Stephanie Vaquer was temporarily written off television last night on Raw with an injury angle.
Vaquer was shown arriving at the arena for Raw last night but was jumped by Judgment Day’s Liv Morgan, Roxanne Perez, and Raquel Rodriguez. Raquel drove Vaquer into a road case and then hometown girl Perez slammed one into her shoulder.
Morgan then grabbed Vaquer by her hair and told her, “Now this is my championship.”
Later during the broadcast, Michael Cole announced that Vaquer was suffering from an acromioclavicular sprain in her left shoulder and will be out for a while.
It’s unclear if Vaquer is suffering from a real injury or if this is just time off.
The first three matches for Backlash were announced last night on Raw on Netflix.
The WWE World Heavyweight title will be on the line as Roman Reigns defends against Jacob Fatu. Fatu last night said that while Reigns was running the Bloodline, he was broke and did not know when the next meal was going to be for his family. The segment eventually ended with Fatu placing Reigns in the Tongan Death Grip, seemingly turning heel.
Seth Rollins also takes on Bron Breakker on this premium live event, a match which was originally scheduled to take place at WrestleMania, but an unfortunate injury to Breakker kept him out of it.
Plus, while Kairi Sane is no longer there, the match between Asuka and Iyo Sky will still take place. Asuka interfered in Sky’s match against Becky Lynch for the Intercontinental title and then put her in the Asuka Lock.
Backlash takes place on Saturday, May 9 live from the Benchmark International Arena in Tampa, Florida. Tickets are available at Ticketmaster.com.
The CW Network and WWE today announced all NXT Premium Live Events will now air exclusively on The CW.
The agreement will start with The Great American Bash and The CW will air a total of 20 PLEs live on both costs over the next several years, although the exact duration was not revealed.
With the addition of NXT PLEs to The CW’s lineup, the network is now the exclusive home for all NXT programming.
“WWE NXT has energized our Tuesday nights by consistently delivering a loyal and passionate fanbase to The CW every week,” said Brad Schwartz, President, The CW Network. “Adding WWE NXT Premium Live Events to our schedule is a natural fit, providing one broadcast destination for audiences to watch all their favorite Superstars, storylines and championship matches.”
The partnership between the two parties started in October 2024 when The CW acquired the rights for the weekly NXT television series in a five-year deal.
“The CW has played an integral role in raising the profile of our up-and-coming Superstars, and we are excited to bring NXT Premium Live Events to broadcast television for the first time ever,” said Shawn Michaels, WWE Senior Vice President of Talent Development Creative.
NXT PLEs aired on Peacock up until Vengeance Day of this year. Stand & Deliver aired on YouTube in the United States after the deal had expired and there was not a new one in place in time for the show.
These PLEs will continue to air on Netflix internationally.
On today’s episode of SiriusXM’s The Nikki and Brie Show, Nikki Garcia answers fan questions during a special solo episode.
During the episode, Nikki Garcia revealed that she backed out of an audition for the “Baywatch” reboot and shared that she would like to be a general manager for WWE Raw. She also discussed her ankle injury and shared that she hopes to return in June for Night of Champions.
Nikki Garcia wants to be a GM for WWE Raw (3:13-4:00)
Nikki Garcia: I would love one day before I, you know, call it goodbye for good, I would love to be a Women’s World Champion. Also what I would love to be and what I love about this one is I can do this not being in the ring, but there was a lot of talk about it today on X about when should they change up the general managers and I would love to be a general manager at Raw at one point. So Liv’s championship, Women’s World Championship and then after in-ring stuff, I would love at some point to be a general manager for Raw and I don’t know, I haven’t figured that part out, but when I’ve seen all that talk today and someone put me as the GM for Raw, I was like, “I like that.”
Nikki Garcia hopes to return in June for Night of Champions (24:09-24:21)
Nikki Garcia: Hopefully I will get to see you all in June. They just announced Night of Champions is gonna be happening in June as of now, so fingers crossed that still goes, but obviously, I would love to see you all there.
Nikki Garcia reveals that she backed out of “Baywatch” audition (28:40-28:56)
Nikki Garcia: For instance, I had an audition for “Baywatch.” I ended up not doing it because I knew that I would not be comfortable wearing, if I was to get it, I would not be comfortable wearing a red swimsuit 24/7 because I am not confident yet in a swimsuit, so I didn’t do it.
The Nikki & Brie Show hosted by Nikki & Brie Garcia is available anytime on the SiriusXM app. New episodes every Monday and Thursday. Listen to the full episode here.
Tickets for the AEWxNJPW Forbidden Door 2026 pay-per-view went on sale this morning on Ticketmaster.com.
The cheapest price is $37.40 at the moment and the most expensive at $359.90. The VIP packages are going for a maximum of $755.20.
