What the IWC – internet wrestling community – perpetuates isn’t always reflective of what the wider wrestling fanbase, or fans that attend the shows think. That’s easy to forget for the chronically online. But fans growing tiresome of Rhodes‘ good guy act and constant association to the title are appearing widespread.

Sometimes, the online fanbase it is a good window into the way the wind is blowing. Some might argue that Tony Khan picks up his proverbial nine iron and judges the wind a little too much via the internet, but few could argue which promoter has their finger on the pulse better right now.

If AEW Revolution taught us anything it’s that the company has steadily built around it’s top player in MJF and they’ve amassed a superb variety of secondary options. The returns of Edge and Christian, the surprise of Ronda Rousey’s arrival, the return of Will Ospreay from injury – and that’s all on one show. But that takes planning. That takes foresight.

Triple H has injected new life into WWE, sure. In the same way that a new bottle of Coke beats one that has been open a while and has gone flat; HHH would have had to try hard to any worse than the dying embers of Vince McMahon’s time at the top.

WWE was sleepwalking on a weekly basis under McMahon. They had some big isolated moments, but until the Bloodline story came along, nothing that generated a buzz or pushed the business forward in years.

That led to sell-out shows, record revenues and the biggest TV deals in the company’s history. Triple H enjoys a lot of the credit for that, but the ball got rolling under McMahon, even if it was pretty forced from Roman Reigns and Paul Heyman.

Flipping Reigns and going all in on that story was overdue to some, but it was the right kind of turn. The Tribal Chief was the right character. It wasn’t a case of Reigns becoming a bad guy, but that character.

And that brings us to Cody Rhodes. The WWE fanbase does seem to be getting tired of top-tier babyface Cody and in his defence, that’s more indicative of the world today than him. The days of saying your prayers and eating your vitamins are long gone. Being the hero that overcomes all doesn’t inspire fans when done repeatedly, it annoys them.

Look at Cena’s heel turn. That was a move that was over a decade too late in some eyes and even with that in mind, WWE’s original execution was almost perfect. But what transpired after it and the clear lack of thought put into how Cena would operate on the dark side quickly made it hollow. Especially considering how much people wanted it to happen.

Now, Rhodes finds himself up against it once again. This time, he is facing the reborn Randy Orton, a reincarnated relic of 2009 that WWE fans can’t help but love. Just a maniacal bad guy that will go to lengths no other star will and that is box office stuff.

Is that the best foil for Rhodes? A man who drifts between rapturous receptions and being booed out of the building for close to a year? It’s hard to see the fans rooting for Rhodes to overcome Orton in his pursuit for his 15th world title and first in over five years.

Perhaps that’s what WWE intend to lean into – and they should. The boos will likely grow louder. Orton should defeat Rhodes at WrestleMania and The American Nightmare’s descent to the darkside, for the first time since returning to WWE in 2022, could truly begin.

The last thing that should happen is Rhodes overcomes the bad guy once again. He has done so against Brock Lesnar, Seth Rollins, John Cena and Roman Reigns; what more could he do after Orton? Outside of a heel CM Punk run, the apex will have been reached.

WWE has stars like Dom Mysterio, Oba Femi, Trick Williams and Bron Breakker just waiting for the chance to be positioned as a top face, a real main event talent, and run with it. And not even in the traditional sense of being the good guy and getting the win – just being over. Just being popular.

WWE needs to take a chance by changing Rhodes and if they don’t, it’s quite indicative of how Triple H’s booking has become. Surprises for surprises sake during WrestleMania season just to throw people off the scent is a glass half-full kind of equation if you like to be kept on your toes, but that often unravels in unflattering ways in the long term and leaves many scratching their heads.

As John Cena might say, the time is now for Cody. He must evolve to help WWE do the same.

Chyna, a WWE Hall of Famer, was a trailblazer in professional wrestling, known for her unforgettable moments in the WWF (now WWE) during the Attitude Era. With a career spanning only four years, Chyna broke down many barriers, including becoming the first woman to win a men’s championship before capturing the WWF Women’s title. Her legacy continues to inspire women in the industry today.

WWE

Chyna’s Debut and Early Career

Chyna made her debut in the WWF as a plant in the audience, emerging from a ringside seat to choke Marlena while Goldust was in a match against Triple H. Her debut was unforgettable, with a shocked commentary team playing it off as a disgruntled fan gone too far. It wasn’t until the next night on “Monday Night Raw” that WWF fans knew they were seeing someone who was about to make an impact in the company.

After training at “Killer” Kowalski’s school in Massachusetts, Chyna met Triple H and Shawn Michaels at a show in 1996. They wanted to bring her in as a bodyguard, but Vince McMahon wasn’t initially on board with the idea. She wouldn’t join WWF until after initially accepting an offer from WCW to be the only woman in the New World Order.

