Latest news with #NXTLevelUp
Newsweek
14-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Newsweek
WWE Star Undergoes Major Surgery
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 NXT superstar Ariana Bennett has announced she has suffered a major injury. In a recent social media post, Bennett revealed that she has torn her ACL and has already undergone surgery. The injury is a significant setback for the promising young star. She has been sidelined from in-ring action since April of this year. An Unexpected Injury In a candid post on her X account, Bennett explained the unusual circumstances of her injury. She revealed that she tore her ACL weeks ago while filming a dancing video that she posted online. "Funny thing is, I didn't even feel pain when it happened," Bennett wrote. "I kept practicing like nothing was wrong. Found out later it was a full tear." She explained that she chose to wait until after her surgery to update her followers in order to protect her mental health during a difficult time. Life threw a curveball a few weeks ago…I tore my ACL. And yes it was torn in that dancing video, my surgery was scheduled for a later date. Funny thing is, I didn't even feel pain when it happened. I kept practicing like nothing was wrong. Found out later it was a full tear.… — Aria Bennett WWE (@AriaBennettWWE) July 13, 2025 The Long Road To Recovery Appolo crews and Titus battle in the ring during the WWE show at Zenith Arena on may 09, 2017 in Lille north France. / AFP PHOTO / PHILIPPE HUGUEN Appolo crews and Titus battle in the ring during the WWE show at Zenith Arena on may 09, 2017 in Lille north France. / AFP PHOTO / PHILIPPE HUGUEN An ACL tear is one of the most significant injuries a professional athlete can suffer. The typical recovery time for such an injury is between nine and twelve months, meaning Bennett will be out of action for a substantial period. Many top WWE stars have had their careers derailed by the same injury in the past. However, modern medicine and rehabilitation have allowed wrestlers like Seth Rollins, Tegan Nox, and Dakota Kai to make successful returns from the devastating tear. More news: WWE News: Steve Austin Reveals Real-Life Vince McMahon Confrontation A Positive Mindset Despite the long road ahead, Bennett is maintaining a positive outlook. She wrote about her faith and her focus on healing. "Keeping things fun and lighthearted has helped me get through the hard times," she wrote. "Laughter really is medicine. This is just one chapter in the story. Right now, it's about healing, trusting the process, and coming back stronger—mind, body, and spirit." Bennett signed with WWE as part of the Performance Center class of Fall 2022. The former collegiate track and field athlete had been a regular competitor on the NXT Level Up program before her injury. Bennett's last match was at an NXT live event on April 26, where she competed in a tag team match. We wish her a speedy recovery. More WWE News: For more on WWE, head to Newsweek Sports
Newsweek
16-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Newsweek
Released WWE Superstar Reveals New Ring Name
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. In a move following her departure from WWE, a recently released talent has unveiled a new persona as she prepares to navigate the independent wrestling circuit. This development comes on the heels of a substantial wave of releases earlier this month, which saw seventeen performers exit the company, eleven of whom were part of the NXT brand, signaling a shift in WWE's talent roster. Among those released from NXT was Jakara Jackson, whose contract was terminated alongside her former Meta-Four stablemate, Oro Mensah. Jackson, however, quickly made it clear that her journey in professional wrestling was far from over, and the 30-year-old has now taken a concrete step in shaping her post-WWE career by adopting a new ring name. Jackson's tenure with WWE began when she signed a developmental contract and reported to the WWE Performance Center. During her time in NXT, Jackson made appearances on NXT's weekly television show and NXT Level Up. Her most prominent role came as a member of the Meta-Four stable, a faction that also included Oro Mensah, Noam Dar, and Lash Legend. More news: WWE News: Steve Austin Reveals Real-Life Vince McMahon Confrontation Transitioning to her new identity, Jackson has updated her Twitter profile, changing her name from Jakara Jackson to Mara Sadè. This signals a fresh start and a new chapter for the performer as she steps into the broader world of professional wrestling beyond the WWE umbrella. She is looking to replace her existing Twitter banner, which