AEW TBS Champion Mercedes Mone recently showcased her wit on social media, delivering an interesting clapback to a fan who called her “washed.” The exchange began when Mone posted a message of gratitude on X (formerly Twitter), writing, “I’m so thankful [red heart emoji].”
A follower responded to this by stating, “You’re washed though.”Mone, who currently holds multiple championships including the TBS, NJPW STRONG, and RevPro Undisputed British Women’s titles, didn’t miss a beat. Referencing the dictionary definition of “washed” (meaning cleansed or covered with water), she wrote, “Extremely fresh and clean.”
Fans can see Mone on tonight’s (May 7, 2025) episode of AEW Dynamite from the Masonic Temple Theatre in Detroit. While her exact role on the show is unconfirmed, her AEW Double or Nothing opponent, Jamie Hayter, is scheduled for a sit-down interview with Renee Paquette.
Moné and Hayter will face off in the Women’s Owen Hart Foundation Tournament finals at the May 25th pay-per-view, with the winner earning an AEW Women’s Championship match at All In on July 12.
extremely fresh and clean
— Mercedes Moné Varnado (@MercedesVarnado) May 7, 2025
An encouraging update has emerged regarding Japanese star Giulia following an injury scare during her NXT main event match against Jordynne Grace on the Tuesday, May 6th, 2025, episode. The bout was held to determine the next #1 contender for Stephanie Vaquer’s NXT Women’s Championship.
Throughout the contest, several spots caused concern among fans, but one stood out from the rest as Giulia appeared to land awkwardly on her head. However, according to Cory Hays of Bodyslam.net, word from within NXT is that Giulia is “all good” from a health perspective after the match.
Grace was ultimately victorious in the encounter, pinning Giulia after approximately 12 minutes of action. With this win, Grace has now earned the right to challenge Vaquer for the NXT Women’s Championship at the NXT Battleground Premium Live Event on May 25th.
Following the NXT broadcast, Giulia took to X (formerly Twitter) to commend Jordynne Grace on their match and shared her interest in a potential rematch down the line. This indicates that Giulia is in good spirits and looking forward despite the scare.
I smelled a bit of that Japanese fight in you. I lost, but man, that was super fun! Let’s go again anytime. Maybe I come to your house now, huh? @JordynneGrace#WWENXTpic.twitter.com/jKNndtBCkv
A new challenger has emerged for the NXT Championship, and it’s not who fans expected. Following a 25-man battle royal on WWE NXT, Myles Borne has earned the right to face Oba Femi at WWE Battleground.
The stacked match featured top names such as Trick Williams, Ethan Page, Lexis King, Wes Lee, and Shawn Spears. Adding to the surprise, TNA’s Elijah (best known to WWE fans as Elias) made a notable appearance that drew a strong reaction from the crowd.
As the match narrowed down, the final four included Je’Von Evans, Shawn Spears, Ethan Page, and Borne. In a chaotic ending, Evans was eliminated by both Spears and Page, who then turned on each other.
Page attempted to throw out Spears but failed, and Borne seized the moment by eliminating Page. In a final twist, Page dragged Spears out with him, leaving Borne as the last man standing.
With this victory, Myles Borne now heads into WWE Battleground as the number one contender to Oba Femi’s NXT Championship.
NXT Battleground 2025
The third NXT Battleground event takes place Sunday, May 25, 2025. The event will stream live on Peacock/Netflix.
Match Card
NXT Championship: Oba Femi (c) vs. Myles Borne
NXT Women’s Championship: Stephanie Vaquer (c) vs. Jordynne Grace
TNA World Championship: Joe Hendry (c) vs. Trick Williams (First time the TNA World Title will be defended on a WWE event)
AEW Dynamite returns tonight live from the Masonic Temple Theatre in Detroit, Michigan. tonight, May 7, 2025.
In a featured singles match, Samoa Joe takes on Claudio Castagnoli.
Meanwhile, the AEW Women’s World Championship picture heats up with a four-way eliminator match featuring Toni Storm, Thunder Rosa, Penelope Ford, and Anna Jay.
