Author: Andrew Ravens

According to PWInsider.com, New Orleans has emerged as the frontrunner to host WrestleMania next year, with discussions about the city gaining traction within WWE over the past month. This is the first time the possibility has been spoken of locally in Louisiana. Additionally, it was noted that Indianapolis is still being considered as a potential host city for WrestleMania 43.

WWE has previously held two WrestleMania events in New Orleans at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome: WrestleMania 30 in 2014 and WrestleMania 34 in 2018. Both events featured historic moments that are still talked about today.

At WrestleMania 30, Brock Lesnar delivered one of the most shocking moments in WWE history by ending The Undertaker’s iconic 21-0 WrestleMania streak, leaving the crowd in stunned silence. In the night’s main event, Daniel Bryan defeated Batista and Randy Orton in a triple-threat match to become WWE World Heavyweight Champion, culminating in an emotional celebration with fans.

At WrestleMania 34, Ronda Rousey made her in-ring debut, teaming with Kurt Angle to defeat Triple H and Stephanie McMahon in a highly praised mixed tag team match. In the night’s main event, Brock Lesnar retained the Universal Championship in a brutal clash against Roman Reigns, surprising fans who had anticipated a title change.

With New Orleans potentially hosting another WrestleMania, fans could be in for another unforgettable event filled with moments to rival its storied predecessors.

A new match has been added to the lineup for WWE’s Saturday Night’s Main Event special, as Jacob Fatu is set to face Braun Strowman in singles competition.

The announcement follows a confrontation on this week’s episode of SmackDown, where Braun returned to back up LA Knight during an altercation with Fatu and Tama Tonga. This will mark the first-ever singles meeting between Fatu and Strowman, making it the most high-profile singles match of Jacob Fatu’s WWE career to date.

WWE’s Saturday Night’s Main Event will take place on Saturday, January 25, 2025, at the Frost Bank Center in San Antonio, Texas. The event will air live on NBC at 8 PM ET.

Updated Card:

• WWE World Heavyweight Champion GUNTHER vs. Jey Uso
• WWE Intercontinental Champion Bron Breakker vs. Sheamus
• Jacob Fatu vs. Braun Strowman

The WWE on Peacock schedule previously revealed that there are Saturday’s Night Main Event specials planned for May 24th and July 12th. The latter of which is slated to go head-to-head with AEW All In: Texas at Globe Life Field. WWE will also present the Royal Rumble PLE on February 1st.

WWE crowned new #1 contenders for the Tag Team Titles on this week’s SmackDown. Alex Shelley and Chris Sabin of the Motor City Machine Guns defeated Angel Garza and Humberto Carrillo of Legado Del Fantasma. With this victory, they have secured a future opportunity at the WWE Tag Team Championships, currently held by Johnny Gargano and Tommaso Ciampa of #DIY.

The Motor City Machine Guns overcame the challenge despite interference attempts by Pretty Deadly\’s Kit Wilson and Elton Prince.

After achieving individual success in NXT, Gargano and Ciampa transitioned to WWE\’s main roster. In 2023, WWE teased a potential reunion of #DIY on Monday Night Raw. When they officially reunited, fans welcomed them back enthusiastically, eager to see the duo reclaim tag team glory.

The Motor City Machine Guns previously held the WWE Tag Team Titles before losing them to #DIY on the December 6th episode of SmackDown. A rematch on the January 3rd episode of SmackDown ended in a no-contest, leaving fans eager for a decisive conclusion.

The journey of #DIY is one of persistence, chemistry, and emotional storytelling. Their rise from NXT to WWE Tag Team Champions has been a compelling narrative, filled with memorable moments and fan support.

It remains unclear when Alex Shelley and Chris Sabin will receive their rematch for the WWE Tag Team Championships.

Braun Strowman has made his return to WWE television, appearing on Friday’s episode of SmackDown to make a dramatic save.

The segment began with Jacob Fatu delivering an in-ring promo, following Solo Sikoa’s decision not to address his recent loss to Roman Reigns during the Raw on Netflix premiere. As tensions escalated, LA Knight stormed the ring to confront the heels but was quickly overwhelmed by the numbers advantage. Just when the situation seemed dire, Strowman made his return to even the odds and rescue Knight.

WWE incorporated Strowman’s real-life struggles into the storyline, explaining that he had been recovering from a brutal attack by The Bloodline. Strowman had been sidelined at the start of 2025 due to a severe illness.

In a heartfelt Instagram post, Strowman revealed that he had been battling a serious health issue, which forced him into recovery at a hotel. The illness took a toll on his health, causing him to lose over 30 pounds in just one week. Before his return, Strowman had not wrestled since late December during a SmackDown live event.

WWE has announced two championship matches for the next Saturday Night’s Main Event on January 25 at the Frost Bank Center in San Antonio, Texas:

• WWE World Heavyweight Champion GUNTHER vs. Jey Uso
• Intercontinental champion Bron Breakker vs. Sheamus

Both matches were set up on Monday’s WWE Raw. Sheamus battled Ludwig Kaiser in a hard-hitting contest, with the Celtic Warrior picking up the W. IC champion Bron Breakker was sitting ringside for the match, and the two brutes had a brief scuffle before they were separated by WWE officials.

Later in the show, GUNTHER delivered an in-ring promo, expressing frustration over the lack of focus on the WWE World Heavyweight Championship, which he referred to as the top prize on Raw. He challenged anyone to step up and prove their worth. Jey Uso answered the call, interrupting GUNTHER and issuing a challenge for the title.

During the confrontation, GUNTHER accepted the challenge, stating he would expose Jey Uso as nothing more than “a really good tag team wrestler.” Uso countered, vowing to prove him wrong at Saturday Night’s Main Event.

Tyler Bate is reportedly nearing a return to action. According to Mike Johnson of PWInsider, Bate is \”extremely close\” to being medically cleared after recovering from a torn pectoral injury. Once cleared, he is expected to rejoin the WWE Raw roster.

Bate has been sidelined since July 2024, following his last match on the July 2nd episode of WWE NXT. In that bout, he and Pete Dunne—competing as the team New Catch Republic—went over Hank Walker and Tank Ledger (Hank & Tank). Shortly after, WWE announced Bate’s injury on the July 8th episode of WWE Raw. Bate later revealed in a post on social media that he had suffered a complete tear of his left pectoral major and tendon, which required surgery.

During Bate’s absence, his tag team partner Pete Dunne has continued to compete in singles competition. However, no official timeline has been provided for Bate’s return as of this writing.

Fans are eagerly awaiting the return of the talented former NXT UK Champion, whose recovery appears to be nearing its conclusion.

Baron Corbin, now competing under his real name Tom Pestock, is set to make his debut for GCW this Sunday during The People vs. GCW event at the iconic Hammerstein Ballroom. The promotion confirmed the news today, announcing that Pestock will face Josh Barnett in a Bloodsport rules match.

\”Pestock is a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu specialist and Golden Gloves Champion entering Bloodsport for the first time,\” GCW noted in their official announcement. This match marks Pestock\’s return to the independent wrestling scene following his release from WWE in November 2024. Reacting to the announcement on social media, Pestock stated, \”Grit your teeth and protect your neck!!\”

The People vs. GCW event will take place on Sunday, January 19, 2025, at the Hammerstein Ballroom in New York City and will air live on Triller as a pay-per-view. Below is the event’s announced lineup:

• GCW World Championship: Mance Warner (c) defends against Effy or Allie Katch
• Effy vs. Allie Katch (winner faces Mance Warner later in the night)
• GCW Tag Team Championship: Dominic Garrini & Kevin Ku (c) vs. Cole Radrick & Alec Price
• Doors, Ladders & Chairs match for the vacant GCW Ultraviolent Championship:
  Matt Tremont vs. Brandon Kirk vs. Drew Parker vs. John Wayne Murdoch vs. Matthew Justice vs. Dr. Redacted
• Super Crazy, Tajiri & Little Guido vs. Arez, Gringo Loco & Jack Cartwheel
• Masato Tanaka vs. Joey Janela
• El Hijo del Vikingo vs. Sidney Akeem
• Bloodsport rules match: Josh Barnett vs. Tom Pestock
• Steel cage match: Charles Mason vs. Richard Holliday
• Megan Bayne vs. Atticus Cogar
• Matt Cardona vs. TBA
• NYC OGs (Homicide, Grim Reefer & Amazing Red) vs. Tony Deppen, Kerry Morton & Griffin McCoy
• Additional appearances by PCO, Maki Itoh, and more
• Sabu returns to GCW

With a stacked card featuring veterans, up-and-comers, and legendary names, The People vs. GCW promises to deliver a memorable evening of action.

When Sheamus returned to WWE television in April 2024, he surprised fans by reintroducing his original WWE theme song, \”Written in My Face.\” However, the longtime WWE star transitioned to a different entrance theme in July, leaving many fans—along with Sheamus himself—wishing the old song had stayed.

During an appearance on Insight with Chris Van Vliet, Sheamus addressed the fan-favorite theme song, including the humorous online meme centered around its lyrics, particularly the phrase “too many limes.”

“Maybe 2010. People are very creative on the internet, very creative,” Sheamus said. “I do miss that song, though. A lot of people were upset. I brought it back, but I wasn’t allowed to keep it.”

When asked if the song might make a comeback someday, Sheamus expressed frustration over the decision-making process. “I don’t know. Do you want to ask? You go ask. I’m tired of asking. I’m all out of asking,” he said.

The return of \”Written in My Face\” was a nostalgic moment for fans, making its subsequent removal all the more disappointing. While Sheamus’ current entrance theme has its merits, many continue to hope for the iconic song’s revival.

CM Punk is widely regarded as one of the biggest names in professional wrestling over the past 15 years, having shared the ring with countless stars. However, for Punk, there’s one opponent who eluded him: Steve Austin.

