Latest news with #TNA
Yahoo
5 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Rumor Roundup: Bronson Reed belief, WWE meeting, TNA mandates, more!
Speculating on the rumors surrounding pro wrestling is a favored pastime of many fans, perhaps second only to actually watching the matches. In this daily column, we take a look at the latest rumors being churned out by the pro wrestling rumor mill. Important reminder: Rumors are just that — rumors. None of this has been confirmed as fact, it's just circulating around the pro wrestling rumor mill. We track rumor accuracy in a weekly feature called Rumor Look Back you can find here. Remember, take it all with a grain of salt. Rumors for the Day: On Wrestling Observer Radio, Dave Meltzer said he believes Bronson Reed was added to Seth Rollins' group so he can take pins in the group's losses instead of Rollins or Bron Breakker. WWE held a mandatory Zoom meeting for all contracted talent recently, per PW Insider. Newer medical treatments like platelet-rich plasma (PRP) and stem cell therapy were discussed in what was described as an informational session designed to help wrestlers make educated decisions about managing injuries and long-term health. TNA held their own meeting at their TV taping Saturday. Talent were given a memo announcing $100 fines for instances where slaps are used without an agent's approval, or for any throat-slashing gesture. The meeting was also to 'express unhappiness' that previous memos had leaked, then someone leaked that info and the new memo to Fightful Select. Fightful Select also reported that the outcome of the Double or Nothing main event was a closely guarded secret backstage at AEW, and talent were not informed ahead of time that Hangman Page was winning the Owen Cup. WWE was 'absolutely' interested in talking to Willow Nightingale had she not re-signed with AEW, says PW Insider. On The Bryan & Vinny Show, Bryan Alvarez said Hook 'was still getting evaluated' at Double or Nothing and that's why they have him 'do anything other than hitting a guy with a golf club' during Sunday night's Anarchy in the Arena match. Advertisement If you have heard of any interesting rumors that you'd like to add, feel free to post them in the comments section below. Just remember they are rumors and not confirmed as fact, so please take them as such. And check our weekly Rumor Look Back here to keep track of how often rumors turn out to be correct. More from
Yahoo
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
NXT's Jordynne Grace has the strength and desire to put the team on her back
The date is January 27, 2024. WWE's Royal Rumble PLE is in motion, with the women's Rumble having introduced its first four entrants. The surprise to this point has been entrant No. 3, Naomi, former multi-time WWE Women's Champion and most recently a member of the TNA roster. She's a welcome, familiar surprise as a fan-favorite who has history with so many of the participants. When the Rumble clock buzzer hits for the fifth entrance, a Scott Steiner-inspired emergency siren hits, and those in the know tense up and look toward the entrance, knowing another surprise is on its way. Advertisement Jordynne Grace, the bruising boulder of a woman and then-TNA Knockouts Champion, immediately shows her mettle, tossing, slamming and spiking everyone in sight. She briefly shows solidarity with Naomi, the woman she defeated for the Knockouts Title, then the two mutually come to blows. While winning the Rumble — and in turn getting a World Championship match at WrestleMania — is the ultimate goal, Grace was more focused on making sure her first appearance in WWE wouldn't be her last. "I was definitely more nervous before the Rumble because I was terrified to mess anything up — and I didn't mess anything up," Grace told Uncrowned. "Just thankful that nothing went wrong." She parlayed that successful cameo into a Wolverine-like role between companies. She was one of TNA's primary gifted children, but still found time to serve alongside the superteam that is NXT. Four months after her surprise Royal Rumble appearance, Gracie popped out on NXT television as the next challenger to Roxanne Perez's NXT Women's Championship at the 2024 Battleground PLE. Advertisement While talents from both NXT and TNA appear on the other brand's programming, Grace was the most consistent, challenging for titles while also defending her Knockouts Championship against TNA and NXT talent alike. It wasn't something she planned, or even aspired to do, but when called upon, she proved to be the perfect catalyst to create ongoing synergy between the two companies. She'd been a solid contributor in TNA, but focused in on her craft after what she deemed to be a lackluster first title run. "I've been lifting for years, since I was 15 years old, but I never dieted and I never really did cardio at all," Grace said. "Honestly, those are two of the main things that you have to do, unfortunately, to get your body to look in any type of way you want it to look like. "I had just won the Knockouts Championship for the first time, and Deonna Perrazzo had come over to TNA, and she won the title from me her very first weekend there. And I remember feeling so expendable and so just off-put by that, I just thought to myself, 'Well, something has to change, because if someone can just come in here and just take my spot, I have to do something. I have to change something in order for that not to happen ever again.' ... I actually got my first [fitness] coach that following week." With her improved physique and electric offense, Grace dominated TNA's Knockouts division through its deepest and most consistent period to date. And even with