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Pro wrestling fans were reminded last week how much closer their favorite superstars are to the end than the beginning.
It first happened on “Monday Night Raw”. Seth Rollins came out in the final segment to challenge Roman Reigns for the World Heavyweight Championship at SummerSlam. The prospect of Reigns and Rollins going head-to-head again may have seemed a bit tiresome on the surface, but Rollins explained to Reigns that this could be one of the last times, if not the last time, they ever wrestle in the ring again.
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Roman Reigns and Seth Rollins speak in the ring during Monday Night RAW at the Boardwalk Hall Arena in Atlantic City, New Jersey on June 29, 2026. (Craig Melvin/WWE via Getty Images)
“This might be your last chance to close that loop. You and me, we got into this company together. We got through that crowd. We knocked the door down. They kicked the old generation to the curb. We made this place our own. We created the greatest generation in the history of this industry. You and me. We did it together,” Rollins said. “My man, we are much closer to the end than we are to the beginning. And just as it was when we came in, young, hungry, ready to take over, there is a new generation of young men and women coming in and ready to do the same to us.
“So, I say again, this might be our last chance to do this dance, bro. What do you want your legacy to be? When you’re retired, you’re going to go down as one of the greatest of all time. No doubt about it. Probably No. 1. You’re a surefire Hall of Famer. Hell, they should just give you your own Hall of Fame show. But you’d even be there if you might want to be there. accept this challenge, you’ll never be able to escape the ghost of Seth Rollins.”
Rollins and Reigns are each in their 40s and have shown at times that they could perform longer than people expect. But Rollins has dealt with numerous injuries since the build-up to WrestleMania 40. He knows better than anyone how much longer it takes to recover from injuries.
On All Elite Wrestling’s “Dynamite,” the hint of pro wrestling stars entering the twilight of their careers was a little more subtle.
Kenny Omega enters the ring during New Japan Pro-Wrestling’s Wrestle Dynasty at the Tokyo Dome on January 5, 2025 in Tokyo, Japan. (Etsuo Hara/Getty Images)
Omega agreed to the stipulation to go up against MJF for the AEW World Championship at next week’s “Dynamite”. If he loses to MJF, he will no longer be allowed to challenge for the title.
“There has been no greater passion, no greater pleasure than to step through these ropes and give you all that I have,” Omega said. “Whether it was when I was a 14-year-old boy or a 42-year-old broken man, you still get the same 100% Kenny Omega every single time. I’ve won titles. I’ve broken records, records that may never be broken again. I’ve got a career I could probably hang my hat on and be proud of, but look at myself, look back at this. I know it’s just not enough.
“There’s this part of me that thinks there’s still a little bit left in the tank. There’s a part of me that thinks if I can believe, if Will (Ospreay) can believe, if the young bucks can believe, if you can believe just one more time, then I know I can be a champion that every one of you can be proud of and I could stand on the biggest stage that I’ve ever stood on and I could stand on the biggest stage that I’ve ever stood on. can represent All Elite Wrestling, where the best wrestling, where I can face Will Ospreay, the winner of the Owen Hart Cup.”
The moments are a reminder to fans that the generational talent that built professional wrestling for the past two decades is slowly breaking down. It’s a reminder to bask in the glory of the greats while they’re still around.
Reigns vs. Rollins will be at SummerSlam while Omega takes on MJF this Wednesday.
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Cody Rhodes gets another title shot
Sami Zayn pulled off a shocking victory at WWE Night of Champions to close out June, and it left a few people on the WWE roster trying to climb over each other for a shot at the Undisputed WWE Championship.
Jey Uso lost to Oba Femi and decided to waltz over to SmackDown to try and get a shot at Zayn’s title. However, Cody Rhodes was pinned by Zayn to drop the championship to the Uso’s and Rhodes would be forced to wrestle for the #1 spot.
Rhodes hit several Cross Rhodes maneuvers on Uso before pinning him for the win.
Zayn and Rhodes will meet for the WWE Undisputed Championship on “Monday Night Raw” in Chicago.
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New TBS champion crowned
Willow Nightingale going down with an injury left two big holes in AEW. She was forced out of the Owen Hart Foundation Women’s Tournament and had to drop the TBS Championship.
AEW announced a Survival of the Fittest match to crown the new TBS champion. Hikaru Shida, Harley Cameron, Kris Statlander, Maika, Persephone, and Queen Aminata each qualified for the match, which took place Wednesday night on “Dynamite.”
Persephone looked strong, she eliminated two opponents, but she ran into Statlander, who rolled her up and pinned her. Persephone got her revenge on Statlander when she hit her with the TBS title belt. Shida put Statlander in a submission hold and the referee called the match when Statlander was knocked out.
It is Shida’s first reign as champion.
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Kendal Grey’s first promo
NXT Women’s Champion Kendal Gray speaks during NXT at the WWE Performance Center on June 30, 2026 in Orlando, Florida. (Conor Kvatek/WWE via Getty Images)
Kendal Gray defeated Lola Vice for the WWE NXT Women’s Championship at The Great American Bash. On Tuesday, she cut her first promo as champion.
Gray came across as relatable, admitting she’s not the best on the mic, but vowed to wrestle like the champion she is.
“I know I might not look like your normal champ. I mean, last week I was sitting across the table from Lola Vice with her designer dresses, her heels that were top of the line. And I thought to myself in that moment, ‘This is what a champ looks like.’ makeup they put on me before I come out here every time.
“So, yeah, I’m probably not going to be comfortable dressing up like a ‘Barbie.’ And I’m probably going to be nervous every time I talk to you guys, and I can’t guarantee that every time I talk I’m going to sound like a champion, but when the bell rings, I’m sure I’m going to fight like a champion. I’m ready to take this division to another level – a level that nobody’s seen before. And if this title puts a target on my back, good. I welcomes that goal. I thrive under pressure, and when you step in the ring with Kendal Grey, it’s my pace, it’s my pace, and all the other girls in the locker room right now are going to find out that they just can’t keep up with Kendal.
Gray definitely has a target on his back.
Kali Armstrong wanted to be Gray’s first opponent, and GM Rob Stone told her that “actions speak louder than words. Armstrong took that to heart when she attacked Gray later that night. Still, it didn’t seem to be enough to get that title shot right away.
Gray will have her first title defense opportunity this week against Nattie Neidhart.
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Pro wrestling news and notes from the week:
Trevor Lee gets the crowd fired up during a Major League Wrestling show. (Major League Wrestling)
- MJF defended the AEW World Championship against Mark Briscoe.
- Kevin Knight defended the AEW TNT Championship against Lio Rush.
- Trevor Lee captures the MLW Southern Crown Championship in a bunkhouse match over Andrew Everett, Diego Hill, Festus, Ikuro Kwon, Jesus Rodriguez, Josh Bishop, Matthew Justice, Paul Walter Hauser and The Beastman.
- Mascara Dorada and Mistico won the Ring of Honor World Tag Team Championship against Sammy Guevara and The Beast Mortos.
- Rey Fenix defeated El Hijo del Vikingo to retain the AAA World Cruiserweight Championship.
- Fabian Aichner became the #1 contender for the TNA X Division Championship.
- Japanese wrestling promotion, Stardom, was reorganized and will now fall under Bushiroad’s Live Entertainment Unit.
- Nikki Blackheart made her debut on NXT. She attacked Tatum Paxley after her match against Kelani Jordan to close the show.
