WWE

Rey Mysterio is a WWE legend ... but he won't go down as the best wrestler in the family, 'cause the Grand Slam champ tells TMZ Sports his son, Dominik Mysterio, will actually be better than him!

We talked to the 46-year-old wrestler ahead of the 30th season of Raw, premiering Monday night, and we asked about his WWE Superstar son's ascent as one of the best wrestlers in the world.

"I've told my son from the beginning, you're gonna be better than your old man and I keep saying this over and over and over to him," Rey says.

"I can't wait for the day for him to become his own man, although in a way he already is and for me it's hard as a father to kind of let him go and fly on his own, but I truly believe in my heart, and I don't just say this so he can stamp it in his head, but he's gonna be better than his old man."

That's saying A LOT ... Rey has been the World Heavyweight Champ, 3 times, Cruiserweight Champ, 3 times, Intercontinental Champ, twice ... among a bunch of other championships.

Speaking of titles, Rey and Dominik actually won the tag team title together ... a first for a father and son.

We asked Mysterio where the moment ranked in his career of awesome accomplishments ... and it was clearly an unforgettable moment.

"Top three, without a doubt!"

And, get this ... Rey says his son's success has actually motivated him to continue kicking ass in the squared circle as he ages.

"It motivates me, it inspires me to keep doing what I'm doing because I'm seeing my son kickoff!"

Great news for "Hacksaw" Jim Duggan ... the wrestling legend has been discharged from the hospital following emergency surgery, the wrestler announced.

"After 2 nights in the hospital and emergency surgery yesterday, guess who just came home? Thank you to the amazing doctors and nurses at Kershaw County Medical Center which is now, MUSC," Duggan's wife, Debra, wrote on Instagram.

As we previously reported, the 67-year-old WWE Hall of Famer underwent the emergency surgical procedure on Wednesday in a South Carolina hospital.

It's not clear what medical condition the docs were treating.

Thankfully, the surgery was successful ... and after recuperating for a night, Hacksaw was allowed to go home.

FYI, It's not the first time Jim has dealt with health issues over the past few years. Back in 2018, he spent time in the ICU after his heart went into atrial fibrillation (aFib), an irregular heartbeat that can lead to a bunch of serious heart-related health issues.

At the time, Duggan told us he feared he was going to die ... and felt fortunate for doctors who he said saved his life.

Duggan ended his post by thanking the hoards of WWE fans, family and friends who reached out and showed love to the wrestler while he was recovering.

"Thanks to Brittani for wheeling Jim out! Thank you for your prayers, vibes, texts, calls and messages. Now home to fully recuperate."

During his days in the ring, Hacksaw was one of the biggest wrestlers in the world ... even winning the first-ever Royal Rumble in 1988. Duggan was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2011.

nZo, formerly Enzo Amore, is returning to the ring years after parting ways with WWE, telling TMZ Sports he's performing at an upcoming MLW show ... and he doesn't want it to be a one-time appearance.

"Is MLW gonna be a one-off? Absolutely not. Line 'em up and knock 'em down," nZo tells us.

The 34-year-old says he's signed on to wrestle at MLW (Major League Wrestling) Fusion Alpha on November 6 in Philadelphia. The event will air on TV at a later date.

Of course, Amore was a big star in WWE ... linking up with Big Cass to form one of the most successful tag teams of the decade. Amore was released by WWE in 2018.

Even though his split with WWE ended less than ideally, nZo says he's grateful for his time with Vince McMahon's company.

"I have nothing but good things to say about the opportunity I was given [in WWE] because without it, I don't know where I'd be."

Since parting ways, the wrestler has occasionally worked local shows ... while also creating music. But, this is the first time the wrestler will be back on television.

nZo left us with the following message for the MLW roster.

"Now it's time for me to get in the ring with real competition and beat the hell outta them. I'm not playing games. If you can beat me up, then do it. I'm standing in from of you, I'm in the ring."

WWE legend "Hacksaw" Jim Duggan is hospitalized, and needs emergency surgery, his wife announced on Wednesday.

Hacksaw's wife, Debra Duggan, announced the troubling news on social media, writing "Back where we don't want to be. Please pray for Jim and his doctors as he has emergency surgery this morning. Thank you"

Some of the biggest wrestlers in the world have shown love for Hacksaw. Hulk Hogan, Jim's longtime buddy, wrote "Love you my brother, praying for only perfect health HH"

FYI, Duggan was one of the biggest wrestling stars of his era ... and actually won the first-ever Royal Rumble in 1988. He was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame by "The Million Dollar Man," Ted DiBiase, in 2011.

