7 Major MMA & Pro Wrestling Storylines to Follow in 2026
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2026 is shaping up to be one of the most consequential years in combat sports in recent memory.
Between unprecedented UFC spectacles, shifting power structures, and major turning points in professional wrestling, the next year feels less like a continuation and more like a crossroads. Legacies are being defined, records are being chased or protected, and a new generation is being positioned to take over.
As The Scrap marks its seven-year anniversary, we took a step back and asked a simple question… What stories will actually matter when the dust settles? The result is a look at seven of the biggest storylines to watch heading into 2026, spanning both MMA and professional wrestling.
Some will reshape careers. Others could change how the business operates altogether. All seven are impossible to ignore:
UFC White House
On July 3, 2025, President Donald Trump made one of the most surreal announcements in combat sports history, revealing that the UFC will head to the White House in 2026.
By October, details began to emerge. The event is scheduled for June 14, set to commemorate the 250th anniversary of the United States. The location? The South Lawn of the White House. If it happens as planned, it will be the first professional sporting event ever staged at the White House.
The UFC is rumored to be building a temporary 5,000-seat venue for the occasion, though the event is expected to be closed to the public with no traditional ticket sales. No fights have been announced yet. But, let’s be honest, there’s no chance the UFC treats this like a normal card. This is a spectacle in every sense of the word.
Sorry, wrestlers. This feels like a knockout kind of night.
One of the biggest questions heading into 2025 is how the UFC chooses to build the card. With the event taking place on Flag Day, does the promotion lean fully into patriotism with an all-American lineup? Or does it go global and showcase the best the sport has to offer on the most symbolic stage imaginable?
Either way, the UFC White House card already feels like one of the boldest and most bizarre storylines heading into the new year.
UFC Betting & Fight-Fixing Allegations
This isn’t the first time the sport has been clouded by shady allegations.
Back in 2022, suspicious betting activity surrounded fighters affiliated with Glory MMA and coach James Krause. The concern centered on fighters entering bouts with pre-existing injuries that were never disclosed publicly, with the expectation that the injured fighter would lose. Krause was also known to bet on fights involving athletes he coached, raising serious concerns about inside information and conflicts of interest.
Fast forward to 2025, and the issue resurfaced in an even more alarming way. New allegations claimed that fighters were being approached and offered money to intentionally lose fights. Following unusual betting patterns in the Isaac Dulgarian bout, the UFC reportedly alerted the FBI.
As of now, Dana White and the UFC are cooperating with both the FBI and the Nevada State Athletic Commission. With sports betting more intertwined with MMA than ever before, how this investigation unfolds could have long-lasting consequences for the credibility of the sport.
AJ Styles’ Retirement Tour
In October, AJ Styles officially announced his plans to retire from in-ring competition in 2026, after hinting at the decision a month earlier. While he intends to remain with WWE in a training role, his days as an active performer are clearly winding down.
Styles has been open about why the timing feels right. He believes his performances are no longer meeting his own sky-high standards, and he wants to prioritize time with his family. A husband and father of four, Styles has nothing left to prove inside the ring.
It’s unlikely he receives a retirement tour on the scale of John Cena’s. But, that doesn’t make this farewell any less meaningful. Styles’ current contract is set to expire in February 2026, though he has openly expressed interest in WrestleMania.
The big question heading into 2025 is how this final chapter plays out. Does Styles push for a full calendar year? Or, does he choose a specific event to close the book on one of the most influential careers of his generation?
Breaking John Cena’s Record & the Rise of WWE’s Next Generation
With John Cena officially setting the bar at 17 world championships, the immediate question becomes whether anyone can realistically catch him.
Charlotte Flair and Randy Orton sit closest, each with 14 world title reigns to their name. While neither is currently in the world title picture, both remain credible threats. A championship run in 2026 would move either one another step closer to the record. Breaking it still feels unlikely, but the storyline remains relevant the moment either finds themselves back in contention.
At the same time, the closing stretch of Cena’s retirement tour focused less focused on records and more on legacy. We saw a blatant shift toward ushering in WWE’s next generation of stars.
We saw Cena spotlight younger talent, “hand-picking” the competitors for the Iron Survivor Challenge at NXT Deadline. Je’Von Evans emerged victorious in the men’s match. Kendal Grey, the reigning Evolve Women’s Champion, won the women’s Iron Survivor bout.
That theme continued on an even bigger stage. NXT standouts Je’von Evans, Oba Femi, Sol Ruca, and TNA’s Leon Slater competed at Saturday Night’s Main Event, which served as John Cena’s final match. Whether anyone ever reaches 17 championships may be up for debate. However, Cena’s influence on WWE’s future is already undeniable and it’s something to see play out next year.
Amending the Ali Act
The Ali Act was passed in 2000 with the goal of protecting boxers from exploitation. It was a direct response to widespread concerns over rigged fights, manipulated rankings, and unchecked promoter power. One long-standing criticism of the law, however, is that while it clearly outlines rules and protections, it lacks definitive guidelines for enforcement.
In 2016, the Ali Act was extended to cover MMA, bringing the UFC and other promotions under its scope. Now, Dana White has floated the idea of amending the Act. According to White, the plan is not to change any existing language, but to build onto it.
As with any major structural proposal, the idea has sparked both support and criticism. Detractors worry that amendments could ultimately give promoters more control, undermining the very protections the Act was designed to provide. Supporters, on the other hand, argue that changes could create more opportunities for fighters, improve competition, and reduce the stigma attached to losses on a fighter’s record.
At the center of the proposal is an either-or system. Fighters would have the option to continue competing under the current Ali Act framework or fight under a new unified organization. This would move away from the fragmented, multi-belt model seen in boxing with groups like the WBC, WBA, IBF, and WBO, toward a single governing structure.
If pursued, amending the Ali Act could fundamentally reshape how combat sports operate, making it one of the most consequential storylines to watch in the year ahead.
Mercedes Moné Potentially Losing All of Her Titles
In 2025, Mercedes Moné held an astonishing 13 belts. The feat made her the most simultaneously decorated wrestler of all time, male or female.
Since leaving WWE, Moné’s stated goal was to open doors and break down barriers for women’s wrestling on the largest possible scale, and she has delivered. By collecting titles across multiple promotions, she brought unprecedented attention to smaller organizations while elevating her own star power to new heights.
But dominance rarely lasts forever.
As 2026 approaches, there’s a growing sense that the fall may be just as intentional as the rise. The expectation is that Moné will begin dropping her championships one by one, shifting from conqueror to catalyst. Each loss would not diminish her legacy, but instead serve to elevate the next wave of talent and leave behind stronger divisions than the ones she found.
If this truly marks the beginning of the end of her historic title run, it won’t be remembered as a collapse. It will be remembered as the closing chapter of one of the most influential runs women’s wrestling has ever seen.
Ilia Topuria in the Spotlight
Ilia Topuria finds himself in the spotlight for reasons far removed from the Octagon.
The reigning star has stepped away from MMA for personal reasons as he goes through a highly publicized divorce. Reports indicate that his wife is seeking 50 percent of his assets, estimated between $10 and $15 million, along with full custody of their two children. As is often the case with situations this public, rumors and accusations have surfaced on both sides, only amplifying the scrutiny.
Rather than rushing his return, Topuria has received widespread support from fellow fighters encouraging him to prioritize his personal life before stepping back into competition. With children involved and every development playing out publicly, the consensus has been clear, fighting can wait.
How Topuria navigates this moment could shape the next phase of his career. Whether the time away sharpens his focus or delays his momentum, 2025 will be remembered as a pivotal year not for what he did in the cage, but for how he handled everything outside of it.
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