Top WWE Executive Set Wheels In Motion For Matt Cardona Comeback

Posted by admin on March 25th, 2026

Matt Cardona has opened up about how an unexpected conversation involving his wife Chelsea Green ultimately helped pave the way for his WWE return, with WWE President Nick Khan playing a key role in getting the process started.

Speaking on Cody Rhodes’ What Do You Wanna Talk About podcast, Cardona explained that his surprise appearance on NXT during the TNA invasion storyline in October 2025 came together while he was not officially signed to TNA, making the opportunity even more unexpected.

“I’m working for TNA but not technically under contract,” Cardona said. “TNA does the invasion of NXT, and they asked to have me. I know I’m not under contract but I’m like, I’m going to sneak in. Sure, I’ll do it.”

That appearance ended up catching attention behind the scenes, setting off a chain reaction that would eventually lead him back to WWE. Not long after, Chelsea Green found herself speaking with Nick Khan while in Saudi Arabia for Royal Rumble media duties, where she brought up her husband’s NXT showing.

“Chelsea said to Nick something like, did you see my husband wrestle on NXT?” Cardona said. “Nick said something like, I’ve always wanted to meet your husband, talk to your husband, give him my number. She gave me Nick Khan’s number. You know I’m texting immediately. And then Nick called me right there and said, what do you want? I said, I want to come back. And the ball kind of got rolling from there.”

While Cardona admitted there were hurdles along the way before everything was finalized, he pointed to that phone call as the moment things truly shifted in his favor.

Now part of the SmackDown roster once again, Cardona made it clear his long term goal has never changed, aiming for the very top of WWE.

“I’d be lying if I said I didn’t want to be the WWE champ,” Cardona told Rhodes. “That’s the title. I think you and I are alike. We didn’t just want to be wrestlers, we didn’t just want to be WWE Superstars, we wanted to be the WWE Champion. So why not swing for it? That’s the goal ever since I was a little kid.”

After being released by WWE in 2020, Cardona spent several years rebuilding his name across the independent wrestling scene, gaining major attention in promotions such as GCW before making his return to WWE at the beginning of 2026.

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WWE SmackDown Ratings & Viewership Report: 3/20/2026

Posted by admin on March 25th, 2026
Randy Orton on "WWE SmackDown" WWE

At the beginning of the year, “WWE SmackDown” was struggling to grow its audience, having posted viewership numbers below the one million mark three weeks in a row. However, since WrestleMania season started after the Royal Rumble, the blue brand has slowly started to bounce back, with last Friday’s episode being the show’s second highest viewership of 2026.

According to Wrestlenomics and Programming Insider, “SmackDown” averaged 1,439,000 viewers and posted a 0.32 in the key 18-49 demographic. When comparing both categories to the previous week, total viewership slightly increased by 1%, while the 18-49 demo stayed even. “SmackDown” also ranked #6 for the night on cable in the key demographic despite going head-to-head with multiple college basketball games for March Madness.

In addition to “SmackDown’s” viewership rising, ticket sales for the brand have also improved as of late, with this past Friday’s show selling 12,961 seats in the Lenovo Center in Raleigh, North Carolina, which is the most tickets sold for a WWE event in the market since 2021. However, the same success hasn’t been replicated for “SmackDown’s” year-over-year ratings, with the program’s total viewership declining by 12% since March 2025. “SmackDown” has also failed to improve in the 18-49 demo, with the category being down by 35% since this time last year.

With WrestleMania 42 under a month away, it remains to be seen if “SmackDown” will continue to build upon last Friday’s totals and eclipse the 1.5 million viewer mark for the first time this year.

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WWE HOFer Praises Randy Orton, Says Cody Rhodes Has ‘Ran His Course’ As A Babyface

Posted by admin on March 25th, 2026

Randy Orton shocked the pro wrestling world when he turned on his friend and WWE Champion Cody Rhodes, a move that former WWE star Rikishi absolutely loved and praised Orton for.

Rikishi, while speaking on his “Off The Top” podcast, was effusive in his praise of Orton, lauding not just his on-screen character but also his backstage demeanor and how helpful he is to his peers.

“It’s been Randy Orton’s time. You know, Randy should write a book that’s called ‘Longevity.’ He’s an OG that came in as a youngster. Came right out there and then he’s been there for however many years on top, but he flow through it. He flow through the bookings here and there. At the end of the day, Randy, he’s still that guy. I can rest assure and let you know that he’s one of those guys that is well respected in the locker room. Why? Because he takes time to teach. Why? Because how his actions are inside and outside the locker room. He’s that guy. And so for me, I love Randy as a heel,” said Rikishi.

