As with seemingly every potential AEW signing, this report about Mick Foley coming in is sure to generate a lot of discussion regarding whether bringing in Foley is a good idea, a bad idea, and everything in between. Personally, I think this is a good idea, strictly because it’s Mick Foley. Is he perfect? No. Do I think he’s largely a WWE guy? Sure. But having seen Foley’s work in non-WWE promotions, whether its as a wrestler or just cutting promos, I know he’s capable of delivering high quality outside of the WWE style. Add in the fact that he’s one of the most recognizable wrestling figures ever, and I think it’s worth the risk (and it’s frankly not that big a risk) to bring Foley in and see what happens.
Now, it is fair to question what Foley brings to the table these days. Can he have that match with MJF or possibly (gulp) Darby Allin? AEW has been the place where many who we thought would never wrestle again got cleared, and in the case of Sting had a glorious sendoff, but given all the punishment Foley took and the fact he got hurt training to face MJF, it’s fair to ask if his body could hold up to one match, let alone more than one. And while Foley is a great promo, it’s difficult to see him as a manager, and AEW seems to (rightfully in my view) have an aversion for authority figures after several failed attempts. It’s absolutely possible Foley doesn’t fit in this version of AEW. And yet, I’d still give it a shot. Maybe AEW starts out with one appearance for Foley and goes from there, maybe they just jump in and take the risk. Either way, I am good with AEW giving it a shot with Foley. The risk isn’t that great, and the rewards could be quite good.
Pro wrestling veteran Jeff Jarrett will be at the center of a three-part special on TNA Wrestling via Season 7 of VICE TV’s “Dark Side of the Ring.” However, one prominent name associated with TNA has reportedly refused to be a part of it.
Per PWInsider Elite, while names that will be featured across the three-episode TNA-focused arc include Jim Cornette, Vince Russo, and Matt and Jeff Hardy, former TNA investor turned President Dixie Carter will not be featured. The report states that Carter “turned down multiple overtures to appear and be interviewed.”
While her tenure running TNA is often criticized by fans, Carter was an integral part of the promotion, having saved it from likely financial ruin via its purchase by Carter’s family business, Panda Energy. However, Carter was frequently perceived as being inexperienced and incompetent by fans, who remember infamous storylines like the “Claire Lynch” angle – portraying fan favorite AJ Styles as a deadbeat dad – as well as the creative overreach of former WWE names like Hulk Hogan and Eric Bischoff, which alienated the TNA fanbase.
In a world of on-screen authority figures like the McMahons, Carter’s own run as a heel authority figure was also blasted by fans. Off-camera, under Carter’s leadership, TNA also lost its television deal with Spike TV and ultimately became owned by Anthem Sports after Panda Energy divested ownership. Today, Carter largely lives outside of the pro wrestling bubble, with her most recent appearance having been on the AMC debut of “TNA Impact” where she was booed by the audience.
It wasn’t that long ago that Stephanie Vaquer was atop the “Raw” women’s division, holding the WWE Women’s World Championship from the fall of 2025 up until WrestleMania 42, when she dropped the title to Liv Morgan. But since being taken out by Morgan and Raquel Rodriguez in a backstage attack a few weeks ago, Vaquer has been nowhere to be found, as she has reportedly been taking time off to recover from injury.
But it appears it may not be long now before Vaquer is ready to go. PWInsider Elite reports that WWE began having creative discussions regarding Vaquer in the last week, a flashing neon sign that they were expecting Vaquer back sooner than later. In fact, they may be expecting her as soon as next Monday, as some within WWE are expecting Vaquer to be on hand for the upcoming Greensboro, North Carolina episode of “Raw.”
This would appear to be an early return to action for Vaquer. After she was taken off TV, it was reported that WWE was concerned Vaquer could miss up to at least six weeks or maybe more, with some even wondering if she would be able to be cleared for SummerSlam in early August. While he provided no timeline, Dave Meltzer reported in early May that Vaquer was expected to miss significant time due to an AC joint sprain in her shoulder.
Even prior to her shoulder injury, Vaquer had been wrestling banged up, having sustained an ankle injury at the start of 2026. Even though she continued to wrestle, Vaquer’s matches became more limited, as she wrestled only once a month from January through April, a stark contrast to previous months.
Jim Ross has shared his thoughts on the AEW World Championship match between Darby Allin and MJF, while also praising AEW’s current creative direction heading into Double or Nothing.
Speaking on Grilling JR, Ross discussed the segment from the May 13 episode of Dynamite that made the title vs. hair match official. He made it clear that AEW’s focus on Allin is working and currently stands as the promotion’s top priority.
“I like it. I like what AEW is doing with Darby. They’re getting some momentum. He provides hope in his little undersized body. He’s very resourceful. He sells great. So I’m very pleased with where AEW Tony Khan are heading with Darby Allin. He’s a player, and people cheer for the underdog, and whether he’s a champion or he isn’t, he’s the underdog. Just look at the scales.”
