BY SACNILK

WWE has had no shortage of talented Superstars who had the charisma, athletic ability and in-ring skills to become major names, only for their careers to stall before reaching the main-event level. From Mr. Kennedy and Shelton Benjamin to Carlito and Paul London, these wrestlers showed flashes of genuine star potential but never received the sustained push needed to turn them into household names. This list looks back at 10 WWE Superstars whose careers had the ingredients for something much bigger. We will examine when they arrived in WWE, how they were introduced, the opportunities they received, the moments when they appeared destined for a major breakthrough, and why they ultimately failed to become consistent main-event stars. 10. D’Lo Brown D’Lo Brown entered WWE during the Attitude Era and initially became part of the Nation of Domination. He made his televised WWF debut in 1997 and quickly became one of the more recognizable members of the group. Brown eventually developed a character of his own, complete with his trademark head shake, chest protector and energetic wrestling style. He also became a two-time European Champion, with WWE’s own title history showing multiple reigns between 1998 and 1999. His athleticism was particularly impressive for his size, and he could work with both high-flyers and larger opponents. He was also involved in some of the most important factions and storylines of the Attitude Era. The problem was that WWE never consistently treated Brown as a potential top-level singles star. He remained an important supporting player rather than someone positioned alongside The Rock, Stone Cold Steve Austin, Triple H or The Undertaker. 9. Paul London Paul London was one of WWE's most naturally gifted high-flyers of the 2000s. He signed with WWE in 2003 and made his television debut on SmackDown against Brock Lesnar. London quickly established himself as an exciting performer in the Cruiserweight division before moving into the tag-team scene. He won the WWE Tag Team Championship with Billy Kidman in 2004 and later formed a highly successful partnership with Brian Kendrick. London and Kendrick defeated MNM at Judgment Day 2006 to win the WWE Tag Team Championship. Their reign eventually lasted 333 days, which WWE's title history records as the longest reign in the championship's history at that time. Despite that success, London was rarely presented as a potential singles main-eventer. WWE had an opportunity to turn him into a major high-flying babyface, but that opportunity never fully materialized. 8. Chris Masters Chris Masters arrived in WWE in early 2005 with almost everything WWE traditionally looked for in a potential star: an imposing physique, a memorable nickname, a simple character and a devastating finishing move. WWE's own profile notes that the 6-foot-4, 265-pound "Masterpiece" quickly attracted attention after debuting on Raw and became famous for his Master Lock Challenge. Masters even entered the Elimination Chamber for the WWE Championship during his first year with the company, demonstrating just how highly WWE initially viewed him. The Master Lock Challenge was one of the strongest concepts WWE had for a mid-2000s heel. Masters could walk into an arena, challenge anyone to escape his hold and immediately create a reason for fans to care. But the momentum didn't last. Instead of becoming a dominant monster heel who could eventually challenge for a world championship, Masters gradually became another name on the roster. 7. Shelton Benjamin Shelton Benjamin arrived in WWE as part of the highly respected duo with Charlie Haas. The pair won tag-team gold and quickly established themselves as one of the company's best young athletic teams. WWE's title history records their multiple World Tag Team Championship reigns beginning in 2003. Benjamin's singles career eventually produced some spectacular moments. His athletic ability was obvious, particularly in his famous matches against Shawn Michaels and other top stars. He also became a two-time Intercontinental Champion. The problem was that WWE often presented Benjamin as an excellent wrestler rather than as a potential superstar. 6. Carlito Carlito may have one of the strongest cases on this list because WWE initially appeared to have enormous confidence in him. He made his SmackDown debut in 2004 and immediately defeated John Cena for the United States Championship. He later won the Intercontinental Championship on his Raw debut against Shelton Benjamin. Carlito also had something many technically gifted wrestlers lacked: natural charisma. His "I spit in the face of people who don't want to be cool" character was simple, memorable and easy for fans to understand. He won multiple championships during his original WWE run, including the United States, Intercontinental and Tag Team Championships. He eventually left WWE in 2010 and returned to the company in 2023, although his later run was largely used in a supporting/comedic role. The frustrating part is that Carlito looked like someone who could have occupied the upper-middle card for years and potentially moved into the world-title picture. Instead, the company never made the long-term commitment necessary to turn him into a true main-event attraction. 