67-year-old Duggan has battled health issues over the last few years. Back in 2018, Jim was hospitalized in the ICU after his heart went into atrial fibrillation (aFib), which is an irregular heartbeat that can lead to blood clots, strokes, and other serious heart issues.

At the time, Jim told us he feared he was going to die ... expressing incredible gratitude for the doctors who saved his life.

"My main concern, I have 2 daughters and my wife, I just wanted to survive it. Thankfully, it looks like I'll be able to," Duggan said in 2018.

Now, Duggan -- whose medical condition is unknown --  is back in the hospital, awaiting surgery.

Becky Lynch has some heartfelt advice for Ronda Rousey -- IF the WWE Superstar wants to return to the wrestling ring after giving birth to a beautiful baby girl ... DON'T!!

Of course, The Man and Rowdy Ronda have major beef ... but they also have something in common -- they are new moms.

Lynch -- who relinquished her title when she went on maternity leave -- gave birth to a baby girl in December with hubby Seth Rollins. She recently returned to the ring ... and is already SmackDown champ.

TMZ Sports talked to Becky and we asked her if she had any advice for Rousey, who also gave birth to a baby girl with husband Travis Browne in late September ... and she did, sorta.

"Don't [come back], cause I'm still on top, Ronda, you won't like it. That's my advice."

We also asked Lynch -- who has a huge match scheduled against Sasha Banks Friday night on a special 2.5 hour SmackDown on FS1 -- about her return to the squared circle ... following the baby.

"It's been crazy, Mike. It went from zero to 100 real quick. Coming back, and coming back on top after not wrestling for a year and a half. It's been wild, but it's been amazing. And, my baby comes along everywhere with me."

Ronda Rousey is now officially Momma Rousey ... the former WWE superstar just announced her baby daughter is finally here!!!

Rousey revealed the birth on her Instagram page late Monday evening ... saying in the caption, "La’akea Makalapuaokalanipō Browne❤️."

The two pics Rousey shared to bring the good news to her fans were adorable, with one featuring the baby's hand over Ronda's heart and the other showing the baby's hand on the chest of her hubby, Travis Browne.

The child is Browne and Rousey's first ... and it's clearly safe to assume they're pumped over the birth -- given how excited they've been throughout the whole babymaking process.

You'll recall, 34-year-old Rousey left the WWE in 2019 to try to start a family with Browne ... and back in April, she and Travis shared the good news of their pregnancy.

Just a few months later, the couple also revealed the gender of the baby with a funny Pokemon-themed vid.

No word yet if the birth means Rousey is one step closer to making a WWE comeback -- but we're betting she'll be pretty content being Mom for now.

MVP quarterback today ... WWE superstar after that?!?

Kofi Kingston says that's entirely possible for Lamar Jackson ... telling TMZ Sports after watching the Ravens star flip during a touchdown run this past Sunday, he could see the QB killin' it in the ring!

"I would love to see what Lamar could do in a wrestling ring," Kofi says. "He would be incredible."

Lamar put his athleticism on full display in Baltimore's huge win over the Chiefs ... somersaulting into the endzone on a key fourth-quarter play.

The 24-year-old didn't exactly stick the landing -- he joked he hurt his backside in the tumble -- but Kofi tells us the sheer athleticism of it all stuck out to him big time.

"I'd give it a 10 out of 10," Kofi said of the flip. "I don't really care about the form ... He was just out there showing off."

And, now, Kofi says he's pretty damn sure Lamar could be as big of a star as he is in Vince McMahon's world!!!

"It'd just be a matter of getting the psychology aspect of putting matches together and stuff like that," Kingston says.

Here's a tip for anyone looking to call out Rosario Dawson -- ya better think twice, 'cause she will come for you ... and WHOOP YOUR ASS!!!

That's how it all played out on "AEW Dynamite" on Wednesday ... when the superstar actress showed up ringside to defend her fellow "Go-Big Show" judge, Cody Rhodes, from Malakai Black!!

Of course MB has been on a tear recently ... taking down Rhodes and a bunch of his crew (including his bro, Dustin) over the past few weeks.

RD clearly had enough of Black's run ... so she took matters into her own hands and confronted him outside the ring!!

But, Rhodes -- who wasn't expected to be at the event on Wednesday -- popped up out of NOWHERE and stormed down the crowd to help out ... and when Black turned his back, Rosario jumped on his back and started trying to choke him out!!