Ross continued by emphasizing that nothing else on AEW programming feels more important at the moment than Allin’s push.
“AEW’s TVs lately have been very good. And what they’re doing with Darby, they’re not doing anything more important on their television than featuring Darby Allin and letting us support him and get behind him and all that stuff. So he’s very resilient. And I like how his approach a lot. So we’ll see how that materializes over the next few weeks. I plan on being in New York in a couple of weeks. And I’m excited about this card. It’s loaded, man. It’s got some good shit on it.”
The main event was set after Allin retained the AEW World Championship against Konosuke Takeshita before being attacked by MJF, who later signed the contract for the match. The added stipulation means MJF will put his hair on the line when they meet at Double or Nothing.
Ross also highlighted another major match on the card, pointing to Kazuchika Okada facing Hiroshi Tanahashi as a bout with major significance, especially given their shared history and status in Japan.
“I think Okada and his adversary, his fellow Japanese star, are going to put a match out there that people are not going to soon forget. Just no doubt in my mind. And you can only imagine the uproar it’s causing and will cause in Japan as two of their homegrown favorite sons step in the ring against each other in what should be a phenomenal matchup.”
The returning Stadium Stampede match was also discussed, with Ross noting the challenges that come with calling such a large, multi-man contest.
“Those matches are hard to lay out because you got so many moving parts. So I don’t know who’s going to be the captain of their teams and be the point man, because it’s gotta run through somebody. It’s kind of like a basketball game. You got a point guard that keeps the ball moving. Jericho, obviously, will be representing. I’m just talking off the top of my head that he will play a major role in the leadership of his team. Jericho is a veteran. He’s been around a long time. He’s just coming back. He’s going to want to make a good returning impression.”
Ross also commented on the AEW World Tag Team Championship match, where FTR will defend against Adam Copeland and Christian Cage in an I Quit match with major implications for the challengers.
“I saw enough of them together to make a determination that if chosen to go that route, that they could be an outstanding tag team. Now I was lucky on that one, because that came true. They’re a great team, and they’ve had some tremendous matches. They elevated the tag team division immensely. But now they’re in a different chapter of the book, and I can’t see those guys having that many more matches, tag matches or otherwise.”
AEW Double or Nothing 2026 is scheduled to take place on May 25 at Louis Armstrong Stadium in New York, featuring a stacked card built around championship matches and tournament bouts.
Piper Niven has shared a significant health update after undergoing neck surgery in California, marking a major step in her recovery following a lengthy absence from WWE programming.
Niven revealed on Wednesday that she had an anterior cervical discectomy after spending the past eight months sidelined with what had previously been described as a potentially career-threatening neck injury. She accompanied the update with a photo from her hospital bed and a detailed message reflecting on the experience.
“I went to California and all I got was this lousy anterior discectomy. I have so much I want to say about the past 8 months but we can get to that later. For now, I just want to express my endless love and gratitude for every single soul that has helped me and cared for me during this difficult and really scary time. Pain and heartbreak are incredible teachers and the lessons I have learned from this will stay with me forever. I am so grateful to wake up from surgery already feeling better and I know I am coming out the other side of this so much stronger for the experience.”
The procedure she underwent is typically used to treat long-term neck and nerve-related issues. It involves removing damaged disc material or bone pressing on the spinal cord or nerves, followed by inserting a synthetic implant and completing a fusion to stabilize the spine. Recovery timelines can vary, but it often takes at least six months before a full return to physical activity is considered.
Niven last competed on the August 22, 2025 episode of SmackDown in Dublin, Ireland, where she picked up a win over Charlotte Flair. In the weeks that followed, reports indicated she was dealing with a serious neck issue, with internal concern at one stage that it could potentially end her in-ring career. By September 2025, there was growing optimism that she would eventually be cleared to return.
At the time of her last appearance, Niven was aligned with Chelsea Green’s Secret Hervice faction, performing as Agent P alongside Alba Fyre. Since then, Fyre has been released as part of WWE’s April 24 roster cuts, while Green recently underwent a separate medical procedure to address a long-standing heart condition.
Niven, who turned 35 on May 6, has been part of WWE since 2019 after first appearing in the 2017 Mae Young Classic. She competed in NXT UK before moving to the main roster in 2021, initially under the name Doudrop, before returning to the Piper Niven name in 2023.
There is currently no official timeline for her return to in-ring competition, but her update suggests positive progress following surgery.
I went to California and all I got was this lousy anterior discectomy. 😆
I have so much I want to say about the past 8 months but we can get to that later.
For now, I just want to express my endless love and gratitude for every single soul that has helped me and cared for me… pic.twitter.com/iBrLDKj4pD
