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Alexa returned alongside Lily and introduced a new ally: former NXT Women’s Champion Tatum Paxley. Tatum helped take out Michin and B-Fab, allowing Charlotte to secure the victory over Jade. Charlotte, Tatum, and Alexa celebrated as SmackDown went off the air.

False Finish noted via Twitter/X: “Sources indicate to False Finish that Charlotte Flair requested to have Tatum Paxley join her and Alexa Bliss on SmackDown.”

This changes EVERYTHING!!

ALEXA BLISS is back and TATUM PAXLEY is here!!!@AlexaBliss_WWE | @TatumPaxley pic.twitter.com/etfCVA8fI6

— WWE (@WWE) August 8, 2026

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Like the WWE for the past 3 years, music tours have also been jacking up ticket prices in amounts that significantly EXCEED the annual rate of inflation. Since 2023, annual inflation has been less than 4% while prices for events and hotels surrounding such events have seen price gouging amounts of 20% hikes or much more. In fact, the costs of anything involving events from hotels to parking to food to tickets have all gone up drastically and priced out many folks who USED to attend concerts or WWE regularly.

WWE was purchased by Endeavor through 2023 and after the sale was complete, the newly formed TKO corporation began to hike up prices of events. The prices were really noticed during Royal Rumble 2025, which took some of yours truly’s money, and kept going throughout 2025 including a much more expensive Wrestlemania 41 and heavy price gouging for things surrounding John Cena’s retirement tour. Then, we have Wrestlemania 42 and WWE’s price gouging took on ridiculous standards on top of a Las Vegas city that has been gouging tourists HARD since COVID-19 ended.

On my May 20th column, I remarked at how poorly WWE SummerSlam tickets were selling through 2/3 of May. I actually did some calculations and observed that less than 20,000 were sold through that point and reportedly, WWE has only sold around 22,000 tickets thus far with SummerSlam being a few weeks away from this 2-night show in Minneapolis, MN. Back on May 20th, several said that “it’s May” or “too early” to make this call. No, it’s freakin’ SummerSlam, arguably WWE’s #2 show and should sell a ton of tickets in advance. People travel all over the country to attend WWE’s top shows, but they aren’t this year for SummerSlam.

Obvious reason #1 = ticket prices.

Right now, WWE only has 1/3 of the Minnesota Vikings’s stadium available for sale, which is a massive indicator of a massive sales failure incoming (or at least compared to events of the past). While the nosebleeds have come down in price since I last wrote my 5/20 column (down to $76.10), that is still pricey for a sporting event in the way upper decks. The most expensive floor seat is at $3,315.90.

While these prices are down from Wrestlemania 42’s obvious price gouging and other recent PLEs, they are still high relatively speaking versus events before TKO fully took over.

In case you haven’t purchased gasoline lately, we’re averaging around $3.83 through 7/14/26 and possibly trending upward with recent escalations in the Middle East, again. In just a few days, the national average gained about 10 cents and we’re way above the $2.73 price seen earlier in the year before the war began.

And when gas prices are up, ANYTHING that is shipped by a truck goes up in price. This affects literally every company who receives a trucked shipment of something. In addition to truck fuel prices going up, so does jet fuel. Oil is used for many things other than transportation, such as plastics. Annual inflation was “cheered” today of being just 3.5%, but that was due gas prices dropping from being above $4 per the ceasefire and memorandum of understanding “deal” between the United States and Iran. Recent events seemed to have ended both, and now gas prices are going up again.

But consumers NEVER recovered from the previous gas price hikes since late February. And I’d further argue that consumers still haven’t got over the shocks from COVID-19 and then the insanely rising inflation from 2021-2023.

Right now, many economists suggest we have a “K-Shaped” economy. On the upper portion of the “K” are upper class individuals. If you look at statistics, they are doing just fine, as the past year generated the most millionaires created while 2026 appears to be creating the most billionaires on record if the current pace is maintained. 2026 also created the first ever trillionaire with Elon Musk. Statistically speaking, the upper 10% of wage earners account for roughly HALF of the consumption in the United States.

Meanwhile, the lower portion of the “K”… For many years within the past 6 years, consumers incomes or wages (many working part-time) were growing much less than the rate of inflation. The Minimum Wage on the national level hasn’t increased since 2009 at $7.25, so if you compare that to above $4 per gallon of gasoline, that sucks. You’re basically working almost 2 hours per gallon. Going deeper into the data, the personal savings rate is currently at 3.0% and historically speaking, anything under 5% usually precedes an economic recession because the consumer is tapped out. This coincides with elevated credit card delinquency rates, as consumers are not saving as much or are ringing up much more debt that ever to survive. Housing and apartment prices have skyrocketed for the past few years and make things unaffordable, in addition to the price gouging happening with piped gas and especially electricity.

Given the choice of attending a WWE event or a concert, versus feeding, clothing, and housing your family… Well, attending a high priced event goes by the wayside.

That said, not everything is specifically about price. Sorry, but I’d struggle to see many struggling concert acts above EVEN IF tickets were given to me for free. Time listening to J’Lo lip sync songs that she allegedly didn’t record is not worth my time, just as attending a WWE branded wrestling event might not be someone else’s cup of tea for free.

Which goes into the darker point #2 about SummerSlam 2026…

Yeah, we could get into this event struggling because it’s a 2-night event and NOT Wrestlemania. “Less is more” as I’ve always said and I just don’t see the demand to have Summerslam as 2 nights. The past few years of this experiment have proved that.

HOWEVER, it’s not just getting more WWE wrestling, but who is on the cards.

Go back to 2024… Roman Reigns was at the peak of his popularity. Seth Rollins would provide his peak performance through Wrestlemania 40 by performing in the tag match on night #1 and then still participating in night #2 despite a bad leg. CM Punk just arrived and was still on his post-AEW honeymoon with lots of anticipation. Cody Rhodes was still chasing the WWE title and trying to finish his family’s story. We got The Rock back and he was electrifying for the first time in years as the “final boss”.

How about 2026, 2 years later?

The Rock has disappointed by not doing any significant return appearances other than 1 PLE during late 2024, Netflix RAW, Smackdown in New Orleans, and then the Elimination Chamber 2025 PLE. However, the “final boss” was lost and we never completed the Bloodline storyline with him and Roman colliding. I think they’ll try it at Wrestlemania 43, but if you’ve seen Rocky lately, he’s seriously dropped like 75 pounds of muscle.

CM Punk has had a few good years on the main event scene, but Roman dispatched him at Wrestlemania 42. Despite the great match, Punk was moved to the Smackdown brand and that is clearly the lesser brand right now. He’ll need a big heel turn to freshed up his character, but Father Time remains undefeated.

Cody Rhodes just isn’t as exciting after he won the WWE world title during 2024. The chase is over. While he’s still a solid hand, there’s a lack of purpose and that’s been spelled out clearly by him headlining the lesser Smackdown brand.

I personally like Seth Rollins, but we’ve seen him do it all and with many variations of being a heel or babyface character. Tried many times as a World Champion, too, as he’s a 6-time World Champion. After Roman Reigns probably dispatches him at the poorly attended SummerSlam 2026, that could be it for him as he’s wrestled everybody on the roster multiple times.

And then we have Roman Reigns. He’s just not the same since he disappeared after Wrestlemania 40 and returned as a babyface. “Original Trible Chief” just isn’t as fun as a heel beating down everybody and demanding them to “acknowledge me”. Hence why the WWE reformed the Bloodline again.

On the 7/13/26 edition of Monday Night RAW, Paul Heyman seemed to walk away from the Vision group. Might this help pave the way for the “wiseman” to rejoin the Bloodline group? I think so…

If I were booking SummerSlam 2026, I’d have Heyman rejoin the Bloodline and the group just obliterate Seth Rollins and any babyface trying to save the day. Total heel beatdown of epic proportions and I’d have the Bloodline conduct many violent beatdowns of babyface wrestlers in the weeks that follows. Fully cement the Bloodline back into a heel group and let Paul Heyman’s creativity flow through the group to make them exciting again.

That is exactly what this reunited babyface Bloodline is lacking… Paul Heyman.

What we have through 2026 isn’t just TKO price gouging, but a WWE that has become veteran dependent and desiring to push Roman Reigns and Cody Rhodes HARD as babyfaces because they are both WME represented wrestlers. WME is controlled by Endeavor’s top brass, so hence why TKO is whispering to Triple H to push Roman and Cody strongly even if performed poorly or in a way that over-exposes both wrestlers. Meanwhile, any other wrestler is second fiddle and that includes any younger wrestlers. The lack of good trainers at the Performance Center (I’m looking at you, A-Train) and the TOTAL LACK OF PATIENCE with TKO’s executives and analytics has screwed the WWE’s future.

WWE through 2026 is too veteran dependent, but I’d argue veterans who have diminished as assets. Each of the above wrestlers have LOST something since 2024, while newer wrestlers like Bron Breakker, Jacob Fatu, and many others just aren’t gaining any momentum to sustain a top spot. I like Oba Femi, but him losing a return match to Brock Lesnar just didn’t sit well with me and killed momentum for him.

If WWE’s top guys are declining and WWE’s business is declining, especially in light of higher prices or a possible economic recession…

Many suggest that All Elite Wrestling (AEW) has a chance to catch WWE as a business, but with their lower ticket prices, they are struggling to regularly draw 4,000 for AEW Dynamite shows while nobody buys their merchandise and PPV numbers are sagging. All-In in London is doing weaker numbers than their previous 2 shows, and that’s AEW’s top show. Reality check is coming soon for AEW because their TV deal expires soon and Warner Bros. will be owned by the Ellisons/Paramount whom I believe wants to host WWE during 2029 after Netflix (I predict) opts out of WWE’s 10-year deal 5 years early. AEW could be without a cable/satellite and streaming home, which would serve as a massive potential nail in their coffin (if that were to happen).

One would think that wrestling fans would attend more AEW shows with lower ticket prices than WWE with higher ticket prices. That substitution effect has yet to happen, brother, because AEW literally has the same issue of being veteran dependent without any newer homegrown stars rising up to eventually take their spots.

What would I do if I were advising WWE or TKO?

Announce, effectively immediately, ticket prices are being slashed significantly. I don’t care if TKO just breaks even on live events when considering venue costs. They are getting so much money from TV deals, Saudi Arabia, sponsorships, and states/cities bribing them to appear there.

Secondly, TKO has to stop meddling. Give Triple H full control and breathing room.

Third, fix the developmental system. Replace the trainers on the male side of the ledger, specifically with guys who can work different styles, knows how to talk, and knows how to use psychology. Prince Albert worked as a big man who couldn’t talk. How can he train wrestlers to work other styles or talk? Makes ZERO SENSE why Triple H is loyal to that guy who is botching his developmental system.

Shrink all TV shows to be 2 hours maximum, never going above.

Nothing other than Wrestlemania goes for 2 nights.

Only North America or England should EVER host Royal Rumble, Wrestlemania, or SummerSlam. Those are protected and entitled for the fans who helped build WWE. I don’t care how much Saudi wants to pay you for both the Rumble ($100 million) and Wrestlemania ($250). WWE is pissing on loyal fans who loved traveling to the WWE’s top events.

Reduce creative team power of Bruce Prichard and Michael P.S. Hayes. I’ve seen enough of their older ways that it’s impacting some legitimately good wrestlers, like Chelsea Green. Retain them as agents for matches, though, where they still have value for coming up with creative finishes or structuring a matches. Bruce is a Vince McMahon mark, though, so I’d consider his removal anyway.

Instead of forcing loyal veterans to take a paycut, start training them to be road agents, creative team members, or other help backstage in addition to their part-time wrestling. Sheamus could have been useful backstage for younger wrestlers coming up or even at the Performance Center. Instead, you just let him walk.

Just like that, WWE could be improved and we wouldn’t be laughing at SummerSlam 2026’s poor attendance.

Mr. Tito Column Archive @ NoDQ

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And here we go again… TKO-owned WWE makes a cut or opts not to renew a contract, and the online fans go ballistic. Yet, after that brief outrage, said online fans KEEP WATCHING the WWE.

Reportedly, Sheamus’s deal was coming up to expire and TKO-owned WWE offered him an extension. Now, this wasn’t an extension to continue to current financial terms or to possibly increase his salary… Nope, it was a lesser deal, possibly the 50% less deal that others, such as the New Day, received. He said “no thanks” and now his contract will expire and WWE.com has already moved him to the alumni section.

Sheamus is 48 years old with over 2,000 matches on his body since debuting in 2002. While he’s 48 years old, he has 24 years of bumping inside the ring with 19 of them within WWE rings. On top of that, he’s dealing with spinal stenosis in his neck or the narrowing of the canal within your spine. I see some reports online suggesting that he’s making up to $1 million per year, so at 50%, $500,000 would be his new salary if consistent with other TKO offers.

If you look at his match stats, according to Cage Match, he’s wrestling under 30 matches per year but his wrestling output has really declined since 2018. He went from 145 matches per year to less than 50 for the past 3 years (less than 30 for the past 2), while not performing at all thus far for 2026.

The old adage of “creative had nothing for him” is being used, but what else can you do for a 48 year-old with spinal stenosis in his neck? Seriously, you tell me how he could be used. And don’t tell me he could do another one of those Gunther vs. Drew McIntyre vs. Sheamus matches where they physically beat each other because I guarantee that took a chunk out of the older Sheamus. Additionally, Sheamus is a 4-time champion… He’s already achieved glory.