still features her old ring name, with one that reflects her new identity as Mara Sadè. She posted a direct request to her audience, writing: STAMFORD, CONNECTICUT - JANUARY 28: A WWE logo shines from the WWE world headquarters on January 28, 2024 in Stamford, Connecticut. WWE founder Vince McMahon resigned from the WWE and its parent company TKO as... STAMFORD, CONNECTICUT - JANUARY 28: A WWE logo shines from the WWE world headquarters on January 28, 2024 in Stamford, Connecticut. WWE founder Vince McMahon resigned from the WWE and its parent company TKO as executive chairman and board of directors following allegations of sexual assault in a Connecticut lawsuit. A former employee Janel Grant accused McMahon, 78, of sexual assault and sexually trafficking her. More "Hey gang! Can yall make me a badass profile banner?" The wrestler clearly intends to hit the ground running and is fostering a collaborative relationship with her supporters as she embarks on this new phase of her career. Released WWE star Jakara Jackson has rebranded to Mara Sadè on socials ahead of her free agency — WrestleTalk (@WrestleTalk_TV) May 15, 2025 The departures impacted both the main roster, including names like Braun Strowman and Shayna Baszler, and NXT, with talents such as Cora Jade and Gigi Dolin also being let go. It's important to note that the specific circumstances surrounding each individual's departure, such as a release or contract non-renewal, can differ. It will be interesting to see where she ends up. More WWE News: For more on WWE, head to Newsweek Sports.
Newsweek
05-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Newsweek
Released WWE Superstar Retires From Pro Wrestling
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. The recent wave of WWE releases that impacted both main roster and NXT talents last week has prompted one competitor to announce the conclusion of her wrestling career. NXT performer Dani Palmer confirmed she was among those let go by the company and subsequently revealed her retirement from athletic competition due to injury setbacks. Palmer was part of a large group of releases that included main roster names like Braun Strowman, Shayna Baszler, and Dakota Kai, as well as fellow NXT talents such as Gigi Dolin, Cora Jade, Gallus, and others. Following the news, Palmer took to social media to address her departure and future. In an emotional statement, she expressed gratitude for her time and confirmed her decision to retire: "Thank you WWE for bringing me to the love of my life🤍 the past 3 years have been amazing! It's a bittersweet feeling to be officially closing out my athletic career, but I can truly say I went til the wheels fell lol. Our bodies are a gift and mine has been so kind to me. I look forward to this next chapter!! Gods been giving me some big dreams with bringing my business back and I couldn't be more stoked about it! Thank you all for the support❤️❤️" A subsequent report from Fightful Select corroborated her retirement intentions, noting that industry sources they spoke with "don't believe that Dani Palmer will continue in wrestling." More news: WWE News: Steve Austin Reveals Real-Life Vince McMahon Confrontation LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - OCTOBER 11: A WWE logo is shown on a screen before a WWE news conference at T-Mobile Arena on October 11, 2019 in Las Vegas, Nevada. It was announced that WWE... LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - OCTOBER 11: A WWE logo is shown on a screen before a WWE news conference at T-Mobile Arena on October 11, 2019 in Las Vegas, Nevada. It was announced that WWE wrestler Braun Strowman will face heavyweight boxer Tyson Fury and WWE champion Brock Lesnar will take on former UFC heavyweight champion Cain Velasquez at the WWE's Crown Jewel event at Fahd International Stadium in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia on October 31. More Dani Palmer (real name Alexis Amrhein), a highly decorated former collegiate acrobat and tumbler who secured three NCAA National Championships, joined WWE through its Next In Line (NIL) program in 2022. After training at the Performance Center, she primarily competed on the NXT Level Up show and had a brief tag team run with Tatum Paxley on NXT television. Unfortunately, her progress was significantly hampered by a serious hip injury that required surgery in 2024, keeping her sidelined prior to her release. Her retirement marks an unfortunate end to a promising athletic career cut short by injury. It's unclear what she will be doing with herself going forward as a career, but it won't be as a pro wrestler. More WWE News: For more on WWE, head to Newsweek Sports.
