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WWE News Round-Up: Pat McAfee Explains Pro Wrestling is “Soap Opera For Dudes,” Andrade Dropped, ‘WrestleMania’ to Saudi Arabia

By Michael Fairman

Published

11 months ago

September 14, 2025

Michael

Photo: WWE/ESPN

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.

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Lucas Adams and Tamara Braun Written Out of The Young and the Restless

Published

4 hours ago

August 3, 2026

Michael

It looks like the current run of Lucas Adams (Noah) and Tamara Braun (Sienna) on The Young and the Restless is coming to an end, after the Monday, August 3 edition of the CBS daytime drama revealed that Noah and Sienna are leaving Genoa City and heading back to Los Angeles.

In the storyline, Noah informed his mother, Sharon (Sharon Case) and half-sister Mariah (Camryn Grimes) that he and Sienna made the decision to move back to the West Coast to put distance between themselves and Matt Clark (Roger Howarth). Although Noah did not say it was a permanent move, he did assure his mom that once Matt is hopefully gone from Genoa City they could return.

However, as previewed already on the video teaser for this week’s episodes of Y&R (see below), it appears Noah left Genoa City’s The Shadow Room to be run by a returning Danny Romalotti (Michael Damian). So with that, coupled with today’s episode, it would appear the move could wind up being more permanent.

Photo: JPI

COMINGS AND GOINGS

Adams made his Y&R debut on November 4, 2025 as the successor to Rory Gibson who last played Noah on-screen in April of 2023. Earlier in 2025, Gibson took over the role of Michael Corinthos on Genera Hospital replacing Chad Duell, who stepped away from the part after 15 years.

Braun who played Adam’s mother on Days of Our Lives when she was Ava Vitali and he was Tripp Dalton, first appeared on Y&R back on October 14, 2025, where we soon learned she had become Noah’s lover as the new character, Sienna Bacall. It should be noted, Adams was on contract with the number #1 soap, while Braun has been on recurring status.

With Josh Griffith now exited as head writer of The Young and the Restless, and the newly announced co-head writing team of Jamey Giddens and Dan O’Connor having taken his place and starting their new tenure this week, it will be interesting to see how the duo resets the show, and if a Noah and Sienna return is in the cards for the future or not.

So, what do you think about the seeming departures of Lucas Adams and Tamara Braun from The Young and the Restless? Weigh-in via the comment section. But first, check out our recent live chat with Tamara and Lucas on the Michael Fairman Channel.

Breaking News

Rosie O’Donnell Says She Will Return to ‘The View’ During its Season 30

Published

5 hours ago

August 3, 2026

Michael

Rosie O’Donnell revealed that she plans to head back to a seat at the table of ABC’s morning talk show The View.

The announcement came during Monday’s episode of The Tangle Podcast where she shared she will participate in “in whatever way they want” her or “just as a guest” for its upcoming 30th season.

The View’s season 30 will kick-off this fall in September. O’Donnell explained, “They’re bringing back all the hosts, I think. And, you know, I’m pretty proud of that show, what it’s become and how it really speaks to the people and to politics.”

Photo: ABC

ROSIE ON HER PREVIOUS GO-ROUNDS ON THE VIEW

As fans of The View know, O’Donnell famously had two different one-year stints on the talk show in 2007 and again in 2014- 2015. She often feuded with then co-host Elizabeth Hasselbeck.

However, during her discussion with host, Kyle Ridley on The Tangle Podcast, O’Donnell also noted she often had tense moments with longtime moderator and anchor, Whoopi Goldberg.

O’Donnell also expressed, “Many, many people got the short end of the stick there. It was, you know, it was a factory where people were being churned in and out and their tenuous security, nobody got to be calm. It also was a show at the time that was run by a man. A show created by a woman, for women, about women, and the man was deciding what we should talk about. And that didn’t sit right with me, you know.”

Back in 2023, Brooke Shields had asked Rosie on her podcast, Now What? with Brooke Shields, about how she felt on her two stints at The View and all the controversy that surrounded it. Rosie at that time, stated, “I know this, it’s not the best use of my talent to get in a show where I have to argue and defend basic principles of humanity and kindness. It was not something I’d ever do again.”

You can check out the clip with Rosie and Kyle Ridley discussing her return to The View in some form for its upcoming 30th season below.

Then weigh-in: Would you be excited to see Rosie, even for a one-day or a week guest stint on the upcoming celebratory season of The View, or not so much? Let us know via the comment section.

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A post shared by Kyle Ridley (@kyleridley_)

General Hospital

‘General Hospital’ Fan Club Weekend 2026 (Photos)

Published

18 hours ago

August 2, 2026

Michael

General Hospital Fan Club Weekend brought out many of your favorites to the four day event; with the main cast gathering on Saturday, August 1. Fans near and far attended the weekend held this year at the Burbank Marriott Hotel. Whether it be the main cast event or the smaller more intimate events featuring two or three cast members a great time was had by all.

Some of the cast participating in the main cast event included: Cyrus Hobbi (Yuri), Gary James Fuller (James), Bradford Anderson (Spinelli), Viron Weaver (Wiley), Paige Herschell (Jacinda), Chris McKenna (Brennan), Josh Kelly (Cody), Kayden Brenna Tokarsi (Scout), Cassandra James (Terry), Laura Wright (Carly), Dominic Zamprogna (Dante), Carolyn Hennesy (Diane), Rick Hearst (Ric), Adrian Anchondo (ex-Marco), and Chloe Lanier (ex-Nelle).

In addition to, Van Hansis (Lucas), Cameron Mathison (Drew), Ryan Paevey (ex-Cassius), Easton Rocket Sweda (Leo), Maurice Benard (Sonny), Kristen Vaganos (Molly), Nancy Lee Grahn (Alexis), Kate Mansi (ex-Kristina), Rebecca Herbst (Elizabeth), Cynthia Watros (Nina), Kristina Wagner (Felicia) and more.

Take a look at some of the snaps from the main event arrivals below:

Photo: HutchinsPhoroi

GH’s Rick Hearst with on-screen daughter, Kristen Vaganos, plus Nancy Lee Grahn, and Kate Mansi.

Photo: HutchinsPhoto

GH’s Maurice Benard on-hand to meet the fans.

Photo: HutchinsPhoto.com

Jack Brennan in the house … Chris McKenna.

Photo: HutchinsPhoto

Adrian Anchondo, Van Hansis and Anchondo’s boyfriend, Days of Our Lives, Colton Little.

Photo: HutchinsPhoto

GH’s Josh Kelly and his gal, the former Nelle Benson of Port Charles, Chloe Lanier.

Photo: HutchinsPhoto

Who is James’ father? Not Cassius or Spinelli, actually. Actors Gary James Fuller, Ryan Paevey and Bradford Anderson!

Photo: HutchinsPhoto

One of General Hospital’s newest cast members, Kayden Brenna Tokarski attends her first GHFCW event.

Check out some more arrival images featuring: Laura Wright (Carly), Cassandra James (Terry), Carolyn Hennesy (Diane) and more in the gallery below.

Michael Fairman TV will be adding more images to this post in the day ahead.

So, were you glad to see so many of your GH favorites attending this year’s General Hospital Fan Club Weekend? Let us know via the comment section.