Former WWE Superstar Is Returning To NXT
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.
Former NXT Tag Team Champion Timothy Thatcher is set to make a surprise return to WWE NXT television. Recently, Thatcher has been competing on the newly relaunched WWE Evolve show and is reportedly involved behind the scenes as a trainer and coach within the WWE ID developmental program.
Thatcher was known for his "Thatch-as-Thatch-Can" segments, a brief NXT Tag Team Title reign alongside Matt Riddle, and alliances with figures like Tommaso Ciampa. Before joining WWE, Thatcher established himself as a top independent star, holding the EVOLVE Championship for 596 days and starring in Germany's wXw as part of the Ringkampf stable with Gunther.
Since his WWE release, he has primarily competed in Japan for Pro Wrestling NOAH, capturing the GHC Tag Team Championship twice.
He will do so next week, competing in a high-stakes battle royal to determine the next challenger for the NXT Championship.
Following NXT Champion Oba Femi's successful title defense at Stand & Deliver, NXT announced on last night's broadcast (April 29th) that a 25-man number one contender battle royal will take place on next week's episode.
The winner of this massive bout will earn the right to challenge Femi for the NXT Championship at the WWE Battleground premium live event on May 25th in Tampa, Florida.
While competitors like Trick Williams, who is seeking another opportunity to regain the title, are confirmed, the inclusion of Timothy Thatcher has generated buzz among fans.
This marks Thatcher's first match on NXT TV programming since August 2021. The submission specialist was released from his WWE contract in January 2022, roughly two years after his initial debut with the brand in April 2020.
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - OCTOBER 11: WWE logos are shown on screens before a WWE news conference at T-Mobile Arena on October 11, 2019 in Las Vegas, Nevada.
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - OCTOBER 11: WWE logos are shown on screens before a WWE news conference at T-Mobile Arena on October 11, 2019 in Las Vegas, Nevada.More news: WWE News: Steve Austin Reveals Real-Life Vince McMahon Confrontation
The battle royal field is stacked, also featuring recently introduced WWE LFG (Looking For a Fight) prospects Shiloh Hill and Chris Island, who The Undertaker introduced on last night's show. Other confirmed participants include Ridge Holland, Ethan Page, Josh Briggs, Shawn Spears, Wes Lee, Charlie Dempsey, Brooks Jensen, Lexis King, and Yoshiki Inamura.
With two spots remaining and potential TNA talent involvement teased, Thatcher adds another layer of intrigue to the crucial match determining Oba Femi's next challenger at Battleground, which is NXT's next special on Peacock.
More WWE News:
For more on WWE, head to Newsweek Sports.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
7 hours ago
- Yahoo
Matt Cardona Makes John Cena Post After Getting Called Out During Smackdown
Matt Cardona Makes John Cena Post After Getting Called Out During Smackdown originally appeared on Athlon Sports. WWE Undisputed Champion John Cena and TNA Wrestling superstar Matt Cardona broke the professional wrestling fourth wall over the past two days. Advertisement It all started during Friday's episode of WWE's weekly show, 'SmackDown,' where Cena faced off against Ron Killings in the main event. Ultimately, Cena lost the match by disqualification because he hit Killings in the head with his championship belt. Then, CM Punk, a longtime rival of Cena's, came out to engage in a brawl with him that ended with Cena slamming Punk through a table. As Punk laid through the broken table in pain, Cena created his own version of Punk's infamous 'Pipebomb' segment from 2011, where he let his feelings be known about his longtime rival. As Cena's segment continued, he decided to give a shoutout to three former WWE superstars: Claudio Castagnoli (Cesaro), Nic Nemeth (Dolph Ziggler) and Cardona (Zack Ryder). This caused the crowd to burst into cheers, and Cardona issued a response to the moment on X. Advertisement 'Hey @JohnCena,' Cardona posted on Friday along with an old photo of himself and Cena on Saturday from his time in the WWE. However, the callout is not a surprise because the WWE started a multi-year partnership with TNA Wrestling in January, allowing both promotions to have their wrestlers to compete in each other's companies. So far, the partnership has been primarily focused on WWE's developmental show NXT, where TNA superstars such as Joe Hendry and TNA Knockout World Champion Masha Slamovich have competed in several matches. Meanwhile, Punk is expected to challenge Cena for the WWE Undisputed Championship at the Night of Champions pay-per-view on June 28 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Advertisement Related: WWE Releases Unexpected Superstar After John Cena Match This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 21, 2025, where it first appeared.