Remember when he returned after injury last year and he was SLIGHTLY out-of-shape? The same online wrestling community who MOCKED the older Sheamus for being out-of-shape is attacking the TKO-owned WWE today for not giving him a bigger contract. OH THE HYPOCRISY!

It’s funny because only WWE receives this kind of attention from its fanbase regarding an older wrestler receiving LESS after his peak productive years. You don’t see that in the NBA, NFL, NHL, or MLB… Veteran players, past their prime BUT having something in their arsenal to still give, often take lower contracts to chase one more ring. Hell, it’s a skill and an art form for many professional sports clubs to TRADE a player while he’s in his peak just to avoid those past-his-prime years.

Right now, LeBron James who can be argued as either a top 15, top 10, or top 5 NBA player of all time (depends on how much you mark for him) is talking about joining a team for the league minimum. This guy was paid max contract money, yet nobody is going nuclear in the NBA because he’ll suddenly take less. Aaron Rodgers was the highest paid QB at Green Bay and made a fuss anytime he wasn’t (often receiving new contracts to make him paid even higher). Yet in New York and then in Pittsburgh, he took less… Nobody cried “poor Aaron”.

It’s just part of NBA, NFL, NHL, and MLB… When you’re skills diminish, and there are statistics and all-pro teams that help measure it, you receive less as a talent. The players are 100% OK with it because they’ve already had their peak earning years and the fans are OK because they still get to see a top talent trying to contribute somehow.

BUT NOT IN PRO WRESTLING! Wrestler salaries must keep going up and up and up and up no matter how old someone gets or how LESS AVAILABLE they become.

And that’s probably due to fans probably knowing there is NO retirement pension for the wrestlers in the TKO-owned WWE versus NFL, MLB, NHL, and NBA. PLUS, those football, baseball, hockey, or basketball stars get to KEEP THEIR NAME and make money off their own name. The TKO-owned WWE owns the name “Sheamus” and will likely keep it in case Sheamus dares to work for a competitor like AEW. That’s a bummer, as there should be a rule that if you work at least 15 years for a wrestling company, you get to own the name that you helped make.

I’m still wondering where the Sheamus fans have been for the past few years? You should be upset at WWE limiting his opportunities from over 100 matches through 2018 to under 50 through 2025.

Where are your receipts for buying Sheamus merchandise?

Where are your Social Media posts?

Where are your likes for any YouTube or Social Media post regarding Sheamus?

And remember, the TKO-owned WWE was offering him a new contract. They weren’t just releasing him, but they were offering him a new deal adequate for what he’s become. 48 year-old wrestler capable of providing about 30 matches per year. This is different than R-Truth because you actually saw R-Truth on television before he was released. Sheamus has been absent since November 2025 from any WWE television appearances thanks to shoulder surgery.

Look, it’s unfortunate… Sheamus put in 19 hard years into the WWE and HE SHOULD receive a pension + health insurance for his hard work. BUT, unfortunately, the top wrestlers in the company do NOT want unions nor do they ever want to challenge wrestlers joining the Actor’s Guild as Jesse Ventura suggested WWE talent do before Wrestlemania 2 in 1986.

WWE and wrestling in-general really lacks any transitional plans for wrestlers retiring from the ring and then becoming part of management, whether that’s a road agent, match producer, or joining the creative team. Many top stars such as Steve Austin, Mick Foley, Edge, etc. have retired without any company offering them to join creative teams. The Undertaker overseeing AAA is actually an exception rather than the rule. WWE has more non-wrestlers in its management structure than wrestlers.

I cannot control what wrestling is, and that’s a non-unionized workshop where wrestlers are treated like independent contractors for no benefits or pension. Further, they have to pay their own taxes, which involves needing accountants and sending payments themselves. Buying private health insurance is very expensive, so any wrestlers with families better have a spouse with a great plan at work or else a wrestler is paying dearly for a family insurance plan not stretched among the entire workplace.

I personally feel bad for Sheamus, but I also see that the TKO-owned WWE actually took care of him for the past few years. He worked less and got paid a lot of money for it. Sure, argue that it’s “back pay” for working more often during previous years and for less, but they still employed him for 19 years and gave him repeat raises. And they offered him a new contract instead of offering him nothing, as they have for many other wrestlers.

But I do want to emphasize where were all of these online fans before his contract was set to expire? What investments in time and money did you make to ensure that Sheamus was NOT released by the WWE?

Your outrage is just another way to scream at the TKO-owned WWE, as you cannot put the pipe down no matter how much they disappoint or price gouge you. How about this? Watch LESS of the TKO-owned WWE if it bothers you that match. OR, if there’s a wrestler that you actually like, buy their merchandise and help them remain in the TKO-owned WWE. Spend talking about the wrestler on Social Media and like/share everything you can. Hit the TKO-owned WWE in the analytics, baby.

Otherwise, your fake outrage sucks because it’s so sudden after not praising Sheamus’s under-50 match output for the past 3 years.

THIS stuff is why wrestling fans are so easily mocked and ridiculed, while also being taken advantage of by TKO. TKO knows that wrestling fans are NOT proactive but reactive. However, TKO also knows that each and every one of you are loyal to a fault. Despite how much you complain about every damn thing, they know that you’ll still spend 2-3 hours watching RAW on Monday (even though it sucks) and you’ll pay up for any WWE related content (even though TKO loves to price gouge).

If Sheamus getting lowballed by the TKO-owned WWE pisses you off so much, then cut back on your TKO-owned WWE consumption. SIMPLE…

To me, WWE hasn’t been as good as it was through early 2024… Post Wrestlemania 40 has been BLAH to me, so I’ve consumed LESS of its product. And that’s on top of me converting from watching RAW and Smackdown during the mid 2010s to catching YouTube clips or watching condensed versions on Hulu (though I gave up Hulu). I attend fewer shows, haven’t bought much merchandise.

VOTE with your wallet and your time.

So, if Sheamus getting a lowball offer pissed you off, then cut back. Teach that TKO-owned WWE a lesson. And if many of you cutback on your consumption, it will rock WWE’s numbers and they’ll begin listening.

But then, the TKO-owned WWE will somehow let you down on something else in the future. Rinse & repeat. And you’ll still be watching and financially supporting the TKO-owned WWE.

Last year, you body shamed Sheamus for being slightly out-of-shape following an injury. Now, you’re mad that WWE is letting him go.

Mr. Tito Column Archive @ NoDQ

The post MR. TITO: Phony Outrage by Online Wrestling Fans About Sheamus… Why Didn’t You Support Him Before He Left WWE? appeared first on NoDQ.com: WWE and AEW Coverage.

BUT, to a degree, as I wrote in my last column, wrestlers like Sami Zayn, Jey Uso, Christian, and even Chris Benoit won their World Titles as “lifetime achievement” awards. It’s the company rewarding hard work and providing a “THANK YOU” for their efforts and showing loyalty. As Virtue said on the recent NoDQ Review show, it’s a way to allow loyal and dependable wrestlers to advertise themselves as a “former world champion” at appearances and autograph signings. On the “lifetime achievement” criticism, I agree with Russo…

HOWEVER, I disagree that it’s a “joke” to have Sami Zayn as champion. While I’d prefer wrestlers with much more star power, such as CM Punk or Roman Reigns, I’d argue that WWE has had MUCH WORSE champions holding their World Championships since 2010. For every deserving champion, there exists multiple wrestlers who were total experiments, riding short-term fan momentum, or were desired by Vince McMahon to be champion. If you look back to the year 2010, Sami Zayn and Jey Uso were FAR MORE deserving than many other champions.

Don’t believe me? Then fine, let’s rank ALL WWE World Champions since the beginning of 2010. The criteria is simple… Did they deserve the world title? And when they got the world title, did they do anything great as champion? And hell, do we even remember their title reign or consider it worthwhile to their career?

Simple format for this 4th of July spectacular column. Oh, you don’t like me celebrating my patriotism today? Well, then you should TURN OFF that pro wrestling promotion that you’re enjoying. WWE, TNA, and AEW are each American made products that other countries are importing or emulating. So yeah, you should celebrate the 250th birthday of this great nation for allowing us to share its culture with you.

Let’s jump into it.

40) Jinder Mahal
Worst WWE World Champion, ever. I don’t know what was going on with the WWE during 2017, but I want my money back! Jinder lost often between 2016 and 2017 on RAW, but when he’s swapped to the Smackdown roster, he’s immediately rushed to the Main Event, defeats Randy Orton, and then holds the title all Summer long. He was supposed to wrestle Brock Lesnar later that year when Brock reportedly intervened and wanted to wrestle someone else. That gave AJ Styles a tremendous opportunity!

39) Jack Swagger
He is only this low due to timing… Had size, had ability… Just pushed way too early as an unknown to the top and WWE kept trying. He could have been ready later with the “we the people” gimmick, but WWE cooled that gimmick down and then eventually let him go. He’s only this low because he was pushed too fast and too soon, and thus it ruined his career.

38) The Miz
I liked his later World Title run and felt it was a deserving “lifetime achievement award”, but what was that 2010-2011 title reign? Just wasn’t title worthy and felt like a midcarder in a world champion’s role. Personally, I’m getting less offended by the 2010-2011 title run, with age, because I kind of like older Miz and what he’s grown up into as a steady WWE hand and family man. He’s a good dude and has done a lot for WWE during his long tenure.

37) Finn Balor
Rushed to the World Title from NXT and then got injured. Main roster WWE fans were just baffled at how fast he was pushed to the top.

36) Alberto Del Rio
Another “pushed too fast and too early” wrestler… He did have the intangibles of charisma, look, in-ring ability, and character, but Vince wanted him champion NOW and even hijacked the “Summer of Punk” to make it happen. Then the personal problems started happening… If they were just a little more patient with him and policed him personally, he could have been a massive star. Major “what if” story right here.

35) Dolph Ziggler
Dolph does NOT deserve to be this low. Damn concussion right after his awesome post-Wrestlemania cash-in! And sadly, WWE didn’t believe in him at the top after that.

34) Braun Strowman
Looks like the role you want at the top, but not always consistent in the ring while also lacking maturity as well. With better backstage mentors and trainers, he could have been bigger.

33) Sheamus
Another “pushed too soon and too early” guy, and he benefitted from being Triple H’s workout buddy. Tried several times during the 2010s to get him to the top. Should have been more patient and he could have been a bigger star.

32) Damian Priest
Talent and look are there, but drawing power from charisma, mic skills, and personality are not. He had a solid run as champion and legitimately tried, but it was just a mistake to make him champion without the fan momentum to get him there.

31) Kofi Kingston
Short-term fan momentum and to his credit, he was a fighting champion. But, WWE flipped him from a tag team wrestler to a main eventer overnight. Love his title win at Wrestlemania, though, against Daniel Bryan as Bryan really turned up the heat and gave him an incredible match. Sad what Brock Lesnar did to him on the first FOX Smackdown, but I could see the argument that rushing Kofi to the title out of the tag division was a mistake to be corrected. Still, I’m personally happy for him and am OK with the “lifetime achievement” award.

30) Big E Langston
Kind of rushed to the title and I thought it was a big mistake to exclude him from New Day. He should have remained with the group and been a World Champion as a New Day member versus avoiding the group. I’m still sad that he got injured and we’ll never know if he could have had more title reigns that were better.

29) Jey Uso
Lifetime achievement award, for sure. Deserved it after years of great tag wrestling and being a massive component to the Bloodline angle from 2020 through 2023. He was getting seriously over during late 2024 and became the #1 merchandise seller. So, they made him champion during 2025. I agree with the lifetime achievement award, but disagree with him defeating Gunther for it.

28) Sami Zayn
Lifetime achievement award, but I’d argue Sami has given more main event moments than Jey so hence the higher spot. Massive contributions made to the WWE that I can make a case for rewarding.

25) Christian
Lifetime achievement award for a great WWE career, but also proving he could get over elsewhere. Hence why I think he deserves some additional recognition.

24) Big Show
Last title run for a veteran wrestler with better prior title runs.

23) Kane
Last title run for a veteran wrestler with better prior title runs.

22) Mark Henry
LOVED what he matured into as a wrestler, deserved more honestly. Once he got the attitude and the theme music, he figured it all out but possibly too late.

21) Rey Mysterio Jr.
Two separate title wins since 2010, one of which was that bad title vacancy. Has a prior World Title that matters more.

20) Batista
Last title run for a veteran wrestler with better prior title runs. Batista was great and had a fine 5-year run through 2010.

19) Chris Jericho
Last title run for a veteran wrestler with better title runs. Crazy thing about Jericho is that he’s still doing this and was AEW champion during 2019-2020. Best reinventor of all time!

18) Dean Ambrose (now Jon Moxley)
Deserved much better in the WWE, but was happy that he got his World Title run. Then he goes and proves WWE wrong by having a solid career in AEW.

17) Bray Wyatt/The Fiend
RIP Windham Rotunda. Loved the Bray Wyatt character, but his title runs were murky but out of his control at times (like Goldberg defeating him). Still, I didn’t like the Fiend character and would have preferred he remain as Bray.

16) Bobby Lashley
Good champion and looked great with the Hurt Business stable surrounding him.

