In a new interview on Chris Van Vliet’s Insight podcast, ECW legend The Sandman pulled no punches about his WWE tenure, telling the host, “I hated it there, dude. I had no friends. It was soul-sucking.” He dreaded every flight, loathed the locker room, and couldn’t wait to escape the building. So eager was he to leave that officials had to tell him to stop leaving early, which is a big no-no in WWE.

“I hated it there, dude. I had no friends. It was soul-sucking. I hated to get on a plane. I hated to go there. I hated to be in the locker room. I couldn’t wait to get out of the fucking building … They had to tell me to stop going home early. I was giving them five minutes and bouncing.” – The Sandman

Sandman’s WWE chapter (2005–2007) began with a bang at ECW One Night Stand, delivering one of wrestling’s most iconic entrances. Signed for the 2006 Sci-Fi revival, he shone in the Originals vs. New Breed feud and stood tall at WrestleMania 23 before 80,000 fans. Yet after being drafted to Raw, the structured environment and short matches felt stifling. Released in September 2007, the brief run gave him a major-stage spotlight but never captured his true cane-swinging, beer-soaked essence.

During a press conference alongside New Japan President Hiroshi Tanahashi, veteran wrestler Hiroyoshi Tenzan officially announced his upcoming retirement from the ring. The 55-year-old veteran will step away after one final match on August 15, 2026, at Ryogoku Sumo Hall during the G1 Climax 36 semifinals. Trained in the NJPW dojo, he made his debut on January 11, 1991, at just 19 years old and quickly rose as one of the promotion’s most resilient competitors and will therefore be missed greatly by long-term fans.

“Thank you for coming today. It’s been 35 years for me in wrestling, but on August 15, I will officially retire. I don’t know whether it’s been a long 35 years or if it’s gone by in a flash, but I know that I’ve had so much support from so many people, and I’m so very thankful. I came into this business not knowing right from left, but to come as far as I did, and to have lived as a pro-wrestler is something that I’m truly grateful for. If there’s anything that I can do after I retire to help NJPW in any way, then I would appreciate the chance.” – Hiroyoshi Tenzan

Over his decorated 35-year journey, Tenzan captured the IWGP Heavyweight Championship four times, a record 12 IWGP Tag Team titles, and won the prestigious G1 Climax tournament on three occasions (2003, 2004, and 2006). A founding member of nWo Japan and later Great Bash Heel, he memorably formed iconic partnerships with Masahiro Chono and Satoshi Kojima. And while he never became a big star in the United States, he did wrestle sporadically for WCW in the 90s, sharing the ring with names such as Randy Savage, The British Bulldog, and Rick Steiner.

While speaking to Sam Roberts on WWE Now following Backlash, Danhausen addressed the chaotic mystery-partner rumors that dominated dirt sheets in recent days. The eccentric star playfully mocked the nonstop online speculation, which bounced wildly among names like CM Punk, Oba Femi, and even Jelly Roll, before it was ultimately revealed that his partner was a Minihausen, played by former Los Matadores mascot, El Torito.

“Here’s the thing, people go ‘Oh, it’s confirmed it’s Cola-Man Punk, oh it’s confirmed it’s Oba Femi.’ They’re great, however, who said that? Who put that responsibility on me? I didn’t even want to find one. Why would I ask them? It’s Jelly Roll, it’s Cola-Man Punk, it’s Oba,’ I saw these were confirmed stories by the way. All three within a week, all confirmed. I should’ve had all of them.” – Danhausen

Signed to WWE in February 2026 after his AEW contract expired, Danhausen made an unforgettable debut at Elimination Chamber, bursting from a mysterious crate alongside his Ghoulhausens dancers. Though he initially faced mixed reactions, the quirky performer swiftly won over audiences with hilarious backstage segments, effective curses, and record-breaking merchandise sales. By WrestleMania 42, he had become one of WWE’s top sellers and earned his first in-ring victory on SmackDown against Kit Wilson, solidifying his status as a chaotic fan favorite in record time.

