Jelly Roll has started the build for his SummerSlam match.
The signing star returned to WWE on this week’s episode of SmackDown for a performance. Before he could complete his show however, Logan Paul interrupted.
Paul started berating Roll for being an outsider before claiming that WWE loves him. The YouTuber also announced that his Impaulsive podcast has signed a new long-term deal with the company.
The Rapper finally had enough, and he cut the former US Champion off to tell him that no one cares. Randy Orton then showed up and exchanged words with Logan.
Drew McIntyre, however, came out of nowhere and levelled the Viper with a Claymore kick. The security dragged McIntyre away but Logan Paul used the opportunity to start beating up Orton. It was Jelly Roll who made the save for Randy as he slammed the fellow celebrity into the mat before helping Randy up.
The Legend Killer is set to square off against The Scottish Psychopath at Saturday Night’s Main Event on July 12. So their interaction tonight is not out of place.
Though with the report of Jelly Roll being eyed for a match at SummerSlam, it seems likely that this feud will continue beyond SNME and the two former world champions will be involved with the celebrity wrestlers at the PPV next month.
Brodie Lee Jr. is learning all about the grind of the wrestling business after making multiple appearances on Friday, July 11. The young wrestling prodigy pulled double duty with surprise appearances at both ROH Supercard of Honor and GCW Boss of All Bosses.
Brodie Jr. first appeared during the Zero Hour portion of Supercard of Honor, aligning himself with the Dark Order (Evil Uno, John Silver, and Alex Reynolds). During the Dark Order’s match with the Frat House (Preston Vance, Griff Garrison, and Cole Karter), Brodie provided a crucial distraction that helped the Dark Order pick up the win.
Later, Brodie Jr. turned up at GCW’s Boss of All Bosses, walking out alongside Man Like Dereiss. During the show, Brodie got physical with Joey Janela. The young star delivered a series of crowd-popping moves, including a satellite DDT, a superkick, and a Canadian Destroyer. He also delivered a discus lariat, a touching nod to his late father.
Earlier this year, Brodie Jr. officially made his in-ring debut at Joey Janela’s Spring Break, where he won the Clusterf***k Battle Royal. Between this win and these apprearances for ROH and GCW, its clear that Brodie Jr. is just getting started.
WWE Women’s World Champion IYO SKY plans on walking in and out of WWE Evolution 2 with gold, though Rhea Ripley won’t make that easy. On X, SKY reflected on being a part of the first Evolution event in 2018, as well as its successor seven years later. Now, SKY is ready for “new history” and “bigger moments” as she prepares to battle Ripley.
I’m nervous. I’m excited. But more than anything… I’m READY! I came from Japan ?? to the USA ?? for one reason — to make WWE HISTORY .
At the first Evolution, I fought in the Mae Young Classic Final.?Now… at the second Evolution, I walk in as the WWE Women’s CHAMPION This… pic.twitter.com/ysTy9XhvZG
SKY’s role at the first WWE Evolution event saw her lose to Toni Storm in the finals of the 2018 Mae Young Classic. While SKY may not have won on that October night in 2018, she plans on things being very different in 2025.
SKY captured the Women’s World Championship back in March from Ripley, and retained against Ripley and Bianca Belair at WrestleMania 41. Will SKY emerge triumphant once again, or will Ripley kick-off her third reign as Women’s World Champion this weekend? Only time will tell…
WWE SmackDown took place at the Bridgestone Arena ahead of WWE Saturday Night’s Main Event, WWE NXT Great American Bash, and WWE Evolution 2. With so much going down, two Superstars from NXT shined on the blue brand, even if victory wasn’t theirs to claim.
Sol Ruca, who has been turning heads in NXT, made a high-profile appearance on SmackDown. Though not an official main roster call-up, Ruca, who was joined by Zaria, certainly made an impression in her first match on the main roster.
Ruca competed in a four-way match against Alexa Bliss, Kairi Sane, and Roxanne Perez during the show’s first hour. The fast-paced, competitive match spanned a commercial break, giving each competitor a moment to shine. At one point, Ruca hit a double Soul Snatcher, vowing fans. This would have earned Ruca the win had Raquel Rodriguez not made the save for Perez.
Zaria would be part of a brawl that would also include Charlotte Flair. In the end though, it was Alexa Bliss who got the win after hitting Sister Abigail on Kairi Sane. Though Ruca didn’t leave with the victory, her impact in the match can’t be denied.