Newsweek
9 hours ago
- Newsweek
Man Living at Sea Shares Daily Life—Then Brings Out the Metal Detector
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. A 27-year-old man from Australia gained traction on social media after sharing what a day in his life, living full time aboard a catamaran, looks like. Then he brought out his metal detector and shocked internet users with an incredible find. In a viral TikTok video shared in June under the username @thegood_pirate, Baden LeSueur shares what a "realistic day as a solo pirate treasure hunter" looks like. It starts with a golden sunrise and a cup of coffee, before he sets sail to find local hidden treasures. After climbing a palm tree to get a fresh coconut on Hammerhead Bay, and leaving his pup to nap peacefully, LeSueur grabs his metal detector and starts the search. Immediately, the metal detector starts beeping, signaling something is underneath. However, when LeSueur unearths the finding, it turns out to be just a coin. Refusing to give up just yet, he continues the search, and after finding a bunch of waste, he finally gets another beep. "I see a tiny bit a gold and at this point my heart is racing; I wonder if it's real gold," LeSueur can be heard saying in the clip, as he showcases his finding, a 22-carat gold ring with a red stone on top, which he still hasn't been able to identify. Pictures shared by LeSueur show him documenting a day in his life as a "solo pirate." Pictures shared by LeSueur show him documenting a day in his life as a "solo pirate." thegood_pirate Jewelry can have different metal density, and 22-carat gold is about 91.7 percent pure. According to at the time of writing this article, the price of gold is approximately $3,366 per troy ounce, although it fluctuates throughout the day. LeSueur told Newsweek that, before living on his catamaran, he had started his own business, straight after high school, a jumping castle company that he owned for many years. But his goal was always to save up for a catamaran of his own that he could use to sail around the world. "I used to post lots of ocean content and dreamed about producing my own videos to inspire people and help fund my adventures out on the sea. One day, I decided to take the gamble, sold everything, and bought a broken-down boat down in Sydney. This is when my online career really kicked off," LeSueur said. Now he lives full-time on his catamaran with his number-one crew mate, his pup Kida, who follows him on his daily adventures. LeSueur said: "From battling storms, to catching our own meals so we can eat, to finding people's long lost treasure on the bottom of the seabed and the crystal-white beaches along the Australian shoreline. With any luck, I'll hopefully be able to return the lost items to their owner or sell to a jeweler to help cover the costs of boat maintenance." The pair eat a lot of what they catch along the way, spearfishing and lots of coconuts. LeSueur also always makes sure to have appropriate safety equipment and protocol on board, to keep himself and his companion safe. He checks he is always carrying an emergency position-indicating radiobeacon (EPIRB), and that he always lets someone know where he is and where he is headed. "My dream is to continue the adventure, live off the ocean, and hunt for artifacts and treasure around the world. Since sharing my content, people call me 'The Good Pirate.' Sailing has been in my blood ever since I was a kid. My dad was a sailor and his dad was also a sailor. As a child, we spent a lot of time on the water," LeSueur added. Among his findings, there has been "mostly junk," but also some occasional rings made of platinum, silver, or gold. LeSueur said: "We've also found lots of coins, which I use to do my laundry. "Every day is an adventure, even from a sail tearing in 35 knots of wind to a glass-out sunset with fish under the boat. Each day is an adventure," he added. The video quickly went viral on social media and has so far received almost 60,000 views and more than 6,000 likes on the platform. One user, James, commented: "I'm stuck doing my dead job while you're doing this …" Mike said: "Do you run any calculations on your lucky finds? I curious how much money does a pirate do from selling the gold." Betty added: "What an incredible find! Must have been an amazing feeling to uncover such a treasure." Do you have funny and adorable videos or pictures of your pet you want to share? Send them to life@ with some details about your best friend, and they could appear in our Pet of the Week lineup.
Newsweek
10 hours ago
- Newsweek
Tom Brady Calls LeBron James 'The Greatest Ever' in Bold Praise
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 NBA has seen some of the best players to ever grace the basketball court. Many range from the likes of Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Magic Johnson, Larry Bird, Kobe Bryant, and one who many consider the greatest of all time: Michael Jordan. The NBA has seen the most prominent stars ever to walk the face of the earth; however, none may be as big and bright as Los Angeles Lakers superstar LeBron James. James' resume speaks for itself, and while he's self-appointed himself as the G.O.A.T., many others share the same sentiment, including NFL legend and future Hall of Famer Tom Brady. At the Fanatics Fest event in New York City, Brady took the stage alongside James, discussing a range of topics. In the process, Brady has the utmost praise for James, calling him 'the greatest ever.' LeBron James, Maverick Carter and Tom Brady speak onstage during Fanatics Fest NYC 2025 at Javits Center on June 21, 2025 in New York City. LeBron James, Maverick Carter and Tom Brady speak onstage during Fanatics Fest NYC 2025 at Javits Center on June 21, 2025 in New York City. Photo by"With the intensity that's been on him, the Olympics, the different teams that he's been on, he's always done things the right way," Brady said. "He's always risen above all the noise and B.S. and continued to deliver." "So you're witnessing the greatest ever and I hope you guys all appreciate that." Tom Brady on LeBron James: 'You're witnessing the greatest ever and I hope you all appreciate that.' (h/t @MaskedInLA, @FanaticsFest) — Legion Hoops (@LegionHoops) June 21, 2025 Brady is undoubtedly the greatest of all time in his sport, and it is clear that he sees that in James as well. James' resume is second to none. Throughout his 22-year career, James is a 21-time All-Star, a four-time NBA champion, a four-time Finals MVP, a four-time NBA MVP, a 21-time All-NBA selection, a six-time All-Defensive team member, and a member of the 75th Anniversary team. The 40-year-old superstar is still at the top of his game, much like Brady when he played in the NFL. Brady didn't retire until the ripe age of 45, and if James wanted to, it seems okay he could play for that long. However, many expect that this upcoming season will be James' final in the NBA. The expectation for James is that he will opt into his $52.6 million contract with the Lakers and ride off into the sunset with what he hopes is a team that can contend for an NBA title next season. Regardless of what's next for James, one thing remains undeniable — at the very least, he stands as one of the top three players ever to play the game. More NBA news: Blockbuster Trade Proposal Sends Lakers' Austin Reaves to East Contender NBA Hall of Famer Tracy McGrady Opens Up About Never Getting Title Opportunity For more on LeBron James, Tom Brady and general NBA news, head on over to Newsweek Sports.
