Pop star Olivia Rodrigo appeared at a CMLL wrestling event while in Mexico City for her Guts World Tour. The singer performed at Estadio GNP Seguros on April 2 and 3, drawing the largest audience of her career so far at a venue capable of holding 65,000 attendees.
During her Mexico City concerts, Rodrigo mentioned to the crowd that she had experienced a lucha libre wrestling match while in the city, along with trying traditional tacos and visiting the Museo Casa Azul dedicated to Frida Kahlo.
The 22-year-old star took her appreciation for Mexican wrestling culture a step further by attending a CMLL show at Arena Mexico, as confirmed by her recent Instagram post where she shared a photo wearing a traditional Lucha Libre mask. Fans on Reddit’s r/SquaredCircle community have already begun discussing her appearance at the event.
Rodrigo joins a growing list of young female celebrities who are avid wrestling fans. Vanessa Hudgens has been spotted at WWE events in the past, and Danielle Fishel (known for her role as Topanga on “Boy Meets World”) is known to be a passionate wrestling enthusiast. The Guts World Tour marks Rodrigo’s first stadium performances in Latin America, with shows in Brazil and Mexico being significant milestones in her career.
After her Mexico City performances, Rodrigo is scheduled to continue her tour through July 1, 2025, when it concludes in Manchester, England.
Here’s the preview for Monday’s WWE Raw, broadcasting live on Netflix at 8/7c from the Target Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota on Monday, April 7, 2025. With less than two weeks until WrestleMania 41, tensions are rising and championship opportunities are on the line. This week’s show marks WWE’s return to the USA after their European tour, with several exciting matches and appearances scheduled.
The main event features Lyra Valkyria defending her Women’s Intercontinental Championship against Bayley, who previously defeated Valkyria in a non-title match. The champion specifically requested this rematch to avenge that loss.
El Grande Americano returns to action after his debut win against Dragon Lee. He’s replacing Chad Gable, who is unable to compete in his hometown due to illness.
Women’s Intercontinental Championship: Lyra Valkyria (c) vs. Bayley
WWE World Tag Team Championship: War Raiders (Erik & Ivar) (c) vs. The New Day (Kofi Kingston & Xavier Woods)
Penta vs. Dominik Mysterio
El Grande Americano in action against a mystery opponent
CM Punk and Paul Heyman to make an appearance following Friday’s SmackDown announcement that Heyman will be in Punk’s corner for his WrestleMania 41 triple threat match against Roman Reigns and Seth Rollins
Seth “The Visionary” Rollins to make an appearance
WWE World Heavyweight Champion Gunther to appear
Jey Uso confirmed to be on the show
Adam Pearce to address the Women’s World Championship situation between Rhea Ripley, IYO SKY, and Bianca Belair following Belair’s controversial guest referee decision last week
What Happened Last Week
Ahead of this week’s WWE Raw, here’s a quick recap of last week’s show (March 31, 2025):
World Heavyweight Champion Gunther defeated Jimmy Uso in singles action
After the match, Gunther tied Jey Uso to the ropes and brutally attacked Jimmy, leaving him bloodied
Lyra Valkyria was attacked by WWE Women’s Tag Team Champions Liv Morgan and Raquel Rodriguez before Bayley made the save
Bianca Belair, serving as guest referee, threw out the WWE Women’s World Title match between Rhea Ripley and IYO SKY
Cody Rhodes and John Cena had another heated confrontation during the European tour
Seth Rollins made his presence felt as WrestleMania approaches
Will Ospreay is embracing the opportunity to honor Owen Hart’s legacy as he prepares to compete in the Owen Hart Cup tonight at AEW Dynasty. Set to face Kevin Knight in the tournament’s opening round, Ospreay reflected on the personal significance of participating in a tribute that celebrates one of wrestling’s most respected figures.
This marks the second major point in Ospreay’s career where he’s felt a connection to Hart. The first came in 2017 when he won the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship in NJPW—a title Hart previously held in 1988.
“The best thing about that belt is everyone that held it has their name on it, and I couldn’t believe how lucky I was to have a piece of history that Owen Hart was part of as well,” Ospreay tells Sports Illustrated.
A three-time IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion, Ospreay said he was deeply appreciative of being listed among champions tied to Hart’s legacy. He views the Owen Hart Cup as a chance to continue that history by delivering standout performances.
“I feel like the history behind ‘The Owen’ has been pretty well-received. And I’m looking forward to continuing the legacy and putting on great showcase matches.”
Ospreay also spoke about Hart’s impact beyond the ring, citing his commitment to family despite the demands of constant travel—something Ospreay relates to in his own career.