5. John Morrison John Morrison had perhaps one of the most complete packages of any wrestler on this list. He originally entered WWE after winning Tough Enough in 2002 and eventually became Johnny Nitro. His partnership with Joey Mercury and Melina created the successful MNM act before Morrison developed into a singles performer. After becoming John Morrison, he captured the ECW Championship and later became a major part of WWE programming alongside The Miz. WWE itself documented the beginning of his "Morrison era" after he reinvented his character. His parkour-inspired movement, athletic entrances and spectacular offense made him one of WWE's most visually impressive wrestlers. Yet despite winning the Intercontinental and Tag Team Championships and becoming ECW Champion, Morrison never won WWE's top world championship during his original run. 4. MVP MVP arrived in WWE with a character that immediately stood out. He made his first SmackDown appearance on August 4, 2006, portraying the arrogant, flashy "Ballin'" superstar. WWE's own biography notes that the company gave him a major contract and positioned him as one of the brand's most intriguing new arrivals. MVP backed up the talk in the ring. Within less than a year, he became United States Champion, and he later won the WWE Tag Team Championship with Matt Hardy. WWE even presented him as someone with the potential to become a future World Champion. His feud and partnership with Matt Hardy were among the highlights of SmackDown during that period. MVP had charisma, a distinctive character, excellent mic skills and enough in-ring ability to work with top stars. Yet WWE never fully pulled the trigger on him as a world-title-level performer. Considering how over his character became, MVP is one of the clearest examples of a wrestler who appeared destined for a much bigger role but never quite received it. 3. Ricochet Ricochet built his reputation on the independent circuit and in New Japan Pro-Wrestling as one of the most innovative high-flyers in the world before signing with WWE and debuting on NXT in 2018, later moving to the main roster in 2019. His arrival came with genuine buzz — WWE even teased a mystery "One" storyline to build anticipation before his reveal. Once on the main roster, however, Ricochet was largely kept in the midcard, frequently used to elevate other performers rather than being elevated himself. His athleticism remained undeniable, but a sustained run at the top of a WWE card never came his way. 2. Zack Ryder Zack Ryder is one of the rare cases of a WWE Superstar who essentially pushed himself. After joining the main roster in the mid-2000s, Ryder found himself stuck in lower-card roles for years until he launched his own YouTube series, "Z! True Long Island Story," around 2011 — building a grassroots fanbase almost entirely outside of WWE's own programming. That fan-driven momentum eventually forced WWE's hand, leading to an Internet Championship run and a surprise Intercontinental Championship win at WrestleMania 32 in 2016. But each time Ryder gained traction, WWE pulled back shortly after, treating his pushes as brief experiments rather than long-term investments — leaving one of wrestling's most fan-beloved underdogs without the sustained spotlight his popularity suggested he'd earned. 1. Mr. Kennedy If there is one wrestler who arguably came closest to becoming a major WWE superstar before his momentum disappeared, it is Mr. Kennedy. Kennedy debuted in WWE in 2005 and quickly developed one of the most recognizable characters on the roster. His microphone work, entrance and "Kennedy... Kennedy!" catchphrase immediately separated him from the rest of the pack. WWE gave him major opportunities early in his career, including a Money in the Bank victory at WrestleMania 23. He was planning to hold the contract until WrestleMania 24 and challenge for the WWE Championship. That alone shows how seriously WWE was considering him. But his planned rise was derailed when he lost the Money in the Bank contract to Edge after defending it on Raw. WWE's own history notes that Kennedy remains the only Money in the Bank contract holder who never successfully cashed in. He also suffered injuries and experienced repeated changes in direction. Instead of becoming a consistent main-event heel, Kennedy's WWE run faded and he departed the company in 2009. For a wrestler with his character, microphone ability and natural presence, his WWE career ended far below the level many fans expected.

