WWE SmackDown faced a substantial sports-programming challenge on October 23, with the USA Network broadcast averaging 1.1 million viewers. The total represented a decline from the 1.327 million viewers recorded for the October 16 episode.
The October 23 show also delivered a 0.24 rating in the 18-49 demographic, down from the 0.32 rating SmackDown posted one week earlier. The week-to-week movement came as the blue brand aired opposite Game One of the World Series between the Tampa Bay Rays and Milwaukee Brewers, a FOX telecast that drew more than 12 million viewers.
Friday nights can present a difficult environment for wrestling television when major live sports are on the schedule, and the World Series opener was an especially formidable opponent. With more than 12 million viewers watching Rays-Brewers on FOX, the baseball game commanded a significantly larger share of the available television audience than SmackDown’s usual weekly competition.
SmackDown’s 1.1 million viewers marked a drop of 227,000 viewers from the prior week’s 1.327 million. In percentage terms, that is a decline of roughly 17 percent in the total audience. Its 18-49 rating fell by 0.08 points, a reduction of 25 percent from the previous week’s 0.32 figure.
\nFor more background on this topic, read Michin and B-Fab Reflect on First WWE Title Win After SmackDown Breakthrough.
The 18-49 metric remains particularly important in evaluating the performance of nationally televised wrestling programming because it measures the audience most commonly emphasized in advertising discussions. The October 23 result did not match the previous Friday’s number, but the comparison arrived under markedly different competitive circumstances due to the World Series broadcast.
There is no indication within the available numbers that a single segment or match determined the night’s overall rating. The clearest contextual factor is the head-to-head competition from a championship baseball event, which attracted an audience more than ten times larger than SmackDown’s reported average viewership.
The October 16 edition set the immediate benchmark for the comparison, averaging 1.327 million viewers with a 0.32 rating among adults 18-49. One week later, SmackDown settled at 1.1 million viewers and a 0.24 rating.
Week-to-week ratings shifts are common for WWE’s weekly programming, particularly when live sports and other special events alter the television landscape. A World Series game is among the most prominent annual programming events available on broadcast television, meaning it can affect audience patterns across many competing cable and network shows.
The October 23 episode’s decline should therefore be considered alongside the unusually high-profile competition rather than in isolation. The baseball telecast was not merely another regular-season sporting event; it was the opening game of Major League Baseball’s championship series. The fact that it surpassed 12 million viewers illustrates the size of the audience drawn to FOX that evening.
For WWE, the numbers provide a snapshot of how SmackDown performed on USA Network during a crowded live-viewing window. The show retained an audience of 1.1 million viewers despite the World Series opposition, while its key-demographic score remained at 0.24.
Beyond the linear television result, WWE’s SmackDown material also generated engagement on YouTube. The five most-viewed videos connected to the October 23 episode covered a mixture of prominent confrontations, match implications, faction conflict, and storyline developments involving several featured names.
The most-watched clip was a full segment in which Cody Rhodes challenged Randy Orton to a Last Man Standing Match. That video reached 564,000 views, placing it clearly ahead of the other listed clips from the episode. The interest surrounding Rhodes and Orton gave the episode’s digital output its strongest individual performer.
CM Punk and Kevin Owens ranked second among the listed videos. Their intense interview, which featured the two trading insults, accumulated 405,000 views. The segment’s performance placed it above two other clips that approached the 400,000-view mark.
Sami Zayn’s confrontation with Trick Williams was the third-most-viewed video, drawing 395,000 views. The clip centered on Zayn cheap-shotting Williams amid a heated exchange. Just behind it was footage of Bakusai engaging The MFTs in a chaotic brawl after Kyoki stole Haku’s staff, which registered 384,000 views.
The fifth entry on the list featured Tiffany Stratton saving Chelsea Green from The Judgment Day. That video collected 377,000 views. Together, the five clips demonstrate that the episode’s online interest was spread across multiple stories rather than resting solely on the Rhodes-Orton confrontation.
The October 23 ratings show the impact a major sporting event can have on live television viewing, while the YouTube list offers a separate measure of which SmackDown angles drew attention after and around the broadcast. These figures should not be treated as directly interchangeable: television ratings measure the program’s average linear audience, while individual online clips track views for specific pieces of content.
Still, WWE’s digital results indicate that several parts of the show found an audience beyond the live USA Network window. Rhodes and Orton led the way by a notable margin, while Punk and Owens, Zayn and Williams, Bakusai and The MFTs, and the Stratton-Green-Judgment Day situation each produced clips with hundreds of thousands of views.
The content that rose to the top also reflects the range of material promoted from the episode. A major match challenge, a verbal confrontation, an angle involving a cheap shot, a multi-person brawl, and a save from an established faction all appeared among the five biggest videos. That variety suggests there was no shortage of story developments for viewers who sought out SmackDown material digitally.
As for the broadcast itself, the immediate comparison is straightforward: 1.1 million viewers and a 0.24 rating in the 18-49 demographic on October 23, compared with 1.327 million viewers and a 0.32 rating one week earlier. The World Series competition was the dominant external factor on the night, with Rays versus Brewers drawing an audience of more than 12 million viewers on FOX.
SmackDown’s next set of viewership data will offer the more useful indication of whether the October 23 decline was primarily a one-week reaction to the World Series opener or part of a broader audience trend. For now, WWE’s Friday night program endured a notable drop against one of the biggest live sports broadcasts of the year while continuing to generate substantial interest across its featured YouTube clips.
","image_url":"https://smackdownonyou.com/uploads/article-41372b7dfca53d0b632002b6.webp","featured":false,"published_at":"2026-10-28 21:04:47","updated_at":"2026-10-28 21:04:47","author":{"type":"Person","slug":"darryl-polo","name":"Darryl Polo","url":"https://smackdownonyou.com/authors/darryl-polo","image_url":"https://smackdownonyou.com/assets/authors/darryl-polo-480.webp","short_bio":"Darryl Polo is a passionate wrestling fan covering WWE, AEW, TNA and beyond. He loves great rivalries, breakout stars and the moments that keep fans talking long after the bell.","bio":["Darryl Polo loves the mix of athleticism, larger-than-life personalities and long-running rivalries that makes professional wrestling unlike anything else. A surprise return, a perfectly timed heel turn or a match that gets the whole crowd on its feet—that’s the kind of moment that keeps him coming back.","At SmackDownOnYou, Darryl brings that fan-first perspective to WWE, AEW, TNA and the wider wrestling world. He enjoys digging into the stories behind the spectacle, following rising talent and revisiting the matches and characters that give wrestling its lasting appeal."],"updated_at":"2026-09-05 06:05:12"},"category":{"id":1,"slug":"wwe","name":"WWE"},"sources":[],"gallery":[{"path":"https://smackdownonyou.com/uploads/article-a05ad488ea207a5dcc1945ab.webp","alt":"Wrestling image related to this story","caption":"Image related to this report."}],"url":"https://smackdownonyou.com/stories/wwe-smackdown-viewership-falls-to-1-1-million-against-world-series-game-one"},{"id":2651,"slug":"cmll-d-a-de-muertos-lineup-set-for-october-30-at-arena-m-xico","title":"CMLL Día de Muertos Lineup Set for October 30 at Arena México","dek":"Guerrero Maya Jr. defends the Rey del Inframundo Championship in a four-way elimination match, while Darby Allin is scheduled to make his CMLL debut against Hechicero.","body_html":"CMLL has finalized the lineup for its Día de Muertos event on October 30 at Arena México, with the Rey del Inframundo Championship set to headline a card built around major singles matches, trios competition, and a notable international debut.
Guerrero Maya Jr. will defend the CMLL Rey del Inframundo Championship in a four-way elimination match against Xelhua, Calavera Jr. I, and Ráfaga Jr. The title contest will close the scheduled card, placing the reigning champion in a demanding situation against three challengers rather than one.
The event will also feature Darby Allin’s CMLL debut. Allin is scheduled to face Hechicero in a singles bout, giving the Arena México audience a first look at Allin competing under the CMLL banner while putting him across the ring from one of the promotion’s most distinctive technical wrestlers.
\nView the referenced post on X
Guerrero Maya Jr. enters Día de Muertos as the reigning Rey del Inframundo Champion, but the elimination format ensures he will not have the comparatively straightforward task of preparing for a single opponent. Xelhua, Calavera Jr. I, and Ráfaga Jr. will each have a route to the championship, and the champion must outlast the entire field to leave Arena México with the title intact.
\nFor more background on this topic, read Tessa Blanchard vs. Keyra Announced for MLW Saturday Night SuperFight.
The match’s format is particularly important because it can rapidly change the direction of the contest. Alliances, whether brief or purely strategic, can emerge in a multi-person elimination environment. A wrestler can also benefit from an opponent being worn down by the rest of the field before becoming involved at a key moment. Guerrero Maya Jr. carries the responsibility of champion into that uncertainty, while each challenger has an opportunity to turn a single standout performance into a title victory.
Xelhua, Calavera Jr. I, and Ráfaga Jr. arrive with the same stated objective: leave October 30 as Rey del Inframundo Champion. For Guerrero Maya Jr., the question is whether he can navigate three different opponents and the consequences of an elimination bout. The championship encounter gives the show a clear centerpiece fitting for the Día de Muertos presentation.
Allin’s match with Hechicero is one of the most attention-grabbing bouts on the lineup. The October 30 appearance marks Allin’s CMLL debut, and he will immediately enter singles competition against a veteran opponent known for his difficult, technically oriented approach.
The matchup presents an intriguing contrast in styles without requiring either wrestler to share the ring with familiar partners. Allin’s CMLL introduction comes in a direct one-on-one setting, putting his adaptability in focus at Arena México. Hechicero, meanwhile, will have the chance to make a statement against a wrestler arriving for his first match in the promotion.
Debut matches can carry a distinct atmosphere, especially when they take place in Arena México and on a themed event card. Allin will be working to make an immediate impression in CMLL, but Hechicero has his own incentive to deny that debut the outcome Allin is seeking. The bout stands apart from the title main event as a featured singles attraction with significance for both competitors.
The Día de Muertos lineup begins with Los Herederos—El Cobarde, Felino Jr., and Hijo de Stuka Jr.—taking on Los Amos del Aire, represented by Magia Blanca, Rey Pegasus, and Tornado. The six-man match brings together two named teams and gives the card an energetic opening-stage trios contest.
Los Herederos will look to establish momentum for the night against a group whose name reflects the aerial emphasis expected from Los Amos del Aire. Magia Blanca, Rey Pegasus, and Tornado will oppose El Cobarde, Felino Jr., and Hijo de Stuka Jr. in a match that provides each unit an opportunity to set the tone before the card moves into its featured attractions.
A four-way women’s match is also scheduled, with Lluvia, Persephone, Olympia, and India Sioux competing against one another. As with the Rey del Inframundo Championship match, the multi-competitor setting adds variables that do not exist in a traditional singles bout. Every participant must account for three opponents, and an opening can develop quickly when the focus shifts elsewhere.
Lluvia, Persephone, Olympia, and India Sioux each have a chance to emerge with a major victory on a card carrying the Día de Muertos theme. The match is not listed as a championship contest, but it gives all four wrestlers a prominent platform in a format where a decisive moment can arrive without much warning.
The card also includes a three-team match featuring Bárbaro Cavernario and Soberano Jr., Los Depredadores’ Vegas Depredador and Volador Jr., and Galeón Fantasma’s Difunto and Zandokan Jr.
Bárbaro Cavernario and Soberano Jr. will enter as a pairing against two established tandems. Los Depredadores bring Vegas Depredador together with Volador Jr., while Galeón Fantasma is represented by Difunto and Zandokan Jr. With three teams involved, the match has the potential for constantly shifting control as every pairing looks for the opening that can secure the result.
The presence of six prominent competitors in one bout adds further depth to the Arena México show. Neither of the three teams can concentrate on only one rival for long, and the result will depend on which duo is best able to capitalize when the other teams are engaged. It is a match designed to add another layer of variety to a card that already includes a singles debut bout, a four-way women’s contest, and a championship elimination main event.
CMLL Día de Muertos takes place October 30 from Arena México. The event is anchored by Guerrero Maya Jr.’s championship defense and Darby Allin’s first CMLL match, while the rest of the lineup offers a broad mix of trios, multi-person, and singles competition.
","image_url":"https://smackdownonyou.com/uploads/article-63f817e1d1eefd97e0bb9931.webp","featured":false,"published_at":"2026-10-28 21:04:23","updated_at":"2026-10-28 21:04:23","author":{"type":"Person","slug":"darryl-polo","name":"Darryl Polo","url":"https://smackdownonyou.com/authors/darryl-polo","image_url":"https://smackdownonyou.com/assets/authors/darryl-polo-480.webp","short_bio":"Darryl Polo is a passionate wrestling fan covering WWE, AEW, TNA and beyond. He loves great rivalries, breakout stars and the moments that keep fans talking long after the bell.","bio":["Darryl Polo loves the mix of athleticism, larger-than-life personalities and long-running rivalries that makes professional wrestling unlike anything else. A surprise return, a perfectly timed heel turn or a match that gets the whole crowd on its feet—that’s the kind of moment that keeps him coming back.","At SmackDownOnYou, Darryl brings that fan-first perspective to WWE, AEW, TNA and the wider wrestling world. He enjoys digging into the stories behind the spectacle, following rising talent and revisiting the matches and characters that give wrestling its lasting appeal."],"updated_at":"2026-09-05 06:05:12"},"category":{"id":8,"slug":"cmll","name":"CMLL"},"sources":[],"gallery":[],"url":"https://smackdownonyou.com/stories/cmll-d-a-de-muertos-lineup-set-for-october-30-at-arena-m-xico"},{"id":2650,"slug":"michin-and-b-fab-reflect-on-first-wwe-title-win-after-smackdown-breakthrough","title":"Michin and B-Fab Reflect on First WWE Title Win After SmackDown Breakthrough","dek":"New WWE Women’s Tag Team Champions Michin and B-Fab have opened up about the long paths that led them to championship gold on SmackDown.","body_html":"Michin and B-Fab have reached a milestone that once seemed distant for both women, capturing the WWE Women’s Tag Team Championships on the October 23 edition of WWE SmackDown. The pair defeated Alexa Bliss and Tatum Paxley to claim the titles, completing a recent rise built around their winning momentum and growing unity as a team.
For Michin, the victory represented more than a single successful night in the ring. It was the first championship of her WWE career, earned after nearly a decade with the company and close to 20 years as a professional wrestler. The significance of the achievement was amplified by the setting, as Michin won the titles in her hometown with family members and people from her childhood present to see it happen.
B-Fab’s road to the championships was different, but no less defining. Her WWE journey has included time as a manager alongside Hit Row and the Street Profits before she moved into active in-ring competition. Winning the tag titles alongside Michin marked a major step in that evolution, turning a partnership that began as an opportunity for growth into a championship-winning tandem.
Speaking about the moment, Michin described the title win as surreal. WWE had been a dream since she was young, though she understood that those closest to her could support that ambition while still viewing it as a difficult profession to reach. Simply earning a WWE contract once felt like the highest possible accomplishment.
\nFor more background on this topic, read Royce Keys Teases The 946’s WarGames Ambitions Against The Bloodline.
“Finally getting signed to WWE, that was the ceiling for me,” Michin said. “There’s nothing else I could do.”
Yet reaching WWE did not end her ambition. Michin set her sights on becoming a champion in the company, a goal that took far longer than she expected. She acknowledged the frustration of working hard, trying to do things the right way, and at times feeling as if strong performances were not carrying forward into the following week.
Michin explained that being a babyface and attempting to maintain relationships across the locker room could make the climb especially difficult. In her view, effort did not always translate into sustained momentum or a clear route to a championship opportunity. Over time, she began to make peace with the possibility that WWE gold might not be part of her story, even while recognizing that she was already living the dream she had pursued for years.
That perspective makes the October 23 win particularly meaningful. The championship was not simply a reward for a current hot streak; it was the realization of a personal objective that Michin had nearly convinced herself to stop chasing.
Her renewed confidence came through the alignment with B-Fab and Jade. Michin said the group gave her reason to believe that a title run was truly possible, reigniting the drive to chase gold not only for herself but alongside B-Fab.
“We actually may have a chance here,” Michin said of the group’s potential. With Jade on their side, that belief only grew stronger.
Wrestling title victories are often remembered for the match itself, the image of the belts being raised, or the reaction inside the arena. For Michin, the personal connections in the crowd made the moment even more memorable. She had family in attendance and spotted an old next-door neighbor, bringing a piece of her childhood directly into a pivotal chapter of her career.
The aftermath carried that emotion beyond the building. Michin spoke about receiving calls from her father and sister, reflecting the impact that the victory had on those who supported her long before she became a WWE champion. Even after the immediate celebration, she said the feeling still had not entirely settled in.
“It’s still surreal to this day,” Michin said.
That response fits the scale of the accomplishment. A performer can spend years working toward a championship, preparing for the possibility of a breakthrough while also navigating the uncertainty that comes with a constantly changing wrestling environment. When the result finally arrives, particularly in a hometown setting, it can be difficult to process in real time.
Michin’s comments also underline the importance of persistence in WWE. Her path did not follow a straight line from signing to title success. It involved long stretches of work, shifting opportunities, and the kind of perseverance required to remain ready when the right opening finally arrives. The Women’s Tag Team Championships now stand as tangible proof that her long-term investment in that process paid off.
While Michin’s remarks centered on the length of her pursuit, B-Fab focused on the dramatic evolution of her own WWE role. She said the title win remains difficult to fully absorb, with moments where the emotion hits her followed by disbelief at how quickly the journey has changed.
“It’s definitely surreal, it hasn’t sunk in fully,” B-Fab said. “I have those moments where I get emotional and it sinks in, but then I’m still kind of like, ‘Oh my gosh, this is crazy.’”
B-Fab first became known in WWE through managerial work. She was associated with Hit Row and later appeared alongside the Street Profits, giving her visibility in prominent acts without initially having the same role as a full-time in-ring competitor. That background made the eventual move into wrestling a pivotal shift in her career.
She expressed happiness over getting the opportunity to break away and compete on her own. The pairing with Michin then provided a clearer direction: not just a chance to wrestle matches, but an actual tag team with room to develop and pursue a shared objective.
“When I got put with Mia, I was like, okay cool,” B-Fab said. “We have an actual tag team here, we can do more.”
The partnership has now delivered the most important result possible in WWE’s women’s tag division. B-Fab’s move from a supporting managerial position into a championship reign illustrates how much her role has expanded. Rather than being attached to another act’s presentation, she is now one-half of the titleholders and a central figure in a championship story on SmackDown.
Michin and B-Fab’s win over Bliss and Paxley changes the landscape around the WWE Women’s Tag Team Championships. Bliss and Paxley entered as the champions, but Michin and B-Fab capitalized on their recent momentum to secure the biggest win of their partnership. Now, the focus shifts from the chase to the challenge of establishing themselves as champions.
For any new titleholders, winning the belts and keeping them are separate tests. The first victory proves a team can break through under pressure. A successful reign requires consistency, chemistry, and the ability to respond when opponents target the weaknesses that may not have been visible during the chase. Michin and B-Fab will face those expectations with the added attention that comes with holding WWE gold.
They also carry distinct motivations into that next phase. Michin has finally secured a WWE championship after years of waiting and questioning whether the opportunity would arrive. B-Fab has converted a career transition from managing into wrestling into a title-winning accomplishment. Those personal histories give the team a strong foundation, because both women understand what it took simply to reach this point.
