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Newsweek
19 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Newsweek
Released WWE Star Teases AEW Debut
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 recently released WWE star has commented on AEW running a show in his hometown, sparking conversation about his next move. The star in question is Joe Coffey, formerly of NXT's Gallus faction. AEW is scheduled to hold an episode of Dynamite in Glasgow, Scotland, in August. The event will take place at the OVO Hydro arena. Joe Coffey on AEW's Glasgow Show On a recent episode of the "Reffin' It Up" podcast (transcript from Fightful), Joe Coffey noted the significance of the upcoming AEW event. He pointed out that it is taking place in his hometown and in a familiar venue. "AEW have a show in my hometown in Glasgow on August 20th, which is very interesting," Coffey said. "And The Hydro, the same arena that ICW ran so, that's very interesting..." WWE Release and Scrapped Plans Joe Coffey, along with his Gallus stablemates Mark Coffey and Wolfgang, was released from his WWE contract on May 2, 2025. The Scottish faction had been a consistent presence on the NXT brand for several years. DORTMUND, GERMANY - NOVEMBER 01: Natalya competes in the ring against Shotzi during the WWE Live Show at Westfalenhalle on November 1, 2022 in Dortmund, Germany. DORTMUND, GERMANY - NOVEMBER 01: Natalya competes in the ring against Shotzi during the WWE Live Show at Westfalenhalle on November 1, 2022 in Dortmund, Germany. Following his release, Coffey revealed there had been discussions about Gallus moving to the main roster. The plan would have seen them working alongside fellow countryman Drew McIntyre. Joe Coffey's Current Status Despite the potential interest in the AEW Glasgow show, Coffey's immediate future has a significant hurdle. He has recently stated that he is "landlocked" in the United States. His work visa was tied to his WWE contract, complicating his ability to travel and wrestle internationally for now. Coffey first appeared in WWE during an NXT event at the Download Festival in 2018. He, his brother Mark, and Wolfgang officially formed Gallus on the January 9, 2019, episode of NXT UK. WWE broke into the United Kingdom wrestling scene, NXT UK, began with a championship tournament in January 2017, won by Tyler Bate. The brand officially launched its weekly show in October 2018, establishing a platform for European talent. NXT UK featured its own set of championships, including the prestigious United Kingdom Championship, famously held by GUNTHER (then WALTER) for a record 870 days. The brand developed future main roster stars like Rhea Ripley and Pete Dunne. In September 2022, the brand held its final event, Worlds Collide, unifying its titles with the NXT championships before going on hiatus. More WWE News: For more on WWE, head to Newsweek Sports.
Newsweek
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Newsweek
Injured WWE Star Breaks Silence On Retirement Rumors
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. WWE Raw star Zoey Stark has addressed false retirement rumors that began circulating online while she has been away with an injury. She confirmed in a social media video that the rumor was started by a convincing AI-generated clip. Stark also provided an update on her recovery from a serious knee injury. She promised to share her journey back to the ring with her fans. The Injury And The Rumor Zoey Stark has been off WWE television for several weeks. She was injured during a Money in the Bank qualifying match on Raw. Stark landed awkwardly on her foot and was immediately taken to the back by medical personnel. She later revealed to fans that she had suffered a torn ACL, MCL, and meniscus. During her absence from television, a video began to circulate online claiming that she was retiring from wrestling. The AI-generated video was realistic enough to fool many people. DORTMUND, GERMANY - NOVEMBER 01: Natalya competes in the ring against Shotzi during the WWE Live Show at Westfalenhalle on November 1, 2022 in Dortmund, Germany. DORTMUND, GERMANY - NOVEMBER 01: Natalya competes in the ring against Shotzi during the WWE Live Show at Westfalenhalle on November 1, 2022 in Dortmund, Germany. More news: WWE News: Steve Austin Reveals Real-Life Vince McMahon Confrontation Zoey Stark Sets The Record Straight Stark took to social media to personally shut down the false rumors. She explained the situation and gave an update on her intensive rehabilitation process. "That's pretty funny actually. This AI video, whoever made it, great job. You did a fantastic job because a lot of people fell for it, including my own family," Stark said. "It's not true, I'm not retiring. Not any time soon. In fact, I'm here at the UFC Performance Institute to do rehab on my knee, and working my a** off three to four times a day of physical therapy." The Road To Recovery She concluded her message with a promise to her fans. She intends to be open about the entire recovery process. "Look, I'm gonna share my journey with you guys. You know, the good, the bad, the ugly, the road to recovery, and what it is," she stated. "So, stay with me. I love all you Stark marks." Stark rose through NXT, capturing the NXT Women's Tag Team Championship with Iyo Sky. She made her main roster debut as the enforcer for WWE Hall of Famer Trish Stratus. After their alliance, Stark established herself as a singles star. We wish her a speedy recovery. More WWE News: For more on WWE, head to Newsweek Sports.
