Rezar, of The Authors of Pain tag team, whose real name is Gzim Selmani, recently disclosed that his WWE departure stemmed from a backstage incident he chose not to elaborate on at the time. However, he has now revealed on The Ariel Helwani Show that his WWE release in 2025 followed a backstage confrontation with a member of the Wyatt Sicks, who wanted to “switch up the match,” while in the ring. While no name was given, as Rezar indicated he’d worked for the company longer than they had, it was presumably either Joe Gacy or Dexter Lumis.

“There was an incident at one of the holiday tours that we did. Somebody tried to switch up the match during the match. And that’s just a no-go for me, especially if you’ve just been in the company for a little bit, and we were already there for a long time. You don’t do that. And yeah, I just had to let somebody know. And that was the end of it. They tried to switch up the match in the middle of the match. I’m a professional. Even if I gotta take a beating in the wrestling ring, I do it. And if you’re going to be a scared little b*tch, then it’s not my fault. I will let you know backstage.” – Rezar

The Authors of Pain, comprised of Akam and Rezar alongside manager Paul Ellering, emerged as a dominant NXT force in 2016, capturing the NXT Tag Team Titles and the Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic. From there, they were promoted to Raw in 2018, secured the Raw Tag Team Championships, and briefly formed a faction with Seth Rollins. Released in 2020 amid roster cuts, they re-signed and returned in January 2024, aligning with Karrion Kross and Scarlett in The Final Testament stable until their second release, with Rezar now focused on bare-knuckle boxing.

Kairi Sane has wowed her Instagram followers after sharing a striking new photo simply captioned “Trust.” While a bit out of character for the Japanese WWE star, her ultra-glam look has made it one of her most-liked posts on social media, drawing plenty of comments and reactions from fans who are freaking out over her confidence and evolving persona beyond the ring.

37-year-old Sane, real name Kaori Housako, debuted for Stardom in 2012, capturing major titles, including the World of Stardom Championship, before joining WWE in 2017. From there, she won the inaugural Mae Young Classic, NXT Women’s Championship in 2018, and formed The Kabuki Warriors with Asuka, securing multiple WWE Women’s Tag Team Championship reigns. After departing in 2020, she returned to Japan to be with her husband, but then rejoined WWE in 2023, becoming a breakout star.

With Roman Reigns appearing on this week’s episode of Raw, many fans were keen to hear his response to CM Punk’s prior comment about his late father, Sika. However, many were left disappointed, as Reigns only brought up Punk’s age, which fell short of expectations, as many had predicted that the death of Larry, his beloved dog, would be mentioned to help escalate the feud. And now, according to Bodyslam.net, referencing Larry was initially intended but was dropped for unknown reasons.

“Roman’s ‘You’re Old’ line was not the original creative direction for the segment. The original creative would have seen Roman respond to Punk’s comments about his father with a darker response about Larry (Punk’s late dog).” – Bodyslam.net

Punk and his wife, AJ Lee, adopted their beloved rescue dog Larry from PAWS Chicago in February 2015, where he quickly became a cherished family member and wrestling-world icon. Larry frequently appeared backstage at WWE and AEW events, and even inspired merchandise. Sadly, Larry passed away in late 2025, with Punk announcing the heartbreaking news on Instagram, later going on to credit Larry for changing his life and calling the grief he was dealing with “the price we pay for unconditional love.“

During a recent interview with Monopoly Events, The Great Khali has declared he has zero interest in ever working for AEW. The WWE Hall of Famer would tell the interviewer that his reason was loyalty, as WWE made him “a star.” This comes despite AEW’s history of signing ex-WWE talent to big-money deals and its willingness to use veterans in non-wrestling roles for their name value, such as Paul Wight, Mark Henry, and Jeff Jarrett.

“You know, if I work one day, I just want only, I just want to work only WWE. Because WWE make me star. So otherwise I won’t work for any other company. If I work, I work WWE.” – The Great Khali

53-year-old Khali, real name Dalip Singh Rana, had a memorable WWE run from 2006 to 2014, debuting explosively by overpowering stars like The Undertaker, Kane, and John Cena. This led to him winning the World Heavyweight Championship in a 20-man Battle Royal on SmackDown in 2007, becoming the first Indian-born world champion in WWE history. This success made him a national hero in India, and his 2021 induction into the WWE Hall of Fame cemented his legacy as a wrestling legend.