With Evolution just around the corner, all eyes will be on Sol Ruca to see how she handles the spotlight. The reigning WWE Speed Women’s Champion and NXT Women’s North American Champion continues to go from strength to strength.
ROH Supercard of Honor took place at the Esports Stadium Arlington in Arlington, Texas and saw a major title win take place. During the show, an Interim ROH Women’s World Television Championship 4-Way Match was held featuring Miyu Yamashita, Yuka Sakazaki, Persephone, and Mina Shirakawa. When the dust was settled, it was Shirikawa standing tall with the gold.
— TalonWulf • ??? • ??? (@TalonWulf98) July 12, 2025
Red Velvet is the ROH Women’s TV Champion, and has held the gold for close to a year. Though she was scheduled to defend at Supercard of Honor, an injury forced her to withdraw from the show. Now, the lineal ROH Women’s TV Title and the Interim Championship will be unified when the time is right.
Since debuting in AEW, Shirakawa has quickly gained popularity, though this marks her first taste of gold under Tony Khan. It remains to be seen if she’ll hold the gold once Red Velvet is back, or if another woman in AEW/ROH can dethrone the popular Japanese wrestler.
WWE has confirmed which match will main event Evolution 2.
The All-Women PPV set is to take place from the State Farm Arena in Atlanta, Georgia on this Sunday, July 13. The show will feature names such as Trish Stratus, Nikki Bella and Jade Cargill in action.
During the latest episode of SmackDown, commentator Wade Barrett provided an update on the show. He announced that the Women’s World Title match between IYO SKY and Rhea Ripley will be closing out the PPV.
The two female stars have had 5 singles televised matches against each other since their first encounter at the 2018 Mae Young Classic. Ripley has yet to defeat the Japanese star in singles competition since SKY has won three of their matches, while the other two bouts have ended without a result.
NXT Women’s Championship Match: Jacy Jayne (c) (with Fallon Henley and Jazmyn Nyx) vs. Jordynne Grace
Women’s World Championship Match: Iyo Sky (c) vs. Rhea Ripley
Fatal Four Way Tag Team Championship Match: The Judgment Day (Raquel Rodriguez and Roxanne Perez) (c) vs. Charlotte Flair and Alexa Bliss vs. Sol Ruca and Zaria vs. The Kabuki Warriors (Asuka and Kairi Sane)
The July 11 episode of WWE SmackDown, held at the Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tennessee, saw a major title change as the Wyatt Sicks now holds the WWE Tag Team Titles. The Street Profits put their titles on the line against the Wyatt Sicks in a high-energy match that had the crowd fully engaged. Representing the faction were Joe Gacy and Dexter Lumis, while Nikki Cross and Uncle Howdy observed from the entrance.
At one point, Joe Gacy distracted the referee, allowing Erick Rowan to interfere. However, Montez Ford quickly countered, sending Rowan crashing into the timekeeper’s area. Ford would later miss a high-risk splash and the Wyatt Sicks capitalized with a double-team maneuver to secure the win and the championships.
NEW TAG TEAM CHAMPS! ?
The Wyatt Sicks just sent a message to the entire SmackDown Tag Team Division… pic.twitter.com/xzrsZqNfNU
This win marks the first taste of gold for the Wyatt Sicks, who debuted on WWE Raw over a year ago. With the Wyatt Sicks now holding the gold, the landscape of the SmackDown tag team division is set to change.
Gunther was in action after this week’s episode of SmackDown.
The SNME go-home episode of the Blue Branded show came live from Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tennessee. The main event saw Jimmy Uso teaming up with LA Knight to take on Solo Sikoa & JC Mateo in a chaotic match.
Talla Tonga was at the ringside for this fight, and Paul Heyman showed up towards the end as well. The ending of the bout saw Knight getting distracted by Heyman, which allowed Tonga to take him out. Jimmy Uso however, used the chaos to roll up Sikoa and steal the victory for his team.
The other members of the Bloodline chased Jimmy after the bell. This left Solo alone in the ring, allowing Knight to hit him with a BFT. Heyman, however, distracted Knight again, leading to Bron Breakker hitting a massive spear outta nowhere. The broadcast ended after Bronson Reed delivered a Tsunami to LA Knight.
There were two dark matches that took place after SmackDown went off air. The first match saw Sheamus taking on Ludwig Kaiser. The Celtic Warrior first joked about El Grande Americano during this bout and sang happy birthday to a fan after winning the match.