The scuffle lasted a few moments before Black was able to wiggle her off ... but the action didn't stop there -- he got in an all-out brawl with Rhodes in the stands!!

The whole incident sets up an insanely hyped rematch between Black and Rhodes, which will go down at Arthur Ashe Stadium next week.

"I am personally responsible for all of Gable Steveson's right business decisions in his life and his gold medal and his Hodge trophy and his NCAA Division 1 Heavyweight championship."

Welp, that's wrestling legend Paul Heyman claiming ALL credit for everything positive the newly signed WWE superstar has done, telling Adam Glyn he's been behind it all.

"I had everything with Gable Steveson winning the Olympic gold medal. I arranged for Gable Steveson to train with Brock Lesnar at the University of Minnesota, which helped Gable Steveson win the NCAA Division 1 Heavyweight championship. Then he used my strategy to win the gold medal in the Olympics."

FYI, Gable won gold in Freestyle Wrestling at the Tokyo Olympics.

Heyman -- currently the special counsel for WWE Universal champ, Roman Reigns -- worked with Lesnar for years.

Of course, 21-year-old Steveson had a bunch of options after the Olympics ... but opted to sign a contract with WWE.

So, how does Heyman think Gable will fare in the squared circle?

"Now, we'll see how he does in WWE. He's not at quite the level of a Ronda Rousey or a Brock Lesnar, certainly not of the Tribal Chief, Roman Reigns."

Tonight's the night ... WWE Superstar Big E is cashin' in, using his coveted 'Money In The Bank' briefcase for a title shot against Bobby Lashley -- or Randy Orton on tonight's Raw.

TMZ Sports talked to E ... and the 35-year-old SmackDown star, holding the 'MITB' case, made the announcement.

"I'm a big proponent of setting your intentions, and I woke up this morning and I said, let me set my intentions to be a world champion here tonight in Boston," Big E tells us.

Of course, Big E won the 'Money in the Bank' ladder match in July ... entitling him to a title shot against either the Raw (Lashley) or SmackDown (Roman Reigns) champ at any moment.

Bobby is set to face Orton tonight ... so, E could wrestle either of the men.

Lashley's the current champ ... so we asked him if he had a message for the Raw champ.

"First and foremost, Bobby needs to worry about a certain 14x world champion in Randy Orton, who's trying to become a 15x champion tonight. so he's got that to worry about. so my message to bobby is worry about that apex predator first. Just know, I'm here. I'm in the building."

Why tonight on Raw from Boston??? We asked E.

"Why tonight? Why not tonight? Boston. Heckuva town. Kofi's from here. The fact that Kofi and Woods are both present. My sister lives here. I have extended family that lives here."

So, fam's here, Kofi and Xavier, but can he win the belt?!?

Stay tuned ...

Former WWE star Al Snow is being hailed as a hero ... after the wrestling legend saved a child's life Thursday by jumping in the ocean and pulling the boy from a riptide.

The incredible act of bravery all went down at Santa Rosa Beach in Destin, Fla. ... when Snow -- who gained fame in the 1990s for carrying and talking to a mannequin head named "Head" during matches -- says he heard yelling and screaming while he was in the water.

Snow says when he looked around, he saw a boy being hit by waves while being pulled away by a rough current.

58-year-old Snow says a lifeguard was on the beach ... but added, "I knew she wasn't going to make it in time" -- so he sprung into action.

"I made it, thank God," Snow said. "And, I caught him just by the arm just as a wave started to pull him even further out. If I hadn't have grabbed him, I think he'd have probably went out to sea."

"That would have been it."

Snow, though, says the rescue mission nearly turned dire after he snagged the child ... 'cause a wave took them under -- and it caused him to remember Shad Gaspard, the wrestling star who tragically died in the Pacific Ocean in May 2020.

"I was able to stay up," Snow said, "and hand him off to the lifeguard and I made my way back across to my friend and we went up on the beach and I felt like I was about to collapse. I was exhausted."

Snow said neither he nor the boy suffered injuries ... and added the child's mom cried and thanked him repeatedly afterward.

And, in a lighthearted moment, after everyone was safe and sound, Snow says a couple on the beach actually recognized him from his wrestling days!!

WWE is makin' a splash of its own ... 'cause it just signed 21-year-old Olympic gold medal winner Gable Steveson to its roster!!

"WWE today announced it has signed Olympic gold medalist and reigning NCAA wrestling champion Gable Steveson to an exclusive agreement," the company said.

"In the company's first-ever NIL deal, Steveson will join the WWE roster while defending his NCAA title for the University of Minnesota."

