Kevin Knight has confirmed that he is officially signed to both All Elite Wrestling (AEW) and New Japan Pro Wrestling (NJPW), continuing a rare dual affiliation in the industry.
“I inked the deal with New Japan as well. So New Japan got a deal with me for another year or so and so does AEW. So I’m doing both. Best of both worlds,” Knight shared during his appearance on Unlikely with Adrian Hernandez.
Calling himself “intergalactic, interdimensional, interpromotional,” Knight emphasized his goal of staying true to his evolving identity in wrestling. Knight also addressed his past WWE tryout, describing it as a valuable experience rather than a setback.
“I understand how the business works… I didn’t take it as disrespect. If anything I took it as a challenge just to show what I’m about,” he said. “It was a great learning experience… seeing how they work, what they’re looking for, and just the environment.”
On choosing AEW over other paths, Knight cited the promotion’s creative flexibility.
“It was really just a matter of where I felt I fit in the scope of the company,” he explained. “Tony’s a great person, great boss, and AEW allows you to have a little bit of freedom to find yourself.”
Knight also reflected on his training background, including time under Katsuyori Shibata at the LA Dojo and later with Natalya and TJ Wilson at The Dungeon.
“The biggest thing I learned from the dojo is just your fundamentals… and using your voice,” he said, noting that both training environments emphasized energy and heart.
Triple H has compared John Cena’s new character to one of the most famous fictional villains of all time.
The Game appeared on the Tonight Show this Tuesday to promote WrestleMania 41. He talked about things such as getting inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame, his early gimmicks before he signed with WWE, and more.
When Jimmy Fallon asked about John Cena, Triple H discussed how the Cenation Leader has been the ultimate good guy of the wrestling business for the past 2 decades:
“So John Cena, who is the ultimate good guy, and has been…his whole mantra his entire career – Hustle Loyalty Respect. He has just been the ultimate good guy, as a human being has done more wishes for Make-A-Wish than any other celebrity in history.
He’s incredible. But the challenge on this is he’s in his retirement run. He will end his career, in-ring career in December with WWE. So he’s kind of got this year as his farewell.”
Speaking about Cena’s heel turn in his retirement year, Triple H compared the 16-time world champion to Darth Vader, saying that he is working very hard to make people hate him:
“He came back and turned into a bad guy. In our business he turned heel and he beat the crap out of Cody Rhodes with the Rock and with Travis Scott and he beat the crap out of Cody Rhodes.
It’s amazing to see that transformation of John from like the most beloved character in WWE to just Darth Vader. And he is working very hard to make them hate him.”
John Cena will be chasing a record-breaking 17th world title when he goes up against Cody Rhodes at the Show of Shows this year. The match is currently expected to main event night 2 of the PPV.
Damian Priest has proven himself in the squared circle but now he’s wanting to prove he’s the host with the most. This week, it was confirmed that Priest will host Slayer’s concert on September 20 at Hersheypark Stadium in Hershey, Pennsylvania. This will be an extra important role for the former World Heavyweight Champion as it will be Slayer’s only appearance in the U.S. as part of their tour this year.
Priest’s connection to Slayer goes beyond being a fan of the iconic band. Priest’s finisher, South of Heaven, gets its name from a track. In addition, Slayer’s Kerry King provided guitar work for ‘Rise of the Night,’ Priest’s current entrance theme.
Back in the ring, Priest has been feuding with Drew McIntyre and a match between the two is expected for WrestleMania 41. This will serve as a rematch from their WrestleMania 40 encounter, where Priest cashed in his Money in the Bank contract to win the World Heavyweight Championship.
The April 8, edition of WWE NXT saw Ricky Saints appear in his first appearance since capturing the NXT North American Championship. As Saints celebrated in the ring to the delight of fans, Vic Joseph highlighted that Saints had broken the record for the fastest time from a Superstar debuting to capturing gold in WWE NXT.
The only issue? Saints does not hold the record. Saints, albeit as an unnamed wrestler, debuted on the February 11, edition of WWE NXT, and won the North American title from Shawn Spears on the April 1, episode. This give Saints a time of 49 days, an impresive number but not the record. Instead, the record goes to Ethan Page who captured the NXT Championship at Battleground in July 2024, merely 40 days after debuting in WWE NXT.
Page has set his sights on capturing the NXT North American Championship and attacked Saints following his title win. On the April 8, edition of the silver brand, Page once again got the better of his fellow All-Elite alum. Page will face Wes Lee, Lexis King, and Eddy Thorpe during the April 15, edition of WWE NXT, with the winner earning a title shot against Saints at Stand & Deliver.
Recently, Swerve Strickland and Booker T have shared heated words after Booker took issue with Swerve crticizing WWE’s handling of race during his tenure as a Superstar. Following AEW Dynasty, Strickland spoke about representation and ended with the pointed message of “F*** Booker T!” but WWE fans have rallied to the support of the Hall of Famer.