The second dark match of the night saw the World Heavyweight Champion Gunther taking on Jey Uso. The Ring General picked up the victory in this extreme bout which featured weapons such as a table and kendo stick.
— laura | big brother szn ? (@jeyspunk) July 12, 2025
Cody Rhodes came out to make the save for his friend when Gunther continued assaulting Jey. The duo then sent the World Champion through a table and Rhodes cut a promo to finally end the night.
In WWE, Charlotte Flair, Bayley, Becky Lynch and Sasha Banks were heralded as the Four Horsewomen; an elite group of female Superstars who helped usher the Women’s Revolution. Though the names of the four will always be linked, there is another worthy of the group, at least according to Flair.
Speaking to USA Today, Flair had plenty of praise for Alexa Bliss, someone Flair has both faced, and teamed with in the ring. If ever there was a worthy addition to the Horsewomen, it was five-feet of fury.
“[Alexa Bliss] was the fifth horsewoman. Don’t tell her this, but I adore her.”
The connection between Bliss and Flair extends past their work in the ring. Instead, their careers have been connected ever since they were both part of Triple H’s WrestleMania 30 entrance in 2014 alongside Banks (now AEW TBS Champion Mercedes Mone.)
Bliss returned to WWE screens this past February after over a year out of action due to maternity leave. With Bliss and Flair having teased a potential alliance on SmackDown, fans could soon see more of the pair in the ring.
Will Ospreay and Bryan Danielson are no strangers to battling in the ring, but the pair recently came face-to-face for a spot of karaoke. The pair teamed up for a surprise duet of “I Want It That Way” by the Backstreet Boys as part of Starrcast’s karaoke night on Thursday, July 10.
Another memorable highlight came from Blake Christian, who performed “Lovin on Me” by Jack Harlow — a track that carries special significance in wrestling circles due to Christian’s viral 2024 entrance video. Once again, the crowd in attendance were thrilled to join in.
Karaoke night was just one of several side events during the AEW All In weekend as the All-Elite promotion prepares for its biggest event of the year. Stay tuned to SEScoops for all the latest from AEW All In: Texas.
Naomi officially became a Fatu when she married Jimmy Uso, joining one of the most influential and successful families in all of wrestling. In 2025, Naomi is arguably on the biggest run of her WWE career, but does she have her family ties to thank?
Over the years, some fans believe that those connected to the Samoan Wrestling Dynasty are given opportunities that should have gone to other deserving talents. When Drew McIntyre argued that becoming a Fatu is useful to get said push, Naomi joked that this is why she joined the family.
That’s why I changed my last name to Fatu hahhahahahhahahahhahahah?? https://t.co/NLhEx2zZaU
In WWE, Naomi is a former SmackDown Women’s Champion and currently holds the Women’s Money in the Bank contract. With all cash-ins being successful so far, another title role appears inevitable for the dangerous Superstar.
The music star caught the wrestling bug after his SummerSlam 2024 appearance, and he has been training for an in-ring career ever since.
PWinsider reported earlier this week that the 40-year-old was finally ready for his first wrestling match, and the company was planning for him to make his in-ring debut at this year’s SummerSlam event.
The site has now provided a further update on the plans for Jelly Roll, revealing a surprising name that is expected to have a program with the Grammy-nominated artist in the coming weeks.
According to the site, fellow celebrity wrestler Logan Paul is planned to be involved in a program with the Rapper ahead of the WWE PPV next month.
It’s unknown if the program will lead to the two having a match at the biggest party of the summer. One would think that the officials will choose a more experienced wrestler to be the one working a debuting star in his first match.
It seems likely that the company will take the Bad Bunny-route with this program, having two full-time roster members joining the celebrities for a tag team match at SummerSlam instead of a singles bout.
The singing star is expected to make an appearance at SmackDown tonight to kick off his program and we should get a better idea about what the company is planning for him at the event.
The Young Bucks have given flowers to one of AEW’s top stars ahead of All In Texas.
The duo spoke to Uncrowned for an interview promoting the PPV event this weekend. They talked about things such as Hangman Page being the main character of AEW, how far the company has come since its inception and more.
