As DJ Khaled likes to say, Another One. It is Rant time, best time of the day. Before I get started, I must say that we are only a few days away from this years Wrestlemania and my interest level is at an all time low. There are matches I am excited for (Femi vs Lesnar) but I just found the event didn’t hit it out of the park for me. Yes, some matches look good or some promos leading up to it were phenomenal, it just doesn’t scream Wrestlemania to me. Anyways, it is Ranting time.
WWE recent signings
WWE has been on a tear signing a ton to either developmental deals or through their WWEID program. Either way, the company is on a mission to stack up its roster before the sea of current main roster superstars retire.
It is well known that most of the company’s high-end talent are all creeping up on calling it a day, and when that happens, the current state shows the company would lack major star power. Starting the process now is the most strategic way to go. It makes the transitional period less bumpy.
The company has signed Nikki Blackheart, who in her short career has become one of the top indie talents in the world. She is exactly who and what WWE wants in a talent plus can help usher in the next generation of the WWE Women’s Division.
Word is WWE also signed 3rd generation wrestler Marie Malenko after recently making her in-ring debut for Pro Wrestling NOAH, then participating in a recent WWE tryout. With wrestling running deep in her blood, I am sure she will excel greatly under the WWE umbrella.
The company also inked Notorious Mimi, Airia Demia, Fallyn Gray, Valentina Rossi and Starboy Charlie to WWEID deals as well. Charlie, now going by Chazz “Starboy”Hall most recently won the WWEID Championship and competed on WWE Evolve. Such a talented group who could all easily help play a role in the success of WWE’s next generation.
WWE seems to be focused on not skipping any beat when the time comes, we start seeing most of the current roster hanging up their boots. If they maintain the process of readiness then the company won’t be hurt in any way, shape or form when they start losing their star power.
WWE hall of fame 2026 update
Since my last Rant on the upcoming WWE Hall of Fame Ceramony, the company has added a few more names to the list. Dennis Rodman, Sycho Sid, Bad News Brown and Hogan-Andre Wrestlemania III match.
WWE loves using celebrities for storylines, with the most recent use being Jelly Roll. Over the years the company has been adding in celebs to the WWE Hall of Fame mix under its Celebrity Wing and this year they chose to bring in one of the most recognizable celebrities of all time, Dennis Rodman.
An icon on the court, he was also a part of WCW’s greatest creation, the NWO. Not only was he an on-screen character, he also was partaking in matches as well. He was fully committed to the job, and it worked. He fit perfectly with the group and everything it stood for, so I am all for his Hall of Fame induction.
Sycho Sid and Bad News Brown are part of the Legacy Wing, which to me is potatoes-patatoes. They belong in the Hall of Fame. You can argue that they both should have already been inducted but at the end of the day it is happening.
Sid’s recent passing does add a somber note to this as he should have been alive to receive this, but he will accept his place in the WWE Hall of Fame in spirit and the rest of the world will celebrate it.
Sid Justice, Sid Vicious or Sycho Sid was a massive star who was one of the few to be just as successful in WWE as they were in WCW. Sid was a part of the era where the heels seemed like legitimate bad guys. He knew exactly how to play the part which is such a contrast to his regular life as Sid Eudy. His career will always be remembered as being one of the all-time greats in WCW and for being one of the best big men in the business.
Bad News Brown was such an incredible talent. His “Bad News” gimmick in WWE was perfection. He wasn’t this over the top character whose screeching promos would ruin what is being said, he was just this pissed off bad ass. I was a kid during his WWE run and I truly believed his character. He nailed it. Plus, I bought into everything he did inside that ring.
His Ghetto Blaster was a simple move that was even more effective. It was the perfect choice to a perfect character. Bad News Brown doesn’t get the proper respect he deserves in the business, and I am so glad WWE is finally honoring him. Hopefully, fans unsure who he is will now take to YouTube to see how much of a great wrestler he was.
The shitty thing about both Sid and Bad News’ inductions are that they don’t come with a speech, but I am truly hoping WWE goes above and beyond to put together an absolute gem of a video package for both wrestlers. Their careers deserve to be recognized the right way.
