During Thursday’s AEW x NJPW Forbidden Door media call, Tony Khan laughed off the suggestion when asked about purchasing TNA Wrestling for $40 million and firmly ruled out the rumored asking price. While he acknowledged the promotion’s valuable video library and rich wrestling history, he emphasized that such an acquisition is not a priority for him at this time. Khan also confirmed that no serious discussions have taken place. He compared the opportunity to other desirable but price-dependent deals, stating that the $40 million figure was too high.

“It has value. It would have to be the right price. The video library has a lot of great wrestlers over the years. Certainly not the top priority for me as an acquisition right now. It’s not something I’ve had any serious conversations about. Like a lot of things in life, it could be an interesting purchase if the price was right, but isn’t that true of so many things in life? There are a lot of excellent automobiles that I would love to have in my garage, but it would depend on the price. At [$40 million], no, absolutely not.” – Tony Khan

TNA was founded in 2002 by Jeff and Jerry Jarrett. The company was later taken over by the Carter family, who acquired majority control that same year for $250,000. Dixie Carter eventually rose to lead the promotion and, by 2013, became its sole owner after buying out her partners. Later financial struggles led to Billy Corgan’s brief involvement in 2016. In 2017, Anthem Sports & Entertainment purchased an 85% stake, with Dixie retaining a small minority share. At present, Anthem remains the parent company, although it was recently reported that the promotion could be available for between $30 million and $50 million, with WWE reportedly having the first option.

TNA Knockout Elayna Black has ignited social media with a sultry beach photo shared on X just hours before her appearance on Thursday night’s iMPACT. In the photo, the former NXT wrestler is confidently posing under a scenic pier wearing a sleek leopard-print one-piece swimsuit, with ocean waves crashing in the background. Captioned “Just being hot before I cause trouble on your TV screens again tonight!”, the post quickly drew widespread praise from fans, which will hopefully help ratings.

25-year-old Black, whose real name is Brianna Coda, originally made her TNA debut in 2019. She returned dramatically in early 2025 as Cora Jade, confronting Knockouts World Champion Masha Slamovich at Genesis. After her WWE release and a period of reflection, she made a full-time comeback in January 2026 on the historic first Thursday Night iMPACT! On AMC. She has since scored key victories and established herself as a top contender for championship gold in the women’s division.

During a new interview with Chris Van Vliet, Big E has spoken with genuine compassion about Ridge Holland, whose career was forever changed after the accidental neck injury he inflicted on him. The former WWE Champion stressed that Holland has faced overwhelming struggles since then, including his own devastating injuries, the loss of his job, and the heavy responsibility of supporting a young family. While Big E continues to thrive in broadcasting and harbors no resentment, he expressed deep sorrow that one moment will likely define Holland’s entire WWE tenure.

“I know it really altered his career, and I tried to put out a statement or two to tell people there’s no ill will whatsoever, please leave this man alone. But more than anything, he has a family to take care of. He has kids, and to see him, one, he dealt with a devastating injury of his own. He dealt with losing his job. I really felt for him, continue to feel for him, because I tell people I’m in a great place … I really hate that his tenure in WWE, for the most part, a lot of it’s going to be defined by the injury and his role in it. But I really feel for him and for his family, and I truly hope he’s in a better place.” – Big E

Ridge Holland, real name Luke Menzies, joined WWE in 2018 and impressed in NXT as a powerhouse wrestler. From there, he joined Sheamus and Butch in the Brawling Brutes stable on SmackDown and looked set for a big push. However, his momentum was shattered in March 2022 when a botched belly-to-belly suplex caused Big E’s career-ending neck injury. The incident triggered intense backlash, death threats, and deep personal guilt for Holland. Further hampered by multiple injuries of his own, including a serious foot injury suffered in TNA in 2025, WWE decided not to renew his contract in November 2025 while he was still recovering, ending his seven-year tenure with a whimper.

At 65 years old, WWE Hall of Famer Charles Wright, better known as The Godfather, continues to defy Father Time with an impressively muscular physique that turns heads. The longtime fan favorite recently shared a striking gym photo on Instagram, showing off his massive arms, thick chest, and impressive vascularity. This easily rivals that of many wrestlers half his age and proves that consistent dedication to training can keep an athlete in elite condition well into retirement.

Wright had a memorable 13-year WWE career defined by constant reinvention and charisma. He debuted in 1992 as the mysterious Papa Shango, later transforming into Kama and becoming a key member of the Nation of Domination. However, his biggest success came in 1998 when he embraced the fun-loving pimp character The Godfather, complete with his wild “Ho Train” entrances that perfectly embodied the Attitude Era. And while he had a short, misguided run as The Goodfather in Right to Censor, his body of work was more than enough to earn his well-deserved induction into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2016.

