BodySlam

Category: Wrestling News

The latest professional wrestling news, rumors, and updates from WWE, AEW, TNA, ROH, and the independent scene around the globe

  • Trick Williams: Yachty Loves The Business, It Gets Me Fired Up

    Trick Williams: Yachty Loves The Business, It Gets Me Fired Up

    Trick Williams has been having a blast in the last couple of weeks since getting into the United States Championship picture.

    Originally, it felt that WrestleMania would be witnessing a United States Championship match between Carmelo Hayes vs. Trick Williams. Former friends turned bitter rivals in NXT, and now on SmackDown with one of the biggest opportunities of the year with gold on the line. However, that didn’t go to plan when Sami Zayn defeated Hayes to become the new US Champion.

    During an appearance on the Battle on the Battleground podcast, Williams spoke about his partnership with rapper Lil Yachty, and how it eventually led to them making a diss track on Zayn, who Trick had to dethrone at the grandest stage of them all.

    “It was dope. Working with yachty, he loves the business. Any time somebody loves the business like that, it gets me fired up. We sit and brainstorm for hours on how we’re going to do this and that. No ego involved. We’re going to put out the best work possible, and we’re going to put out diss tracks and different things. The gingerbread diss track, it was a throwaway line that became something much bigger than I ever anticipated being. Hopefully, I didn’t lose too much of my ginger audience. I have nothing against gingers. It was just to poke fun at Sami Zayn. I had to. He deserved it,” he said.

    Williams defeated Zayn at WrestleMania and would go on to finish the feud between the two when he retained the United States Championship at WWE Backlash with a little help on the sidelines from his friend, Yachty.

    H/t to Fightful for the transcription.

  • Swerve Strickland: Kofi Is A Role Model To A Whole Generation of Kids

    Swerve Strickland: Kofi Is A Role Model To A Whole Generation of Kids

    Swerve Strickland knows a lot of wrestlers want to see the New Day make their arrival at All Elite Wrestling.

    On May 2, the news broke that Kofi Kingston (Kofi) and Xavier Woods (Austin Creed) of the New Day would be requesting their release from the WWE following a situation where they were asked to take a pay cut by TKO on their current contracts but ultimately decided on leaving after over a decade with the company.

    Former AEW Men’s World Champion Swerve Strickland was asked about the duo and spoke about the impact they have made on the sport, plus how inspirational they are to a whole generation of kids who aspire to become professional wrestlers in the future.

    “There’s a lot of wrestlers that want to see them end up in AEW. I talked to them the same day. Kofi took another day to get back to me, but they’re in high spirits, they’re motivated, they’re happy. I feel like they have the ball in their court which is what they always wanted. They have the ball in their court and they honestly feel like they can control their own narrative, and Xavier is really good at that. Kofi is walking [as a] free agent for the first time in his whole career. He was a Hall of Famer like five, six years ago. He was a Hall of Famer then, and to add the World Title match on top of that. He’s the only black wrestler to ever win the World Title at Mania. He’s the only one. That’s something you can’t take away from him. Never had any negative press on him, never had any issues, suspensions, fines, never any of this. So he’s walking out a role model to a whole generation of kids.” – Swerve Strickland said on Bootleg Kev.

    Strickland has not been on AEW TV in quite some time, he recently said on social media that it was because the company is afraid of what he will do to Bandido, the current ROH Men’s World Champion.

    h/t to Fightful for the transcription.

  • Fans Will Get the Chance to Vote for Special Awards during BOTSJ

    Fans Will Get the Chance to Vote for Special Awards during BOTSJ

    As Best of the Super Juniors 33 is about to start, a press conference was held in Tokyo with the participants and President Hiroshi Tanahashi. President Tanahashi made an announcement that will allow fans to be more involved during the tournament.  This involvement includes voting for three special awards based on tournament performance.

    These awards are:

    The Outstanding Performance Award will go to the wrestler who fans felt best exhibited their full potential and ability in the ring throughout the league.

    The Fighting Spirit Award will go to the wrestler who fans feel exhibits a never say die attitude in the face of overwhelming odds.

    The Technique Award will go to the wrestler who best shows creative offensive flair within their matches.

     

    Voting will take place after the tournament and before the semifinal and final matches. Stay tuned to NJPW and NJPW’s socials to find out how to vote.