Following her emotional loss to IYO SKY at WWE Backlash, Asuka shared a heartfelt in-ring embrace with her former protégé, which seemed extra emotional. And now, on Wrestling Observer Radio, Dave Meltzer has revealed that the veteran is considered “semi-retired” after the match. What exactly this meant wasn’t clear, but as those backstage were saying goodbye to her, it suggests the 44-year-old could be gone for the foreseeable future.

“So, the story I heard is that she is semi-retired. I haven’t really gotten an exact meaning of what semi-retired means, but I guess people were wishing her goodbye and things like that backstage. So I don’t know if that means she’s going to Japan and still wrestle. I don’t know if that means she’s going to still do stuff here and there, but I was told semi-retired.” – Dave Meltzer

Asuka, real name Kanako Urai, joined WWE in 2015 and immediately dominated NXT, capturing the Women’s Championship and holding it for a record 510 days while protecting an undefeated streak. After her 2017 main roster call-up, the Japanese star achieved remarkable success as a three-time Raw Women’s Champion, one-time SmackDown Women’s Champion, five-time Women’s Tag Team Champion, and 2020 Women’s Money in the Bank winner. Widely regarded as one of the greatest female wrestlers ever, Asuka proved that a Japanese women’s wrestler could excel in WWE, opening the door for IYO SKY and Kairi Sane.

The big surprise at WWE Backlash 2026 was that Danhausen’s mystery partner wasn’t CM Punk or Jelly Roll, but Minihausen, who burst from a cloning machine to answer the rising star. The agile mini wrestler dazzled fans with crisp lucha libre maneuvers, perfectly complementing Danhausen’s chaotic energy to defeat The Miz and Kit Wilson. And now, after wowing the crows, PWInsider.com has reported that the pint-sized clone was former WWE talent El Torito.

“El Torito was the ‘Minihausen’ who teamed with Danhausen as his mystery partner.” – PWInsider.com

El Torito is a legendary Mexican luchador also known as Mascarita Dorada and Mascarita Sagrada. Debuting in 2000, he wrestled as part of AAA’s mini division before moving to CMLL. From there, he had a WWE run from 2013 to 2016 as Los Matadores’ mascot, which memorably featured his acclaimed WeeLC victory over Hornswoggle at Extreme Rules 2014. Yet, while he was released in 2016, WWE’s acquisition of AAA opened the door for his unexpected return.

“Margo’s Got Money Troubles” is now streaming via Apple TV, and the series stars Nicole Kidman, Elle Fanning, Nick Offerman and also features a cameo from Chris Jericho. 

Offerman plays ex-wrestler “Jinx Millet,” and on a recent episode of Talk Is Jericho, he shared how he prepared for the role. Offerman said he spent months in the gym and later trained with Chavo Guerrero and other wrestlers for several weeks. He said that the physical pain of working in the ring surprised him. “But I’m old enough that I listened to them, and I didn’t try to do anything past what the teacher said,” Offerman told Jericho. “So that allowed them to trust me to then let me eventually fly off the top rope, but it was so fun. I mean, it was so fun.”

Offerman added that he has a newfound respect for Jericho and his peers in pro wrestling. “But I gotta say, one of the main reasons I was happy to talk to you is just to sing your praises,” he said. “It’s something that I will never again watch any wrestling without remembering how brutal it is. People make a big deal over the showmanship of it or that it’s not based in reality. And it’s certainly a combination of showbiz and sport, but the sport part is pretty damn real.”

Offerman continued: “The ribs that I felt like I ended up with, some ribs out of place, just connective tissue, you know, getting shoved around. At the end of the day, I felt like I had played four games of football and been in a car accident, and we were being nice to me. So, it’s hats off to everybody who does what you guys do. It’s incredible.”