BY SACNILK

Drew McIntyre's WWE comeback could have looked very different. After being released by WWE on June 12, 2014, McIntyre spent roughly three years rebuilding himself outside the company. He wrestled around the world under the name Drew Galloway and gradually developed into a far more established performer before WWE came calling again. When that opportunity finally arrived, however, McIntyre did not want to simply walk back into Raw or SmackDown. Speaking about his return during his conversation with Stone Cold Steve Austin, McIntyre explained that Triple H and William Regal had been following his career during his time away from WWE. “He'd been watching what I was doing, was kinda proud of what I'd achieved as a wrestler but, more importantly, how I'd grown as a man and where I was at,” McIntyre recalled. That phone call from Triple H was particularly meaningful because McIntyre knew he had earned another opportunity with WWE rather than simply being handed one. “And, you know, we both decided it was time to come back home,” McIntyre said. McIntyre Had His Mind Made Up. Once Triple H explained that the plan was for him to return through NXT, McIntyre did not need much convincing. In fact, the former WWE Superstar said he was effectively sold on the idea within the first few minutes. “I was coming back. I was sold within the first five minutes,” McIntyre said. But there was an important reason why NXT appealed to him. McIntyre believed the NXT audience consisted of the hardcore wrestling fans who had followed his career outside WWE. These were fans who knew what he had accomplished as Drew Galloway on the independent scene and could therefore understand how much he had changed since his first WWE run. McIntyre revealed that he was very clear with Triple H about where he wanted to begin. “I won't go to ‘Raw.’ I won't go to ‘SmackDown.’ I wanna go to NXT.” He continued: “That's the audience that know what I'm all about. They're the ones that are the hardcore fans. They're watching independent wrestling. They know who Drew Galloway is, Drew McIntyre is these days.” For McIntyre, returning through NXT was not about taking an easier route back to WWE. It was about proving that he deserved another opportunity. “I can be a leader there. That's where I wanna start out. I wanna prove myself there.” McIntyre's comments are particularly interesting because, at the time, Raw and SmackDown were traditionally viewed as the top destinations for WWE talent. However, McIntyre had a different perspective after spending years away from the company. He had already experienced the main roster during his first WWE run. Rather than immediately returning to the same environment, he wanted to establish the new version of Drew McIntyre in NXT.

