Earlier this weekend, Mercedes Moné vacated the APAC Wrestling Women’s Championship after 140 days, explaining the promotion was unable to fly her out to Malaysia to defend the title. And now the promoter
Ayez Shaukat has issued a measured response to criticism in a social media statement, expressing genuine respect for the AEW star while firmly clarifying that his promotion had actively explored other options to facilitate a title defense.

“I do not blame her for this situation, and I appreciate the opportunity we had to work together. But the public narrative being pushed does not fully reflect what actually happened. We did try. We did explore working with other promotions, because that was what was asked of us. I personally reached out, followed up, and tried to make multiple scenarios work. For more context, I was even willing to go beyond our limits on my side. I openly said I would take on extra work and secure sponsors to try and bring Mercedes to Malaysia.” – Ayez Shaukat

Moné’s “Ultimo Mone” persona marked the glittering pinnacle of her ambitious Belt Collector era. Drawing inspiration from wrestling legend Ultimo Dragon, who once held ten titles simultaneously, she adopted the moniker after capturing an astonishing 14 championships across AEW, NJPW, CMLL, and various independent promotions. Portrayed as an unstoppable force hoarding gold from around the world, the gimmick generated significant buzz and visibility for smaller promotions but always divided fans over its long-term sustainability.

Rock legends Journey are currently in the midst of their recently-launched farewell tour. Singer Arnel Pineda has been with the group since 2007 after the band discovered him performing Journey and other classic rock covers online. Like any frontman singing the amount and frequency that Journey performs, Pineda has had a few vocal struggles in recent years, but he’s largely been praised by his bandmates and fans alike. 

In a recent interview with Rolling Stone, Pineda made a surprising admission that he tried to pull out of the group’s final trek. “Back in 2024, I said to the band, ‘If you’re planning to do a farewell tour, you better tell me, because my issues and my personal problems are getting more intense, and I don’t know if I want to go with you,’” Pineda explained. “I said, ‘I want you to discuss the schedule with me.’ It is what it is now. But then, I was really not happy with how they scheduled this tour. My body has changed. I can’t take the cold weather anymore.”

Pineda said the band didn’t even respond to him, and he also shared that recent divorce left him in a bad head space. “As they say, silence can be louder than explaining,” the frontman remarked. “I said to them I wanted to retire because of my personal problems. No answer. Obviously, they don’t want to find another singer.”

He continued: “My personal problem really took a toll on me. That’s why I wanted to prioritize my family. It’s not that I hate touring with Journey. It’s like the same thing that happened with Steve Perry. He has a hip problem. Me, I have a personal problem that’s taking a toll on me. It’s getting in my head, emotionally. I told them that I was a wreck and needed a little more time so that I could fix my family. But I still have to do this.”

Journey’s farewell tour runs into 2027. 

While social media can be a useful tool for communication, promotion and staying connected to friends and family, it can also be a cesspool for unwanted comments, bullying, misinformation and harassment.  Apparently KISS legend Gene Simmons had enough of trolls on X earlier this weekend, as he put several on blast for claiming he’s greedy and that he should retire.

It started with one X user who claims to be “A Bible-Banging KISS fan” responding to Simmons’ post promoting a new movie he produced, “Deep Water,” which comes out on May 1. “The KISS Army General” on X replied “Don’t you have ENOUGH money yet Gene???” To which Simmons responded: “This is a loser’s question. Warren Buffet, Jeff Bezos, Elon Musk all get up every day and try to make more. No matter how much they’ve got. Get out of your losers’s mentality, and try to win in life, every day.”

Another user commented: “Why can’t people just stop, retire and have some dignity which you a thread of @genesimmons.” Simmons said: “Retire? And do what?”

Another commenter said: “Old men facing impending death like Gene Simmons  hoard wealth and relate with other old men that do the same as compensation. You can’t take it with you Gene.” Simmons fired back: “You’re a jealous loser. You don’t understand, sadly. That was this do some research and find out why the richest and most powerful people on the planet, continue to work hard to try to make more, so they can give more and create more.”

Yet another chimed in: “So you’re a loser because all you love is money? Wow, no wonder you sold your soul for money and you’ll rot away as a band that held on so long that your reputation will be  nothing for the rest of human history.” Simmons quote-tweeted the commenter saying: “Timmy, i’ve paid more than $100 million in taxes. I’ve created thousands of jobs, which enabled thousands of people to feed their families. I’ve contributed millions to wounded warriors, pediatric aids and support 1400 African children. And what have you accomplished in life?”

