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Hulk Hogan's match-worn boots from the 1989 Survivor Series and 1990 Royal Rumble sold for $146,803 at Iconic Auctions. According to Darren Rovell, this sale represents the second-highest price ever paid for wrestling boots, trailing only Hogan's WrestleMania I boots that sold for over $1 million earlier this year.
Booker T explained on the Hall of Fame podcast that veteran WWE wrestlers are often the first to be cut because longevity alone won't protect talent from losing their jobs, especially when they're not in the company's "top five" and younger performers are rising through the ranks. He emphasized that wrestlers who remain valuable are those who can "move the needle" and generate revenue for the company, stating that business decisions revolve around numbers, performance, and long-term value rather than years of experience.
Booker T discussed on his Hall of Fame podcast what he believes separates wrestlers who last in WWE from those who get cut, emphasizing that talent must look like stars and stand out individually. He used Luca Crusifino as an example, stating that while Crusifino had "the look" and physical presence, he didn't get the chance to stand out while in a group and suggested wrestlers should consider upgrading their outfits to avoid dressing the same way every week. Booker explained that he never dressed the same each week and always wore different boots because he had to "make myself feel like a star in order for people to look at me like a star."
WWE Raw General Manager Adam Pearce has officially announced new matches for Monday's episode in the lead-up to Backlash. The announced matches will feature Ethan Page, Finn Balor, and Penta among other wrestlers.
Roman Reigns vs. Jacob Fatu is official for WWE Backlash on May 9 in Tampa, with the match set up after Fatu attacked Reigns and applied his Death Grip submission on the April 27 episode of WWE RAW. Early betting odds from BetOnline.ag heavily favor Reigns to retain the World Heavyweight Championship at -5000, while Fatu enters as a significant underdog at +1200. The Backlash card also features Seth Rollins vs. Bron Breakker (-130 vs. -110) and Iyo Sky vs. Asuka (-700 vs. +400).
WWE Raw star Raquel Rodriguez commented on Judgment Day after the group removed Finn Balor from their ranks. Rodriguez described the faction as "a women's club now" following Balor's departure.
Adam Pearce announced two new additions to the May 4 WWE RAW lineup in Omaha, Nebraska: JD McDonagh will face Finn Balor in singles action, and Iyo Sky and Asuka will participate in a sit-down segment. The updated card also includes an Oba Femi Open Challenge, Sol Ruca's RAW contract signing, Rusev & Ethan Page vs Je'Von Evans & Penta, and appearances by Brie Bella & Paige.
WWE's Cody Rhodes has stated that Dominik Mysterio makes him feel uncool and makes him feel his age.
Kelly Kincaid, formerly known as Quinn McKay in Ring of Honor, revealed in an Instagram post that she may never return to wrestling after her WWE contract expired in February without renewal. Kincaid reflected on her eight-year wrestling career, stating she had more fun as Quinn McKay in ROH than during her time in WWE, which she described as "rewarding, but very demanding." Since leaving WWE, she has returned to roller derby and said the sport has "given me my life back."
WWE's Bayley returned during AAA television tapings for the May 9 episode, where she aligned herself with La Catalina and Lola Vice to form a new trio. The group confronted Las Tóxicas, the faction that previously cost Bayley the Reina de Reinas Championship at Rey de Reyes in March, helping Vice and Catalina take them out before standing tall in the ring.
Damian Priest and several other WWE stars have reacted to the departures of Kofi Kingston and Xavier Woods from The New Day. Priest described the departures as "locker room hurts."
Roman Reigns has been removed from WWE's official advertising for all four June episodes of Monday Night Raw, despite previously being promoted for those dates following his WrestleMania 42 victory over CM Punk. This comes weeks after Reigns publicly promised fans he would work a full summer schedule, stating "All this part-time crap? We're gonna fix that" during the WrestleMania 42 post-show. The removed June appearances include three international shows in Turin, Paris, and London, plus a domestic show in Baltimore, while Reigns remains scheduled to defend the World Heavyweight Championship at WWE Backlash on May 9 against Jacob Fatu.