WrestleMania 41 is mere days away but not every Superstar will be competing as part of the two-night supershow. On X, WWE Hall of Famer John ‘Bradshaw’ Layfield took issue that Chad Gable will not be a part of the upcoming Las Vegas spectacle. JBL, who’s on-screen character often flirted with anti-immigration sentiment, argued that having El Grande Americano on the card instead of Gable was the wrong choice before demanding ‘Justice for Chad.’
While Gable will be ‘missing’ from WrestleMania, El Grande Americano will battle Rey Mysterio during the event’s first night. Mysterio has claimed that WWE’s new masked sensation is actually Gable in disguise, and that the ‘character’ is a mockery of the rich history of lucha libre wrestling. Mysterio is no stranger to WrestleMania, having made his debut at WrestleMania 19 in 2003 and competed most recently at last year’s event.
WrestleMania 41 will be a huge event, the culmination of a stacked week in Las Vegas of WWE and non-WWE shows. But for Chad Gable, unless something changes soon, he’ll have to sit back and watch Mysterio and Americano tear the house down from the sidelines.
Unlike last week’s controversial segment with Charlotte Flair and Tiffany Stratton on WWE SmackDown, which went off script and was described backstage as a “wreck,” things got back on track this week.
Before the show, fans captured footage of Flair attacking Stratton outside the arena. On the show, Joe Tessitore confirmed that both stars had been warned by WWE. He also said that the disciplinary action relates not only to Flair’s actions but also to their promo last week, which he stated crossed the line.
NXT star Roxanne Perez returned to the main roster to trash-talk Stratton, leading to a singles match. Once Stratton won, Charlotte suddenly showed up for another attack.
Fightful Select reports that WWE officials were happy with how Tiffany and Charlotte responded and worked together this week, especially after last week’s incident.
Per the report, based on what they heard, everything ended up okay despite the physicality. The producers and backstage personnel said that things went as planned and were received well.
The Ring General was also asked if he has a retirement age in mind or, he’ll continue wrestling even in his 50s. Gunther explained that he isn’t putting a timetable on the end of his wrestling career, and instead, he’ll continue evaluating things on a regular basis:
Depends how [the body is feeling] and how I look like when 50 years old. We will see. It’s like there’s nothing set in stone. The business is changing so much too. Like our schedule got so much better and also WWE is in such a great spot now.
We have so many guys that are over as they say that are just super popular. While before it was more structured. There’s like one or maybe two top top guys and everything is catered towards them.”
Gunther explained that WWE moving away from live events will help the longevity of the talents. With the mindset of creating as many stars as possible, he believes that the big names will not be wrestling as often, allowing them to extend their careers beyond the general age limit:
“Now we have such a big…. We have so many guys that are like ‘Oh he’s a top guy, he’s a top guy, he’s a top guy.’ And I think it’s…that’s my vision at least for the business like going forward that it’s going to be, I don’t know, if I want to see Gunther there is like three four big matches a year and that’s it.
Almost like a little bit more similar how UFC is structured, if that makes sense. Obviously, we have weekly TV. It’s a little bit of a different scenario but I think that’s going to be a natural progression if things keep going like that.”
Becky Lynch features in Chime’s latest commercial, joining Deion Sanders and Kai Cenat in a campaign that connects smart financial decisions to high-profile experiences—like getting front-row seats at WWE events.
Lynch makes a brief in-ring cameo while a voiceover promotes Chime’s message that “you’re making it,” aligning with the brand’s focus on financial empowerment.
Chime releases their newest commercial. In the commercial, it featured #NFL Champion, Football Hall of Famer and Colorado Football Head Coach “Prime Time” Deion Sanders, Kai Cenat and 7x #WWE Women’s Champion Becky Lynch.@DeionSanders@KaiCenat@BeckyLynchWWE
The spot further solidifies Chime’s presence in the WWE space, as the company recently sponsored the ring mat during the April 7 episode of WWE Raw on Netflix. Chime also ran a giveaway for tickets to WrestleMania 41 in Las Vegas next weekend.
Becky Lynch’s Future
Last night, Lynch addressed her current WWE status during her appearance as guest monologist at the April 11 Ultimate Improv Show. She confirmed she’s “not wrestling anymore” but left the door open for a future return “Maybe one day,” she said.