that dominance, she's quick to point out that she may have stabilized the division, but it was already buzzing before she arrived. Advertisement "I was in TNA for so long that the Knockouts Division, I didn't really help build it per se, but I think the division was built around me," Grace said. "I had my hand in everything. I was always doing a story with one of the girls or two of the girls at the same time, because it was in flux constantly. Trinity came in — she was there for a time, but she wasn't there for very long. Deonna [Purrazzo] came in — she was there for a few years, but I was there for a very long time. I feel like I was the biggest constant in the Knockouts Division. The person they could always trust … to just go out there and have — or try to have — the best match on the card, no matter who I was wrestling.' Her nearly 300-day Knockouts Title reign came to an end at TNA's Bound For Glory pay-per-view event this past October, when she lost to her closest friend/coldest rival in the company, the roughhousing Russian Masha Slamovich. Grace's ability to not only sit atop the Knockouts Division, but to leave it better than she found it, speaks volumes about her appreciation for her peers, but also why WWE would want someone like that as a focal point of its own thriving women's division. In truth, Grace's foresight might out-lift her forearms, as she saw Slamovich as the perfect heir to keep the division thriving in her absence. Jordynne Grace and Stephanie Vaquer have already made magic in NXT. (Photo via WWE) 'I remember having the conversation about who I thought would be next," Grace said. "Honestly, they didn't have Masha's name in their head at all, which surprised me, but I really [feel] that Masha was the one. … I don't know any of the people that are really in charge, I don't have a relationship with them. But at the time, I don't think that her independent work and GCW work was translating over to TNA in the Knockouts Division. They didn't get it. It didn't click for them. Advertisement "But I knew how good she was, and I knew how important it was for her to be the one to be the next … leader of that locker room.' Grace officially joined WWE in January 2025, solidifying her new venture by entering her second consecutive Royal Rumble. She played coy on social media, claiming she was in Central Texas for her mother's birthday party. She eliminated NXT's Jaida Parker, then got tossed over the top rope by NXT Women's Champion Giulia, establishing herself as a perennial challenger for the brand's top women's title, parallel to the NXT Championship. As a full-time member of the NXT roster, she got her first crack at championship gold at NXT Stand Deliver, the brand's early morning PLE the day of WrestleMania 41, Night 1. Grace, Jaida Parker and Giulia all challenged Stephanie Vaquer in a Fatal 4-Way Match for the NXT Women's Championship. While not involved in the finish, she failed to secure the championship, as Stephanie Vaquer retained by pinning Jaida Parker. Grace once more earned a title shot at NXT Battleground this past weekend, this time in a singles match with Vaquer, but again fell short in her efforts to claim her first title in WWE. Advertisement While she sings the praises of the TNA Knockouts Division, a humbled, well-traveled Grace has no problem admitting that what she's faced in the WWE might be something she needs a bit more time to prepare for. And in some cases, it might be on a level she may not reach. Jordynne Grace has her eyes on NXT gold. (Photo via WWE) "The insecurity that I have with being placed at the front now is that the talent pool is so deep and diverse," Grace said. "I can work as hard as I want and be the best wrestler that I want to be. I feel like some of these NIL athletes were born with something that maybe I wasn't. … Someone like Bayley Humphrey, I can lift my heart out, and I probably will never be as strong as someone like that. She is an absolute monster. "I just feel like there's just more competition, there's more opportunity, and I feel comfortable with being where I am right now, but I always feel a little on guard because there's always someone they could move up next.' Advertisement An NXT Women's Championship may not have been in the cards for Grace, as the May 27 edition of NXT seemed to shake up not only the title landscape, but also the overall trajectory of the roster. Ricky Saints lost his NXT North American Championship to Ethan Paige, New TNA Champion Trick Williams looked down the barrel of the shotgun that is Mike Santana, and the untouchable Stephanie Vaquer found herself tagged by NXT veteran and new Women's Champion Jacy Jane. The big shift seems to be setting in motion a new time for WWE's main roster, where a revolution finds its new television station, folks get whooped via streaming service, and a certain juggernaut runs through a brand new set of unwilling opponents. But for Grace, this was always the goal, and she's never been closer to getting what she's been working for. She knows that to get there, it's a team effort, every single time. "It's what I've been working toward, I feel like, the past 15 years. Every sacrifice I've made, every win, every loss, every title I won at TNA has come down to finally being able to live [my] dream as a WWE champion," she said. "I want to be the one to give whoever comes in front of me their best match, no matter what. … I always ask the person I'm wrestling with, 'What was your favorite match?' They would tell me, I'd be like, 'We're going to have a better match than that. We're going to say it right now and we're going to speak it into existence.' That's what I always want to be for that person."