“I watched a lot of his junior heavyweight stuff from Japan. He had a snap to him like no one else,” Ospreay said. “What I respect most is how much he loved his time with his family and was always in a rush to get back to them. That’s the situation I’m in now, constantly flying back and forth to the U.K.”
Ospreay’s tribute underscores the enduring influence of Hart’s career, both in the ring and in life.
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All Elite Wrestling returns to pay-per-view this Sunday, April 6, 2025, with Dynasty emanating from the Liacouras Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. This marks AEW’s first PPV event in Pennsylvania and the second annual Dynasty event.
With seven championship matches on the card, including Jon Moxley defending the AEW World Championship against Swerve Strickland, fans are in for an action-packed night of professional wrestling.
How to Watch
Start Times:
United States: 8:00 PM ET / 5:00 PM PT (Main Card)
United Kingdom: 1:00 AM BST (early Monday morning)
Zero Hour Pre-show: 6:30 PM ET / 3:30 PM PT
Broadcast Details:
Amazon Prime (new for this event – requires active Prime subscription)
Triller TV (formerly Fite)
PPV.com
Traditional cable/satellite providers (US and Canada)
YouTube (Zero Hour pre-show only)
Match Card
AEW World Championship Jon Moxley (c) w/ Marina Shafir vs. Swerve Strickland w/ Prince Nana
One year after capturing his first AEW World Championship at Dynasty, Swerve Strickland looks to reclaim gold against Jon Moxley. Mox has maintained a stranglehold on the World Title since defeating Bryan Danielson at WrestleDream last October, finding ways to choke out every challenger that has come before him. This main event promises to be an intense battle between two of AEW’s top stars.
AEW Women’s World Championship “Timeless” Toni Storm (c) w/ Luther vs. Megan Bayne
Toni Storm faces perhaps her most daunting challenge yet as she defends her championship against the powerful Megan Bayne. The champion’s theatrical persona will be put to the test against the raw power of “The Megasus” in what could be a show-stealing contest.
AEW International Championship – Triple Threat Match Kenny Omega (c) vs. Ricochet vs. “Speedball” Mike Bailey
Three of the most athletic performers in professional wrestling collide in what promises to be a high-flying spectacle. Newly crowned champion Kenny Omega puts his title on the line against two challengers known for their innovative offense and aerial abilities.
AEW World Tag Team Championship The Hurt Syndicate (Bobby Lashley & Shelton Benjamin) (c) vs. The Learning Tree (Big Bill & Bryan Keith)
The Hurt Syndicate puts their tag team gold on the line against the imposing duo from The Learning Tree. This match adds another championship contest to an already stacked card, bringing the total to seven title matches for the evening.
AEW World Trios Championship The Death Riders (PAC, Claudio Castagnoli & Wheeler Yuta) (c) vs. Rated FTR (Cope, Dax Harwood & Cash Wheeler)
Team tensions are running high as Adam Copeland teams with FTR to challenge The Death Riders. With dissension already showing in the challengers’ camp after Cope’s failed attempt to capture the AEW World Title from Moxley, this match could see a potential heel turn from Dax and Cash if they fail to capture the titles.
ROH World Championship vs. Mask Match Chris Jericho (c) vs. Bandido
In a high-stakes encounter, Chris Jericho has agreed to defend his ROH World Championship against Bandido only if the challenger puts his mask on the line. This title-versus-mask stipulation adds an extra layer of drama to an already compelling matchup.
AEW TNT Championship – No Time Limit, No Outside Interference Daniel Garcia (c) vs. Adam Cole
Daniel Garcia defends his TNT Championship against Adam Cole under special stipulations that ensure a definitive winner. With no time limit and outside interference banned, these two technical wrestlers will have to rely solely on their in-ring abilities to emerge victorious.
Owen Hart Foundation Tournament Quarter-Final – Men’s Bracket Will Ospreay vs. Kevin Knight
Owen Hart Foundation Tournament Quarter-Final – Men’s Bracket Kyle Fletcher vs. Mark Briscoe
Owen Hart Foundation Tournament Quarter-Final – Women’s Bracket Mercedes Moné vs. Julia Hart
These quarterfinal matches in the 2025 Owen Hart Foundation Tournament will have significant implications for Double or Nothing on May 25, where the tournament finals will take place.
With WrestleMania season in full swing, AEW’s Dynasty looks to make its own mark on the wrestling calendar with a stacked card of ten matches, including seven championship bouts and three tournament matches that could reshape the company’s landscape moving forward.
