Author: Mike Reichlin

  • Penta Rips Dominik Mysterio After WrestleMania 42 Loss

    Penta Rips Dominik Mysterio After WrestleMania 42 Loss

    Penta made it very clear he has no sympathy for Dominik Mysterio.

    Speaking live at WWE World in Las Vegas on Monday, Penta was asked by hosts Sam Roberts and Megan Morant if he felt sad watching Dominik lose to “The Demon” Finn Balor in a Street Fight at WrestleMania 42. The Intercontinental Champion’s response was immediate and unfiltered.

    “Sad for what?! So fucking happy brother! Why are you sad? This stupid guy. His stupid mustache. Fake Mexican. Fake son. Fake luchador. What are you talking about man?”

    Penta was not done there.

    “He is not a wrestler, he’s a fucking clown bro!”

    The history between the two runs deep. Penta ended Dominik’s run as Intercontinental Champion on March 2, defeating him on Raw in a 15-minute match. The title has remained around Penta’s waist ever since, and he successfully defended it on Night 2 of WrestleMania 42, surviving a six-man ladder match against Je’Von Evans, Dragon Lee, JD McDonagh, Rusev, and Rey Mysterio to retain.

    As for Dominik, his WrestleMania 42 night ended in defeat. “The Demon” Finn Balor defeated him in the Street Fight, hitting a Coup de Grace through a table for the three count.

    It marked the latest chapter in a long-running Judgment Day saga that has seen the faction slowly unravel.

    Penta, meanwhile, is the reigning Intercontinental Champion and one of the company’s hottest acts heading into the post-WrestleMania season.

  • Producers for this year’s WrestleMania Main Events

    Producers for this year’s WrestleMania Main Events

    Michael Hayes and Bobby Roode served as producers for both main event matches at WrestleMania 42, according to a report from BodySlam+. The veteran agents were responsible for orchestrating the show’s biggest matches across both nights.

    Hayes and Roode produced the Saturday night main event between Cody Rhodes and Randy Orton. The duo then returned to produce Sunday’s main event featuring Roman Reigns versus CM Punk, with Paul Heyman also listed as a producer for that match.

    Roman Reigns Captures World Heavyweight Championship

    Reigns defeated Punk in Sunday’s main event to capture the World Heavyweight Championship. The match concluded when Punk failed to execute the GTS and collapsed, allowing Reigns to hit back-to-back Spears for the victory.

    The bout was built around legitimate animosity between the two competitors, with both wrestlers refusing to back down throughout the contest. Reigns had claimed Punk was “old” heading into the match, a statement that proved accurate when Punk’s body gave out at the crucial moment.

    Hayes has been a longtime producer for WWE’s biggest matches, while Roode transitioned to a backstage role after his in-ring career. Heyman’s involvement in producing the Reigns match marks a continuation of his behind-the-scenes work with the former Tribal Chief.

  • Pat McAfee Announces Wrestling Retirement After WrestleMania 42

    Pat McAfee Announces Wrestling Retirement After WrestleMania 42

    Pat McAfee announced his retirement from professional wrestling on his ESPN show following WWE WrestleMania 42. The former WWE commentator and performer honored a pre-match promise he made before the main event.

    McAfee declared before WrestleMania that he would walk away from wrestling if Randy Orton failed to defeat Cody Rhodes for the Undisputed WWE Championship. With Rhodes retaining his title, McAfee confirmed he’s keeping his word.

    “The good news is, the business doesn’t need to be saved after all,” McAfee said. “And good for them. And for me, I finished my story.”

    McAfee Reflects on Wrestling Journey

    The ESPN personality detailed his extensive career path through professional wrestling during his announcement. McAfee highlighted the various roles he held throughout his time in the business.

    “I came up in the indies, IWA East Coast,” he said. “I went through development, NXT. I was a wrestler, trained by Rip Rogers, the same guy that trained everybody that’s retiring kind of currently, out of OVW.”