BY SACNILK

John Cena walked away from WWE in December 2025 with 17 world championships, a Grand Slam, and a resume that reads like a history book of the last two decades of professional wrestling. He beat The Rock, ended feuds with Lesnar, Undertaker, HHH, Angle, Edge, Orton, Batista, Punk, Styles, Owens, Rollins, Reigns, and dozens more across a 23-year run that closed with a tap-out loss to Gunther at Saturday Night's Main Event. But even a career that sprawling has holes in it. Some opponents were in a different company. Some were on the same roster for years and just never got booked against him. Some were on the wrong side of history — retired, injured, or simply timed out before creative connected the dots. Here's my ranking of the 10 dream opponents who never got their moment with Cena, and why each would've been must-see wrestling. 1. John Cena vs. "Stone Cold" Steve Austin This is the granddaddy of every "what if" list in WWE history. Austin and Cena represent two of the biggest merchandise-movers and most bankable stars the company has ever produced, from two entirely different eras of storytelling — Austin's beer-swilling rebellion versus Cena's hustle-loyalty-respect superhero routine. The two never actually locked up, though Austin did serve as a special guest referee for a string of Cena's SmackDown title defenses back in 2005, overseeing wins over JBL and Kurt Angle. When Cena was asked directly why it never happened, his answer was refreshingly simple: nobody ever pulled the trigger on it. He's said he would have loved to wrestle Austin, along with Andre the Giant, but chose to focus on gratitude for the matches he did get rather than the ones that slipped away. Given Austin's limited, sporadic in-ring appearances since the mid-2000s, this is a match that was always more likely to live in highlight-reel fantasy than reality — but it's still the one fans debate loudest. 2. John Cena vs. Goldberg Cena and Goldberg crossed paths exactly once in a competitive setting — the 2004 Royal Rumble, where both men entered late and were eliminated within minutes of each other, Goldberg going out 24th and Cena 25th. Beyond that, despite Goldberg's surprise 2016 return giving him fresh programs against Brock Lesnar, Roman Reigns, The Undertaker, and Kevin Owens, a singles match with Cena simply never materialized. Both men have publicly wished it had. Goldberg has said he never got the chance to put his hands around Cena's throat and admitted that would have been fun, while Cena, asked about it directly at a fan convention, shrugged it off with a joke about nobody ever telling him to do it. With both stars running retirement tours in the same calendar year, some in the wrestling media even pushed publicly for WWE to finally book the collision before either man hung up his boots — but the moment never came. 3. John Cena vs. Ric Flair The Nature Boy shared the ring with essentially every major star of the last five decades — Hogan, Steamboat, Sting, Michaels, Triple H, Batista — spanning the WCW, NWA, and WWE eras. Somehow, a Flair-Cena singles match never happened, despite years of overlap on WWE programming during Cena's ascension in the mid-2000s. The stylistic contrast alone makes this one of the more tantalizing misses: Flair's chop-heavy, psychology-driven old-school formula against Cena's power-babyface, five-moves-of-doom arsenal. A Figure-Four attempt countered into an Attitude Adjustment would have been the kind of moment that bridges wrestling generations. 4. John Cena vs. Kazuchika Okada Often billed by fans and pundits as New Japan Pro-Wrestling's answer to Cena — a franchise cornerstone who carried his promotion on his back for over a decade — Okada's career arc ran almost parallel to Cena's later years. The two were never on the same roster at the same time, and any lingering hope of a crossover dream match effectively ended when Okada signed with AEW rather than WWE. It remains one of the biggest "closest we'll ever get is a highlight reel" matchups in the sport, a genuine East-meets-West spectacle that wrestling fans on both sides of the Pacific wanted. 5. John Cena vs. Drew McIntyre This is arguably the most glaring miss on the list, simply because of how much runway existed for it. McIntyre had two separate stints on WWE's main roster overlapping with Cena's career, including his rise to two-time world champion status in the 2020s, and the two never once collided in a marquee singles match. McIntyre was even floated by wrestling media as a logical dance partner for Cena during his 2025 farewell tour, given the timing of McIntyre's redemption arc as a future Hall of Famer, but the creative never lined up before Cena's final bell rang. 6. John Cena vs. Kenny Omega The AEW ace built his reputation on hard-hitting, high-drama epics in NJPW, DDT, and AEW, and his career overlapped almost entirely with Cena's part-time run and retirement tour — but on the opposite side of the WWE/AEW divide, meaning the two never so much as shared a building. Omega's chaotic, physically punishing in-ring style against Cena's methodical, crowd-pandering formula represents exactly the kind of "different wrestling worlds colliding" dream match that fans still book in their heads on message boards and podcasts. 7. John Cena vs. MJF Before any physical contact, this matchup sells itself on the microphone. MJF built his entire AEW persona as a smarmy, self-obsessed heel mouthpiece, the stylistic opposite of Cena's aw-shucks, crowd-rallying babyface energy — and arguably the closest thing wrestling has produced to a spiritual successor to Cena's promo command, just inverted. A pre-match war of words between the two would have been appointment viewing regardless of who eventually won the bout. 8. John Cena vs. Bron Breakker WWE's next-generation powerhouse has drawn Goldberg comparisons for his explosiveness, and Goldberg himself specifically named Breakker as a fresh option he'd want to face in his own final run. Breakker's spear-and-power arsenal against Cena's five-moves-of-doom, capped by a passing-of-the-torch finish, would have made thematic sense as a way to formally hand the "next face of WWE" torch to the current generation — but the timing during Cena's farewell tour never aligned. 9. John Cena vs. Jey Uso Uso eliminated Cena from the 2025 Royal Rumble, and that moment briefly sparked real speculation about a proper singles follow-up between two of the most consistently beloved characters on WWE television. But Uso spent much of the rest of 2025 entangled in the World Heavyweight Championship picture, and the singles blowoff never got scheduled. Given how thunderously both men get over with live crowds, a full-length Cena-Uso singles match, likely a big babyface-vs-babyface crowd-pleaser, remains one of the more painful "so close" misses of Cena's final year. 10. John Cena vs. LA Knight Knight came the closest of anyone on this list to actually getting the match. He advanced deep into the "Last Time Is Now" tournament that determined Cena's final opponent, only to fall short to Gunther in the final. Given Knight's crowd-command style — arguably the most Cena-like energy on the current roster — a Knight-Cena passing-of-the-torch match, with Knight going over to cement his own ascension, felt like the more poetic send-off some fans wanted instead of the submission loss Cena ultimately chose.