15) Triple H
Came in briefly to give Roman Reigns an opponent at Wrestlemania. Good little run and storyline for HHH.

14) Kevin Owens
Always solid… While maybe missing the look of a champion, his work is consistent and dependable. That, and he’s tremendous on the mic to sell the match before it happens.

13) Randy Orton
Always dependable and remains a star, but some bad title runs here such as 2013-2014 and 2017. I just cringe at those runs and the storylines surrounding them.

12) Drew McIntyre
Great wrestler and great champion, but deserved longer reigns. Victim of the damn COVID year, too, as he beat Lesnar during Wrestlemania during 2020.

11) Edge
Retired as World Champion. Crazy that it has been over 15 years ago now, and it was a retirement due to a bad neck. Then, Edge came back during 2020 and is still working!

10) AJ Styles
LOVED AJ Styles’s WWE run, but he did his job as champion for late 2016 and late 2017. This man wrestled his arse off, every time.

9) The Rock
Rock was a World Champion in the past 17 years, remember that? Defeated CM Punk to wrestle John Cena for the WWE Title at Wrestlemania during 2013. Big put over job for Cena, returning the prior year’s favor which I respect and appreciate. Rock gutted out a bad injury in that match, too.

8) Gunther
Better IC Champ than a World Champ, in my opinion. WWE just can’t get Gunther right at the main event.

7) Seth Rollins
Has many title reigns with many personas. Always dependable and reliable, can draw as a face or as a heel. Multi-dimensional wrestler. I just wish WWE didn’t ban his Curb Stomp during 2015 after he wins the title with that very move.

6) Daniel Bryan
Damn WWE Creative on this one… He deserved better treatment, but made the most with what he had. Wrestlemania 30 was great for him, but I liked his heel title run in which he put over Kofi the most. Did great business there and made Kofi look like a star. SummerSlam 2013 should have been a launching pad, but then it wasn’t thanks to WWE wanting Orton vs. Batista at WM 30. Ooops, we, the fans, disagreed.

5) CM Punk
After falling prey to the Money in the Bank nonsense, his 2011 win over John Cena at MITB is one of the best WWE matches in their history. Punk would then hold the WWE Title for a year and then return during late 2023 to be vindicated with a few additional World Title runs. Punk’s match with Roman Reigns at WM 42 should be commended.

4) Cody Rhodes
Two massive title wins with one over Roman at WM 40 and then defeating John Cena at SummerSlam 2025. Those are massive all-time great title wins and he carries himself well as champion. Go Cody!

3) John Cena
You forget from 2014 through 2024, no World Titles… BUT, before 2014 and then during 2025, several great title runs. However, the magic with Cena isn’t the 17 times that he won the title, but for the past 17 years, who he has put over with a World Title on the line. CM Punk, Daniel Bryan, and Cody Rhodes, for example… And he’s put over many other wrestlers without a title on the line, as well. Cena is truly one of the biggest wrestlers of all time, but his generosity is what makes him great. Cena made stars. LOVE his match against AJ Styles at SummerSlam!

2) Brock Lesnar
Think about how BAD 2010s WWE would be without Brock Lesnar as a box office attraction. Seriously… He CARRIED WWE on his back during the WWE Network Era. Dominant champion, multiple times… Always a massive draw.

1) Roman Reigns
Let’s ignore the bad 2010s where he became a John Cena wannabe. 2020s featured Roman as a heel, under the influence of Paul Heyman, and he was an exceptional and dominant champion from 2020 through 2024. Cody Rhodes is higher on this list because he was the one who defeated Roman and ended the long reign. Sadly, WWE couldn’t reward this great reign with a satisfying victory of the Rock, at least not yet. Regardless of whatever else Roman does in his career, his 2020-2024 is ALL TIME GREAT.

*****

LAST WORD: Think about this for a second, folks… 40 separate wrestlers were World Champions since 2010. That is CRAZY and in my opinion, I’d probably cut off at #29 as that bottom 11 features wrestlers who were either rushed to the title or maybe should have become champion. Thus, in my opinion, where was Vince Russo when each of those wrestlers won titles? Jinder Mahal, Jack Swagger, The Miz… Come on, Vinnie Roo, where’s your opinions on those much weaker champions in comparison to Sami Zayn who I’d argue legitimately drew money when involved in big matches or big feuds? Come on, bro!

At least Sami Zayn didn’t win his WWE Title in a match where his opponent laid down on purpose and then afterward, Sami cut a promo saying “that’s why this company’s in the damn shape it’s in, because of BS like this!” like we saw Hulk Hogan cut during WCW Bash at the Beach 2000.

Personally for me, I’d probably cutoff at 18, as you had several late title runs by veterans. I can understand the top 18 being champions since 2010.

40 wrestler in 17 years being World Champion is just too much, especially with positions 40 through 30 either not deserving the World Title, was rushed after debut, or went from midcarder to main eventer too quickly without justification. Lots of BAD booking that ruined many great champions from having better reigns or additional quality reigns, too.

Hope you enjoyed this review… Goes to show you that WWE has had many weak world champions and many of you wrestling fans are just hating too much on Jey and Sami. Those two did more for wrestling than many other world champions tried.

Mr. Tito Column Archive @ NoDQ

The post MR. TITO: Ranking WWE World Champions Since 2010 – Where Does Sami Zayn and Jey Uso’s Reigns Rank Among Them? appeared first on NoDQ.com: WWE and AEW Coverage.

Working within or alongside many corporate structures, I understand the crowning of Sami Zayn. He’s a company man who worked hard, obedient to the cause, and has multiple standout moments where he went above and beyond. I could argue the same about Jey Uso in the WWE as well, along with Darby Allin in AEW becoming their World Champion recently. Sami, Jey, and Darby put in the time and effort to deserve a reward. That’s what you also try to achieve in the corporate setting, although there’s a difference between a reward and an acknowledgement versus a permanent promotion to a higher role in the company.

As wrestling fans, our expectations are often through-the-roof and we demand absolute quality from wrestling promotions. On their end, wrestling promoters are working 7 days a week and 15 hours a day to help satisfy our expectations. It often doesn’t match, but there are times when promoters listen to fans too closely and translate short-term momentum into what they think are long-term gains. However, once the title is achieved for a particular performer, it is soon realized that achieving the title was their peak. The very best wrestlers have peak moments AFTER they become World Champion. For example, look at Stone Cold Steve Austin from Wrestlemania 14 in 1998 through just before he left at Survivor Series 1999. Austin grew infinitely as a star after becoming world champion.

Title belts are where my expectations are a bit higher. To me, being world champion means that you’re “exceptional” and are justified being in the Main Event of multiple consecutive wrestling cards. Your name at the top of a live show, PPV/PLE, or on a television show is what draws people into wrestling. Having the World Title means that at the moment, you’re the absolute best not just right now, but moving forward as well until another guy becomes at least your equal (if not better). I realize there are people like Vince Russo and others who call championships as “play titles” or something to that effect, but who is on TOP of a wrestling card matters. While the midcard has its own moments, you endure a 2-4 hour show because of the LAST MATCH which often features the World Heavyweight Champion.

In my opinion, Sami Zayn will hold the WWE Title for a short period of time. He’s a great hand, always capable of putting on great matches, and is a great character. But, what he’s lacking are those drawing intangibles of feeling “larger than life” that draws people inward for a promotion. His lifelong chase is over, so what else is there to do for Sami Zayn? Honestly, I get that feeling often with Cody Rhodes though I think that Cody has more “larger than life” context to him, thanks to the Rhodes legacy, but not by much versus Sami. I’ve been somewhat lukewarm on Cody since Wrestlemania 40, as his personal chase is over and he’s satisfied his “story” of the Rhodes family wanting to achieve the WWE Title. However, Cody is at least a solid and dependable babyface who has kept stable numbers as champion.

Jey Uso is a complicated story because in my opinion, he was a BIG part of the Bloodline storyline especially during its infancy. Without Jey pulling out great matches out of Roman during 2020, the Bloodline storyline is off to a slow start. Yet, Jey sold being Roman’s cousin and was emotionally questioning why Roman changed his ways. Then, when Sami Zayn joined the group, it was Jey Uso who went through different levels of emotions about Zayn’s addition. In my mind, Jey Uso separated himself from his brother Jimmy Uso as a wrestler because unlike Jimmy, Jey developed a character and uses his charisma to the fullest.

2025 is always a hot debate, especially at Royal Rumble 2025 and then Wrestlemania 41. There, Jey won the Rumble match and then went on to defeat Gunther to become World Champion. Through late 2024, Jey Uso was the #1 merchandise seller and had live crowds pumped with his entrances. That seemed like “main event” momentum, but as you saw on WWE Unreal, there were questions by the WWE Creative Team about his confidence and performance ability in that top spot. Then, you’d watch matches after he became champion and they were struggles to get through, even including several botches that online fans still laugh about to this day. Jey definitely peaked as world champion at WM 41 and just didn’t quite have anything to offer afterward. He’s back in the midcard.

Darby Allin is one of the “Four Pillars” of All Elite Wrestling (AEW), or in other words, one of the 4 wrestlers considered “homegrown” by AEW even though each of them were working for other promotions before AEW. But, being within those pillars means that AEW was each of these wrestler’s big national breaks. In addition to Darby, MJF, Sammy Guevara, and Jack Perry are wrestlers that the WWE or TNA promotions have not used before on a national stage.

Look, I’m not going to bash Darby’s contributions to AEW. In my opinion, he’s a valid draw for the promotion and has provided many exciting moments. That said, many of the “exciting” moments involve very dangerous stunts that could have badly injured him or worse. Thankfully, he’s still operational through 2026 and to me, he’s AEW’s version of Rey Mysterio Jr. Exciting smaller wrestler who brings an extra level of excitement to matches. Of course with Rey Mysterio, he’s safely wrestled at a high level for 30 years now. I don’t believe we’ll be seeing a 30 year career for Darby, but I hope to be pleasantly surprised in the future.

Like Rey Mysterio, I disagree about making Darby a “World Heavyweight Champion”. Darby Allin is billed as 5’8” and 180 pounds. There’s a reason why amateur wrestling, amateur and pro boxing, and mixed martial arts (MMA) have weight classes. Size and strength matter in combat sports. Now, with pro wrestling, rules are different and the use of foreign objects, distractions, holding tights, feet on the ropes, an excited referee counting too fast, or other fluke situations can counter that. And that’s how Darby, along with Rey Mysterio, can become champion.

With Darby, aside from his insane stunts, what is “larger than life” about him? After seeing many dangerous stunts, the allure to see another dangerous stunt creates a feeling of being desensitized with fans. If you’ve been a fan since the late 1990s, you remember that feeling of seeing wrestlers going through tables occasionally back then but now it’s almost in every match during the 2020s especially during the WWE vs. AEW “war”. Darby on the top of the card isn’t a strong draw for live shows, TV shows, or Pay Per Views because he’s very dependent on his stuntwork. That totally contrasts with the World Champion he defeated, MJF, who does more to sell a match with his personality, charisma, and mic work before the match even begins. MJF doesn’t have to shock fans in attendance with dangerous stunts because his character already has the fans’ attention before the match even begins.

But again, I’m not here to bash the decisions of making Darby Allin, Sami Zayn, or Jey Uso as World Champions. I’m a believer that hard work and effort deserves reward. Each of these 3 men have made significant contributions to their respective promotions and said promotions wanted to give them a reward. In the case of Allin and Uso, those rewards were temporary and their World Title reigns ended quickly. I expect the same with Sami Zayn.

Does these “lifetime achievement awards” or “participation trophies” cheapen the respective World Titles?

It’s a great question… What made the WWE boom with growth from late 2020 through early 2024 was pushing a very strong World Champion with Roman Reigns. THIS HEEL Roman Reigns was produced and written by Paul Heyman who groomed Roman into an absolute star and someone worthy to hold championship gold for over 3 straight years. This version of Roman, backed by Heyman and the Bloodline, drew people in thanks to its aura and the wonder of who could actually defeat this group. The draw was the “sense of urgency” to beat not just a man, but a machine and this is literally the same idea behind what made New World Order great (go through the group to get to Hogan) and the Four Horsemen great (go through the group to get to Flair).

Since Wrestlemania 40, we’ve had Cody Rhodes as WWE Champion and he held it for an entire year. I thought that reign was kind of weak, though the wrestler availability question comes into play with Roman and Rock disappearing after WM 40. I thought John Cena did great as WWE Champion and made for a great 2025 year as champion. His match with Cody at SummerSlam 2025 erased their low energy effort at Wrestlemania 41. Since then, Cody has lost the title twice in 10 months to Drew McIntyre and now Sami Zayn. Though I’m happy for Drew and Sami, while always happy for Cody… I’m just not feeling the excitement that was there for a dominant heel group protecting Roman.

Kind of like how I’m NOT feeling the excitement for the BABYFACE version of the Bloodline reforming around a BABYFACE Roman Reigns. It’s not the same because the “sense of urgency” to take down the Bloodline isn’t there. I’d re-add Paul Heyman and turn the Bloodline HEEL immediately if I were in charge of WWE Creative. Show no mercy in whatever epic beatdowns could occur to re-establish them as heels, make the group more violent and blood thirsty than ever.

However, the WWE Title is just part of the WWE… Yeah, we’re still in the Brand Extension World, so we have 2 titles to help dilute what a World Title should be in terms of drawing power.