During the interview, the brothers also discussed the importance of Jon Moxley for the company. Matt Jackson noted how he was the first major star to jump ship from WWE to AEW and has been a cornerstone of the promotion ever since:
“Jon was one of the first people who came over and it was truly shocking at the time. He’s been a locker room leader the entire time, and has worked so hard from the beginning,”
All four members of the Elite have had to take time off from the company for different reasons in the past couple of years. Moxley has continued to be a leader on and off-screen for the promotion in this time.
The duo noted how the current AEW Champion has always been around even when they have not been, saying that he deserves more credit than he’s given:
“You talk about consistency, and drive, you’re talking about Jon. Even times when we weren’t able to be around, Jon was always there to help guide the crew. I don’t think he gets enough credit for what he’s done to make AEW thrive.”
The Young Bucks will be putting their Executive positions with AEW on line against Swerve Strickland and Will Ospreay at the All In PPV this weekend. You can check out all the latest news about the show here.
WWE SmackDown comes to Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena tonight at 8:00 PM ET on USA Network, with a stacked card featuring championship gold on the line and a special appearance by four-time Grammy nominee Jelly Roll.
The show serves as the crucial go-home episode before this weekend’s Saturday Night’s Main Event and Evolution, promising major developments across multiple storylines.
WWE Tag Team Championship Match Set for Tonight
The Street Profits’ Montez Ford and Angelo Dawkins will defend their WWE Tag Team Championships against The Wyatt Sicks’ Erick Rowan and Dexter Lumis in what promises to be a hard-hitting title defense. The challengers have been on a dominant run through the tag division, setting up this high-stakes championship opportunity.
The Wyatt Sicks have built considerable momentum in recent weeks, making them legitimate threats to dethrone the champions in front of what’s expected to be a near-capacity crowd in Nashville.
R-Truth and Aleister Black Set for Heated Showdown
Weeks of escalating tension will come to a head when R-Truth faces Aleister Black in singles competition. The rivalry between these two competitors has intensified significantly, with both men looking to settle their differences in the ring tonight.
Grammy Nominee Jelly Roll Returns to WWE
Nashville native and four-time Grammy nominee Jelly Roll will make a special appearance on tonight’s show. The musician and noted WWE fan previously appeared at both SummerSlam and WrestleMania 41, making his involvement tonight highly anticipated by the WWE Universe.
His appearance adds mainstream star power to an already loaded episode, with fans eager to see how the country-rap artist will factor into tonight’s proceedings.
Additional Appearances and Storyline Developments
WWE Champion Cody Rhodes is expected to address his upcoming clash with John Cena at SummerSlam, likely setting the stage for one of the summer’s biggest matches. Tiffany Stratton, Chelsea Green, and Solo Sikoa are also advertised to appear, suggesting multiple storyline developments throughout the night.
With Saturday Night’s Main Event and Evolution on the horizon, tonight’s episode carries extra weight as WWE looks to build momentum heading into these marquee events.
Drew McIntyre has revealed what his final chapter in wrestling might look like.
The former World Champion recently spoke to SI to promote his Saturday Night’s Main Event match against Randy Orton. During the interview he was asked about the recent reunion of 3MB at Jinder Mahal’s wedding and if we can see the group reuniting on TV.
The Scottish Warrior said that he has actually talked about the same with both Jinder Mahal and Heath Slater. Drew McIntyre previously mentioned that his current goal is getting the world title back but he can see the band getting back together eventually:
“Yeah, there’s gonna be. I tell Heath and Jinder all the time. I was like I’m gonna do what I gotta do. I’m gonna, as I mentioned, get what is mine. But eventually when I feel like it’s getting close to time, I’m about to say goodbye.
That’s when I throw my mates a bone. We reform 3MB. I don’t take any bumps. Heath takes all the bumps. Jinder might take a few in there. I’ll stand in the apron, air guitar like hell. Have a good old time.”
Drew McIntyre discussed how people’s memory of 3MB is different than how the group was perceived at the time of its original run. He then claimed that he might give fans the treat of the group’s reunion before retiring and leaving the wrestling business for good:
“The fun thing about nostalgia is everyone believes we were like The Shield. The way I talk to people when I’m out meeting all the fans. All the big events, they’re like, ‘God, I love 3MB. You guys were amazing,’ whatever and they mean it.
I can tell when somebody’s lying or not. I’m like a human lie detector. I learned it through, growing up in this industry. I’m like, ‘Wow, that’s interesting.’ Because I guess they would have been kids at the time. They looked at things differently.