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
The D'Amore Drop: AEW Double or Nothing was the best wrestling show of 2025, but ...
Few wrestlers in the world could've pulled off the kind of match Will Ospreay and Hangman Adam Page did at AEW Double or Nothing 2025. () The D'Amore Drop is a weekly guest column on Uncrowned written by Scott D'Amore, the Canadian professional wrestling promoter, executive producer, trainer and former wrestler best known for his long-standing role with TNA/IMPACT Wrestling, where he served as head of creative. D'Amore is the current owner of leading Canadian promotion Maple Leaf Pro Wrestling. AEW put on the best wrestling show of 2025 with their Double or Nothing event this past Sunday in Glendale, Arizona. AEW's tagline is 'Where the Best Wrestle,' and Tony Khan has a roster of world-class talent who take that mantra as an absolute promise on every pay-per-view event. Advertisement I mean every word of this: Only a handful of wrestlers — ever — could have put on the match that Will Ospreay and Hangman Adam Page did last Sunday. It was breathtaking, a roller-coaster that left you almost emotionally exhausted. Nevertheless, I stand behind the concern I expressed last week: I think Double or Nothing was the time to pull the trigger on Will Ospreay. Hangman vs. Moxley for the AEW Title is going to be awesome, but I don't understand why this isn't Ospreay's time. And I mean 'I don't understand' — because Tony Khan and his creative team will know a great deal about their plans for Will, their title, and their long-term vision that I simply don't. I'm going to wait and see how this plays out and give these talented people time and space to tell the stories they believe are the best stories they can tell. Advertisement Hangman challenging for — and potentially winning — another AEW World Title in his home state of Texas will be a great moment. Obviously, any promoter would much rather have 'too many' potential world champions than too few, and it'll be interesting to see how AEW picks its way through this 'good problem.' AEW's Anarchy in the Arena match — with the nonstop chaos and playing rock music on a loop — has joined Hell in a Cell, War Games, the Royal Rumble and, I would humbly suggest, Ultimate X, as one of the industry's top-tier gimmick matches. Anarchy has done for falls-count-anywhere brawls what War Games and Hell in a Cell did for cage matches — and what the Royal Rumble did for battle royals. It took a staple gimmick and elevated it to something unique and truly spectacular. WWE's NXT Battleground PLE went head-to-head with AEW's pay-per-view on Sunday and also featured some awesome action and minor milestones for the industry. Advertisement I continue to be proud of Jordynne Grace, who had an absolute barnburner with mega-star-in-the-making Stephanie Vaquer. Jordynne didn't get the NXT belt this time, but she continues to adapt to the WWE style and is paying her dues with some great performances. And then … a WWE PLE was headlined by the TNA World Champion, Joe Hendry, against Trick Williams. As someone who was at TNA for two long stints, including the iconic AJ Styles era, I got chills running up and down my forearms when I heard AJ's voice introduce the TNA World Title match on WWE programming. AJ Styles is TNA Wrestling — and him doing the voiceover just hit so right. I get that TNA fans are upset that Joe got beaten by an NXT/WWE talent. Let's talk about Joe first. Advertisement We're not even in June, and Joe Hendry has gotten the biggest reaction at the Royal Rumble, the biggest pop at WrestleMania, and now headlined a WWE-branded PLE. All of this heading into contract negotiations! Someone is going to pay Joe Hendry A LOT of money very soon, so don't feel bad for Joe. Don't feel bad for TNA, either. NXT does many times the viewers that TNA does on AXS TV. That exposure is critical to TNA. Now the key is how often the TNA title and this story is featured going forward on NXT — and how much Trick shows up on TNA programming. Obviously, there are parallels to what we did between TNA and AEW in 2020, with Kenny Omega coming to TNA to begin a year-long crossover storyline. Kenny gave TNA its biggest viewing figures and buyrates in many, many years, along with some incredible matches despite being almost unable to walk backstage. But this NXT/TNA crossover is much deeper and is doing even more for the TNA brand. Advertisement To me, it looks like Santana is getting prepped to be the new face of TNA when Joe inevitably moves on. I think we'll see Santana get 'revenge' for TNA fans