Sami Zayn didn’t want a standard heel turn – and according to a new backstage report, he made that clear to WWE creative when the conversation happened.

The Self-Made Pro revealed during a Self-Made session that when the creative direction on SmackDown began to move toward a more traditional heel role, Zane pushed back internally, arguing for something more layered and unexpected instead.

The report stated, “He really didn’t want to be a heel, and he argued with the creatives, ‘Hey, why don’t we tell a subtle story here?’ “Because he told them, ‘I don’t think I’m a bad guy. I think my relationship with the fans is evolving, but I’m not necessarily a bad guy.'”

Zayn has been equally transparent publicly about the approach he took towards his character. Speaking to the Toronto Sun, he dismissed suggestions that he had simply turned heel.

Zayn said, “I disagree with your statement – ​​I’ve completely turned heel. I guess I’m just trying to play it a little differently.” He also explained the thinking behind the direction he is proposing. “I had this idea of ​​doing a little bit of a change to the character that would be a little bit outside the box and divide the audience a little bit.”

The backstage reports roughly match those public comments. Rather than WWE turning them into clean-cut heels, this approach is intentionally designed to leave audience reactions open-ended – allowing fans to decide for themselves how to feel about what they’re watching.

Kevin Nash weighed in on the ongoing conversation surrounding TKO’s involvement in WWE creative, offering one of the most scathing hot takes you’ll ever hear on the latest episode of the Click This Podcast. Nash’s reasoning is simple: Triple H knows what he’s doing, and the executives above him don’t need to get involved.

“(Paul) Levesque has taken over, and everyone loves the direction that this Levesque guy is taking the new flagship WWE program in the Netflix era,” Nash said. ‘And then lo and behold, just like every other business on earth, the bullshit people on top of that who have no clue except how to get paid more, people higher up the food chain decide to start their business where they don’t need it.’

“We’re going to put this guy in. Let’s put this guy in. How about him in the main event? What if we put this guy in? Why would we put that guy in?’ We’ve got a $500 million deal that involves this guy. While we’re at it, let’s make the field look like NASCAR.”

Nash clarified that his criticism was directed at those above Triple H in the TKO structure. Not Levesque himself.

“It doesn’t take anything away from Paul Levesque, because Paul Levesque still knows what he’s doing. If anyone out there feels like this, maybe thinks this might apply to them, how about leaving the f–king company alone? Get your f–king nose out of creative.”

Triple H took over creative control of WWE in 2022 and received widespread praise for the initial direction of the product under his leadership. However, last month, TKO President and COO Mark Shapiro publicly claimed that TKO has full control over WWE creative. WWE’s recent storylines have had mixed reactions, with fans pointing to TKO’s outside interference in the booking process as a contributing factor.

According to the Wrestling Observer Newsletter, WWE internally discussed a scenario in which CM Punk would retain the World Heavyweight Championship at WrestleMania 42 before ultimately selecting Roman Reigns as champion.

The report clarifies that Reigns’ victory was always the long-term plan, but an alternate ending involving Punk was considered so seriously that it was discussed internally before being rejected.

Meltzer wrote, “Rengs was always going to emerge as champion because long-term plans were made for him at that position, including a title fight with Gunther.” “It was possible and clearly talked about that Punk could defeat Reigns and then lose the title at Backlash, so they would be ‘even’ when it was over, but Reigns would finish as champion as a way to protect Punk’s position. But in the end the decision was for Reigns to win here.”

Punk’s victory at WrestleMania, followed by a title loss at Backlash in Tampa on May 9, would leave both men tied in whatever happened next, reducing Punk’s blowout and ultimately leaving Las Vegas unchampioned. The fact that it was considered at all shows how well matched both options were at some point in the creative process, even if Reigns’ victory was always the likely decision.

In the night two main event of WrestleMania 42, Reigns defeated Punk with two spears in a match that lasted 30 minutes. At the press conference after the show, Reigns announced that he would be appearing throughout the summer. WWE wasted no time in setting up its next direction, setting up a showdown between Reigns and Jacob Fatu on that Monday show.

