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BY SACNILK

WWE Monday Night Raw returns this week on August 17, 2026, live from the KeyBank Center in Buffalo, New York. The show streams live on Netflix in the United States starting at 8:00 PM ET, continuing the post-SummerSlam build as several ongoing storylines head toward their next chapter. The card is headlined by Chad Gable defending his newly won Intercontinental Championship against Rey Mysterio, alongside two first-round matches in the World Heavyweight Championship No. 1 Contender's Tournament, a Women's Intercontinental Championship match between Sol Ruca and Lyra Valkyria, and the long-awaited return of Roman Reigns, who is set to be on hand as Jey Uso delivers Solo Sikoa to him following weeks of Bloodline fallout. WWE Raw 8/17/26 Confirmed Match Card WWE Intercontinental Championship: Chad Gable (c) vs. Rey Mysterio Gable won the Intercontinental Championship at SummerSlam by defeating Penta, and he wasted no time lining up his first challenger. On the following episode of Raw, Gable approached Mysterio backstage and called him "the greatest luchador of all time," offering him a shot at the title as a sign of respect. Mysterio, who is currently juggling in-ring competition with his role as General Manager of AAA, accepted on the spot. Gable said he'd get Raw GM Adam Pearce to make it official, and Pearce has now confirmed the match for this week's show. It will be just the second-ever singles meeting between the two, with Mysterio winning their first encounter back in October 2022. Sol Ruca vs. Lyra Valkyria This one grows out of the increasingly tense dynamic in the women's division. Ruca has been chasing a rematch for the Women's Intercontinental Championship, while Valkyria — the first-ever holder of that title — has grown more erratic in recent weeks, repeatedly bringing up her attack on Bayley at Madison Square Garden. The two clashed backstage after Ruca and IYO Sky's tag win on August 10, arguing over who deserves the next shot at the title. That unresolved tension sets up this singles matchup, with both women looking to establish themselves as the top contender. Roman Reigns Returns Roman Reigns is advertised to make his return to WWE television this week, stepping back into the spotlight as the World Heavyweight Championship picture continues to take shape around him via the ongoing No. 1 Contender's Tournament. Jey Uso to Deliver Solo Sikoa to Roman Reigns This segment is the payoff to a stipulation match earlier on Raw, where Jey Uso defeated Solo Sikoa under terms that determined Sikoa's future with the Bloodline. Had Sikoa won, he would have been free of the group for good; instead, Uso's victory means Sikoa must fall back in line, and Uso is set to personally deliver him to Reigns on this show. World Heavyweight Championship No. 1 Contender's Tournament: Rey Fenix vs. El Fiscal One of two first-round matches set to determine who eventually earns a shot at Reigns' World Heavyweight Championship, pitting Fenix's high-flying lucha style against El Fiscal in a first-round showdown. World Heavyweight Championship No. 1 Contender's Tournament: Dragon Lee vs. El Hijo del Dr. Wagner Jr. The second first-round tournament match of the night, continuing WWE's push to spotlight top lucha libre talent as part of the road to crowning Reigns' next challenger. Predicted Match Card Chad Gable retains the Intercontinental Championship in a competitive back-and-forth with Rey Mysterio, likely with some form of outside interference or a controversial finish, given how protective WWE has been of new champions so soon after a title change. Solo Sikoa doesn't go quietly when Jey Uso brings him in front of Roman Reigns — expect a chaotic segment, possibly with another Bloodline member inserting themselves, rather than a clean, peaceful resolution. Dragon Lee and Rey Fenix both advance in their respective tournament matches, setting up a lucha-heavy path toward the next World Heavyweight Championship contender. Where and When to Watch WWE Raw WWE Raw airs live in the United States on Netflix at 8:00 PM ET / 5:00 PM PT. United Kingdom & Ireland: 1:00 AM BST (Tuesday) on Netflix India: 5:30 AM IST (Tuesday) on Netflix Australia: 10:00 AM AEST (Tuesday) on Netflix Mexico: 6:00 PM CST (Monday) on Netflix

