WWE SmackDown tonight on USA Network taped early this morning from Perth, Australia.
The wrestling world is preparing to say goodbye to another modern legend. Hot on the heels of John Cena’s announcement that he’ll retire at the end of 2025, AJ Styles has revealed that he plans to hang up his boots in 2026.
During the WWE Crown Jewel Kickoff Show, “The Phenomenal One” opened up about his decision to step away from the ring after nearly three decades in the business.
“I’m getting old, folks,” Styles told fans. “If I could find the fountain of youth and take a couple sips, I’d wrestle for the rest of my life, but the fear of embarrassing myself is getting closer. There comes a time when you’ve got to take care of business—and when that’s done, it’s time to take care of your family.”
For Styles, that family time has become the next big priority. At 48 years old, the veteran performer admitted that the dream of every wrestler is to someday retire on their own terms—and he’s determined to do exactly that.
While Styles didn’t outline every detail of his final stretch in WWE, he’s hinted that a WrestleMania 42 appearance in Las Vegas is likely. Before that, fans can look forward to one more major showdown—Styles vs. Cena—at Crown Jewel, a match being promoted as their last encounter inside a WWE ring.
Styles joined WWE in 2016, making an unforgettable debut in the Royal Rumble before quickly becoming one of the company’s cornerstone stars. In less than a decade, he captured every major title available to him—the WWE, United States, Intercontinental, and Raw Tag Team Championships—earning Grand Slam Champion status and respect across the industry.
As the countdown to 2026 begins, Styles has also hinted at staying involved with WWE in a backstage capacity after retirement. Whether he’s mentoring the next generation or contributing creatively, “The Phenomenal One” seems poised to leave his mark on the business long after his final bell rings.
AJ Styles’ in-ring career may be nearing its end, but his legacy is already secure—and fans will surely savor every remaining match as one of wrestling’s all-time greats takes his final bow.
It’s been a whirlwind week for Santos Escobar, and it looked at one point like his time with WWE had quietly come to an end. Reports surfaced Monday that Escobar’s contract was set to expire at midnight, and that he had chosen not to re-sign despite a strong offer from the company. Word was that creative frustrations had pushed the LWO member to test free agency.
But in true pro wrestling fashion, the story took a dramatic turn just 48 hours later. By Wednesday, Escobar was officially back under contract with WWE—this time with a deal reportedly more lucrative than the original offer he turned down.
During Wednesday’s Wrestling Observer Radio, Dave Meltzer and Bryan Alvarez discussed Escobar’s decision to stay put. Meltzer confirmed that the financial bump wasn’t the only reason behind his return, noting that WWE has promised to address Escobar’s creative concerns going forward.
“Yeah, [he’s been re-signed], with the idea that he’ll be used better creatively,” Meltzer said. “We’ll see. I remember that was said about Ron Killings too.”
That comparison to R-Truth (real name Ron Killings) isn’t random. Earlier this year, Truth had a brief “departure” of his own after his contract expired, only to return a week later following fan support online. WWE initially teased a new, more serious direction for him, but that quickly faded as he was eased back into his comedic role and used less frequently on television.
Escobar’s own recent run hasn’t been much better. Despite being a standout talent with charisma and in-ring ability to spare, he’s only wrestled seven matches in 2025 so far. A teased angle over the summer involving AAA Mega Champion El Hijo del Vikingo was dropped without explanation, leaving Escobar largely off TV and fans wondering what’s next.
With this new deal in place, it seems WWE wants to make good on its promise to give the former NXT standout something meaningful to do. Whether that actually happens—or if Escobar ends up in R-Truth territory—remains to be seen.
For now, though, the “Emperor of Lucha Libre” is sticking with WWE, and the ball is in their court to make his return worth the hype.
The Hardys continue to make history. Matt and Jeff Hardy added another championship to their legendary résumés Tuesday night, defeating Darkstate’s Osiris Griffin and Dion Lennox to become the new NXT Tag Team Champions at the WWE NXT x TNA Showdown special.
The win makes the veteran brothers double champions, as they currently hold the TNA Tag Team Titles as well. Their next challenge? A tables match against longtime rivals Team 3D—Bubba Ray and D-Von Dudley—this Sunday at TNA Bound For Glory, where both sets of tag titles will reportedly be on the line.
The title bout in Orlando opened the highly anticipated crossover event with classic Hardy energy. Darkstate’s powerhouse tandem managed to keep Jeff Hardy grounded early, cutting the ring in half and punishing the high-flyer. But the “Charismatic Enigma” turned the tide with a signature Whisper in the Wind, creating the opening to tag in Matt.
Matt Hardy unleashed his trademark offense, smashing Lennox’s head into each turnbuckle before nearly scoring a three-count. The challengers briefly regained control and attempted a Doomsday Device, but Matt countered in midair with a Twist of Fate. After another Twist to Lennox, Jeff climbed the ropes and sealed the victory with a picture-perfect Swanton Bomb.
