Below are a couple of top WWE news stories of the day.
• Controversial Wrestler Demands An Apology, Wants To Return To WWE
Patrick Clark, formerly known as Velveteen Dream in WWE, has taken to Instagram to demand apologies and advocate for his return to the company. His posts were in response to the recent indictment of former WWF wrestler Duke “The Dumpster” Droese on charges related to attempted aggravated $exual exploitation of a minor (he attempted to buy child p*rn).
On his Instagram story, Clark wrote, “People Guilty of Child Crimes Don’t Get to Walk Around Free.” He then addressed the accusations made against him in 2020, stating, “A LOT OF YOU OWE ME AN APOLOGY FOR DRAGGING ME THROUGH THE MUD. FIVE YEARS LATER HERE I STAND STILL FREE AND WITHOUT A SINGLE CHARGE… IT’S VERY HARD FOR PEOPLE TO ADMIT WHEN THEY WERE WRONG AND MALICIOUS.”
Clark was released from WWE in 2021 following allegations of inappropriate conduct with minors, which he has consistently denied. At the time, WWE conducted an internal investigation, and Triple H stated that they “didn’t find anything.” However, at least one accuser later claimed that WWE never contacted them during the investigation.
In his recent posts, Clark urged fans to support his return to WWE, writing, “IF YOU LOVE ME LIKE YOU SAY YOU LOVE ME, THE BOSSES (Triple H/HBK) PAY ATTENTION TO SOCIAL MEDIA… #WeWantTheDREAM AND SPAM @TripleH @WWE. THEY WILL HEAR YOU! WE CAN MAKE ENOUGH NOISE TO DROWN OUT THE LIES AND THE HATE.”
Since his departure from WWE, Clark has made limited appearances on the independent wrestling circuit. In 2024, he returned to the ring under the name “Velveteen Man” at a Dynasty Wrestling event. He has also competed in matches for Maryland Championship Wrestling (MCW).
• Big Return Could Take Place This Saturday At Backlash
Cody Rhodes might be making his return to WWE TV this weekend.
According to PWInsider, there has been at least one internal pitch for Rhodes to show up at WWE Backlash, which takes place Saturday at the Enterprise Center in St. Louis. However, the report notes that nothing has been confirmed.
Backlash is set to be headlined by John Cena vs. Randy Orton for the Undisputed WWE Championship, taking place in Orton’s hometown.
Rhodes has not appeared on WWE TV since WrestleMania 41, where he lost the Undisputed WWE Title to Cena.
While his Backlash return isn’t confirmed, Rhodes is advertised for the May 16th episode of SmackDown in Greensboro.
Also Read: Goldberg’s Status For Backlash 2025
