Author: Andrew Ravens

San Francisco 49ers tight end George Kittle got up close to the action before this week’s WWE Monday Night Raw at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, TN.

During the WWE Main Event taping ahead of the February 10, 2025, episode of Raw on Netflix, Penta defeated Grayson Waller of A-Town Down Under in singles competition. The other match taped for the show saw Zoey Stark defeat Maxxine Dupri via pinfall.

Following Penta’s victory, Kittle—sporting a Penta mask—joined him in the ring. He performed the signature \”Cero Miedo\” three-fingers-down pose alongside Penta before removing the mask and embracing the rising WWE star.

Kittle is a longtime wrestling fan and has made several WWE appearances, including WrestleMania 39, where he clotheslined The Miz to assist Pat McAfee in securing a victory. He has frequently been spotted in the audience at WWE events and has even expressed interest in pursuing a wrestling career once his NFL days come to an end.

Jey Uso is officially set to challenge GUNTHER for the WWE World Heavyweight Championship at WrestleMania 41.

On Monday’s episode of Raw, Uso was making his entrance and \”yeeting\” on the announce table when GUNTHER launched a surprise attack from behind.

The assault continued until officials separated them. Later, Uso confirmed that he had chosen to challenge GUNTHER at WrestleMania instead of going after Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes.

Uso and GUNTHER have developed an intense rivalry in WWE, particularly centered around the Intercontinental Championship and GUNTHER’s dominant reign in early 2024. In their past encounters, GUNTHER has consistently come out on top, cementing his status as a dominant champion. Their rivalry escalated throughout late 2024 and into 2025.

The two last clashed at Saturday Night’s Main Event in January, where GUNTHER successfully retained his title in the main event. Uso secured his WrestleMania title opportunity by winning the 2025 Royal Rumble.

WrestleMania 41 will be a two-night event, taking place on Saturday, April 19, and Sunday, April 20, 2025, at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Drew McIntyre is officially part of the WWE SmackDown roster.

On this week’s SmackDown, McIntyre appeared at the top of the second hour to cut a promo, calling Raw a toxic work environment and announcing his move to SmackDown to pursue the Undisputed WWE Championship, currently held by Cody Rhodes.

McIntyre also referenced his frustration over his elimination from the Men’s Royal Rumble. Jimmy Uso then interrupted, prompting McIntyre to take a jab at him, saying that Jimmy might have been in Jey Uso’s position had he just said “YEET” first.

LA Knight then entered, delivering a brief message about men’s mental health before turning his focus to McIntyre. Knight referenced their Royal Rumble issues, joking that he heard McIntyre had been called “Drew McIncyer.” This exchange led to a triple-threat Elimination Chamber qualifying match featuring all three men.

Reports have surfaced that McIntyre was frustrated with a fellow wrestler at the Royal Rumble, believing they prioritized their moves over the match’s storytelling. Missed time cues allegedly led to McIntyre’s irritation, particularly with Knight, whom he reportedly felt was more focused on fitting in his own spots rather than following the match’s narrative.

Drew McIntyre has been making headlines following the WWE Royal Rumble, and WWE reportedly has significant plans for him, including a match with Cody Rhodes.

According to the latest edition of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter, Dave Meltzer reported that there is currently a plan to set up a Rhodes vs. McIntyre feud. However, it remains unclear when the rivalry will take place or whether it will be for the Undisputed WWE Championship. This feud was originally scheduled for 2023, but plans changed after Rhodes did not win the WWE Title at WrestleMania 39.

For now, McIntyre is set to move to SmackDown and will enter a feud with Damian Priest. Additionally, reports indicated that McIntyre expressed frustration backstage at the Royal Rumble over a wrestler prioritizing their moves over the match’s overall storytelling. His elimination was initially planned to happen earlier, but due to timing issues, adjustments had to be made.

The original plan was for McIntyre to be eliminated before Logan Paul entered the match, following a face-off with Priest. He was also supposed to tease eliminating Jey Uso before Priest ultimately eliminated him, setting up their WrestleMania feud. However, these plans were disrupted by the timing issues. Reports suggest that the wrestler McIntyre was frustrated with was LA Knight.

