Home Blog Page 113

The IInspiration departing TNA Wrestling after six months

Sean Ross Sapp of Fightful is reporting through his select service that Jessica McKay and Cassie Lee, collectively known as The IInspiration, are departing TNA Wrestling.

The duo lost the TNA Knockouts Tag Team titles last night on Impact to The Elegance Brand, ending their reign at 110 days.

McKay and Lee only returned to TNA in June of last year, three years after they announced that they would be stepping away from professional wrestling while they were still working for the company.

Sapp also adds that there is interest in the team formerly known as The IIconics so they could very well land somewhere else in the very near future.

TNA World title match at Genesis 2026 now a Texas Death Match

Genesis 2025

The TNA World title match at tomorrow’s Genesis pay-per-view will be a rematch of Mike Santana vs Frankie Kazarian, but this time, with the stipulation of a Texas Death Match.

The stipulation was announced after Impact went off the air last night, when Nic Nemeth came out and was going to cash in his Call Your Shot Gauntlet contract for the title.

TNA’s Director of Authority Santino Marella appeared and said that Kazarian would get his rematch and announced the stipulation. Daria Rae joined the party as well, dropping a news of her own saying that Nemeth would be the special guest referee.

The show will take place from the Curtis Culwell Center in Dallas, the same place where the Impact on AMC debut was held.

NXT rating for 01/13/2026

NXT this week drew 618,000 viewers, down 9,000 viewers from the previous episode which was the New Year’s Evil special. The show had a 0.09 rating in 18-49, down 0.01 from the prior show. (Ratings credit: Programming Insider)

Elayna Black signs with TNA Wrestling

Elayna Black, who wrestled as Cora Jade in NXT, has signed with TNA Wrestling and joined the Knockouts division yesterday on the AMC debut episode.

Black was introduced by fellow former WWE star Daria Rae during the same segment.

The 25-year-old wrestled a few times for TNA while she was still under a WWE deal as part of the TNA/NXT partnership but was released from her WWE contract in May of last year.

She continued wrestling on the indie scene for a few months but then took a break from her wrestling commitments, citing mental health issues.

Black has since become a millionaire with her popular OnlyFans page.

Former Sonya Deville debuts with TNA under the name of Daria Rae

The artist formerly known as Sonya Deville in WWE made her TNA debut last night using the name Daria Rae.

Now using her real name, Daria was introduced to the audience by TNA’s Director of Authority Santino Marella, who said she would also hold an authority position within the company as Director of Operations.

While Rae first acted as a babyface, she quickly turned heel, berating Marella and the Dallas crowd.

She competed in WWE for 10 years, between 2015 and 2025 and left in early February of last year after she was informed that her contract would not be renewed.

The rise of international wrestling events and what fans should know

Professional wrestling was once viewed as a strictly North American export that merely visited other countries for exhibition tours. That perspective is rapidly fading as major promotions now prioritize massive stadium shows in Europe, Australia, and the Middle East. This strategic pivot signals a new era where the biggest moments in the industry are just as likely to happen in London as they are in New York.

Managing Regional Restrictions

Following the action from different time zones requires some adjustment for American audiences who are used to evening broadcasts. The logistical challenges increase significantly for fans who travel to these destination events but still want to engage with their usual online services. Regional broadcasting rights and internet regulations can often block access to specific streaming libraries or betting platforms that function perfectly within the United States.

This digital fragmentation can be frustrating for enthusiasts who want to place wagers on match outcomes while they are on the road. The cybersecurity specialists at VPNpro suggest that travelers often utilize VPNs for gambling and sports betting to securely access their legitimate accounts while connected to foreign networks. It remains essential for every user to verify that their activities comply with the local laws of the host country to avoid any legal complications during their trip.

The Unique Atmosphere of Foreign Crowds

The primary driver for this international expansion is the undeniable electricity that foreign audiences bring to the broadcast. American crowds can sometimes be reserved or cynical, but fans in places like France or Puerto Rico treat wrestling with the same raucous intensity seen at a championship soccer match. They sing songs throughout the bouts and create a deafening wall of sound that enhances the drama for viewers watching at home.

This energy forces the performers to elevate their physical efforts to match the environment. Wrestlers frequently mention that the adrenaline rush from a passionate international crowd is unlike anything else they experience during their domestic touring schedule. The visual spectacle of tens of thousands of fans filling a historic outdoor stadium provides a backdrop that a standard basketball arena simply cannot replicate.

Why Cities Are Fighting for Hosting Rights

It’s not just the fans who are winning here; cities are practically tripping over themselves to host these events, and for good reason. It’s become a lot like the bidding wars we see for the Super Bowl or the Olympics. When a major wrestling promotion rolls into town, they aren’t just bringing a ring and some lights; they are bringing an army of tourists who need places to sleep, eat, and party.

Hotels get booked solid, local pubs run out of beer, and small businesses see a massive spike in foot traffic that can last for nearly a week. Local governments have realized that cutting a few checks for tax breaks or helping with traffic logistics is a small price to pay for the millions of dollars that get pumped back into the local economy. As long as the cash keeps flowing like that, you can bet that mayors from Cardiff to Perth will keep rolling out the red carpet.