Vince McMahon is actively pursuing new ventures in the combat sports space, according to recent comments from WWE Hall of Famer Eric Bischoff. Speaking with CanadaCasino.ca, Bischoff revealed that McMahon had been involved in discussions with individuals from the Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship—talks that mirrored Bischoff’s own negotiations with the promotion.
Though neither party ultimately moved forward, the conversations suggest McMahon remains interested in reentering the sports entertainment industry.
“I know for a fact that Vince is exploring opportunities in combat sports, at least as recently as about three months ago,” Bischoff says. “He was dealing with someone that I was dealing with at the same time… it was substantiated and confirmed by another third party.”
Bischoff added that McMahon’s passion for high-stakes ventures remains intact, even at age 78.
“Vince will work until the day he draws his last breath. He’s passionate. He loves a challenge, and Vince loves to fight.”
While McMahon has kept a low profile since exiting the TKO Group Board of Directors in early 2024, speculation about a return to entertainment has persisted.
In January 2025, reports emerged that McMahon was working on a new entertainment company to fund, develop, and produce TV and film projects. Bischoff has also revealed that he’s heard McMahon “purchased some pretty significant production facilities in Santa Monica” and assembled a “skeleton staff.”
McMahon’s efforts come as he continues to face legal challenges stemming from a January 2024 lawsuit filed by a former WWE employee accusing him of sexual misconduct. Fox Sports has denied involvement in any rumored McMahon project, with a spokesperson explicitly refuting such claims.
The fiery in-ring confrontation on WWE SmackDown between Charlotte Flair and Tiffany Stratton took an unexpected turn when Charlotte Flair accused Stratton’s boyfriend, WWE star Ludwig Kaiser, of sliding into her DMs. The remark came during a tense exchange that saw Stratton reference Flair’s divorces before exiting the ring.
Kaiser wasn’t going to let that remark just hang there unanswered, and responded with a vintage WWE clip of Shawn Michaels telling Diana Hart, “Please, don’t flatter yourself,” clearly rejecting the implication.
WWE later removed the more personal moments from its digital versions of the segment. According to reports, the back-and-forth went off script, with both women allegedly unaware of some of the remarks beforehand.
The situation caused such a storm that Flair’s latest ex-husband, WWE star Andrade, came to her defense on social media.
WWE’s involvement in Bloodsport XIII on April 17 has reached an unprecedented level, with Shayna Baszler now confirmed for a high-profile bout against Stardom’s Konami. This marks her return to the shoot-style event, where she remains undefeated.
With seven WWE-affiliated names featured, the card reflects a dramatic shift in WWE’s traditional stance on talent appearing at independent events.
The full lineup now includes Natalya, Charlie Dempsey, Pete Dunne, Karmen Petrovic, Karrion Kross, Tavion Heights, and Baszler—making Bloodsport XIII feel more like an unofficial WWE showcase than a standalone indie event.
Josh Barnett’s Bloodsport XIII
Date: Thursday, April 17, 2025
Time: 8 PM (Local Time)
Venue: Pearl Concert Theater, Palms Casino Resort, Las Vegas
Streaming: TrillerTV+
Confirmed Match Card:
Shayna Baszler vs. Konami
Natalya Neidhart vs. Miyu Yamashita
Charlie Dempsey vs. Shinya Aoki
Pete Dunne vs. Timothy Thatcher
Karmen Petrovic vs. Maika
Karrion Kross vs. JR Kratos
Tavion Heights vs. Royce Isaacs
Baszler’s return is especially notable, as she brings a 2-0 Bloodsport record into her match. Her appearance reinforces WWE’s growing openness to external collaborations and aligns with a broader strategy of cross-platform exposure for its talent.
The event, streaming live on TrillerTV+ from Las Vegas, blends top-tier WWE talent with respected names from the global independent scene, highlighting a new era of cooperation that benefits both WWE and promotions like Bloodsport.
AEW has turned the tide ahead of Dynasty 2025, with ticket sales surging in the final stretch before tonight’s event at Temple University’s Liacouras Center in Philadelphia.
According to a final update this morning from WrestleTix, 7,020 tickets have already distributed. The current seating setup accommodates 7,575, indicating a near sellout. This marks a significant jump from the 4,320 tickets reported just over two weeks ago.
AEW also expanded capacity by opening Section 208, reflecting the rising demand as showtime approached.
This year’s turnout has already eclipsed that of 2024’s Dynasty in St. Louis, which drew 6,619 attendees.
AEW enters tonight’s show with clear crowd energy and a packed house, setting the stage for one of its most well-attended Dynasty events to date.