and bring the belt back home. BUT — that should happen at TNA's Slammiversary event on July 20, in Santanta's home of New York, and not in the match scheduled for next week. All of that will give his title win a huge boost. That's smart booking. TNA fans obviously don't want Joe to go, and I'm not sure anyone — not even Santana — wouldn't get booed for beating Joe Hendry. TNA is coming out of this just fine. Speaking of Kenny Omega's TNA Title run, we used Christian Cage as the transitional champion to get the belt from Kenny to TNA's new top babyface, Josh Alexander. Advertisement For a minute, it looked like that talent was going to be Penta, who already had a short-lived run as TNA champ some years before. But then Christian — my old roommate and a TNA legend — came into the picture, and that made more sense as an emotional return as TNA Champion. I get asked online, so I guess I should say here that, of course, it is bittersweet seeing TNA do all these great things with WWE. Ultimately, in wrestling and in life, being happy and positive is a choice you make. I am proud of what we did: Turning around the dead, lifeless corpse of a company called IMPACT Wrestling and bringing it back to a vibrant — dare I say, important — part of the wrestling universe. Advertisement You focus on your wins. I felt very strongly that, as good as the product had gotten, we would never have gotten enough fans to take a chance on IMPACT Wrestling. Myself and a few others believed 'Come back to TNA — it's great again' was a far more compelling pitch to fans. I was also convinced that pretending TNA was a 50/50 rival to WWE, or even AEW, did nothing positive for us. On Sunday night, we were proven right yet again. I saw a clip online of a reporter using code words to suggest to Becky Lynch (and by implication, others like Charlotte Flair) that she should step aside from her spot atop the WWE women's division. Advertisement No one would dream of saying that to 40-somethings like CM Punk, Seth Rollins, Roman Reigns, Randy Orton and Jey Uso (who turns 40 in three months). All of them — male and female — are doing incredible work. Good for Becky for shutting that down. Becky Lynch isn't here for your bull. (Michael Marques/WWE via Getty Images) (WWE via Getty Images) My passion project (aside from this column, of course!) Maple Leaf Pro Wrestling keeps continues to exceed my expectations. Just seven months on from our inaugural show, we are on our way to another sellout with over 1,800 tickets flying out the door already for our July 5 event in Montreal, MLP: Resurrection. We are looking at five consecutive sellouts — and in real arenas with historic significance. We've locked down real sponsorships with legit Canadian companies, like The PoP Shoppe and ShipNerd, and we've had overtures from major streaming/broadcast platforms. I am skating the borders of 'cringe' here, but I'm blown away by everyone's support. Advertisement To get you ready for PCO's triumphant return to the 'House of Pain' in Montreal, check out his recent MLP match below. Bronson Reed was revealed to be the fourth man in the Seth Rollins/Paul Heyman/Bron Breakker heel faction. (What are we calling these guys? 'The Dangerous Coalition'? 'The Revolutionaries'?) Great choice. Who'd ever pick a fight with Seth Rollins now that he has Bron Breakker and Bronson watching his back? I signed Bronson to TNA in late 2021 after he was cut from WWE. He's a massive man, a massive talent, and a good guy. If TNA could have afforded him, I'd have loved to keep him in TNA. But as it was, WWE realized its mistake and brought him back just 13 months later. Advertisement He'll kill it in this new role with Seth and Heyman. Younger fans seem to have found Jesse Ventura's commentary at WWE Saturday Night's Main Event jarring. Kids, Jesse is a true heel commentator — and in that role, he'll contradict himself, refuse to give credit to your heroes, and bend over backward to talk up the villains. Jesse's performance has some shortcomings — like talking over the ring announcer — but he is the best ever in that role. And to be honest, I think wrestling needs more truly heel commentators. AEW's resident lunatic daredevil Darby Allin has completed his climb to the top of Mount Everest and is on his way home. I love that Tony Khan understands his talent shouldn't have to live in a wrestling bubble and should have goals outside the ring. But … climbing Everest?? I'm just thankful someone was there to talk Darby out of doing a Coffin Drop from the summit — because we all damn well know the thought occurred to him.