There is already an important program attached to the long-term picture beyond Fatu. Gunther has been identified as a key direction for Reigns’ title reign, which would be one of the best championship programs WWE could do, given the star power of both sides. With Reigns now confirmed as the centerpiece of the summer’s World Heavyweight Championship picture, the creative roadmap appears to be in place.

While many wrestling fans are excited about the idea of ​​top WWE Raw stars Seth Rollins and Gunther facing off at WrestleMania 42, it seems there are some people on the company’s creative team who are not in favor of the booking.

About a month ago, WWE fans didn’t even know if Rollins would be available for this year’s WrestleMania after suffering a serious shoulder injury in October. However, since this year’s Elimination Chamber, The Vision founder has dominated episodes of Monday Night Raw as he continues to get revenge on his former faction.

Due to this, there is a lot of speculation about who he will face in this month’s mega event. Recent reports have revealed that if he can recover from the hernia in time, the man who took him out of The Vision will be Braun Breaker. However, the creative has taken an unexpected turn this week, and instead, we’ll get Rollins vs. Gunther at ‘Mania after “The Career Killer” attacks “The Visionary” on Monday’s show.

Gunther vs. Seth Rollins was finalized for WrestleMania 42 last week

This matchup is unexpected, but on paper, it could be a complete show stealer, and it marks the first time that the two will face off in the ring. However, it seems that not everyone on the creative team agreed with this decision.

According to a new edition of Wrestle Votes Radio, the choice of Gunther as Rollins’ foe was finalized just last week. Furthermore, he revealed that some people on the creative team were strongly against the decision. Paul Heyman and the rest of The Vision are preferring to go all-out in the war against anyone who can compete.

The report states that Breaker is close to approval and on track to be available for the show. However, another major reason to make the bout is to make sure Gunther was on the card after being heavily pushed by the company over the past six months.

Hopefully Heyman will still be involved in the story, even if Gunther is no longer involved with The Vision.

After earning a journalism degree in 2017, Jason Burgos worked as a contributor to several sites, including MMA Sacca… More about Jason Burgos

Andre Drummond of the Philadelphia 76ers has been in the NBA since 2012, when he joined the Detroit Pistons as the 9th overall selection of the draft. A two-time All-Star and one of the modern NBA’s strongest rebounders, the 32-year-old is now lending his years of expertise to Stria Sport, a Chicago-based performance footwear brand founded by former collegiate athlete Eric Porter.

What’s special about Drummond’s newly formed relationship with the company is that he is leaving traditional show support behind and also signing on as a lead equity investor and creative director.

Drummond will work with Stria Sport founder Eric Porter as a “key decision maker” on product design, campaigns, partnerships and brand vision.

“I’m not just an NBA player,” Drummond says. “I’m a creative director, an owner, and it’s deeper than basketball.” https://t.co/tfRPV7JxXP pic.twitter.com/pGGNxnuZTZ

– Nick DePaula (@NickDePaula) 2 March 2026

“I’m not just an NBA player. I’m a creative director, an owner, and it’s deeper than basketball,” Drummond said, according to a post on

Worn by over 100 athletes globally and the official footwear partner of the Harlem Globetrotters 100th Anniversary Season, Stria Sport has already been endorsed by professional athletes such as Bryce Cotton, Megan Gustafson, KJ McDaniels, Kiefer Sykes, Majok Deng, Rayjon Tucker and Justinian Jessup.

Drummond is set to work with founder Eric Porter as a “key decision maker” on product design, campaigns, partnerships and brand vision. Straw’s mission framework is derived from the Latin word industria, which emphasizes hard work, energy, and purposeful effort.

This philosophical branding aligns closely with competitive sports values, preparation over hype, substance over appearance, qualities that have been consistent with Drummond’s playing style over the years. The 32-year-old is seen by many as one of the most tenacious defenders of recent times, and he certainly isn’t the most attractive.

At its core, Stria Sport is athlete-founded and athlete-tested. The company was created by lifelong basketball players with decades of shoe industry experience who sought to address a persistent gap in the market: the forced trade-off between performance and aesthetics.