    McAfee continued listing his accomplishments. “Get to WWE, commentated, lucky to do that. Did pre-shows, lucky to do that. Wrestled, lucky to do that. Reffed, lucky to do that. Managed, lucky to do that. It’s been a hell of a run. Thank you, wrestling. It was an honor to be over there.”

    WrestleMania 42 Involvement

    McAfee was involved in the Rhodes vs. Orton main event at WrestleMania 42. He was put through a table by Jelly Roll during the match and received an RKO from Orton.

    “Maybe he didn’t know it was me,” McAfee said about the RKO. “[But] it felt like he knew.”

    McAfee has appeared in a neck brace following the event, selling the physical toll of his WrestleMania appearance. He was spotted celebrating with Tyrese Haliburton at a 50 Cent concert while still wearing the brace.

    “The wrestling business just kind of, rearview mirror,” McAfee said. “And to the wrestling business, I’d like to say: thank you. Thank you so much. Thank you.”

  • Fans Rally for Paige WWE 2K26 DLC After WrestleMania Return

    Fans Rally for Paige WWE 2K26 DLC After WrestleMania Return

    Paige’s shock return at WrestleMania 42 has fans pushing hard for her to be added to WWE 2K26, with social media campaigns targeting the game’s upcoming WrestleMania 42 Pack DLC.

    After eight years away from a WWE ring, Paige replaced an injured Nikki Bella on Night 1 at Allegiant Stadium and teamed with Brie Bella to capture the WWE Women’s Tag Team Championship. She pinned Alexa Bliss with the RamPaige to cap the fatal four-way, marking her first WWE title win since August 2014.

    The moment immediately reshaped fan wishlists for 2K’s post-launch content. With Paige signing a multi-year deal and returning as champion, players have flooded social feeds asking 2K to add her likeness, entrance, and updated attire to WWE 2K26.

    WrestleMania 42 Pack Details

    The WrestleMania 42 Pack is a separate drop from Ringside Pass Season 2, which launched April 15 with Demolition’s Ax, Smash, and Crush plus Kelly Kelly. According to 2K, the WrestleMania 42 Pack will include the Night 1 and Night 2 arenas along with three WrestleMania 42 Superstar Persona Cards.

    The pack is automatically delivered to Monday Night War Edition owners and will also be available for standalone purchase. An exact release date has yet to be announced.

    Fan Wishlist Takes Shape

    Paige leads the unofficial fan wishlist, but she is far from the only name circulating. Requests have poured in for updated Liv Morgan attire, Roman Reigns’ Tribal Chief gear from his WrestleMania 42 run, and CM Punk’s WrestleMania 42 outfit as potential Persona Card additions.

    Fan mockups featuring silhouetted roster slots have spread across wrestling gaming communities, speculating on which three Personas 2K will pick from a weekend packed with memorable moments. The pack format favors quick-turnaround additions that can reuse existing in-game models.

    2K has not publicly responded to the Paige campaign, and there is no confirmation she is under consideration. The Ringside Pass roadmap through Season 6 already includes Brie Bella as a Season 5 addition, but no 2K26 slot for Paige has been announced.

  • John Cena Chugs Beer With George Kittle At WrestleMania 42

    John Cena Chugs Beer With George Kittle At WrestleMania 42

    Hosting two nights of WWE’s biggest event of the year is thirsty work, and John Cena found a way to rehydrate at WrestleMania 42 with a little help from one of the NFL’s biggest WWE diehards.

    Fan-shot social media footage circulated late Sunday showing Cena chugging a beer at Allegiant Stadium at the encouragement of San Francisco 49ers tight end George Kittle. The 48-year-old, who served as host for both nights of WrestleMania 42, obliged Kittle’s request and downed the drink to the delight of fans nearby.

    The moment did not air on the PLE broadcast and was captured exclusively by fans inside the stadium.