Kazuchika Okada continues his pursuit of the AEW Continental Championship in another eliminator bout, facing rising star “The Jet” Kevin Knight.
The show will also feature exclusive interviews, with Jamie Hayter sitting down with Renee Paquette and Will Ospreay making a live appearance to address the AEW audience.
Capping off the night, we’ve got a trios match featuring The Young Bucks (Matthew and Nicholas Jackson) teaming with Ricochet to face Swerve Strickland, Mike Bailey, and Mark Briscoe.
AEW Dynamite airs live at 8 p.m. ET on TBS and streaming on Max.
Logan Paul told Tom Brady that he reminds him a lot of Paul “Triple H” Levesque during the latest episode of his Impaulsive podcast.
During their wide-ranging conversation, Paul explained that gratitude is a key trait shared by WWE’s Chief Content Officer and the man widely considered to be the greatest quarterback of all time.
“I want to actually draw a comparison between you and another goat who happens to be my boss, Triple H,” Paul said to Brady. “He just got inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame and in his speech, he’s saying a lot of things that you’re actually saying right now. He was just so thankful for everyone who helped him along the way and he didn’t attribute his greatness to himself that much. It was the people around him and the people that helped push him in the right direction.”
Paul continued by noting that the humility exhibited by both legends is “super inspiring,” before asking Brady about his mindset and the discipline that allowed him to perform at such a high level for so long.
Brady’s Response
While Brady didn’t directly address the Triple H comparison, his response revealed similar philosophies to what Paul had observed in both men. Brady emphasized his love for the game and the importance of relationships with teammates.
“I was blessed to love what I did for a job just like you’re doing now,” Brady responded. “It’s like you really have to love it because I think that’s what makes you bounce out of bed in the morning.”
Brady further explained that football wasn’t just a sport to him, but “all about relationships and teammates,” naming several players who motivated him throughout his career. He spoke about not wanting to let these teammates down because of the sacrifices they were making with “their body, their family, their time.”
In a moment that acknowledged the wrestling world, Brady drew his own parallel:
“There’s an accountability to sports like you get in the ring with someone who’s a great wrestler. You want to do your best for the crowd certainly and for yourself, but that guy’s putting a lot on the line, too. So, you’re like, I better show up ready to go.”
This conversation between Paul and Brady highlights WWE’s expanding reach into mainstream culture. As a prominent WWE Superstar, Logan Paul effectively leverages his connections to bring wrestling into conversations with top figures in sports and entertainment.
With his massive following from his influencer career and connections to figures like Brady, Paul serves as a valuable ambassador for WWE, creating moments that extend wrestling’s cultural influence beyond traditional boundaries.
Note: Some quotes have been lightly edited for clarity.
John Cena made an unexpected live appearance on Inside the NBA Tuesday night, stepping onto the TNT set dressed in full Peacemaker gear to promote Season 2 of the DC series.
The former WWE champion brought gifts for the show’s hosts, handing out Peacemaker helmets to Shaquille O’Neal, Charles Barkley, Kenny Smith, and Ernie Johnson.
Cena’s appearance comes ahead of the show’s Season 2 premiere on August 21, 2025, exclusively on Max.
James Gunn returns as creator and showrunner for Season 2, continuing the story of Christopher Smith — a vigilante determined to enforce peace at any cost. John Cena reprises the lead role, joined once again by Steve Agee, Jennifer Holland, Freddie Stroma, Danielle Brooks, Robert Patrick, and Chukwudi Iwuji.
Originally introduced in The Suicide Squad (2021), Cena’s Peacemaker quickly gained popularity, leading to a spin-off series that debuted in 2022. The show broke streaming records on Max, with its finale becoming the platform’s biggest single-day debut for an original series.
Season 2 is expected to pick up where the explosive finale left off, continuing to blend dark comedy, action, and character-driven storytelling.
The Miz has been a staple of WWE for two decades now and has faced countless opponents. Now, the WWE Grand Slam Champion is ready to go one-on-one with Tyrese Haliburton over a ‘stolen’ gesture.