Zoey Stark is tired of her colleagues oversexualizing professional wrestling and isn’t holding back against some of WWE’s top Superstars. Taking to X, fka Twitter, Stark argued that too many wrestlers are dressing too provactively to be considered decent.
Stark’s one-woman crusade began at a WWE live event where she took issue with Rhea Ripley smacking her own backside. This caught the attention of the Australian Superstar.
Up next, Stark too issue with Bianca Belair’s attire as guest referee during the March 31, edition of Raw. Stark argued that an official should be more covered before censoring the EST.
Women’s World Champion IYO SKY is not immune to Stark’s moral crusade. On X, Stark argued that SKY’s outfit during a recent episode of Raw was a beg for attention.
Now, Liv Morgan has been the target of Stark who argued that Liv’s attire is little more than what one would see from a stripper. In an unabashed response, Morgan joked that she’d certainly make plenty if she traded in the ring for the stage.
Stark’s crusade has left fans speculating on whether this moral crusade could make it to WWE TV, with several comparing Stark to the Right to Censor’s Ivory. The faction drew immense heat in 2000 and 2001 for their staunch (and often hypocritical) opposition to violence and sexuality.
Interestingly, Stark’s comments come after WWE LFG’s Mickie James took issue with Zena Sterling’s outfit, calling it akin to lingerie. This comment split fans with some agreeing with James while other argued that the progress James touted means that Sterling should be free to wear what she chooses.
It remains to be seen if Zoey Stark’s moral crusade makes it to WWE TV but the former NXT Women’s Tag Team Champion isn’t holding back online.
Samantha Irvin is wasting no time building her career in the world of music following the end of her WWE tenure. On April 11, 2025, Irvin took to YouTube to drop the music video for her new track ‘Shawty Wanna.’
In the comments, several listeners praised the song, with one saying that “Samantha was born to perform” and praised her as “more than a singer.” Another compared Irvin’s new track to “old skill R&B” while another said that Irvin “absolutely ate this up.”
Irvin parted ways with WWE in October 2024 and explained at the time that she wished to pursue other avenues in entertainment. Shortly after her exit, Irvin explained that she had not wished to remain as a ring announcer, but WWE did not plan for her to have any other role.
While Irvin has yet to resurface in pro wrestling, some fans believe she will eventually join AEW where her husband Ricochet is receiving regular TV time.
Whatever Irvin has planned next, in or outside of wrestling, the former ring announcer will be performing in Las Vegas over WWE WrestleMania week. As fans await to see what Irvin does next, it’s clear that the former ring announcer has a multitude of talents beyond announcing wrestlers to the ring.
Former WWE star Becky Lynch has clarified her immediate wrestling plans amid speculation surrounding a potential return to the ring.
With her WWE contract having expired in June 2024 and reports of a new signing in January, many fans anticipated her appearance at the upcoming WrestleMania 41 event on April 19-20.
During her appearance as Guest Monologist at the April 11 Ultimate Improv Show, Lynch definitively stated:
“It’s WrestleMania season, isn’t it? Look, I’m not wrestling anymore. Maybe one day, but not right now. But my husband is!”
Her husband, Seth Rollins, is scheduled to compete against CM Punk and Roman Reigns in the main event of WrestleMania 41 Night 1.
Interestingly, Rollins previously suggested in March that Lynch was “gearing up to get ready to come back,” contradicting her recent statement.
The way she said "I'm not wrestling anymore.." ma'am don't mess with me right now!!! pic.twitter.com/tTV6Or4Mcc
Get ready for an exciting episode of AEW Collision, airing live from the MassMutual Center in Springfield, Massachusetts, tonight at 8/7c on TNT and streaming on MAX.
Tonight’s show promises to be a pivotal episode, with the three Owen Hart Cup tournament matches.
Matches and Segments
Athena vs. Harley Cameron – In an Owen Hart Cup women’s tournament match, Athena faces off against Harley Cameron, with the winner advancing to the semifinals against Mercedes Moné.
Jamie Hayter vs. Billie Starkz – This Owen Hart Cup women’s tournament match sees Jamie Hayter taking on Billie Starkz, with the winner moving on to face Kris Statlander in the semifinals.
Konosuke Takeshita vs. Brody King – A highly anticipated men’s Owen Hart Cup match pits Konosuke Takeshita against Brody King.