There are already Me+3 4-Pack and Trios Ticket offers available where multiple tickets purchased together are offered at a cheaper price.
The SAP Center in San Jose, California will host the show. The arena has a capacity of around 17,000 seats and currently only the 100 level is open for sales.
Carlee Bright, which is part of the new season of WWE LFG which started just yesterday on A&E, revealed that she has also been released from WWE.
She joins the other 21 WWE Superstars who were cut on Friday afternoon in what is now the usual post-WrestleMania massacre.
“Tonight, you’ll see me on Season 3 of WWE LFG,” Bright wrote on social media. “What you won’t see…is that just two days ago, my time with WWE has officially come to an end.”
She said that it wasn’t how she imagined this chapter ending, but she learned to fight through uncertainty and the moments that test who you really are.
“I don’t know if there’ll ever be enough words to express the gratitude and love I have for this chapter. From all the hours filming, hair spray & makeup, long drives, and intense training days, I really did feel like my very own Hannah Montana — living the best of both worlds,” she continued. “I cherish the laughs, the memories, and the people who made this experience better than I could have ever imagined. You’ve changed my life, and that’s something I’ll carry with me forever.”
She added that wrestling has such a funny way of saying “I love you” and if there’s one thing she knows about herself is that her parents did not raise a quitter.
“This chapter may be closing, but my story is far from finished,” she concluded.
Several of her peers commented on her post including Blake Monroe, Lainey Reid, Kendal Grey, Kelani Jordan, Myka Lockwood, and even LFG coach Nattie.
“What I loved most about working with you on LFG was your incredible attitude, it really stood out to me,” Nattie wrote. “You did such a fantastic job, and I’m so grateful we had time to work together. It was amazing watching you grow and progress. If you ever want to come train at the Dungeon, let me know, I’ll make space for you.”
Nathan Frazer gave props to Chris Sabin and Alex Shelley of the Motor City Machine Guns, who were part of the nearly two dozen WWE Superstars released on Friday afternoon.
Frazer wrote that there are no words that could articulate just how much MCMG mean to him and Axiom.
“As a tag team, they are one of our biggest inspirations. That goes without even saying. But as people, as friends, as brothers, the gap they leave behind will never be filled,” the 27-year-old said.
He noted how when he and Axiom got called up to the main roster, Sabin and Shelley made them feel at home and shared many incredible moments in and out the ring.
“But honestly the best times has been getting to know each other on a deeper, personal level. We all just instantly clicked. When I say they adopted on us on the road, it’s not an exaggeration,” he continued. “Selfishly, it’s gonna really suck not seeing them every single week. But we’re so excited to see what they do next.”
Frazer said that when they look back on the past year, it will be some of the best times of their entire lives.
“For all you’ve done for the business, and for the impact you’ve left on left on us personally… Thank you, MCMG,” he concluded.
WWE Superstar Ivy Nile participated in the 2026 NPC/IFBB Professional League GRL PWR Championship held this past weekend in Orlando, Florida.
The 34-year-old managed to place in the Bikini, Wellness, and Fitness categories and had a strong showing in her first competition, even winning some categories.
“WINNER WINNER,” Nile wrote on her Instagram. “I undoubtedly have the best people in my corner, I could not ask for more! Thank you Jenn Sweeney and Ferlan Bailey for making this day possible and for many more to come.”
Several fellow WWE Superstars were in attendance cheering her on including Montez Ford, Bianca Belair, Trick Williams, Lash Legend, and former NXT General Manager Simone “Ava” Johnson.
Secretary of Education Linda McMahon and her son, Shane McMahon, were among the many at the White House Correspondents Association dinner on Saturday night which ended before it even started after a gunman managed to find his way in the Washington Hilton hotel and fire shots.
Both McMahons, like pretty much everyone else, were not harmed but it was quite the scene inside, with everyone ducking under the tables. That is, except for UFC President Dana White, who was also there, and didn’t feel the need to duck because it was “f*cking awesome.”
Linda wore a leopard-print dress while Shane was in a full tuxedo. Linda appeared on WWE television last week at the Hall of Fame, helping induct her daughter Stephanie into the 2026 class. Shane was nowhere to be seen in Las Vegas for the weekend.
The shooting dominated the news on Saturday and Sunday and the event is expected to take place again later next month.
WWE programming on A&E returns tonight with new seasons of WWE LFG, Biography: WWE Legends, and WWE’s Greatest Moments.
The first one on the air is Biography which this week will feature the Von Erich family. It’s a two-part special which kicks off at 8PM ET.
Following Biography at 10PM ET will be WWE LFG, with Booker T and Bubba Ray Dudley returning as coaches and joined by Natalya and Kevin Owens.
