Paul Heyman appeared visibly stunned by Brock Lesnar’s sudden retirement following his WrestleMania 42 loss to Oba Femi in Las Vegas. And now, while speaking to TMZ, The Wiseman claims he had no idea Lesnar planned to walk away, jokingly asking why he would have predicted 15 more years of dominance if he knew. In the ring, Heyman’s tears flowed freely as he dismissed any suggestion of acting, insisting the emotion was entirely real.

“No. If I knew he was gonna retire, would I have gone on record saying he was gonna dominate for the next 15 years? Why is Harvey asking these stupid questions? I was crying. Am I that good of an actor that I can cry on cue? Not I. Not I.” – Paul Heyman

For more than two decades, Heyman and Lesnar formed one of WWE’s most iconic and authentic partnerships. Heyman first spotted Lesnar’s potential in 2002, becoming his manager and guiding him to become the youngest Undisputed Champion by defeating The Rock. Their electric chemistry of Lesnar’s destructive power, paired with Heyman’s masterful promos, produced legendary moments, including the Undertaker streak-ending victory at WrestleMania 30. Their emotional full-circle moment at WrestleMania 42 marked the end of a rare wrestling brotherhood built on trust and success. However, many remain skeptical, as some feel it could be an elaborate storyline or a way for him to return to MMA.

As Backlash draws near this Saturday in Tampa, excitement is building around Danhausen’s mystery tag team partner for his clash against The Miz and Kit Wilson. And while betting odds suggest that real-life friend CM Punk is the favorite to align with his fellow AEW alumni, the Wrestling Observer’s Bryan Alvarez has stated on X.com that he has heard that musician Jelly Roll is a potential partner, noting that this fun celebrity crossover actually fits ongoing creative ideas.

“I can’t confirm this but I am hearing speculation that the mystery partner for Danhausen is, in fact, Jelly Roll, which would make a LOT more sense than an unadvertised PLE appearance by CM Punk.” – Bryan Alvarez

41-year-old Jelly Roll, whose real name is Jason DeFord, made his WWE debut in 2024, where he chockslammed both Austin Theory and Grayson Waller, immediately catching fans’ attention. Subsequently, in 2025, he commenced a feud with Logan Paul, which led him to team with Randy Orton at SummerSlam 2025 against the YouTuber and Drew McIntyre in a match that was far better than most predicted. Then in 2026, the Grammy-winning artist returned to SmackDown, securing his first singles win over Kit Wilson in March and appearing at WrestleMania 42 to aid Cody Rhodes by elbow-dropping Pat McAfee through a table.

WWE Hall of Famer Teddy Long has shared a candid group photo on X.com from a recent Legends reunion, sparking major buzz among fans. The image shows The Undertaker sporting a surprising new look, with closely cropped white hair and having ditched his typical headwear for the event. Surrounded by wrestling icons like Booker T, Bruce Prichard, and The Godfather, the Phenom appeared relaxed and approachable, demonstrating a more casual side of the wrestling legend, far removed from his intimidating, mythical in-ring persona.

Since retiring from in-ring competition in 2020, The Undertaker has remained deeply connected to the wrestling world. He serves as a WWE brand ambassador, an occasional on-screen personality, and a coach. The Deadman also hosts a popular podcast where he shares untold career stories, interviews fellow legends, and gives candid opinions on today’s product. However, most notably, following WWE’s acquisition of AAA, he has taken a key backstage role in creative and booking, helping blend strong US  storytelling with Lucha Libre traditions.

Evan Stanley and Nick Simmons, the sons of KISS legends Paul Stanley and Gene Simmons, are getting set for the full length release of their “Simmons Stanley” project, and the duo also made their live debut earlier this month. “Dancing While The World is Ending” is set for an Aug. 28 release, and three singles from the record are already available. 

The pair hasn’t been without its detractors, however, with critics throwing out tired accusations of nepotism claiming the group wouldn’t have the opportunity if not for their famous fathers. One very ugly comment caught the attention of Paul Stanley on X. A user wrote: “F*ck ur kids band!!! They haven’t paid their dues… Who do u think you are.” 

Stanley shot back: “You clearly don’t want to accept that your own lack of talent is the reason you continue to fail at everything. If your father was famous you would still get nowhere because you are too busy looking enviously at others instead of looking at yourself and realizing the obvious.”

Check out the video for the title track of Stanley Simmons’ upcoming album below. 

