News
WWE News Round-Up: Pat McAfee Explains Pro Wrestling is “Soap Opera For Dudes,” Andrade Dropped, ‘WrestleMania’ to Saudi Arabia
This past week has been another hotbed of news and moments for the WWE, who continues to expand its reach domestically and internationally. Now, with the upcoming Wrestlepalooza premium live event on September 20th becoming the inaugural event under WWE’s new streaming partnership with ESPN, the card is stacked.
WWE Chief Content Officer, Paul “Triple H” Levesque visited Pat McAfee on his ESPN talk show to chat about the reason behind the 1.6 million dollar rights deal between WWE and the sports outlet. Triple H, said on the new deal, “This normalizes it (pro wrestling) for everybody.”
McAfee comments, “There is still a carny mindset how we will always be outcasts in the wrestling world. How people view it as not legit. But whenever you look at it from an athletic standpoint, the performers are so incredibly, insanely talented and at Olympic-level of athleticism, and then we talk about the performance. People who like sports, like to see people do their thing at a high level, which is what the WWE does.”

CourtesyESPN
PRO WRESTLING IS A SOAP OPERA
Then, McAfee made the the following analogy, “So I think a lot of sports fans who aren’t into WWE, that whenever they are exposed to it, they are like ‘Wait a minute! This is a men’s soap opera? This is like a soap opera for dudes? I think we can buy into this!” I think there is a lot of appeal for sports fans that I think ESPN will bring.”
Triple H responded, “I think so too, and some people talk about the soap opera stuff, but there is the behind the scenes stuff, no different than you guys talking about the NFL and the drama of it, and its the same thing. You can pick and choose: ‘Do you want to pay attention to the storylines? Do you want to see the backstage stuff?’ When you start digging into the WWE, all that drama of any sport is there.”
ANDRADE LET GO
Over the weekend, various reports have serviced that Andrade’s current run in the WWE had come to an end, and he has been dropped from being listed on the roster and moved to the alumni page of WWE.com. His exit comes a surprise, but industry insiders are reporting it is not because of his relationship with his ex-wife, Charlotte Flair, who was public about how her divorce from Andrade shook her to her core while visiting Sherri Shepherd on her talk show, and then speaking with Michael Fairman TV at WWE SummerSlam in August about it.

Photo: WWE
In an update from the Takedown by SI, they have shared that Andrade was sent home by the WWE with disciplinary action after he failed to show up for TV tapings for a month, and for all intent and purposes, he was effectively released by the company, and that the departure was not a mutual decision.
The report added, “Andrade had at least one wellness policy violation during his most recent WWE run. It is not known how exactly he was in violation of the policy, or whether or not he in fact tested positive for a banned substance (WWE can suspend talent for failing to produce a test). It is also not clear if it directly led to his release, but it was noted that he was suspended without pay as of a result of it.”
Andrade left WWE once before, when he ended a near six-year run with the company by requesting his release in 2021. He then had a wonky run in AEW, and eventually returned to WWE as a surprise entrant during the men’s 2024 Royal Rumble match. More may come to light on why Andrade missed TV tapings in the coming days.
WRESTLEMANIA HEADS FOR THE FIRST TIME OVERSEAS
Building on their global success, the WWE announced that Riyadh, Saudi Arabia will host WrestleMania 43 in 2027 marking the first time that the cultural phenomenon will be staged outside of North America.
The event will be a part of Riyadh Season which is when the city plays home to the biggest entertainment events every year during winter. Since the launch of Riyadh Season in 2019, the festival has welcomed visitors from all over the world to experience thousands of concerts, sporting activities, and other unique cultural events. Most recently, Riyadh Season 2024 reached a major milestone after the number of visitors for the year exceeded 20 million for the first time.

