Latest news with #LiveTryout
Newsweek
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Newsweek
Former WWE Superstar Announces Retirement
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Muhammad Hassan, one of the most controversial characters in modern WWE history, has officially announced his retirement from professional wrestling. The man behind the character, Mark Copani, confirmed that his brief return to the ring a few years ago was his final chapter as a performer. Speaking on the A2theK Wrestling Show, Copani reflected on his short-lived comeback and his final decision to step away from the business for good. Ex-WWE Star: "I Don't Think I'll Ever Step In The Ring Again" After more than a decade away from wrestling, Hassan returned to the independent circuit in 2018 for a handful of matches. He explained that the experience was enjoyable but that his days as an active competitor are now definitely behind him. "It was a lot of fun, just to be able to get back in a ring in front of a few hundred people," Hassan shared. "Just see if I could still do it, and I could do it, obviously not at the level I used to do it... I was done and kind of got it out of my system, and I don't think I'll ever step in the ring and wrestle again." A Controversial and Unforgettable WWE Character The Muhammad Hassan character debuted in WWE in 2004. He was portrayed as an Arab-American who was tired of the prejudice and stereotyping he and his community faced in a post-9/11 America. The character was complex and effective; his grievances were legitimate and often sympathetic, but he delivered his message with the arrogance of a classic heel, which generated incredible heat from the live crowds. COLOGNE, GERMANY - NOVEMBER 07: A WWE Logo at the WWE Live Tryout at the Motorworld on November 7, 2018 in Cologne, Germany. COLOGNE, GERMANY - NOVEMBER 07: A WWE Logo at the WWE Live Tryout at the Motorworld on November 7, 2018 in Cologne, pushed the character heavily from the start. He remained undefeated for months and was placed in high-profile programs with legends like Hulk Hogan, Shawn Michaels, and The Undertaker. He was widely believed to be on a fast track to winning the World Heavyweight Championship. More news: WWE Superstar Announces Retirement Match The Storyline That Ended a WWE Career Hassan's promising career came to an abrupt and tragic end in July 2005 due to a case of horrific, real-world timing. On an episode of SmackDown, a pre-taped segment aired that showed Hassan "praying" on the entrance ramp before a group of masked men attacked The Undertaker on his behalf. The same day that the taped segment aired, the tragic London bombings, a series of terrorist attacks, occurred. The unfortunate visual parallels between the storyline and the real-world tragedy led to a massive public and media backlash. The television network UPN pressured WWE to remove the character from its programming immediately, and Hassan's career as a top-tier star was over in an instant. After leaving the business, Mark Copani went on to have a successful career as a high school principal. More WWE News: For more on WWE, head to Newsweek Sports.
Newsweek
16-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Newsweek
Injury Stops Former WWE Star's First Match After Release
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Priscilla Kelly, known to WWE fans as Gigi Dolin, made her first in-ring appearance since being released by the company. Her return match unfortunately ended early due to an injury scare. The former NXT Women's Tag Team Champion has since clarified the situation for her concerned fans. She explained that it was a recurring issue and not a new, serious injury. A String Of Recent WWE Releases Kelly became a free agent as part of a recent wave of talent releases from WWE. The releases included main roster stars such as Braun Strowman, Dakota Kai, and Shayna Baszler. Several NXT talents were also let go, including Kelly, her former rival Cora Jade, the Gallus faction, and Dani Palmer. Following her departure, Kelly quickly booked her first match on the independent circuit. Post-WWE Match Ends In Injury Scare Kelly's first match since her release took place at Wrestling REVOLVER's "Cage of Horrors" show on June 14. She faced off against her real-life fiancé, current TNA star Zachary Wentz. The highly anticipated match had to be stopped prematurely. Kelly appeared to suffer a knee injury, bringing the bout to an unexpected and concerning halt. COLOGNE, GERMANY - NOVEMBER 07: A WWE Logo at the WWE Live Tryout at the Motorworld on November 7, 2018 in Cologne, Germany. COLOGNE, GERMANY - NOVEMBER 07: A WWE Logo at the WWE Live Tryout at the Motorworld on November 7, 2018 in Cologne, Germany. Priscilla Kelly Clarifies The Situation Shortly after the match, Kelly took to social media to address the incident. She explained that what happened was not a new injury but a pre-existing anatomical issue. More news: WWE News: Steve Austin Reveals Real-Life Vince McMahon Confrontation "My patella came out of place. It does that from time to time," Kelly wrote. "It's an anatomy issue I've had my whole life, and I've managed to always work through it, even sometimes continuing matches after it happens." She wanted to reassure fans that the condition is manageable. "It's not an "injury", it just hurts a good bit and I have to "pop" it back in place. Now ya know. Sorry, guys." My patella came out of place. It does that from time to time. It's an anatomy issue I've had my whole life, and I've managed to always work through it, even sometimes continuing matches after it happens. It's not an "injury", it just hurts a good bit and I have to "pop" it back... — Priscilla Kelly (@HellsFavoritePK) June 15, 2025 It will be interesting to see where Dolin ends up. Her ex-husband Darby Allin works for AEW and they've remained friends since the split. She would be a welcomed addition to the roster, and the women's division should she opt to sign with the promotion. There have been no recent reports about whether AEW is interested in bringing her in or not. More WWE News: For more on WWE, head to Newsweek Sports.