  • Kevin Knight Responds to Criticism of His Open Challenge

    Kevin Knight Responds to Criticism of His Open Challenge

    AEW has announced that Kevin Knight will defend his TNT Championship in an open challenge on Dynamite, which will be live from Asheville, NC.

    Of course, everyone’s least favorite IWC troll has to give his “hot take” in poorly veiled sarcasm.

    JDfromNY wrote on twitter, “Hey guys. This is such an ingenious idea. I’ve never seen it before!! I’m so excited about this brand new concept that could shape the landscape of pro wrestling television for months and years to come!!”

    It’s almost like he has never seen a TV based title defended before in a promotion in his life.

    Luckily, the Jet had a classy response for him, which was simply, “I agree. We appreciate the love.”

    In reality, it’s probably best not to respond to sarcastic comments like this but everyone knows that even though JD says he hates AEW (let’s be real he hates everything), he will still be watching.

    Whoever steps up to this open challenge, it should be a banger. I’m all for more Kevin Knight on TV anyways.

  • Let Them In! The Wyatt Sicks will be at Wrestlecon This Summer

    Let Them In! The Wyatt Sicks will be at Wrestlecon This Summer

    Just announced today, the entire Wyatt Sicks will be at Wrestlecon in Minneapolis. The group will be available for professional group photos for the all three days.

    Ticket information fo the convention as well as prices for the photo op will be available on Wrestlecon’s website soon. As of right now, only they and Sting have been announced as guests for their summer convention. The only prices listed are for Sting, which is 80 dollars for either a photo or autograph and 150 dollars for a combo of the two. Room reservations at the host hotel are now available on the site right now.

    This may be the last time that you will be able to see the entire group together before they go their separate ways.

    Will you let them in?

     

  • The New Orleans Saints Sign Wide Receiver Brock Rechsteiner

    The New Orleans Saints Sign Wide Receiver Brock Rechsteiner

    The New Orleans Saints have signed wide receiver, Brock Rechsteiner, to the team. The signing happened after Rechsteiner had a try out at their rookie minicamp and was signed to their 90 man roster. Rechsteiner attended and played football for Jacksonville State University and was an undrafted free agent.  He caught 52 passes for 630 yards and seven touchdowns in four seasons there.

    He is the son of WWE Hall of Famer, Scott Steiner, and has been signed to a NIL deal with the WWE since 2025. He states that he still plans to “enter the family business” but still wants to see what he can do in the NFL before he enters the wrestling world.

    He is talking the path of his cousin, Bronson Rechsteiner (Bron Brekker), who played for the Baltimore Ravens prior to starting with the WWE. He credits his family’s work ethic for getting him where he is today and for showing him that hard work will get him to where he wants to be.

    Rechsteiner attended the Tennessee Titans rookie minicamp, but was not offered a deal.

    Congrats Brock!

  • AEW Double or Nothing Reaches over 13K tickets distributed

    AEW Double or Nothing Reaches over 13K tickets distributed

    According to WrestleTix, AEW’s Double or Nothing, which will take place at Louis Armstrong Stadium in Queens, New York, has already distributed 13,200 tickets. This is also about a week and a half before the show is set to take place on May 24th. Only part of the card has been announced so far.

    Matches that have been announced already include:

    • AEW International Championship: Kazuchika Okada (c) v. Konosuke Takeshita
    • AEW Tag Team Championship: FTR vs. Christian Cage and Adam Copeland in an “I Quit” match with the stipulation that if they lose, Cage and Copeland must retire as a tag team.
    • AEW Women’s World Championship 4 way match: Thekla (c) vs. Hikaru Shida vs. Jayme Hayter vs. Kris Statlander
    • 14 man stadium stampede match: The Elite (The Young Bucks and Kenny Omega), The Hurt Syndicate, Chris Jericho, and Jungle Jack Perry vs. The Demand and the Don Callis Family (Mark Davis and three others TBD)

    With a week and a half left and only probably half the card announced so far, how many tickets do you think this PPV will sell?

  • Cuatrero Sentenced To 12 Years And 8 Months In Prison

    Cuatrero Sentenced To 12 Years And 8 Months In Prison

    The Mexican wrestler Cuatrero has reportedly been sentenced to 12 years and 8 months in prison, according to information circulating from Mexican media outlets over the past several hours. The sentence is reportedly connected to charges involving domestic violence and attempted femicide against WWE Superstar Stephanie Vaquer.