On X, The Miz shared an image of Haliburton, who during a match gestured that he had giant testicles. WWE’s resident A-Lister said Haliburton was “stealing my gimmick. In my city” and demanded that a match with the Indiana Pacer gets booked.
The Miz’s groin has become something of a running joke on WWE TV. In June 2022, Maryse let slip that “Just so you know my husband has average balls,” earning her the ire of her husband. Maryse later claimed that “My husband has gigantic balls… MASSIVE BALLS… HUGE BALLS…. Biggest balls in the world!!!” After some razzing, Miz tried to defend himself with a unique piece of WWE merchandise.
As for Haliburton, he’s no stranger to WWE and has appeared both on the main roster and WWE NXT. With Haliburton being more than welcome by WWE management, don’t count out the NBA star going face-to-face, or rather ball-to-ball with The Miz down the line.
Liv Morgan is absent from WWE to shoot her first major film role, but fans won’t have to wait long to see the Women’s Tag Team Champion make a return. According to Fightful Select, Morgan’s time off for Bad Lieutenant: Tokyo will be brief as shooting in Japan for the thriller is expected to wrap on May 16th.
Morgan’s return flight back to the U.S. is scheduled for the next day, and while it’s unclear when exactly she’ll be back, the report confirms she’ll miss at least one more episode of Raw.Though this marks Morgan’s first major acting gig, the fast-paced schedule indicates that WWE still has significant plans for her once she returns.
Liv is one of three named stars for the film, along with lead actor Shun Ogiri and Lily James. Tjhe director, Takashi Miike, is a certfied hit-maker and is known for his films including Audition and Ichi the Killer. Morgan will play the role of a kidnapped daughter, which an FBI agent (James) arrives in Tokyo to investigate.
WWE has opted not to strip Liv and Raquel Rodriguez of the Women’s tag team titles and expect the pair to be defending the gold sooner than later. Time will tell what’s next for the popular Superstar, both in the ring and on the silver screen.
Tag team break-ups happen often in wrestling and now one of NXT’s more popular teams have aligned for the last time. During the May 6, edition of WWE NXT, Josh Briggs and Yoshiki Inamura were part of the battle royal to crown the next challenger for the WWE NXT Championship. Things didn’t go well for the pair as Inamura accidentally eliminated Briggs when he was trying to eliminate Ridge Holland.
In a backstage segment, Inamura apologized for letting Briggs down and shared that he was returning to Japan. Briggs was stunned by the news and asked his friend and tag-team partner not to go. The pair were interrupted by Briggs’ former tag team partner, Brooks Jensen, and his new group, The Culling.
Yoshiki Inamura: "I have talked to Ava. Tonight, I'm going back to Japan.
Briggs, I wish… I wish I could've been a better partner for you.
Inamura debuted in WWE in November 24 and had 24 matches as part of the NXT roster. The Japanese wrestler, who was on an excursion from Pro Wrestling NOAH, would compete for the NXT Tag Team Championships four times though he and Briggs never won the gold.
Pete Dunne is as tough as they come on WWE TV but this week, the Bruiserweight revealed a softer side to himself on social media. Dunne took a break from punishing his opponents to announce the arrival of a new baby.
The Bruiserweight shared the news on Instagram, posting a photo of himself holding his daughter while also pushing a stroller. Dunne debuted a fresh haircut and beard trim and assured fans of his return to WWE television soon, writing: “New baby Fresh trim Back soon GODBLESS.”
Dunne and his partner Demi Burchel welcomed their first child, Emmi Rae, into the world, back on November 19, 2019. Now, Emmi has a younger sibling in a huge moment for Dunne and his family.
Dunne was last seen on WWE television during the April 18th edition of Friday Night SmackDown, participating in the Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royal. While it may be a little while before he’s back in the ring, fans can look forward to his return when the time is right.
Two matches were revealed for the WWE NXT Battleground on May 25th. Myles Borne is headed to NXT Battleground. This week’s episode of WWE NXT delivered significant developments for the event.