Anthony Bowens vs. Blake Christian – In a singles matchup, Anthony Bowens looks to prove himself against the talented Blake Christian.
Megan Bayne in Action – Megan Bayne will make her presence known against an opponent TBA.
Michelle McCool will be inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame this year, but her choice of inductee has angered several fans of the inaugural Divas Champion. This week, WWE revealed who will be inducting at the April 18, ceremony and it will be The Undertaker who inducts McCool.
While the Phenom is hardly a surprising choice given that he and McCool have been married since 2010, many fans feel he is the wrong choice. On X, many fans argued that Michelle’s Lay-Cool partner Layla should be the one inducting her at the ceremony. This resulted in Layla’s name trending on the platform.
The anger of fans comes at an interesting time for McCool’s career. For WWE LFG’s second season, McCool will replace Mickie James as one of the show’s judges. It has been reported that The Undertaker pushed for McCool to be added to the show, though did not state that she should replace James. Nevertheless, this has led to anger from fans and accusations that the couple are using the Phenom’s sway, resulting in James, a highly-respected name in wrestling, being cut.
The Undertaker’s involvement isn’t the only questionable WWE Hall of Fame inductee. Despite the hopes of many, including Lex Luger, Sting will not be inducting his friend, and the role will instead be performed by DDP. While DDP has done wonders for Luger’s health, many believe it should be Sting, still under contract with AEW, who should be doing the honor.
The WWE Hall of Fame will take place on April 18, as part of the massive WrestleMania week lined up. While McCool will be able to celebrate her induction with her husband by her side, it remains to be seen if Layla has any role as part of the ceremony.
The April 11 edition of WWE SmackDown saw Drew McIntyre and Damian Priest once again come to blows. While it was McIntyre who left the show standing tall over the Archer of Infamy, Priest was able to leave his mark on the Scottish Warrior.
Taking to Instagram after the segment, McIntyre shared a deep laceration to his scalp. McIntyre added the caption that “some old wounds never truly heal,” suggesting the brawl with Priest opened up a previous injury.
McIntyre and Priest will meet at WWE WrestleMania 41 in the ‘Sin City Street Fight’ in Las Vegas, Nevada. This feud has been building for months with an argument to be made that it began at WrestleMania 40. It was Priest, after all, who would cash-in Money in the Bank on McIntyre at the April 2024, event, bringing an end to his brief reign as World Heavyweight Champion.
Now, McIntyre has the chance for revenge, but Priest won’t go easy after this brawl on SmackDown. Stay tuned to SEScoops for the latest from WrestleMania 41.
Rhea Ripley has responded to criticism of the build-up to her WrestleMania 41 encounter.
The Mami is scheduled to compete in a triple threat Women’s Championship match against IYO SKY and Bianca Belair at the Show of Shows. While SKY is the champion heading into this bout, the tensions between Ripley and Belair have taken center stage in their feud.
Ripley talked about her focus heading into the biggest wrestling show of the year during an interview with Sports Illustrated. She claimed that they are not overlooking IYO because they know how big of a threat she can be:
“I don’t want to say we’re overlooking IYO, because we’re not. We know that she’s a threat. We know what she’s capable of. Hell, I’ve never beat her in a one-on-one competition. I know exactly what IYO brings to the table,”
A singles match between Rhea Ripley and Bianca Belair is long anticipated. Rhea held the women’s title when Bianca won the 2025 Women’s Elimination Chamber to earn a WrestleMania title shot, so fans at the time believed we’d finally get the one-on-one encounter between the two female stars.
WWE, however, pivoted towards a triple threat, adding IYO SKY to the mix. SKY won the title from the Eradicator during the March 3 episode of Raw after Rhea got into a fight with Bianca Belair who was at the ringside for the title match.
The pivot and the story coming out of it is something fans have been vocal about. Rhea Ripley addressed the online chatter but said that she will be focusing on taking out Bianca, no matter what the fans say:
“The story is getting spicy. I know a lot of people online don’t want to realize what’s going on, because they hate me or whatever it is. People are going to feel whatever they want to feel. I’m not going to argue with 16-year-olds on the internet, but that’s the story.
And I mean, going into WrestleMania 41, I feel like, yes, I’m going to be focusing on Bianca, because she screwed me out of my opportunity twice now by being there and wanting to be a part of the spotlight and taking that away from me when she knows how much this opportunity meant to me.”