We have officially moved past the days when wrestling was just an American sideshow. It has grown into something truly borderless, where a random Saturday afternoon in Lyon or Jeddah can host the most talked-about match of the year. For the fans, this is the best-case scenario. We get to see different cultures put their own spin on the sport, creating a vibe that you just can’t manufacture in a studio. The world is watching, and finally, the wrestling world is traveling to meet them halfway.

Mike Santana regains the TNA World title during Impact’s AMC premiere

A new TNA World champion was crowned on the Impact premiere episode on AMC last night, with Mike Santana regaining the title from Frankie Kazarian in the main event of the show.

The match was originally supposed to take place at the Genesis pay-per-view tomorrow but was moved two days up to maximize a potential new audience watching on AMC.

Santana beat Kazarian with his Spin The Block finisher after earlier in the match he also delivered his finisher, with the referee counting to three but Kazarian kicking out in the last milli second.

His first reign ended after just 32 days and months of chasing the title. Kazarian’s run with the title lasted only 63 days.

Smackdown to air live from London for international fans on Netflix tonight

International fans will be able to watch Smackdown live at a decent hour for the second week in a row as the show will air from London, England as part of the Road to the Royal Rumble tour.

Fans outside the United States can catch the show at 8PM GMT in the United Kingdom or 9PM CET for those in Central Europe. In the U.S., it airs on tape delay in its usual time slot of 8PM ET on USA Network.

Four WWE title number one contender’s qualifying matches will take place, with each winner advancing to a fatal four-way at Saturday Night’s Main Event to determine who will face Drew McIntyre at the Royal Rumble.

The matches include Randy Orton vs The Miz, Damian Priest vs Solo Sikoa, Sami Zayn vs Ilja Dragunov, and Matt Cardona vs Trick Williams.

Plus, Carmelo Hayes hosts the United States Title Open Challenge and Drew McIntyre returns to the UK as the new WWE champion!

USA Network renews Everything on the Menu with Braun Strowman for second season

USA Network has renewed Everything on the Menu with Braun Strowman for a second season according to Deadline, giving the show a 12-episode order, an increase from the eight which made up season one.

The show, which launched in October 2025, was the ninth most popular new cable show of the year according to Nielsen and performed quite well in the ratings. It was filmed while Strowman was still under a WWE deal and WWE is a producing partner on the show.

“I’ve been so blessed to perform in front of massive crowds over the years, but getting the chance to travel the country, sit with people at their tables, hear their stories, and taste the meals that mean the most to them has been life changing,” said Scherr. “I know fans know me from the ring, the ‘Monster Among Men,’ but this experience has let me show the world who I really am, and I’m a big softie on the inside. I’m humbled and incredibly grateful that I get the chance to do what I love and hopefully put a bunch of smiles on peoples’ faces, and food in their belly, along the way.”

“Adam, aka Braun Strowman, has won the hearts and inspired the tastebuds of our audiences with Everything on the Menu,” said Val Boreland, President, Entertainment at Versant. “I’m hoping for a dinner invite in season two so I can experience his culinary genius firsthand.”

Everything on the Menu with Braun Strowman features the former WWE Universal champion as he steps outside the ring and into kitchens across America. It is produced by WWE and Bright North Studios. Paul Levesque, Lee Fitting, Marc Pomarico and Ben Houser executive produce for WWE. Matthew J. Braley, Adam Scherr, Nick Antonicelli, Morgan Hertzan, Shawn Efran and Azadeh De Leon serve as executive producers for Bright North Studios.

10PM local start time for the 2026 Royal Rumble in Riyadh

Royal Rumble 2026

The 2026 Royal Rumble will have a 10PM start time in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, which is a record for the latest start time for a WWE premium live event ever.

The 10PM start time is to accommodate the rest of the western world, with the show starting at 2PM ET / 11AM PT in the United States, 5PM GMT in the United Kingdom, and 6PM CET in Central Europe.

“No staying up late this time,” the Netflix UK X account posted along with a video promoting the Rumble.

While U.S. and European fans will not be staying up late to watch it, the approximately 20,000 fans in Riyadh will have a harsher time, with the event expected to end by around 2AM local time.

TNA lands new TV rights deal in Philippines

TNA logo

BlastTV in the Philippines has secured the TNA media rights for the country.

The company was the home of WWE television in the Philippines but those expired at the end of 2025 and moved to Netflix, leaving a void which has now been filled with TNA programming.

The deal starts with tonight’s Impact, which airs live at 10AM local time tomorrow in the Philippines.

They will also air every single TNA pay-per-view live starting with this Saturday’s Genesis, which will be available for free on Tap Sports and the BlastTV app.

Trio of CMLL stars sign dual contracts with AEW

CMLL

AEW President Tony Khan officially welcomed Persephone, Mascara Dorada, and Hechicero to AEW, announcing that the trio CMLL stars are now under dual contracts with both CMLL in Mexico and AEW.

All three have been part of AEW programming for a while but they did so under the working agreement that AEW has with CMLL.