    Cena Joins Kittle’s Running WrestleMania Weekend Beer Bit

    Cena became the third high-profile name swept up in what turned into a recurring Kittle gag across the weekend.

    On Night 1, the 49ers star grabbed Indiana Pacers guard Tyrese Haliburton’s beer and chugged it on the spot when WWE cameras caught both stars on the big screen, sending the Allegiant Stadium crowd into hysterics. Kittle followed it up by downing another beer alongside Hollywood stuntman Chuck Zito later in the broadcast.

    Kittle even squared off in an informal beer-chugging competition with fellow NFL star Rob Gronkowski at one point during the weekend.

    Cena’s First WrestleMania As A Non-Wrestler

    WrestleMania 42 marked Cena’s first appearance at the event since retiring from in-ring competition in December 2025, when he lost to Gunther at Saturday Night’s Main Event.

    Beyond the beer-chugging cameo, Cena played a central role across the weekend. He opened both nights, helped Bianca Belair reveal her pregnancy on Night 1, and got involved in a comedic Night 2 segment featuring Danhausen, The Miz, and Kit Wilson.

    WrestleMania 42 drew a combined 106,072 fans across both nights at Allegiant Stadium, per Cena’s own social media post recapping the weekend.

  • Why Liv Morgan vs. Stephanie Vaquer Was So Short at WrestleMania 42

    Why Liv Morgan vs. Stephanie Vaquer Was So Short at WrestleMania 42

    The Women’s World Championship match between Liv Morgan and Stephanie Vaquer at WrestleMania 42 Night 1 lasted just under seven minutes, and a new report indicates injuries on both sides were the reason.

    Heading into the Allegiant Stadium showdown on Saturday, April 18, the bout was widely expected to be one of the marquee matches of the weekend. Morgan walked into Las Vegas as the 2026 Women’s Royal Rumble winner, while Vaquer was defending the title in her first WrestleMania appearance after a 211-day reign.

    Instead, Morgan captured the title in roughly 6:50 with help from Judgment Day stablemates Roxanne Perez and Raquel Rodriguez. The brevity of the bout left a noticeable section of fans frustrated given how personal the feud had been built on Raw.

    Both Wrestlers Reportedly Injured Heading Into WrestleMania 42

    Per Bodyslam, WWE sources have indicated that both Morgan and Vaquer were dealing with injuries before the match, which led to a creative decision to keep the action short and limit the risk of either wrestler aggravating her condition.

    Morgan’s situation has been documented for weeks. She was placed in concussion protocol along with Roxanne Perez on April 6 after a backstage segment on Raw, when Vaquer shoved her into Perez and then into a television. Morgan was visibly bruised on her WrestleMania entrance, with the head and facial markings still apparent under the lights.

    Vaquer’s reported issue is the new piece of information. The champion had not publicly disclosed any injury heading into Las Vegas, and her in-ring work on recent Raw episodes had not signaled anything was wrong.

    Why The Finish Felt Rushed

    The truncated runtime explains why so much of the match leaned on outside interference rather than extended back-and-forth exchanges. Perez and Rodriguez were involved repeatedly, with Vaquer at one point fending off all three Judgment Day members before Morgan dropped her with the Oblivion for the win.

    Yahoo Sports noted in its post-show analysis that the finish came so quickly the bout did no favors for anyone involved, with Vaquer looking weaker than she ever has during her WWE run. That criticism becomes easier to contextualize if both competitors were genuinely working through physical issues.

    The feud is widely expected to continue, with a likely rematch on the horizon now that both wrestlers can take time to recover before going at it again under more favorable conditions.

  • WWE Champions After WrestleMania 42: Full Title Picture

    WWE Champions After WrestleMania 42: Full Title Picture

    Six championships changed hands across WrestleMania 42 weekend in Las Vegas, leaving WWE with a dramatically reshaped title picture heading into the post-Mania reset on Raw and SmackDown.