Their comments make clear that this is not being treated as a routine title change. It is a career landmark for two performers whose routes to the top of the division were shaped by patience, development, and the willingness to embrace new roles. Michin’s hometown celebration gave the win a deeply personal layer, while B-Fab’s reaction captured the shock of seeing years of progression culminate in a championship.
As SmackDown moves toward its October 30 episode, the new champions enter the show with a fresh responsibility and a major spotlight. Michin and B-Fab have already proven they can seize the moment. Their next task is to show that the October 23 victory was the beginning of a meaningful reign rather than the finish line of their journey.
","image_url":"https://smackdownonyou.com/uploads/article-4f1858941dd663f9ded90a3a.webp","featured":false,"published_at":"2026-10-28 21:04:00","updated_at":"2026-10-28 21:04:00","author":{"type":"Person","slug":"darryl-polo","name":"Darryl Polo","url":"https://smackdownonyou.com/authors/darryl-polo","image_url":"https://smackdownonyou.com/assets/authors/darryl-polo-480.webp","short_bio":"Darryl Polo is a passionate wrestling fan covering WWE, AEW, TNA and beyond. He loves great rivalries, breakout stars and the moments that keep fans talking long after the bell.","bio":["Darryl Polo loves the mix of athleticism, larger-than-life personalities and long-running rivalries that makes professional wrestling unlike anything else. A surprise return, a perfectly timed heel turn or a match that gets the whole crowd on its feet—that’s the kind of moment that keeps him coming back.","At SmackDownOnYou, Darryl brings that fan-first perspective to WWE, AEW, TNA and the wider wrestling world. He enjoys digging into the stories behind the spectacle, following rising talent and revisiting the matches and characters that give wrestling its lasting appeal."],"updated_at":"2026-09-05 06:05:12"},"category":{"id":1,"slug":"wwe","name":"WWE"},"sources":[],"gallery":[],"url":"https://smackdownonyou.com/stories/michin-and-b-fab-reflect-on-first-wwe-title-win-after-smackdown-breakthrough"},{"id":2649,"slug":"matt-hardy-sees-fan-resistance-as-potential-hurdle-in-adam-copeland-s-aew-title-pursuit","title":"Matt Hardy Sees Fan Resistance as Potential Hurdle in Adam Copeland’s AEW Title Pursuit","dek":"Matt Hardy believes an AEW World Championship win could be a fitting final chapter for Adam Copeland, while warning that part of the audience may be skeptical of an established former WWE star holding the company’s top prize.","body_html":"Adam Copeland has made no secret of the goal he wants to accomplish before stepping away from the ring. After announcing plans to retire by the end of next year, Copeland has identified the AEW World Championship as a major objective for the remainder of his career.
Matt Hardy believes that winning the title would make for a meaningful conclusion to Copeland’s run. At the same time, Hardy thinks Copeland could face a different kind of challenge if he reaches the top of the AEW mountain: convincing every part of the company’s audience that he is the right choice to carry its premier championship.
Speaking on The Extreme Life of Matt Hardy, Hardy said he would personally be pleased to see Copeland become AEW World Champion. His concern was not about Copeland’s ability or effort. Rather, Hardy suggested that some AEW fans may judge the idea through the lens of Copeland’s age and his long association with WWE.
Copeland remains one of the most recognizable names on the AEW roster, and his career résumé is beyond dispute. But Hardy raised the possibility that certain fans could view an AEW title reign by Copeland as another example of an established veteran moving ahead of younger acts who are still trying to become central figures in the promotion.
\nFor more background on this topic, read Orange Cassidy Recalls Building Backyard Ring After First Live Wrestling Show.
That is a conversation that often follows major title pictures in every wrestling company, particularly when a championship is pursued by a performer with decades of experience. A veteran can bring immediate credibility, familiarity, and a proven ability to perform in high-pressure situations. But fans also frequently measure title decisions against the need to elevate newer names and secure the promotion’s long-term future.
Hardy’s point was that Copeland may encounter that debate even though he remains capable of delivering at a high level. Hardy praised Copeland as an outstanding performer who can still have strong matches, while also acknowledging that critics may reduce the discussion to labels such as an “older guy” or a former WWE talent.
Those labels do not erase Copeland’s current body of work, but they can shape how a title pursuit is received. In AEW, where fan investment in homegrown and younger talent is often especially intense, the reaction to a championship change can hinge on more than the quality of the match or the stature of the challenger. It can also depend on whether supporters believe the moment advances the broader direction of the roster.
Hardy made clear that his own view is supportive. He sees the AEW World Championship as an appropriate accolade for Copeland before retirement, not as a move that would diminish the rest of the locker room.
That perspective is rooted in Hardy’s belief that Copeland is not the type of wrestler who would seek a championship simply to protect his own position. Hardy argued that Copeland would continue to help younger talent even if he were holding the company’s biggest prize.
The distinction matters. There is a significant difference between a veteran title reign built around nostalgia alone and one that uses a veteran’s profile to create major matches, give rising opponents a larger platform, and ultimately establish the next champion. Hardy’s assessment is that Copeland belongs in the latter category.
Copeland’s stated retirement timetable naturally adds urgency to the pursuit. When a performer publicly puts a likely endpoint on a career, every major opportunity takes on added weight. A failed challenge becomes more consequential, while a potential championship victory carries the emotional significance of a final career milestone.
For Copeland, the AEW World Championship is not merely another belt to add to an already decorated career. It is a championship he has not held, in a promotion that represents the final major stage of his active wrestling life. That gives the chase a clear narrative without requiring it to be rushed or treated as guaranteed.
Copeland has already received one opportunity at the AEW World Championship following his retirement announcement. He was part of the Clockwork Carnage match at WrestleDream, but he did not leave the event with the title.
The loss means his path remains open rather than complete. It also prevents the story from being framed as a simple farewell coronation. Copeland has identified the championship as a goal, but he has not been handed the accomplishment. He has had a chance, fallen short, and will need to continue building toward another opening.
That is important for the way the pursuit can develop. A title aspiration has greater stakes when the challenger has already learned that the road will not automatically bend toward a sentimental ending. Copeland’s WrestleDream result adds a layer of uncertainty to the remainder of his run: retirement may be approaching, but the AEW World Championship remains an ambition rather than a promise.
Hardy is still not dismissing the possibility. He said he would not rule out Copeland eventually winning the belt. That leaves room for AEW to revisit the championship story at a later point, provided the timing, opponent, and larger direction of the division all support it.
Hardy and co-host Jon Alba also discussed the idea of Copeland defeating Will Ospreay for the AEW World Championship. Hardy agreed that this likely would not be the ideal way to put the title on Copeland.
That does not necessarily mean Copeland and Ospreay could not have a major match or a compelling rivalry. The concern is specifically about the championship transition and what it would communicate. Ospreay is a performer whose standing and future value are central to AEW’s larger picture, making any potential loss of the company’s top title a decision that would require careful consideration.
In a title scene with multiple credible candidates, the identity of the champion Copeland might defeat could be as important as Copeland winning itself. A championship reign is never judged in isolation. Fans evaluate the route to the belt, the person who loses it, the stories created by the change, and the opponent who eventually takes the championship away.
Hardy’s comments underscore that an AEW title victory for Copeland would need to feel like part of a thoughtful plan rather than a short-term farewell gesture. If fans are already likely to question whether a veteran should hold the belt, the creative circumstances around the win would become even more significant.
There is no indication that Copeland is guaranteed another title shot, much less an AEW World Championship reign. His retirement plans and his stated ambition have simply made the possibility one of the more notable questions surrounding his remaining time as an active wrestler.
Hardy’s view captures both sides of that question. He sees the emotional appeal in giving Copeland a crowning achievement before retirement, and he trusts Copeland to use a top position constructively. But he also recognizes that AEW’s audience can be demanding when the company’s most important championship is involved.
Ultimately, the response to a Copeland title win would likely be determined by execution. If the chase produces strong matches, meaningful stakes, and opportunities for younger wrestlers to benefit from sharing the ring with him, the idea could be embraced as a fitting final chapter. If it is perceived as a shortcut past performers the audience believes should be prioritized, skepticism could become louder.
For now, Copeland’s goal remains alive despite the WrestleDream loss. The next phase of his pursuit will determine whether AEW’s top championship becomes the defining final accomplishment of his career or remains the major prize that stayed just beyond his reach.
","image_url":"https://smackdownonyou.com/uploads/article-f9551634195f986d9f2f039c.webp","featured":false,"published_at":"2026-10-28 21:03:31","updated_at":"2026-10-28 21:03:31","author":{"type":"Person","slug":"darryl-polo","name":"Darryl Polo","url":"https://smackdownonyou.com/authors/darryl-polo","image_url":"https://smackdownonyou.com/assets/authors/darryl-polo-480.webp","short_bio":"Darryl Polo is a passionate wrestling fan covering WWE, AEW, TNA and beyond. He loves great rivalries, breakout stars and the moments that keep fans talking long after the bell.","bio":["Darryl Polo loves the mix of athleticism, larger-than-life personalities and long-running rivalries that makes professional wrestling unlike anything else. A surprise return, a perfectly timed heel turn or a match that gets the whole crowd on its feet—that’s the kind of moment that keeps him coming back.","At SmackDownOnYou, Darryl brings that fan-first perspective to WWE, AEW, TNA and the wider wrestling world. He enjoys digging into the stories behind the spectacle, following rising talent and revisiting the matches and characters that give wrestling its lasting appeal."],"updated_at":"2026-09-05 06:05:12"},"category":{"id":2,"slug":"aew","name":"AEW"},"sources":[],"gallery":[{"path":"https://smackdownonyou.com/uploads/article-d2963c66ab869fbd4ed494bf.webp","alt":"Adam Copeland roaring during a match on \"AEW Dynamite,\" October 2026.","caption":"Image related to this report."}],"url":"https://smackdownonyou.com/stories/matt-hardy-sees-fan-resistance-as-potential-hurdle-in-adam-copeland-s-aew-title-pursuit"},{"id":2648,"slug":"royce-keys-teases-the-946-s-wargames-ambitions-against-the-bloodline","title":"Royce Keys Teases The 946’s WarGames Ambitions Against The Bloodline","dek":"With Roman Reigns now involved in the escalating rivalry, Royce Keys says The 946 would bring an amplified version of its chaos to a potential Survivor Series WarGames showdown with The Bloodline.","body_html":"The collision course between The 946 and The Bloodline continues to gain momentum on WWE programming, and Royce Keys has made it clear that his group would welcome the chance to take that rivalry into one of the company’s most dangerous environments: WarGames.
The 946 have centered their WWE main-roster mission on The Bloodline since the faction came together. That focus has fueled an increasingly volatile issue between the groups, one that took another significant turn when Roman Reigns entered the situation on the most recent edition of WWE Monday Night RAW. Reigns’ involvement has naturally raised speculation that Survivor Series could provide the setting for a WarGames confrontation between the rival sides.
Nothing has been officially confirmed regarding a WarGames match, its participants, or the exact shape of a potential Survivor Series encounter. But Keys did not hide the appeal of stepping into the double-cage structure alongside his 946 stablemates if the opportunity arrives.
“It’s something we would love to be a part of,” Keys said. “If we are in it, just expect the unexpected, and just take what we’ve done now and multiply it by a hundred.”
\nFor more background on this topic, read Royce Keys Calls WWE 2K26 Inclusion a ‘Great Accomplishment’ Ahead of Season 6 Release.
That statement fits the tone The 946 have established since arriving on the main roster. The faction has operated with an unpredictable edge while maintaining a clear target in The Bloodline. Rather than presenting themselves as a collection of individuals brought together by convenience, Keys described the group as something rooted in genuine familiarity and shared background.
Keys said he knew every member of The 946 before the group officially formed, stressing that the act is built from real elements of the members’ lives rather than simply a manufactured alliance.
“I knew everybody before we actually all got together,” Keys said. “So, 946 is us. We’ve taken parts of how we grew up and where we’re from and put them together, so it’s something that’s authentic and real.”
That sense of authenticity has become an important part of the group’s identity. WWE factions often succeed or fail based on whether viewers believe the people involved have a natural connection, particularly when the group is placed opposite a long-established powerhouse such as The Bloodline. In Keys’ view, The 946’s collective chemistry is not something that needed to be developed in public. It was already in place before the team name and main-roster spotlight arrived.
The Bloodline, of course, has been defined by its own deep personal history and by the immense presence of Reigns. The group’s family-based foundation has been central to many of WWE’s biggest stories in recent years. By putting The 946 in direct opposition to that unit, WWE has placed a newer faction against a group with enormous experience in high-stakes faction warfare.
Reigns joining the conflict adds another layer to that scenario. His return to the issue gives The Bloodline a powerful centerpiece at precisely the time discussions around Survivor Series and WarGames are intensifying. A match of that type is designed for rivalries that have expanded beyond one-on-one competition, and the developing conflict has the ingredients of a multi-person battle: competing groups, escalating confrontations, and a growing need for an environment that can contain everyone involved.
For Keys, the strength of The 946 is not merely in numbers. He pointed to the different qualities supplied by each member, specifically highlighting Melo and Jaida while comparing the group’s combination of styles to a pot of gumbo.
“We each bring something different,” Keys said. “Melo’s a little pit bull. When I take that leash off him, it’s dangerous. And Jaida, she hits harder than some of the dudes. I always say it’s like a pot of gumbo. You’ve got all these different flavors and mixtures in it, so it’s gonna be hard for our opponents to adapt to it.”
Keys’ description offers a straightforward explanation for why The 946 believe they could thrive in a match as chaotic as WarGames. The structure reduces the possibility of a conventional wrestling contest and puts a premium on timing, resilience, teamwork and adaptation. Different styles can become an advantage once the cage doors close, especially for a faction that views its variety as a defining strength.
Melo’s intensity, as characterized by Keys, represents one part of the equation. Jaida’s physicality represents another. Keys positions himself as the voice able to frame and direct those elements within the larger unit. The group’s internal dynamic, at least from his perspective, is built around complementary personalities and approaches rather than everyone attempting to fill the same role.
That can matter against The Bloodline. Any side hoping to deal with a faction of that magnitude must account for more than one threat at a time. The presence of Roman Reigns makes that challenge even greater, but WarGames has always been a format in which alliances can become just as vital as individual star power. A team that communicates well and enters with a unified purpose has a chance to neutralize some of the advantages usually enjoyed by a dominant group.
Keys’ promise to “multiply” what The 946 have already done by a hundred should not be interpreted as confirmation of any particular stunt, weapon, finish or match development. Instead, it is a broad warning that the faction sees the double cage as a place to elevate its presentation. WarGames has historically encouraged competitors to raise the intensity of their rivalries, and Keys is signaling that The 946 would approach the match as a major opportunity rather than simply another stop in the program.
WarGames has become synonymous with Survivor Series in WWE’s modern calendar, making it the natural destination whenever multiple factions begin to clash in a sustained way during the fall. The 946 versus The Bloodline is now drawing that type of attention because the dispute has expanded beyond isolated encounters and because Reigns has become part of the story.
Still, the match remains a possibility, not an announced fact. WWE has yet to formally reveal a WarGames contest pitting The 946 against The Bloodline. Until that announcement comes, the most concrete takeaway is that Keys and his group are openly interested in the challenge and eager to use the platform if it is offered.
The potential personnel involved would also be central to the intrigue. WarGames matches are shaped by entries, team composition and the shifting balance of power inside the cage. Reigns’ appearance has made the prospect larger, while Keys’ comments reinforce that The 946 see themselves as fully prepared to meet The Bloodline’s aggression with a disruptive style of their own.
There is also a larger significance for The 946. A WarGames match against The Bloodline would be a high-profile test for a faction still establishing its main-roster legacy. The group’s members have talked about their personal connection, their distinct strengths and their confidence in presenting something different. A major Survivor Series battle would give them a chance to demonstrate all of those qualities under the brightest possible pressure.
At the same time, opposing Reigns and The Bloodline is not merely an opportunity; it is an enormous risk. The Bloodline’s history is built on surviving high-pressure situations and imposing its will on opponents. The 946 would be attempting to prove that its chemistry and unpredictability are enough to challenge an entrenched force with an extensive record of delivering in marquee situations.
Keys’ comments repeatedly returned to identity. He spoke of knowing the people around him before The 946 existed as an official WWE faction. He spoke of bringing pieces of their upbringings and hometown backgrounds into the group. And he described the unit as a mix of different ingredients that opponents will struggle to handle.
That message is especially relevant in a rivalry with The Bloodline. The opposing faction has long presented itself as a group connected by heritage, loyalty and family ties. The 946 are emphasizing a different kind of bond: one based on longstanding personal familiarity and a shared ability to bring distinct traits into the same fight.
Whether that identity ultimately carries The 946 into WarGames remains to be seen. The current direction of the rivalry has encouraged expectations, especially following Roman Reigns’ involvement on RAW, but WWE has not made the matchup official. For now, Keys has delivered a clear public statement of intent.
If The 946 do step inside the WarGames structure against The Bloodline, Keys believes fans should prepare for the group to take everything it has shown so far to a far greater level. It would be a defining opportunity for a faction eager to prove that its shared history, varied skill set and willingness to embrace chaos can stand up to one of WWE’s most formidable forces.
","image_url":"https://smackdownonyou.com/uploads/article-157fc7688606cfa84c00ebe2.webp","featured":false,"published_at":"2026-10-28 19:07:30","updated_at":"2026-10-28 19:07:30","author":{"type":"Person","slug":"darryl-polo","name":"Darryl Polo","url":"https://smackdownonyou.com/authors/darryl-polo","image_url":"https://smackdownonyou.com/assets/authors/darryl-polo-480.webp","short_bio":"Darryl Polo is a passionate wrestling fan covering WWE, AEW, TNA and beyond. He loves great rivalries, breakout stars and the moments that keep fans talking long after the bell.","bio":["Darryl Polo loves the mix of athleticism, larger-than-life personalities and long-running rivalries that makes professional wrestling unlike anything else. A surprise return, a perfectly timed heel turn or a match that gets the whole crowd on its feet—that’s the kind of moment that keeps him coming back.","At SmackDownOnYou, Darryl brings that fan-first perspective to WWE, AEW, TNA and the wider wrestling world. He enjoys digging into the stories behind the spectacle, following rising talent and revisiting the matches and characters that give wrestling its lasting appeal."],"updated_at":"2026-09-05 06:05:12"},"category":{"id":1,"slug":"wwe","name":"WWE"},"sources":[],"gallery":[],"url":"https://smackdownonyou.com/stories/royce-keys-teases-the-946-s-wargames-ambitions-against-the-bloodline"},{"id":2647,"slug":"bishop-kaun-sets-sights-on-bandido-and-roh-world-title-wants-to-build-his-own-dynasty","title":"Bishop Kaun Sets Sights on Bandido and ROH World Title, Wants to Build His Own Dynasty","dek":"The longtime tag and trios standout says a singles pursuit is the next step in defining his Ring of Honor legacy while remaining committed to The Demand.","body_html":"Bishop Kaun is looking to reshape the conversation around his Ring of Honor career.
For much of his time in ROH, Kaun has been identified with successful groups and tag-team competition. His accomplishments as part of six-man competition have been central to that run, and he takes clear pride in what he has achieved alongside his allies. But the next target he has identified is fundamentally different: Bandido and the ROH World Championship.
Kaun has made it clear that he sees the chase for the company’s top singles prize as a chance to establish a legacy that belongs specifically to him. It is not a rejection of the factions and partnerships that helped define his position in Ring of Honor. Instead, Kaun views a world-title pursuit as an overdue opportunity to show what Bishop Kaun can accomplish when the focus is entirely on Bishop Kaun.