    The news quickly began spreading across social media after Mexican outlet 24 Horas published the initial report regarding the court’s decision. As of this writing, additional official details surrounding the legal process have not yet been publicly disclosed, and no further public statements from those involved have been released.

    The case involving Cuatrero and Stephanie Vaquer has remained a major topic within the wrestling industry since 2023. During that year, Vaquer filed legal accusations against the wrestler. Since then, Cuatrero has remained away from professional wrestling activity while the legal proceedings continued in Mexico.

    Stephanie Vaquer, who has gained international recognition through her work in companies such as CMLL and WWE, has not publicly commented on the reported sentence at the time of publication.

  • TKO Announces New Seven-Event Partnership Over Three Years With The Arizona Sports & Events Alliance

    TKO Announces New Seven-Event Partnership Over Three Years With The Arizona Sports & Events Alliance

    TKO has announced a new Seven-Event partnership over three years with Arizona Sports & Events Alliance.

    TKO sent out a press release today announcing a new Three Year, Seven Event partnership with the Arizona Sports & Events Alliance that will see them bring marquee UFC, WWE, PBR and Zuffa Boxing events to Arizona.

    Peter Dropick, Executive Vice President, Event Development and Operations for TKO, commented on the new partnership stating: “We’re excited to build this long-term partnership with the Arizona Sports & Events Alliance to bring some of our biggest events to the state. We look forward to creating unforgettable moments for fans across the region over the next three years.”

    Jay Parry, President & CEO of the Arizona Sports & Events Alliance, also commented on the new partnership saying, “Arizona has proven time and again that we are built to host the biggest moments in sports and entertainment, and we are proud to join forces with TKO on this multi-year partnership. This partnership reflects the momentum and innovative spirit of our community, and the dedication to creating high-impact experiences that drive tourism, economic impact and global visibility for our state.”

    You can read the full press release below.

    TKO AND ARIZONA SPORTS & EVENTS ALLIANCE ANNOUNCE LANDMARK AGREEMENT TO BRING MARQUEE UFC, WWE, PBR, AND ZUFFA BOXING EVENTS TO ARIZONA

    Seven-event partnership over three years will feature premier live sports and entertainment experiences in Arizona

    PHOENIX, ARIZ. and NEW YORK, NY – May 12, 2026 – TKO Group Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: TKO), together with the Arizona Sports & Events Alliance, today announced a multi-year agreement that will stage a series of premier UFC, WWE, PBR, and Zuffa Boxing events in Arizona.

    The seven-event agreement will span three years and feature some of TKO’s most high-profile live events, creating new opportunities for fans to experience UFC, WWE, PBR, and Zuffa Boxing events in one of the country’s leading sports and entertainment markets.

    “We’re excited to build this long-term partnership with the Arizona Sports & Events Alliance to bring some of our biggest events to the state,” said Peter Dropick, Executive Vice President, Event Development and Operations for TKO. “We look forward to creating unforgettable moments for fans across the region over the next three years.”

    “Arizona has proven time and again that we are built to host the biggest moments in sports and entertainment, and we are proud to join forces with TKO on this multi-year partnership,” said Jay Parry, President & CEO of the Arizona Sports & Events Alliance. “This partnership reflects the momentum and innovative spirit of our community, and the dedication to creating high-impact experiences that drive tourism, economic impact and global visibility for our state.”

    Additional details, including event-specific information, dates, and ticket information will be shared at a later date.

    TKO’s agreement with the Arizona Sports & Events Alliance is one of a growing number of partnerships between TKO and government and private partners in communities around the world that are eager to host TKO’s marquee live events. Through these partnerships, TKO is reaching more fans in more markets, delivering memorable experiences while generating meaningful economic and cultural impact for host communities.

    About TKO
    TKO Group Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: TKO) is a premium sports and entertainment company. TKO owns iconic properties including UFC, the world’s premier mixed martial arts organization; WWE, the global leader in sports entertainment; and PBR, the world’s premier bull riding organization. Together, these properties reach 210 countries and territories and organize more than 500 live events year-round, attracting more than three million fans. TKO also services and partners with major sports rights holders through IMG, an industry-leading global sports marketing agency; and On Location, a global leader in premium experiential hospitality.

