So, I get into the office, get settled at my desk, and open my latest Rant only to DELETE the entire thing because it was all about the Royal Rumble—complete with predictions and who should win, yadda yadda. Why did I have to delete it instead of submitting it last week? I caught a nasty bug, then woke up with severe back pain and couldn’t even get up. Legit, I couldn’t even sit up without being in tremendous pain. Luckily for me, the past few days have provided a nice chunk of wrestling news to make up for my missing Rumble piece. On that note, let’s go.
AEW on a Signing Tear
In just one month, All Elite Wrestling and Tony Khan have signed quite a few new members to their ever-growing roster: Andrade El Idolo, Jake Doyle, Persephone, Mascara Dorada, Hechicero, Zayda Steel, Jordan Oliver, Alec Price, Zachary Wentz, Dezmond Xavier, Myron Reed, and Tommaso Ciampa—with rumors of Clark Connors signing and Gabe Kidd seemingly back in the fold feuding with Darby Allin. Rumors also state David Finlay is AEW-bound as well.
Those are some great catches for Tony and his team. While I think they make excellent additions, it is time Khan starts cutting some of the talent who are getting paid to do nothing. It’s not my money, but I wouldn’t hold on to talent if I had no plans for them.
I’m not sure if Tony is doing this out of spite—a kind of “F-U” to WWE—or if he is just a true fan of these recent additions, but he needs to cut some of the dead weight. AEW could easily cut a dozen or so people and their regular programming wouldn’t miss a beat. Heck, the fans probably wouldn’t even notice.
I 100% understand Tony wanting to be the best wrestling company on the planet. I understand why he would try to outdo Triple H and WWE when it comes to signing free agents, but there is still an incredible amount of talented independent wrestlers sitting on deck just waiting to be noticed. Long story short, while Khan might lose out on a Gabe Kidd or David Finlay, there are truckloads of young, fresh talent grinding on the indie scene ready to make a splash on a major platform.
Maybe it’s because I’m not rich, but how does it make sense to pay salaries for talent you have no plans for? The Moxleys and the Omegas are the ones putting asses in seats, but spending money on employees who just sit at home is beyond wasteful. If Tony wants to piss money away, please feel free to e-transfer me some cash; I’d love to purchase my dream cottage while I’m still young enough to enjoy it.
Tony, do you, boo-boo—but eventually, you’ll realize that hoarding talent isn’t the best business move. You’ll also realize that releasing them into the wild is the best thing for the overall industry. Let some of these people go, Tony; it will be alright, trust me.
Update: AEW is interested in signing The IInspiration.
AJ Styles Didn’t Lay Down His Gloves
I have been a massive AJ Styles fan since his arrival in TNA. I knew of him even before that, but his TNA run not only made him a household name but also helped put the company on the map.
I’ve also met Styles twice here in Halifax, Nova Scotia. He was brought in by a local company, and the last time he came, he had the IWGP Heavyweight Championship, which was exciting to see. During the few chats I had with him, AJ was down-to-earth and just a really nice guy. Sometimes when you meet a “famous” person you end up feeling let down, but I can truthfully say that wasn’t the case here. “Never meet your heroes,” they say—but AJ is the exception.
When it was announced he was departing TNA, it was one of those “Oh My God” moments. AJ decided to bet on himself to see what he could do outside that bubble. The best career move he ever made was going to New Japan and becoming the leader of the Bullet Club. His NJPW run not only elevated his status as one of the all-time greats, but it also made Vince McMahon take notice.
When he made his WWE debut and received that enormous reaction, I knew within a year he would be World Champion. It took nine months.
While many might wish he had gone to WWE earlier, I think the timing was spot on. He was instantly a top guy and has had an incredible 10-year run, becoming a Grand Slam Champion along the way. He arrived just as the office was leaning into the idea that top talent didn’t need to be 6’5” and 300 pounds. WWE saw that AJ Styles equaled money.