The World Heavyweight Championship returned to the WWE, as it was made-up during 2023 just as the prior version was made-up during 2002 during that brand extension. We have 2 brands, let’s create a second title… In the case of the 2023’s creation, RAW created it because Roman took a lot of time off back then and often avoided RAW. In just 3 years, the title has changed 10 times. If that isn’t a sign of bad booking and bad championship experimentation, I don’t know what is.

Jey Uso’s world championship reign is with this very title. Now, I don’t want to keep harping on Jey Uso’s 2025 reign, but it was preceded by Damian Priest before him (Gunther would win his first World Title by defeating Priest, then Jey Uso defeated Gunther). Sorry, but Priest DID NOT deserve the World Title. Unlike Jey, we don’t have data, crowd reactions, or merchandise sales to validate pushing Priest to the title. He was just a solid worker and personal developmental project of Triple H, likely making him champion to help justify past NXT and Performance Center decisions. Priest was NOT a good champion and is yet another victim of the Money in the Bank cheap cash-in.

That’s WWE’s other problem… For the past 16-17 years, in addition to giving “lifetime achievement” or “participation trophy” awards, they’ve REPEATEDLY got it wrong on their World Champion selections. They either crown someone who is just good at chasing or being entirely wrong.

Let’s go through them once again…

Jack Swagger

The Miz

Jinder Mahal

Initial reigns of CM Punk before 2011

Initial reign of Daniel Bryan before 2013

Roman Reigns before 2020

Alberto Del Rio

Dolph Ziggler

Finn Balor

Kofi Kingston

Braun Strowman

Big E Langston

In my view, guys like Kevin Owens and Bray Wyatt deserved it for temporarily hitting that “exceptional level” on top while Bobby Lashley’s role with his stable justified him as champion. Some of Seth Rollins’s reigns were a tad weak, especially that 2015 run, but I don’t 100% place it on him. For example, he becomes champion at Wrestlemania 31 and then they censor him from doing the Curb Stomp. Seth is consistently good overall.

These other guys, though, were either in the WWE for a brief period of time and then rushed to the World Title or were just lacking of that Main Event presence. Jack Swagger had no business being champion early in his WWE career and he was hampered by that early push. Alberto Del Rio was over in Vince McMahon’s mind, but interjecting him into 2011’s “Summer of Punk” was such a major mistake. Kofi Kingston and Big E gets into that same realm as Jey or Sami as rewards for efforts and success within the New Day, but neither man flourished after they became champion.

WWE tried so hard with Braun Strowman and he had the look and strength to pull it off… But there’s a reason why he looked less than an alpha versus Brock Lesnar because he couldn’t protect another wrestler inside the ring. With Braun, though, WWE often moved on but they NEVER moved on with Roman Reigns and kept shoving that babyface character down our throats. Guy by the name of “Trae” on X/Twitter made the incredible point that the Rock did “long-term harm to wrestling” by performing well DESPITE terrible written material handed to him by Vince McMahon’s creative team. To that extent, I’d also argue that John Cena also made lemonade out of Vince McMahon’s lemons (not his nards, but his bad writing) that everything was totally exposed when Roman repeatedly stumbled over the scripted lines. “Suffering succotash!”

Jinder Mahal had a massive losing record on RAW but when he moved to Smackdown, he was instantly pushed as a main eventer and won the World Title immediately. Sorry, but he shouldn’t have sniffed the World Title, let alone holding it for many months. Miz is a solid midcard character, but World Champion? Now, I think WWE could push him now as an experienced hand (even though he’s always involved with celebrity matches), but back during 2010 and 2011, I don’t think so. Feel the same way about Finn Balor… A solid midcarder and someone who needs to paint-up his entire body to feel “larger than life”. Dolph Ziggler is a tough one for me, as the in-ring talent has always been there but I think the presentation of his character, both himself with his own intangibles (or lack thereof) and WWE Creative’s use of him could be called into question. Who knows, maybe we missed the BIG World Title reign from Ziggler due to him getting concussed immediately after winning his World Title?

Let me add to this point… The Money in the Bank briefcase cash-in SUCKS and should be banned from ever being cashed in during or after a match. The same reason why we HATED the 24/7 title shares the same feelings on the MITB briefcase. It is total BS that a current match can be interrupted by a cash-in to create a Triple Threat or that a defending champion, who just went through 20-30 minutes of absolute hell to defend their title, has to instantly wrestle another match. This SUCKED as an idea for Wrestlemania 9, so why are we REPEATEDLY doing this STUPID idea for over 33 years afterward? Seriously, Wrestlemania 9 is considered the WORST Wrestlemania not just because of the lack of good matches, but that ending SUCKS so bad with Hogan instantly being able to challenge Yokozuna to a match after he defeated Bret Hart for the WWE Title.

“Those who do not remember history are condemned to repeat it” -George Santayana

IN MY OPINION, WWE has crowned WORSE champions than Jey Uso and Sami Zayn… At least with Jey and Sami, I understand it as “lifetime achievement” awards. Jey and Sami have had long careers, many great matches, and contributed significantly to the WWE’s biggest storyline.

BUT, I’ve also seen Sami Zayn wrestle the cast from Jackass. Though he gave an amazing effort to get that match over and I totally commend him for it, the point is that Sami let himself be defeated by Johnny Knoxville in a wrestling match. Jey Uso couldn’t get a good match out of his brother Jimmy, which is possibly the only weak link in the Wrestlemania 40 event. That match was just AWFUL, as fans were baffled at how 2 brothers couldn’t somehow put on at least a decent match with each other like the Hardys could.

With Darby Allin, he’s an honest standout amongst the AEW roster despite his lack of size. Aside form MJF, Jon Moxley, and several veterans who have joined AEW as free agents, they have a bunch of similar working and performing wrestlers. His style at least stands out and gets noticed… His pond doesn’t have the much larger fish compared to the pond where Jey Uso and Sami Zayn swim. Hence why you didn’t see me write a column bashing Darby Allin’s title victory… Honestly, he kind of deserved it when compared to most of the AEW roster as a fish in a smaller pond versus WWE’s bigger pond with much larger fish.

I totally get why Jey Uso and Sami Zayn have won world titles… They put in the effort, provided many great moments, and got over. Now, are they “exceptional” to be worthy as champions and to NOT just peak when winning the title? It didn’t happen with Jey, as WWE quickly returned the title back to Gunther, and I’m predicting a brief title reign with Sami. I’m happy for him, but I think this is his peak moment and there isn’t anything to achieve further nor do I believe he has that drawing power to magnetically draw in more fans as champion. I seriously hope that Zayn proves me wrong, though.

With Zayn winning the title right now and possibly having a short-term title reign, we now know that Wrestlemania 43 will no longer be about Sami Zayn “achieving his dreams” of becoming a world champion. GOOD, because Wrestlemania needs to be reserved for putting over absolute top drawing stars with one of them being worthy of winning the Royal Rumble. Think about Wrestlemania 42 and what somehow sold over 50,000 tickets DESPITE absurd levels of price gouging by WWE and the city of Las Vegas. CM Punk as World Champion with Roman Reigns winning the Rumble match. THAT is the kind of match that should headline any Wrestlemania or at the very least be in a World Title match on that show.

For some of the wrestlers mentioned today, such as Finn Balor and Darby Allin… Why can’t any wrestling promotion have a successful Lightweight or Cruiserweight division? Everybody has to wrestle as a heavyweight these days… Through 2026, everybody mocks Eric Bischoff for choking on his WCW promotion but his Cruiserweight Division from 1996-1998 was incredible and gave birth to many top tier stars who wouldn’t get a shot otherwise. Create a Lightweight/Cruiserweight division and take it seriously… If horribly run Boxing and MMA promotions can get weight classes over, so can pro wrestling.

So yeah, World Titles should be granted to the absolute best performers in your wrestling promotion who can draw BEYOND the chase to the title.

Every GREAT world champion peaked AFTER they became champ, not when they became champ.

Do you smell what I’m cooking?

Hulk Hogan wins the WWE Title in 1984 and exponentially grows the business. Macho Man wins the title in 1988 and draws houses while Hogan is off filming No Holds Barred, brother, and then continued to draw strongly throughout the 1990s with many more title reigns. Austin wins and did nothing but grow the business. Rock wins and just got better and better as champion with his feuds with Foley and Austin. Look at Triple H’s ridiculous 2000 year! Cena got better with age and his many title reigns.

Then, look at other reigns… Bret Hart wins the WWE title in 1992, but many consider his 1992-1993 reign to be weak. Maybe his 1994 one, too, though I loved that Backlund feud. Bret, though, was a total badass as champion in 1997 and I’d argue he began WWE’s rebound to the top. His dance partner, Shawn Michaels totally hit a peak by winning the WWE Title at Wrestlemania 12 and was a weak babyface champion. However, Shawn returned with a vengeance in 1997 as a heel and also contributed to WWE’s 1997 rebound. The Undertaker was rushed to the title in 1991 and I didn’t think much of his 1997 run… But damn, many revolutions of his character, he had like 25 more years and memories still in him! Those 3 are examples of situations where the chase could have been the peak but then boom, the changed their characters and created additional drawing power.

Ultimate Warrior definitely peaked at Wrestlemania 6. Total chaser, but not a long-term solution.

Sgt. Slaughter was a “lifetime achievement” award winning champion and an Iraqi sympathizing character, too, and that’s why WWE’s business SUCKED during 1991.

Diesel (Kevin Nash) is an example of rushing someone to the title early before their peak.

Thankfully, Triple H was punished for the “Curtain Call” incident of 1996 or else maybe he would have been rushed to the spotlight too early. Turns out, the extra 2-3 years of midcard seasoning was 100% what his career needed.

Kurt Angle and Brock Lesnar were probably rushed too early to the World Title, but both men were absolute freaks. However, I’d argue that early success may have ruined both men’s long-term prospects and both were gone from the WWE by 2006.

Chris Jericho, through early 2001, felt like a “peaking from winning title”, but the man creatively reinvents himself often and keeps you wanting more. There’s a reason he was the first AEW champion and he set that promotion onward to a successful path since 2019.

Chris Benoit was a “lifetime achievement” award as a crowned champion, while Eddie Guerrero was a “peak when winning title” moment. They celebrated together at Wrestlemania 20 but after SummerSlam 2004, neither man was champ and they were midcarders until both men ultimately passed soon thereafter.

Randy Orton is clearly as a rush-to-the-title early guy and I don’t believe he’s ever recovered from that. WWE could just never get his character right or ready to be champion, despite trying many many times.

CM Punk and Daniel Bryan were victims of cash-ins of the MITB briefcase, but later had more justified World Title wins with many peak years afterward.

I always thought Christian’s WWE World Titles were in “lifetime achievement” mode. Good for him and for the way he put his body on the line for WWE, well deserved. This guy is similar to Jey Uso and Sami Zayn. In contrast, Edge had that extra gear and could pivot his characters as needed.

John Cena and Batista, in my opinion, were built perfectly and went on to stellar careers to keep growing in their top spots. Coincidentally, both were crowned champions at Wrestlemania 21 and helped stop the freefall of business decline WWE saw from 2000-2004. Their chases were perfect but both men had more to offer as champions thanks to their drawing abilities and great match capabilities in big spots.

Hopefully, all of this makes sense…

And I think getting a title shot, having a great spot on a big PLE/PPV card, or having a LONG career with any wrestling promotion is a reward in itself. You don’t need a World Title to be “great”, as WWE’s Hall of Fame has many wrestlers who never won that Championship.

Arn Anderson always brags about how much money he made despite mostly being a midcarder for his entire career. Yet, many fans consider Arn to be an all-time great despite only holding tag team and midcard titles. Arn, however, got to occasionally taste that main event spotlight and work with some of the all-time greats. On one edition of WCW Monday Nitro, I remember Arn Anderson pinning Hulk Hogan!

Same idea in sports… Many place an emphasis on winning the championship, yet what is overlooked is actually making the championship game. It’s HARD WORK just to have a winning season, let along making playoffs and then beating the very best to win a title. Often, too, it’s a team sport where injuries can create impact. Charles Barkley is arguably a top 25 NBA player of all time and he only made it to the NBA Finals one time. Yet, his peers know how good he was and now, he gets to articulate how his basketball knowledge with ease on the Inside the NBA broadcasts. Dan Marino was a total stud as a Quarterback but he only made the Super Bowl just once.

Your ENTIRE CAREER defines you, not just a brief moment of being on top.

That’s what I’m trying to tell you, folks… If Jey Uso or Sami Zayn retired WITHOUT winning a World Title, they’d be forever remembered for their contributions. They have many great 4 to 5 star matches that often replayed by fans in addition to storyline moments that you can enjoy a quick “bump” on YouTube as needed. Both men have had AMAZING careers.

BUT, we have to save those World Titles for THE exceptional wrestlers who can draw television viewers, PLE streaming subscriptions, PPV buys, or butts physically in an arena or stadium simply by being on top of the card. The World Title is a representation of being the very best in a profession both in the short-term and for the long-term.

In business, doing a major change in the short-term and then correcting it shortly thereafter is usually seen as a mistake. For example, if your company promotes someone to be a executive and then you terminate them or quickly change their duties.