WWE recently revealed the match lineup for both nights of WrestleMania 41. You can check out which night this triple threat will take place here.
Drew McIntyre has addressed the reports of ‘storming out’ of Royal Rumble 2025.
The Scottish Psychopath entered the battle royal this year at #17 and lasted almost half an hour before being eliminated by Damian Priest. At the same time as his elimination, however, Logan Paul and LA Knight were exchanging blows, taking the attention of fans away from the elimination.
Since it was supposed to be the start of the feud between Priest and Drew, McIntyre was reported to be unhappy with the turn of events and said to have stormed out of the arena before the conclusion of the PPV.
— Anutosh Bajpai || SEScoops || Wrestling News (@AuthorAnutosh) February 2, 2025
The WWE star was asked about the legitimacy of these reports during a recent interview with Getting Over podcast. He claimed that not all details of the incident were described accurately. Though Drew McIntyre did confirm that he left the arena almost immediately explaining that it was the grown-up thing to do:
“I mean, not all the details are accurate but yeah, I was fuming (at WWE Royal Rumble) and I let everybody know what I thought and then I left. Because I’ve learned as an adult, nothing good happens when you’re highly emotional so just go calm down, get the facts, then deal with it, because I don’t want to punch somebody in the head and be unprofessional and then find out facts later, I didn’t know about. It was the grown-up thing to do.”
Drew McIntyre later said that he gets frustrated when someone does something disrespectful. However sometimes you later find out that the incident was not how it appeared on the surface. So it’s better to calm down and get all the facts before reacting to anything too harshly which is what he did.
Apart from this, the former World Champion also talked about things such as character development in today’s wrestling, living in world of social media and more. You can check out more highlights of his interview here.
Rumors continue to grow about Aleister Black returning to WWE and now the promotion may have given their biggest confirmation to date. During the April 11, edition of WWE SmackDown, another cryptic video was aired which fans believe is hyping up the return of the Dutch wrestler. During the video, a chair surrounded by candles was featured amid the smoky atmosphere.
Fans immediately speculated that this was a nod to Black, specifically a tenure from his WWE career shortly before his exit in 2021. That year, Black was seen in a chair surrounded by candles, reading from the book ‘Tales of the Dark Father.’ Not only did WWE include this imagery on this week’s SmackDown, but this segment was followed by a match featuring Zelina Vega, Black’s real-life wife.
Not only are WWE suggesting that Black will return, but fans may already know the exact date of his comeback. This week’s segment also saw the number 4 and the Roman numeral for 25. This has left many thinking that Black’s return will come on the April 25, edition of WWE SmackDown, the first episode of the blue brand after WrestleMania 41.
Black was a hit in WWE NXT, becoming the brand’s top champion, but that success was not matched when he was called to the main roster. With Paul ‘Triple H’ Levesque now overseeing the entirity of WWE’s creative direction, it remains to be seen if Black can have the main roster run many hoped for him, should he return as countless fans predict.
On the April 11, edition of WWE SmackDown, Bayley and Lyra Valkyria won a Women’s Tag Team Gauntlet match, punching their tickets to WrestleMania 41. Not only did the duo earn a shot at WWE Women’s Tag Team Champions Liv Morgan and Raquel Rodriguez, but the duo defeated every other team in the gauntlet match to earn their opportunity.
In a WWE SmackDown exclusive, Bayley and Valkyria, decked in the shirt of their tag-team partner, reflected on their journey to WrestleMania. While this match was Lyra’s first time teaming with Bayley, she’s pleased to have an instant chemistry with the Role Model.
“We just ran through the very best that the women’s division has to offer and I’m going to WrestleMania with the Role Model!”
Lyra shared that her connection to Bayley runs deep as she first met her future tag team partner years ago during a WWE fan event. As for Bayley, she’s grateful for the opportunity to hold tag team gold once again.
“I’ve been a tag team champion in the past, I’m the first ever. And I’m a two-time, so if I become a three times the charm, I’m honored to be able to do that with you.”
Despite their partnership, Bayley made clear that she still has her eyes on Valkyria’s Women’s Intercontinental Championship, a title the Role Model has yet to hold. Nevertheless, the pair plan on winning big at WrestleMania and proving their win in their debut match was no fluke.