That distinction is at the heart of his current ambition. The wrestler has spent the majority of his career working within a team or faction setting, including his associations with STP, The Embassy and, currently, The Demand. Those affiliations have given him a visible identity in ROH, but they have also meant that his biggest accomplishments have often been framed as collective ones.
\nFor more background on this topic, read Stu Grayson Details Painful Barbed Wire Injury That Temporarily Numbed His Finger.
Now, Kaun wants to add a new chapter to that story.
Speaking about why he is pursuing a singles championship in Ring of Honor at this stage, Kaun pointed to the timing of the moment and to the legacy he has already established in group competition.
“I think it’s just time. My legacy in Ring Of Honor has always been the greatest six man champion of all time. It’s awesome to be a tag champion, a trios champion, but I think it’s time to define my own legacy and why not take Bandido’s championship?”
The statement gives a direct indication of how Kaun views his past and his future. He is not dismissing tag-team or trios wrestling as a lesser achievement. In fact, he specifically acknowledged the value of those championships. However, the ROH World Championship carries a different kind of meaning: it would place Kaun at the top of the promotion as an individual competitor.
That is an important shift in a company where world champions are often measured not only by the title itself, but by the ability to carry major matches, rivalries and the larger identity of Ring of Honor. Kaun is not simply saying he wants a belt around his waist. He is arguing that he is ready to take responsibility for a defining role.
His choice of Bandido as the target also makes the objective unmistakable. Bandido is the reigning ROH World Champion, and Kaun is approaching the champion with both competitive urgency and a challenge to the kind of historical standing Bandido is trying to build.
“He’s trying to be one of the greatest ROH world champions of all time? No, no, no, no. Not on my watch.”
Kaun’s comments frame this as more than a routine championship challenge. He sees Bandido’s reign as something that could shape the promotion’s history, and he wants to stop that process before it gains further momentum. In Kaun’s view, taking the championship would not merely make him a first-time world champion; it would interrupt Bandido’s own pursuit of greatness and redirect attention toward Kaun’s rise.
Kaun’s confidence in calling himself the greatest six-man champion of all time reflects how seriously he values that portion of his resume. Six-man and trios championships require a different type of excellence than singles competition. Timing, trust and the ability to function within a coordinated unit are crucial. Kaun has built much of his identity around being a formidable presence in those environments.
Still, singles wrestling presents another challenge entirely. There is no partner to tag in, no teammate to absorb pressure and no shared credit when a match is won. Every decision, every setback and every major victory rests with one wrestler. Kaun wants that responsibility.
His words suggest he feels he has already proven enough as a faction member and champion in multi-person competition. The next question is whether he can bring the same level of force, poise and championship confidence into a one-on-one chase for Ring of Honor’s most prominent prize.
The ROH World Championship has always represented a particularly demanding standard. It is the title attached to a promotion with a deep history of elite singles performers and memorable title reigns. Any competitor pursuing it must be prepared to contend with the expectations that come with that lineage, whether they are facing the champion in the ring or attempting to convince the audience that they belong at that level.
Kaun is leaning into that challenge rather than avoiding it. He wants to define his standing on an individual basis, and he believes defeating Bandido is the clearest path to doing so.
One potential question surrounding Kaun’s singles ambitions is what they mean for The Demand. He has been seen as part of several groups over the course of his ROH career, and faction allegiances can often become a source of tension when an individual member begins seeking a spotlight of his own.
Kaun was careful to make clear that his world-title goal does not mean he is walking away from his current allies.
“Again, I just think it’s my time to step out and showcase who I am as Bishop Kaun. All you ever see is me in STP, The Embassy, The Demand. I do love The Demand, I’m still a member of The Demand, but I think it’s time I create my own lineage and create my own dynasty here at Ring Of Honor.”
That is a significant clarification. Kaun is positioning his pursuit as expansion, not separation. He remains a member of The Demand and says he values the group, while also insisting that he needs room to establish an individual lineage. The balance between those two ideas will be worth watching as his title chase develops.
There is a difference between being recognized as a dependable component of a strong faction and being recognized as the person who can win the biggest singles championship in the company. Kaun appears determined to prove he can be both. He does not want his name detached from his allies, but he also does not want it limited by the perception that he only thrives in a team setting.
His use of the word “dynasty” is especially telling. A dynasty implies sustained achievement, not one isolated win or a brief moment at the top. Kaun is talking about the kind of future in which his individual success becomes a lasting part of ROH’s identity. Winning the title from Bandido would be the most immediate statement possible, but Kaun’s stated goal reaches beyond a single championship match.
For now, the obstacle is clear. Bandido holds the ROH World Championship, and Kaun has placed him squarely in his sights. The challenger’s message is rooted in both respect for the title’s significance and a belief that the champion’s place at the top should be temporary.
Kaun is not presenting himself as someone asking for an opportunity simply because he has been around the division. He is presenting himself as a wrestler who has reached the point where he must pursue the largest available goal. After years of being associated with teams, factions and six-man success, he wants the chance to demonstrate that his ceiling is higher.
That makes the Bandido rivalry, or potential championship confrontation, a natural test of Kaun’s stated evolution. A victory would validate his claim that he is ready to create a personal lineage in Ring of Honor. A loss would not erase his previous accomplishments, but it would leave the central question unanswered: can Bishop Kaun translate his group success into world-title success?
Kaun’s answer is already evident. He believes this is his time, he believes Bandido is holding the championship he wants, and he believes that a new era of his ROH career should be built around an individual legacy.
Whether that ambition leads directly to the ROH World Championship remains to be seen. What is certain is that Kaun has stated his purpose with no ambiguity. He is still part of The Demand. He still values the championships and accomplishments earned in tag and trios competition. But he is no longer content to let that be the complete definition of his career.
Bishop Kaun wants his own dynasty, and Bandido’s ROH World Championship is the prize at the center of that vision.
","image_url":"https://smackdownonyou.com/uploads/article-5712c8341d01bb410b5a055e.webp","featured":false,"published_at":"2026-10-28 19:07:00","updated_at":"2026-10-28 19:07:00","author":{"type":"Person","slug":"darryl-polo","name":"Darryl Polo","url":"https://smackdownonyou.com/authors/darryl-polo","image_url":"https://smackdownonyou.com/assets/authors/darryl-polo-480.webp","short_bio":"Darryl Polo is a passionate wrestling fan covering WWE, AEW, TNA and beyond. He loves great rivalries, breakout stars and the moments that keep fans talking long after the bell.","bio":["Darryl Polo loves the mix of athleticism, larger-than-life personalities and long-running rivalries that makes professional wrestling unlike anything else. A surprise return, a perfectly timed heel turn or a match that gets the whole crowd on its feet—that’s the kind of moment that keeps him coming back.","At SmackDownOnYou, Darryl brings that fan-first perspective to WWE, AEW, TNA and the wider wrestling world. He enjoys digging into the stories behind the spectacle, following rising talent and revisiting the matches and characters that give wrestling its lasting appeal."],"updated_at":"2026-09-05 06:05:12"},"category":{"id":7,"slug":"roh","name":"ROH"},"sources":[],"gallery":[],"url":"https://smackdownonyou.com/stories/bishop-kaun-sets-sights-on-bandido-and-roh-world-title-wants-to-build-his-own-dynasty"},{"id":2646,"slug":"royce-keys-calls-wwe-2k26-inclusion-a-great-accomplishment-ahead-of-season-6-release","title":"Royce Keys Calls WWE 2K26 Inclusion a ‘Great Accomplishment’ Ahead of Season 6 Release","dek":"Royce Keys will become playable through WWE 2K26’s Season 6 Ringside Pass, ending years of having to build a custom version of himself in WWE games.","body_html":"For many professional wrestlers, appearing in a WWE video game is a milestone that carries a different kind of meaning than a television appearance or a match card listing. It places their name alongside the stars and legends they grew up watching, while also making them available to fans in a format that can be played, customized, and revisited for years. Royce Keys is now set to have that experience firsthand as part of WWE 2K26.
\n\nKeys will be added to the game’s playable lineup through the Season 6 Ringside Pass. The content drop will also add Earthquake, Typhoon, and Octagon Jr. to WWE 2K26, giving players a mix of contemporary and legacy talent to use across the game’s modes. For Keys, though, the addition has a particularly personal significance. He has spent much of his life playing WWE games and creating his own wrestler within them. Now, he will no longer need to make a digital approximation of himself.
\n\nSpeaking about the achievement, Keys called the opportunity a major moment in his career and reflected on the unusual full-circle nature of it.
\n\n\n\n“It’s a great accomplishment because I think I’ve played almost every WWE video game, and I’ve always created myself,” Keys said. “And now I don’t have to do all the hard work of finding all the right moves, but it’s definitely a very high accomplishment for me.”
\nFor more background on this topic, read Danhausen’s Halloween Special Brings Papa Shango And The Boogeyman In To ‘Fix’ Matt Cardona.
The quote captures why video game representation can matter so much to a wrestler. A create-a-wrestler is often a personal project for fans: selecting gear, building an entrance, choosing finishing moves, adjusting ratings, and attempting to recreate the look and rhythm of a favorite performer. For an aspiring wrestler, it can be even more aspirational. Before they have reached the point of being digitally scanned or officially licensed, they can still picture themselves standing across the ring from WWE’s biggest names.
\n\nKeys had been doing exactly that over the course of numerous WWE game generations. His WWE 2K26 inclusion means that players will receive an official in-game version rather than needing to construct one from scratch. That distinction goes beyond convenience. An official model represents recognition from WWE and the game franchise, with the performer’s identity translated into the presentation, move set, and virtual roster of a major annual sports-entertainment release.
\n\nWhile Keys humorously emphasized that he is happy to avoid the work of locating “all the right moves,” the larger point is clear: the custom character he once made as a player has been replaced by an authorized version of Royce Keys. It is the kind of professional marker that can make a long-running childhood hobby feel directly connected to a wrestler’s present-day career.
\n\nKeys’ enthusiasm is not limited to one era of WWE gaming. He described himself as someone who has played the current titles with his children, while also maintaining an appreciation for several of the most influential wrestling games of earlier generations.
\n\n\n\n“I got kids, so I play all the current stuff,” Keys said. “In the past, I think one of my favorite ones that I was obsessed with as a kid was the Royal Rumble for Super Nintendo. And then another one was No Mercy. Then I got into the SmackDown vs. Raw games and the 2K. I even got some emulated games, the old WrestleFest game. I love them all.”
That list offers a broad snapshot of wrestling gaming history. Royal Rumble on Super Nintendo was part of the early-1990s period when licensed WWE games brought the company’s colorful roster and major event concepts into living rooms. WWF No Mercy, meanwhile, remains one of the most celebrated wrestling games ever made and is widely remembered for its gameplay depth, match options, and enduring replay value.
\n\nKeys also cited the SmackDown vs. Raw series, which helped define WWE gaming for a later generation before the modern WWE 2K line became the franchise’s primary home. His mention of WrestleFest reaches back even further, reflecting affection for an arcade-era classic that has retained a strong following through retro gaming and emulation.
\n\nThe range of titles Keys named illustrates how wrestling video games have changed while maintaining their appeal. Different eras have prioritized different elements, whether that meant arcade action, simulation mechanics, season storytelling, extensive creation suites, or online competition. Yet the core draw has remained consistent: fans can take control of wrestling’s characters and create matchups that may not happen anywhere else.
\n\nRoyce Keys joins WWE 2K26 through Season 6 alongside three names who each bring a distinct presence to the roster. Earthquake and Typhoon represent one of WWE’s most recognizable powerhouse combinations from their era, while Octagon Jr. adds another identity to the game’s playable selection. The seasonal release gives WWE 2K26 players more options for exhibition matches, Universe-style booking, faction possibilities, and custom-created scenarios.
\n\nFor longtime players, downloadable and seasonal additions are often an important part of a wrestling game’s lifespan. They can refresh the roster after launch and open new possibilities for fans who enjoy setting up fantasy cards. A player who wants to book classic heavyweights against contemporary talent, revive a historic tag team dynamic, or build an entirely original universe benefits from having a deeper pool of available wrestlers.
\n\nKeys’ arrival adds another layer to that process. Players who may already know his work will have the opportunity to use him without relying on community creations or their own edits. Those discovering him through WWE 2K26 will also be able to encounter him in a setting that has become a meaningful point of entry for wrestling fans, especially younger viewers whose first connection to a performer may come through a controller rather than a live broadcast.
\n\nWWE’s video game series has long been a showcase of company history as well as its current roster. Legends, active stars, returning names, managers, alternate versions, and special additions all help turn each release into a playable representation of WWE’s world at a specific time. Being included can therefore serve as a durable part of a wrestler’s professional résumé.
\n\nFor Keys, that achievement is made more meaningful by his personal relationship with the games. He is not discussing WWE 2K26 as someone approaching the franchise from a distance. He remembers being absorbed by Royal Rumble, spending time with No Mercy, moving through the SmackDown vs. Raw years, and continuing to play the modern 2K titles. He also still shares current wrestling games with his children.
\n\nThat progression gives the WWE 2K26 addition an intergenerational element. A fan who once created himself in wrestling games is now part of the official roster in a game he can play with his own family. It is a simple detail, but one that underlines the appeal of the moment. The game is no longer solely a place for Keys to imagine where his career could go. It has become one more place where his career is represented.
\n\nThere is also a practical upside to being included. In modern wrestling games, official presentation can introduce performers to a broad audience. Players experiment with unfamiliar wrestlers, test their entrances and move sets, and place them into matches against established names. In a franchise built around customization, that exposure can keep a performer’s name in circulation well beyond the initial release of the content.
\n\nThe most memorable part of Keys’ reaction remains the contrast between his past and present. For years, he handled the job himself, trying to locate the correct moves and construct the right version of Royce Keys through a game’s creation tools. With the Season 6 Ringside Pass, that era is over.
\n\nInstead, Royce Keys will be an official playable WWE 2K26 character. It is a milestone built on years of fandom, gaming, and professional progress, and Keys clearly sees it for what it is: a high-level accomplishment. His journey from making himself in the game to appearing in it officially is the sort of full-circle moment that WWE video games can uniquely provide.
\n\nWhen Season 6 arrives, players will be able to add Keys, Earthquake, Typhoon, and Octagon Jr. to their WWE 2K26 experience. For Keys, however, the most satisfying feature may be the one he no longer needs to use: create-a-wrestler.
","image_url":"https://smackdownonyou.com/uploads/article-3c67d9456f5962199e83b020.webp","featured":false,"published_at":"2026-10-28 19:06:29","updated_at":"2026-10-28 19:06:29","author":{"type":"Person","slug":"darryl-polo","name":"Darryl Polo","url":"https://smackdownonyou.com/authors/darryl-polo","image_url":"https://smackdownonyou.com/assets/authors/darryl-polo-480.webp","short_bio":"Darryl Polo is a passionate wrestling fan covering WWE, AEW, TNA and beyond. He loves great rivalries, breakout stars and the moments that keep fans talking long after the bell.","bio":["Darryl Polo loves the mix of athleticism, larger-than-life personalities and long-running rivalries that makes professional wrestling unlike anything else. A surprise return, a perfectly timed heel turn or a match that gets the whole crowd on its feet—that’s the kind of moment that keeps him coming back.","At SmackDownOnYou, Darryl brings that fan-first perspective to WWE, AEW, TNA and the wider wrestling world. He enjoys digging into the stories behind the spectacle, following rising talent and revisiting the matches and characters that give wrestling its lasting appeal."],"updated_at":"2026-09-05 06:05:12"},"category":{"id":1,"slug":"wwe","name":"WWE"},"sources":[],"gallery":[],"url":"https://smackdownonyou.com/stories/royce-keys-calls-wwe-2k26-inclusion-a-great-accomplishment-ahead-of-season-6-release"},{"id":2645,"slug":"stu-grayson-details-painful-barbed-wire-injury-that-temporarily-numbed-his-finger","title":"Stu Grayson Details Painful Barbed Wire Injury That Temporarily Numbed His Finger","dek":"The Dark Order member says a barbed wire spot during a Ring of Honor match against The Righteous led to a severed nerve and weeks without normal use of one finger.","body_html":"Barbed wire has long occupied a particular place in professional wrestling: it is visually immediate, inherently dangerous and capable of making even a brief moment in a match feel severe. For Stu Grayson, however, one of his most painful experiences with the weapon was not necessarily a spot the audience could clearly identify in real time.
Grayson has recalled suffering a nerve injury to his finger during a Ring of Honor bout that pitted himself and The Righteous against Dark Order. The incident occurred while he was preparing a barbed-wire-assisted knee strike for John Silver, a sequence that was designed to heighten the intensity of the match. Instead, a moment of positioning with the wire produced an injury that left Grayson without normal feeling and use in the finger for roughly a month.
The veteran wrestler discussed the incident during an appearance on In The Weeds, explaining that it remains among the worst injuries he has dealt with despite being almost invisible to everyone watching the match.
“The only time I’ve ever cut my hand really well was actually in Ring of Honor,” Grayson said. “We did myself and The Righteous versus Dark Order. At some point in the match, I’m wrapping my knee with barbed wire. So then I’m going to knee strike John Silver in the face.”
\nFor more background on this topic, read Paul Walter Hauser Says a High-Level Wrestling Star Took Shots at Him Behind His Back.
In Grayson’s recollection, the problem came as he was wrapping the wire around his leg. He said he stepped on the barbed wire as he pulled it into place, causing it to drive deeply into his finger. What might have appeared to be a simple cut instead affected a nerve.
“The barbed wire went inside my finger so far that it actually cut the nerve,” Grayson explained.
That diagnosis had an immediate impact beyond the ring. Grayson said he lost the use of the finger for around a month, an unsettling outcome for an injury that spectators and even others participating in the bout did not recognize at the time. He noted that doctors advised him that the nerve had not been completely severed and that its function was expected to return with time.
That recovery ultimately took approximately one to two months. Grayson said the feeling eventually returned to his fingers, offering a positive conclusion to what had initially been a painful and uncertain stretch.
The incident speaks to the unusual nature of wrestling injuries. Major injuries can sometimes be apparent immediately, whether through a match stoppage, a visible limp or a performer being unable to continue. But other issues develop in moments that do not receive attention from the crowd, cameras or even fellow wrestlers. A hand injury sustained while setting up a weapon spot can be every bit as disruptive to the person experiencing it, regardless of whether it becomes a memorable visual for the audience.
Barbed wire spots require performers to balance presentation with safety while working around a material that cannot be entirely controlled. The intended effect in Grayson’s case was clear: wrap the wire around the knee and deliver a dramatic strike to Silver. Yet the danger emerged before that strike, while Grayson was getting the wire into position.
His story also illustrates how quickly a wrestler can be hurt through an awkward shift of weight or a small miscalculation. Stepping on the wire while pulling it meant that the tension and movement worked against him. The result was not a moment built for the match’s audience, but an injury with lingering consequences.
Grayson described the pain as intense, even if the injury itself did not have the kind of spectacle that is commonly associated with barbed wire in wrestling. He also addressed the strange disconnect that can come with an injury no one else sees. There was no obvious visual for fans to react to and no major spot for him to point toward afterward. In his own words, it was difficult to “brag” about because the cause felt so mundane.
“It’s like one of the worst injuries I’ve had, and it’s nothing, really,” Grayson said. “But it’s the kind of thing that no one in the ring even knew about. So the fans can’t even say, ‘Oh, my God, he almost cut off his finger.’ Like, you don’t even see it. But it was so painful.”
