• Steve Austin’s 1st Ever Opponent Passes Away
We are saddened to report that Kenneth LeBlanc, known in the ring as Frogman LeBlanc, passed away on January 3, 2026, at the age of 73. His death was confirmed through an online obituary released this week.
LeBlanc’s most enduring claim to fame in the industry occurred in 1989 in Dallas, Texas. He had the distinction of being the first-ever professional opponent for a young Steve Williams, the man who would later become the legendary WWE Hall of Famer “Stone Cold” Steve Austin.
While LeBlanc’s own career was spent largely as a reliable undercard performer, his role in the debut of one of wrestling’s greatest icons remains a significant piece of sports entertainment history.
A native of Thibodeaux, Louisiana, LeBlanc’s path to the ring followed a period of service in the Air Force and a stint playing semi-pro football. After deciding to pursue wrestling, he trained under the tutelage of figures like Iceman Parsons and Percy Pringle.
His “Frogman” moniker was actually a happy accident; while he was originally meant to wear a mask and go by “Frogs LeBlanc,” he abandoned the hood to escape the intense Texas heat. When the ring announcer mistakenly introduced him as “Frogman” on television, he decided to keep the name for good.
During the height of the 1980s, he became a fixture as a fan-favorite for World Class Championship Wrestling and frequently served as a formidable opponent for icons like Sting and The Great Muta in WCW.
By the time the 1990s arrived, LeBlanc stepped away from full-time performing to focus on other passions. He spent his later years staying connected to the sport as an independent promoter, while also becoming a well-known local figure in Baton Rouge as the owner of a popular food truck.
• Major Match Reportedly Canceled For WrestleMania 42
The landscape of WrestleMania 42 has been completely upended following the massive title change on the January 9 episode of SmackDown. While fans have spent months anticipating a third encounter between Roman Reigns and Cody Rhodes, new reports suggest that the trilogy is no longer the plan for Las Vegas.
According to Dave Meltzer on Wrestling Observer Radio, the entire creative direction for WWE’s biggest show of the year shifted on January 7th, just two days before Drew McIntyre defeated Rhodes for the Undisputed WWE Championship.
Meltzer revealed that the decision to put the gold on McIntyre was a last-minute call that forced a total rewrite of the WrestleMania main event scene. As a result, the long-awaited Reigns vs. Rhodes trilogy has reportedly been scrapped.
In its place, WWE is exploring several high-stakes alternatives. One major possibility being discussed is a Triple Threat match involving Drew McIntyre, Cody Rhodes, and the recently returned Jacob Fatu. While this three-way battle isn’t locked in for WrestleMania 42 specifically, it is currently the primary focus for the top of the SmackDown brand.
