Browsing: Claims

The shocking return of CM Punk to WWE at Survivor Series 2023 was a monumental moment for the company, but it also reportedly caused significant creative plans to be scrapped. According to Wolfgang of the NXT faction Gallus, his group was scheduled to be called up to the main roster and was slated for a storyline with Drew McIntyre, but those plans were abruptly canceled when CM Punk returned.

The revelation sheds new light on the ripple effect that a major signing can have on the rest of the roster, as creative directions are forced to shift to accommodate the new top star. Speaking on the “Mic Check with Mr. Anderson” podcast, Wolfgang revealed that Gallus was on the verge of their main roster debut, only to have the plans repeatedly delayed.

“We were ready for main roster, even when we got to NXT, it was good to get there and get involved but we were ready to go at the drop of a hat to main roster. And I know for a fact that we were scheduled to be there. We were like three weeks out, and then three weeks came and they said ‘itâ€s actually like three months†and the phrase they used was the ‘can keeps getting kicked down the roadâ€.â€

Wolfgang also provided evidence for his claim, noting that Gallus was the only NXT act featured in the official event programs for major main roster shows, and they were positioned next to Drew McIntyre.

“If you go look at the 2023 Survivor Series program for the main roster, or the 2024 Royal Rumble, thereâ€s no one else in NXT in that, except for Gallus. And weâ€re right next to a full page spread of Drew McIntyre.â€

He then stated that he believes CM Punk’s return at that same Survivor Series event was the direct cause for the plans being changed, as the company’s creative focus immediately shifted.

“So I think there was a plan for us to join Drew McIntyre at some point, and then CM Punk showed up and the can kept getting kicked down the road and they didnâ€t need us anymore. And I think they got stuck. ‘This is what weâ€re doing, weâ€ll get to it at some pointâ€. They never even considered how else weâ€re going to do it.â€

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Armando Alejandro Montalvo, the man once shot outside WWEâ€s Performance Center after repeated incidents in 2015, has issued yet another bizarre claim—this time directed at Liv Morgan.

After Ringside News covered his most recent antics, Montalvo took to Ringside News†Facebook Page with a statement that flipped the narrative. Instead of acknowledging his fixation on WWE talent, he suggested she was the one pursuing him.

“I was kind of hoping that you would have been able to provide a better quality picture of Liv Morgan, considering how hot she really is, so. But considering the fact she was actually stalking me and following me around, thereâ€s not much more that I could really do. Because if she has a crush on me, thereâ€s not much more I could really do yet. Believe in Jesus.â€

His response came on the heels of an earlier Facebook video where he once again directed bizarre commentary toward Liv Morgan. In that upload, he appeared with the DARE logo in the corner of the screen while attaching a cryptic caption, writing: “Liv Morgan what winds your clock [watch emoji] working with Liv at Walgreens you only life to Liv Drive safely.â€

The clip then shifted into toilet humor before closing with religious imagery. On-screen, he displayed a yellow road sign with a black T-intersection marked by the words “THANK YOU JESUS†in capital letters. Beneath it, a pointing-up emoji hand appeared over a Bible verse: “WHAT WILL IT PROFIT A MAN IF HE GAINS THE WHOLE WORLD YET FORFEITS HIS SOUL MATTHEW 16:26.â€

Thereâ€s no reality to his claim—Liv Morgan was the victim of a separate stalking case earlier this year, when an individual was arrested outside the WWE Performance Center during a live NXT broadcast. Montalvo, on the other hand, has a long history of erratic behavior connected to WWE and has previously directed strange videos and letters toward talent.

His latest comments only add to his record of unpredictable statements, but WWEâ€s past experiences with him show the situation is never taken lightly.

Do you think WWE and authorities need to intervene again after this strange claim, or should his latest comments just be ignored? Share your thoughts in the comments.

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If one is a younger fan of pro wrestling, they may not be familiar with the legacy of one Scott Steiner beyond certain specifics, such as the fact that he is one half of one of the greatest tag teams in wrestling history alongside his brother, Rick, and that he won the WCW World Heavyweight Championship during the promotion’s dying days. Oh, and the fact that he may be one of the most insane wrestlers in history, and not because he was doing crazy moves beyond innovating the Frankensteiner/Hurricanrana. After he turned on his brother and joined the nWo in early 1998, Steiner didn’t just overhaul his appearance as much as he almost transformed into a different person. Gone was the long hair, the University of Michigan letter jacket and the traditional wrestling tights, replaced by chain mail, a goatee, a body that gave new meaning to the phrase “chemically induced,” and the nicknames “Big Bad Booty Daddy” and “Big Poppa Pump.”