Rikishi praised Orton’s ability to turn himself into a bad guy in an instant, something he teaches his students. The WWE Hall of Famer believes that “The Viper” will be able to test Rhodes to the limit.

“I feel this was definitely something that was needed for WrestleMania, and I feel that Randy Orton is the guy to be able to take Cody Rhodes to that next test,” he added.

Rhodes’ babyface stint has run its course, says Rikishi

Cody Rhodes has been the face of WWE for some time now, but from time to time, there’s talk of him turning heel, something Rikishi also believes should happen.

“I don’t want to take away from him. Cody is good for business. He’s one of those role models in a professional wrestling world that we all can look up to. But again, you know, the wheel turns, I feel like he ran his course as a babyface. I feel like, you know, who’s to say that, you know, maybe after WrestleMania, you know, he makes that switch because you can only run that good guy, you know, carrying the belt, shaking kids’ hands, and, you know, all that stuff for however long,” said Rikishi. 

The WWE legend advised Rhodes to take a break after “The Show of Shows,” suggesting that some time off would help him rejuvenate and do good for his career.

“And I feel like, you know, maybe it’s time for him to, you know, take a break. Maybe come back and then you know, just, you’d be amazed how recharged a person can be when you take some time off, and your mind can flow pretty good.”

While many in the pro wrestling business want to see Rhodes as a bad guy, the WWE Champion himself doesn’t believe it’s a good idea, rejecting it as he feels most of his gimmick would have to change.

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Ariel Helwani: Dana White’s Comments On Jon Jones UFC Situation ‘Makes Zero Sense’

Posted by admin on March 25th, 2026
Dana White Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images

Ariel Helwani weighed in on Dana White’s comments regarding Jon Jones and the UFC Freedom 250 White House card. 

Jones said ahead of the White House card’s announcement that he was in negotiations to return to the UFC, having been stripped of the Heavyweight title in 2025 alongside a retirement. However, White rubbished that notion and said Jones was never going to make the card, and agreed that it would be fair to say Jones was done. 

That prompted Jones to push back and maintain he was in negotiations. Furthermore, he was lowballed in talks to fight Alex Pereira – who is confirmed for Freedom 250 against Ciryl Gane – and asked for his release if the true belief is that he’s done. 

In response to the claim that UFC had offered Jones $15 million to fight Pereira and Jones had asked for more, White refuted that as well and said he was never going to be on the White House card regardless. But Helwani doesn’t see much truth to that.

“So if we are to believe Dana White right now,” he started. “Are you telling me that they went out, they negotiated with people. Because Jon’s numbers, everything he’s saying, I’ve heard as well from multiple sources. Only to not actually be serious about putting him on the card. So why the hell were they negotiating? So why were they talking to his lawyer? Why were they talking to his team? Why were they even getting into numbers at all?”

He further wrote on X: “Dana White being adamant that Jon Jones was never going to be on the card makes zero sense, considering other UFC officials were negotiating with his team and lawyer.”

Helwani offered an alternative explanation, that White was in fact refuting that Jones was going to be on the White House card as opposed to admitting that they couldn’t deliver the bigger fight.

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Michael ‘Venom’ Page: One Fight Left On UFC Contract, Hoping To Re-Sign

Posted by admin on March 25th, 2026
Michael "Venom" Page Hoda Davaine/Getty Images

Michael “Venom” Page said he has one more fight left on his current deal with the UFC, and if he had his way then he would remain with the promotion and make a play for his first title. 

Page fought his fifth fight in UFC on Saturday, beating Sam Patterson in a three-round decision and a fight that got booed by the London crowd for its lack of action. 

It marked his fourth win, having only lost to Ian Machado Garry in 2024. And he also made his entrance to Michael Jackson’s “They Don’t Care About Us,” which many took to be a statement after his criticism of UFC’s fighter pay.  

Page confirmed during an interview with Ariel Helwani that he has just the one fight left on his current deal. 

“I think I got one more. It’s a six fight deal,” he said. And considering his publicized issues with the promotion, he was asked if that meant he would be looking elsewhere. 

He said that all fighters are going to have moments in their career where they feel under appreciated, but ultimately he finds it a massive privilege to fight for and represent the UFC. 

“I’m thankful to have been given a shot,” he continued. “People say it’s later in my career, this and that. Regardless, I’m thankful to be here today.”

He added, “But I also want to get something back from it. So the goal is the UFC belt.”

Time will tell whether he will get that new deal and who his next opponent will be. Page sits at twelfth in the UFC welterweight rankings.

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