Ever since Randy Orton went for blood on the current three-time Undisputed WWE Champion, Cody Rhodes, “The American Nightmare” has faced nothing but hard times. Ahead of his title defense at WrestleMania 42, the polarizing star got pummeled once more by Orton, but also by “The Viper’s” newest ally in the returning Pat McAfee on Friday’s “WWE SmackDown.” That said, Rhodes had nothing but hatred coursing through his veins later on in the show. And his verbal bullets weren’t just aimed towards Orton and McAfee, but TKO (WWE’s parent company) too.

According to PWInsider, the newest reports coming in from Rhodes’ responsive promo was not listed on the planned rundown for the show. Also, there’s belief that the statements made by the current champion reflected his real thoughts on TKO inserting McAfee into this storyline. 

Confirming those reports, BodySlam+ added that Rhodes was instructed to go to the ring later that evening and “shoot from the hip” regarding McAfee’s involvement. They added that the reports they were given noted that Rhodes and members of WWE’s creative team have “legitimate gripes” with TKO for “sticking their nose in storylines close to WrestleMania” multiple years in a row. As our publication  recently reported, Ari Emanuel, the CEO and Executive Chairman of TKO, thinks inviting and incorporating mainstream celebrities into the current WrestleMania 42 build up will enhance last minute ticket purchases before the April 18 and 19th shows.

Twenty years in the making, Rhodes and Orton, two former friends who bonded over their generational ties in this business, will stand in opposition in less than two weeks. Orton’s goal is to add another notch in his decorated career by becoming a 15-time World Champion.

2026 marks Mercedes Martinez’s last year as a full-time active wrestler. Before it officially wraps up, though, Martinez is eager to cross off a major match that’s eluded her.

While appearing on the “The A2theK Wrestling Show,” Martinez revealed her hope to finally wrestle fellow in-ring veteran Natalya, specifically in the form of her alter ego, Nattie. “That’s the one match that I have yet to have in my career. And mind you, we’ve been in promotions together. They just never put us together,” Martinez said. “I don’t know why. Maybe because of storylines or she was brought in for somebody else. I’ve wrestled a who’s who. I wrestled Mickie James. I wrestled Beth Phoenix, Jazz, but Nattie, somehow we just couldn’t get the match put together. So I am hoping that at some point this year that I do get that match and WWE lets it happen. I don’t want Natalya. I love Natalya. Natalya’s been around years. I want the authentic self of Natalya, which is Nattie, her true self.”

In her outings as Nattie, Natalya has taken on more aggressive, shoot-style presentation in the ring. Under the WWE banner, Nattie has primarily targeted Maxxine Dupri, whom she helped train at The Dungeon 2.0. Outside of the company, Nattie has notably competed in NWA and GCW, with another match on the horizon for her at Josh Barnett’s Bloodsport XV on April 17.

“It’s the badass version of her, but it’s also her true self,” Martinez said about Nattie. “She finally just unleashed and [is allowed to] be herself and be her character.”

So far this year, Martinez has performed for promotions such as Beyond Wrestling, Smash Wrestling, and PROGRESS. In the latter, the former AEW star challenged for the PROGRESS Women’s Championship.

If you use any of the quotes in this article, please credit “The A2theK Wrestling Show” with a h/t to Wrestling Inc. for the transcription.

In 2018, WWE did something new by holding the first Evolution pay-per-view, with a card consisting entirely of women. It took a while, but the company brought Evolution back in 2025, and many are hoping there’s a shorter turnaround before the third edition. That includes Rhea Ripley, who brought the event up while speaking on the “Ebro Laura Rosenberg Show.”

“I know we had to wait – what was it? Eight years for Evolution 2,” Ripley said. “I feel like we went out there and we showed everyone exactly what we can do, and I’m hoping it takes less time now for Evolution 3. I really hope that everyone watched that and went, ‘Wow, this needs to be a yearly thing.'”

Ripley’s comments came in the midst of a broader conversation about the progress of women’s wrestling over the last decade-plus. The WWE star shared that she’s excited to see how things continue to progress from here, including after she eventually decides to hang up her boots. Ripley is just 29 years old, so that’s not likely to happen any time soon.

“We’re trying to set up the future for better things,” Ripley continued. “I really want to leave this company where the women’s division is better off.”

The second edition of Evolution took place last July, with Ripley facing IYO SKY main event, during which Naomi cashed in her Money in the Bank contract and won the Women’s World Championship. Ripley was a fresh addition to the WWE roster when the first Evolution took place in 2018, but she did wrestle a dark match at that show as well, with Dakota Kai as her opponent.

If you use any of the quotes in this article, please credit “Ebro Laura Rosenberg Show” and provide a h/t to Wrestling Inc. for the transcription.

When John Cena retired from professional wrestling last year, he was adamant that he would still be involved with WWE, and ended up signing a five-year deal with the company as a brand ambassador. Last week, Cena’s first appearance since retiring was confirmed when he was made the host of WrestleMania 42 in Las Vegas, which opens the door for him to tackle any other non-wrestling related roles in the industry, and now AEW commentator Jim Ross has shared how he’d like Cena to be utilized in WWE going forward. 

During a recent episode of “Grilling JR,” Ross explained that he’d be interested to watch Cena at the announce desk in the near future. “I’d like to hear John’s commentary. He’s smart. He’s got a way with words, and I’m curious as to how he might do in that role. There’s no doubt in my mind he’s got the talent for it, but I don’t know if that he would be content with that or not, but he’ll do a good job. No doubt about that in my view.”

Following the announcement that Cena will appear at WrestleMania 42, it was reported that the 17-time World Champion was made the host due to lower-than-expected ticket sales for the two-night event. Last week, “Wrestling Observer’s” Dave Meltzer revealed that ticket sales for night one of WrestleMania are 39,866, and 41,330 for night two, which is 13.3 percent lower than last year’s show.

If you use any of the quotes in this article, please credit “Grilling JR” with a h/t to Wrestling Inc. for the transcription.