AEW’s Paul Wight Recalls Vince McMahon Fining Him $500 For Coming Off Top Rope In WWE

AEW’s Paul Wight has revealed why Vince McMahon fined him for going over the top rope. 

Wight, despite his huge size, was a pretty athletic wrestler. McMahon wasn’t keen to display that to the WWE audience and wanted the former Big Show to be like the late, great Andre the Giant.

“You know, I used to jump over the top rope. You know why I stopped doing that? Vince fined me 500 bucks for doing it. because that’s not how giants move. He was in a different mindset then,” he said on “Insight.” “Vince had Andre. Vince wanted [me to be] Andre. Andre ruled the locker room with an iron fist. And you know, Andre did this and Andre did that. I’m not Andre. You know, I’m not a raging alcoholic, and I’m not a mean person.”

The AEW star explained how he was athletic in his younger days, but his peers didn’t want him to showcase it. He recalled an anecdote from his days in Japan, when Hulk Hogan called him and told him that he wouldn’t work with him if he landed a dropkick.

“Everyone had an opinion of how I should work. Some people wanted me to work like Andre. When I was younger, I had so much athleticism. I was like, ‘Oh, I need to show this. I need to show this.’ And then it was like, ‘No, you take away,'” he added. “I threw a dropkick in Japan off the top rope and hit Yasuda with it. And I got to my room, there was a blinking light in my hotel room and the message says, ‘Please call Mr. Bollea when you get to your room.’ Oh, hell. It ain’t even Hulk. It’s Mr. Bollea. Like, I’m in trouble. He goes, ‘Brother, did you just do a drop kick off the top rope in Japan?’ I went, ‘Yeah, I did.’ He goes, ‘Brother, you ever do that again, I’ll never work with you.'”

Wight stated that he was neither like Andre the Giant, nor like other giants like The Undertaker or Kane, arguing that he was a mix of both styles.

JCW Strangle Mania Viva Las Violence Full Results And Winners

Posted By: Ben Kerin on Apr 18, 2026 JCW Strangle Mania Viva Las Violence Full Results And Winners

JCW Strangle-Mania: Viva Las Violence lit up The Collective weekend with a chaotic early morning showcase from the Horseshoe Las Vegas on Saturday, April 18. The card delivered a mix of legends, cult favorites, and rising names, with appearances from Rob Van Dam, KENTA, Vampiro, The Good Brothers, Nic Nemeth and more, creating a wild atmosphere that matched the spirit of the event.

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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GCW Joey Janela’s Spring Break X Results And Highlights From Las Vegas

GCW delivered another chaotic chapter of Joey Janela’s Spring Break as the X edition took over the Horseshoe Las Vegas during WrestleMania weekend. The show went down on Friday night and lived up to its reputation, blending unpredictable moments, wild stipulations, and a mix of established names and rising talent.

The card featured a wide range of action, from high risk multi man matches to bizarre encounters that only Spring Break can pull off. The headline bout saw Brodie Lee Jr step into the spotlight against Joey Janela in a match that carried both emotion and intensity. Elsewhere, familiar faces from AEW and the independent scene added to the energy, including a reunion involving Jack Perry and Marko Stunt, as well as a surreal clash involving The Sandman.

The night also included a chaotic Doors, Ladders and Chairs match with a packed field all battling for the prize, plus a high stakes Loser Leaves GCW match that brought serious consequences.

Full results from Joey Janela’s Spring Break X are as follows:

• Jack Perry and Marko Stunt defeated KJ Orso and Sam Stackhouse

• Megan Bayne and Nick Gage defeated Mance Warner and Steph De Lander

• The Rascalz defeated Marcus Mathers and YDNP

• Grab The Brass Ring Doors, Ladders and Chairs Match: 1 Called Manders defeated Gringo Loco, Shotzi Blackheart, Bear Bronson, Sidney Akeem, Vipress, Charles Mason, Terry Yaki, Vengador, Man Like DeReiss and Masato Tanaka

• Loser Leaves GCW Match: Effy defeated Allie Katch

• The Invisible Man defeated The Sandman

• Brodie Lee Jr defeated Joey Janela

• GCW World Championship Match: Atticus Cogar retained against Hayabusa

Five WWE Superstar Returns That Could Shake Up WrestleMania 42 Weekend

WWE has built its reputation on delivering unforgettable moments, and surprise returns are always a huge part of that formula. With WrestleMania 42 now here, expectations are once again sky high as fans anticipate shocking appearances, emotional comebacks, and game changing moments that can shift the direction of the entire company.