They weren’t on the internet complaining about everything. They weren’t so jaded. And they grew up with 3MB and see differently. So yeah, I’ll give everybody a treat. I’ll give my boys a payday and boom, I’ll disappear into the night, never to be seen again.”
Dustin Rhodes will be breaking a career record with AEW.
The new WWE management has been putting more efforts to celebrate the legends of the business. With his brother Cody Rhodes being treated as one of the company’s top stars, many wondered if this would prompt Dustin to consider leaving AEW and returning to WWE.
A new article from Dallas Morning News, however has confirmed that this won’t be the case and the wrestling veteran will be staying with Tony Khan’s promotion for a long time to come.
The article looking at the rich history of the Rhodes family before the upcoming ROH Supercard of Honor event this Friday, reveals that the former Goldust has signed a new deal with AEW recently.
The new contract signed over the winter will see the wrestling legend working as a consultant, coach, and ambassador for All Elite Wrestling, in addition to occasionally wrestling for the promotion.
Since making his debut in 1988, Dustin Rhodes has had runs with all major promotions of his time. Though he’s never stayed with a company for more than six years in a run.
The report states that the latest contract is for 6 years, that will keep him employed at the promotion atleast until 2030. Not only will this be the longest single run of his career for the 56-year-old, but it’ll also take him into his 5th decade as an active performer in the business.
WWE Women’s U.S. Champion Giulia has seen plenty of success in WWE since joining in 2024, both in WWE NXT and on the main roster. During a recent media junket, Giulia reflected on how winning and losing in the west is far different than her experience back home in Japan.
“In Japan, it’s not uncommon for the losing fighter to shine more. But what Asuka taught me was, ‘In the U.S., all the spotlight goes to the winner. There’s a world of difference between winning and losing.’”
Like Giulia, Asuka is no stranger to success with several titles and the honor of winning the first-ever Women’s Royal Rumble to her name. As arguably the most successful Japanese female wrestler in WWE history, Asuka paved the ways for Giulia and countless others, according to the Beautiful Madness.
“Because of Asuka, the path to WWE women’s wrestling was opened up, and somehow it’s connected to where I am now. So, fighting Asuka is one of my goals and dreams.”
Asuka recently returned from an injury that kept her out of the ring for over a year. With the Empress of Tomorrow back and hungry for gold, Giulia’s dream match may be just a matter of time away.
Kevin Von Erich is officially All Elite after signing a contract with AEW. On The Claw podcast, Marshall Von Erich, Kevin’s son, broke the news.
“My dad is officially AEW. He’s on the team. He’s with AEW now. We were surprised, too. ‘Yeah man, I’m on the team now.”
Ross Von Erich added that their father is on “sort of a legends deal,” adding that it is “awesome” for their family. Marshall shared that whenever Kevin is at an AEW event, the roster wisely try and pick his brain.
“When my dad is in the locker room, he’ll be in deep conversation with one of the wrestlers. It’s crazy who he impacts and talks to. Ross and I were impressed with the people that really respect him.”
Part of the legendary Von Erich family, Kevin’s story was documented during A24’s biopic ‘The Iron Claw.’ More recently, Kevin has made a handful of appearances for AEW, often in his native Texas. Now, fans can expect much more of Kevin Von Erich in AEW as he joins the Icon Sting as being under a legends deal.
Throughout WWE’s PG Era, John Cena would often take a beating in matches, only to rally back and win at the end. This character, dubbed ‘Super Cena’ by the fans, caused many to argue that WWE had grown stale.
While speaking with Entertainment Weekly, Cena addressed a comment from Reddit user SR JNP, who claimed that the Super Cena era made WWE uncool. While SR JNP was annoyed that the show became more catered to children, John remained unfazed.
“‘The Super Cena era made WWE uncool and something for kids to watch.’ That is Reddit user SR JNP. That’s your perspective, pal. For 25 years, I have been John Cena. That has easily been my longest running persona. But what I’m hearing is the perspective of a group of folks that probably didn’t like the performances I was giving.”
Today, fans are seeing a much different John Cena, one who has vowed to ‘ruin wrestling’ by retiring as WWE Champion. With a title match against Cody Rhodes set for SummerSlam, Cena hopes to anger fans once more, this time on purpose.
TNA Wrestling is home to several ex-WWE Superstars and it now appears that Enzo Amore is on his way to the promotion. On the July 10 episode, a surreal vignette aired featuring the former WWE Cruiserweight Champion.