Giving someone the World Title at Wrestlemania 41 and then having them in a random 6-man match at Wrestlemania 42 is seen, easily, as “correcting a mistake”. That was Jey Uso, who is now rehashing his Bloodline character. Kofi Kingston winning the WWE Title at Wrestlemania and then getting murdered on the first FOX Smackdown during 2019 was “correcting a mistake”.

It just doesn’t look strong for a promotion to randomly hand out World Title reigns and then have a snap judgment afterward. That includes these “lifetime achievement” award winners, wrestlers whose peak is winning the actual title, or wrestlers who just weren’t worthy of the company’s top recognition.

Right now, it’s up to Sami Zayn to prove everyone wrong and change the narrative if he grows into an even more powerful wrestler as champion versus peaking when becoming champion. I will gladly admit to being wrong if he creates exceptional business for the WWE as champion.

History is on my side, brother… I’ve seen this before.

At this moment, though, I’m happy personally for Sami Zayn… Good for him on placing a “cherry on the top” of a great WWE career.

Mr. Tito Column Archive @ NoDQ

The post MR. TITO: Should WWE or AEW Use World Titles as Lifetime Achievement Awards or Participation Trophies? appeared first on NoDQ.com: WWE and AEW Coverage.

In Piper’s book, he explained that if Hulk Hogan defeated him during their WWE run together, it was OVER for his career in the WWE. Once Hogan scored the pin over Piper, then Hogan would move on and Piper was out of the main event picture. This happened to several wrestlers such as Paul Orndorff, Iron Sheik, King Kong Bundy, etc., with the exception being Andre the Giant because they drew a ridiculous amount of money together. Piper gave an example of how WWE was pushing Hogan too strong to the moon, as he and Mr. T swept away in a limo after Wrestlemania 1 while Piper and Paul Orndorff had to find their way back to the hotel rooms themselves.

Right now, everyone is wondering what is wrong with CM Punk or where has he been since Wrestlemania 42. We’ve had the following “news” or “rumors” floated out there by many claiming on social media to have “sources” and also journalists speaking to their regular “sources”, such as:

– CM Punk is now using steroids.

– CM Punk played politics before and during the event of Wrestlemania 42

– CM Punk was requested to take a paycut

– TKO officials have soured on CM Punk

– ESPN officials are upset about subscription numbers of WWE fans and low viewership numbers for Wrestlemania 42, somehow blaming CM Punk for that entire event

– WWE and TKO officials blame CM Punk for Wrestlemania 42 not drawing well in Las Vegas versus 2025.

– CM Punk is upset at how WWE has treated and used AJ Lee

– CM Punk is being punished for yelling at and knocking down the phone of a person harassing AJ Lee and Bayley after Wrestlemania 42

– WWE creative has nothing for CM Punk after Wrestlemania 42, hence why Jacob Fatu feuded with Roman instead of any rematches.

– RAW has too may stars, so CM Punk will be moved to Smackdown to create a “balance”

And it goes on and on and on…

True story, some of my biggest drawing columns have involved CM Punk. That time when I claimed “CM Punk was buried by Triple H” following their Night of Champions 2011 PPV drew an insane amount of page views. Aaron Rift, owner and webmaster of NoDQ.com, has repeatedly said that anytime CM Punk does something significant, viewership always pops. Punk is an incredibly polarizing figure to which you are either all-in or want nothing to do with Punk, with usually on in-between. Further with Punk, he leans left-wing and isn’t afraid to show it… Thus, he strikes a nerve as a wrestler and with his political views.

Hence, why RUMORS kept circulating on CM Punk. Everyone is either a big fan or Punk just pissed them off.

Let’s chew into each rumor, one-by one…

CM Punk on steroids or performance enhancing drugs.
Nope, he’s straight-edge. Folks, I speak from experience as I subscribe to the same straight-edge lifestyle. No alcohol, no drugs, and I even refuse medications from doctors particularly on the pain side. It’s like a religion to us and that dedication to refusing to put anything in our bodies to get us high, numb the pain, or to enhance performance is who we are. Probably why we’re so easily agitated because we’re living live without any prescribed or chemical filters… There’s NO WAY he’s taking PEDs.

Looking at the photos circulating of him working out, it’s not like he’s in body builder mode. You can get that way by working hard and carefully eating, even at his older age. AJ Styles looked jacked at his age and there were no indications he took PEDs, either.

Remember, WWE still has the Wellness Policy in place even with TKO inheriting it.

Look at those photos again. If Punk were gassing, the muscles in his shoulders would get overly jacked and veins appearing there are usually the signs of someone juicing. He just has larger biceps because he’s actually lifting weights versus the lighter workouts he has historically performed.

Maybe he knows that he’s going on a heel run and wants to look jacked so that you THINK he’s a hypocrite?

CM Punk played politics during Wrestlemania 42.
I think this happened… Re-read what I said about Roddy Piper. Punk knew that once Roman Reigns dispatched him, it was over. As proof of that, WWE immediately moved onto Jacob Fatu for a 2 PLE show feud while “creative had nothing” for Punk.

So yeah, heading into the event as World Champion, CM Punk probably knew this was the last time he was ever going to main event Wrestlemania if he lost at WM 42.

BUT – Punk lost the match like professional and didn’t need someone like the Undertaker to tape his fists and wait at the door in case he didn’t do the job. You know, like Undertaker really had to do at Wrestlemania 14 to ensure Shawn Michaels did business.

CM Punk refused to take a paycut.
Punk is a massive merchandise seller with a loyal fanbase. I guarantee that WWE and TKO’s analytics are “off the charts” with Punk and probably argues that they are UNDER paying Punk for his services.

Now, that doesn’t stop TKO from being total d*cks, but I think they’ll slow walk Punk into a paycut for 2027 after he doesn’t draw as well on Smackdown versus RAW because Smackdown is now the secondary show that requires his fans to give up their Fridays to see him.

TKO officials have soured on CM Punk.
Bingo. I think this is a massive issue and is based on Pipebomb 2.0 or Pipebomb 2026 as the streets call it.

Question for my readers who work in a corporate setting. Have you ever been in a meeting with senior management when there’s a lower-level staffer basically cuts a shoot promo on them or the company? Maybe they complain about transparency, about benefits, not knowing the path to grow as an employee, etc., or maybe they openly disagree with management on a particular practice or procedure? Now, this staffer could be 100% correct BUT these senior managers have massive egos and worked hard to obtain their positions. The LAST thing that they want is for a lower-level staffer to make them look bad in ANY setting whatsoever. Then, in behind-closed-door meetings, that staffer is ridiculed by said senior managers and then that staffer’s direct report supervisor is called in for a meeting about that staffer. “Why do you have such a know-it-all in your department?” or “we didn’t like their tone” is what they’ll likely hear.

That CM Punk Pipebomb cut just before Wrestlemania 42 called out TKO executives for price gouging WWE fans and protecting Roman Reigns. You don’t think that the TKO Board, plus its Silver Lake and Endeavor overlords, heard that? Oh, their thin skin was ripped apart and their egomaniac Hulk versions came out with pure anger.

And I guarantee they called Triple H immediately afterward and I’m betting that Triple H showed them a document of talking points that DID NOT include going that hard on TKO executives or the golden goose Roman Reigns. That covers HHH’s arse and the good boy secures a new extension as Chief Content Officer for kissing that corporate arse.

Speaking of Roman Reigns, who is he represented by again? William Morris Endeavor or “WME”. Notice that “E”? Yeah, Endeavor… Roman uses Endeavor’s corporate overlords, also still working side-hustles as agents and primary managers of WME, to represent him in Hollywood.

So if you attack TKO and then attack Roman Reigns, that is double dipping on the attacks towards TKO executives and their talent agency.

Oh, and who is Roman Reigns “related to” again? And I emphasize “related to” because they are not blood cousins but close family friends… The Rock. Rock is a TKO Board Member and is thus part of the overlords who could get offended by a wrestling promo.

CM Punk better be careful when he joins Smackdown because Cody Rhodes also uses WME for his agent representation. Be very careful what you say about him, Punk…

ESPN officials are upset about subscription numbers of WWE fans and low viewership numbers for Wrestlemania 42, somehow blaming CM Punk for that entire event
I think that ESPN is poorly managed and has been for years. There’s a reason why their viewership for Sportscenter, for example, has declined heavily. Instead of giving us highlights and something fun to watch, they delved into social justice and identity politics too much. Instead of understanding the concept of “time and place”, they just put the pedal to the metal and stopped denying everyone highlights and fun content to watch. ESPN’s downfall is one of the main reasons for cable/satellite subscriptions dissolving, while they are also one of the main causes for cable/satellite bills going up with their premium price paid by those providers.

How can you blame Punk, anyway? Roman was in that main event, too, along with the AWFUL Night #1 show. Fact is that Wrestlemania was more appealing at $5 to $15 to watch versus $30 on ESPN+.

Think about it this way… Why is Wendy’s and McDonalds failing? Because their UTTER CRAP FOOD tasted better when it was less than $10 versus than being over $10.

Same concept with WWE…

Now, I could see ESPN’s bullsh*t executives scrambling and looking for answers after cutting a 5-year, $1.6 billion deal with WWE and maybe blaming someone… But Punk was in that same main event of Night #1 for Wrestlemania 41, so how can you blame him? If anything, it’s just blaming the older looking fella as a scapegoat.

That said, if TKO’s ears are sensitive after Pipebomb 2.0, then maybe they start using ESPN’s complaints to get Punk?

WWE and TKO officials blame CM Punk for Wrestlemania 42 not drawing well in Las Vegas versus 2025.

Again, Punk was in the main event of night #1 for WM 41. TKO’s executives have come out and said that doing Las Vegas twice in a row ruined the appeal.

What nobody is saying is this… Wrestlemania 41 outsold WM 42 because of John Cena. Remember, we were mocking Wrestlemania 41’s ticket sales being stuck around 40,000 to 50,000 and then Cena’s heel turn changed things and boosted sales to over 60,000.

Absurdly high prices during 2026 versus 2025 also killed ticket sales.

If Punk is to blame for WM 42’s ticket sales, it’s again, sensitive TKO officials looking for something.

CM Punk is upset at how WWE has treated and used AJ Lee
I think they used her well, considering she was part-time and hasn’t been in the business for a while. If they gave her a massive work schedule and burned her out, then I could see Punk being pissed. No, WWE actually treated her well and I think Punk has been proud of her reasonably successful return. N/A on this one.

CM Punk is being punished for yelling at and knocking down the phone of a person harassing AJ Lee and Bayley after Wrestlemania 42
Again, this one would be in the “TKO is looking for something on Punk” department. While it initially didn’t look good, I think the context was later understood as this “fan” was harassing Punk’s wife AJ Lee and Bayley. Did it look good? No, but AJ Lee is Punk’s wife and he was defending her against a troll bothering her.

WWE creative has nothing for CM Punk after Wrestlemania 42, hence why Jacob Fatu feuded with Roman instead of any rematches.
I think this is true, as suffering a major loss at Wrestlemania 42 does require a cooldown period. I think this gave Punk some scheduled time off to re-charge.

I believe this was by design and often happens with other wrestlers. I think the whole plan was to move Punk to Smackdown to get those last few drops of heat out of him before he retires. Punk is 47 going on 48, and that’s OLD in WWE years compared to the rest of the roster. Punk will return to Smackdown and feud with Cody, possibly returning to the heel version of CM Punk to finish his WWE run. Then, Punk can become a Hall of Famer. Personally, I’d Punk to the Creative Team but I don’t think TKO officials would like that.

RAW has too may stars, so CM Punk will be moved to Smackdown to create a “balance”
Meh, Punk feuding with Cody has been the plan all along after Wrestlemania 42. I really don’t see it as more than that.

So, what do I think about it?

Mr. Tito’s THEORY on CM Punk

CM Punk is 47 years old, going on 48. This big Wrestlemania 42 push was it for him, and now we’re on the backside of his career. The plan has always been for Punk to put over Roman at Wrestlemania 42 and then go to Smackdown to feud with Cody Rhodes. After that, WWE would have a 48 year-old superstar that they’d have to consider using in other capacities after both Roman and Cody have dispatched him.

Now, could there be pushback by CM Punk about these plans? Maybe? It’s difficult to get old, especially in athletics or entertainment when the producers or coaches tell you that you’re “too old”. While Punk cuts great promos, he’s not as effective inside the ring thanks to age. To a younger audience that WWE really wants to appeal towards, that shows. Punk’s core fanbase is aged 40 years or older who will watch WWE anyway whether Punk is on the shows or not.

I really think that Pipebomb 2.0 pissed of TKO executives and there could be some truth to Punk being held temporarily off of television. I’m willing to bet that Triple H has advised said thin-skinned TKO p*ssy executives that CM Punk being on Smackdown will help Cody Rhodes (WME repped performer). That said, I doubt we’ll ever see Pipebomb 3.0 and Punk will be totally scripted for anything involving Cody.

That’s it… Some friction, but I think that Triple H and CM Punk are on good professional terms and Triple H is man enough to handle the TKO executives anytime their panties are in bunches.

If CM Punk wants to headline Wrestlemania once again he either needs to (a) have a very effective heel turn on Smackdown or (b) join the WME agency. Seriously, this is my advice to ANY WWE wrestler or potential wrestler right now. Sign with WME as your representation. Sure, it’s probably more expensive than other agencies, but it guarantees you a WWE job and incentivizes TKO executives to put pressure on Triple H to use or push you. Remember, they wanted to make Pat McAfee the “next Sylvester Stallone” which is possibly the most hilarious quote ever.

