CM Punk has made the most of his WWE career since returning to the company in the fall of 2023, after his controversial AEW exit. He has worked some high-profile matches, including two Royal Rumble matches, and feuded with the likes of Drew McIntyre and Seth Rollins.
In just days, Punk will finally achieve his dream of main-eventing WrestleMania, almost three decades after having his first match. While speaking to Alistair McGeorge of Metro.co.uk, Punk admits he hasn’t given retirement much thought.
“No, because you never know what’s going to happen. If you would ask me when I was 26 if I would be wrestling when I was 46, I would have been like, ‘No way.’
“The business has changed so much, the miles that we put on our bodies for years and years and years, and now we’re here, and we’re wrestling maybe once a month, we’re doing one show a week.”
Arguably, Punk’s biggest rival, John Cena, is in the middle of his WWE retirement tour that wraps up at the end of this year. Punk is slated to work a triple threat match with Seth Rollins and Roman Reigns at WrestleMania 41.
Tonight’s WWE SmackDown takes place from the Climate Pledge Arena in Seattle, WA and broadcasts live on the USA Network at 8 ET/7 CT.
Just over one week away from WrestleMania 41, the stage is nearly set for WWE’s biggest show of the year.
Matches and Segments
Rey Fenix vs. Berto – Following his impressive debut win against Nathan Frazer, Rey Fenix faces off against Berto in a singles match, looking to maintain his momentum.
Damian Priest and Drew McIntyre Face-to-Face – The intense rivalry between Damian Priest and Drew McIntyre reaches a boiling point as they come face-to-face, escalating tensions ahead of WrestleMania.
Women’s Tag Team Gauntlet Match – Six teams, including Kayden Carter & Katana Chance, Lyra Valkyria & Bayley, Shayna Baszler & Zoey Stark, B-Fab & Michin, Piper Niven & Alba Fyre, and Maxxine Dupri & Natalya, battle for a title shot against Liv Morgan and Raquel Rodriguez at WrestleMania 41.
Cody Rhodes Returns – Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes makes his return to SmackDown, fueling anticipation ahead of his title defense against John Cena at WrestleMania.
Stay tuned to SEScoops for live coverage and analysis of WWE SmackDown as it unfolds tonight.
Eric Bischoff has disputed Bret Hart’s recent claims.
Hulk Hogan had tried to put The Hitman down in an earlier interview by claiming that Hart thought himself to be the greatest wrestler of all time. Bret then turned Hogan’s remarks against him saying that wrestlers today try to copy his style of wrestling over anything the former face of WWE did during his active years.
Eric Bischoff joined this conversation in an interview with CanadaCasino.ca. The former WCW President who worked with both Bret and Hogan during his time as a wrestling executive disputed the claim, saying that he doesn’t see anyone trying to recapture the style of the Canadian pro wrestling legend:
“I don’t see anybody trying to recapture Bret Hart’s style. Bret Hart was one of the best wrestlers in the ring. Technically Bret was in a category all of his own in terms of what he was able to do in the ring,”
Though Bischoff explained that the reason nobody copies Bret Hart is not because of lack of influence. Per Eric, people are trying to hide their inabilities by doing flashy spots instead of working on their craft:
“I don’t see anybody coming close to Bret Hart’s abilities in the ring. I don’t see anybody even trying. I see the opposite. I see a bunch of people that don’t have nearly the skill or commitment to develop the skill out there doing a bunch of things to distract from the fact that they don’t know how to wrestle.”
While Eric Bischoff has claimed that nobody has captured Bret’s style, there are many modern greats who has been influenced by his work. People like Sami Zayn, Kevin Owens, Edge and FTR are only a few names who consider Hart to be their idol in wrestling.
Bryan Danielson has revealed his son’s favorite AEW wrestler.
The former AEW Champion recently appeared on The Nikki & Brie Show. He discussed topics such as his marriage with Brie Bella, his reading journey and which are his favorite authors among other things.
While talking about their son Buddy, Danielson revealed that he loves watching wrestling and his favorite talent to watch right now is none other than Bryan Keith:
“His favorite wrestler in AEW, is Bryan Keith, the bad apple… When the bad apple comes on screen, he’s like, ‘Ooh, daddy, the bad apple.’ It’s actually one of my one of my favorite things it right now is watching wrestling with bud.”