BY SACNILK

Layla has no regrets about leaving WWE before she could work with Charlotte Flair, Becky Lynch, Sasha Banks and Bayley, saying she knew it was time for the next generation to take over. Speaking on TMZ Inside the Ring, the former WWE Women's and Divas Champion was asked if she wished she had stayed longer to work with the women who became the faces of WWE's women's wrestling revolution. Layla explained that she was 38 when she left WWE in 2015 after nine years with the company. She had already worked with Charlotte during the early part of her career, but Becky, Sasha and Bayley were coming up around the time she decided to leave. "No. No. I was 38. I was there for 9 years. I was 38. And it was just time for me to go, you know?" Layla said. She explained that she didn't want to stay and take opportunities away from younger wrestlers. "And then Becky came up, Sasha came up, I think they finally then Bayley came up," Layla said. "And it was just like, you know what, this is their time now." Layla said she had already enjoyed her own run and was happy to let the younger stars have their opportunity. "I was too old, you know, and it wasn't my time, it wasn't my moment," she explained. "And I had my time and I had my moment, and I'm grateful for that." She added, "They're young. I don't want to hold them back. They got to go. Let them shine." Layla also praised the current generation of WWE women, saying she is proud rather than jealous of the opportunities they now have. For Layla, leaving WWE in 2015 was the right decision, even if it meant missing potential matches against some of the biggest stars of the next generation. Layla joined WWE after winning the 2006 Diva Search and went on to spend nearly nine years with the company. During her run, she became a two-time Women's Champion and the final WWE Divas Champion, while also working with stars such as Michelle McCool, AJ Lee and Kelly Kelly. She left WWE in 2015 after establishing herself as one of the notable names of the Divas era.

BY SACNILK

Chad Gable vs. Rey Mysterio for the Intercontinental Championship is officially set for tomorrow night's WWE Raw. The title match headlines a stacked card that also features tournament action, a Roman Reigns appearance, and fallout from the Jey Uso–Solo Sikoa stipulation match. WWE Raw General Manager Adam Pearce announced it in an Instagram post ahead of Monday's show, which airs live from the KeyBank Centre in Buffalo, New York. The match itself came together after Gable won the Intercontinental Championship at SummerSlam by defeating Penta. On the following episode of Raw, Gable approached Mysterio backstage, calling him "the greatest luchador of all time" and offering him the first shot at the title. Mysterio, currently balancing in-ring competition with his role as General Manager of AAA, accepted the challenge on the spot, and Gable said he'd get Pearce to make it official — which he has now done for tomorrow's show. It marks just the second-ever singles meeting between the two, with their first coming back in October 2022. The rest of the card is loaded around the ongoing World Heavyweight Championship picture. Two first-round matches in the No. 1 Contender's Tournament are set, with Dragon Lee taking on El Hijo del Dr. Wagner Jr., and Rey Fenix squaring off against El Fiscal, as WWE continues narrowing the field for a future shot at Roman Reigns' title. Reigns himself is advertised to appear on the show. Also on tap is a women's division matchup between Sol Ruca and Lyra Valkyria, along with continued fallout from Jey Uso's win over Solo Sikoa, as the Bloodline storyline moves toward Reigns' return.

BY SACNILK

Layla has opened up about the difficult transition she experienced after leaving WWE, admitting that her identity had become so closely connected to being a WWE Diva that she eventually felt she had lost herself. The former WWE Women's Champion discussed her post-WWE life during an appearance on TMZ Inside the Ring, explaining why she deliberately disappeared from the wrestling world following her retirement in 2015. Layla said that when she finally left WWE, she realized that being a WWE Diva had become a major part of her identity. "When I left WWE, Layla was like my whole identity was kind of lost," she explained. "I believe my identity was just around that I'm a WWE Diva." After spending nine years in WWE, Layla decided that she needed a complete break rather than immediately pursuing appearances, wrestling-related projects or other opportunities. "When I retired, I literally just disappeared," Layla said. The former Divas Champion explained that she stopped doing everything connected to wrestling because she needed to focus on herself. She acknowledged that her decision may have hurt some relationships within the wrestling industry, with people potentially believing that she had taken her distance personally. "I lost a lot of like wrestling family relationships and that because I think a lot of people took it personally," she said. "But that wasn't... it was nothing about anybody else. It was just about myself." Layla also spoke candidly about another difficult aspect of stepping away from the entertainment industry: getting older after spending years being presented primarily for her appearance. "Growing up, getting older... when you've always been like for your looks and stuff like that, like it was eye candy for a very long time," Layla said. "Getting older as a female, it's tough." Rather than immediately returning to wrestling, Layla said she needed to close that chapter of her life completely. She believes that decision ultimately helped her find herself again. "I needed it for myself," she explained. "I was being very selfish and taking care of me at that time and that's what I needed."

