• Update On When The Next SmackDown Debut Will Take Place
Blake Monroe’s NXT career came to an end during the second week of the Revenge special, where she lost a Casket match against Women’s North American Champion Tatum Paxley.
Her promotion to the main roster and call-up to SmackDown was officially announced after WrestleMania 42. WWE also promoted her upcoming debut last week, but she has yet to appear on the show.
According to PWInsider, Blake Monroe is expected to start appearing on the blue brand by the end of this month, though those plans could still change depending on creative decisions.
• Surprises Teased For WWE Backlash
The 2026 Backlash Premium Live Event is just three days away. It will take place at the Benchmark International Arena in Tampa, Florida, and will be the first PLE following WrestleMania 42.
During an appearance on ESPN Get Up, WWE Hall of Famer Paul Heyman was asked what fans can expect from this Saturday’s show. Heyman hinted at surprises and told viewers to prepare for the unexpected.
“Expect to see the unexpected, because in WWE, surprises are the norm.”
When discussing the upcoming bout between Seth Rollins and Bron Breakker, Heyman added:
“What can you expect to see from Bron Breakker and Seth Rollins? You can see Bron Breakker be the most physical athlete in WWE since the retirement of Brock Lesnar.”
Below is the match-card for Backlash:
– World Heavyweight Championship Match: Roman Reigns (c) vs. Jacob Fatu
– Seth Rollins vs. Bron Breakker
– United States Championship Match: Trick Williams (c) vs. Sami Zayn
– Asuka vs. IYO SKY
– Danhausen and Mystery Partner vs. The Miz and Kit Wilson
• 31st WWE Release Announced
WWE has continued letting talent and staff go over the past two weeks as part of major internal restructuring within the company. The departures have affected main roster stars, developmental names from NXT, EVOLVE and LFG, along with backstage personnel, while several wrestlers have also been asked to accept reduced contracts in order to remain with WWE.
The latest name to depart is Francois Prinsloo, who confirmed his exit from WWE in a statement posted on Instagram.
Prinsloo wrote:
“WWE has been nothing but a blessing for me. It has easily been one of the hardest challenges I’ve had to face and yet I wouldn’t have had it any other way. Through this journey I was able to learn a lot about myself, the world and the beautiful people in it.
WWE showed me a world I never knew that I would fall in love with, introduced me to amazing people that I will never forget. It reignited my passion and talent for acting and speaking. WWE also showed me how much further I could push my limits…or rather how much further I want to push them now. It’s opened my eyes to so much more and has inadvertently…made me hungrier.
There’s a long list of people I want to thank, but for now I’ll shorten it. Thank you to the amazing coaches I had the pleasure of working with. Thank you to the medical staff and their unending diligence to help me through my slew of freakish injuries. Thank you to S&C for getting me in the best shape of my life. Thank you to the great athletes, friends, classmates and opponents I got to meet, wrestle or learn from and finally….Thank YOU, for your support and encouragement ❤️
It’s been fun and hard, but hardest of all is having to accept my journey getting cut short before I could really start 🖤
But a wise man once told me : ‘the wolf climbing the mountain is always hungrier than the one at the top,’ and unfortunately, I’ve been left starving… but we’ll talk more about that later.
More life🫡💯🙏🏾”
Prinsloo used to be a discus thrower who signed with WWE in 2025.
Below is the updated list of names who have departed the company:
– Aleister Black
– Zelina Vega
– Kairi Sane
– Apollo Crews
– Motor City Machine Guns (Alex Shelley & Chris Sabin)
– Santos Escobar
– Nikki Cross
– Zoey Stark
– Alba Fyre
– Bo Dallas
– Joe Gacy
– Erick Rowan
– Andre Chase
– Dexter Lumis
– Dante Chen
– Tyra Mae Steele
– Tyson Dupont
– Tyriek Igwe
– Chris Island
– Trill London
– Malik Blade
– Luca Crusifino
– Sirena Linton
– Carlee Bright
– The New Day (Kofi Kingston & Xavier Woods)
– Tonga Loa
– JC Mateo
– Gavin O’Shea (Ex-Director of WWE’s TV Production)
– Francois Prinsloo