With all of that came Steiner’s new attitude, one that would make him both one of the more entertaining pro wrestlers of the next few decades (see the “Steiner Math” promo) and one of the more controversial wrestlers of the next few decades. That’s because Steiner became fully uncaged and unafraid to speak his mind, in and out of the ring. The most notorious example of this came during an early 2000 episode of “WCW Nitro,” when an in-ring Steiner promo essentially turned into a shoot as he lashed out against WCW and his long-time co-worker (and future stablemate) Ric Flair. That was at least till a decade later, when Steiner topped himself thanks to an incident with another former co-worker, Hulk Hogan, that briefly left Steiner persona non grata in WWE.

The Heat Between Steiner And Hogan Went Back Years

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Having worked in WWE, WCW, and TNA at the same time over the course of their careers, including being stablemates in the nWo, Hogan and Steiner definitely went a ways back. But the interactions weren’t the most positive according to Steiner, who has since claimed Hogan was behind booking decisions in both WCW and TNA that Steiner feels sapped his momentum. All this pent up anger led to an explosion from Steiner prior to the 2015 Hall of Fame ceremony, where he came across Hogan’s then wife Jennifer and launched into an explosive tirade against Hogan for his actions. Steiner would later go on to claim that he was forced to call his lawyer over the incident, stating Hogan and his wife went to police and said Steiner had threatened them. Steiner also claimed WWE had banned him from the Hall of Fame ceremony, backed up by photos of Steiner found in a security room, as a result of the tirade, with “Big Poppa Pump” famously stating that WWE “took the word of a racist” over Steiner’s.Â

While the wounds have since healed between WWE and Steiner, enough so that he’s been on hand to watch matches featuring his nephew, Bron Breakker, Steiner’s resentment towards Hogan remained. In addition to those claims he made about the Hulkster, Steiner wasn’t afraid to call Hogan out as a racist, as well as referring to him as a “piece of garbage.” Even in the months leading into Hogan’s death earlier this year, Steiner continued to hold Hogan in low regard. But then again, what would you expect from an outspoken individual known as “Big Poppa Pump?” Steiner’s statements about Hogan may not have been the most tactful, but they were very much on brand for one of the more outspoken wrestlers the business has ever seen.

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BJ Rayâ€s release from WWE has been one of the most talked-about stories coming out of the WWE LFG reality series. Booker T, who served as a coach on the show, didnâ€t hold back when he explained why things didnâ€t work out.

On his Hall of Fame podcast, Booker said that BJ Rayâ€s biggest problem was that he acted the same way backstage as he did on-screen, which doesnâ€t work in WWE.

“I always thought that kid had something. But in this business, youâ€ve gotta be able to apply yourself. Itâ€s not gonna be like football, basketball, or any other structured sport. Itâ€s not gonna be like that. A guy like BJ Ray, he had the looks, he had the swag, the charisma, but everything else, he definitely was lacking in. The same way BJ Ray was on television, he was that way off television. You canâ€t be that way.â€

Just a later, on October 16, 2026, BJ Ray seemed to respond to that claim when he broke his silence on Twitter with a lengthy statement, admitting that his attitude may have played a role in his release.

“WHAT A JOURNEY 🌠Well obviously I had to have pissed somebody off lmao! I would like to take this moment to address you guys as Brayden Jesse Ray. First and foremost, I have to give the glory to my lord and savior Jesus Christ, who had given me this opportunity. Secondly, I would like to thank Hunter, Shawn, & Matt Bloom (as well as all the @WWE coaches & staff) that were involved with this entire process. The WWE Performance Center is truly a unique place filled with many gifted individuals and unlimited support.â€

He went into detail about his strategy going into WWEâ€s reality series, explaining that the version fans saw on TV was a deliberate creation.

“As soon as I stepped out of my uber at my WWE tryout, the SexyBJRay effect was in full play. I had a strategy upon filming WWE: NEXT GEN, to start building one of the most over exaggerated versions of myself, to give the wrestling industry a HEEL like theyâ€ve never seen before. And quite frankly, it arguably was one of the greatest rookie runs of all time. In a matter of months, whether hate or love, I won the WWE fans over and they were extremely invested. Without ever having a debut match on live @WWENXT tv, I have become one of the most recognized names in the brand and industry.â€

He described his experience outside the ring, saying that even without an official debut, he became a name that fans recognized.

“From getting swarmed at WWE World in Las Vegas to taking pictures with fans in every airport I walk into, I have been able to build a movement with my hard work and dedication. The hours behind the scenes, editing social media content, training, and reflecting on my character work, I feel it has all payed off.â€

Ray admitted the release stung, especially since he doesnâ€t know what went wrong, but emphasized he was keeping a positive outlook.