Cody Rhodes had some fun after this week’s episode of SmackDown from Climate Pledge Arena in Seattle, Washington, went off air.
The Undisputed WWE Champion made an appearance during the broadcast of the show. WWE had set up the multiple championship belts they have used in different eras, including the spinner belt that is synonymous with John Cena. Rhodes hyped up their upcoming match before Cena’s return to TV next week.
This wasn’t the last time fans in Seattle got to see the American Nightmare, however. He made an appearance in a tracksuit after the show with Carmelo Hayes. Cody Rhodes first did ‘the worm’ during his appearance, and he then took Hayes out with a Cross-Rhodes to send the fans home happy:
Prior to all this, fans witnessed an eventful episode of SmackDown as the company continued the build for the marquee WrestleMania matches.
This included a huge brawl between Drew McIntyre and Damian Priest, which led to a Street Fight stipulation being announced for their upcoming match, as well as the crowning of Bayley & Lyra Valkyria as the new #1 contender for the Women’s tag titles held by Liv Morgan & Raquel Rodriguez.
Apart from this, the company also confirmed the schedule for both nights of WrestleMania 41. You can check out which matches will take place on which night here.
The April 11, edition of WWE SmackDown saw plenty go down, including massive stakes being added to WrestleMania 41. But before Bayley & Lyra Valkyria cashed their tickets to Las Vegas and before Drew McIntyre Vs. Damian Priest was made into a Sin City Street Fight, one WWE NXT Superstar won gold.
Before SmackDown went on the air, WWE filmed its upcoming episode of WWE Speed, which will air on the WrestleMania 41 Week episode on April 16. During the taping, Candice LeRae’s time as the WWE Speed Women’s Champion was brought to an end by NXT’s Sol Ruca.
This win marks Ruca’s first taste of gold in WWE and makes her the second-ever WWE Speed Champion. LeRae’s 189-day reign had begun in October 2024 when she defeated IYO SKY in the finals of a tournament to win the title. Despite being on TV as champion though, LeRae did not appear with her gold which WWE keeps exclusive to its X-hosted show.
Now, it will be Ruca who the women of WWE hope to dethrone, and winning the title is certainly an endorsement for the NXT Superstar. Now, attention turns towards Stand & Deliver, where Ruca hopes to become a double champion by winning the vacant NXT Women’s North American Championship. Stay tuned to SEScoops for the latest on Sol Ruca and her reign as WWE Speed Women’s Champion.
Cody Rhodes was on the April 11, edition of WWE SmackDown with some fiery words for his WrestleMania 41 opponent, John Cena. Along the way though, Rhodes also had another WWE legend in mind, the controversial Brock Lesnar.
Rhodes said that Cena is trying to tear down the legacy of the company and the crowd booed when he said that John had chosen not to come to Seattle. Rhodes then said he does his best fighting when he’s backed into a corner. Rhodes said that this was what he told Brock Lesnar and Roman Reigns.
References to Lesnar are a rarity in WWE as questions remain over the former Universal Champion’s status and potential future. Lesnar has not appeared for WWE since the SummerSlam 2023 Premium Live Event, where he was defeated by Rhodes. In 2024, Brock was pulled from all WWE plans due to being tied to Janel Grant’s lawsuit against WWE, Vince McMahon, and John Laurinaitis. Those plans included a match at WWE Elimination Chamber: Perth against Dominik Mysterio and a WrestleMania 40 showdown with GUNTHER.
Questions remain as to when, if ever, Brock Lesnar will be back in the ring, making Rhodes’ reference all the more surprising this week. Cody promised that he will be on next week’s SmackDown, as will Cena, promising an exciting segment between the two ahead of their battle for the very soul of WWE at WrestleMania 41.
WWE WrestleMania 41 is mere days away and now fans know what to expect with each night of the event. The sixth-ever two-night WrestleMania will take place on Saturday April 19, and Sunday, April 20, from Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, Nevada. During the April 11, edition of WWE SmackDown, the promotion confirmed which matches will face on each night.
