Pro Wrestling Rumours - Aug. 26, 2025: Orange Cassidy, WWE Raw, NJPW Power Shift

One of All Elite Wrestling's top stars may soon be back in the promotion, while there is currently a power shift within New Japan Pro-Wrestling towards one of the promotion's comedy wrestlers. Monday Night Raw, meanwhile, will air earlier than usual in the United States for some episodes in September.

This is all the pro wrestling rumours from Tuesday, August 26, 2025:

Orange Cassidy Cleared For AEW Return

Orange Cassidy has not appeared on AEW TV since the March 19 edition of Dynamite when he competed in a four-way with "Speedball" Mike Bailey, Ricochet, and Mark Davis. It emerged shortly after that Cassidy is believed to have suffered a torn pectoral muscle.

Cassidy's return may not be too far away, however, as BodySlam has reported that Orange Cassidy has been cleared to return, and he is currently awaiting creative to return to TV. Cassidy was in London, England this past weekend as AEW were in town for Forbidden Door.

Swerve Strickland To Undergo Surgery Later This Week

Swerve Strickland will undergo surgery to repair his torn meniscus later this week, BodySlam and Fightful have reported.

Strickland was written off AEW TV at Forbidden Door, receiving a steel chair shot to the knee from Kazuchika Okada after their Unified Title match. The former AEW World Champion has been wrestling with a torn meniscus since 2019 but he recently aggravated the injury.

How long Swerve will be out of action is unknown, but AEW were preparing for the possibility that he could miss a number of months.

WWE Raw Moved To Earlier Start Time For Some September Episodes

It has been confirmed that Monday Night Raw will air earlier than usual for some episodes in September.

While Raw will air at 2 pm ET on September 1 due to the show airing from France, the September 15 and September 22 episodes of the Monday night show will air one hour earlier than is tradition despite Raw being taped in the United States.

It has been confirmed on Netflix that the September 15 edition of Raw from Springfield, Massachusetts will air from 7 pm ET. The September 22 episode of Raw from Evansville, Indiana will also go on the air at 7 pm ET.

Why WWE have changed the start time of Raw for September 15 and September 22 is unknown, but it is likely to ensure Raw begins one hour before Monday Night Football. The new NFL season begins on September 4.

Identity Of WWE Raw Extras For Roman Reigns Segment Revealed

WWE Raw aired from Birmingham, England on Monday, August 25 and the opening segment resulted in a pull-apart brawl between Roman Reigns and Bronson Reed ahead of their Clash in Paris match.

The segment saw Reed and Reigns be separated by security, before they were promptly taken out by the two WWE talents, which allowed the brawl to continue.

Fightful Select's Corey Brennan noted the security were independent wrestlers Ethan Allen, Tate Mayfairs, James Ellis, Sammy D, and CBL.

Toru Yano Quickly Gaining Power In NJPW

Several NJPW talents have told Fightful Select that Toru Yano is quickly gaining power and responsibility within the promotion. Yano, who has been a part of New Japan Pro-Wrestling since 2002, has taken on a more important role and he is said to have "his hands in a little bit of everything."

This includes Yano holding some influence in booking within New Japan, although Gedo remains the main booker.

Toru Yano remains an active wrestler for NJPW, although he primarily performs in multi-man matches.