His retirement match with Gunther was the perfect ending to an illustrious career. Millions around the world shed a tear when he was defeated because we weren’t ready to accept the fact that he is now retired.
When AJ removed his gloves and went to place them in the middle of the ring—signifying the end—much to the delight of the Saudi Arabian audience, he put them back on and left the ring. What does this mean?
Since then, AJ has stated he is officially retired and the gloves weren’t meant to be a teaser. Fans, though, are hoping to see him have a run with AEW for some dream matches. But if you’ve listened to his interviews, he has stated he is “WWE for life” and wants to transition from wearing tights to wearing a suit and tie, either on the main roster or in NXT.
AJ has also said his son has ambitions to be a professional wrestler, so he would definitely be heavily involved in that process. With the Performance Center, WWE is a much better option for him for a backstage role while he helps guide his son.
As a major Styles fan, I don’t think he needs an AEW run. There will always be dream matches that never happen. Shawn Michaels, The Undertaker, and John Cena all have “what if” opponents. AJ ended his career the right way. It’s time to be a father and a husband, roles that were put on the back burner while he built his iconic career in this crazy world.
My Take on the Two Royal Rumble Matches
So, the Rumble has come and gone, and we are now in the beginning stages of the Road to WrestleMania. Was the 2026 Royal Rumble a hit? Meh. I found WWE was in the best position to use both the Men’s and Women’s matches to elevate young, fresh talent and start building future main-event superstars.
The producers did seem focused on making Oba Femi look like a megastar as he eliminated five wrestlers and had a showdown with “The Beast Incarnate” Brock Lesnar, who ended up eliminating Femi. Sounds good on paper, but I think they should have done more. That is a major box-office attraction in the making. The two should have eliminated everyone else, gone toe-to-toe, and really laid the foundation for a future marquee match. Instead, it didn’t even feel like a solid tease. It didn’t feel special.
Roman Reigns winning did nothing for me. If the plan is CM Punk vs. Roman Reigns at WrestleMania, there was no need to have Roman win the Rumble. His career doesn’t need it. My choice would have been something fresh: Jacob Fatu.
The Women’s Rumble was in the same boat. The match should have elevated Jordynne Grace and Giulia to the next level. Honestly, they were my two choices to win. It’s fresh, new, and not predictable. No knock against Liv Morgan—she is an incredible talent—but WWE should have taken a risk.
WWE once again played it safe. No risk, no reward. They get so wrapped up in long-term storytelling that they can’t shift on the fly. As a fan, I want to be shocked. I want to be excited for the path these wins lead us on. I don’t want the “same old, same old.”
Come on WWE, think outside the box. Give us a reason to tune in instead of staying on cruise control. Being the number-one wrestling company in the world doesn’t mean you can take the fans for granted.
This & That
Ava Departs NXT:
This was a shocker. Her comments about being able to say “certain words” now that she is free makes me think political differences played a major role in her leaving. It is a damn shame that this is where we are, but truth be told, the world has gotten out of control. Good on Simone for doing what she felt was right, even if she had to walk away from the family business.
Bron Breakker Surgery
It’s always tough when storylines change due to injury, especially heading into Mania season. Bron was positioned to be a top guy this year. Unfortunately, he suffered a serious hernia and underwent surgery. While there is no timetable yet, Breakker is a beast, and I’m sure he’ll be back spearing the snot out of people soon.
Dean Malenko’s Daughter Makes Her NOAH Debut
Wrestling runs deep in her blood, so it’s no shock Marie followed suit. Pro Wrestling NOAH is no joke, and being there at this stage shows her dedication. Reports state she did extremely well and didn’t look out of place. While repetition will help her work, she already has connections across the globe.
When the time is right, AEW would probably be the landing spot since her father, Dean, is a senior producer there. While NXT might be better for her growth, working with her father makes more sense. Marie Malenko—remember that name. Follow her journey now and watch her grow into a superstar.
Well, that is all for now. Time for me to pour a glass of whiskey and fall down a YouTube rabbit hole. Cheers, everyone.
Nick Whitworth
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