Photo: WWE
WrestleMania is a week-long celebration of WWE and pro wrestling where fans from more than 60 countries attend wrestling’s Super Bowl, which has generated more than $1.5 billion in cumulative economic impact for the cities that have hosted the event over the last decade. In 2026, WrestleMania returns to Las Vegas, before heading to the Middle East the following year with their “Showcase of the Immortals.”
So, do you agree with us, that pro wrestling is a soap opera for men and women as well? Do you have kids that are fans of the WWE? What do you think of the sudden departure of Andrade? And, what are your thoughts of WrestleMania heading to Saudi Arabia less than two years from now? Share your thoughts in the comment section, but first check out the conversation with Pat McAfee and Triple H on all the big moves by WWE and ESPN.
News
Susan Flannery and Ian Buchanan Visit the Set of ‘The Bold and the Beautiful’; Daytime Emmy Winners Reflect on Show Then and Now

The one and only Susan Flannery (ex-Stephanie Forrester) dropped in to see her former co-stars on The Bold and the Beautiful at their Sunset Las Palmas Studio in Hollywood, along with her good friend and another B&B co-star Ian Buchanan (ex-James Warwick) on Tuesday October 20.
It was the first time in a very long time that The four-time Daytime Emmy winning actress was reunited with Katherine Kelly Lang (Brooke), Jacqueline MacInnes Wood (Steffy), executive producer and head writer, Brad Bell, Jennifer Gareis and even her TV sister, Alley Mills (Pam, B&B now Heather, GH) showed up for the day too!
Flannery played the Forrester matriarch from 1987 until 2012. It was then that after playing the part of Stephanie for 25 years that Susan made the decision to retire from acting and in one of the most heartbreaking sendoffs, passes away from lung cancer in Brooke’s arms in November of 2012. During her B&B tenure, Flannery won 3 of her 4 Daytime Emmys, the other being for her first soap role as Laura Horton on Days of our Lives back in 1975.

Photo: Bell-Phillip TV
As for Ian Buchanan, he played Dr. Warwick, psychiatrist, from 1993 to 1999. He returned for other runs in 2014 and 2017. Buchanan took home his Daytime Emmy in 1997 for his work as James. Soap fans also remember, Ian as mobster Duke Lavery on General Hospital, and Dr. Greg Madden on All My Children,
Both Susan and Ian shared their thoughts on coming back to The Bold and the Beautiful, for Susan 14 years later since he exited and for Ian close to 9 years since his last appearance below.
Susan said, “It’s definitely like coming home in a way, even though it’s not the same studio. It’s really lovely to see old faces and old faces with new faces. It takes you back mentally. You start remembering what it was like back then, even things like how much your feet would ache at the end of the day from wearing six-inch heels. It was just lovely to be back and see everybody.”

Photo: Bell-Phillip TV
Ian expressed, “It’s a mind trip, you know. When I was sitting looking at the big Forrester set, it was like stepping back in time, almost. It takes you back mentally, and you start remembering what it was like when you were here before.”
“It’s lovely to see all these people again, even if you don’t know everybody,” explained soap vet Buchanan. “There’s something really special about coming back and seeing the show and the people who have been part of it for so long.”
So, happy to see Susan and Ian with some of their former castmates? Do you think Stephanie and Brooke is one of the greatest frenemy stories in daytime history? Let us know your thoughts in the comment section below.
Beyond the Gates
Tabitha Brown and Kandi Burruss Guest Star on ‘Beyond the Gates’ for Dani’s ‘Welcome to Your Life’ TV Special; What Could Go Wrong?

As previously announced, Beyond the Gates is bringing chef, author and actress Tabitha Brown and Grammy Award-winning songwriter, singer and actress Kandi Burruss to Fairmont Crest in a special episode of the CBS daytime drama airing Thursday, October 22.
In the episode, Dani’s (Karla Mosley) best friend Pamela Curtis (Cady McClain), arranges a “Welcome to Your Life” television special for her. As it turns out, Brown will play the show’s host, Tia Allen, while Burruss takes on the role of Dani’s first modeling agent, Kalista Kilroy, who turns the celebration of her life into a bad trip down memory lane.
Dani’s parents Anita and Vernon (Tamara Tunie, Clifton Davis), sister Nicole (Daphnee Duplaix), and daughters Chelsea (RhonniRose Mantilla) and Naomi (Arielle Prepetit) all join the show to celebrate and support her but also witness how things so south. Also appearing in the episode are Molly Figueroa as Tatum Stewart and fan-favorite Anita Williams (Tunie) impersonator Jackie Tyree!