Lucien Price has made his return to in-ring action after being sidelined for nearly three months with a hand injury. The WWE NXT star, a key member of the OTM faction, stepped back into competition during the April 5, 2025 live event in Gainesville, Florida.
Price teamed with his partner Bronco Nima in a tag match against Trick Williams and Wes Lee. Despite the duo’s efforts, they came up short in the bout. The match marked Price’s first since January 18, when he was pulled from action due to injury.
The injury not only kept Price off television but also impacted Nima, who remained inactive on NXT programming despite being healthy. In late February, Price hinted at his recovery progress with a gym photo on social media, showing minimal bracing on his wrist.
With Price now cleared and back in the ring, OTM is expected to reenter the NXT tag team scene. The division is currently led by reigning champions FraxiOM—Nathan Frazer and Axiom—who continue their dominant reign.
Price’s return also comes as Trick Williams prepares for a high-stakes NXT Championship match at Stand & Deliver on April 19, where he’ll face Oba Femi and Je’Von Evans in a triple threat bout.
WWE’s new faction Darkstate — Cutler James, Saquon Shugars, Osiris Griffin, and Dion Lennox — made their in-ring debut during the NXT live event on April 6, 2025. The group secured a decisive win in an eight-man tag team match against Javier Bernal, Drako Knox, Uriah Connors, and Drake Morreaux.
Their first televised match is scheduled for the April 8 episode of NXT, where three members of Darkstate will face NXT Champion Oba Femi, Trick Williams, and Je’Von Evans in a six-man tag match. NXT General Manager Ava announced the match following Darkstate’s attack on all three competitors during the April 1 broadcast.
Darkstate initially emerged at NXT Vengeance Day in February, debuting with an ambush on Oba Femi. Since then, the group has repeatedly targeted high-profile names, including Fraxiom, Je’Von Evans, Trick Williams, and Tony D’Angelo. WWE officially revealed the group’s name in mid-March through social media.
Of the four, Dion Lennox is the only member with previous NXT television experience, having competed in the 2024 NXT Men’s Breakout Tournament. Cutler James, who joined WWE in 2023, has appeared on WWE: Next Gen and WWE: LFG, while Shugars and Griffin are new to the WWE audience. Lennox is believed to be the group’s leader, based on backstage commentary from Tony D’Angelo’s Family.
Darkstate has made clear they’re done waiting for chances and intend to disrupt NXT while taking what they want. Their televised in-ring debut on April 8 marks the next step in their rise within the brand.
All Elite Wrestling returns to pay-per-view tonight, April 6, 2025, with AEW Dynasty 2025 emanating from the Liacouras Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. This marks AEW’s first PPV event in Pennsylvania and the second annual Dynasty event.
With seven championship matches on the card, including Jon Moxley defending the AEW World Championship against Swerve Strickland, fans are in for an action-packed night of professional wrestling.
How to Watch
Start Times:
United States: 8:00 PM ET / 5:00 PM PT (Main Card)
United Kingdom: 1:00 AM BST (early Monday morning)
Zero Hour Pre-show: 6:30 PM ET / 3:30 PM PT
Broadcast Details:
Amazon Prime (new for this event – requires active Prime subscription)
Triller TV (formerly Fite)
PPV.com
Traditional cable/satellite providers (US and Canada)
YouTube (Zero Hour pre-show only)
Match Card
AEW World Championship Jon Moxley (c) w/ Marina Shafir vs. Swerve Strickland w/ Prince Nana
One year after capturing his first AEW World Championship at Dynasty, Swerve Strickland looks to reclaim gold against Jon Moxley. Mox has maintained a stranglehold on the World Title since defeating Bryan Danielson at WrestleDream last October, finding ways to choke out every challenger that has come before him. This main event promises to be an intense battle between two of AEW’s top stars.
AEW Women’s World Championship “Timeless” Toni Storm (c) w/ Luther vs. Megan Bayne
Toni Storm faces perhaps her most daunting challenge yet as she defends her championship against the powerful Megan Bayne. The champion’s theatrical persona will be put to the test against the raw power of “The Megasus” in what could be a show-stealing contest.
AEW International Championship – Triple Threat Match Kenny Omega (c) vs. Ricochet vs. “Speedball” Mike Bailey
Three of the most athletic performers in professional wrestling collide in what promises to be a high-flying spectacle. Newly crowned champion Kenny Omega puts his title on the line against two challengers known for their innovative offense and aerial abilities.
AEW World Tag Team Championship The Hurt Syndicate (Bobby Lashley & Shelton Benjamin) (c) vs. The Learning Tree (Big Bill & Bryan Keith)
The Hurt Syndicate puts their tag team gold on the line against the imposing duo from The Learning Tree. This match adds another championship contest to an already stacked card, bringing the total to seven title matches for the evening.
