Tag: WWE

Why NXT/TNA “Invasion” Special Renamed To Showdown

WWE made a quick change this week to the name of its highly-anticipated NXT and TNA crossover special. What was originally announced as “NXT vs. TNA: Invasion” will now go forward under a new title — “Showdown.”

The event, set for October 7, was still being promoted with the “Invasion” branding earlier in the day, but by the time NXT aired Tuesday night, the name had been officially swapped out. The change sparked plenty of conversation, and it wasn’t just about WWE’s history with the “Invasion” label from the 2001 WCW/ECW storyline.

Why WWE Dropped the “Invasion” Title

The decision comes after backlash from Israeli fans and media outlets, who pointed out the sensitivity of branding the show “Invasion” on October 7. That date marks the second anniversary of the 2023 Hamas attack on Israel, which left over 1,200 people dead. Critics described WWE’s choice as “insensitive,” noting both the word itself and the accompanying logo — which featured a bold red “V” — unintentionally resembled imagery associated with Hamas.

One viral post on X (formerly Twitter) even highlighted the resemblance, questioning how WWE’s marketing team could miss the connection, even if it was unintentional.

WWE Responds Quickly

Once the controversy began to circulate, WWE and TNA quietly pulled advertising for the event before reintroducing it on Tuesday’s NXT broadcast with its new name. On-screen, the change was woven into the storyline by TNA’s Director of Authority, Santino Marella, who lightheartedly reframed the show as more of a “showcase” than an “invasion,” ultimately dubbing it a “Showdown.”

Behind the scenes, WWE wasted no time moving forward with the rebrand — filing a trademark for “Showdown” almost immediately after the new name was announced.

Looking Ahead

The rebranding doesn’t change the fact that this crossover is a landmark moment for both NXT and TNA, as two promotions come together for a rare interpromotional showcase. With “Showdown” now locked in, fans can expect the focus to return to what matters most: the matches, the surprises, and the potential for new dream encounters between NXT and TNA’s top stars.

WWE NXT Preview 9/30/2025

WWE NXT live tonight on The CW.

  • Lash Legend vs. Jaida Parker
  • Ava and Santino Marella choose their teams for InVasion
  • TNA Stars to appear
  • Newly crowned NXT Champion Ricky Saints
  • The fallout from NXT No Mercy

WWE’s Ridge Holland Sidelined with Serious Foot Injury After TNA Tapings

Bad news has hit Ridge Holland’s momentum. The NXT/EVOLVE standout, who has been a regular face in the ongoing WWE–TNA partnership, announced that he’s dealing with a significant injury that will put him on the shelf for the foreseeable future.

Holland was in action this past weekend at the TNA iMPACT tapings from the Edmonton Expo Centre in Alberta, Canada. On Friday, he wrestled at the Victory Road 2025 special, suffering a loss to Mike Santana. The next night, he stepped into the ring with Moose for matches taped to build toward TNA’s marquee event, Bound For Glory, scheduled for October 12 in Lowell, Massachusetts.

Unfortunately, things didn’t end well for Holland. On Monday, he took to Twitter to confirm the nature of his injury, writing:

“Lisfranc Injury. Surgery Friday. See ya in a bit.”

The Lisfranc injury — which affects the midfoot — is no small matter, often requiring surgery and months of recovery time. That means Holland will be missing a crucial stretch of TV, including Bound For Glory, at a time when WWE and TNA’s partnership has created some high-profile crossover opportunities.

It’s a tough setback for the powerhouse, who had been gaining traction by mixing it up with some of TNA’s biggest names. While no timetable has been given for his return, fans will no doubt be eager to see him bounce back once he’s cleared.

John Cena’s Final Match Officially Set for Washington, D.C. – SNME

The time and place are finally official—John Cena’s last match will go down in the nation’s capital. WWE confirmed Tuesday that Cena’s farewell bout is set for Saturday Night’s Main Event on December 13 at the Capital One Arena in Washington, D.C.

The announcement puts to rest months of speculation. While many fans expected Cena’s final chapter to be written in Boston, near his hometown of West Newbury, Massachusetts, the venue shift had been rumored since early September. According to reports, D.C. landed the event after offering a sizable site fee, similar to the $7 million New Jersey paid for this year’s historic two-night SummerSlam.

