Metal fans finally got their wish last week when Iron Maiden, global icons of the genre, were finally inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame. Maiden, Phil Collins, Billy Idol, Joy Division/New Order, Oasis, Sade, Luther Vandross and Wu-Tang Clan were announced as this year’s main honorees. 

“Induction into the Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame is music’s highest honor,” John Sykes, chairman of the Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame, said in a statement. “We look forward to celebrating these remarkable artists at this year’s ceremony — it’s going to be an unforgettable night.”

Maiden fans were quick to point out, however, that the band will be on tour in Australia when the November 14 ceremony takes place in Los Angeles, and band manager Rod Smallwood confirmed in an e-mail to Billboard that the metal legends will be unable to attend. 

“As the most observant have already noticed, the band will be on tour in Australia around the November date of the induction ceremony for the Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame in Los Angeles,” Smallwood wrote. “In accepting, Iron Maiden made it very clear to the Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame that the fans always come first and that the shows will, of course, go on. We would like to assure all our fans in Australasia that the Australian and New Zealand dates will remain unaffected and we look forward to bringing the ‘Run For Your Lives’ tour to them on the penultimate stop of our 50th-anniversary celebrations.”

Hard rockers Skid Row have been without a permanent singer now for two years following the exit of former H.E.A.T. frontman Erik Gronwall who departed for health reasons. Halestorm’s Lzzy Hale filled in with the band for a handful of dates, but her commitments to her main gig make it virtually impossible for her to join Skid Row on a full-time basis. 

Earlier this year, the band announced a partnership with music gear company Sweetwater for a worldwide search for their new singer. Bassist Rachel Bolan shared an update on the search in a recent interview with Chaoszine saying: “We’re pretty focused in on a couple of guys. We haven’t made a decision yet. We’re taking our time. We’re taking our time, because we have the luxury of doing that right now. We don’t have to rush. We don’t have any tours planned. We don’t have anything like that. So in the meantime, Snake and I have been getting together and writing. Scotti and I have been writing. And we’re just doing that. We’re doing that, prepping for if we find a singer tomorrow, we could go into the studio or we could start rehearsing. But, yeah, we got some guys on our radar, but like I said, not making any rushed decisions.”

Skid Row fans have long hoped for the return of classic frontman Sebastian Bach, but the reunion hasn’t materialized for a variety of reasons. Bach was also recently announced as the new singer for Twisted Sister’s reunion shows later this year. 

In sad news first broken by former wrestler Marc Mero on X, Mark Hildreth, best known as the eccentric WCW star Van Hammer, has died aged 66. As of writing, no cause of death has been reported, with an autopsy outstanding. The U.S. Navy veteran trained by Boris Malenko, Hildreth burst onto the scene in the early 1990s with his flamboyant heavy-metal-guitarist persona and was memorable as a member of Raven’s Flock and the Misfits in Action stable under the name Major Stash.

“It is with a heavy heart that I share the passing of our dear friend, Mark Hildreth, known to so many as Van Hammer. At this time, we are still awaiting answers regarding the cause, pending an autopsy … My heart goes out to his family, his friends, and the fans who supported him throughout his journey. Rest easy, my friend. You will always be remembered.” – Marc Mero

Standing 6’6” and weighing around 280 pounds, Van Hammer looked set for wrestling stardom from the beginning, with his signature “Heavy Metal” gimmick. In 1992, he triumphed in Jesse Ventura’s Strongest Arms arm-wrestling tournament, though he never won a major title. Still, for WCW fans, he will always be fondly remembered for his imposing presence and versatility across multiple gimmicks in the unpredictable 90s wrestling landscape. 

Following The Sandman’s retirement match hosted by Game Changer Wrestling, old tweets from the promotion’s owner resurfaced online, revealing a sharp irony. Years earlier, Brett Lauderdale had described the hardcore veteran as eternally fried and, in a just-deleted tweet, an aging wrestler grappling with drug addiction and brain damage, cautioning fans against expecting any form of leadership from him after he criticized women’s headlining shows. Yet despite those candid remarks, GCW still proudly staged his farewell match on Friday night, reminding fans that money talks in the wrestling business.