AEW World Trios Championship The Death Riders (PAC, Claudio Castagnoli & Wheeler Yuta) (c) vs. Rated FTR (Cope, Dax Harwood & Cash Wheeler)
Team tensions are running high as Adam Copeland teams with FTR to challenge The Death Riders. With dissension already showing in the challengers’ camp after Cope’s failed attempt to capture the AEW World Title from Moxley, this match could see a potential heel turn from Dax and Cash if they fail to capture the titles.
ROH World Championship vs. Mask Match Chris Jericho (c) vs. Bandido
In a high-stakes encounter, Chris Jericho has agreed to defend his ROH World Championship against Bandido only if the challenger puts his mask on the line. This title-versus-mask stipulation adds an extra layer of drama to an already compelling matchup.
AEW TNT Championship – No Time Limit, No Outside Interference Daniel Garcia (c) vs. Adam Cole
Daniel Garcia defends his TNT Championship against Adam Cole under special stipulations that ensure a definitive winner. With no time limit and outside interference banned, these two technical wrestlers will have to rely solely on their in-ring abilities to emerge victorious.
Owen Hart Foundation Tournament Quarter-Final – Men’s Bracket Will Ospreay vs. Kevin Knight
Owen Hart Foundation Tournament Quarter-Final – Men’s Bracket Kyle Fletcher vs. Mark Briscoe
Owen Hart Foundation Tournament Quarter-Final – Women’s Bracket Mercedes Moné vs. Julia Hart
These quarterfinal matches in the 2025 Owen Hart Foundation Tournament will have significant implications for Double or Nothing on May 25, where the tournament finals will take place.
With WrestleMania season in full swing, AEW’s Dynasty looks to make its own mark on the wrestling calendar with a stacked card of ten matches, including seven championship bouts and three tournament matches that could reshape the company’s landscape moving forward.
MLW Battle Riot VII took place last night at Thunder Studios Arena in Long Beach, California, featuring several major surprises and title changes:
Main Event
• Matt Riddle successfully retained his MLW World Heavyweight Championship in the 40-person Battle Riot match, entering at #25 and outlasting the entire field • The match concluded with Riddle shoving Rob Van Dam off the top rope as RVD attempted a Five-Star Frog Splash
• Alex Hammerstone made his return to MLW after leaving over a year ago for TNA, entering at #1 • Raj Dhesi (formerly Jinder Mahal) entered at #2 • Chris Adonis (formerly Chris Masters) appeared at #22 • Independent star Titus Alexander was a surprise entrant at #38 • Rob Van Dam made his first-ever MLW appearance as the final entrant at #40
Title Changes
• Shoko Nakajima defeated Delmi Exo to become the new MLW Women’s World Featherweight Champion • Mistico vacated the MLW World Middleweight Championship, announcing his move to the heavyweight division
• Austin Aries returned to MLW as part of the commentary team alongside Joe Dombrowski • Bishop Dyer (formerly Baron Corbin in WWE) made his MLW debut in the Battle Riot match, though his appearance had been announced beforehand • A mysterious teaser aired featuring imagery of a bullet, beer, and tape recorder with the message “They’re Coming” and the number 626, which looks like The Good Brothers are headed to MLW
Mick Foley has expressed his gratitude to his fans following his first public appearance after his recent car accident. Taking to Instagram, Foley shared his thanks to the fans alongside pictures of some of the fans who met him at the Dallas Vintage Toys event.
Foley took to Instagram earlier this week to share that he had been involved in a serious car accident and that he was dealing with soreness and a minor concussion. His post sparked hundreds of well-wishes from fans and those from within the wrestling industry. In an update, Mick’s daughter Noelle shared that the WWE Hall of Famer was lucky to be able to walk away from the serious accident.
Foley is no stranger to concussions and faced more than his fair share throughout his wrestling career. Last year, Foley shared that he was cancelling plans to wrestle one final death match after experiencing concussion-like symptoms. The fact that Foley had not done anything to cause these symptoms were an eye-opener showing that a career risking it all for wrestling continues to affect Foley years after his in-ring career ended.
Mark Nash is WWE SmackDown’s newest announcer and recently, a comment on X by NXT announcer Mike Rome sparked a lot of attention. Rome noticed that Nash was reading off cards during the April 4, edition of WWE SmackDown and questioned when this was introduced.