In fan-recorded footage from the April 8, edition of WWE NXT, fans could be hard chanting “F*** you Swerve!” and “All hail King Booker,” a nod to Booker T’s 2006 King of the Ring victory. The fan recording also caught Booker’s reaction with the two-time Hall of Famer finding the chants hilarious.
— NoDQ.com: WWE and AEW news (@nodqdotcom) April 9, 2025
Booker did not address his issues with Swerve Strickland during WWE NXT but has discussed it on his Hall of Fame podcast. Booker argued that Swerve’s post-Dynasty comments only hurt the overall show and shared some advice to the former AEW World Champion.
“Don’t be talking about something other than the pay-per-view at the end of the night… The last thing people are going to remember is me. I’m sure Tony Khan don’t appreciate the news.”
Booker added that he’s through saying anything positive about Strickland, adding that he’s “learned my lesson” amid their ongoing tensions. While Booker T and Swerve Strickland may be in different companies and will likely never cross paths on-screen, the issues between the two remain clear for all to see.
Stephanie Vaquer will have to deal with not one but three contenders for her NXT Women’s Championship come WrestleMania 41 weekend.
This week’s episode of the Black & Silver show featured a #1 contender match between Jordynne Grace and Jaida Parker to determine Vaquer’s opponent for the upcoming Stand & Deliver event.
The Women’s Champion, however, got into a fight with Parker mid-match, leading to a brawl between all three of the women at the ringside. This is when Giulia made her return to the brand.
The Japanese star first took out both Parker and Grace. She then got into it with the current champion as well. Giulia delivered a headbutt to Stephanie and then took her out with a brainbuster.
After this encounter between the two former friends, WWE announced a fatal four-way NXT Women’s title match among all four women involved in tonight’s segment for the upcoming show. Here is the updated NXT Stand & Deliver card taking place from from T-Mobile Arena in Paradise, Nevada:
Ladder Match For NXT Women’s North American Championship: Zaria vs. Kelani Jordan vs. Sol Ruca vs. Izzi Dame vs. 2 TBD
Fatal Four Way Match For NXT Women’s Championship: Stephanie Vaquer (c) vs. Giulia vs. Jordynne Grace vs. Jaida Parker
Triple Threat match For NXT Championship: Oba Femi (c) vs. Trick Williams vs. Je’Von Evans
Apart from this, both Fraxiom and Ricky Starks are set to defend the Tag Team Championships and the North American Championship, respectively at the April 19 event but their opponents are yet to be determined. NXT Stand & Deliver will have a special start time of 1:00 P.M. ET
The April 7, episode of WWE Monday Night Raw saw Bron Breakker deliver a series of hellacious spears, sending a clear message to any potential challengers to the Intercontinental Championship. Breakker ran down the entrance-way to spear Carlito in a move that has left the Jugment Day star believing the end is near.
On X, Carlito joked that he will have a ‘funeral’ this Friday after being speared by Breakker. The cool Superstar thanked fans for their thoughts and preayers before asking fans to respect the privacy of his family after their ‘loss.’
Thank you everyone for your thought & prayers! ??…..my funeral service is scheduled for this Friday. My family asks for privacy during this painful time, muchas gracias#WWERaw#WWERawonNetflix#spear#brokeninhalf#BronBreakker
Carlito wasn’t the only Superstar to eat a spear during WWE Monday Night Raw. Penta and Dominik Mysterio both ate spears by the second-generation Superstar. However, it was Finn Balor who’d have the last laugh as he attacked Breakker from behind and posed with the Intercontinental Title.
Breakker’s WrestleMania debut will see him put the Intercontinental Title on the line against Balor, Mysterio, and Penta, the latter of whom is also making hid debut at the Show of Shows. While the odds certainly aren’t in the favor of the champion, He at least won’t have to deal with Carlito getting involved, at least according to the former U.S Champion.
Josh Matthews has had a lengthy career in professional wrestling and now the former WWE personality may be All-Elite. According to Dave Meltzer of F4W Online, Matthews was working behind the scenes at the recent AEW Dynasty pay-per-view.
Matthews’ role at AEW Dynasty comes mere weeks after it was reported that he had parted ways with TNA Wrestling. Matthews had been with TNA for a decae and had held several roles with the promotion. In addition to being an on-screen commentator, Matthews was a Senior Producer and the Senior Director of Digital Media. He also was in action in TNA on very rare occasions, showing that he brought multiple talents to the company.
Before TNA, Matthews spent years working for WWE as an on-screen interviewer and correspondent. Matthews’ big break in wrestling came when he was part of the first season of WWE Tough Enough. Though he did not win the show, he made it to the finals and clearly impressed those with the company enough to offer him a job.
Now, Matthews has landed in AEW where Tony Khan and others hope to make use of his decades of experience. Whether Dynasty was just a one-off or the start of something big, Matthews isn’t having a problem finding work post-TNA.
