WrestleMania 40 was an emotional night for many and Samantha Irvin couldn’t help but get choked up in the closing moments of the show’s second night.
At WWE WrestleMania 40: Sunday, Rhodes finished the story by capturing the Undisputed WWE Universal Championship from Roman Reigns. Rhodes’ desire to become a WWE World Champion (an accolade his father never achieved) has been the vocal point of his career since returning to WWE in 2022.
Fans watching WWE WrestleMania 40: Sunday may have noticed that Irvin struggled to make the official announcement that Rhodes had become the new Undisputed WWE Universal Champion. In footage shared online, the Raw announcer can be seen being overcome with emotion seeing her friend finally win ‘the big one.’
This wasn’t Irvin’s only case of feeling emotional at WWE WrestleMania 40. During the Saturday broadcast, Irvin sounded like she was struggling after Sami Zayn dethroned GUNTHER to win the WWE Intercontinental Championship.
Samantha Irvin in WWE
Irvin’s passionate announcing has earned her praise from several notable names. Former WWE announcer Lillian Garcia has praised the passion of Irvin and has said she is doing an “amazing job” in the role. Legendary sports announcer Michael Buffer of “Let’s Get Ready to Rumble” fame described Irvin as “awesome” and said in May 2023 that believes she should be front and center when making announcements.
Yes! She’s been awesome this past weekend on SMACKDOWN, BACKLASH & RAW! She should be featured in ring center for the main events!
Kayla Braxton said during an edition of the Insight podcast that Irvin is going to be “historical for this company.” In the interview, she added that Irvin has a very hard job but that she’s knocked it out of the park.
Bayley is very happy to allow the next generation of women wrestlers to take their spot at the top but not before she has celebrated her own moment.
After defeating Becky Lynch at last night’s WrestleMania 40: Saturday event, Rhea Ripley was asked if the Four Horsewomen’s time in WWE was over. While The Mami acknowledged their contribution in the women’s revolution, she said that it was time for them to step aside.
At the post-show press conference tonight, Bayley was asked if her win over IYO SKY was an answer to the Judgement Day star. The new Women’s Champion first discussed how the young star is a once in a lifetime talent:
“I think Rhea is…she is once in a lifetime. I get so jealous of her. First I have so much respect for her because she works her butt off. She does everything. You guys see Judgement Day on every single show, like 10 times throughout the night. That is not easy and sometimes not always fun. It’s very hard.
So I have all the respect for the work she does. Plus she puts on incredible matches. She’s so young, so athletic. She does one dropkick, that I can’t even….I can’t do a drop kick to someone’s knees. It’s like everything she does makes me mad.”
Bayley then mentioned a number of young female talents that are taking the work of the Horsewomen to the next stage and proclaimed that she is very happy to watch it happen:
“But I feel as the time comes for the four horsewomen to lift the division up and get better and better as we wanted to do from the beginning. I’m glad that it’s going to someone like Rhea Ripley. It’s going to somebody like Bianca Belair, Liv Morgan. You got Zoey Starks.
There is so many women that are itching to get out there. Candice LeRae is finally showing her face out there. You all the girls in NXT Roxanne Perez, Lyra [Valkyria]. This is exactly what we wanted. So if she’s ready to take it on, I’m very proud and I’m very glad to watch it happen. But let me have my damn moment, Rhea.”
Rhea Ripley defeated Charlotte Flair at WrestleMania last year and successfully took on Becky Lynch at this year’s edition of the Show of Shows. While it’s too early to predict the future, this banter turning into a match between The Mami and Bayley at WrestleMania 41 would be very poetic.
You can check out the full WrestleMania 40 Night 2 press conference below:
If you use any quotes from the article please credit SEScoops with an H/t for transcription
Speaking on the post-WrestleMania 40: Sunday press conference, Levesque addressed the success of the show and of WrestleMania week.
“You hear a lot of hyperbole coming into these things. ‘Greatest WrestleMania of all time, biggest WrestleMania of all time’… A lot of times that stuff and said, and you move on. But I do feel like this was the biggest WrestleMania of all time. I really do. And when you break it down… This was legitimately on every metric the biggest WrestleMania of all time.”
The 14-time WWE World Champion added that whether you look at the gate, social media, or various other metrics from WrestleMania or WWE World, all the numbers back up his claim.
The Paul Levesque Era
This year’s WrestleMania was truly a historic show, as it marked the first time ever that Vince McMahon did not oversee the show. In place of the disgraced ex-Chairman, Levesque served as the creative head of the show and welcomed fans to WrestleMania at the start of the Saturday event. At WWE WrestleMania 40: Sunday, Stephanie McMahon spoke of ushering in the ‘Paul Levesque Era’ and welcomed fans to the show. WWE also recently filed a trademark for the ‘Renaissance Era.’
The Superstars of WWE were dressed to kill at WrestleMania 40 with some unique attires at the two-night supershow in Philadelphia, PA.
At WWE WrestleMania 40: Saturday, Becky Lynch opened the show with an attire themed around the cover of her new memoir ‘The Man, Not Your Average, Average Girl.’
After being mistaken for D-Generation X by R-Truth, DIY showed their love for the legendary duo of Triple H & Shawn Michaels.
Given that this show was in Philadelphia, The New Day paid tribute to Rocky Balboa in the six-pack tag-team ladder match. Kofi Kingston wore an attire based on the Italian Stallion, while Xavier Woods’ Apollo Creed-inspired attire also served as a nod to his TNA days as Consequences Creed.
Rey Mysterio wore the colors of the Philadelphia Eagles and included Eagles on his attire. The WWE Hall of Famer teamed with Andrade to defeat Santos Escobar and ‘Dirty’ Dominik Mysterio.
On WrestleMania 40: Sunday, Logan Paul wore the colors of the show. The Maverick walked into the show as United States Champion and his attire bore the stars and stripes of the flag of the United States of America..
Paul successfully defended his title against Randy Orton and Kevin Owens. The Prizefighter once again wore a shirt based that referred to how many WrestleManias he’s competed at, which declared that the show was KO-Mania 8. Given that the show was in Philadelphia, it was fitting that Owens wore ECW-themed trunks for the match.
Owens didn’t just represent ECW with his ring attire. The Prizefighter’s entrance also served as a nod to the extreme promotion that went under in 2001.
Bayley walked into her Women’s Championship match with IYO SKY with an Egyptian-themed attire and entrance. As Corey Graves explained on commentary, Rosicrucian Park in Bayley’s native San Jose hosts an Egyptian museum.
Triple H is promising that the story of Roman Reigns is not finished after WrestleMania 40.
The run of The Tribal Chief since his heel turn in 2020 has been one of the most epic storylines WWE has ever produced. Now that it’s over, there has been a lot of curiosity on what’s next for the now former Undisputed Champion.
The WWE Chief Content Officer talked about Reigns in the post show press conference after WrestleMania 40. He claimed that after the latest run, Roman is for certain one of the greatest of all time:
“Before I talk on Cody, let me talk about Roman. There’s a lot of banter about greatest of all time. You can make arguments for a lot of people in that and there’s a lot of metrics that you could measure that by, or opinions or whatever that is. If he is not the, he is one of, absolutely for certain – the greatest of all time.
To do what he has done, to overcome all the things in his career. The positioning and the stuff that he had to get through and hung in there to get where he needed to be. To deal with his physical issues and his health issues to overcome, the pandemic to overcome.
Just everything that he has had to deal with, on the way here. Then to go out there and put on a run like nobody has ever put on before. A run of just epic, epic moments, epic storytelling. I see that word cinema thrown around a lot but it really is.”
Roman Reigns Is Going On A Whole New Story: Triple H
Triple H discussed how Roman Reigns has changed the business in many ways through his run. Though he proclaimed that his story is far from over and teased that The Head of The Table is going to take things on a whole nother level:
“There’s few guys that come along in our business where you say, during that period of time that they were in it. They changed the industry. He changed the industry. I mean that in front of the camera, I mean that behind the camera, he’s changed the industry. He’s that good. I can’t say enough good stuff about him.
Then to do what he did tonight with Cody Rhodes, it’s not completing the story. It’s just getting to the end of this chapter. Because he’s gonna go on a whole new story now that is going to blow people’s minds I think. I know he’s going to take it to a whole nother level, but I can’t tell you how much respect I have for Roman Reigns.”
The last time Triple H promised something like this was when Cody Rhodes lost the WrestleMania 39 match against Roman. He claimed that Cody’s story wasn’t finished and it led us on a year-long journey that concluded tonight. A promise similar to that suggests that there are some plans already in place for the former champion and we should gear up for another epic ride.
You can watch the full press conference below:
If you use any quotes from the article, please credit SEScoops with an H/t for transcription
The wrestling world has come out in force to congratulate Undisputed WWE Universal Champion Cody Rhodes following his victory at WrestleMania 40.
In the main event of WWE WrestleMania 40: Sunday, Rhodes ended the 1,316-day reign of Roman Reigns in an emotional ending to the show. After the match, Rhodes celebrated with his fellow Superstars and spoke about being grateful to those who have supported him.
Wrestling World Reacts
WWE Chief Content Officer Paul ‘Triple H’ Levesque shared a photo with Rhodes and spoke about Cody’s story being history in the making.
Rhodes’ wife Brandi borrowed a few lyrics from ‘The Greatest Show’ to express her support for her husband after his victory.
It's everything you ever want…it's everything you ever need, and it's here right in front of you. This is where you want to be ?? pic.twitter.com/sLdFPnKQo6
Two-time WWE Hall of Famer Ric Flair praised the efforts of Rhodes as well as the work of Roman Reigns. The Nature Boy said the match was one of the most athletic and believable main events he’s seen in a long time and that he respects both the former and new champion.
Congrats @CodyRhodes & @WWERomanReigns For Providing One Of The Most Athletic And Believable Main Events That I’ve Seen In A Long Time. I Hate The Interference, But It All Played Out In Your Favor And It Made The Show More Enjoyable To Watch. I Respect You Both. Thankful To Know… pic.twitter.com/wkYrYQWPfm
John Cena, who aided Rhodes during the match, also congratulated the new Undisputed WWE Universal Champion. Cena was also grateful that he had the chance to be part of WrestleMania and pointed out that the WWE story never ends.
Grateful to spend time with the #WWE Universe & be a part of #WrestleMania! Congratulations to @CodyRhodes on a history making achievement!
And the best part of it all… the @WWE story NEVER ENDS!!!!
AEW’s Amanda Huber, the wife of Jon ‘Brodie Lee’ Huber, echoed Cody’s sentiments that he gave during the press conference about why the ‘story’ means so much to fans.
Matt Hardy entered AEW during the pandemic, and now, he is no longer All Elite. The tag team specialist is now a free agent.
Fightful Select reports that Matt Hardy is now a free agent. His contract with AEW was set to expire in March. Recent developments indicate that he is no longer associated with AEW.
The reports stated that while his contract was initially set to expire, there were discussions within the company regarding an extension. The idea was that this extension might last a few weeks through WrestleMania.
The reason behind this possible extension remains unclear, because there are no indications of any injury-related absences, given that Hardy continued to make television appearances following a concussion sustained years ago during AEW All Out in his Broken Rules match against Sammy Guevara.
We’ve learned that Hardy and AEW had talks and Hardy had told those close to him that he was allowing his deal to lapse after not signing a deal offered to him.
Jeff Hardy is still under contract with AEW. His deal was originally set to expire with his brother’s, but AEW froze his contract when he took time off to take care of his personal matters.
Matt Hardy’s Road To AEW
On the February 10, 2020, episode of Raw, Hardy confronted Randy Orton regarding Orton’s assault on Edge two weeks earlier. A brawl ensued between them shortly after, during which Orton viciously attacked Hardy. The following week on Raw, an injured Hardy made another appearance, only to be assaulted once more by Orton. This would mark his final appearance in WWE.
On March 2, Hardy announced his departure from WWE via his official YouTube channel, citing differences in creative direction and expressing gratitude towards the backstage personnel. WWE then confirmed that his contract had expired on the same day.
Hardy made his debut in All Elite Wrestling on the March 18, 2020, episode. He brought his Broken gimmick to the company, but it was abandoned during those Daily Place episodes.
John Cena is making the most of his trip to Philadelphia for the WrestleMania 40 fallout. Cena was a surprise run-in for night two of the “Grand Daddy Of Them All” as the future WWE Hall Of Famer aimed to help Cody Rhodes against Roman Reigns. It was “Bloodline Rules” which meant anything goes and anything went as Rhodes vs. Reigns had several interferences and John Cena was one of them.
Cena saved Cody from a double attack from Reigns and Solo Sikoa as he ran down to take out Solo, putting him through a commentator’s table and giving Reigns an Attitude Adjustment. However, The Rock came out and delivered a Rock Bottom to his old rival from over a decade ago, taking Cena out of the equation. However, it was The Undertaker who trumped The Rock by delivering a chokeslam to ‘The Final Boss’ and Cody ended up getting the job done by hitting three Cross Rhodes to ending Roman’s reign.
Cena was one of many babyfaces to celebrate with Cody after he “finished his story” but Cena will have his own story to tell at WWE World in Philadelphia before WWE RAW.
Grateful to spend time with the #WWE Universe & be a part of #WrestleMania! Congratulations to @CodyRhodes on a history making achievement!
And the best part of it all… the @WWE story NEVER ENDS!!!!
Cena will be the guest of Pat McAfee on The Pat McAfee Show. He’s scheduled to show up at 1 PM ET, but fans haven’t seen him since last year after making a memorable run over the summer.
Cody Rhodes received a very meaningful gift from the WWE leadership after his big win against Roman Reigns at WrestleMania 40.
The American Nightmare took part in the media scrum after finally finishing the story. He was asked why he thinks people resonated with his journey so much.
Rhodes mentioned how it was a father-son story that a lot of people can connect to. Beyond that, however, it was also a tale of someone who wasn’t considered a franchise player and proved himself to be main event worthy:
“I think sometimes it feels like it’s a father-son story, which is something that father-daughter, father-son that a lot of people can see and relate to. But then if I’m truly being honest, I think it’s a story of as much as I had the legacy and I had the last name I didn’t…[I] wasn’t born with all the tools.
My brother’s six-four. Do you know how pissed off I was when I stopped growing? [laughs] My dad and my sister just had all this charisma. I think people resonate that, that works for them. You can make it to the main event. You can make it to being THE main event. I always wanted to be a winning franchise if that makes any sense. At my age and where I’m at in my career, I know that’s not been the story. But I’m very proud of, of what the story has become.
You asked, why it resonates? It’s the only answer I really know – because it’s real. I wanted to be this because at first, he wasn’t and I thought he should have been. Then when he passed away, I failed. I didn’t hand it to him. But it became about, I said this earlier, it was in the hype packages and stuff that was playing – the story was beyond me at that point. I still felt the need to finish it. I’ve been saying all week. I think I said it on First Take too that even if I didn’t believe people believed so I had to do it.”
Cody Rhodes Received A Meaningful Gift
Cody Rhodes also revealed a very special gift he received from WWE officials once he returned backstage after winning the Undisputed Championship:
“I know this isn’t what you asked at all, but something that I wanted to share. I came to the back and Bruce Prichard and Triple H and Nick Khan handed me this [watch] which is the same watch that my dad had that he pawned so that I could go to acting school. So the level of investment and responsibility that the company just put in my hands. I hope I can pay it back. Pay it forward, 100 times over.”
Cody had originally written about the watch in his eulogy for Dusty Rhodes back in 2015:
“My beautiful Sister Teil will tell you all about “angel money”. And that beautiful gold Rolex…he told me if I ever won the World Title, that I could have it. Just the other night I inquired about that watch, come to find out he had sold it so that I could drive to Los Angeles to chase a dream.”
Ric Flair may be an old rival of Dusty Rhodes, but ‘The Nature Boy’ believes in Cody Rhodes.
‘The American Nightmare’ became the WWE Undisputed Universal Champion by defeating Roman Reigns in the main event of night two of WrestleMania 40, but it was not without its bells and whistles. “The Bloodline Rules” bout between Reigns and Rhodes started off as a single affair until Jimmy Uso got the ball rolling with run-ins that featured the likes of Seth Rollins, Solo Sikoa, John Cena, The Rock and The Undertaker. However, it was Cody who delivered the final blow to ‘The Tribal Chief’ with three Cross Rhodes to become the new champ.
Flair was watching it all unfold somewhere else in Philly and was sure to congratulate ‘The Grandson Of A Plumber’ on a well-deserved win, despite ‘The Dirtiest Player In The Game’ not fully endorsing how he fully finished his story.
“Congrats To Cody Rhodes & Roman Reigns For Providing One Of The Most Athletic And Believable Main Events That I’ve Seen In A Long Time. I Hate The Interference, But It All Played Out In Your Favor And It Made The Show More Enjoyable To Watch. I Respect You Both. Thankful To Know You! Cody, You Finally Lived Your Dad’s Dream! Love You All! WOOOOO! -Naitch”
Congrats @CodyRhodes & @WWERomanReigns For Providing One Of The Most Athletic And Believable Main Events That I’ve Seen In A Long Time. I Hate The Interference, But It All Played Out In Your Favor And It Made The Show More Enjoyable To Watch. I Respect You Both. Thankful To Know… pic.twitter.com/wkYrYQWPfm
While Rhodes had two full nights of WrestleMania, Flair also had a weekend full of signings at WrestleCon this year in downtown Philadelphia. Flair’s daughter Charlotte also made an appearance at the WWE Hall of Fame on Friday night.
Damian Priest may be the new World Heavyweight Champion but the Archer of Infamy did not reach the pinnacle of WWE on his own.
Priest cashed in his Money in the Bank contract during WrestleMania 40: Sunday on Drew McIntyre, who had dethroned Rollins as World Heavyweight Champion moments earlier. Speaking on the post-WrestleMania 40: Sunday press conference, Priest spoke about being a representative of Puerto Rico and shared his first thoughts as the new champion.
“I think everybody by now knows how proud I am and how adamant I am about cultural representation. I didn’t do this alone. I think I had, not just an entire island behind me, I had a whole culture. And it’s one of the most proud things that I’ve accomplished is being able to represent and getting people to represent their cultures no matter where they’re from. So being now a representative of WWE with this championship, I couldn’t be prouder for my people. Gracias.”
What’s to Come?
During the press conference, Priest was asked about his place in WWE coming out of WrestleMania 40, which also saw Cody Rhodes crowned the new Undisputed WWE Universal Champion.
“Where we’re going, where we’re headed, I have no idea. This new era of the company, I mean everybody can feel it. Everybody can sense it. We’re on a rollercoaster.”
Cody Rhodes ended the 1,316-day reign of Roman Reigns as WWE Universal Champion in the main event of WrestleMania 40: Sunday. The match was contested under Bloodline Rules and saw plenty of interference on behalf of both the champion and the challenger.
For the use of quotes, please give an H/T to SE Scoops.
The story has finally been finished and Cody Rhodes can go home to his family with the Universal Championship, but the nightmare is only beginning for Roman Reigns.
The Tribal Chief’s unbelievable run as the top champion of WWE came to an end at tonight’s WrestleMania 40 from the Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia.
The match was easily the most star-studded bout in the history of WrestleMania main events. Bloodline rules allowed outside interference which means apart from Cody and Roman, we also got to see names such as John Cena, The Rock, and even The Undertaker getting involved.
In the end, it was Rhodes’ resilience that did the job. He finally overcame the odds to defeat Roman Reigns and present the title to his mother as he had promised.
What Happened After WrestleMania 40
The show ended with The American Nightmare celebrating the biggest win of his career with his family as well as a number of top WWE stars such as CM Punk, Randy Orton, and even Triple H.
There was another side of this story however and in the post-show footage that has surfaced, we can see Paul Heyman consoling his Tribal Chief on the stage after his big loss:
Paul Heyman consoled Roman Reigns after his loss while Cody was celebrating in the ringpic.twitter.com/t7PjaKr0GF
— Anutosh Bajpai || SEScoops || Wrestling News (@AuthorAnutosh) April 8, 2024
It’s anyone’s guess what WWE has in store for The Head of The Table after this historic run has come to an end. Though The Rock has suggested that his involvement with WWE will continue beyond WrestleMania 40.
The intrigue of a singles match between the two cousins is still there. While The Great One is likely to step away for some time due to his other commitments, it won’t be a surprise if we see him back into the WWE ring sooner or later.
Cody Rhodes has at last finished his story by dethroning Roman Reigns for the Undisputed WWE Universal Championship at WrestleMania 40: Sunday.
In the main event of the show, Rhodes ended the 1,300+ day reign of the Head of the Table in a hard-fought, emotional victory inside Philadelphia’s Lincoln Financial Field. The match was contested under Bloodline Rules, a stipulation that was decided in the tag-team match from the previous night.
Cody Wins the Big One
Rhodes entered first and shared the WrestleMania stage with his wife Brandi. An introductory video for the match included Rhodes’ AEW allies The Young Bucks as well as Chris Jericho.
Rhodes wasted no time in trying to introduce weapons, but Reigns put a table away to the anger of the fans. Reigns would later introduce a kendo stick and lay into the American Nightmare. Reigns would play mind games with his challenger and even hit the Cross Rhodes on the American Nightmare.
Not to be outdone, Rhodes would hit Reigns with the Tribal Chief’s Spear. When Cody went for a trio of Cross Rhodes, Jimmy Uso aided his cousin, but was taken out by Jey who speared his brother off of the WrestleMania 40 ramp.
After the match, Rhodes celebrated with the Superstars. Rhodes also cut a promo to the fans and brought out Bruce Prichard and Triple H before celebrating some more as WrestleMania 40 went off the air.
Bayley’s revenge on Damage CTRL saw the Role Model capture the WWE Women’s Championship at WWE WrestleMania 40: Sunday.
In the penultimate match of the night, Bayley and SKY held nothing back. Bayley would kick out after SKY hit the moonsault, but SKY would counter out of the Role Model’s Rose Plant finisher. After Bayley hit an elbow from the top rope, Bayley’s second attempt at the Rose Plant would be successful and see her get the win and the WWE Women’s Championship.
You can check out some highlights from the match below.
This match marked Bayley’s first singles match at WrestleMania, eight years after making her WrestleMania debut in 2016. The match also marked the first singles match at WrestleMania for IYO SKY.
The Road to Bayley Vs. IYO SKY
SKY had held the WWE Women’s Championship since SummerSlam 2023. The Genius of the Sky cashed in her Money in the Bank contract on Bianca Belair, who had won the title from Asuka in a triple threat that also included Charlotte Flair.
Bayley’s Road to WrestleMania 40 saw the Role Model become the seventh winner of the Women’s Royal Rumble match. Not only did Bayley win the match, but she also broke the record for the longest duration in a single Women’s Royal Rumble match.
Logan Paul has no shortage of challengers for his United States Title, partly thanks to the fact that he carries himself as a hated heel. WrestleMania 40 saw The Maverick face a big challenge as both Kevin Owens and Randy Orton battled LP in a triple threat match.
Although Logan Paul may have had the odds stacked against him, he defeated Kevin Owens and Randy Orton in a triple threat match to retain the WWE United States Title at WrestleMania 40.
During the October 20, 2023, episode of SmackDown, Mysterio agreed to Paul’s challenge for a title match at Crown Jewel. Then, on November 4 at the event, Paul clinched the United States Championship by employing brass knuckles against Mysterio, marking his inaugural WWE championship victory.
The Match Finish
The three Superstars battled for a while before Logan Paul got his brass knuckles out. Then he laid out both Owens and Orton. Suddenly, Randy hit an RKO outta nowhere, and he took the knuckles. He decided to sit those knuckles down though, as he went for a stomp instead, but the person in the big Prime bottle outside the ring pulled him out.
Then the person in the Prime bottle revealed himself to be iShowSpeed. He barked at Orton, and then Randy cleared off an announce table. Orton nailed an RKO on Speed after barking in his face.
They continued on until Kevin went for a pop-up powerbomb, but Orton reversed it into an RKO. Then Logan Paul threw Orton out of the ring and nailed a frog splash to clinch the win and retain the United States Title.
Special Entrances
Logan Paul made his way to the ring on a giant Prime truck. He had a cannon on the top of it, and it set off pyro around Lincoln Financial Field.
Logan Paul entrando con el mega camión de PRIME, brother, con una botella como "cañón". Que no se note la publicidad. PARA NADA. #WrestleManiapic.twitter.com/ZYXDAoWatY
Before Kevin Owens went out, Sami Zayn met him in the Gorilla Position. Zayn was holding his new IC Title, and in an interaction that mirrored last night’s event, Zayn told Owens that it is his turn now. Then Owens rode a golf cart to the ring, and Orton jumped on the back of it when he came out to join the match.
LA Knight’s WrestleMania debut proved to be a successful one as the Megastar bested AJ Styles as part of WWE WrestleMania 40: Sunday.
Styles entered the match to new theme music from WWE entrance music regular Def Rebel. This marks Styles’ second theme in WWE after using the same song since his 2016. That theme song was actually created for fellow TNA alum James Storm but he ultimately didn’t sign with the company after debuting in WWE NXT in 2015.
Knight also had quite the entrance as he arrived to Lincoln Financial Field in a Slim Jim-inspired sportscar. During his entrance, Knight also spoke with the winners of the Slim Jim Sweepstakes.
The match was a back-and-forth affair from the get-go, with Styles not waiting for the bell to ring before he attacked LA Knight. In the end, it was a Blunt Force Trauma by Knight that scored the megastar his first win at his first WrestleMania.
You can check out some highlights from the match below.
While competing at WrestleMania 40 was a huge proverbial spotlight on LA Knight, it was a literal spotlight that caused an issue. During the match, fans chanted for a spotlight to be turned off as it was making it difficult to watch the match.
Damian Priest won the WWE Money in the Bank ladder match in 2023, and he held the briefcase proudly as Señor Money in the Bank. Now, Damian Priest is WWE World Heavyweight Champion after cashing in his MITB contract.
McIntyre got in CM Punk’s face, who was sitting at ringside on commentary. Then, Punk tripped McIntyre and assaulted him with his arm brace. Suddenly, Damian Priest’s music hit, and the leader of the Judgment Day stable came out to cash in.
The match got started in a hurry, and Damian Priest nailed his South of Heaven finisher for a quick win. It didn’t last very long, but the match was shorter than Drew McIntyre’s title reign.
Damian Priest and the rest of the Judgment Day stable celebrated on the entrance ramp to conclude the opening segment of WrestleMania Sunday. It was certainly an unexpected way to kick off the showcase of the immortals’ second night.
Judgment Day just lost the WWE Undisputed Tag Team Titles during WrestleMania Saturday. The company split the titles up in the process, as Awesome Truth won the RAW Tag Team Titles and A-Town Down Under picked up the blue brand belts.
— Lopé / FOLLOW @futurafreesky (@LopeDMCA) April 7, 2024
Drew McIntyre’s WWE Contract Situation
Drew McIntyre said he would quit WWE if he couldn’t beat Rollins at WrestleMania. Since he defeated the Visionary on the grandest stage of them all, he doesn’t have to quit, but he might not be around WWE much longer if he doesn’t ink a new deal.
It was reported at the end of March that McIntyre has given the impression to those close to him that he still has no new deal arranged with WWE. This fact comes in light of the fact that WWE has booked him in an incredibly strong role on the road to WrestleMania 40.
McIntyre keeps throwing shade at CM Punk, whose injury time is not expected to be up before Drew’s contract ends. WWE has also advertised McIntyre for some dates past his expiration date.
Drew McIntyre has finally won a World Championship in front of fans by becoming World Heavyweight Champion in the opening match at WrestleMania 40: Sunday.
McIntyre made his entrance at WrestleMania 40: Sunday following a performance by the Ulster Scottish Pipe Band. Not to be outdone, Rollins made a colorful entrance with the Philadelphia MummersThe pair weren’t the only notable names involved in the match, as CM Punk was on commentary for the bout.
The match was finisher-heavy with McIntyre using the Claymore Kick as well as the Future Shock DDT. Rollins fired back by using the Stomp and even hit the move on the announce table. In the end, it was the Claymore that scored McIntyre the World Heavyweight Championship.
After the match, McIntyre presented the championship to his wife. You can check out some highlights from the match below.
This win marked McIntyre’s third World Championship victory and his first in front of a live crowd. Drew’s first title win came at WrestleMania 36 in 2020 which due to the Covid-19 pandemic, took place without a live crowd. McIntyre captured the WWE Championship from Brock Lesnar at the event.
McIntyre would regain the title from Randy Orton later that same year. While this title win took place in the Thunderdome, meaning there were crowd reactions, it still took place without live fans. McIntyre would hold the title until Elimination Chamber 2021, where The Miz would cash in Money in the Bank to dethrone the Scottish Warrior.
Money in the Bank Cash In
Unfortunately for McIntyre, his reign with the gold was short-lived. After the match, Drew would goad CM Punk, who attacked McIntyre at ringside. Damian Priest would then cash in Money in the Bank to win the World Heavyweight Championship.
WWE fans haven’t seen Stephanie McMahon on television in a while, but her hiatus from television ended during WrestleMania 40 weekend.
Stephanie McMahon opened up the show with a big pop from the Lincoln Financial Field on April 7. The Billion Dollar Princess picked up the microphone, and she didn’t miss a beat.
She welcomed WWE fans to WrestleMania Sunday before announcing that we are officially in the Paul Levesque era. That received a very warm reception from the fans as well.
Stephanie was on hand at the WWE Hall of Fame this year. She rocked an ECW beret the whole time, and Paul Heyman also gave her loads of respect for her contributions to the business in the process. Heyman also expressed a deep hope that his daughter will emulate a role model like Steph.
On January 10, 2023, Stephanie McMahon resigned as WWE co-chief executive officer and chairwoman after her father, Vince, was unanimously re-elected as the company’s executive chairman.
Stephanie McMahon had returned from a leave of absence in July to take over as co-CEO after Vince McMahon retired amid allegations of sexual misconduct.
McMahon’s departure from the company saw Nick Khan become full CEO of WWE, while Vince McMahon remained in the company for a little while longer, until he ultimately resigned after Janel Grant’s lawsuit went public.
WWE could have a ton of surprises for fans as the biggest show of the year approaches its second night. Now, it appears that Jacob Fatu is even closer to the company.
Jacob Fatu was seen in Philadelphia ahead of WrestleMania 40. We have eyewitness confirmation of this.
This morning while on-site at Mania weekend, SEScoops observed a gathering of fans surrounding someone who appeared to be an Uso, with a hoodie covering their head in an attempt to remain inconspicuous, outside Marriot Downtown this morning.
This person was Jacob Fatu, who proceeded to take photos with a group of fans. They snapped the photo while mimicking the Bloodline’s signature finger pointing gesture.
This sighting took place shortly before reports surfaced that he has been telling friends that he signed with WWE. He’s also not keeping an incredibly low profile.
Can confirm Jacob Fatu is in Philadelphia, saw him outside the Marriot Downtown this morning taking photos with fans.
Fatu may be an addition to WWE’s plan, especially if the Bloodline’s evolution continues. After all, Tama Tonga is rumored to be in WWE’s sights as well.
There’s a chance Jacob Fatu and Tama Tonga may not be involved in the main event at WrestleMania XL. It may be a historic moment if they debut on Monday during the RAW after WrestleMania to bolster the Bloodline, reminiscent of when X-Pac and the New Age Outlaws joined DX after WrestleMania XIV.
I could be wrong, but it wouldn’t surprise me if Jacob Fatu and Tama Tonga don’t get involved in the #WrestleMania XL main event. I could see them debuting tomorrow night to reload the Bloodline similar to the Raw after WrestleMania XIV where X-Pac & New Age Outlaws joined DX.
The RAW after WrestleMania 40 is set to take place in the Wells Fargo Center on April 8, wrapping up the company’s takeover of the City of Brotherly Love.
Roman Reigns is reportedly taking a long break after WrestleMania 40 is over. Only time will tell what happens next, but this certainly amps up the intrigue as we get even closer to WrestleMania Sunday.
WWE usually brings big surprises and celebrities to WrestleMania. Saturday night’s show featured Jacon Kelce and Lane Johnson in Lincoln Financial Field. Sunday’s show will also feature some surprises.
Snoop Dogg is a WWE Hall of Famer, and he is also a superfan. He doesn’t like to miss WrestleMania, and this year will not be any different.
Fightful Select has reported that Snoop Dogg is slated to be a part of WrestleMania Sunday. The Doggfather will be on the commentary table for the six-man street fight match with Bobby Lashley & Street Profits vs. The Final Testament. It is also noted that he will be around for the attendance announcement later on in the show.
Snoop Dogg is listed for commentary on the street fight, and listed for the attendance announcement
Snoop Dogg’s History in Pro Wrestling
Snoop Dogg has a history in pro wrestling. He served as the official “Master of Ceremonies” for the Playboy Bunnymania Lumberjack Match at WrestleMania XXIV in 2008 and was the Guest Host for Raw on October 19, 2009.
In March 2016, the night before WrestleMania 32 in Arlington, Texas, Snoop was inducted into the celebrity wing of the WWE Hall of Fame. His first cousin, Mercedes Mone, has also made no secret of their family connection.
In January 2021, Snoop made his debut in All Elite Wrestling at AEW’s New Year’s Smash. That serves as Snoop’s only AEW appearance to date.
He also provided ringside commentary at WrestleMania 39 but ended up in the ring during a segment with wrestler Mike “The Miz” Mizanin. Shane McMahon then joined the fray, and in the ensuing scuffle, McMahon suffered a quad injury while attempting a move. Snoop stepped in to continue the match, ultimately winning with his version of The Rock’s “people’s elbow.”
WrestleMania Sunday Match Order
The report also included an order of matches and segments for WrestleMania Sunday. The card is always subject to change, and WrestleMania is known for surprises. Triple H promo
Triple H promo
Seth Rollins vs. Drew McIntyre (CM Punk on commentary). Producers: Abyss & Jamie Noble, referee: Rod Zapata
Street Fight: Bobby Lashley & Street Profits vs. The Final Testament. Producers Petey Williams & Jason Jordan
LA Knight vs. AJ Styles. Producer Adam Pearce. Referee Dan Egnler
Hall of Fame intros
Randy Orton vs. Kevin Owens vs. Logan Paul. Producers Shane Helms & Shawn Daivari, referee Ryan Tran
Bayley vs. IYO Sky. Producers TJ Wilson & Molly Holly. Referee Danilo Anfibio
Attendance announcement
Cody Rhodes vs. Roman Reigns. Producers: Michael Hayes & Bobby Roode, Referee Charles Robinson
WrestleMania Sunday is tonight, and fans may see the Bloodline grow very soon. Now, Jacob Fatu is telling people that he signed with WWE.
There are rumblings within the wrestling world suggesting another member of The Bloodline may soon make their way to WWE.
As reported by Fightful Select, Jacob Fatu has reportedly informed acquaintances of his recent signing with WWE. However, official sources within WWE have yet to confirm this story, and Fatu himself has remained silent amidst requests for comment.
Fatu’s absence from the ring has been noted since his last appearance at GCW’s event on March 24 in Rochester, NY. Many fans expected to see him there, but he was absent.
The 31-year-old boasts a wrestling lineage, being both cousin to WWE’s Usos and the son The Tonga Kid.
Trained under his uncle Rikishi, Jacob Fatu started his wrestling journey in 2012. His career gained traction when he joined MLW in 2019, subsequently capturing the promotion’s world title in July of that year by defeating Tom Lawlor.
Fatu concluded his tenure with MLW at their Philadelphia tapings on February 3. Now, it appears he is WWE bound. It will be interesting to see how he factors into things under Triple H’s plan.
Big E & Cathy Kelley opened up the show before a brief segment with Raw Tag Team Champion R-Truth.
Watch the full show here, followed by all the winners:
Best Entrance Award
Wade Barrett was our first guest host and was on hand to present the award for the Best Entrance. The nominees are:
Cody Rhodes
Roman Reigns
Bianca Belair
Seth “Freakin” Rollins
Rhea Ripley
Becky Lynch
The Rock
“Dirty” Dominik Mysterio at WrestleMania 39
Winner: Cody Rhodes
In a pre-recorded acceptance speech, Cody was pleased that the Slammys are back. Rhodes also gave a shout-out to Downstait, the band that provides his theme ‘Kingdom’, and the fans for making the ‘WHOA’ so popular.
Match of the Year
Big E introduced Gabriel ‘Fluffy’ Iglesias to present the award for the Match of the Year. The nominees are:
Bad Bunny vs. Damian Priest in a San Juan Street Fight at Backlash 2023
Roman Reigns (c) vs. Sami Zayn for the Undisputed WWE Universal Championship at Elimination Chamber 2023
Gunther (c) vs. Chad Gable for the WWE Intercontinental Championship on Raw (September 4, 2023)
Asuka (c) vs. Bianca Belair vs. Charlotte Flair in a Triple threat match for the WWE Women’s Championship at SummerSlam 2023
Charlotte Flair (c) vs. Rhea Ripley for the WWE SmackDown Women’s Championship at WrestleMania 39
Winner:Charlotte Flair Vs. Rhea Ripley for the WWE SmackDown Women’s Championship at WrestleMania 39
In a video package, Ripley said her match was the clear winner. Rhea added that the Slammy will look really nice among her many other accolades. Gabriel and Big E then brought out Charlotte Flair who accepted the Slammy in person with a “Woo!”
Breakout Superstar of the Year
Charlotte Flair also said she’d be presenting the award for breakout star of the year. The nominees are:
Jey Uso
Tiffany Stratton
Pretty Deadly (Elton Prince and Kit Wilson)
Dragon Lee
LA Knight
Winner: LA Knight
In a recorded video, Knight said that he appreciates the award but would rather focus on what’s ahead. Knight said that after creating a foundation in 2023, he’s ready to build an empire.
Big E & Cathy then discussed R-Truth’s cue cards. Unfortunately for the Raw Tag Champion, he mixed up his cue cards with a grocery list provided to him by The Miz.
NXT Superstar of the Year
Booker T was out next to present the NXT Superstar of the year. The WWE NXT commentator spoke about how much the gold brand means to him. The nominees are:
Ilja Dragunov
Carmelo Hayes
Lyra Valkyria
Tiffany Stratton
Bron Breakker
Winner: Tiffany Stratton
Stratton appeared in person to accept her award and said that there was nobody better than the ‘center of the universe’ to accept the award.
Rivalry of the Year
Stratton then introduced Sal from Impractical Jokers who presented the award for Rivalry of the Year. The nominees are:
Seth “Freakin” Rollins vs. Drew McIntyre
“Dirty” Dominik Mysterio vs. Rey Mysterio
Bianca Belair vs. Damage CTRL (Asuka, Bayley, Dakota Kai, Iyo Sky, and Kairi Sane)
Roman Reigns vs. Cody Rhodes
R-Truth vs. The Judgment Day (Damian Priest, “Dirty” Dominik Mysterio, Finn Bálor, JD McDonagh, and Rhea Ripley)
Winner: Roman Reigns vs. Cody Rhodes
Rhodes accepted his second Slammy of the show and spoke about WrestleMania 39 being the lowest point of his career. Rhodes said he wasn’t sure he’d get enough shot at Reigns even in the weeks running up to WrestleMania 40. Rhodes vowed that he’ll dethrone Roman Reigns at WrestleMania 40: Sunday.
Previously Awarded
Cathy Kelley and Big E then introduced some awards determined before the show. They are:
Fan Chant of the Year: LA Knight (Yeah)
Mic Drop of the Year: Paul Heyman tells Cody Rhodes that Roman Reigns was the son Dusty Rhodes always wanted
Rizzie Award (Best Dressed): Seth Rollins
Villain of the Year: ‘Dirty’ Dominik Mysterio
Trash Talker of the Year: The Rock
Faction of the Year
Dominik Mysterio was out to present the next award but gave up trying to talk when the fans continued to boo him. Expecting this would happen. Big E & Cathy had Adam Pearce and Nick Aldis come out to introduce the nominees:
The Judgment Day (Damian Priest, “Dirty” Dominik Mysterio, Finn Bálor, JD McDonagh, and Rhea Ripley)
Alpha Academy (Akira Tozawa, Chad Gable, Maxxine Dupri, and Otis)
Imperium (Giovanni Vinci, Gunther, and Ludwig Kaiser)
The Bloodline (Jimmy Uso, Paul Heyman, Roman Reigns, Solo Sikoa, and The Rock)
In a backstage video, Damian Priest said that the faction has dominated all of WWE across the world and has held gold. Priest added that even bigger things are coming for the group. In person, Dominik tried to accept the award but in the face of boos, was pulled away by Pearce and Aldis
Social Star of the Year
R-Truth introduced ‘Kayla Saxton’ and ‘Byron Braxton’ who were sat in the crowd to present the next award. The nominees are:
Grayson Waller
Logan Paul
Drew McIntyre
Chelsea Green
Liv Morgan
Chelsea Green came out early to accept the award and thanked the fans. There was just one problem with her speech…
Winner: Drew McIntyre
McIntyre said Chelsea should calm down or he’ll have security escort her from the building. Addressing a CM Punk chant, McIntyre said Punk couldn’t be up on the stage as he’s too delicate and would get injured.
McIntyre then said that his match with GUNTHER & Sheamus at WrestleMania 39 deserved at least a nomination for Match of the Year. Drew dedicated his Slammy win to CM Punk, but the statue was stolen by Green.
Female & Male Superstar of the Year
The New Day reunited in full to present two awards. The nominees for Female Superstar of the Year are:
Rhea Ripley
Bianca Belair
Bayley
IYO SKY
Becky Lynch
Winner: Rhea Ripley
In her latest acceptance speech, Ripley spoke about fans complaining about what she doesn’t do, but vote for her anyway. Ripley told the fans mad at her to go have a cry.