BY SACNILK

Former WWE Divas Champion Layla has finally revealed what was really behind one of the most unexpected moments of her WWE career, admitting that her viral interaction with AJ Lee during a 2013 match was completely unplanned. The moment happened during a singles match between Layla and AJ Lee on the May 20, 2013 episode of WWE Raw. AJ ultimately picked up the victory by applying her signature Black Widow submission, but it was what happened during the finish that caught the attention of fans watching at home. After the match reached its conclusion, Layla appeared to tap out while AJ had her trapped in the submission. However, instead of simply tapping the mat, Layla reached toward AJ and appeared to grab her backside. The unusual moment was picked up by the cameras and quickly became one of the more talked-about clips from Layla's WWE run. Contemporary coverage of the match also specifically noted the unusual interaction after Layla's apparent submission. During an appearance on TMZ Inside the Ring, Layla was shown the viral moment and asked whether the spot had been planned beforehand or whether she was simply tapping wherever she could. "No, it was my fault," she admitted. The former WWE Women's Champion explained that she sometimes became so immersed in what was happening inside the ring that she forgot the cameras were capturing every little thing. "I forget the camera's on and I thought that nobody would see that," Layla said. According to Layla, there was no secret WWE plan behind the moment. She was simply trying to mess with AJ and make her laugh while they were working the match. "I was just squeezing her butt, like messing with her," Layla revealed. That explanation gives the moment an entirely different context. What appeared on television to be an unusual part of the submission sequence was actually Layla breaking from the seriousness of the match for a brief joke with AJ. Layla also admitted that she had no idea the cameras had captured the interaction or that fans would eventually turn it into a viral clip. "I didn't even know that people saw it," she said. The former Divas Champion explained that she was particularly surprised because AJ was in an important stage of her WWE career at the time. Layla said she was only trying to make her opponent laugh at the end of the match, rather than intentionally creating a moment that would be replayed by wrestling fans for years. "I was just trying to mess with her, like to make her laugh at the end," Layla explained.

BY SACNILK

Raquel Rodriguez has revealed that the skin condition that previously forced her to step away from WWE has not completely gone away, but she has learned to manage it and use the symptoms as a warning sign from her body. Speaking about the condition during her recent appearance on Busted Open, Rodriguez was asked whether she worries about the issue returning and affecting her wrestling career. She explained that she still experiences occasional flare-ups, particularly when her body is under stress. “I've really learned to live with it this past year because it's not like it's fully gone away,” Rodriguez said. “I can talk right now. I have a couple of spots, a couple of rashes that pop up because of obvious reasons.” Rodriguez explained that she has learned to recognize what triggers her symptoms. Stress, poor sleep, an unhealthy diet and traveling can all affect her condition, making her skin something of an early warning system. “When I'm stressed or I'm not eating right or I'm not getting enough sleep or I'm not in my natural environment, my skin tends to show me, you know, hey, you need to bring it back. You need to calm down and you need to relax,” she explained. “And so, my skin has kind of been like my warning sign this past year.” Rather than allowing the condition to prevent her from wrestling, Rodriguez said the experience has forced her to make healthier decisions. She revealed that she now pays closer attention to rest, sleep and her diet and has also reduced her alcohol consumption, particularly while traveling. Rodriguez admitted that dealing with the condition has been difficult, but she believes it has ultimately made her stronger. “I've just learned to live with it and actually because of it I feel like it's made me stronger. It's made me mentally stronger. And it's made me more confident too,” Rodriguez said. The WWE star also revealed that other people have approached her to discuss similar problems and ask how she handles them. That has given Rodriguez another reason to be open about her experience.