WWE Chief Content Officer Paul “Triple H” Levesque is set to appear on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon tonight, April 8, 2025, at 11:35 PM ET on NBC. During the show, Triple H will discuss his upcoming induction into the WWE Hall of Fame Class of 2025 and the highly anticipated WrestleMania 41, scheduled for April 19 and 20 at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas.
Triple H’s Hall of Fame induction was announced earlier this year, marking his second induction; he was previously honored as part of D-Generation X in 2019. This individual recognition celebrates his illustrious career, including multiple world championships and significant contributions to the wrestling industry.
WrestleMania 41 promises to be a landmark event, drawing fans from around the world to Las Vegas for a weekend of wrestling entertainment.
In addition to the main event at Allegiant Stadium, WWE has planned various activities throughout the city, including the Hall of Fame ceremony at the Fontainebleau Las Vegas on April 18.
Fans can tune in to The Tonight Show to hear Triple H share insights on his Hall of Fame induction, the preparations for WrestleMania 41, and other exciting developments in WWE.
Cody Rhodes has been the top babyface in the WWE since his return at WrestleMania 38 and going right into a feud with Seth Rollins. Since then, he’s had ups and downs, including a WrestleMania XL WWE Title win over Roman Reigns. He has had a loyal and strong connection to the fans throughout it.
Now, he has another challenge in his way. Rhodes is set to defend his Undisputed WWE Championship against John Cena at WrestleMania 41.
Cena may question Cody’s authenticity, but Cody says he’s real and is not playing a character.
“It’s always easier [to be the bad guy]. Every week, I think they’re gonna boo me and every week we’ve been lucky where it’s been like, no, we like you,” Cody said during an interview on Pardon My Take. “I genuinely find a surprise every night, the way they do my entrance, I’m surrounded by all this pyro and then it does these sparks and then I can really hear the audience and it’s legit the coolest thing ever.
I don’t know, I don’t know the formula, I think there’s an element of being in the family and the love they had with my dad and the connection we had. I think it’s cause I took them on the full ride from the time I was back at WWE — also, with the suspension of disbelief and what we do, everything about me is [real]. I don’t have a character, I am me and I’m really happy that it has worked out. I’m always expecting like, yup, Barclays or something, or Chicago is notoriously a tough wrestling market and then in those places, they’re like, nah he’s cool. I’m very lucky. At a certain point, who knows, but it’s very blessed.”
Ric Flair has shared his thoughts on the heated live promo segment between Charlotte Flair and Tiffany Stratton that aired during the April 4 episode of WWE SmackDown. Speaking on Busted Open Radio today, Flair addressed the unscripted nature of the exchange and voiced concern over the personal topics brought into the storyline.
“I have an opinion, but I don’t really want to voice it. I can say this, it’s very sensitive. I didn’t like it, but wrestling is wrestling,” Flair said. “I hate when they use me, but Charlotte said it right, you think that’s the first time hearing my name?”
— SiriusXM Busted Open (@BustedOpenRadio) April 8, 2025
The 16-time world champion also took the opportunity to praise Charlotte’s in-ring ability.
“She is ten times the athlete that I am. So much better of a worker than I ever was. I can’t do half the things that she does. It’s not like she’s 5’2’’ and 103 pounds. She’s 5’11 and weighs 145 pounds. She works so hard,” Flair added. “Undertaker said it best, ‘The Queen came back and regained her crown.’ She deserves it.”
The controversial segment saw Stratton target Charlotte with personal insults, including references to her family legacy and real-life relationships. Stratton accused Flair of being emotionally unstable and claimed she would always be in her father’s shadow, before making a pointed remark about her romantic history. Flair responded with a retort referencing Stratton’s boyfriend, Ludwig Kaiser.
When asked whether the personal jabs were discussed backstage beforehand, Ric Flair admitted he wasn’t sure.
“I don’t know the answer to that. I would assume there was no discussion of that before, but I don’t have any idea. I’m not privy to know that. I would imagine they probably didn’t discuss it. They are certainly talking about it now, at the expense of Ashley’s personal feelings,” Flair concluded. “Wrestling is a strange animal.”
The segment has generated considerable attention ahead of Charlotte Flair’s upcoming WrestleMania match against Tiffany Stratton, where the storyline tension now mirrors real-life emotion.
Peter Avalon Recovering After Shoulder Surgery Amid AEW and ROH Absence
Injury setbacks remain a part of professional wrestling, and one AEW and ROH talent has been off television due to recovery. Peter Avalon recently underwent shoulder surgery, according to Mike Johnson of PWInsider, and is currently in the healing process.
Avalon is an All Elite original, signing in April 2019 before the company’s official kickoff at Double or Nothing the following month. He made his in-ring debut at Fyter Fest that June as part of the “Librarian” act alongside Leva Bates. Since 2023, Avalon has also appeared regularly in Ring of Honor programming.
