Rob Van Dam and his wife Katie Forbes welcomed their twin daughters yesterday.
“Karma and Saba have officially left the womb,” Van Dam wrote in a post on X.
The name Saba was a tribute to his friend and former colleague, the late Sabu.
The two little girls were delivered prematurely because of complications in the pregnancy and were born at 34 weeks.
Congratulations to the Van Dam family!
WWE announced yesterday that WWE champion Cody Rhodes will battle Drew McIntyre in a Three Stages of Hell match for the title on the January 9 episode of Smackdown from Berlin, Germany.
The Three Stages of Hell match is essentially a two-out-of-three falls match with each fall a different stipulation. The first one to two falls will be declared the winner of the match.
Rhodes, who was not able to put his hands on McIntyre or else he would be stripped off his WWE championship, attempted to do just that but was prevented by Nick Aldis after McIntyre told him that when he tortures him and sends him to hell in Berlin, he should say hello to his dad for him.
McIntyre ended the program by flattening Rhodes with a Claymore Kick.
The last Smackdown of 2025 airs tonight on USA Network at 8PM ET, although this time with an already-taped episode. Tonight’s Smackdown was taped this past Friday in Grand Rapids, Michigan.
Set for action on this Boxing Day episode of the blue brand show are Joe Hendry vs The Miz, Lash Legend vs Charlotte Flair, Ilja Dragunov vs Carmelo Hayes for the WWE United States title, and Giulia and Kiana James vs Chelsea Green and Alba Fyre.
Plus, WWE champion Cody Rhodes, Drew McIntyre, Alexa Bliss, Rhea Ripley, Iyo Sky, and more appear.
WWE is back with live TV on Monday with Raw on Netflix.
AEW President Tony Khan, Amanda Huber, and Erick Rowan remembered the late Brodie Lee on the fifth anniversary of his passing.
The former TNT champion, whose real name is Jon Huber, passed away at age 41 after suffering from lung issues. His death rocked both those at AEW and WWE, with both promotions paying tribute to him in the days after he died.
Tony Khan wrote:
“5 years ago today, the world lost Jon Huber, a great man known to fans as Mr. Brodie Lee + Luke Harper. His family came first, his loving wife Amanda and their sons Brodie + Nolan. He loved wrestling, + he was an amazing wrestler. He loved you fans. Please keep him in your hearts.”
His widow, Amanda, wrote:
“Five years. This year seems heavier. Five seems like the next milestone. At first it was making it thru the first hour you were gone. Then the first day. First week. First month. Six months. First year. Five seems like the next milestone. I still remember it like it was yesterday. I can close my eyes and walk thru the whole day. Waking up that morning in the hotel and knowing it was going to be over. Taking in the walk from the hotel to the hospital. Walking into the room with Big Hero 6 playing. Seeing my incredible nursing staff (including one who wasn’t supposed to be there but came in so I wasn’t alone) Watching our friends filter thru. Going thru the worst moment of my life telling Brodie. Walking back to the hospital knowing it was the last time. The sounds the family made when they walked into the room and saw him for the first time. Holding his hand as he let go. My nurses holding me in that moment. Cleaning up the room I essentially lived in for months. Getting texts of Brodie flying kites on the beach with @CodyRhodes Taking in the sunset on my final walk back to the hotel. Sitting in the hotel room trying to come up with the words to put out to the public that he was gone. I know I said this recently but I’d give almost anything to have just another hour. For you to see the amazing people the boys have grown into. To see how smart and funny Nolan is. To see how passionate Brodie is. To talk to them both and realize how lucky we were to be parents to such amazing little boys. Also to thank you for giving me them. Thank you for teaching me so much about myself over the years. For bringing me into your amazing family. Just to thank you for everything. I wish I had more words for this. I miss your laugh. I miss the way you’d make me laugh. I miss watching you play with the kids. I miss watching you nap with the dogs. I miss texting you unflattering pictures of Ham. I miss you putting over my cooking. I miss thousands of little things and micro moments where I’m reminded of the hole you left. I love you forever. Thank you for making me the luckiest.”