Metal legends Iron Maiden were recently announced as 2026 inductees into the Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame, and the group has also been in the news surrounding the release of a new documentary, “Iron Maiden: Burning Ambition.” Singer Bruce Dickison talked about changes in the music industry while on the red carpet of the documentary’s premiere. 

“The problem you have is that costs keep going up and everything else,” he said. “But that’s not an excuse for doing crazy, crazy ticket prices. We’ve always tried to keep our ticket prices lower than the general norm because, frankly, we don’t want a bunch of very rich people standing in front of the stage. We want real fans to be standing there, and they don’t always have loads of money. So it’s really important for us as a band to have that facility. We want young kids at the shows, and they don’t have loads of money. They’re gonna get their money from dad. But dad, these days, money’s tight. So it’s important to try and keep ticket prices within the bounds of reason.”

Check out the trailer for the band’s new doc and brief clip from from the film below. 

Raja Jackson, son of UFC legend Quinton “Rampage” Jackson, has avoided trial by reaching a plea deal in his high-profile assault case. According to the New York Post, the 26-year-old entered a no-contest plea to felony battery causing serious bodily injury, admitting to personally inflicting great bodily harm and engaging in violent conduct. The resolution stems from a shocking incident at a Knokx Pro Wrestling event, and Jackson now faces sentencing in late June. At this time, he could receive 90 days in county jail, more than $81,000 in restitution to the victim, and two years of formal probation.

“Raja also admitted to two special allegations, including personal infliction of great bodily injury and engaging in violent conduct. Raja is slated to be sentenced in late June, and the rep for the District Attorney’s Office told The Post his ‘anticipated sentence is 90 days actual county jail; restitution of $81,703.38; and two years formal probation.’” – NYPost.com

In August 2025, Jackson jumped into the ring at a Knokx Pro Wrestling show and launched a vicious attack on independent wrestler Stuart Smith, known as Syko Stu. After an earlier parking-lot confrontation, Jackson slammed the wrestler onto his head and rained down repeated punches to his face until he was unconscious. The brutal assault left Smith hospitalized with severe injuries, including a badly lacerated lip and multiple missing teeth. Video footage of the disturbing incident quickly spread, sending shockwaves through the wrestling community and resulting in Jackson’s felony arrest.

Abadon, the self-proclaimed Living Dead Girl, has captivated fans with a striking new photograph shared on X.com. Featuring long hair in bold black and neon green tones, dramatic gothic makeup, and a revealing bodysuit adorned with a goat skull, the image perfectly embodies their dark, elegant aesthetic. Captioned with a virus emoji and shared to promote their Patreon for exclusive content, the post has drawn an outpouring of admiration from followers, who are celebrating the unforgettable figure’s body confidence.

Abadon launched their professional wrestling career in January 2019 after training at Rocky Mountain Pro Academy. They quickly became a standout on the independents, capturing the Rocky Mountain Pro Lockettes Championship twice. Subsequently, they signed with All Elite Wrestling in 2020 and rose to fan favorite status with their horror-inspired persona, facing top stars like Hikaru Shida. However, after a five-year run in AEW and ROH that ended in 2025, Abadon has returned to the independent scene, where their unique style continues to mesmerize audiences worldwide.

Now entering its seventh season, Dark Side of the Ring officially returns on July 7 at 9 p.m. ET on Vice TV, kicking off with a revealing three-part examination of TNA Wrestling and co-founder Jeff Jarrett. This was confirmed via the X.com account of the popular docuseries, which also announced that the season will feature episodes on the Big Boss Man, Paul Orndorff, Samoa Joe vs. Necro Butcher, and Missy Hyatt.

“And we’re back! Season 7 premieres July 7 at 9PM on @VICETV. The season kicks off with a three-part deep dive into TNA and co-founder Jeff Jarrett, alongside stories on The Big Boss Man, Paul Orndorff, Samoa Joe vs. Necro Butcher, Missy Hyatt and more.” – x.com/DarkSideOfRing

Dark Side of the Ring burst onto screens on April 10, 2019, on Vice TV, quickly carving out a reputation as professional wrestling’s most unflinching documentary series. Created by Evan Husney and Jason Eisener, the show delves into the sport’s shadowy underbelly using raw interviews, rare archival footage, and gripping re-enactments. From its debut season, which covered topics such as the Montreal Screwjob, Bruiser Brody’s murder, and the Von Erich tragedy, it earned widespread acclaim for its bold storytelling and impressive ratings.

