Home Blog Page 17

Chelsea Green Files Appeal Against SmackDown Countout Loss

0

Women’s U.S. Champion Chelsea Green isn’t taking her recent countout loss to Zelina Vega lying down. During the April 11, edition of WWE SmackDown, Green came up short as she did not get back in the ring before the count of ten. The result gave Vega the win, seemingly putting her in line for a future Women’s United States Championship opportunity.

Now, Green has filed litigation and intends to nullify or reverse the decision of the match. In her filing, NXT’s resident lawyer Luca Cruisifino lambasts the “questionable and competitively unjust” count from the official. Crusifino also argues that the count was delivered with “undue haste” and in “clear violation” of a WWE by law demanding that counts “must be delivered at a steady and impartial tempo.”

Interestingly, Green may have a case, as it’s been reported that her match was not supposed to end this way. It is believed that Green did not realise that throwing Vega in the ring would not break up the count, and instead spent time playing up to the crowd and bickering with commentary. On Instagram, Wade Barrett encouraged Green to look into Joe Tessitore as a distracting factor, adding that his broadcast colleague was “incredibly unprofessional.”

image 3

While this match didn’t go as intended, Green is once again making the most of the opportunity presented to her. Whether Green’s appeal is successful or not, the Women’s United States Champion isn’t making things easy for WWE’s referees.

Jon Moxley Becomes Double-Champion In Unlikely Way on AEW Collision

0

Jon Moxley is already one of AEW’s most decorated competitors, but now he has a new championship to add to his collection. During the April 12, edition of AEW Dynamite, Moxley, already the AEW World Champion, became one-third of the AEW Trios Champions.

Moxley’s title acquisition, however, did not come how he would have wanted. During the show, it was confirmed that Pac suffered an injury during his AEW Dynamite showdown with Swerve Strickland. As a result, Moxley has been appointed as Interim AEW Trios Champion and will defend alongside Claudio Castagnoli and Wheeler Yuta.

Moxley’s first title defense as a Trios Champion will come on the April 19, episode of Dynamite, one week after Pac’s injury. He, Castaganoli, and Yuta, will defend against The Opps (Samoa Joe, Katsuyori Shibata, and Hook.)

In addition to his role as an Interim AEW Trios Champion, Moxley will remain dedicate to defending the AEW World Championship against all-comers. At AEW Dynasty, Moxley retained against Swerve Strickland, albeit thanks to an assist by the returning Young Bucks. Now, Moxley’s attention turns towards his next challenger who will be decided in the Owen Hart Foundation Men’s Tournament. But with two titles he’ll have to defend, could this prove too much for the Death Riders leader?

Chelea Green Match On SmackDown Ended Early Due To Miscommunication (Report)

0

The finish to the SmackDown match between Chelsea Green and Zelina Vega did not go as planned.

The Women’s US Champion did not have Piper Niven and Alba Fyre in her corner as usual for her match because the two were banged up from competing in the Women’s Gauntlet match earlier in the night. The lack of support cost Green the fight as she was counted out of the bout while complaining to the commentary team about not having her Secret Hervice with her.

PWInsider is now reporting, however, that the count-out finish was not the original plan. The match was slated to go a few minutes longer and the belief is that Chelsea legitimately did not hear the referee’s count.

One person believed that Green thought the count would be broken up when she tossed Vega back into the ring, so she focused on playing the announcers and the audience. Though when the referee reached the 10 count, they had no choice but to call the match, and the count out was said to have been ‘100% legit.’

The site confirmed that the ending was not changed due to any injury, and the early finish was caused by just a miscommunication. Vega is believed to have been the planned winner all along so the abrupt finish did not cause any major harm. None of the involved personnel had any heat coming out of the bout and it was chalked up as one of those things that ‘happen when it’s live television being broadcast without a net.’

This finish set up a six women tag team match for next week’s WrestleMania go home SmackDown where Zelina Vega will team up with Kayden Carter and Katana Chance to face Chelsea Green and her Secret Hervice. Since Vega did not pin the Women’s US Champion, it’d be interesting to see if she gets a title shot in the future.

