Rick Ucchino
Rick Ucchino treats pro wrestling as a storytelling beat that runs through nightly shows, major events and the business decisions behind them. He is Assistant Editor and Content Coordinator for The Takedown at Sports Illustrated, where he oversees and contributes coverage of WWE, AEW and other promotions. On this beat since 2019 and active across multiple specialist outlets, he blends news, match coverage, talent interviews and explainers aimed at the broader narrative of the industry.
WWE Raw, SmackDown and Event Coverage
Ucchino’s core day-to-day work focuses on WWE programming, where he writes preview pieces, results roundups and creative news tied to Raw, SmackDown and premium live events. He regularly produces “tonight” guides such as “WWE SmackDown Tonight (10/2/26): Start Time, Match Card, How To Watch & Live Stream” and “WWE Raw Tonight (9/28/26): Start Time, Match Card, How to Watch and Live Stream,” laying out match cards, key storylines and viewing information in a concise format.
His coverage extends into post-show results, including “WWE SmackDown Results [9/25/26]: Two More Superstars Qualify for Money in the Bank,” where he tracks tournament progress and headline finishes. Around major shows he writes event primers, as seen in “How to Watch WWE Money in the Bank 2026: Date, Start Time, Match Card, Location & Live Stream,” coupled with pieces on “Latest Creative Plans for Seth Rollins & CM Punk Ahead of Money in the Bank.”
He also reports on talent absences and returns, exemplified by coverage of Joe Hendry addressing his absence and pending return to WWE Raw, which anchors his broader focus on roster movement and on-screen arcs. This mix of schedule information, creative developments and roster updates distinguishes his WWE beat work from generic recaps.
AEW, AAA, MLW and New Japan Pro Wrestling
Beyond WWE, Ucchino is a central voice on The Takedown’s coverage of AEW, AAA, MLW and New Japan Pro Wrestling, giving those promotions consistent space alongside the market leader. On the AEW front he delivers show previews and follow-up analysis, including “AEW Collision Preview (10/3/26): Start Time, Match Card, How To Watch & Live Stream” and “AEW Collision Results & Booking Grades (10/3/26): Kofi Earns a Huge Title Shot.” He reports major AEW news such as “AEW Worlds End Date and Location Announced as Will Ospreay Sends Message to WWE” and updates from AEW All Out, including Tony Khan’s comments on Steven Borden after a scary bump.
His AAA and MLW coverage includes match and card announcements like “Three Major Championship Matches Set for AAA Heroes Inmortales” and business moves such as “MLW Partners With Live Nation’s VEEPS for a Return to Pay-Per-View this November.” Ucchino is also a primary byline on The Takedown’s New Japan Pro Wrestling vertical, writing pieces like “Will Ospreay Explains Turning Down WWE to Sign With NJPW,” “Former IWGP Heavyweight Champion Callum Newman Injured at NJPW Dominion” and “Hiroshi Tanahashi Issues Statement as NJPW Changes Ownership.”
Across these promotions he combines match reporting, injury news, tournament calendars and ownership changes, giving his beat a global scope rather than a single-company focus.
Talent Interviews and Character-Driven Stories
Ucchino’s work is distinguished by a steady stream of talent-facing pieces built around direct quotes and exclusives.
He profiles wrestlers’ experiences and motivations in stories like “Lola Vice Explains Why She Feels Right at Home on WWE Raw,” where he foregrounds how performers see their roles on specific brands. He has written features such as “Will Ospreay Reveals His True Thoughts on Jon Moxley Ahead of AEW All Out (Exclusive),” going beyond match promotion to explore a champion’s perspective on opponents and expectations. His archive includes contract and career pieces like “Shotzi Re-Signs With MLW, Explains Why it’s Her ‘Favorite Place’ (Exclusive),” blending news of a deal with the wrestler’s own explanation of the decision.
He covers on- and off-screen transitions through stories such as “Pat McAfee Addresses WWE Future Amid Absence From Commentary,” and status updates like work on a long-absent WWE star ahead of WrestleMania 41. Ucchino also writes biographical and profile-adjacent material around top names, contributing to pieces that track figures like Becky Lynch and others in depth. This emphasis on interviews, character motivations and performer narratives aligns with his stated focus on the storytelling aspect of pro wrestling and sets his coverage apart from purely results-driven reporting.
Explainers, Industry News and Cross-Sport Angles
Alongside show coverage, Ucchino produces explainers and industry news pieces that address how wrestling operates as both scripted entertainment and a real-world business. His feature “Is WWE Fake?
The Truth Behind Wrestling's Scripted Drama And Real Dangers” breaks down the balance between predetermined outcomes and genuine physical risk, positioning him as an accessible guide for audiences outside the hardcore fan base. He reports on serious news events such as “Police Close the Case on Hulk Hogan's Death Nearly 11 Months After His Passing,” where he tracks investigative developments around a major figure and situates them within the wrestling community’s response.
On the business side he has covered corporate and financial stories including “WWE Announces Massive Year-Over-Year Revenue Growth In Q1 2025 Financial Report” and coverage of Endeavor and TKO Group’s ownership changes and partnerships.
Ucchino also writes cross-sport pieces at the intersection of wrestling and MMA or other combat sports, such as “Former WWE Superstar Daria Berenato (Sonya Deville) Finds Herself Back Home In MMA [Exclusive]” and work around WWE and UFC events linked to sponsorship deals. Away from the ring he works full-time as a local news and sports anchor and covers the Cincinnati Bengals for national radio, bringing a broadcast sensibility and broader sports perspective into his wrestling coverage. With years on the pro wrestling beat and prior contributions to specialist outlets like Fightful, SB Nation’s Cageside Seats and the Bleav Podcast Network, his body of work combines ring results, talent storytelling and business reporting in a way that is notably more multi-dimensional than a single-show recap writer.
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