While speaking to Chris Van Vliet, Paul Heyman disclosed his dedication to WWE during a terrifying health crisis involving severe kidney stones and a dangerous urinary tract infection that saw him hospitalized. Despite the pain, the former ECW leader checked himself out against medical advice, secretly chartered a private jet, and performed live on Monday Night Raw while wearing a catheter and PIC line. He then returned to the hospital without telling anyone. His actions highlight a rare level of commitment that continues to define his legendary career.

“In passing the kidney stone, it was so sharp it cut my urinary tract, and besides cutting my urinary tract, it left my urinary tract in a position to where I could catch an infection … I end up in the hospital … They’re looking at me, saying, ‘You have a very serious infection.’ I mean, they’re bringing in people from infectious diseases, because I’m allergic to penicillin, number one, and number two, any antibiotics that they’re giving me, none of them are working … I checked myself out that Monday morning. I chartered a jet on my own to Raw, did Raw, flew on the WWE jet back to White Plains, checked myself back into the hospital, didn’t tell anybody. Meanwhile, when I did that scene, and for a couple of weeks afterward, when I would jet myself to Raw, take the jet back home, check myself back into the hospital, when I did that scene, I had a catheter and a PIC line.” – Paul Heyman

Heyman’s WWE journey has been a rollercoaster of highs and lows. He first rose to major success in the early 2000s as Brock Lesnar’s manager. However, after the 2006 ECW relaunch flopped, he departed the company, with many believing his time in the business was over. Still, he made a triumphant return in 2012 as Lesnar’s advocate, delivering iconic promos and elevating talents like CM Punk and Roman Reigns while occasionally being given opportunities to showcase his creative brilliance.

In her latest Instagram post, TNA Knockouts star Indi Hartwell has set social media ablaze with a stunning bikini photoshoot. Posing confidently as the sun set behind her, the Australian star radiated unapologetic self-assurance while proudly embracing her beauty and athletic physique, pairing the striking images with a playful “swipe for a surprise” caption. Fans flooded the post with praise for her body positivity and authenticity, with one commenter calling it “pure Indi.”

29-year-old Hartwell, born Samantha De Martin in Melbourne, Australia, made her wrestling debut in 2016 and quickly became a standout on the Australian independent circuit. From there, she joined WWE in 2019 and rose to prominence as a key member of The Way in NXT. During her time there, she captured the NXT Women’s Tag Team Championship alongside Candice LeRae and later won the NXT Women’s Championship in a thrilling ladder match at Stand & Deliver 2023. And while WWE released her in late 2024, she signed with TNA Wrestling in 2025 and remains one of the top contenders in the Knockouts division.

Wrestling superfan Marc Izard arrived back in the UK on Monday 26th evening and is currently resting at the funeral home in Cambridge, thanks to the generosity of GoFundMe donors. According to his parents, his funeral will take place on Friday, 10th July at 2:30 pm at Cam Valley Crematorium in Great Chesterford, Essex. This will be followed by a heartfelt, wrestling-themed farewell at The Greyhound pub in Sawston. A video link will be shared for those unable to attend in person.

“The funeral will be held on 10th July 2.30 pm at Cam Valley crem, Great Chesterford, Essex, followed by a wake at The Greyhound, Sawston, Cambridge. We would like to send our heartfelt thanks to all the kind people who donated so generously to help get our dear son home . There will be a good amount left for the three chosen charities.” – Pauline and Eddie Izard

For those who haven’t heard, the 43-year-old British wrestling superfan tragically passed away in Las Vegas while attending WrestleMania 42 weekend. A lifelong passionate supporter who traveled the world to attend live events, Marc died far from home, leaving his family devastated. However, his sudden passing prompted an outpouring of support from the global wrestling community, who came together through a successful GoFundMe campaign to bring him home for a proper, personal send-off worthy of the dedicated fan he was.

In a fairytale swerve no one saw coming, former AEW wrestler Zack Clayton secretly married Jersey Shore star Jenni “JWoww” Farley on June 24, 2026. According to People.com, guests who arrived expecting a private screening of her film Nanny Cam were stunned when a Beauty and the Beast-themed wedding ceremony unfolded instead, officiated by the local mayor. The couple first began dating in 2019 and officially got engaged in 2021.

“Jersey Shore star Jenni “JWoww” Farley married professional wrestler Zack Carpinello in a surprise wedding on June 24 in Old Bridge, New Jersey. Fifty guests arrived to Madison Modern Social expecting a movie screening, but quickly realized they were attending the couple’s Beauty and the Beast-inspired wedding.” – People.com

Clayton, whose real name is Zack Carpinello, made his AEW debut in 2020. From there, he quickly carved out a niche on Dark and Elevation as the arrogant heel “The Reality.” With his cocky personality and sharp mic skills, he earned more TV time in 2022, most notably challenging Hook for the FTW Championship on Rampage. Though primarily used in an enhancement role, Clayton always stood out for his charisma more than his in-ring ability and ultimately departed the company in 2023.

