Former WWE, WCW, and TNA writer Vince Russo has ignited fresh concern by claiming that AEW star Darby Allin is living with a “death wish.” Reacting to Mick Foley’s public offer to counsel the 33-year-old high-flyer, Russo highlighted on his podcast that in Allin’s own interviews, he has openly admitted not fearing death and already having “one foot in the grave.” The outspoken veteran expressed strong doubt that even the legendary Foley could persuade Allin to dial back the extreme risks that have come to define his electrifying yet perilous career.

“I got to tell you this, and I’ve said this about Darby Allin before, just based on what he said in some of his interviews. I read something recently where he says, ‘I’m not afraid of death. I already have one foot in the grave.’ Bro, I think this guy, I don’t think there’s any way Mick Foley or anybody else is going to get this guy to scale back. I really believe he’s got a death wish. I mean, for a guy to say I’m not afraid of death.” – Vince Russo

Darby Allin has earned a reputation as one of wrestling’s most fearless daredevils through a string of jaw-dropping, high-stakes spots. Famous for his signature Coffin Drop from ladders, stages, and the top rope, he regularly slams onto concrete floors, flaming tables, glass doors, and steel steps. His wild arsenal includes skateboard dives, stage leaps into crowds, and brutal suplexes onto unforgiving surfaces. Yet despite injuries like a broken foot and concussions, Allin always bounces back quickly, delighting fans while sparking serious safety concerns.

AEW star Will Ospreay sparked a social media storm during the June 17 episode of Dynamite when he boldly told the crowd he had “smashed the life out of” his new wife, Alex Windsor, joking that she should clean up while he headed to the arena instead of enjoying a honeymoon. The cheeky remark delighted fans nostalgic for the Attitude Era’s edgy humor, but others slammed it as misogynistic. However, true to form, the British wrestler has brushed off the criticism with a nonchalant tweet, telling one fan to “Touch grass,” splitting the wrestling community again with his reply.

Ospreay and Alex Windsor tied the knot in a joyful ceremony on June 14, 2026, exactly one year after announcing their engagement. The British star shared a heartfelt wedding photo online with the simple caption, “Hey, we did it.” Windsor was previously married to Ospreay’s late friend Ryan Smile, who tragically died in 2020. After supporting each other through the grief, the longtime friends grew closer, began dating around 2022, and Ospreay now fully embraces his role as stepfather to their son.

While speaking to Chris Van Vliet, former WWE Diva Layla has opened up about turning down a tempting $250,000 offer from Playboy back in 2007. Approached as part of the glamorous Extreme Exposé trio, she declined both the group shoot and a lucrative solo spread. The Moroccan-born star stood firm by her strong Muslim family values, fearing she would disappoint her loved ones, especially her brother. Though Layla remains proud of safeguarding her personal boundaries, she admitted that the big payday could have allowed her to retire from wrestling years earlier.

“I was like, no, I’m not doing it. Honestly, I was really scared because a lot of people don’t know this, I’m Arab. I’m Moroccan heritage. My family are Muslim and I was always told don’t do anything like that. I knew my brother, oh my God, my brother would have been so mad. So that’s why I said no. I think that’s going too far. What I’m doing already is a lot. I’m glad I said no because I really couldn’t see myself going through the shoot. But I’m also sad I said no because I could have probably retired that year.” – Layla

During the bold Attitude and Ruthless Aggression eras, several WWE Divas would fully embrace Playboy’s spotlight. Iconic cover stars included Sable, Chyna, Torrie Wilson, Christy Hemme, Candice Michelle, Ashley Massaro, and Maria Kanellis, the final Diva to grace a full cover and pictorial. Maryse and Tiffany also appeared in special editions before joining the company. These high-profile shoots served as major marketing triumphs for WWE at the time, though the company has since distanced itself from that edgy past in its current PG-rated era.

In an interview with CMLL Informa, Tessa Blanchard revealed to fans in Mexico that TNA management gave her an ultimatum of either being their wrestler or CMLL’s. This would see her pick the lucha libre promotion after talking to her legendary father, Tully Blanchard, who noted that Mexico is where she has built her home and that she considers herself “the most Mexican Gringa.” This revelation is likely embarrassing to TNA, which almost certainly believed she would choose them.

