WWE

WWE just added a real-life ninja to its roster ... with "American Ninja Warrior" legend Kacy Catanzaro inking a deal to join the McMahon family biz -- this according to Jim Ross.

Catanzaro made history in 2014 ... becoming the first female competitor to complete the 'Ninja Warrior' obstacle course AND qualify for the finals -- Mount Midoriyama.

The 27-year-old super-athlete had been training at the WWE performance center earlier this year ... and Monday morning, Ross announced that she has signed with the company and made it official.

The craziest part -- Kacy's about 5 FEET tall and weighs less than 100 POUNDS ... but she's a former Division I gymnast -- and you can bet those moves are gonna help her in the ring just like they did on 'ANW.'

No word on when she'll make her debut.

We also talked to former NFL player and Ninja Warrior host Akbar Gbaja-Biamila about Kacy's future in the WWE.

WWE superstar Dana Brooke is devastated over the death of her boyfriend, Dallas McCarver -- but says she knows the bodybuilder will be her guardian angel for the rest of her life.

The 26-year-old bodybuilding phenom passed away early Tuesday morning after apparently choking on his food at a Florida home. He had spoken to Brooke on the phone just before the accident and told her he loved her.

Now, Brooke is opening up about the tragedy ... saying, "Aug 22 the lord received another angel, who happens 2 be my LIFE- MY Dallas the one WHO ONLY UNDERSTOOD ME!"'

"Dallas was an exceptional body builder, but I didn't see him for that .. I saw him for HIM AND HIS HEART!! He is the best individual I have ever met-- my ying to my yang."

"You were my life, you are my life, I still smell u and feel ur presence, NEVER LEAVE MY SIDE."

Brooke says she plans on starting a charity to honor McCarver's memory -- and posted several hashtags to pay tribute to Dallas ... #rip #myangel #mydallas #dallasmccarver #dteam #raw #ifbb #bodybuilding #losingalovedone #myheart #wwe #justkeepswimming #soulmate #swolemate #bestfriend #love #pray #faith #staystrong

WWE superstar The Miz has a Plan B in mind for Conor McGregor after he fights Floyd Mayweather ... and it ain't the UFC!

We asked Miz if Conor should join him in WWE after MayMac is a wrap -- and his answer was a resounding HELL YEAH.

Miz told us McGregor can "talk the talk" and "walk the walk" -- and that his skills on the mic would make him a huge star in the squared circle.

But even though the WWE intercontinental champ LOVES Conor's shtick ... he ain't exactly sold on him out-boxing Floyd.

McGregor's got plenty of options after taking on TBE, of course ... but he might wanna avoid the WWE after trashin' Brock Lesnar and most of the roster last year.

WWE superstar Paige will NOT be hit with domestic violence charges stemming from an airport altercation with Alberto Del Rio ... officials tell TMZ Sports.

As we previously reported, Alberto was initially investigated after Paige screamed at him in the middle of Orlando International Airport last month.

Paige later admitted she was the aggressor and had thrown a drink at Alberto during the altercation. The Orlando PD later recommended Paige be criminally charged for the incident.

But now, a rep for the 9th Judicial Circuit State Attorney’s Office tells TMZ Sports the case is officially closed -- because the victim (Alberto) did not want to move forward with charges.

Alberto will not be charged with a crime either.

Kurt Angle owes his entire pro wrestling career to Ric Flair -- telling TMZ Sports it was the Nature Boy who talked him into signing with WWE instead of WCW.

Angle was at a WWE 2K18 party over the weekend when we asked if he had a message for the wrestling icon, who's recovering from a medical emergency.

"I learned a lot from Ric Flair," Angle said ... "He's the guy that pushed me to go to WWE instead of the WCW."

"I was ready to do a deal with WCW and he said, 'No, go to WWE cause Vince McMahon will know what to do with you.'"

What's interesting ... Flair was actually with the WCW at the time he counseled Angle.

She may not be in the WWE anymore, but Eva Marie is still "All Red Everything" ... including her tiny string bikini.

Marie just parted ways with the WWE and is trying to cross over into acting. But in between auditions, Eva hit up Laguna Beach and set the place on fire.

The 32-year-old is a fitness freak -- so is her husband, Jonathan Coyle -- hence the crazy, fit physique.

Eva was with the WWE for 4 years -- after breaking onto the wrestling scene by slapping Jerry "The King" Lawler in the face during her first appearance on "Raw."

Best moment of his life.

Hulk Hogan is sending prayers and positive thoughts to his fellow wrestling legend, Ric Flair -- saying, "It's time to kick out."

Hogan and Flair had some of the greatest matches in wrestling history -- battling dozens of times over the years ... starting in the early '90s.

After Flair underwent surgery on Monday, Hogan issued a statement saying, "Ric Flair only prayers, love and positive thoughts."

"Now it's time to kick out because you can and you will always be 'The Man' my brother."

Flair is recovering from surgery, his family is by his side. Ric's reps say the procedure went well -- but they wouldn't say what the procedure was.

1:47 PM PT -- Flair is out of surgery and resting, a rep for WWE tells TMZ Sports.

Unclear how the surgery went but we're told Ric's family is by his side and they're waiting to meet with doctors.

Ric Flair is in a medically induced coma and is preparing for surgery ... a rep for the WWE tells TMZ Sports.

The 68-year-old wrestling icon was admitted to the hospital early Saturday morning and the situation has gotten more serious.

We're told Flair is set to undergo a procedure momentarily, though we're not being told what the procedure is ... though Pro Wrestling Sheet is reporting that it's a heart related issue.