Associated Press
2 days ago
- Business
- Associated Press
Urenco USA Joins Texas Nuclear Alliance as Founding Member
Austin, TX May 28, 2025 --( )-- The Texas Nuclear Alliance (TNA) proudly welcomes Urenco USA (UUSA), the United States' only large scale commercial uranium enrichment facility, as a Founding Member. 'UUSA is helping the U.S. maintain its position as a global leader in nuclear development by providing homegrown enriched uranium for nuclear power generation,' said TNA President Reed Clay. 'With its energy expertise, infrastructure, and growing demand for reliable power, Texas is poised to lead the nation in nuclear energy, and TNA is proud to partner with UUSA to advance nuclear solutions together.' 'Texas is well positioned to help drive the nuclear resurgence in the United States,' said John Kirkpatrick, Urenco USA's managing director. 'With our plant located right on the Texas-New Mexico border, we are excited to support TNA's efforts to expand the state's nuclear industry and to potentially fuel new Texas nuclear plants with a domestic source of enriched uranium in the future.' About Urenco USA As the only commercial-scale uranium enrichment facility in North America, Urenco USA plays an essential role in the nuclear fuel supply chain, which ends with the generation of reliable, secure, and sustainable energy for U.S. consumers. Our focus is on providing safe, cost-effective and reliable uranium enrichment services for power generation while working within a framework of high regulatory and safety standards. Our world-class facility is located in the southeastern corner of New Mexico and plays a vital role in supporting U.S. energy production, energy security, jobs, and manufacturing. The facility is a leading example of commercial investment in U.S. manufacturing and innovation, which began over two decades ago and is continuing today. To learn more, visit About the Texas Nuclear Alliance TNA is the only industry association in Texas dedicated to the advancement of nuclear technology in the state. TNA was formed with a singular mission: to make Texas the Nuclear Capital of the World. Formed in 2022 in the aftermath of Winter Storm Uri, TNA is based on the fundamental premise that if Texas and the world want low-carbon, reliable energy, it can no longer turn its back on nuclear energy. Nuclear is clean, safe, reliable, and secure. Contact Information: Texas Nuclear Alliance Lauren Clay 512-567-7604 Contact via Email Read the full story here: Urenco USA Joins Texas Nuclear Alliance as Founding Member Press Release Distributed by
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
TNA Tried To Sign CM Punk Before WWE Return
CM Punk was on TNA's radar, but how close were they to actually signing him? CM Punk was fired by AEW in 2023, and rumors persisted about what his next step would be. There was a rumor going around that TNA tried to sign him, and fans speculated that he could show up at that year's Bound For Glory event, which took place in Chicago. Advertisement Now, former TNA executive Scott D'Amore confirmed he did attempt to sign CM Punk. He shared more details on the poorly-kept secret in his new D'Amore Drop column on The Uncrowned. Scott D'Amore confirms he spoke with CM Punk about signing with TNA 'As much as I enjoy the other three, the man who has captured my attention here is CM Punk. Phil Brooks turns 47 years old this fall. Time has almost caught him, and this amazing run he's on in the WWE will be over all too soon. Every time he's out there, despite him never breaking character, you can see Phil behind CM Punk's eyes, just taking it all in,' D'Amore wrote. 'It wasn't a well-kept secret that I tried to sign Phil to TNA after things with AEW fell apart. I knew it was a long shot. I knew I was asking him to work in smaller arenas than he had in a long time,' he continued. 'He listened; he was interested. He never big-timed TNA once, and he conducted himself the way we'd all wish a professional would. Ultimately, he went back to WWE, which, of course, is where he belongs.' Advertisement CM Punk ultimately returned to WWE at Survivor Series 2023 and the rest seems to be history. He overcame injuries and completed an incredibly successful feud with Drew McIntyre and main evented WrestleMania for the first time this year in Las Vegas. Read More: Report: WWE Plans To Host WrestleMania In Las Vegas On A 'Regular Basis' The post TNA Tried To Sign CM Punk Before WWE Return appeared first on Wrestlezone.