Alexa Bliss has broadened her career by signing with Paradigm Talent Agency, signaling an expansion beyond professional wrestling.

Deadline first reported the news, noting that Bliss joins a growing roster of wrestling stars represented by Paradigm, including CM Punk, Liv Morgan, Drew McIntyre, WWE Women’s Champion Tiffany Stratton, Damian Priest, and Jade Cargill, among others.

One of the most decorated women in WWE history, Bliss is a three-time Raw Women’s Champion and a two-time SmackDown Women’s Champion, making her the first woman to achieve this dual accomplishment. She has also held the WWE Women’s Tag Team Championship twice.

Beyond wrestling, Bliss has ventured into acting and voice acting. Her credits include appearances in Peacock\’s Punky Brewster revival, Apple TV+\’s Carpool Karaoke, and FOX\’s The Masked Singer. She currently voices \’Obiguro\’ in the Netflix anime series Sakamoto Days, which debuted in Netflix\’s global Top 10 (January 13-19, 2025). She also voices \’Maki Ueda\’ in the Netflix series The Queen of Villains.

Bliss’s WWE Royal Rumble return was a well-kept secret as she arrived at the arena around 3 PM local time, having flown from Florida to Indianapolis earlier that day, and was kept hidden until close to the match. She signed her new WWE deal that day after being in contract talks with the company. She received one of the biggest pops of the night. 

Nikki Garcia, formerly known as Nikki Bella, made a surprise appearance at this year’s WWE Royal Rumble match on Saturday night at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, IN. Entering at #30, she mixed it up with several top stars in her first match since the 2022 Royal Rumble.

This return came after Nikki had previously teased a WWE comeback. She and her sister, Brie Bella, left WWE in 2023 to focus on their business ventures and have not been involved in wrestling since.

Speaking on The Nikki & Brie Show, Nikki addressed her future in the ring.

\”Is this a one-off, or is she here to stay? Keep tuning in. You will see another \’Fearless\’ Nikki appearance sooner rather than later, that is for sure. I\’m definitely doing more than what I just did on Saturday,\” she said.

She also hinted at a possible return for sister Brie, who last appeared for WWE when the twins competed in the 2022 Women\’s Royal Rumble match.

\”Hopefully, Brie Mode will be by my side soon. More on that to come.\”

The Bella Twins gained mainstream popularity through their appearances on the reality TV shows \”Total Divas\” and \”Total Bellas,\” which offered a glimpse into their lives inside and outside the ring. Nikki emerged as a dominant force in the women\’s division, capturing the WWE Divas Championship twice.

The Bella Twins were inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2021.

WWE is expected to welcome back one of its sidelined stars, Dakota Kai, after being away due to injury. 

According to PWInsider.com, Kai is \”on the cusp of returning,\” with the company hoping to have her back on the road with the Raw brand within the next few weeks. One source indicated that she could return by the end of the month, if not sooner.

Kai was last seen in action on the January 20 episode of Raw, where she teamed with IYO SKY against Zoey Stark and Shayna Baszler. During the match, she sustained a concussion, which led to her being pulled from in-ring competition. At the time, speculation suggested the injury may have resulted from a rough bump on a missile dropkick, although it was never confirmed. Kai has yet to publicly address her injury.

The past year has been eventful for Kai, filled with both achievements and setbacks. In August 2024, she underwent surgery for a torn meniscus but made her return in November.

Most recently, Kai competed in the tournament to crown the inaugural WWE Women’s Intercontinental Champion. She advanced to the finals but ultimately fell short against Lyra Valkyria.

WWE fans were treated to an unexpected return on Tuesday night as Fandango made a surprise appearance on NXT. He interrupted a promo by NXT Heritage Cup Champion Lexis King.

While his familiar Fandango theme played, he introduced himself as JDC, representing TNA Wrestling’s The System. He then declared his intention to capture more championships, officially challenging Lexis King for the NXT Heritage Cup on the February 11 episode of NXT.