    Night 1 at Allegiant Stadium produced three new champions. Night 2 added three more, capped by Roman Reigns dethroning CM Punk in the main event to capture the World Heavyweight Championship. Cody Rhodes was the lone top singles champion to survive the weekend, retaining the Undisputed WWE Championship against Randy Orton.

    Here is every WWE main-roster champion following WrestleMania 42.

    New World Heavyweight Champion: Roman Reigns

    Roman Reigns wins at WrestleMania 42

    Reigns ended CM Punk’s reign as World Heavyweight Champion in the Night 2 main event, completing the storyline that began when he won the men’s Royal Rumble in January. The win adds another world title to a resume that already includes the longest championship reign of the modern era.

    Undisputed WWE Champion: Cody Rhodes

    Rhodes retained the Undisputed WWE Championship against Randy Orton in the Night 1 main event. Orton attacked Rhodes with an RKO and a punt after the match, teasing the direction of Rhodes’ next feud.

    New WWE Women’s Champion: Rhea Ripley

    Rhea Ripley wins WrestleMania 42

    Ripley defeated Jade Cargill on Night 2 to capture the SmackDown brand’s top women’s title. Ripley earned the shot by winning the women’s Elimination Chamber match earlier in the year.

    Women’s World Champion: Liv Morgan

    Liv Morgan at WrestleMania 42. Photo: WWE.com

    Morgan dethroned Stephanie Vaquer on Night 1 to win her third Women’s World Championship, the most of any Superstar in the title’s history. The Judgment Day member got assistance from Raquel Rodriguez and Roxanne Perez before finishing Vaquer with Oblivion. Dominik Mysterio joined the post-match celebration. Vaquer’s reign ended at 211 days.

    United States Champion: Trick Williams

    Williams defeated Sami Zayn on Night 2 to capture the first main-roster singles title of his career. Lil Yachty accompanied Williams to the ring.

    Intercontinental Champion: Penta

    Penta retained the Intercontinental Championship in a six-man ladder match on Night 2 that included Je’Von Evans, Dragon Lee, JD McDonagh, Rusev, and Rey Mysterio.

    New Women’s Intercontinental Champion: Becky Lynch

    Becky Lynch at WrestleMania 42
    WWE

    Lynch defeated AJ Lee on Night 1 to regain the Women’s Intercontinental Championship. The win makes Lynch a multi-time holder of the title in 2026.

    World Tag Team Champions: Logan Paul and Austin Theory

    The Vision members retained the World Tag Team Championships by not defending them at WrestleMania. Paul and Theory teamed with IShowSpeed in a non-title six-man tag against The Usos and LA Knight on Night 1, a match the babyface trio won. The titles were not on the line.

    WWE Tag Team Champions: Damian Priest and R-Truth

    Priest and R-Truth also did not defend their SmackDown brand tag titles at WrestleMania. The pair captured the championships from The MFTs on the March 20 edition of SmackDown.

    Women’s Tag Team Champions: Paige and Brie Bella

    Paige made her surprise WWE return on Night 1 as Nikki Bella’s replacement after an injury to the elder Bella twin. Paige and Brie defeated Alexa Bliss and Charlotte Flair, Bayley and Lyra Valkyria, and Nia Jax and Lash Legend in a Fatal 4-Way to capture the titles. Paige had not wrestled for WWE in more than four years.

    WWE Champions after WrestleMania 42

    Raw champions: Roman Reigns (World Heavyweight), Liv Morgan (Women’s World), Penta (Intercontinental), Becky Lynch (Women’s Intercontinental), Logan Paul and Austin Theory (World Tag Team), Paige and Brie Bella (Women’s Tag Team).

    SmackDown champions: Cody Rhodes (Undisputed WWE), Rhea Ripley (WWE Women’s), Trick Williams (United States), Damian Priest and R-Truth (WWE Tag Team).

    Raw streams live from Las Vegas on Monday night with Reigns, Punk, Morgan, Ripley, and the rest of the post-Mania cast all advertised.

