It’s easy to overstate something as being “game-changing,” particularly in professional wrestling. One only needs to look at how frequently the term was used in the past when AEW signed someone to its roster, only to have them inevitably do nothing to improve business, ratings, or storyline intrigue.
But to say that 2024 was a game-changing year for the professional wrestling industry, well, that would be an understatement. With every company taking innovative shifts in their distribution approach by moving to streaming, legends leaving companies (voluntarily or otherwise), some companies working together like a veteran tag team and others fighting one another like storied rivals, the landscape of the industry was forever changed in 2024.
The following is a list of some of the most newsworthy stories from the past year.
No chance in hell, but lots of chancery hell for Vince McMahon
Former WWF/WWE CEO and owner is no stranger to battling legal matters over the years. But in 2024 there was one matter he could not kick out of: sexual allegations levied by ex-employee Janel Grant.
In the suit filed in a Connecticut court at the beginning of January last year, Grant and her lawyer, Ann Callis, claimed that he and then WWE Director of Talent Relations John Laurinaitis engaged in sexual trafficking along with sexual and emotional abuse. The suit also named WWE Corporate officers Nick Khan and Brad Blum and accused them of covering up the abuses, Stephanie McMahon of knowing about her father’s behavior towards women, and former WWE Corporate Officer Brian Nurse of being aware of the relationship between Grant and McMahon.
In one of the examples during her tenure at WWE, Grant says, “McMahon and Laurinaitis sexually assaulted her inside Laurinaitis’ office in WWE headquarters while colleagues were busy at their desks. Behind a locked door, the two men cornered her and pulled her in between them, forcibly touched her, before ultimately putting her on top of a table in between them. She begged them to stop, but they forced themselves on her, each taking turns restraining her for the other, while saying: ‘No means yes!’ and ‘Take it, bitch!'”
This went on for years until 2022 Grant was told by McMahon that his wife found out about the affair. He let her go but allegedly forced her into signing a non-disclosure agreement (NDA) which included payments of up to $3 million US.
It was this scandal that first made McMahon step down from WWE, only to come back to facilitate the transition of the wrestling promotion into TKO, the parent company of the WWE and Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC). A statement released by TKO on January 26th, 2024 read: “I wanted to inform you that Vince McMahon has tendered his resignation from his positions as TKO Executive Chairman and on the TKO Board of Directors. He will no longer have a role with TKO Group Holdings or WWE.”
This also brought the Securities Exchange Commission (SEC) to investigate as McMahon used company funds for this and a similar matter of up to $7.5 million US from another female independent contractor, and he failed to disclose this to a WWE auditor during the transition process.
McMahon vowed to defend himself against “these baseless accusations, and look forward to clearing my name.” Over the last few months, the New York Post released a “love letter” penned by Grant to McMahon and McMahon’s legal team filed a response that claimed they were in a “consensual relationship” and that she cheated on her fiancé with McMahon.
The SEC dropped their investigation at the beginning of 2025, as McMahon agreed to the SEC findings. The agency noted that he, “knowingly circumventing WWE’s internal accounting controls and that he directly or indirectly made or caused to be made false or misleading statements to WWE’s auditor.” Of course, McMahon neither confirmed nor denied the reasons for the SEC’s findings but agreed to a cease-and-desist for violating those provisions, paid a $400,000 civil penalty, and promised to reimburse WWE approximately $1.33 million according to Section 304(a) of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act.
Meanwhile, Grant and her legal team are still awaiting their day in a US federal court. US District Judge Sarah F. Russell of Connecticut ruled that her legal team needs to file an amended complaint before January 31st to incorporate any new information or arguments, as Grant’s request for a status conference was denied.
McMahon’s legal team had suggested this case be moved to private arbitration, as the NDA cites a clause in that matter. Judge Russell has rejected it for now so the matter can proceed in court but will review it after Grant’s team provides the amended complaint.