His most recent ROH appearance came on the October 26, 2024, episode, where he challenged Atlantis Jr. for the ROH World Television Championship but came up short.
Will Ospreay is open to rekindling his rivalry with Josh Alexander—this time on an AEW stage.
The two are tied 1-1 from their previous encounters in TNA Wrestling, with matches taking place in 2023 and 2024. With Alexander now a free agent, speculation has emerged about his potential involvement in AEW’s Owen Hart Foundation men’s tournament.
Speaking with Sports Illustrated, Ospreay said he’s unsure whether Alexander has signed with AEW, but praised the former TNA World Champion.
“It’s not been confirmed that he’s signed anything yet,” Ospreay said. “But I mean, look, I had two epic matches with him in TNA…
When we wrestled that first time, I had no problem telling him, like, I didn’t really know much about him, but I was a fan the moment, like, that first five minutes I started wrestling with him.”
Ospreay noted their rematch ended with Alexander getting the win, and said he’d love to settle the score—potentially in the tournament finals. While not confirming Alexander’s AEW status, Ospreay remains hopeful.
The mystery wildcard entrant in the Owen Hart Foundation tournament is set to face Hangman Page in the first round. Ospreay, on the opposite side of the bracket, has already advanced to the semifinals after defeating Kevin Knight.
The tournament finals are scheduled for AEW’s Double or Nothing in May, with the winner earning an AEW World Championship shot at All In Texas.
Ospreay also named NJPW’s Gabe Kidd as another possible wildcard pick.
Alexander became a free agent in February following the end of his TNA contract. He recently appeared for Maple Leaf Pro Wrestling and is scheduled for another appearance in May.
Penta has made a big splash since arriving in WWE, picking up wins and earning fans’ support with the performances puts on in his matches. Unlike his tenure in AEW, where he was a tag team star with Rey Fenix, WWE presents him as a singles wrestler.
While speaking to Sebastian Hackl of WWE Deutschland, Penta discussed his run in WWE thus far.
“It’s a mix of emotions and feelings. It’s very different. I think, not I think, I’m sure WWE is the best company in the world, brother. WWE, they make you feel like a big superstar. They make you feel very professional. You are a professional wrestler. I love WWE. These three months was changes in my life. Every change is to improve something. This improvement was my career. When I say this is the new Penta Era. When I came to WWE, I started a new era for Penta in my life.”
Penta was also asked about potentially unmasking one day. He said he doesn’t like the idea now, but he would be open to doing something in 10 years.
“I would like maybe a mask vs mask or mask vs. hair or mask vs. something. Something special. My dream match, mask vs. mask, Penta vs. Fenix. I don’t know when. Maybe only in my mind it happens, but maybe in 10 or 15 years it’s possible.”
WWE Intercontinental Champion Bron Breakker vs. Penta vs. Dominik Mysterio vs. Finn Balor in Fatal Four Way Match has been booked for WrestleMania 41.
Gabriel “Fluffy” Iglesias has explained why he hasn’t explored the physical side of wrestling despite being a longtime fan.
There is a long list of celebrities who have been bitten by the wrestling bug after making an appearance at a show. Both Travis Scott and Jelly Roll showing interest in a potential in-ring debut after their recent WWE appearance is the latest example of this phenomenon.
The comedy star, who has never denied his love for the business, was asked about the same during a recent interview with Chris Van Vliet. Gabriel Iglesias noted that he isn’t looking to get involved as he won’t be able to deliver the physicality required for it at his age:
“I just gotta pass the physical, and that’s probably the main reason why I haven’t asked to participate in the ring, is I’m pushing 50. I got in the ring one time and it was scary. It was scary.
You could feel the intensity. People say, Oh man, it’s fake. No. Maybe it’s predetermined but I felt the hits in the ring, and I wasn’t even the one getting hit and so, yeah, I’m good. I’d rather be on the outside watching.”
Apart from this, Gabriel Iglesias talked about how he got into wrestling and noted that he was a Hulk Hogan fan growing up. Later in the life however, he realized how there were many other great wrestlers on the roster and named talents such as Ricky Steamboat and Randy Savage as people he became fan of.
You can check out Iglesias’ full interview where he also talks about things such as his experience with DDP Yoga, hosting the WWE Rivals show and more below:
Tammy Sytch has been ordered to pay $5 million to the estate of Julian Lasseter following a civil judgment in Volusia County, Florida. The ruling officially closes the lawsuit related to the 2022 DUI crash that resulted in Lasseter’s death and Sytch’s subsequent imprisonment.
The consent judgment obtained by PWInsider was issued on April 3, 2025 by Circuit Judge Mary G. Jolley, and stems from a settlement reached in February. Sytch is required to pay the sum with interest and complete a financial disclosure under oath within 45 days unless the judgment is satisfied or discovery stayed.
