Former WWE Star Rezar Scores Knockout Victory In Bare Knuckle Debut

Former WWE Star Rezar Scores Knockout Victory In Bare Knuckle Debut

A former WWE star made a statement in his first appearance in bare knuckle boxing, scoring a knockout victory on Saturday night.

Gzim Selmani, known to wrestling fans as Rezar from the Authors of Pain, defeated Dan Curtin by second round knockout in his debut fight. After the bout, Selmani delivered an intense and profanity filled interview where he spoke about his background in professional wrestling and made it clear he plans to make an impact in his new sport.

“I’m here to knock mother*****s out anywhere in the motherg world. Come get it, mothers,” Selmani said after the win. “I’m the motherfr that came from WWE to this place. I fought my a off and I’m here.”

Before entering WWE, Selmani had a background in mixed martial arts, compiling a 4 and 2 professional record. His last MMA appearance came in 2014 when he was defeated by Daniel Gallemore at Bellator 130.

Selmani joined WWE in 2015 and was paired with Akam to form the powerhouse tag team known as the Authors of Pain. The duo quickly rose through the ranks, finding success in NXT before moving to the main roster, where they eventually captured the Raw Tag Team Championship.

The team was released from WWE in 2020, but later returned in 2023 after Triple H became the company’s Chief Content Officer. Upon their comeback, Selmani and Akam reunited with their longtime manager Paul Ellering and aligned with Karrion Kross and Scarlett in a new faction.

Their second run ended in early 2025 following several high profile losses, including defeats to Bobby Lashley and The Street Profits at WrestleMania XL and to Fraxiom on an episode of NXT. The group was released from their WWE contracts shortly afterward.

Now transitioning into bare knuckle fighting, Selmani has already made a powerful first impression with a knockout victory in his debut.

• More Names Confirmed For AEW Revolution Blackjack Battle Royal

• More Names Confirmed For AEW Revolution Blackjack Battle Royal

AEW has confirmed additional participants for the 21 man Blackjack Battle Royal scheduled for the Zero Hour pre show at AEW Revolution.

During Saturday’s taped episode of Collision, several competitors announced their entry into the match, which will take place during the Revolution broadcast on Sunday. Ricochet is set to compete in the bout while also putting his AEW National Championship on the line.

The updated list of participants includes:

• Rush

• Dralistico

• Scorpio Sky

• Anthony Bowens

• Hook

• Katsuyori Shibata

• Daniel Garcia

• Juice Robinson

• Austin Gunn

• Ace Austin

• Trent Beretta

• Rocky Romero

• Jack Perry

Ricochet and Jack Perry have been involved in an ongoing rivalry in recent weeks. Ricochet previously defeated Perry to retain the AEW National Championship, but Perry’s side picked up momentum shortly after when his team secured victory in the Mile High Madness match on the February 25 edition of Dynamite.

Tommaso Ciampa had already been announced for the bout prior to the latest additions.

The Blackjack Battle Royal will take place during the Zero Hour pre show before the main Revolution pay per view begins in Los Angeles.

AEW Revolution lineup for Sunday:

Main Card

• Marina Shafir vs Toni Storm with everyone banned from ringside

• AEW Trios Champions Kazuchika Okada, Kyle Fletcher and Mark Davis vs Kevin Knight, Mike Bailey and Mistico

• AEW Women’s World Champion Thekla vs Kris Statlander in a two out of three falls match

• Brody King vs Swerve Strickland

• Bandido vs Andrade El Idolo

• AEW Continental Champion Jon Moxley vs Konosuke Takeshita with no time limit

• AEW World Tag Team Champions FTR Cash Wheeler and Dax Harwood vs The Young Bucks Matt Jackson and Nick Jackson

• AEW World Champion MJF vs Hangman Page in a Texas Death Match. If Page loses he can never challenge for the world title again

• AEW Women’s Tag Team Champions Babes of Wrath Harley Cameron and Willow Nightingale vs Megan Bayne and Lena Kross

• Roderick Strong, Orange Cassidy and Darby Allin vs The Dogs David Finlay, Gabe Kidd and Clark Connors

Zero Hour

• AEW National Champion Ricochet defends in a 21 man Blackjack Battle Royal

• TBS Champion Willow Nightingale vs Lena Kross

• Boom and Doom QT Marshall and Big Boom AJ vs The Infantry Carlie Bravo and Shawn Dean

WWE Internally Discussing Status Of Saudi Arabia Shows Amid Ongoing Middle East Conflict

WWE Internally Discussing Status Of Saudi Arabia Shows Amid Ongoing Middle East Conflict

WWE has reportedly held internal conversations about the future of its upcoming events in Saudi Arabia, according to Bryan Alvarez of the Wrestling Observer.

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Matt Cardona Suffers Head Injury During WWE Main Event Tapings

Matt Cardona Suffers Head Injury During WWE Main Event Tapings

Matt Cardona suffered a head injury during a tag team match taped for WWE Main Event ahead of the March 13 episode of SmackDown in Phoenix, Arizona. The wound required several staples to close.

Cardona did not appear on SmackDown following the taping. After the match, he took to X to share photos of the injury and the treatment he received.

“Tonight on #WWEMainEvent, I tasted my own blood for the first time in a long time…and I felt ALIVE!”

The images posted showed a deep cut on the top of his head with multiple staples used to close the wound.

Cardona’s Current Status On WWE Television

Cardona made his return to WWE in late 2025 as a surprise entrant in the “Last Time Is Now” tournament. His comeback continued when he officially signed with the SmackDown roster on the January 2, 2026 episode, where he picked up a win over Kit Wilson in his first match back.