“There have been many challenges along the way, but I can only control what I can only control. Obviously this release is a big bummer (especially when you have no idea what you could have done different), but the only option in my opinion is an attitude of gratitude. All I can do is keep pushing, & put it in Godâ€s hands. Iâ€m healing strong and will continue to rehab my shoulder until Iâ€m 100%. And the biggest SHOUTOUT & THANKS to my fans who made it all worthwhile.â€

Then, in true BJ Ray fashion, he ended the post by bringing back his “SexyBJRay†persona with a bold sign-off.

“And now, Brayden Jesse Ray is back on sabbatical and SexyBJRay has a few words. As my good friend @TheNotoriousMMA once said, ‘Iâ€d like to take this chance to apologize to absolutely nobody.†What youâ€ve seen was just the trailer… get ready for the whole movie 🿠and p.s. ‘Ayo you got Snapchat?!â€â€

Booker T claimed BJ Rayâ€s downfall was that he didnâ€t separate his on-screen persona from who he was backstage. BJ Rayâ€s response appears to lean right into that same reputation, acknowledging he probably did upset the wrong people, but refusing to apologize for it.

Do you think BJ Rayâ€s “pissing somebody off†approach is what cost him in WWE, or is that the exact kind of attitude wrestling needs today? Share your thoughts in the comments.

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From backstage reports to interpretations of televised segments, there are few concrete details in the ongoing Seth Rollins injury rabbithole. While WWE has been tight-lipped regarding the situation, Wrestling Observer’s Bryan Alvarez has come out to state the legitimacy of Rollins’ injury with confidence.

“[Rollins] definitely has a shoulder injury,” Alvarez declared. “It was from the coast-to-coast headbutt. He is hurt, and so [WWE] pulled the trigger on the Bron Breakker turn on Seth Rollins, and…it’s it. The Vision is over!”

A clip of a recent Wrestling Observer broadcast featured Alvarez disclosing all known details about Rollins’ current health situation was posted Tuesday evening. In the clip, Alvarez attested to the legitimacy of Rollins’ injury, but he did not claim to know the severity of said injury. According to Alvarez, Rollins is en route to Birmingham for a medical assessment to determine whether surgery is necessary.

Alvarez also claimed that, moving forward, Breakker, Bronson Reed, and Paul Heyman will be the heel team for Survivor Series: WarGames. Interestingly, Alvarez named Austin Theory as a probable replacement for Rollins’ place on the WarGames team. Whether the former “A-Town Down Under” act will associate himself with The Vision — WarGames or not — has yet to be hinted at or confirmed on WWE programming.

“There were plans for Seth to run The Vision at least through WrestleMania,” Alvarez continued. “The original WrestleMania idea was Seth Rollins and Roman Reigns. And…my guess is that Roman Reigns [was] probably going to beat Seth, and that was going to be the catalyst, probably [at] the “Raw” after WrestleMania, for Bron Breakker turning on Seth Rollins, and they strap the rocket onto the guy.”

Alvarez ended by implying that Breakker’s original post-WrestleMania push is still possible. Whether WWE will follow through with a version of their original Vision plans remains to be seen.

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  Baxter HolmesOct 14, 2025, 02:28 PM ET

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  Baxter Holmes (@Baxter) is a senior writer for ESPN Digital and Print, focusing on the NBA. He has covered the Lakers, the Celtics and previously worked for The Boston Globe and Los Angeles Times.

Phoenix Suns majority owner Mat Ishbia has countersued two Suns minority owners, saying that they insisted he buy out their ownership shares “at an exorbitant premium,” according to a copy of the complaint obtained by ESPN.

The lawsuit was filed Tuesday in Delaware State Court. The two Suns minority owners are Scott Seldin and Andy Kohlberg, both of whom were holdovers from the previous regime under former Suns owner Robert Sarver. Seldin and Kohlberg sued the team in August, alleging that Ishbia has refused access to internal records.

ESPN previously reported that the Suns sent a letter in August to Kohlberg and Seldin, in which the team said that the two men demanded that the Suns buy their ownership share for $825 million, a figure that would place the team’s value at about $6 billion — a 60% increase from the value when Ishbia bought his controlling interest in 2023.

The Suns said in the letter, which ESPN obtained, that they have no obligation to buy Seldin and Kohlberg out.