Royce Keys, formerly known as Powerhouse Hobbs in AEW, made his WWE debut as a surprise entrant in the men’s Royal Rumble in January 2026, immediately gaining new fans. Yet, despite seemingly setting up a match with Damian Priest, he hasn’t appeared on televised WWE programming since. This has subsequently led some fans to question the decision to have him bypass NXT when no plans were in place for him. However, Fightful Select has now confirmed that, during contract negotiations, Keys was adamant about joining the main roster from the off.

“Royce Keys debuted in WWE at the Royal Rumble, but hasn’t been on WWE TV since. We’ve asked for more details regarding his jump to WWE. We haven’t been told of specific plans creatively, but that when negotiating his WWE deal, he was adamant he be on the main roster as opposed to NXT. There are other talent that has happened with, including Penta and Rey Fenix.” – Fightful Select

41-year-old Keys enjoyed a solid five-year run in AEW, starting as a face before turning heel and joining Team Taz. He later aligned with factions such as the Don Callis Family and The Opps, with his most notable achievement being a 42-day reign as AEW TNT Champion in 2023. And while it’s known that Tony Khan was keen to keep him in All Elite, offering a big-money deal to stay, the pull of WWE was too strong for the hard-hitting wrestler.

Ricochet, the AEW star and former National Champion, sparked intense backlash on Monday after replying to a fan’s mocking comment on X with the harsh words, “I’m glad you got MS.” The fan, who openly shares her life with Multiple Sclerosis, had criticized his acting during a backstage meltdown video, and Ricochet was clearly upset by this.

Yet despite the provocation, fans condemned the remark as insensitive and cruel,  with thousands unfollowing him. However, Ricochet would stand by his comment, defending himself by citing years of vile abuse and death threats directed at him and his wife, Samatha Irvine, on the platform. Still, the controversy clearly highlights the pitfalls of having an edgy online heel persona.

37-year-old Ricochet, known as @KingRicochet on X.com, actively uses the app to amplify his television character, frequently engaging directly with fans in sharp, confrontational replies. This sees the former WWE wrestler blast critics, defend his AEW run, and regularly take shots at his previous employer. His detractors, though, claim he goes too far, with another potential example of this coming earlier this year, after Ricochet called retired referee Jimmy Korderas an “old ass c*ck idiot,” after he incorrectly claimed he’d extended his WWE contract, when in fact his run there was all over a single five-year deal.

Jack Perry, son of the late actor Luke Perry, won the AEW National Championship in a 21-man Blackjack Battle Royal at AEW Revolution in his hometown of Los Angeles. And subsequently, during the post-show press conference, Perry shared an emotional reflection on his father’s death seven years earlier in March 2019. Recalling childhood visits to the arena, Perry would heartbreakingly say, “The person who I wish could be here the most isn’t here,” acknowledging how special the moment would have been.

“As I said, today’s kind of bittersweet. I don’t talk about it too much. My dad died, like seven years ago now … And today, coming here, being in this building, the only time I’ve been here was walking around with my dad. And at that point, I was so young, I was probably still holding his hand. It was interesting, and it was really cool for me to now be here in this way, but it was also sad because I was thinking, you know, the person who I wish could be here the most isn’t here.”  – Jack Perry

Luke Perry, the late actor best known for Beverly Hills 90210, was a devoted fan of professional wrestling and frequently attended live events in Los Angeles, where he often sat ringside and interacted with wrestlers. His passion deeply influenced his son, Jack, who grew up watching WWE events with him, including attending SummerSlam 2009 when he was 12. Therefore, while it was a big career moment for Perry to win the title at Revolution, it’s understandable why he considered it “bittersweet.”

In a striking coincidence, during AEW Revolution, both Britt Baker and Sammy Guevara addressed fan questions about their absences from television and the pay-per-view event. Baker, sidelined since November 2024, replied to a fan’s query by tweeting, “Not up to me,” implying the decision rests with AEW management. Similarly, Guevara, who most recently has been wrestling for ROH, responded on X.com, saying, “Not up to me amigo,” echoing that his exclusion wasn’t his choice.

