WWE

Vince McMahon's XFL now has a boss ... and it's the same man who happened to raise one of the NFL's best quarterbacks -- Oliver Luck!!

Andrew Luck's daddy will be the new commissioner and CEO of the WWE honcho's rebooted league -- McMahon announced Tuesday.

It's not a gimmick ... Oliver's resume is legit. The 58-year-old's been president of NFL Europe, athletic director for West Virginia and recently served as one of the top execs in the NCAA.

In his first-ever statement as commish, Luck says he's going to "reimagine" the game of football as the boss of the XFL -- which will kick off in 2020 -- and give fans a "dynamic version" of the sport.

Remember, the XFL is doing away with all the shtick it used to have ... and is trying to be legit.

Tim Tebow, Dwayne Bowe and even a Gronkowski have expressed interest in playing in it.

John Cena says he doesn't just want to have kids to win Nikki Bella back -- telling TMZ Sports he's had an epiphany about wanting to have a family outside of his career.

The 41-year-old WWE superstar says he KNOWS his new outlook is a complete "about-face" from what he's been preaching publicly for decades ... but insists it's because he's grown as a person.

"I would love to be a dad," Cena says ... "and I realize very much that I have been steadfast in saying that I don't want children."

So, why the change of heart?

"Because I dedicated my life to my work and now I'm realizing that there is life and life exists and it's beautiful and I think part of that is being a parent."

"Total Divas" stars Nikki and Brie Bella hit the gym Saturday with baby Birdie ... and no sign of Cena.

Nikki kinda sorta back with ex-fiance John Cena. As we reported, Nikki told TMZ she and John are working on getting back together but the deal isn't sealed ... at least not yet.

It's interesting ... the conflict between the 2 involves a baby. For a long time, she wanted one but he didn't. It makes the kid in the pic more relevant.

Wrestling superstar Johnny Impact is back!

TMZ Sports has learned that Johnny -- formerly known as John Morrison, Johnny Nitro and Johnny Mundo -- is returning to the squared circle for Impact Wrestling's Slammiversary in July.

A.J. Styles, Matt Hardy and Sting have done their thing at Slammiversary in the past -- so the event's a big deal.

Johnny has been wrestling on the International circuit for the past few months -- but we're told he's finally inked a deal to return to Impact Wrestling.

Nikki Bella played with fire when she tried messing with the paparazzi ... and it burned her ass.

Nikki tells TMZ ... a story floating around showing her "canoodling with a mystery man" on a Miami balcony does NOT mean she's interested in him. She says it was supposed to be a joke to mess with paps since they had been following her and the rest of the "Total Divas" crew for days.

Nikki says the bartender is a 21-year-old model the show hired to serve them drinks at their penthouse ... but by Thursday Nikki had had enough with the paps. With a little liquid courage, Nikki says she hatched a plan to bring the guy out on the balcony and do some faux flirting to screw with the photogs.

Paps snapped away and a story about her canoodling hit the web ... something she had NOT intended to happen. Nikki wants to set the record straight -- she is NOT dating anyone else right now. And as she told us already ... she's actively trying to work things out with John Cena.

"Dancing with the Stars" pro Sharna Burgess made a splash -- literally and figuratively -- after a night of some heavy partying.

Sharna hit the beach Friday in Miami ... wearing the hell out of her navy blue, strapless bikini. For good measure ... she matched her Apple Watch with a blue-trim strap. Shades were also a must.

The Australian beauty also brought her pooches with her for a little fun in the sand. Sharna was out partying the night before ... turning up with the "Total Divas" crew.

Holly Holm says she's not shooting down a possible rematch with Cris Cyborg Justino -- but cautions she's gotta get through Megan Anderson first.

Earlier this week, Cyborg told us she'd love to get back in the Octagon for another crack at Holm after their extremely violent fight back in December.

But Holm says she's got a "one fight at a time" mindset -- and the fight she's focused on now is Anderson at UFC 225 on June 9.

Holm says her Cyborg fight was "really competitive" -- but she might consider switching back to the 135-pound weight class to try and get the bantamweight belt back from Amanda Nunes.

Betcha wish you were that bottle of Fireball whiskey right now.

WWE superstar Lana was spotted shakin' it on a balcony in Miami on Thursday afternoon ... picking up right where Nikki Bella left off with a bikini-clad day of fun in the sun.

All the Divas -- including Paige, Nia Jax and Brie -- are in South Beach shooting new episodes of their "Total Divas" tv show ... and they've been providing nothing but great content so far.

John Cena's desperate plea to get Nikki Bella back might've totally worked -- a month and half after calling off their engagement, the couple is working on their relationship, according to Nikki herself.

Nikki tells us they've seen each other a few times, and are trying to work things out ... day by day. You'll recall, she called off the engagement after having serious questions about their future together. John didn't want kids, Nikki did.