BY SACNILK

In an interview, WWE's Nick Aldis reflected on the early days of his run as SmackDown General Manager, revealing how a pivotal on-screen exchange with Roman Reigns helped shape the tone of his character — and recounting the chaotic backstage story behind his first meeting with Vince McMahon. WWE Superstar Nick Aldis spoke to Chris Van Vliet and described a now-famous couch segment with Reigns as a genuinely significant moment for him professionally. He praised Reigns as meticulous and deeply thoughtful about every detail of his on-screen presence, crediting Paul Heyman's influence for helping shape that approach. Aldis said he felt real gratitude toward Reigns, noting that Reigns didn't have to extend him that level of trust in establishing the GM character, but chose to. The interview then turned to a story from very early in his tenure — by his own estimate, just a month or six weeks into the job — involving Randy Orton's arrival on SmackDown. Aldis explained that strict staging instructions were coming down at the time about where he and Heyman should stand during a live segment. Just before they went live, word came through again insisting he stay in the background while Heyman took the foreground. He recalled Heyman being amused by the directive, and Aldis feeling he had no real choice but to comply with seconds to air. The segment reportedly went off well, with Paul "Triple H" Levesque doing the opposite of what was expected in a way that sold the moment. That day, Aldis said, turned out to be the first time he ever met Vince McMahon in person — who was there watching. Aldis admitted he spent the moments afterward dreading the encounter, assuming McMahon would be furious they'd deviated from instructions. Instead, he said McMahon was gracious and complimentary about the segment, which left Aldis feeling conflicted given how much credit he felt Heyman deserved. Asked about Reigns couch segment, Aldis explained it emerged from an improvised back-and-forth where Reigns needled him about his feelings, prompting him to fire back, "but I'm an executive. I don't have feelings, you know." He said the line was meant to establish his character as a cold, businesslike executive, citing shows like Suits and Succession as influences on that steely persona — cool, cutthroat, and, in his own description, ultimately someone who's emotionally shut off. At WWE SummerSlam 2026 (Night 1, August 1, in Minneapolis), Nick Aldis wrestled in a match despite his in-ring absence of almost three years,, taking on Gunther. He came up short against Gunther, succumbing to Gunther's sleeper hold submission. Despite the loss, it was described as a dream match turned nightmare, with fans firmly behind him throughout. Following the loss, Aldis reportedly tried to resign as SmackDown General Manager, but Triple H (Paul Levesque) wouldn't allow it, telling Aldis he respected what he did at SummerSlam and wanted him to remain GM. On future plans, it is being suggested that Aldis could wrestle in WWE again, with sources in the company not believing he was "one and done." Aldis was said to have been banged up coming out of the match, and no timeline has been confirmed for when he'd wrestle next.

BY SACNILK

The wrestling legend says he didn't remember his name, his location, or any part of the historic loss until the early hours of the following morning. Mark Calaway, known to the world as The Undertaker, has revealed new details about the severity of the concussion he suffered during his infamous streak-ending loss to Brock Lesnar at WrestleMania XXX in 2014 — a match that ended a 21-0 undefeated run at "The Show of Shows" and shocked the wrestling world. Speaking on Insight with Chris Van Vliet, Undertaker said he has no recollection of the match itself. He was taken to the hospital before the pay-per-view had even finished, and his memory didn't begin returning until roughly 4 or 5 a.m. the next day. He described being repeatedly asked basic orientation questions by doctors — his name, his age — much like the routine seen in television medical dramas, and said he genuinely couldn't answer them. Strikingly, he noted that although he couldn't recall his own name in the aftermath, he was still able to recognize his wife, Michelle, and WWE chairman Vince McMahon — a detail he called "really bizarre." The injury had lasting psychological effects. As he prepared to return the following year, self-doubt crept in for the first time in his career, compounded by his age and a fear that a similar injury could happen again. He said there was no single moment he could point to as the cause — an experience he likened to wrestling's old adage that "fighters get old overnight." Undertaker connected this experience directly to a line from his WWE Hall of Fame induction speech, in which he thanked Triple H for reminding him "who he really is" during a moment when his confidence was at its lowest. He explained that before a later high-stakes match, doubt overwhelmed him backstage — until Triple H approached him and told him not to forget who he was, reminding him bluntly: "You're the effing Undertaker." He credited that moment with pulling him back into the right headspace before heading to the ring.