FTR Blame AEW Dynasty Heel Turn On ‘Selfish’ Adam Copeland

0

During the AEW Dynasty pay-per-view, Rated FTR came to a painful end as FTR betrayed Cope. The shocking act came after the group failed to win the AEW Trios Titles from the Death Riders. After the pair hit a piledriver on Cope, Cash Wheeler flattened the Hall of Famer with a con-chair-to.

On the April 12, edition of AEW Collision, FTR gave their side of the turn. Wheeler acknowledged that Adam Copeland has been one of his best friend and described Cope as a mentor of 15 years. In the end though, Wheeler argued that it was Cope’s own actions that doomed his fate.

“The more I watched the moves Adam Copeland made backstage, the more I watched the moves Adam Copeland made against FTR, the more I understood. Adam Copeland only cared about Adam Copeland.”

The real-life friendship between Cope and FTR is no secret and has been referenced before Rated FTR was a thing. In 2021, the then-Edge was feuding with Seth Rollins, who invaded Edge’s home during an episode of SmackDown. At the show, a frantic Edge was calling Beth Phoenix and telling her not to go home and that he was calling Dave and Daniel, the real names of the FTR duo, to sort Seth out.

Now, it remains to be seen how Cope reacts to this heel turn and the pair’s explanation. Whatever comes next, don’t expect Rated FTR to be challenging for any titles anytime soon.

Rhea Ripley Supports Alexander Volkanovski At UFC 314

0

Just days ahead of WrestleMania 41, Rhea Ripley attended UFC 314 in Miami, in a huge move by WWE’s resident ‘Mami.’ Ripley was at the event to support fellow Australian Alexander Volkanovski who headlined the show against Diego Lopes. Not only did Ripley attend the show, but she met up with Volkanovski backstage and received gifts including a jersey and hoodie.

WWE & UFC came together in September 2023 as part of TKO Group Holdings. Since then, fans have seen talent from both sides appear for the other. In 2024, Michael Chandler was on Raw and challenged Conor McGregor for a fight. Over in UFC, several WWE Superstars have appeared including Rey Mysterio, Bianca Belair, and Montez Ford.

As for Ripley, she will challenge for the Women’s World Championship at WrestleMania 41, her fifth time competing in a title match at the event. While reigning champion IYO SKY and fellow challenger Bianca Belair won’t make things easy for Ripley, she’ll certaily have the backing of Volkanovski

Spoiler: Tony Khan Announces New Women’s Championship After Collision

0

Tony Khan has announced another new wrestling championship.

The AEW president made an appearance after this week’s episode of Collision from MassMutual Arena in Springfield, MA, went off air.

Khan came out with the new belt and announced that it’ll be the ROH Women’s Pure Championship. He confirmed that the inaugural champion will be crowned at the upcoming Supercard of Honor event from Atlantic City, New Jersey on May 2:

The wrestling executive did not confirm any further details on the crowning of the new champion, though it’s possible that we’ll see a tournament leading up to the PPV event before the first champion is determined.

History Of ROH Pure Championship

The ROH Pure Championship was first established in February 2004. AJ Styles became the Inaugural champion after defeating CM Punk in the final of an eight-men tournament at the company’s Second Anniversary Show.

The championship, however, was retired only 2 years later by Bryan Danielson. It was reintroduced by the company in 2020, with Jonathan Gresham becoming the first champion of the new era.

This title is defended under the Pure Championship rules which include things such as a wrestler having only three rope breaks during a match and the championship changing hands even via disqualification and count out.

NJPW Smells What The Rock is Cooking

0

Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson may have inadvertently revealed more than his puzzle-solving attempts in a recent social media post. While sharing a video of himself tackling a Rubik’s Cube on Instagram, wrestling fans noticed the elephant in the room—Johnson was sporting a New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW) t-shirt.

The fashion choice gained further traction when NJPW’s official Instagram account acknowledged the appearance by sharing a screenshot from Johnson’s video. Their caption—“IFFFF YAAAAA SMELLLLL WHAT THE LION IS COOKING”—directly referenced The Rock’s iconic catchphrase.