Tickets and Fan Experiences

Tickets for Saturday Night’s Main Event officially go on sale October 17 at 10 a.m. EST via Ticketmaster, with a presale opportunity starting October 15 for registered fans. Premium passes through On Location will also be available, giving diehard fans the chance to sit ringside for Cena’s last outing, enjoy all-inclusive pre-show hospitality, and mingle with WWE stars.

If you can’t make it to D.C., the show will stream live on Peacock, bringing Cena’s farewell to viewers around the world.

More WWE in the Capital

WWE is going all-out with the weekend festivities. On December 12, fans can catch a live edition of “Six Feet Under with The Undertaker” at The Howard Theatre. Meanwhile, The Gallery Space DC will transform into a WWE Superstore, packed with exclusive merchandise celebrating Cena’s final match.

Cena’s Farewell Tour Rolls On

Before his career curtain call, Cena still has five stops left on his farewell tour. His next big match is set for Crown Jewel in Perth, Australia on October 11, where he’ll face off against longtime rival AJ Styles.

The Capital One Arena showdown marks the end of an era. Cena has been the face of WWE for more than two decades, and his final match promises to be a historic night both for fans in attendance and those tuning in from home.

WWE Raw Preview 9/29/2025

WWE Raw live tonight on Netflix at 7 PM ET from the Lenovo Center in Raleigh, NC.

  • WWE Intercontinental Championship: Dominik Mysterio (c) vs. Rusev
  • Tag Team Tornado Match: The Usos vs. The Vision
  • Bayley vs. Raquel Rodriguez
  • AJ Styles & Dragon Lee vs. Los Americanos
  • Rhea Ripley and IYO SKY to appear

Referee Daphanie LaShaunn Speaks Out After Big SmackDown Main Event Botch

The closing moments of Friday’s WWE SmackDown women’s main event had fans buzzing for an unexpected reason — a botched pinfall that briefly threw the finish into question.

During the WWE Women’s Title Triple Threat Match, Tiffany Stratton appeared to have Nia Jax down for a three-count, but referee Daphanie LaShaunn (formerly known on the indies as Aja Smith) only registered a two despite Jax not kicking out. The hiccup was quickly overshadowed when Stratton went on to hit the Prettiest Moonsault Ever for the actual finish, but the moment didn’t go unnoticed.

LaShaunn later addressed the incident on her Instagram Stories, showing humility and appreciation in her response:

“I see all the love. I’m just human, but I can promise that I strive to always be better. Which will forever be my goal as long as I’m on this journey. I love this just like y’all. That I can swear to you.”

According to reports, the finish of the match had already been slightly reworked after Jade Cargill suffered a cut earlier in the contest. Stratton was always planned to leave with the victory, but the sequence leading up to it ended up playing out differently than scripted.

As is often the case with live TV, WWE quickly cleaned up the mistake for its official YouTube upload, editing the missed count out of the footage.

While the botch sparked chatter online, LaShaunn’s professionalism and accountability in addressing the situation have earned her plenty of respect from fans. Mistakes may happen, but Stratton still got her big win — and SmackDown closed with the intended result.

WWE NXT GM Ava Announces TNA Invasion TV Special For Same Night As AEW’s Title Tuesday “Homecoming”

The battle between NXT and AEW Dynamite on “Title Tuesday” is becoming a yearly tradition, and 2025 might be the most high-stakes showdown yet. During Saturday’s NXT No Mercy premium live event, General Manager Ava announced that the October 7 episode of NXT will be branded “Invasion”, with the black-and-gold brand facing off against stars from TNA Wrestling.

This means WWE’s developmental brand will once again go head-to-head with AEW’s annual Title Tuesday, which this year features a special “Homecoming” edition of Dynamite. And while AEW has yet to announce any matches for their card, NXT has already stacked the deck.

What’s on tap for NXT: Invasion?

  • Survival Matches: Both men’s and women’s teams will compete in elimination-style battles reminiscent of Survivor Series. Team lineups will be revealed on next week’s NXT.
  • Title-for-Title Matches:
    • NXT Tag Team Champions DarkState vs. The Hardy Boys, the reigning TNA World Tag Team Champions.
    • NXT Champion Oba Femi vs. TNA World Champion Trick Williams, with all outside interference banned following recent chaos on NXT.

The Oba vs. Trick matchup is especially noteworthy. While Williams currently represents TNA as world champion, his roots remain firmly in NXT. He captured the TNA World Title back in May at NXT Battleground, defeating Joe Hendry. The crossover has only deepened since then: the night before No Mercy, Kelani Jordan won the TNA Knockouts World Championship at Victory Road after Ash By Elegance vacated the title, while Je’Von Evans is scheduled to challenge for the X-Division Championship at Bound For Glory.

