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WWE star Sheamus believes fans are clouded by nostalgia when it comes to one aspect of the company's "Attitude Era." He considers this particular aspect of that era to be overrated.
Shawn Michaels told Stephanie McMahon on the What's Your Story? podcast that it takes three years to adequately prepare an athlete with no wrestling background for WWE's main roster, longer than some company executives expected. Michaels explained that modern developmental wrestlers don't get the match repetition that previous generations had, noting he wrestled "hundreds of matches in probably three months" during the territory era while today's talent "may not get there in a year with the amount of live events." He said WWE's partnerships with promotions like TNA Wrestling, Lucha Libre AAA Worldwide, and Reality of Wrestling have become critical for helping developmental talent gain more real-world experience.
WWE has announced that SmackDown will take place on Tuesday, June 23 at The O2 Arena in London, England, one night after Raw emanates from the same venue on June 22. The company is still advertising the London show as "Friday Night SmackDown" despite the Tuesday taping date, and has also confirmed a live event at Utilita Arena Sheffield on June 24.
Jacob Fatu revealed on the No Contest Wrestling podcast that his use of the legendary Tongan Death Grip against Roman Reigns was always part of his planned strategy, not a spontaneous decision. Fatu explained that he brought back the move associated with wrestling legend Haku because it represents something sacred within his family and Tongan wrestling culture, and he felt Roman Reigns needed to be challenged with something more personal and symbolic since he had already survived nearly everything else in wrestling. According to Fatu, the move was used prominently during their feud, including at a contract signing segment leading into their match at Backlash.
Jim Ross addressed WWE's contract restructuring situation on his Grilling JR podcast, explaining that WWE contracts typically contain exit clauses and aren't guaranteed unless specifically negotiated that way. Ross noted that many of the talent being affected are "low-money guys" who will likely receive 90 days of pay after release, and emphasized that when wrestlers sign multi-year deals, "all of them have outs of some sort" because "WWE is not stupid." He explained that while talent likes long-term deals for security, true protection only comes if wrestlers negotiate guaranteed terms into their contracts.
Jacob Fatu addressed online wrestling criticism during an appearance on the No Contest Wrestling podcast, suggesting that fans should experience taking a punch from wrestlers before criticizing the business. Fatu advised wrestlers to stay off the internet, calling it "fake," and said he doesn't let negative comments affect him because his WWE paycheck "still clears every week." The comments come as Fatu continues his main event run and ongoing feud with Roman Reigns heading into Backlash 2026.
WWE's massive post-WrestleMania roster cuts, which have reportedly included 30 departures with 18 from the main roster alone, are part of a deliberate strategy according to Dave Meltzer on Wrestling Observer Radio. Meltzer explained that the cuts are happening because TKO avoided large-scale releases in 2025 after taking over WWE and are now "catching up," while also balancing out NXT call-ups by removing a similar number of existing roster members and preparing for SmackDown's reduction to two hours at the end of May. Among the notable releases this year were The New Day, The Wyatt Sicks, Kairi Sane, Aleister Black, and Motor City Machine Guns.
WWE has announced a Tuesday night edition of SmackDown scheduled for June 23 at the O2 Arena in London, England. The show represents a departure from SmackDown's typical Friday night schedule for this international event.
Kilkenny Councillor Maurice Shortall believes Ireland is "well placed" to put in a competitive bid to host WWE WrestleMania. The councillor expressed his view that Ireland would be in a strong position to make a competitive bid for the major WWE event.
WWE reportedly "held back" on releases last year and is now "catching up" this year, which explains the high number of recent talent cuts. The company was described as playing "catch-up" on releases during this period.
Former WWE star Dakota Kai took approximately a year off from wrestling following her 2025 release from WWE. Kai has explained her decision to take this break from wrestling during her time away from the ring.
Nick Khan has signed a new four-year deal with WWE worth millions of dollars to remain as President through 2030. The multi-million dollar contract extends Khan's tenure in his current role with the company.