“When Mat Ishbia bought the Suns and Mercury, he couldn’t have been clearer with investors: he was going to invest in the teams, the fans, and the community,” a spokesman for Ishbia said Tuesday. “Every investor had the choice at that point — sell at premium or stay in and invest alongside him. Andy Kohlberg and Scott Seldin want it both ways. They don’t want to invest in the teams, but they are demanding a payday significantly higher than what Mat originally offered, which was still over 20x their original investment. That’s not how it works, and we’re confident we’ll prevail in court.”

An attorney representing Kohlberg and Seldin didn’t immediately return a request for comment.

The August lawsuit from Seldin and Kohlberg was the sixth against the Suns since November 2024. The other five were by current or former employees. Some of their allegations include discrimination, retaliation, harassment and wrongful termination.

During a Sept. 24 appearance on ESPN’s “NBA Today,” Ishbia addressed the lawsuits.

“Obviously anyone can file a lawsuit for any reason they want, for anything they want,” Ishbia said. “How many lawsuits have we actually lost? The answer is zero. How many will we lose? Zero.

“The way I look at it a little differently than other people is we don’t settle. We don’t settle with someone. You want to say, give me $30,000 and I won’t file a lawsuit? I say file a lawsuit. We didn’t do anything wrong. If we do something wrong, we take care of people, but I’m not going to be leveraged by people.”

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The death of the late, great Hulk Hogan in July of this year is still fresh enough to be sending shockwaves throughout the worlds of wrestling and pop culture. As his family explores the possibility of a medical malpractice lawsuit, the grieving process is still very much ongoing, with all of family, friends, and fans still finding ways to honor the man who for so long was called “The Immortal.” Hogan’s legacy, though complicated, will endure forevermore, of course, much like other icons of pop culture from the past, like “The King” Elvis Presley, for one. Hogan held Presely in high enough regard, actually, to call him a “dream tag team partner” in an interview with Yahoo! Sports in 2017.

While the nomination was memorable, it was Hogan’s explanation for a connection between the two that drew eyeballs and called Hogan’s own memory into question. “When I first started wrestling,” said Hogan, whose debut came in 1977 in Championship Wrestling from Florida, “he used to come in [for] the semi-main/main event, ride a Harley with a helmet and sit way up top at the Mid-South Coliseum. The only problem with this story, however, is that Hogan didn’t wrestle anywhere outside of Florida until April of 1979, while Presley died on August 16, 1977 (precisely one week after Hogan’s debut match as The Super Destroyer against Don Serrano in Fort Pierce, Florida).

Hogan’s tall tales over the years were consistent and seemingly knew no bounds, so the Elvis claim might be fun to think about but in reality, it never really came close to happening. Still, just like anyone else can, “The Hulkster” was able to fantasy book a Presley-Hogan in-ring connection. “That would’ve been the one guy, looking back, if I would’ve been aware and would’ve known who Elvis Presley was,” he said, “that would be the one guy that I would’ve loved to have in the ring with me.” He’d have to settle for a feud with Honky Tonk Man, which reached its apex during an episode of “Saturday Night’s Main Event” in 1989 when Hogan successfully defended his WWF Championship.

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WWE Chief Content Officer Paul “Triple H” Levesque has firmly established himself as the corporate face of WWE since taking over the creative direction of the company back in 2022. However, the former WWE Champion reportedly has aspirations of being on the level of another famous promoter who has arguably become the face of their entire organization.

In the latest edition of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter, Dave Meltzer has reported that sources within WWE believe that Levesque wants to become the WWE equivalent of UFC President Dana White, to the point where one person used the term “Dana-envy” when describing the situation. Levesque, who did say at one point in time that he doesn’t like being in the spotlight, wants to be positioned as the biggest star of the WWE brand in the eyes of the audience, but he might not be the only one who wants that to happen.

Meltzer noted that TKO might want Levesque to be the face of WWE as he will be the one constant presence within the company as wrestlers will come and go. This idea would effectively rule out someone like Cody Rhodes or Roman Reigns, Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson’s schedule is too busy to be that guy as well, WWE President Nick Khan likes to keep a low profile.

Despite wanting to be the Dana White of WWE, Meltzer reported that Levesque has missed some shows recently, with a source close to Levesque claiming that his recent string of absences have been planned in advance. With that said, some people within WWE believe that a number of the shows Levesque hasn’t attended that haven’t been reported on has been due to his political priorities, but Levesque’s source claims that isn’t true either.

Is Paul Levesque Hurting WWE?

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The sources within WWE who told Meltzer that Levesque’s political commitments are the reason why he hasn’t been at certain shows, and the fact that he wants to be Dana White have actually started hurting the company. However, someone who is in a position of power in WWE told Meltzer that Levesque’s desire to be WWE’s Dana White isn’t hurting the company at all, and that the on-screen product wouldn’t change if Levesque was around 24/7 or micro-managing everything in the same way that Vince McMahon used to.