BY SACNILK

Carlito has opened up about his WWE career, admitting that he was so rebellious during his first run with the company that he would deliberately do things in an attempt to get himself fired. Speaking on Inside The Ropes, Carlito said he was immature at the time and often acted against instructions simply because he had been told not to do something. He revealed that he eventually turned getting fired into something of a personal challenge. “I was doing stuff on purpose to get fired. I'm surprised I didn't get fired,” Carlito recalled. The former Intercontinental Champion explained that WWE eventually reached a point where they would neither use him prominently nor release him, which made the situation even more frustrating for him. Carlito admitted that, looking back, he regrets his attitude during that period. He believes he should have been more mature and appreciated the opportunities he had, particularly the chance to work alongside his brother in WWE. “I wish I'd appreciate stuff a little more and just not been so against the world,” he said. Carlito also compared his two WWE runs, saying that he enjoyed his second stint considerably more than his first. He attributed much of the difference to his own attitude and maturity, noting that he viewed things differently as he got older. The veteran star also addressed his more recent WWE departure. According to Carlito, he intentionally signed a shorter contract because he believed that, with Triple H in charge, he might not receive a significant role. He eventually signed a two-year deal, but acknowledged that the shorter commitment ultimately cost him additional years with the company. Carlito said he had already sensed that his time in WWE was coming to an end because there had been little communication between him and the company. He ultimately accepted the situation and said his main goal was to leave WWE while fans still cared about him. Now, Carlito says he is comfortable with whatever comes next. He suggested that retirement is a genuine possibility but remains open to opportunities if something exciting comes along. “I can retire now, baby,” Carlito said, explaining that he feels like he is now “playing with house money.” He added that if another opportunity comes along, great—but he is also completely comfortable riding off into the sunset.

BY SACNILK

During the August 3rd episode of Raw, Becky Lynch delivered a promo aimed at putting down her opponent by invoking Liv Morgan's personal life, specifically her relationship with Dominik Mysterio. The line suggested Morgan couldn't even claim to be the top former champion among the group of women Dominik had been involved with — a jab that mixed in-ring credentials with real-world tabloid-style content. Per Meltzer's report, the line referenced Liv Morgan not being the best wrestler to have been involved with Dominik Mysterio, comparing her unfavorably even within that specific, unusual category. It was a pointed, mocking remark clearly meant to needle Morgan on a personal level rather than a purely athletic one — which likely explains why it didn't make the cut for the on-demand version. What makes this situation more interesting is the confirmation that Lynch wasn't going off-script. Meltzer's sources indicated the line was written into the show ahead of time, and that Triple H, along with other members of WWE's creative and production team, knew exactly what Lynch was going to say before she said it live. That detail shifts the narrative. Rather than this being a case of a performer pushing boundaries in the heat of the moment, it appears WWE intentionally included the line in the broadcast — then made the call afterward to scrub it from the version available on streaming. This raises questions about WWE's internal content standards, particularly the gap between what's deemed acceptable for a live, one-time TV airing versus what stays up permanently on a platform like Netflix, where the show is archived and easily clipped, shared, and re-watched. It also suggests WWE may be more cautious than usual about content that blurs the line between kayfabe rivalry and real-life personal references, especially now that Netflix serves as a long-term home for the product rather than a same-day-only broadcast.

BY SACNILK

Another high-level departure is making waves inside WWE's corporate structure, and this one is raising eyebrows for how quietly it happened. Patrick Dooley, who held the title of Senior Vice President of Global Strategy & Creative Operations, has exited the company after roughly seven years with the organization. His departure wasn't announced with any fanfare — it simply happened in July, and word only trickled out afterward. What makes Dooley's exit notable isn't just his tenure, but his role. According to Wrestling Observer Newsletter's Dave Meltzer, Dooley functioned as Triple H's right-hand man on essentially everything outside of creative and storyline decisions — the operational and strategic side of the business that rarely gets public attention but keeps the machine running. Dooley joined WWE back in 2018 as Director of Global Strategy, working his way up over the years. Per Meltzer's reporting, he played a significant role in one of WWE's more consequential business moves: the acquisition of Mexican promotion AAA, along with helping secure AAA's television deal with FOX Latin America — a partnership that expanded WWE's footprint in the Latin American market considerably. Perhaps the most interesting detail Meltzer shared is where this call actually originated. Rather than coming from within WWE's own leadership, the decision reportedly traces back to TKO's top brass — CEO Ari Emanuel and President/COO Mark Shapiro. Meltzer indicated that people within WWE itself were caught off guard by the move, suggesting this wasn't something brewing internally or expected by those close to Dooley. Beyond that, details remain scarce. No official reason has been given publicly, and it's unclear whether this reflects broader restructuring at the TKO corporate level or something specific to Dooley's role.