Newsweek
11-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Newsweek
Former WWE Star Wants To Join AEW
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. Recently released WWE star Shotzi has named AEW as her preferred destination, citing the company's creative freedom and the reputation of its president, Tony Khan, as key factors. In a candid interview on The Ariel Helwani Show, Shotzi discussed her future after her WWE contract was not renewed in May. While she would be open to a return to WWE, she made it clear that AEW is her top choice for a new home. Why AEW Is Her Preference Shotzi explained that her desire to join AEW comes from a place of wanting creative freedom and a supportive environment. She also named several dream opponents she would love to face in the promotion. "I love TNA, I love AEW... AEW is my preference," Shotzi stated. "I love their freedom, I have a lot of friends there who are doing really awesome things. I've heard many stories of how Tony Khan treats talent. So, yeah, I do love that he really cares for his talent. That is super important to me." More news: WWE News: Steve Austin Reveals Real-Life Vince McMahon Confrontation When asked who she would want to face, she immediately named the ROH Women's World Champion. "First thing that comes to mind, Athena. I think that she's so awesome. I honestly think that she's the best women's wrestler in the world," she said. DORTMUND, GERMANY - NOVEMBER 01: Natalya competes in the ring against Shotzi during the WWE Live Show at Westfalenhalle on November 1, 2022 in Dortmund, Germany. DORTMUND, GERMANY - NOVEMBER 01: Natalya competes in the ring against Shotzi during the WWE Live Show at Westfalenhalle on November 1, 2022 in Dortmund, Germany. On Her WWE Release And Potential Return Shotzi was let go by WWE shortly after returning from a torn ACL that kept her out of action for most of 2024. She admitted that being released after working hard to come back from such a major injury was difficult. "When you're going through such a huge injury like that... you hope that, 'Well, if I work really hard and come back even better, maybe I'll get rewarded,'" she said. "But unfortunately for me, I was let go." She believes the reason for her release was simple. "WWE doesn't owe me anything. That's showbiz, right? They just didn't think that I was money and that's okay. I can take that." As for a potential return to the company, she is open to it, but with one major condition. "I would love to be back at WWE. I loved working there. I didn't love not working there, you know what I'm saying? It was only when I wasn't being used that I was unhappy," she explained. More WWE News: For more on WWE, head to Newsweek Sports.
