Francis Ngannou was asked for his take on Jon Jones’ fall-out with the UFC over negotiations for the White House card in June. 

Jones said ahead of the White House card’s announcement that he was in negotiations to return at the event, but that didn’t transpire when the card was finally announced. 

Dana White said that there never were any negotiations because Jones was not intended for the card, and Jones then came out to say there were negotiations, he was lowballed, and wanted his release if the promotion truly thought he was done fighting. 

Jones has since said he was offered $15 million for the fight but felt the fight was worth more. White said after that it didn’t matter what money he wanted because he was never fighting on the card. 

Ariel Helwani came out to say that White’s comments on the matter didn’t make sense, because he had learned from multiple sources that negotiations were in fact taking place. And he had the opportunity to ask former UFC Heavyweight Champion Ngannou for his take on the matter, considering the fact that he left the promotion in 2023 following a pay dispute. 

“Jon Jones [has] been in this organization for how long? Jon Jones [has] been a champion since he was 23. Over 15 years. If there’s somebody that deserves something nowadays, like just even to pay him tribute, it’s Jon Jones,” Ngannou said.

He added, “Isn’t it Jon Jones that they are out there bragging he’s a GOAT? Man, if the GOAT is not respected then who should be respected. I worry if their GOAT is being treated like that. I truly worry if that’s how they treat their GOAT. Then those who are not the GOAT, I don’t know whatever they are, well imagine what they are going through.”

Thekla completed the third defense of her AEW Women’s World Championship with a win over Mina Shirakawa during “AEW Dynamite.”

Shirakawa beat Marina Shafir during last week’s show, stepping up for her injured partner in Toni Storm and earning herself a shot at the title Thekla had captured and then retained over Kris Statlander. 

The bout went to the outside early as Shirakawa took the advantage, only for the champion to get back on top before getting back in the ring and wearing the challenger down on the mat in the middle of the ring. Shirakawa managed to reverse into a submission before Thekla got to the ropes, beginning a stand-up exchange back in the middle of the ring that ended with a spear from Thekla. 

Thekla went to use her belt on Shirakawa but the referee intervened, but as he went to dispose of it she pulled out a knuckle duster and went to punch her challenger. Shirakawa delivered a spinning backfist to break the first attempt but sure enough Thekla struck with her with the duster to get the winning pinfall. 

Conor McGregor has taken to social media to confirm that he is returning to the UFC imminently. 

McGregor has not fought since 2021, suffering back-to-back losses against Dustin Poirier and sustaining a broken ankle in the second of those fights. He had initially been scheduled to return last year against Michael Chandler, but pulled out of the fight with a toe injury and has since been suspended for failing to report his whereabouts for testing. 

That suspension was lifted as of this month and McGregor said he was in talks with the UFC to return, either at the White House card in June or some other time in the summer, and the White House card was announced without McGregor. 

Ariel Helwani said earlier this week that it would take something disastrous for McGregor not to return to UFC on July 11 – International Fight Week. And then McGregor took to Instagram to confirm that the rumors circulating were true, though in typical McGregor form it came with a monologue:

“The rumors are true! Mr. Confidence returns to save fighting again! Call your grandma! Nanny we did it! Watch and pay me. F*** you pay me. You fat Irish pr*** you don’t have my money I put your brain to sleep. See ya’s in the Casinos after, the Mac loves yas all, I got loves for yas all it’s an honor it’s light work it’s easy. FOR LIFE AND ETERNITY ITS MCGREGOR! BIG MONEY MAC DADDY MCGREGOR I EXPECT FAWNING OF THE HIGHEST FOR LIFE. I DO THIS FIGHT GAME EASY PEEZY. THE SOUND OF MY SHOTS OFF THE HEAD GO ‘BING’ in green dot laser form. Go BHB! Watch divine magic when I fight. Hey Paramount+ see you guys soon I’m so excited! And born ready. The Notorious. Conor McGregor.”

“Oooh yeah!” You didn’t know where  “Macho Man” Randy Savage or Bret “The Hitman” Hart was coming from. But what you did know was that you were entertained on where it could lead to. While many have put these two men on the Mount Rushmore of “the best there is, the best there was, and the best there ever will be” in professional wrestling, it seems what one had the other lacked or wasn’t able to obtain during their in-ring tenure, according Eric Bischoff, who was fortunate enough to work with both men during the height of their careers in WCW.

“I don’t think Randy had that quality that the audience would have embraced as a long-term megastar, a Rock, a John Cena, an Undertaker, [Hulk] Hogan, [Ric] Flair,” the WWE Hall of Famer described on his “83 Weeks” podcast. “It had nothing to do with talent. He was amazing. He was so unique. He was so gifted in so many ways. But there was that something that was missing. Don’t know what it is.”

As for the Canadian dynasty, Bischoff noted that Hart was a top choice for many wrestlers to work with because of his professionalism and how devoted he was to the unwritten rule of protecting your opponents throughout a match. However, he believes the former five-time WWE and two-time WCW World Heavyweight Champion lacked an indescribable presence, presumably, the entertainment aspect that Savage had.

“Bret Hart was so good from a technical perspective,” Bischoff praised. “Bret was just not born with that one thing that kind of put you into that star category. You can call it charisma. You can call it whatever you want. It’s a presence. You either have that presence or you don’t.”

If you use any of the quotes in this article, please credit “83 Weeks with Eric Bischoff” and provide a h/t to Wrestling Inc. for the transcription.

Not even two weeks following his return to AEW post-neck surgery at Revolution, Will Ospreay has officially challenged Jon Moxley to a match at Dynasty on April 12. Ospreay called out Moxley in a backstage promo ahead of the Death Riders’ six-person mixed tag team match against SkyFlight on “AEW Dynamite.”

Ospreay is going after Moxley after he and the Death Riders took him out at Forbidden Door 2025 in August ahead of Ospreay’s very real-life neck surgery the following month. In his promo, Ospreay said he has an issue with anyone surrounding themselves with Moxley, and told them anyone who remains loyal to him can meet him in Winnipeg next week.

“The Aerial Assassin” did thank Moxley for allowing him to have time with his son while he was on the shelf, but said no amount of gratitude was going to replace the fear his son had to see. Ospreay said for the image of Moxley “snapping his neck” at Forbidden Door in front of his countrymen and family, he is going to alter Moxley’s life like he did to him. Ospreay ended the segment by telling Moxley, “I want you at Dynasty, motherf*****.”

Moxley answered Ospreay’s challenge following the Death Rider’s victory. He told Ospreay to them, it was nothing personal, but if Ospreay wanted a grudge match at the pay-per-view, he’s got it.