BY SACNILK

Chelsea Green's SummerSlam victory was more than just a championship win—it marked the culmination of a journey filled with rejection, injuries, and relentless determination. During a post-SummerSlam interview, the newly crowned Interim WWE Women's Champion spoke openly about the challenges she faced throughout her wrestling career, revealing that being told "no" had become a recurring theme. Green explained that her struggles within WWE dated back more than a decade, recalling several instances when she felt her dream was slipping away. "I've had that happen quite a few times in this company. It started happening in 2014. It happened again in 2015 after Tough Enough. And again, when they told me that they didn't want me to try out, and then they allowed me to, and again when they fired me." The Canadian star admitted that despite every setback, she never stopped believing in herself. That belief eventually led her to take matters into her own hands. Green revealed that nearly four years ago, she sent a message to WWE Chief Content Officer Triple H asking for another opportunity with the company. "It's been almost exactly four years since I texted Triple H and asked for my job back." Looking back, Green said her championship victory validated years of unwavering faith, even when few others believed in her. "Nobody else was believing in me. I had to do it... And for this to happen, it's like, 'Oh my God, I was right the whole time.' It's so satisfying." Green also credited WWE fans for standing by her throughout the highs and lows of her 13-year career, saying their support never wavered even during her darkest moments. Following her emotional SummerSlam victory, Chelsea Green now enters a new chapter as Interim WWE Women's Champion, completing one of WWE's most remarkable comeback stories in recent years.

BY SACNILK

There's said to be strong internal interest in eventually growing the Rumble into a full multi-night destination weekend, following the template WWE has already used successfully with WrestleMania and, more recently, SummerSlam. According to WrestleVotes Radio on Fightful Select, WWE gave serious consideration to expanding Royal Rumble 2027 into a two-night format. As things stand, though, the expectation within the company is that the show will remain a one-night event — though possibly for the final time, with significant interest internally in eventually turning the Royal Rumble into a multi-night destination event. WWE's multi-night experiment didn't begin by choice. The first two-night WrestleMania came in 2020, when the COVID-19 pandemic forced the company to pre-tape the show behind closed doors at the WWE Performance Center in Orlando, splitting the card across two broadcasts to help manage the workload with no live crowd involved. What started as a pandemic workaround became a permanent fixture once fans returned. WrestleMania 37 in Tampa kept the two-night format in 2021, and WrestleMania 38 the following year became the first two-night edition with a full live crowd both nights. From that point on, WrestleMania has stayed a two-night event every year. SummerSlam was the next show to get the treatment, going two nights for the first time in 2025 at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey. Triple H explained at the time that the goal was to replicate what had already worked for WrestleMania — turning the show into a destination weekend that fans could plan trips and vacations around, rather than just a single night on the calendar. The results for WWE have generally been strong on the business side. The two-night SummerSlam produced strong revenue and attendance figures, and internal reporting following the show pointed to real appetite within WWE/TKO for expanding the multi-night model to more events going forward. Fan reaction, however, has been more split. Supporters of the format point to shorter, more digestible nightly runtimes compared to the marathon single-night shows of the past — WrestleMania 35, for example, drew praise for its matches but criticism for a bloated seven-and-a-half-hour runtime that left both the crowd and viewers at home exhausted. Splitting events across two nights has generally solved that specific problem. On the other hand, a recurring criticism from fans is that spreading a card across two nights can dilute the sense of occasion, with some nights feeling front-loaded and others feeling like filler, and ticket prices for two-night stadium weekends adding up quickly for fans traveling in. There's also been debate over whether every show needs the format, or whether it risks making multi-night events feel less special the more frequently WWE uses it. Given that framework, a two-night Royal Rumble would be a significant step for WWE, potentially applying the format to one of the promotion's traditionally leanest, most efficient shows — built almost entirely around the 30-man and 30-woman Rumble matches themselves rather than a full card of title bouts. For now, it sounds like the company isn't ready to make that leap for 2027, but the door is clearly open for it to happen down the line as WWE continues to lean into the destination-weekend model that's paid off with its two biggest shows of the year.