Wait, we get to read off of cards now??? Asking for a friend lol#wwesmackdown
— Austin Romero (aka: Mike Rome) (@AustinMRomero) April 5, 2025
This comment caught the attention of many fans as well as former Raw announcer Samantha Irvin. After Irvin seemed distraught that she wasn’t given cue cards for her tenure, Rome pointed out that Nash has been using cards for two weeks now.
That’s two weeks I’ve seen one ?
— Austin Romero (aka: Mike Rome) (@AustinMRomero) April 5, 2025
Some fans took Rome’s comments as a dig at Nash who debuted for the blue brand in late March 2025. Feeling it necessary to clarify, Rome wanted to make clear he wasn’t insulting Nash’s work. Instead, Rome is merely hoping that he soon gets to have cards in his role with WWE NXT.
To clarify, @MarkShunock is absolutely crushing it. Don’t look for a deeper meaning to my tweet lol ? I think the card is a killer tool, especially for many of the long ass things we have to say, I want one!
— Austin Romero (aka: Mike Rome) (@AustinMRomero) April 5, 2025
Nash himself would comment, appreciating that Rome’s comments weren’t meant to be insulting. Rome went on to praise the work of the new SmackDown announcer.
Dude, love the style. Keep crushing it. Was watching Friday, gave me Bruce buffer vibes. See you in Vegas!
— Austin Romero (aka: Mike Rome) (@AustinMRomero) April 5, 2025
Nash is new to his role with WWE, which may explain why he is using cue cards to help him remember the stats of the Superstars of the blue brand. It remains to be seen if these cards are here to stay as Mike Rome would love to have some cards of his own.
During Bayley’s initial run in WWE NXT, a young fan named Izzy proved to be the most loyal supporter of the Hugger. Now, Izzy is all grown up and is ready to take the WWE ring by storm just like her hero.
On X, Izzy Moreno cut a passionate promo about the WWE ID Championship, vowing she’s ready to risk it all in the upcoming tournament. Moreno declared that the tournament will be one step closer to her lifelong dream: becoming a WWE Superstar.
What if…..I mean what if @WWEID called me to be in the opening round of the WWE ID Championship tournament at @GCWrestling_ on April 16th in Las Vegas?
Moreno has been making a name for herself in the ring in recent years. In June 2024, Moreno won her first championship, the MPW Championship, a title she holds to this day. Now, Moreno is ready for more gold in her future and believes that the WWE ID Championship will soon be hers.
WWE introduced the WWE ID Men’s and Women’s Championships in February 2025 with Chief Content Officer Paul ‘Triple H’ Levesque doing the honors. The tournaments to crown both champions will begin at GCW’s event on April 16 in the middle of WWE WrestleMania week in Las Vegas. With a historic first up for grabs, Moreno is ready to risk it all, but becoming champion will not be an easy feat of the superfan who aims to become a Superstar.
MLW World Heavyweight Champion Matt Riddle proved his Battle Riot 2024 win was no fluke by winning this year’s massive match. Enntering at number 25, Riddle last eliminated Rob Van Dam, the #40 entrant to win the entire thing. Van Dam’s critical error came when he went up top for the five-star frog splash, giving Riddle the opportunity to throw him from the ring to win.
BRO IS HERE!!! ?
MLW World Champion Matt Riddle has entered the Battle RIOT, taped-up ribs & all!
This win wasn’t just a big victory for Riddle but also a historic one. This year’s Battle Riot marked the first time in history that the MLW World Heavyweight Championship had been on the line in te match. Previously, the match had earned a wrestler a shot at the title. With his victory, Riddle has certainly proved that he deserves to be called the MLW World Heavyweight Champion.
Kevin Owens is officially out of WrestleMania 41, leaving Randy Orton without an opponent for the Showcase of the Immortals. With Orton being one of WWE’s biggest stars, many fans expect that he will still compete in Las Vegas and now one Superstar has put their name forward.
On X, some fans have called on Karrion Kross to replace Owens as the Viper’s opponent. In a post of his own, Kross appreciated the support and said he’d accept the chance to face Orton. As the decision won’t be up to him though, Kross ended with a message of “Let’s see what happens.”
So, Randy Orton doesn’t have an opponent at #WrestleMania
Well, I know a guy that is free WrestleMania weekend.
— Kevin Robert Kesar (@realKILLERkross) April 5, 2025
Kross has competed just once at WrestleMania as he and AOP lost to The Pride at WrestleMania 40 in a Philadelphia Street Fight. Now, Kross is clearly ready to upgrade from six-man tag-team action to going one-on-one with the 14-time WWE World Champion.
On WWE TV, Kross has been showing interest in AJ Styles’ feud with Logan Paul and those two will do battle at WrestleMania 41. While Kross himself has yet to have a match confirmed for the show of shows, that could be about to change.