First Woman in the Royal Rumble

One of Chyna’s most significant achievements was becoming the first woman to enter the Royal Rumble. This historic moment occurred in January 1999, almost 20 years before the women of WWE would get their own Rumble match. Chyna entered the match last, at number 30, and eliminated Mark Henry, with whom she had been involved in a romantic storyline in the weeks leading up to the Rumble.

WWE

#1 Contender for the WWF Championship

Chyna became the only woman to ever become the number one contender to the WWF Championship, a unique fact of her career. She achieved this by pinning Triple H during an August 1999 episode of “Monday Night Raw.” The then-commissioner of “Raw,” Shawn Michaels, booked a triple threat match between Chyna, Triple H, and The Undertaker, with the winner getting a shot at “Stone Cold” Steve Austin’s championship at SummerSlam that year.

WWE

First Woman Intercontinental Champion

Chyna had one of her most unforgettable moments when she won the men’s Intercontinental Championship from Jeff Jarrett in a Good Housekeeping Match at No Mercy in 1999. The match type was slightly controversial, as it played off Jarrett’s heel character who believed that women should be in the home and the kitchen, not in the wrestling ring, like Chyna.

WWE

Only WWF Women’s Championship Victory

Chyna’s time with the WWF Women’s Championship finally came when she defeated Ivory (who was in Right to Censor at the time) at WrestleMania 17 in 2001. The pair began feuding after another iconic moment in Chyna’s career, her Playboy cover and pictorial in the magazine’s November 2000 issue.

WWE

Final Match in WWF Still a Champion at Judgment Day

One of Chyna’s most unforgettable moments wasn’t fully realized until after the fact. She would unknowingly leave WWF a champion. After just two official title defenses against Ivory and Molly Holly, Chyna faced Lita at Judgment Day 2001. With Chyna’s former storyline love interest Eddie Guerrero looking on from the stage, the women faced off in a 6-minute, 30-second match.

WWE

Chyna remains one of the most iconic women in professional wrestling history for all she did for the business and all the unforgettable moments she had in her career. Learn more about Chyna’s career and legacy Here

Pro wrestling is a world filled with its own secret signals and language, but one signal that stands out is the dreaded X signal. This signal is used to indicate that a wrestler has suffered a legitimate injury, one that requires immediate medical attention. While wrestling promotions have used the X signal to work fans and create fake injury angles, in most cases, the use of the X signal is genuine, leaving fans hoping that the injury is not as severe as it seems.

When the X signal is given, the situation is often unpredictable, and the outcome depends on the specific circumstances. In some instances, the match may continue with minimal changes, especially if the injury is not too severe or if it’s a multi-person match. However, in most cases, the X signal is a sign that the match is about to end quickly to prevent the injured wrestler from getting further hurt or to protect other wrestlers from deviating from the script.

Notable Examples of Matches Stopped by the X Signal

There have been several notable examples of matches where the X signal stopped the action dead in its tracks. One such example is the match between Big Show, Chris Benoit, Eddie Guerrero, Kevin Nash, and X-Pac vs. Booker T, Bubba Ray Dudley, Goldust, Rob Van Dam, and Spike Dudley on Raw in July 2002. During the match, Kevin Nash suffered a torn quad muscle, which led to the X signal being given, and the match was ended shortly after.

Another example is the match between Randy Orton and Edge at Over the Limit in 2010. Orton suffered an injury to his right arm, which caused him to stop and show signs of discomfort. The referee immediately signaled for the X, and although the match didn’t end immediately, Orton and Edge improvised a finish that saw Orton roll out of the ring to recover, and Edge attempted to spear him through the barricade. The match ultimately ended in a draw due to a double countout.

Tegan Nox’s Unfortunate Injury

Tegan Nox is an example of a wrestler who has been plagued by injuries throughout her career. In the 2018 Mae Young Classic quarterfinals, Nox faced off against Rhea Ripley, but the match was stopped due to an injury to Nox’s left leg. Despite trying to continue, the referee signaled for the X, and a doctor was summoned into the ring. The match was stopped, and Ripley was declared the winner by TKO. It was later revealed that Nox had suffered a torn ACL, a patellar dislocation, a torn meniscus, and ligament damage, which kept her out of action for nearly a year.

These examples illustrate the importance of the X signal in pro wrestling, as it prioritizes the safety and well-being of the wrestlers. While the outcome of a match may be unpredictable, the X signal serves as a reminder that the health and safety of the athletes are paramount.

For more information on the X signal and its significance in pro wrestling, you can read the full article Here.