That perspective is revealing. Wrestling’s physical toll is often measured through the most obvious moments: crashes through tables, violent strikes, blood, high-risk landings and matches that visibly spiral into chaos. But Grayson’s experience was a reminder that the work also includes injuries that do not make a highlight reel. Those can still affect a performer’s mobility, comfort and ability to train or compete while healing.
The match in question brought together Grayson and The Righteous against his Dark Order counterparts. The setting added another layer to the recollection, given Grayson’s history with Dark Order and the personal familiarity among the wrestlers involved. Silver was the intended recipient of the knee strike when the barbed wire mishap occurred, though Grayson’s injury happened during the preparation rather than on contact.
Grayson’s account does not suggest that anyone else in the ring was aware of the extent of the injury in that moment. That is often part of the challenge for wrestlers dealing with an unexpected physical issue during a match. They must make rapid decisions about whether they can continue, how to protect the injured area and whether the situation needs to be communicated without disrupting the flow of the bout.
In this case, the nerve damage was not fully understood by observers in the arena. Grayson was able to look back on it later, after the recovery process had run its course and sensation had returned. The fact that the finger recovered is the key positive outcome, particularly after he initially lost its use.
His comments do not frame the story as a complaint about the use of barbed wire or as an attempt to elevate the injury into something larger than it was. If anything, Grayson presented it with a degree of self-deprecating humor. He called it “dumb” precisely because it was painful and consequential without being something the crowd could appreciate as a dramatic accident.
There is a practical reality to that kind of story. Fans generally experience a wrestling match through what the camera catches and what the performers are able to communicate through their reactions. An injury to a finger during a setup can be hidden by the speed of the sequence, the placement of bodies in the ring and the broader chaos surrounding a weapon-filled match.
Grayson’s injury therefore did not become a defining visual of the contest. It did not prompt the kind of immediate response that accompanies a clearly visible laceration or a shocking fall. But for the wrestler, it had real consequences: weeks of impaired function and a recovery period that required patience while the nerve healed.
His experience also underscores why some of the most significant physical struggles in wrestling become known only after the fact. Wrestlers are trained to maintain the performance, and the audience’s attention is usually directed toward the planned action. An unexpected injury can be absorbed into that action, especially when it does not visibly alter the match.
For Grayson, the barbed wire incident has become a memorable example of that reality. It was a painful accident during a Ring of Honor match, one that temporarily affected his finger and left him waiting for sensation to return. It was also an injury that escaped the notice of fans and, by his account, the other people in the ring.
Elsewhere in the same conversation, Grayson also discussed his recent match with Josh Alexander. But the barbed wire story stands out as a sharp reminder of wrestling’s less visible hazards: sometimes the injuries that hurt the most are not the ones the audience ever gets to see.
","image_url":"https://smackdownonyou.com/uploads/article-a45a82234a2b426a8e9d617c.webp","featured":false,"published_at":"2026-10-28 19:05:55","updated_at":"2026-10-28 19:05:55","author":{"type":"Person","slug":"darryl-polo","name":"Darryl Polo","url":"https://smackdownonyou.com/authors/darryl-polo","image_url":"https://smackdownonyou.com/assets/authors/darryl-polo-480.webp","short_bio":"Darryl Polo is a passionate wrestling fan covering WWE, AEW, TNA and beyond. He loves great rivalries, breakout stars and the moments that keep fans talking long after the bell.","bio":["Darryl Polo loves the mix of athleticism, larger-than-life personalities and long-running rivalries that makes professional wrestling unlike anything else. A surprise return, a perfectly timed heel turn or a match that gets the whole crowd on its feet—that’s the kind of moment that keeps him coming back.","At SmackDownOnYou, Darryl brings that fan-first perspective to WWE, AEW, TNA and the wider wrestling world. He enjoys digging into the stories behind the spectacle, following rising talent and revisiting the matches and characters that give wrestling its lasting appeal."],"updated_at":"2026-09-05 06:05:12"},"category":{"id":7,"slug":"roh","name":"ROH"},"sources":[],"gallery":[],"url":"https://smackdownonyou.com/stories/stu-grayson-details-painful-barbed-wire-injury-that-temporarily-numbed-his-finger"},{"id":2644,"slug":"danhausen-s-halloween-special-brings-papa-shango-and-the-boogeyman-in-to-fix-matt-cardona","title":"Danhausen’s Halloween Special Brings Papa Shango And The Boogeyman In To ‘Fix’ Matt Cardona","dek":"With Matt Cardona sidelined by a triceps tear, Danhausen recruited two memorably macabre WWE figures for an offbeat Halloween procedure involving worms, a replacement arm, and Chelsea Green’s reluctant exit.","body_html":"Danhausen leaned fully into the Halloween spirit on Tuesday night, bringing Papa Shango and The Boogeyman into his special for a supernatural attempt to repair Matt Cardona.
The segment paired three performers associated with some of wrestling’s strangest and most macabre imagery, while also making light of Cardona’s current absence from action. Cardona is sidelined after suffering a triceps tear, and Danhausen’s unconventional answer to the problem was not rest, rehabilitation, or medical expertise. Instead, he called in reinforcements from the darker side of WWE history.
Papa Shango and The Boogeyman appeared during the Halloween special as Danhausen’s guests. The trio’s plan was presented in the appropriately absurd fashion that the setting demanded: they would remove Cardona’s non-working arm and replace it with a new one.
\nView the referenced post on X
It was a deliberately over-the-top bit of seasonal wrestling entertainment, with the presence of The Boogeyman also ensuring that worms became part of the occasion. For a Halloween-themed presentation, the combination of Danhausen, Papa Shango, The Boogeyman, Cardona, and Chelsea Green offered a collection of personalities well suited to a segment that was never intended to resemble a conventional doctor’s visit.
\nFor more background on this topic, read Vince Russo’s Reported WWE Conversations With Nick Khan Appear To Be Over.
The key reality behind the comedy is that Cardona remains out while dealing with a triceps tear. Injuries often become part of wrestling storylines or promotional content, particularly when performers look for ways to remain visible while they cannot compete. Here, the injury was not treated with seriousness inside the sketch. It was used as the starting point for a bizarre solution involving a fictional arm replacement.
Danhausen has long built his presentation around a mix of horror aesthetics, eccentric comedy, curses, and intentionally unusual ideas. A Halloween special naturally gives that approach more room to operate. Rather than simply acknowledge Cardona’s injury in passing, the segment made it the central problem that Danhausen and his guests were determined to solve.
The premise also allowed Cardona to be involved while he is not wrestling. That matters for any performer recovering from an injury. A wrestling appearance does not always need to lead immediately to a match, and character-driven material can help keep an injured talent connected to fans without putting them in a position to compete before they are ready.
There was no indication in the special that the outlandish procedure was anything other than a Halloween gag. The “new arm” idea was part of the comedy, not a genuine update on Cardona’s condition or timetable. The relevant real-world detail remains that Cardona is currently sidelined due to the triceps tear.
Papa Shango and The Boogeyman are two WWE characters whose identities have been closely associated with horror-leaning spectacle. Their inclusion gave Danhausen’s special a fitting visual and tonal connection to the Halloween season.
Papa Shango’s presence brought a character known for a sinister, mystical presentation into Danhausen’s world. The Boogeyman, meanwhile, remains especially recognizable for the unsettling worm-eating element that has long been attached to his persona. In this setting, that signature aspect of The Boogeyman’s act was not ignored. The special incorporated worm-eating adventures as part of the strange proceedings surrounding Cardona.
The appearances worked because the concept did not ask either guest to be something different from what fans would expect. Halloween programming benefits from recognizable imagery, and both men brought instantly identifiable elements of their wrestling personas to a segment built around theatrical weirdness.
Danhausen was also an effective bridge between the guests and the modern context surrounding Cardona. The idea of a cursed or supernatural “fix” is directly compatible with his established style, while the injury gave the group a clear comic objective. They were not simply assembled for a cameo. They had a mission, however questionable their methods may have been.
Cardona’s wife, Chelsea Green, was also part of the scene. As Danhausen, Papa Shango, and The Boogeyman prepared to deal with Cardona’s injured arm, Green left them to their business.
That decision added another layer to the joke. The plan being proposed was so unusual that it did not invite a lengthy practical discussion. Green’s departure left Cardona in the hands of three figures whose collective qualifications were clearly geared more toward Halloween spectacle than conventional medical care.
The moment also reinforced the intentionally exaggerated nature of the segment. Wrestling’s Halloween material often works best when performers commit to a premise rather than attempt to make every detail realistic. In this case, Green’s exit allowed Danhausen and his guests to take the absurdity as far as the bit required.
For Cardona, the sketch created a role that did not depend on physical competition. His injury is real, but the special found a way to turn the limitation into part of the entertainment. That is a familiar strength of wrestling as a medium: performers can continue telling stories through reactions, personality, and situational comedy even when the ring is temporarily unavailable to them.
Halloween has always been a natural setting for wrestling’s more theatrical characters. The genre is built on heightened personalities and dramatic visuals, making it especially adaptable to ghosts, monsters, curses, rituals, and other deliberately implausible scenarios. Danhausen’s special drew from that tradition without trying to present the material as anything other than a playful seasonal attraction.
The segment’s appeal came from contrast as much as anything else. Cardona’s triceps tear is a legitimate obstacle that has taken him out of action. Danhausen’s proposed solution was completely detached from normal recovery methods. Bringing in Papa Shango and The Boogeyman made that contrast even sharper, transforming a real injury issue into a cartoonishly spooky medical emergency.
It also gave the special a clear progression. Cardona had a non-working arm. Danhausen found collaborators. Those collaborators included performers whose reputations make them logical choices only in the world of Halloween wrestling entertainment. The solution was to cut off the arm and replace it. Green stepped away, leaving the group to proceed with their alarming plan.
Nothing about the scenario was meant to offer a conventional injury report. Instead, it used Cardona’s absence as the framework for an entertaining piece of character work. The involvement of Papa Shango and The Boogeyman ensured that the Halloween concept had genuine wrestling personality behind it rather than functioning as a generic costume-party segment.
The Halloween appearance does not establish a return date for Cardona, nor does it provide further medical specifics beyond the triceps tear that has sidelined him. Fans looking for a concrete update on when he will resume wrestling will need to wait for one to be announced.
What the special does show is that Cardona’s injury has not removed him entirely from the conversation. His participation in a Halloween sketch alongside Danhausen, Green, Papa Shango, and The Boogeyman kept his personality at the center of a memorable seasonal moment. The fact that the premise revolved around “fixing” him made his status impossible to miss, even as the group approached it through comedy.
For Danhausen, the special was a chance to assemble an unusually fitting cast for Halloween. For Papa Shango and The Boogeyman, it was an opportunity to bring their distinctive spooky identities into a new setting. For Green, it supplied a sharp reaction to the madness unfolding around her. And for Cardona, it turned a difficult real-life setback into the basis for an entertaining, bizarre, and very Halloween-appropriate scene.
In the end, the attempted arm replacement was less about providing answers and more about delivering the kind of strange spectacle that the season invites. With worms, supernatural wrestling personalities, and an injured Cardona placed in Danhausen’s care, the Halloween special embraced its premise completely.
","image_url":"https://smackdownonyou.com/uploads/article-605bd55c8a0df87ac49c73bb.webp","featured":false,"published_at":"2026-10-28 19:05:28","updated_at":"2026-10-28 19:05:28","author":{"type":"Person","slug":"darryl-polo","name":"Darryl Polo","url":"https://smackdownonyou.com/authors/darryl-polo","image_url":"https://smackdownonyou.com/assets/authors/darryl-polo-480.webp","short_bio":"Darryl Polo is a passionate wrestling fan covering WWE, AEW, TNA and beyond. He loves great rivalries, breakout stars and the moments that keep fans talking long after the bell.","bio":["Darryl Polo loves the mix of athleticism, larger-than-life personalities and long-running rivalries that makes professional wrestling unlike anything else. A surprise return, a perfectly timed heel turn or a match that gets the whole crowd on its feet—that’s the kind of moment that keeps him coming back.","At SmackDownOnYou, Darryl brings that fan-first perspective to WWE, AEW, TNA and the wider wrestling world. He enjoys digging into the stories behind the spectacle, following rising talent and revisiting the matches and characters that give wrestling its lasting appeal."],"updated_at":"2026-09-05 06:05:12"},"category":{"id":1,"slug":"wwe","name":"WWE"},"sources":[],"gallery":[],"url":"https://smackdownonyou.com/stories/danhausen-s-halloween-special-brings-papa-shango-and-the-boogeyman-in-to-fix-matt-cardona"},{"id":2643,"slug":"orange-cassidy-recalls-building-backyard-ring-after-first-live-wrestling-show","title":"Orange Cassidy Recalls Building Backyard Ring After First Live Wrestling Show","dek":"The AEW original says seeing professional wrestling in person turned a television interest into a lasting commitment, beginning with a ring assembled from scraps of wood and neighborhood opponents.","body_html":"Orange Cassidy’s route into professional wrestling began with an idea that was both simple and remarkably ambitious: after deciding he wanted to try it, he built a ring in his backyard.
The longtime AEW standout reflected on his earliest connection to wrestling during an interview with Show Me St. Louis, explaining that his interest was initially sparked by watching the sport on television. That curiosity became something much more serious after he attended a live event for the first time.
“I saw wrestling on TV, and I was like, wow, that’s cool. I think I can do that,” Cassidy said. “Built a ring in my backyard, and now I’m still doing it. All this time, so. Yeah, it was one of those things. I went to a show in person, and after that, I was hooked.”
For Cassidy, the leap from being a viewer to wanting to participate did not start in a formal training environment. It began at home, with a makeshift ring and a willingness to learn by getting in it with anyone in the neighborhood who was interested.
\nFor more background on this topic, read Sammy Guevara Says He Has Learned ‘Roranese’ to Understand The Beast Mortos.
“My neighborhood friends and, whoever wanted to fight me in a ring built by scraps of wood,” Cassidy said when asked who he wrestled in the backyard.
That early DIY approach provides an interesting contrast to the position Cassidy occupies in modern wrestling. He has been active in professional wrestling for more than 22 years and has been a consistent presence in All Elite Wrestling since the company launched in 2019. Over that time, he has become one of the promotion’s most recognizable performers.
Cassidy’s presentation has always stood apart. His deliberately low-energy demeanor, hands-in-pockets mannerisms and “sloth style” have made him unlike almost anyone else on a major wrestling program. The character can appear detached from the moment around him, yet that relaxed exterior has long been central to the reaction he receives from audiences.
His comments about building a backyard ring also underline the straightforward enthusiasm behind that persona. Before becoming known for a uniquely unhurried style, Cassidy was a fan who saw something he wanted to do and found a way to start doing it. The materials may have been scraps of wood, and the opposition may have been neighborhood friends, but the motivation was the same one that has launched many wrestling careers: seeing the spectacle up close and deciding it was worth pursuing.
Live wrestling has often created that kind of turning point for performers. Television can introduce the concept and create an initial fascination, but the atmosphere of an in-person show can make the scale, physicality and connection with the crowd feel immediate. Cassidy’s recollection makes clear that this was the moment that changed his interest from a passing thought into a personal goal.
The appeal of Cassidy’s story is in how direct it is. He did not describe a long period of uncertainty after first seeing wrestling. He watched it, thought he could try it, attended a show, and then acted on the feeling that experience created. The backyard ring became the practical expression of that decision.
It is also a reminder that professional wrestling has always encouraged imagination as much as athletic ambition. Fans frequently recreate the atmosphere of the sport in whatever space is available to them, whether that means practicing promos, staging matches with friends or assembling a place to train. Cassidy’s version went considerably further than most. He and his friends had a ring, however roughly constructed, and he was able to begin testing himself inside it.
Of course, Cassidy’s account does not romanticize the setup as some polished facility. He specifically described it as a ring built from scraps of wood. That detail is central to the story. The point was not that the setting resembled a major arena; it was that it gave him an opportunity to participate.
There is a fitting connection between that resourcefulness and the identity Cassidy later developed as a wrestler. His work has succeeded by defying familiar expectations. Rather than trying to fit neatly into a conventional mold, he has made an unconventional approach work on a major stage. The path began with an unconventional starting point as well: a backyard structure and a group of friends willing to get involved.
Cassidy noted that he is still wrestling all these years after that first decision. With more than 22 years of experience, the backyard ring is now part of a much longer career story. The duration matters because it emphasizes that what began as excitement after a live event was not fleeting. It developed into a lasting commitment to the profession.
Since AEW’s inception in 2019, Cassidy has been one of the promotion’s staples. His presence has helped establish him as a familiar face to viewers, while his distinctive style has ensured that he remains immediately identifiable even in a roster filled with contrasting personalities and in-ring approaches.
That longevity gives added weight to the simplicity of his explanation. Cassidy did not frame his beginning around a grand plan or a complicated origin story. He saw wrestling, liked it, believed he could try it and got started. The years that followed transformed that impulse into a career that has lasted more than two decades.
His answer also reflects the physical, communal side of how wrestling interest can develop. The backyard ring was not something he used alone. He recalled working with neighborhood friends and anyone else who wanted to face him. Even at that early stage, there was an element of performance and participation: wrestling requires opponents, and it requires people willing to share the experience.
While Cassidy first encountered wrestling on television, he identified attending a live show as the key event in becoming “hooked.” That distinction is notable. Watching on a screen made wrestling seem exciting; seeing it in person made it feel possible.
For a performer whose career has now included more than 22 years in the industry, that first live show occupies an important place in the timeline. It was the experience that pushed him beyond admiration and into action. The backyard ring followed because the idea had become real enough that he wanted to attempt it himself.
Cassidy’s comments offer a concise look at the beginning of a career that has taken him from improvised wrestling with friends to a central role in AEW programming. They also provide a glimpse behind a character that often communicates with minimal effort and even fewer words. The man behind the sunglasses and slow-motion gestures was once simply a prospective wrestler excited enough to build a ring out of whatever wood he could find.
That original enthusiasm remains the clearest takeaway from his story. Cassidy’s early setup was modest, but the decision behind it was significant. One live wrestling show convinced him to give the sport a shot, and more than two decades later, he is still doing it.
","image_url":"https://smackdownonyou.com/uploads/article-36ff4f218b4bbc5b57ae9962.webp","featured":false,"published_at":"2026-10-28 19:04:58","updated_at":"2026-10-28 19:04:58","author":{"type":"Person","slug":"darryl-polo","name":"Darryl Polo","url":"https://smackdownonyou.com/authors/darryl-polo","image_url":"https://smackdownonyou.com/assets/authors/darryl-polo-480.webp","short_bio":"Darryl Polo is a passionate wrestling fan covering WWE, AEW, TNA and beyond. He loves great rivalries, breakout stars and the moments that keep fans talking long after the bell.","bio":["Darryl Polo loves the mix of athleticism, larger-than-life personalities and long-running rivalries that makes professional wrestling unlike anything else. A surprise return, a perfectly timed heel turn or a match that gets the whole crowd on its feet—that’s the kind of moment that keeps him coming back.","At SmackDownOnYou, Darryl brings that fan-first perspective to WWE, AEW, TNA and the wider wrestling world. He enjoys digging into the stories behind the spectacle, following rising talent and revisiting the matches and characters that give wrestling its lasting appeal."],"updated_at":"2026-09-05 06:05:12"},"category":{"id":2,"slug":"aew","name":"AEW"},"sources":[],"gallery":[],"url":"https://smackdownonyou.com/stories/orange-cassidy-recalls-building-backyard-ring-after-first-live-wrestling-show"},{"id":2642,"slug":"ric-flair-says-another-surgery-and-possible-skin-graft-remain-after-recent-hospitalization","title":"Ric Flair Says Another Surgery and Possible Skin Graft Remain After Recent Hospitalization","dek":"The wrestling icon has provided a new health update after a reported fall in Florida left him with cuts to his head and eye.","body_html":"Ric Flair has shared another update on his health, saying that he expects to undergo an additional surgery and may also require a skin graft before he can move forward from the injuries sustained in a recent fall.