Erick Rowan wrote:
“Grief is a funny thing. It’s something that never goes away. Some days are good, filled with emotional memories, some not so good, filled with frustration. People can leave a lasting impression on others either for the bad or the good. JON was the latter. Can’t think of one person who had a bad thing to say about the wrestler, the father, the husband, or the man. He was the foundation of what I myself hope to be. 5 years has passed since we last talked on this physical realm. But you are part of my heart always. Love you forever brother…”
TNA released the list of winners of the 2025 Year End Awards.
In total, 10 awards were handed out, with Mike Santana and Leon Slater leading the pack with two awards each.
Santana won both Wrestler of the Year and also Match of the Year against Mustafa Ali at Rebellion.
Slater clinched the X-Division Star of the Year and also Finishing Move of the Year for his Swanton 450.
In other awards, Ash By Elegance won Knockout of the Year, The Hardys got Tag Team of the Year, The Elegance Brand won Knockouts Tag Team of the Year, The System won Faction of the Year, AJ Styles Returning at Slammiversary got Moment of the Year, and Joe Hendry vs Randy Orton at WrestleMania 41 won the Crossover Moment
of the Year.
For the first time since D-Von Dudley made racist allegations against Jim Ross, the Hall of Fame broadcaster tackled the subject on his latest episode of Grilling JR podcast.
Calling the whole thing “absurd” after D-Von’s allegations were replayed for his audience, Ross said “it doesn’t merit a response.”
“I like D-Von. I like him today. I hired he and Bubba. I thought we did a good job of booking them,” JR continued.
“I was shocked to hear that, because I don’t recall ever having a cross word with D-Von Dudley. I always respected him and his work. I loved the Dudley tag team,” he added.
Ross said the comments totally caught him off guard and doubled down saying he never said those words to D-Von.
“And why he would conjure up that, I guess to get attention. I thought, well, maybe he’s not as happy with his post-wrestling life as Bubba is, because Bubba’s made a tremendous success of himself as a broadcaster, and still works. So, I never said that,” Ross said.
He noted that he’s not angry at D-Von but he’s curious as to why he chose to say those things and doesn’t understand why he went there.
“They made money. They were put in situations where they could do the things they do best. You know, those TLC matches were pieces of art. They’ll last forever. The Dudleys were a major part of that. I know Bubba for sure because I’ve heard it was involved in the booking of that stuff,” Ross continued.
“I still have great respect for D-Von and I’m glad that we got to work together,” Ross said. “But I never uttered those words.”
Several matches were added to tomorrow’s Worlds End pay-per-view following last night’s Collision on Christmas Day.
The Continental Classic semi final matches will see reigning champ Kazuchika Okada take on IWGP champion Konosuke Takeshita and Jon Moxley vs Kyle Fletcher. The winners advance to the final to be held later in the broadcast.
A Mixed Nuts Mayhem eight-person tag match was also aded with Orange Cassidy, Mark Briscoe, Roderick Strong, and Toni Storm taking on Claudio Castagnoli, Wheeler Yuta, PAC, and Marina Shafir.
The AEW Tag Team titles will be on the line with FTR defending against Austin Gunn and Juice Robinson of the Bang Bang Gang and Darby Allin battles Gabe Kidd.
After several days off, WWE Superstars and crew are back to the grind starting today with the annual WWE Holiday Tour.
The non-televised live event tour kicks off today with the Boxing Day show at the CFG Bank Arena in Baltimore. This replaces the annual MSG show since The Garden got a Raw in November.
It continues tomorrow with two events, one at the Benchmark International Arena in Tampa and one at the PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh. On Sunday, it’s two shows as well, one at the VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena in Jacksonville and one at the Blue Cross Arena in Rochester.
WWE returns to its live TV on Monday with Raw from the Kia Center in Orlando on December 29 and that is followed by two live events on December 30, one at the Hertz Arena in Fort Myers and one at the Little Caesars Arena in Detroit.
There are no shows on Wednesday since it’s New Year’s Eve but it’s back on the road on New Year’s Day with a show from the Oncenter War Memorial Arena in Syracuse.