Bryan Danielson also discussed the possibility of his son following his footsteps and becoming a wrestler. The former champion explained that he would want Buddy to join the business because he wants to and not because he can make money in name of his parents.
The American Dragon gave the example of William Regal, noting how not many people were aware that Charlie Dempsey was his son until very recently. Danielson said that he had to go through a journey to become a good wrestler and he wouldn’t want to deny the same to his son.
At WrestleMania 41, Jade Cargill will compete at WWE’s two-night spectacular for the second time in her career. While Jade was victorious in six-woman-tag action in 2024, this year’s show will see the Storm battle one of her former allies: Naomi.
Cargill Vs. Naomi will be a historic showdown, marking the first singles match between two women without a title or stipulation attached in WrestleMania history. Speaking to WWE Die Woche, Cargill reflected on what this match means to her.
“I’m excited. I wasn’t expecting it, I wasn’t expecting it. It kind of came out the blue. I’m happy to show what I can do in a solo match.”
While Cargill is excited to go one-on-one, the former Women’s Tag Team Champion won’t fear getting hardcore if allowed. When asked about a potential stipulation being added, Cargill was all in favor of being able to use weapons against her treacherous ex-friend.
“I would love that, I would love that. Listen, I have a chair in my car right now... I’m ready to tear the house down and I’m ready to beat down Naomi to a pulp.”
As for Naomi, she’s no stranger to big wins at WrestleMania, including winning the SmackDown Women’s Championship in 2017 and winning the Battle Royal the next year. With that in mind, Cargill is in for the fight of her life in Las Vegas, whether there’s weapons or not.
Bret Hart has explained how people’s behavior in WWE has changed toward him since Vince McMahon was outlawed from the company.
The wrestling legend recently joined Cheap Heat with Peter Rosenberg to talk about a number of things. He discussed topics such as Roman Reigns’ wrestling style, WWE trying to erase his legacy, and more.
When asked about his relationship with the company now that Vince McMahon is no longer in charge of things, Bret Hart claimed that he feels more respected now:
“I’ll be honest, I feel like I have a little more respect now. I think people are kind of going, ‘Maybe Bret Hart was right all along.’ I’ve always been kind of banished and a little bit punished for all [that happened.] ‘What do you expect? He punched out the boss.’ I knocked him out cold in the dressing room. So it’s always been kind of a black spot, and maybe still is, too.”
Bret Hart was referring to a backstage incident that happened after the infamous Montreal Screwjob at Survivor Series 1997. Per numerous accounts, Vince McMahon confronted the Hitman in the locker room after the show and the WWE Hall of Famer knocked him out with a single punch.
The Attitude Era star said that he always felt ‘untrusted’ in the company after that, and it’s probably the reason why he hasn’t been used as much as he could have been in the decades since then. Despite being neglected however, Bret claimed that he would not change a thing if given a chance:
“In my own heart of hearts, I would never change anything that I did. I did the right thing that day, and I feel like there’s been a bit of an upswing, or a certain sort of an appreciation, more for my work rate and how hard I worked, and what I contributed to the business.”
The former WCW Champion had told his side of the story about the infamous Vince McMahon confrontation last year. You can check out what he said about the whole thing here.
Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson currently serves as part of TKO’s Board of Directors, overseeing major decisions on WWE’s product as well as key business decisions. While many fans are happy to see Johnson strengthen his ties to the world of pro wrestling, Karl Anderson is hardly a fan of the return of the ‘Final Boss.’
Ahead of the relaunch of Talk’n Shop on May 7, Anderson and Luke Gallows shared a preview for their returning podcast. During it, Anderson explained that Johnson was once on his Mount Rushmore of Wrestling but now things have changed.
“He might be chiseled off that Mount Rushmore now… there’s just a little bit of disappointment.”
Anderson suggested that Johnson being involved in the corporate side of WWE has changed his perception of the wrestler-turned-actor. Anderson noted that “corporate wrestling changes everything” and teased knowing “a lot of s*** that we probably shouldn’t.”
“When I saw people running up to The Rock backstage at Gorilla and ask for pictures… in the Gorilla, in Gorilla! I was like, I gotta get out. This ain’t for me, brah.“
Anderson, alongside Luke Gallows, were released from WWE on February 8, 2025, their second time being cut from the company. While fans and wrestlers alike may be pleased to see Johnson back, Anderson is ready to continue his legacy far away from those fawning over the Final Boss.