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Roxanne Perez believes she may have played a bigger role in John Cena’s retirement than anyone expected. During her appearance on Not Sam Wrestling Live, Perez was asked about her involvement in Cena’s retirement tour and the moment she hit the WWE legend with her Pop Rocks. Rather than simply looking at it as another memorable WWE moment, Perez embraced the idea that she was the one who helped end Cena’s career. “Yeah, you wouldn't have thought that Roxanne Perez would be the one to retire John Cena, right? Cuz it was me. It was me,” Perez said. Perez then joked about the effect her finisher supposedly had on Cena, claiming that the WWE legend was so embarrassed by the moment that he could no longer return to the ring. “He was so embarrassed that he I hit him with a Pop Rocks, he was so embarrassed. He just can't show his face ever again in a wrestling ring,” Perez said. The moment was particularly significant for Perez because Cena was one of the wrestlers she grew up watching. She revealed that one of her earliest memories of professional wrestling was watching Cena face The Rock at WrestleMania. “Honestly, yeah. I mean, uh one of the first memories I have of uh watching pro wrestling, which don't judge me, I was 10 years old and I'm younger than probably all of you guys here, was John Cena versus The Rock Once in a Lifetime,” Perez recalled. Perez then explained why the experience felt so surreal to her, considering how much time had passed between watching Cena as a young fan and eventually sharing the ring with him during his farewell run. “So, the fact that years later 12 years later, actually, I am retiring John Cena, and that just goes to show why they call me the prodigy,” Perez stated. Perez's comments fit perfectly with the confident persona she has adopted in WWE. The former prodigy who once watched Cena as a fan is now comfortable claiming that she helped bring the legendary Superstar's career to an end.

BY SACNILK

Roxanne Perez has opened up about her transformation from a young WWE hopeful into one of the company's most confident villains, revealing how her mindset completely changed after she stopped looking up to the stars she once idolized. Perez discussed her character evolution during an appearance on Not Sam Wrestling Live, where she explained that she was once simply happy to be a WWE Superstar. However, she eventually realized that admiring other wrestlers would not help her achieve the level of success she wanted. “I went from being someone that was just happy to be here. I was just like all of you guys sitting in the crowd, just hoping to be a WWE Superstar one day, and looking up to all the wrestlers,” Perez said. Perez specifically mentioned AJ Lee, Bayley and Paige as wrestlers she looked up to when she was younger. Her attitude toward those stars has changed considerably, though, as she now sees herself as someone capable of surpassing the women who inspired her. That change in mindset has also played a major role in her current heel character. Rather than trying to win over the WWE Universe, Perez has embraced her arrogance and believes she is already operating at a different level. “This is the best I've ever felt in my entire career,” Perez said. Her transformation has coincided with her run as a member of The Judgment Day. Perez joined the faction in 2025 and became part of its women's division alongside Raquel Rodriguez. The group has given her a prominent role on WWE's main roster, and Perez believes it has helped her avoid becoming another young talent who gets lost in the shuffle. Perez also defended The Judgment Day against the constant speculation that the faction is heading toward a breakup. She argued that the group's internal disagreements should not be confused with a lack of loyalty. “Families fight, right? Brothers, sisters, parents, kids, we all fight. But that doesn't mean that we won't stick by each other when we need each other,” Perez explained. “We're family. And a win for one is a win for all.” Perez's confidence has now reached the point where she is openly challenging WWE legends. She pointed to her victories over Nikki Bella and made it clear that she wants to face more established names. “Bring me all the legends. Bring them all,” Perez declared. One legend in particular remains on Perez's radar: AJ Lee. When asked why she did not include Lee among the wrestlers she believes she is better than, Perez made it clear that she wants an opportunity to prove herself against the former Divas Champion. “I need my match and then I can prove that I am better than her,” Perez said. Perez's comments show just how far her character has evolved. The wrestler who once watched AJ Lee and other WWE stars as heroes now wants to stand across the ring from them and prove she has surpassed them. Despite her current position in The Judgment Day and her growing confidence, Perez insists that fans have not seen her best yet. “This is not my peak at all. I have so much more to show you guys,” she said.