This interaction is particularly noteworthy given The Rock’s influential executive position within WWE and the timing just days before WrestleMania 41. There may be more this subtle gesture than meets the eye, and might signal renewed collaboration between WWE and NJPW, especially as WWE continues its international expansion efforts under the TKO banner.

Johnson’s caption on his original post, “Slightly intellectually intimidated, but keeping faith alive,” also has us wondering if he’s talking about the Rubik’s cube, or if there’s a deeper meaning under the surface.

As wrestling’s biggest weekend approaches, this seemingly minor wardrobe choice could potentially foreshadow significant developments in the global wrestling landscape.

WWE Great Wants ‘Justice For Chad’ After Gable’s WrestleMania Snub

0

WrestleMania 41 is mere days away but not every Superstar will be competing as part of the two-night supershow. On X, WWE Hall of Famer John ‘Bradshaw’ Layfield took issue that Chad Gable will not be a part of the upcoming Las Vegas spectacle. JBL, who’s on-screen character often flirted with anti-immigration sentiment, argued that having El Grande Americano on the card instead of Gable was the wrong choice before demanding ‘Justice for Chad.’

While Gable will be ‘missing’ from WrestleMania, El Grande Americano will battle Rey Mysterio during the event’s first night. Mysterio has claimed that WWE’s new masked sensation is actually Gable in disguise, and that the ‘character’ is a mockery of the rich history of lucha libre wrestling. Mysterio is no stranger to WrestleMania, having made his debut at WrestleMania 19 in 2003 and competed most recently at last year’s event.

WrestleMania 41 will be a huge event, the culmination of a stacked week in Las Vegas of WWE and non-WWE shows. But for Chad Gable, unless something changes soon, he’ll have to sit back and watch Mysterio and Americano tear the house down from the sidelines.

Backstage Reaction To This Week’s Charlotte Flair-Tiffany Stratton Segment 

0

Unlike last week’s controversial segment with Charlotte Flair and Tiffany Stratton on WWE SmackDown, which went off script and was described backstage as a “wreck,” things got back on track this week.

Before the show, fans captured footage of Flair attacking Stratton outside the arena. On the show, Joe Tessitore confirmed that both stars had been warned by WWE. He also said that the disciplinary action relates not only to Flair’s actions but also to their promo last week, which he stated crossed the line.

NXT star Roxanne Perez returned to the main roster to trash-talk Stratton, leading to a singles match. Once Stratton won, Charlotte suddenly showed up for another attack.  

Fightful Select reports that WWE officials were happy with how Tiffany and Charlotte responded and worked together this week, especially after last week’s incident.

Per the report, based on what they heard, everything ended up okay despite the physicality. The producers and backstage personnel said that things went as planned and were received well.

Gunther Reveals How Changing WWE Philosophy Will Affect His Retirement

0

Gunther sees the WWE becoming more like UFC in the coming times.

The WWE World Heavyweight Champion had an interview with Ariel Helwani to promote WrestleMania 41. He talked about things such as how Triple H saved wrestling, his new deal with WWE that comes with a unique perk, and more.

The Ring General was also asked if he has a retirement age in mind or, he’ll continue wrestling even in his 50s. Gunther explained that he isn’t putting a timetable on the end of his wrestling career, and instead, he’ll continue evaluating things on a regular basis:

Depends how [the body is feeling] and how I look like when 50 years old. We will see. It’s like there’s nothing set in stone. The business is changing so much too. Like our schedule got so much better and also WWE is in such a great spot now.

We have so many guys that are over as they say that are just super popular. While before it was more structured. There’s like one or maybe two top top guys and everything is catered towards them.”

That’s My Vision: Gunther

Gunther explained that WWE moving away from live events will help the longevity of the talents. With the mindset of creating as many stars as possible, he believes that the big names will not be wrestling as often, allowing them to extend their careers beyond the general age limit:

“Now we have such a big…. We have so many guys that are like ‘Oh he’s a top guy, he’s a top guy, he’s a top guy.’ And I think it’s…that’s my vision at least for the business like going forward that it’s going to be, I don’t know, if I want to see Gunther there is like three four big matches a year and that’s it.