Since that return, Cardona has struggled to build momentum. He was defeated by Trick Williams in a number one contender qualifying match, was eliminated early in the Royal Rumble after being thrown out by Oba Femi, and later came up short against Carmelo Hayes during a United States Championship Open Challenge on the February 27 edition of SmackDown.

In recent weeks, Cardona has also been involved in a smaller rivalry with Kit Wilson.

With WrestleMania 42 now five weeks away, Cardona is currently not scheduled for a match at the event. It remains unclear if the head injury will impact his availability for upcoming WWE appearances.

 

AEW Collision Results (March 15, 2026)

AEW Collision aired on Saturday night, taped following Wednesday’s episode of Dynamite at the San Jose Civic Center in San Jose, California. Tony Schiavone and Nigel McGuinness handled commentary throughout the broadcast. The show served as AEW’s final television stop before the AEW Revolution pay per view on Sunday night.

Results

Kevin Knight defeated El Clon

Kevin Knight and El Clon delivered a competitive opening contest with both men exchanging momentum throughout the match. Knight mixed his athleticism and power offense, while Clon relied on quick counters and near fall attempts to keep the pressure on.

Late in the bout, Clon nearly stole the win with multiple rollups and a powerbomb that brought the crowd to its feet. Knight managed to regain control with a sharp dropkick that created separation. From there he climbed to the ropes, connecting with a springboard clothesline before finishing the match with the UFO Splash to secure the pinfall victory.

Mark Davis defeated Komander

Mark Davis relied heavily on his strength advantage against Komander, overpowering the high flyer early and repeatedly tossing him across the ring. Komander refused to stay down and fought back with a series of kicks and quick counters.

Momentum shifted several times as Komander connected with a moonsault to the outside and later nearly scored the win with a sunset flip from the top rope. Komander attempted a 450 splash but Davis countered by raising his knees. Davis followed up with an enzuigiri before planting Komander with a tombstone piledriver to pick up the win.

Triangle Of Madness defeated Viva Van, Tatevik, And Charisma

The trio of Thekla, Julia Hart, and Skye Blue made quick work of their opponents in a short and dominant showing. The match lasted just over a minute before Thekla drove Charisma to the mat with a spear and scored the pin.

After the match, Thekla grabbed a microphone and called out Kris Statlander, accusing her of hiding after issuing a challenge. Statlander quickly appeared and stormed the ring, attacking Skye Blue and Julia Hart before leveling Thekla with a clothesline.

Statlander removed her belt and advanced toward Thekla, who backed away and pleaded with her. Statlander tossed the belt aside and turned her back, but Thekla struck from behind and launched a brutal attack. She wrapped the belt around her fist and repeatedly struck Statlander before leaving her laid out in the ring.

Once Thekla exited, Statlander grabbed a microphone and warned that she does not want Thekla to fear her. Instead, she wants Thekla to fear what she will have to do to keep her down. Their match is set for Revolution.

The Demand defeated The Bang Bang Gang

Ricochet teamed with Toa Leona and Bishop Kaun to face Juice Robinson, Austin Gunn, and Ace Austin of the Bang Bang Gang. Despite limited recent television appearances, the Bang Bang Gang received strong crowd support throughout the contest.

Ace Austin had an impressive start, launching Ricochet with a dropkick off the apron and trading fast paced exchanges with Kaun. Juice Robinson later received the hot tag and cleared the ring, rallying his team with a series of strikes.

Austin and Robinson nearly captured the win after delivering a double team slam to Ricochet for a near fall. The finish came when Kaun and Toa Leona connected with Final Rites on Austin. Ricochet followed with a springboard splash and then pulled Kaun onto Austin for the three count.

After the match, The Demand continued the assault on the Bang Bang Gang. Ricochet grabbed the microphone as the crowd booed loudly. He complained that AEW management was trying to sabotage his title reign by placing him in a 21 man battle royal at Revolution.

Ricochet insisted it does not matter how many competitors enter the match because he is the only one who matters. He declared that regardless of Tony Khan’s intentions, he will still walk out of Revolution as champion.

Lena Cross defeated Mina Shirakawa

Lena Cross used her power to control much of the match against Mina Shirakawa, shutting down several comeback attempts from the former champion. Mina briefly shifted the momentum with a spinning backfist and a sling blade from the ropes that earned a close near fall.

Mina attempted to apply the figure four leglock, but Cross countered by lifting her into a powerful German suplex. Moments later Mina ran into a big boot. Cross finished the match by delivering a jackhammer to score the pinfall.

Andrade El Idolo defeated Mascara Dorada

Don Callis joined the commentary desk during the main event with Lance Archer standing nearby as security. The match between Andrade El Idolo and Mascara Dorada turned into an exciting high flying showcase with both competitors trading dives, counters, and near falls.

Mascara Dorada dazzled with a tornado dive to the floor and later landed a 450 splash that nearly ended the match. He followed with a springboard poisonrana that stunned Andrade, but Andrade managed to survive.

In the closing moments, Andrade drove Dorada’s head into the top turnbuckle using a hammerlock setup before delivering the Message to score the victory.

After the match, Bandido began making his way toward the ring but was attacked by Roppongi Vice before he could enter. Brody King rushed out to even the odds, which then brought Swerve Strickland to the scene.

Bandido fought back and sent Roppongi Vice to the outside while Andrade watched the chaos unfold from the crowd. The show went off the air with the ring filling with competitors as tensions escalated heading into AEW Revolution.

AEW Revolution takes place Sunday, March 15 from the San Jose Civic Center. The event will feature Ricochet defending his title in a 21 man battle royal, Kris Statlander facing Thekla, and a newly added trios match pitting The Dogs against The Conglomeration.