On Wednesday, Flair posted a brief but upbeat message while acknowledging the medical team involved in his treatment. “One More Surgery And One More Possible Skin Graft, And Then I Will Be Good To Go!” Flair wrote. He also thanked USF Health Eye Institute in the post.
The update follows a difficult stretch for the WWE Hall of Famer, who had previously disclosed that he was dealing with a blood clot in his leg. On Friday, Flair made that health issue public in a social-media post. Shortly afterward, TMZ reported that Flair suffered a fall outside the Wagamama restaurant in Florida.
\nView the referenced post on X
Flair was taken to a hospital following the incident. He suffered cuts to his head and eye, though he has since been released. In a subsequent post, Flair shared a photo of himself wearing a bandage over his eye and thanked fans for their concern.
\nFor more background on this topic, read Místico Announced for MLW Saturday Night SuperFight in Chicago.
While the latest update confirms that Flair is not entirely finished with medical treatment, his wording offered an optimistic view of the road ahead. He characterized the upcoming procedure and the possibility of a graft as the remaining steps before he expects to be “good to go.”
No date for the surgery was included in Flair’s message. There was also no further detail provided regarding the nature of the procedure, whether the possible skin graft will be necessary, or how long his recovery could take after treatment. Those questions remain unanswered, and Flair has not announced any public appearance plans in connection with the update.
The mention of USF Health Eye Institute is significant in light of the injuries described after the fall. Flair had cuts involving both his head and eye, and the image he later posted showed a bandage over his eye. However, no specific diagnosis relating to his eye has been publicly detailed in the information Flair has shared.
For now, the clearest message from Flair is that he remains under care, has further treatment ahead, and is approaching that process with confidence. His public thanks to the medical staff and to concerned supporters also indicated that he has remained engaged with fans while dealing with a serious and personal health matter.
The sequence of events began with Flair revealing on Friday that he had a blood clot in his leg. That disclosure alone was cause for concern, particularly because Flair did not provide additional details about when the clot was discovered, what treatment he was receiving, or whether it had affected any planned travel or activities.
Not long after that post, the reported fall outside the Florida restaurant added another issue to the situation. The fall resulted in cuts to Flair’s head and eye and led to a hospital visit. Flair was later released, allowing him to reassure followers directly through the photo showing his bandage.
It is not clear from the available updates whether the blood clot and the fall are connected in any way. No such connection has been stated. It is likewise unclear whether the surgery referenced in Flair’s Wednesday message is connected solely to the cuts from the fall, to the eye injury, or to another aspect of his current medical care.
That uncertainty makes Flair’s own wording especially important. Rather than offering a detailed medical explanation, he has communicated the essentials: more treatment is needed, a skin graft remains possible, and he believes he will be in good shape once those final steps are completed.
Health updates involving Flair inevitably resonate throughout professional wrestling. Few names in the history of the industry carry the same level of recognition. Flair’s career made him one of wrestling’s most enduring figures, and his connection with multiple generations of fans means even a short message from him can quickly become a major topic of conversation.
That attention was evident after Flair posted about the blood clot and then shared the image from after his hospital release. Fans were given visible confirmation that he had suffered injuries around his eye, while his message of thanks addressed the concern that followed the news of the fall.
Flair’s latest post has now shifted the focus from the immediate aftermath of the accident to the remaining medical work. The prospect of another surgery and a potential skin graft means his recovery is still ongoing, even as his message projected confidence about the eventual outcome.
There is an important distinction between the facts currently known and the details that have not been disclosed. Flair has said that another surgery is coming and that a graft may be required. He has thanked USF Health Eye Institute. He has also indicated that he expects to be well after treatment. Beyond that, there has been no confirmed timetable, no explanation of the precise procedure, and no indication of when he may offer another update.
Each of those points comes from Flair’s own public statements or the reported account of the fall. They establish that he is recovering from more than a routine setback, but they do not provide enough information to determine how long the complete recovery process will take.
As with any health-related story, the priority is Flair’s well-being rather than speculation about his schedule. His message suggests he is focused on completing the recommended treatment and moving beyond the current episode. Until he shares more, there is no reason to assume a specific date for the surgery, a firm recovery window, or a return to public activity.
Flair has often communicated directly with the public during significant moments, and this situation has been no different. His posts have provided a concise account of the issues he is managing: the blood clot in his leg, the hospital visit after the fall, the visible injury near his eye, and now the expected surgery and possible graft.
His Wednesday statement was not a lengthy medical briefing, but it did provide a meaningful indication of where matters stand. Flair appears to be past the point of his initial hospital release and looking toward the final known stages of treatment. The fact that he described those stages in positive terms will likely offer reassurance to supporters, even though the upcoming procedure remains a serious matter.
For the moment, Flair’s recovery remains the central focus. He has thanked the doctors involved in his care, thanked fans who reached out after the fall, and expressed belief that he will be able to put this health scare behind him once the remaining work is complete.
Further information will depend on Flair’s next public update. Until then, the wrestling world will be watching and hoping that the surgery goes smoothly, that a skin graft is not needed if it can be avoided, and that Flair is able to make the full recovery he expects.
","image_url":"https://smackdownonyou.com/uploads/article-dd8a4e9f5caf721e4907e7b4.webp","featured":false,"published_at":"2026-10-28 19:04:33","updated_at":"2026-10-28 19:04:33","author":{"type":"Person","slug":"darryl-polo","name":"Darryl Polo","url":"https://smackdownonyou.com/authors/darryl-polo","image_url":"https://smackdownonyou.com/assets/authors/darryl-polo-480.webp","short_bio":"Darryl Polo is a passionate wrestling fan covering WWE, AEW, TNA and beyond. He loves great rivalries, breakout stars and the moments that keep fans talking long after the bell.","bio":["Darryl Polo loves the mix of athleticism, larger-than-life personalities and long-running rivalries that makes professional wrestling unlike anything else. A surprise return, a perfectly timed heel turn or a match that gets the whole crowd on its feet—that’s the kind of moment that keeps him coming back.","At SmackDownOnYou, Darryl brings that fan-first perspective to WWE, AEW, TNA and the wider wrestling world. He enjoys digging into the stories behind the spectacle, following rising talent and revisiting the matches and characters that give wrestling its lasting appeal."],"updated_at":"2026-09-05 06:05:12"},"category":{"id":10,"slug":"wrestling-news","name":"Wrestling News"},"sources":[],"gallery":[],"url":"https://smackdownonyou.com/stories/ric-flair-says-another-surgery-and-possible-skin-graft-remain-after-recent-hospitalization"},{"id":2641,"slug":"vince-russo-s-reported-wwe-conversations-with-nick-khan-appear-to-be-over","title":"Vince Russo’s Reported WWE Conversations With Nick Khan Appear To Be Over","dek":"Vince Russo was reportedly in contact with WWE President Nick Khan during the summer, but the discussions are said to have ended without a return taking shape.","body_html":"Vince Russo’s name has reportedly surfaced in connection with WWE once again, though any potential return appears to be off the table for now.
Conrad Thompson indicated that Russo and WWE held talks during the summer of 2026, shortly before Russo stepped away from his booking position with Juggalo Championship Wrestling in September. The timing led to speculation that Russo’s departure from JCW may have been tied to a possible WWE opportunity. However, Thompson later clarified that the two developments were unrelated and that the WWE discussions had already stalled.
The reported conversations are notable because Russo has long been one of the most divisive creative figures associated with major American wrestling. He became a prominent WWE writer during the company’s late-1990s boom period before departing for WCW, where he later held significant creative influence. Russo also became a central creative figure in TNA during different stretches of that promotion’s history. His work has continued to generate strong opinions from fans, wrestlers and people within the industry for decades.
Despite that history, there was apparently enough substance to the recent rumors that people connected to WWE headquarters in Stamford had heard that Russo had spoken with WWE President Nick Khan. What those conversations involved, how many discussions took place, and whether any specific job was ever seriously offered remain unknown.
\nFor more background on this topic, read Steve Maclin Details the Creative Process Behind Adam Copeland Street Fight at MLP Northern Rising.
The available details paint an incomplete picture. Russo was reportedly either considered for a visit to WWE headquarters or had reached a point where such a visit was being discussed. That does not necessarily mean a deal was imminent. Wrestling companies routinely hold exploratory conversations with former talent, executives and creative personnel without those talks leading to a formal hire.
There has been no indication that Russo was being lined up for a particular department, brand or on-screen role. There is also no evidence that WWE was planning a change to its current creative structure. The key point is that contact between Russo and Khan was reportedly discussed internally by at least some people tied to the company, even if the full scope of those conversations was not widely known.
At the same time, several people within WWE reportedly had not heard about the situation before it became public. Some were said to have reacted by “laughing it off” when asked, while others who work closely with Khan were also reportedly unaware of any talks until the story circulated. That reaction underscores how closely held any contact may have been.
Senior-level discussions in a company as large as WWE are not always shared broadly, particularly before a decision is made. Still, the lack of widespread internal awareness makes it difficult to determine whether the Russo talks were preliminary outreach, a brief conversation about a possible role, or something more substantial that simply did not advance.
Thompson said the talks had “died on the vine,” indicating that a Russo return is not currently moving forward.
Russo is closely associated with a major era in WWE history, having worked as a head writer during the period when the company’s programming became edgier, more chaotic and more centered on high-stakes character stories. The late 1990s remain one of the most heavily discussed periods in wrestling television, and Russo’s name is often attached to the creative approach that helped define that environment.
His departure from WWE and subsequent work elsewhere, however, has made the idea of a reunion seem particularly unlikely to many observers. Russo joined WCW at a volatile time for the promotion and later became an important creative voice in TNA. Those runs produced storylines that remain subjects of intense debate. His supporters point to his willingness to pursue unconventional ideas, emphasize personalities and create cliffhanger-driven television. His critics have frequently objected to aspects of his booking philosophy and the long-term effects they believe it had on the companies where he worked.
That polarization is why even a limited conversation with WWE leadership would naturally draw attention. Russo is not simply a former employee who has been absent for a few years. He is a figure whose name immediately brings broader debates about creative direction, wrestling storytelling and the legacy of past promotions.
It is important, however, not to turn reported contact into a confirmed plan. WWE has not publicly announced Russo’s hiring, a consultancy arrangement or any creative assignment. Nothing in the current information establishes that he was close to joining the company. The clearest indication is that whatever was discussed no longer appears active.
Russo stepped down as booker for Juggalo Championship Wrestling in September. Because the reported WWE conversations took place before that move, some initially connected the two events. Thompson has stated that there was no relationship between Russo leaving JCW and the WWE discussions.
That clarification is significant because departures from independent promotions can often prompt assumptions about a move to a national company. In this instance, the chronology may have fueled speculation, but timing alone does not establish cause. Russo’s JCW exit should not be viewed as confirmation that he had an agreement in place with WWE.
Likewise, there is no confirmed information about whether Russo himself initiated the dialogue, whether WWE reached out first, or whether both sides were merely assessing interest. Without that context, any claims about why talks began or why they ended would be speculative.
For now, the practical impact appears to be none. WWE continues without a Russo return, and there is no indication that the company has changed its creative leadership as a result of the reported discussions. The situation instead serves as a reminder that conversations can happen behind the scenes even when a potential collaboration feels improbable from the outside.
Nick Khan’s role as WWE President means that any reported contact with a prominent former creative executive will understandably generate interest. Yet executive discussions can cover many possibilities beyond a full-time creative position. They can be informal meetings, introductions, exploratory calls or conversations that never develop into a proposal. The absence of clarity about the substance of the talks leaves all of those possibilities open.
The fact that the matter reportedly remained unknown to much of WWE’s staff also suggests there was no broad internal rollout or imminent integration plan. If Russo had been preparing to assume a major role, it would be reasonable to expect more people directly connected to relevant operations to know about it. That did not appear to be the case based on the accounts that emerged.
Professional wrestling has a long history of surprising reunions. Former wrestlers, producers, writers and executives regularly reconnect with companies after contentious exits or lengthy absences. The industry’s changing leadership, business priorities and personal relationships can create opportunities that once seemed impossible.
Russo’s reported contact with WWE fits that larger pattern, even if it did not produce a return. The very possibility is notable given his complicated standing in the business and the highly charged reaction his name still inspires. But it remains just that: a possibility that appears to have passed.
Until either WWE or Russo addresses the matter directly, the available information supports a cautious conclusion. There were reportedly conversations involving Russo and Khan during the summer, the extent of those talks remains unclear, no role was publicly identified, and the dialogue is believed to have ended weeks ago. For the moment, Russo is not headed back to WWE, and there is no confirmed sign that the company is pursuing him for a future position.
","image_url":"https://smackdownonyou.com/uploads/article-f278a998e085206e3cc2b62c.webp","featured":false,"published_at":"2026-10-28 19:04:05","updated_at":"2026-10-28 19:04:05","author":{"type":"Person","slug":"darryl-polo","name":"Darryl Polo","url":"https://smackdownonyou.com/authors/darryl-polo","image_url":"https://smackdownonyou.com/assets/authors/darryl-polo-480.webp","short_bio":"Darryl Polo is a passionate wrestling fan covering WWE, AEW, TNA and beyond. He loves great rivalries, breakout stars and the moments that keep fans talking long after the bell.","bio":["Darryl Polo loves the mix of athleticism, larger-than-life personalities and long-running rivalries that makes professional wrestling unlike anything else. A surprise return, a perfectly timed heel turn or a match that gets the whole crowd on its feet—that’s the kind of moment that keeps him coming back.","At SmackDownOnYou, Darryl brings that fan-first perspective to WWE, AEW, TNA and the wider wrestling world. He enjoys digging into the stories behind the spectacle, following rising talent and revisiting the matches and characters that give wrestling its lasting appeal."],"updated_at":"2026-09-05 06:05:12"},"category":{"id":1,"slug":"wwe","name":"WWE"},"sources":[],"gallery":[{"path":"https://smackdownonyou.com/uploads/article-b3f003668cac7a63b5477f50.webp","alt":"Vince Russo looking bored","caption":"Image related to this report."}],"url":"https://smackdownonyou.com/stories/vince-russo-s-reported-wwe-conversations-with-nick-khan-appear-to-be-over"},{"id":2640,"slug":"sammy-guevara-says-he-has-learned-roranese-to-understand-the-beast-mortos","title":"Sammy Guevara Says He Has Learned ‘Roranese’ to Understand The Beast Mortos","dek":"The LFI member offered a playful translation for The Beast Mortos during a recent vlog appearance with RUSH.","body_html":"Sammy Guevara has apparently made progress in one of the more unusual language barriers in professional wrestling.
In a recent episode of his vlog series, Guevara met up with fellow La Faccion Ingobernable members RUSH and The Beast Mortos. During the segment, Guevara claimed he can now speak and understand “Roranese,” offering his own name for the roaring style of communication often associated with Mortos.
The moment was presented as a lighthearted exchange between the stablemates, but it also played into an entertaining wrinkle within the LFI group dynamic. The Beast Mortos is known for communicating in intense growls and roars that are generally not translated for viewers or for the wrestlers around him. Guevara, however, said he has been studying the language and stepped in to explain Mortos’ message to RUSH.
“My friend, don’t you speak Roranese? Roranese, I’ve been studying it, so it might be a little off, but he said he’s so happy we’re finally back together!”
\nFor more background on this topic, read Queen Aminata Says Mercedes Moné Deserves More Credit After AEW Grand Slam France Battle.
The exchange gave Guevara a chance to show a more comedic side while remaining connected to the hard-edged identity of LFI. Rather than treating Mortos’ roar as something that needed a serious explanation, Guevara leaned into the mystery around his teammate and made himself the group’s unofficial interpreter.
Guevara, RUSH, and The Beast Mortos have been aligned for roughly the past year. Guevara joined LFI in August ahead of the Death Before Dishonor event, strengthening the group around a mix of personalities that can shift between aggression, charisma, and unpredictability.
That alignment placed Guevara alongside two wrestlers whose presentation makes an immediate impression. RUSH brings the confrontational confidence and physical intensity that have long been central to his work, while Mortos stands out through his imposing masked presence and animalistic mannerisms. Guevara’s role provides a different energy within that setting, particularly when the group is featured outside of matches or in more informal material such as his vlog.
The “Roranese” bit is a small example of how a faction can develop its identity beyond a traditional in-ring promo. Wrestling groups often benefit when their members have recognizable relationships with one another, and the joke established a simple one between Guevara and Mortos: Guevara claims to be capable of understanding a teammate whom everyone else may struggle to interpret.
It also keeps Mortos’ presentation intact. Rather than requiring him to change the way he communicates, Guevara’s supposed translation makes the roar part of the act. Mortos can continue to convey emotion and intensity in his distinctive style, while Guevara can react to it as if he has access to a language nobody else has learned.
The Beast Mortos has built a presentation around an intimidating, creature-like persona. His roars are a notable part of that character, and they naturally create room for reactions from opponents, partners, and viewers. In wrestling, a performer does not always need conventional spoken dialogue to communicate a character’s intentions. Body language, facial expressions, movement, crowd interaction, and vocal sounds can all carry the message.
Mortos’ approach is particularly suited to that kind of nontraditional communication. A roar can signal anger, excitement, a warning, or an impending attack without needing a lengthy verbal explanation. The ambiguity is part of the appeal, because it allows those around him to react while maintaining the sense that Mortos operates differently from a typical wrestler.
Guevara’s comment adds a new comedic layer to that presentation without removing the underlying threat. He did not suggest that Mortos has stopped roaring or that viewers will suddenly receive ordinary spoken explanations. Instead, he jokingly positioned himself as someone who has put in the work to understand his LFI teammate.
That detail matters because factions are often defined by the contrast between their members. One wrestler may be the central spokesperson, another may be the physical enforcer, and another may bring humor or an unpredictable personality. In this case, RUSH, Guevara, and Mortos can each occupy a different space while still appearing united.
Vlog content gives wrestlers an opportunity to present interactions that may not fit into a short televised segment. Matches and promos generally need to move quickly toward a conflict, a rivalry, or a major event. A casual group meeting can instead highlight chemistry, recurring jokes, and the ways talent relate to one another when they are not directly preparing for a fight.
For Guevara, the “Roranese” line is the sort of character moment that can be immediately understood. There is no complicated backstory required: Mortos roars, Guevara says he understands him, and he confidently translates the message for RUSH. Even Guevara’s admission that his studying “might be a little off” helps sell the playful nature of the moment.
At the same time, the translation itself carries a positive message for the group. Guevara said Mortos was happy that the members were finally back together. That sentiment reinforces the alliance rather than setting up a dispute or creating uncertainty within LFI. The bit may be humorous, but it was also used to underline that the members are pleased to be reunited.
Professional wrestling has a long history of performers using exaggerated speech patterns, catchphrases, and unconventional forms of communication to create memorable personas. Some characters speak in riddles, some rely on managers, and others say very little at all. Mortos’ roaring falls into that broad tradition, with Guevara now adding a tongue-in-cheek translation device to the mix.
