Jim Cornette did not hold back when addressing the alarming OVW incident that resulted in referee Dallas Edwards being hospitalized, delivering a blistering reaction and suggesting the situation could ultimately end up in court.⚡ Al Snow Issues Statement After OVW Referee Dallas Edwards Medical Emergency
Al Snow has issued a public statement following the medical emergency involving referee Dallas Edwards during an OVW television taping earli…
, Ben Kerin Mar 14, 2026 06:46PM
Mark Henry believes Randy Orton’s shocking attack on Cody Rhodes during their SmackDown contract signing marked the return of the dangerous Viper persona that once made Orton one of WWE’s most feared figures.
Speaking on Busted Open After Dark, Henry praised the segment and said it was the type of storytelling the current WWE product has been missing.
“When was the last time you saw a contract signing that was as compelling as the one we just got?” Henry said. “It made sense.”
Henry analyzed the moment step by step, pointing out the subtle signs that Orton was conflicted before striking.
“Randy could not look at Cody. He turned his back. I knew right then that there was some kind of conflicted feeling in Randy,” Henry said. “Randy got ready to say something. His voice was broken, because he knew in his mind what was going on and what was about to play out. Cody still didn’t get it. Cody was blinded by ‘that’s my boy.’”
The WWE Hall of Famer also highlighted the visual that followed the attack, where Orton sat in the ring with the championship across his lap while staring into the camera.
“He looks straight up at the camera as if he’s looking at the fans and not saying nothing. He’s saying an awful lot with his eyes, with one head nod. He’s like, ‘You get it. This is how bad I want to be champion. I will sacrifice my boy in order to be champion again,’” Henry said. “Heavy duty s**t. Masterful.”
Henry believes the heel turn is exactly what WWE needed at this stage, arguing that the industry has recently leaned too heavily into respectful rivalries.
“I’m tired of all of the tree hugging, the kissing on the cheek, the bowing to your competitor,” he said. “I competed in two Olympic Games, multiple National Championships, World Championships. I never bowed to no man.”
He compared the moment to his own career, noting that some of his most successful runs came when he embraced being a villain.
“As much as I love being Mr. USA, as much as I love being Sexual Chocolate, as much as I love being the World’s Strongest Man – you know where I made the most money? In the Nation of Domination, kicking people’s ass. In the Hall of Pain,” Henry said. “The people wanted to see me run people through cages, throw heavy items on people. That’s what I want from Randy.”
Henry also suggested that wrestling veterans will especially appreciate Orton’s return to a ruthless persona.
“Bob Orton, the older guys, Jesse Ventura – I bet you he is laughing his ass off right now, because they respect the gangster,” Henry said. “They respect the guy that knows he could be good, but he chooses to be bad because it pays well, and chicks dig scars.”
He finished by warning fans not to trust the new version of Orton.
“Don’t trust him. Don’t turn your back on him. Don’t hug him. Don’t reach to shake his hand. Don’t ask for acknowledgement. Fear him and treat him like he’s gonna punch you at any moment,” Henry said.
During the chaos following the contract signing, Orton also pushed Jelly Roll and shoved SmackDown General Manager Nick Aldis aside, adding to the sense that the Viper has become completely unpredictable again.
The moment also brought Orton’s long history with the Rhodes family back into focus. As Andre noted on the show, the Legend Killer famously punted Dusty Rhodes in the head in 2007. Now, nearly two decades later, Orton is once again targeting the Rhodes family as he prepares to challenge Cody Rhodes for the Undisputed WWE Championship at WrestleMania 42.
The championship clash is scheduled to headline WrestleMania 42, which takes place April 18 and April 19 at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas.
Nic Nemeth, formerly known to WWE fans as Dolph Ziggler, recently shared insight into how the wrestling pay landscape has shifted since the arrival of All Elite Wrestling.
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WWE has confirmed another match for the upcoming episode of Raw on Monday night.
Maxxine Dupri will go one on one with Nattie in a singles bout that was officially announced by WWE through its social media channels on Saturday.
This marks the third singles encounter between the two competitors since early February. Their rivalry began on the February 9 edition of Raw, where their first match ended in a double countout. The situation escalated two weeks later when the pair met again, with Nattie earning the victory by referee’s decision after Dupri was knocked unconscious when she was thrown into the ring post just 1 minute and 38 seconds into the contest.
With their previous encounters ending under controversial circumstances, Monday’s match presents another opportunity for both competitors to settle the score.
The March 16, 2026 edition of WWE Raw will be held at the Frost Bank Center in San Antonio, Texas.
Currently announced for the show:
• Roman Reigns will appear
• Brock Lesnar will appear
• Women’s Intercontinental Championship: AJ Lee vs Bayley
• Maxxine Dupri vs Nattie
Al Snow has issued a public statement following the medical emergency involving referee Dallas Edwards during an OVW television taping earlier this week.
Edwards was rushed to hospital on Thursday night after suffering a serious medical issue during a match segment in which he took a Phenomenal Forearm to the head. Moments after the move, Edwards collapsed and began experiencing a seizure, visibly convulsing in the ring while the match continued around him. At one point during the sequence, one of the wrestlers moved Edwards with his foot so the action could proceed.
Later updates indicated Edwards was conscious and responsive once he arrived at the hospital. His girlfriend shared a statement through Sean Ross Sapp of Fightful, confirming that Edwards had suffered a brain injury and remained under medical supervision.
Edwards himself later addressed the situation on Friday, revealing he sustained both a concussion and a subdural hematoma, which is a form of bleeding on the brain. He noted that he was scheduled to undergo a CT scan on Saturday and emphasized that he holds no resentment toward anyone involved in the incident.
The situation sparked widespread criticism from figures within the wrestling community, particularly regarding how the match continued despite Edwards clearly being in distress.
OVW co owner Al Snow responded to the backlash by releasing a statement addressing the incident and the promotion’s response.
“Hello everyone, this is Al Snow. I want to speak directly to our fans and the wrestling community regarding the incident involving Referee Dallas Edwards at last week’s event.
Professional wrestling has always carried an inherent risk of injury for everyone who steps into the ring. On March 12th, during a live OVW television event, Dallas was involved in a planned moment of physical contact with a wrestler that resulted in him suffering a head injury.
Traditionally, when an in ring injury occurs, the referee is the central point of communication, assessment, and decision making. In this unprecedented situation, the person who would normally make that assessment was the one who needed assistance. That unforeseen breakdown in communication contributed to a delay in stopping the match and concluding the show.
We are relieved to hear that Dallas is recovering and receiving the medical care he needs. Our thoughts are with him, and we’re hoping for his continued improvement.
At OVW, the health and safety of our performers and officials has always been our top priority. We are proud of the standards we’ve maintained over the years, but we also recognize that there is always room to strengthen and improve. With that in mind, we are reviewing our existing procedures and updating several of our in ring and ringside protocols to ensure we continue to meet the highest expectations for performer safety.
These updates include enhanced communication systems, additional referee training, and expanded ringside response measures to help ensure that a situation like this is identified and addressed as quickly as possible.
We appreciate the concern and passion from our fans, and we understand the importance of transparency during moments like this. We will continue to share updates when appropriate, and we ask everyone to keep Dallas in your thoughts as he continues his recovery.
Thank you.”
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, Al Snow (@TheRealAlSnow) March 14, 2026
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, dallas (@refdally) March 14, 2026