I think many on Social Media are trying to become the next Dave Meltzer or Sean Ross Sapp, so they claim that they have “sources” by either making stuff up or having the loosest of sources talking to them. For example, I know a few independent wrestlers that I could contact and inquire if they’ve spoken to any of their WWE or AEW buddies lately. I’ve heard some things here and there, but nothing that I can get a valid second source on to report. Oddly enough, wrestlers blab and gossip here in the 21st century versus trying to keep a tight lid on the kayfabe jar (but they were blabbing in the 1980s and 1990s, let’s get real!).

In summary, CM Punk did a great job putting Roman Reigns over at Wrestlemania 42. Maybe he did too good of a job on his Pipebomb 2.0 speech that could limit future opportunities, but he has an entire run on Smackdown to prove himself as a corporate buddy if he makes Cody look like a million bucks during their feud. Punk isn’t on steroids, there’s no heat about AJ Lee, and he’s not the reason why ESPN views are down or why Wrestlemania 42 didn’t draw better than WM 41 at the same location.

In fact, CM Punk has been the answer since his late 2023 return. With Roman Reigns taking excessive time off, WWE needed another big name to step up and Punk was there. Since CM Punk’s late 2023 return, he’s wrestled in 59 total matches and that includes recuperation time during 2024 when he tore his triceps muscle. Meanwhile, Roman Reigns has only wrestled 17 times since that timeframe. Funny how an older wrestler has been more of a workhorse than the guy he put over at Wrestlemania 42.

But hey, Roman is represented by WME agency and has a big role in the Street Fighter movie to sell, while CM Punk is represented by someone else and isn’t getting those movie roles to promote.

CM Punk is too valuable, still, to release… Let’s see what happens after he puts over Cody Rhodes and see if any possible friction between him and TKO still exists.

Remember, folks, executive or senior management have egos… Don’t shatter their fragile egos in front of everybody, as that’s career suicide for you because they’ll badmouth you everywhere they can and actively discredit anything that you do. Nobody likes a “know-it-all”, at least according to them.

Mr. Tito Column Archive @ NoDQ

The post MR. TITO: Why Has CM Punk Disappeared from WWE after Wrestlemania 42? Is WWE or TKO Angry at Him? appeared first on NoDQ.com: WWE and AEW Coverage.

For those who don’t watch MMA regularly or have seen previous Ronda Rousey fights, we’re getting allegations of “fixed”, “rigged”, etc. While I’d normally agree, especially when the grifting Paul brothers are involved, I think that many are giving the MVP promotion too much credit for rigging something. A very motivated and 39 year-old Ronda destroyed a 44 year-old Gina Carano who last fought during 2009 and spent much of the year losing 100 pounds. Carano never faced anyone as capable as Rousey, hence the humiliating defeat.

While I wished that they could have fought longer, I was pretty satisfied with the bloody battle between Nate Diaz and Mike Perry. Nate Diaz was bleeding from multiple places, as I impressed with how he didn’t just pass out during the fight from so much blood loss. Sometimes, the main event for both boxing and MMA cards can be disappointing but something on the undercard pops to keep you relatively satisfied.

Honestly for me, it was on Netflix versus blowing through Pay Per View dollars… So I didn’t lose my arse on the event, as I consume Netflix heavily to get my money’s worth. I’m still smarting from the FRAUD known as Floyd Mayweather vs. Manny Pacquiao that took my $99 (or $33, splitting it with 2 buddies).

That’s what you get from boxing or MMA events… High risk, but high reward. Thanks to boxing and MMA being legit competitive sports, when their main event matches hit, you’ll remember it forever. When it thuds, it really hurts and angers you as a customer.

My Dad loved boxing and we purchased many boxing Pay Per Views during the 1990s… There were many skunks, such as the Mike Tyson fight or pretty much any late 1990s Tyson fight… But then you’d get matches that you’d never forget, like Riddick Bowe vs. Evander Holyfield or the night when George Foreman SHOCKED the world by defeating Michael Moorer for the world championship. It was a literal roll of the dice, as the highs were amazing and the lows were disappointing. Yet, those highs were so good that you dared to roll that dice.

I remember how great UFC was through the late 2000s and early 2010s. Promotion was full of stars and had major cards that often delivered with various weight classes. I took a chance on multiple Pay Per Views with Brock Lesnar on it and he almost always delivered, as he’d take a beating for much of the match and then pull off a miraculous comeback.

But, both UFC and boxing have had their induced lows… For boxing, you had to watch Don King’s involvement as most of those matches were always fishy in nature, in my opinion. The multiple world titles really hurt things, too, as it diluted who the real world champion was when the belts were split up. I was so mad when Riddick Bowe threw away one of the world titles, as I knew it would create chaos with the world titles.

For UFC, the sale to Endeavor really hurt the promotion’s quality. What you’re seeing now in the WWE is what UFC has endured since 2016. Wrestlers not getting paid and minimized versus pushing a brand, more ads crammed into events, more ads all over the octagon and arena, and fewer diehard fans in the crowd versus corporate types (higher ticket prices often does that). UFC has become a completely nameless promotion other than Dana White as its president.

With Pro Wrestling, as I’ve argued for YEARS as Mr. Tito, you truly get your BANG for your BUCK. 3 hour shows with multiple matches going 20-30 minutes and often providing scripted moments that you’ll never forget.

Wrestling provides low risk (cheaper than MMA or boxing) with often moderate to high returns. Rarely do you get a skunk Premium Live Event or Pay Per View for wrestling. When WWE cost $9.99 per month for its WWE Network, it really felt good to watch the WWE’s biggest shows of the year.

Which brings me to WWE’s Premium Live Events from 2026…

For one, you’re paying for ESPN Unlimited for $29.99 per month, which is either more than triple or double of what you were paying with Peacock (depending on which streaming package that you had). Then, WWE is delivering SHORTER matches on PLEs now… That’s right, if you watched WWE Backlash 2026, only ONE match was above 20 minutes long in length and that was the opening match that aired on ESPN 2 between Rollins and Breakker.

How about Wrestlemania 42? Night #1 featured 4 matches out of 7 that were under 10 minutes long, while Night #2 had 4 out of 6 matches that were at or under 10 minutes long. Only the 2 main events went above 20 minutes of that event.

WWE PLEs are PACKED full of advertisements now, with them either being required advertisement spots per ESPN Unlimited or WWE running their own ads.

And that’s on top of an event with a ring littered with ads now, while each match has their own sponsor.

TKO is now requesting that many WWE stars take a 50% paycut…

Yep, Endeavor is morphing WWE right into another UFC model. Grift the fans and television network for as much money as you can and deep pocket the money obtained. Rinse and repeat.

Part of the allure for having boxing or MMA on Netflix is to try new things that the other professions wouldn’t try, while creating unexpected match-ups. UFC reportedly turned down Carano vs. Rousey, expecting it to be the mismatch that it turned out to be. Yet, this MVP promotion did 27 million for its first MMA event on Netflix.

Makes me wonder how much TKO will “butter up” Netflix to let them go the full 10 year term of their contract or maybe re-sign for something higher once the first 5 years are up. After all, what could stop someone from starting their own one-off wrestling event that airs on Netflix? TKO having the WWE could be a deterrent for any rouge one-off wrestling events from happening.

What made wrestling interesting again was during 2018, Cody Rhodes, the Young Bucks, and their friends held the first ever “All In” event. They drew 10,000 fans and eyeballs to Pay Per View without any promotional machine behind them. Cody and the Bucks proved that a big event without a major promotion to not only happen, but draw. This “All In” 2018 event was so successful that it inspired the Khan family to join up with Rhodes and the Bucks to form All Elite Wrestling (AEW). Since then, you’ve had real choice in wrestling to consume either WWE or AEW events and that choice has given us incredible events since the COVID-19 pandemic ended.

But now, here we are in 2026, and WWE is in first place by a distance after widening the gap during 2023. Complacent, WWE has now reduced the quantity and quality of its PLE events by shortening the matches and inserting more advertisements. The end result is a lot of starting and stopping, just like an overly corporate boxing or MMA event.

So yeah, WWE PLEs used to be a guaranteed great evening of wrestling but now it’s like a disappointing boxing or MMA event. Well, maybe it’s like UFC for the past 10 years. Once this current crop of veterans fully retire from the WWE, WWE will be like UFC with brand over wrestlers pushed harder than ever and lots of ads shoved in your faces during events.

WWE should be delivering great matches and fewer ads… They should remind boxing and MMA fans of how risky it is to watch their big events, as the main events often disappoint. Instead, we’re getting shorter matches and more advertisements.

TRUSTING that a WWE PLE was great was a guarantee that used to be in place… But now, the dream is over… TKO has taken over and has ruined yet another thing in the WWE.

TKO has so much revenue coming in from WWE and UFC, yet it still has a high level of debt. Endeavor and its daddy Silver Lake also have a high level of debt. Seems like it’s a management issue within the Endeavor and TKO groups on grifting and being unable to operate a company without high levels of debt.

The dream is over, what can I say? The dream is over, yesterday… And so, dear friends, you’ll just have to carry on, the dream is over.

Mr. Tito Column Archive @ NoDQ

The post MR. TITO: What Ronda Rousey vs. Gina Carano’s MVP MMA Event “Disappointment” Could Teach WWE & TKO About Their Recent PLEs appeared first on NoDQ.com: WWE and AEW Coverage.

Now, the ones who were called out insisted that good ol’ Mr. Tito was “crashing out”. If you have been following politics lately, many Generation Z (defined as being born between 1997 and 2012) commentators have been using that slang term to label how someone is reacting. For example, it’s often used to describe our current President of the United States and WWE Hall of Famer Donald Trump when he posts over 50 times on his Truth Social account or when he goes on the attack during a speech or press conference. “Crashing out” is defined as a slang phrase by the Merriam Webster dictionary as ”to become suddenly, uncontrollably angry or distressed”.

When I wrote that column on 5/1, I was perfectly chill and calm when I wrote it… I never used vulgarity, personal attacks, or hatred within that column whatsoever. There were just a handful of stories that came out, based on past opinions, that validated what I said previously so hence why I wrote a column about it. The “Told You So” title came from my famous 2011 column, one of my highest drawing columns ever, when I hammered fans for not seeing the Triple H burial of CM Punk during their one-on-one PPV match that year. Every reaction by opposite parties was their actual quotes, as I wasn’t slandering anyone. YET, in return, those who were called out went NUCLEAR and posted a zillion times beneath my column.

Awwwww, poor babies… Does it suck when the shoe is on the other foot?

Look, folks… I’ve been writing these very columns since October 1998 and I estimate that I’ve written at least 4,000 to 5,000 times for LordsofPain, Top-Rope, and now NoDQ combined. Each of those columns have generated thousands or tens of thousands of page views and often come with loads of criticisms. I’ve even received death threats in the past. I always laugh when someone even suggests “Tito can’t take feedback”, yet when you look at the vulgarity and insults of said feedback, you wonder why I either ignore it or decide to hit back. But what I LOVE is when I turn the tables on the haters and it causes them to “crash out” in response.

If you ever notice, it’s the same 4-5 haters grandstanding in my comments section each and every time.

And if you notice, good ol’ Tito does NOT censor what they say. Their feedback is clearly posted without any censorship.

The “Mr. Tito TOLD YOU SO” column was just a means to hold people accountable and it worked very effectively. My 5/1 column was ranked #5 among ALL viewed NoDQ posts, and that includes news posts that normally draw much better than opinionated posts. Further, another NoDQ columnist tried to get a rub off my good name by writing a response column. Many haters claim that nobody reads my column, yet how is it getting enough page views to keep up with news posts? How is it generating so much feedback? Why is it prompting other columnists to respond to me with their own columns?

Like me or not, I still got it. Actually, I never lost it. Every website that I’ve posted a column on, it’s the most viewed opinionated piece by a margin.

And I’m BACK IN YOUR FACE today with more “I told you so” vindication based on past opinions that were heavily criticized.

If you don’t like what I’m posting, DON’T READ IT! You have my personal invitation to F off and never read my columns again. How can I be relevant if you’re not reading my columns? Ever think of that? Instead, the haters just keep adding fuel to the fire.

Let’s get into this week’s “told you so” topics.

Told You So #1 – TKO is greedy

Since late 2024, I’ve been HAMMERING the TKO corporation, holding company corporation of UFC and WWE, for their corporate greed whether that’s about their ticket prices, signing up for services that will price gouge WWE fans (like ESPN), or giving Saudi Arabia opportunities to host Royal Rumble and Wrestlemania before other deserving countries.

Yet in response, such as where my buddy Joe often posts, he asks “touch the doll where TKO touched you” or something to that effect. Many of you have felt that I’ve unjustly attacked TKO, even suggesting that Triple H has been behind much of TKO’s greed. Yeah, the EVP of Creative and Talent is making corporate decisions instead of the layers of executives above him in both WWE (Nick Khan) and TKO’s organizational chart and board of directors.

Let’s take this past week… Reportedly, multiple wrestlers were requested to take a 50% paycut by WWE or else become released. New Day, who were just 1 year into a 5 year deal with the WWE, refused to take said 50% paycut and were released.

Let’s review WWE’s revenue streams, shall we?