  • WWE Raw Tonight (4/20/26): Start Time, Card & How to Watch

    WWE Raw Tonight (4/20/26): Start Time, Card & How to Watch

    WWE Raw airs tonight (Monday, April 20, 2026) from T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada, live on Netflix starting at 8 PM ET.

    The Raw After WrestleMania is always a powder keg, and tonight’s show follows one of the most consequential WrestleManias in recent memory. Roman Reigns is the new World Heavyweight Champion, Rhea Ripley is a four-time world champion, Oba Femi passed Brock Lesnar’s torch, and The Beast appears to have called it a career. Here’s everything you need to know including start times, how to watch, and what’s on deck.

    How to Watch WWE Raw Tonight

    DateMonday, April 20, 2026
    VenueT-Mobile Arena, Las Vegas, Nevada
    Channel/StreamNetflix (Worldwide)
    US Start Time8 PM ET / 7 PM CT / 5 PM PT
    UK Start Time1 AM GMT (Tuesday, April 21)
    India Start Time5:30 AM IST (Tuesday, April 21)
    Duration2 hours

    WWE Raw Match Card for April 20, 2026

    No matches have been announced as of Monday afternoon. WWE has confirmed appearances from Roman Reigns, CM Punk, Oba Femi, Brock Lesnar, Rhea Ripley, Penta, Logan Paul, and Stephanie Vaquer. Here’s what to watch for based on tonight’s advertised names and WrestleMania 42 fallout.

    Roman Reigns’ First Appearance as World Heavyweight Champion

    Reigns closed WrestleMania 42 by pinning CM Punk to capture the World Heavyweight Championship, his first reign with that specific title. Tonight marks his opening statement as champion, and the question is whether The OTC plans to be a working champion or a part-time titleholder. Expect a promo segment early in the show.

    CM Punk Responds to Losing the Title

    Punk came into WrestleMania as champion and left without the belt after a brutal main event. He’s advertised for tonight and will almost certainly address the loss, and what comes next for the self-proclaimed Best in the World is the biggest creative question on Raw heading into the post-Mania cycle.

    Paul Heyman Addresses the Future of Brock Lesnar

    Lesnar lost to Oba Femi on Night 2, then removed his gloves and boots in the center of the ring and left them there. Heyman wept alongside the Las Vegas crowd. If The Beast is truly done, tonight is the night Heyman speaks on it. If he isn’t, this is still the first chance WWE gets to frame what that moment meant.

    Oba Femi’s Arrival on the Main Roster Stage

    Femi made his WrestleMania debut by beating Brock Lesnar clean, one of the loudest crowd reactions of the weekend. He’s a made man coming out of Mania, and whatever direction WWE chooses for him, whether the world title scene, Money in the Bank, or a marquee feud, tonight is where the campaign starts.

    Rhea Ripley Celebrates the WWE Women’s Championship Win

    Ripley defeated Jade Cargill to win the WWE Women’s Championship, her fourth world title. She’s advertised for tonight before presumably returning to SmackDown television. Her celebration likely shares the night with Liv Morgan, who also captured gold in Las Vegas.

    Liv Morgan and Stephanie Vaquer Take Their Victory Laps

    Liv Morgan defeated Stephanie Vaquer on Night 1 to win the Women’s World Championship, with assists from Raquel Rodriguez and Roxanne Perez. Both women are advertised for tonight, and the new La Primera faces the first night of defending the title against a Raw locker room that knows how she got the belt.

    Penta’s First Night as Survivor of the Ladder Match

    Penta retained the Intercontinental Championship in the six-way ladder match against Rey Mysterio, Dragon Lee, Je’Von Evans, Rusev, and JD McDonagh. Every loser in that match came out looking stronger, which means Penta has a line of challengers forming. Tonight likely plants the seed for who’s first.

    Logan Paul After WrestleMania 42

    Paul is advertised for Raw tonight coming out of the WrestleMania weekend. His ongoing rivalry with LA Knight and The Usos dominated his pre-Mania programming, and tonight is his first chance to respond to whatever happened in that six-man tag.