Almost like a little bit more similar how UFC is structured, if that makes sense. Obviously, we have weekly TV. It’s a little bit of a different scenario but I think that’s going to be a natural progression if things keep going like that.”

Becky Lynch Stars in New Chime Commercial with Kai Cenat and Deion Sanders

0

Becky Lynch features in Chime’s latest commercial, joining Deion Sanders and Kai Cenat in a campaign that connects smart financial decisions to high-profile experiences—like getting front-row seats at WWE events.

Lynch makes a brief in-ring cameo while a voiceover promotes Chime’s message that “you’re making it,” aligning with the brand’s focus on financial empowerment.

The spot further solidifies Chime’s presence in the WWE space, as the company recently sponsored the ring mat during the April 7 episode of WWE Raw on Netflix. Chime also ran a giveaway for tickets to WrestleMania 41 in Las Vegas next weekend.

Becky Lynch’s Future

Last night, Lynch addressed her current WWE status during her appearance as guest monologist at the April 11 Ultimate Improv Show. She confirmed she’s “not wrestling anymore” but left the door open for a future return “Maybe one day,” she said.

Liv Morgan Bites Back At Zoey Stark’s ‘Strip Club’ Jibe

0

Zoey Stark is tired of her colleagues oversexualizing professional wrestling and isn’t holding back against some of WWE’s top Superstars. Taking to X, fka Twitter, Stark argued that too many wrestlers are dressing too provactively to be considered decent.

Stark’s one-woman crusade began at a WWE live event where she took issue with Rhea Ripley smacking her own backside. This caught the attention of the Australian Superstar.

Up next, Stark too issue with Bianca Belair’s attire as guest referee during the March 31, edition of Raw. Stark argued that an official should be more covered before censoring the EST.

Women’s World Champion IYO SKY is not immune to Stark’s moral crusade. On X, Stark argued that SKY’s outfit during a recent episode of Raw was a beg for attention.

Now, Liv Morgan has been the target of Stark who argued that Liv’s attire is little more than what one would see from a stripper. In an unabashed response, Morgan joked that she’d certainly make plenty if she traded in the ring for the stage.

Stark’s crusade has left fans speculating on whether this moral crusade could make it to WWE TV, with several comparing Stark to the Right to Censor’s Ivory. The faction drew immense heat in 2000 and 2001 for their staunch (and often hypocritical) opposition to violence and sexuality.

Interestingly, Stark’s comments come after WWE LFG’s Mickie James took issue with Zena Sterling’s outfit, calling it akin to lingerie. This comment split fans with some agreeing with James while other argued that the progress James touted means that Sterling should be free to wear what she chooses.

It remains to be seen if Zoey Stark’s moral crusade makes it to WWE TV but the former NXT Women’s Tag Team Champion isn’t holding back online.

Samantha Irvin Drops Music Video For ‘Shawty Wanna’

0

Samantha Irvin is wasting no time building her career in the world of music following the end of her WWE tenure. On April 11, 2025, Irvin took to YouTube to drop the music video for her new track ‘Shawty Wanna.’

In the comments, several listeners praised the song, with one saying that “Samantha was born to perform” and praised her as “more than a singer.” Another compared Irvin’s new track to “old skill R&B” while another said that Irvin “absolutely ate this up.”

Irvin parted ways with WWE in October 2024 and explained at the time that she wished to pursue other avenues in entertainment. Shortly after her exit, Irvin explained that she had not wished to remain as a ring announcer, but WWE did not plan for her to have any other role.

While Irvin has yet to resurface in pro wrestling, some fans believe she will eventually join AEW where her husband Ricochet is receiving regular TV time.

Whatever Irvin has planned next, in or outside of wrestling, the former ring announcer will be performing in Las Vegas over WWE WrestleMania week. As fans await to see what Irvin does next, it’s clear that the former ring announcer has a multitude of talents beyond announcing wrestlers to the ring.

Becky Lynch Addresses Wrestling Future at Improv Show

0

Former WWE star Becky Lynch has clarified her immediate wrestling plans amid speculation surrounding a potential return to the ring.