Check out the full Talk Is Jericho episode below. 

MORE: Chris Jericho Reveals How He Landed Role On “Margo’s Got Money Troubles”

While speaking on Good Karma Wrestling, AEW’s Harley Cameron has downplayed Mina Shirakawa ripping her top during this week’s Dynamiting, claiming that the Japanese wrestler believed she was already wearing her ring gear underneath. While this seems far-fetched, Cameron explained that, as her standard wrestling attire is essentially a bra,  just like Shirakawa’s, it wasn’t a big deal anyway, and she laughed off the fan outrage, noting, “Just watch my matches. I wear a lot less.”

“Popped a titty. Look, Mina got all riled up, and she just thought I was wearing my gear underneath, which I wasn’t. For everyone who had a heart attack over it, let me just preface by saying my wrestling gear is actually just a bra. I wrestle in a bra, if anyone takes care to notice … When she ripped the shirt off, I was like, I got to take the rest of it off now, you know. For anyone that was a little bit taken aback, I mean, guys, just watch my matches. I wear a lot less.” – Harley Cameron

Born Danielle Glanville in Gold Coast, Australia, Harley Cameron transitioned from fitness, theater, music, and modeling into professional wrestling in 2022. After training at Flatbacks Wrestling School, she debuted on the independent scene before signing with AEW in 2023. Initially appearing alongside The Outcasts and QTV, she quickly evolved into a beloved in-ring competitor, and in December 2025, she and Willow Nightingale captured the inaugural AEW Women’s World Tag Team Championships, which is undoubtedly the Australians career highlight.

Chelsea Green has delivered an encouraging yet candid health update on Busted Open after undergoing a heart procedure to address her long-term supraventricular tachycardia. The popular WWE star suffered a frightening episode during WrestleMania week when her heart rate surged, and she needed medical assistance. Now recovering on bed rest with healing wounds, but she admits to feeling some heaviness in her chest and unusual breathing, but remains optimistic. 

“I’m going back to bed rest. I’ve got one more day of bed rest, and then it’s taking it easy for another week. I’m feeling good. My wounds are healing, and my heart feels heavy, and my breathing is interesting, but we’re on the mend.” – Chelsea Green

Several WWE superstars have bravely overcome heart-related issues and successfully resumed their careers. MVP was diagnosed with Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome in 2007, underwent a successful ablation, and enjoyed a lengthy in-ring run in WWE and then AEW. The Great Khali survived surgery for a pituitary tumor tied to acromegaly, which posed major cardiovascular risks, and returned to competition in 2014. Other notable examples include Scott Steiner and Jerry Lawler, demonstrating that, with medical advances and determination, wrestlers can overcome serious health challenges. 

In heartbreaking news, Matt Tremont has disclosed on Instagram that independent wrestler Braxx, whose real name was Walt Stephen Holloway, has sadly passed away at the age of 31 following a shooting in South Philadelphia. Tremont would remember him as a respectful, chill competitor with a big heart who truly loved the wrestling business and his mother. Outside the ring, he was described as kind and genuine by those who shared the locker room with him.

“Just got some news that my homie Walt aka @braxx__unleashed has passed. We first met at Superkrazze Wrestling and later came to H2O. He would come hang out at GCW as well. From day 1 was respectful and super cool and chill! He wrestled each other a few times & we tagged together. He was meant to be a dominant hardcore giant in the ring and had a big heart outside of it. Kept in touch after we moved and always sent each other funny reels on IG. I was and always will be a Braxx guy! He was my guy, a friend and a Deathmatch warrior. My thoughts and prayers out to his family. I know Braxx is above now and with his momma who he loved dearly. Love ya Braxx 4 ever!” – Matt Tremont

The Philadelphia native built a respected career on the East Coast independent scene, particularly shining in the hardcore and deathmatch divisions. He was a regular competitor for H2O Wrestling, X Brand Wrestling, and Superkrazze Wrestling. Known as a big, dominant presence in the ring, Braxx brought intensity and dedication to every hardcore scramble and deathmatch he entered.