WWE

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April 7, 2000, marked a significant day in the history of professional wrestling, as it was the day the movie “Ready to Rumble” was released in cinemas. The film tells the story of Gordie and Sean, two sewage workers who idolize Jimmy “The King” King, a professional wrestler. After King is screwed out of the WCW World Heavyweight Championship, Gordie and Sean embark on a mission to help him regain his title and reputation. Despite being made at the height of wrestling’s popularity, “Ready to Rumble” received negative reviews from critics and bombed at the box office. However, over the years, it has developed a cult following, particularly among wrestling fans.

David Arquette as the WCW World Heavyweight Champion

David Arquette, the lead actor in the movie, is a lifelong wrestling fan who was more than happy to step into the ring to promote “Ready to Rumble.” However, his legacy in wrestling is complicated, to say the least. Arquette won the WCW World Heavyweight Championship on the April 26, 2000, episode of “WCW Thunder,” holding the title for 12 days before dropping it to Jeff Jarrett at the Slamboree pay-per-view. This decision was met with criticism from the WCW locker room, with many feeling that Arquette’s victory was undeserved. The move is often cited as one of the final nails in the coffin for WCW, which was eventually bought out by Vince McMahon less than a year later.

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Brian Pillman’s Family Benefited from the Movie

Despite the negative reception of the movie, some good came out of it. David Arquette donated a portion of his WCW earnings to the families of wrestlers who had fallen on hard times. One such family was that of Brian Pillman, who passed away in 1997 due to heart disease. Arquette’s donation helped support Pillman’s family during a difficult period. Additionally, Arquette also donated to the families of Owen Hart and Darren Drozdov, who had both suffered tragic accidents in the ring.

WWE

Injuries on Set

Like any movie or wrestling event, accidents can happen on set. During the filming of “Ready to Rumble,” two injuries occurred. The first involved “Macho Man” Randy Savage, who was punched in the face by Oliver Platt (who played Jimmy “The King” King) during a scene. Although the incident was accidental, Savage took it in stride, and the outtake was even featured in the movie’s end credits. The second injury occurred during a tag team match scene, where Rey Mysterio Jr. injured his knee while performing a top-rope Frankensteiner. Mysterio was out of action for six months, returning to WCW after the movie’s release.

Rose McGowan Hated the Movie

Rose McGowan, who played the role of Sasha in the movie, has spoken out about her dislike for the film. In a 2017 interview, McGowan revealed that she only took the role for the money and had thrown the script away multiple times before finally accepting. She also blamed her agent for pushing her to take the role, stating that the agent was more interested in making a profit than in McGowan’s well-being. McGowan’s experience on the set of “Ready to Rumble” was not positive, and she has since spoken out about the mistreatment of women in the film industry.

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Titus Sinclair Was Almost Played by a WWE Hall of Famer

The role of Titus Sinclair, the main villain of the movie, was played by Joe Pantoliano. However, the original choice for the role was WWE Hall of Famer Eric Bischoff. Bischoff’s on-screen persona as a member of the New World Order was the inspiration for the character of Titus Sinclair. Although Bischoff was not available to play the role due to his departure from WCW, he would later return to the company and even appear in a scene with David Arquette, who played the role of Gordie.

IMDB

Stunt Doubles

Some of the lead actors in “Ready to Rumble” had stunt doubles who were professional wrestlers. David Arquette’s stunt double was Gregory Helms, also known as “Sugar” Shane Helms, who was a WCW wrestler at the time. Oliver Platt’s stunt double was Chris Kanyon, who was also a WCW wrestler. Kanyon even appeared in a cameo role in the movie as a crowd member who beats up Titus Sinclair. Scott Caan, who played the role of Sean, did his own stunts.

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John Cena’s Acting Debut

“Ready to Rumble” marked the acting debut of John Cena, who appeared as an uncredited extra in a scene where Gordie, Sean, and Jimmy King meet Bill Goldberg at a gym. Cena has since gone on to have a successful acting career, starring in movies and TV shows such as “Trainwreck,” “Blockers,” and “Peacemaker.” Cena has spoken about his experience on the set of

The WWE “Divas” era, which spanned from 2008 to 2016, was a transformative period for women’s wrestling. Although it was often criticized for its emphasis on style over substance, the era produced several memorable feuds that continue to captivate fans today. In this article, we will delve into the five most legendary WWE Diva feuds of all time, highlighting the key matches, storylines, and wrestlers that defined this era. WWE

Michelle McCool vs. Maryse

The first-ever Divas Champion, Michelle McCool, was instrumental in shaping the division. Her feud with Maryse, which began in 2008, was one of the earliest and most significant rivalries of the era. The two wrestlers engaged in a series of intense matches, including a title match at Unforgiven 2008, which McCool won. However, Maryse eventually gained the upper hand, defeating McCool in a match featuring Maria Kanellis as the special guest referee. This led to a heel turn for McCool, marking a significant shift in her character. WWE