Since launching in 2019, AEW has provided more opportuntities for talent to succeed in a major wrestling promotion, though not enough according to Jon Moxley. Speaking to The Knockturnal, Moxley acknowledged that despite their being multiple places for talent to flourish, some talented individual will inevitably “slip through the cracks.”
“It sucks. Not everybody’s gonna make it, right? Everyone does their best to mitigate that and to create as much opportunity for as much success as possible.”
The idea of talent in AEW never seeing their own potential “keeps me up at night,” especially when years go by and they don’t progress in their careers. In the interview, Moxley explained how the issue of people not taking the initiative to advance isn’t a problem confined to pro wrestling alone.
“A lot of people in this world now are waiting for everybody else to tell them who they are and what they can do.”
Moxley knows all about taking the initiative. In 2019, he chose to leave WWE, a high-profile role he’d been working in for years, to take a chance on AEW. After growing frustrated with his stagnant role in WWE, Moxley has become one of AEW’s very top stars and is currently in his latest reign as AEW World Champion.
“First, you have to see it, and you have to see everything that you have inside of you and everything that you’re capable of.”
Moxley will defend the AEW World Championship at Dynasty against Swerve Strickland, another man who knows about rising to the occasion. Nevertheless, Moxley remains frustrated that some talent will simply never recognize their true potential in the ring.
Charlotte Flair and Tiffany Stratton stunned fans with their highly personal promo segment during the March 4, edition of WWE SmackDown. During the segment, Stratton poked fun at Flair’s “0-3” record in marriages while Flair suggested that Stratton’s boyfriend Ludwig Kaiser was in her DMs.
According to Fightful Select, the promo has remained a hot topic backstage—particularly among the women’s division. One source told PW Insider that Flair’s final comment about Kaiser was “a flailing punch from a boxer who didn’t realize they were KO’d.”
Sources believe that Flair was thrown-off by the fans’ support for Stratton, and appeared to shift her delivery to win back the crowd. But Stratton had already seized the spotlight, capping the segment with a mic-drop moment that stunned both viewers and those backstage.
Charlotte “didn’t appear to be pleased” backstage after the segment, Fightful adds. With that said, one performer said that Tiffany “had to fight back” after Flair had previously dominated one of their earlier promos.
WWE’s post-show response added to the intrigue. Not only were the most controversial lines removed from their official YouTube upload, but Fightful reports that the edits were mandated from higher up as a “specific directve.” As WrestleMania 41 looms, it remains to be seen if WWE will harness the controversy from this segment, or move on and act like it never happened.
AEW has announced a four-hour special episode combining Dynamite and Collision, set to air on Wednesday, June 4. The extended broadcast will serve as part of AEW Fyter Fest and will take place live from Denver, Colorado.
The dual-show format marks a unique presentation for AEW, bringing together its flagship Wednesday night programming and its Saturday show into one extended broadcast.
AEW Fyter Fest has traditionally served as a themed special within the promotion’s calendar. This year’s edition expands its scope with a marathon format.
The June 4 event will air in prime time, offering fans four full hours of AEW content in one night from the Ball Arena in Denver.
In a recent interview with WWE Deutschland, PENTA discussed his iconic mask and potential future plans.
When asked about removing his mask, PENTA confirmed he has no intention of unmasking in the near term. However, looking toward the future, he revealed an intriguing career aspiration.
“My dream match would be a mask versus mask contest against my brother, Rey Fenix,” PENTA shared.
He suggested such a high-stakes encounter might be possible in “10 or 15 years,” emphasizing it would need to be “something special.”
This revelation comes as Rey Fenix made his WWE in-ring debut on SmackDown, defeating Nathan Frazer. The brothers previously competed against each other in a singles match during their time with AEW.
It’s been close to seven years since Chris Jericho last competed in a WWE ring but that could change one day. Speaking at the Horror, Rock, and Wrestle Fest in Manchester, England, Jericho said he’d consider a return even if Vince McMahon was still running things.
“I would have considered a return to WWE before things changed. I mean, you’d be crazy not to consider it.”
Jericho finds it “amazing” that their are now two teams he can ‘play’ for after decades of WWE being the only major promotion around. Now with a highly-successful run in AEW to his name, Jericho shared that while he’s not opposed to returning to WWE, he’s not clamoring for it either.
“It just depends on what the situation is and what’s going on with me at the time. We’ll see.“
Jericho would hardly be the first Superstar to move from WWE to AEW and back to WWE. The biggest success story to date in this transition is Cody Rhodes who is currently nearing one year as Undisputed WWE Champion. CM Punk stunned fans with his return to WWE, mere months after being terminated from AEW in 2023.