Newsweek
02-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Newsweek
"I Lost Myself" - Released WWE Superstar Breaks Silence On Departure
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Priscilla Kelly, known to WWE fans as Gigi Dolin, has shared a deeply personal and emotional reflection on her WWE release. She has also touched on the challenging period leading up to it. Kelly, who was released from her WWE contract on May 2nd, 2025, alongside several other NXT and main roster talents, took to social media on June 1st with a new promo video. The video showed Kelly burning trinkets related to her WWE career. It also included a recreation of the phone call where she received news of her release. In the message, Kelly spoke of feeling like she "had lost everything." More news: WWE News: Steve Austin Reveals Real-Life Vince McMahon Confrontation She elaborated on her internal struggles: "I had everything. Everything I worked so hard for so long to achieve and somewhere along the way, I lost myself. Almost entirely." She continued, "I became a shell of the girl I knew. I didn't even recognize the body I saw in the mirror." COLOGNE, GERMANY - NOVEMBER 07: A WWE Logo at the WWE Live Tryout at the Motorworld on November 7, 2018 in Cologne, Germany. COLOGNE, GERMANY - NOVEMBER 07: A WWE Logo at the WWE Live Tryout at the Motorworld on November 7, 2018 in Cologne, revealed a period of profound questioning. "I had asked myself time and time again, did I even love this anymore? I had been through so much in my childhood and in my adult life that I thought surely nothing, and I mean nothing, could break me. But it did," she confessed. "I found myself picking up pieces of my dream, not knowing what glue would be strong enough to put it back together." A significant turning point for Kelly was a serious injury. "Well, it turns out that glue was a torn and flipped meniscus on a Friday morning. I spent every day of my recovery putting myself back together," she explained. This period of rehabilitation seemingly led to a renewed sense of purpose and determination. "I came back with a vengeance and one goal. Show everyone what the hell I'm capable of," Kelly declared. "Break every assumption, every doubt. Bring back a part of me that I thought was dead and work my ass off until... I sat with my thoughts." She ended her reflection on the release with a stark admission: "It had felt like I had experienced a death. Maybe I did." At the time of her release, Kelly was part of an NXT faction with Shotzi (who also recently exited WWE after her contract was not renewed) and Tatum Paxley. Kelly has already had her first post-WWE independent wrestling dates announced, signaling her intent to showcase her capabilities on her own terms in this new chapter of her career. More WWE News: For more on WWE, head to Newsweek Sports.