Friday, Smackdown returns live from the KeyBank Center in Buffalo and the last two non-televised live events as part of the tour are on Saturday, January 3 at the DCU Center in Worcester and on Sunday, January 4 at the Total Mortgage Arena in Bridgeport.
The Continental Classic round robin matches came to an end last night with a total of six bouts on the Christmas Collision episode.
Kyle Fletcher opened the night with three points, defeated Jack Perry to move to nine points while Perry was eliminated. Fletcher earned a spot in the semis with this win.
Konosuke Takeshita solidified his place in the chart with another win over Mascara Dorada, with Takeshita ending the tournament with 13 points and was the first one to advance to the next round.
Roderick Strong got his first and only win in the tournament when he defeated CMLL Heavyweight Champion Claudio Castagnoli. Strong ends with three points on the board but did nothing for him, apart from preventing Castagnoli from advancing.
The match between Kevin Knight and Pac ended in a draw after the 20-minute time-limit expired. They ended the tournament with seven points each.
Former AEW World champ Jon Moxley defeated Orange Cassidy, moving to nine points and advancing to the semi final. Cassidy was eliminated as a result of this loss.
And reigning Continental champion Kazuchika Okada defeated “Speedball” Mike Bailey in the last match of the night, moving to nine points and advancing to the next round.
The final Gold League standings:
The final Blue League standings:
AEW is back for a second night of television action with Christmas Collision, airing at 9PM ET on TNT and also streaming on HBO Max. The show will run for two-and-a-half hours, getting 30 minutes extra.
The Continental Classic round robin tournament matches will conclude tonight, with six remaining matches.
In the Gold League, we will have Jack Perry vs Kyle Fletcher, Pac vs Kevin Knight, and “Speedball” Mike Bailey vs Kazuchika Okada. In the Blue League, it’s Konosuke Takeshita vs Mascara Dorada, Claudio Castagnoli vs Roderick Strong, and Jon Moxley vs Orange Cassidy.
The only other match announced is Babes of Wrath vs Hyan and Maya for the AEW Women’s World Tag Team titles.
The AEW Revolution 2026 pay-per-view is already at around 7,000 tickets distributed with nearly three months to go for the show.
Revolution will be held at the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles and @WrestleTix is reporting that the arena is currently set up for 8,000 seats. The arena can fit up to 20,000 so there will be more room to expand if there’s a surge in sales.
This is the second Revolution in a row to be held at the Crypto.com Arena, with the 2025 edition having an attendance of 11,670.
Tickets are available via AXS.COM.
Wrestling history is filled with memorable moments, but only a few make it through the test of time. A powerful win turns into a legendary moment when a champion holds his belt high in the sky to show his victory and pride.
Custom championship belts turn major wrestling victories into lasting legends by symbolizing dominance, emotion, and legacy that fans remember long after the match ends.
In professional wrestling, championship belts are not just plain awards. They are carefully designed to showcase power and achievement. Custom championship belts are made of premium material, including high-quality leather straps and carved metal plates. The main design is in the middle, while the side plates often have logos or names that link the belt to a specific brand or time period.
Unlike trophies that sit on the shelf, custom WWE belts are worn and shown off to millions of people. Winners wear them like a crown with pride and mark their name in the pages of history. Moreover, wrestling companies spend a fortune to make unique custom belts for their champions that showcase their brand.
Let’s have a look at the top 7 best championship belt moments in wrestling history!
The first most iconic championship belt moment was when Muhammad Ali won the heavyweight championship belt and lifted it over his head like a crown of a rebellious king. His championship belt moment showcased his rebellious nature, pride, and dominion. When he fought Sonny Liston, most people thought Ali was too young and overconfident. They expected Liston to beat him easily, but Ali was too fast and brave. When Liston couldn’t keep up with Ali, the whole arena froze in disbelief. Ali lifting that belt wasn’t just a victory pose. It showed the world a new, confident champion had arrived who wasn’t afraid to speak his mind.
