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Tampa, Florida – Former WWE Champion Jinder Mahal was observed backstage at the National Wrestling Alliance’s (NWA) Powerrr television tapings on February 21st, igniting discussion among wrestling fans about his future. The event, a sold-out show at an undisclosed location in Tampa, saw Mahal reportedly visiting with colleagues on the NWA roster, though he wasn’t involved in any official capacity.

Mahal’s appearance comes nearly two years after his release from WWE during a period of roster cuts in 2024. His initial run with the company ended in 2014, but he returned in 2021 before ultimately becoming a free agent. The 2017 WWE Championship win, a significant moment in his career, saw him defeat Randy Orton to claim the title, a victory that reshaped his trajectory within the promotion.

Since departing from WWE, Raj Dhesi, as Mahal is known outside the ring, has remained active in professional wrestling, accepting bookings on the independent circuit. His presence at the NWA tapings has naturally fueled speculation about a potential move to the promotion, or at least future collaborations. The NWA is scheduled to return to Tampa on April 25th for another round of studio television tapings, offering a potential opportunity for further developments.

Mahal’s WWE Career: A Look Back

Jinder Mahal’s journey in professional wrestling has been marked by periods of both success and transition. His initial WWE run saw limited opportunities, leading to his release in 2014. However, a significant physical transformation and a renewed focus led to his return in 2021. The unexpected championship victory in 2017, while controversial to some, undeniably elevated his profile and provided a platform for a sustained run as a main event competitor.

NWA’s Recent Growth and Focus

The National Wrestling Alliance has been undergoing a revitalization in recent years, focusing on a classic wrestling style and building a dedicated fanbase. The promotion’s Powerrr series, filmed in a studio setting, has become a cornerstone of its programming. The NWA’s return to Tampa on April 25th will continue this momentum, providing fans with more action and potentially unveiling modern storylines.

Mahal’s appearance at the February 21st tapings, while seemingly a casual visit, underscores the interconnected nature of the professional wrestling world. With the independent scene thriving and wrestlers increasingly exploring opportunities outside of major promotions, the possibility of cross-promotion collaborations and unexpected appearances is higher than ever.

What comes next for Jinder Mahal remains to be seen. His continued presence on the independent circuit and his recent visit to an NWA event suggest he is actively exploring his options. The April 25th tapings in Tampa could provide further insight into his plans.

What are your thoughts on Jinder Mahal’s appearance at the NWA event? Share your predictions and opinions in the comments below, and be sure to share this article with fellow wrestling fans!

WWE Hall of Famer Booker T added an unexpected twist to the UFC Houston event this past weekend, appearing cageside at the Toyota Center on February 21, 2026. The crossover appearance sparked excitement among fans and signaled a growing convergence between the worlds of professional wrestling and mixed martial arts.

The surprise visit wasn’t a fleeting one. TNT Sports captured footage of Booker T, visibly enjoying the action, which was shared on Facebook. During the UFC broadcast, a commentator acknowledged the wrestling legend, stating, “Booker T, the WWE Hall of Famer, with us here inside the Toyota Center.” The camera then focused on Booker T, who responded with a smile and wave to the crowd, proudly displaying his WWE Hall of Fame rings. This appearance highlights a trend of increased interaction between the two combat sports, driven by shared audiences and a desire for compelling entertainment.

Booker T’s presence at UFC Houston wasn’t the only highlight of the evening. Inside the Octagon, Strickland secured a third-round victory over Anthony Hernandez in the main event. Earlier in the night, Uroš Medić delivered a quick first-round knockout win against Geoff Neal, adding another thrilling moment to the card, according to Wrestling News Source.

This isn’t an isolated incident. The appearance of wrestling icons like Booker T at UFC events, and conversely, UFC fighters at WWE shows, is becoming increasingly common. As Memesita.com points out, both industries excel at selling drama, athleticism, and compelling narratives. Veteran sports analyst Mark Johnson notes that pro wrestling has long been underestimated in its storytelling capabilities, a skill MMA is now recognizing as crucial for amplifying its appeal.

The TKO Group Holdings Influence

The recent acquisition of both WWE and UFC by TKO Group Holdings in 2023 appears to be accelerating this trend. The corporate structure now actively encourages synergy between the two organizations, leading to expectations of more cross-promotion, joint marketing initiatives, and potentially even collaborative events. This strategic alignment aims to capitalize on the overlapping fan bases and create a more unified combat sports experience.