It includes Myles Borne emerging as the new #1 contender for the NXT Championship and the historic announcement of a TNA World Heavyweight Championship match. Myles Borne outlasted 24 other competitors in a chaotic Battle Royal to earn a future opportunity against NXT Champion Oba Femi.
The match featured a loaded field, including talent from TNA Wrestling like Elijah (formerly Elias) and talents from WWE’s EVOLVE brand, alongside NXT stars. Borne secured his victory by last eliminating both Shawn Spears and Ethan Page simultaneously after Page had tossed Spears over the top, only for Borne to send Page out, taking Spears with him.
Earlier in the Battle Royal, TNA World Champion Joe Hendry made his presence felt by distracting Trick Williams, leading to Williams being eliminated by Elijah. Later in the broadcast, NXT General Manager Ava officially announced that Joe Hendry will defend his TNA World Heavyweight Title against Trick Williams at NXT Battleground on May 25th.
This match marks the first time the TNA World Championship will be defended on a WWE Premium Live Event, underscoring the growing relationship between the promotions.
Recently released WWE NXT talent Riley Osborne has strongly refuted reports suggesting his unwillingness to work for WWE’s EVOLVE brand played a part in his departure from the company. Osborne was among 17 performers let go by WWE last week.
Following his release, Dave Meltzer noted on that “non-wrestling things” contributed to the decision. Bryan Alvarez reported he was told, “One of the big things was, there are people that they want to go and help out Evolve. And I was told he [Osborne] did not want to go to Evolve, and he made it very well known.”
In a statement that he shared on social media titled “Incorrect,” Osborne addressed these claims directly. He stated he worked the first EVOLVE tapings the day after his wife (fellow wrestler Blair Davenport, who WWE released in February) was let go, despite being offered time off by the head coach due to their personal situation, including having to pull out of a house purchase.
“I was the first person in that building the next day and was commended on my professionalism,” Osborne wrote. “I will not have my work ethic questioned when I was busting my ass off in rehab to return which I knew the return would have been on Evolve. Not everything you read online is true.”
Osborne was recovering from surgery in March and not medically cleared at the time of his release.
Following his final contracted match with New Japan Pro-Wrestling at Wrestling Dontaku on May 4th, Tetsuya Naito has revealed he will be undergoing surgery on his left eye on May 7, 2025. In an interview with Tokyo Sports, the former multi-time IWGP World Heavyweight Champion also stated that he will begin stem cell treatment for his right knee.
Naito has a history of vision problems, noting he has dealt with double vision in his right eye for many years, requiring several past surgeries. Now addressing issues with his left eye, Naito expressed hope, stating, “I hope that with this next surgery I’ll be able to see out of the eye well.”
Regarding his career, Naito is taking a measured approach: “As for his future, he said he has nothing planned out, instead choosing to maintain his body before moving to the next stage of his career.”
His departure, along with fellow Los Ingobernables de Japon (LIJ) member BUSHI, marks the end of the iconic faction in NJPW. At Wrestling Dontaku, Naito, BUSHI, Shingo Takagi, and Hiromu Takahashi were victorious in an eight-man tag match. Later, all five LIJ members, including IWGP Global Champion Yota Tsuji, shared a final pose for the crowd, signaling the group’s conclusion within the promotion.
TNA Wrestling star Elijah, formerly known as Elias in WWE, made an unexpected appearance on the May 6, 2025, episode of WWE NXT on The CW. He emerged as the final entrant in a Battle Royal held to determine the #1 contender for Oba Femi’s NXT Championship at the upcoming NXT Battleground premium live event on May 25th.
Elijah, who was released from WWE in September 2023 and made his official TNA Wrestling debut in February 2025, immediately impacted the NXT Battle Royal by eliminating Charlie Dempsey.
This appearance is part of the working relationship between WWE/NXT and TNA. His participation in NXT comes just weeks before a major TNA event.
At TNA Under Siege on May 23rd, Elijah is scheduled to team with TNA World Champion Joe Hendry to face the duo of Frankie Kazarian and current NXT standout Trick Williams, further showcasing the crossover talent involvement between the two promotions.
Elijah’s previous WWE tenure included memorable runs as both the guitar-strumming Elias and his “younger brother,” Ezekiel, had a lengthy program with Kevin Owens.
