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TNA Impact Preview (April 10, 2025)

Michael Reichlin
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TNA Impact Preview (April 10, 2025)

Tonight’s TNA Impact continues the road to TNA Unbreakable on April 17 and Rebellion on April 27.

Matches and Segments:

  • Steve Maclin vs. Eddie Edwards – This match pits two formidable opponents against each other, with Eddie Edwards being accompanied by Alisha. Maclin’s path away from Eric Young and The Northern Armory collides with Edwards’ push against The System, making this a must-win for both wrestlers.
  • Mustafa Ali vs. Ace Austin – In the X-Division, Mustafa Ali continues his revolutionary momentum, backed by The Great Hands and Tasha Steelz. He faces Ace Austin, a former X-Division Champion looking to regain his form.
  • Cody Deaner vs. Moose – Cody Deaner seeks to upset Moose, who is gearing up for the Ultimate X match at Rebellion. This bout could significantly impact both wrestlers’ standings and momentum.
  • TNA International Title Qualifier: Mance Warner vs. AJ Francis vs. Sami Callihan – This triple threat match is part of the tournament for the new TNA International Championship, with the winner advancing to Unbreakable.
  • The Rascalz vs. JDC & Brian Myers – The Rascalz aim to reestablish themselves in the tag team division by taking down The System’s JDC and Brian Myers, who are dealing with internal strife.

TNA Impact airs Thursdays at 8/7c on AXS TV, Sportsnet 360, and is available worldwide on TNA+.

Upcoming TNA Events

?TNA Unbreakable 2025 is scheduled for Thursday, April 17, 2025, at the Cox Pavilion in Paradise, Nevada. The event will stream live on TNA+ starting at 10 p.m. Eastern Time. ?

TNA Rebellion 2025 will take place on Sunday, April 27, 2025, at the Galen Center in Los Angeles, California. The pay-per-view event is set to begin at 8 p.m. Eastern Time and will be available on TNA+.

GUNTHER Addresses Not Being Chosen To Main Event WWE WrestleMania 41

Andrew Ravens
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GUNTHER Addresses Not Being Chosen To Main Event WWE WrestleMania 41

GUNTHER is slated to defend the World Title against Jey Uso at WWE WrestleMania 41 after Uso earned the title shot by winning the Royal Rumble match. While speaking on the Ariel Helwani Show, GUNTHER spoke about not being chosen for the main event of Mania this year.

For the first night, WWE has opted to go with the triple threat match featuring CM Punk, Roman Reigns, and Seth Rollins. The second night will see John Cena challenge Cody Rhodes for the Undisputed WWE Title.

“No, I’m not (disappointed). There’s two main event spots. Some people argue there’s only one, which is night two. At the end of the day, they’re big achievements, but that’s nothing I want to stress about.

Because in the long term, later on when I finish my career and I’m able to be financially set up to take care of my family, I did all of this doing the thing that I always wanted to do. I don’t think if I never main event WrestleMania it’s gonna make a difference to how proud or happy I’ll be about my career.”

At last year’s WrestleMania, GUNTHER lost the Intercontinental Title to Sami Zayn. At this same show, Uso defeated Jimmy Uso in a singles match.

‘I Was Not Sure’: Kevin Owens Reveals Triple H Idea He Didn’t Buy At First

Anutosh Bajpai
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0
‘I Was Not Sure’: Kevin Owens Reveals Triple H Idea He Didn’t Buy At First

Kevin Owens has opened up about the creative approach of Triple H compared to Vince McMahon.

All the superstars who have given opinion on the matter agree that the creative process is much better under Triple H compared to Vince McMahon. Not only the characters and storylines are much more consistent but the creative team under The Game is also willing to try out new things that help make the presentation of the shows better.

A unique example of it was when Kevin Owens’ heel turn was done off-screen. Owens attacked his former best friend Cody Rhodes after the Bad Blood PPV, and the company relied completely on fans to capture and make the moment viral. Speaking about this unique approach during his recent interview with Chris Van Vliet, Kevin revealed that he wasn’t sold on the idea at first:

“It wasn’t me. That was Triple H. That was his idea. He felt confident in doing it that way. I was not sure. I’m like I don’t know, is there even going to be enough people there? It turns out he was completely right, there was and yeah, it’s just a different way of telling the stories and he’s got a different mentality than Vince had. It’s really interesting, and people really responded to it.”

Makes The Show Way More Interesting: Kevin Owens

Kevin Owens noted how they did something similar when he turned on Randy Orton, and the attack was recorded with security cameras. Per the wrestling veteran this new approach is helping keep things fresh and interesting for the fans:

“He wants to tell stories differently, and he’s willing to try stuff out and see what sticks and I think that makes the show way more interesting. It doesn’t mean it’s always gonna work, there might be sometimes it doesn’t land, but we’re trying different things and new things, and I think that’s so important in wrestling.”

The former World Champion later explained that even with good matches and promos, things can get monotonous if you keep doing the same things. He cited the era of 2008-09 as an example noting how he started paying a lot less attention to WWE at the time because they told the same stories over and over again.