Lasseter was killed in March 2022 when Sytch, driving under the influence with a suspended license, rear-ended his vehicle. At the time, she had an open bottle of vodka and cannabis in her system.
The civil suit accused Sytch of negligence and sought damages exceeding $30,000 for medical costs, funeral expenses, and emotional loss suffered by Lasseter’s adult daughter.
Sytch was sentenced in November 2023 to 17 years in prison for DUI manslaughter and related charges, with an additional eight years of probation. Her request to serve concurrent sentences was denied.
She is currently incarcerated and is expected to remain in prison until at least 2039.
Former WWE star Karl Anderson is hopeful that WWE doesn’t fire Kevin Owens amid latter’s injury woes.
Anderson, who is currently on the shelf with a torn rotator cuff and a partially torn labrum, underwent surgery in November and said he would be out six to nine months.
Alongside his tag team partner Doc Gallows, he recently returned to their Talk’n Shop podcast for the first time since they were released by WWE in February. The duo was let go from the company as Anderson was dealing with the injury.
Anderson had raised concerns that Kevin Owens shouldn’t face the same fate as him. During a new episode of Talk N Shop, Anderson & Gallows announced that they would talk about in detail on May 8th. There were reports about Owens’ injury ahead of last week’s WWE SmackDown and ‘The Prizefighter’ later confirmed the same.
He further announced on the blue brand that he needed to get neck surgery. It is to be kept in mind that KO hadn’t made the announcement when Anderson’s podcast episode was recorded. Here is what Karl Anderson said:
“I don’t know anything about anything. I’m not in the middle of anything. I don’t know anything about storylines or how his health is. I don’t know his injury status. I don’t want to comment on that. Here’s what I’m going to go with. If Kevin is really hurt, which I’m not saying he is or isn’t, I don’t have any idea. I haven’t followed. I’m barely involved. I’m just going to say this; I hope, if he’s really hurt and he has surgery, I hope he is not released two and a half months after the major surgery. That’s all I’m going to say. I hope that doesn’t happen to him. I hope that it’s a work and Randy [Orton] attacks him and they have a match at WrestleMania. If Kevin is really hurt, I just hope two and a half months after his recovery, everything is going well.”
Kevin Owens’ neck injury has forced him to miss WrestleMania 41. Moreover, due to the seriousness of the injury, his pro wrestling future is also up in the air. This has left Randy Orton without an opponent for WrestleMania. With less than two weeks for the show, some fans have also endorsed Karrion Kross to be Orton’s opponent at ‘The Grandest Stage of Them All.
Breakker, who is merciless inside the squared circle, lashed out a series of spears on his upcoming opponents at WrestleMania 41. During last night’s Raw, the reigning champ rushed down the ramp to hit a massive spear on Carlito which grabbed some eyeballs due to its vicious nature. He then went on to spear Dominik Mysterio and Penta. However, Finn Balor outsmarted Breakker and evaded a spear.
Following the segment, Bron Breakker’s girlfriend Izzi Dame reacted to Breakker hitting the vicious spear on Carlito. It turns out Breakker unleashes spears at home too. Here is what she wrote on X:
“This what he does to me every time I walk through the door LMAO.”
Izzi Dame and Bron Breakker has been in a relationship since October last year. Dame, who is currently signed with NXT, has been part of The Culling after betraying Tony D’Angelo. She has been associated with Shawn Spears, Brooks Jensen, and Niko Vance.
On the other hand, Bron Breakker, who is the son of pro wrestling legend Rick Steiner, is set to defend his Intercontinental title against Penta, Dominik Mysterio, and Finn Balor in a fatal four way match at WrestleMania 41.
GCW’s Josh Barnett has confirmed he has spoken with WWE’s William Regal about the possibility of returning to the ring during WrestleMania 41 week.
The WWE Vice President of Global Talent Development last competed in November 2013, when he faced Antonio Cesaro (Claudio Castagnoli) in NXT.
During a recent appearance on Ringsiders Wrestling, Barnett revealed he reached out to Regal for a potential match at GCW’s Bloodsport XIII, part of The Collective series in April 2025.
“You think I haven’t had some conversations with William Regal about, ‘If you should feel spry…’” Barnett said. “The ball is in his court. If he says it’s time, done. If he prefers spectating, that’s also done. Whatever he wants—he’s right.”
Regal has made appearances at GCW events in the past, while his son, Charlie Dempsey, competed at three Bloodsportshows in 2024.
GCW will host Bloodsport XIII on April 17, featuring Natalya’s debut GCW match and Pete Dunne’s first appearance with the promotion.
Additionally, the GCW Presents ID Championship Tournament is scheduled for April 16, with new information revealed about WWE’s involvement in the tournament
After nearly a year out of the spotlight, Ricky Saints has quickly become one of WWE’s most impactful additions of 2025. Debuting in NXT just 24 hours after his AEW contract ended, Saints has already captured the North American Championship.
He’s quickly established himself as a star to watch in WWE’s developmental brand, but his leap to WWE wasn’t carefully orchestrated. According to Saints, the move came together at breakneck speed. During a conversation with The Ringer’s Cameron Hawkins, Saints reveals just how quickly it all came together:
“People think that was days in advance,” he said. “I had never spoken to WWE at all before any of that. So when I say it happened so fast, it happened so fast—and it never let up off the gas.”
Chasing Fulfillment
Just one year earlier, Saints seemed poised for a breakout in AEW. He had gone toe-to-toe with MJF, teamed and feuded with CM Punk, and won the Owen Hart Cup. But behind the scenes, momentum slipped away.
Following an early 2024 match, he was largely absent from AEW television, despite his strong in-ring performances and fan support. In the months that followed, Saints remained mostly sidelined.
He chose to limit independent appearances and traveled frequently, both to stay grounded and to reflect on his next steps. Still, the absence took a toll.
“Fulfillment comes from actually making art, doing art, and actually being the person that makes something and then puts it out there,” Saints explained. “When you don’t have that opportunity… my fulfillment is stalled out.”
An Important Reminder
The turning point came after his House of Glory appearance, when fan support reminded him of what was possible beyond the noise of online speculation. Less than a month later, he debuted as Ricky Saints in WWE.
His arrival didn’t go unnoticed by NXT’s roster. Saints quickly found himself in a competitive, often cold environment, where his past accolades were acknowledged—but not embraced. Nonetheless, the brand has become a proving ground for his skill set, combining his promo chops with his in-ring versatility and presentation.
Saints soon defeated Shawn Spears—another AEW alum—to win the North American Championship. That win may lead to a title defense against Ethan Page at NXT Stand & Deliver during WrestleMania weekend.
Looking ahead, Saints isn’t shy about his goals.
“My aspirations in AEW were to just be given a chance and given the ball fully. I want that in WWE, obviously,” he said.
“I want the WWE Championship, but along the way, the Intercontinental Title would be great.”
Whether on the mic or in the ring, Ricky Saints is making every moment count.
After capturing the WWE World Heavyweight Championship at SummerSlam 2024 by defeating Damian Priest, Gunther has remained a dominant force, successfully defending his title against Priest, Sami Zayn, and Jey Uso.
As WrestleMania 41 approaches, the champion is set to face Uso once again. Speaking with Sam Roberts on The RAW Recap, the Austrian grappler discussed the pressure associated with high-profile matches.
“I never had an issue with fitting in those situations. I always knew what I’m capable of. I always knew where I belonged,” he said.
“Even though this year it’s not the scenario I wanted to be in, I have an opponent that’s overreaching by a mile, that is not on my level. I’m a professional. I’m the World Heavyweight Champion. There’s a duty to fulfill, and I’m going to do that.”
When asked about his excitement for WrestleMania, Gunther maintained that his personal emotions take a backseat to the responsibility of holding the title.
“My personal feelings, it’s too intimate of a question to answer,” he said. “I’m here to fulfill my duties as World Heavyweight Champion. That’s what I’m doing right now.”
Gunther’s comments underscore his serious approach to title defenses, reinforcing his image as a focused and disciplined champion heading into WWE’s biggest stage.
Gunther previously said he’s planning a “mercy killing” of Jey Uso at WrestleMania, while the “Main Event” Uce says he’s ready to unleash the beast within him at WWE’s biggest show of the year:
There are certainly WrestleMania main events that just about everyone agrees were great. They include Hulk Hogan’s clashes with Randy Savage and The Ultimate Warrior, Stone Cold Steve Austin vs. The Rock at WrestleMania 17, Shawn Michaels vs. The Undertaker at WrestleMania 26, the WrestleMania 20 and 30 Triple Threat matches, and Cody Rhodes finishing the story at WrestleMania 40.
The WrestleMania 31 main event holds a unique place on this list. Going into ‘Mania, a lot of fans rejected Roman Reigns vs. Brock Lesnar, foreseeing The Big Dog predictably going over while a vocal portion of the audience was not sold that he was ready for or ever would deserve that top-tier push as “the guy.” The one-on-one action exceeded expectations, though, in a hard-hitting bout that was certainly the best singles performance Reigns had had up to that point by a large margin.
WWE still had itself booked into a corner, though, of undoing that good will with Reigns actually going over and thus reenergizing his haters, or booking Lesnar to win when heel victories in a WrestleMania main event tend to deflate the crowd. The company pulled a rabbit out of its hat, though, with Seth Rollins cashing in Money in the Bank in a moment exciting enough for no one to question the finish. Moreover, WWE achieved the unlikely in putting the title on an Internet darling while protecting its top two names with a chaotic finish.
It may be hard to believe, but ten years have passed since that night, and it’s worth reflecting on one of the most electric moments in the history of The Grandest Stage of Them All, as well as its long-lasting ramifications.
Seth Rollins Went Down As One Of The Greatest Mr. Money In The Banks Ever
In the twenty year history of the Money in the Bank concept on the WWE landscape, fans have seen a variety of Mr. Money in the Bank archetypes and styles of cash-in. Rollins cleanly fit the mold of briefcase holders to precede him like Edge and Dolph Ziggler who were super-talented heels with scheming characters, just looking for their moment to break through to the main event level.
In successfully cashing in during the main event of WrestleMania 31, Rollins not only fit the template but further cemented his status as a new main event guy. After all, while Jack Swagger successfully cashed in on Chris Jericho on an episode of SmackDown and CM Punk won his first World Heavyweight Championship via cash-in on Raw, these were the kinds of moments that could be forgotten because most free TV happenings aren’t exactly built to last in the collective memory without the reinforcement of a great run to follow.
By contrast, crashing a WrestleMania main event showed WWE’s enormous faith in Rollins, and Rollins lived up to the opportunity translating an iconic cash-in to a half-year run on top of the company a career in the main event and upper-mid-card for a full decade and counting to follow.
Seth Rollins Confirmed Any Money In The Bank Scenario Is Possible
When Edge cashed in the very first Money in the Bank, a part of what was so special was that he didn’t simply demand a title shot (as Edge himself has indicated was the original idea), but strategically called his shot when the champion was compromised. John Cena was thoroughly beaten down after surviving an Elimination Chamber title defense and thus easy pickings for Rollins.
That execution set a template for not all, but the majority of cash-ins to follow. Rollins upped the ante, though, in adding himself to the middle of a match in a way that had not been done before, not to mention doing so in the ultimate scenario—a WrestleMania main event—to firmly establish the limitless possibilities of the cash-in concept.
Indeed, there still hasn’t been a cash-in quite this crazy to follow, but the choice Rollins made legitimized the possibility in Austin Theory’s attempts to cash-in during Clash at the Castle and SummerSlam 2022 main events. That’s not to mention Tiffany Stratton credibly faking that she might cash-in in the middle of a War Games match last fal, and Damian Priest stealing a newly won World Heavyweight Championship off Drew McIntyre at WrestleMania 40.
WrestleMania 31 Started With One Credible ‘Mania Main Eventer And Ended With Three
Heading into WrestleMania 31, Brock Lesnar was as over as could be as arguably the greatest monster heel of all time. He had ended The Undertaker’s WrestleMania undefeated streak a year earlier. He’d done the unthinkable in squashing John Cena in the main event of SummerSlam 2014. He’d gone on to decisively beat all comers across the seven-months-plus to follow, en route to facing Roman Reigns.
Reigns had a credibility problem—a new main eventer fans weren’t convinced had the talent to justify his push. WrestleMania 31 was one of his truest proving grounds as he hung with Lesnar in a hard-hitting, dramatic bout. Though he didn’t emerge champion, he took enormous strides toward fans buying him as someone who reasonably could win the big one.
And then there was Seth Rollins. Rollins had more fan respect but less push than Reigns in spring 2015, but an exceptional Money in the Bank cash-in vaulted him to world champion status. He had the in-ring chops to put on good-to-great matches with any opponent. He had the cowardly heel character to play a beatable champion—a refreshing change after Lesnar’s combination of playing a monster but only wrestling part-time made title changes feel nary possible.
Perhaps most importantly of all, the end of WrestleMania 31 saw three bona fide main eventers emerge where there had been only one. It’s telling that in the decade to follow, Lesnar would main event three more WrestleManias, Rollins two, and Reigns eight (with ten main event matches, considering the double duty he pulled closing Saturday and Sunday nights at WrestleMania 40 and planned for WrestleMania 41). The future was clear and The Heist of the Century was earned instant classic moment status.
Former WWE Champion Big E suffered a broken neck on a live episode of WWE SmackDown in 2022, barely avoided paralysis and will probably never wrestle again. Funny stuff, right?
The beloved founding member of The New Day was thrown back into the spotlight during the April 7 episode of Monday Night Raw. Comedian Tony Hinchcliffe joined the commentary team for the World Tag Team Title match between The New Day and The War Raiders. Known for his edgy humor, Hinchcliffe aimed for laughs but struck a nerve instead when he quipped,
“The only thing stiffer than Michael Cole is Big E’s neck.”
Big E: I Didn’t Sign Up For This, But That Joke Was Approved
The joke didn’t land well with many fans. Now, Big E has responded—and while he kept things respectful, he didn’t shy away from expressing his feelings. Speaking on RAW Recap with Sam Roberts and Megan Morant, Big E addressed the situation with calm clarity.