— Tommy “Milagro” Martinez
The American Stream, if you will
The world of professional wrestling is undergoing a seismic shift as major promotions secure new deals to reach their audiences. With every passing week in 2024, the hot topic of discussion on podcasts would be where WWE and AEW programming would end up as their linear TV deals were set to expire in 2024.
We didn’t have to wait too long to find out where WWE’s flagship program, Monday Night Raw, would head. In January 2024 it was announced that starting in 2025 after inking a rumored $5-billion deal, RAW would air live on Netflix in the USA and be the exclusive home of all WWE programming in Canada, the UK, Australia and Latin America, among many other global territories.
Netflix, known for its global reach and dominance in streaming, could provide WWE with an unprecedented platform to expand its audience and align with the broader trend of cord-cutting and the rise of streaming services.
For WWE, a partnership with Netflix could mean greater creative freedom, enhanced production values, and access to a younger, tech-savvy demographic. For Netflix, adding live sports entertainment could be a strategic move to attract subscribers who want live sports programming on the streaming service.
All Elite Wrestling (AEW), WWE’s primary competitor, has benefited from partnership with Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD). This partnership has been a cornerstone of its success, with shows like Dynamite, Rampage and Collision airing on TNT and TBS. The relationship between AEW and WBD strengthened in October of 2024 as it was announced that AEW signed a new multi-year media rights deal with WBD.
The deal includes a groundbreaking enhancement as AEW content will also air live and on-Demand on WBD’s streaming service, Max. The continued relationship with WBD provides AEW with the resources and exposure needed to compete on a global scale versus TKO and WWE. As AEW continues to grow, its partnership with WBD will be crucial in shaping the future of the promotion.
But that wasn’t it in 2024 for a change of TV landscape. Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (TNA) announced a deal to air on Rogers SportsNet 360, a Canadian sports network. For Canadian wrestling fans, this allows them to connect or even re-connect with TNA as the promotion has been steadily rebuilding its brand in recent years, and this partnership could be the catalyst for a resurgence in popularity among its Canadian fans.
The WWE-Netflix deal, AEW’s continued partnership with WBD, and TNA’s deal with Rogers SportsNet 360 underscores the evolving world of professional wrestling and Sports in general, as streaming is becoming king. For fans, these changes mean more choices, higher-quality programming, and greater accessibility. Whether you’re a die-hard WWE fan, an AEW enthusiast, or a longtime TNA supporter, there’s never been a better time to be a wrestling fan.
As the tech industry continues to innovate, one thing is certain: the future of professional wrestling is brighter than ever.
And it’s just a few clicks away.
— Boris Roberto Aguilar
The Doctor (of Thuganomics) is out… we’ve Cena nuff
Everyone has made the joke already, but there is truth in the fact that, after 2025, you can’t see John Cena.
At least, not in a WWE ring.
The multi-time WWE champion, who has already been on a limited schedule with his burgeoning acting career, announced at the end of the Money in the Bank premium live event (PLE) that he will finish his wrestling career.
“I don’t think I am saying anything out of turn here. A lot of sports entertainment retirements are either immediate injury forces, excuses to beat up a champion and vie for a title match or they are dishonest,” Cena said back in July 2024. “People say they are walking away and then two years later they are back. I want to set the record straight right now; I am done. This is it. I just want to send the message to our fans if you ever wanted to be part of this one last time, we are going to do this as big as we can, we are inviting everyone and we hope you enjoy the fun.”
Either way, Cena will have a busy schedule in Hollywood. Just last year alone, he was involved in movie projects like Ricky Stanicky with Zac Efron, Argylle, with Henry Cavill and Dallas Bryce Howard, and Jackpot! with Awkwafina. He’s also done guest starring work in TV shows like The Bear and co-hosting the game show on TBS, Wipeout. He also finished filming the next season of the HBO Max show Peacemaker, which is slated to come out August of 2025.
In short, Cena has a busy dance card.