Melina vs. Beth Phoenix

The rivalry between Melina and Beth Phoenix was a defining aspect of the Divas era. Phoenix, known as “The Glamazon,” brought a new level of intensity and power to the division, while Melina’s athleticism and agility made her a formidable opponent. Their feud, which began in 2007, included a series of matches, including a Triple Threat match for the Divas Championship at Judgment Day. Melina eventually emerged victorious, defeating Phoenix to become the new champion. WWE

AJ Lee vs. Paige

The feud between AJ Lee and Paige is widely regarded as one of the greatest of the Divas era. The two wrestlers, who were both known for their in-ring prowess and charismatic personalities, engaged in a series of intense matches, including a title match at WrestleMania 30. Paige, who was just 21 years old at the time, defeated Lee to become the youngest Divas Champion in history. The rivalry between the two continued for several months, with both women trading victories and displaying their skills in a series of exciting matches. WWE

Charlotte Flair vs. Becky Lynch

The rivalry between Charlotte Flair and Becky Lynch is one of the most enduring and intense of the modern era. The two wrestlers, who were both part of the legendary Four Horsewomen group, have been engaged in an on-again, off-again feud for several years. Their matches, which have included a series of championship bouts, have been widely praised for their intensity and athleticism. The feud between Flair and Lynch has been marked by a series of dramatic twists and turns, including a memorable match at WrestleMania 32, where Flair defeated Lynch and Sasha Banks to become the new Women’s Champion. WWE

Lita vs. Trish Stratus

The feud between Lita and Trish Stratus is widely regarded as one of the greatest in women’s wrestling history. The two wrestlers, who were both known for their athleticism and charisma, engaged in a series of intense matches, including a legendary bout at WrestleMania 22. Although this feud predates the Divas era, it had a lasting impact on the division and paved the way for future generations of female wrestlers. Lita and Stratus’s rivalry was marked by a series of dramatic twists and turns, including a memorable match at Unforgiven 2006, where Stratus defeated Lita in her retirement match. WWE

In conclusion, these five feuds represent some of the most memorable and impactful moments in the history of the WWE Divas era. Each rivalry brought a unique blend of athleticism, charisma, and drama to the table, helping to shape the division into what it is today. For more information on these legendary feuds and the WWE Divas era, visit Here

The Flair family is one of the most successful professional wrestling families in history. Ric Flair, a 16-time world champion, paved the way for his children, David, Reid, and Ashley, now known as “The Queen” Charlotte Flair, to follow in his footsteps. Charlotte has found immense success in WWE, rivaling her father’s title reigns and becoming one of the greatest female wrestlers of all time.

Charlotte’s journey to the top was not without its challenges. She began her career in WWE NXT and climbed the ranks, winning the NXT Women’s Championship, Divas Championship, WWE Women’s title, and various tag team titles. Her most recent singles title reign came with the SmackDown Women’s Championship from late 2022 to 2023. In total, WWE recognizes 14 of Charlotte’s world title reigns, making her a force to be reckoned with in the wrestling world.

Ric Flair’s own career was marked by tragedy and controversy. He was kidnapped at birth and later adopted by Richard and Kathleen Fliehr. Ric has spoken publicly about his kidnapping, stating that he was taken by human traffickers in Memphis and his name at birth was Fred Phillips. He was later adopted by the Fliehr family and grew up in Minnesota before moving to Charlotte, North Carolina, to pursue a career in professional wrestling.

Ric Flair’s Rough Start in Life

Ric Flair’s life was not without its challenges. He was kidnapped at birth and later adopted by the Fliehr family. Ric has spoken publicly about his kidnapping, stating that he was taken by human traffickers in Memphis and his name at birth was Fred Phillips. He was later adopted by the Fliehr family and grew up in Minnesota before moving to Charlotte, North Carolina, to pursue a career in professional wrestling.

Ric’s adoptive parents told him he was adopted when he was around five years old, and he never wanted to reach out to find his birth mother or family. However, he was contacted by a man claiming to be his biological brother in previous years. Despite the challenges he faced, Ric went on to become one of the most successful professional wrestlers of all time.

WWE

1975 Plane Crash

In 1975, Ric Flair was involved in a serious plane crash in Wilmington, North Carolina. The crash occurred just over a year after he made his debut in the National Wrestling Alliance and a few months after he won his first singles title, the Mid-Atlantic Television Championship. The small plane was over its weight limit, and the pilot had trouble getting it off the ground. The plane took a nosedive into a crash landing, and Ric broke his back in three places. He was told by doctors he would never wrestle again, but he defied the odds and returned to the ring just three months later.