    Seth Rollins, Bron Breakker, and the Fractured Vision

    Bron Breakker cost Seth Rollins his WrestleMania match against Gunther with a spear out of nowhere. The Vision is no longer united, and the Las Vegas crowd will be loud for whatever confrontation kicks off between the two former allies. Neither is officially advertised, but the angle is live.

    Road to WWE Backlash 2026

    Backlash is the next premium live event on the WWE calendar, though the full date and venue have not been officially confirmed at time of writing. Tonight’s fallout sets the foundation for the first round of post-Mania championship programs, with the Women’s World, World Heavyweight, and Intercontinental Championships all likely starting new challenger arcs inside T-Mobile Arena.


    Follow SEScoops for any news and developments from tonight’s WWE Raw After WrestleMania 42.

  • Roman Reigns Wins 7th World Title At WrestleMania 42

    Roman Reigns Wins 7th World Title At WrestleMania 42

    Roman Reigns is a seven-time world champion. The Tribal Chief ended CM Punk’s second World Heavyweight Championship reign at 169 days, pinning Punk clean in the WrestleMania 42 main event to win the title at Allegiant Stadium.

    Reigns earned the shot by winning the 2026 Royal Rumble in January. Two days before the match, he told reporters he would leave WWE if he lost. He didn’t have to. After 33:57 of back-and-forth with Punk, Reigns drove through the champion with a second running Spear to close WrestleMania 42.

    The Finish

    Punk had the match won twice. He threw his wrist tape at the referee as a distraction, hit Reigns with a low blow, and drilled him with a Go To Sleep. Reigns kicked out. Punk followed with elbow drops, shoved Reigns outside, climbed to the top, and put him through the announce table with a flying elbow. Reigns answered with a powerbomb through the Spanish announce table moments later.

    Back in the ring, Reigns trapped Punk in the corner and punished him with clotheslines as the crowd counted along. Punk rallied one more time, hitting another GTS. When he tried to hoist Reigns up for a second one, he collapsed under the weight. Reigns recovered, hit a Spear, but couldn’t follow up with a cover. Both men stared each other down from their knees. Reigns lined up, took a running start, and drove through Punk with a second Spear for the clean three count.

    A Record 11th WrestleMania Main Event

    This was Reigns’ record 11th WrestleMania main event, more than any performer in company history. His previous world title reign lasted 1,316 days. This seventh reign adds to a resume that already includes four Universal Championship runs and one Undisputed WWE Universal Championship run stretching from 2020 to 2024.

    Reigns entered to a live stage setup — a singer, a piano player, and a drummer on the ramp — as photos of the Anoa’i family’s Samoan dynasty flashed on the big screen. Peter Maivia. Afa. Sika. Yokozuna. Reigns held up the index finger. George Kittle and Tyrese Haliburton were shown at ringside doing the same.

    Punk’s Reign Ends At 169 Days

    Punk won the World Heavyweight Championship from Seth Rollins at WrestlePalooza last September and successfully defended it against Finn Balor at Elimination Chamber in February. He went into WrestleMania 42 positioning himself as the fighting champion against a part-time challenger, a theme he hit hard in promos across the spring.

    The loss closes Punk’s second world title run. His first reign as World Heavyweight Champion ended when his WrestleMania 42 entrance proved to be the high-water mark of the reign — he walked out to AFI’s “Miseria Cantare” in a tribute jacket, but walked back without the title.

    The Feud Resolved

    Punk and Reigns had not wrestled one-on-one since January 2014, weeks before Punk’s original WWE departure. The feud this spring turned genuinely personal. Triple H told Joe Tessitore the backstage tension between the two was “palpable.” Reigns cut a viral car promo on ESPN. Punk answered on Get Up with a line about making Reigns’ orthodontist rich.

    The real-life history between the two — Punk’s 2014 podcast comments about Reigns that fans cite as one of the origin points of Reigns’ early babyface rejection — was the subtext of every segment. Reigns addressed it directly on the Raw after the Royal Rumble, telling Punk he hated him for the damage those comments did to his career.

    Sunday settled it. Clean. In the middle of the ring. Reigns wins.

    What’s Next

    The new World Heavyweight Champion is advertised for Raw on Monday. Fallout from the title change, plus the first signs of where the title picture heads next, start there. Seth Rollins has already said publicly he would be interested in challenging whoever walked out of WrestleMania 42 with the belt.

  • CM Punk Honors Larry, Harley Race, WWE Staffers On WrestleMania 42 Jacket

    CM Punk Honors Larry, Harley Race, WWE Staffers On WrestleMania 42 Jacket

    CM Punk WrestleMania 42 jacket

    CM Punk pulled out all the stops for his WrestleMania 42 main event entrance. Punk walked out for his World Heavyweight Championship defense against Roman Reigns on Sunday, April 19 at Allegiant Stadium to AFI’s “Miseria Cantare (The Beginning),” his old Ring of Honor theme, while carrying a Puerto Rican flag in tribute to his wife AJ Lee’s heritage.

    The custom jacket he wore to the ring carried another layer of meaning. Stitched into it were the names of six people and pets Punk has lost, including his late dog Larry, wrestling legend Harley Race, Harm’s Way guitarist Bo Lueders, and three longtime WWE staffers: Kerwin Silfies, Jim Shank, and Davey Coates.

    The “Miseria Cantare” Return

    Punk had teased the return of his Ring of Honor entrance look and music for weeks leading into WrestleMania, posting a photo on Instagram of himself in a black track jacket with a white stripe on top of a Las Vegas building. The caption, “Radiate,” is a lyric from the AFI song.

    Punk previously used “Miseria Cantare” for his Dog Collar Match against MJF at AEW Revolution 2022, but had never used it for a WWE match before Sunday night.

    A Personal List Of Losses

    Larry, Punk’s beloved pit bull, was a fixture of his social media presence for years and has been honored on previous entrance gear. Harley Race, the eight-time NWA World Heavyweight Champion, died in 2019 and has long been one of Punk’s personal heroes. Punk got a tattoo honoring Race after his passing and once called him “somebody who deserves to be memorialized.”

    Bo Lueders, guitarist for Chicago hardcore band Harm’s Way and co-host of the HardLore podcast, died on April 2, 2026 at age 38. Punk, a fellow Chicago native and close friend of Lueders, posted messages about mental health awareness and the 988 crisis line in the days following his death.

    The WWE Staffers On The Jacket

    The three WWE names on the jacket represent decades of combined behind-the-scenes work for the company.

    Kerwin Silfies, the longtime WWE director whose career stretched from Saturday Night’s Main Event in the 1980s through multiple WrestleManias, died on February 17, 2026 at age 75 after privately battling health issues.

    Jim Shank, WWE’s Technical Operations Manager and a 26-year company veteran, died on February 6, 2026 at age 60 following a lengthy battle with colorectal cancer. Shank was known for operating WWE’s robotic and remote-controlled camera systems.

    Davey Coates, WWE’s International Production Manager, died on March 14, 2026 at age 63. Coates was responsible for coordinating WWE’s global tours and played a central role in NXT UK operations during the pandemic.

    Punk’s Second WrestleMania Main Event

    The match against Reigns marked Punk’s second WrestleMania main event and his first as a Night Two closer. Punk entered as World Heavyweight Champion after retaining the title against Finn Balor at Elimination Chamber in February, while Reigns earned the shot by winning the 2026 Royal Rumble.

    The tribute jacket continues a pattern for Punk, who has increasingly used his entrance gear to memorialize people who have influenced his career and personal life.