He also made it clear that he will end his career with WWE. “There isn’t a check writer with enough money to change my mind when I hang it up in December,” he told Liam Crowley of ComicBook.com. “I don’t want to continue for ego or financial gain. I built a relationship of trust and authenticity over the years with the WWE and that’s people who think I suck and people who believe in me. They know that I shoot them straight and I’m trustworthy. I mean what I say: when I’m done in December, I am done. It is the last time I will perform in a ring.”
He does want to continue as a brand ambassador after his time in the squared circle is done, so you will see Cena in a suit instead of the Jorts and ball cap that has been his traditional attire. As part of his farewell loop, Cena competed in this year’s Royal Rumble PLE and is also set to make his final appearance at the Elimination Chamber to be held at the Rogers Centre in Toronto.
— Tommy “Milagro” Martinez
The Wyatt Sicks’ momentum doesn’t stick
After a much-hyped debut, the Wyatt Sicks have plummeted down the card. They were last seen feuding with The Final Testament, a faction that has had few wins on TV and is an afterthought. Not only that, but The Final Testament were the first ones to get sustained heat on the Wyatts only to have the Wyatts leave Raw without getting their revenge.
It has been a steady decline.
On April 1, 2024, WWE released the Bray Wyatt documentary. Taylor Rotunda, Bray’s real-life brother, figured prominently in the production. Watching him discuss his brother’s career was heartbreaking. Rotunda was as sympathetic a babyface as you could imagine. The documentary also teased Rotunda’s return under his alter ego, Uncle Howdy.
WWE paralleled Bray Wyatt’s “White Rabbit” grassroots return with The Wyatt Sicks’ QR codes, hidden messages, and weird music being played at your local arenas were all echoes of the original. Then the debut happened.
On June 17th, after three months of buildup, the Wyatt Sicks debuted. In one of the most preposterous scenes in wrestling (think of the ground that covers), the Wyatt Sicks “killed” the production team and several wrestlers in the area behind the curtains — Chad Gable even had what appeared to be a gunshot wound to his head.
The next week, Gable had not only risen from the dead, but he was also wrestling. Week after week he was attacked by the Wyatt Sicks while their smoke machine filled the ring. Gable was fresh off a heel turn and now he was being pummeled repeatedly without really doing anything to cause it. There was no heat from American Made, just the bully Wyatts constantly attacking him. And Adam Pearce, who’s production team was murdered by these character, was eventually using The Wyatts as punishment for Gable.
Much like what happened with Bray Wyatt during his in-ring career, there was no explanation for why any of this was happening. Why did WWE allow them on TV? Why were they attacking Gable? Were they babyfaces? How were we supposed to feel?
Instead, there was a series of odd interviews and vignettes for the Wyatt members.
Taylor Rotunda did a masterful interview explaining how he felt about his brother and even addressed the idea that they were a knockoff of the original idea. The interview, however, was completely undercut by the fact that he did not really explain his motivations in a wrestling sense, and he was being interviewed by himself. Yes, Uncle Howdy was interviewing the real-life person who portrays him.
This was the kind of nonsense Bray Wyatt brought to the wrestling shows. He commented in a media scrum about how wrestling was an “open canvas” and yet there is no evidence that that “open canvas” appeals to anyone other than a small segment of internet fans. Thus, segments with the puppets and Bray being set on fire and murdering Braun Strowman in a swamp undercut what had been a remarkable character.
Over the rest of the year, The Wyatt Sicks continued this preposterous “open canvas” idea to dwindling pops and less screen time, last seen losing in a low- to mid-card feud against the lame Final Testament faction. Worse still, that feud confused the face-heel dynamic even further.
Imagine this scene without names: Wrestler A is attacked by Wrestler B. Wrestler A’s friend, who is over 70 years old, jumps in to save him. Wrestler B then attacks a 70-year-old man who saved his friend from assault. Wrestler A and his friend are clearly babyfaces, right?
Wrestler A was Miz, and his friend was Paul Ellering. Wrestler B was Uncle Howdy.