The nominees for Male Superstar of the Year are:
Cody Rhodes
Roman Reigns
Seth “Freakin” Rollins
Gunther
Logan Paul
Winner: Cody Rhodes
Rhodes was grateful to the fans for voting for him. Cody admitted that while a Slammy may seem silly, it means a lot to him and others in WWE.
OMG Moment of the Year
Megan Morant & Sam Roberts of The Bump were up next to introduce the OMG Moment of the Year Award. The nominees are:
Rey Mysterio punches “Dirty” Dominik Mysterio on SmackDown (March 23, 2023)
CM Punk returns to WWE at Survivor Series: WarGames 2023
Iyo Sky cashing in her Money in the Bank contract at SummerSlam 2023
The Rock slaps Cody Rhodes during the WrestleMania XL press conference
Damage CTRL (Asuka, Iyo Sky, and Kairi Sane) turns on Bayley on SmackDown (February 2, 2024)
Cody Rhodes sl
aps The Rock on SmackDown (March 8, 2024)
Winner: CM Punk Returns to WWE
Punk accepted his award in person and said it seems corny but he really is back where he belongs. CM Punk spoke about meeting fans from across the U.S. this past weekend. Punk added he appreciates the fans voting for him and said he’ll have boots and tights on next year at WrestleMania 41.
Return of the Year
Cathy Kelley and Big E kept Punk from leaving, believing that he had a good chance of winning the Return of the Year. The nominees are:
CM Punk at Survivor Series: WarGames 2023
The Rock (Day 1 2024)
Nia Jax on Raw (September 11, 2023)
Randy Orton at Survivor Series: WarGames 2023
Naomi at Royal Rumble 2024
Winner: CM Punk at Survivor Series: WarGames 2023
Punk accepted his second Slammy and joked that it was long-time no see. Punk wished he could just repeat his first speech and said that he wouldn’t have any big moments without the fans. Punk added that he wishes he could share the award with Randy Orton as they returned the same night. Punk dedicated the award to the fans to close out the show.
Drew McIntyre has been through a lot in front of pro wrestling fans. Now, he is preparing to walk into WrestleMania Sunday, and he has a lot at stake.
The Scottish Warrior will battle Seth Rollins for the WWE World Heavyweight Championship at WrestleMania 40. McIntyre has plans, either win the title or quit WWE entirely.
During WWE World, Drew McIntyre spoke to Bryon Saxton about his upcoming Mania match. He made a very firm declaration that if he cannot beat Seth Rollins, then he will quit WWE.
“I’ve been doing this since I was 15-years-old. It’s all I’ve ever wanted to do. It was my part-time job in high school and through university. I’m a wrestler, I’ve always been a professional wrestler. I was signed to WWE at 21-years-old, fired at 29, truly found myself, came back and became the man, the Superstar I am today.
I’ve never been better, I’m in my prime in the ring, I’m in my prime on the microphone, because I’m just myself. I just realized, ‘Drew, be yourself,’ and social media, don’t come at me on that thing, I’ll tear you to shreds on social media, I’ve never been better all around. But, if I can’t beat Seth Rollins on Sunday, I quite frankly don’t belong in this industry, I’ll quit WWE.”
It was reported at the end of March that McIntyre has given the impression to those close to him that he still has no new deal arranged with WWE. This fact comes in light of the fact that WWE has booked him in an incredibly strong role on the road to WrestleMania 40.
McIntyre keeps throwing shade at CM Punk, whose injury time is not expected to be up before Drew’s contract ends. WWE has also advertised McIntyre for some dates past his expiration date.
Drew McIntyre will try his best to walk out of Lincoln Financial Field as WWE World Heavyweight Champion, so his current contract status is a very interesting situation.
WWE has not inked a new deal with Becky Lynch, either. She said that this is not concerning to her, even though her contract is up in two months. Endeavor is obviously handling contracts in their own way.
Paul Heyman is now a WWE Hall of Famer, and fans won’t forget his induction speech any time soon. The same is true for those within the company who witnessed his speech.
Brock Lesnar has been all but erased from WWE history at this point. The company did not even show him in the highlight video package for Heyman before his time on the show. That did not stop Paul E from mentioning the 1 in 21-1 several times. WWE realized who they were inducting, and where the ceremony went down as well.
After a day has passed since Heyman’s speech, I have been told that many within WWE are considering what Paul E did as one of the greatest promos in WWE history.
Internal Reaction to Paul Heyman’s WWE Hall of Fame Speech
I reached out to ask about Heyman name-dropping Brock Lesnar so much after WWE has made obvious efforts to not mention him. I was told by a tenured member of the creative team that Paul Heyman had a bit of “free rein.”
Prior to Heyman’s speech, several members of the creative team were told that, “We’re inducting Heyman in Philly, and we know what the audience is going to want, and we’re going to let Heyman give it to them.”
Some within the company consider Heyman’s speech to be the greatest Hall of Fame speech, if not the greatest promo, in WWE history. It was viewed as “insane” by many, in a very good way.
I was additionally told that what struck many people backstage was that Heyman wasn’t cursing just for the sake of it; he used profanity strategically to emphasize his points, which made it all the more effective.
Heyman’s control of the audience was also praised as “a master class in psychology,” where “the ebb and flow of his promo resembled the structure of a public speech or rally unlike anything seen before in WWE.”
I will have more in an exclusive on @sescoops soon, but concerning Paul Heyman's #WWEHallOfFame speech:
Members of the team were told: "We're inducting Heyman in Philly, and we know what the audience is going to want, and we're going to let Heyman give it to them." pic.twitter.com/U4XLE325C6
Paul Heyman’s induction was first on the night, so more people would see it. Those props that Heyman used were also legit, as they added even more legitimacy and nostalgia to his speech.
In the end, nobody had anything bad to say about any portion of Heyman’s speech, even his mention of Brock Lesnar. If anything, Heyman is seen as more of a GOAT than ever at this point.
