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WWE News Round-Up: ‘Night of Champions’ in Question Amid U.S./Iran Tensions, John Cena/CM Punk ‘Pipebomb’ Feud, Liv Morgan Injury

By Michael Fairman

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Photo: WWE

As we start a new week for the WWE, there are several key developments that are worth keeping an eye on. Chief among them is, will next weekend’s Night of Champions premium-live-event on Peacock go off as planned given that the event is scheduled to be held in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia on Saturday Night, June 28th?

The WWE universe has been taking to social media concerned over the decision that could put the roster and WWE creatives and crew in harm’s way after the U.S. bombed Iran’s nuclear sites amid the Iranian conflict with Israel. In addition, this weekend, Iran’s foreign minister warned of “consequences” over the bombing.

Fightful Select reports that there has been no official response from the WWE, but that the situation is being monitored very closely by the company. As it stands now, WWE talent are set to leave mid-week on a charter plane to Riyadh for ‘Smackdown’ on Friday and Night of Champions on Saturday. Their source believes that the shows would not be canceled because of how much money is at stake and that WWE is producing two big shows on two consecutive nights. Another source believed that the WWE would be made safety assurances before venturing to the Middle East.

Photo: WWE

PIPEBOMBS

It was back in June 27, 2011 when CM Punk dropped his historic promo which has been titled forever in sports entertainer as the “Pipebomb.” In it, he first laid out John Cena through a table, then as sits at the ring ramp, he goes after then WWE chief, Vince McMahon, his daughter, Stephanie, and everyone in charge, before having his mic cut off.  It was also historic in its nature for it was a worked shoot where he aired real-life grievances with the company while also incorporating fictional storylines. 

Photo: WWE

Fast-forward to last Friday’s ‘Smackdown’ on June 20, 2025 on the USA network, and the tables were turned, literally! Cena, who is set to defend the WWE Universal Championship at Night of Champions next week in Saudi Arabia against CM Punk, attacks Punk and throws him through a table in the ringa throwback to 2021). Then, Cena perches himself on the ring post and goes in on Punk with his own mocking of Punk’s OG pipe bomb!

Over the weekend, while at the ‘SummerSlam’ kick-off Fanatics Fest in New York City, Punk addressed Friday Night’s SmackDown reversal and said, “Just because people come out on television and lie about me doesn’t make it true. John said one true, real thing last night, and that is he’s jealous of me. It doesn’t seem to make any sense because he’s the greatest of all time. Seventeen-time world champion. I don’t know if anybody in this room is going to live long enough to see anybody else accomplish that. Could be Randy (Orton). He’s probably our best bet. The big difference between Randy and John is that Randy didn’t sell his soul to the Rock. Randy is here, boots on the ground. We don’t see The Rock anywhere. We don’t see Travis Scott anywhere. I roll with Ice Cube. I’m more of an Ice Cube guy. No Vaseline. That’s what John is in store for. (No Vaseline) is the greatest diss track of all time.”

LIV MORGAN OUT

Liv Morgan, who recently returned to the WWE after filming her debut motion picture role in Bad Lieutenant: Tokyo was injured during a match on last Monday’s June 16th episode of Monday Night Raw on Netflix. During her bout against Kairi Sane, it appeared as if Morgan landed oddly on her elbow and right shoulder after Sane delivered a single leg takedown.

Courtesy/WWE

Morgan was attended to by the WWE medical staff and the match live on Netflix had to be called in favor of Sane as Liv could no longer compete. Medical updates through last week indicated that Liv suffered a separated shoulder injury which required surgery. Morgan is the current co-holder of the WWE Women’s Tag Team Championships with Raquel Rodriguez, and WWE reportedly has implemented a plan, in story, that does not involve the titles being vacated. Morgan was scheduled to appear at the Fanatics Fest this weekend in New York City but her appearance was cancelled. It is believed that Liv will be out of action for an extended amount of time.

ICYMI: Check out John Cena recreating CM Punk’s infamous Pipebomb promo, and the moment Liv Morgan was injured. Now weigh-in: should the WWE still travel to the Middle East given the escalating tensions between the United States, Israel and Iran, or do you think ‘Night of Champions’ should go off as planned? Share your thoughts via the comment section below.

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‘The Bachelor’ Names NFL Quarterback Sam Hartman as Lead for Season 30

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Sam Hartman

ABC has named their ‘Bachelor’ for the upcoming 30th season of the reality series. Sam Hartman, a 27-year-old NFL quarterback who plays playing for the Washington Commanders, will be handing out the roses as he searches for love.

The upcoming season of The Bachelor will premiere in 2027 on Sunday, March 21 at 8 p.m ET. on ABC and streaming the next day on Hulu and Hulu on Disney+ for bundle subscribers in the U.S.

The announcement was made, and Hartman’s first interview was on the Friday, November 13 edition of Good Morning America, where he shared with cohosts Sam Champion and Rebecca Jarvis: “I’m excited but also very nervous, I have a tough time holding conversation with one girl. 30 is going to be pretty tough.”

Photo: NFL

WASHINGTON COMMANDERS QB WRESTLED WITH THE NOTION OF BECOMING THE BACHELOR

Hartman also revealed his initial thoughts on appearing on The Bachelor: “Honestly, at first, I was like ‘no way. The connotation of it − I don’t know.” Ultimately the QB was swayed to take on the reality franchise lead for its upcoming season.

A Charlotte, North Carolina, native, Hartman played for Wake Forest and Notre Dame in the college ranks. It was there he set ACC records, including most career touchdown passes and 300-yard passing games. Sam was also featured in the documentary series QB1: Beyond the Lights. Currently, on the NFL’s Washington Commanders, he serves as a quarterback on their practice squad.