Groups can become visually recognizable through matching colors, entrances, or shared attitudes, but the strongest factions usually gain additional depth through smaller interactions. The way teammates address each other, respond to victories and setbacks, or handle an unusual personality in the group can help make an alliance feel more lived-in.
Guevara’s latest vlog moment does exactly that on a modest scale. It did not need to announce a match, establish a title challenge, or reveal a dramatic change in direction. Instead, it gave viewers a brief look at how Guevara sees his relationship with Mortos and RUSH. He was not simply standing beside them; he was participating in a running joke that only works because of the group’s specific personalities.
There is also a practical side to that dynamic. RUSH’s forceful presence and Mortos’ monster-like persona can make LFI feel dangerous, while Guevara can bring a more conversational and playful edge when the situation calls for it. Those contrasts do not have to weaken a group’s edge. When used effectively, they can make the unit more flexible and give audiences more than one reason to pay attention.
The “Roranese” claim is unlikely to make Mortos any less mysterious. If anything, it gives the mystery another outlet. Guevara can insist that he understands exactly what Mortos means, while everyone else is left to decide whether the translation is accurate. That is a useful comedic premise because it can return whenever the trio is shown together without needing much setup.
For now, the takeaway from Guevara’s vlog is straightforward: he says he has been studying “Roranese,” he believes he can understand The Beast Mortos, and he translated Mortos’ roar as happiness over LFI being back together.
It was a brief moment, but one that highlighted the personality of the faction and the increasingly familiar connection between its members. In a group built around confidence, aggression, and a willingness to stand apart from everyone else, an unofficial translator for a roaring Beast Mortos fits surprisingly well.
Whether Guevara’s Roranese is entirely accurate remains, naturally, open to interpretation. Mortos has not offered a conventional verbal confirmation. But Guevara sounded confident in his translation, even while conceding that his studies may still need some work.
","image_url":"https://smackdownonyou.com/uploads/article-a90529f93ef597bb8e120fea.webp","featured":false,"published_at":"2026-10-28 19:03:34","updated_at":"2026-10-28 19:03:34","author":{"type":"Person","slug":"darryl-polo","name":"Darryl Polo","url":"https://smackdownonyou.com/authors/darryl-polo","image_url":"https://smackdownonyou.com/assets/authors/darryl-polo-480.webp","short_bio":"Darryl Polo is a passionate wrestling fan covering WWE, AEW, TNA and beyond. He loves great rivalries, breakout stars and the moments that keep fans talking long after the bell.","bio":["Darryl Polo loves the mix of athleticism, larger-than-life personalities and long-running rivalries that makes professional wrestling unlike anything else. A surprise return, a perfectly timed heel turn or a match that gets the whole crowd on its feet—that’s the kind of moment that keeps him coming back.","At SmackDownOnYou, Darryl brings that fan-first perspective to WWE, AEW, TNA and the wider wrestling world. He enjoys digging into the stories behind the spectacle, following rising talent and revisiting the matches and characters that give wrestling its lasting appeal."],"updated_at":"2026-09-05 06:05:12"},"category":{"id":2,"slug":"aew","name":"AEW"},"sources":[],"gallery":[],"url":"https://smackdownonyou.com/stories/sammy-guevara-says-he-has-learned-roranese-to-understand-the-beast-mortos"},{"id":2639,"slug":"m-stico-announced-for-mlw-saturday-night-superfight-in-chicago","title":"Místico Announced for MLW Saturday Night SuperFight in Chicago","dek":"The internationally renowned luchador is set to appear at MLW’s November 7 event, with no opponent or specific plans yet confirmed.","body_html":"Místico is headed to Major League Wrestling’s Saturday Night SuperFight, bringing one of lucha libre’s most recognizable names to Chicago for MLW’s major November event.
MLW has announced that Místico will appear at Saturday Night SuperFight on Saturday, November 7. The event will take place at the sold-out Cicero Stadium in Chicago and is scheduled to begin at 8 p.m. ET, airing exclusively on VEEPS.
While the announcement confirms Místico’s presence for the show, MLW has not revealed an opponent, a match stipulation, or the precise role he will play during the event. That lack of detail leaves several possibilities open, from an in-ring appearance to a confrontation, challenge, or another development involving the company’s locker room.
For an event built around high-profile attractions, Místico’s inclusion is significant regardless of how he is used. His mask, entrance, speed, and aerial style have made him an internationally celebrated figure over the course of his career. A Místico appearance also carries a particular level of anticipation because his presentation can immediately make a moment feel larger, whether he is competing in a full match or making a statement in front of a new audience.
\nFor more background on this topic, read ATTACK! Goosebumps 11 Night Two Results: Josh Holly Regains 24:7 Title, Drew Parker Retains.
Saturday Night SuperFight is positioned as one of MLW’s biggest events of the year, and the Chicago crowd at Cicero Stadium will now have the opportunity to see Místico live. The show is already sold out, underscoring the demand for the card and giving MLW a packed building for a night it is promoting around major rivalries, title fights, debuts, and grudges.
Místico’s addition gives the event another distinct attraction. His reputation was built on spectacular movement and an ability to connect across language barriers through the visual intensity of lucha libre. The mask has long been an essential part of that appeal, but so has the confidence and urgency of his offense. When Místico is involved, opponents are generally forced to account for his quickness and his capacity to change the momentum of a match in seconds.
That makes the absence of an announced opponent especially notable. MLW has not identified who Místico could face if he wrestles on November 7, nor has it indicated whether he has a specific wrestler in his sights. With the event drawing a collection of prominent names to Chicago, the company has intentionally left the situation open-ended.
The promotion itself has framed the announcement around the question of what Místico has planned. Is he arriving with a challenge in mind? Could he be looking to address a particular member of the MLW roster? Or will his appearance simply establish the possibility of something bigger in the future? Those answers are not yet public.
It is important to separate what has been confirmed from what remains speculation. Místico has been announced for Saturday Night SuperFight. The date, location, start time, and VEEPS broadcast platform have also been confirmed. Beyond that, MLW has not announced a named match for him.
As a result, there is no confirmed opponent to evaluate, no stated championship objective, and no official challenge tied to the appearance. Fans can reasonably expect attention to turn toward Místico once he arrives in Chicago, but any prediction about who he could confront would be premature until MLW provides further details.
That uncertainty may be part of the appeal. A surprise appearance is one thing; an announced appearance without a defined destination creates a different kind of anticipation. The audience knows Místico will be part of the night, but not what the moment will mean. In a wrestling environment where confrontations and challenges can alter the direction of a card quickly, that leaves plenty of room for the situation to develop live.
“SUPER GRUDGES. SUPER RIVALS. SUPER DEBUTS. SUPER TITLE FIGHTS.”
That promotional framing makes clear that MLW views Saturday Night SuperFight as more than a standard event. Místico’s presence fits naturally within that approach. Even without a confirmed bout, his involvement gives the company a notable international name who can add intrigue before the bell rings and create a talking point after the show ends.
Místico’s importance is rooted in more than a single move or a single appearance. He is identified with the high-flying tradition of lucha libre, a style that places enormous value on agility, rhythm, timing, and dramatic momentum swings. His spectacular aerial offense has helped make him a recognizable presence to wrestling fans well beyond any one promotion or market.
For MLW, featuring a performer with that profile expands the visual and stylistic range of Saturday Night SuperFight. On a card advertised around championship competition and personal rivalries, Místico can supply an element that is immediately different. His matches are often defined by pace, fluidity, and a sense that a decisive sequence can arrive from virtually anywhere.
There is also a broader significance to placing Místico on a major Chicago event. The city has long been an important wrestling market, and Cicero Stadium provides a setting where a live crowd can strongly amplify a luchador’s entrance and in-ring presentation. With the building sold out, the reaction to Místico’s arrival could become one of the night’s defining images.
Whether he competes in a scheduled match or appears in another capacity, the announcement signals that MLW wants Místico’s star power to be part of the event’s identity. The company has not promised a particular outcome, which means the audience will have to wait until November 7 to see whether his appearance starts a new rivalry, produces an immediate challenge, or simply marks a standout attraction for the SuperFight audience.
MLW’s announcement has deliberately positioned Místico as one of the show’s unanswered questions. Major events often succeed because fans know what they are coming to see, but they can become memorable when there is also a meaningful unknown hanging over the card. Místico now represents that unknown for Saturday Night SuperFight.
There are clear reasons for the locker room to pay attention. An internationally known star arriving without an announced agenda can affect the plans of any wrestler who wants a major opportunity. A direct challenge could put someone on notice. A confrontation could start an unexpected rivalry. Even a brief statement could signal that Místico intends to become a more regular factor in MLW.
At this stage, however, none of those potential directions has been confirmed. The only certainty is that Místico will be in Chicago when Saturday Night SuperFight takes place. MLW will have its largest event of the year underway, a sold-out crowd will be watching from Cicero Stadium, and viewers around the world will be able to follow the show on VEEPS.
The next development will come when Místico arrives on November 7. Until then, the unanswered questions surrounding his role are likely to remain a central part of the conversation around MLW Saturday Night SuperFight.
","image_url":"https://smackdownonyou.com/uploads/article-87811487599484d645b3c399.webp","featured":false,"published_at":"2026-10-28 17:06:01","updated_at":"2026-10-28 17:06:01","author":{"type":"Person","slug":"darryl-polo","name":"Darryl Polo","url":"https://smackdownonyou.com/authors/darryl-polo","image_url":"https://smackdownonyou.com/assets/authors/darryl-polo-480.webp","short_bio":"Darryl Polo is a passionate wrestling fan covering WWE, AEW, TNA and beyond. He loves great rivalries, breakout stars and the moments that keep fans talking long after the bell.","bio":["Darryl Polo loves the mix of athleticism, larger-than-life personalities and long-running rivalries that makes professional wrestling unlike anything else. A surprise return, a perfectly timed heel turn or a match that gets the whole crowd on its feet—that’s the kind of moment that keeps him coming back.","At SmackDownOnYou, Darryl brings that fan-first perspective to WWE, AEW, TNA and the wider wrestling world. He enjoys digging into the stories behind the spectacle, following rising talent and revisiting the matches and characters that give wrestling its lasting appeal."],"updated_at":"2026-09-05 06:05:12"},"category":{"id":10,"slug":"wrestling-news","name":"Wrestling News"},"sources":[],"gallery":[],"url":"https://smackdownonyou.com/stories/m-stico-announced-for-mlw-saturday-night-superfight-in-chicago"},{"id":2638,"slug":"steve-maclin-details-the-creative-process-behind-adam-copeland-street-fight-at-mlp-northern-rising","title":"Steve Maclin Details the Creative Process Behind Adam Copeland Street Fight at MLP Northern Rising","dek":"Steve Maclin reflected on sharing the ring with Adam Copeland at MLP Northern Rising, describing the first-time Street Fight as a tribute to wrestling memories, Canadian fans and a unique main-event atmosphere.","body_html":"Steve Maclin has opened up about the thought process behind his first-ever match with Adam Copeland at MLP Northern Rising, describing the Street Fight as a carefully constructed attempt to stand apart on a stacked card while honoring the history that made the setting so meaningful.
Copeland and Maclin met at MLP Northern Rising in a first-time singles encounter that carried added significance because of the venue and the Canadian atmosphere surrounding the event. For Maclin, the planning was not simply about putting together a hard-hitting Street Fight. It was about determining how to make the match feel distinct after other major bouts had already raised the energy in the building.
Maclin explained that he entered the process with a number of ideas, but with uncertainty over precisely where he and Copeland would land on the card. He believed there was a realistic possibility of the match closing the show, given the importance of Copeland competing in Maple Leaf Gardens.
“Obviously in my head, too, and I explained it in the documentary,” Maclin said. “I’m going to probably say that a lot too. I explained it in the two part series on our YouTube page for Boots to Boots. But no, it’s like, ‘Alright, I have this idea. How do we want to do this match?’”
\nFor more background on this topic, read Robert Stone Sees Kendal Grey and Kelani Jordan as Future WrestleMania Main Eventers.
The key question, in Maclin’s telling, was how to create something memorable without merely repeating what fans had already seen earlier in the night. That is a particularly significant challenge on a card where performers have already established a high standard, especially when a Street Fight provides the freedom to go in many different directions.
Maclin specifically pointed to Stu Grayson and Josh Alexander as an example of the type of match that had to be considered during the planning. Their bout had already made a major impression on the crowd, leaving Maclin and Copeland to think not only about their own match, but also about the overall rhythm of the event.
“I wasn’t sure where we were on the card yet and I had an idea that we might be main event, because why wouldn’t Adam Copeland be main eventing in the Maple Leaf Gardens in his dream match that he’s always wanted?” Maclin said. “I knew that we would be following matches like Stu Grayson and Josh Alexander, who tore the house down. So it’s like, ‘Alright, now creatively, what do we do that’s different from every other match?’”
That approach underlines a central part of Maclin’s description of the contest: it was built around more than the usual expectations of a Street Fight. Rather than focusing exclusively on weapons, chaos or escalation, Maclin said the goal was to connect the action to the wrestling memories shared by the people involved and by the audience watching.
Copeland’s place in Canadian wrestling history made that concept especially fitting. Competing in Maple Leaf Gardens represented a dream scenario for him, and Maclin said that the match ultimately became a celebration of childhood fandom and of the performers Copeland had crossed paths with throughout his career.
“Like, how do we get to this moment and make the most of this?” Maclin said. “I think Adam and I, for the day, we put a love letter to our childhoods, of his childhood dream of wrestling there, but then also my childhood dream and everybody else’s childhood dream to pro wrestling where we’re doing all of the opponents that he’s ever faced or teamed with signature moves. It was just beautiful.”
The use of signature moves associated with Copeland’s past opponents and partners gave the match an additional layer beyond the immediate rivalry. It allowed the contest to draw from a much broader wrestling vocabulary, one rooted in the matches, alliances and eras that have shaped Copeland’s career. For Maclin, it also offered an opportunity to participate in a match constructed around the same kind of wrestling history that influenced him as a fan.
That is an important distinction in the way Maclin characterized the experience. He did not frame the match merely as an opportunity to work with a prominent veteran or to wrestle in a notable venue. Instead, he described a rare level of confidence and presence during the match itself, saying he felt unusually settled in the ring despite the scale of the moment.
“I’ve never felt more comfort in a wrestling ring and more calmness than I did that night,” Maclin said. “Again, it’s something I’m going to be chasing for a long time where my ears were open to the people, but every bit of me was in the moment.”
For wrestlers, a crowd can shape every decision in real time. That is even more true in a match built around references, emotion and a Street Fight environment, where the performers need to understand which moments are resonating and when the audience is ready for the next development. Maclin’s comments suggest he felt fully connected to that process at Northern Rising, hearing the crowd while remaining focused on the match unfolding in front of him.
The setting played an obvious part in that feeling. Maclin praised the Canadian audience at the event, which drew more than 3,000 people. He described the atmosphere as electric throughout the night and contrasted the energy of Canadian crowds with the particular crowd identities found in the United States and the United Kingdom.
“When you have over 3,000 people there in that place, it’s electric energy all night,” Maclin said. “Canadian wrestling fans are a different breed than American wrestling fans, and the same with the UK. Everybody has their own niche of how they act and their energy. It’s fun to see.”
Maclin’s appreciation for the Canadian wrestling scene also has a personal dimension. He noted that wrestling in Canada had long been a goal, yet he had relatively few opportunities to do so during his WWE tenure. He recalled appearing on the pre-show at an early TakeOver event in Toronto, but said that he otherwise had not truly had the chance to establish a presence in the country during that period.
Since leaving WWE, Maclin said his relationship with Canada has become much stronger through his work after that run, including his time in TNA and his current free-agency period. His comments portray Northern Rising as part of a larger personal journey rather than an isolated booking.
“It’s always funny that I dreamed of wrestling in Canada, and then I was in WWE for so long, never even stepped foot in Canada except for one of the Takeovers in Toronto that we had early on,” Maclin said. “I was on the pre-show on that one, but before that I was never really in Canada and I’d been married to Canada pretty much since my time leaving WWE and TNA and then now just in the free agency.”
That background adds context to why the MLP Northern Rising match clearly means so much to Maclin. It brought together a Canadian venue with major historical resonance, an audience he has come to value deeply, and a first-time opponent whose own connection to the location was central to the story of the night.
It also reflects Maclin’s broader interest in the creative side of wrestling. His recollection focused repeatedly on the questions that guided the match: where it would be placed, what had already happened on the card, how it could avoid feeling repetitive, and how both performers could make the most of the occasion. Those considerations are especially relevant when a match is designed to serve both as a physical confrontation and as a tribute to wrestling history.
Maclin has also discussed his path to Northern Rising in a two-part Boots to Boots documentary series. The project provides further context for the event and for the importance he placed on the opportunity to face Copeland. While Maclin acknowledged that he may continue to reference that material when discussing the match, his comments make clear that the in-ring experience itself remains the part he is most eager to revisit.
For Maclin, the Street Fight was a creative challenge, a meaningful milestone in Canada and a match that delivered a feeling he hopes to find again. His description of the night is not centered on one isolated sequence or one single reference. It is centered on the atmosphere created when the venue, audience, opponent and ideas all aligned.
In that sense, Maclin and Copeland’s MLP Northern Rising meeting was designed as a reflection of pro wrestling’s past while still being experienced as a live, immediate moment. Maclin’s lasting takeaway is the sense of calm he found inside an environment that, by every other measure, was built to feel enormous.
","image_url":"https://smackdownonyou.com/uploads/article-f4f983092c667c6ff3dfba13.webp","featured":false,"published_at":"2026-10-28 17:05:33","updated_at":"2026-10-28 17:05:33","author":{"type":"Person","slug":"darryl-polo","name":"Darryl Polo","url":"https://smackdownonyou.com/authors/darryl-polo","image_url":"https://smackdownonyou.com/assets/authors/darryl-polo-480.webp","short_bio":"Darryl Polo is a passionate wrestling fan covering WWE, AEW, TNA and beyond. He loves great rivalries, breakout stars and the moments that keep fans talking long after the bell.","bio":["Darryl Polo loves the mix of athleticism, larger-than-life personalities and long-running rivalries that makes professional wrestling unlike anything else. A surprise return, a perfectly timed heel turn or a match that gets the whole crowd on its feet—that’s the kind of moment that keeps him coming back.","At SmackDownOnYou, Darryl brings that fan-first perspective to WWE, AEW, TNA and the wider wrestling world. He enjoys digging into the stories behind the spectacle, following rising talent and revisiting the matches and characters that give wrestling its lasting appeal."],"updated_at":"2026-09-05 06:05:12"},"category":{"id":1,"slug":"wwe","name":"WWE"},"sources":[],"gallery":[],"url":"https://smackdownonyou.com/stories/steve-maclin-details-the-creative-process-behind-adam-copeland-street-fight-at-mlp-northern-rising"},{"id":2637,"slug":"attack-goosebumps-11-night-two-results-josh-holly-regains-24-7-title-drew-parker-retains","title":"ATTACK! Goosebumps 11 Night Two Results: Josh Holly Regains 24:7 Title, Drew Parker Retains","dek":"ATTACK! Wrestling’s October 25 event at Loco Club in Bristol featured a rapid 24:7 Championship change, a successful ATTACK! Championship defense by Drew Parker, and a multi-person victory for Christon Creed, Hazzardous, Johnny Tab and Mark Andrews.","body_html":"ATTACK! Wrestling continued its Goosebumps 11 tour with night two on October 25 at Loco Club in Bristol, England. The card delivered a notable championship development as Josh Holly lost the ATTACK! 24:7 Championship to Orsi, only to defeat Orsi and regain the title later in the event.
