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Last week, pro wrestling fans were reminded just how much closer their favorite superstars are to the end than the beginning.
The first time this happened was 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 toe-to-toe again might have seemed a little tedious at first, but Rollins explained to Reigns that this could be one of the last, if not the last, time they would ever fight in the ring again.
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Roman Reigns and Seth Rollins perform in the ring during Monday Night RAW at Boardwalk Hall Arena in Atlantic City, New Jersey on June 29, 2026. (Craig Melvin/WWE via Getty Images)
“This may be your last chance to close this loop. You and I came to this company together. We walked through this crowd. We knocked down the door. They kicked the old generation to the curb. We made this place ours. We have created the greatest generation in the history of this industry. “My friend, we are much closer to the end than to the beginning. And just as it was when we came, young, hungry, ready to take power, a new generation of young men and women is coming, ready to do the same to us.
“So, I repeat, this may be our last chance to do this dance, brother. What do you want your legacy to be? When you retire, you will go down as one of the greatest of all time. to escape the ghost of Seth Rollins.”
Rollins and Reigns are both in their 40s and have shown at some point that they can perform longer than people expect. But Rollins has suffered several injuries since the build-up to WrestleMania 40. He knows better than anyone how long it will take to recover from injuries.
In All Elite Wrestling’s “Dynamite,” the hint that pro wrestling stars were entering the twilight of their careers was a little more subtle.
Kenny Omega enters the ring during New Japan Pro-Wrestling’s Wrestle Dynasty event at Tokyo Dome on January 5, 2025 in Tokyo. (Etsuo Hara/Getty Images)
Omega agreed to the condition of facing MJF for the AEW World Championship on “Dynamite” next week. If he loses to MJF, he will no longer be allowed to compete for the title.
“There was no greater passion and no greater pleasure than to walk through those ropes and give people everything 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 time. I’ve won titles. I’ve broken records, records that may never be broken again. I have a career that I could probably hang my hat on and be proud of and look back on fondly, but you see, I have that in me the selfish part that knows it’s not enough.”
“There’s a part of me that thinks there’s a little bit left in the tank. There’s a part of me that thinks that if I can believe, if Will (Ospray) can believe, if the Young Bucks can believe, if you people can believe just one more time, then I know I can be a champion that every single one of you can be proud of, and I can stand on the greatest stage AEW has ever set foot on, at Wembley Stadium, and I can represent All Elite Wrestling where the best fight, where I can face Will Osprey, winner of the Owen Hart Cup.”
These moments are a reminder to fans that the generational talent that has built professional wrestling over the last two decades is slowly being eroded. It’s a reminder to bask in the glory of the greats while they’re still alive.
Reigns vs. Rollins will take place at SummerSlam, while Omega will face 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 as a result, several individuals on the WWE roster tried to outdo each other for a shot at the Undisputed WWE Championship.
Jey Uso lost to Oba Femi and decided to head to SmackDown to try and challenge Zayn for the title. However, Zayn talked Cody Rhodes into losing the championship. Uso and Rhodes will have to fight to earn the No. 1 contender’s spot.
Rhodes performed several Cross Rhodes maneuvers on Uso before pinning him for the win.
Zayn and Rhodes will meet for the Undisputed WWE Championship on Monday Night Raw in Chicago.
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New TBS Champion Crowned
The fall of Willow Nightingale due to injury has left two major holes in AEW. She was forced out of the Owen Hart Foundation Women’s Tournament and had to forfeit the TBS Championship.
AEW has announced a “Survival of the Fittest” match to determine the new TBS Champion. Hikaru Shida, Harley Cameron, Kris Statlander, Maika, Persephone and Queen Aminata qualified for the match, which took place Wednesday night on Dynamite.
Persephone looked strong, eliminating two opponents, but was confronted by Statlander, who rolled her up and pinned her to him. Persephone took revenge on the Statlander by hitting her with the TBS title belt. Shida stopped Statlander with a submission and the referee called the match as Statlander was knocked out.
This is Shida’s first championship.
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Kendal Gray’s first promo
NXT Women’s Champion Kendal Gray performs during NXT at the WWE Performance Center on June 30, 2026 in Orlando, Florida. (Conor Kwatek/WWE via Getty Images)
Kendal Gray defeated Lola Vice for the WWE NXT Women’s Championship at The Great American Bash. She made her first promotion as champion on Tuesday.
Gray seemed entertaining, admitting she’s not the best on the mic but vowing to fight like the champion she is.
“I know I may not be your average champion. I mean, last week I was sitting across the table from Lola Weiss in her designer dresses and heels, all glittery. And at that moment I thought to myself: “This is what a champion looks like.” But that’s not me. This is not my style. I mean, I can’t even sit in the makeup chair for five minutes without going crazy. And honestly, guys, I wipe off half the makeup they put on me before I come out here every time.
“So yeah, I probably wouldn’t feel comfortable dressing like Barbie.” And I’ll probably be nervous as hell every time I talk to you guys, and I can’t guarantee that every time I talk I’ll sound like a champ, but when the bell rings, I’m damn sure I’ll fight like a champ. I’m ready to take this division to another level – a level that no one has ever seen before. And if this title puts a target in my back, fine. I welcome this goal. I thrive under pressure. I thrive on competition and when you get in the ring with Kendal Gray, it’s my match, it’s my pace, it’s my pace, and all the other girls in the locker room right now are going to find out sooner or later 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 general manager Rob Stone told her that “actions speak louder than words. Armstrong took this to heart when she attacked Gray later that night. However, it didn’t seem to be enough to get him a title shot right away.
Gray will get his first opportunity to defend his title this week against Nattie Neidhart.
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Pro Wrestling News and Notes for the Week:
Trevor Lee brings the crowd into a frenzy 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 won the MLW Southern Crown Championship against Andrew Everett, Diego Hill, Festus, Ikuro Kwon, Jesus Rodriguez, Josh Bishop, Matthew Justice, Paul Walter Houser and Beastman.
- Mascara Dorada and Mistico won the Ring of Honor World Tag Team Championship against Sammy Guevara and the Beast of Mortos.
- Rey Fenix defeated El Hijo del Vikingo to retain the AAA World Heavyweight Championship.
- Fabian Aichner became the #1 contender for the TNA X Division Championship.
- Japanese women’s wrestling promotion Stardom has reorganized and will now move to Bushiroad’s Live Entertainment Unit.
- Nikki Blackheart made her NXT debut. She attacked Tatum Paxley after her match with Kehlani Jordan to close the show.
Ryan Gaydos is a senior editor at Fox News Digital.