Michael Cole and Jey Uso Make Surprise Appearances At Pat McAfee’s ‘Big Night AHT’

Bishal Roy
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Michael Cole and Jey Uso Make Surprise Appearances At Pat McAfee’s ‘Big Night AHT’

WWE commentary legend Michael Cole and Jey Uso recently showed up at a special show known as the ‘Big Night AHT,’ hosted by none other than NFL legend and WWE Raw commentator Pat McAfee.

It is needless to mention how much McAfee loves ‘Yeeting’ during Jey Uso’s entrance. Well, the NFL legend brought out Jey Uso for a surprise appearance in PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh for a ‘Yeet’ session. ‘Main Event’ Jey Uso, who recently blasted his critics, even put up noted on social media that he “needed” the experience.

McAfee’s commentary partner, Michael Cole, also appeared on the show. Pat McAfee introduced Cole as the ‘GOAT’ and revealed he would be doing the play by play commentary for the Sumo wrestling match. Michael Cole then came out with a bottle of Whiskey in his hand. Michael Cole called McAfee his best friend and gave a shoutout to him for the event. The segment ended with them drinking some ‘Jack Daniels.’

The show also included stars like Jelly Roll, Wiz Khalifa, Parker McCollum, and Snoop Dogg.

Pat McAfee hosted ‘Big Night AHT’ in his hometown of Pittsburgh. The main aim to host this was to give fans a show for all kinds of entertainment. McAfee wanted the show to feature a variety of entertainment acts.

McAfee had described the show as different from his typical weekly Pat McAfee Show. However, his co-hosts were still a part of the show. The name of the show is officially “Big Night AHT with Pat McAfee and Friends.” It is pronounced “Big night out…” but the word “aht” replaced the word “out,” as it would be big night out instead.

Steph De Lander Announces Engagement With Fellow TNA Star

Anutosh Bajpai
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0
Steph De Lander Announces Engagement With Fellow TNA Star

Two TNA stars have announced their engagement.

Former TNA Digital Media Champion Steph De Lander took to social media early on Wednesday to reveal her engagement with fellow TNA star Mance Warner.

The female star posted a photo with her fiancé from what appeared to be a tropical spot, and Warner replied to her post, calling Steph De Lander his wife:

Steph De Lander who made her pro wrestling debut in 2017, had a run with WWE NXT in 2021-2022 before she joined TNA in February 2023. She became the TNA Digital Media champion in January this year after announcing that she had acquired the title in a divorce with on screen husband PCO.

This was done to explain the situation with PCO, who attempted to destroy the digital media championship at a GCW show after learning that the company would not renew his deal.

Mance Warner made his debut for the promotion during the same segment, aligning himself with his real-life fiancé and attacking Sami Callihan. He has worked for companies like AEW and MLW prior to signing with TNA.

The Digital media title has since been retired by the promotion and TNA Director of Authority Santino Marella replaced it with the TNA International Championship. The Australian star is recognized as the final Digital media champion by the company.

Chris Jericho Teases Break From AEW TV After Dynasty Loss

Anutosh Bajpai
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0
Chris Jericho Teases Break From AEW TV After Dynasty Loss

Chris Jericho might be taking a break from AEW.

All three members of the learning tree picked up losses at the AEW Dynasty PPV this past Sunday. Y2J dropped the ROH title to Bandido during the show, while Big Bill & Bryan Keith failed to win the tag team titles from The Hurt Syndicate at the event.

Jericho held a TV Time segment on this week’s episode of Dynamite from Baltimore, demanding answers from his associates. Before he could blame them, however, Big Bill took the mic.

The heavyweight star told Chris Jericho that he joined the faction because he wanted to learn from the wrestling veteran, not to be his punching bag whenever things went wrong.

The former AEW Champion then took up the mic and explained that some might say he lost the ROH title because Bill and Keith were not at his side. Chris, however, claimed that he doesn’t believe that.

The wrestling legend then lost his cool and started tearing down the talk show set. Chris Jericho went on to declare that he was disappointed with his faction members and decided to leave until they changed that.

It’s unknown what this means for the future of the Learning Tree or how long Chris Jericho will be away. Though it seems very likely that this was the last we’ll see the trio as a group on AEW TV.

Saraya Recalls Standing Up For Natalya After Racial Slur

Thomas Lowson
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Saraya Recalls Standing Up For Natalya After Racial Slur

Saraya has a lot of respect for WWE veteran Natalya and won’t stand by when others insult and berate the former SmackDown Women’s Champion. Speaking to the Lightweights Podcast with Joe Vulpis, Saraya recalled a party at Fandango’s house where somebody confronted Natalya.

“This girl came over and she was just drunk and she was just trying to make everything about her. She calls Natty the n-bomb, and I was like, ‘what the f***.’ “

This woman, who Saraya did not name, continued to berate Natalya which was a step too far for the British wrestle. Once the woman decided to smack Saraya’s cap off her head, the former Divas Champion made her regret it.