The show also featured an ATTACK! Championship main-event result, with Drew Parker retaining over Chris Bronson. Elsewhere, Tilly Rose, Chicago Desailly, Luke Frehill and Chuck Mambo picked up singles victories, while Christon Creed, Hazzardous, Johnny Tab and Mark Andrews prevailed in an eight-person tag team contest.
With championship action appearing twice on the same card, Goosebumps 11 night two was built around an eventful evening for the 24:7 division. Holly began the night as champion, but Orsi was able to secure the title in their first meeting. The championship did not remain with Orsi for long, however, as Holly later defeated the new champion to reclaim the belt.
The most significant sequence of results from Bristol involved Josh Holly and Orsi. In the first ATTACK! 24:7 Championship bout, Orsi defeated Holly to become champion. The outcome ended Holly’s reign and created a new titleholder during the Goosebumps 11 tour stop.
\nFor more background on this topic, read ETU Show Me Vol. 1 Results: Janai Kai, Ikuro Kwon and The Expected Retain in Ridgefield Park.
Orsi’s championship win was immediately followed by another match against Holly, with the ATTACK! 24:7 Championship again on the line. Holly defeated Orsi in the rematch, regaining the championship and leaving Bristol as the listed titleholder.
The two results make the 24:7 Championship the focal point of night two. Orsi registered a championship victory over Holly, but Holly answered with a title-winning result of his own before the event was over. No further details regarding the circumstances, match order beyond the listed results, or the duration of either reign were announced with the results.
For Holly, the night contained both a title loss and a successful recovery. For Orsi, the result stands as a championship victory despite the subsequent defeat. The back-to-back title decisions ensured that the division had a clear story coming out of the Bristol card: Holly had regained possession of the ATTACK! 24:7 Championship, while Orsi had proven capable of beating him for it.
In the ATTACK! Championship match, Drew Parker defeated Chris Bronson to retain the title. Parker entered the contest as champion and successfully kept the championship against Bronson.
The result keeps Parker’s status as ATTACK! Champion intact following Goosebumps 11 night two. Bronson came up short in his challenge, while Parker added another successful defense to his run with the promotion’s top championship.
Championship matches frequently shape the immediate direction of a tour, and the Bristol results established a contrast between ATTACK!’s two title pictures on this particular night. The 24:7 Championship changed hands twice before returning to Josh Holly, while the ATTACK! Championship remained with Drew Parker after his win over Chris Bronson.
Neither Parker nor Bronson was listed in another match on the card. Their bout therefore stands as Parker’s lone appearance in the reported results and Bronson’s sole result from the event.
One of the larger matches on the card saw Christon Creed, Hazzardous, Johnny Tab and Mark Andrews defeat Matt Gatlin, Morgan Roberts and Pinnacle Of Brilliance, represented by Aaron McRae and James Ellis.
The match brought together eight wrestlers across two four-person sides. Creed, Hazzardous, Tab and Andrews emerged with the victory over Gatlin, Roberts, McRae and Ellis.
Andrews’ involvement gave the winning side an established name on a card that also featured a broad mix of ATTACK! regulars and competitors in singles competition. The result was credited to the complete team of Creed, Hazzardous, Tab and Andrews, rather than identifying an individual deciding fall or finish.
Pinnacle Of Brilliance entered the contest through the pairing of Aaron McRae and James Ellis, teaming with Gatlin and Roberts. Their side was unable to overcome the quartet opposing them. The result adds a significant multi-person win for Creed, Hazzardous, Tab and Andrews as Goosebumps 11 continued.
Tilly Rose defeated Lana Rae in one of the show’s singles contests. The result gave Rose a win over Rae on night two of the tour.
Chicago Desailly also earned a singles victory, defeating Andy Roberts. The bout was one of several matches on the card that provided competitors an opportunity to build momentum outside the championship matches.
Luke Frehill won a three-way match over Paulo Cruz and RJW. With three competitors involved, Frehill’s victory came at the expense of both Cruz and RJW in the listed result. No further information was provided on the match finish or whether any additional stipulations were involved.
Chuck Mambo defeated Kyri in another singles match. Mambo’s win rounded out the named one-on-one results on a card that balanced singles bouts, a three-way match, an eight-person tag match and championship action.
Each of those outcomes contributed to a varied lineup at Loco Club. Rose, Desailly, Frehill and Mambo each left the event with victories, while Rae, Roberts, Cruz, RJW and Kyri were listed on the losing side of their respective matches.
The October 25 card in Bristol was defined most clearly by the 24:7 Championship exchange. Orsi’s victory over Holly produced a new champion, but Holly’s rematch victory restored him to the role before the event concluded. As a result, Holly exited the show with the championship, though Orsi’s win remains a key result from the night.
At the top of the promotion, Drew Parker’s successful defense ensured that there was no ATTACK! Championship change. Parker remains champion after defeating Chris Bronson, while Bronson was unable to turn his challenge into a title win.
The rest of the event featured victories spread among a number of competitors. Tilly Rose, Chicago Desailly, Luke Frehill and Chuck Mambo all collected wins in individual competition. Christon Creed, Hazzardous, Johnny Tab and Mark Andrews combined for the evening’s major team victory.
ATTACK! Goosebumps 11 night two therefore closed with its principal champions in two different positions: Parker retained the ATTACK! Championship throughout the event, while Holly endured a brief loss of the 24:7 Championship before reclaiming it from Orsi. Those outcomes were the central title developments from Loco Club in Bristol.
","image_url":"https://smackdownonyou.com/uploads/article-1feb1f7d150e3640cd9851e2.webp","featured":false,"published_at":"2026-10-28 17:05:07","updated_at":"2026-10-28 17:05:07","author":{"type":"Person","slug":"darryl-polo","name":"Darryl Polo","url":"https://smackdownonyou.com/authors/darryl-polo","image_url":"https://smackdownonyou.com/assets/authors/darryl-polo-480.webp","short_bio":"Darryl Polo is a passionate wrestling fan covering WWE, AEW, TNA and beyond. He loves great rivalries, breakout stars and the moments that keep fans talking long after the bell.","bio":["Darryl Polo loves the mix of athleticism, larger-than-life personalities and long-running rivalries that makes professional wrestling unlike anything else. A surprise return, a perfectly timed heel turn or a match that gets the whole crowd on its feet—that’s the kind of moment that keeps him coming back.","At SmackDownOnYou, Darryl brings that fan-first perspective to WWE, AEW, TNA and the wider wrestling world. He enjoys digging into the stories behind the spectacle, following rising talent and revisiting the matches and characters that give wrestling its lasting appeal."],"updated_at":"2026-09-05 06:05:12"},"category":{"id":10,"slug":"wrestling-news","name":"Wrestling News"},"sources":[],"gallery":[],"url":"https://smackdownonyou.com/stories/attack-goosebumps-11-night-two-results-josh-holly-regains-24-7-title-drew-parker-retains"},{"id":2636,"slug":"robert-stone-recalls-balancing-tna-wrestling-career-with-high-school-teaching-job","title":"Robert Stone Recalls Balancing TNA Wrestling Career With High School Teaching Job","dek":"Before becoming a familiar WWE personality, Robert Stone says his earliest national wrestling opportunity coincided with an unusual second career: teaching physical education and health at a high school.","body_html":"Robert Stone’s path to becoming a full-time professional wrestler was anything but conventional. Long before his work as a WWE on-screen personality, Stone was building his name in TNA Wrestling as Robbie E while also holding down a job as a high school physical education and health teacher.
Stone, who wrestled for TNA under the Robbie E name, enjoyed a notable run with the company that included an X-Division Championship reign. But the road to that national exposure did not immediately mean leaving his day job behind. As he recalled, he had completed college, wrestled independently throughout his studies, earned his degree, and then began teaching in a town close to where he grew up.
His second year in education brought the major professional turning point. Stone received a TNA tryout and was subsequently offered a contract. For a wrestler who had spent nearly a decade pursuing the industry by that point, the opportunity was impossible to pass up, even though the financial reality was not as strong as the salary he was earning in the school system.
“I finished school. I independent wrestled all throughout college. I got my degree. I got hired as a school teacher in a town over from where I grew up, high school phys ed and health, and then going into my second year of teaching, I had a tryout with TNA Wrestling and I got offered a contract,” Stone said. “So, needless to say, at the time, the money was way less than what I was making teaching. But, you know, I had worked almost 10 years at this point in wrestling. I wasn’t going to give up the opportunity.”
\nFor more background on this topic, read Matt Hardy Reflects on Booking TNA Impact and Eyes Possible Future Creative Role.
The decision to chase a TNA contract created an understandable problem. National television wrestling schedules do not naturally fit around a teacher’s weekday responsibilities, and Stone initially believed resigning from his position was the only practical answer. Instead, he found a remarkable degree of support from his school.
Rather than forcing him to choose between the classroom and the ring immediately, the school encouraged Stone to stay on staff. That support allowed him to maintain his teaching income while beginning his first contracted run in wrestling. It was an arrangement that provided important financial stability at a point when many developing wrestlers would be relying solely on the uncertain money available through early national contracts.
“I attempted to resign from school teaching that second year. But they encouraged me to stay, and they said, ‘whenever you can’t be here because of wrestling, that’s okay,’” Stone recalled. “I was like, ‘you’re sure? Like, we have live TV every week. I’m going to miss a lot of days.’ They encouraged me to stay, which was great because I was getting a teacher’s salary at the same time as getting money for my first wrestling contract. So it was a great way to start being a full-time wrestler.”
For Stone, the arrangement meant a demanding weekly routine. TNA’s live Thursday television schedule could require him to appear on national television at night before flying back the following morning. He would then make arrangements to have his first-period class covered and report to school soon after landing.
The contrast was striking. On Thursday, Stone could be appearing as Robbie E on Spike TV in front of a wrestling audience. By Friday morning, he was back in a school hallway and preparing for a normal day with students. Stone said there were occasions when he arrived still visibly carrying the effects of the previous evening’s wrestling presentation, including hair gel from television.
“But I would be on live TV on a Thursday night on TNA, fly home Friday morning, get someone to cover my first period and come into school the next day still with hair gel in my hair,” Stone said.
That schedule speaks to the level of commitment required from wrestlers trying to turn opportunity into a career. Even with a national contract, Stone was not simply stepping away from all other responsibilities. He was traveling, performing, meeting the demands of live television, returning home, and then immediately resuming his work as an educator.
It also highlights the economic uncertainty that can accompany a wrestler’s first significant contract. Stone made clear that the initial TNA money was lower than his teaching salary. Keeping both roles was not merely a fun story about a teacher moonlighting as a wrestler; it was a meaningful bridge that enabled him to pursue wrestling without abandoning the financial foundation he had established through his education.
The students were not detached observers of Stone’s second profession. They watched his Thursday appearances and then saw the same person in the classroom the next day. Stone said that unique connection made the experience memorable for the students as well as for him.
His championship success gave the school an especially tangible link to what he was accomplishing away from campus. Robbie E captured the X-Division Championship during his TNA tenure, and Stone brought the title belt into school. In doing so, he gave students the chance to see up close a symbol of the televised wrestling program they had watched just hours earlier.
“I won the X Division championship and I brought it in. Like all the students would watch me on Thursday night and then see me in school on Friday. They were fist pumping in the hallways,” Stone said. “It was a wild time because you know, I’m on Spike TV, live TV every Thursday, and then I’m in school during the week.”
For students, the appeal was easy to understand. Their teacher was not discussing wrestling as a distant hobby or a story from years earlier. He was actively participating on a nationally televised show. The immediate turnaround between television and school made it feel real in a way that few students get to experience with an educator.
Stone described that reaction as something special, inviting people to consider the perspective of students watching their teacher perform on television one night and then seeing him at school the next morning. The mix of teaching and wrestling created an unusual form of visibility, with the professional worlds colliding in the hallways.
Years after that period, Stone said former students or people familiar with the experience still occasionally reach out to him through Instagram or X. Those messages offer a reminder that his work as Robbie E had a lasting impression beyond TNA’s audience and beyond the championship accomplishments attached to his in-ring résumé.
Stone’s TNA chapter remains a central part of his wrestling history. The Robbie E character gave him a national platform and produced championship success, including the X-Division title victory he remembers sharing with his students. Just as importantly, it represented the moment when a wrestler who had spent years on the independent circuit was able to begin transitioning toward a full-time career.
His story is also a reminder that the transition to full-time wrestling is not always a clean break. For some performers, a national contract brings an immediate financial leap. For others, the earliest stages involve careful balancing, outside employment, supportive workplaces, and the willingness to endure exhausting travel schedules.
In Stone’s case, the school’s flexibility gave him a rare safety net. He could accept the TNA deal without discarding a stable career in education, while TNA gave him the platform he had worked toward for close to a decade. The result was an unforgettable period in which he was a television wrestler on Thursday nights and a high school teacher on Friday mornings.
That dual identity may have made for long weeks, early flights, and the occasional day at school with television-ready hair still in place. But it also made Stone’s rise uniquely personal. He was able to chase a dream in front of a national audience while showing students in real time what it looked like to pursue a demanding goal without giving up on the responsibilities already in front of him.
","image_url":"https://smackdownonyou.com/uploads/article-7ecaf46b8a99dcf862aa4de9.webp","featured":false,"published_at":"2026-10-28 17:04:39","updated_at":"2026-10-28 17:04:39","author":{"type":"Person","slug":"darryl-polo","name":"Darryl Polo","url":"https://smackdownonyou.com/authors/darryl-polo","image_url":"https://smackdownonyou.com/assets/authors/darryl-polo-480.webp","short_bio":"Darryl Polo is a passionate wrestling fan covering WWE, AEW, TNA and beyond. He loves great rivalries, breakout stars and the moments that keep fans talking long after the bell.","bio":["Darryl Polo loves the mix of athleticism, larger-than-life personalities and long-running rivalries that makes professional wrestling unlike anything else. A surprise return, a perfectly timed heel turn or a match that gets the whole crowd on its feet—that’s the kind of moment that keeps him coming back.","At SmackDownOnYou, Darryl brings that fan-first perspective to WWE, AEW, TNA and the wider wrestling world. He enjoys digging into the stories behind the spectacle, following rising talent and revisiting the matches and characters that give wrestling its lasting appeal."],"updated_at":"2026-09-05 06:05:12"},"category":{"id":5,"slug":"tna","name":"TNA"},"sources":[],"gallery":[],"url":"https://smackdownonyou.com/stories/robert-stone-recalls-balancing-tna-wrestling-career-with-high-school-teaching-job"},{"id":2635,"slug":"robert-stone-sees-kendal-grey-and-kelani-jordan-as-future-wrestlemania-main-eventers","title":"Robert Stone Sees Kendal Grey and Kelani Jordan as Future WrestleMania Main Eventers","dek":"The NXT General Manager believes the current and former NXT Champions are setting a new standard for WWE’s women’s division.","body_html":"Robert Stone has offered a major vote of confidence in two of WWE NXT’s leading women’s stars, predicting that Kendal Grey and Kelani Jordan will eventually headline WrestleMania.
Stone, who serves as NXT General Manager, pointed to the accomplishments and continued development of both competitors while discussing the next generation of women’s wrestling. Grey is a former NXT Champion, while Jordan currently holds the championship. Jordan is also preparing for a title defense against Grey’s friend, Wren Sinclair, at Halloween Havoc this weekend.
While their immediate paths are connected by the NXT Women’s Championship picture, Stone believes the long-term ceiling for Grey and Jordan extends far beyond the brand. In his view, both women have already shown the qualities required to become defining stars for WWE’s women’s division.
“Kendal Grey and Kelani Jordan,” Stone said when asked about women who stand out in the current landscape. “Everything that they’re doing, they’re absolutely just tearing it up. They deliver in every match, every big match that they’re in.”
\nFor more background on this topic, read Cody Rhodes Says Wrestling Has Reached Its Strongest Cultural Position Yet.
Stone’s assessment was not centered on one rivalry, one championship reign, or one standout performance. Instead, he emphasized the consistency he sees from both Grey and Jordan whenever the stakes rise. That is an important distinction in a WWE environment where prospects are often judged not only on athletic ability, but also on their ability to handle championship-level pressure, television exposure, and the expectation attached to major events.
Jordan’s current position as NXT Champion naturally places her at the center of the division. Holding a title brings a different kind of scrutiny, particularly when each challenger is attempting to establish herself at the champion’s expense. Her upcoming defense against Sinclair at Halloween Havoc will be another significant test, especially because Sinclair’s association with Grey adds an additional personal dynamic around the match.
Grey, meanwhile, enters that situation with the perspective of a former champion. Stone’s praise indicates that he does not see her previous title success as the high point of her NXT run. Rather, he views her as one of the foundational performers who can continue raising the level of the division, whether she is pursuing the title herself or competing in other high-profile programs.
Stone said the pair are “making history in different ways” and “setting the bar to a new level.” Those comments reflect the confidence NXT’s on-screen leadership has in the two wrestlers at a time when the women’s championship scene is being shaped by both established names and younger talent still building their legacies.
Calling someone a future WrestleMania main eventer is one of the strongest projections that can be made about any WWE performer. WrestleMania is the company’s biggest stage, and a main event spot represents more than popularity alone. It requires sustained credibility, the ability to connect with an audience at the highest level, and enough momentum for a match to feel like a defining attraction.
Stone believes Grey and Jordan possess that potential.
“They are the future of women’s wrestling, in my opinion,” Stone said. “They’re going to be WrestleMania main eventers, both of them at some point in their career. They’re still both so young.”
It remains a long-range prediction, not a guarantee, and there is no indication that either woman is being immediately positioned for a move beyond NXT. Still, Stone’s words underline the significance of their current work. For Grey and Jordan, the goal is not simply to be viewed as promising talent. The expectation, at least from the NXT General Manager, is that they can become wrestlers capable of carrying the company’s premier events.
That expectation will place even greater focus on the decisions both women make inside the NXT title picture. Jordan’s reign will be measured by the challengers she defeats and the caliber of matches she produces as champion. Grey’s next steps will be equally important, particularly as her friendship with Sinclair becomes part of the conversation heading into Halloween Havoc.
Jordan has a major assignment directly in front of her, as she is scheduled to defend the NXT Women’s Championship against Wren Sinclair at Halloween Havoc. The match gives Sinclair a major opportunity, but it also presents Jordan with another chance to reinforce Stone’s belief that she delivers when the spotlight is brightest.
The Grey-Sinclair connection makes the championship match especially noteworthy. Grey’s history as a former NXT Champion means she understands the demands of facing the division’s top contender and defending the brand’s most important women’s prize. While Jordan and Grey are being praised together as future cornerstones, the title scene can quickly test any relationship when championship ambitions are involved.
There has been no suggestion from Stone that Grey’s support for Sinclair changes his view of either Grey or Jordan. His comments instead frame them as two performers whose careers can develop on parallel tracks while still colliding over the most valuable prize in NXT’s women’s division. That possibility is one reason the WrestleMania projection carries intrigue: WWE’s biggest future matches often begin with rivalries and championship battles built years earlier.
For now, Jordan’s responsibility is clear. She must successfully navigate Sinclair at Halloween Havoc while continuing to establish what kind of champion she will be. Every defense adds to that picture, and every major match offers another opportunity to demonstrate the poise Stone highlighted.
Grey’s status as a former NXT Champion ensures that her presence remains important even when she is not the one holding the title. Championship experience often changes the way a wrestler is perceived within a division. It provides a reference point for future rivalries and leaves the door open for a return to the top of the card at any time.
