The Big Picture

The pro wrestling power structure shook this week as championship decisions in Riyadh rewrote the title picture and corporate leaks exposed the industry's raw mechanics. A world title changed hands, a legal bombshell dropped in Delaware, and young prospects solidified their spots at the top. This ranking separates the genuine creative breakthroughs from the booking missteps.

The Rankings

10. The Broken Hardys Claim Tag Gold at Slammiversary

Matt and Jeff Hardy captured the TNA World Tag Team Championships in a chaotic four-way ladder match in Boston on June 28. They outlasted three other teams in a high-risk match that relied heavily on nostalgia, though critics noted that Jeff Hardy looked slow on his setups. The Boston crowd erupted for the title win, giving TNA a recognizable pair of veterans to anchor their tag division. However, booking forty-something legends over younger teams is a short-term ratings play that could stall division growth. This victory ranks tenth because it relies on past glory rather than building future stars.

9. Liv Morgan Falls to IYO SKY in Riyadh

Iyo Sky secured the Queen of the Ring crown by pinning Liv Morgan in the tournament final at Night of Champions on June 27. The match went over 14 minutes, ending when Sky hit a moonsault after countering Morgan's ObLIVion. The victory guarantees Sky a world championship shot at SummerSlam in August, halting Morgan's recent momentum. While Sky worked with high intensity, a sloppy middle section where a buckle bomb setup nearly ended in injury hurt the overall flow. It ranks below Nemeth's title win because the match quality suffered from those execution errors.

8. Nic Nemeth Wins the TNA World Title

Nic Nemeth defeated Mike Santana in Boston to win the TNA World Championship at Slammiversary on June 28. Nemeth ended Santana's physical run with a Zig Zag followed by a superkick for the three-count. The victory establishes Nic Nemeth as the focal point of TNA's creative direction, though Santana's brief main-event push felt rushed. TNA must build newer stars rather than relying on former WWE talent, making this win a mixed bag. It ranks ahead of the Hardys' tag win because it puts the primary title on a reliable worker.

7. MJF Retains Against Mark Briscoe on Dynamite

MJF successfully defended the AEW World Championship against Mark Briscoe on the July 1 episode of Dynamite. The champion won by submission, locking in the Salt of the Earth after a low blow went unseen by the referee. Briscoe came close to an upset after hitting a Jay Driller for a near-fall in the 19th minute. The match proved MJF can still generate intense crowd heat, but the ending felt cheap and repetitive. This title defense ranks seventh as it relied on tired booking tropes instead of a clean, competitive finish.

6. Oba Femi Wins the King of the Ring

NXT sensation Oba Femi defeated Jey Uso in Riyadh to become the 2026 King of the Ring on June 27. Femi dominated the veteran, using his size advantage to counter Uso's Uso Splash into a devastating pop-up powerbomb. Femi's dominant tournament run culminated in a 12-minute power display that established him as a main-roster threat. Uso sold Femi's offense brilliantly, making the young powerhouse look like an absolute monster. Femi takes the sixth spot over MJF's defense due to the star-making nature of the performance.

5. Mercedes Moné Wins Back-to-Back Owen Cups

Mercedes Moné defeated Maya World at Forbidden Door on June 28 to win the Women's Owen Hart Foundation Tournament. Moné won by pinfall after executing the Moné Maker, completing her tournament run without suffering a single submission attempt. Moné became the first wrestler to win the cup back-to-back in its five-year history. The match was technically sound, though the San Jose crowd struggled to connect with Maya World. Moné's historic victory ranks fifth because it sets up a massive title match at All In London.

4. Brock Lesnar's Return Sets Up SummerSlam

Brock Lesnar made a surprise return on Raw on June 29 to confront the newly crowned King of the Ring, Oba Femi. Lesnar entered to a massive pop, stepping into the ring to challenge Femi to a match at SummerSlam. The segment ended with a physical brawl that required security to separate the two behemoths, and WWE later confirmed the match will take place inside Hell in a Cell. This confrontation creates an instant marquee attraction for the August premium live event. It ranks fourth because it bridges NXT's future with WWE's established box-office draw.

3. Will Ospreay Wins the Owen Hart Cup

Will Ospreay defeated Swerve Strickland in the main event of Forbidden Door on June 28 to win the Men's Owen Hart Cup. Ospreay secured the pinfall after a Hidden Blade followed by the Storm Breaker in a match that went 28 minutes. The victory guarantees Ospreay the AEW World Championship match at All In London. The match was an athletic showcase, featuring high-flying counters and stiff strikes, though a clunky referee bump slowed the frantic pace. It ranks third because it sets up AEW's biggest show of the year with their premier in-ring performer.

2. Sami Zayn Wins the Undisputed WWE Title in Riyadh

Sami Zayn shocked the wrestling world by winning the Undisputed WWE Championship at Night of Champions on June 27. Zayn pinned Cody Rhodes after hitting a Helluva Kick in the 24th minute of the triple threat match. The match also featured GUNTHER, who dominated the early portions before being put through the announce table. Zayn's victory completes his Triple Crown and Grand Slam status, providing a career-defining moment. This ranks second because it represents a major booking gamble that completely resets WWE's main event scene.

1. Ari Emanuel's 2022 Voice Memos Leaked

The corporate foundation of WWE shook on July 1 when a Delaware judge ordered the release of voice memos sent by Endeavor CEO Ari Emanuel to Vince McMahon in September 2022. The audio files, filed as evidence in a WWE shareholders lawsuit, detail Emanuel offering McMahon personal legal assistance. In the recordings, Emanuel is heard offering to indemnify McMahon against ongoing federal investigations, stating, 'As it relates to everything else, yes, we can indemnify you, and we will.' He references using lawyers from Latham & Watkins, stating that because many people at the Department of Justice are former Latham attorneys, it 'will be helpful'. McMahon responded to this support by moving forward with the merger, noting it solved a lot of problems. This leak ranks first because its real-world legal and corporate implications far outweigh any scripted in-ring storyline.

Honorable Mentions

Several other key moments just missed the cut. Kenny Omega's physical victory over Zack Sabre Jr. at Forbidden Door proved the former champion can still perform at a high level after long injury layoffs. Additionally, Xia Brookside capturing the TNA Knockouts World Championship in Boston signaled a new direction for the division, while Trick Williams retained his WWE United States Championship against Ricky Saints in Riyadh.