“I want to sort things out and set the record straight today. Here, I have a life, and I feel very happy. The U.S. company (TNA) asked me, “Tessa, you need to decide whether you’re a CMLL wrestler or a TNA wrestler.” I took my time to think it over with my dad, whom I trust very much. My life is here. I’m not just another foreigner, I’m the most Mexican Gringa. I have many goals to achieve here, and I already reached the top of the mountain. I won everything over there, but here I have many dreams and goals to pursue. I needed to focus my career and my life here in Mexico, and from this moment on, I’m 100% with CMLL.” – Tessa Blanchard

Tessa exploded onto the CMLL scene in late 2023, winning the prestigious Women’s International Grand Prix that instantly marked her as an international sensation. In August 2024, she teamed with Lluvia to capture the CMLL World Women’s Tag Team Titles, becoming the first American to hold them and solidifying her status as a third-generation powerhouse. By relocating to Mexico City and mastering the language, she has now fully embraced the culture and looks set to wow Arena Mexico crowds for the foreseeable future.

MJF has opened up on the Shut Up and Wrestle podcast about the brutal physical price he pays as one of AEW’s top stars. He noted that while fans continue to demand more matches from him, he is already in constant pain at just 30 years old. Adding “I can’t imagine what I’m gonna feel like when I’m 40 or 50,” he would acknowledge he signed up for this life, but wishes fans were more understanding of the heavy toll the ring takes on the body.

“I always laugh, especially earlier on in my AEW career, when fans were like, ‘Why isn’t MJF wrestling more?’ Fck you, you take a bump, it hurts, everything we do in there hurts. Like, while you’re interviewing me right now, my knee is fcked. It’s swollen to sht. I’m in a sht-ton of f*cking pain … There is this new wrestling fandom of these younger kids that think this is all funsies, and they don’t understand how much we’re putting on the line physically every time we go through the curtain. It takes a toll, dude. I’m 30, I’m in pain, and I’m only 30. I can’t imagine what I’m gonna feel like when I’m 40 or 50. I signed up for this. This was my decision and my dream to chase. However, I just wish wrestling fans understood more that every time we go out there, it’s painful.” – MJF

During his time in AEW, MJF has already endured a fractured elbow that sidelined him for weeks, a dislocated shoulder, and remains in constant hip and arm pain. Most recently, he hyperextended his knee during a brutal match against Rush, leaving it badly swollen. It’s therefore no surprise that he has decided to stop taking independent bookings, despite the big money they pay, choosing instead to limit his bumps and protect his body for long-term success in AEW.

During a recent podcast appearance, former announcer Jonathan Coachman claimed that LA Knight has backstage heat with management following his pinfall in the King of the Ring fatal four-way. While Knight’s popularity remains high and his mic skills continue to thrill audiences, WWE management appears reluctant to fully push the 44-year-old megastar. Whether this is due to backstage heat or just not seeing him at the same level as names like Cody Rhodes, Jey Uso, and CM Punk is unclear, but Coachmen believes it’s because he has enemies in the office.

“People need to understand in a fatal four-way, it’s not how you lose, but if you take the one, two, three, that’s a big deal. Who did they pin in that fatal four-way? They pinned LA Knight. You could have pinned Finn Balor. Hell, you could have pinned Royce Keys for whatever reason. He’s got heat with the office, as we like to say, and they know they need to use him. They need him on the mic, but they don’t want to have him get over. And this is the result of that.” – Jonathan Coachman

Starting as Slate Randall in 2013, where he worked enhancement matches for WWE, Knight thrived as Eli Drake on the independents and in TNA, and his rise to fame is remarkable. And while his main roster call-up as Max Dupri almost ended his time in WWE, he has since won the United States Championship twice, headlined premium events, and become a staple with his Yeah catchphrase, establishing a career few would have thought possible just a few years ago.

The wrestling world is currently reeling from the devastating loss of Pete Doherty, the beloved “Duke of Dorchester,” who has passed away at age 85. The Cauliflower Alley Club announced this sad news on social media, describing him as a true character who brought charisma and a larger-than-life personality to every arena. Best known as an enhancement talent, he entertained crowds for decades, helping to define classic WWF television.

“The CAC is saddened to hear the unforgettable Pete Doherty has passed away at the age of 81, known to fans everywhere as the Duke of Dorchester. A true character in professional wrestling who brought charisma along with a larger-than-life personality to every arena he stepped into. We send our sincerest condolences to his family and friends.” – facebook.com/caulifloweralleyclub.org

Born in Dorchester, Massachusetts, this Army veteran exploded onto the scene in the early 1970s, first as Irish Pete Doherty, then as the masked heel Golden Terror, before becoming the iconic Duke in 1985. For nearly 25 years, he lit up arenas with his wild-eyed energy and an over-the-top personality. He even competed against Bret Hart in the untelevised 1991 King of the Ring tournament, in what would be one of his final matches.

In recent weeks, several names have departed TNA, including Steve Maclin, Tessa Blanchard, and Myla Grace. However, arguably the most shocking exit was Tommy Dreamer, a key member of the creative team. And now, after news broke that Sami Callihan, who had been working as both a producer and in the merchandise department, has been let go, he has revealed on X.com that he actually thought he was being promoted to a creative role when he received the call from TNA.