VICE TV’s Dark Side of the Ring turns its focus next on Billy Jack Haynes. The episode, which premieres May 6, traces his life of violence, as well as the mystery that led to him being behind bars.
Haynes was charged on February 28, 2024 with second-degree murder of his wife Janette Becraft. The 85-year-old was found dead in the couple’s Portland, Oregon home. Medical examiners determined Becraft died of a homicide by a gunshot wound . At the time, she had reportedly been suffering from dementia.
Along with examining the case, the hour also delivers the 1980’s wrestling star’s first interview from prison. Before the episode, SEScoops received the above exclusive clip, which shows Hayes inside Multnomah County Justice Center Jail. He explains the charges against him, vehemently denies that he killed his wife and revisits his troubled past with drugs in WWE.
Haynes reveals he had been incarcerated for six months. “What I’m talking to you guys about today is one small percentage of my life. And there’s a whole big part of my life I’m leaving out here,” he said. Haynes’ attorney is present during filming. Haynes added there were only two people he truly loved, which was his father who was blind and confined to a wheelchair and his late wife. “I loved her more than life,” he said.
During the 71-year-old’s heyday Haynes was among the true powerhouses of the ring. His most notable rivals during his tenure in WWE were against the likes of Randy Savage and Hercules Hernandez. The latter led to a match at WrestleMania III. Haynes also worked throughout a number of territories including Championship Wrestling from Florida, Pacific Northwest Wrestling and World Class Championship Wrestling. His last notable stop before fully retiring was in the United States Wrestling Association (USWA). He was also among those who filed a lawsuit in federal court against WWE, arguing they failed to protect them from repeated head injuries that led to long-term brain damage.
New episodes of Dark Side of the Ring air Tuesdays at 10 p.m. ET on VICE TV
Vincent and Dutch, collectively known as The Righteous, have departed AEW, and caught the attention of WWE’s Karrion Kross. Following the duo’s release from AEW, Kross shared a cryptic video clip featuring himself seated in a chair, gazing into the distance. At the beginning of the video, The Righteous’ entrance theme coincidentally (?) plays in the background.
— Kevin Robert Kesar (@realKILLERkross) May 6, 2025
The Righteous requested their release from AEW, according to PW Insider, after not being utilized on any AEW programming throughout 2025. A source indicated that the departure was entirely mutual and that the door remains potentially open for the tag team’s return. The pair’s final AEW match occurred in September 2024, while their last appearance with ROH was in April 2025.
Kross’ suggestive video has sparked speculation among fans that The Righteous might be WWE-bound, potentially joining forces with Karrion Kross as new allies. With Kross continuing to deliver impressive performances in his on-screen role on Raw, it’s entirely possible that the Devil’s Advocate could soon have new muscle backing him.
Rhino is a true legend of the wrestling business, and it appears his future could be with All Elite Wrestling. Recently, the Man Beast from Detroit, Michigan has been making media appearances for Tony Khan’s promotion, generating excitement among fans about a potential “All-Elite” future.
The veteran has spoken to several news outlets, including CBS Detroit, FOX2 News, 101 WRIF, and WXYZ Detroit, sharing his insights on AEW and the professional wrestling landscape. With decades of experience across WWE, ECW, and TNA Wrestling, Rhino brings valuable perspective to discussions about the industry.
These media appearances come ahead of Rhino’s upcoming AEW debut. The wrestling legend will appear on the May 7 edition of AEW Dynamite as well as the May 10 edition of AEW Collision. These appearances follow Rhino’s departure from TNA Wrestling in late 2024.
With Rhino sharing his thoughts ahead of his AEW arrival, fans should expect that his appearances this week might signal not just a one-off visit, but the beginning of something significant.
Many talents released by WWE in February 2025 are now becoming free agents as their 90-day non-compete clauses conclude on May 8. This opens up a host of possibilities for their next moves in the wrestling world.