Randy Orton will not be facing Kevin Owens at WrestleMania 41, but fans may still expect to see the Legend Killer in the ring. With Orton being one of WWE’s top Superstars of all time, many fans predict that the veteran will be in action against a yet-to-be-named opponent.
On X, fka Twitter, Sheamus told fans that “I’m available.” Though the Celtic Warrior didn’t mention Orton by name, his post left fans excited about a potential showdown between Sheamus and the Viper at WrestleMania 41.
Sheamus and Orton have a deep history in WWE including battles for the WWE Championship. Despite this, the last time the pair went one-on-one, it was at an October 2015 live event where Orton got the victory. Their most recent televised one-on-one encounter came the previous month with Orton also getting the win.
Randy Orton At WrestleMania 41
Sheamus isn’t the only Superstar with their eyes on a match with Randy Orton at WrestleMania. After several fans online backed the idea of Karrion Kross has shared his hopes that he’ll face the 14-time WWE World Champion at WrestleMania 41.
— Kevin Robert Kesar (@realKILLERkross) April 5, 2025
NXT’s Myles Borne, who bears a striking resemblance to Orton, has also thrown his hat in the proverbial ring. When a fan pitched the NXT star to face Orton, Borne pointed out on X that he’s free for both nights of the show.
Chris Jericho could return to WWE before WrestleMania 42 if he wants.
The former AEW Champion teased taking a break from AEW during the April 9 Dynamite. This came after Jericho dropped the ROH title to Bandido during the Dynasty PPV on Sunday.
Sean Ross Sapp provided an update on Y2J during his Dynamite review show. He noted that Chris Jericho has a Foggy tour coming up. Interestingly, he also revealed that the wrestling veteran’s current deal is up at the start of next year:
“He’s got a tour coming up. But I hate to be the bearer of bad news for those that don’t want to see him; he’s only got one Wednesday date there. Now, he is not planned for ROH stuff. They wanted to kinda send him away for that. But, man’s got like eight, nine months left on his deal.”
Chris Jericho talked about a potential WWE return only a few days ago, saying that it would be crazy for him to rule out the possibility. The former WWE champion even went on to claim that he would have considered an offer from the company even if Vince McMahon was still leading the creative.
Many believe that Jericho has done everything he could in AEW, and working with the new crop of WWE talent might be a more interesting prospect for him at this point in his career. Having Triple H in charge of the company only helps the possibility.
As for his immediate future, it seems like Jericho will be taking some time off before returning to AEW TV. Though having most Wednesday’s free even during the tour means he can be brought back sooner if needed.
Charlotte Flair has been competing in for over a decade now, but the Queen of All Eras isn’t ready to hang up her boots and robe just yet. On X, a fan suggested that retirement was coming for Flair in the near future. Never at a loss for words, Flair bit back, claiming the knocking she was hearing wasn’t retirement calling, but the fan’s mom, who she suspects wants to be #4.
The #4 line is a nod to Flair’s three divorces, a statistic brought up during a recent episode of WWE SmackDown. The line, delivered by Tifffany Stratton, was not part of the script and has sparked plenty of discussion about whether she and Charlotte (who also went off script) crossed the line. WWE has cut the line from its replays of the segment, though the entire segment remains in full on the USA Network’s YouTube channel.
Upon her divorce from Andrade in late 2024, Flair had hoped to keep it secret. That worked for months before news came out shortly after the Royal Rumble PLE. The news coming out quickly overshadowed Flair’s victory at the event and Flair has since said she didn’t want fans to know that she’d ‘failed again’ in another marriage.
Flair returned to WWE in February 2025 to become the first-ever two-time winner of the Women’s Royal Rumble. Prior to this, Flair had missed over a year due to an injury, one that Charlotte had feared would mark the end of her in-ring career. Now, Flair is back and is ready to go to war with Stratton at WrestleMania in this highly-personal feud between the two.
The viral star made an appearance on the April 10 episode of Impact to provide an update on his health. Hendry revealed that the medical professionals have advised him against wrestling, though he has decided to still defend his title.
The TNA Champion was then interrupted by Frankie Kazarian, and it was announced that Joe Hendry will be defending his title against both Kazarian and NXT’s Ethan Page at the upcoming show.
Not only that but Hendry will also be teaming up with Masha Slamovich to fight Kazarian and Tessa Blanchard at TNA Unbreakable on April 17.
TNA Rebellion 2025 will be taking place from the Galen Center in Los Angeles, California, on Sunday, April 27, 2025. Below is the updated card for the show:
Ultimate X Match For X-Division Championship: Moose (c) vs. KC Navarro vs. Leon Slater vs. Matt Cardona vs. El Hijo del Vikingo vs. TBA
Six Women Tag Match: Fatal Influence (Fallon Henley, Jacy Jayne and Jazmyn Nyx) vs. Rosemary, Xia Brookside and Léi Ying Lee
Singles Match: Mike Santana vs. Mustafa Ali
TNA Tag Team Championship Match: The Hardys (Jeff Hardy and Matt Hardy) (c) vs. The Nemeth Brothers (Nic Nemeth and Ryan Nemeth)
TNA Knockouts Championship Match: Masha Slamovich (c) vs. Tessa Blanchard
TNA World Championship Match: Joe Hendry (c) vs. Frankie Kazarian vs. Ethan Page
CM Punk has revealed a match that was like a WrestleMania main event to him.
Being the main event of the Show of Shows was one of Punk’s biggest aspirations during his first run with the company. He probably came the closest to it during his historic 434-day-long WWE Championship reign before The Rock decided to return to wrestling and took the spot.
The Straight Edge star recently talked about this time during his interview with Metro. He recalled being put into a match with John Cena on Raw before WrestleMania 29, noting how he considered it to be his main event of Mania:
“I had the flu, I had a fever, and I was just f***ing angry. I said ‘Well, this is the main event of WrestleMania. I know you guys are doing that, but that’s what this is.’”
CM Punk discussed how he gave his all in the bout because he was fuelled by anger at that point in his career. To him, it’s the best match of his life:
“So nobody could tell me anything, I did what I wanted. That’s probably the best match in my career. There was just an energy, and there was a buzz in the building. I think part of that is because I was just fuelled by anger at that point in my career. It got me out of bed.”
The former World Champion’s career will be coming full circle at WrestleMania 41 as he battles against Seth Rollins and Roman Reigns in a triple threat match. The bout has been announced to main event one night of the Show of Shows, finally fulfilling CM Punk’s biggest wrestling dream.
Charlotte Flair might be back on WWE screens, but according to one former WWE personality, she’s keeping her distance. During an episode of Behind The Turnbuckle: The Last Word, Jonathan Coachman claimed he’d heard that Flair has been dressing away from other talent and has been doing so since her return.
“She’s not even dressing with the rest of the locker room. And if that’s the case, that’s number one strike against you.”
Coachman reflected on what this kind of behavior signifies, especially when it comes to someone of Charlotte’s status. Charlotte has often been accused by fans of not being a team player and only being interested in what benefits her highly-decorated career.
“She has to be the one that everybody looks to, and she pulls them up to her level—not stomps them down below her to make herself feel better.”
Flair returned in January after more than a year away from WWE to win the 2025 Women’s Royal Rumble, making her the first-ever two-time winner. This again drummed up backlash against Flair with many taking issue at her yet again being thrust into the championship scene. Some also argued that Flair did not need another Rumble victory to have a match at WrestleMania and such a spot would’ve benefitted somebody else much more.
Nevertheless, Charlotte will battle Women’s Champion Tiffany Stratton at WrestleMania 41 in a highly-personal feud. It remains to be seen who stands tall in Las Vegas, but fans shouldn’t expect Charlotte to stand with her colleagues behind the scenes in Sin City.
WrestleMania 41 is mere days away and fans wanting to watch the entire festivities should cancel their weekend plans. According to the current listing on Peacock, WrestleMania 41 is set to go nine hours long across Saturday, April 19 and Sunday, April 20 in Las Vegas’ Allegiant Stadium.
Peacock’s listing says that the kick-off show will begin at 4pm EST on Saturday, with the main card kicking off at 7pm EST. The show is listed in total as lasting for nine hours, which will likely also includes the post-show.
WWE has stacked its two nights in Las Vegas with a card featuring some of the top names in the company. The current confirmed match line-up is as follows:
Night One
Tiffany Stratton (c) vs. Charlotte Flair (WWE Women’s Championship)
Gunther (c) vs. Jey Uso (WWE World Heavyweight Championship)
Roman Reigns vs. CM Punk (with Paul Heyman) vs. Seth Rollins
Night Two
Iyo Sky (c) vs. Bianca Belair vs. Rhea Ripley (WWE Women’s World Championship)
Cody Rhodes (c) vs. John Cena (Undisputed WWE Championship)
Night TBA
AJ Styles vs. Logan Paul
LA Knight (c) vs. Jacob Fatu (WWE U.S. Championship)
Liv Morgan and Raquel Rodriguez (c) vs. Gauntlet match winners (WWE Women’s Tag Team Championship)
Jade Cargill vs. Naomi
Bron Breakker (c) vs. Penta vs. Finn Bálor vs. Dominik Mysterio (WWE Intercontinental Championship)
WWE Superstar Charlotte Flair has issued a personal apology for her conduct on last week’s SmackDown. Flair’s in-ring segment with Tiffany Stratton quickly went off-script and became a heated affair.
WWE’s storyline highlighting the tension between the young champion and the pioneering legend veered into personal territory, with Stratton referencing Flair’s tumultuous romantic life and the “Queen” suggesting that Stratton’s significant other, Ludwig Kaiser, has been sending her private messages.
After several days of reflection, Charlotte Flair has taken it upon herself to be the bigger woman and lay her feelings bare. She acknowledges that she took things too far and said things she shouldn’t have.
After being blindsided by my personal trauma on live television, my character said something on-air that was not true, and I'd like to take this opportunity to clear the air.
I should have NEVER called the Chicago fans smart. I sincerely apologize.
The reigning WWE Women’s Champion has also addressed her controversial promo segment with Charlotte Flair last week. Even though things got very personal, she considers their mission accomplished. “I think we did a very good job or getting people wanting to see our match and invested in our Stratton said on the Babyfaces Podcast. “Now, I’m ready to put on the best women’s match ever and ready to go to war.” More on that story here:
Drew McIntyre appeared on the Getting Over podcast ahead of WrestleMania 41, offering a candid look into his heated rivalry with Damian Priest, the evolution of WWE storytelling, and his mindset going into the biggest event of the year.
McIntyre broke down the year-long feud with Priest, which began at WrestleMania 40 and will culminate next weekend in Las Vegas. He highlighted how Priest has repeatedly taken advantage of setbacks in McIntyre’s career, turning those moments into opportunities.
“He’s benefited every time something’s gone wrong for me,” McIntyre noted, setting the stage for a long-awaited confrontation.
Fan Support, Hell in a Cell
Despite ongoing tensions with Roman Reigns, CM Punk, and Seth Rollins, McIntyre explained why he’s not part of the triple threat match at WrestleMania. He addressed the fan reactions to his current role and emphasized that his current story is just as meaningful.
The former WWE Champion also reflected on his brutal Hell in a Cell match, describing it as a defining moment.
“It wasn’t just about the violence—it was about restoring meaning to the stipulation,” he said, pointing to the emotional weight behind the bout.
Modern Character Development and Storytelling
On the subject of character evolution, McIntyre emphasized the importance of continuity and authenticity, especially through social media.
“Anyone that says they’re not online is a liar,” he said. “I’ve just happened to weaponize it because I’m smart and sensible, and it’s a massive powerful tool.”
He expanded on the depth now possible in WWE storytelling.
“The past matters these days, and thank goodness because it should… The Bloodline and that story, that went three straight years and is continuing to this day, showed that we can develop characters with deeper layers, deeper human emotions, and deeper layered storytelling and use the past and not insult our audience’s intelligence.”
McIntyre also questioned the disconnect some wrestlers maintain between their TV persona and online presence.
“I still can’t get my head around people acting different on television than they do in social media,” he said. “We’re 52 weeks a year, we play the same character, we’re trying to suspend disbelief.”
Outside the ring, McIntyre shared lighter stories about his life on the road with Sheamus, moving from Tampa to Nashville, and his preference for dogs over cats.
Some of the Best Advice He’s Received
Reflecting on personal growth and advice he once received, McIntyre recalled words from The Undertaker:
“Stop playing the wrestler and be the wrestler.”