The crash had a significant impact on Ric’s career, forcing him to change his wrestling style and focus more on grappling. Despite the setback, Ric went on to become one of the most successful professional wrestlers of all time, winning numerous championships and earning a place in the WWE Hall of Fame.

WWE

Plane Ride from Hell

In 2002, Ric Flair was involved in a series of incidents on a WWE-chartered flight, known as the “Plane Ride from Hell.” The incident was brought back to light in 2021 when Vice’s documentary series “Dark Side of the Ring” dedicated an episode to it. Ric was accused of wearing one of his signature robes without anything else underneath and sexually harassing female flight attendants. The women sued WWE, but the case was settled out of court.

Ric confirmed he had plans to address the fallout from the episode, which included him briefly being removed from WWE’s opening sequence ahead of its shows and his merchandise being removed temporarily from WWE Shop. He denied he sexually assaulted a flight attendant and said that the impact of his drinking had been told “time and time again.”

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Death of Reid Flair

One of the most tragic events in the lives of the Flair family was the death of Reid Flair, Ric’s son and Charlotte’s younger brother, who passed away in 2013 at the age of 25. Reid struggled with addiction and was found dead at a North Carolina hotel. An autopsy revealed he died of a drug overdose.

Reid had followed in his father’s footsteps and began training for a professional wrestling career in 2008. He made his professional debut that year, teaming alongside his half-brother David to defeat The Nasty Boys in a match where Hulk Hogan served as the special guest referee. Despite his struggles with addiction, Reid was able to secure a spot in WWE’s developmental system, but he was let go before he could accomplish much in the company.

Previous Legal Troubles

The Flair family has also had their fair share of legal trouble. Charlotte was once arrested during an altercation involving her ex-husband, Riki Johnson, where Ric was also present and bloodied during the fight. The incident occurred in 2008 and ended with Charlotte being hit with a Taser and charged with assault on a law enforcement officer and resisting arrest.

Ric and Charlotte wrote about the incident in their memoir, titled “Second Nature.” Charlotte wrote that her marriage to Johnson was full of physical and verbal abuse, and she was attempting to play peacekeeper between her then-husband and father during the incident. Johnson filed a lawsuit against the Flairs and WWE in 2018, alleging that Charlotte was “an out of control aggressor” during the incident and that she and Ric wrote multiple falsehoods about him in their book.

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Drama with Becky Lynch

Charlotte and Becky Lynch, two of the Four Horsewomen of WWE, had a falling out after competing on the same Survivor Series team in 2023. The women had a heated backstage altercation following a segment on SmackDown, where they were meant to swap belts after being drafted to different brands. The tension between them came to a head when Lynch threw her belt at Charlotte, and the two women had a heated exchange.

Ric also had heat with Lynch over the “The Man” trademark, which he believed played too closely off his “To Be The Man, You Gotta Beat The Man” catchphrase. Despite the drama, Charlotte and Lynch have since rekindled their friendship and have appeared together at various WWE events

One of the few acts during the 1990s who completed the trifecta of working for WWE, WCW, and ECW, and it was in the land of extreme where The Public Enemy really made their name. The duo, composed of Rocco Rock and Johnny Grunge, left an indelible mark on the world of professional wrestling.

After working as opponents for many years, including a dark match that took place during the first episode of “WWE Raw” in 1993, Rocco Rock and Johnny Grunge were put together by Paul Heyman, who claims that The Public Enemy were his first original creation in ECW. They would become the most popular tag team in ECW at the time, winning the ECW Tag Team Championships on four occasions and feuding with everyone the company had to offer. Their popularity would lead them to WCW, where they had most of the mainstream exposure after spending three years with the company.

Rise to Fame and Tragic Demise

During their time in WCW, while they didn’t reach the heights that they did in ECW, they still managed to bag themselves a short reign with the WCW Tag Team Championships in 1996, and landed themselves a deal with WWE in early 1999. However, things wouldn’t work out in WWE as they essentially run out of the company by The Acolytes after an infamous squash match, and after a brief cameo back in ECW, The Public Enemy’s time in the spotlight was over. They would continue to team up on the independent circuit, and even held the NWA Tag Team Championships after their departure from WWE, but they would never get back on TV in any capacity, then tragedy struck.

On September 21, 2002, Rocco Rock was traveling to an independent show where he was going to cross paths with fellow ECW alumni Gary Wolfe, better known as Pitbull #1. On the way to the show, Rocco would suffer a fatal heart attack that killed him at the age of 49, and despite being in locker rooms filled with steroids and other commonly used drugs, Rocco’s family revealed that the heart attack was triggered by a congenital heart defect that ran through his family, and that there were no drugs found in his system at the time of death. To remember him, IWA-Mid South, founded by former ECW star Ian Rotten, changed the name of their annual Sweet Science Sixteen tournament to the Ted Petty Invitational (Ted Petty being Rocco Rock’s real name) in the wake of his death. Since then stars like AJ Styles, Chris Hero, and Low Ki have all won the tournament.