WWE’s Immortal Moment is Hulk Hogan vs Andre The Giant, Wrestlemania III. If you are honoring historic matches, then this is defiantly worthy of the award. It includes the iconic body slam that is known across the world – just crazy to me that this wasn’t the first one to go into this wing of the Hall of Fame. This match really solidified their status in the wrestling business and helped push WWE to become more mainstream. It is a match that any wrestling newcomers should watch.
There is only a few more days to go until the ceremony and I am not sure if this is the final list or not but if so then it is a really well thought out, well deserving ceremony and I am very excited to listen to some of the great stories that will be told that night.
This & That
Ricky Sosa signs with TNA:
Bang, Bang, Sosa, Sosa. Arguably the hottest indie star in the world whose in-ring work matches his viral entrance, signing him was a huge move on TNA’s part and my guess is that WWE didn’t snag him first was to use TNA as his launching pad here in North America.
Ricky is going to be one of the few helping usher in the new generation of pro wrestlers. Don’t believe me? Just listen to the pop he received when TNA announced his signing and listen to the crowd completely drawn into his theme music schtick. That showed that certain talents don’t need a NXT or WWEID to get over. Sosa did it on his own and that speaks volumes to what could happen with a machine like WWE behind him. Just ask Danhausen.
MLW signs Trevor Lee, Lady Frost and the Glasgow Boys on Top (Joe Coffey, mark Coffey and Wolfgang):
Major League Wrestling has a stacked roster, and I am not sure why I don’t see more hype surrounding the promotion than I do. Killer Kross being their Heavyweight Champion, Kushida and newly signed Trevor Lee carrying secondary championships, Dijak and Bishop Dyer as Tag Champs and Shotzi Blackheart as the Women’s Champion.
Bringing in Lady Frost was spot on. MLW has a small Women’s division, but they can easily build the division around Frost, using her talent to shine a major spotlight on the division while bringing in more female talent to add depth to the division.
She was what, a free agent for all of 35 seconds before MLW snagged her. They had their eyes on the prize and were ready to go with that contract offer as soon as her feet barely touched the free market. AEW dropped the ball with her, but I am all but certain this promotion will not even come close to that.
I am surprised Trevor Lee lasted as long as he did as a free man, before being signed. I am still shocked AEW didn’t land him. He is a phenomenal talent who just got stuck on that WWE wheel where he was limited to what he could fully do. What we did get to see was just a glimpse of what he can do and MLW will allow him to be who he envisions Trevor Lee to be with no handcuffs holding him back.
GBOT did quite well during their time in both NXT UK and NXT. I am still not sure why this group never made it to the main roster. I know Vince would have dropped the ball with them much like he did with Sanity, but they just never got the chance. 7 years with WWE and they just couldn’t make that jump. At least now they can be the same fellas they were during their NXT UK days, and I am all for that.
I am sure MLW will land some more big names, and I am ready to see their roster grow to become a fantastic alternative to WWE/AEW.
Santana’s TNA contract:
Mike Santana is almost a sure thing to end up in WWE once his TNA contract is up and truthfully it would be a great move for not only Santana himself but for WWE as well. Recently, his work has really elevated him into that upper echelon of being a top guy.
I didn’t think splitting from Ortiz would have been a wise move and boy have I inserted my foot into my mouth. Right now, he is so laser focused on all aspects of his character and being a main event level talent is exactly where he belongs. Now let’s see him evolve even more while repping WWE.
ODB announced for TNA Hall of Fame:
Finally. She played a major role in not only making the TNA Knockouts division the main attraction, but she helped play a key role in the worldwide popularity of female wrestling.
ODB was a huge name for TNA, and her character work matched her in-ring style perfectly. It was her, just dialed up a few notches.
I am glad to see her being added to TNA’s Hall of Fame but for me there will always be that “how well of a WWE run could ODB have had”. Either way her career wasn’t hampered by not having a run with them, she became a legend doing it her way and not needing a Vince McMahon or Paul Levesque to do it.
Well, that’s all for now. Time to finish up and get ready to spend the next week lying on a beach, drinking mojitos in the Dominican sunshine. I will have a drink or 10 for you all.
Nick Whitworth
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