Without a sense of purpose in anything they do, The Wyatt Sicks will continue to see their place on the card as a time filler for Smackdown. WWE needed to find a way to highlight this band of misfits in a way that makes it obvious that they are babyfaces or heels and what their motivations are instead. Otherwise, they have wasted the sympathy that Taylor Rotunda had coming in.
— Thomas Starr
Sting hangs up his bat, Danielson hangs up his… beard?
The past year saw a lot happen in the wrestling world. Among the biggest stories were the final matches for the Icon Sting and the American Dragon Bryan Danielson.
Sting opted for a tag match with Darby Allin against the Young Bucks for his final in-ring action at Revolution. In the build-up to the tag-title match, AEW put together one of the best career overviews you’ll ever see.
Despite never being known as a hardcore wrestler, Sting’s final match went to the extreme. In an unforgettable moment, Allin attempted a dive onto Nicholas Jackson, only to miss as his brother Matthew pulled him out of the way, sending Allin crashing through the glass in a painful (pane-ful?) moment.
Ultimately, though, the match was all about Sting and the retirement of one of the most popular and iconic stars of the 1980s, ’90s, and the Attitude Era. After the show went off the air, Sting grabbed a mic to thank the fans in Greensboro — a city that had seen many of his career’s highlights — and the people who supported every step of his illustrious career.
While AEW hit the mark with Sting’s last match, the same couldn’t be said about the somewhat unceremonious way that Bryan Danielson’s full-time in-ring career came to an end at AEW Wrestledream in October.
Indeed, the former World Champion was expelled from the faction he started, the Blackpool Combat Club, in the most unsettling and violent manner possible. Jon Moxley and the Death Riders delivered on their promise in this chilling warning to Danielson in the lead-up to the title match. Just when fans thought they knew Wheeler Yuta, he showed his true colors, betraying his mentor and aiding Moxley and his Death Riders.
Both men finished their in-ring careers in wildly different manners. But as disturbing as Danielson’s final match was to watch — including the post-match actions of Moxley and his crew, some would say anything less would not have kept him down.
— Sully Khan
Death is final. Promotions, not so much
Moliere is quoted as saying, “We die only once, and for such a long time.”
On a whim, I searched to see whether the great French playwright (1622-1673) had ever been referenced here at SlamWrestling.net, and he had. In 2010, Pat Laprade and Yves Leroux went to what was promoted as the last ever show of the influential International Wrestling Syndicate (IWS) promotion in Montreal, and filed this report. Unlike the names mentioned below, the IWS was resurrected and still puts on occasional shows.
Promotional-wise, I think a lot of people thought WWE might be dead in the water with all the Vince McMahon scandal, or that AEW wouldn’t get a massive TV deal to stay in business. Both might be stronger than ever, critics — and courts — be damned. Even the rebranded TNA carried on, and the NWA is one of the few positive things about the cesspool that is X/Twitter.
But this section is about death itself.
For all the obits we ran here on the site — 65 by my count — there were 135 names listed on the most complete list that I know of, on the German version of WrestlingData.
Being honest, there’s a small guilt factor that we didn’t do more but we still did more than any other site. Heck, our two biggest trafficked stories from 2024 were obituaries of way-less-than-mainstream names, Shooter Tony Jones and “Dirty Money” Jermaine Robinson.
And personally? Looking at the list, it is gut-wrenching.
Roger Baker, who contributed here, was a dear friend and I went to his funeral, as I did Big Mac‘s; I’ll be going to whatever celebration of life they do for Sweet Daddy Siki.
Others in that category lived farther away, like Paul Vachon and Billy Blue Rivers. Bill Custers was a key to this site succeeding in his position running PPV events in Canada. A quick count marks 25 that I interviewed through the years, or interacted with, often at Cauliflower Alley Club reunions. A few of them I knew their family but not the subject. The touching tribute that Jeremiah Plunkett wrote on his friend Francisco Ciatso resulted in Plunky writing regular pieces here.
The reward, while that isn’t quite the right word, is hearing from family and friends with a thank you for remembering their loved one.