– Earning $500 million per year from Netflix
– Earning $280 million per year from NBC/Universal
– Earning $320 million pear year from Disney/ESPN
– Earning $100 million for Royal Rumble 2026, $250 million for Wrestlemania 43 to be hosted in Saudi Arabia
– Increased merchandise revenue from Fanatics deal
– Higher event revenue from cities paying extra to host + ticket sales

Per TKO’s 10-K report, WWE earned around $1.7 billion during 2025 alone. However, from TKO’s 10-K report, I cannot find a line-item expense report for WWE specifically. Rather just what is defined as TKO’s net income of $546 million from a $4.7 revenue pie for everything. In other words, TKO spent more than $4 billion in expenses for 2025!

While putting on a WWE show is capital intense and same with their marketing expenses, and the same goes for UFC… There’s no way that TKO isn’t netting a wider Net Income from their combined activities.

And WWE employees are not taking a large portion of WWE’s expenses, trust me on that one.

WWE has up to 200 wrestlers on their combined roster, if that. Some are like Roman or Brock and are breaking the bank, while others in developmental make up to $100,000 per year or lower card wrestlers on main WWE wrestles make up to $300,000. Fewer live event gates to payout versus before. No Pay Per View money to distribute, so less going on top of downside guarantees. We could be reasonable and suggest that WWE wrestlers, on average, make maybe $1,000,000 per year… So if we had $200 million in total WWE wrestler salaries among 200 wrestlers, that’s a lower expense digging into that $1.7 billion revenue number. In fact, that’s LOW in terms of total labor costs. NFL players, for example, earn 48% of the league’s revenues with other leagues being similar. We’re looking at maybe 12% for WWE wrestlers?

Thanks to TKO being a publicly traded company, you can truly begin to see where the money is REALLY going.

Publicly traded companies have to release a Proxy Statement each year that describes executive compensation.

If you add up the total compensation among the 4 top TKO executives, they are pulling in a combined $43 million (bonuses + base salary). That’s JUST the top 4 executives, as they have Senior VPs, Vice Presidents, and other levels of officers and staff reporting upward to them. It gets expensive, real fast. Plus Board of Director compensation and one board member that appeared was WWE CEO/President and TKO Board Member Nick Khan with his $24 million in compensation. We also have stock awards, on top of previous stock awards of offerings (like Rock begin given like $30 million in TKO stock for joining the TKO Board).

TKO reports $1.9 billion in operating costs and $1.5 billion in selling, general, and administrative expenses.

Then you go further into the well…

Endeavor, who bought WWE, had $5.7 billion in debt before they were acquired by Silver Lake and that investment group has a metric ton of debt due its fund being involved in various acquisitions such as purchasing Electronic Arts or a part of Intel. TKO, itself, is reporting $3.8 billion in debt.

Members of Endeavor operate as agents for WME, including TKO President/CEO Ari Emanuel. Pat McAfee, Roman Reigns, Cody Rhodes, and others are represented by WME… Hence, any money that they make in WWE goes directly back to the agent executives of TKO.

The FACT is that TKO is burning through cash on other expenses other than the WWE’s or paying off its executives other management. WWE is no longer a wrestling company but a money transfer service.

You’re getting ripped off as fans because of pure financial greed by those who founded Endeavor, those who just bought Endeavor, and those who use revenue streams to justify borrowing even more money from banks. Sooooooo much commercial debt on the balance sheets of the largest banks and I present that some day, an economic crash will come when these big corporations are totally unable to pay off these big loans to perform these acquisitions. Disney is like $40 billion in debt and there are many corporations like that carrying a ton of debt.

But as loyal WWE marks, you’ll somehow still defend TKO’s greed and be willing to pay $29.99 for ESPN Unlimited, high ticket prices, or enjoy seeing your Netflix subscription price increase.

*****

Told You So #2 – Triple H as EVP of Talent

This one will be brief… Besides New Day, who were both John Laurinaitis signings, the majority of WWE releases seem to be Triple H signed wrestlers.

I keep telling you, folks… Triple H’s biggest weakness is assessing talent. That, or he’s spread himself too thin that he overthinks or doesn’t think about talent signed. I also think that he has a WEAK head trainer in place with Matt Bloom who dazzled fans, for years, as A-Train, Prince Albert, or Lord Tensai.

Triple H’s system has struggled to groom and develop main event talent that are as great as what Jim Ross or John Laurinaitis signed. That’s just a fact. HHH’s best guys, pre mid-2012 signings, have been Kevin Owens and Gunther as wrestlers who developed in HHH’s system. Oba Femi and Bron Breakker, by the way, were John Laurinaitis signings…

I continue to maintain that WWE could instantly improve its developmental system by luring Jim Ross away from AEW. Be humble and praise Jim Ross, while letting him consult WWE’s management team on scouting, development, and getting the most bang for your buck. Let Ross hire new trainers on the male side, as the women’s wrestling side is pretty good in WWE developmental.

HHH just isn’t good at signing younger MALE talent and then developing them into bigger stars. The success stories for his system is less than what Ross and Laurinaitis signed.

*****

Told You So #3 – Vince McMahon should NOT return to WWE

Many wrestling marks, who love to nitpick what Triple H does or blame Triple H for TKO’s meddling have an odd affinity for wanting Vince McMahon to return. Sure, I’ll agree that Triple H isn’t perfect and yes, the past 2 years of Hall of Fame self-glazing has been ridiculous between him and Stephanie… But I’ll take WWE since mid-2022 versus ANYTHING during the 2010s when Vince McMahon micro-managed everything and tore up any script handed to him.

Let me remind you of the 2010s…

WWE tried to push Miz, Jack Swagger, Alberto Del Rio, Sheamus, Finn Balor, and Jinder Mahal as World Champions. Seriously, WWE tried that… I could even argue that maybe Braun Strowman was a reach as champion.

Overpushing an inexperienced Roman Reigns from 2014 through 2019. And that was on top of destroying the John Cena cashcow at SummerSlam 2014 and diminishing CM Punk’s top spot role. Roman was not ready for the top role and headlined many Wrestlemania’s with BAD matches against exceptional opponents.

Brock Lesnar dominated everyone, yet had to lose to Seth Rollins twice in one year. Made zero sense.

As an older WCW fan, I was happy to see equity put back into Bill Goldberg… But damn did he get overpushed and looked terrible doing so.

Flushed the tag team division down the tubes. Yes, New Day beat Demolition’s record for a lengthy title reign, but who, besides the Usos, were actually considered as a great tag team as opponents? Go back and look who Demolition wrestled during their reign and it’s a literal who’s who of best of all time tag teams!

First half of the decade had awful women’s wrestling with no care or attention to it. This promoted “Give Divas a Chance” and then Triple H’s great crop of females arrived during 2015. However, Vince only pushed Charlotte while everyone else had to bow down to her. WWE had so much potential with Sasha Banks that they wasted, while it took years to recognize Becky Lynch’s talents. How Vince took a top merchandise selling Bayley and morphed her into what you see today is beyond me.

Remember Corporate Kane and the Authority? Ugh…

Summer of Punk ruined… Daniel Bryan marginalized by Randy Orton and the Authority (“B+ player”).

Ridiculousness of the Wyatt Family. Went from a cool stable that was feuding with the Shield to completely goofy. The Fiend was an awful gimmick change, especially when you set him on fire and he had to wrestle in a burned outfit for a while until miraculously healing.

Stardust, anyone? That was Cody Rhodes and that was how WWE used him during the 2010s. Drew McIntyre was in 3 Man Band as a jobber!

Jobbing great in-ring wrestlers like Dolph Ziggler.

Many, many poor attempts at comedy.

And remember with Vince McMahon, not only did he create trouble with women in the office space and backstage at arenas (allegedly with MDA payouts), he was the one who sold out to Saudi Arabia and also forced the sale to Endeavor.

You’re an absolute IDIOT if you want Vince McMahon to return. Things have been SO MUCH BETTER creatively for the WWE since June 2022 when Vince stepped down and Triple H took over without Vince micro-managing his job. HHH, for example, made the Bloodline angle better by adding Sami Zayn to it and made the Cody vs. Brock feud better and end strongly to continue Cody’s push. CM Punk has thrived working for the older Triple H, while WWE has a collective group of wrestlers who can draw and not just the top 1-2 guys that Vince pushed to the moon.

So STOP it with your Vince McMahon love. You’re a mark for the past, yet you don’t even realize how BAD the past was.

Let’s measure WWE in quality based on decades, shall we?

1) 1990s
2) 1980s
3) 2020s (so far)
4) 2000s
5) 2010s

FACTS since Triple H took over Creative during mid-2022: Attendance boomed, viewership went up, merchandise really went up, and new TV deals broke the freakin’ bank.

Want to know why TKO can price gouge on WWE events? Because Triple H’s creative puts on quality WWE shows and fans, with high demand for WWE products, are willing to fork over their hard-earned dollars.

Go ahead, deny my 2010s facts… WWE sucked during that decade and we’re much better off NOW than we were a decade ago. RAW went from 4 million viewers to less than 2 million, attendance dropped to below 5,000 often for shows, houseshows began getting cancelled, and Pay Per View buys dropped so much that the WWE Network was created.

TKO cannot price gouge if 2020s WWE lacked quality. Period.

*****

Told You So #4 – AEW still isn’t good

I need to give credit where it’s due about AEW… Through late 2018, I had it with WWE’s terrible creative (see above) and I seriously thought about walking away. Then, AEW arrived and created competition and made wrestling fun for a brief while.

Then, however, the wheels fell off… AEW was quickly exposed as a company with weak leadership under Tony Khan and a toxic workplace for many that has prompted the likes of Jade Cargill, Cody Rhodes, and CM Punk to leave the promotion and thrive in the WWE afterward. The backstage attacks by the Young Bucks and their flunkies really hurt things and their free agent signing spree has proven ineffective for drawing. Many consider their shows and matches great, but their bouts are often about shoving as many high risk moves per minute to keep that sugar high going of wrestling fans.

The end result is that AEW is consistently under 700,000 for its flagship AEW Dynamite show and most of its shows struggle to sell up to 5,000 with LOW ticket prices in place. Pay Per View buys have declined.

While most wrestling publications and YouTube channels are bashing WWE and trying to somehow encourage AEW, I find that a struggle… Yes, I even once advised to help AEW succeed by forcing yourself to watch them, but even I acknowledge that as a mistake. Their shows just aren’t good, and I don’t necessarily blame the wrestlers. I blame the guy at the top, Tony Khan, and the management team that surrounds him.

For Sting to go out there and compare Tony Khan to Ted Turner was insulting. Tony is a “maverick” just like Ted was, proclaimed Sting. Love ya, Sting, but maybe you’ve taken too many bumps inside that ring.

Without Ted Turner, there was no competition against Vince McMahon. Ted provided the channels to host wrestling, while buying an almost bankrupt NWA Mid-Atlantic to keep a promotion alive. That is way different starting up a promotion with lots of money behind it and being a distant 2nd place while being a place where ex-WWE free agents often struggle.

The NERVE of Tony to once say Ted Turner “didn’t know 1% of what I know about professional wrestling or WCW would still be on TBS/TNT”. Ted Turner’s WCW promotion defeated Vince McMahon and changed the business for the better. You never defeated Vince McMahon, EVER, and briefly helped wrestlers get paid. Now, WWE wrestlers are being forced to take 50% or else go to AEW to suffer.

Again, numbers don’t lie… Under 700,000 viewers for the flagship show, fewer tickets sold despite lower prices, poor merchandise sales (they closed the merchandise division!), and lower Pay Per View buys.

AEW is LUCKY to be in an environment where LIVE sports content is winning ridiculous sums of money by cable companies. That won’t last on the next contract, as the Ellisons are receiving TKO money for UFC being on Paramount+ and I fully expect them to get the WWE RAW contract and maybe the PLE one in 5 years. Enjoy the television money, while you can, because you’re day of reckoning is coming UNLESS you get your crap together and develop the next irresistible star… But you don’t have a developmental system that could create one.

Therefore, stop telling me “WWE sucks, watch AEW instead” when watching AEW is a less enjoyable experience than the corporate WWE experience.

*****

Told You So #5 – WWE is too veteran dependent

This relates to my “Triple H is bad at Talent Relations” argument, but we just saw a WWE Backlash event where (a) Oba Femi was left off the card, (b) Bron Breakker had a few botched moves, and (c) Jacob Fatu immediately lost to Roman Reigns.

That’s your next crop of wrestlers behind your Punks, Codys, Romans, and Seths…

This is the MAIN WEAKNESS of the WWE that if a competent AEW were in place, they’d exploit it and create a BETTER developmental system to create brand new younger stars to overcome WWE. Instead, AEW has a poor developmental system and relies on free agents to hopefully “save” them. Sorry, but nobody is tripping over themselves to see the latest Will Ospreay match and he is a great in-ring worker, I have to admit. But he, too, is a veteran and AEW is a roster loaded with veterans versus newer and exciting younger wrestlers who will be the big stars of tomorrow.

WWE will continue to push the same 4-5 guys at the top and they’ll get older, while their replacements are currently non-existent. Having a strong developmental system matters and the WWE just doesn’t have that under Triple H. I’ve been telling you so about him as EVP of Talent Relations for over 13 years now!

