall of Fame Class of 2026.

The surprise announcement brought fresh tears to Styles’ eyes as he embraced Undertaker. Moments later, his family joined him in the ring to celebrate the milestone, closing the show on a note of gratitude and legacy.

A Career Worthy of Immortality

Styles’ WWE run alone includes multiple world championships, show-stealing matches at WrestleMania, and leadership roles in groups like The OC. But his Hall of Fame nod also represents decades of influence across TNA, NJPW, and beyond — cementing him as one of the most well-traveled and respected performers of his generation.

Whether this marks the official end of his in-ring career remains to be seen, but one thing is clear: AJ Styles’ impact on the industry is undeniable.

And come 2026, “The Phenomenal One” will officially take his place among the immortals.

JBL Says TNA Creative Shake-Up Halted Planned In-Ring Return

John “Bradshaw” Layfield was a lot closer to lacing up his boots again than most fans realized — but a sudden creative shift in TNA ultimately pulled the plug on the idea.

Speaking recently on TMZ’s Inside The Ring, the WWE Hall of Famer addressed the growing buzz about a potential in-ring comeback. Between appearances in GCW and AAA, along with reports that he had been training with veterans Jody Malenko and Gerald Brisco, speculation had been building that JBL was preparing for something substantial.

As it turns out, those rumors weren’t far off.

Layfield confirmed that he had agreed in principle to work with TNA last year. However, after a change in the company’s creative direction, he decided it was no longer something he wanted to be part of.

According to JBL, the revised plans simply didn’t make sense — not from a storytelling standpoint and not from a business one. Rather than force something he didn’t believe in, he chose to step away, noting that there are no hard feelings and that he still maintains a positive relationship with the promotion.

Interestingly, the creative decision-maker behind the change was reportedly let go shortly afterward. Around the same time, WWE’s evolving relationship with TNA shifted the broader landscape, and the proposed return never resurfaced.

TNA wasn’t the only company where plans changed. JBL also revealed that he had discussions about doing something with AAA in Mexico. But once WWE became more directly involved, his role pivoted. Instead of stepping back into the ring, Layfield found himself transitioning into commentary duties.

In hindsight, JBL seems perfectly fine with how things played out — even joking that WWE moving him to commentary might have been a subtle message.

That doesn’t mean he isn’t taking training seriously.

At 59 years old, Layfield has built out a personal training setup complete with mats, suplex dummies, and conditioning equipment, and he’s clearly enjoying the grind. While he stopped short of confirming any concrete return plans, he admitted there’s at least an outline of an idea floating around.

For now, JBL appears content staying active, staying in shape, and keeping his options open. If he does make one more walk to the ring, it won’t just be for nostalgia. As he made clear, any comeback would need to make sense creatively — and, just as importantly, be good for business.

WWE Raw Preview 2/23/2026 – AJ Styles Tribute

WWE Raw live tonight on Netflix at 8pm ET from the State Farm Arena in Atlanta, Georgia

  • Tribute to AJ Styles
  • AJ Styles to give farewell address to the WWE Universe
  • Men’s Elimination Chamber Qualifying Match: Bronson Reed vs. Jey Uso vs. Original El Grande Americano
  • Women’s Elimination Chamber Qualifying Match: Raquel Rodriguez vs. IYO SKY vs. Kairi Sane
  • Liv Morgan to make her decision on which women’s title she will challenge for at WrestleMania 42 – WWE Women’s Champion Jade Cargill from SmackDown will be there to hear the decision.
  • Brock Lesnar appears
  • Maxxine Dupri vs. Nattie

WWE SmackDown Preview 2/2026

WWE SmackDown airs live tonight on the USA Network in the United States and on Netflix for fans internationally from the Amerant Bank Arena in Sunrise, Florida.

  • Men’s Elimination Chamber Qualifying Match: Carmelo Hayes vs. Trick Williams vs. Damian Priest
  • Women’s Elimination Chamber Qualifying Match: Nia Jax vs. Charlotte Flair vs. Kiana James
  • Oba Femi vs. Kit Wilson

WrestleMania 42 Ticket Sales Slowing Down Despite Price Adjustments

With WrestleMania 42 headed to Las Vegas this April, new data suggests ticket demand may not be matching WWE’s aggressive pricing strategy — even after recent adjustments.

According to the latest edition of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter, Dave Meltzer reports that ticket movement this past week was actually slower than the week prior, despite WWE implementing price cuts across all seating tiers over Valentine’s Day weekend. Even with those reductions, there has reportedly been limited traction at the lowest price points.

Current numbers show Night One sitting at 35,690 tickets distributed, while Night Two is slightly ahead at 36,372. Meltzer notes that overall sales and comps are down 17,252 tickets compared to the same point last year, putting WrestleMania 42 roughly 19.3% behind 2025’s pace.

However, before anyone jumps to conclusions, there’s an important caveat: revenue tells a very different story.