Saturday:
Roman Reigns vs. CM Punk vs. Seth Rollins
Jade Cargill vs. Naomi
War Raiders vs. The New Day – World Tag Team Championship
Rey Mysterio vs. Grande Americano
LA Knight vs. Jacob Fatu – United States Championship
Tiffany Stratton vs. Charlotte Flair – WWE Women’s Championship
Gunther vs. Jey Uso – WWE World Heavyweight Championship
– WWE Women's Championship: Tiffany Stratton (c) vs. Charlotte Flair – World Heavyweight Championship: Gunther (c) vs. Jey Uso – United States Championship: LA Knight (c) vs. Jacob Fatu – Rey Mysterio vs. El Grande Americano – World… pic.twitter.com/fPXEjUWB1B
– Women's World Championship: IYO SKY (c) vs. Bianca Belair vs. Rhea Ripley – Intercontinental Championship: Bron Breakker (c) vs. Pènta vs. Dominik Mysterio vs. Finn Bálor – Women's Tag Team Championship: Liv Morgan & Raquel… pic.twitter.com/6loAQ4qYcY
Once again, WWE has delivered a stacked card for WrestleMania. Stay tuned to SEScoops for the latest on WrestleMania as the biggest show of the year will soon arrive in Sin City.
WWE has confirmed the lineup of inductors for the 2025 Hall of Fame class, featuring several high-profile names.
Shawn Michaels will induct longtime friend and D-Generation X stablemate Triple H. The Undertaker will honor former WWE Women’s Champion Michelle McCool, while Diamond Dallas Page is set to induct former WCW and WWE star Lex Luger.
CM Punk will handle the induction of the legendary WrestleMania 13 submission match between “Stone Cold” Steve Austin and Bret Hart, a pivotal moment in WWE history.
An inductor for The Natural Disasters, the powerhouse tag team of Earthquake and Typhoon, has not yet been announced.
Here are the key results and highlights from the April 11, 2025 episode of WWE SmackDown from the Climate Pledge Arena in Seattle, Washington.
Randy Orton confronted SmackDown General Manager Nick Aldis, demanding a WrestleMania 41 match. Solo Sikoa and Tama Tonga interrupted, leading to a brawl.
LA Knight came to Orton’s aid, and a tag team match was set up for later in the show: Orton & Knight vs. Sikoa & Tonga.
Drew McIntyre attacked Damian Priest backstage, continuing their heated rivalry ahead of their WrestleMania street fight.
Rey Fenix defeated Berto in a singles match.
Women’s Tag Team Gauntlet match to determine the #1 contenders for WrestleMania 41:
Bayley & Valkyria eliminated Katana Chance & Kayden Carter
Bayley & Valkyria eliminated Michin & B-Fab
Bayley & Valkyria defeated Piper Niven & Alba Fyre in the final fall
Bayley and Lyra Valkyria emerged victorious, earning a WWE Women’s Tag Team Championship match against Liv Morgan and Raquel Rodriguez at WrestleMania 41.
Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes made an appearance to promote his upcoming WrestleMania match against John Cena.
WWE has officially added a “Sin City Street Fight” stipulation to the Drew McIntyre versus Damian Priest match at WrestleMania 41. The event takes place at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas on April 19-20, 2025.
The announcement came during Friday’s SmackDown, intensifying a personal feud that began at WrestleMania XL when Priest cashed in his Money in the Bank briefcase to win the WWE World Heavyweight Championship from McIntyre.
Charlotte Flair took matters into her own hands just days before WrestleMania 41, attacking Tiffany Stratton in a surprise parking lot confrontation ahead of Friday’s SmackDown.
Footage of the incident surfaced online shortly before the show went on the air, showing Flair ambushing Stratton in a heated physical exchange. The surprise attack further intensifies their rivalry as both Superstars prepare to square off on the grand stage next weekend.
With only one episode of SmackDown left before WrestleMania, the animosity between Flair and Stratton is at an all-time high heading into their much-anticipated showdown.
The family of the late wrestling legend James Harris, known professionally as Kamala “The Ugandan Giant,” has expressed their gratitude following his induction into the WWE Hall of Fame Legacy wing.
WWE recently announced that Kamala will be honored posthumously alongside Dory Funk Sr. and Ivan Koloff. On their official website, WWE described Kamala as one of their “most memorable Superstars with his intimidating war paint and unpredictable style.”
Harris, who passed away in August 2020 at age 70 due to cardiac arrest and other health complications, left behind a significant legacy in professional wrestling. He was known for his fierce in-ring persona yet possessed what WWE called “a lovable innocence that showed the true heart” beneath the character.