This wave of newly available wrestlers includes several established names and former champions. Among those whose non-compete clauses are expiring, allowing them to appear for and sign with other promotions are: Cedric Alexander, former WWE Women’s Tag Team Champion Isla Dawn, Sonya Deville, Blair Davenport, former NXT UK Tag Team Champion Giovanni Vinci, and Elektra Lopez.
The former Raw Tag Team Champions, The Authors of Pain (Akam and Rezar), are also now free to explore new opportunities. Karl Anderson and Luke Gallows (The Good Brothers) already have immediate plans lined up.
They are scheduled to compete at this Saturday’s (May 10th, 2025) Maple Leaf Pro Wrestling event in Canada. Furthermore, a return to New Japan Pro-Wrestling for the duo has been strongly teased for this Friday, May 9th, at NJPW’s event in California. The availability of these diverse talents is set to create an interesting period on the independent scene and for other major promotions.
Cody Rhodes completed his story at WrestleMania 40, but could his brother Dustin Rhodes still have a World Championship reign in his future? Speaking to Sportskeeda’s Bill Apter, the elder Rhodes made it clear that he hopes for at least a shot at ROH gold before his career concludes.
“Before I retire, which will probably be in two or three years, I do want a shot at the Ring of Honor World Title. I think I can get it.”
Rhodes is no stranger to ROH gold, as he currently holds dual championships in Tony Khan’s second promotion. Along with the ROH World Tag Team Titles alongside Sammy Guevara, Dustin is also one-third of the ROH Six-Man Tag Team Champions with the Von Erichs.
Dustin Rhodes turned 56 in April 2025 and has never shied away from acknowledging that his career is approaching its conclusion. It remains to be seen whether the former WWE Intercontinental and Hardcore Champion will add the ROH World Title to his collection before he hangs up his boots.
Becky Lynch may call herself ‘The Man,’ but she’s frustrated by a startling difference between herself and her male counterparts in WWE. During a recent appearance on the RAW Recap show, Lynch addressed the pressure to face new challengers in WWE, an issue that doesn’t seem to affect the top men in the company.
“It seems to be harder on the women’s division. Like, look at the men’s — who do you got that’s hot and young over there? None. You got a bunch of old lads beating each other up.”
Lynch didn’t hold back, pointing out that while many believe she should step aside for younger female talent, no one is asking veterans like CM Punk or Seth Rollins to do the same. The outspoken superstar made it clear that the only moving she plans to do is toward capturing more championship gold.
“The only time I’m gonna move over is to make way for more titles.”
Becky Lynch has her eyes firmly set on the Women’s Intercontinental Championship and her upcoming match against Lyra Valkyria at WWE Backlash. Despite the decade age gap between the challenger and the champion, Lynch has no intention of stepping out of the spotlight anytime soon.
Hulk Hogan remains a controversial figure in wrestling, with many fans unwilling to forgive the Hulkster for his racist comments and other controversies. Taking to X, Shelton Benjamin recently shared the exact moment when Hogan ‘lost’ the Gold Standard.
Message to @HulkHogan. You lost me forever with your “don’t get caught” …or as you would call it “apology” speech. So rather than screw up my name and pretend we ever had any sort of camaraderie which we never had. Please do me a favor & pic.twitter.com/4ccA4I9Qef
Benjamin’s post refers to Hogan’s return to WWE in 2018, three years after being fired for his inflammatory remarks. During a backstage meeting, Hogan reportedly warned talent to be careful about what they say in case they were being recorded without their knowledge. This sparked fresh backlash against Hogan, as many critics argued that he didn’t truly regret his racist comments, but merely regretted getting caught.
WWE has since avoided featuring Hogan on television following the hostile reception he received during Raw’s debut on Netflix. While the Hulkster reportedly has plans to launch his own wrestling promotion, his days with the company he once dominated appear to be over for good.
Rob Van Dam is instantly recognizable thanks to his colorful airbrushed singlets, but now the WWE Hall of Famer has teased a startling new look. While speaking on the 1 of a Kind podcast, RVD revealed he’d be more than willing to wear Logan Paul’s PRIME bottle costume for the substantial sum of $1 million.