Of course, Steveson had a TON of options in addition to World Wrestling Entertainment ... multiple NFL teams reached out to Gable, and UFC honcho Dana White told us a few weeks back he planned on meeting with the Olympic hero as well.

Gable will still wrestle in college ... but it's unclear if the other options are now off the table, or if Steveson could also fight MMA if he so desires.

Either way, Steveson was PUMPED to officially put his pen to WWE paper ... saying Thursday, "Childhood dream accomplished.. I have  officially signed with the @WWE!!! Thank you for the opportunity!! LETS WORK"

As for how WWE stars will welcome him ... it seems it'll be with open arms -- 'cause just a few weeks ago, Seth Rollins told us he'd be down to train the Olympian!

Triple H required surgery last week after suffering a cardiac event ... but, fortunately, the WWE star says he's expected to fully recover.

The wrestling org. made the announcement Wednesday ... saying the 52-year-old superstar -- real name Paul Levesque -- had the procedure at Yale New Haven Hospital.

WWE officials added, "The episode was caused by a genetic heart issue and Paul is expected to make a fully recovery."

Triple H has been wrestling for roughly three decades ... and has been an ironman in the sport -- only suffering one severe injury in his career, back in 2001 when he tore his quad.

The wrestler has recently taken a bit of a step back when it comes to action in the ring ... as he's been more involved in the business side of the WWE.

Hall of Fame wrestler Rikishi says his niece was tragically murdered in a shooting earlier this summer ... and now, he's pleading with the public for help in finding who did it.

Rikishi re-posted a flier Tuesday from the San Francisco Police Department ... which he says spells out the horrific details of his niece's death on July 30.

In the bulletin, cops say they responded to a report of a shooting at around 6:45 PM ... and learned a 45-year-old woman and a 16-year-old girl had been shot.

Police say the 45-year-old was treated for her injuries and is expected to survive ... though they say, tragically, the 16-year-old died from her wounds.

Rikishi says the 16-year-old is his niece, Jaedah Tofaeono, and he pleaded with the public to "PLEASE HELP FIND THESE MOTHERF*****S."

"Need your help," Rikishi added. "They murdered my niece In the BAY AREA 16yrs old ... Check it .. Spread the word."

The SFPD says it's offering a $50K reward for "information leading to the identification, arrest, and conviction of the suspect(s) responsible for the murder."

Ric Flair's barbed wire bat -- the one he used to smash and bloody Mick Foley's face at SummerSlam in 2006 -- just sold for nearly $20K at auction.

TMZ Sports has learned the Lucille-like bat, which was on the block at Goldin Auctions, was bid on 17 times ... and ultimately raked in $19,680.

The starting bid was $3,500.

The match is pretty iconic ... Flair repeatedly hit Foley in the face with the bat, turning him into a bloody pulp. But, Ric wouldn't stop, demanding Mick say, "I quit!"

It was the culmination of a rivalry between Naitch and Foley that lasted more than a decade.

As for the bat itself ... it's an Alex Rodriguez model Louisville Slugger C271 -- wrapped in barbed wire.

And, you know the bat's legit ... 'cause it's coming directly from the folks at WWE -- who have also included a letter of authenticity.

There's more really cool wrestling memorabilia that sold ... like Big Boss Man's match-used nightstick from SummerSlam in 1988. It sold for $6,765.

There's also Brutus Beefcake's shears from his '89 SummerSlam match ... when he teamed up with Hulk Hogan and took on Randy Savage. The scissors went for $8,400.

John Cena is speaking out after his crushing defeat at the hands of Roman Reigns at SummerSlam ... saying his time in the squared circle is up for now, but promising he will be back again.

The WWE legend duked it out with the Universal Champ on Saturday ... in an epic back-and-forth match at Allegiant Stadium.

But, the 16-time world champ came up short in the main event brawl, with Reigns taking the dub ... and then being confronted by Brock Lesnar right after.

Now, Cena is saying his goodbyes to Vince McMahon's organization ... at least, for the time being.

"Words cannot describe how appreciative I am that the @WWEUniverse allowed me the opportunity to return and perform," Cena tweeted Monday.

"Thank you staff, superstars, and most of all FANS for giving me an unforgettable summer at 'home' with my 'family.'"

"The journey takes me away now but I’ll C U soon."

Of course, Cena is a big-time movie star now ... but was able to make time to appear at WWE events throughout the summer. It certainly doesn't sound like a permanent farewell ... which is good for fans who want to see him go out on top.