BY SACNILK

There's internal belief within WWE that Nick Aldis will wrestle again following his performance at SummerSlam, though it may not happen until 2027, according to WrestleVotes Radio on Fightful Select. Several people backstage reportedly view Aldis as being as talented, if not more talented, than many of WWE's regular TV performers, and want to see him get a significant in-ring run. Aldis' last match came on Night One of SummerSlam 2026 at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, where he stepped away from his desk job to face Gunther in a grudge match built on months of tension between the two. To even get into the ring, Aldis had to resign as SmackDown General Manager. The rivalry had been simmering for a while, stemming from Aldis repeatedly standing in the way of Gunther's pursuit of the Undisputed WWE Championship, including costing him a shot at Saturday Night's Main Event inside Madison Square Garden. Gunther retaliated by attacking Aldis and knocking him out with a sleeper hold, setting the stage for their eventual singles match. It marked Aldis' first match for WWE and his first in-ring appearance in roughly three years. Despite the long layoff, he held his own, hitting a delayed vertical suplex, a powerslam, and locking Gunther in the King's Lynn Cloverleaf to a huge crowd reaction. Gunther ultimately escaped and turned the tide, forcing Aldis to tap out to a sleeper hold. Aldis' wife, WWE Hall of Famer Mickie James, and their son Donovan were ringside for the match, with Gunther taunting them throughout. Aldis has spent recent months serving as SmackDown General Manager, a role widely praised for the authenticity he's brought to it as a former NWA and TNA World Heavyweight Champion turned on-screen authority figure. Following his SummerSlam performance, Triple H reportedly tore up the resignation letter Aldis had submitted to compete against Gunther, keeping him in the GM chair for now. Whether Aldis eventually splits time between the desk and the ring — or steps away from his authority role altogether for a proper run — remains to be seen. For now, it sounds like WWE is content to let the SummerSlam moment breathe before deciding what's next.

BY SACNILK

The 83 Weeks co-host didn't hold back after Reigns' SummerSlam win over Seth Rollins, comparing the Head of the Table to a wrestling version of a music industry plant. Conrad Thompson on Eric Bischoff's 83 Weeks podcast, took a scathing take on Roman Reigns, arguing that the current WWE World Heavyweight Champion doesn't deserve the reputation he's built over the past several years. Discussing Reigns' recent victory over Seth Rollins at SummerSlam 2026, Thompson didn't mince words, telling Bischoff he considers Reigns to be the most overrated main event star in company history. Borrowing a term from the music world, Thompson labeled Reigns an "industry plant" — someone elevated by the machine behind him rather than by genuine talent or fan demand. His core argument: WWE's business wouldn't skip a beat if Reigns vanished from television tomorrow. "I think Roman Reigns is probably the most overrated main eventer in WWE history. I know this isn't a wrestling term, it’s a music term, but Roman Reigns is what music would call an industry plant. I don’t think if Roman Reigns disappears tomorrow WWE’s fortune changes at all. Thompson leaned on a phrase Triple H has used to explain why the company holds back stars like Bron Breakker — that pushing someone too aggressively risks shoving them "down our throats." Thompson's contention is that this is exactly what happened with Reigns, who he says has been force-fed to the audience for years. He acknowledged The Bloodline storyline had real strengths, but suggested the faction has overstayed its welcome, comparing its current state to the "black and silver era" of the nWo — a once-groundbreaking angle that lingered long past its creative peak. Perhaps the sharpest part of Thompson's critique centered on legacy. He argued that unlike CM Punk or Cody Rhodes, Reigns has never been booked in a way that lets fans form an organic emotional connection to him — audiences have simply been trained to accept his spot at the top rather than earning it. Thompson challenged listeners to name a favorite Roman Reigns match or promo, suggesting few could. He also pointed out that Reigns doesn't carry the promotional workload that stars like Cody Rhodes or John Cena have shouldered, doing minimal press and media rounds compared to his peers. Thompson's most memorable line described Reigns' in-ring routine as formulaic: a long entrance, a slow-paced, similar-feeling match every time, and a win to close the show. He summed it up by comparing Reigns to Goldberg — but a version of Goldberg capable of working matches longer than ten minutes.