Punk and Austin appeared on-screen together during the June 13, 2011, episode of WWE Raw. While speaking with Shannon Sharpe and Chad \”Ochocinco\” Johnson on NightCap, Punk revealed that Austin tops his list of dream matches. He also expressed his admiration for Bret \”Hitman\” Hart, citing Hart as a key influence in his career.

“One name always comes to mind, and that’s Stone Cold Steve Austin,” Punk said. “Unfortunately, he had to retire because of injuries, and he had a stroke. Bret Hart is another one. Bret Hart would be a dream for me because that’s a guy I looked up to when I was a kid. That’s a guy that helped get me into this sport from an interest perspective, and that’s a guy who, to this day, I could text right now and be like, ‘What’s up? I have a question and need some advice.’ He’ll hit me back right away. Much love to him.”

Punk went on to highlight the current WWE roster, praising its depth of talent. “We have a pretty wealthy locker room when it comes to talent right now. There are a lot of people I would love to get in there with—Gunther, he’s the champ on Raw. Would love to mix it up with my boy Cody [Rhodes]. As far as legends go, the ones that probably aren’t going to happen but are dream matches, Austin is number one with a bullet.”

Punk’s comments come on the heels of his recent main event victory over Seth Rollins during WWE Raw’s premiere on Netflix.

John Cena officially kicked off his farewell tour on Monday’s episode of WWE Raw, announcing his entry into next month’s Royal Rumble Match. As one of WWE’s most iconic figures, Cena’s announcement has already drawn attention, with several stars calling out the future Hall of Famer for a match before he steps away.

Among them is Drew McIntyre, who is coming off a loss to Jey Uso on Raw. McIntyre blamed the loss on a \”contact high,\” citing Travis Scott’s surprise appearance at ringside with Uso while smoking a joint. Despite the setback, McIntyre is setting his sights on Cena, making his intentions clear during an appearance on the Babyfaces podcast.

“I want time on the microphone with him, and I want that one-on-one match, and I’m going to make it happen, one way or another,” McIntyre stated. He didn’t hold back, warning Cena of the dangers of crossing paths with him in the Royal Rumble. “Let’s just hope he doesn’t end up in the ring with me in the Rumble because the last person who got in my way at the Rumble last year and was aiming to main event WrestleMania was CM Punk, and I tore his tricep off the bone. I’ll maybe ask Cena to pick the muscle or pick the bone because I’m tearing it or breaking it.”

The Royal Rumble, set for February 1, 2025, in Indianapolis, Indiana, is shaping up to be a pivotal moment in Cena’s farewell tour as it could lead him to the discussed match with Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes at WrestleMania.

For the first time since 2020, Roman Reigns will enter the Royal Rumble. On this week’s episode of SmackDown, Paul Heyman, speaking on behalf of Reigns, announced that \”The Tribal Chief\” has declared for the 2025 Men’s Royal Rumble.

Heyman opened the show by addressing Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes, proclaiming that Reigns is determined to reclaim the title he lost to Rhodes in the main event of WrestleMania 40 – Night 2. Reigns aims to achieve this by winning the Royal Rumble and earning a shot at the championship.

This announcement marks a notable shift, as Reigns has entered the last four Royal Rumble events as the WWE Universal or Undisputed WWE Champion, rather than as a Royal Rumble match competitor. Reigns previously won the Royal Rumble in 2015, a victory that was overshadowed by fan backlash when the audience favored Bryan Danielson (then Daniel Bryan) over him. Despite an endorsement from The Rock, the win remains one of the most polarizing moments in Royal Rumble history.

The 2025 Royal Rumble is already shaping up to be a blockbuster event, with other top stars like John Cena and CM Punk also declaring their entries. The event will take place on Saturday, February 1, 2025, from Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, Indiana.

Braun Strowman has been sidelined at the start of 2025 due to a serious illness.

It was revealed via an Instagram post that Strowman has been battling a severe illness, which left him recovering in a hotel room and caused significant weight loss—over 30 pounds in just a week. Strowman shared the following update on social media:

\”We’ll see if people read what I post or not. Or just look at the cool pix. 2025 has been off to a ruff start for me. I picked up some kind of a bug last week and it had absolutely whipped my ass. I laid in a hotel room for four days, three with a fever of 102 or higher. A week later, I am finally over what I think is the hump. My sever[e] body aches are finally easing up. Today is the first day I have been able to move around and really do anything. I have lost 36 lbs this week. Had tests taken, and all they could determine is that it was a very bad flu, thankfully. I hate I have had to miss last week’s SmackDown, the premiere of Raw on Netflix, and I will miss TV again this week. This is yet another speed bump in the road. I will be back bigger, stronger, and badder than ever!!! There hasn’t been anything this life has thrown at me that I haven’t been able to OVERCOME, and this sure as hell isn’t gonna stop me from having one of my best years to date!!!!! 2025 your ass is mine!!!!\”

Strowman hasn\’t wrestled since late December at a SmackDown event. Strowman’s determination and resilience remain evident as he works toward recovery and plans his eventual return to WWE programming.

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