Welcome to the May 30th Inside The Ropes Live blog, bringing you the latest news from WWE, AEW, NJPW, IMPACT Wrestling and more.
Today’s biggest stories:
Get the unbelievable story behind Chicago Bulls legend Dennis Rodman arriving in WCW, joining The nWo, and getting into a rivalry with Karl Malone that took the two NBA superstars from the NBA Finals to the main event of Bash at the Beach 1997.
Check out the full video below courtesy of the WWE!
Charlotte Flair may be one of WWE’s most decorated female wrestlers, but not everyone is convinced about the direction of her current run. WWE veteran Dutch Mantell recently weighed in on Story Time With Dutch Mantell, expressing concern about The Queen’s booking and long-term future following her loss at WrestleMania 41.
Flair made a high-profile return by winning the 2025 Royal Rumble but failed to capitalize on the momentum, falling to Tiffany Stratton at WrestleMania. Mantell believes the weak buildup and lackluster match hurt her significantly, stating:
“I think she [Charlotte Flair] is just lost… She didn’t dominate against Tiffany Stratton… I think they should’ve kept her a little stronger and then had someone else take her down to elevate new talent. Then let Charlotte fade away.”
Mantell also questioned how much longer Flair intends to remain a regular competitor.
Most recently, Flair suffered another defeat on the May 23 episode of SmackDown, failing to qualify for the women’s Money in the Bank match after Giulia pinned Zelina Vega. Reports now suggest that Flair could be entering a new program with Alexa Bliss, potentially setting up a redemption arc—or a gradual exit.
Cody Rhodes may be one of the most beloved superstars in WWE today, but not everyone is a fan of his entire move set. WWE Hall of Famer Bubba Ray Dudley recently shared his candid thoughts on Busted Open Radio, singling out one of The American Nightmare’s trademark maneuvers for criticism.
While praising Rhodes’ recent appearance at Saturday Night’s Main Event—especially his opening punches against John Cena—Dudley voiced his disapproval of the drop-down uppercut, a move inherited from his brother Dustin Rhodes. According to Dudley, the move detracts from the realism of Rhodes’ in-ring style.
“If I’m Cody Rhodes, I’m getting rid of that drop-down punch,” said Dudley. “I understand it was part of Dustin’s repertoire, and Cody adopted it, but it doesn’t get you anywhere. In a real-deal fight, it would never happen.” [h/t WrestlingInc]
Despite the critique, the drop-down uppercut has become a signature element of Cody’s matches and is unlikely to be removed. For many fans, it’s a nostalgic nod that ties his present success to his wrestling lineage—though clearly not everyone sees it that way.
In a surprising twist, Stephanie Vaquer dropped the NXT Women’s Championship to Jacy Jayne on the latest episode of WWE NXT.
While the loss left fans puzzled, reports have now clarified that Vaquer could be on her way to the main roster, with RAW expected to be her new home. However, that’s not all—according to Cory Hays, Vaquer is already being lined up for a major feud with reigning Women’s World Champion IYO SKY.
The two stars have some history, having clashed in a non-title match on RAW shortly after WrestleMania 41.
That encounter ended in chaos thanks to interference from Giulia and Roxanne Perez. Now, with both women seemingly on a collision course, fans may not have to wait long to see the rivalry reignite. While the timeline remains unconfirmed, all signs point to La Primera stepping into the world title picture sooner rather than later.
A recent appearance by former WWE and World Heavyweight Champion Alberto Del Rio—now competing as Alberto El Patron—has ignited serious controversy after a fiery altercation on live television.
While promoting his upcoming AAA Mega Championship defense against El Hijo del Vikingo on Venga La Alegría, a popular TV Azteca morning show, El Patron’s intensity crossed a line that left fans questioning whether the incident was part of a storyline or an actual outburst.
During the interview, El Patron launched into a personal tirade against Vikingo, even referencing his father, lucha legend King Vikingo, who was present in the studio.
Things quickly escalated when the AAA Mega Champion physically attacked the elder Vikingo—throwing him to the ground, tearing his shirt, and throwing punches before security intervened and separated them.
Y el mega campeón de AAA, don Alberto del Río, se descontroló y atacó a todos en un programa de TV en México, hace unos momentos
Máster clases de Kayfabe jajajaja#WWEColombia pic.twitter.com/7JPcVavcpM— Sociedad Wrestling ⚡ (@WrestlingColSoc) May 29, 2025
The shocking moment has since gone viral, stirring debate online. Some believe it was a poorly executed kayfabe segment gone too far, while others suggest El Patron may have legitimately lost his temper.
With AAA recently acquired by WWE, the optics of the incident are particularly sensitive, and fans now await clarification on whether this was part of a scripted angle or an unsanctioned outburst.
Cody Rhodes recently shared a quirky and heartfelt moment involving WWE legend R-Truth while speaking on his hit podcast What Do You Wanna Talk About.
The American Nightmare revealed that Truth left him an unexpected gift following their backstage interaction— a plush mule dog toy.
While the gesture may seem random, it clearly left an impression on Cody, who playfully demonstrated the toy’s squeak for listeners.
Brandi Rhodes chimed in, suggesting they pass the toy along to their dog, Pharaoh.
“Give it to Pharaoh. He’ll like it for a day and then he’ll [destroy] it,” she said, laughing.
You can check out the full interview with Cody & Brandi Rhodes below.
Brandi Rhodes recently joked about Chelsea Green’s bold fashion choices, calling her the “most naked wrestler” during a lighthearted story on the What Do You Wanna Talk About podcast.
While recounting a dinner with Chelsea, Matt Cardona, and her husband Cody Rhodes, Brandi shared an encounter with Neil Patrick Harris and his partner.
Green, feeling left out of the conversation, apparently drew more attention for her outfit than her words. Brandi affectionately quipped that Green “likes to walk on the wild side,” adding that she’s a “ceiling looker” and proudly labeled her “the most naked wrestler,” encouraging her to “always be your naked self.”
In the same conversation, Brandi opened up about what she misses most from her time in wrestling.
Although she hasn’t returned to the ring since leaving AEW, she fondly reflected on the sense of occasion, the travel, and—most of all—being on the road with Cody.
While she doesn’t miss the physical toll of wrestling, she clearly still holds the lifestyle close to her heart.
Rumors have begun circulating that Vince McMahon is attempting to buy back WWE from TKO Group Holdings, the company that merged WWE and UFC under the Endeavor umbrella.
These claims have gained traction despite McMahon’s recent fall from power and ongoing legal battles stemming from the Janel Grant lawsuit. However, according to PWN Reports, there’s no truth to the speculation.
Masked J, the outlet’s founder, reported that a source within TKO outright dismissed the idea, even going so far as to laugh at the notion of McMahon repurchasing the company.
While McMahon may still harbor a desire to return to the wrestling business in some form, the reality is clear: WWE is not for sale.
TKO appears firmly committed to its long-term vision of growth, integration, and expansion across multiple entertainment platforms.
As it stands, any scenario involving Vince McMahon reclaiming control of WWE seems incredibly far-fetched and highly unlikely, no matter how badly he may want it.
Hello and welcome back to the ITRWrestling live blog
My name is Liam and I will be with you from 2pm to 6pm (UK) covering all the biggest stories from the past 24 hours across the world in wrestling.
Kicking things off today we have:
