John Cena vs Logan Paul has been confirmed for WWE Clash in Paris on August 31, 2025. The match was announced during the August 8 episode of WWE SmackDown, where Logan Paul issued a challenge to Cena for the premium live event.
How the Match Was Set Up
The confrontation began when Cena opened SmackDown addressing his loss of the Undisputed WWE Championship to Cody Rhodes and Brock Lesnar’s attack at SummerSlam. Cena issued an open challenge to anyone who had a problem with him, which led to Logan Paul confronting his former tag team partner. Before Cena could respond to Paul’s challenge, Drew McIntyre attacked him, prompting Cody Rhodes to make the save.
After the brawl was settled, Cena accepted Paul’s challenge for WWE Clash in Paris. The announcement also included a tag team match for that same SmackDown episode, featuring Cena and Rhodes vs Logan Paul and Drew McIntyre.
Event Details
WWE Clash in Paris 2025 will take place at the Paris La Défense Arena in Nanterre, France on August 31, 2025. This match represents one of John Cena’s final singles matches during his retirement tour.
Fan Reaction and Context
The matchup has generated mixed reactions from fans, with some expressing disappointment that one of Cena’s limited remaining matches is being used against Logan Paul rather than other potential opponents. This will mark the third match between Cena and Paul during Cena’s retirement tour, as they previously teamed together at WWE Money in the Bank against Cody Rhodes and Jey Uso.
The current card for Clash in Paris also includes Naomi defending the WWE Women’s World Championship against Stephanie Vaquer.
With John Cena’s retirement tour in its final months, another top WWE superstar has thrown his name into the hat for one of the legend’s final matches. Drew McIntyre has stated he would like to face Cena at the upcoming WWE Crown Jewel premium live event in Perth, Australia.
Speaking on SEN Sporting Capital, McIntyre expressed his desire to be one of the final opponents of Cena’s legendary career. The event in Perth on October 11 is one of the dozen appearances Cena has left before his retirement in December.
“John Cena, that would be a fun match in Perth. I need to get one of those last matches,” McIntyre said. “I’ll be very happy to send him right into retirement. He’s doing a great job in Hollywood. Peacemaker is amazing. I’ll be happy to kick him out the door and continue the good work he’s doing outside of the company.”
McIntyre also took a shot at Cena’s recent character shift, referencing his apparent return to his classic babyface persona on last week’s episode of SmackDown after a five-month run as a heel. “Now that he’s Super Cena again, I don’t want any part of these last six months. What a waste of time,” McIntyre joked.
A one-on-one match between the two would be a first-time-ever encounter on a premium live event. While they have shared the ring in multi-man matches in the past, they have never had a major singles program, making it a dream match for many WWE fans.
A new report has provided a discouraging update on the long-planned NXT Europe brand, suggesting that the project may have been quietly shelved by WWE. According to the latest Wrestling Observer Newsletter, internal talk about the proposed brand has completely ceased.
In the newsletter, Dave Meltzer reported on the current status of the project, which was intended to be the successor to NXT UK. His report indicates that the brand is no longer a topic of discussion within the company. “In WWE, virtually all talk about NXT Europe is non-existent.”
NXT Europe was first announced in August 2022, and the existing NXT UK brand was officially closed down to make way for the new, pan-continental project. The goal was to recruit and develop talent from all over Europe to create a new pipeline to the main roster. The launch has been repeatedly delayed for several years.
This new report that the brand is no longer being discussed internally contradicts previous claims from Paul “Triple H” Levesque, who had stated in the past that NXT Europe was still in the works despite the long delays. The project’s future now appears to be in serious doubt.
The report that NXT Europe is no longer being discussed internally suggests a potential shift in WWE’s global expansion strategy. While a company-owned European brand may not be a current priority, WWE has found great success in forming partnerships with established international promotions like TNA Wrestling, Lucha Libre AAA in Mexico, and Pro Wrestling NOAH in Japan. These relationships have allowed WWE to feature global talent without the need for a dedicated overseas brand. The full report can be found in the latest edition of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter.
A new report has provided an updated pay-per-view buyrate for the AEW All In: Texas event from July 12, and the number is even higher than first estimated. In the latest edition of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter, Dave Meltzer reported that the show is now estimated to have done between 180,000 to 185,000 buys.
This new estimate is an increase from the initial report on July 18, which had the show pegged at 175,000 buys. The updated figure means that All In: Texas could potentially end up as the third highest-selling pay-per-view in the history of All Elite Wrestling.
The current record-holders for the company are AEW All Out 2021 (estimated 215,000 buys), AEW All In 2023 from Wembley Stadium (estimated 200,000 buys), and AEW Revolution 2024 (estimated 180,000 buys). Depending on the final number, All In: Texas will be in the mix with Revolution 2024 for the number three spot on the all-time list.
The All In: Texas buyrate marks a significant success for AEW in 2025, showing considerable growth from their other premium events this year. For comparison, the Double or Nothing pay-per-view in May did an estimated 125,000 buys, and the Revolution pay-per-view in March did an estimated 135,000 buys. It was also previously reported that the company recorded $725,000 in merchandise revenue at All In, the highest figure for a non-WWE show in the United States or Canada.
The report confirms that All In: Texas was a major financial success for AEW, driven by a card that saw “Hangman” Adam Page win the AEW World Championship. The company will look to continue this momentum with its next major pay-per-view, the annual AEW x NJPW: Forbidden Door crossover event, which takes place on August 24 and will air live from Wembley Stadium in London, England. The full, detailed report on AEW’s business can be read in the latest edition of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter.
Karrion Kross is not saying anything about his future yet, but promising that fans will know all about it very soon.
The WWE status of the former NXT Champion has been one of the biggest topics of speculation among fans in recent weeks. With reports of his current deal expiring soon, a lot of people have been wondering if the SummerSlam loss to Sami Zayn was his last appearance for the company.
During his interview with The Two Man Power Trip of Wrestling podcast on Thursday, Karrion Kross confirmed that he was still under contract. The 40-year-old told fans that the only way they’re gonna get the real scoop is through him:
“I’m still under contract. I saw a bunch of stuff online today—what is today? Thursday? I don’t know when you’re putting this up, but today’s Thursday. I saw a bunch of stuff online today.
I don’t know where it’s coming from, and I don’t care to speak to any of it. But I mean, all I can tell you is the only way you’re going to get the real story is when you get it from me. That’s all I can tell you.”
Karrion Kross also promised fans that they won’t have to wait long to know what the future holds for him, and everything will become clear very soon:
“I can’t really speak to any of the legitimacy of anything that is being recently reported, but I’ll tell you right now, everyone’s going to know exactly what’s going on very soon. They’re gonna know.”
Fightful Select reports that Kross’ WWE contract ends on August 10. If true, that should be the date when we get a concrete answer about his future with the company
WWE maintained Brock Lesnar as one of their highest-paid performers throughout his recent absence while facing legal issues, according to Wrestling Observer Newsletter’s Dave Meltzer.
The Beast Incarnate was never suspended and remained under full contract during the period when he was absent from WWE programming. Meltzer’s report reveals that Lesnar continued receiving his substantial compensation despite not appearing on television.
“Brock Lesnar was still, even though not used, fully paid during that time period (of his absence) and was among the highest paid wrestlers in the company,” Meltzer reported in the Wrestling Observer Newsletter. “He was never suspended, and obviously kept under contract. If what he did was going to end their relationship with him, he’d have been let go. That’s the reality.”
The report suggests WWE’s financial commitment to Lesnar indicated their confidence in his eventual return. Rather than cutting ties or suspending the former UFC Heavyweight Champion, the company maintained his lucrative deal while legal matters were resolved.
According to Meltzer, Lesnar received legal clearance approximately one month before his return, though this information was kept confidential. “He was always going to return when legal cleared him. Legal cleared him about one month prior to the show, which was kept secret, and allowed for the return.”
The revelation provides insight into WWE’s handling of talent during legal controversies. By maintaining Lesnar’s contract and compensation, the company demonstrated their belief that the situation would be resolved favorably.
Lesnar’s absence from WWE programming had sparked speculation about his future with the company. However, Meltzer’s report indicates WWE never considered the situation career-ending, maintaining their investment in one of their most prominent stars throughout the legal process.
Former World Heavyweight Champion GUNTHER recently shared a story from a meet and greet that perfectly illustrates his no-nonsense persona. While most wrestlers would be thrilled by a fan’s dedication, “The Ring General” offered some brutally honest advice to a fan who had traveled a long way to see him.
Appearing on The Undertaker’s podcast, GUNTHER recounted a recent meet and greet where he was told a fan had driven nine hours for the event. His response was not what the fan was likely expecting.
“I did like meet and greet recently, and there was like one person they said drove like nine hours or something to the meet and greet,” GUNTHER said. “And I said to her ‘I appreciate it, but never do it again. Do something with your time that actually benefits you.’ It’s like a waste of time.”
GUNTHER acknowledged that his response seemed to upset the fan, but he stood by his advice, feeling it was the only responsible thing to say. “And I felt like she looked a bit sad, but I felt like that’s the only responsible thing to say at that point,” he explained.
GUNTHER’s comments come less than a week after his dominant reign as World Heavyweight Champion came to an end at SummerSlam. He was defeated by CM Punk in the main event of Night One, only for Seth Rollins to immediately cash in his Money in the Bank contract on Punk. It has since been reported that the bloody nose GUNTHER suffered in the match was a planned angle to write him off of television so he can undergo legitimate surgery for a nose issue, and he is expected to be out of action for several months.
WWE SmackDown tonight (August 8, 2025) emanates from the Bell Centre in Montreal, Quebec, and promises a seismic show as the fallout from SummerSlam takes center stage. Expect fallout from SummerSlam, and the build to Clash in Paris just 23 days away.
Who is Cody Rhodes’ next challenger?
New Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes is set to address fans for the first time since regaining the title in a dramatic Street Fight victory over John Cena. With Drew McIntyre and Randy Orton both targeting the top prize, Rhodes could face challenges from multiple directions.
Rivalry Renewed
All eyes are also on John Cena, who not only lost the championship but suffered a brutal post-match attack by Brock Lesnar at SummerSlam. Cena will be live in Montreal.
Tiffy Time
In the women’s division, Tiffany Stratton stands tall after turning back Jade Cargill’s challenge at SummerSlam. Tonight may see a new number one contender emerge, with GM Nick Aldis expected to announce a pivotal matchup.
Other featured superstars advertised for the show include Randy Orton, Jacob Fatu, LA Knight, and the Wyatt Sicks.
Expect WWE to announce matches for Smackdown later in the day, and we’ll post them here at SEScoops.
Legendary announcer and WWE Hall of Famer “Good Ol’ JR” Jim Ross is set to make his return to the AEW broadcast booth in just a few weeks. On his latest podcast, Ross revealed that he will be traveling to London, England, to call a portion of the upcoming AEW x NJPW Forbidden Door pay-per-view.
Speaking on the latest edition of his Grillin’ JR podcast, Jim Ross confirmed that he has been in communication with AEW President Tony Khan and that he will be a part of the broadcast team for the major co-promoted event at The O2 Arena on Sunday, August 24. He stated that the plan is for him to “call a couple matches” on the show. Ross expressed his excitement about the opportunity and his admiration for the venue.
“Found out this week that, via my communication with Tony Khan, that he wants me to be in London at The O2 to call a couple matches. I’m going to London and that’s a hell of a building.”
His return will add a legendary and familiar voice to what is one of AEW’s biggest and most anticipated shows of the year.
This will be Jim Ross’s second major pay-per-view appearance since his recent return from a serious health issue. The 73-year-old recently confirmed that he is once again cancer-free after undergoing successful surgery to remove colon cancer earlier this year. He made his emotional return to the commentary desk for the All In Texas pay-per-view this past July.
Despite recent speculation fueled by the superstar himself, there are reportedly “no plans” for the new Undisputed WWE Champion, Cody Rhodes, to turn heel in the foreseeable future. A new report indicates that WWE is fully committed to Rhodes as its top babyface and that his recent teases of a character shift were a deliberate misdirection aimed at a specific segment of the fanbase.
According to a new report from WrestleVotes Radio, WWE has no intention of turning its top star to the dark side. Since his return to the company at WrestleMania 38 in 2022, Cody Rhodes has been presented as the ultimate hero, a journey that culminated this past weekend when he defeated a heel John Cena at SummerSlam to win the Undisputed WWE Championship for a second time. The new report confirms that this heroic persona is here to stay. WWE and its parent company, TKO Group Holdings, see Rhodes as their definitive top babyface and have little interest in altering the character that has connected so deeply with the audience.
The recent buzz about a potential heel turn was largely sparked by Rhodes’s own comments in recent interviews, where he discussed his extreme vision for what a villainous version of the “American Nightmare” might look like. However, the WrestleVotes report suggests that this was not a hint of things to come, but rather a “strategic misdirection.”
Sources for the report suggested that these comments were intentionally done as a way of engaging a “corner of fandom”—the more hardcore, online audience that often calls for more complex, anti-hero characters. By acknowledging the possibility of a darker side, Rhodes can maintain his “cool factor” with this demographic without ever actually betraying his heroic character. This fits perfectly within his long-term storyline, which has seen him resist the temptations offered by figures like The Rock, who literally wanted him to “sell his soul.”
The report also highlights the significant business reasons why a Cody Rhodes heel turn is highly unlikely. As the face of the company, Rhodes’s value to WWE extends far beyond the ring. He is a major ambassador for the brand, a massive merchandise seller, and the face of numerous corporate partnerships.
Unofficial details have emerged about John Cena’s final match.
The Cenation Leader is on a year-long retirement tour, which is expected to conclude in December. After his SummerSlam match with Cody Rhodes, the 17-time world champion has a total of 12 appearances left as an active performer.
A new report from Wrestling Observer has now provided an update on how this run is expected to end. It noted that with the return of Evolution in July, and the addition of a second night to SummerSlam, the company will be able to fulfil this year’s PLE commitment to Peacock with the Survivor Series PPV set for November.
This means, however, that the promotion will not be holding a PLE in December, and Cena’s retirement will come at a televised show instead.
John Cena previously stated that his retirement match is expected in mid-December, and his father told a local news outlet that his final bout will take place in his hometown arena of TD Garden in Boston.
The most likely scenario is for the company to hold its final Saturday Night’s Main Event of 2025 in the area on December 13, featuring Cena’s final wrestling match.
WWE has yet to announce any official details, and things could change between now and December, but as of right now, this seems to be direction for John’s retirement match.
Dominik Mysterio has revealed which WWE heel he gravitated towards during his childhood.
The Judgment Day star recently had an interview with Billboard. He talked about things such as the biggest heel in pro sports today, his SummerSlam victory over AJ Styles and more.
When asked which was the first heel he idolized as a fan, Dominik Mysterio named JBL. Explaining why the former WWE Champion was the one who he gravitated towards, the current Intercontinental Champion proclaimed that everything Bradshaw did felt genuine:
“Because everything he did seemed so genuine and with hatred. He called himself “The Wrestling God” for a reason.
Being a Latino Mexican myself, the skit of him going down by the border — and I know it might be a touchy subject right now — was crazy to me. As a heel, you’re pushing the button as much as possible.”
JBL changed his look and started wearing a suit, cowboy hat, and tie back in 2004 after his partnership with Faarooq ended. The controversial segment came shortly after he assumed the new gimmick, during the build to his 2004 Judgment Day match against Eddie Guerrero.
Dominik Mysterio claimed that the whole thing made him feel like JBL was someone who can get away with everything and it made him a fan:
“So to me, JBL was that dude, to where he can get away with everything and just do anything — because he’s also a 6’7 cowboy of a heel that’ll knock your head off with a clothesline.”
Apart from this, Dominik Mysterio talked about Eddie Guerrero and named a skill of the late legend which he thinks is underrated. You can check out more about it here.
Dominik Mysterio has named an underrated Eddie Guerrero trait.
The WWE Intercontinental Champion recently had an interview with Billboard. He talked about things such as his SummerSlam victory over AJ Styles, potentially beating Gunther’s 666 days IC title reign record and more.
When asked to describe an in-ring skill of Eddie Guerrero that doesn’t get enough appreciation, Dominik Mysterio noted that the late legend had a ring IQ like no other and that was the secret of his success:
“I believe his ring IQ. People see how good he was inside the ring, what he did and how he achieved those things [because] his moves were great, but the way he would put things together and how he could be able to manipulate feelings based off what he was doing with his movements, I think that was severely underrated.”
Dirty Dom discussed how no one who got in the ring with Guerrero can say that he wasn’t the best person to work with. The Judgment Day member explained that Eddie was the best person if you needed to change things on the fly during a match and reiterated that the wrestling veteran’s ring IQ was his most underrated skill.
Dominik Mysterio was last seen in action during this week’s Raw in a match against Dragon Lee. He won the bout after a third El Grande Americano made his debut. You can check out more about it here.
Despite all his controversies, the former face of WWE was one of the most influential stars in pro wrestling history. Tributes have been pouring in from all over the world since the news of his passing came out.
According to a new report from TMZ, one such tribute will be seen at the NASCAR race this weekend, as driver Ricky Stenhouse Jr. is planning to honor the late Hall of Famer with changes to his car.
Stenhouse Jr. and his Hyak Motorsports team partnered with Hulk Hogan’s Real American Beer for a race in June. They said that they’re thrilled to keep building on that relationship.
For the tribute, Ricky and his team will be bringing back the red, white and blue paint job for their No. 47 Chevrolet at “Go Bowling at the Glen” Cup Series event on Sunday at Watkins Glen International in Watkins Glen, New York.
In addition to this, the car will also feature a Hulkamania forever design, depicting Hogan in his signature pose of tearing his shirt off.
Hulk Hogan passed away on July 24 at the age of 71 due to acute myocardial infarction. You can check out what his estranged daughter Brooke Hogan said about wanting to be excluded from the will here.
Bianca Belair has revealed a potential benefit of WWE: Unreal.
The Netflix series showing the behind-the-scenes aspect of the WWE world has been criticised by many. A number of top WWE stars, such as CM Punk and Randy Orton have expressed their unease with the idea of exposing the inner workings of the business to fans.
The EST, however, shared a different opinion on the whole thing during a recent interview with Muscle & Fitness. Bianca Belair mentioned how even today many people write pro wrestling off as being fake:
“We’re trying to change the misconceptions of wrestling because some people just think it’s fake and they immediately write it off.
If people really understood what goes into it, what goes into a storyline, what goes into it behind the scenes, what goes into it when things don’t go right in the ring.”
Bianca Belair discussed how the intricacies of a live performance of such physical nature are not appreciated by many people, even in today’s age. The former Women’s Champion expressed the hope that people outside the wrestling realm will develop respect for the performers after watching the show:
“There are so many moving parts. It’s not just about going out there and hitting the moves. It is about connecting with the audience. It’s about telling the story. It’s the psychology of a match.
I think that if people really saw the skill and the art of it, and how it all comes together from start to finish, then it really is us creating magic out there, and I think that people will develop a lot more respect for what we do.”
The female star has been out of action since WrestleMania 41. She squared off against IYO SKY and Rhea Ripley in a highly praised triple threat at the show. Belair, however, ended up suffering a finger injury in the match that put her on the shelf.
A number of top WWE stars have seemingly been pulled from the company’s upcoming 5-event UK tour set for later this month.
The promotion recently confirmed the matches and featured superstars for the upcoming tour. The most glaring omission from this revised line up are both the WWE Champion Cody Rhodes and World Heavyweight Champion Seth Rollins.
Both the current champions were advertised for the shows earlier and are still featured in the banner promoting the UK tour.
On the women’s side, the Mami Rhea Ripley is also no longer being promoted for the shows without an explanation, despite being mentioned in the original press release back in March.
BREAKING: The Road to #WWEClash in Paris begins August 22, 2025 with #SmackDown in Dublin & Lyon, #WWERaw in Birmingham, and more! #WWELive
The two names whose exclusion does make sense are Bianca Belair and Gunther. The EST has been out of action since WrestleMania 41 due to a broken finger, while the Ring General is expected to take time off after SummerSlam due to a nose injury he’s been dealing with.
WWE has added CM Punk to the tour, seemingly as the replacement for the lost star power. He is set to team with Sami Zayn and Penta to square off against Judgment Day for most of the tour. The one exception is a singles match against Dominik Mysterio during the August 23 Liverpool show.
The card is subject to change so some of the excluded names could still make an appearance. Though as of this writing, this doesn’t appear to be the plan.
Rumors have been swirling around about the WWE status of the former NXT Champion. With his current WWE contract set to expire this month, people have been trying to figure out what’s the next move for the heavyweight star.
In a new interview with Joey Karni, Karrion Kross was asked if we’ll see him and his wife Scarlett on Raw again. The WWE star said that he hopes to continue making appearances, though he also warned fans not to believe everything they read:
“I hope so. I see things being written online right now, specifically today. A lot of what I read is not true. I hate to disappoint people but I don’t want to bullsh*t. I hope we do come back.”
Karrion Kross confirms what you're reading today is NOT true.@realKILLERkross and I talked today, 8/7/25. His book, Life is Fighting is out now. Full chat drops tomorrow. pic.twitter.com/wq0D5mQseS
Karrion Kross was last seen on WWE programming at SummerSlam night 1, where he wrestled and lost to Sami Zayn. It was reported that his subsequent Raw appearance was cancelled in light of his contract status.
The former champion has since been offered a new deal by the company, but there has been no confirmation of the offer being signed.
Stay tuned for more updates on Karrion Kross’ WWE future.
Professional wrestler Jonathan Gresham revealed he suffered two strokes earlier this week, forcing the 37-year-old to take an immediate hiatus from in-ring competition.
In a statement posted to social media, Gresham described waking up unable to walk or move the left side of his body, with impaired vision and speech. “It took me 30 minutes to dial 911, but I finally did,” Gresham wrote. “I woke up in the hospital, couldn’t remember what had happened.”
Two days ago, I woke up and couldn’t walk or move the left side of my body. I couldn’t see and could barely talk. It took me 30 minutes to dial 911, but I finally did. I woke up in the hospital, couldn’t remember what had happened. They told me they had done an MRI and I had two… pic.twitter.com/q9tktPAlvB
Medical tests confirmed Gresham had experienced two strokes, though doctors were unable to determine a definitive cause. The only potential explanation offered was complications from a severe COVID case Gresham contracted several weeks prior. “They said we may never know the exact reason,” he stated.
The incident created a frightening scene for Gresham’s family, with his wife witnessing his emergency transport via their home’s Ring doorbell camera. She managed to fly from Orlando to Atlanta in time to be present when he regained consciousness.
Gresham will remain sidelined for 2-4 weeks while recovering and awaiting full medical clearance from his neurologist. The wrestler expressed shock at experiencing such a serious health event at his age, noting “I never thought this would be something for me to worry about at 37 years old.”
The independent wrestling veteran assured fans of his eventual return, closing his statement with his signature octopus emoji and the promise “I will be back soon.”
WWE’s creative process has undergone a revolutionary transformation under the new regime, with Paul Heyman revealing that the company now maps out storylines spanning multiple WrestleManias – a dramatic shift from the month-to-month booking that characterized previous eras.
In an extensive interview on The Ariel Helwani Show, the legendary manager and creative mind detailed how WWE’s approach to long-term storytelling has evolved beyond anything the industry has seen before, fundamentally changing how major narratives are constructed and executed.
“If I’m sitting in a meeting and we say, ‘Okay, where are we going for next year’s mania?’ Well, we’re going three mania from now because this mania is just the the pathway to the next year’s mania, which is the pathway to the next year’s mania. Long-term story lines is where is where it is,” Heyman explained, outlining the new philosophy driving WWE’s creative direction.
This represents a seismic shift from the Vince McMahon era, where long-term planning rarely extended beyond the next major premium live event. Heyman drew a stark contrast between past and present approaches to creative development within the company.
“So, back then under Vince McMahon, if we could get the conversation to, ‘what’s the main event and and what’s the support in next year’s mania,’ that’s a great long-term meeting.
Today, we can sit here and again, a lot of this has to do with what we did with the bloodline and the creation of the tribal chief Roman Reigns, that we can sit here and say, ‘well what are we doing 3 years from’ now because that’s how we looked at it,” he detailed.
The catalyst for this evolution stems from multiple business factors that have transformed WWE’s operational landscape. The Netflix deal, longer talent contracts, and different network licensing demands have created an environment where multi-year planning isn’t just possible – it’s essential for maximizing storytelling potential and business value.
“It’s not only a regime that is open to it or more open to it. It’s also to me the reality of the industry today in that you can plan out three five years down the road. Wasn’t that way before, you know, and now also there’s longer-term contracts.
We’re signing people for three to five years. Before that wasn’t always the case. It was only the top stars that were getting fiveyear deals,” Heyman explained.
The Bloodline saga serves as the proof of concept for this new approach, demonstrating how patient, methodical storytelling can create unprecedented audience investment and business success. The three-year arc of Roman Reigns’ tribal chief character became the foundation upon which WWE’s current planning philosophy was built.
Heyman emphasized how this long-term thinking extends to talent development and future main event positioning:
“You couldn’t pull me away from Roman Reigns’s coattails unless you showed me the future of this industry. You couldn’t. Why would I ever leave Roman Reigns? Ever. Ever. The GOAT, the the the most transformative performer I have ever worked with in my life.”
The strategic positioning of emerging talents like Bron Breaker, Bronson Reed, and Jacob Fatu reflects this forward-thinking approach. Rather than reactive booking based on immediate crowd reactions, WWE now identifies future main event stars and constructs multi-year narratives to establish their credibility and audience connection.
“Braun Breaker, who to me is the undisputed, uncontroverted future of WWE, a multi-time Wrestlemania main event coming up, let alone Bronson Reed, whose game has elevated like this beyond description to where now everybody is talking about the tribal thief,” Heyman noted when discussing the next generation of WWE stars.
This methodical approach allows for intricate story layering that builds audience anticipation across multiple premium live events. Instead of rushing to payoffs, WWE can now plant seeds years in advance, creating deeper emotional investment when storylines reach their culmination.
The industry implications extend beyond WWE’s immediate creative benefits. This approach sets a new standard for professional wrestling storytelling, potentially influencing how competitors approach their own long-term planning and talent development strategies.
For WWE fans, this evolution promises richer, more satisfying narratives that reward long-term viewing investment while creating appointment television that extends far beyond individual matches or monthly events into true multi-year epics.
WWE has officially announced that CM Punk will appear at every WWE Live event across the United Kingdom this August, giving fans multiple opportunities to see “The Best in the World” in action.
Complete Tour Schedule
The comprehensive five-city tour spans one week as part of the “Road to WWE Clash at the Castle” campaign:
Liverpool – August 23
Newcastle – August 24
Manchester – August 26
Leeds – August 27
Cardiff – August 28
? @CMPunk will be at EVERY #WWELive event in the UK on the Road to #WWEClash in Paris this month! ?? ?
Liverpool, August 23 Newcastle, August 24 Manchester, August 26 Leeds, August 27 Cardiff, August 28
These appearances serve as crucial momentum builders for WWE Clash at the Castle in Paris, where major storylines are expected to unfold. Punk’s presence at every show demonstrates WWE’s commitment to delivering top-tier talent for their international audiences.
Since returning to WWE, Punk’s live event appearances have been limited, making these shows particularly special for British wrestling fans. The multi-city approach ensures broader geographic reach across England and Wales, giving more fans the chance to see the Second City Saint live.
Ticket Information
UK wrestling enthusiasts now have multiple chances to witness one of wrestling’s most compelling figures live. Tickets are available at wwe.com/events.
Former WWE Champion Dave Bautista is set to star in two massive upcoming action films for Amazon MGM Studios. According to a new report from Deadline, Bautista is closing in on deals to join the casts of the “Highlander” reboot and the sequel to “Road House.”
In the highly-anticipated “Highlander” revival, Bautista will star opposite Henry Cavill. The report states that Bautista will be playing the iconic and brutal villain, The Kurgan, a role made famous by Clancy Brown in the original 1986 film. The reboot is being directed by “John Wick” franchise director Chad Stahelski.
The report also confirms that Bautista will join the cast of “Road House 2,” starring alongside Jake Gyllenhaal, who is reprising his role as Dalton from the hit 2024 remake. The sequel will be directed by Ilya Naishuller, who is known for the action film “Nobody.”
These two high-profile roles further solidify Bautista’s status as a top-tier action star in Hollywood. The former multi-time WWE World Champion successfully transitioned from the wrestling ring to the silver screen, gaining global fame for his role as Drax the Destroyer in Marvel’s “Guardians of the Galaxy” franchise. He has also received critical acclaim for his performances in films like “Blade Runner 2049” and “Dune.”
The schedule for Roman Reigns’ return tour is filling up, as he has now been confirmed for two more episodes of Monday Night Raw and the upcoming Clash in Paris premium live event.
It was previously announced that Reigns would be at the August 18th episode of Raw in Philadelphia. He has now also been added to the August 25th edition of the show, which will take place at BP Pulse LIVE in Birmingham, England, as part of WWE’s European tour.
That European tour leads directly into the Clash in Paris PLE on August 31, and a new report from WrestleVotes has confirmed that Reigns is now scheduled for that event as well. “We’re told that decision came rather recently, as Reigns wasn’t involved in early creative plans—explaining his absence from the initial promotion,” the report stated. While his opponent has not yet been named, his addition is a major one for the international show.
The additions to Reigns’ schedule come as his war with the new World Heavyweight Champion, Seth Rollins, and his faction, The Vision, continues to escalate. On this past week’s episode of Monday Night Raw, the show ended with Rollins, Bron Breakker, and Bronson Reed standing tall after laying out Reigns, CM Punk, and LA Knight. It is expected that Reigns’ opponent for Clash in Paris will come from this heated rivalry.
Former WWE and AEW star Jake Hager has officially announced his retirement from professional wrestling. The former World Heavyweight Champion revealed in a new interview that he has already moved on to a new chapter in his life as a full-time entrepreneur.
Appearing on the Rule Breakers with Sayara podcast, Hager confirmed that he is stepping away from the ring for good. When asked what he has been up to, he broke the news about his retirement.
“I’m getting out of wrestling. I pretty much—I could say I’m retired from it,” Hager stated.
Hager revealed that he has started his own trucking company based out of Tampa, Florida, humorously named “Hauling Oats.” He expressed his excitement about the new venture. “I’m not driving—got people driving. But yeah, I’m excited. Something to stick my teeth into. Hard work always pays off,” he said.
Hager’s retirement marks the end of a decorated career that spanned two major promotions. In WWE, as Jack Swagger, he captured the World Heavyweight Championship, the ECW Championship, and the United States Championship. He later joined AEW in 2019 as a foundational member of Chris Jericho’s Inner Circle faction. Hager also maintained an undefeated record during a brief but successful run in professional MMA with Bellator.
WWE superstar Sami Zayn has offered his perspective on modern professional wrestling, explaining in a new interview the key difference between having a “great match” and a “memorable match.”
Guest appearing on the newest episode of HUGE POP!, Zayn discussed the current wrestling landscape. He argued that while many wrestlers today can have great matches, creating something truly memorable with specific, lasting moments is a much more difficult task. He used his WrestleMania 38 bout against Johnny Knoxville as a prime example.
“What’s harder to do now is to have a memorable match, and that match with Knoxville is a memorable match,” Zayn said. “I guarantee you there’s still at least three or four spots in the match that you remember. So that’s way harder to do.”
Zayn contrasted the Knoxville match with another of his critically acclaimed bouts, his NXT debut against Shinsuke Nakamura at TakeOver: Dallas. He explained that while fans often tell him that match was great, they remember the feeling more than the specific moments.
“It’s a great match but, you just remember it being great. You don’t remember specifics, you know what I mean?” he explained. “Doing something that… they remember specific moments vividly. That’s like the hardest thing to do now in an era where we’re inundated with nonstop content.”
Zayn’s focus on creating memorable moments was on display in his recent rivalry with Karrion Kross. The deeply personal feud culminated in a grudge match on the post-SummerSlam episode of Monday Night Raw, where Zayn was able to overcome his tormentor and score a definitive victory, creating a memorable payoff for the fans.
Buddy Matthews has provided a significant update on his injury.
The AEW star has been out of action with an ankle injury for almost six months, with almost no update on his condition, until today.
The high flyer posted a story on social media early on Thursday showing himself in the hospital. In the photo that also features his wife, Rhea Ripley, Matthews noted that he’s heading for surgery:
Buddy’s last match came during the Grand Slam: Australia event on February 15 this year. He went up against the Continental Champion Kazuchika Okada but ended up losing the fight. Okada has since unified the belt with the International title.
The injury occurred even before the bell rang, as the 36-year-old landed awkwardly while jumping into the ring, and his ankle twisted in an unusual manner.
Buddy Matthews rolled his ankle during his entrance and limped to the back at the end of the match.
A surgery after 6 months on the shelf suggests that his injury is more serious than first thought. It seems likely that he will be out of action for the remainder of the year. Though no concrete details are available about his health so it’s hard to say what the exact timetable for his recovery will be.
SEScoops wishes a speedy recovery to Buddy Matthews.
