Randy Orton is still heading to New York City this weekend. Canceled autograph and photo op sessions had fans worried he was pulled from Fanatics Fest. But both WWE and Fanatics officials still expect him in the building. That is just one piece of a very busy creative weekend for the promotion.
Backstage writers are dusting off some familiar blueprints. According to unconfirmed reports, Nikki Bella is officially resurfacing in WWE creative discussions. She is actively progressing toward a return and has resumed in-ring training after an ankle injury benched her since the WrestleMania season.
Then there is Matt Cardona. He returned to WWE earlier this year under his real name. Now, there is an internal push among some within the company to present him as his classic “Zack Ryder” character once again. The internal argument makes a lot of sense. The Ryder persona is highly recognizable to casual television viewers. Using it would require far less on-screen explanation than trying to establish the independent Cardona character to a mainstream audience. These pitches align with ongoing backstage reports detailing Orton’s schedule, Bella’s return, and the Zack Ryder pitch.
These creative developments coincide with a major corporate integration between WWE and sports merchandising giant Fanatics. Fanatics Fest is serving as a crossover hub for the wrestling promotion, leaning into non-traditional promotional events. And yes, John Cena is actually booked to face Olympic gold medalist Noah Lyles at the “Fanatics Games.” That bizarre showdown was corroborated by insider industry updates that also verified Bella being back in active creative discussions.
The weekend sets the stage for WWE’s late-summer programming block. With Orton in attendance, Bella lacing her boots back up, and Cardona potentially trading his new edge for a familiar headband, the roster is shuffling right as the Fanatics partnership takes center stage.