Wrestling Landscape Shifts: Rhodes, Orton, AEW Revolution, and UFC 326 Dominate Headlines

The professional wrestling and mixed martial arts worlds are buzzing with significant developments. From Cody Rhodes’ championship journey in WWE to the success of AEW Revolution and the viewership numbers for UFC 326, this past week has been packed with noteworthy events. Here’s a comprehensive look at the key stories shaping the industry.

Cody Rhodes’ Championship Reign and WrestleMania 42 Matchup

Cody Rhodes recently regained the WWE Championship, defeating Drew McIntyre on SmackDown. This victory sets the stage for a major match against Randy Orton at WrestleMania 42. Rhodes, now a three-time world champion, continues to resonate with fans as a top babyface in the current wrestling era. He recently discussed the unique feeling of losing the title to John Cena at WrestleMania 41, noting his surprisingly relaxed state despite the setback. “My family and my friends are used to seeing me stress out, and they were marveling at how relaxed I was at WrestleMania,” Rhodes stated.

AEW Revolution Draws Strong Attendance and Revenue

AEW Revolution, held at the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles, proved to be a significant success. The event sold 12,258 tickets, reaching the venue’s capacity for the show, and generated over $1 million in gate revenue. This makes it the second-highest grossing Revolution event in history, surpassed only by the 2024 show which featured Sting’s retirement. The card featured several high-profile matches, including MJF defending the AEW World Championship against Hangman Page in a Texas Deathmatch, and FTR facing The Young Bucks for the AEW World Tag Team Championship. AEW sources are optimistic about the event’s success and anticipate a potential increase in importance for Revolution in 2026.

UFC 326 Viewership and White House Card

UFC 326, featuring Kevin Vallejos’ victory over Josh Emmett, garnered significant attention, becoming the most-watched TV UFC show since Paige Van Zant vs. Michelle Waterson. The event also included a “White House card” which was unveiled on Saturday night. UFC 326 was the third most watched television show on Paramount+ yesterday behind South Park and Yellowstone, and including Movies, No. 5 overall.

Other Notable News

• WWE and Saudi Arabia: While not officially confirmed, the July WWE Pay-Per-View event in Saudi Arabia is currently unlikely to occur due to ongoing global risks.
• CMLL: CMLL sold out Arena Mexico on Friday with 16,000 attendees and Arena Coliseo last night with 6,000.
• NXT: NXT programming will not air live in Chicago this week due to election coverage on WGN.
• Stardom: Hanan defeated her sister Rina to win the Stardom Cinderella tournament.
• Passings: Dave Newhouse, a prominent Bay Area sports writer, and Davey Coates, WWE’s former International Tour Manager, both recently passed away.

The wrestling world continues to evolve, with key events and storylines captivating fans. The coming weeks promise further developments as WrestleMania 42 approaches and AEW continues to build momentum.