In a raw interview with Peter Rosenberg, WWE star Jacob Fatu admitted battling drug problems that caused him to miss major opportunities, including a booking with Booker T. Juggling street influences and substance abuse with his ring goals, Fatu now believes an earlier WWE call-up would have ended in disaster, viewing his current success as perfectly timed after conquering his personal demons.

“I blew it, and this is why Jacob Fatu got iffy. And, you know, I ain’t ashamed to talk about it because it is what it is. I would have one foot in the streets and another foot in wrestling, and it didn’t work like that. I just had a little drug problem back in the day … I missed Booker’s show because I was hanging in the alley at 5:30 in the morning, supposed to leave, just, man, just left it alone. No, it was the drugs. You know what I mean? It was the drugs. It was the dope I was on. I feel like if I would have been in WWE even a day earlier, bro, I probably would have been let go, and that’s just me keeping it 100.” – Jacon Fatu

Since signing with WWE in April 2024, Jacob Fatu has enjoyed a meteoric rise rooted in the Anoaʻi family legacy and raw talent. The son of The Tonga Kid and cousin to Roman Reigns, The Usos, and Solo Sikoa, he debuted explosively by attacking top stars on SmackDown and quickly captured the WWE Tag Team Titles with Tama Tonga. Transitioning to singles competition in 2025, he won the United States Championship at WrestleMania 41 and turned babyface after splitting from The Bloodline. Now a main-event contender who is challenging Roman Reigns, Fatu has become one of WWE’s most dynamic performers in record time. 

Director Bryan Storkel has confirmed that a major part of Jesse Ventura’s interview was cut from Netflix’s Hulk Hogan documentary, which covered his claim that Hogan reported his attempt to unionize the WWF to Vince McMahon. However, according to the documentary filmmaker, it wasn’t cut for shady reasons but simply because Ventura agreed to participate late, and the story’s inclusion wouldn’t have fit the flow and was considered “too much of a tangent.”

“And then, after Hulk Hogan passed, he came through and said he wanted to do it. You know, when Hogan died, it was kind of the end of an era. It made me feel really mortal. We did cover the whole union story, and you know what went down with Hogan and Jesse when Jesse was trying to form the union, and somehow, unfortunately, that got cut. It was hard to fit into the episode because it was chronological, and it felt like too much of a tangent. But I wish I could have covered that.” – Bryan Storkel

Wrestling’s unionization history is littered with blackballing and betrayal, unlike Mexico’s lucha libre scene, where wrestlers have been unionized under SNL since the 1950s and are tied to CMLL. This has provided some pensions and protections, though critics label it a company union weakened by infighting and limited power. In the U.S., attempts by Jim Wilson in the 1970s and later by Ventura’s drive have failed amid independent-contractor status, promoter retaliation, and superstar self-interest, leaving wrestlers without collective bargaining despite bearing the industry’s physical burdens.

Former WWE star CJ Perry, also known as Lana, continues to captivate fans with her latest Instagram reel. In a vibrant pink bikini, the former Ravishing Russian radiated confidence while outdoors in the sunshine. Laughing playfully, she perfectly synced her movements to Kid Cudi’s “Maui Wowie.” The fun, carefree clip quickly went viral, celebrating Perry’s beauty and joyful spirit well beyond her wrestling days.

Since stepping away from full-time wrestling, CJ Perry has built an entertainment career focused on acting and comedy. She has appeared in major projects including the sci-fi thriller Cosmic Sin alongside Bruce Willis, the Paramount+ film Wifelike, and the action-comedy Snag. Additionally, in 2026, Perry made her stand-up comedy debut with her first full show in Los Angeles, earning positive reviews. She also hosts the candid podcast Identity Crisis, highlighting her remarkable versatility and desire to reinvent herself.