He admitted the advice didn’t make sense at first but now serves as a guiding principle.
“Nothing good happens when you’re highly emotional,” he added. “Calm down, get the facts, and then deal with it.”
With WrestleMania 41 ahead, McIntyre remains committed to delivering a story rooted in emotion, history, and realism—both in and out of the ring.
Saraya reflects on her emotional AEW debut, candidly admits she wasn’t fully prepared for her first match back after five years, and shares plans to train for a stronger return.
Saraya is far from finished with professional wrestling—and she wants the world to know it. In a recent interview with MuscleManMalcolm for Muscle Memory, the multi-time women’s world champion opened up about her AEW debut and the overwhelming reaction she received that night (AEW Dynamite: Grand Slam, September 21, 2022).
“I was really nervous before walking out,” Saraya recalled. “I thought people might not care, but when I got out there, it was one of the loudest pops I’ve ever heard—not just for me, but in general. It was magical. That moment reminded me why I love wrestling so much.”
Despite the emotional high, Saraya admitted her return match wasn’t everything she hoped it would be. After five years away from the ring, the preparation didn’t fully match the pressure.
“I’ll be honest—I wasn’t fully prepared for my first match back,” she said. “Even though I trained a little, it wasn’t enough to feel 100% confident. But I gave it everything I had because I wanted to prove to myself and everyone else that I could still do it.”
Now, with more experience under her belt and a better understanding of her physical limits, she’s eyeing the next chapter—one that could include a more serious return to the ring.
“If I wrestle again, I’ll take this year to train properly and come back stronger,” Saraya said. “I know what my body can handle now, and I want to make sure I’m in the best shape possible.”
As speculation grows about potential dream matches against current stars like Liv Morgan or Rhea Ripley, Saraya isn’t closing any doors—especially when it comes to WWE.
“I haven’t spoken to WWE about coming back, but I love that place—it’s where I grew up,” she shared. “They supported me through everything when they could have fired me. Now that I’m a free agent, I feel comfortable showing my love for everyone—AEW, WWE—I’ve had the best wrestling career I could ask for.”
Whether her next match happens in AEW, WWE, or elsewhere, Saraya makes one thing clear: her journey isn’t over.
“I still have stuff left in the tank,” she said. And fans everywhere are watching to see where that energy takes her next.
WrestleMania 41 just got even bigger as a huge musical performance has been confirmed for the Showcase of the Immortals in Las Vegas. Valentino Khan will perform at the Premium Live Event, set to take place on April 19, and April 20, inside Allegiant Stadium. Khan shared the news on X in a video with United States Champion LA Knight.
I’m back DJing @WWE Wrestlemania in Vegas! Thankfully the real @RealLAKnight will be there with me.
Khan will be appearing at both nights of WrestleMania, though this isn’t all in store for the music artist. In a follow-up, Khan shared where fans can expect him throughout WrestleMania week.
WrestleMania 41 won’t be Khan’s first foray into the world of professional wrestling. At WWE SummerSlam 2021, Khan became the first DJ to perform and would deliver a set at WrestleMania 38 the following year. The DJ/musician/producer is a clear wrestling fan and is ready to make his mark in WWE once again as part of WrestleMania 41.
As for LA Knight, he too will have a major role at WrestleMania 41, where he will defend his WWE United States Championship against Jacob Fatu. The show will mark Knight’s first title defense at the show of shows, and Fatu’s first match at a WrestleMania.
Drew McIntyre’s participation in WrestleMania 41 has been confirmed following a period of uncertainty due to an eye injury. On April 10, WWE officially announced that McIntyre will face Damian Priest at WrestleMania 41, with the news coming from Nick Aldis.
This news come after concerns that McIntyre would not be able to compete at WrestleMania due to an eye injury suffered during an episodeof SmackDown. Since the attack by Priest on the March 28, show, McIntyre has been sporting an eyepatch. McIntyre told It’s Called Soccerthat his injury was a “fight against time” to be cleared for the event.
This match will be the second year in a row the pair do battle at WrestleMania. At the 2024 event, Priest cashed in his Money in the Bank contract on McIntyre, bringing an end to the Scottish Superstar’s brief reign as World Heavyweight Champion. Now, McIntyre has the chance to get revenge while a win for Priest would cement him as a top star in WWE.