PhotoL JPI
THE 411 ON TIA AND KALISTA
Speaking with TV Insider, about their soapy experience in Fairmont Crest, Tabitha Brown previewed about her host with the most, “Tia is very professional, but she’s a girl’s girl. She is a protector of women and wants to tell their stories in a beautiful way, but she also wants to make sure they’re seen in a very good light.”
However, Burruss previews that Kalista arrives with a score to settle. “She’s spicy,” shared the recording artist. “I always love playing somebody that has come to start trouble. It’s always fun to play a villain of sorts, but Kalista feels like she’s been done wrong and she’s hurt by what she feels has been done to her. So Kalista is stirring up trouble, but she feels justified putting Dani on blast. Kalista is ready for some payback.”
Beyond the Gates is produced by CBS Studios, as part of the CBS Studios/NAACP Venture, in partnership with P&G Studios, a division of Procter & Gamble. Created by head writer Michele Val Jean, executive producers include Val Jean, Sheila Ducksworth, Julie Carruthers, Tracey Thomson, Leon W. Russell, Derrick Johnson, Anna Saalfeld and Lela Coffey.
Beyond the Gates is broadcast weekdays on CBS (2:00-3:00 PM, ET/1:00-2:00 PM, PT) and is available to stream on Paramount+**.
So, looking forward to this special episode of Beyond the Gates when Dani is put on a blast during a blast from her past and Welcome to Your Life TV special? Share your thoughts via the comment section.
Days Of Our Lives
‘Days of our Lives’ Reveals Kyle Pryor Cast as Dominic Marino

For months now, Days of our Lives has teased the character of Dominic Marino. In recent weeks, viewers learned that Marino is on the down low working with Sami Brady’s (Alison Sweeney) apparent fiancé ‘Dante Vitali (Franco LoPresti), and that he is the never-before-heard-of child of Stefano DiMera (the late Joseph Mascolo) and Marlena Evans (Deidre Hall)!
Up until now, the Peacock streaming soap opera has never revealed his face, but that all seemed to change on the Tuesday, October 2o episode of DAYS. In story, Dante met Sami’s parents for the first time, Roman (Josh Taylor) and Marlena.
He shows them a photo of Dominic, which he happened to have on his own phone and even commented he kind of looked like he could be Marlena’s son. The photo, which has quickly made it around Soap Twitter/X, revealed that British-born actor Kyle Pryor is the man in the photo and eagle-eyed viewers actually located said photo on Pryor’s Instagram.

Photo: Peacock
Deadline revealed Pryor started taping at the end of 2025 and will first be seen in the role, on air Monday, November 2. In addition, Days will celebrate its 61st Anniversary with two special episodes featuring Dominic’s arrival, as well the returns of Tony and Anna DiMera, played respectively by Thaao Penghlis and Leann Hunley, on Friday, November 6 and Monday, November 9.
Those in the know, are are that Pryor previously held series regular roles on Australia’s Home and Away, and the UK’s Hollyoaks and guest starred on Emmerdale. In an ironic twist, Pryor appeared in the series Spartacus: Blood and Sand which is the same action series his apparent TV brother, Dan Feuerriegel (EJ DiMera), once appeared in before coming to DAYS.
So excited to see Kyle Pryor take on the role of Dominic Marino as Days of our Lives sets its anniversary story to kick-off with is arrival in Salem? Share your thoughts in the comment section. And in case you missed our latest conversation with Conner Floyd (Chad DiMera) he weighs-in on how Dominic’s appearance will shake things up in Salem. You can check that out below.
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