Flair's rep had previously asked for thoughts and prayers for the Nature Boy.

Story developing ...

Pro wrestling icon Ric Flair has been hospitalized -- and it sounds serious.

The Nature Boy's reps confirmed the 68-year-old was hospitalized over the weekend -- but Legacy Talent Agency insisted it was for "routine monitoring" and there was "no reason to panic."

But things changed by Sunday night, when the reps posted, "We need your prayers, positive energy, and well wishes for our Living Legend as he is dealing with some tough medical issues."

The agency has not said exactly what those medical issues are.

Flair was reportedly admitted to the ICU with "heart-related issues," according to ProWrestlingSheet.com.

We just saw Flair out back in May -- and he told us not to let terrorists scare them away from sporting events.

He's also been campaigning for his friend Kane, who's running for mayor in Tennessee.

The reign of The Rock's famous bull tattoo is OVER.

Long live the reign of his new one.

He calls it "Evolution of the Bull" -- 22 hours of tattoo work to cover up the famous bull head he's sported on his arm ever since he burst on to the scene as a WWE superstar.

But Rock -- real name Dwayne Johnson -- says he decided to change his body part to reflect his own personal history.

"From the cracks and heavy damage in the bone representing life's hard lessons I've learned over the years. Just like scars and wrinkles - I'm so grateful to have 'em because they're earned. To the horns, not pointing up or out to the side, but pointing straight ahead representing relentless energy and forward progress."

Rock says the eye tells the story of a "disruptive positive energy always ready to dent the universe."

Good for Rock. It's his body. He can do what he wants.

But we kinda liked the old one.

It's just a matter of time before Ronda Rousey officially signs with Vince McMahon -- so says WWE legend, Jim Ross , who says it's a "match made in heaven."

"Oh, she's gonna be a big star," the WWE Hall of Famer told us at LAX ... "It's inevitable. I see her in a WrestleMania someday."

Rousey's been a huge pro wrestling fan for years -- and there have been rumors that she could follow in the footsteps of guys like Ken Shamrock and make the transition from the UFC to WWE.

Ross thinks that's 100% the right move.

9:08 AM PT -- Chris just issued a statement to TMZ Sports saying, "David Z was a good friend of mine and I was mentally and emotionally shattered after paying tribute to him and essentially saying goodbye to him Friday night."

"I was not in a good state of mind at that time and instead of ignoring a pushy (aka rude) fan which is what I would usually do, I snapped. My apologies to all involved and God bless David Z."

Chris Jericho just added another name to his list.

The WWE superstar got into a heated shouting match with another man after an event in NYC on Friday night -- with the two cussing each other out right on the street ... and TMZ Sports has the footage.

It all went down outside Irving Plaza, where Jericho had just appeared at a tribute show for musician David Z, who was killed in a recent bus accident.

Witnesses tell us multiple people approached Jericho outside the venue asking for pics and autographs -- and while he obliged at first, Y2J started to get frustrated and began to turn people down.

That's when our video begins -- you can see Jericho and a guy who said he was a fan yelling at each other.

The fan said he was just trying to congratulate Jericho on a recent WWE match -- but Chris wasn't having it and told the guy, "F*ck your ass."

More cussing ensued -- and as the fan walks away, you can hear Jericho tell his friend, "These guys are f*cking pussies."

With The Rock revealing that he considered a UFC career roughly 10 years ago, we wanted to know which WWE superstars have the chops to compete in a REAL mixed martial arts fight.

For the answer ... we went right to the Nature Boy Ric Flair -- who didn't even hesitate when he fired out one name, Kurt Angle.

He's probably right ... Angle famously won an Olympic gold medal for freestyle wrestling at the '96 Games after he took 1st place at the world wrestling championships in '95.

Accomplished wrestlers tend to do pretty damn well in the UFC ... Cormier, Lesnar, Jones and Velasquez to name a few.

Still, we were talking this out in the office and could all agree on one pro wrestler we woulda loved to see in the Octagon -- Andre the Giant.

A helicopter carrying Shane McMahon -- son of Vince -- crashed off the coast of Long Island Wednesday after the engine failed, but the WWE exec escaped unscathed.

FAA sources tell TMZ Sports the Robinson R-44 chopper -- with McMahon and a pilot onboard -- conducted an emergency landing after an the malfunction.

Shortly before ending up in the Atlantic, the chopper departed Westchester airport in NY.

We're told the pilot issued a mayday call prior to the crash landing. Once in the water, emergency crews responded and rescued the men.

McMahon, 47, is the Commissioner of "SmackDown LIVE."

The FAA is investigating the crash.

What's more badass than an Andre the Giant statue?

This silicone sculpture of the pro wrestling icon ... which looks so much like Andre we can't believe it ... ain't really him.

It took special effects artist Trent Taft months to put this thing together ... but we gotta say, dude NAILED it.

Down to every last hair (which Taft put in strand by strand, BTW), this epic tribute to the WWE Hall of Famer puts Madame Tussauds' wax celebs to shame.

Here's a couple more shots of Andre the Sculpture -- including one of the original head cast that will haunt your dreams.

If Ronda Rousey is serious about pro wrestling -- she's already got 2 big names willing to team up for a tag team match ... the daughters of Hulk Hogan and Roddy Piper!

Brooke Hogan and Ariel Teal Toombs (real-life friends, btw) were out at Skybar in L.A. over the weekend when they made their pitch to the UFC icon.

FYI, Ronda was spotted at WWE's Mae Young Classic event last week and there are rumors she could join Vince McMahon's family business.

Brooke and Ariel are all about it. Your move, Ms. Rousey.