WWE WrestleMania 41 will take placeon April 19, and April 20 from Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, Nevada. With this match adding a stacked card including John Cena, Cody Rhodes, CM Punk, Roman Reigns, and others, fans can expect two nights of epic action in Sin City.
Paul Walter Hauser is set to make his PROGRESS Wrestling debut, and he’s got a big name going to bat for him.
PROGRESS Wrestling shared the following video of actor Chris Pratt (Guardians of the Galaxy, Parks and Recreation) sending a message to Hauser, who has been slowly building up his resume as a pro wrestler.
Chris Pratt MARVELS at Paul Walter Hauser’s PROGRESS.
See the Golden Globe winner try and win the Proteus Championship in Las Vegas on the 17th April.
Hauser has competed for MLW, Defy and Wrestling Revolver, among other promotions. Now, he is set to make his PROGRESS Wrestling debut this month, and Pratt had some fun with the delivery of his message:
“Paul, it’s Pratt. Hey dude! I just wanted to say I was watching your most recent wrestling match and dude, you’ve made such incredible progress! And I just want to commend you on that.
Gamesmanship, your technique, you’re in amazing shape right now. And you know, when one friend notices the PROGRESS of another friend, they need to reach out.
so here I am, buddy, reaching out and saying that as our friendship PROGRESSes, I hope that you would do the same for me if you saw something that I did that you liked,” Chris Pratt said. “I just wanted to tell you that I commend your PROGRESS.”
Paul Walter Hauser will compete for the PROGRESS Proteus Championship in Las Vegas on April 17. Hauser will be in action against Charles Crowley, Effy, Adam Priest and reigning Proteus champion Simon Miller. The event is being held under GCW’s The Collective banner.
Chris Pratt is just the latest Hollywood star to cheer on Paul Walter Hauser’s wrestling career.
WWE Superstar Drew McIntyre appeared on It’s Called Soccer this week to discuss his current eye injury, his fight to make it to WrestleMania, why CM Punk’s name still gets him riled up.
McIntyre has been sporting an eye patch over the past few weeks since being thrown through a car windshield by Damian Priest on WWE SmackDown. While wrestling has its share of scripted injuries, this particular incident was very real and nearly cost him his sight.
“Part of the glass, where I landed on the windshield, bounced up and landed directly in my eyeball,” McIntyre shared. “I’m currently sporting the patch, hoping I can figure this thing out and get myself on WrestleMania.
It’s a fight against time right now. It didn’t feel that bad. I’ve never landed on a windshield in my life. He probably should’ve thrown me on top of the car or the concrete to hurt more”.
No Love Lost
McIntyre has been involved in a long-standing feud with CM Punk, one of the most heated rivalries of recent years. They’ve mixed it up a few times already, but the Scottish star still holds animosity. When asked about Punk returning to WWE, he couldn’t help but get a few digs in.
“Yeah, if I take myself out of my own shoes, step back. Even in my own shoes, if you told me that prior to November, I would say there’s no way he’s ever gonna be back in WWE, never mind him and I in a match together… He was a piece of crap and is a piece of crap especially back then. So yeah, I could never have imagined it happening, and I also probably knew I’m gonna rough him up the first chance I get”.
McIntyre also shared his passion for football, particularly his love for Glasgow Rangers. He noted the decline in passion and physicality in modern football compared to the past. However, specific extended quotes on this topic are not available from the search results. McIntyre observed that WWE fans in the U.S. share a similar passion to football fans in Europe.
Trick Williams is set to guest star in the season 7 finale of All American, airing on The CW. According to Variety, Williams will portray Eddie Blair, the Athletic Director of South Crenshaw High School.
Before launching his pro wrestling career, Williams appeared as an extra on the series during its third season in 2018. Reflecting on the experience, he shared that returning to the show in a featured role was “a true full-circle moment.”
“I am super excited to be a part of this new season of All American,” Williams told Variety. “They treated me like royalty, put me in my own trailer, and made sure I looked top tier. I really appreciated that because four years ago, I was working as an extra–as a kicker–for South Crenshaw. To come back as the A.D. for Crenshaw is super surreal and a true full-circle moment for me. They have a great cast and crew, incredible directors, and a strong team. It was an honor be a part of the show.”
