Top 5 Wrestling News Stories Of The Week 12/30: Kenny Omega Back In Action, Tiffany Stratton Cashes In & The Rock Confirms WWE Netflix Plans
Each and every week, the weird and wonderful world of professional wrestling never fails to captivate fans with a plethora of captivating stories that make their way into the news cycle.
Whether it’s shocking upsets, dramatic showdowns, or behind-the-scenes drama, the happenings within professional wrestling always keep fans on the edge of their seats.
Here are the Top Five Wrestling News Stories of the Week.
AEW Star Loses On Return To The Ring After Two-Year Absence
Tay Melo returned to the ring after a two year absence and was on the losing team.
The star hadn’t wrestled since teaming with Anna Jay in defeat to Ruby Soho and Willow Nightingale on Rampage in January 2023. During this time she gave birth to her first child.
Melo announced her plans to return to the ring at STARDOM New Year Dream on January 3rd 2025. However, it wasn’t the dream comeback she was washing for.
At New Year Dream, Melo teamed with Mina Shirakawa in defeat to Athena and Thekla, but after a long road, the star was just happy to be back doing what she loves.
In a backstage interview after the match, a visibly emotional Melo said she was delighted to be back in the ring before paying tribute to Shirakawa for helping her along. The star added that she’s determined to keep training and keep improving.
“I really have no words, I’m a crybaby. So I just cry because I’m so happy. I don’t even have anything to say. It’s like so cliche, but it’s really, it’s just a feeling like I’m exploding. I want to scream, I’m so happy to be in the ring. My first match back after so long with Mina, Athena, Thekla, just like big names and I’m there. I’m with the best. We lost, but I know I did good.
I will keep training. I will do better. I’m just so happy, grateful because Mina helped me so much. Everybody was so nice. I’m literally in love with Japan. Maybe I’ll move here soon. I really love Japan. So I’m just so grateful.”
WWE Royal Rumble Going International In 2026?
The 2025 Royal Rumble will see a big change when it becomes the first event of its kind not to take place in January. This year the popular event takes place in Indianapolis, Indiana on February 1 as the road to WrestleMania in WWE begins.
Now PWInsider has reported that WWE will be taking the Royal Rumble to Saudi Arabia in 2026. An announcement for that show could come as soon as the debut episode of Raw on Netflix on January 6.
Tiffany Stratton Finally Cashes In WWE Money In The Bank
Tiffany Stratton won the Money In The Bank contract back in July but her path to gold was complicated when her close friend Nia Jax captured the WWE Women’s Championship at SummerSlam.
Since then, Jax has pushed Stratton to cash in on Women’s World Champion Liv Morgan, but Stratton’s strategy came to light on the first SmackDown of 2025.
After Jax successfully defended her title against Noami, Stratton struck and cashed in her briefcase to win her first title on the main roster.
Kenny Omega Records Famous Tokyo Dome Win In His First Match In Over A Year
Wrestle Dynasty featured the in-ring return of Kenny Omega.
The former AEW World Champion returned to action for the first time in over a year following his long battle to overcome Diverticulitis. However, his comeback match was no walk in the park as he faced off against the ferocious Gabe Kidd.
After getting into a heated backstage brawl at NJPW Power Struggle the two settled their differences in a passionate and bloody brawl that enthralled the viewers. Kidd was the aggressor throughout the match, but Omega performed valiantly and nowhere near like someone who had just spent the better part of a year on the shelf. The Best Bout Machine was back and in full effect.
The two threw everything at each other and battled both in and out of the ring. A ref bump turned the violence up a notch as several weapons were introduced. After both taking and inflicting a barrage of offence it was Omega who ultimately persevered and hit Kidd with the One Winged Angle for the emphatic victory.
The Rock Confirms WWE Netflix Plans
In an emotional post on Instagram, ‘The Great One’ paid tribute to his Samoan heritage and promised to return back to WWE as the company begins a new era in partnership with the streaming giant:
“Besides having my three daughters, my Samoan High Chief Title, High Chief Seiuli is one of the greatest honor of my life.
I gave my word and made a commitment 20 years ago to his Highness High Chief Maleatoa Tunamafili II and to our people of Samoa, that I would “leave my boyish ways behind” (well, I try 😅) and carry my Samoan, Polynesian, and Black culture around the world with great respect, pride, kindness, MANA, humility, and warrior spirit.
Fa’a Samoa (the Samoan way)
After 20yrs of proudly carrying our culture with me around the world, I can’t wait to soon return back home to Samoa. I already have chills just thinking about it 🇼🇸❤️💪🏾
Until then, I’ll come back home to @wwe tomorrow night as we make history on @netflix and begin a new and exciting era.
Tomorrow night is dedicated to my grandfather, the High Chief Peter Maivia, my grandmother, Lia Maivia and my dad, Rocky “Soulman” Johnson and my ancestors who have ALL paved the way.
~ High Chief Seiuli”