Callihan leaves behind a rich legacy built on hardcore classics and intense rivalries with stars like Eddie Edwards and Tessa Blanchard, highlighted by his thrilling 2019 World Championship victory over Brian Cage. And while he retired from active competition in 2025, his influence remained strong through multiple backstage roles. Still, undeterred by the sudden departure amid the wave of exits, the veteran is now channeling his passion into growing his independent promotion, Pro Wrestling Revolver.

During an interview on The Downside, Simone Johnson, better known as Ava to NXT fans, commented on her January 2026 departure from WWE, admitting that no single explosive incident triggered her exit, but rather a steady buildup of factors. Still, the fourth-generation performer and daughter of The Rock expressed gratitude for her six-year odyssey, which allowed her to live out her wildest childhood dream. This featured her going from stepping between the ropes to controlling NXT as its youngest General Manager.

“There wasn’t one particular thing, unfortunately. It was a lot of things and something that had been on my mind for a while. I am so grateful for my time in WWE. I wouldn’t change it for the world. I got to live out the dream. It was time for something new and different. I don’t regret leaving, and I’m really happy now.” – Simone Johnson

Simone Johnson burst onto NXT screens in October 2022 as the enigmatic Ava Raine in Joe Gacy’s Schism faction, making her in-ring debut at Stand and Deliver 2023. Yet she would wrestle only six matches, with it speculated that knee injuries prevented her from competing, and instead, she was first made Shawn Michaels’ assistant before becoming NXT’s youngest General Manager at just 22, overseeing weekly NXT events from a storyline perspective.

Kris Statlander has stunned AEW fans with a wild revelation in an interview with the Daily Star, revealing she’s had the scars from her bed-of-nails bump in the historic 2025 Women’s Blood & Guts match tattooed so they always look freshly bleeding. Now, whenever she visits the medical room, the staff panics at the sight, believing she’s freshly hurt, only to realize it’s just her ink.

“I don’t know if this really counts as a rib, but this is just like a silly little thing. My scars that I got from taking the bed of nails at Blood and Guts, I got those scars tattooed on my back in red, so they always look fresh. So, every time I go to the medical room to get my back worked on or something, and they see my shirt, they always think it’s like a fresh cut. And they’re like, “I can’t work on your back.” And then they’re like, “Oh, wait. No, it’s a tattoo.” So, it’s not really a rib, but it is kind of funny that it gets them every single time.” – Kris Statlander

In the first-ever Women’s Blood & Guts match on Dynamite, Statlander brought absolute chaos as she battled inside the unforgiving steel cage. Her personal highlights included taking a vicious bed-of-nails slam from Marina Shafir and soaring off the top with Mercedes Moné through a table in a genuine jaw-dropping moment. That unforgettable night cemented her fearless reputation and inspired the distinctive tattoo that now serves as a permanent hardcore badge of honor.

In a major development shaking TNA Wrestling, Tommy Dreamer has departed the promotion following a meeting with executive Carlos Silva. And now Fightful Select is reporting that Road Dogg is a strong candidate to replace him in the creative department. The former WWE writer had left the company earlier this year, citing a desire to spend more time with his family. However, it is well known that he was frustrated with WWE’s corporate direction and his limited creative influence, suggesting the right role could tempt him.

“Fightful immediately heard from industry sources that Road Dogg had been discussed within TNA as a potential replacement for Tommy Dreamer. Road Dogg left WWE earlier this year.” – FightFul Select

Road Dogg rose from a WWE producer in 2011 to become the head writer of SmackDown by 2019. After his release, he returned in 2022 as Senior Vice President of Live Events and later reclaimed co-head writer duties on SmackDown in 2025 before voluntarily departing in March 2026. With his deep understanding of production, wrestling storytelling, and talent development, Road Dogg could be the right person to bring fresh energy and direction to TNA, which is in desperate need of a creative spark since moving to AMC.

WWE’s commitment to the Danhausen character continues as the company has filed a trademark application for “Human Monies.” The filing covers a wide range of merchandise, including shirts, hoodies, jackets, costumes, posters, trading cards, and stickers. This strategic move comes amid Danhausen’s skyrocketing popularity following his main roster debut and recent high-profile NBA appearances, which have helped turn him into a global wrestling sensation.

Born in Detroit, Donovan Danhausen began his wrestling career in 2013 with his eccentric “very nice, very evil” horror-comedy persona. He first gained prominence in Ring of Honor before landing his biggest break in AEW. However, his unique style didn’t fully fit AEW’s sports-based presentation, leading to his departure earlier this year. Still, knowing how he could move merchandise, he almost immediately signed with WWE, where his hilarious demands for “human monies” to lift curses have made him a fan favorite.