Williams, a former college football player at Hampton University, currently performs on WWE NXT, which also airs on The CW.
The 2-time NXT Champion will compete in a Triple Threat match against Je’Von Evans and current titleholder Oba Femi at NXT Stand & Deliver.
After decades in the wrestling business, CM Punk is finally set to headline WrestleMania for the first time in his career, sharing the spotlight with Roman Reigns and Seth Rollins in Las Vegas on April 19. Now 46, Punk is taking time to reflect on the personal and professional journey that brought him to this milestone.
For Punk, wrestling was more than a career—it was a lifeline.
“I’d be dead or in jail right now, 100%,” he admitted to Metro UK. “I’ve narrowly avoided jail multiple times. I really don’t know… it’s hard for me to say, ‘I was interested in this’ or ‘maybe I would’ve done that.’”
While his early dream was to play ice hockey, that path wasn’t financially viable. Wrestling, however, gave the Chicago native purpose.
“I wanted to be a wrestler,” Punk emphasized. “I never said I wanted to be a millionaire. I never said I wanted to be a WWE superstar. I got a pair of boots and I started wrestling.”
After leaving WWE in 2014 and stepping away from wrestling, Punk explored other avenues including UFC and film. He returned to the ring in 2021 with AEW before making his surprise WWE comeback in November 2023.
Now, with WWE’s new partnership with Netflix, Punk is embracing the opportunity to expand into acting. He’s already involved in upcoming projects including Revival and Night Patrol, and he’s open to more.
“The Netflix thing is interesting, because I think they want to specifically find projects not only for me, but other superstars that they feel can cross over,” he said. “I would love to do stuff with Cena. I would love to do stuff with anybody, really. I’m in it to learn. And in that respect, I’m an artist. I want to do stuff that’s fulfilling.”
With his WrestleMania main event approaching, Punk is focused on staying healthy, especially after an injury kept him out of last year’s show. Punk joked that he’s tempted to “wrap himself in bubble wrap” until his big match against Seth Rollins and Roman Reigns. However, he really tries to not think about the risks, live in the moment and focus on what he does best.
PAC may be facing another injury setback following his match against Swerve Strickland on Wednesday’s AEW Dynamite. The bout ended after PAC appeared to suffer a legitimate injury to his right ankle or foot.
The incident occurred after Strickland delivered a buckle bomb in the corner, prompting PAC to immediately clutch his lower leg. As PAC exited the ring in visible discomfort, AEW medical staff, including Doc Sampson, checked on him while Strickland remained in character in the ring.
PAC eventually returned to the ring but was noticeably unable to put weight on his injured foot. Strickland followed up with a superkick and his top-rope Swerve Stomp to close the match.
Update
After the show, PAC was reportedly seen leaving the arena on crutches, according to PWInsider. This could signal another hiatus for PAC, who only recently returned in March after an extended absence dating back to July 2023.
AEW sees the Death Riders storyline differently than fans do.
The general reaction to AEW programming in recent times has been more positive than before. The company had seen a decline in interest in the past couple of years as the promotion strayed away from their original formula. With Tony Khan taking more control in recent times, fans have seen a general improvement in the product, and the promotion seems to be gaining momentum once again.
The one complaint that has persisted, however, is the continuation of the Death Riders storyline. Many fans believe that the group has lost its charm and that AEW should do away with the whole story, putting the world title on a different star.
Though the officials do not seem to agree with the sentiment. In a new report about the finish to the Dynasty PPV, Fightful Select provided an update on the Death Riders storyline. They noted that the AEW Top Brass see the whole thing as a success:
“AEW internally has touted the success of the Death Riders and Moxley winning the title, citing a disconnect with online fans. AEW claims that the company’s live+dvr quarters have climbed throughout the year with Moxley as champion, peaking with the Moxley vs. Cope street fight.”
The ending of the Dynasty PPV this past Sunday saw Jon Moxley retaining the AEW title over Swerve Strickland. This came after The Young Bucks made their surprise return and took out Swerve. The site noted that there was never a plan for Strickland to win this match and that Mox has been planned for a lengthy title run since before he won the championship.
It’s unclear if the Young Bucks had always been factored into the finish for the PPV, as many in the company were not sure how long they would be out of action. A theory is that Jay White was originally planned to be part of the main event in some capacity before his injury forced the company to change things up.
