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Backstage Report On AEW & Madison Square Garden After Wrestlers Express Interest

Posted by admin on May 15th, 2026

Denise Truscello/Getty Images

Since its inception in 2019, AEW has held events in some of the most iconic venues in all of sport. Wembley Stadium in London, Arena Mexico in Mexico City, and Arthur Ashe Stadium in New York City, but there’s another famous venue in New York that has alluded AEW since the very beginning, Madison Square Garden.

“The World’s Most Famous Arena” is a cornerstone of the wrestling business, and several AEW stars, including The Young Bucks and MJF, have recently come out separately and said that their dream venue for an AEW show is MSG, causing many fans to speculate whether a show at MSG is on the horizon. However, that is not the case as Dave Meltzer wrote in the latest edition of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter that AEW does not have anything booked for MSG.

Meltzer noted that if AEW did manage to run MSG, the company would be able to sell out the building fairly easily, especially if it was for a pay-per-view. With that said, the arena is extremely expensive to shoot television out of between venue and union costs, meaning that the aforementioned Arthur Ashe Stadium, or the Louis Armstrong Stadium where AEW Double or Nothing 2026 is being held, is much more cost effective despite not being in Manhattan.

There was a chance for AEW to run MSG in the past as company President Tony Khan revealed in late 2025 that the first-ever episode of “AEW Dynamite” was originally slated to take place at the famous venue. A date was offered to the company and it was on the cards for AEW’s flagship show to debut in New York City. However, the people who offered Khan the date ended up leaving their positions, and the people who took over rescinded the offer as they felt it would anger WWE.

Additional Details On Roman Reigns Being Added Back To Advertised WWE Dates

Posted by admin on May 15th, 2026

For several weeks, many within the WWE Universe were quick to acknowledge that their “OTC” and World Heavyweight Champion Roman Reigns was advertised for a slew of shows in June. But immediately after that announcement, he was pulled from them. Now, he’s back on most of them. With so much confusion in the air, the Wrestling Observer Newsletter was quick to clear any disarray. And from what was expressed, it appears there was some miscommunication backstage.

According to the publication, it appears there was a mistake in communications, as most of the shows he was set to be on – then taken off from – were advertised before they were finalized. He is said to be back on the shows he was once pulled from.

As it stands now, fans can expect to see “The Head of the Table” at the Clash in Italy PLE (Sunday, May 31), as well as at these following shows: “WWE Raw” on June 1 in Turin, Piedmont Region, Italy, the June 15th edition of “Raw” in Baltimore, Maryland, and once again on the red brand on June 29, in Atlantic City, New Jersey. As of this writing, there is still no confirmation as to whether he’ll appear at the Night of Champions PLE on Saturday, June 27, in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

Since winning the World Heavyweight Championship from CM Punk at WrestleMania 42, Reigns has had one title defense so far, which was against his cousin Jacob Fatu at Backlash earlier this month. “The Samoan Werewolf” remains a bane of “The OTC’s,” as the former United States Champion has since unleashed two violent beatdowns that not only decimated the champion, but their other cousins Jimmy and Jey Uso as well.

John Cena On Reaction To WWE Backlash Announcement: ‘There’s Still A Lot To Be Done’

Posted by admin on May 15th, 2026

John Cena makes announcement at WWE Backlash

WWE

Ultimately, Cena’s goal is too give exposure to “NXT” talent, sharing that he understands those who have been waiting for their chance to get called up to the main roster for years, but for one night, they have the opportunity to alter the trajectory of their career.

“Show the world what you have. On top of it, if you steal the show — maybe you’re not lucky enough to get the 1-2-3 and get your hand raised — every participant qualifies for a fan all-star vote. So you could be recognized as the night’s champion.”

Cena also continued to address the mixed reaction to his recent announcement, claiming that new ideas always create differing opinions. “I’m trying to do something new. WWE is trying to do something new. That’s going to come with praise and critique,” Cena said. “As one of the most polarizing figures in WWE over the past 23 years, man, it wouldn’t be normal if there weren’t folks cheering and folks that weren’t.”

When Cena retired from professional wrestling last December at Saturday Night’s Main Event against GUNTHER, the entire undercard of the show featured “NXT” talent, all of whom have since been called up to the main roster.

Mick Foley Pays Emotional Tribute To Beyond The Mat Director Barry Blaustein

Posted by admin on May 15th, 2026

Mick Foley has shared an emotional tribute following the death of longtime friend and Beyond The Mat director Barry Blaustein, reflecting on a friendship that stretched across more than three decades and helped shape both his wrestling career and personal life.

Blaustein, the acclaimed Hollywood writer behind classics including Coming to America and The Nutty Professor, passed away on May 12, 2026, following a battle with pancreatic cancer.

In a lengthy Facebook post, Foley opened up about first meeting Blaustein during a chance encounter in Las Vegas back in 1994 while preparing for a match against Sabu. At the time, Blaustein was beginning work on what would eventually become the landmark wrestling documentary Beyond The Mat.

Foley explained that neither of them could have known how important that meeting would become.

“Little did I know that evening, and the men who participated in it with me would go on to change the course of my career and my life.”

Foley noted that his brutal bout with Sabu later inspired his 2004 WWE comeback run, including what he described as the best match of his career against Randy Orton at Backlash.

He also reflected on how Beyond The Mat became one of the most respected wrestling documentaries ever made and revealed that, despite Blaustein’s success in Hollywood, the filmmaker always considered the wrestling project his favorite work.

“Barry Blaustein would go on to see his documentary come to fruition, and ‘Beyond the Mat’ would be heralded as a landmark achievement in professional wrestling.”

The WWE Hall of Famer spoke warmly about the deep friendship they built over the years, sharing memories of staying at the Blaustein family home, watching wrestling together, and spending time with his children.

Foley also included a touching message from his wife Colette, who described Blaustein as “family to us.”

“I know we both loved him dearly,” she wrote. “He was family to us. I hold him deeply in my heart. I was very fortunate to have worked with him and see the master mind he possessed. Brilliant.”

Foley additionally recalled the tension the documentary created behind the scenes in WWE at the time, revealing that Vince McMahon strongly disliked the film because he believed it exposed too much of wrestling’s inner workings.

“WWE was not thrilled about my eagerness to embrace and promote the film,” Foley explained. “At one point telling me, ‘you think that guy (Blaustein) is your friend. He’s not your friend.’ The events of the following decades tell a different story.”

One of the most emotional parts of Foley’s tribute focused on their final meeting in Los Angeles. Blaustein had been battling Parkinson’s disease for years before later being diagnosed with stage four pancreatic cancer.

Foley flew out on short notice to attend a special screening of Beyond The Mat after Blaustein became too ill to appear publicly himself. Following the screening, Foley spent time with Blaustein and his family in what he described as a “magical” evening filled with stories, laughter, and memories.

The post ended with Foley sharing that he wrote Blaustein a heartfelt letter during his final days, but it sadly arrived just hours after his passing.

“But I hope it serves as a reminder that I loved Barry, thought the world of him, and considered him one of my best friends.”