As confetti fell and the crowd erupted, The Hardys stood tall with both the NXT and TNA Tag Team Championships held high—while Team 3D watched from ringside, making it clear that their decades-long rivalry is far from over.
With Bound For Glory just days away, the stage is set for another chapter in one of wrestling’s greatest tag team rivalries—Hardys vs. Dudleys—with double gold hanging in the balance.
WWE NXT Showdown live tonight on The CW – NXT vs. TNA
It looks like Santos Escobar’s time in WWE may be coming to an end. According to a new report from PWInsider Elite, the leader of Legado del Fantasma was expected to officially become a free agent early Tuesday morning, ending a six-year run with the company.
Interestingly, Escobar’s reported departure wasn’t about money. Sources told PWInsider that WWE had extended a new contract offer which included a raise, but Escobar turned it down. Instead, his main concern reportedly centered on WWE’s creative direction for his character and his future on television.
Escobar was said to have wanted clarity on how he would be used moving forward — not necessarily demanding a major push, but wanting assurance that he wouldn’t just be “spinning his wheels” on the roster without meaningful storylines or matches.
The 40-year-old’s last televised appearance came in June at AAA x WWE Worlds Collide, where he teamed with Angel and Berto to defeat El Hijo de Dr. Wagner Jr., Pagano, and Psycho Clown. His most recent SmackDown match aired back on May 2, a loss to Rey Fenix.
With Escobar’s contract expiring at midnight heading into Tuesday, there’s still an outside chance WWE could make a last-minute effort to retain him. However, PWInsider reported that as of Monday afternoon, no one within the company seemed to believe that was likely.
Escobar — who first joined WWE in 2019 and became a standout in NXT before transitioning to the main roster — has been noticeably cryptic on social media in recent weeks. Many fans have interpreted those posts as hints about his uncertain future, especially following Andrade’s recent return to AEW after a similar situation.
If this truly marks the end of Escobar’s WWE chapter, the former NXT Cruiserweight Champion leaves behind a legacy of in-ring excellence and charisma that made Legado del Fantasma one of the most stylish and underrated factions of the modern era.
WWE Superstar Zoey Stark recently shared a major personal milestone with fans, revealing on social media that she’s been baptized in the Christian faith. In a video posted online, Stark can be seen taking part in the ceremony while wearing a shirt that read, “I have decided.”
Interestingly, the event also featured AEW’s Brian Cage, who attended alongside his family to show support. Cage shared his own post about the day, expressing how meaningful it was to witness Stark’s baptism and celebrate her commitment.
While Stark’s faith journey is just beginning, she joins a long list of wrestlers who have openly spoken about their Christian beliefs over the years. Names like Shawn Michaels, Hulk Hogan, Sting, Kurt Angle, Chad Gable, and The Undertaker have all shared how faith has played a role in their lives both inside and outside the ring.
Stark has been out of action since May 2025, sidelined by a serious knee injury suffered during a Women’s Money in the Bank qualifying match against Kairi Sane. During the bout, Stark’s knee appeared to buckle after a mistimed missile dropkick, and reports later indicated she’d likely miss the rest of the year.
Despite her time away from the spotlight, Stark has stayed active online, debunking an AI-generated video falsely claiming she had retired. The former NXT standout has made it clear that she fully intends to return to WWE once she’s cleared to compete.
Until then, Zoey Stark seems to be focusing on healing — both physically and spiritually — as she prepares for what’s sure to be a powerful comeback story.
WWE Raw is back to it’s normal time of 8:00 pm ET/5:00 pm live on Netflix from the American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas.
Tonight’s WWE SmackDown will air live on the USA Network in the United States and Netflix internationally from the Heritage Bank Center in Cincinnati, Ohio.
With WWE now officially owning AAA, several of the Mexican promotion’s top stars have already started finding their way onto WWE programming. But one name noticeably missing from the spotlight is Alberto El Patron — and his future remains very uncertain.
According to the Wrestling Observer Newsletter, WWE inherited Patron’s AAA contract when they acquired the company. However, the former WWE Champion hasn’t been used on television, nor has he been featured in major AAA events like Worlds Collide or Triplemania.
Despite still having a strong fan following in Mexico — with crowds regularly chanting his name during AAA shows — WWE has no immediate creative plans for Patron. His history of personal controversies, combined with his rocky past relationship with WWE, has reportedly made the company hesitant about committing to him in any major capacity.
Patron most recently competed on September 26 at an AAA affiliate event, teaming with Mr. Iguana in a winning effort. But storyline-wise, he was written out of AAA after losing a “Loser Leaves Town” match, further fueling speculation about whether WWE will ever bring him back into the fold.
At this point, Patron’s future is up in the air. WWE may simply keep him under contract without using him, or they could look for a way to test the waters with a one-off appearance down the line. For now, though, fans hoping to see Alberto El Patron back on a big stage will have to keep waiting.
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