Enzo reminded fans — and perhaps warned TNA’s locker room — that he’s always been a disruptive presence. The WWE alum made reference to his infamous appearance at Madison Square Garden, where he once interrupted Survivor Series 2018 from the crowd following his release from the company.
“You remember what I did at the Garden… don’t think I won’t do it again.”
It remains to be seen how far Enzo will go in TNA Wrestling, and what the future holds for the controversial wrestler. All we know for certain is that the ‘Certified G’ is embracing his controversial past.
Former WWE star Ricochet has publicly criticized his former employer for what he perceives as deliberate counter-programming against All Elite Wrestling events.
The controversy stems from reports that WWE/TKO is strategically scheduling shows to coincide with AEW programming. According to WrestleVotes Radio, WWE plans to run Saturday Night’s Main Event after AEW’s “All In” event, allowing them to “have the last word of the night” and control online discussion.
“This is definitely something WWE wants to do where hey, if NXT is on the road and booking for arenas, they want to do it somewhere where they’re gonna have the last word of the night,” the report stated. “Controlling the narrative and momentum online — So there’s no coincidence, there’s definitely a directive coming from WWE with the behest of TKO behind.
I love all the people who think they are actually saying something important! Haha losers trying to tell me what to do and how to feel.
It's kind of embarrassing how fast they come running, too.
Ricochet responded bluntly on Twitter, calling the strategy a “bitch move.” When fans criticized his comments, he doubled down, writing: “I love all the people who think they are actually saying something important! Haha losers trying to tell me what to do and how to feel. It’s kind of embarrassing how fast they come running, too.”
The wrestler, who left WWE for AEW earlier this year, subsequently engaged in heated exchanges with fans who replied to his initial tweet.
As John Cena prepares for his WWE farewell, the never seen 17 is diving into uncharted territory with his latest project: a collaboration with HGTV and former Queer Eye star Bobby Berk on the upcoming series “Junk or Jackpot?”
What we collect is a reflection of who we are and what we love. Grateful to @HGTV and Bobby for making this project come to life! https://t.co/6F3LDyMXag
Set to premiere in late 2025, this six-episode series follows collectors navigating their massive and unusual collections to determine what’s worth keeping and what can fund home renovations. Cena serves as executive producer, bringing his personal passion for collecting to the project.
The concept emerged from Cena’s conversations with friends about whether collections are “trash or treasure.” As he explained, “What we collect is a reflection of who we are and what we love.”
Wrestling’s Ultimate Crossover Star
This venture with Bobby Berk highlights Cena’s remarkable versatility in working across different entertainment genres – from action and comedy roles to lifestyle television and his extensive sponsorship deals.
Macho Man Randy Savage has been officially announced as the sixth and final wrestler addition to RetroMania Wrestling’s upcoming DLC pack, which is set to launch on September 13, 2025. This marks a significant addition to the indie wrestling game, bringing one of professional wrestling’s most iconic figures to the roster.
DLC Pack Details
The new DLC pack will feature Savage alongside several other wrestling legends, including Magnum TA, Demolition (Ax and Smash), and The Rock ‘N’ Roll Express (Ricky Morton and Robert Gibson). This $10 DLC will be available across multiple platforms including Xbox One, PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch, and Steam.
How the Deal Came Together
RetroMania Wrestling creator Mike Hermann revealed the process behind securing Savage’s likeness for the game. The inspiration came after seeing Savage licensed in another wrestling game called WrestleQuest and noticing Matt Cardona’s Major Bendies wrestling figures had released a Macho Man figure. Hermann explained to Insider Gaming that after making contact with Savage’s estate representatives, they responded quickly and were impressed with the project, seeing it as “a great fit for Macho Man to be in RetroMania”.
Additional Content and Features
Beyond the wrestler additions, the DLC will include substantial content updates. Players can expect three new arenas, six new handicap match types, a House Show mode with random events across multiple matches, tournament modes for both singles and tag team competitions, wrestler gear customization options, and new championship titles with a tracking system. The update will also feature a new “Attract Mode” intro video and various gameplay improvements including new tag team mechanics, animation updates, and camera options.
This announcement represents a major coup for the independent wrestling game, as Savage remains one of the most beloved and recognizable figures in professional wrestling history, known for his flamboyant personality, distinctive voice, and iconic “Oooh yeah!” catchphrase.
OHH YEAHH!! Macho Man Randy Savage is the sixth man!