— Greg Oliver
Total Non-Stop Adaptation
The year 2024 has been a year full of change for TNA Wrestling, with the company going through significant changes both behind the scenes and in the ring. As TNA Genesis started, it was a new era for TNA as they went back to the TNA branding. But that was not the only change in store for the company last year, as it saw many of its talents exit or announce their intentions to exit.
These exits have reshaped the landscape of TNA Wrestling, and throughout the year, fans and insiders speculated about the future direction of the organization.
One of the biggest and most shocking exits was of Executive Vice President, Scott D’Amore’s. D’Amore’s departure from TNA Wrestling in early 2024 sent shockwaves through the wrestling world. It was particularly surprising since, during his tenure as the Executive Vice President and a key creative force, D’Amore played an instrumental role in revitalizing the promotion after years of being seen as a minor player. His leadership helped restore credibility to the brand, bringing in fresh talent, securing new partnerships, and delivering compelling storylines that resonated with fans and talent alike. His exit left a significant void in TNA’s leadership, as he was not only a decision-maker but also a bridge between the locker room and management. Many wrestlers credited D’Amore with TNA’s resurgence, making his departure a tough blow for the roster.
In addition to D’Amore’s exit, TNA Wrestling saw several top talents leave the company in 2024.
These departures were a mix of contract expirations, creative frustrations, and opportunities elsewhere.
“The Walking Weapon” Josh Alexander was one of TNA’s most consistent performers and a former World Champion. His departure announcement came as a surprise, as he had been a cornerstone of the promotion’s in-ring product. Alexander’s exit was attributed to his desire to explore new challenges, with rumors suggesting he was to test free agency and possibly head to a major competitor such as WWE or AEW. Accompanying Josh Alexander is his real-life wife, Jade Chung, who served as TNA’s in-ring announcer.
Another notable name ready to leave TNA is former Knockouts Champion, Jordynne Grace, who in January of 2025 signed a multi-year agreement with WWE. Also leaving TNA in 2024 were Rhino, Kushida, Trent Seven, and PCO, all of whom played major roles on weekly TV.
The departures of D’Amore and these top talents have left a void in TNA Wrestling and have many fans scratching their head about what the future of TNA holds in 2025 as this feels like history repeating itself. That said, TNA has a history of resilience and reinvention, and the promotion has already begun to pivot toward a new era as it was announced in January of 2025 that it had signed a multi-year agreement with WWE to share talent.
While 2024 has been a year of significant change for TNA Wrestling, it also presents an opportunity for growth and evolution. The departures of Scott D’Amore and key talents have forced the company to rethink its direction, but TNA has proven time and again that it can adapt and thrive in the face of adversity. One thing is certain: the promotion remains a key player in the wrestling industry, and fans can only hope that the new chapter of TNA Wrestling will take the company to new heights, while honoring the legacy of those who left.
— Boris Roberto Aguilar
Time to play the Game Changer Wrestling
As it was initially reported by SlamWrestling’s John Powell on November 27, 2024, GCW (Game Changer Wrestling) posted on its social media that Ricky Starks had been pulled from all GCW events by AEW, “including his announced match on 12/14 in Los Angeles, his unannounced match on 12/28 in Seattle and his unannounced match on 1/19 at The Hammerstein Ballroom.”
GCW owner Brett Lauderdale said on GCW’s podcast, “I found out about this the same time as everybody else did, for the most part. I’ve stated this many times before and it’s no secret, I don’t really have a line of communication with AEW. I’ve never talked to Tony Khan on the phone or via text in my entire life. They don’t talk to me. I’m not trying to say that in a negative context but I guess we’ve never really had to talk. Anybody from AEW who has worked with us, that’s been between me and the talent to arrange it. If they need to get permission or something they handle that on their own. In terms of this with Ricky Starks or anybody else from AEW I don’t really know a lot. I haven’t heard about anybody else. I’m just hearing Ricky has been pulled. Period. I haven’t been on the phone with AEW where they’ve given me an explanation or asked me any questions or anything. I have no communication with AEW over this. I don’t know where it goes beyond Ricky Starks.”