Each year, the spectacle grows bigger, and WWE consistently looks for ways to outdo what came before. From legends stepping back into the spotlight to stars returning from injury just in time for the grandest stage, WrestleMania has become the ultimate platform for unforgettable comebacks.

With that in mind, several names are being closely watched heading into this weekend, as any one of them could emerge and leave a lasting impact when it matters most.

The Rock

The Rock recently indicated he was leaving Las Vegas after appearing at CinemaCon to promote the live action Moana project. Still, WrestleMania has a long history of last minute arrivals, and few have the flexibility that he does.

His last WWE appearance came at Elimination Chamber 2025, where he played a key role in John Cena’s heel turn. With Roman Reigns and CM Punk now locked in a heated feud, there is a natural opening for him to re-enter the picture.

Punk’s recent comments on Raw, including shots at Rock’s Hollywood career, could easily spark a response. Their rivalry stretches back over a decade, and with tensions already high involving the Anoa’i family, the stage is set for something explosive.

Steve Austin

Steve Austin has been open about limiting his in-ring activity, but his WrestleMania 38 return against Owens proved he can still deliver in the right moment.

Even a brief appearance this weekend would create a massive reaction. Austin remains one of the most iconic figures tied to WrestleMania, and sometimes all it takes is the sound of breaking glass to create an unforgettable moment.

Kevin Owens

Last year, Owens was set for WrestleMania 41 in a feud with Randy Orton before announcing he needed neck surgery, which scrapped the match and led to Joe Hendry’s debut instead.

By late 2025, Owens was spotted training at the Performance Center, a strong sign he was working toward a return. He has also been present at WWE World this week and has remained active on social media, even congratulating Carmelo Hayes after his United States Title win.

That connection could bring him into Sami Zayn’s U.S. Title defense against Trick Williams, given their long and unpredictable friendship. Another possibility would be Owens inserting himself into the night one main event between Cody Rhodes and Orton. With unfinished business still lingering between Owens and Orton, an interruption could extend the rivalry and shake up Orton’s pursuit of a 15th world title.

Bianca Belair

Bianca Belair has been sidelined since suffering a finger injury at WrestleMania last year in a triple threat match involving IYO SKY and Rhea Ripley.

Ripley later revealed that Belair told her mid-match she believed the finger was broken. Since then, reports have indicated Belair has resumed light training and is building toward a return.

A comeback on night two could have major consequences, especially with Jade Cargill defending the WWE Women’s Championship against Ripley. Belair has history with both, and her return could instantly shift the landscape of the division.

Paige

Another name to watch is Saraya, who has now officially signed with WWE according to reports and could be heading straight into a major WrestleMania moment. The current expectation is that she will be inserted into the Women’s Tag Team Championship four way match on Saturday as a replacement for Nikki Bella, who is dealing with an ankle injury and is not expected to be cleared in time.

Further fueling speculation, Saraya was reportedly seen taking part in a rehearsal for the match, suggesting that her return could be imminent. If this plays out, it would mark her first WWE match in years, with her last appearance for the company dating back to late 2017 before a serious injury forced her out of action.

After being medically cleared in 2022, she resurfaced in AEW under the Saraya name and made her in ring return against Britt Baker at Full Gear. Her run with the promotion came to an end in March 2025, with her final match taking place on the October 8, 2024 edition of Dynamite.

WWE Reveals Jelly Roll Action Figures Ahead Of WrestleMania 42

Posted By: Ben Kerin on Apr 18, 2026 WWE Reveals Jelly Roll Action Figures Ahead Of WrestleMania 42

WWE is bringing Jelly Roll into the toy world ahead of WrestleMania 42. 
 

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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