Fandango originally signed with WWE in 2006, spending several years in developmental territories such as Deep South Wrestling and Florida Championship Wrestling. Competing under the name Johnny Curtis, he won the fourth season of NXT in 2011.

In 2013, he debuted on the main roster as Fandango, a flamboyant ballroom dancer. He later formed a tag team with Tyler Breeze, known as Breezango. The duo captured the NXT Tag Team Championships in 2020 before his release from WWE.

This marks Fandango’s first NXT appearance since 2021 when he last teamed with Breeze.

Jordynne Grace made a surprise appearance in the Women\’s Royal Rumble, entering at #19. During the broadcast, Michael Cole confirmed that Grace is now officially signed with WWE.

Despite previously stating she would be unavailable due to her mother\’s 50th birthday, Grace made her presence felt in the match and had a strong showing.

According to Fightful Select’s Sean Ross Sapp, Grace has signed a five-year contract with WWE, keeping her with the company through 2029. She is set to join NXT initially, though expectations are that her time there will be brief before moving to the main roster. Reports indicate that she is already under a main roster-level deal. 

As part of her agreement, Grace retains the rights to her name and entrance theme, as she owns them. This multi-year deal follows her departure from TNA Wrestling after completing her commitments at Genesis.

She is not expected to appear on tonight’s episode of NXT. Grace previously made her first WWE appearance as a surprise entrant in the 2023 Women\’s Royal Rumble. Her performance impressed WWE officials, ultimately leading to her signing with the company.

Another name has been added to WWE’s injury list, as Apollo Crews is now sidelined following surgery.

Crews was last seen in action on the January 25 episode of SmackDown, where he defeated Johnny Gargano in a singles match. However, he has since undergone surgery for a torn pectoral muscle.

The WWE star took to Instagram to share the news, writing:

\”Heading into surgery today. A few weeks ago on SmackDown, I tore my pec—an unfortunate situation. Sometimes, you do everything right, but there are just some things beyond your control. I’m looking forward to the road ahead, attacking it with a positive and unstoppable mindset.\”

Crews has had a career filled with highs and lows in WWE. After debuting in NXT in 2015 with significant hype, he quickly became a fan favorite and was seen as a future star. He was challenged for the NXT Championship during this time, but did not win the title.

He moved to the main roster in 2016, but his momentum stalled. However, he found success in 2020, capturing the United States Championship. In 2021, he embraced his Nigerian heritage and aligned with Commander Azeez. This character shift led to his Intercontinental Championship victory at WrestleMania 37 in a Nigerian Drum Fight against Big E.

In 2022, Crews returned to NXT before being drafted to the main roster in 2023. We wish him a speedy recovery.

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Roman Reigns\’ immediate future in WWE is uncertain following an attack by Seth Rollins after the Royal Rumble. The length of Reigns\’ absence remains unknown.

On Monday\’s Raw, Michael Cole provided an update on Reigns\’ condition. However, instead of a detailed injury report, he relayed a statement from WWE’s medical staff confirming that Reigns would be out of action for the foreseeable future.

The situation stems from the Royal Rumble, where CM Punk eliminated both Reigns and Rollins. Afterward, Rollins launched a vicious assault on Reigns, culminating in a Stomp on the steel steps. Later in the match, Logan Paul eliminated Punk. Rollins took credit for injuring Reigns later in the show.

Reigns’ absence adds another chapter to a rocky several months in his career. In 2024,  Solo Sikoa had challenged Reigns\’ leadership, which ultimately led to a split in the faction following Reigns’ hiatus after his WrestleMania XL loss to Cody Rhodes. Reigns made a shocking return at SummerSlam, attacking Solo Sikoa and seemingly turning babyface for the first time since 2020.

Reigns later participated in a WarGames match, where he helped his team secure victory over The New Bloodline this past November. With his status now uncertain, questions remain about when and how The Tribal Chief will return.

The New Day (Xavier Woods & Kofi Kingston) debuted a new entrance theme on the February 3rd episode of WWE Raw ahead of their tag team match against Dragon Lee & Rey Mysterio. With their new music, the match ended with the heels securing the victory after a distraction from Logan Paul.

The group\’s heel turn has taken them in a drastically different direction. On the December 2, 2024, episode of Raw, Kingston and Woods shockingly turned on their longtime friend and tag team partner, Big E, during The New Day\’s 10th-anniversary celebration.

The betrayal made for an emotional and unexpected moment, generating significant heat from the WWE Universe.This change comes after The New Day abandoned Big E.

Since then, Woods and Kingston had been making their entrances without music, accompanied only by a chorus of boos. Their previous theme, \”New Day, New Way\” by Jim Johnston, featured an intro by Big E, making their recent shift even more symbolic. The group\’s heel turn has taken them in a drastically different direction. 

Since the turn, The New Day has embraced a more serious demeanor, shedding their signature colorful attire in favor of a darker, more somber look. Other WWE stars, including Rey Mysterio and CM Punk, have publicly voiced their disapproval of their actions.

Duke Hudson is no longer part of WWE after spending years with the company.

Sean Ross Sapp of Fightful reported that Hudson was released by WWE in January, though news of his departure is only now becoming public. The reason for his release remains unclear.

Hudson debuted under his real name, Brendan Vink, at an NXT house show in 2019 and made his televised debut in 2020, teaming with Shane Thorne. He also competed in EVOLVE Wrestling as part of the promotion’s partnership with WWE.

In 2021, he rebranded as Duke Hudson and participated in the NXT Breakout Tournament. By 2022, he had aligned with Chase University, becoming a key member alongside Andre Chase and Thea Hail.

Hudson won the NXT Tag Team Championship with Chase in 2023, marking his first title victory in WWE. However, Chase University disbanded in late 2024 following a loss to Ridge Holland, leaving Hudson’s future uncertain.

Before the group\’s split, Hudson had been a consistent presence in NXT, showcasing his versatility and potential. His departure raises questions about his next move in professional wrestling.

CM Punk is looking for someone to step up and take his place in WWE.

Since his shocking return at Survivor Series 2023, Punk has reestablished himself as a major presence, engaging in feuds with top stars like Seth Rollins and Drew McIntyre. He has also shared the ring with rising talent, notably facing Dominik Mysterio in his first match back at a house show in Madison Square Garden.

In a recent interview with Jackie Redmond, Punk reflected on the balance between mentoring younger wrestlers and maintaining his own competitive edge. He expressed his desire for a new challenger to emerge.

\”The air I operate in is pretty rare. Obviously, the guys I’m competing against aren’t asking me for advice—they don’t care what I think. But there are others who do, or maybe they ask because they think politically it’s the smart thing to do. I’ve been open about my purpose here: I’m here to help people. The selfish aspect of it is that I can talk to a 20-year-old track and field athlete from NXT and learn something myself. It’s a two-way street.

At 46, I don’t know what \’cool\’ is—if I ever did. Maybe the younger talent can help me with that. In this business, you’re nothing without those who paved the road before you. It’s not a team sport; it’s a very selfish business. I don’t like talking about myself because it leads me to say things that feel egotistical, like, ‘I’m tired of pretending that half the locker room didn’t buy a pair of boots because they saw CM Punk wrestle.’

But I also see it as a powerful responsibility. I don’t want to treat the next generation the way some veterans treated me. It’s learned behavior—some veterans were hard on me because they feared I was coming for their spot. I want someone to be that hungry. I want someone to take my spot. Old lions don’t die of old age; they die from young lions. Eventually, that’s how the book of CM Punk will end. But I haven’t seen anyone man enough to do it yet.\”

Punk\’s journey in the 2025 Royal Rumble ended when he was eliminated by Logan Paul, adding fuel to his determination to stay at the top. He recently battled Sami Zayn in an Elimination Chamber qualifying match on this week’s WWE Raw.

WWE fans should anticipate a surprise appearance by Alexa Bliss at tonight’s Royal Rumble. PWInsider.com reports that Bliss has been spotted backstage at the WWE Royal Rumble PLE and is expected to appear on the broadcast.

