Since late April, nearly 30 wrestlers have left WWE whether that’s due to being released or asking for their release. Post-WrestleMania cuts have been the norm for years with periodic cuts coming throughout the year. There have been reports that some talent were asked to take large pay cuts with at least one talent agreeing to do so. Rumors also swirled that more roster cuts were coming.

During a recent episode of “Wrestling Observer Radio,” Dave Meltzer provided more insight. He said that while cuts are done at this time, more names could come out from the last wave of releases.

“Every name has been told,” he said. “If someone was told and did not go on social media or they did not remove the name from the website yet, it is possible a name or two could still come out.”

Meltzer also shed some light on why there were more cuts this year versus last year. He pointed out that with TKO being new at the time, they wanted to be seen as the “good guys” in 2025. He also points to creative making the call on cuts so they could be replaced by “NXT” call ups, as well as “SmackDown” moving to two hours in a few weeks, which also caused more talent to be cut from the blue brand.

“People were essentially told, ‘You’re going to take the new deal or you’re going to get cut,'” Meltzer said regarding talent pay cuts. He also pointed out that wrestlers who accepted the pay cuts are clearly not in good positions given that the company was willing to potentially cut them.

On May 1, Nick Khan signed a new multi-million contract that will keep him with WWE until 2030. Days earlier, it was reported that Paul Levesque also signed a new contract prior to WrestleMania 42.

If you use any quotes from this article, please credit Wrestling Observer Radio and provide a h/t to Wrestling Inc. for the transcription.

Former WWE star David Otunga has explained why Roman Reigns wasn’t disqualified in his match against CM Punk at WrestleMania 42 despite using the steel steps on Punk. 

Otunga — who is a lawyer — deferred from the opinion of many fans and pundits about that moment, backing the referee Rod Zapata, and arguing why it wasn’t a disqualification. While he agreed that the steps being dislodged from their natural position make it a foreign object and should have led to a disqualification, he referenced a previous incident in WWE that supports his argument.

“A foreign object is generally defined as any item not naturally occurring within the ring  environment. Now, the steel steps naturally occur within the ring environment. You know, they’re always attached to the ring. There’s two sets of them. So, in that manner, they are part of the ring environment. But, what happens if you pick up the top portion, if you separate them? Now, that’s not in their natural state,” he said on his YouTube channel. “So, it could be argued that once the steel steps are removed or any portion is picked up from where they are originally placed, that they are now considered a foreign object.”

However, Otunga believes that a disqualification could have been enforced if Reigns had used the steel steps inside the ring rather than outside it. He cited an incident from 2017 to support his argument, stating that Reigns exploited a loophole from a match between John Cena and Braun Strowman, in which the latter used the steel steps on his opponent outside the ring. Strowman had first thrown Cena into the steps before using it on him.

“And my argument would be that it is legal to use the steel steps as a weapon provided you are on the outside of the ring. The moment you bring the steel steps inside the ring, they are now considered a foreign object,” he said.

Referring once again to the same match between Cena and Strowman, the latter was disqualified for using the steel steps inside the ring, which Otunga noted in support of his argument.

It has nearly been a year since the wrestling world was rocked by a scandal involving Raja Jackson, the son of UFC legend Quentin “Rampage” Jackson. Appearing at an August Knokx Pro Wrestling event, Jackson would participate in what was supposed to be an angle, but instead turned into a legit incident where Jackson attacked wrestler Syko Stu, landing several unprotected punches to Stu’s head. The incident led to Stu suffering severe facial injuries and Jackson being arrested a month later on felony charges of battery with serious bodily injury.

Despite that, Jackson’s case will not be going to trial. The New York Post reports that Jackson and prosecutors reached a plea agreement on Wednesday, effectively closing out the case. According to a source within the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s office, Jackson is said to have pleaded no contest on charges during a preliminary hearing. As part of the deal, Jackson admitted in court to allegations of engaging in violent content and personal infliction of bodily harm.

With the deal struck, Jackson will now have to be sentenced; no formal date was given, but it’s believed his sentencing will occur in late June. While its impossible to know what Jackson’s sentence will ultimately be, sources believe that Jackson will receive a sentence of 90 days in Los Angeles County jail, two years of formal probation, and will be forced to pay Stu over $81K in restitution.

At this time, Stu himself has not commented on Jackson’s plea deal or rumored sentence. The SoCal wrestling veteran made his first public appearance since the fight last month, appearing at Knokx Pro’s autograph signing in Las Vegas during WrestleMania weekend, with Stu taking pictures and signing autographs with fans, as well as giving details regarding the incident with Jackson.

A&E has revealed the premiere date for the new season of its WWE Rivals, which will kick off with a double episode featuring the Flair family.

This year’s “WWE Rivals” will premiere on May 24 at 8 p.m., with the first episode focusing on the rivalry between Ric Flair and Randy Savage. Following the one-hour episode, the next installment of “WWE Rivals” will examine the rivalry between Flair’s daughter, Charlotte Flair, and former WWE Women’s Champion Becky Lynch, airing immediately after the Flair-Savage episode. The show will be hosted by comedian Gabriel Iglesias and will include guests like Natalya, Kevin Nash, and recently-released star Kofi Kingston. 

A total of 31 episodes of “WWE Rivals” have aired across five seasons so far. Last season’s “WWE Rivals” had nine episodes, which analyzed WWE rivalries like the ones between Stone Cold Steve Austin and The Undertaker, The Ultimate Warrior and Hulk Hogan, Mick Foley and The Rock, Ric Flair and Ricky Steamboat, and Roman Reigns and Seth Rollins. 

A&E hasn’t announced the other legendary rivalries that will be featured in the remainder of Season 6. However, they have announced that “WWE Rivals” will be followed by “WWE LFG” — which has two new “legends” in Kevin Owens and Natalya — and “WWE’s Greatest Moments.”