——————

LAST WORD: See, no “crash outs”, just ol’ Tito spitting facts and proving my past positions as being correct. Watch the usual suspects lose their minds in the Comments section because that’s what they usually do underneath popular columns. If what I do was so easy to replicate, why aren’t there more people trying this?

But go ahead, leave your comments… I always need new fodder to use for the next “Told You So” column.

So just chill… Until the next episode (or crash out, LOL)!

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Seeing lots of feedback on Wrestlemania 42 with it mostly being “weak night 1, stronger night 2” and many are even questioning the idea of a 2-night Wrestlemania. I don’t know, those 6-7 hour 1-night Wrestlemania shows were brutal. THAT SAID, these PLEs on ESPN are shoving in so many advertisements, as you’re probably watching like 30% advertisements now.

Here are my takeaways from Wrestlemania 42 and I’ll put them in a is of 10 to keep it convenient.

#1 – Pat McAfee heel turn meant NOTHING for Wrestlemania 42
Told you so that it was BAD BOOKING to randomly turn Pat heel and have him join Randy Orton, whom he had zero connection with previously and ditto for Cody Rhodes. All news reports show that it was Pat’s agent, Ari Emanuel (also the President/CEO of TKO) forcing the issue following Pat signing him to become his agent during February. Pat was so out of place and acting as if a wrestling mark was out there to be a heel manager. He attacked Cody to start the match but then got his arse handed to him to put on a stretcher job. He later returned in a referee shirt (WTF??) to interfere further, but then Randy Orton turns on him?!? Wait, what was the point of Pat McAfee turning heel? Orton would then lose the match anyway.

After the match, Randy Orton punted Cody Rhodes and legitimately injured Cody. That’s BS and hopefully TKO tightens the bolts to ensure something like that doesn’t happen again. Cody’s eye may be permanently damaged by that or could have been.

#2 – Happy for Paige, though confused about the Women’s Tag Title situation
Paige is one of the best women’s talents and it’s a shame that her relationship with Alberto Del Rio shook up things for her personally and professionally. That said, she’s still young and she looked fantastic in that ring on Saturday. The crowd gave her flowers, too, and it was a nice moment to see her winning. However, that Wrestlemania 42 match was supposed to be the coronation of the Bellas winning the tag titles and not just Brie & Paige. This possible snap judgment decision to give them the belts kind of rubs the shine off of the Bellas winning the tag titles if Brie already won the tag titles.

#3 – Retirement for Alexa Bliss? Is AJ Lee gone?
Alexa Bliss posted a big THANK YOU on his social media accounts and I think her big tribute to Bray Wyatt at Wrestlemania was also a “goodbye” to the business. I think this is it for her, as she might be stepping back to be a mother full-time or possibly have more children. In my opinion, the WWE used her incorrectly since that MASSIVE Royal Rumble 2025 return in which her pop blew the roof off of Lucas Oil Field’s stadium (I was there, it was LOUD). HOWEVER, I do appreciate that her teaming up with Charlotte Flair helped repair Charlotte internally and allowed Charlotte to find the joy in pro wrestling again.

After her match with Becky Lynch, AJ Lee announced that she’d be stepping away from the ring too… She’s been in and out of the ring since her return, so taking long breaks is common… But I think she accomplished all she wanted to with a comeback and just wants to chill with a normal life. I wouldn’t be surprised that CM Punk, too, steps back and maybe considers starting a family with AJ Lee. Why not?

#4 – CM Punk was amazing.
That’s a 47-year old dude out there in the Main Event of Wrestlemania 42 and I’m so proud of him, as he finally headlined the big show and CRUSHED IT with a 5-Star Match with Roman Reigns. Best part was CM Punk selling the effects of the match, as he should because he took multiple Superman punches + a shot with the steel steps as he was hanging upside down from the top rope on the outside. That moment when he collapsed during the GTS meant everything. CM Punk just delivered Roman his BEST Wrestlemania main event match and remember, Roman has many of them in his holster. Punk delivered huge and cemented himself as an all-time great.

Honestly with CM Punk, where does he go now? He came back, proved that he could be a professional in a reasonable setting, and headlined Wrestlemania which was his goal during the 2010s when he walked out of the WWE. I would not be surprised if he retired, knowing that he righted the wrongs of his prior WWE career and also proved AEW wrong with this amazing second WWE run.

#5 – Brock Lesnar vs. Oba Femi
Very happy that Oba Femi won and if I were WWE, I’d place a rocketship onto his arse and light that thing on fire to push him to the top. THAT SAID, I really didn’t like how the match went, specifically the complete no-sell of the F5 by Oba. Sorry, but that move ended the Undertaker’s streak and defeated many people in the WWE. It barely hurt Oba, who went on to Chokeslam and then Powerbomb Lesnar with barely any effects of that move. Other than that gripe, I’m glad that Brock Lesnar did business here and put the younger guy over.

And then, Brock Lesnar retired… Those fans in that Las Vegas stadium really felt that and in return, Lesnar got emotional as he was unlacing his boots and hugging Paul Heyman. Since 2012, Lesnar has dominated our lives as pro wrestling fans and in my opinion, Lesnar was the “saving grace” from the 2010s being even worse than what they really were with Vince McMahon’s creative micro-managing.

I still think he’ll wrestle Gunther at SummerSlam and possibly defeat him there, but I’d be perfectly content with Lesnar retiring here. Him hanging it up after losing to Oba makes Oba’s win even more impressive. “I made Lesnar retire”. That’s much different from Gunther defeating Goldberg or Cena because you knew their retirements were coming up. This was more of a random decision, as Lesnar just retiring sells the fact that he knows his time is now up and cannot defeat a monster like Oba Femi.

#6 – Jade Gargill experiment is over.
Look, I won’t deny that Jade looks like a million bucks. She’s beautiful and sculpted like a god. I’ll never deny that… But damn, was she built with 2 left feet? For as hard as both AEW and WWE worked, they tried and tried to make her a professional wrestler but it just did not stick. This goes to show you how natural talent makes a great wrestler and not fully the promotion with its smoke & mirrors. Rhea Ripley bounced all over that ring to sell whatever Jade sent to her, but to anyone watching for a long time, we know what’s going on and know which wrestlers understand how to work.

#7 – No surprises at all.
Many were expecting surprises, including myself, for both Cody/Orton or Punk/Roman and we got nothing… The Rock still hasn’t shown up yet and wasn’t behind Pat McAfee. Once again, this “TKO Era” likes to present surprise appearances throughout the year but craps the bed when it comes to its top show Wrestlemania.

#8 – Concerns over wrestler safety.
I’m surprised that TKO doesn’t show more concern for wrestler safety… There were crazy moments in that Ladder Match and then the “punt” by Randy on Cody could have caused permanent damage to Cody’s sight. There are ways to make things look convincing without, ya know, actually harming another wrestler. Night #1 was a bummer with a bad main event between Cody and Orton, thanks to stupid interference from Pat McAfee, and then to have Cody get legitimate injured was the crap icing on the cake.

#9 – 50,000+ fans still isn’t bad.
I thought that the Las Vegas football stadium looked full and the crowd seemed loud. Getting 50,000 at those high ticket prices is still an accomplishment. AEW’s top show, All In, has less than 20,000 tickets sold in Wembley this year and that’s with cheaper ticket prices. All In last year only did around 22,000 last year and again, with cheaper tickets. History will show that the WWE raised ticket prices too high for Wrestlemania 42 and probably should have gone to another city rather than burning out Las Vegas for a second year. However, all things considered, they still sold over 50,000 tickets and that crowd was still hot.

But damn, quit price gouging loyal WWE fans, TKO. You have all of that TV revenue money, Saudi money, getting Las Vegas to pony up for another year, having Fanatics ripping off fans for merchandise… Bunch of greedy bastards. Think about this, folks… All of this WWE and UFC revenue pouring in and these idiot executives at TKO still have $4 billion in debt. Now, I realize that every company utilizes Commercial Loans to finance things rather than burning through cash but Endeavor itself had over $7 billion in debt before a private equity firm, Silver Lake, bought them to restructure that very debt. That tells me there is more greed within Endeavor and TKO than even we know.

#10 – Roman is champ again, don’t blow it.
Since Wrestlemania 40, Roman Reigns has only wrestled TWELVE TIMES… For both 2024 and 2025, Roman disappeared for 3 months following Wrestlemanias and then would often be barely available during some of the fall months. Yes, I totally agree with the concept of “less is more”, but at least appear and do something. Brock Lesnar made more frequent appearances with his part-time contract than Roman has for the past 2 years.

Even during 2023, Roman would disappear for months as World Champion which is why RAW created its own World Heavyweight Championship to counter that extended absence.

I’m NOT saying to wrestle every single RAW or Smackdown, or perform on every single PLE. Cody Rhodes did that and over-exposed himself since Wrestlemania 40. What I’m saying is show up for the actual paying WWE fans in attendance and tuning in on television.

What is hurting the NBA right now? Players taking nights off, even when they are fully available to play. This “load management” stuff has devalued seeing the NBA live and in-person, along with destroying viewership numbers for regular season games (good lord, what did NBC and Amazon just over pay for?).

Roman is champion again and instead of taking blocks of months off, just fly him in for an appearance… How hard is it to fly him on a private jet just to cut a promo?

Again, I’m not asking for him to WRESTLE at every RAW/Smackdown or perform at ever single PLE… Make appearances and make your presence felt.

WWE, in my opinion, has suffered since Wrestlemania 40 because BOTH Roman Reigns and the Rock disappeared after teasing they’d finally wrestle. The friction from their egos being on the same Bloodline team and then Roman losing at Wrestlemania 40 should have set things in motion. But noooooo, Roman takes 3 months off and Rock only appeared 1 more time during 2024. Then, the opening show of RAW on Netflix was a total joke and Roman honestly hasn’t recovered since.

Now is the time to re-establish Roman as the #1 wrestler for the WWE and we need to see him just a little more… Not saying wrestle every night, but good lord, is it asking much to perform on at least half of the PLEs and maybe show up to 1 or 2 shows per month? That fits well into the “less is more” concept.

Overall, Wrestlemania was “meh” for Night 1, and pretty good for Night 2. Overall, good show despite the struggling hype and TKO meddling to get there.

Wrestlemania 42 reminded me of how much TKO sucks with the sponsors everywhere, 3-4 minute advertisement breaks, and the over-produced show.

*********************

THE LAST WORD

60 minutes for a Hall of Fame speech for Stephanie McMahon.

Tell us how much of a mark of yourself that you are without telling us that you’re a mark for yourself.

Look, Stephanie McMahon was a good on-screen character for her time… I thought her 1999 work as the victim of the Undertaker’s scheme was good and then I liked her teaming up with Triple H through 2000. After that, it was total hit or miss with her often being a dominant heel that never “got hers”. She kept away from any babyfaces retaliating against her, aside from Ronda Rousey beating her up at Wrestlemania in that mixed tag match.

She had a long tenure as EVP of Creative from late 2000 through late 2013. Lots of issues with that time, too… Yes, she did hear John Cena rapping on the back of the touring bus and then incorporated that onto WWE television… But her creative almost got him fired throughout 2002 before that! So many issues with the 2000s WWE, from letting Triple H run RAW into the ground from 2002-2003 to being agitating to Paul Heyman when he was running a successful Smackdown show. The way that women were treated was terrible under Stephanie, as we endured 3 Minute Warning and Divas Search under her creative watch. Ironically, it was her husband Triple H who took better care of female wrestlers creatively.

She didn’t deserve 60 minutes and it’s a CRIME that WWE made fans sit through her speech early in that show.

The FACT is that Stephanie McMahon would NEVER be a character, let alone an executive, if her name wasn’t “McMahon”. This Communications major would probably be working in a marketing department somewhere or maybe a news reporter for a TV channel. Instead, she was pushed to the very top because of her name. Don’t get me wrong, she has some talent… She grew up around the WWE and understood how to cut a promo or generate heat as a character. However, her ego often got in the way and she never let anyone one-up her as the opposition (besides Rousey).

Meanwhile, Sid Eudy is a “legacy” inductee to the Hall of Fame and he received less than 2 minutes of a video on that show. What a joke. Sid was a two-time WWE champion and became said champion because WWE’s pushed Shawn Michaels FAILED to draw as World Champion. Sid won at Survivor Series 1996 because HBK was tanking and then regained the title when HBK “lost his smile”. Sid helped the WWE safe face back then when they needed a credible champion. Yeah, I know, “scissors Sid” or “softball Sid”, but at least Sid didn’t compare his family to the victims of 9/11 like Stephanie McMahon did.

Triple H is too nice of a husband… He restored her confidence by putting her back on WWE shows and now this 60-minute Hall of Fame speech. But come on, quit self-glazing yourselves. WWE’s Attitude Era was built on the Rock and Steve Austin’s characters and whatever they did. FACT is that WWE houseshow attendance began to slide after Austin left to have neck surgery during November 1999 and then RAW’s viewership began sliding after Wrestlemania 16 before it joined TNN. Then from 2000 through 2004, RAW’s viewership kept sliding with Triple H dominating that show as the champion of that brand.

If you want to make a good argument about “getting rid of Triple H”, the past 2 Hall of Fames would be your argument. They are kind of rewriting history from their 2000s and 2010s transgressions, which is a shame because Triple H legitimately saved the WWE from itself during June 2022 when he took over during a very complicated time with Vince McMahon’s bad office behavior towards women being fully exposed.

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