Booker T, born March 1, 1965, is a highly decorated professional wrestler and trainer, as detailed on Wikipedia. His appearance at UFC Houston demonstrates a willingness from established wrestling figures to embrace and acknowledge the growing popularity of MMA. The crossover appeal is likewise evident in the presence of other celebrities at the event, including rapper Bun B and MMA fighters Waldo Cortes-Acosta and Yair Rodriguez, as reported by the Houston Chronicle.

The UFC Houston event, featuring Strickland’s victory and Medić’s knockout, delivered on the action inside the Octagon. However, the presence of a WWE Hall of Famer like Booker T underscored a larger narrative: the lines between professional wrestling and mixed martial arts are blurring, and the future of combat sports may well involve a greater degree of collaboration and cross-promotion.

As TKO Group Holdings continues to integrate WWE and UFC, fans can anticipate further instances of this crossover. The success of events like UFC Houston, coupled with the enthusiastic reception of figures like Booker T, suggests a growing appetite for a more unified and entertaining combat sports landscape. What remains to be seen is the extent to which these two worlds will continue to merge, and what new opportunities will arise from this evolving relationship.

What are your thoughts on the growing crossover between WWE and UFC? Share your opinions in the comments below and be sure to share this article with fellow combat sports fans!

Janel Grant, the former WWE employee who filed a lawsuit alleging sexual assault and trafficking against Vince McMahon, publicly detailed the profound impact of a non-disclosure agreement (NDA) on her mental health and life. Speaking at a Capitol news briefing organized by the Connecticut Alliance to Finish Sexual Violence on Thursday, Grant described the emotional fallout following her identification in a Wall Street Journal report in June 2022, and the broader implications of NDAs in workplace misconduct cases. The case, which first surfaced in January 2024, continues to draw scrutiny to practices within the professional wrestling industry and the leverage of NDAs to silence allegations.

Grant’s testimony centered on the isolating and damaging effects of the NDA she signed with McMahon. She recounted how the publication of the initial Wall Street Journal article, outlining the allegations, fundamentally altered her life. “On June 15th of 2022, my life was rewritten into someone else’s storyline. And I was globally outed in the Wall Street Journal,” she stated. The experience, she explained, led to a severe strain on her mental well-being, leaving her feeling profoundly alone.

The Impact of Silence

Grant argued that NDAs, while intended to protect privacy, can inadvertently shield harmful behavior and prevent patterns of misconduct from being identified and addressed. “Workplace safety depends on transparency because when employees cannot speak, patterns can’t be seen. When patterns can’t be seen, they can’t be stopped. When they can’t be stopped, harm spreads,” she asserted. She emphasized that the use of NDAs to conceal misconduct doesn’t eliminate the harm, but rather shifts it to future potential victims. “When an NDA is used to conceal dangerous behavior, it simply relocates the harm to the next employee, the next office, the next victim.”

The lawsuit filed by Grant alleges both sexual assault and sex trafficking while she was employed as a paralegal for WWE. Sports Illustrated reported on Grant’s first public comments, highlighting her description of being “dragged in” by the NDA into a federal investigation and subsequent legal consequences.

WWE’s Response and SEC Involvement

Grant also addressed a reported attempt by WWE to manage the public narrative following the initial Wall Street Journal report. She stated that WWE representatives approached her with a request to issue a joint statement characterizing her relationship with McMahon as consensual. Grant declined this request. However, a subsequent article in the Wall Street Journal, published the following month, quoted a WWE spokesperson describing the relationship as consensual, a characterization Grant claims was made without her knowledge or consent. “So someone, a group maybe, behind my back, without my knowledge, without my input, made that decision for me, it’s consensual, we say so,” she recounted.

According to Grant, she participated in WWE’s internal investigation, but it concluded without her being interviewed. She further revealed that she received whistleblower status from the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) during a federal criminal investigation related to the allegations. “In March of 2023, I got two things from the SEC. I got a subpoena, and I got whistleblower status,” she said. She noted the timing coincided with the announcement of the merger between Endeavor and WWE, a deal announced by McMahon and Ari Emanuel on CNBC. The Times of India reported on the ongoing developments in the case, including the SEC’s involvement.

Echoes in WWE Storylines

Grant also pointed to parallels between a storyline that unfolded on WWE’s Raw program in the summer of 2024 and her own experiences. While she did not specify the exact storyline, she noted that reporters and viewers observed similarities between the on-screen narrative and her situation. This observation, she suggested, underscored the pervasive nature of the issues she was raising.