Even with softer demand, WrestleMania 42 is still projected to generate one of the largest gates in combat sports history. The reason? Historically high ticket prices. The current “get-in” price for Night One is $264, with Night Two starting at $276 — figures that are dramatically higher than what fans paid just a few years ago.

A WWE source cited by Meltzer reportedly downplayed concerns about the product itself being a factor, instead pointing to sticker shock as the real issue. As the source put it, the audience is still there — the question is whether they’re willing to pay what was described as “ten gazillion dollars for tickets.”

For context, Pollstar previously reported that WrestleMania 41 sold 113,412 tickets across two nights, generating a staggering $66,074,558 — shattering prior pro wrestling and MMA gate records. Meltzer added that at this same stage last year, WWE was still able to move around 15,000 tickets per night in the weeks leading up to the event.

What’s changed most dramatically is the average ticket price. In 2023, the average ‘Mania ticket cost $169. That figure jumped to $341 in 2024 and ballooned to $582.61 in 2025. The average price for WrestleMania 42 is reportedly even higher than that, suggesting WWE is betting heavily on premium pricing over volume.

Whether the company ultimately fills Allegiant Stadium remains to be seen. But even if the event falls short of a sellout on April 18 and 19, the financial outcome could still rival — or surpass — previous records.

In other words, WrestleMania may not be moving tickets at last year’s pace, but from a revenue standpoint, WWE is still playing in an entirely different league.

WWE’s Tiffany Stratton Eyes Bodybuilding Return While Marching Toward WrestleMania 42

Tiffany Stratton isn’t just setting her sights on WrestleMania 42 — she’s also stepping back onto a bodybuilding stage.

The former WWE Women’s Champion recently revealed on TikTok that she is nine weeks away from competing in her second-ever bodybuilding competition. For Stratton, it’s more than just a side project — it’s a return to a passion she once had to put on hold when her WWE journey began.

In the video, Stratton shared that she originally fell in love with bodybuilding before signing with WWE in 2021. At the time, balancing the two physically demanding careers simply wasn’t realistic. Now, however, she believes she’s in a place where she can manage both the grind of sports entertainment and the discipline required for competitive bodybuilding.

Stratton invited fans to follow along as she documented part of her prep, detailing a shoulder-and-triceps “push day” workout along with some post-lift cardio. If nothing else, it’s a reminder that even by WWE standards, Stratton’s commitment to conditioning remains on another level.

Before entering the squared circle, Stratton built an impressive athletic résumé. She spent years as a gymnast, developing the explosiveness and agility that have become staples of her in-ring style. According to her former trainer Greg Gagne, she also excelled in bodybuilding and even set a record in her weightlifting class. Ultimately, she paused both gymnastics and bodybuilding to focus entirely on professional wrestling — a decision that quickly paid off with championship gold in WWE.

Now, as she prepares for a return to the bodybuilding stage, Stratton is also gearing up for one of the most dangerous matches on the WWE calendar.

She is currently confirmed for the upcoming Women’s Elimination Chamber match, where Alexa Bliss, Asuka, and Rhea Ripley have already been announced as opponents. The winner will punch their ticket to WrestleMania 42 and challenge for a world title on April 18 and 19.

With a high-stakes Chamber match looming and a bodybuilding competition just over two months away, Stratton is proving she’s more than capable of handling pressure — both under the bright lights of WWE and on the judging stage.

If she manages to peak at the right time in both arenas, 2026 could be another defining year for one of WWE’s most athletically gifted stars.

Pat McAfee Expanding Into Hollywood With Major TV And Film Roles

Pat McAfee’s post-NFL career continues to evolve in a big way — and now the outspoken WWE commentator is officially stepping into Hollywood.

According to a new report from Bloomberg, Ari Emanuel — co-founder of TKO Group Holdings, the parent company of WWE and UFC — is actively working to secure acting opportunities for McAfee. While Emanuel no longer serves as CEO of Endeavor following its rebrand to WME Group, he remains executive chairman and represents a wide range of high-profile talent. McAfee is reportedly among the latest names on Emanuel’s client list, and the wheels are already turning.

The first wave of projects is significant.

McAfee is set to appear in a four-episode arc in the upcoming fourth season of Tulsa King on Paramount+, the hit series led by Sylvester Stallone. That’s not his only acting credit on the horizon, either. He’s also attached to Peter Berg’s upcoming sports drama The Mosquito Bowl, a film inspired by Buzz Bissinger — the author behind Friday Night Lights. The project centers around a legendary World War II-era football game and fits squarely into McAfee’s sports-driven persona.

For someone who only retired from the NFL in 2017, McAfee’s media takeover has been impressive. He’s built The Pat McAfee Show into a powerhouse platform, secured a major deal with ESPN, and become a fixture in the college football world. On the WWE side, he’s spent the past four years as one of the company’s most energetic and polarizing commentators, in addition to competing in select in-ring matches.