Newsweek
28-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Newsweek
Released WWE Star Set For In-Ring Return
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Just weeks after her WWE release, Jakara Jackson, now wrestling under the name Mara Sadè, has her first significant post-WWE match announced, and it's a world championship opportunity. On Wednesday, Jersey Championship Wrestling (JCW) revealed that Sadè will challenge Masha Slamovich for the JCW World Championship at their July 6th event in Asbury Park, New Jersey, provided Slamovich is still the champion by then. Jackson was released from her WWE contract on May 2, 2025. Shortly after the news broke, she took to social media with a determined video message, making it clear she intends to continue and make a significant impact in her wrestling career. "Do I wish that I could have shown the world what I can do on my own? Hell yes," Sadè stated in the video. "And the way I see it, I'm still going to get that opportunity, just in a different way." Initially indicating she would be known as Miss Jackson, she has since updated her social media profiles to reflect her new ring name, Mara Sadè. More news: WWE News: Steve Austin Reveals Real-Life Vince McMahon Confrontation Jackson signed with WWE in early 2021 as part of a Performance Center recruitment class. She primarily competed on NXT Level Up. She was later prominently featured on NXT television as part of the Meta-Four faction, alongside Oro Mensah, Noam Dar, and Lash Legend, often serving as a valet and occasional competitor. COLOGNE, GERMANY - NOVEMBER 07: A WWE Logo at the WWE Live Tryout at the Motorworld on November 7, 2018 in Cologne, Germany. COLOGNE, GERMANY - NOVEMBER 07: A WWE Logo at the WWE Live Tryout at the Motorworld on November 7, 2018 in Cologne, moments included her participation in the NXT Women's Championship #1 Contender's Battle Royal in July 2023 and the NXT Women's Breakout Tournament in October 2023. In a case of showing off WWE's then-growing openness to inter-promotional appearances, her most recent televised match before her WWE release actually occurred at TNA Rebellion in April 2025. *JCW BIRTHDAY UPDATE* *JCW World Title Match* MASHA SLAMOVICH (if still champ) vs MARA SADE (fka Jakara Jackson) Plus: Tremont vs Mad Dog Get Tix: Sun 7/6 - 5PM Asbury Park NJ The House of Independents — Jersey Championship Wrestling (@JerseyCW) May 28, 2025 This is where she teamed with her Meta-Four stablemate Lash Legend in a four-way tag team match for the TNA Knockouts Tag Team Championship, which was ultimately won by Heather By Elegance and Ash By Elegance. This upcoming JCW World Championship match against a renowned talent like Masha Slamovich provides Mara Sadè with an immediate high-profile platform to showcase her abilities as she starts on this new chapter of her career. It appears that she plans to continue wrestling on a full-time basis. More WWE News: For more on WWE, head to Newsweek Sports.
Newsweek
13-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Newsweek
Released WWE Superstar Books Surprising Opponent For In-Ring Return
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Priscilla Kelly, known to WWE fans as Gigi Dolin, is set for a highly unusual and personal first match since her departure from WWE earlier this month. Wrestling Revolver has announced a first-time-ever encounter where Kelly will go one-on-one with her real-life fiancé, TNA star Zachary Wentz. This unique intergender match is scheduled to take place at Wrestling Revolver's "Cage of Horrors" event on June 14, 2025, in Clive, Iowa. For Kelly, it marks a return to her original ring name as she embarks on her post-WWE career. Wentz is a prominent member of The Rascalz in TNA Wrestling, alongside Trey Miguel. He has also recently made appearances on WWE NXT programming as part of the ongoing working relationship between TNA and WWE. Priscilla Kelly's release from WWE occurred in early May 2025, bringing an end to her run as the popular Gigi Dolin character. She first joined WWE in early 2021, making an immediate impact. She quickly became a cornerstone of the NXT women's division as a founding member of the dominant faction, Toxic Attraction. Alongside Mandy Rose and Jacy Jayne, the group held a firm grip on NXT. COLOGNE, GERMANY - NOVEMBER 07: A WWE Logo at the WWE Live Tryout at the Motorworld on November 7, 2018 in Cologne, Germany. COLOGNE, GERMANY - NOVEMBER 07: A WWE Logo at the WWE Live Tryout at the Motorworld on November 7, 2018 in Cologne, her time with Toxic Attraction, Kelly, as Gigi Dolin, achieved significant championship success. She captured the NXT Women's Tag Team Championship on two separate occasions with Jacy Jayne as her partner. More news: WWE News: Steve Austin Reveals Real-Life Vince McMahon Confrontation Following the eventual implosion of Toxic Attraction, Jacy Jayne infamously betrayed Dolin. This ignited a profoundly personal and heated rivalry between the former best friends. Their intense feud culminated in a brutal Weaponized Steel Cage Match. Dolin emerged victorious from that violent encounter, settling the score with Jayne. Over the subsequent period in NXT, Dolin competed in various singles matches and different tag team pairings. She continued to be a featured talent on the developmental brand. Toward the end of her WWE tenure, she found new allies. Dolin joined forces with Tatum Paxley and Shotzi to form the short-lived but memorable group known as Chemical X. Now, wrestling under her original name, Priscilla Kelly is preparing to step back onto the independent scene. Her first announced match against the man she loves, Zachary Wentz, promises a truly unique and emotional spectacle. This booking by Wrestling Revolver is a significant one. It not only presents Kelly's first match since her WWE release but does so in an extraordinarily personal and unprecedented fashion. Fans will undoubtedly be intrigued to witness this clash between fiancés. The "Cage of Horrors" event is set to provide a memorable start to Priscilla Kelly's new chapter in professional wrestling. More WWE News: For more on WWE, head to Newsweek Sports.