Acknowledging the personal cost of pursuing legal action, Grant stated, “I knew what I would be about to throw my life into, but I had been dragged in by this NDA into a federal investigation, the SEC, all the consequences, all the things that have happened that have made my life so slight and isolated, I didn’t start that. It’s like it found me.”

Looking Ahead: Arbitration and TKO Leadership

As of February 6, 2026, a court filing indicated that Grant, McMahon, and WWE have agreed to an arbitration hearing, scheduled for June, though specific dates were excluded, according to ITRWrestling.com. Grant concluded her remarks with a direct message to the leadership of TKO Group Holdings, the parent company of WWE, urging them to engage in conversation and reconsider their approach. “To the board of TKO, if you didn’t know this part of your origin story, now you know. I hope you will have conversations with us. I will hope you have conversations amongst yourselves, and I hope that you don’t rely on vintage instincts with new insight.” She emphasized that TKO’s actions will directly impact her ability to move forward and find healing.

The arbitration hearing represents a significant step in resolving the legal dispute, and the outcome could have far-reaching implications for the use of NDAs in workplace misconduct cases within the entertainment industry and beyond. The case continues to be closely watched by legal experts and advocates for workplace transparency.

What are your thoughts on the use of NDAs in cases of workplace misconduct? Share your opinions in the comments below.

WWE fans have a stacked Friday night ahead with two new matches officially added to the SmackDown lineup for the February 20, 2026, event. The additions promise to elevate an already compelling card featuring qualifying matches for the upcoming Elimination Chamber.

Headlining the new additions is a high-stakes singles contest between Giulia and IYO SKY. The rivalry stems from earlier this month when Giulia, alongside Kiana James, challenged SKY and Rhea Ripley for the WWE Women’s Tag Team Championships but came up short. Now, Giulia has a chance to settle the score in a one-on-one battle against one half of the reigning champions. While Giulia’s Women’s United States Championship will not be on the line, the personal nature of the feud adds significant intrigue.

Adding to the excitement, Ilja Dragunov will collide with Tama Tonga in another confirmed match. Both competitors enter the bout with recent victories under their belts – Tonga having defeated Shinsuke Nakamura, and Dragunov securing a win over The Miz. This matchup is poised to have significant implications as both men glance to build momentum within the WWE landscape.

SmackDown will broadcast live from the Amerant Bank Arena in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. The updated card includes several key contests, setting the stage for a thrilling night of WWE action.

Elimination Chamber Qualifying Matches Highlight the Card

Beyond the newly announced matches, SmackDown will feature two crucial Elimination Chamber qualifying matches. Carmelo Hayes will battle Trick Williams and Damian Priest in a triple-threat contest, while Nia Jax will face Charlotte Flair and Kiana James for the other spot in the prestigious event. The Elimination Chamber is a notoriously grueling competition, and securing a place within This proves a major accomplishment.

Full SmackDown Lineup for February 20, 2026

• Elimination Chamber qualifying match: Carmelo Hayes vs Trick Williams vs Damian Priest
• Elimination Chamber qualifying match: Nia Jax vs Charlotte Flair vs Kiana James
• Oba Femi vs Kit Wilson
• Giulia vs IYO SKY
• Tama Tonga vs Ilja Dragunov

The rivalry between Giulia and IYO SKY has been building since their tag team encounter. Wrestling Inc. reported on the initial change to the match card, where Rhea Ripley was initially slated to face Giulia before the match was adjusted to pit SKY against “The Attractive Madness.” This shift underscores the importance WWE places on this particular matchup, seemingly saving it for a more significant moment.

Similarly, the clash between Ilja Dragunov and Tama Tonga represents a compelling pairing of momentum and skill. Both competitors have demonstrated their prowess in recent weeks, and their collision on SmackDown promises a hard-hitting contest.

Fans will also be watching the outcomes of the Elimination Chamber qualifying matches closely. The stakes are high as competitors vie for a chance to compete in one of WWE’s most demanding and prestigious events. The Elimination Chamber match itself is a brutal test of endurance and skill, and the qualifying matches are often just as intense.

What’s Next for the SmackDown Roster?

Following SmackDown, attention will quickly turn to Monday Night Raw, where IYO SKY has an opportunity to qualify for the Elimination Chamber, facing Raquel Rodriguez and Kairi Sane. The results of Friday’s matches will undoubtedly shape the landscape of the WWE Women’s and Men’s divisions as WrestleMania 42 approaches. The road to WrestleMania is heating up, and SmackDown is a crucial stop along the way.

Don’t miss the action live from Fort Lauderdale, Florida, and be sure to share your thoughts on the upcoming matches in the comments below!