“Yeah, call me. I mean, I just need my arms. I need space to pull my arms out. It’d be a cool-looking battle. Yeah, it’d be cool. Imagine giving a Van Terminator in that one.”
Van Dam’s comments come after ‘Stone Cold’ Steve Austin turned down the same offer, according to Paul himself. During a recent interview with Ariel Helwani, Austin confirmed that an offer had been made which he had to decline.
“That’s not my gimmick. He’s doing really well—obviously he’s hustling… but it just wasn’t a great fit for Steve Austin.”
RVD, on the other hand, sees this as a fun and lucrative opportunity he’s not eager to pass up. Fans eagerly await the return of the WWE Hall of Famer to programming, and perhaps he’ll be sporting the PRIME bottle costume during his next appearance.
CM Punk is eager to be a part of the Undisputed WWE Champion John Cena’s farewell tour but whether to fight with him or against him, that is the question.
John Cena is currently on the final run of his illustrious career. While he currently holds the top prize of the company, he is still set to hang up his wrestling boots by the end of this year. Cena, who recently turned heel, has said that he’ll retire as the “Last Real Champion.” While it has opened the doors to dream matches, Cena could be facing one of his rivals, CM Punk.
CM Punk is one Cena’s greatest rivals. They have had storied rivalry back in the day and it could be reignited. However, Punk is also ready to team up with John Cena is the situation arises.
Speaking to Tudum by Netflix, Punk highlighted being on a similar path as Cena. He stated that Cena deserves more credit for putting WWE above himself. Punk said:
“I think me and him are on the same road. We’re [both] closer to the end of our career than we are to the start of it. He’s another guy who doesn’t like talking about himself too much. John Cena has never asked for anyone to give him any kind of credit, he always put the company before himself, always put others before himself — I think it’s time we give back, say thanks, pat him on the back.”
While CM Punk and John Cena have crossed paths during Royal Rumble 2025, they are yet to compete in a singles match. They were the final two superstars in the Elimination Chamber match before Cena tapped him out. While CM Punk has expressed his desire to be a part of Cena’s farewell tour, he is not sure whether he will team up or fight him:
“I feel like it’s my duty to talk about him. Selfishly, I’d love to be a part of [Cena’s farewell tour] in any which way he possibly sees fit. He wants to tag with me, awesome. He wants to lock back up with me, fantastic. But as a fan, I’m just excited to be here to witness it all.”
WWE star Damian Priest spoke highly of Grammy Award-winning artist and celebrity wrestler Bad Bunny for his impressive accomplishments inside the squared circle.
Since making his WWE debut during the pandemic, the Puerto Rican rapper and singer has enjoyed one of the most remarkable runs in the company. Speaking on MLB Central, ‘The Archer of Infamy’ praised Bad Bunny for his performances in the ring. Damian Priest emphasized that while many celebrities come to WWE to promote their movies or music, Bad Bunny has “set a new standard.”
Priest also expressed his surprise at seeing Bunny risk everything in a brutal Street Fight in front of the San Juan crowd, especially considering his accomplishments outside the ring. Damian Priest was visibly impressed by Bunny’s passion for the sport. The former World Champion said:
“So celebrities come and go all the time in our business. You know, either you want to promote a song, a movie, whatever. Bad Bunny took it differently because he’s a big fan. He put in the work training and everything and for me, a celebrity coming in and doing this style of match, a street fight and it was Backlash. So it’s anniversary time. It’s incredible to see somebody willing to risk, you know, he has a career like that. He’s obviously very successful at… But for his fans, for our fans and he showed us respect and everything.”
“To me, when it comes to celebrities, nobody touches him. He set a new standard. If anything, for celebrities to come in and want to be a part of our world, you gotta look at what Bad Bunny was willing to do — and willing to take.”
Bad Bunny has competed in a handful of matches in WWE, but his most memorable performance against Damian Priest at WWE Backlash 2023 set a new benchmark for celebrity wrestlers. It marked the first time the music superstar competed in a singles match, and he completely stole the show.
Bad Bunny previously held the now-defunct 24/7 Championship during his WWE tenure. He also partnered with Damian Priest at WrestleMania 37 and has competed in the men’s Royal Rumble match.