At 11PM ET, WWE’s Greatest Moments, anchored by Michael Cole, kicks off its new season. Tonight’s episode will celebrate WrestleMania and it’s most memorable moments from the 2000s and 2010s.
Iyo Sky wrote a heartfelt message on social media directed at Kairi Sane, who was surprisingly released from her contract this past Friday.
Sane has been on TV almost weekly in an angle being bullied by Asuka, with now no payoff to the months-long storyline.
“I understand that everyone, as an athlete, eventually faces a turning point when thinking about their life and career, but I feel so heartbroken that it came at such an unexpected time,” Sky wrote in a translated post. “Kairi was truly loved by all her colleagues, not just as a performer but as a person.”
Sky described her best friend Sane as kinder than anyone and a “airheaded in the most endearing way.”
“A comrade-in-arms who faced countless hardships in America, shed so many tears, and grew together with me. It’s so hard to accept that Kairi won’t be in the passenger seat of the rental car anymore,” she continued.
The former champ said she’s certain that with her talent and experience, Sane’s new journey will be something truly amazing.
“From the bottom of my heart, I wish for my beloved Kairi’s success and happiness. I love you so much Kairi. We’ll be best friends forever and always,” she wrote.
AEW has trademarked the term Royal Redemption in what seems to be the name of a yet-to-be announced pay-per-view or TV special.
The application, filed on April 24 with the United States Patent and Trademark Office, is for “Entertainment in the nature of wrestling contests; Entertainment services in the nature of live professional wrestling performances; Entertainment services in the nature of production of professional wrestling programs and events; and Entertainment services, namely, production and distribution of ongoing television programs in the field of professional wrestling.”
The belief is that this is actually for a new pay-per-view which will join the AEW calendar of events. AEW still has no PPVs in the months of January, February, and June.
The AEW World Tag Team title match at Double or Nothing has another stipulation attached to it.
Last night on Collision, FTR responded to Copeland and Cage’s challenge for the next pay-per-view and said that they would accept their street fight as long as it’s an I Quit match because that will determine once and for all who is the better team.
The Canadians also had a prior stipulation announced which they have requested to entice FTR to accept the match, which is if they lose the match, Copeland and Cage would never tag team again in AEW.
This will be the third match between the two teams, with the series tied at 1-1. Copeland and Cage won at All Out last year but FTR got their win at Dynasty while also defending their gold.
Dynamite this week drew 617,000 viewers, down 93,000 viewers from the prior week with the big AEW World tile switch. The show had a 0.10 rating in 18-49, down 0.02 from the previous show. This was Dynamite’s lowest numbers since March 11. (Ratings credit: Programming Insider)
A few of the released stars posted statements on social media hours after they received the dreaded call that they have been fired yesterday in a post-WrestleMania massacre.
Zelina Vega hosted a live stream and said that she got the call at 5:09PM and when the phone rang, it showed “TKO.” She said usually it says “Stamford” and her heart races a little bit when she gets those calls.
Those on the main roster will have a 90-day no-compete clause while those from NXT will have 30 days. If their deal was expiring and just wasn’t renewed, they’d be able to appear anywhere once the contract has expired. Anyone released will continue to be paid for those 30 or 90 days.
In total, WWE released 21 from their roster yesterday afternoon, just a few days after boasting record WrestleMania revenues and millions paid in salaries to top TKO executives.
Kairi Sane: “I’m truly grateful to have people like you by my side. Thank you for always being with me. I’ll set sail… in my own time Until then…I love you.”
Nikki Cross: “Goodbye and Thank you WWE. I’m really excited for whatever my next chapter will hold. Thank you all for the continued love and support. Special thank you to Robbie Brookside and William Regal for helping this dream come true. Thank you to the wrestlers, coaches, producers and all the backstage crew who make all this possible. To the amazing girls in locker room [love emoji].”
Joe Gacy: “90.”
Zelina Vega: “My fans mean the absolute world to me. I’ve lost a lot this year and in my life in general.. but I gained all of you. Thank you. Your support means more than you’ll ever know. I know I said it on stream but I also want to thank my co-workers, trainers and everyone who made it possible to do what I did in WWE. The amount of txts I got from all of you warmed my heart to tears. Thank you. I genuinely feel honored to have worked with you.”
Andre Chase: “One last TEACHABLE MOMENT!! I couldn’t have done it without U. Available for bookings, signings, and seminars starting in June. Let’s get to work.”