The second most iconic championship belt moment was when Bret Hart lost this title to Shawn Michaels in confusing circumstances, which felt like betrayal. Hart fought Michaels with the whole crowd on his side. But things went wrong, the bell rang signaling the sudden ending of the match, and the belt was taken from Hart against his will. Fans were shocked to see the belt change hands without even a fair win. That title belt became a symbol of broken trust and real-life drama. It proved that championship belts can carry lasting emotions and impact, even when the victory isn’t clear.
Just like AJ Lee’s recent comeback reminded everyone how quickly a title race can change, the Montreal Screwjob once totally reshaped the world of wrestling.
The third most iconic championship belt moment was when Hulk Hogan lifted the heavyweight title belt as a warrior lifting the crown of a lost giant. His victory was welcomed with screams of disbelief and cheers of astonishment. Andre the Giant was considered imperishable, an undefeatable warrior who had never lost. Hogan’s victory shocked the audience when they were expecting his defeat. When he slammed Andre and secured the victory, the stadium erupted as if witnessing the impossible. His custom WWE belt thus became a symbol of faith and strength, showing that with faith and strength, heroes can achieve the impossible. His win changed wrestling forever.
The fourth most iconic belt moment was when Stone Cold Steve Austin won the title with pure toughness and intensity. The arena was split between the fans of the Rock and Austin, with both players fighting to win. The hunger for dominance made the match violent and relentless, making the whole arena shake
When Austin finally won, the belt rested on a man who was willing to do anything to stay at the top. The title belt symbolized obsession, power, and a hunger for victory that fueled Austin’s performance. Fans cherish this legendary win because it showed a champion who was entirely focused on being unstoppable.
The fifth most iconic championship belt moment was when Brock Lesnar won the title with his natural talent and raw power. Kurt Angle entered the ring with technical mastery, respect, and dominance, while Lesnar stepped in with unmatched physical strength. While many believe that technique matters more than natural strength, Lesnar proved everyone wrong with his speed and intensity. When Lesnar finally claimed the championship belt, it marked the rise of a new kind of championship, showing that true strength matters in the wrestling arena. He became proof that pure strength and athleticism could redefine championship dominance.
The sixth most iconic championship belt moment was when Brock Lesnar stood victorious while the crowd stared in disbelief at the end of Undertaker’s WrestleMania streak. His WrestleMania streak was considered sacred, intangible, and expected to last forever. Fans were confident that history would repeat itself, yet Lesnar proved everyone wrong when the ref counted to three, the crowd froze in shock. Even though no belt exchange occurred, the moment still holds the win changed how people look at titles and legacies. It showed that even the biggest stars can lose, and that records are meant to be challenged, not just kept safe.
Just like Andrade El Idolo’s recent win started a new chapter for him, Brock Lesnar’s beating of The Undertaker back then completely changed wrestling history.
The seventh most iconic championship belt moment was when Daniel Bryan raised two championship belts, showing that his hard work had finally paid off. He entered the arena as an underdog, carrying the hopes of the fans who felt ignored or unheard. Everyone was cheering for him to win. When Bryan finally won and lifted those belts, it felt like a real victory, not just a show. His belts became the symbol of persistence, never giving up, and the strong bond between a wrestler and his fans. It proved that a champion doesn’t have to be the biggest or strongest guy; sometimes, it’s the resilient one who shares deep connections with his supporters.
After looking at these seven championship belt moments, one thing has become clear: wrestling history isn’t just about who wins, but also the belt they hold at the end. Every belt raised in these matches was more than just gold and leather. It represented real feelings, hard work, and big rivalries.
From Ali’s brave win to Daniel Bryan’s emotional victory, these belts turned wins into memories that fans still talk about today. These moments prove that a title belt isn’t just an accessory; it’s physical proof of everything a wrestler went through. The fight might end when the bell rings, but the real legacy starts when the belt is lifted high.
Netflix announced that the WWE crossover with Stranger Things will take place on the January 5 episode of Raw.
This Raw will be the one-year anniversary of Raw on Netflix and apart from the date, Netflix did not reveal what kind of crossover it will be.
Stranger Things has dominated the weekly global chart on Netflix since the latest season came out and bumped Raw off the chart in the process.
Three new episodes from the last season dropped today on Christmas Day with the final episode airing on New Year’s Eve.