With her WWE contract having expired in June 2024 and reports of a new signing in January, many fans anticipated her appearance at the upcoming WrestleMania 41 event on April 19-20.

During her appearance as Guest Monologist at the April 11 Ultimate Improv Show, Lynch definitively stated:

“It’s WrestleMania season, isn’t it? Look, I’m not wrestling anymore. Maybe one day, but not right now. But my husband is!”

Her husband, Seth Rollins, is scheduled to compete against CM Punk and Roman Reigns in the main event of WrestleMania 41 Night 1.

Interestingly, Rollins previously suggested in March that Lynch was “gearing up to get ready to come back,” contradicting her recent statement.

AEW Collision Preview (April 12, 2025)

0

Get ready for an exciting episode of AEW Collision, airing live from the MassMutual Center in Springfield, Massachusetts, tonight at 8/7c on TNT and streaming on MAX.

Tonight’s show promises to be a pivotal episode, with the three Owen Hart Cup tournament matches.

Matches and Segments

  • Athena vs. Harley Cameron – In an Owen Hart Cup women’s tournament match, Athena faces off against Harley Cameron, with the winner advancing to the semifinals against Mercedes Moné.
  • Jamie Hayter vs. Billie Starkz – This Owen Hart Cup women’s tournament match sees Jamie Hayter taking on Billie Starkz, with the winner moving on to face Kris Statlander in the semifinals.
  • Konosuke Takeshita vs. Brody King – A highly anticipated men’s Owen Hart Cup match pits Konosuke Takeshita against Brody King.
  • Anthony Bowens vs. Blake Christian – In a singles matchup, Anthony Bowens looks to prove himself against the talented Blake Christian.
  • Megan Bayne in Action – Megan Bayne will make her presence known against an opponent TBA.

Stay tuned to SEScoops for coverage of tonight’s AEW Collision as we head into next week’s Spring Break-Thru special.

Fans Express Outrage Over WWE Hall of Fame 2025 Induction ‘Snub’

0

Michelle McCool will be inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame this year, but her choice of inductee has angered several fans of the inaugural Divas Champion. This week, WWE revealed who will be inducting at the April 18, ceremony and it will be The Undertaker who inducts McCool.

While the Phenom is hardly a surprising choice given that he and McCool have been married since 2010, many fans feel he is the wrong choice. On X, many fans argued that Michelle’s Lay-Cool partner Layla should be the one inducting her at the ceremony. This resulted in Layla’s name trending on the platform.

The anger of fans comes at an interesting time for McCool’s career. For WWE LFG’s second season, McCool will replace Mickie James as one of the show’s judges. It has been reported that The Undertaker pushed for McCool to be added to the show, though did not state that she should replace James. Nevertheless, this has led to anger from fans and accusations that the couple are using the Phenom’s sway, resulting in James, a highly-respected name in wrestling, being cut.

The Undertaker’s involvement isn’t the only questionable WWE Hall of Fame inductee. Despite the hopes of many, including Lex Luger, Sting will not be inducting his friend, and the role will instead be performed by DDP. While DDP has done wonders for Luger’s health, many believe it should be Sting, still under contract with AEW, who should be doing the honor.

The WWE Hall of Fame will take place on April 18, as part of the massive WrestleMania week lined up. While McCool will be able to celebrate her induction with her husband by her side, it remains to be seen if Layla has any role as part of the ceremony.

Drew McIntyre Shares Gruesome Injury After WWE SmackDown Brawl

0

The April 11 edition of WWE SmackDown saw Drew McIntyre and Damian Priest once again come to blows. While it was McIntyre who left the show standing tall over the Archer of Infamy, Priest was able to leave his mark on the Scottish Warrior.

Taking to Instagram after the segment, McIntyre shared a deep laceration to his scalp. McIntyre added the caption that “some old wounds never truly heal,” suggesting the brawl with Priest opened up a previous injury.

image 2

McIntyre and Priest will meet at WWE WrestleMania 41 in the ‘Sin City Street Fight’ in Las Vegas, Nevada. This feud has been building for months with an argument to be made that it began at WrestleMania 40. It was Priest, after all, who would cash-in Money in the Bank on McIntyre at the April 2024, event, bringing an end to his brief reign as World Heavyweight Champion.

Now, McIntyre has the chance for revenge, but Priest won’t go easy after this brawl on SmackDown. Stay tuned to SEScoops for the latest from WrestleMania 41.

Rhea Ripley Addresses Criticism Of WrestleMania 41 Match

0

Rhea Ripley has responded to criticism of the build-up to her WrestleMania 41 encounter.

The Mami is scheduled to compete in a triple threat Women’s Championship match against IYO SKY and Bianca Belair at the Show of Shows. While SKY is the champion heading into this bout, the tensions between Ripley and Belair have taken center stage in their feud.

Ripley talked about her focus heading into the biggest wrestling show of the year during an interview with Sports Illustrated. She claimed that they are not overlooking IYO because they know how big of a threat she can be:

“I don’t want to say we’re overlooking IYO, because we’re not. We know that she’s a threat. We know what she’s capable of. Hell, I’ve never beat her in a one-on-one competition. I know exactly what IYO brings to the table,”

Not Going To Argue With 16-Year-Old: Rhea Ripley

A singles match between Rhea Ripley and Bianca Belair is long anticipated. Rhea held the women’s title when Bianca won the 2025 Women’s Elimination Chamber to earn a WrestleMania title shot, so fans at the time believed we’d finally get the one-on-one encounter between the two female stars.

WWE, however, pivoted towards a triple threat, adding IYO SKY to the mix. SKY won the title from the Eradicator during the March 3 episode of Raw after Rhea got into a fight with Bianca Belair who was at the ringside for the title match.

The pivot and the story coming out of it is something fans have been vocal about. Rhea Ripley addressed the online chatter but said that she will be focusing on taking out Bianca, no matter what the fans say:

“The story is getting spicy. I know a lot of people online don’t want to realize what’s going on, because they hate me or whatever it is. People are going to feel whatever they want to feel. I’m not going to argue with 16-year-olds on the internet, but that’s the story.

And I mean, going into WrestleMania 41, I feel like, yes, I’m going to be focusing on Bianca, because she screwed me out of my opportunity twice now by being there and wanting to be a part of the spotlight and taking that away from me when she knows how much this opportunity meant to me.”

WWE recently revealed the match lineup for both nights of WrestleMania 41. You can check out which night this triple threat will take place here.

Drew McIntyre Explains Reports of ‘Storming Out Of’ Royal Rumble

0

Drew McIntyre has addressed the reports of ‘storming out’ of Royal Rumble 2025.

The Scottish Psychopath entered the battle royal this year at #17 and lasted almost half an hour before being eliminated by Damian Priest. At the same time as his elimination, however, Logan Paul and LA Knight were exchanging blows, taking the attention of fans away from the elimination.

Since it was supposed to be the start of the feud between Priest and Drew, McIntyre was reported to be unhappy with the turn of events and said to have stormed out of the arena before the conclusion of the PPV.

The WWE star was asked about the legitimacy of these reports during a recent interview with Getting Over podcast. He claimed that not all details of the incident were described accurately. Though Drew McIntyre did confirm that he left the arena almost immediately explaining that it was the grown-up thing to do:

“I mean, not all the details are accurate but yeah, I was fuming (at WWE Royal Rumble) and I let everybody know what I thought and then I left. Because I’ve learned as an adult, nothing good happens when you’re highly emotional so just go calm down, get the facts, then deal with it, because I don’t want to punch somebody in the head and be unprofessional and then find out facts later, I didn’t know about. It was the grown-up thing to do.”

Drew McIntyre later said that he gets frustrated when someone does something disrespectful. However sometimes you later find out that the incident was not how it appeared on the surface. So it’s better to calm down and get all the facts before reacting to anything too harshly which is what he did.

Apart from this, the former World Champion also talked about things such as character development in today’s wrestling, living in world of social media and more. You can check out more highlights of his interview here.

WWE Delivers Its Biggest Clue Yet Over Aleister Black’s Alleged Return

0

Rumors continue to grow about Aleister Black returning to WWE and now the promotion may have given their biggest confirmation to date. During the April 11, edition of WWE SmackDown, another cryptic video was aired which fans believe is hyping up the return of the Dutch wrestler. During the video, a chair surrounded by candles was featured amid the smoky atmosphere.

Chair

Fans immediately speculated that this was a nod to Black, specifically a tenure from his WWE career shortly before his exit in 2021. That year, Black was seen in a chair surrounded by candles, reading from the book ‘Tales of the Dark Father.’ Not only did WWE include this imagery on this week’s SmackDown, but this segment was followed by a match featuring Zelina Vega, Black’s real-life wife.

Not only are WWE suggesting that Black will return, but fans may already know the exact date of his comeback. This week’s segment also saw the number 4 and the Roman numeral for 25. This has left many thinking that Black’s return will come on the April 25, edition of WWE SmackDown, the first episode of the blue brand after WrestleMania 41.

Black was a hit in WWE NXT, becoming the brand’s top champion, but that success was not matched when he was called to the main roster. With Paul ‘Triple H’ Levesque now overseeing the entirity of WWE’s creative direction, it remains to be seen if Black can have the main roster run many hoped for him, should he return as countless fans predict.

Bayley & Lyra Valkyria Are Ready For WrestleMania Tag Title Opportunity

0

On the April 11, edition of WWE SmackDown, Bayley and Lyra Valkyria won a Women’s Tag Team Gauntlet match, punching their tickets to WrestleMania 41. Not only did the duo earn a shot at WWE Women’s Tag Team Champions Liv Morgan and Raquel Rodriguez, but the duo defeated every other team in the gauntlet match to earn their opportunity.

In a WWE SmackDown exclusive, Bayley and Valkyria, decked in the shirt of their tag-team partner, reflected on their journey to WrestleMania. While this match was Lyra’s first time teaming with Bayley, she’s pleased to have an instant chemistry with the Role Model.

“We just ran through the very best that the women’s division has to offer and I’m going to WrestleMania with the Role Model!”

Lyra shared that her connection to Bayley runs deep as she first met her future tag team partner years ago during a WWE fan event. As for Bayley, she’s grateful for the opportunity to hold tag team gold once again.

“I’ve been a tag team champion in the past, I’m the first ever. And I’m a two-time, so if I become a three times the charm, I’m honored to be able to do that with you.”

Despite their partnership, Bayley made clear that she still has her eyes on Valkyria’s Women’s Intercontinental Championship, a title the Role Model has yet to hold. Nevertheless, the pair plan on winning big at WrestleMania and proving their win in their debut match was no fluke.

Watch: What Happened With Cody Rhodes After SmackDown Went Off Air

0

Cody Rhodes had some fun after this week’s episode of SmackDown from Climate Pledge Arena in Seattle, Washington, went off air.

The Undisputed WWE Champion made an appearance during the broadcast of the show. WWE had set up the multiple championship belts they have used in different eras, including the spinner belt that is synonymous with John Cena. Rhodes hyped up their upcoming match before Cena’s return to TV next week.

This wasn’t the last time fans in Seattle got to see the American Nightmare, however. He made an appearance in a tracksuit after the show with Carmelo Hayes. Cody Rhodes first did ‘the worm’ during his appearance, and he then took Hayes out with a Cross-Rhodes to send the fans home happy:

What Happened On SmackDown

Prior to all this, fans witnessed an eventful episode of SmackDown as the company continued the build for the marquee WrestleMania matches.

This included a huge brawl between Drew McIntyre and Damian Priest, which led to a Street Fight stipulation being announced for their upcoming match, as well as the crowning of Bayley & Lyra Valkyria as the new #1 contender for the Women’s tag titles held by Liv Morgan & Raquel Rodriguez.

Apart from this, the company also confirmed the schedule for both nights of WrestleMania 41. You can check out which matches will take place on which night here.

New Champion Crowned Before WWE SmackDown

0

The April 11, edition of WWE SmackDown saw plenty go down, including massive stakes being added to WrestleMania 41. But before Bayley & Lyra Valkyria cashed their tickets to Las Vegas and before Drew McIntyre Vs. Damian Priest was made into a Sin City Street Fight, one WWE NXT Superstar won gold.

Before SmackDown went on the air, WWE filmed its upcoming episode of WWE Speed, which will air on the WrestleMania 41 Week episode on April 16. During the taping, Candice LeRae’s time as the WWE Speed Women’s Champion was brought to an end by NXT’s Sol Ruca.

Sol Ruca has won the Speed Womens Championship before WWE SmackDown tonight @Jome253

This win marks Ruca’s first taste of gold in WWE and makes her the second-ever WWE Speed Champion. LeRae’s 189-day reign had begun in October 2024 when she defeated IYO SKY in the finals of a tournament to win the title. Despite being on TV as champion though, LeRae did not appear with her gold which WWE keeps exclusive to its X-hosted show.

Now, it will be Ruca who the women of WWE hope to dethrone, and winning the title is certainly an endorsement for the NXT Superstar. Now, attention turns towards Stand & Deliver, where Ruca hopes to become a double champion by winning the vacant NXT Women’s North American Championship. Stay tuned to SEScoops for the latest on Sol Ruca and her reign as WWE Speed Women’s Champion.

Cody Rhodes References Brock Lesnar on WWE SmackDown

0

Cody Rhodes was on the April 11, edition of WWE SmackDown with some fiery words for his WrestleMania 41 opponent, John Cena. Along the way though, Rhodes also had another WWE legend in mind, the controversial Brock Lesnar.

Rhodes said that Cena is trying to tear down the legacy of the company and the crowd booed when he said that John had chosen not to come to Seattle. Rhodes then said he does his best fighting when he’s backed into a corner. Rhodes said that this was what he told Brock Lesnar and Roman Reigns.

References to Lesnar are a rarity in WWE as questions remain over the former Universal Champion’s status and potential future. Lesnar has not appeared for WWE since the SummerSlam 2023 Premium Live Event, where he was defeated by Rhodes. In 2024, Brock was pulled from all WWE plans due to being tied to Janel Grant’s lawsuit against WWE, Vince McMahon, and John Laurinaitis. Those plans included a match at WWE Elimination Chamber: Perth against Dominik Mysterio and a WrestleMania 40 showdown with GUNTHER.

Questions remain as to when, if ever, Brock Lesnar will be back in the ring, making Rhodes’ reference all the more surprising this week. Cody promised that he will be on next week’s SmackDown, as will Cena, promising an exciting segment between the two ahead of their battle for the very soul of WWE at WrestleMania 41.

WrestleMania Saturday & Sunday Cards Revealed on WWE SmackDown

0

WWE WrestleMania 41 is mere days away and now fans know what to expect with each night of the event. The sixth-ever two-night WrestleMania will take place on Saturday April 19, and Sunday, April 20, from Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, Nevada. During the April 11, edition of WWE SmackDown, the promotion confirmed which matches will face on each night.

Saturday:

  • Roman Reigns vs. CM Punk vs. Seth Rollins
  • Jade Cargill vs. Naomi
  • War Raiders vs. The New Day – World Tag Team Championship
  • Rey Mysterio vs. Grande Americano
  • LA Knight vs. Jacob Fatu – United States Championship
  • Tiffany Stratton vs. Charlotte Flair – WWE Women’s Championship
  • Gunther vs. Jey Uso – WWE World Heavyweight Championship

Sunday:

  • Bayley & Lyra Valkyria vs. Liv Morgan & Raquel Rodriguez – Women’s Tag Team Championship
  • Damian Priest vs. Drew McIntyre – Street Fight
  • Bron Breakker vs. Finn Balor vs. Penta vs. Dominik Mysterio – Intercontinental Championship
  • Logan Paul vs. AJ Styles
  • Iyo Sky vs. Bianca Belair vs. Rhea Ripley – RAW Women’s Championship
  • Cody Rhodes vs. John Cena – Undisputed WWE Championship

Once again, WWE has delivered a stacked card for WrestleMania. Stay tuned to SEScoops for the latest on WrestleMania as the biggest show of the year will soon arrive in Sin City.