“Sandman is not a leader. He’s an old man who’s also a drug addict with brain damage. We should expect nothing from him.” –  x.com/Lauderdale11/status/1201232761815736320

“Who could possibly care enough about The Sandman’s opinion to be offended? What do you expect from the guy? He’s usually wasted, permanently shot out, and eternally fried. Not everyone is a beacon of progression nor should we expect them to be. Everything’s gonna be ok.” – x.com/Lauderdale11/status/1201004564188684288

The Sandman, real name James Fullington, became ECW’s ultimate Hardcore Icon from 1992 onward. The beer-guzzling, cane-wielding brawler captured the ECW World Heavyweight Championship a record five times and electrified crowds with his legendary entrances set to Metallica’s “Enter Sandman.” He engaged in memorable feuds with Tommy Dreamer and Raven before having runs in WCW, TNA, and WWE. Celebrated more for raw charisma than technical skill, Sandman retired on April 17, 2026, after a fun loss to the Invisible Man at GCW’s Joey Janela’s Spring Break X, locking in his status as an extreme wrestling legend. 

Over WrestleMania 42 weekend, Stephanie McMahon offered a calm yet dismissive response to a fan when asked about Goldberg recently calling her husband, Triple H, a “Jackass” over cutting his Hall of Fame speech short. McMahon first inquired whether the comments were old or recent, then replied coolly, “Well, people say a lot of things.” When pressed further, she suggested she doesn’t worry about what others say. Her measured reaction effectively brushed off the controversy without escalating the long-running personal feud.

“When? A long time ago or recently? … Well, people say a lot of things, yeah, I don’t.” – Stephanie McMahon

The longstanding tension between Goldberg and Triple H reignited in 2026 when the WWE Hall of Famer publicly labeled his former rival a “jackass” during a meet and greet. Frustrated after his 2025 retirement speech was cut short following a loss to Gunther, Goldberg suggested Triple H, now WWE’s Chief Content Officer, was likely responsible for the perceived disrespect. The blunt comments, captured in a fanfilmed video, quickly went viral and revived memories of their heated history both inside and outside the ring.

Charlie, the New Zealand-born wrestler and Twitch streamer formerly known as Dakota Kai in WWE, has sparked excitement online with her striking new hairstyle. In a high-energy video posted on X, she confidently showed off the bold cut, pairing the reveal with fierce emojis that signal a more intense, battle-hardened edge. Fans would subsequently go to the replies with admiration for its attitude and fresh style.

Born Cheree Crowley in Auckland, Charlie debuted in 2007 and earned international acclaim on the independents, including a PWWA Championship reign in Australia and standout performances in SHIMMER and Japan’s STARDOM. From there, she joined WWE in 2017 as Dakota Kai, excelling in NXT with two Women’s Tag Team Championship wins and later joining Damage CTRL on the main roster for additional tag title reigns. And while she was released for a second time in May 2025, she returned to the indies in March 2026 as simply Charlie, competing against AEW’s Kris Statlander at Pro Wrestling EVE’s Wrestle Queendom in her first match back.

Dani Luna, the English powerhouse known for her suplex-heavy style and explosive moves like the Luna Landing, has shared her personal heartbreak on social media, divulging to followers that her father has unexpectedly passed away. While on a layover en route to Las Vegas for WrestleMania weekend appearances, the former TNA star received the devastating news, and she immediately turned around and flew home to support her grieving family. Luna publicly thanked promotions for their compassion and understanding during this terrible loss.

27-year-old Luna, real name Chloe Smyth, debuted in 2016 and rose rapidly through the UK independent scene, capturing multiple titles. After a run in WWE’s NXT UK and a major ACL injury, she excelled in RevPro with a lengthy Undisputed British Women’s Championship reign. In TNA from 2023 to 2026, she formed the acclaimed tag team Spitfire with Jody Threat, winning the Knockouts World Tag Team Titles twice and earning Year-End honors. However, she recently left the company after requesting her release, with many believing she is AEW-bound.

Ted DiBiase Jr. made a surprise appearance at WrestleMania 42, taking in the action from the crowd at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas just weeks after his acquittal in a high-profile federal welfare fraud trial. Freshly cleared of all charges, the former WWE star shared photos from the night on social media, where he saw his former Legacy stablemates Cody Rhodes and Randy Orton headline the show. This outing has sparked renewed speculation about a potential return to the spotlight, with it appearing that both Rhodes and Orton will be feuding for the foreseeable future.