According to a statement from the Harlem Globetrotters, the brand’s flagship Strea Sport 107 series is specifically targeted toward basketball athletes, and focuses on lightweight construction, elite traction, responsive cushioning, and structured stability.

Borussia Monchengladbach have already started to think about the long-term situation of Kota Takai, even though the defender is only on loan from Tottenham Hotspur until the end of the season.

This is according to the German outlet rhenish postWho report that Gladbach see potential in the 21-year-old, despite a costly mistake in the 3-0 defeat to Eintracht Frankfurt.

The Japan international faced a tough battle in the final 20 minutes, with poor positioning and a loose first touch preventing a goal. Shortly afterwards, he lost again in a foot race.

Nevertheless, the overall assessment inside the club appears to be more measured. Takai previously impressed in his first full 90 minutes against Stuttgart and has shown flashes of quality in the Bundesliga. As a result, Gladbach aren’t just evaluating him on one bad afternoon.

The loan from Tottenham is structured without risk

Takai joined on direct loan from Tottenham in January. Financially, there is little risk for Gladbach in the move. There is no immediate obligation to buy, and a permanent deal after the season is currently considered unlikely due to cost.

However, the German side are already exploring creative scenarios that could keep him at the club beyond this campaign. Details of those ideas have not been disclosed. It is clear that Tottenham remain at the center of any decision.

For Spurs, the loan serves a clear purpose. Takai struggled for minutes after a long break in England. Regular Bundesliga football provides him with rhythm and performance at a high level. At 21, he remains more of a development project than a finished product.

what’s next for him

Takai is expected to receive significant playing time between now and May. This will give Tottenham a wider sample to assess their progress. It would also allow Gladbach to decide whether it made sense to pursue a more complex arrangement.

A permanent transfer this summer looks difficult at the moment. Nevertheless, early planning suggests that Gladbach has not ruled out trying to pursue a partnership. Of course, a lot will depend on how Takai responds on the pitch in the coming weeks.

隨著公司進入 2026 年，WWE 的創意層級發生了戰略轉變，有關保羅·海曼 (Paul Heyman) 和 WWE 總裁尼克·汗 (Nick Khan) 內部影響力的新細節浮出水面。

根據最新的《摔跤觀察家》時事通訊，雖然 Paul “Triple H” Levesque 仍然是該產品的主要推動者，但 Heyman 和 Khan 在塑造公司方向方面仍然發揮著重要但截然不同的作用。

保羅·海曼仍然是 WWE 長期規劃的重要組成部分，特別是對“他的員工”保持實際的創意控制。該團體目前包括 The Vision（由 Logan Paul 領導）、Brock Lesnar 和 Roman Reigns。

與此同時，據報導，儘管尼克·汗 (Nick Khan) 參與預訂，但他仍擁有創造性的聲音。可汗的意見僅限於與萊維斯克的直接協商，並且他不與更廣泛的寫作人員互動。該報告還澄清了其他退伍軍人的角色：威廉·瑞格爾（William Regal）以非創造性的身份批評比賽的“可信度”，而邁克爾·海耶斯（Michael Hayes）仍然是重大賽事的製片人。

這些更新是在“溫和的改組”之後進行的，Ryan Ward 被提升為負責向 Levesque 監督創意推介，而 SmackDown 聯合首席編劇 Brian “Road Dogg” James 和 John Swikata 則略有下降。此次重組與 SmackDown 自 2026 年 1 月 2 日起在 USA Network 恢復為三小時格式相一致。

過去兩週，一些粉絲在網上對 SmackDown 品牌及其每週電視節目的質量似乎有所提高表示讚揚。 WWE 在上週的節目中，德魯·麥金泰爾 (Drew McIntyre) 在地獄三階段比賽中擊敗科迪·羅茲 (Cody Rhodes) 奪得 WWE 冠軍。

AEW 總裁托尼·汗 (Tony Khan) 正式對自己的 2026 年創作流程進行了全面改革。在最近的一系列採訪中，包括出現在 Battleground 播客中，汗透露，他已重新獲得對促銷大綱的唯一控制權，以避免前幾年的“擁擠”流程。