Morning Daily News Update: May 20, 2026 – John Cena Says He Will Stay Retired From Wrestling

Morning everyone!

It’s Wednesday, and it’s time for the Morning Daily News Update!

We’ve also got Niz’s review of last night’s episode of WWE NXT to take a look at!

John Cena Says In-Ring Retirement Does Not Mean Retiring From WWE

John Cena says he has no plans to come out of in-ring retirement, but confirmed he still expects to remain involved with WWE in non-physical roles moving forward. Speaking with The Takedown on SI, Cena stated he will “stay retired” and insisted there will be “no fall downs” or physical matches in the future. However, he made it clear he is not stepping away from WWE entirely and remains passionate about the company.

Cena said he is excited about his future role in WWE and specifically mentioned the recently announced John Cena Classic tournament. Since retiring from in-ring competition after losing to Gunther at Saturday Night’s Main Event in December 2025, Cena has continued appearing for WWE in ambassador-style roles, including at WrestleMania 42 and Backlash.

Rousey vs Carano 17-Second Slaughter Peaks at 17-Million Viewers

The debut MMA event from Netflix and MVP Promotions reportedly averaged 12.4 million viewers, with the main event between Ronda Rousey and Gina Carano peaking at just under 17 million viewers. Despite the strong audience numbers, the show received mixed reactions due to heavy downtime between fights, production issues and criticism of Ariel Helwani’s multiple on-screen roles throughout the broadcast. The card also featured a well-received fight between Mike Perry and Nate Diaz, along with several quick undercard finishes.

WWE Superfan Vladimir Hospitalized

Longtime WWE superfan Vladimir Abouzeide has reportedly been hospitalised in New York City after suffering a severe concussion following a fall. According to PWInsider, Abouzeide’s ongoing battle with Parkinson’s Disease has made walking and balance increasingly difficult. Mike Johnson noted that Abouzeide’s sister asked fans to keep him in their thoughts and prayers during his recovery.

Vladimir became one of WWE’s most recognisable fans after spending more than 30 years regularly sitting front row at shows, especially at Madison Square Garden. He was later featured in the WWE documentary Superfan: The Story of Vladimir, which chronicled his lifelong connection to the company and his popularity among both fans and wrestlers.

Former WWE Star Now Works At Wal-Mart, He’s Accepting Wrestling-related Bookings

Former WWE Tag Team Champion Heidenreich is now accepting bookings for appearances, signings, interviews, acting roles and endorsements following renewed attention sparked by a viral photo of him working at a Walmart in Ohio earlier this year. Book Pro Wrestlers announced that Heidenreich is interested in reconnecting with wrestling fans, although he is not currently taking in-ring bookings.

The former WWE star went viral in February 2026 after a co-worker shared a story about discovering the man he worked alongside had previously wrestled stars such as The Undertaker and The Rock. The story generated widespread support online, with many fans praising Heidenreich’s humility and work ethic. Best known for his WWE run between 2003 and 2006, Heidenreich later teamed with Road Warrior Animal in a revived version of the Legion of Doom, with the duo winning the WWE Tag Team Championships in 2005.