Legacy and Later Years

As for Johnny Grunge, he would try and soldier on with his kayfabe brother Joey Grunge as The New Public Enemy, but things never really worked out for Johnny following Rocco’s death, and on February 16, 2006, Grunge would also pass away at the age of 40 following a number of sleep apnea complications. While some reports suggest that Grunge died from a coronary artery blockage caused by his obesity, others claim that he had ingested a large number of Soma pills the night before his death. The Public Enemy’s legacy lives on, and their impact on the world of professional wrestling is still felt today. For more information on The Public Enemy and other WCW stars who have passed away, visit Here

The original member of Raven’s Nest, Stevie Richards, is a name closely associated with Raven in ECW. Before Raven’s debut in the company, Richards was already making waves, albeit under different names such as Stevie Flamingo, Stevie Polo, and Stevie The Body. These personas were references to characters Raven had played in WCW and WWE, and Richards promised to bring the real Scott Levy to ECW. This ultimately led to Raven’s introduction, and the two were inseparable until Raven left ECW in 1997.

Richards’ role in The Nest was that of a devoted follower, often subjected to abuse and manipulation by Raven. Despite this, Richards never seemed to have a problem with the dynamic, and the two even captured the ECW Tag Team Championships on two occasions. The addition of The Blue Meanie to the group in 1996 marked a turning point, as Richards and Meanie formed a strong bond that would eventually lead to tensions between Raven and Richards. This tension ultimately resulted in the formation of the Blue World Order (bWo), a group that parodied various wrestlers and pop culture celebrities.

The Rise and Fall of the Blue World Order

Despite their popularity, the bWo’s time in ECW was short-lived. As the relationship between the bWo and Raven’s Nest became strained, the group’s members went their separate ways. Richards retired from wrestling due to an injury in 1997, while Meanie and Nova continued as a tag team. Raven, meanwhile, left for WCW. Today, the members of the bWo have pursued different paths. Super Nova, now a licensed mortgage broker, continued to wrestle sporadically until 2022. The Blue Meanie still makes appearances on the independent scene, including a recent match for Create A Pro Wrestling in New York and a special appearance at Ring of Honor’s Death Before Dishonor event.

Where Are They Now?

Stevie Richards, now retired from wrestling, remains in the public eye through his YouTube channel, “The Stevie Richards Show.” The channel features discussions on current wrestling events and Q&A sessions about his career. Richards’ channel serves as a testament to his enduring legacy in the world of professional wrestling. For more information on the lives of Raven’s Nest stars today, visit Here.

AEW’s Kenny Omega may not be entering the twilight of his career, but his limited schedule in 2025 and brutal injury history since losing the AEW World Championship in 2021 makes it clear that he’s closer to the end of than the beginning. But regardless of how much time Omega has left, it’s been a hell of a ride. Alongside long-time friends the Young Bucks, Cody Rhodes, and Tony Khan, Omega helped spearhead AEW back in 2019, creating a wrestling world where there were two viable pro wrestling companies for the first time since 2001. Then there’s the fact that many consider Omega among the greatest wrestlers of all-time, in addition to feeling his rivalry with Kazuchika Okada produced some of the greatest matches in wrestling history.

And through it all, Omega has largely done it without racking up a laundry list of real life enemies. While Omega has gotten in hot water for situations like booking sex offender Chasyn Rance on a show he produced, or the time he either seriously or jokingly suggested he wouldn’t have hired a chunk of the AEW locker room, the actual number of wrestlers he has legit beef with is small. Even Omega’s Brawl Out counterpart CM Punk is reported to have little to no ill will towards Omega, despite having huge animosity with the Bucks and “Hangman” Adam Page, three of Omega’s closest associates. So when there is a situation where Omega does have heat with another person in wrestling, you know it’s pretty serious. So with that in mind, here’s a look at three well known wrestling personalities that Omega has held some animosity towards over the years.

Gail Kim

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Omega’s issues with Gail Kim are not as extensive as the other two names Omega’s had serious problems with; in fact, up until recently, it seemed like Omega and Kim had very little to do with each other. That changed after Kim spent a week becoming the main character of wrestling social media, which began with her criticizing a death match spot and then segued into her making comments about former AEW Women’s World Champion Riho. While Kim’s critiques about Riho not being credible due to her size and wrestling attire raised the ire of many wrestling fans, it seemed to really strike a nerve with Omega, a long-time friend and tag team partner of Riho’s who has long been protective of her and other AEW joshi wrestlers who have received criticism and hateful remarks.

