Rick Martel has addressed long-standing speculation regarding his relationship with the WWE Hall of Fame, making it clear that he never declined an induction offer.

The former WWE and AWA star took to social media to clarify the situation after years of fan discussion suggesting he had turned down a Hall of Fame spot.

“In 2015, I was offered to appear at Axxess in San Francisco and attend the Hall of Fame as a spectator,” Martel wrote. “Flattered, I still turned it down as I was not ready to go back to wrestling for appearances like I am now.”

He followed up with a direct statement to clear any confusion.

“I didn’t turn down an offer to be inducted in the WWE HOF. Thank you!”

Martel’s comments confirm that the invitation he received was tied to WrestleMania weekend activities, specifically WWE Axxess and attending the Hall of Fame ceremony as a guest, rather than being honored as an inductee.

The clarification appears to settle a long-standing belief among some fans that Martel had personally rejected a Hall of Fame induction. Instead, his decision at the time was based on stepping away from public wrestling appearances, not declining recognition from WWE.

Martel, a former AWA World Heavyweight Champion and WWE standout, has remained largely absent from the wrestling spotlight in recent years. However, his latest comments suggest he is now more open to appearances than he was in the past.

While there is still no official word on if or when Martel could be inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame, his statement removes any notion that he previously refused the honor.

Rick Martel Denies Turning Down WWE Hall of Fame Induction

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An unusual incident involving WWE headquarters led to widespread power outages in Connecticut over the weekend after a large American flag was torn from the building and ignited on nearby power lines.

According to local officials, the flag was ripped from the roof of WWE’s headquarters on Saturday night at approximately 8:44 p.m. Stamford Deputy Fire Chief Matt Palmer confirmed that the flag became entangled in high-voltage wires near the Metro-North train tracks, close to the intersection of Atlantic Street and Manhattan Street by the Stamford Train Station in Stamford.

The situation quickly escalated when the flag caught fire after making contact with the power lines. Due to the dangerous location and the involvement of high-voltage equipment, the fire department was limited in its response and primarily monitored the situation while coordinating with utility providers.

Energy company Eversource reported that the incident contributed to significant outages across the area. Around 6 p.m. on Sunday, more than 4,000 customers in Greenwich and approximately 2,700 in Stamford were without power. At the peak of the disruption, roughly 5,000 Stamford customers lost electricity, though crews were able to restore service to about 3,000 of them within 20 minutes.

By Monday morning, all outages had been resolved.

WWE’s headquarters, located at 707 Washington Boulevard, officially opened in 2023. The 13-story building spans approximately 400,000 square feet and serves as the company’s primary corporate hub.

No injuries were reported as a result of the incident, and the exact cause of the flag being dislodged from the building has not been confirmed.

American Flag Incident at WWE Headquarters Causes Power Outages in Stamford

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Nikki Bella is closing in on a return to WWE action after her recent ankle injury, revealing that she expects to get back inside the ring soon to begin testing her recovery.

The WWE Hall of Famer has spent the past several weeks rehabbing an ankle issue that forced her to miss planned involvement around WrestleMania 42. Now, it appears she is entering a key phase of her comeback.

Speaking on The Nikki & Brie Show, Bella shared that she anticipates resuming in-ring activity shortly, which will allow her to evaluate how her ankle responds after regaining strength.

During the discussion, she emphasized that patience has been the most important part of her recovery process.

“What I’ve had to constantly tell myself is start like you have to start somewhere. So there are things that I’m doing right now where I feel like I could be lifting heavier, I could be jumping higher, but that’s not what’s on track for me. That’s not a part of my healing. And it’s OK to start here and slowly build. So don’t give up. The slow build is actually the best because we get the best foundations. And that’s what I’m telling myself.”

Bella also revealed she recently pushed herself too far during a workout, which resulted in immediate discomfort and reinforced the need to stay within her limits.

“And I learned my lesson the other day because I was doing jumping and I got a little ahead of myself and I was like, I know I can jump even higher. And the minute I did it, I felt that through my ankle, like fire. And I was like, oh, wait, now I know my limit.”

Her recovery has required lifestyle adjustments as well. Bella shared that she canceled a planned trip to Italy with Brie Bella after feeling it wasn’t the right time physically or mentally, choosing instead to remain focused on rehab.

