It’s been an up and down 2025 for Judgment Day’s JD McDonagh, though for awhile it was looking up as he and Finn Balor reigned as WWE World Tag Team Champions for nearly four months before dropping them to AJ Styles and Dragon Lee in October. Though McDonagh continued to wrestle regularly in the matches following the loss, he disappeared from the ring after the November 24 episode of “Raw,” and recently announced he would be out of action after having surgery on his right hand.

On Tuesday, Balor provided some good news regarding McDonagh’s state of mind. Taking to X, Balor revealed he had just returned home from checking in on his stablemate and tag team partner. While he didn’t provide any information on how McDonagh’s surgery went nor a timetable for his return, Balor was able to confirm that McDonagh would make a full recovery, and noted that his fellow Irishman was in “good spirits.”

I just got home this very second from checking on my dear friend @jd_mcdonagh & I can confirm that he is in good spirit’s & will make a full recovery 👍

— Finn Bálor (@FinnBalor) December 17, 2025

It would be understandable if McDonagh was a bit down in the dumps, as he began the year suffering another injury during a January 27 “Raw” tag match involving him and Dominik Mysterio taking on the War Raiders. While attempting a moonsault to the floor, McDonagh’s follow through saw him crash into the announcer’s table, resulting in him breaking several ribs and even puncturing one of his lungs; despite that, McDonagh managed to finish the match before going to the hospital. It would take him nearly three months to recover before he made his return in April.

In the latest update to the ongoing Warner Bros. Discovery acquisition process, Paramount’s initial attempt at a hostile takeover has failed, according to The Hollywood Reporter. Led by David Ellsion, Paramount made a $108 billion offer to WBD shareholders along with claiming that they’d be a better partner to work with than Netflix, but WBD’s Board of Directors is recommending that its shareholders reject that offer.

That means, for now, that Netflix’s acquisition of the WB side of WBD will continue into the regulatory process. This isn’t the end for Paramount, though, as the company is expected to mount an even bigger offer in the coming weeks or months. As opposed to Netflix, Paramount is seeking to acquire all of WBD.

In a statement, WBD Board of Directors Chairman Samuel A. Di Piazza, Jr. said that the lead executives determined that Paramount’s offer wasn’t strong enough to counter Netflix, with the belief that an acquisition by Paramount would carry too much risk due to involvement from the kingdom of Saudi Arabia and questions about other financial backers.

The deal may still end up in a bidding war between Paramount and Netflix, as Paramount leadership will be able to increase their offer and Netflix executives will have an opportunity to match it. Ellison had already publicly indicated that he is open to increasing the latest offer. Since Paramount’s offer consists of cash, some in the industry feel that it’s a realistic proposition for WBD to eventually change course and go with a higher Paramount deal.

As for how all of this will affect AEW, which is in the midst of a multi-year broadcast deal with WBD, that remains to be seen. In all likelihood, it won’t matter until it comes time to negotiate their next contract.