Latest news with #Motorworld
Newsweek
04-08-2025
- 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
20-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Newsweek
WWE Star Set To Return After Year-Long Injury: Report
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. WWE Raw superstar Kiana James is close to returning to the ring after being out for a year. The report comes from Dave Meltzer in the latest Wrestling Observer Newsletter. The update on James's status indicates her long absence from WWE programming is nearing its end. Meltzer stated, "Kiana James is close to returning." This news signals that her recovery process is in its final stages. WWE fans can expect to see her back on television soon. Kiana James Nears WWE Return James has been out of action since June 2024 following a leg injury. Her last match was on the June 17, 2024, episode of Monday Night Raw. She competed in a Triple Threat Money in the Bank qualifier against IYO SKY and Zelina Vega. The injury, which occurred shortly after, required surgery and an extensive rehabilitation period. 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, Abrupt Halt to Her WWE Main Roster Push The timing of the injury stalled her career momentum. She was drafted from NXT to Raw just two months earlier in the April 2024 WWE Draft. Before being sidelined, James made her main roster debut with a victory over Natalya. The win positioned her for a solid push on the Raw brand before the injury stopped her progress. Kiana James' Road to Recovery By September 2024, reports confirmed she was dealing with a leg injury. WWE then moved her to its internal miscellaneous roster list, which is standard for injured talent. The initial recovery was expected to take at least six months. More recently, James was reportedly on the verge of being medically cleared and was seen training with Charlotte Flair. During her time in NXT, James made a name for herself with her businesswoman character. She had a notable run as a heel and captured the NXT Women's Tag Team Championship alongside Fallon Henley. Throughout her time away, it has been reported that James has impressed many within WWE with her strong work ethic and dedication to her recovery. In May 2025, reports suggested she was on the verge of being medically cleared. Recently, James was seen training with former champion Charlotte Flair, further fueling speculation that her return is imminent. During her tenure in NXT, James made a name for herself with a businesswoman gimmick. She had a notable run as a heel, which included capturing the NXT Women's Tag Team Championship alongside Fallon Henley, who would later become a rival. 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
10-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Newsweek
WWE Superstar Details Horrific Injury As They Face Months Out Of Action
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. WWE RAW superstar Zoey Stark has revealed the full extent of the brutal knee injury she suffered during the May 19th episode of RAW. In a video posted to social media, Stark confirmed she underwent major surgery to repair a torn ACL, MCL, and meniscus. The video showed the moment she was injured during a triple-threat qualifying match for Money in the Bank. Stark landed awkwardly after attempting a missile dropkick and had to be carried out of the arena by WWE medical personnel. Unfortunately, this is familiar territory for Stark, who was sidelined with a similar knee injury in late 2021 while in NXT. That injury also required surgery and kept her out of action for approximately nine months. Before this latest setback, Stark had been the last remaining member of the "Pure Fusion Collective" faction on RAW. Her partners, Shayna Baszler and Sonya Deville, had both been released by WWE earlier in 2025. More news: WWE News: Steve Austin Reveals Real-Life Vince McMahon Confrontation Stark first signed with WWE in 2021 and found early success in NXT, winning the NXT Women's Tag Team Championship with Io Shirai (now IYO SKY). After being called up to the main roster in the 2023 WWE Draft, she was immediately placed in a high-profile storyline. 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, served as the enforcer for WWE Hall of Famer Trish Stratus during her heated feud with Becky Lynch. Stark played a crucial role in that program, helping Stratus in major matches at Night of Champions and Payback. Stark's recent video update noted that her surgery, originally scheduled for two hours, ultimately took three and a half hours to complete. The video ended by teasing a further update, promising that fans will find out "What's next for Zoey Stark?" on the June 16th episode of RAW. Stark is someone who is liked within the locker room and a solid in-ring worker. Once she's back, hopefully, she returns to full strength and can continue to build on her career while on the main roster. It will be interesting to see if she gets a renewed push once she's back in action and what brand she will end up on once she returns. We wish her a speedy recovery. More WWE News: For more on WWE, head to Newsweek Sports.
Newsweek
06-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Newsweek
Fan-Favorite Star Admits They Were Surprised By Major WWE Decision
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. After establishing a reputation as one of the world's top female performers in Japan, Giulia signed with WWE in mid-2024 but was made to wait until September to make her official debut. Since then, her ascent through NXT and onto the main roster has been a whirlwind. Giulia quickly won the NXT Women's Championship, clashing with top talents like Roxanne Perez, Stephanie Vaquer, and Jordynne Grace. After that impressive run, Giulia was officially called up to the main roster on May 16, 2025, joining the SmackDown brand. Just one week later, she won her way into the Women's Money in the Bank Ladder Match, which takes place on June 7th. During a new interview with MeraWrestling (h/t to SEScoops, Giulia admitted she was surprised to be called up to the main roster so quickly. She joked that she hadn't even had time to learn the language properly yet. More news: WWE News: Steve Austin Reveals Real-Life Vince McMahon Confrontation "I already thought WWE's pace was incredibly fast to begin with but I'm truly surprised by this speed of moving up to the Main Roster in just eight or nine months," Giulia stated. "I'm like 'Oh no, I still haven't properly learned English.' [laughs] So I'm like 'I'm sorry I haven't learned English.'" 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, initially wanted to move up fast, but found her time in NXT flew by. "At first of course I had the feeling of 'I want to go quickly, I want to go quickly.' But as I wrestled in WWE, every single day, every single match, every single show. Everything was new to me," she explained. "So time just flew by in an instant until today. There's definitely a feeling of 'Already?' It all feels like it happened incredibly fast." Before heading to Money in the Bank, Giulia will team with fellow Money in the Bank competitors Roxanne Perez and Naomi on tonight's SmackDown. They will face their ladder match opponents Rhea Ripley, Stephanie Vaquer, and Alexa Bliss in a major six-woman tag team match. This will mark only Giulia's fourth match on the main roster. For many fans, they think that Giulia is just getting started with her career and can become a top star. More WWE News: For more on WWE, head to Newsweek Sports.
