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Ex-WWE star retires, Rhodes injured & tag team reunites
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At TNA Emergence, former WWE star Sami Callihan brought his wrestling career to an emotional end. Heading into the event, Callihan had promised to retire if he couldn’t defeat his longtime friend, Mike Santana. Sadly, he fell short, and true to his word, the veteran honored the stipulation and announced his retirement from in-ring competition.
After the match, Callihan left the crowd in tears as he removed his boots and placed them in the center of the ring—a time-honored tradition signifying a wrestler’s farewell. Santana showed his respect by stepping aside, giving him the spotlight. The fans gave him a standing ovation, and the tribute continued backstage, where fellow TNA stars applauded his contributions to the industry. It was a fitting and heartfelt send-off for a performer who poured his heart into every match throughout his career.
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 Cody Rhodes’ future in WWE has taken a dark turn after a shocking assault on SmackDown left him sidelined. Last week, Rhodes was blindsided by Drew McIntyre, who unleashed a ruthless Claymore that sent the champion crashing headfirst through the announce table. The attack was so brutal that it silenced even the commentary team, and Rhodes had to be helped to the back immediately after. On this week’s episode of SmackDown, fans were left with no clarity, as Joe Tessitore confirmed there was still no official medical update. Rhodes wasn’t present at the show, and his return timeline remains uncertain. The absence of details around his condition has created an air of uncertainty about his future, leaving the WWE Universe anxiously wondering how long The American Nightmare will be out of action or whether he’ll even be able to defend his Undisputed WWE Championship anytime soon. |  The WWE tag team of The Miz and Carmelo Hayes, known as Melo Don’t Miz, has finally reunited after months apart. The A-Lister had been away from WWE to film American Gladiators, where he served as the host and wrapped up two full seasons. Although he was expected to return in July, Miz only made his comeback recently and immediately reconnected with Hayes to step back into the tag team scene. Their first match back as partners came against Fraxiom, marking their first official tag match together since February 21. Despite the much-anticipated reunion, the match highlighted some tension between the two stars. Hayes appeared ready to secure the win after hitting a Cutter and setting up for his finisher, Nothing But Net, on Nathan Frazer. However, The Miz tagged himself in at the last second and sealed the victory with a Skull Crushing Finale. While The Miz celebrated exuberantly and raised Hayes’ hand in triumph, Melo was clearly frustrated with the veteran’s actions. This dynamic sets the stage for an intriguing storyline, as the chemistry between the duo seems to be tested despite their reunion. |
FROM THE RUMOR MILL
WWE’s recent announcement about moving its premium live event streaming to ESPN has sparked a lot of discussion about the company’s overall media future. Originally, WWE launched the WWE Network in 2014 as its dedicated platform, housing not just live shows but also a vast library of historic content from WWE, WCW, and ECW. While the network was heavily promoted, it was eventually discontinued in the U.S., with all of its content shifting to Peacock.
Even after WWE struck a groundbreaking deal earlier this year to move live streaming of weekly shows and future programming to Netflix, Peacock continued to serve as the home of the WWE library in the U.S. The new ESPN agreement adds another layer of intrigue. According to Fightful Select, internal sources revealed that live programming remains WWE’s most consumed and licensable content, which makes it straightforward for ESPN to carry. However, the status of WWE’s massive archive remains uncertain. For now, the library is expected to stay on Peacock until at least March 2026, when the current deal expires. After that, it is unclear whether the historic content will move to ESPN, remain on Peacock, or be licensed elsewhere.
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Seth Rollins’ dominance as World Heavyweight Champion and leader of The Vision has made RAW his playground, with Bron Breakker and Bronson Reed reinforcing the faction’s strength. Recently, the trio even outsmarted Jey Uso, CM Punk, and LA Knight, further proving how much control Rollins holds over the red brand. However, the group might soon gain an even bigger edge with a shocking addition.
WWE has been teasing a potential heel turn for Bayley, and the timing suggests she could align with Rollins’ faction. Her joining would not only strengthen The Vision but also fuel an intense personal rivalry, since Rollins’ wife, Becky Lynch, remains one of Bayley’s long-standing foes. On RAW, Bayley was featured in a vignette that ended with a cryptic laugh, signaling her return to villainy. If she does turn heel and side with Rollins, it would create a deeply personal storyline that intertwines professional dominance with real-life relationships.
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ANALYSIS CORNER
Cody Rhodes is back on top of WWE after defeating John Cena in a Street Fight at SummerSlam 2025 to reclaim the Undisputed WWE Championship. This marks the start of his second reign with the title, following his first historic run of 378 days, where he successfully defended against some of the biggest names in the company. His victory not only solidified his place as the face of WWE but also set the stage for what promises to be another defining chapter in his career. However, his celebrations were short-lived as Drew McIntyre made his intentions clear by viciously attacking him on SmackDown, potentially positioning himself as Rhodes’ first challenger.
With Rhodes now entering another championship reign, WWE creative, led by Triple H, faces the challenge of keeping his story fresh and engaging. His first run set a high standard, and fans will be expecting something even more compelling this time around. To achieve that, WWE needs to balance bringing in new challengers while avoiding overexposure to the same names from his past feuds. If executed well, this second reign could cement Rhodes’ legacy further, but if not, it risks becoming repetitive. The immediate clash with McIntyre may kick things off strongly, but the long-term booking will determine whether Rhodes’ reign lives up to the hype.
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