Cena took the breakup hard -- making red carpet pleas for her, and then going on the "Today" show to profess his undying love for his ex. As he put it, "I want to be the father of her children. I just want us to work."

David Arquette is fed up with you damn haters, and tells TMZ Sports he's coming back to pro wrestling to shut up everyone who's been dissing his foray into the squared circle 20 years ago.

You might not remember ... but David was once WCW Heavyweight Champion (yes, it happened) back in 2000 as a story line to promote Arquette's movie "Ready To Rumble."

Fans hated it from the get-go, and it's been almost universally viewed as one of the absolute worst moments in professional wrestling history ever since.

David told our guy in NYC he's tired of the disrespect ... and is returning to the ring to clear his name.

"People have been giving me a hard time for 18 years and I'm sick of it."

Arquette says he's taking it seriously too, hiring a bevy of champion coaches to make him into a real deal LEGIT wrestler this time around so that the fans do the one thing he wants.

No John Cena? No problem ...

Nikki Bella returned to the set of "Total Divas" this week -- killin' it in a bright blue bikini ... and thank God, there are pics!

Nikki joined up with other WWE superstars including Paige, Lana and Nia Jax -- each looking insanely good in their bikinis.

The entire gang is in Miami for the show -- which just got renewed for 2 more seasons.

Bella's storyline this season should be the most interesting ... considering she broke off her engagement with John Cena, who's been publicly begging for her to take him back.

As we previously reported, the two are definitely still talking and it looks like Cena is making some headway ... but right now, they're still officially broken up.

Ex-WWE superstar Enzo Amore says he's laser-focused on a Hollywood comeback after beating rape allegations ... and says he's been recording music at Kanye West's studio in L.A.

Amore held a massive event in NYC on Monday to promote his new rap single, "Phoenix" -- in which he attacks his rape accuser by calling her a "Lyin’ ass hoe" and stating, "I ain't Bill Cosby, bitch."

As we previously reported, WWE fired Amore in the wake of the allegations back in January. Recently, prosecutors announced Amore would NOT be charged due to lack of evidence.

Amore is crediting his fans for helping his legal case -- claiming the Enzo Army "stalked" his accuser and found information about her that helped discredit her.

"My fans were lawyers," Amore told Adam Glyn ... "I don't even know why I hired a lawyer in the first place."

Now, Amore says he wants to return to the spotlight with a vengeance -- "I've been working with a lot of people out in Hollywood on writing scripts, screenplays, directing, producing and making music."

WWE legend Booker T says Hulk Hogan deserves a 2nd chance in the WWE after his n-word scandal ... and tells TMZ Sports he'd welcome Hogan back with open arms.

Booker T and Hulk have been friends for decades -- and the 53-year-old essentially says Hulk's legacy shouldn't be defined by that racist outburst caught on tape.

"Everbody deserves a second chance," Booker T says ... "It's what life is all about."

As Booker would tell Hogan to his face -- "Man, I would say, 'Welcome back.'"

TMZ Sports previously reported ... Hulk and the WWE are in talks for his return. In fact, the WWE has been taking the temperature of fans to see how he'd be received.

Ronda Rousey says she'd be honored to host the Indiana school teacher who risked his life to save his students during a shooting this week ... assuming the guy's a fan of WWE.

We got Ronda touching down in D.C. Sunday ahead of Monday Night Raw in neighboring Richmond, VA, and she tells us she'd have no problem allowing 29-year-old Jason Seaman of Noblesville West Middle School walk her into the ring at one of her matches.

In case you hadn't heard, Jason is being hailed as a hero after he's said to have tackled an unnamed suspect who opened fire in one of his classes Friday, saving countless lives.

Brutus "The Barber" Beefcake says he busted his knee so badly during a recent fall he needs a full replacement surgery ... but the cost is putting a serious financial burden on his family.

The 61-year-old WWE legend says he has already suffered major damage to his knee from his 35-year wrestling career ... but the fall made it much worse. Now, he's asking the fans for help through a GoFundMe page.

Brutus says he knows he's been blessed with a great career and a great life -- but tells TMZ Sports he doesn't have a lot of money and needs help to pay for his medical costs.

"The costs completely overwhelmed me and my wife," Beefcake says.

Brutus says he never got health insurance so everything is out of pocket -- and, while he admits he didn't want to ask fans for money, he feels it's his best move.

His surgery is set for June 12 -- good luck!!

John Cena made the trek down to San Diego to try to win Nikki Bella back, but as we reported ... it may take more than just AAdvantage Miles.

Nikki and John were spotted together in the Mission Hills neighborhood of San Diego Saturday, strolling down the street after getting their fix of java.

John has been on a unrelenting campaign to win Nikki back ... after she broke up with him because he would not budge on the issue of having children.

Nikki told us a few days ago she now believes John has had a change of heart and would like for her to have his kids, but she says all the drama has made her question the relationship. She told us she loves John and would like things to work out, but she needs time to think.