Zoey Stark: Thank you WWE, you made a young girls dream come true. You could not have been better and more supportive during my healing and I will be forever grateful. Thank you to all the girls in the back, the producers, camera men you were all incredibly kind and gracious. And a special Thank you to Terry Taylor and Coach Bloom for teaching me so much and being a shoulder to lean on. Its just the end of this chapter and the beginning of a new one. Falling Foward, onward and upward with God’s plan
Dante Chen: “Goodbye and thank you, WWE. 5 years, 147 matches. The list of names of people I want to thank is endless. I am proud to be the first Singaporean-born WWE Superstar, and I hope that inspires everyone that anything can be achieved. Stay tuned. Chen. Now. Forever. Together.”
Alba Fyre: “Kay Lee Ray would batter Alba Fyre. Just saying….”
Luca Crusifino: “What an amazing 4 years! Thank you so much to all of my coaches and friends that I have made along the way! Onwards and upwards! onlyfans here I come.”
Tamara Mae Steel: “Hey, I hope yall have a wonderful Friday! Be safe and know that I appreciate every single one of you people that follow me. I thank God all the time for my life, its been rough but I’ve always had faith. And Being with the man of my dreams is icing on the cake.”
Some other stars also paid tribute to their co-workers who today woke up without a job.
Asuka: “No matter what, I’ll always be in your corner, Kairi. I’ll never leave you feeling alone.”
Bayley: “I’m having a hard time finding words for this one. I love you and it was an honor to tell stories with you. #KAIRIMFNSANE”
Rhea Ripley: “Today’s been a very sad day… Absolutely guttered for my friends and comrades. Worst time of the year. Go prove them all wrong!”
Chelsea Green: “You guys didn’t get to see how talented KLR is. I know you saw bits & pieces, but trust me, there’s so much more to her. She’s a fearless wrestler… I’m sad to not have her on my side but this is just the beginning for my girl. Thank you for having my back, Slaygent A. Love you!”
Alexa Bliss: “Bliss cross forever thank you @WWENikkiCross for all of the amazing times, fun car rides, laughs & for being Hendrix’s backstage bestie love you Nikki – can’t wait to see what’s next.”
B-Fab: “Yesterday was an extremely hard day. Seeing so many of my friends get released from their dream job is a horrible feeling. These are the moments when we dig deep and remember who we are at the core. Let nothing define you only you can define you. My heart is with everyone! Go kill it all.”
It’s Tiffy Time again in WWE as Tiffany Stratton walked out of Smackdown with the WWE Women’s United States title last night.
Stratton defeated Giulia clean with the Prettiest Moonsault Ever to secure her first run with this title and ending Giulia’s second reign after 112 days.
The match was somewhat expected to be part of the WrestleMania card but incredibly enough, both were left out of it. Stratton had entered last year’s WrestleMania as the champion and defeated Charlotte Flair to retain it but found herself with no match a year later.
Giulia is currently top of the list with combined days as Women’s United States champion, holding it for a total of 245 days across two stints.
In a fiery promo on Smackdown last night, WWE champion Cody Rhodes had a message to “outside forces” who keep interfering in his business.
Still sporting a black eye from his injury sustained at WrestleMania 42 in his match against Randy Orton, Rhodes said that he wasn’t medically cleared to wrestle yet but he wanted to appear and send a message.
“The most important message I want to send is to those outside forces that kept interceding and interjecting into my WrestleMania plans…that want to get involved in this Nightmare family party,” he said. “I’ll make it simple, you guys are 0-3. Send your best or count your money and mind your damn business.”
Rhodes then asked anyone from Raw, Smackdown, and NXT to show up if anyone wanted to face him because while he was easy to find, he is hard to beat.
Seth Rollins made a surprise appearance for AAW Wrestling yesterday in the penultimate show at the Berwyn Eagles Club.
Rollins, who used to wrestle at the location during his indie days, came out to his WWE theme song wearing a jogging suit. He greeted fans at ringside with high-fives and then did a six-minute speech, saying that a few of his students from the Black & Brave Wrestling Academy are participating in the show.
The former WWE champ went over the history between wrestling and the building and said he was honored to have wrestled there, leaving out his childhood dream.
Berwyn Eagles Club will no longer host professional wrestling events after a fight between a wrestler and a fan last month fueled rumors that someone was stabbed. The Chicago-suburb location is a popular one with indie promotions.
Ricky Saints, the former NXT champion, will be making his Smackdown debut next week, just days after his scheduled final match on NXT next Tuesday.
Former NXT Women’s North American champion Blake Monroe is also leaving NXT and moving to Smackdown, with a vignette airing on Smackdown saying that she will be arriving soon. Monroe lost a casket match against Tatum Paxley on this week’s episode of NXT.
The two are the latest NXT call-ups to the main roster following WrestleMania 42. They join Sol Ruca, Ethan Page, and Joe Hendry who moved to Raw and Fatal Influence who moved to Smackdown.