Absences from AEW television are usually tied to creative decisions and looming or uncertain contract situations. Examples of this include Chris Jericho, who has been off TV since April 2025, with many predicting he will return to WWE once his AEW contract expires. Similarly, Anna Jay has been missing from programming for an extended period, as her contract nears expiration in spring 2026. Whether she is headed to WWE is uncertain, but it’s believed she’s open to exploring her options, with it almost inevitable WWE will at least offer her an NXT deal.

Former WWE star Alberto Del Rio stepped into the boxing ring at the Ring Royale event on March 15, 2026, in Monterrey, Mexico, facing fitness influencer Chuy Almada. However, the match, streamed on YouTube, descended into chaos in the second round when Del Rio, who appeared tired and frustrated, gestured to his corner, and a massive brawl erupted as team members from both sides flooded the ring. This incident marks yet another controversial chapter in the wrestler’s career, although most believe the melee was pre-planned.

48-year-old Del Rio, real name José Alberto Rodríguez, son of luchador Dos Caras, launched his wrestling career in 2000 in AAA and Japan, later excelling in CMLL. In WWE, he became the first Mexican-born world champion, winning the WWE Championship and World Heavyweight Championship twice each. Additionally, he had an MMA career, amassing a 9-6 professional record, with his most notable bouts being a knockout defeat to Mirko Cro Cop in 2003 and a submission defeat to Tito Ortiz in 2019.

Following Toni Storm’s victory over Marina Shafir at AEW Revolution, former UFC champion Ronda Rousey shockingly called out the beloved AEW star, who was quick to respond. This required security and officials to swarm and keep them apart, with Shafir then blindsiding Storm with a sucker punch, adding to the chaos. This surprise appearance, coming amid Rousey’s preparations for her comeback fight against Gina Carano on May 16, has now prompted fans to speculate about a potential match between the former WWE wrestlers.

39-year-old Rousey went from being a huge name in MMA to professional wrestling in 2018, signing with WWE and debuting at WrestleMania 34 alongside Kurt Angle in a mixed tag match. From there, she captured the Raw Women’s Championship, became a key part of the women’s evolution, and main-evented WrestleMania 35 in a historic triple threat. However, her second WWE run was far less memorable, and despite making her Ring of Honor debut teaming with Marina Shafir, it was thought Rousey had quietly retired from the ring.

Santos Escobar’s WWE status was called into question on Sunday when fans took to social media to note that his profile was listed in the company’s Alumni section. This followed his lackluster appearance in AAA’s Rey de Reyes tournament final the previous day, where his in-ring performance appeared to be very lethargic, supporting the speculation that he had been released. However, Bodyslam.net has clarified that he remains employed, and his misclarification stems from a website oversight.

“Sources indicate to Bodyslam that Escobar is still with WWE and expected to continue in a program with El Hijo de Dr. Wagner Jr. for the AAA Latin American Championship on AAA TV. Escobar has been in the alumni section since his contract expired back in October, before re-signing with WWE a day later.” – Bodyslam.net

41-year-old Escobar re-signed with WWE in October 2025 after a brief contract lapse. Yet despite reportedly signing a big-money deal to keep him from joining AEW, he then experienced a prolonged absence from WWE television. He finally returned to action on NXT house shows in January 20026, including a singles match with El Hijo de Dr. Wagner Jr., leading to him joining the AAA roster and competing in the high-profile Rey de Reyes tournament.

Eagle-eyed fans online have noted that Santos Escobar has been quietly moved to the WWE’s alumni section on WWE.com following his fatal four-way match against La Parka, El Grande Americano, and the “Original” El Grande Americano. Escobar only re-signed with WWE in October 2025 and returned to AAA in January 2026. Still, fans are now speculating he may have departed the company following the match, which saw  El Grande Americano crowned AAA’s Rey de Reyes tournament winner.

41-year-old Escobar, real name Jorge Luis Alcantar Bolly, signed with WWE in August 2019 and debuted in NXT as El Hijo del Fantasma. He would go on to win the Interim NXT Cruiserweight Championship in June 2020, then unmask and adopt his current name, forming Legado Del Fantasma. From there, he moved to SmackDown in 2022, joined the Latino World Order in 2023 as a face, then turned heel to reform Legado while feuding with Rey Mysterio. And while he would depart WWE at the end of his last contract, he re-signed with a few days left, with it believed WWE offered him big money to keep him from becoming All Elite.