Posted By: Ben Kerin on May 01, 2026 
Sheamus has weighed in on the difference between crowd energy across the globe, and he believes fans in the United States could take things to another level.
If you reference any quotes from this piece, please attribute them to the original source, and kindly credit WrestlingNewsSource.com (h/t) for the transcription.
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Nikki Bella opened up about a recent opportunity she chose to walk away from, revealing she declined an audition tied to a Baywatch project because she did not feel fully confident in the role’s expectations.
Speaking on The Nikki and Brie Show during a solo episode, Bella responded to a fan question about confidence and self-image by sharing the experience. While she did not confirm the exact project, the timeline points toward the upcoming Fox reboot currently in development.
Bella explained that after thinking through what the role would require, she made the call to step back rather than force herself into a situation where she would feel uncomfortable.
“I had an audition for Baywatch. I ended up not doing it because I knew that I would not be comfortable wearing or if I was to get it, I would not be comfortable wearing a red swimsuit, 24 7, because I am not confident yet in a swimsuit, so I didn’t do it.”
She described the decision as part of a broader mindset shift, focusing on putting herself in environments where she feels at her strongest.
“It’s certain things that what I’ve learned is I have to put myself in positions of like, where I feel most confident. When I’m walking down that ramp and I’m in my Nikki Bella gear, I am so confident.”
Bella also addressed recent commentary about her appearance, making it clear that outside opinions no longer carry the same weight.
“Someone made a comment about me last week, like, she didn’t even say thick in a good way, like she got bigger. And they could say all they want. The comment didn’t even affect me. It affected me because I felt so damn good. So I just think you have to get to that place where you just are like, this is me. This is my beauty.”
The Baywatch reboot is currently in production as a 12 episode series set for the 2026 to 2027 season. Filming is taking place in Venice Beach and at Fox’s Century City studio lot. Matt Nix is leading the project as showrunner and executive producer, with McG directing the opening episode.
The cast features Stephen Amell in the lead role of Hobie Buchannon, alongside Shay Mitchell, Noah Beck, Livvy Dunne, Brooks Nader, Hassie Harrison, Jessica Belkin, Thaddeus LaGrone, Luke Eisner, Charlie McElveen, Ashley Moore, and Kylar Miranda. Original series names David Chokachi and Erika Eleniak are also set to appear.
Bully Ray has weighed in on Oba Femi’s standing in WWE following his win over Brock Lesnar, and why both Femi and WWE could be in a tricky position moving forward.
Ray discussed on “Busted Open” how WWE may find it difficult to book Oba Femi going forward, as he questioned what Femi could possibly do to outshine his win over Brock Lesnar.
“So many eyes on Oba Femi [at WrestleMania 42]. You defeat Brock Lesnar. Brock Lesnar now retires because of the defeat you just handed him. What do we do with Oba Femi next? How can we possibly do anything that is going to be equal to or more than him beating Brock Lesnar? It’s a rough spot to be in. You’ve got to strike while the iron’s hot. You never know when you’re going to get an opportunity like this with Oba again. It could be too much too soon. You might not have anything on the horizon for him. Very tricky situation,” Ray stated.
The WWE Hall of Famer suggested that Femi has to be pushed more, and the only way to move forward following the win against Lesnar is for him to become world champion by beating either Roman Reigns or Cody Rhodes. However, he doesn’t think that’s feasible as the former NXT Champion was brought to the main roster just a few months ago.
“The only thing you could possibly do for Oba Femi that is bigger than him defeating Brock at Mania and retiring Brock is have him defeat Roman Reigns or Cody Rhodes and become one of the champions. And that would be so, so, so quick. It’s like, where do you go from there?” he asked.
Femi issued the Open Challenge after demolishing Grayson Waller in a singles match on this past week’s “WWE Raw.” Ray feels that there’s no chance that fans may get burned out watching Femi’s character each week if he were to continue with the challenge until SummerSlam in August.
Before Logan Paul’s WWE career and his “Impaulsive” podcast, Paul was known for his videos on Vine and later YouTube. At the height of his career, Paul got into one of the biggest YouTuber controversies at the time, after taking a trip to Japan’s infamous “suicide forest,” the Aokigahara forest, where he filmed an actual suicide victim and jokingly reacted to them.
During an appearance on the “What’s Your Story? With Steph McMahon” podcast, Paul looked back on the video and the backlash and shared his honest thoughts.
“At that point in my life, pre-Japan, I was really just chasing attention,” the former WWE United States Champion admitted. “What is the next craziest thing I can do to get attention? And then, wrong place, wrong time in Japan, didn’t turn the cameras off, made a huge error.”
Paul explained that the trip was a lifelong dream to someday see Tokyo, and going to Aokigahara was simply something he did on a whim.
“It had its moments, but it was a vehicle to feed the worst parts of who I was becoming,” he further admitted about his career at the time. “There was a righteous fallout, and God was just, and I basically lost everything that I’d spent the last 11 years building, and I deserved it.”
When it comes to the responses people had to his video, Paul noted that some believe it was completely wrong, while others believe the reactions were overblown, but Paul claims he falls into the first camp instead.
“I think it was a mistake. I think it didn’t need to happen,” he admitted. “That said, I am grateful that I took that opportunity to backtrack, really look myself in the mirror, and ask myself how and why that happened.”
Paul further claimed that the controversy allowed him to change and finally become the person he’s proud of.
If you use any quotes from this article, please credit “What’s Your Story? With Steph McMahon” and provide a h/t to Wrestling Inc. for the transcription.
Former WWE star Lacey Evans is set for a wrestling return, confirming on Instagram that she is ready after stepping away in 2023 to focus on her family and personal ventures. The announcement has immediately sent a spark through the industry, as Evans revealed that the “Sassy Southern Belle” is finally ready to reclaim her position in the spotlight.
The catalyst for this decision came during a recent appearance at WrestleCon. Evans, known outside the ring as Macey Estrella, noted that the constant engagement from the audience during the event reignited her competitive drive. Fans spent the weekend asking when they would see her compete again, and that energy served as the final push she needed to gear up for a second act.
Beyond the support of the fanbase, Evans cited a deeply personal motivation involving her family. She expressed a desire for her children to see her perform live on a televised stage, a goal that shifted her focus back to professional athletics. In her announcement, she kept the message simple and direct: “I will be returning to wrestling. Yes, the Sassy Southern Belle is on her way back.”
Since she hasn’t competed since July 2023, the transition back to peak physical condition is a significant challenge. To ensure that Lacey Evans finds success in her return to wrestling, the former Marine has already begun a grueling training camp.
She isn’t just training behind closed doors; Evans plans to document her entire journey back to “ring shape” for her followers. This look at high-intensity conditioning and technical mat work provides a transparent view of the work required before she officially re-enters the televised ranks.
The landscape of the women’s division has shifted significantly over the last few years, but a veteran with Evans’ character-driven style remains a rare asset.
While the specific promotion remains a mystery, the return of Lacey Evans to the wrestling world in 2026 is enough to put the entire industry on notice. By keeping her original quotes intact—stating “I will be returning to wrestling. Yes, the Sassy Southern Belle is on her way back”—she has made it clear that she is coming back on her own terms. The journey has officially begun, and the “Belle” is ready to prove she still belongs at the top of the mountain.
Lacey Evans Announces Return to Wrestling
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