In a widely circulated video, Tiffany Stratton was filmed excitedly opening a pack of 2016 WWE trading cards and drawing blanks on several legends. She phonetically sounded out “Sgt. Slaughter,” openly admitted she didn’t know who the Junkyard Dog was, and stumbled while trying to pronounce Viscera’s name. The clip quickly went viral across social media, where fans unleashed savage mockery, roasting the current star for her surprising lack of knowledge of wrestling history and calling it yet another example of modern talent being disconnected from the industry’s storied past.

“We have Junkyard Dog, S… G… T… Slaughter, Viscera, I don’t know any of these guys.” – Tiffany Statton

Generational shifts in wrestling education are unmistakable, as veterans of the past have absorbed history organically over years of paying dues on the road, fostering deep respect for the industry’s pioneers. In contrast, today’s WWE stars are frequently recruited as athletes from other sports and trained at the Performance Center, where the focus is on athleticism, social media marketability, character development, and in-ring execution rather than historical study. This shift has sparked growing criticism over the noticeable disconnect from the legends who built the business.

AEW star Thekla found herself in an awkward spot during a recent TMZ interview when the hosts claimed she had been dating Clark Connors of The Dogs stable for nearly two years. The Austrian wrestler quickly shut down the rumors, clarifying that she and Connors are “very close” friends but share no romantic relationship. The 33-year-old firmly pushed back against the online speculation, telling fans not to believe everything they read online.

“Well, I don’t know where you actually picked that up from, that we’re dating. We’re very close … I think I’m not sure if it’s a good idea, per se. Everybody’s good-looking and horny from what I can tell.“It’s obviously hard to probably date somebody who isn’t immersed in your world, as we live very strange lives as professional wrestlers. So, I wouldn’t want to, you know, it’s hard to explain all that, all the travel and all the horniness.” – Thekla

Born in Vienna, Austria, Thekla began her wrestling career in 2017 in local underground promotions. She later moved to Japan, where she first gained attention in Ice Ribbon by capturing the Triangle Ribbon Championship and developing her sharp, aggressive style. In late 2021, she joined Stardom and established herself as the feared “Toxic Spider,” winning multiple titles, including the SWA World Championship, the Goddess of Stardom Championship with Momo Watanabe, and the Artist of Stardom Championship. Her success in Japan eventually led to her signing with AEW in 2025, where she currently holds the AEW Women’s World Championship.

In a recent interview with Ropes N Riffs, Jeff Hardy declared that music is the heartbeat of professional wrestling. The popular TNA star said that imagining the sport without entrance themes feels completely insane, declaring that “Music makes it everything that it is.” Hardy is synonymous with high-energy entrance music himself, with the anthemic rock track “No More Words” by Endeverafter perfectly capturing his rebellious, Charismatic Enigma persona.

“Jeff Hardy: yeah there’s there’s a lot of man, I just I I love pro wrestling would be just imagine or try to imagine pro wrestling without music and it’s just insane that that thought along it’s like it would it would it just would not it would not it wouldn’t be what it is. Music makes it everything that it is.” – Jeff Hardy

Music has played a vital role in professional wrestling for nearly a century. From Gorgeous George entering to classical themes in the 1950s to the Fabulous Freebirds rocking arenas with southern rock anthems in the 1980s, it has helped craft unforgettable personas. However, it was the 1980s “Rock ‘n’ Wrestling” era that truly revolutionized the industry when WWE began producing custom entrance music. This period gave birth to legendary tracks such as Hulk Hogan’s “Real American,” the Hart Foundation’s “Road to Destruction,” and The Ultimate Warrior’s “Unstable,” thanks to the likes of Rick Derringer, Jim Johnston, and Jimmy Hart.

Former WWE wrestler Giovanni Vinci has opened up about nearly walking away from professional wrestling after his WWE singles push failed to materialize and he was ultimately released from his contract. Talking to PWMania, he admitted he felt “burnt out mentally and physically” after his departure and therefore took time away from the ring for well over a year. Still, he has since returned to the business with TNA, where he now competes under his real name, Fabian Aichner.

“I took a little bit of time away. I felt a little burnt out mentally and physically. At the start, I really didn’t want to know about wrestling, to be very honest. For the first time in my life. As the months went by, I was like, man. Life feels very different if there’s no wrestling involved. Instead of going from one show to the next show, preparing constantly for a bigger event, and then checking those off the list.” – Fabian Aichner

35 years old, Aichner debuted in 2011 on the European independent circuit and became a multi-time champion in New European Championship Wrestling. From there, he signed with WWE in 2017, where he gained worldwide recognition as Giovanni Vinci alongside Imperium in NXT, capturing the NXT Tag Team Championship multiple times with Ludwig Kaiser. However, after moving to the SmackDown main roster, he was released in 2024, despite appearing set for a singles push at one point.