• Surprising Reason For SmackDown Wrestler’s Absence
The “Emperor of Lucha Libre” has been a ghost on WWE television for months. SmackDown wrestler Santos Escobar, who has not competed in a televised match since the summer of 2025, was once a hot topic in the free-agency market. After his initial contract expired in early October, Escobar was briefly moved to the “Alumni” section of the WWE website, leading to heavy speculation that he was destined for AEW.
However, in a last-minute reversal, WWE secured Escobar with a “big money” deal, reportedly a sizeably larger paycheck than previous offers, after addressing his creative concerns. Despite this financial commitment and reports placing him backstage at Monday Night RAW in late October, Escobar has yet to resurface.
According to the Wrestling Observer, the former Cruiserweight Champion’s return simply “fell through the cracks” in the shuffle of recent roster moves and creative transitions.
While Escobar has been “waiting patiently,” a sentiment he recently shared on social media, WWE is reportedly back in discussions to get his comeback “back on track.”
There were reports that WWE has plans to push Escobar in AAA, possibly booking him to win the AAA Mega Championship (currently held by Dominik Mysterio), but nothing has happened yet.
• MJF Sparks Backstage Controversy With Diddy Promo
MJF made a return to AEW TV at the end of 2025. During the Holiday Bash edition of Dynamite in Manchester, England, MJF immediately inserted himself into the main event scene. However, it wasn’t just his return that grabbed headlines, but a specific line in his promo that targeted Swerve Strickland.
MJF took the microphone to mock Samoa Joe, Swerve Strickland, and “Hangman” Adam Page. When he turned his attention to Strickland, he made a direct comparison to P. Diddy. MJF listed similarities, mocking Swerve for calling himself a “mogul,” wearing heavy chains, using “too much baby oil,” and being a “dogsh*t rapper.” The reference led to a mixed and visibly awkward reaction from the live crowd in Manchester.
The fallout from the segment reportedly extended backstage. According to Fightful Select, the Diddy reference was not well-received by several people within All Elite Wrestling, with some expressing unhappiness over the line.
Furthermore, reports from the Wrestling Observer confirmed that other talent involved in the segment were unaware that MJF was going to make such a controversial remark.
• WWE Live Event Results – Drew McIntyre Defends The Undisputed Title
WWE had an untelevised live event / house show at the OVO Hydro in Glasgow, Scotland, earlier today. Below are the results:
– Jey Uso def. Finn Balor
– AJ Styles and Dragon Lee def. The New Day (Kofi Kingston and Xavier Woods)
– Alexa Bliss def. Kairi Sane
– The Wyatt Sicks (Uncle Howdy, Erick Rowan, and WWE Tag Team Champions Dexter Lumis & Joe Gacy) def. My Family Tree (Tama Tonga, Talla Tonga, Tonga Loa, and JC Mateo)
– Undisputed WWE Championship Match: Drew McIntyre (c) def. Shinsuke Nakamura to retain the title
Take it all in, champ! 👏@DMcIntyreWWE pic.twitter.com/ESAoxMNoJQ
— WWE (@WWE) January 10, 2026
PROMISE. KEPT. 🙌🔥 @DMcIntyreWWE pic.twitter.com/m4r0pQ6BFu
— WWE (@WWE) January 10, 2026
– Liv Morgan def. Lyra Valkyria
– Gunther def. Sami Zayn
– World Heavyweight Championship Match: CM Punk (c) def. “Big” Bronson Reed to retain the title
Also Read: Internal WWE Reaction To Drew McIntyre’s Undisputed Title Win