This led to September 24, when Omega took to X in the morning and tweeted “Another day and another “legend” doing the splits on it for the yearly TKO gift basket…” While Omega never mentioned Kim by name, many took his tweet to be a response towards Kim’s comments, including Kim herself. Unsurprisingly, Kim was not a fan of Omega’s tweet, referring to it as “derogatory,” and has since implied the tweet led to her receiving abuse from fans online. Though the situation has since died down and neither Omega and Kim have commented much since, it’s pretty clear that the two Canadian wrestling icons won’t be breaking bread with each other any time soon.

A strong argument could be made that Jim Cornette is Omega’s ultimate nemesis, even more so than Okada, Jon Moxley, Tetsuya Naito, or any other legendary opponent Omega has met in the ring. For years now, Cornette and Omega have been at each other’s throats, their feud dating to when Cornette was booking Ring of Honor. Both Omega and Cornette agree that their beef began over Omega being booked by Cornette for an ROH show that Omega ultimately didn’t wrestle on. Cornette has claimed Omega intentionally no-showed the booking; Omega meanwhile has said he couldn’t work the show due to injuring his leg. Whatever the case, the hostility has remained since then, and in some ways has only grown.

The situation may have been one thing if Cornette had stuck to his general criticism that Omega couldn’t be taken seriously in wrestling due to his style, and his past comedy matches in DDT where he wrestled a doll and a young girl. But the attacks have also become personal, particularly when Cornette has lobbied his own criticisms of Riho that have included statements that could be best categorized as inappropriate. Omega meanwhile has largely tried to avoid talking about Cornette, but at times has been unable to control his anger towards the wrestling personality. One notable instance came during a Twitch stream in 2022, when Omega discussed the animosity between him and Cornette, stating that he felt Cornette had backed himself into a corner with “hateful speech,” alluding not just to Cornette’s remarks towards him, but other controversial statements Cornette had made. Even as the heat has taken a backseat to other stories in recent years, there’s little sign that the animosity between Cornette and Omega has dulled.

Rossy Ogawa

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Omega’s feud with Cornette may be the first thing fans think of when they think of “Kenny Omega’s real life enemies.” But over the past few years, Rossy Ogawa, the former booker for World Wonder Ring Stardom turned promoter for Dream Star Fighting Marigold, has become a more popular target for Omega. While the issues between the two have appeared to exist for quite awhile, they didn’t come into focus until 2024, when Ogawa left Stardom. While this officially revealed Ogawa’s plans to recreate Marigold and steal as many Stardom talents for it as possible, it also opened the floodgates in other regards, such as AEW owner Tony Khan’s insinuations that Ogawa had been a hold up in AEW and Stardom working together. But that took a backseat quickly, when Omega, doing Twitch streams from home while recovering from diverticulitis, seemed to imply that there was a darker side to Ogawa that no one knew about.

While Omega seemed reluctant to elaborate on these points, many believed he was referring to Marigold’s practice of trying to hire unmarried women between 13 and 30 years old, opening the door past criticism Ogawa had received for such practices in Stardom. Omega also noted that he stood by former tag partner and WWE star Asuka, who in the past had stated that Stardom, under Ogawa, had been “created to defeat me.” Upon being asked about Omega’s comments, Ogawa accused Omega of “defamation,” and stated what he had said was untrue. After a year of no barbs between them, Omega was critical of Ogawa again in May after Ogawa was accused of bodyshaming one of his top stars, Utami Hayashishita. While Omega played coy once again, he reminded fans of his past comments about Ogawa, and stated that the promoter “does a good job of revealing himself to the world on his own, , and soon enough, whether he goes full mask-off on his own…the writing will be on the wall.”

For more on Kenny Omega and his feuds, click here.

There’s an old saying in wrestling that people always seem to forget when something unimaginable happens: never say never. Over the years, wrestlers haven’t just burnt bridges; they’ve blown them up while the person they have a problem with is standing in the middle of it. They’ve done things to each other and said some of the worst possible things about one another, and yet, when the time calls for it and the money is right, everyone is able to get along just fine.

Out of every wrestling company, that sentiment has never been more true than in WWE. We’ve seen Vince McMahon publicly screw Bret Hart to the point where it is still talked about today, CM Punk get fired on his wedding day, and Stone Cold Steve Austin literally walk out of the company in the middle of a show, and to be publicly buried for it. With all that said, not only have all three of those men made returns to WWE, but they have all been heralded and celebrated as some of the greatest WWE Superstars of all time. In order to be exiled or blacklisted from WWE must take a lot, but there are some wrestlers who are still working today that WWE isn’t exactly the most welcoming towards.