BY SACNILK

Mumbai, August 16 - Superstar Yash has finally addressed the much-discussed 4,000 crore budget of director Nitesh Tiwari's Ramayana, clarifying that the figure being reported is not the production cost of the first part alone. The actor, who plays Ravana and is also the co-producer in the two-part epic, explained that the massive amount covers the entire project and its global release strategy. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) Speaking on Rajat Sharma's Aap Ki Adalat, Yash said that the 4,000 crore figure, which was reportedly claimed by producer Namit Malhotra, is for both parts of Ramayana, including release and promotional expenses. He described the approach as being similar to "Hollywood math", where significant amounts are allocated towards marketing and worldwide distribution because the films are designed for a global audience. Yash further explained that the scale of the investment needs to be viewed in the context of the film's worldwide ambitions. According to him, if the expenditure is global, the revenue opportunity is also global. He stressed that Ramayana and his upcoming Toxic are attempts to position Indian cinema as a truly global cinematic force. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) Ramayana stars Ranbir Kapoor as Lord Rama, Sai Pallavi as Sita and Yash as Ravana, with Nitesh Tiwari directing the ambitious two-part adaptation. Yash is also serving as a co-producer alongside Namit Malhotra. The first part is scheduled for a worldwide theatrical release on November 6, 2026, while the second part is expected in 2027. The 4,000 crore figure had generated considerable discussion among trade circles, particularly because it would make Ramayana the most expensive Indian film project ever mounted. Yash's clarification now makes it clear that the headline figure encompasses both films as well as their global release and promotional costs, rather than representing the production budget of Ramayana Part 1 alone. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) #Yash clears all the rumours around MAMMOTH 4000 Cr Budget of Ramayana. - 4000 Cr is NOT for Part 1, 4000 Cr is for Both the Parts INCLUDING PROMOTIONS. - Half of the budget sometimes got spent on GLOBAL PROMOTIONS of Movie and the 4000 Cr Number includes that. - So, 4000… pic.twitter.com/Dhf1msWcXg— KBP Reviews🏹 (@KshitizCritic) August 16, 2026

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Mumbai, August 16 - Ranveer Singh's much-awaited post-apocalyptic thriller Pralay has officially been confirmed after months of speculation, marking the beginning of one of the most ambitious projects in the actor's upcoming lineup. Directed by debutant filmmaker Jai Mehta, the film has been in the news for several months, with reports previously suggesting that production would begin in August. The latest development now confirms that the shoot of the film begins today (August 16) in Mumbai. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) The film was initially expected to shoot extensively in Australia, with earlier reports claiming that a major portion of the schedule would be filmed there. However, the makers have now shifted the production to Mumbai. The move comes after the team reworked its shooting plans, using Mumbai to bring the film's post-apocalyptic setting to life. Pralay is said to be a large-scale survival thriller set against a zombie-infested, post-apocalyptic backdrop. Ranveer will headline the film, while Kalyani Priyadarshan has been confirmed as the female lead. The project is reportedly mounted on a massive budget of around 300 crore, which would make it one of the most expensive standalone films of Ranveer's career. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) The film has also generated curiosity because of its technical ambitions. The story is reportedly set in a devastated version of Mumbai, requiring extensive visual effects and practical work to create its world. Reports have previously suggested that the makers were exploring international talent for the prosthetics and effects, underlining the scale at which Mehta intends to mount the zombie thriller. With Pralay now officially in production, Ranveer Singh is set to enter a completely different space after the success of Dhurandhar. The film is produced by Ananya Birla's Birla Studios, in association with True Story Films, and Maa Kasam Films. It will be released in 2027.

