Wrestling Tonight: THE ROCK’S POWER PLAY IN WWE | ALEISTER BLACK & RUSEV RETURN | RIP MONGO MCMICHAEL
Welcome back to Wrestling Tonight for Episode 122. Every week we’re here breaking down everything happening across WWE, AEW, NJPW, TNA, and the rest of the wrestling world — the real stories, the real moves, and why they matter. This week, we start with The Rock, who has been making serious noise behind the scenes after WrestleMania 41. After stepping away from the Cody Rhodes and John Cena storyline at the last minute, The Rock is back in the spotlight — not just for creative decisions, but for a public clash with Busted Open’s Dave LaGreca. We’ll dig into what’s really going on, how much influence The Rock actually has right now, and whether we’re seeing the start of a bigger shift inside WWE. The returns didn’t stop there either. Aleister Black made his long-awaited comeback on SmackDown, bringing back that dark, dangerous edge. Meanwhile over on Raw, Rusev returned in a big way. We’ll break down what both of these returns could mean for WWE’s summer plans, and where they might slot into the bigger picture. It wasn’t all celebration though. Charlotte Flair had some strong words after the WrestleMania Roast crossed a few lines, and you can feel the real tension just under the surface. We’ll talk about why this isn’t just about bad jokes — it’s about respect, the locker room atmosphere, and how things backstage might be a little more unsettled than they seem. In NXT, Noam Dar continues building a quietly historic resume. He’s now the only four-time Heritage Cup Champion, and at a time when consistency is rare, Dar’s steady presence is starting to stand out even more. We’ll take a look at why this win matters, and why it might be signaling bigger things for NXT moving forward. Meanwhile, TNA Rebellion is shaping up to be one of the biggest cards of their modern era. Joe Hendry defends the World Title against Ethan Page and Frankie Kazarian. Masha Slamovich puts the Knockouts Championship on the line against a returning Tessa Blanchard. Ultimate X is back for the X-Division Title. The Hardys defend the Tag Titles against the Nemeth brothers. And Mustafa Ali vs Mike Santana in a Falls Count Anywhere match could end up stealing the show. We’ll go match-by-match and get you ready for a night that could reshape the TNA landscape. And across the border, the battle for Mexico’s wrestling future is heating up. AEW made the first move, announcing their upcoming Arena México show with CMLL — a historic partnership that immediately turned heads. Now WWE is responding in a big way, fast-tracking their plans following the acquisition of AAA and setting up their own events to plant a flag in the region. This isn’t just about who can sell tickets — it’s about who controls the narrative and future of lucha libre going forward. Finally, we’ll close tonight by paying tribute to the late Steve "Mongo" McMichael. Mongo was one of a kind — NFL champion, Horseman, commentator, and larger-than-life personality inside and outside the ring. We’ll share a few stories and a few laughs, and raise a glass to a guy who always gave the fans everything he had. Stick around — big moves, real emotion, and a lot to get into tonight on Wrestling Tonight. Grab a drink, pull up a chair — let’s talk some wrestling.