A number of people in WWE have stated that the company is in a much better place with Levesque in charge and that Levesque stays on top of the product despite not being at every show, as opposed to McMahon who was described as a dictator. With that said, a source within WWE did question Levesque’s motives as a booker and that he might care more about how a match, segment, or story looks on the “WWE Unreal” documentary on Netflix, rather than how it looks as it’s happening.

Meltzer did note that Levesque doesn’t really need to deliver a top of the range product right now due to how much money WWE is making. He believes that Levesque is able to hold off on major moments and matches, and has no pressure to drive up gate numbers at events because they are breaking records on a monthly basis. Meltzer rounded off by saying that with less house shows and non-televised live events, Levesque has no reason to give everything he has got creatively at every show, especially when the live events that the company does run makes more money than they had done when McMahon was in charge of the company.

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In Beijing, Wang Chuqin delivered a performance for the ages at the WTT China Smash 2025, capturing an astonishing three titles: menâ€s singles, menâ€s doubles (with Lin Shidong), and mixed doubles (with Sun Yingsha).

In the menâ€s singles final, Wang dominated French star Félix Lebrun, winning 4–0 in a display of skill, precision, and tactical mastery. His campaign through the tournament was near-perfect, leaving no doubt why he continues to be the player to beat on the international circuit.

Dominance Beyond the Scoreline

While the scores were commanding, it was Wangâ€s quality of play that truly impressed. From early control of rallies to sharp serve returns, fearless backhand openings, and an exceptional winning-point ratio, Wang showed complete mastery. The official WTT match sheet reflected a one-sided final, capping a week in which he had already secured both doubles titles.

Chinaâ€s Continued Supremacy

Wangâ€s triple crown was part of a broader statement from Team China, which swept all five titles at the tournament. With Wang Manyu capturing the womenâ€s singles, Chinaâ€s delegation showcased remarkable depth, precision, and consistency, turning the event into a testament of the nationâ€s enduring table tennis dominance.

Responding to Recent Doubts

These results also serve as a clear response to speculation that China might be losing its competitive edge. While European nations are rising fast, China remains the standard-bearer of world table tennis, and Wang Chuqin is its brightest symbol today.

References

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Robert MacIntyre won the Dunhill Links Championship on Sunday for a second European tour title in as many years in his native Scotland, completing a successful homecoming after being part of Team Europe’s victory in the Ryder Cup last week.

MacIntyre shot a third straight 6-under 66, this time on the Old Course at St. Andrews having also done so at Carnoustie and Kingsbarns, to complete a four-stroke victory at the home of golf and become the first Scottish player in 20 years to lift the Alfred Dunhill Links title.

“Just a beautiful ending to a good week,” MacIntyre said. “I don’t know how we’re going to celebrate after the celebrations we had last Sunday. We’ll try our best.”

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The third round was postponed Saturday because of stormy weather, making the event — a pro-am played over three of Scotland’s top links courses — a 54-hole tournament.

The No. 9-ranked MacIntyre, who finished the week at 18-under par, won the Scottish Open last year at The Renaissance Club — his previous victory in individual play. He earned 1½ points for the Europeans last week in their Ryder Cup win at Bethpage Black, where MacIntyre encountered much more hostile conditions than he did back home this week.

MacIntyre mastered the links by staying largely out of trouble — chiefly by avoiding the pot bunkers dotted around the courses — having arrived in Scotland with expectations hardly at their highest.

“I had a laugh when we were driving the buggy back down to the clubhouse,” MacIntyre said. “I’ve done everything against the book this week, from preparation. I pitched up Wednesday afternoon. I know the golf courses. Played 12 holes on Wednesday. The diet has not been good this week — I can confirm that. I’ve eaten plenty of takeaways, fish and chips, plenty of others.

“But yeah, sometimes when you are least expecting it, things happen.”

Defending champion Tyrrell Hatton, another member of Team Europe, shot 65 at St. Andrews and jumped into second place, one stroke better than John Parry (66 at St. Andrews) and Richard Sterne (71 at Carnoustie).

Tommy Fleetwood, Europe’s top scorer in New York with four points, shot 70 on the Old Course and finished at 9 under — nine strokes behind MacIntyre.

Among the celebrities playing the pro-am were Bill Murray, Michael Douglas and Catherine Zeta-Jones, while there was sporting royalty in hockey great Wayne Gretzky.

The Associated Press and PA contributed to this report.