However, McAfee hasn’t appeared on WWE programming since June. At the time, he stepped away to focus on his growing media commitments and college football coverage, openly acknowledging burnout from juggling too many responsibilities.

That said, McAfee has made it a tradition to pop up at WrestleMania in recent years, whether behind the desk or inside the ring. With WrestleMania season approaching once again, speculation is already building about whether he’ll make another cameo at WWE’s biggest event of the year.

Now, with major television and film roles lined up, McAfee’s schedule may only get busier. Still, if history tells us anything, it’s that he tends to find a way to show up when the spotlight is brightest.

Between sports media, WWE, and now Hollywood, McAfee’s second act is proving to be just as headline-worthy as his NFL career.

Roxanne Perez Reveals She Had Surgery To Have Benign Mass Removed

Roxanne Perez has finally shed light on her recent absence from WWE television — and it turns out it was more serious than fans initially believed.

Over the past few months, reports indicated that Perez had been working through various nagging injuries, especially during WWE’s busy Holiday Tour stretch in late December and early January. When she later missed an episode of WWE Raw, many assumed she was dealing with a short-term illness. However, Perez took to TikTok this week to clarify the real reason she stepped away.

According to the former WWE Women’s Tag Team Champion, she recently underwent surgery to remove a benign mass from her back that had been causing significant pain for months.

Perez admitted she had been pushing through the discomfort because she didn’t want to miss any ring time. Wrestling, she explained, has been her dream since she was 10 years old, and stepping away — even temporarily — wasn’t something she wanted to do. Still, she emphasized that health has to come first, even for someone as passionate as she is about her craft.

The good news is that Perez is already on the mend. She shared that her recovery has been progressing well and that the majority of the pain has subsided, though it occasionally flares up. While she didn’t offer a specific timetable for her in-ring return, she made it clear that she expects to be back sooner rather than later.

And in true Roxanne fashion, she ended things on a confident note — promising she’ll be back to “Pop Rocksing” the roster in no time.

Perez has built a reputation as one of WWE’s toughest and most driven young stars, and this latest revelation only reinforces that image. Working through pain for months speaks to her dedication, but taking the necessary time to address the issue may ultimately ensure a stronger, healthier return.

For now, fans can take comfort in knowing the surgery was successful and that Perez is in good spirits. We’ll continue to provide updates as more details on her return timeline become available.

Chris Jericho WWE Return Rumors Shut Down Following RAW Mystery Crate Speculation

WWE sent fans into theory mode on the February 16 episode of RAW thanks to a backstage tease that immediately got people talking.

A large crate marked “Deliver to WWE” with instructions not to open it until 2/28/26 was shown during the broadcast. With Elimination Chamber set for that exact date, speculation ran wild about what — or who — could be inside. Among the more popular guesses circulating online? A surprise return from Chris Jericho.

As intriguing as that idea might be, new reporting suggests fans shouldn’t get their hopes up.

According to Fightful Select, Jericho is still under contract with All Elite Wrestling. Sean Ross Sapp reports that the general belief within AEW — as well as among those close to Jericho — is that his deal was effectively frozen when he stepped away in 2025.

Jericho’s original AEW agreement was believed to expire in 2025, but there are several potential reasons it may now extend beyond that point. Contract freezes due to time off, injury-related extensions, or even a quiet renewal could all be factors. Without access to the specifics of the deal, the exact situation remains unclear — but the key takeaway is that Jericho is not currently a free agent.

Adding to that, Jericho is still listed on AEW’s official roster page, which is typically a strong indicator that talent remains under contract. Fightful also noted that no internal communication has been distributed regarding his departure, something that usually occurs when a wrestler exits the company.

Interestingly, the report does mention that Jericho hasn’t completely closed the door on WWE. He has reportedly told people he would consider a return to the company at some point. However, there are outside projects and ventures he would have to weigh carefully if a WWE deal were on the table.

For now, the crate remains an unanswered question — but it likely doesn’t contain “The Learning Tree.”

While WWE clearly wants fans speculating ahead of Elimination Chamber, a Chris Jericho comeback on February 28 doesn’t appear to be in the cards.

WWE NXT Preview 2/17/2026

Tonight’s episode of WWE NXT airs at 8:00 PM EST / 5:00 PM PST on The CW Network in the United States and on Netflix internationally, from the WWE Performance Center in Orlando, Florida.

  • NXT Tag Team Championships #1 Contenders Match: Hank & Tank vs. OTM vs. Vanity Project vs. The Culling
  • NXT North American Championship Match: Ethan Page (c) vs. Shiloh Hill
  • WWE Men’s Speed Championship #1 Contenders Match: Elio LeFleur vs. Eli Knight
  • Lola Vice vs. Kelani Jordan
  • Tony D’Angelo vs. Cutler James