“I just head-butted her and I’m on the floor just f**ing going off on her… Then I’m dragging this girl and I’m like f***ing shoving her face in the carpet.”

Saraya was infuriated, asking “how dare you f***ing talk to us like that” and admitted that her comments would not make it to air on any wrestling show. Her defense of Natalya, as well as herself, demonstrates that Saraya does not take kindly to bullies, especially ones who think racial slurs are appropriate.

Saraya recently wrapped up her time with AEW and has shared plans to train with Natalya in The Dungeon 2.0 this year. As fans await to see what’s to come for the British wrestler, they know that Saraya is never afraid to stand up for herself or her peers.

Saraya Recalls a Mortifying Experience Involving Her Father

Adam Cole Reveals New Name For The Undisputed Kingdom

Anutosh Bajpai
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0
Adam Cole Reveals New Name For The Undisputed Kingdom

The Undisputed Kingdom is no more.

The new TNT Champion Adam Cole made an appearance on this week’s episode of Dynamite after his big victory over Daniel Garcia at the Dynasty PPV. He was accompanied by Kyle O’Reilly and Roderick Strong in a backstage segment.

Both O’Reilly and Strong first talked about The Undisputed Kingdom’s history in the company before Cole discussed how the past 2 years have been challenging for him. The former NXT Champion then seemingly revealed a new name for their group, saying that they’re ‘The Paragon’:

“The past 2 years, I’ve been through hell and back. They were 2 of the most challenging years not just of my career but of my life. Now I stand before you, the face of TNT – your new AEW TNT Champion.

Trust me, when I tell you this is just the start for the three of us. Because it’s a new era here in All Elite Wrestling because we, we are The Paragon, and that is undisputed.”

The Undisputed name was first given to the group in WWE where they were known as The Undisputed Era in NXT from 2017 until the group disbanded and its members left the company in 2021.

Cole reunited with his teammates on occasion after joining All Elite Wrestling in 2021. Their faction officially got the Undisputed Kingdom name in January 2024.

Logan Paul: AJ Styles Is Another Stepping Stone to Me

Thomas Lowson
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0
Logan Paul: AJ Styles Is Another Stepping Stone to Me

Logan Paul will battle AJ Styles at WrestleMania 41, but the social media megastar isn’t sweating facing the former WWE/TNA World Champion. Speaking furing the latest video from his YouTube channel, Paul didn’t mince words about his upcoming opponent.

“Here’s the truth bro, I don’t give a f** about AJ Styles. He’s just another one of these superstars that isn’t the best because he’s not me.“

Paul then named some of the wrestling legends he’s already beaten at WrestleMania including Rey Mysterio, Kevin Owens, and Randy Orton. Styles wrapped up his attack on Styles and the wrestling world at large by claiming AJ is merely the latest tool he’ll use to further his own celebrity status.

“You’re just another stepping stone just like I made all of your superstar buddies.”

This match will be Paul’s fourth time competing at WrestleMania, where he currently holds a 2-1 win/loss record. Styles on the other-hand will compete in his ninth WrestleMania this month, and hopes to add a win to his current 4-4 win/loss record.

Once again, Paul is talking a lot of smack, but he’s shown in the past that he can often can back up what he has to say. As to whether Styles shuts the Maverick up, or if AJ is indeed a stepping stone for the media star, time will tell…

AEW Dynamite Results and Takeaways (April 9, 2025)

Michael Reichlin
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AEW Dynamite Results and Takeaways (April 9, 2025)

AEW continued the post-Dynasty fallout with the April 9, 2025 episode of Dynamite, broadcast live from Baltimore’s Chesapeake Employers Insurance Arena. The night featured hard-hitting matchups, evolving rivalries, and major storyline developments ahead of Double or Nothing.

Moxley Overpowers Shibata

Jon Moxley defeated Katsuyori Shibata in a physical non-title contest. Despite Shibata’s technical prowess, Moxley resorted to underhanded tactics, including an eye gouge, before forcing a submission with a rear naked choke.

Swerve Strickland Shuts Down PAC

Swerve Strickland scored a decisive win over PAC, who appeared to suffer an injury during the match. The bout ended sooner than expected, with Strickland landing a top-rope stomp to close it out. Afterward, he declared it was “buck hunting season,” targeting The Young Bucks.

Statlander Advances in Owen Hart Cup

Kris Statlander defeated Thunder Rosa to move forward in the Women’s Owen Hart Cup Tournament. Toni Storm provided commentary throughout, observing her potential challengers closely.

Eight-Man Tag Delivers

In a high-stakes $400,000 tag match, Will Ospreay, “Speedball” Mike Bailey, Mark Briscoe, and Kevin Knight defeated Ricochet, Lio Rush, Action Andretti, and The Beast Mortos. Ospreay sealed the victory with a Hidden Blade on Mortos.

Joe and HOOK Submit The Death Riders

Samoa Joe and HOOK picked up a key win over Claudio Castagnoli and Wheeler Yuta. HOOK forced Yuta to tap, while Joe neutralized Claudio outside the ring.

Backstage and In-Ring Segments Stir Rivalries

  • Jon Moxley, speaking backstage, blasted the AEW roster for its lack of hunger and issued a warning to The Young Bucks, vowing that The Death Riders would “scorch the earth.”
  • The Young Bucks addressed their controversial actions at AEW Dynasty, defending their interference as an effort to protect Hangman Page and prevent Swerve from regaining gold. Kenny Omega confronted them, but the segment was interrupted by Kazuchika Okada and Swerve Strickland, hinting at shifting alliances.

Meanwhile, The Hurt Syndicate—Bobby Lashley, Shelton Benjamin, and MVP—celebrated their successful AEW Tag Team Title defense with an in-ring toast. MJF joined the party, a vote was held to see if he’d be welcomed into the group. The result was NO.

Looking Ahead to Double or Nothing

With shifting dynamics among AEW’s top stars, the road to Double or Nothing intensified. Feuds involving The Young Bucks, Swerve Strickland, and The Death Riders are expected to headline AEW’s next major event in May.

PAC Injured During AEW Dynamite Match

Andrew Ravens
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PAC Injured During AEW Dynamite Match

Wednesday’s Dynamite featured a first-time encounter between Swerve Strickland and AEW Trios Champion PAC, but the match ended due to an apparent injury. The incident occurred after Strickland delivered a buckle bomb in the corner, prompting PAC to immediately clutch his right ankle/foot/Achilles area.

Following the impactful move, Strickland briefly choked his opponent with his boot as PAC rolled out of the ring. AEW’s medical personnel, led by Doc Sampson, attended to PAC while Strickland remained in the ring, the camera tightly focused on his reaction. PAC got back into the ring, struggling to stand and avoid putting weight on his injured foot.

Strickland immediately delivered a superkick, followed by his signature Swerve Stomp from the top rope, securing the victory. PWInsider.com reports that PAC suffered a legitimate injury to his ankle or foot during his bout. 

This injury marks another setback for PAC, who was previously sidelined from late July 2023 to March 2024 with an undisclosed issue. We wish him a speedy recovery.

Nick Khan Thinks Responding To Social Media Would Be A Mistake: ‘We Have To Trust Our Gut’

Andrew Ravens
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Nick Khan Thinks Responding To Social Media Would Be A Mistake: ‘We Have To Trust Our Gut’

These days, fans consume wrestling in various ways, as it is no longer just watching programs on cable and pay-per-view. Fans can watch on their phones through social media and streaming services on-demand.

With that comes the ability for wrestlers to talk with fans directly and in ways never before dealt with. While many wrestlers will engage in criticisms or praise, WWE CEO Nick Khan believes it’s important not always to react to what’s happening on social media in what’s presented on television.

“We won’t respond to social media. It’s a mistake to respond to that. We have to trust our gut,” Khan said at NAB Show in Las Vegas (via Adrian Hernandez of Unlikely).

Khan was speaking on social media being a small microcosm of the entire fanbase. Triple H added that they get to see reactions every night at events.

Before his tenure at WWE, Khan served as the Co-Head of Television at CAA, where he represented prominent figures and organizations in the sports media industry, orchestrating media rights deals worth billions of dollars.

Khan joined WWE in 2020 and played a pivotal role in the company achieving record revenue and profitability in the subsequent years of 2021, 2022, and 2023.

Tiffany Stratton Acknowledges Charlotte Flair: She Paved The Way

Michael Reichlin
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Tiffany Stratton Acknowledges Charlotte Flair: She Paved The Way

As WrestleMania approaches, Tiffany Stratton is not just preparing for a title defense. She’s also reflecting on the journey that brought her to WWE’s biggest stage. Speaking on The Babyfaces Podcast, the 25-year-old champion shared her thoughts on the magnitude of her upcoming match against Charlotte Flair and what it means to compete against someone she once looked up to.

“She not only paved the way for me in my story, but she paved the way for women in general in the business,” Stratton said. “She’s a needle mover and she’s one of the best women we have on the roster.”

This will be Stratton’s first WrestleMania as a champion — a high-profile moment that highlights her rapid rise in WWE. Still relatively new to the business, she acknowledged how quickly everything has come together.

“I’m only 25, I’m three and a half years into the business, and I have a title,” she said. “I’m not chasing a title — I’m the one being chased, and it’s by Charlotte Flair. That in itself is a lot of pressure.”

The emotional weight of the rivalry has grown in recent weeks, especially given the personal connection Stratton has to Flair’s legacy. Yet, she made it clear that she won’t be intimidated when the bell rings.

“I don’t think she expected me to stand up to her,” Stratton noted. “I’m gonna pull out every stop that I can.”

Despite the mounting pressure, Stratton said she’s working to stay focused and grounded.

“I’m trying to bask in this being my WrestleMania prep,” she added. “I’m gonna have the biggest match of my career, and I’m just trying to stay calm with everything.”

With WrestleMania on the horizon and the spotlight on Stratton, her match against Flair stands as a defining moment — not just for her personal career, but for the evolution of WWE’s women’s division.

GUNTHER: Triple H Saved Pro Wrestling To A Big Degree

Andrew Ravens
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GUNTHER: Triple H Saved Pro Wrestling To A Big Degree

GUNTHER’s success on WWE’s main roster has coincided with the creative direction led by Triple H, who took over main roster creative after Vince McMahon’s retirement in June 2022. Under Triple H’s guidance, GUNTHER became the longest-reigning Intercontinental Champion in WWE history.

He also went on to become the World Champion. GUNTHER recently shared his insights regarding the creative process with Ariel Helwani on The Ariel Helwani Show and offered his perspective on the working relationship with Triple H.

“I would say, to a degree, and obviously he’s my boss and I’m in a very good position in the company right now, but I think to a certain degree that he saved professional wrestling to a big degree. I remember when I started in 2005.

All the Europeans trying to get into WWE was such a mystery about it. Who to talk to and what to do. It seemed so far away and such an unrealistic point to achieve. Hunter was the one who pushed for opening that world to WWE and created so much jobs and opportunities back then for so many of the European guys.

He opened the floodgates for the wrestling world outside of WWE, and I think the change has been very positive. It was a big achievement. The business changed since then and it changed to the better. It’s the hottest that it is right now. It all started back then when he started NXT and started working more with guys the work the indies and stuff like that. I’ve always had a really good relationship with Hunter.”

GUNTHER is set to defend his WWE World Heavyweight Title against Jey Uso at WrestleMania 41 next weekend.

Tiffany Stratton Talks WrestleMania Pressure

Michael Reichlin
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0
Tiffany Stratton Talks WrestleMania Pressure

At just 25 years old, WWE Women’s Champion Tiffany Stratton is preparing to step into the biggest match of her young career — a title defense against Charlotte Flair at WrestleMania. The high-stakes showdown will see WWE’s rising star face off against one of the most decorated female competitors in the company’s history.

Speaking on The Babyfaces Podcast, Stratton reflected on the magnitude of the moment and the rapid pace of her rise in WWE.

“I’m only 25, I’m three and a half years into the business, and I not only have a title — I’m actually the one being chased, and it’s by Charlotte Flair,” she said. “That in itself is a lot of pressure.”

Stratton’s journey from NXT standout to SmackDown champion has been marked by quick growth and resilience. Now, she’s not just competing at WrestleMania — she’s entering as champion, looking to solidify her place among WWE’s elite.

“I feel like right now I am just trying to be in the moment,” she shared. “I’m trying to bask in this being my WrestleMania prep… I’m gonna have the biggest match of my career in two weeks and I’m just trying to stay calm with everything.”

The match holds special weight for Stratton, not just professionally, but personally. She openly acknowledged the influence Flair has had on her career, saying,

“She not only paved the way for me in my story, but she paved the way for women in general in the business. She’s a needle mover and one of the best women we have on the roster.”

Despite the admiration, Stratton emphasized she’s not backing down.

“I don’t think she expected me to stand up to her,” she said. “We’re going into WrestleMania — I have the title, I want to keep the title, and I’m gonna pull out every stop that I can.”

As WWE heads toward its biggest event of the year, all eyes will be on this clash between past and present — a potential passing of the torch moment that could define the future of the women’s division.

Tiffany Stratton Speaks Out After Tense Promo With Charlotte Flair: ‘It’s live TV, stakes are high’

Bishal Roy
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0
Tiffany Stratton Speaks Out After Tense Promo With Charlotte Flair: ‘It’s live TV, stakes are high’

WWE Women’s Champion Tiffany Stratton has opened up on the controversial promo segment with Charlotte Flair on last week’s edition of WWE SmackDown.

Charlott Flair and Tiffany Stratton’s segment grabbed some eyeballs after they were involved in a war of words on the blue brand. ‘The Queen’ went personal, taking shot at Stratton’s voice. The reigning champ clapped back mentioning Flair’s personal real-life relationship issues. Stratton even referenced Flair’s divorce from Andrade and her failed marriages.

During the Babyfaces podcast, Stratton opened up on the segment, saying she feels Charlotte Flair didn’t expect her to stand up to her. She then hyped up their title match at WrestleMania 41 and felt the duo did well in getting fans invested in the upcoming match. Tiffany Stratton said:

“Being so new into this business and being so new as champion, I don’t think she really expected me to stand up to her and I don’t think she expected me to, almost clap back. All I have to say is, it’s live TV, stakes are high. We’re going into WrestleMania. I have the title, I want to keep the title. I’m going to pull out every stop that I can and people want to see our match. I think we did a very good job or getting people wanting to see our match and invested in our story. Now, I’m ready to put on the best women’s match ever and ready to go to war.”

It has been reported that many believe that Tiffany Stratton had to fight back but taking personal shots on TV was not recommended. Their digs at each other were also removed in the video clip of the segment which dropped on WWE’s social media accounts. The whole situation has been referred to as a ‘wreck,’ and both the wrestlers faced had heat for going off-script.

WWE Hall of Fame 2025 Legacy Inductees Announced

Thomas Lowson
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WWE Hall of Fame 2025 Legacy Inductees Announced

The WWE Hall of Fame Class of 2025 is coming together with three more names set to be inducted. These three legends of the squared circle will be inducted as part of the WWE Hall of Fame’s Legacy Wing.

Kamala

Instantly recognizable with his unique attire and facepaint, Kamala terrorized fans with his wild, unpredictable style. Notable highlights of his career include feuds with The Undertaker and Hulk Hogan. Outside of WWE, Kamala held gold in the NWA and is a former AWA Southern Heavyweight Champion.

Dory Funk Sr.

The patriarch of the legendary Funk wrestling family, Dory Sr. played a massive role in shaping the wrestling scene in Texas alongside his kin and the Von Erichs. With this induction, Dory will join his sons Dory Funk Jr. and Terry Funk, both of whom were inducted in 2009.

Ivan Koloff

Known to fans as The Russian Bear, Ivon Koloff made history on January 18, 1971, when he dethroned Bruno Sammartino as WWWF Champion. The win marked the end of Sammartino’s 2,803-day reign as champion, the longest of all time. While Koloff’s three weeks with the gold would be less notable, his toughness made him a hated heel during his wrestling career.

These three legends will join Triple H, Michelle McCool, Lex Luger, and the Natural Disasters in this year’s Hall of Fame, alongside the first-ever Immortal Moment induction of Bret Hart Vs. Steve Austin from WrestleMania 13. Stay tuned to SEScoops for the latest on this year’s WWE Hall of Fame.

John Cena Advertised For Next Week’s WWE SmackDown 

Andrew Ravens
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John Cena Advertised For Next Week’s WWE SmackDown 

John Cena is scheduled to appear on the April 18th episode of WWE SmackDown, the final show before WrestleMania 41. This marks Cena’s first advertised appearance since the March 31st episode of WWE Raw.

At WrestleMania 41, Cena is slated to challenge Cody Rhodes for the Undisputed WWE Championship. The April 18th edition of SmackDown is shaping up to be a star-studded event, as Cody Rhodes, Tiffany Stratton, LA Knight, Bianca Belair, and Randy Orton are also being advertised for the show.

Coming out of WrestleMania, the former WWE Champion is advertised for Backlash at the Enterprise Center in St. Louis, Missouri, on Saturday, May 10th. Randy Orton will also appear.

Cena is scheduled for appearances on the following dates:

  • SmackDown – May 30th: Knoxville, Tennessee.
  • SmackDown – June 13th: Lexington, Kentucky.
  • SmackDown – June 20th: Grand Rapids, Michigan.

Cena is in the middle of his retirement tour. The wrestling world remains stunned by Cena’s shocking heel turn at WWE Elimination Chamber after winning the gimmick match to earn a title shot at WrestleMania.

He aligned with The Rock and beat down Rhodes once Rhodes rejected The Rock’s offer to be his champion.

4 Key Takeaways from Dark Side of the Ring: The Story of Vader

Michael Reichlin
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4 Key Takeaways from Dark Side of the Ring: The Story of Vader

The latest episode of Dark Side of the Ring offered a powerful look at the man behind the Vader persona—Leon White. Known for his imposing presence in the ring, Vader’s journey was deeply shaped by early trauma, physical injuries, and addiction.

Here are four key moments from the episode.

1. A Violent Childhood

Leon White grew up in a home marked by alcohol-fueled violence. Forced to become the man of the house at an early age, he got into frequent fights at school and dealt with threats at home. At just 12 years old, after a break-in at their house, his grandfather gave him a shotgun and told him he would know what to do if it happened again.

2. The Joe Thurman Incident

During a WCW handicap match in 1992, Vader delivered a chokeslam and a reckless powerbomb to Joe Thurman, resulting in a broken back and a near-severed spinal cord. The injury ended Thurman’s career and left a lasting emotional impact on Vader, who was seen crying backstage.

3. The Eye Injury in Japan

In a match against Stan Hansen in Japan, Vader suffered a gruesome injury when his eye was dislodged from its socket. Displaying extraordinary toughness, he pushed the eye back in and continued wrestling, adding to his mythos as one of the sport’s most durable performers.

4. Struggles with Painkiller Addiction

Years of in-ring punishment led to an addiction to pain medication. The dependency changed Vader’s behavior, creating emotional instability that contributed to the decline of both his personal and professional life.

Through these revelations, Dark Side of the Ring portrayed Vader as a complex figure shaped as much by trauma and pain as by physical dominance—offering a deeper understanding of the man behind the mask.

AEW’s Skye Blue Shares Promising Recovery Update After Severe Ankle Injury

Bishal Roy
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0
AEW’s Skye Blue Shares Promising Recovery Update After Severe Ankle Injury

AEW Skye Blue recently provided an update on her recovery after suffering a devastating ankle injury last year. She has now confirmed that she is able to walk again and working towards full recovery.

During a virtual signing with K & S WrestleFest, Skye Blue revealed that she is recuperating and she is hoping to make her in-ring return soon. Blue said that recovering from an ankle injury is difficult, especially in her case, where her ankle was completely disconnected from her leg. The 25-year old star further stated that she’s getting better every day:

“I’m trying. Healing an ankle is not easy, and especially when it’s completely disconnected from your leg. But, hopefully soon. Getting better and better every day.”

Skye Blue was asked about when she’s returning. She confirmed that she was able to walk again which is a positive sign as previously she had to scoot up the stairs. She didn’t reveal when she will manage to return to in-ring competition, she did assure the fans that she is trying her best to do so. She explained:

“I wish I knew, brother . But I’m trying. I’m trying. I can walk. That is a plus. I remember when I couldn’t do that and I was butt scooting up my stairs. Oh, that was the worst… It was funny.”

Skye Blue had sustained the ankle injury during her match against Hikaru Shida on an episode of AEW Collision last year. Their match was abruptly stopped. Blue suffered the injury after Shida hit a crossbody to Blue outside of the ring and Skye was visibly in pain after the landing.

The medics immediately attended her and she had to be carried backstage. She soon underwent a surgery to fix her ankle and ever since she has been on the shelf.

We at SEScoops wish her a speedy recovery and hope she is able to return to action soon.

More On Awkard Charlotte Flair & Tiffany Stratton Segment

Anutosh Bajpai
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More On Awkard Charlotte Flair & Tiffany Stratton Segment

More details have emerged regarding the controversial Charlotte Flair – Tiffany Stratton segment.

The segment that saw the two female stars battling on the mic during the April 4 SmackDown went haywire very quickly. Both the stars seemingly went off-script during their promos, and the whole thing ended on an awkward note when Stratton left the ring after delivering a personal jab to The Queen.

Fightful Select provided an update on the whole thing, noting that the consensus backstage is that Charlotte went off-script first, calling herself ‘Nepo Queen.’

The former Champion addressing the negative reaction from the Chicago crowd was also something that wasn’t planned and was called ‘run of the mill ad-libbing that would never get anyone any heat.’

According to the site, neither the line about Charlotte’s divorce nor Ludwig Kaiser sliding into her DMs was cleared ahead of time.

While many felt that Tiffany Stratton needed to fight back after Flair mocked her voice, going personal to the degree seen on TV was not recommended. Both the lines were removed in video of the segment that was uploaded on social platforms.

The whole situation was referred to as a ‘wreck,’ and both the female stars had heat for going off-script. Though the issue between the two did not escalate further backstage after the show.

It’s unknown how WWE is planning to handle the build for their upcoming match after this segment. It’d be interesting to see if the two stars come face to face again in coming weeks or if they are kept apart until WrestleMania.

AEW Dynamite Preview (April 9, 2025)

Michael Reichlin
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AEW Dynamite Preview (April 9, 2025)

It’s Wednesday and you know what that means: AEW Dynamite returns to TBS and MAX live from Baltimore, MD at the Chesapeake Employers Insurance Arena.

Dynamite will feature fallout from this past weekend’s AEW Dynasty 2025 pay-per-view, including the Young Bucks’ surprise return and their attack on Swerve Strickland, FTR turning on Cope, and the initial build to next month’s AEW Double or Nothing 2025 event.

Confirmed Matches and Segments:

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  • Women’s Owen Hart Cup Tournament: Thunder Rosa vs. Kris Statlander (first round match) with AEW Women’s World Champion Timeless Toni Storm on commentary
  • Tag Team Match: The Opps (Samoa Joe & HOOK) vs. The Death Riders (Claudio Castagnoli & Wheeler Yuta)
  • Singles Match: Swerve Strickland vs. PAC

Stay tuned to SEScoops for the latest AEW news and coverage of tonight’s AEW Dynamite.

What Happened at AEW Dynasty 2025

Ahead of Dynamite, here’s a quick recap of the major happenings from Dynasty:

  • Jon Moxley retained the AEW World Championship against Swerve Strickland in the main event with help from The Young Bucks, who made their surprise return after a hiatus since October 2024
  • Kenny Omega successfully defended the AEW International Championship in a three-way match against Ricochet and Mike Bailey
  • Adam Cole defeated Daniel Garcia to win the AEW TNT Championship in a No Time Limit, No Outside Interference match
  • Toni Storm retained the AEW Women’s World Championship against challenger Megan Bayne
  • Death Riders (PAC, Wheeler Yuta, & Claudio Castagnoli) retained the AEW World Trios Championship against Rated FTR (Cope, Dax Harwood & Cash Wheeler)
  • The Hurt Syndicate (Bobby Lashley & Shelton Benjamin) successfully defended the AEW World Tag Team Championship against The Learning Tree (Big Bill & Bryan Keith)
  • Bandido defeated Chris Jericho in a Title vs. Mask match to win the ROH World Championship
  • Owen Hart Cup Tournament First Round matches: Will Ospreay defeated Kevin Knight, Kyle Fletcher defeated Mark Briscoe, and Mercedes Moné defeated Julia Hart
  • During the Moxley vs. Strickland match, “Hangman” Adam Page appeared but was attacked by the Death Riders, leading to a brawl that went to the back