Damian Priest is scheduled to compete at this year’s WWE Backlash where he will face Drew McIntyre, LA Knight, and Jacob Fatu in a fatal four-way match for the United States Championship.
If you use any quotes from this article, please credit SEScoops for transcription.
By wrestling standards, celebrity appearances often disappoint. But when global music superstar Bad Bunny stepped into the ring at WrestleMania 37, something extraordinary happened. In a revealing interview with Peter Rosenberg and co-host Stat Guy Greg on Rosenberg Wrestling, The Miz details the surprising journey from skepticism to standing ovation.
The Secret Training Sessions
While Bad Bunny was officially training with WWE coaches, The Miz took matters into his own hands to test the musician’s true abilities:
“I remember the first time I got in there with him, I didn’t call anything. I literally just got in, locked up, and just started having a match with him to see where he was… And honestly, he was training so hard before this. And I was like, I just need to get in there. And I probably beat him up. Not beat him up, but like put some heat to him, you know? And I was like, ‘Oh, this guy’s going to be able to do something.’ And then he kept training and kept training and kept giving ideas that were like not dumb ideas… You could tell he was a fan and that he knew psychology.”
What impressed The Miz most wasn’t just Bad Bunny’s athletic ability, but his understanding of wrestling fundamentals – something rare among celebrity performers.
Behind the Rainy WrestleMania Moment
What fans didn’t see was the weather crisis happening behind the scenes. With rain threatening the outdoor WrestleMania performance, The Miz personally intervened:
“It was raining if you remember… while Bad Bunny was coming out, I had everyone on the outside with towels scrubbing down where Morrison was going to do this maneuver. Him and Bunny were going to do this maneuver ‘cuz that’s a dangerous move, especially in the rain… No one sees it, but I was literally I had a towel and I was in the ring literally scrubbing the ropes because I knew we were going to be utilizing jumping off the ropes. You slip, you fall, you’re done.”
The Bugatti That Proved Commitment
When The Miz realized Bad Bunny allowed WWE to damage his actual Bugatti for the storyline, he knew the musician was fully committed:
“We made fun of him. We tore apart his Bugatti, which was a real Bugatti, and that was real paint. Like, that car is really expensive. And Bunny let us do it. Like, I was shocked. I was like, ‘Oh my god, this guy is in.'”
From Skepticism to Ovation
Despite preparing for rejection from wrestling’s notoriously critical fanbase, The Miz witnessed something remarkable during Bad Bunny’s entrance:
“I was literally going through my brain trying to figure out, ‘Okay, if this happens, we come out, we do our rap… We’re doing this thing.’ And then when he made his entrance at Mania, I don’t know if you heard it, but oh my god, it was an eruption of cheers. It wasn’t boos, it was cheers. They wanted to see him. They were yearning to see him. I was like, ‘This is amazing that you couldn’t ask for a better entrance and a better crowd, live crowd reaction.'”
For The Miz, Bad Bunny’s ultimate validation came in an unexpected compliment:
“The best compliment that we got, John and I, Morrison and I got, were that he said that he watches that match back more than he watches any concert he’s ever done. And I was like, ‘Wow, that’s pretty great.'”
Bad Bunny’s WWE Career
Bad Bunny has wrestled in 3 official WWE matches. The global music star trained seriously at the WWE Performance Center and is credited with raising the bar for celebrity involvement in WWE.
WrestleMania 37 (April 2021): Made his in-ring debut, teaming with Damian Priest to defeat The Miz & John Morrison in a tag match. His performance received critical acclaim for its athleticism and commitment.
Royal Rumble 2022: Entered the 30-man Royal Rumble match, eliminated two wrestlers, and was among the final five before being eliminated by Brock Lesnar.
Backlash 2023: Faced Damian Priest in a San Juan Street Fight in Puerto Rico, winning in front of his home crowd.
Bad Bunny is also a former champion in WWE. He captured the WWE 24/7 Championship on Raw in February 2021 (not a traditional match), held the title for 28 days, and later relinquished it.