Although Bliss has posted social media content suggesting she is at home, that is reportedly not the case. This marks a shift from earlier reports stating there had been no movement in negotiations between Bliss and WWE regarding her return, and there had been no discussions about her appearing tonight.

Initial plans called for Bliss to return on Raw in San Jose several weeks ago, but stalled contract negotiations led to those plans being scrapped. Talks reportedly hit a standstill when Bliss’ representatives pushed for a new deal, while WWE preferred she fulfill the terms of her previous contract, which was in place before she took maternity leave in January 2023.

On Friday, the latest edition of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter featured a report from Dave Meltzer stating that the two sides remain far apart in negotiations, with sources doubting a new agreement will be reached. Clearly, things have changed.

Bliss has not appeared on WWE television since January 2023 due to her maternity leave.

Penta El Zero Miedo delivered one of the most heartfelt promos of his career on a recent edition of WWE Raw, proving that passion transcends language. Following his match, he spoke openly about his journey, the responsibility of representing Mexico, and his deep gratitude for the moment.

“Nobody told me what to say,\” Penta shared with Dave LaGrega of Busted Open Radio. \”I spoke from my heart because I carry the responsibility of my country, my culture, my friends, and legends.\”

Although English isn’t his first language, his words resonated with fans around the world. “I know my English is not perfect, but my heart, my soul… I just speak with my spirit. This is my dream.”

Penta’s emotional promo wasn’t just about personal achievement but about inspiring the next generation of luchadors.

“For Mexicans, this is an example: no matter where you are from, your city, your town—if you have passion, you can be the best.”

His presence in WWE highlights the growing influence of Lucha Libre in mainstream wrestling alongside stars like Rey Mysterio, Dragon Lee, and Santos Escobar. His ability to connect with audiences beyond words reinforces why representation matters.

Penta’s journey is far from over, but his Raw speech marked a defining moment in his WWE career. Fans now eagerly await what’s next for the fearless luchador.

Penta El Zero Miedo’s rise to WWE has been filled with unforgettable moments, from Lucha Underground to Impact Wrestling and now WWE. Reflecting on his journey during an interview with Dave LaGreca of Busted Open during Royal Rumble 2025 media day, he credits key figures who helped shape his career.

“Tommy [Dreamer] always gave me the best advice in this business… I want to say thank you for everything. You are my role model,” Penta shared.

His recent WWE match against Chad Gable on the Raw on Netflix premiere episode marked a major milestone in his career as it marked his WWE in-ring debut.

“This match with Chad Gable was the turning point of my career. He is one of the best wrestlers in the world.”

Penta’s adaptability has been key to his success, proving that Lucha Libre can thrive at the highest levels. As WWE continues to embrace international styles, his presence adds to the growing influence of luchadors in mainstream wrestling.

With his fearless attitude and undeniable charisma, Penta is poised for even greater success in WWE. Whether it’s a championship run or dream matches against top talent that WWE has to offer, his journey is still unfolding, and fans are excited to see what’s next.

Penta El Zero Miedo and Dominik Mysterio nearly gave reporters a preview of what to expect when they potentially clash in the Men’s Royal Rumble match this Saturday.

Penta, formerly known as Pentagon Jr., signed with WWE earlier this month and made an immediate impact. He secured a victory over Chad Gable in his in-ring debut during the Raw on Netflix premiere episode.

As seen in the clip below, Penta and Mysterio had a heated confrontation. While it’s unclear what sparked the exchange, it was certainly a moment worth watching:

Mysterio had a busy and eventful 2024 in WWE, engaging in several high-profile feuds and matches. As a key member of The Judgment Day, he has consistently used his cunning and underhanded tactics to assist his stablemates.

Despite his heel persona, Dominik has become one of the most talked-about stars on Raw. His character work and in-ring performances have improved significantly, earning recognition from both fans and critics.

So far, other confirmed entrants in the Royal Rumble include John Cena, Roman Reigns, CM Punk, Seth Rollins, Drew McIntyre, Rey Mysterio, LA Knight, Sami Zayn, Shinsuke Nakamura, Logan Paul, Chad Gable, Bron Breakker, and Carmelo Hayes.