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Rey Mysterio has explained why Dominik Mysterio was not included in the ongoing tournament that will determine who gets a chance to face Roman Reigns for the World Heavyweight Championship in Mexico City. The tournament features wrestlers from WWE's RAW and SmackDown brands, along with stars from AAA. Rey, who is the general manager of AAA, helped set up the tournament to give young luchadores a chance to compete for a major opportunity. Dominik Mysterio was one name that stood out as an omission. He is currently the AAA Mega Champion, but Rey explained that his son does not have the same lucha libre training as the wrestlers taking part in the tournament. “Well, I could say for one, he has never trained lucha libre,” Rey said. “He could say he's the best luchador. Yeah, he does a couple moves here and there, but his training was always on the American side. He trained in Tampa, he trained in Canada, and he trained, you know, in San Diego.” Rey said that being a luchador means more than simply using lucha libre moves. He believes the training and experience that wrestlers go through from the beginning are an important part of becoming a luchador. “So when you speak about luchadores, you know, born and raised, that's your bread and butter. That's where you began. That's where you got your ass kicked,” Rey explained. “Every time you stepped into the ring, they made you sweat, you threw up, you wanted to get out of the ring, but no, they pulled you back in.” Rey also made it clear that he and Dominik have different views on what makes someone a luchador. “I think my concept of a luchador is completely different from Dom's concept,” Rey said. The interviewer then asked Rey if he was basically saying that Dominik was a fraud. Rey did not agree with that description. “I never said he was a fraud,” Rey said. “But I don't consider him. Let's just say this. I don't consider him the greatest luchador of all time.” The comments are interesting because Dominik has become a major WWE star and is currently the AAA Mega Champion. However, Rey believes that his son's wrestling training is different from that of wrestlers who were trained in lucha libre from the start. For Rey, the tournament is about giving wrestlers with a lucha libre background the chance to prove themselves. That is why he believes Dominik was not the right fit for this particular competition. Rey and Dominik have had a complicated relationship on WWE television in recent years, but this time the issue is not about their family history. Rey was simply explaining why he believes Dominik does not meet his definition of a luchador.

BY SACNILK

Rey Mysterio has spent decades defying expectations inside the wrestling ring, but the WWE legend is now openly acknowledging that his career may eventually be approaching its final chapter. Despite remaining active and taking on a new role as AAA's general manager, Mysterio revealed that he has recently found himself asking whether it could finally be time to retire. The subject of retirement has become increasingly relevant in WWE, with several major names from Mysterio's generation recently stepping away from the ring. At SummerSlam, Brock Lesnar announced his retirement, following AJ Styles and John Cena, both of whom also brought their legendary in-ring careers to an end. Mysterio, who was part of WWE's iconic 2002 generation alongside many of those stars, was asked how he views the remaining years of his own career and whether he thinks in terms of matches, years or simply listening to his body. The Hall of Famer admitted that retirement has become something he has genuinely been thinking about. “Man, I honestly, most recently have been battling with, ‘Is it getting close to my time to retire?’” Mysterio said. “I certainly don't feel like I am, like my body is saying, ‘Okay, now it's time.’ And I always like to listen to my body.” Mysterio's comments suggest that while retirement is now part of his thinking, he does not believe he has reached that point yet. The 51-year-old continues to enjoy wrestling and has also embraced his position as AAA's general manager, where he has been focused on helping younger luchadores receive opportunities. That new responsibility has given Mysterio another reason to remain involved in the business, even as he recognizes that the spotlight eventually has to move toward the next generation. “I am enjoying the position of being AAA's GM and seeing young rising stars come up in the game,” Mysterio explained. “But at the end of the day, it's like, man, I really enjoy what I do on every level. Obviously, I enjoy wrestling a lot more than being behind the cameras.” Mysterio also acknowledged the reality that opportunities become more limited as a wrestler gets older. Rather than viewing that as something negative, however, he appears comfortable with allowing younger performers to take their turn. “I do understand that opportunities are very little. And there's others that are gonna come before me right now because it's time to make or to give the spotlight to other superstars, especially in the lucha libre world,” Mysterio said. “So I am okay with that.” For Mysterio, walking away may not necessarily be something that comes after a carefully planned final match or a specific number of years. Instead, he suggested that the decision could arrive unexpectedly when he feels the time is right. “And I think as far as tapping out, you know, never say never, but it can just pop up one day just out of nowhere and say, ‘Okay, now it's time,’” Mysterio said.