There were a few other back-and-forth exchanges with other X users chiming in, but the last one claimed that Simmons never held an office or blue collar job, to which the KISS co-founder said: “Well…I started working at 12 years of age working for a butcher, grinding the fat from the butcher’s block. I delivered newspapers. I was the assistant to the director of the Puerto Rican interagency council. I was the assistant of the editor of Vogue magazine. And I was a 6th grade teacher. And what have you done with your life, Chad?”

Several of the exchanges can be viewed below.

Swedish Grammy-Award winning rockers Ghost are one of the biggest bands in their genre earning fans worldwide with their unique combination of heavy metal, hard rock and melodic pop. Sadly the band’s frontman Tobias Forge is allegedly in the midst of a scary situation, as Swedish publication Aftonbladet reports that a woman is under investigation for allegedly stalking and harassing the singer. Aftonbladet reports that a women in her 40s has repeatedly sent messages and letters, asked for money and even sent a phone to Forge over a lengthy span last year. 

“The injured party perceives the perpetrator’s attempts at contact and actions as offensive, intrusive and invasive,” a report reads. Forge said he blocked the woman’s phone number but eventually started getting letters from her at his ome. He didn’t open them until one stood out from the others, and Forge allegedly found a phone packaged inside.

“I didn’t want to keep it in my home, so I put it out on the balcony before handing it over to the police. I’m fairly used to people trying to contact me but over the years I’ve had about a dozen stalkers,” Forge said. “However, none have done anything as invasive and frankly threatening as sending a mobile phone. It wouldn’t have been good if, for example, I lived at a secret address. With that phone, I reached my limit.”

Forge continued: “I’ve had devoted followers before — most are fairly harmless — but there’s something about this that feels unusual. I don’t want to make her life worse. I just want her to leave me alone and not harm anyone else.”

The report states that woman has prior charges for unlawful stalking and multiple counts of harassment and sexual harassment.

In unfortunate news, second-generation wrestler “Flying” Fred Curry, whose real name was Fred Koury Jr. has passed away at the age of 82. This was sadly announced on Friday evening by veteran wrestler Bobby Fulton on Facebook, who acknowledged Curry’s influence on his own career. Curry is survived by his wife, Kandi, and children Nick, Michael, and Fred.

“Today, the legendary ‘Flying’ Fred Curry has passed away. Without him and his father, I wouldn’t have had the opportunities I received.” – Bobby Fulton

Curry was a trailblazing performer and one of professional wrestling’s earliest high-flyers. As the son of the pioneering hard-hitting wrestler Wild Bull Curry, he carried forward a rich family legacy while carving out his own path with athletic, crowd-pleasing aerial maneuvers that thrilled fans decades before the high-flying style became mainstream. His energetic in-ring style and genuine connection with audiences made him one of the most popular wrestlers of the 70s and left an indelible mark on the industry.

In February 2024, former professional wrestler Billy Jack Haynes was arrested at his Portland home following a tense two-hour police standoff, having allegedly fatally shot his wife. Initially, the 72-year-old was ruled mentally unfit for trial in May 2025. Still, following treatment at Oregon State Hospital, KATU.com has now reported he has been declared competent to face second-degree murder charges, with court proceedings scheduled for 2027.

“Multnomah County judge on Friday scheduled the date to begin the murder trial of 72-year-old William Albert Haynes Jr. for next year after the former Portland wrestler was found fit to proceed in his defense, according to court documents. Police arrested Haynes, better known as Billy Jack Haynes, in February 2024, accusing him of shooting and killing his 85-year-old wife, Janette Becraft.” – KATU.com

Born in Portland, Oregon, Haynes began his wrestling journey in 1982 after initially training in Stu Hart’s legendary Dungeon. Subsequently, he competed in Stampede Wrestling and went on to join WWE in 1986. There he wrestled Hercules Hernandez in the unforgettable “Battle of the Full Nelsons” match at WrestleMania III, but after a brief spell in WCW, he retired in the mid-1990s.

In news that few expected heading into WrestleMania 42, the April 3 episode of SmackDown has been harshly criticized by viewers, with the show currently scoring a record-low rating for the brand on Cagematch.net. The intense backlash erupted after the reveal that Pat McAfee was Randy Orton’s mystery ally in the heated feud with Cody Rhodes, with many fans feeling the compelling storyline had been ruined by the nonsensical inclusion of the former NFL player.

CageMatch.net remains the leading wrestling database where fans rate shows on a 0-to-10 scale using a weighted formula that balances votes and prevents review bombing. The April 3 episode of SmackDown now sits alongside other notorious lows like NXT Season 3 Episode 4 (0.29) and WCW Thunder #109 (0.32), all remembered for poor booking and fan frustration. This historic flop highlights growing concerns over creative decisions that seem to prioritize outside personalities over core wrestling storytelling.