FORMER ATHLETES THAT ALSO GAVE OUT THE FINAL ROSE

The pick of Sam Hartman aligns with pro athletes who have appeared on the show in the past including: now ‘Bachelor’ host, NFL quarterback Jesse Palmer, former soccer player Juan Pablo Galavi,  ace car driver Arie Luyendyk Jr. and former NFL practice squad player Colton Underwood.

The Bachelor is executive produced by Scott Teti, Jason Ehrlich and Andy Frank serve as executive producers.

You can check out Sam Hartman talking about being cast as the series lead for the upcoming season 30 of The Bachelor with GMA below.

Now let us know, will you be checking out the 2027 season of The Bachelor featuring Sam looking for love? Let us know your thoughts via the comment section.

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General Hospital

‘General Hospital’s’ Cynthia Watros Honors Former ‘Titus’ Co-Star Stacy Keach Following His Passing

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Stacy Keach and Cynthia Watros

General Hospital star Cynthia Watros, who can currently be seen in on the ABC soap opera in the role of Nina Reeves, has had a enduring career in television. That included her time on the 2000-2002 Fox sitcom, Titus.

In Titus, Watros starred along with Stacy Keach as Erin Fitzpatrick and Ken Titus, respectively. After the November 10th news that Keach had passed away at 85 while living in Poland, Cynthia took to her Instagram on Thursday, November 12 to pay tribute to the great actor.

Watros expressed, “My first prime time show was along side Stacy. I loved him instantly. What an amazing talent and man.❤️”

Photo: ABC

In Titus, Stacy played stand up comedian Christopher Titus’ heavy-drinking, chain-smoking, five-times-divorced father who frequently pulled cruel pranks and tried to toughen his kids up. Cynthia played by Christopher’s level-headed, big-hearted girlfriend trying to build a normal life with him. In fact, Cynthia’s role on the sitcom was first series regular role after her Daytime Emmy run of Annie Dutton on Guiding Light which ran from 1994-1998.

STACY KEACH’S WIFE ON HIS PASSING

Keach’s wife, Malgosia shared the news of the actor’s death publicly in a statement with PEOPLE. Malgosia expressed, that Stacy had, “a long and difficult battle with a serious heart condition and heart failure.”

She added, “Stacy peacefully departed this world. He fought for so long, with extraordinary courage, determination and strength. He was a true warrior, facing his illness with the same remarkable spirit and resilience that defined his life.”

Małgosia continued, “Stacy was not only a legendary actor, admired and loved by audiences the world over, but also my beloved husband, my companion and the heart of our family. His passing leaves an immeasurable emptiness in our lives. But his extraordinary spirit, his unforgettable voice and the love he gave so generously will remain with us forever.”

Now, let us know do you remember when Cynthia made her sitcom debut in Titus? Share your thoughts via the comment section on Cynthia’s many TV roles and the passing of Stacy Keach in the comment section. But first, check out the very first episode of Titus with Cynthia Watros below!

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Beyond the Gates

‘Beyond the Gates’ Emmy Winner Ambyr Michelle Wants to Compete on ‘Dancing with the Stars’: ‘Pick Me’ (Exclusive)

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Ambyr Michelle

Soap opera fans are always clamoring for when Dancing with the Stars reveals their cast each season, that they would include a familiar face from daytime drama, but it rarely happens, if ever, anymore.

Over the last several years, the series has leaned heavily into casting celebrities with massive TikTok or Instagram followers, which in turn, have helped this season and last have their best ratings numbers in years.

But, how about for next season’s cast of Dancing with the Stars, that it could include newly-awarded Daytime Emmy winner, Ambyr Michelle (Eva Thomas) of Beyond the Gates?

Ambyr Michelle

Photo: CBS

LOVE OF DANCE TO LOVE OF ACTING

Michael Fairman TV spoke to Michelle about her dance background and if she would love a shot at lifting the Len Goodman Mirrorball Trophy during Wednesday’s November 11, livestream chat on the Michael Fairman Channel.

Ambyr explained to fans (who joined in on the live chat), how she began her show business career. “I started off as a dancer, first and foremost. Acting wasn’t really something I wanted to go after. I did plays when I was younger, but it was just something we did in school, but I really wanted to be a dancer. I moved out to LA to dance, and I fell out of love with dance, which was so weird.”

This year’s Emerging Talent in a Daytime Drama Series winner, added, “I was like, ‘What is going on?’ I moved all the way out here for dance. I found I was forcing myself to go to dance class, and I just didn’t have the passion for it. I was working at this restaurant at the time, and one of my coworker was like, ‘What about taking an acting class out here?'”

Next, Ambyr took the coworker up on the idea. “So, I took an acting class and I fell in love with it that day,” shared Michelle. “I was like, ‘I want to do this for the rest of my life.’ I thought, I would love to book a role, of course, as a dancer, but I think acting has a little bit more longevity.”

Photo: ABC

A SHOT AT THE LEN GOODMAN MIRRORBALL TROPHY

When the talked turned to if Ambyr would consider or be interested in appearing on the ballroom dance competition series, she piped up with, “I would love to do Dancing with the Stars! Pick me!”

As those in the live chat rallied around this idea, it made us think, Ambyr could be the first contestant from Beyond the Gates, and someone representing the soaps. It checks off so many boxes! To which Ambyr replied, “That would be beautiful.”

You can check out the full conversation with Ambyr below.

So, what do you think soap fans? Can we make sure Ambyr’s name gets in front of the producers and casting director for next season’s Dancing with the Stars? Would you like to see her in the competition? If so, who would be your dream pro professional dance partner for her? Let us know in the comment section.

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