Candice Michelle Calls Charlotte-Tiffany Real-Life Drama ‘Brilliant’ for WWE Storytelling

Michael Reichlin
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Candice Michelle Calls Charlotte-Tiffany Real-Life Drama ‘Brilliant’ for WWE Storytelling

Candice Michelle believes WWE’s use of real-life tension between Charlotte Flair and Tiffany Stratton adds authenticity to the product, praising the approach as a powerful storytelling tool. Speaking on Ten Count Wrestling, the former Women’s Champion reflected on how personal elements can elevate wrestling rivalries beyond scripted feuds.

“It’s kind of genius because it really brings out the fire in you,” Michelle said. “It brings out a side of you that’s not choreographed, it’s not planned, and these two women are just really great athletes.”

The segment in question, which aired on SmackDown, involved emotionally charged promos touching on Flair’s past divorce and Stratton’s personal relationships—content that was later partially removed from WWE’s digital platforms due to backstage concern.

Michelle emphasized that emotional realism, when used thoughtfully, can lead to some of the most memorable wrestling moments.

“When it really boils down to it, it’s about that performance meaning more than anything,” she added. “And then when the fire is added on top of it, that’s when you get those really incredible moments—those times where you just really connect with these people because so many people in the world go through stuff like that.”

Charlotte Flair and Tiffany Stratton will settle their differences in the ring once and for all next weekend at WrestleMania 41.

Ludwig Kaiser Denies Sliding into Charlotte Flair’s DM’s

Former WWE Divas Champion Candice Michelle ‘Waiting for the Call’ for Evolution 2

Michael Reichlin
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Former WWE Divas Champion Candice Michelle ‘Waiting for the Call’ for Evolution 2

Candice Michelle is eyeing a potential return to WWE, specifically at the rumored revival of Evolution, the company’s all-women’s pay-per-view. The former WWE Women’s Champion revealed she was not invited to the 2018 edition but hopes that changes this time.

“Anytime the women are doing great in the business you know I’m just always applauding them,” Michelle said during an interview on Ten Count Wrestling.

“I’ve always had that kind of mentality—if the door doesn’t open for me, I’m just not meant to go in it in that season. So hopefully if it is returning, that this time the door will be open.”

Evolution 2 Dream Opponent

Asked about a dream opponent, Michelle named Charlotte Flair, noting their shared larger-than-life personas would make for a compelling clash.

“She’s just an incredible heel,” Michelle said. “So I think that combination—both of us being a little over-the-top, queenlike—kind of battling that royalty out… where she’s wrestling royalty, I don’t come from any kind of royalty but my own beingness.”

Michelle, who won the Women’s Championship in 2007, made a brief WWE return in 2019 during the Raw Reunion episode. Her comments come amid growing speculation that WWE may bring back Evolution as part of its broader effort to spotlight women’s wrestling.

A potential return would place Michelle among several former stars revisiting the ring, blending WWE’s current talent roster with legacy performers. With Charlotte Flair continuing to dominate the women’s division, a showdown between the two would be both symbolic and storyline-rich.

Charlotte Flair: If It Happens, I Look Forward To Creating More Magic At WWE Evolution 2

Kevin Knight Felt ‘Validated’ After Wrestling Will Ospreay at AEW Dynasty

Michael Reichlin
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Kevin Knight Felt ‘Validated’ After Wrestling Will Ospreay at AEW Dynasty

Kevin Knight has described his recent match with Will Ospreay at AEW’s Dynasty pay-per-view as a major moment in his professional journey, calling it “validating” despite the outcome.

“It was another validating moment for me in my career. And I just kept telling myself this is what we asked for. This is what we prayed for, this is what we prepared for,” Knight said during a podcast interview on Unlikely with Adrian Hernandez.

Although he didn’t secure the win, Knight said the performance showed he could stand toe-to-toe with one of the best.

“I stacked up great against one of the best, if not the best in the world,” he added.

Known for his athleticism and signature dropkick, Knight emphasized the intricacies behind the move:

“People think the dropkick is such a simple move but man, there’s so many things that go into it… the biggest thing is just the timing.”

He also touched on his evolving style and presentation, including his tag team with Kushida, the Intergalactic Jet Setters.

“We tried to go with some other names but they wouldn’t let us trademark it. So we went with something that was a little unique and gave off the futuristic vibe.”

Looking ahead, Knight promised fans more surprises in AEW.

“They can expect the unexpected out the Jet… I’m here to shake some things up and bring a little different flavor.”

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