In a statement released on Kamala’s official Facebook page, his family thanked WWE for the honor, noting: “James’ story is one of strength, resilience, and perseverance.” They recounted his humble beginnings, working as a sharecropper after losing his father at a young age, and how “through sheer determination he carved out a path to greatness.”
The family highlighted Harris’s matches with wrestling icons and emphasized that despite facing health challenges and hardships in his later years, his faith remained a source of strength. They concluded by expressing appreciation to fans, WWE, and everyone who supported his legacy.
The 2025 WWE Hall of Fame ceremony will take place on Friday, April 18th in Las Vegas during WrestleMania 41 weekend.
Angelo Dawkins of The Street Profits delivered a passionate defense of tag team wrestling during his recent appearance on the Battleground Podcast, dismissing claims that the division has lost relevance in today’s WWE landscape.
The Revival of Tag Team Wrestling
“Everybody was under the assumption that tag team wrestling was kind of dead if you will, and it’s not really the case at all,” Dawkins asserted. As one-half of the current WWE Tag Team Champions alongside Montez Ford, Dawkins has a front-row seat to what he describes as an exceptional renaissance in the division.
“The tag team division especially on Smackdown has been unreal; every tag team has been on fire,” Dawkins emphasized
He further stressed the unique challenges of tag team competition, noting that “tag team wrestling is a way of life… it’s harder to be a tag team wrestler” than competing as a singles competitor.
Confidence in Championship Reign
When asked about potential threats to The Street Profits’ championship reign, Dawkins displayed supreme confidence, simply stating:
“Nobody point blank right there nobody… not even just a little bit.” This confidence comes after what Dawkins described as a year of obstacles that The Street Profits overcame through perseverance and dedication to their craft.
Hardy Boys Return and Dream Match Potential
The conversation turned to the recent return of legendary tag team The Hardy Boys to WWE after a six-year absence. Dawkins expressed enthusiasm about their comeback and the possibility of a dream match.
“That’ll be dope… the Hardy Boys their legacy you know what they mean to tag team wrestling,” he acknowledged, referencing their historic impact on the division. “If we ever got to chop it up and like get in the ring and roll around with those dudes it’ll be great,” Dawkins added.
He even playfully suggesting a potential title-versus-title ladder match at WrestleMania against the Hardys, who currently hold gold in another promotion.
Future of WWE’s Tag Team Division
As WWE continues to evolve under Triple H’s creative leadership, Dawkins remains optimistic about both the direction of the company and The Street Profits’ position within the tag team division. With renewed energy in tag team wrestling and iconic teams returning to the fold, Dawkins’ assertion that the division is far from dead appears well-supported as The Street Profits look to extend their championship reign in an increasingly competitive landscape.
Gail Kim’s next move in the world of pro wrestling has been confirmed after her surprising exit from TNA Wrestling. On April 11, the NWA made the announcement that the first-ever TNA Knockouts Champion is heading to the Crockett Cup.
Breaking News! Pro Wrestling legend Gail Kim is coming to the Crockett Cup!
We’re honored to announce that Gail Kim—multi-time champion, trailblazer, and Hall of Fame icon—will be live and in person for an exclusive autograph signing at the 2300 Arena. pic.twitter.com/8jwka0R3XW
This marks Kim’s first confirmed wrestling-related appearance since parting ways with TNA, a move that came as a shock to fans. Kim was among a wave of backstage changes to the promotion which also saw company staples including Josh Matthews and Christy Hemme be cut. In addition to appearing on-screen, Kim had worked backstage as a producer and was seen as the biggest loss to the company under these recent cuts.
Kim does not have a non-compete clause with TNA, Fightful Select’s Sean Ross Sapp reports, giving her the freedom to work with the NWA so suddenly after her TNA exit. Without a non-compete, speculation has grown about Kim joining AEW, New Japan, or even returning to WWE. Taking to Instagram after her TNA exit, Kim confirmed that she isn’t through in the business.
“This will not end my passion or my love for wrestling and this is not the end of Gail Kim in the wrestling world.”
The NWA Crockett Cup will be a celebration of wrestling and will even see WWE’s Natalya in action at the event. As for Kim, the veteran will be a sure-fire hit at the show as questions continue to loom about her future in pro wrestling.