One of the popular narratives among the IWC in the present moment is that John Cena turning heel has been a failed experiment. There are a number of reasons for that, between disappointing match after disappointing match, the novelty wearing off Cena’s heel promos, and the simple principle that a lot of fans want to cheer Cena as he wraps up a historic career.
Indeed, there’s a groundswell of organic, nostalgic support beneath Cena in spite of the bad guy persona, which has left some fans feeling less heat than like the current run is just awkward.
While there’s plenty of room to nitpick, Cena’s heel run is serving more purposes and going much better than a lot of fans might realize.
Lackluster Matches Land Better For Heel John Cena Than They Would For A Babyface
Image credit: WWE
While “you can’t wrestle” have followed John Cena for much of his time as a main eventer, he has proven capable of holding his own in great matches. No, he was never a “work-rate guy,” but he held up his end in all-time classic matches with the likes of Daniel Bryan, CM Punk, AJ Styles, and others.
One thing that has become apparent in 2025 is that Father Time and extended time away from the ring have caught up with Cena. He didn’t quite look like himself in his Royal Rumble or Elimination Chamber efforts, and, sure enough, his every singles match performance since that point has proven underwhelming.
While babyface Cena may have been able to play the hits and gotten by on nostalgic good will, there’s little doubt fans would be questioning him reigning as world champion under those circumstances. As a heel, however, there’s a wider berth for lackluster ring work to blend in as part of the character’s heat. Indeed, fans who want to see him drop the title can root against him in full-throated fashion both to see a better champion crowned and to see the villain get his comeuppance.
Bizarro Babyface Challengers Against Heel John Cena Are Fun
Image credit: WWE
When Randy Orton emerged as John Cena’s challenger for Backlash, a lot of the buzz surrounded such long-term, iconic rivals switching face-heel orientations for the first time.
While the original R-Truth vs. Cena feud wasn’t as historic as The Champ’s storylines with Orton, it nonetheless carried similar undertones of super hero Cena vanquishing crazed heel Truth back in 2011. As such, it was also a little surreal to see babyface Truth versus heel Cena on the marquee for a Saturday Night’s Main Event.
Lo and behold, fans are again intrigued with babyface CM Punk lined up as Cena’s next challenger, and it seems entirely possible face versions of AJ Styles and even The Miz could follow. Were Edge still signed to WWE or were it not for Bray Wyatt’s tragic passing, one would have to imagine fresh versions of these famous feuds would be on the docket as well.
Sure, there’s a case Cena should be working more young talents or at least first-time opponents on this farewell tour. Nonetheless, when all indications are the matches wouldn’t be great anyway, there’s something to be said for focusing on nostalgia instead and putting a different filter on these feuds fans remember fondly.
Fans Will Appreciate The Return Of Babyface John Cena
Image credit: SEScoops
It’s an uncomfortable truth that wrestling fans—and particularly wrestling fans in this era of social media and constant content—tend to be a little fickle and to suffer from short attention spans. As much as fans might think they would’ve wanted a straightforward face retirement tour for Cena, might it have started feeling a little stale by now?
There’s no knowing for sure how things would’ve gone had Cena never turned. Nonetheless, in the likely case Cena does ultimately turn back to his do-gooder ways at or leading up to the end of his career, it’s all but guaranteed to draw a huge response as fans welcome back their hero. Perhaps Cena puts Logan Paul in place or shows respect to the babyface who can pull the sword from the stone and ensure Cena is not, in fact, “The Last Real Champion.” Perhaps things come full circle and he winds up standing up to The Rock. Regardless, it’ll be a feel good moment when Cena does switch sides again, and that move will set him up to get a pop each time he resurfaces as a visiting legend in the years to come.
Drew McIntyre, following his hiatus after a steel cage match loss to Damian Priest, returned to WWE on July 4 during SmackDown.
He shared a health update on FOX News, stating he feels better than the past six or seven years, equating his current health to the time before his 2020 Royal Rumble win.
“I honestly feel better than I felt in about, minimum, six or seven years.” – FOX News Interview
McIntyre mentioned his involvement in new rehab techniques.
“I brought somebody in to start doing rehab at the gym, stretching things I’ve never done in my life and it’s unbelievable what it’s opened in my body.”
Despite a challenging return, he is set to face Randy Orion at Saturday Night’s Main Event due to a confrontation during a segment with Orton and Cody Rhodes.