“When I originally had my trip booked to meet Brie, every night I wake up with anxiety about this trip. So that’s when I start to know it wasn’t, it wasn’t a right time for me to go to Tuscany. And being home, I’ve realized that I’ve really just have been hard working at my workouts and recovery and just getting really good news along the way. How much stronger I am, how my, you know, just everything looks great.”

Bella added that she is scheduled for another round of X-rays earlier than expected. If all goes well, she plans to begin light in-ring work soon after.

“I’m getting my X-rays sent I think a week earlier. I’ll start to just get in the ring and dabble on how that feels.”

While no official return date has been set, getting back in the ring marks a significant milestone. With Bella also discussing future character ideas, her WWE comeback now appears to be approaching its final stages.

Nikki Bella Nears WWE Return as In-Ring Training Set to Resume

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A major legal development has emerged involving WWE, as the planned shareholder trial tied to the company’s sale has officially been canceled.

According to POST Wrestling, the case—set to be heard in the Delaware Court of Chancery—will no longer proceed to trial. Court Administrator Tamara Burton confirmed the cancellation, while reporter Brandon Thurston noted that both sides have reached an agreement in principle. A formal settlement is now expected to be submitted for court approval.

The lawsuit centered on claims from WWE shareholders who alleged the company was undervalued during its sale to Endeavor, which ultimately merged WWE with UFC to create TKO Group Holdings. The trial was expected to examine whether executives acted in the best interest of shareholders during the deal.

Several high-profile figures had been scheduled to testify, including Vince McMahon and WWE President Nick Khan. The settlement now removes the need for their testimony, along with others connected to both WWE and Endeavor.

Additional names who were expected to be involved included Paul Levesque, George Barrios, Michelle Wilson, and Endeavor CEO Ari Emanuel.

Shareholders had argued that Endeavor offered incentives to McMahon—such as assistance with legal matters and assurances regarding his role within the company—in order to secure a more favorable purchase price. These claims suggested a potential breach of fiduciary duty, though the settlement means the case will not be tested in court.

While this development removes one legal issue from McMahon’s immediate outlook, his broader legal situation remains unresolved. He continues to face ongoing allegations related to misconduct, including claims brought by former WWE employee Janel Grant. McMahon stepped down from WWE in 2024 amid those investigations.

Details regarding the terms of the settlement have not yet been disclosed.

WWE Shareholder Trial Cancelled Ahead of Settlement Agreement

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WWE has officially pushed back one of its biggest Premium Live Events of the year, as Money in the Bank 2026 will now take place later than originally planned.

In a press release issued on June 8, WWE confirmed that the 2026 edition of Money in the Bank is scheduled for Saturday, October 10 at the Smoothie King Center in New Orleans. The event had previously gone through multiple date changes. It was first set for Saturday, August 29, before being moved to Sunday, September 6, and has now been shifted again to October.

No official reason was provided for the latest delay. However, WWE did confirm that ticket sales will begin on July 10 at 10 AM EST, with a pre-sale scheduled for July 9.

Money in the Bank has grown into one of WWE’s most important annual events over the past 16 years. Its popularity has led many fans to view it as part of an unofficial “big five,” alongside WrestleMania, Royal Rumble, SummerSlam, and Survivor Series. The ladder matches and guaranteed title opportunity have consistently made the show one of the most anticipated on the calendar.

The 2026 event had already generated discussion when it was first announced. Some fans viewed it as a way for WWE to compensate New Orleans after WrestleMania 42 was moved from the city to Las Vegas. WWE still has a long-term agreement to bring WrestleMania back to New Orleans, although the timeline remains unclear. The earliest possible return is believed to be 2028, as WrestleMania 43 is set to take place in Saudi Arabia.

WWE Chief Content Officer Paul Levesque previously addressed the situation and assured local fans that WrestleMania will return to New Orleans in the future. His comments came during the original announcement of the Money in the Bank event.

Despite the schedule changes, Money in the Bank remains a key show for WWE, often shaping major storylines heading into the latter part of the year. The new October date could also shift how the briefcase winners are utilized, potentially impacting long-term booking plans.

WWE Money in the Bank 2026 Date Moved to October in New Orleans

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