Stone’s remarks make clear that he sees Grey as more than a past champion. He placed her alongside the current titleholder in a discussion about the future of the entire women’s wrestling landscape. That is a considerable endorsement, particularly because he stressed that both women are still young and have substantial time ahead of them to develop their careers.
There is also a broader competitive benefit to having a current champion and former champion viewed as potential top-level stars. Jordan and Grey can push one another without either performer being diminished by the other’s success. A strong champion needs credible opponents, while a former champion needs meaningful goals that keep her close to the top. Their respective positions create the potential for a division with multiple wrestlers capable of being presented as central attractions.
Stone’s comments arrive at a moment when NXT continues to serve as a major proving ground for WWE talent. A successful run on the brand can help establish the confidence, experience, and identity needed for larger stages later in a career. However, Stone’s prediction goes well beyond saying Grey and Jordan are ready for bigger opportunities. He is forecasting that each could eventually reach the highest possible level.
That kind of future is built gradually. It depends on championship matches, rivalries, performances under pressure, and the ability to continue evolving as the competition changes. Both Grey and Jordan have already been placed in meaningful positions: Grey has held the NXT Women’s Championship, and Jordan now carries it into Halloween Havoc.
Stone believes they have responded to those opportunities by consistently delivering in major matches. Whether that translates into WrestleMania main events will only be determined over time, but the NXT General Manager has made his outlook unmistakable. He sees Kendal Grey and Kelani Jordan not merely as standouts of the present NXT roster, but as two wrestlers who can shape WWE’s women’s division for years to come.
Jordan’s defense against Sinclair at Halloween Havoc is the next immediate chapter. Beyond that, Grey and Jordan remain two names to watch closely as NXT’s women’s division continues to evolve around its current champion, its former champion, and the high expectations attached to both.
","image_url":"https://smackdownonyou.com/uploads/article-8859110093e4a5e435ba930b.webp","featured":false,"published_at":"2026-10-28 17:04:11","updated_at":"2026-10-28 17:04:11","author":{"type":"Person","slug":"darryl-polo","name":"Darryl Polo","url":"https://smackdownonyou.com/authors/darryl-polo","image_url":"https://smackdownonyou.com/assets/authors/darryl-polo-480.webp","short_bio":"Darryl Polo is a passionate wrestling fan covering WWE, AEW, TNA and beyond. He loves great rivalries, breakout stars and the moments that keep fans talking long after the bell.","bio":["Darryl Polo loves the mix of athleticism, larger-than-life personalities and long-running rivalries that makes professional wrestling unlike anything else. A surprise return, a perfectly timed heel turn or a match that gets the whole crowd on its feet—that’s the kind of moment that keeps him coming back.","At SmackDownOnYou, Darryl brings that fan-first perspective to WWE, AEW, TNA and the wider wrestling world. He enjoys digging into the stories behind the spectacle, following rising talent and revisiting the matches and characters that give wrestling its lasting appeal."],"updated_at":"2026-09-05 06:05:12"},"category":{"id":1,"slug":"wwe","name":"WWE"},"sources":[],"gallery":[],"url":"https://smackdownonyou.com/stories/robert-stone-sees-kendal-grey-and-kelani-jordan-as-future-wrestlemania-main-eventers"},{"id":2634,"slug":"cody-rhodes-says-wrestling-has-reached-its-strongest-cultural-position-yet","title":"Cody Rhodes Says Wrestling Has Reached Its Strongest Cultural Position Yet","dek":"The WWE star views the Street Fighter cast as a meaningful sign of wrestling’s growing visibility beyond the ring, with Roman Reigns and Hirooki Goto joining him in the film.","body_html":"Cody Rhodes believes professional wrestling has arrived at a point where it no longer needs to ask for acceptance from mainstream entertainment. For the WWE star, the presence of three active wrestling names in the upcoming Street Fighter movie — Rhodes, Roman Reigns, and Hirooki Goto — represents a larger milestone for the entire industry.
Rhodes discussed the film and wrestling’s broader cultural standing during a conversation with Denise Salcedo. While the role is an important opportunity for him personally, he framed it as something bigger than an individual achievement. In his view, the casting of wrestlers with distinctly different backgrounds and identities is evidence that performers from the industry are being taken seriously on a wider stage.
“I really think it’s a moment for all of wrestling to be proud,” Rhodes said. “It’s kind of our moment.”
The former WWE Champion has become one of the most recognizable faces in the business during a period of considerable growth for wrestling. WWE has expanded its reach through major media agreements, international events, increasingly prominent crossover appearances, and a roster featuring performers who are known well beyond weekly wrestling programming. Rhodes sees the Street Fighter project as another example of that momentum carrying into entertainment spaces that may once have felt less accessible to wrestlers.
\nFor more background on this topic, read Kayla Becker Says WWE Friendships Have Continued Since Her 2024 Departure.
Rhodes, Reigns, and Goto do not represent one narrow version of what a wrestler can be. Rhodes is one of WWE’s defining modern stars and one of the promotion’s most visible representatives. Reigns has spent years positioned as a centerpiece act in WWE, becoming one of the company’s major crossover attractions. Goto brings a different connection to the global wrestling landscape through his work in Japan.
That range is especially important to Rhodes. Rather than viewing the cast simply as a collection of familiar wrestling names, he sees the group as a reflection of the variety that exists within the industry. The three men come from different places in their careers and carry different public personas, but all are entering the same high-profile film world.
“The fact that you have Roman, you have Goto, and me, and everyone’s vastly different,” Rhodes said, adding that he is excited for what the moment means for wrestling.
The Street Fighter movie gives all three performers an opportunity to work in a property with a long history in gaming and popular culture. Rhodes did not present the project as a guarantee that every wrestler will suddenly become a movie star. Instead, his comments focused on what the casting says about how wrestling talent is now perceived. The door is open wider, he believes, and strong work can lead to more chances.
For performers, that distinction matters. Wrestling has long produced athletes and entertainers with skills that can translate into acting, hosting, voice work, advertising, reality television, and other forms of media. Yet crossover success has not always been assumed. A wrestler had to overcome the old question of whether audiences outside the industry would accept them in a different role.
Rhodes suggested that the question is becoming less limiting than it once was.
While discussing the potential for wrestlers in movies, Rhodes looked back at Dave Bautista’s emergence as Drax in Guardians of the Galaxy. Bautista’s performance helped establish him as a significant actor outside his WWE career, and Rhodes recalled the curiosity surrounding how a wrestler would fit into such a major film.
Rhodes remembered the audience response to one of Drax’s early comedic moments and connected that laugh to Bautista’s wrestling identity. For Rhodes, it was not a case of a performer needing to hide where he came from in order to succeed. It was a moment where audiences could recognize the qualities that made Bautista effective in wrestling while embracing him in a completely different setting.
That example remains relevant as wrestling personalities continue to branch out. Crossover roles do not require every performer to follow the same route, and Rhodes, Reigns, and Goto are not expected to have identical acting careers. But Bautista’s success remains a clear illustration that a wrestler can earn major opportunities in film and deliver work that resonates with audiences.
Rhodes said performers “work your whole life” hoping for opportunities such as a role in a major movie. His remarks carried appreciation for receiving that chance, but also pride that the opportunity includes other wrestlers. The key point was collective: visibility for one wrestler can help create visibility for others.
Beyond the movie, Rhodes made an even broader assessment of the industry’s health. “We are in the best place the business has ever been,” he said.
It is a sweeping statement, but Rhodes’ explanation centered on wrestling’s ability to occupy mainstream spaces without appearing out of place. Fans who have followed the business through different eras will remember periods when wrestling’s position in wider popular culture felt less certain. Wrestling could be enormously successful and still be treated as separate from the entertainment world around it.
Rhodes argued that the industry is no longer in that position. In his view, wrestling does not have to fight simply to be included in mainstream conversations. Its stars, executives, programming, and events are already part of those conversations.
“Mainstream wrestling doesn’t have to fight for mainstream anymore,” Rhodes said.
That does not mean wrestling’s identity has changed beyond recognition. The industry remains built around live audiences, athletic performance, character work, rivalries, and the connection between wrestlers and fans. What has changed is the confidence with which it can enter other areas of culture. A wrestler appearing in a major film is no longer automatically treated as an unusual novelty. The expectation is increasingly that the performer may be well prepared for the opportunity.
Rhodes also included fans in his assessment. He pointed to people who are deeply committed to wrestling as well as those who may only watch casually. For longtime followers, broader acceptance can be particularly meaningful because they remember occasions when their fandom was not something easily shared in every social setting.
His argument was not that every person must become a wrestling fan. It was that fans can now take greater pride in an industry that has built enough cultural presence to be visible without apologizing for itself.
Rhodes credited WWE President Nick Khan and WWE Chief Content Officer Paul “Triple H” Levesque for helping put WWE in what he described as the right position. Khan has been a key executive presence in WWE’s business operations, while Levesque has taken a leading role in the company’s creative direction and talent development.
“We’ve put ourselves in the right place,” Rhodes said. “I don’t think we’re in the rooms anymore where we feel like we shouldn’t be.”
The wording captures the change Rhodes sees in the company’s status. Rather than treating major entertainment rooms as places where wrestling must seek permission to participate, he believes WWE now belongs there. That confidence extends to the performers who represent the company beyond television and premium live events.
Rhodes expects more wrestlers to receive opportunities in outside projects as time goes on, provided they make the most of their chances. He connected that outlook to a message often expressed by his friend John Cena, whose own career has included a substantial move into film and television.
The lesson is straightforward: opportunities may come, but the performer must do good work once they arrive. In that sense, the path for wrestlers entering Hollywood or other entertainment fields is no different from any other professional challenge. The platform can create the opening; preparation and performance determine what follows.
For Rhodes, Street Fighter is a notable current example of that opening. It brings him together with Reigns and Goto in a project that places wrestling talent inside a recognizable global franchise. Whether it becomes a launching point for further roles will be determined over time, but Rhodes already sees value in what the casting represents today.
His message is ultimately one of optimism for the entire wrestling community. The industry’s biggest stars can now move into prominent entertainment projects while still carrying the credibility and distinctiveness that made them valuable wrestling performers in the first place. Rhodes believes wrestling has earned that place — and he expects the next generation of crossover opportunities to continue proving it.
","image_url":"https://smackdownonyou.com/uploads/article-1213ba5dc097bfe9929ecb57.webp","featured":false,"published_at":"2026-10-28 17:03:36","updated_at":"2026-10-28 17:03:36","author":{"type":"Person","slug":"darryl-polo","name":"Darryl Polo","url":"https://smackdownonyou.com/authors/darryl-polo","image_url":"https://smackdownonyou.com/assets/authors/darryl-polo-480.webp","short_bio":"Darryl Polo is a passionate wrestling fan covering WWE, AEW, TNA and beyond. He loves great rivalries, breakout stars and the moments that keep fans talking long after the bell.","bio":["Darryl Polo loves the mix of athleticism, larger-than-life personalities and long-running rivalries that makes professional wrestling unlike anything else. A surprise return, a perfectly timed heel turn or a match that gets the whole crowd on its feet—that’s the kind of moment that keeps him coming back.","At SmackDownOnYou, Darryl brings that fan-first perspective to WWE, AEW, TNA and the wider wrestling world. He enjoys digging into the stories behind the spectacle, following rising talent and revisiting the matches and characters that give wrestling its lasting appeal."],"updated_at":"2026-09-05 06:05:12"},"category":{"id":1,"slug":"wwe","name":"WWE"},"sources":[],"gallery":[{"path":"https://smackdownonyou.com/uploads/article-ffb22045ee8907f7dab2a891.webp","alt":"Cody Rhodes looking ahead","caption":"Image related to this report."}],"url":"https://smackdownonyou.com/stories/cody-rhodes-says-wrestling-has-reached-its-strongest-cultural-position-yet"},{"id":2633,"slug":"recurring-local-buildings-in-territory-wrestling-markets","title":"Recurring Local Buildings in Territory Wrestling Markets","dek":"Armories, civic auditoriums, theaters, stadiums and larger arenas served distinct roles in documented wrestling markets. These examples show how access, scheduling, oversight, publicity and building scale affected local cards.","body_html":"Historic wrestling is often remembered through the names of armories and civic buildings, but the surviving examples resist a one-size-fits-all picture. Louisville’s leading promotion ran Thursday cards at the Savoy, a vaudeville theater, in 1933, while a rival promoted heavyweight shows at the Armory. In Los Angeles, the Olympic Auditorium became a weekly wrestling site in 1945. Dallas’s Sportatorium was also a weekly home for World Class Championship Wrestling. A venue label alone, then, does not tell a viewer whether a building was used for a regular card, a competing presentation, or a major stop within a broader local market.
The useful question is what kind of continuity a room provided. A regular date could make wrestling part of a town’s calendar without making the building exclusive to wrestling. In Oshawa, weekly Tuesday cards in the early 1950s generally presented three bouts, with three-fall main events or semifinals. The WWE venue history similarly identifies weekly wrestling at the Olympic Auditorium and the Sportatorium. Those examples document an operational rhythm: a promoter could return to a recognizable room on a predictable schedule and present a repeatable card structure there.
Oshawa offers a particularly clear example of the difference between a building and the routine attached to it. Pat Milosh’s Tuesday format was modestly structured rather than built around an oversized program: three bouts were the general pattern, and the longer multi-fall matches were placed in prominent positions. That evidence does not show that every weekly card everywhere followed the same formula. It does show why researchers should examine advertisements, reports and surviving programs for the recurring night, the number of bouts and the billing hierarchy, rather than treating venue names as self-explanatory.
A recurring date also did not prevent an exceptional attraction from changing the scale of a particular night. Jack Dempsey refereed a 1952 Oshawa match that drew more than 3,000 fans to the arena, while the standard weekly format continued to illustrate the regular local routine. The contrast is valuable because it separates two ideas that are easily blurred in nostalgia: a venue may be a dependable weekly home, yet a special guest or attraction can make one card substantially different from the ordinary schedule. A single attendance figure should therefore be read alongside the card’s context.
The August 1947 Oshawa return demonstrates an unusually visible connection between a wrestling card and downtown promotion. A flute band paraded downtown before appearing at the arena that evening. More than 1,000 people attended the card, compared with reported recent crowds of roughly 500 to 600. The Pat Milosh profile presents this as a local publicity push with a markedly stronger gate. It is a concrete example, not proof that parades were a standard wrestling tactic across every market, but it shows how the route to the building could become part of the night’s promotion.
The same Oshawa record places media around the arena experience rather than only before it. Newspaper and radio coverage followed the cards, and CKLB broadcast weekly shows live from ringside for listeners who were not in attendance. For a fan reading old coverage, that creates several separate pieces of evidence: a listing or preview may establish the scheduled card, a report may document what happened, and a radio reference may show that the event reached beyond the ticket-holding audience. None should automatically be treated as a complete attendance or financial record.
Venue availability was not simply a matter of finding an empty hall. After a 1947 riot in Oshawa, the arena manager stopped further wrestling until crowd-control concerns were addressed. The Athletic Commission considered removing ringside seating following the disorder. This is a specific local case in which safety concerns and commission involvement affected the conditions under which wrestling could be presented. It cautions against viewing seating layouts as neutral scenery: ringside arrangements could be subject to scrutiny, and a promoter’s ability to run depended on more than the ring and the advertised talent.
Louisville supplies a different form of outside influence. Kentucky’s State Board of Athletic Control became involved with wrestling after a 1928 legal amendment. For the prized Derby Eve Armory date, the state awarded access to the promotion it judged to have submitted the best card. When Abe Finberg attempted to book the Armory directly for that date in 1933, conflict with local interests followed and the effort was abandoned after State Board pressure. The Derby Eve report therefore documents that a prestigious building date could be contested through regulatory and local power structures.
A large building was not a guarantee of a large paying crowd. Finberg’s 1933 Louisville Armory shows drew 1,283 and 1,275, figures far below the Armory’s later reported capacity of more than 7,000 for Allen Athletic Club police-benefit events. On one March card, 2,000 attended but only 750 admissions were paid because broad free-entry offers had been made. These numbers are a practical reminder that capacity, attendance and paid admissions measure different things. A poster’s grand venue name cannot settle which of those figures a historical claim is describing.
The Louisville evidence also keeps ticket policy in view. Women admitted free to one card still had to pay the state-required amusement tax. That detail shows that a free-admission offer was not necessarily the same as cost-free entry, and that public levies formed part of the ticketing environment. More broadly, the Armory hosted wrestling by 1914 and a 1953 program advertised a benefit for the Louisville Police Widows and Orphan’s Fund. A civic-oriented room could thus appear in ordinary competition, special annual booking disputes and charitable presentations at different points in its history.
The loss of a building could reshape a promoter’s map immediately. After Oshawa Arena burned in September 1953, Milosh began the next season in Bowmanville and then used an outdoor civic stadium in Oshawa. When Oshawa facilities were unavailable, he also expanded into Whitby, Cobourg and Port Perry. This does not establish that a single venue was unnecessary; rather, it documents a local circuit adapting around several available towns and buildings. For historians, a gap in one town’s venue record may therefore signal relocation or substitution rather than an end to the promotion’s activity.
The Oshawa stadium arrangement also recorded a practical vulnerability of that particular outdoor site. Rain repeatedly created refund pressure at the civic stadium, even as fans continued to attend weekly shows. Milosh advertised Kinsmen Stadium cards with Oshawa Arena as a rain alternative. The arrangement is useful because it makes contingency planning visible in the promotion itself. In this documented case, weather was a condition of presenting the outdoor card, and the advertised indoor alternative formed part of how the event was offered to the public.
Oshawa’s Civic Auditorium opened in 1964 after a local effort to build a new arena, and Milosh dealt with its first manager for 25 years. The building held more than 4,000 standing and on several occasions in the 1970s drew crowds close to capacity. Those details show a municipal-scale room that sat above a small local hall without being treated here as a national mega-arena. They also show why a long promoter-building relationship deserves attention: continuity can be documented through recurring access and long dealings with a venue manager, not only through a promoter’s public billing.
Yet durability did not equal guaranteed access. Milosh later said difficulty booking the Civic prevented him from obtaining television tapings, which instead went to Brantford Civic Centre. Sources also described 1970s difficulties in Oshawa involving both Civic bookings and talent. The evidence is limited to this promoter and market, but it corrects an easy assumption: a prominent civic building could remain central to local wrestling history while still being difficult to secure. When comparing towns, the key issue is not merely whether a suitable building existed, but whether the promotion could book it when needed.
The Cow Palace and Atlanta’s Omni provide a limited comparison between large venues with different documented wrestling schedules. The Cow Palace, originally built as the California State Livestock Pavilion for rodeo and sports, became a regular host for Roy Shire’s National All-Star Wrestling in the 1960s and seated nearly 13,000. The Omni began presenting weekly Georgia Championship Wrestling cards in May 1973, but by the early 1980s its pattern had shifted toward monthly major events in a 16,000-seat arena. These examples show that capacity alone does not identify a building’s wrestling role; the schedule attached to the venue also matters.
Other large-building examples underline the importance of frequency. Memphis’s Mid-South Coliseum hosted Jerry Lawler on Monday nights through much of the 1970s and 1980s. Mid-Atlantic-related crowds packed Greensboro Coliseum monthly, and the first four Starrcade events were held there after the NWA launched the event in 1983. Wrestling could also adapt to unusual available space: the later ECW Arena had been a railroad freight warehouse and then a bingo hall before becoming a weekly television-taping site in 1993. Taken together, these records point fans toward a better comparison: ask what schedule, scale and access pattern a building supported, rather than ranking venues solely by size or prestige.