• Major Rumor Killer On Roman Reigns
Former WWE employee Jonathan Coachman and AAA commentator Hugo Savinovich recently reported that TKO Group Holdings, the parent company of WWE, is reevaluating the lucrative contract of one of its biggest stars, Roman Reigns, amid ongoing cost-cutting measures. They added that TKO executives are questioning the value of Reigns’ estimated $15–20 million annual deal (which includes everything: merch pay, video game pay, PLE bonus, Saudi Arabia bonus) given his limited appearances.
However, that’s not the case. According to the Wrestling Observer, TKO officials know the star power Roman brings to the table, despite his limited schedule, and there have been no discussions about a pay cut or restructuring of his deal.
Internally, top WWE officials have credited Roman’s Bloodline storyline for WWE’s ongoing financial boom period. The OTC was last seen on WWE programming on RAW after WrestleMania 41, where he was attacked by Seth Rollins and Bron Breakker.
The Head of the Table also has a couple of movies lined up. According to Amazon MGM, The Pickup, an action-comedy featuring Reigns, will premiere on August 6 on Prime Video. The film also stars Eddie Murphy, Keke Palmer, and Pete Davidson. Reigns had taken time off from WWE after losing the Undisputed WWE Universal Championship to Cody Rhodes at WrestleMania 40 last year, with reports stating he was busy filming this project. He returned to WWE at SummerSlam 2024 to begin a feud with Solo Sikoa.
While there had been talk of Reigns joining another film, Good Fortune, director Tim Story confirmed in Vanity Fair that Reigns is only involved in The Pickup.
The Tribal Chief is also expected to star in Legendary’s upcoming live-action Street Fighter movie, where he is rumored to play the role of “Akuma.”
Also Read: Roman Reigns Achieves Massive Milestone On His 40th Birthday
• Trish Stratus To Feature In A Movie With WWE Star
WWE Hall of Famer Trish Stratus has officially joined the cast of Karate Ghost, an upcoming ’90s-style action-comedy directed by James Mark, which will also feature WWE interviewer Cathy Kelley. She’ll star alongside comedy favorites David Koechner (Anchorman, The Office) and Steve Howey (Shameless, True Lies) in a film that blends martial arts, family drama, and ghostly mentorship.
Stratus will play Susan Fanshawe, a pageant queen turned karate-obsessed mom whose intensity threatens to overshadow her daughter’s own ambitions. Koechner steps in as Joe “Lightning” Brodsky, a former karate champion who now sells gear while exaggerating tales of his glory days. Howey portrays Rick Fanshawe, an out-of-touch ex-fighter still chasing relevance by targeting the town’s rising star, Bobby Brody.
The story follows Bobby, a grieving teen who’s mentored by the ghost of his late father’s favorite action hero. What starts as a paranormal friendship becomes a journey through identity, legacy, and high-kicking redemption in a town where karate rules everything.
The film also stars Tim Rozon (Schitt’s Creek), Colton Gobbo (Ginny & Georgia), Jim Belushi, WWE’s Cathy Kelley, Natalie Zea (Justified), and Michael Jai White (Black Dynamite).
Karate Ghost is being directed and co-written by James Mark, based on a script he wrote with the late Larry Bain. Producers include Bruno Marino, Tony Del Rio, and executive producers David Barrett, Plato Fountidakis, and Brent Jones.
Filming is underway in Toronto. A festival premiere and theatrical release are planned for early 2026. Blue Fox Entertainment Canada is handling distribution, with U.S. rights still available.