TKO stock reached an all-time high of $218.11 yesterday during the Christmas Eve trading day and closed the day with $217.98, the highest-ever closing.
In December, TKO stocks soared 12.73% so far, helped by Morgan Stanley after they raised their target price to $210.
The $217.98 closing gave the company a market cap of a whopping $42.08 billion.
The Continental Classic tournament continued on Dynamite last night, with two Blue League and one Gold League matches taking place.
Current IWGP champion Konosuke Takeshita defeated Orange Cassidy to reach the semi final with 10 points. Cassidy finished up with six points.
Mascara Dorada then defeated Roderick Strong in the second Blue League match, with Dorada now at six points and Strong remaining the only one without a victory and zero points.
In the Gold League, Jack Perry defeated Death Riders member Pac, with both men now standing with six points.
The final matches, three from Blue and three from Gold, will take place tonight on the Christmas Day episode of Collision.
A new Dynamite Diamond Ring winner was crowned yesterday on the Christmas Eve edition of Dynamite from the Hammerstein Ballroom in New York City.
The final two in the battle royal, Ricochet and Bandido, squared off in a one-on-one match, with Bandido coming out victorious despite interference from Gates of Agony. Following the match, Ricochet and Gates of Agony continued their attack on Bandido and he was saved by Brody King.
The Dynamite Diamond Ring, which was introduced in 2019, has always been in the possession of MJF, who has won every single edition since then.
MJF was not involved in this year’s edition.
In a post on Instagram, a Hollywood, Florida, Italian eatery Mimi’s Ravioli, called former WWE champion Roman Reigns a “true hero” and applauded him for stopping by and picking up pizzas to personally deliver to sick kids at the nearby Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital.
The IG account said that two days before Christmas, Reigns, with “all the money in the world,” picked up pizza and took it to the hospital on his own free time.
“They don’t make them like this guy. This guy is what you call a true life hero,” they wrote. “I’m glad we can call Joe our friend thank you for stopping by saying hello and bring the kids Pizza.”
In the photo, Reigns is seen sporting a Wild Samoans t-shirt posing with the owners of the shop.
“It’s an honor to have you walk through my doors buddy. Keep doing what you’re doing and keep paying it forward. God created people like you to make this a better place thank you guys from my family to everyone,” the post continued.
Ticket tracking service @WrestleTix has released their first counts for WrestleMania 42 Saturday and Sunday.
WrestleMania Saturday is currently at 35,973 tickets distributed while Sunday is at 36,045. For both nights, the Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas is configured for 43,416 seats.
The total number of seats on the map are 68,179 and a large chunk of the stadium remains closed off because of lower than expected ticket sales.
More sections in the stadium will open depending on how ticket sales will move over the next few months.
The Las Vegas Stadium Authority revealed a few months ago that WrestleMania 41 Saturday had 58,538 fans and Sunday had 60,103 fans. WWE’s slightly inflated number had 124,693 across both nights, with 61,467 announced for Saturday and 63,226 announced for Sunday.
Tickets for both nights, including combo deals, are available via Ticketmaster.com.
A video is making the rounds of a what looks to be an intoxicated Ric Flair recording a Cameo video for a customer which went sideways.
Sitting in a bar/restaurant, Flair recorded the personalized video for someone who is getting married.
“Now that you’re getting married, oh my God. Why would you get married, motherf*cker?” Flair says. “It’s the worst possible commitment you could do. Because as of the day you get married, 50% of everything is hers.”
Speaking from multiple experiences, the Nature Boy continued, “I don’t care how beautiful she is. Stay her girlfriend. It’s family, Tina.”
Flair then concludes the cool $500 video by adding, “I’m a diamond. I’m forever. I’ve overstayed my welcome, and my name is Ric Flair. Woo!”
Smackdown fell below a million viewers once again, drawing just 995,000 viewers last Friday night for the taped episode, down 285,000 viewers from the prior week. The night was dominated by college football playoffs which drew 7.6 million viewers. Smackdown had a 0.21 rating in 18-49, down 0.05 from the prior week and was #3 on cable and #3 in all of TV behind college football programming. (Ratings credit: Programming Insider)