“At my big age of 39 years old, people will say what they want about you… Has nothing to do with me. That’s not my business. Say what you want. He was given a mic, he was given an opportunity. People will feel how they want to.”
Big E said he’s not hurt, but he didn’t “sign up for this” and had no idea the joke was coming. He’s taking the high road, and says “people signed off” on it and that’s got nothing to do with him.
“It was said on the show. I’m supposed to talk—especially when things are mentioned about me—I should have an opinion. But it’s tiring to always have to weigh in on what people say.
Look, I’m not hurt, I’m good. I want the discourse to be happy without me, honestly… I didn’t sign up for this (he laughed). I wasn’t aware of it. He did what he did. People signed off on it. It really has nothing to do with me.”
Big E’s level-headed response hasn’t stopped debate online. Reactions have been mixed—some defending Hinchcliffe’s dark comedy style, others criticizing WWE for allowing a joke about a real and serious injury to make it to air.
With The Roast of WrestleMania—an upcoming off-air comedy event hosted by Hinchcliffe—on the horizon, fans are left wondering how far WWE will let the humor go.
Tonight’s WWE NXT broadcasts live on the USA Network from Orlando, Florida at the WWE Performance Center.
This show will continue building to next weekend’s NXT Stand & Deliver 2025 PLE, where several championships are on the line.
Scheduled matches include:
Oba Femi, Je’Von Evans & Trick Williams vs The Dark State – This explosive six-man tag team match will see three members of the Dark State stable make their in-ring debut against Oba Femi, Je’Von Evans, and Trick Williams, all of whom are set to clash in a Triple Threat Match for the NXT Championship at Stand & Deliver 2025. The match promises intense action as these wrestlers look to gain momentum before their title bout.
Jordynne Grace vs Jaida Parker – This match pits Jordynne Grace against Jaida Parker in a hotly anticipated bout. With Stephanie Vaquer closely monitoring the action, this match could play a significant role in determining her title defense at Stand & Deliver.
Wes Lee vs Yoshiki Inamura – Wes Lee will face off against Yoshiki Inamura in what promises to be an exciting singles match. Both competitors are looking to prove themselves and climb the ranks in NXT.
Stay tuned to SEScoops for the latest WWE news and our coverage of tonight’s NXT.
What Happened Last Week
Ahead of tonight’s show, catch up on the big happenings from the April 1, 2025 episode:
Stephanie Vaquer Vacates NXT Women’s North American Championship – In a shocking move, Stephanie Vaquer relinquished the NXT Women’s North American Championship, setting up a six-woman ladder match at Stand & Deliver to crown a new champion. Zaria and Kelani Jordan were the first two competitors to qualify for the match.
No Quarter Catch Crew Defeats Hank and Tank – The No Quarter Catch Crew emerged victorious over Hank and Tank with a decisive F-5/DDT combination. This match showcased the growing talent in NXT’s tag team division.
Stand & Deliver Announcements – NXT General Manager Ava made key announcements regarding Stand & Deliver, including the Triple Threat Match for the NXT Championship between Oba Femi, Trick Williams, and Je’Von Evans.
Buildup to Stand & Deliver – The show continued to build momentum towards Stand & Deliver, setting the stage for what promises to be an exciting event with multiple championships on the line.
On the latest episode of Something To Wrestle With, JBL discussed the reports that Miro, aka Rusev, has re-signed with WWE.
Miro was spotted at the company’s headquarters in Stamford, CT, earlier this week. His visit was to finalize the arrangements for his imminent on-screen return. Notably, CJ Perry (formerly Lana) was not present at the meeting and is said not to be returning with him.
“I hope so, absolutely. I love Rusev. And I mean, absolutely love him, the Bulgarian Brute. I mean, he is such a fun human being on camera and behind the camera. You know, he’s a really smart guy. Had this great, you know, amateur background in Bulgaria. He’s just a good dude. And he went to AEW, and he went like to the witness protection program. What the hell? you’ve got this guy [and] you can’t figure out what to do with him. It just blows my mind that they didn’t….I don’t know what happened. Maybe there was a personality conflict. Maybe there was a problem.
I have no idea what happened, but he belongs on television, and he is an incredible talent. He will do great things in the WWE. And I really believe that WWE wants to send a message. By the way, come to our company, and we’ll find a way to use you and make you a real superstar. I think they’re going to use this as something to send a message, and I hope they do, because I love Rusev. I really do. I just smile when I see him. I just go up and hug him, and I think he’s the greatest guy, and I’m so happy that he’s back. I guess he’s back in it. I guess WWE hadn’t officially announced it. I hope that’s what Nick Aldi says they need somebody for Randy Orton. Randy’s gotta be at WrestleMania. There’s no doubt about it, and I hope it’s Rusev.”
Miro joined AEW after his WWE departure in 2020. There, he held the TNT Title but had rarely been used in recent years. It’s unclear when he will make his WWE TV return.