Why it matters

This Invasion special signals just how serious WWE is about counter-programming AEW. With championships from both promotions on the line and marquee names like the Hardy Boys involved, it feels less like a side attraction and more like a statement.

And while AEW hasn’t yet revealed what’s in store for Homecoming, WWE has made sure fans know the October 7 TV war will be must-see.

WWE NXT No Mercy 9/27/2025 (Results)

Quick Results

  • Je’Von Evans def. Josh Briggs
  • NXT Women’s Speed Championship: Sol Ruca (c) def. Jaida Parker
  • Weaponized Steel Cage Match: Jordynne Grace def. Blake Monroe
  • NXT North American Championship: Ethan Page (c) def. Tavion Heights
  • NXT Women’s Championship: Jacy Jayne (c) def. Lola Vice
  • NXT Championship: Ricky Saints def. Oba Femi (c)

Je’Von Evans vs. Josh Briggs

Je’Von Evans finally got his revenge on Josh Briggs, surviving a hard-hitting clash to open No Mercy. Briggs used his size to dominate early, but Evans battled back with a big dive to the outside and a Frog Splash that nearly sealed it. Briggs looked to finish things with an Avalanche Chokeslam, but Evans countered late—turning one Chokeslam attempt into a Cutter before hitting a Flying Cutter for the win.

Sol Ruca Retains the NXT Women’s Speed Championship

Sol Ruca overcame a surprise challenger in Jaida Parker after Lainey Reid was ruled out of action. Parker nearly stole the title after hitting her Hipnotic on the floor, but outside chaos played a role—Lash Legend and Zaria both got involved, throwing things off balance. With just seconds to spare, Ruca nailed the Sol Snatcher to keep the gold.

Jordynne Grace Tops Blake Monroe in a Weaponized Steel Cage

The rivalry between Jordynne Grace and Blake Monroe hit a violent peak inside a cage filled with weapons. Monroe fought dirty, using everything from kendo sticks to scissors, even cutting Grace’s hair mid-match. But Grace powered through, planting Monroe on a pile of diamonds before finishing things with a crushing Air Raid Crash through a table for the victory.

Ethan Page Keeps the North American Title

“All Ego” Ethan Page is still champion, but Tavion Heights pushed him to the limit. Heights nearly submitted the champ with an Ankle Lock and came close with a suplex attempt, but Page turned the tide in dramatic fashion, countering into his Twisted Grin to escape with the win.

Jacy Jayne Holds On To the Women’s Title

Jacy Jayne left No Mercy still NXT Women’s Champion, though controversy followed. Lola Vice had the match in hand after surviving Jayne’s technical assault, but outside interference changed the outcome. Fallon Henley first tried to disrupt the count, then a hooded figure blindsided Vice with a knee strike, allowing Jayne to hit Rolling Encore and score the three-count.

Ricky Saints Becomes NXT Champion

The main event saw Ricky Saints dethrone Oba Femi in a dramatic battle. Femi’s power was overwhelming early, including a devastating Chokeslam, but Saints dug deep and rallied with a big Spear. After surviving Femi’s Fall From Grace, Saints turned a second attempt into a Tornado DDT to score the biggest win of his career and capture the NXT Championship.

WWE NXT No Mercy 9/27/2025 (Card)

WWE NXT No Mercy – Saturday, September 27, 2025 – FTL War Memorial in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida.

CARD

  • NXT Championship: Oba Femi (c) vs. Ricky Saints
  • NXT Women’s Championship: Jacy Jayne (c) vs. Lola Vice
  • North American Championship: Ethan Page (c) vs. Tavion Heights
  • NXT Women’s Speed Championship: Sol Ruca (c) vs. Lainey Reid
  • Weaponized Steel Cage: Blake Monroe vs. Jordynne Grace
  • Josh Briggs vs. Je’Von Evans

WWE SmackDown Preview 9/26/2025

WWE SmackDown live on USA Network from the Kia Center in Orlando, Fl

  • Fallout from Wrestlepalooza
  • WWE Women’s Championship Match: Tiffany Stratton (c) vs. Nia Jax vs. Jade Cargill
  • Giulia & Kiana James vs. Michin & B-FAB
  • WWE United States Championship – Open Challenge: Sami Zayn (c) vs. TBD
  • Cody Rhodes to appear