PWInsider - WWE News, Wrestling News, WWE

BBC COVERS GREAT MAN LIKE DEREISS STORY, STEPH DE LANDER, GRIM REEFER, WXW IN ALLENTOWN AND MORE

The BBC covered a story about British star Man Like DeReiss befriending a group of elderly women while flying to Las Vegas for Wrestlemania weekend.  DeReiss ended up sitting in between members of the group and ending up speaking with them and inviting them to one of the shows.  They attended and reconnected with him and are now going to go to another show in London.    DeReiss told the BBC he hopes the story will inspire others to speak to strangers while traveling.  ""I think we got on because our lives are so different, we found each other interesting.  We were both going to Vegas for completely different reasons.  People don't talk to each other enough. If you strike up a conversation, you'll often find someone has an interesting story.  Just ask the person next to you how their day is going, or why they're travelling, there's usually a story behind it."

The Grimm Reefer's Loud East Wrestling will run Rockaway Beach, NY this Saturday 5/2 with Reefer, Julius Smokes and more at St. Callimus' Gymnasium, 99-15 Rockaway Beach Blvd.  For more. click here.

FOX News covered Steph De Lander noting that her WWE release was the best thing that ever happened to her and advising others on how to handle their post-WWE runs.

The following was announced:

World Xtreme Wrestling Returns Home to Allentown with “Homecoming” on Sunday, May 3

ALLENTOWN, PA — A historic chapter in professional wrestling is set to begin once again as World Xtreme Wrestling (WXW) officially returns to its roots in the Lehigh Valley.

Presented by Battlefield Pro Wrestling, WXW will make its triumphant return to Mountainville Memorial Hall in Allentown, Pennsylvania, the longtime home of the original promotion founded and operated by WWE Hall of Famer Afa Anoaʻi Sr.

The relaunch begins with WXW: Homecoming on Sunday, May 3 at 5:00 PM, and from that point forward WXW will run every first Sunday of the month, bringing live professional wrestling back to the venue where its legacy was built.

Now owned and operated by Afa Anoaʻi Jr., the promotion marks both a continuation of family legacy and a bold new era for wrestling in the region.

For the past decade, Afa Jr. has successfully led Battlefield Pro Wrestling, building it into a respected brand known for showcasing established stars, rising talent, and the spirit of traditional professional wrestling. In the wake of his father’s passing in 2024, Afa Jr. felt the time was right to bring the WXW name back into the fold and return it to the place where it all began.

“For the last ten years, Battlefield Pro Wrestling has been about honoring the values my father instilled in this business. Discipline, storytelling, respect, and giving fans something real,” said Afa Anoa’i Jr.

“After losing my father in 2024, I spent a lot of time reflecting on everything he built here in Allentown and what WXW meant to so many people. Bringing WXW back home to the Lehigh Valley isn’t just about reviving a name, it’s about preserving a legacy, honoring my father’s vision, and introducing it to a new generation of fans. There’s no better place to do that than Mountainville Memorial Hall.”

Working behind the scenes and serving as Senior Official of WXW is Kevin Keenan, former WWE referee, current Senior Referee of the National Wrestling Alliance, and a former student of Afa Sr.

Keenan, a longtime friend and trusted colleague of Afa Jr., also brings deep historical ties to the original WXW, having worked under the banner during its earlier years.

“This one is deeply personal for me,” said Keenan.

“Having trained under Afa Sr., worked for the original WXW, and spent years alongside Afa Jr., it means a great deal to be part of this return. Our goal is to bring back the traditions, professionalism, and identity that made the original WXW special, while adding a modern edge that reflects where the wrestling industry is today. We want longtime fans to feel that history, while giving today’s audience something fresh, exciting, and worthy of the WXW name.”

The return of WXW represents more than another event on the calendar, it is a homecoming for one of the most recognized names in independent wrestling in Pennsylvania and a tribute to the lasting influence of the Wild Samoan legacy.

Fans can expect a blend of classic storytelling, hard-hitting action, and the next generation of wrestling talent, all under the banner of a name that helped shape the region’s wrestling history.

WXW: HOMECOMING

Sunday, May 3
5:00 PM Bell Time
Mountainville Memorial Hall
Allentown, Pennsylvania

WXW returns home. Tradition lives on.

If you enjoy PWInsider.com you can check out the AD-FREE PWInsider Elite section, which features exclusive audio updates, news, our critically acclaimed podcasts, interviews and more by clicking here!

• Tweet