WWE: Joe Fortenbaugh on ESPN Still Being In “Exploratory Phase” with WWE For Their PLEs Deal, Finn Balor on WWE Being Much Better & Safer Work Environment Compared To Past, UFC Fighter Michael Chandler Reportedly Visited WWE Performance Center

Joe Fortenbaugh on ESPN Still Being In “Exploratory Phase” with WWE For Their PLEs Deal

Denise Salcedo held a recent interview with ESPN personality Joe Fortenbaugh. One of the topics discussed included Fortenbaugh’s thoughts about ESPN still being in the “exploratory phase” with WWE for their WWE Premium Live Events rights deal in the United States.

“Excellent question, because we are still in the exploratory phase with that. What does the viewer want the most? If we sit down and we have an interview with Seth, which we did recently, it aired this morning about tonight’s match, do people want to hear about the match, the history with Roman, his preparation for the match?

Or do you want to bring in a new audience that might not necessarily watch wrestling, that might not necessarily want to hear about the storyline, but could be interested in the fact that Seth’s a huge Bears fan? They’re a Bears fan or they’re a football fan, now there’s a connection.

Now they might be more interested in following Seth because they know something about him. So we’re working to marry those two, how best to serve the viewer. And it’s been fun because some of the conversations, like with Punk last night, we just nerded out over the match.

I mean, the moonsault, vaulting CM Punk, moonsaulting CM Punk going through the table, having those conversations are always a blast. But getting to know them a little bit, I think there are fans that really want to see the peek behind the curtain, and we’re trying to figure out the best way to marry the two for the viewers.”

Transcript h/t: F4WOnline.com

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Finn Balor Comments on WWE Being Much Better & Safer Work Environment Compared To Past

This past Saturday’s Zuffa Boxing 10 event in Dublin, Ireland featured Finn Balor among those in attendance. Nina Drama held an interview with Balor at the event and one of the topics discussed included Balor’s thoughts about his belief that WWE has become a much better and safer work environment than it was over 15 to 20 years ago.

“Another wrestling movie is The Wrestler, which is very serious and kind of dark, but frighteningly real. Frighteningly real. Thankfully, that’s kind of based on a time probably about 15, 20 years ago. Thankfully, WWE has changed over the recent years, and it’s a much better place and safer work environment for the boys, so we’re very grateful for that.”

Balor also gave his thoughts about Kevin Owens’ surprise in-ring return from a lengthy neck injury and surgery at WWE’s SummerSlam 2026 event earlier this month.

“Well, first of all, Kevin Owens, one of my oldest friends in the business, he had a very, very serious neck injury. He was out for almost a year and a half, I believe. So just the fact that he was able to return to the ring made me very happy for him as a person. But as a professional, he returned at SummerSlam and I was- as a surprise at SummerSlam, I was standing in the ring and when I heard the pop that the crowd made when his music hit, it was absolutely incredible, and it kind of took me out at a moment where I could become a fan again and just stand there and watch the live audience react to Kevin Owens’ entrance. So I was very, very happy to be there.”

Transcript h/t: F4WOnline.com, Fightful.com

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UFC Fighter Michael Chandler Reportedly Visited WWE Performance Center

False Finish reported that their sources stated that UFC fighter Michael Chandler was seen at WWE’s Performance Center in Orlando, Florida on Monday.

No other details were given for the reason for Chandler’s visit at the time of their report.

In a follow-up report, it was reported that those spoken to stated that Chandler was doing some work in the ring during his visit.

In an interview with The Schmo Show in June of 2025, Chandler had stated that he had spoken to WWE CCO Paul “Triple H” Levesque about a potential contract with WWE after his UFC career was over.