WWE personality Byron Saxton has shared the heartbreaking news that his mother, Gladys Kelly, passed away on March 28, 2026, after a courageous 11-month battle with Stage IV colon cancer. Taking to Instagram, Saxton disclosed she died peacefully while celebrating her inspiring journey from Haiti at 19 and her remarkable 50-year career in cosmetology.

“On Saturday morning, March 28th, 2026 at 2:06am, my sister and I watched as our mom’s spirit officially departed this earth and ascended to her residence of eternity in heaven. For nearly 11 months, my family and I have been entrenched in my mom’s battle against Stage IV Colon Cancer … Losing my mom has split my heart in two and created a void that will never be replaced. However, that void will be surrounded by cherished memories of a woman who moved to the United States from her native country of Haiti at the age of 19, established a 50-year cosmetology career and served as the steadfast nucleus of a united family.” – Byron Saxton

44-year-old Saxton began his wrestling journey on the independent circuit in 2003 before signing with WWE in 2007. After training in FCW, he competed as a wrestler, appearing as a rookie on NXT before focusing on broadcasting in 2012, becoming a play-by-play commentator for NXT and later contributing to Raw and SmackDown. And while never the broadcasting face of the company, his smooth delivery has made him a trusted on-air talent for well over a decade.

During a recent virtual signing, former SmackDown co-lead writer Road Dogg revealed he quit WWE in March. At the time, it was claimed he’d received a negative performance review, which prompted his abrupt resignation. However, according to the retired wrestler, he simply wanted to slow down, noting he’d been missing quality time with his family as the main reason.

“It was moving too fast… It was just moving too fast for me. We talked about my brothers and their grandkids, and I didn’t get to spend a whole lot of time with mine so, I’m gonna do more of that now.” – Road Dogg

Brian “Road Dogg” James made significant contributions to WWE over several decades. As a performer in the Attitude Era, he rose to fame as one-half of The New Age Outlaws with Billy Gunn and became a key member of D-Generation X with Road Dogg serving as the group’s charismatic hypeman. Later, he transitioned backstage, working as a producer since 2011 and serving as co-lead writer for SmackDown across multiple stints, helping shape WWE’s storylines and creative direction under Vince McMahon and, later, Triple H.

A TikTok user’s claim of attending highschool with pro wrestler Danhausen has exploded online after @badgalbrih__ shared the screenshot on X. The yearbook image shows a smiling teenage Donovan Danhausen looking worlds away from his trademark evil makeup and curses. As of writing the post, which has racked up over 200,000 views and thousands of likes from those enjoying the wholesome throwback.

High school yearbook photos of pro wrestlers never fail to delight fans with their stark contrast to their larger-than-life personas. The Rock famously appeared as a towering teen with a thick mustache, while The Undertaker was an unassuming basketball-playing kid before becoming the Phenom. Even Vince McMahon’s senior photo at Fishburne Military School helped humanize the future disgraced billionaire.

Jake “Jack Swagger” Hager, the former WWE World Heavyweight Champion and AEW star, is set for a high-profile Power Slap 19 heavyweight championship bout against UFC veteran Roy Nelson. This was announced by Nelson himself, who took to X.com to tweet, “One more dance…..” alongside the promotional poster for the clash on Friday, April 17, at The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas. The event marks Hager’s latest combat sports crossover, having previously fought for Bellator.

Roy “Big Country” Nelson burst onto the UFC scene by winning The Ultimate Fighter Season 10 Heavyweight tournament in 2009, knocking out Brendan Schaub in the finale. The fan-favorite heavyweight, renowned for his devastating overhand right, iron chin, and colorful personality, posted a 9-10 record from 2009 to 2017. This saw Nelson crack the top 10 rankings, but he struggled against elite competition before departing the UFC in 2017.

It was announced earlier this week that Bo Lueders, guitarist for Chicago-based hardcore/punk band Harm’s Way, sadly passed away at just 38 years old. Tributes poured in for Lueders who also co-hosted the popular “HardLore” podcast. 

Notables from the professional wrestling world were among those to share comments including CM Punk, Danhausen and Brody King. Punk wrote via his Instagram: “Check on your people. Reach out if you need help. Tell em you love them. 988 Text, Call, Chat. Anytime. Anywhere. Whether you’re facing mental health struggles, emotional distress, al**hol or d**g use concerns, or just need someone to talk to, counselors are there to help. There’s a lot of stress and sadness in the world right now. Mental health can be a struggle but there’s plenty of support out there. We love you.”

Danhausen posted: “Rest in peace Bo. I love you. I’ll miss you. Check on your friends, tell them you love them.”

Brody King added: “I feel like Bo would get a kick out of making me cry today. Rest in peace My brother.”

Harm’s Way formed in 2006 and have five studio albums to their credit. Check out a track from their latest album, “Common Suffering,” below.