WWE: Dijak Contract Set to Expire This Summer, Possible On-Screen TV Role for CM Punk While Injured, More News

Dijak’s WWE Contract Reportedly Expiring This Summer

NXT talent Dijak’s current contract with WWE reportedly is currently set to expire this summer, according to Fightful Select.

It was reported that their sources stated that Dijak’s contract is set to expire this June. It was also reported that it is currently not known if Dijak is planning on staying in WWE’s NXT brand, hoping to be moved back to WWE’s main roster, or will be leaving the company.

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CM Punk Triceps Injury Update – Potential WWE TV Role for CM Punk While Injuries

As noted before, CM Punk suffered a torn triceps injury at this past January’s Royal Rumble 2024 event and will be out of action for WrestleMania 40 due to his injury situation.

Fightful Select reported that CM Punk could potentially work as a commentator for one of WWE’s television shows while he is out of action due to his injury.

It was reported that this was something that Ace Steel revealed to them as an option for Punk during a recent interview they held with him.

In the interview, Steel stated WWE officials would want Punk to do commentary during his time away from the ring. Steel also stated that he would prefer that Punk did not work in commentary or in any other on-screen role due to the way he was written out of television after Drew McIntyre’s attack on him at last week’s RAW show.

Steel also stated that he does not want Punk to be on the same show as McIntyre if he were to have an on-screen role due to how his storyline with McIntyre went down. Steel also suggested that Punk could consider attacking McIntyre despite being injuries if he really is involved in an on-screen role but this was pointed out how it would not make sense considering he is not cleared to wrestle.

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WWE News & Notes

NXT General Manager Ava recently stated in now deleted tweets that she has been receiving death threats from angry fans and people over her father Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson taking Cody Rhodes’ spot for Roman Reigns’ match at WrestleMania 40. Ava later deleted her Twitter account over the amount of hateful messages she was receiving over the issue.

Nikki Cross recently announced on Twitter that she is currently training to run in her first ever marathon this November for Jar of Hope to help raise funds for the Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy charity.

As noted before, Braun Strowman has been out of action for WWE since this past May due to a neck injury and had underwent neck fusion surgery to repair it. Strowman recently provided an update on Twitter stating that he is getting closer to being able to make his return to the ring. Strowman stated “Closer and closer. The Monster’s Coming Home!!!!“

Cody Rhodes recently responded on Twitter about the online backlash WWE has been receiving over their decision to have Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson face off against Roman Reigns instead of Rhodes at WrestleMania 40. Rhodes stated “Appreciate the passion, God bless y’all …but Trust me.“

Following Monday’s RAW show in St. Louis, Missouri, Cody Rhodes gave a speech to the live crowd reflecting about the outpouring support he has received from fans over wanting him and not The Rock to face Roman Reins at WrestleMania 40. Rhodes stated “They’re freaking out right now because I’m bleeding, so I definitely have to get it looked at. Those three words, well, all I can say is this, since I was a little boy who grew up loving everything. For you to want me is special because I have always wanted you. I love you guys so much. I’m sorry I’m an emotional mess.” (Transcript h/t: Fightful.com)

In a recent interview with the NotSam Wrestling podcast, Rhea Ripley gave her thoughts about the original of her “Mami” nickname in WWE. Ripley stated “[Mami] was a Priest thing. I went out there, came back after kneeing myself in the face and busting my front two teeth, I had braces for a week, it was great. I came back from that, and we came back on Rey’s anniversary. That’s where I decided to be a little menace, be myself, and I ordered an Eddie Guerrero shirt and I came out with ‘I’m Your Papi’ shirt, just to see what the hell was going to happen from that. That was a me call and just me doing something that I thought was right and I wanted to stir the pot a little bit. I started the whole Papi thing, I got told I couldn’t be Papi, so Priest was like, ‘Well, you’re Mami.’ I was like, ‘Damn straight I’m Mami. We’re going to roll with that.’ The Mami thing makes me feel comfortable. I just got out there and I’m a child version of myself. I go out there, have fun, do little menace things, make fun of people. Just going out there and having fun.” (Transcript h/t: Fightful.com)

In a recent episode of the Foley Is Pod podcast, WWE Hall of Famer and co-host Mick Foley gave his thoughts about the recent Vince McMahon sex trafficking and sexual abuse allegations. Foley stated “He sure was [a part of my favorite WrestleMania moments]. Man, he was a huge part of it. His belief in me made all the difference in the world, from just being another guy to being one of his main guys during that Attitude Era, and anyone who’s listened to a single episode knows the fondness I have for Mr. McMahon, but…I don’t know all the facts. But man, it’s really ugly. I feel some very similar, just like that dead inside feeling, the way I had in 2007, after the Benoit murders. Man, I hope it doesn’t take away from people’s amazing memories of all the things that Mr. McMahon created or helped create, including my character and the programs that I was in. He was such a big part of it. I wish he’d really just stepped aside the first time we heard a little hint of these allegations. I believe you brought up the RAINN hotline [on other podcasts]. I was a volunteer on the hotline for two years, so I know the great work they do, and if somebody has a workplace difficulty or has a difficulty in their personal life, or have been the survivor of an assault, then RAINN.org is a great place to go to look for help.” (Transcript h/t: Fightful.com)

WWE recently announced three new matches for the card of next week’s WWE RAW show on February 12th in Lexington, Kentucky:

• Women’s Elimination Chamber Qualifying match – Liv Morgan vs. Zoey Stark
• Jey Uso & New Day (Kofi Kingston & Xavier Woods) vs. Imperium (Gunther, Ludwig Kaiser, & Giovanni Vinci)
• JD McDonagh vs. R-Truth