Formed in late 2008 on Raw, Legacy was a villainous stable built around multi-generational wrestling pedigrees. Third-generation Randy Orton served as the group’s ruthless centerpiece, mentoring and often bullying protégés Cody Rhodes and Ted DiBiase Jr. The faction evolved from the Priceless tag team of Rhodes and DiBiase, who captured the World Tag Team Titles after turning on Hardcore Holly. Legacy dominated 2009 storylines, helping Orton win multiple matches while feuding with legends like D-Generation X and John Cena. And while the group dissolved dramatically, it arguably remains the highlight of DiBiase Jr.’s career.

Following her WWE return at WrestleMania 42, Paige made an appearance with the Bellas at the WrestleMania 42 post-show, candidly discussing her comeback and her first WWE match since 2017. Declaring WWE her true home where she was raised and proudly proclaiming, “I’m a WWE girl forever and a Total Diva.” Stepping onto the massive stage ahead of her unannounced appearance, she admitted feeling nervous about the crowd’s reaction and revealed she had to ask herself, “What does Paige do?” having not played the character for so long.

“WWE is my home, I was raised here, I’m a WWE girl forever, and a Total Diva. I didn’t know how anyone was gonna react. I’m walking out there, I forgot how big WrestleManias were. It was magical, it was surreal, I forgot how to skip at one point. I was like, ‘What do I do? What does Paige do?‘” – Paige

Born Saraya-Jade Bevis in Norwich, England, Paige debuted at age 13 in her family’s promotion. After thriving on the British independent scene, she joined WWE in 2011, won the inaugural NXT Women’s Championship, and shocked the world by capturing the Divas Title on her main roster debut after WrestleMania XXX. Neck injuries forced her retirement in 2018, but she eventually returned to the ring in AEW as Saraya, winning their Women’s World Championship in a memorable moment at All In.

Unexpected Former WWE Wrestler Spotted At The Hall Of Fame In an unexpected surprise at the 2026 WWE Hall of Fame ceremony, eagle-eyed fans spotted former cult favorite James Ellsworth in attendance. The unassuming underdog, best remembered for his 2016 rivalry with AJ Styles, lit up social media with nostalgic fans wondering whether his former in-ring rival had personally invited him to witness his induction in person.

Ellsworth’s 2016 feud with AJ Styles remains one of WWE’s most entertaining underdog stories on SmackDown, beginning when the arrogant champion picked the chinless enhancement talent as an easy opponent, only for it to backfire. The rivalry mixed comedy, chaos, and drama, making Ellsworth an unlikely cult hero for a brief time before he returned to the indies.

Gunnar Eudy, son of wrestling legend Sid Vicious, has openly expressed disappointment with his father’s 2026 WWE Hall of Fame Legacy induction. In a candid Facebook post, he criticized the lack of promotional ads and merchandise for Sid in the official gift shop, especially given that Dennis Rodman’s was plentiful. Calling the situation “disappointing and disrespectful,” he believes industry politics and jealousies had sidelined his father’s legacy during the ceremony. Nevertheless, he cherished attending with his own son and proudly took home the official Hall of Fame ring.

Since its revival as an annual WrestleMania-week event, the WWE Hall of Fame has faced persistent criticism over its legitimacy and selection process. Unlike traditional sports halls of fame with independent voters and physical museums, WWE’s version remains a company-controlled one without a dedicated building. Controversies often center on questionable celebrity inductees with limited wrestling ties, snubs of deserving legends, and the Legacy wing’s abbreviated tributes. While the Hall honors wrestling history, many fans argue it prioritizes promotional value and corporate narrative over genuine recognition.

Former WWE star Jake Hager delivered a dominant performance in his Power Slap debut on April 17, 2026, securing a brutal third-round knockout victory over Devin Jenkins. The former two-time WWE champion displayed impressive patience during the opening rounds before landing a decisive strike that ended the contest, followed by an expletive comment towards his former boss, Tony Khan. Competing in Las Vegas during WrestleMania week, Hager’s explosive finish marked a strong entry into Dana White’s slap-fighting league under a six-appearance contract, further showcasing his combat sports prowess.

44-year-old Hager built a formidable foundation in combat sports through elite amateur wrestling. A standout heavyweight at the University of Oklahoma, he earned All-American honors and set a single-season record with 30 pins. Following his successful WWE run as Jack Swagger, which included World Heavyweight and ECW Championship reigns, Hager transitioned to MMA. Signing with Bellator in 2017, he compiled an undefeated 3-0 record, including one no contest, before retiring from the sport in 2023 to focus on his then-wrestling career with AEW.