Having dual contracts ensures that the talent are also being compensated fairly for their work with AEW.

Khan welcomed all three with the usual “All Elite” graphics.

Construction of the Royal Rumble 2026 outdoor arena continues at fast pace

Royal Rumble 2026

Construction of the arena where the Royal Rumble will be held in Riyadh continues at a fast pace according to the latest videos posted.

The seats have all been installed after the structures to support the multi-tier seating stands were finalized last week.

The walls which will surround the outdoor arena are currently being built up around the stands, with the Royal Rumble and WWE logos already visible at the top.

Construction of the stage, on the side by the highway has also started although it’s currently only scaffolding.

The outdoor arena is being constructed just for the 2026 Royal Rumble, similar to what they did for WrestleMania IX at Caesar’s Palace in Las Vegas.

It is located in the King Abdullah Financial District in Riyadh, east of King Fahd Road.

Tickets for the show sold out quick, which at one point there were over 800,000 people in line on WeBook to purchase them.

TNA Impact debuts on AMC tonight at 9PM ET

Impact

It’s a big night for TNA Wrestling as Impact makes its debut on AMC and its streaming service AMC+, moving to a new home after over five years airing on AXS TV.

The show will start at 9PM ET, an hour later than usual, and it will be the new start time for future Impact shows on AMC. The event will be held live from the Curtis Culwell Center in Dallas, Texas.

Scheduled matches for tonight so far include Frankie Kazarian vs Mike Santana for the TNA World title, The Iinspiration vs The Elegance Brand for the TNA Knockouts Tag Team titles, and Elijah and The Hardys vs Order 4 in a six-man tag match.

Plus, former WWE and TNA champion AJ Styles will be on the show and Bully Ray will be part of the commentary team for the TNA World title match.

Nic Nemeth staying in TNA after signing new contract

Nic Nemeth announced during today’s episode of Busted Open Radio the he signed a new deal with TNA Wrestling.

Nemeth said that everything is official now that the contract has been signed and delivered and called it a “no brainer” decision.

The former World Heavyweight champion has been with TNA since 2024 following his surprise departure from WWE, where he served for a whopping 19 years.

He is a former TNA champion as well as a TNA Tag Team champion and is one of the faces of the company.

The Rascalz sign with AEW

All four members of The Rascalz, the group consisting of Zachary Wentz, Trey Miguel, Myron Reed, and Dezmond Xavier, have signed with AEW.

Their departure from TNA was announced this week and it did not take long for the foursome to find a new job.

Sean Ross Sapp of Fightful is reporting that the four have now signed multi-year deals with AEW and their arrival was teased yesterday during Dynamite. AEW will be keeping The Rascalz name for them.

Reed was supposed to be part of tonight’s Impact debut on AMC against Leon Slater but the match was dropped a few days ago.

Powerhouse Hobbs leaving AEW, expected in WWE imminently

Powerhouse Hobbs is exiting AEW upon his contract expiration, which is today, and is expected to land in WWE imminently.

Hobbs was offered a new AEW contract according to multiple insiders, a contract which Hobbs turned down because his aim was to test free agency and sign with the WWE.

The 34-year-old wrestled at the Collision tapings yesterday in Phoenix, and his last match will air this Saturday on TNT as he, Samoa Joe, and Katsuyori Shibata defend the AEW Trios titles against “Hangman” Adam Page and JetSpeed.

Hobbs has been in AEW since 2020 and won the TNT title as well as the Trios titles during his stint there.

Dynamite preview for 01/14/2026

Dynamite logo

Dynamite is back on TBS and HBO Max tonight live from Phoenix, Arizona with four matches already announced for the show.

The show is headlined by an AEW World title match with MJF making his first title defense against ROH World champion Bandido. Plus, The Young Bucks, GOA, JetSpeed, and Don Callis Family will battle in a four-way tag team match with the winners becoming the number one contenders for the AEW Tag Team titles.

In addition, Kris Statlander teams with the Babes of Wrath to take on the Triangle of Madness in a trios match, Darby Allin vs Pac, and Kenny Omega returns.

Collision rating for 01/10/2026

Collision this past Saturday drew 271,000 viewers, up 30,000 viewers from the prior week. The show had a 0.03 rating in 18-49, the exact number it drew for the previous episode. (Ratings credit: Wrestlenomics)

Jade Cargill attends the premiere of Netflix’s The Rip

WWE Women’s champion Jade Cargill attended Netflix’s The Rip premiere at the Alice Tully Hall in New York City yesterday.

Cargill looked stunning, wearing a long red dress which still showed her impressive abs and carried the WWE Women’s title on her shoulder.

Stars Matt Damon and Ben Affleck, producing under their Artists Equity banner, led the evening alongside cast members Steven Yeun, Teyana Taylor, Sasha Calle, Catalina Sandino Moreno, Kyle Chandler, Lina Esco, Jose Pablo Cantillo, Alex Hernandez, and Cliff Chamberlain.

Notable guests along with Cargill included Jason Momoa, Martha Stewart, Adria Arjona, Steve Buscemi, Lily Rabe, James Murray, and more.

The Rip is released on Netflix on January 16.