More recently, it has been reported that Miro will be returning to WWE while many believes recent teases on SmackDown are for Aleister Black. As for Jericho, the first-ever AEW World Champion, he won’t count out walking down the entrance as a WWE Superstar once again.
Kevin Owens has responded to recent comments by former WWE Superstar Matt Riddle calling him and Sami Zayn “very difficult” to work with. KO says he doesn’t have any personal issues with Riddle, but isn’t surprised that his attitude and poor decision making led him out of WWE.
“It’s funny coming from him, I have nothing against him at all but you know, to me, he’s a guy who had really amazing opportunities handed to him like being Randy’s tag partner, and basically getting to ride the coattails of a legend & he managed to screw it all up.
not because of his abilities, but because of his own attitude and poor choices, so for him to say we’re hard to work with and he couldn’t get a word in…there is a pretty good reason for that. You look at our track record and his track record, I think that speaks for itself.”
Riddle made comments about Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn being difficult during an appearance on the Going Ringside podcast.
The “King of Bros” named Sheamus as one of the physically toughest opponents he worked with, but mentioned that working with Owens and Zayn presented unique challenges. He noted that it was tough to communicate effectively with them, saying, “It’s hard to put a complete sentence together with those guys, if you know what I’m saying”.
Riddle currently wrestles for Major League Wrestling, where he’s the reigning MLW World Heavyweight Champion.
Kevin Owens confirmed on last night’s WWE SmackDown that he will soon undergo neck surgery, forcing him to miss WrestleMania 41 and putting his wrestling career in jeopardy. Speaking to Robbie Fox on My Mom’s Basement podcast, Owens revealed that the injury stemmed from a match in January. He noted the issue arose despite receiving a clean MRI just a month earlier.
“I have to go have neck surgery which, you know, 25 years in with the stuff I’ve done, I feel like it was bound to happen,” Owens said. “But it sucks man, the timing sucks for sure.”
The former Universal Champion expressed particular frustration about missing a planned singles match against Randy Orton at WWE’s biggest annual event. “Not getting to wrestle Randy Orton at WrestleMania really sucks, that’s the part that bugs me the most,” he added.
“In December, I did a full body MRI just on my own for curiosity… at the time the report came back that my knees were [messed up]… but your spine and your neck and everything looks good. But then in January I had a match, and in the match two things happened that really jarred my neck, and that’s when the issues started.”
Owens estimated a recovery period of six to twelve months, based on cases involving similar injuries.
Beyond the injury itself, Owens criticized how the news of his condition surfaced before he had a chance to announce it publicly.
“It really annoys me actually… whoever leaked it is some office employee that shouldn’t know this stuff in the first place,” he said. “Now they took away my right to tell people because now everybody knows already.”
The injury not only affects his immediate WrestleMania plans but also puts other dream matches in jeopardy. Owens shared his disappointment about likely missing a final chance to face John Cena, reflecting on the ten-year anniversary of their first encounter. “I was really hoping I’d get to do that before he’s done,” Owens said.
With couple of weeks left for the show, they were involved in a war of words on the blue brand. Stratton mentioned Flair’s personal real-life relationship issues and things got very personal on the show. Stratton was referencing Flair’s divorce from Andrade and said:
“When it’s all said and done, you’re going to be just like you are outside of the ring, alone! What is that record, like 0-3?”
Charlotte Flair and Andrade tied the knot in May 2022 after being in a relationship since 2019. However, the couple divorced on October 20th, 2024. Flair was previously married to Riki Johnson from 2010 until 2013 and fellow wrestler Thomas Latimer from 2013 until 2015.
WWE star Ludwig Kaiser’s name also got in the mix. After Statton’s jab at Flair’s divorce, ‘The Queen’ made a comment about Stratton’s real-life boyfriend Ludwig Kaiser, saying:
“Is that why Kaiser’s in my DMs?”
Ludwig Kaiser responds to Charlotte Flair’s remarks
The former Imperium member has also responded to Charlotte Flair’s comments from her fiery exchange with Tiffany Stratton on SmackDown. Kaiser dropped a video of Shawn Michaels telling Diana Smith:
It was reported that both Charlotte Flair and Tiffany Stratton went “off-script quite a bit” during this heated segment, as the pair reportedly said little of what was on the script. WWE had also posted an official clip of the personal comments, but later deleted it.
This is not the first time WWE wrestlers have gone off the script. The heated moment has created visible tension but at the end of the day it is hopeful that they keep it professional in the ring when they face each other at WrestleMania 41.