Fightful Select reported that the reason Starks was pulled was because of comments GCW’s EFFY made on his weekly podcast, Weekend at EFFY’s, complaining about AEW running shows at the Hammerstein Ballroom on December 21st and December 22nd, when GCW is holding their show on January 19th, but EFFY later stated that he felt that he wasn’t the real reason for Starks being pulled from GCW events.
“It’s all the timing of that happening at the exact same time and then using me as a blame. You know, go ahead, buddy. You can blame me. I can handle the blame. I can take the heat,” EFFY said.
As was previously reported by SlamWrestling, EFFY believed the real reason Starks was banned from working GCW was that details of Starks’ AEW contract were leaked, not because of EFFY’s comments about AEW booking the Hammerstein Ballroom.
In the meantime, on December 14, at GCW’s Highest in the Room 3 event, in a match between Matt Cardona and EFFY, a match that was originally supposed to be Cardona versus Ricky Starks, AEW’s Chris Jericho made a surprise appearance, attacking both Cardona and EFFY, but Jericho later made it clear this move wasn’t about mending fences between AEW and GCW.
“We were looking at Matt’s dates because I really wanted to do something on an independent show,” Jericho shared on Z100 New York. “He’s the King of the Indies, and you want to create focus on this. I saw he had a GCW show in Los Angeles, and I just happened to have a gig at the Whiskey with KUARANTINE [Jericho’s KISS cover band]. Serendipity. It’s fate. We have to do this.”
Jericho further clarified, “Everyone thinks, ‘Is this an olive branch with GCW?’ No. I just happened to be literally in the same city on the same date with this idea of wanting to attack him.”
Jericho would go on to defeat Cardona at ROH Final Battle on December 20, 2024, while AEW finished their shows at the Hammerstein Ballroom before Christmas, and Ricky Starks wasn’t booked in GCW or AEW.
— Josh Olson
Other Notable Events
- For a while, it looked like the tribal warfare between Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson and Roman Reigns would culminate in a main event match at last year’s WrestleMania. Indeed, in a very awkward moment, Royal Rumble winner Cody Rhodes seemingly volunteered to give up his main event spot to Johnson. But the fans wouldn’t know their roles and shut their mouths, and the backlash led to the scenario changing, with Johnson turning heel and aligning himself with Reigns against Rhodes. It wasn’t the only time Rock faced some backlash in 2024, with reports coming from Hollywood that he was becoming a big diva on movie sets. Hopefully he doesn’t have such a “rocky” year in 2025.
- You might have felt bad for Scott D’Amore after reading the item above. But he always seems to land on his feet. Post-TNA, D’Amore announced that he was resurrecting the legendary Canadian brand Maple Leaf Pro Wrestling. The company held its inaugural show in 2024 to excellent fan and critical reviews, and has announced a trio of shows in early 2025, including one to take place in Toronto’s Mattamy Centre on the site of the former Maple Leaf Gardens, the home of so many epic historical moments.
- The WWE Hall of Fame ceremony is always full of memorable moments. But perhaps none of them were as extreme as Paul Heyman’s induction speech at the 2024 edition. In front of the Philadelphia crowd — the home city of his former company ECW — Heyman donned his old Paul E. Dangerously wardrobe to deliver a verbal love letter to the promotion that was passionate, humorous, and simply phenomenal. Between that, expressing his love for his family, running down highlights from his entire career, and (ever the promoter) expertly plugging both nights of WrestleMania, Heyman proved that he is a veritable hall of famer and set the bar that future inductees may never be able to reach.
- TNA star Joe Hendry made a believer out of many wrestling fans in 2024 (and this continues in 2025 now that he’s won the TNA World Championship, and recently appeared in WWE’s Royal Rumble as part of the TNA-WWE talent exchange deal). But in 2024 he also made a believer out of mainstream music fans, when his theme song “I Believe in Joe Hendry” reached the #1 spot on the UK Spotify charts in April 2024. Check out the video and clap along.