    About UFC®
    UFC® is the world’s premier mixed martial arts organization (MMA), with more than 700 million fans and approximately 363 million social media followers. The organization produces more than 40 live events annually in some of the most prestigious arenas around the world while distributing programming to an estimated 1 billion broadcast and digital households across 210 countries and territories. UFC’s athlete roster features the world’s best MMA athletes representing more than 75 countries. The organization’s digital offerings include UFC FIGHT PASS®, one of the world’s leading streaming services for combat sports. UFC is part of TKO Group Holdings (NYSE: TKO) and is headquartered in Las Vegas, Nevada. For more information, visit UFC.com and follow UFC at Facebook.com/UFC and @UFC on X, Snapchat, Instagram, and TikTok: @UFC.

    About WWE
    WWE® is the global leader in sports entertainment. The company creates and delivers original content 52 weeks a year to a global audience. WWE is committed to family-friendly entertainment on its television programming, Premium Live Events, digital media, and publishing platforms. WWE’s TV-PG programming can be seen in more than 1 billion households worldwide in more than 20 languages through world-class distribution partners including Netflix, ESPN, NBCUniversal, USA Network and The CW. WWE is part of TKO Group Holdings (NYSE: TKO). Additional information on WWE can be found at wwe.com and corporate.wwe.com.

    About PBR (Professional Bull Riders)
    PBR is the world’s premier bull riding organization. More than 800 bull riders compete in more than 200 events annually across the televised PBR Unleash The Beast tour (UTB), which features the top bull riders in the world; the PBR Pendleton Whisky Velocity Tour (PWVT); the PBR Touring Pro Division (TPD); and the PBR’s international circuits in Australia, Brazil, and Canada. In 2022, the organization launched PBR Teams—10 teams of the world’s best bull riders competing for a new championship—as well as the PBR Challenger Series with more than 60 annual events nationwide. PBR events are broadcast on CBS Television Network and Paramount+. PBR is a part of TKO Group Holdings (NYSE: TKO). For more information, visit PBR.com, or follow on Facebook at Facebook.com/PBR, X at X.com/PBR, Instagram at Instagram.com/PBR and YouTube at YouTube.com/PBR.

    About Zuffa Boxing
    Zuffa Boxing is a joint venture between TKO Group Holdings, Inc. (“TKO”) (NYSE: TKO) and Sela, the entertainment conglomerate. TKO serves as managing partner, providing day-to-day operational expertise, management, and oversight of the promotion, with executive leadership anchored by UFC President and CEO Dana White and WWE President and TKO Board Member Nick Khan. The promotion aims to reimagine the sport of boxing by evolving the current model to restore the sport’s rightful place in the forefront of the global sports ecosystem. For more information, follow @Zuffa_Boxing on X; and @ZuffaBoxing on Snapchat, Instagram, Threads, and TikTok.

    About Arizona Sports & Events Alliance (the Alliance)
    The Arizona Sports & Events Alliance is the state’s lead organization dedicated to attracting, planning and hosting major events for Arizona. As Arizona’s front door for world-class sports, entertainment and commercial events, the Alliance unites civic, business, tourism, Native American and sports leaders with governing bodies to deliver exceptional experiences, fuel economic growth and elevate Arizona’s global profile. For more information, visit AZSportsAlliance.com, or follow on Facebook at Facebook.com/AZSportsAlliance, X at X.com/AZSportAlliance, Instagram at Instagram.com/AZSportsAlliance, TikTok.com/@AZSportsAlliance and LinkedIn at LinkedIn.com/company/arizona-sports-events-alliance.

     

     

     

  • AEW Action Figure Line At Jazwares Shuts Down, Employees Laid Off

    AEW Action Figure Line At Jazwares Shuts Down, Employees Laid Off

    Some big news in the wrestling action figure space made its way to the surface recently.

    On Friday, May 8th, Wrestling Figure News reporter revealed that the toy company Jazwarew laid off their entire AEW team that day.

    “Late Friday, I got word that, unfortunately, the entire AEW Jazwares team over there at Jazwares were laid off on Friday.”

    What this means for the AEW action figure business remains to be seen as nothing new has been announced as of now.

    AEW has been partners with Jazwares since 2020 – who had created 3 different lines for the figured – Unmatched, Supreme, and VAULT.

    Bodyslam will keep you all updated as any new information becomes available.

    Full video below: