John Cena’s schedule with WWE continues to expand beyond his in-ring appearances, with another date recently added. Cena is set to challenge Cody Rhodes for the Undisputed WWE Championship at WrestleMania 41 this Sunday.
Following this Mania match, Cena is also advertised for the Raw episode immediately following WrestleMania next Monday.
In addition to his Raw appearance, WWE had previously announced Cena’s participation at Backlash, the post-WrestleMania premium live event in St. Louis, and WWE Clash at the Paris La Défense Arena, scheduled for Sunday, August 31.
These bookings, along with his advertised appearance on the Raw after WrestleMania, signal a more active schedule for the veteran star as he continues his current run with the company.
Cena’s upcoming appearances advertised on WWE’s website include:
CM Punk walks into WrestleMania 41 prepared for his first ever ‘Mania main event, a Triple Threat with Roman Reigns and Seth Rollins. Though The Straight Edge Superstar has been well-protected since his return to WWE, he enters a scenario in which it’s entirely feasible he could lose, working against the face of the past decade of WrestleMania in Reigns and a fellow top star in Rollins.
Does the city in which a show like this occurs matter? There’s no telling for sure, but Punk has had a pretty remarkable history in Las Vegas these past fourteen years, including two major career highlights. Indeed, for those wagering on match outcomes at WrestleMania 41, past precedent suggests that they probably shouldn’t bet against Punk.
CM Punk Dropped A Pipe Bomb
CM Punk had a good WWE career from 2006 to 2011. He starred for ECW and won the brand’s championship. He went on to overachieve in twice winning Money in the Bank and twice successfully cashing in to win world titles. Other highlights included winning a SummerSlam main event and getting a lot of heat via his Straight Edge Society faction.
Punk leveled up, though, when he got a live mic and a long leash on June 27, 2011, in the build to the Money in the Bank PLE in which he challenged John Cena for the WWE Championship. He delivered a promo that represented all of his best, most provocative qualities—walking the work-shoot line with aplomb, lending voice to the chip on his shoulder, and taking aim at those who might seek to oppress him, ranging from Cena all the way to Vince McMahon himself.
That promo happened in Vegas and took Punk from the kind of career that likely would have garnered a middle-of-the-class Hall of Fame induction one day to a surefire future Hall of Fame main eventer. (And if that triumph in Vegas weren’t enough, Punk also won his last televised WWE match in Vegas too, over The Big Show.)
CM Punk Enjoyed His Biggest AEW Win In Las Vegas
In addition to CM Punk’s WWE successes in Las Vegas, he also garnered his biggest AEW victory in Sin City. At Double or Nothing 2022, Punk challenged Hangman Adam Page for the AEW Championship and emerged victorious coming out of a very good bout.
It’s unfortunate that things were all down hill from there. Punk got injured, returned, won the title back, lost it in short order, won it back, but got injured in the process. His remaining time with AEW overshadowed and defined by backstage happenings, including the infamous “Brawl Out” incident and clashing with Jack Perry. Still, Punk’s triumph in Vegas—winning his first world title in nearly a decade, and doing so cleanly and in front of a boisterous crowd—marked a career highlight and certainly his most noteworthy triumph under the AEW banner.
CM Punk Vs. Roman Reigns Vs. Seth Rollins Should Be Special
There are clear reasons why the CM Punk vs. Roman Reigns vs. Seth Rollins Triple Threat Match got the WrestleMania Saturday main event nod over Gunther vs. Jey Uso or either women’s title match at WrestleMania 41. The star power is incredible. The three-way feud is white hot. The match is all but guaranteed to be one of the best of ‘Mania weekend. There’s every reason to expect that whatever happens here will have major implications moving forward, including the victor transitioning into one world title picture or the other before long.
CM Punk’s track record in Vegas and momentum as a character both make him a likely victor. There’s also the intrigue of Paul Heyman owing Punk a favor dating back to Survivor Series when The Straight Edge Superstar helped out Roman Reigns and The OG Bloodline. Could that favor entail The Wiseman turning on the The OTC, formally realigning with Punk in a shared heel turn? Nothing’s for sure, but part of the fun of this main event is all the fantasy booking possibilities. Whatever plays out, this looks to be a huge night for Punk.
Jim Johnston, the composer behind some of WWE’s most iconic entrance themes, has criticized the way he was released from the company after over three decades of service. In a new interview, Johnston described his exit as “disrespectful” and voiced strong concerns about the current direction of WWE’s music.
“It’s absolutely politics. [There] was a guy there who was trying to kill me and get his people in the door, which he eventually successfully did. I slowly got just sort of pushed out because I wasn’t getting the full information about characters and what was needed. And so it eventually worked, and Vince eventually fired me at the end of 2017.”
Unceremonial Departure
Towards the end of his run, he grew indifferent about his standing with WWE. His days of having fun on the job, and that inspiring great work, had long passed.
“By the time that Vince finally fired me, I think I was kind of so burned out on it. I was fine… because this stopped being fun a while ago. Early on it was really fun, I really enjoyed it, and when things become not fun, you’re never going to do your best work.”
Most business relationships have a ‘life cycle’ and parties eventually go their separate ways. Unfortunately, Johnston felt a bit disappointed with how little fanfare he received after making such a contribution to the company.
“I know from people who were still there that I disappeared. I didn’t even get the classic corporate email to everyone saying ‘Jim Johnston no longer is an employee of WWE’… It was just like boom, that’s it. And I never heard from anyone there, still.”
The Creative Process, and Today’s WWE Music
Known for creating legendary themes for stars like The Undertaker, Stone Cold Steve Austin, and D-Generation X, Johnston emphasized the emotional storytelling that once defined WWE music. “To me, music in wrestling is about character. It’s not just about making a cool-sounding song. It’s about telling the audience who this person is before they even speak or step in the ring,” he said.
Johnston expressed disappointment with WWE’s current musical direction, noting a lack of individuality in the themes. “I don’t hear the characters in the music anymore,” he explained. “When you heard The Undertaker’s theme, you instantly understood that this guy was something ominous and different. Today, a lot of the themes sound interchangeable.”
He also reflected on the creative process that helped elevate talent. “My job was to help make someone a star through music. Not to just fill time,” Johnston added. “When Stone Cold’s glass broke, people jumped. That was intentional. That was part of the art.”
Since Johnston’s departure, WWE has moved toward working with outside music producers, including CFO$ and more recently def rebel, marking a significant shift in how the company approaches entrance music.
Johnston’s comments underscore a broader sentiment among longtime fans who feel the current themes lack the distinctiveness and emotional punch of earlier eras. For Johnston, the exit wasn’t just personal — it represented a shift in how WWE values the role of music in shaping its performers.
Mariah May has issued her first public comment amid growing speculation about her AEW status.
The British star had been absent from AEW programming since losing the Women’s Championship to Toni Storm at Grand Slam Australia in February 2025. Their feud, which began when May debuted in November 2023 as Storm’s protégé, spanned several major events. After winning the Owen Hart Cup, May turned heel and later captured the title from Storm at All In, only to lose it back in their latest bout.
Despite widespread praise for the storyline, May has not appeared on AEW TV since the loss, prompting questions about her status. With Fightful Select, sources within AEW believe her contract could be set to expire this summer, May has responded with a cryptic message on Instagram, stating:
“You can’t make the wrong decision because every decision leads you to where you’re supposed to be.”
The post included a photo tagged in Orlando, Florida—an area closely linked with WWE operations—further fueling discussion about her next move.
Tonight’s WWE Raw airs live from the Golden 1 Center in Sacramento, California on Netflix at 8/7c.
This episode serves as the go-home show for WrestleMania 41, setting the stage for an historic weekend of wrestling. Here’s what’s scheduled for the final Raw before WWE’s biggest event of the year.
Matches and Segments
AJ Styles vs. Karrion Kross – AJ Styles is set to face Karrion Kross in a singles match, with Kross determined to see Styles unleash his more aggressive side ahead of his WrestleMania bout against Logan Paul.
Bayley vs. Liv Morgan – Bayley takes on Liv Morgan in a singles match, building momentum for Bayley and Lyra Valkyria’s upcoming title challenge for the Women’s Tag Team Championships.
Seth Rollins, CM Punk, Roman Reigns, and Paul Heyman Segment – These four superstars will appear on the show, with tensions running high ahead of their Triple Threat Match at WrestleMania 41.
Gunther Segment – WWE World Heavyweight Champion Gunther is scheduled to confront Jey Uso ahead of their clash for the World Heavyweight title.
Logan Paul Appearance – Logan Paul will appear on the show, further hyping his match against AJ Styles at WrestleMania.
Stay tuned to SEScoops for coverage of tonight’s WWE Raw.
Layla is stepping back into the wrestling spotlight with Lay Talk, a new visual podcast dedicated to honoring and preserving the legacy of WWE’s Divas era—a period she believes has been unfairly criticized.
The podcast will focus on the overlooked accomplishments and backstage experiences of women who were central to that chapter of WWE history. As a former Diva Search winner and champion, Layla makes it clear:
“I am a diva, and I’m proud of it.”
Throughout Lay Talk, she plans to spotlight the challenges and triumphs faced by her peers, many of whom, she says, haven’t received the credit they deserve.
“I want to celebrate the Diva era… these women had great careers. We accomplished so many things that nobody knows about,” she shared.
Layla also pointed out the era’s foundational role in today’s women’s wrestling scene.
“We were the beginning… we endured so that women now can fly,” she said, urging fans to “put some respect to their names.”
As the podcast prepares for its debut, Layla’s mission goes beyond storytelling—she’s seeking to reframe public perception and ensure the contributions of Divas-era performers are properly recognized and appreciated.
One half of the IWGP Tag Team Champions Jeff Cobb has decided to part ways with NJPW.
New Japan Pro Wrestling recently announced that Cobb is set to depart the company and the IWGP Tag Team titles which he currently holds with Callum Newman have been vacated. The promotion has also announced that Jeff Cobb will face Hiroshi Tanahashi in a singles match on April 19th at Korakuen Hall. This will mark his final match for the promotion.
“New Japan Pro-Wrestling has come to terms with the departure of Jeff Cobb at his request. With Cobb one half of the IWGP Tag team Champions, those titles have now been vacated. Cobb’s final match in NJPW will take place in Korakuen Hall on April 19 against Hiroshi Tanahashi. New Japan Pro-Wrestling profoundly apologises for the sudden nature of this news and joins fans in wishing Cobb the best in all his future endeavours.”
This news comes after Fightful reported that WWE was interested in signing Cobb. The outlet noted that he was already on the internal roster. Dave Meltzer reported that there had been talks between the two parties. However, there was no confirmation of a deal. Cobb’s contract with NJPW ran out earlier this year, but he continued to serve the company as a free agent.
The 42-year-old powerhouse has been a key member of the United Empire faction and has had a great run with the promotion. But he is eager to look out for new opportunities and even added fuel to the speculation of his NJPW exit in a post-match interview last month:
“Maybe it’s time to take my bags and go somewhere else.”
His comments came last month after he faced El Phantasmo in a losing effort, for NJPW World Television Championship match at the NJPW Road to the New Beginning on February 3rd, 2025.
WWE have been making massive signings in recent memory. It is needless to say that they have their eyes on Jeff Cobb’s status and if they are able to secure a deal, Jeff Cobb could be an impactful acquisition.
Joe Hendry has appeared for WWE several times, but has yet to appear on WWE’s flagship show, Monday Night Raw. Now, it appears that Hendry came close to appearing on the red brand before one higher-up nixed the idea.
Fightful Select reports that there was a plan for Hendry to appear on WWE RAW earlier this year to set up a feud with The Miz, but Ariel Shnerer shot down the idea. It is believed that Shenrer, who recently was an executive for Anthem, didn’t like the idea of Hendry taking the loss. Hendry is, after all, the reigning TNA World Champion, and has held the gold since TNA Genesis in January of this year.
WWE reportedly soured on Shnerer during his tenure with TNA. Following his exit, it was reported that NXT talent had requested that he not be in the locker-room during TNA-NXT collaboration. At the time, it was noted that this wasn’t anything personal to Shnerer but simply talent believing that ther locker room should be restricted to talent.
While Hendry didn’t appear on WWE Raw, the idea was not entirely scrapped. Fightful reports that Ethan Page arriving in TNA to feud with Hendry is very similar in terms of creative to what would have been planned. Page, someone who Hendry battled in 2024 over the NXT Championship, will challenge for the TNA World Title at Rebellion in a triple-threat match that’ll include Frankie Kazarian.
In March 2022, Big E suffered a broken neck during an episode of WWE SmackDown when a move performed by Ridge Holland went horribly wrong. Since then, several ‘fans’ have lambasted Holland, who bit back this week at one fan calling for him to be cut from WWE.
In a post on X, the fan didn’t hold back, saying that Holland’s release from WWE should have come three years ago.
“Genuinely f*** Ridge Holland. They should’ve released him when he injured Big E and that should’ve been it. Get that walking workplace accident out of WWE and out of sports entertainment.”
In a video shared on X, Holland fought back, questioning why the fan who seemingly hates him spends so much time thinking about him.
“That’s not a very nice comment, is it? You’re thinking about me though—I’m in your head, though, living rent-free, though. Oh, and one more thing… you’re a virgin. Sit out, lad.”
While some fans may loathe Ridge Holland over what happened in 2022, one man who doesn’t hold a grudge is Big E himself. Mere months after the accident, Big E shared that he and Holland were fine and he holds no ill-will to the Brawling Brutes alum. In Big E’s own words, “Me hating him or holding a grudge doesn’t help me at all.”
Big E has made peace with the possibility that he may never wrestle again but many still aren’t ready to move on from what was a terrible accident. Stay tuned to SEScoops for the latest on Holland as he continues forward in WWE despite what some may feel.
WWE SmackDown Superstar Tommaso Ciampa recently traded his ‘Blackheart’ for one full of love by officiating his first wedding ceremony. On Instagram, Ciampa shared that he spent the weekend officiating a wedding in Lake Winnipesaukee, New Hampshire, for his cousin Paul Wayne Howard. Paul tied the knot to his new bride Jamie Danner and Ciampa was awarded a custom-made Wedding Officiant Championship title.
While Ciampa is making waves outside of the ring, his time with WWE has been hit with a series of obstacles as of late. DIY recently lost the WWE Tag Team Championships to the Street Profits, ending his and Johnny Gargano’s second reign. As if that wasn’t bad enough, DIY recently failed to become the number one contenders for the gold. Instead, it’ll be the Motor City Machine Guns who will challenge the Profits on the go-home SmackDown before WrestleMania 41.
Ciampa won’t be holding gold by the end of this week in WWE, but his new Wedding Officiant Championship is quite the sight to behold. Now, the former NXT Champion has a new title, and a new role, to add to his impresive resume.
Kairi Sane has shared a positive update on her recovery, three months after suffering an arm injury that has kept her out of WWE action since December.
The WWE Superstar revealed she had torn a ligament in her thumb, which initially left her unable to perform basic tasks. In a recent post on social media, Sane confirmed that she has now fully regained her grip strength and feels stronger than before.
“Three months ago, I tore a ligament in my thumb and couldn’t even open a bottle cap,” she wrote. “Now, I’ve fully regained my grip strength—and I’m even stronger than before. I’m truly grateful from the bottom of my heart to Dr. Hirsch, who performed my surgery. He was such a kind and wonderful doctor. I wish I had taken a photo with him to remember that moment.”
Three months ago, I tore a ligament in my thumb and couldn’t even open a bottle cap. Now, I’ve fully regained my grip strength—and I’m even stronger than before. I’m truly grateful from the bottom of my heart to Dr. Hirsch, who performed my surgery.He was such a kind and… pic.twitter.com/l6RysHeCZz
Sane last wrestled on the December 2nd episode of WWE RAW. While her recovery appears to be progressing well, there is no official word on when she will return to WWE programming.
Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson recently shared the origin of his acting ambitions in a video posted to Instagram, revealing that his passion for storytelling began at just eight years old.
Johnson recalled living in Charlotte, North Carolina, when Raiders of the Lost Ark hit theaters. “I’m there in the theater opening weekend, it’s sold out, I’m in the front row,” he said. Watching Indiana Jones on screen left a lasting impression.
“I remember seeing Indiana Jones and saying ‘I wanna do that.’ He was cool with the whip and good with the ladies, he kicked ass.”
Although acting was his early dream, Johnson admitted life took him in many different directions. “Along the way, I picked up a lot of other dreams and goals while navigating life’s twists and turns,” he explained.
At one point, he even considered working for the CIA, encouraged by a college professor. However, he candidly added, “My study habits sucked,” which made law school—and the CIA—an unlikely path.
Johnson also discussed his attempt at a football career, playing in the CFL after missing out on the NFL. That journey eventually led him to professional wrestling, where he became a global star.
His acting career officially began with a breakout role as the Scorpion King in The Mummy Returns. That experience reignited the dream first sparked in his childhood.
“I fell in love with acting. I love acting and storytelling. I love actors, our community.”
Today, Johnson is not only a major box office draw but also a producer through his company, Seven Bucks Productions. He’s currently involved in the build-up to WrestleMania 41, where he influenced the storyline between John Cena and Cody Rhodes.
Johnson wrapped up by wishing fans a happy Sunday, reflecting on how his childhood dream eventually came full circle.
NFL icon Tom Brady may be stepping into WWE territory during its biggest weekend of the year. During an interview with Fox News Digital, the seven-time Super champion praised the company and hinted that next weekend’s WrestleMania 41 may be too big to miss.
“I may be there,” adding, “It’s amazing what’s going on there and it’s amazing what’s happening with WWE and all the different things surrounding that.”
The event is set to take place at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas—home of the Raiders, a team in which Brady holds a minority ownership stake. The connection adds weight to the possibility of a high-profile appearance.
Brady’s post-NFL career has kept him in the spotlight. Since retiring in 2023, the former quarterback has joined NFL on Fox and become more active in the entertainment space. WWE has shown prior interest in involving him—Cody Rhodes even invited Brady to WrestleMania 39, suggesting a potential future crossover.
Celebrity involvement at WrestleMania, especially NFL greats, is nothing new. In 2023, Philadelphia Eagles stars Jason Kelce and Lane Johnson made a surprise appearance, helping Rey Mysterio secure a win. The year before, George Kittle of the San Francisco 49ers assisted Pat McAfee during his match at WrestleMania 39.
With WrestleMania 41 approaching and surprises expected, wrestling fans should be on high alert for an appearance by the GOAT quarterback.
Brock Lesnar has not appeared for WWE since SummerSlam 2023 with questions remaining about what his future, if any, with WWE looks like. Now, the promotion has continued to distance itself from the former World and Universal Champion with a recent video shared to social media.
The video in question highlights Roman Reigns’ WrestleMania main events ahead of the OTC’s record-shattering 10th time headlining the Showcase of the Immortals next week. While three of Reigns’ main events came against Lesnar (2015, 2018, and 2022) WWE’s video avoids showing even a brief glimpse of the Beast Incarnate. In comparison, Reigns’ less controversial opponents, including Triple H, Cody Rhodes, and The Undertaker, are clearly visible in the video.
Brock Lesnar was once WWE’s top name but now the company wishes to avoid showing the highly-paid Superstar alltogether. As questions remain about what’s next for Lesnar, who is tied to Janel Grant’s lawsuit, fans shouldn’t expect to see him, either live or in archived footage.
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.
Chelsea Green ha perdido por Count Out ante Zelina Vega. What. #SmackDown
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.”
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 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.)
#AEWDynamite Spring BreakThru Wed. 4/16 8pm ET/7 CT, TBS + Max
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?
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.
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.”
"He only cared about Adam Copeland" – Cash Wheeler on his thoughts about Cope.
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.
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
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:
— Perched On The Top Rope (@PerchedTopRope) April 13, 2025
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.”
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 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.
Chime releases their newest commercial. In the commercial, it featured #NFL Champion, Football Hall of Famer and Colorado Football Head Coach “Prime Time” Deion Sanders, Kai Cenat and 7x #WWE Women’s Champion Becky Lynch.@DeionSanders@KaiCenat@BeckyLynchWWE
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.
