Jim Ross has confirmed that Dennis Rodman was originally set to appear for WWE at WrestleMania 13 before a last-minute shift led him to sign with WCW instead.

Speaking on the Grilling JR podcast with Conrad Thompson, Ross detailed how WWE had planned to use Rodman in a one-time attraction role alongside Goldust. The idea was to capitalize on Rodman’s larger-than-life and polarizing public image at the time.

“We thought for a one-off, one-time-only appearance by Dennis, it would be a hit, because he was kind of polarizing,” Ross said. “We were disappointed, no doubt, because it seemed like it was going to be a layup.”

Ross explained that Rodman was expected to fill a role similar to Roddy Piper at WrestleMania 12, where Piper’s involvement in the Hollywood Backlot Brawl brought mainstream attention to the show.

“He was what we needed for that attraction, for that Piper role of an outsider coming in and doing his thing,” Ross said.

The situation changed when Rodman, who was a fan of Hulk Hogan, reached out to him directly. That contact opened the door for Eric Bischoff to step in and secure the deal for WCW.

Ross noted that the negotiations quickly escalated once agents became involved, with Bischoff finalizing the agreement over the phone. Rodman would go on to appear at WCW’s Uncensored pay-per-view and later compete in a high-profile tag team match that summer, generating significant attention for the company.

“It was frustrating for everybody,” Ross said, while also acknowledging Bischoff’s approach. “He was smart enough and aggressive enough and bold enough to make it happen.”

The timing of the deal added to WWE’s disappointment. WCW’s acquisition of Rodman made major headlines in Chicago just two weeks before WrestleMania 13, which was being held at the Rosemont Horizon.

Despite the setback, Ross emphasized that WWE had only planned to use Rodman once, whereas WCW was able to extend the relationship. “Was it a deal breaker? No. It was, to me, it was always going to be a one-time deal,” he said. “WCW got more than one out of Dennis.”

Rodman’s crossover into professional wrestling remains one of the most memorable celebrity integrations of the era, and he has now come full circle with his recent announcement as part of the 2026 WWE Hall of Fame class.

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Eric Bischoff has shared strong praise for the WrestleMania 42 main event between Randy Orton and Cody Rhodes, highlighting the depth of the story and the history behind both competitors.

Speaking on his 83 Weeks podcast, Bischoff said he has been following the developing angle and is impressed with how the rivalry has been presented so far. “I think that the match between him and Cody is going to be a great match,” Bischoff said. “Really looking forward to it.”

Bischoff went on to praise Orton’s all-around ability, describing him as one of the most complete performers in the business today. “Randy Orton, to me, is one of the best examples of someone who is so old school in many respects, but he is such a great performer on every level,” Bischoff said. “His promos are great, the way he sells is fantastic, he is so fluid, he is so smooth.”

He also framed the matchup as a symbolic clash between generations, noting Orton’s longevity and Rhodes’ position as a leading figure of the current era. “Randy is like the last of what I would consider my generation of performers,” Bischoff said. “Randy started in WWE just as I came on board there. I’ve had a chance to watch him develop and grow as a performer. I have a lot of respect for his dad, Bob Orton Jr.. Cody is like the star of the next generation behind Randy. It is a cool matchup.”

Bischoff also touched on the intrigue surrounding the storyline, particularly the unanswered questions tied to Orton’s recent actions. “I am just glad it is happening,” he said. “It is a great story, and there is so much to work with. I cannot wait to see this thing play out.”

With WrestleMania 42 approaching, the Orton vs. Rhodes program continues to build as one of the most personal and layered rivalries on WWE television, drawing attention from veterans like Bischoff who recognize the storytelling foundation behind it.

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Hologram has signaled that his return to All Elite Wrestling may be approaching, posting a cryptic in-character update on social media after months away due to injury.

Writing in the same glitch-based style that defines his on-screen persona, Hologram shared the following message on X: “Injury detected. Source: clone. Surgical process complete. Recovery protocol active. Countdown initiated. I’m coming back to finish this.”

The post marks his first public update since undergoing knee surgery in October 2025 and strongly suggests that a comeback is now on the horizon. The line about “finishing this” appears to directly reference Kyle Fletcher, who was responsible for the attack that led to Hologram being written off television.

That angle took place on the September 27 episode of AEW Collision, where Fletcher assaulted Hologram following an “El Clon” glitch during a backstage segment. The moment tied into the broader storyline surrounding Hologram’s mysterious character and the shadowy presence of El Clon.

Later that night, during a match involving Komander and Fletcher, Tony Schiavone informed viewers on commentary that Hologram had suffered a serious injury. Tony Khan would go on to confirm that the injury was expected to sideline him for the remainder of 2025. Surgery followed in October, beginning a lengthy rehabilitation process.

At the time of his absence, Hologram had quickly emerged as one of AEW’s most talked-about new stars, building an undefeated streak that generated significant attention. The attack by Fletcher allowed AEW to preserve that momentum while setting up a clear storyline for his eventual return.

While no official timetable has been announced, the “countdown” teased in Hologram’s message points toward a return in the near future. With several months already passed since surgery, his recovery appears to be progressing within a typical timeframe, leaving the door open for his reappearance on AEW programming soon.

Hologram Teases AEW Return With Cryptic Message Following Knee Surgery

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