Newsweek
09-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Newsweek
Released Superstar Takes Major Shot At WWE
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 landscape for a recently released WWE superstar is evolving, with two recent examples in Shotzi and R-Truth highlighting vastly different, but equally compelling, career paths. One finds greater financial success on the independent circuit, while the other's journey resulted in an unprecedented fan-driven return to the company. Following her WWE release, Shotzi has immediately impacted the independent scene. She has taken high-profile bookings, including a notable appearance in a Three-Way Deathmatch at GCW: Tournament of Survival X. After a fan commented on her working risky matches for "some change" compared to her WWE salary, Shotzi fired back with a revealing statement. Her response shed light on the financial realities for popular talent outside of WWE. More news: WWE News: Steve Austin Reveals Real-Life Vince McMahon Confrontation "Made more money in 2 days than what WWE paid me for a week," Shotzi stated. This comment challenges the long-held perception of WWE as the only lucrative option in wrestling and underscores the thriving independent market. In stark contrast, R-Truth's recent departure from WWE took a completely different turn. After he announced the company was not renewing his contract, a massive and organic fan movement began almost immediately. DORTMUND, GERMANY - NOVEMBER 01: Natalya competes in the ring against Shotzi during the WWE Live Show at Westfalenhalle on November 1, 2022 in Dortmund, Germany. DORTMUND, GERMANY - NOVEMBER 01: Natalya competes in the ring against Shotzi during the WWE Live Show at Westfalenhalle on November 1, 2022 in Dortmund, Germany. The hashtag #WeWantTruth trended for days, and powerful "we want Truth" chants echoed through arenas during episodes of Raw and SmackDown. The movement became so prominent that it was even acknowledged on-air by John Cena. The company reversed its decision, and R-Truth made a shocking return at the Money in the Bank event. He came back in a black hoodie to attack John Cena, costing him and Logan Paul their main event match against Cody Rhodes and Jey Uso. This comeback, born from fan demand, marks a significant victory for a WWE audience that felt their voices were heard. Shotzi first signed with WWE in late 2019, debuting on the NXT brand. With her unique punk-rock persona and signature tank entrance, she quickly became a fan favorite, winning the NXT Breakout Star of the Year award for 2020. The biggest highlight of her time in NXT came in March 2021 when she and her partner, Ember Moon, captured the NXT Women's Tag Team Championship. She was called up to the main roster in July 2021, debuting on SmackDown alongside Tegan Nox. After that, the team was split in the WWE Draft, and she had a run as a singles competitor. Also, she formed a tag team with Raquel Rodriguez, which led to a notable feud with Damage CTRL and a SmackDown Women's Championship match against Ronda Rousey at Survivor Series in 2022. After a brief return to NXT in late 2024 and early 2025 More WWE News: For more on WWE, head to Newsweek Sports.
Newsweek
08-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Newsweek
Recently Released WWE Superstar Could Return Sooner Than Expected: Report
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. Shortly after WrestleMania 41, WWE released well over a dozen Superstars from its roster. This included multiple fan-favorite wrestlers, including Braun Strowman, Shayna Baszler, and Dakota Kai as well as a plethora of NXT talent. More Pro Wrestling: Released WWE Superstar Retires From Pro Wrestling Needless to say, fans are wondering what will be next for all of the released wrestlers. However, one of these Superstars may return to WWE sooner than expected. COLOGNE, GERMANY - NOVEMBER 07: Baron Corbin competes in the ring against Braun Strowman during the WWE Live Show at Lanxess Arena on November 7, 2018 in Cologne, Germany. COLOGNE, GERMANY - NOVEMBER 07: Baron Corbin competes in the ring against Braun Strowman during the WWE Live Show at Lanxess Arena on November 7, 2018 in Cologne, to a report from Bill Apter from WrestleBinge, Strowman was released because the company's view of him changed, and the amount he was being paid didn't match the role they wanted him to play. More Pro Wrestling: Logan Paul Issues Heartfelt Apology To Stone Cold Steve Austin "I think that this time around, they never envisioned him as a full-time, long storyline player," Apter said. "I don't want to use the term filler, but just a good hand to have around to get the excitement going and maybe put some guys over, which he did. But nothing that they were planning on for a long period, and I don't know if he actually wanted to be part of this for long periods of time." Strowman has more than done his duty putting guys over. He had an incredible feud with Bronson Reed and also served as the perfect opponent to elevate current United States Champion Jacob Fatu. Both of these Superstars are now seen as future main eventers in the company, proving Strowman's ability to make opponents seem bigger than ever. Apter then stated that Strowman could return for brief stints to fill those types of roles again. "I heard that it was not an angry break, and if they call him six months or a year down the road, 'We need you for three or four months,' he'd be willing to do it again," Apter said. More Pro Wrestling: Former WWE Superstar To Make AEW Debut Strowman first signed with WWE in 2013 and debuted as a member of The Wyatt Family in 2015. Since then, he has consistently been one of the most exciting, athletic, and explosive big men in the history of the company. During his time with WWE, Strowman took home the WWE Universal Championship, the Intercontinental Championship, and the WWE Raw Tag Team Championship twice. Strowman also won Money in the Bank in 2018, the André the Giant Memorial Battle Royal in 2019, and the Greatest Royal Rumble in 2018. More Pro Wrestling: WWE Superstar Set To Depart From The Company Former WWE Star Reacts to Backstage Situation That May Have Led to Release For more WWE and professional wrestling news, head on over to Newsweek Sports.