Those wrestlers are who we are here to talk about today. The stars from the past and present that, for one reason or another, WWE seems to have washed its hands of them and never brings them back into the fold. So sit back, relax, and join us on a journey through some of the most troubled and strained relationships in all of wrestling as we go through a list of wrestlers that WWE will most likely never bring back, and the reasons behind each decision.

Matt Riddle

There was a point in time where Matt Riddle was regarded as one of the most exciting and charismatic wrestlers in the entire world, hence why WWE was all in on “The Original Bro” when they signed him to a contract with “WWE NXT” in 2018. However, Riddle would be one of those performers who would get so many second chances that eventually WWE had enough of him.

Riddle was let go from WWE back in September 2023, and the road that ultimately led to his exit was bumpy to say the least. He was involved in an altercation at JFK airport in New York when flying back from a WWE live event in India, where he claimed that a police officer sexually assaulted him. That was eventually cleared up, and Riddle even apologized for his “disorderly conduct,” but he was pulled from the following week’s episode of “WWE Raw,” and in the midst of WWE firing a number of its stars, Riddle was also dismissed after reportedly burning through too many of his chances.

The former UFC fighter has remained active in the two years since he was given his marching orders from WWE, winning titles in both MLW and New Japan Pro Wrestling, but this isn’t going to be enough for WWE to bring him back. Not only was there the incident at JFK airport, but he was also named in the 2020 Speaking Out movement, had multiple suspensions due to drugs, and rubbed top stars like Seth Rollins and Goldberg the wrong way. He has also publicly stated how much he loved Vince McMahon’s way of storytelling, which isn’t going to do him any favors when Triple H is leading the creative direction in WWE. Never say never, but Riddle’s time with WWE looks to be done for good.

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Alberto Del Rio

Former WWE Champion Alberto Del Rio is a name who has popped up in conversations a lot in 2025 when it comes to a potential WWE return, and that is all thanks to the company’s purchase of Mexican promotion AAA. At the time of the purchase, Del Rio was the AAA Mega Champion and arguably the biggest star in the entire company outside of the man who would go on to dethrone him for the AAA Mega Championship, El Hijo del Vikingo. The likes of Vikingo, Mr. Iguana, and even the chaotic duo of Pagano and Psycho Clown have appeared on WWE TV so far this year, but there is no sign of Del Rio.

There was a point in May 2025 where it seemed like the relationship between WWE and Del Rio wasn’t as bad as many believed, and that there were people in WWE who were more than happy to bring Del Rio into the fold. However, despite Del Rio himself telling other members of the AAA roster that he was going to make a grand return to WWE, and the fact that WWE considered him as an entrant for the 2025 men’s Royal Rumble match, sources within WWE stated that there was a “distinct lack of interest” in using Del Rio and the company has made a conscious effort to not mention him whenever AAA is involved.

Part of the reason for this is Del Rio’s past allegations of domestic and sexual violence. He made threats of domestic violence towards his ex-fiancée, former WWE Superstar Paige, and was even arrested in 2020 for allegedly battering and sexually assaulting his girlfriend. These charges might have been dropped in 2021, but fans have been very vocal about Del Rio’s position in the business, and WWE seems to share the same views when it comes to bringing him back into the mainstream.

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Enzo Amore

There was a point in time where Enzo Amore was so over with the WWE Universe that he was able to cut an entire promo without a microphone, and the fans in the audience would not only chant the promo back at him, but be go wild at the same time. Those days are long gone for the man now known as Real1, and it doesn’t look like they will be returning any time soon.

The duo of Enzo Amore and Big Cass was one of the most promising duos to come out of “WWE NXT” in the 2010s, but once they were split up, neither man found as much success as when they were together. Both of them would be gone from WWE by the end of 2018, and while Cass was released during a time when he was battling a severe alcohol problem, Amore would be fired outright for a much more troubling accusation.

On January 22, 2018, Amore was suspended by WWE after it was revealed that he was under investigation following allegations of sexual assault against a woman by the name of Philomena Sheahan, who accused Amore of raping her in October 2017. The following day, Amore was fired by WWE for failing to tell the company about the investigation, but it was later confirmed by a friend of Sheahan that she had falsified the allegations, and the investigation was closed just a few months later.

Amore would go on to have a number of controversial incidents, such as making a scene at WWE Survivor Series 2018, getting involved in Ring of Honor and New Japan Pro Wrestling’s G1 Supercard event without NJPW knowing about it, and despite resurfacing in TNA earlier this year, it’s unlikely WWE will ever take a chance on Amore again.

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The Velveteen Dream

We did say in the introduction that you can never say never when it comes to WWE, as anything is possible, but out of everyone on this list, The Velveteen Dream is the most likely to never show up in WWE ever again.

Dream was one of the most promising members of the “WWE NXT” roster from 2017 onwards, with his feuds against the likes of Aleister Black, Johnny Gargano, and Tommaso