WWE President Nick Khan has signed a major contract extension with TKO Group Holdings, ensuring he remains in his pivotal role through 2030. Detailed in a recent SEC filing, the deal highlights Khan’s instrumental contributions to WWE’s post-merger success, including landmark media rights negotiations, international expansion, sponsorship growth, and record-breaking premium live events. Based in Los Angeles, the veteran executive will continue to steer the company’s strategic direction under TKO’s leadership, reinforcing confidence in his forward-thinking vision for the future of sports entertainment.

“The parties agree that the term of this Agreement and Khan’s employment hereunder is for a period commencing on the Effective Date and ending on December 31, 2030.” – SEC Filing

Born in 1974 in Las Vegas to immigrant parents, Nick Khan earned a BA from UNLV and a Juris Doctor from Whittier Law School. He started as a California attorney before transitioning into talent representation. After joining CAA in 2012 and rising to Co-Head of Television, he negotiated massive deals for top broadcasters, the SEC, and Top Rank Boxing. Khan first connected with WWE as their external agent, helping secure the game-changing 2019 agreements with Fox and NBCUniversal. Vince McMahon would then hire him in August 2020, and he has since played a central role in the Netflix deal and the TKO merger. 

Natalia Class, better known to fans as Salina de la Renta, continues to captivate the wrestling world with her fearless confidence, having recently shared a striking social media photo, writing as the caption, “I think lingerie has become my uniform.” Blending glamour, athleticism, and unapologetic style, the MLW VP continues to solidify her status as a dynamic, empowering figure who constantly pushes boundaries both inside and outside the squared circle.

Born on February 6, 1997, in Carolina, Puerto Rico, Class debuted in 2016 as Mila Naniki on the independent scene, where she quickly claimed titles including the ACW Women’s Championship before joining MLW in 2018 as the cunning Salina de la Renta. Leading Promociones Dorado, she guided multiple stars while becoming the first Latina executive producer and Spanish-language female commentator for a major U.S. wrestling TV show. Now Vice President of Wrestler Relations, she remains a multi-talented powerhouse blending in-ring charisma, management, and creative leadership.

Former NJPW star EVIL, whose real name is Takaaki Watanabe, officially signed with WWE in April 2026 after leaving New Japan Pro-Wrestling in January, ending months of heavy speculation about his next destination. Much of the buzz stemmed from his longtime relationship with WWE star IYO SKY, with many believing he moved to the United States to be closer to her. And now, during this week’s episode of NXT, it was revealed that, from now on, he will perform under the new ring name “NARAKU,” injecting fresh menace into NXT and sparking excitement over future matchups.

In Japanese, Naraku (奈落) translates to “hell” or “abyss,” directly referencing the deepest realms of suffering in Buddhist cosmology. The chilling name perfectly suits EVIL’s “King of Darkness” persona, establishing him as a ruthless, inescapable force of torment in the ring. Although Fightful previously reported that WWE had planned to use the trademarked name Nox Raijin, it appears the company opted for a last-minute switch to NARAKU, giving the former IWGP champion an even darker and more culturally resonant identity for his WWE run.

Ted Turner, the visionary media mogul and founder of CNN, passed away peacefully on May 6, 2026, at the age of 87. While best known for revolutionizing 24-hour news, Turner left a massive mark on professional wrestling. In 1988, he acquired Jim Crockett Promotions and transformed it into World Championship Wrestling, turning a regional territory into a national powerhouse that aired on his TBS superstation and later TNT. A lifelong fan of the sport’s entertainment value, Turner protected WCW through financial ups and downs for over a decade.

“Ted Turner, the media maverick and philanthropist who founded CNN, a pioneering 24-hour network that revolutionized television news, died peacefully Wednesday, surrounded by his family, according to a news release from Turner Enterprises. He was 87.” – CNN.com

Under Turner’s ownership, WCW exploded in the 1990s with the launch of Monday Nitro in 1995, igniting the legendary Monday Night Wars against Vince McMahon’s WWF. The revolutionary nWo storyline helped WCW dominate ratings for years and changed wrestling forever. Though the company ultimately folded in 2001 after AOL Time Warner’s sale to WWE, the hands-off billionaire owner’s bold investment proved that wrestling could thrive on cable television and produced one of the most exciting eras in pro wrestling history.