  • Nikki Bella Gives Return Timeline, Dismisses WrestleMania Report

    Nikki Bella Gives Return Timeline, Dismisses WrestleMania Report

    Nikki Bella has addressed her injury timeline and taken shots at a report claiming The Bella Twins were originally planned to win the WWE Women’s Tag Team Championships at WrestleMania 42.

    Responding to a tweet which claimed the original WrestleMania plan was for the Bellas to capture the titles, Nikki fired back via the shared @NikkiAndBrie account on X.

    “Always lies for the cliiicccckkkkss right?? Lol,” Nikki wrote, dismissing the report.

    When a fan followed up asking how long she would be sidelined, Nikki offered a more optimistic outlook.

    “6-8 weeks hopefully,” she replied.

    Fractured, Torn, and Sprained Ankle

    Nikki missed WrestleMania 42 Night One after suffering a serious ankle injury during the March 27 episode of SmackDown. She later revealed the full extent of the damage, saying she had fractured, torn, and sprained the ankle, calling it “a painful two weeks.”

    Nikki underwent surgery in Birmingham, Alabama ahead of the event. Paige stepped in as her replacement, teaming with Brie Bella to capture the WWE Women’s Tag Team Championships in the Fatal Four-Way match on Night One at Allegiant Stadium.

    Observer Report in Question

    The Wrestling Observer Radio report, surfaced by WrestleFeatures on X, claimed the original WrestleMania booking called for the Bellas to win the titles. Nikki’s response on social media made clear she disputes that framing.

    Brie and Paige appeared on the post-show panel following WrestleMania 42. With a 6-8 week recovery window, Nikki could be back in time for SummerSlam season.

  • WrestleMania 42 Attendance Falls Short of Last Year’s Record

    WrestleMania 42 Attendance Falls Short of Last Year’s Record

    WWE’s announced WrestleMania 42 attendance came in nearly 19,000 fans short of last year’s record-setting weekend at the same venue.

    WrestleMania 42 host John Cena revealed the official two-night total during Sunday’s broadcast from Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas. Saturday’s Night 1 drew 50,816 fans, a number Cena later bumped to 50,817 after Bianca Belair’s surprise pregnancy announcement. Sunday’s Night 2 brought in 55,256, pushing the cumulative total to 106,072.

    Those figures fall well below the 124,693 fans WWE announced for WrestleMania 41 in April 2025. The company billed that event as the most-successful and highest-grossing in its history. WrestleMania 41 drew 61,467 on Night 1 and 63,226 on Night 2, both staged at Allegiant Stadium.

    Cena Addresses Ticket Sales Speculation

    Slow ticket sales had become a talking point in the build to WrestleMania 42, with WrestleTix tracking distribution figures well behind last year’s pace in the weeks leading up to the event. Cena addressed that speculation directly before announcing the Saturday number, framing the crowd inside Allegiant Stadium as proof the show had still drawn a major audience.

    Cena initially announced 50,860 for Saturday before correcting himself to the official 50,816 figure. He then adjusted the number again to 50,817 after Belair appeared on stage to reveal she and husband Montez Ford are expecting their first child.

    Comparing Announced Numbers to Stadium Authority Data

    WWE’s announced WrestleMania figures have historically run higher than independent counts. The Las Vegas Stadium Authority later reported actual WrestleMania 41 attendance at 58,538 on Saturday and 60,103 on Sunday, a combined 118,641. That worked out to roughly 2.4% lower than WWE’s announced totals.

    If a similar gap holds for WrestleMania 42, the actual two-night attendance could land closer to 103,500. The Stadium Authority typically releases its quarterly activity report several months after each event.

    WrestleMania 42 marked the first WWE event under the company’s new ESPN streaming partnership and the second consecutive WrestleMania held at Allegiant Stadium.

  • Rhea Ripley Defeats Jade Cargill at WrestleMania 42 to Win Women’s Title

    Rhea Ripley Defeats Jade Cargill at WrestleMania 42 to Win Women’s Title

    Rhea Ripley is the new WWE Women’s Champion. The Eradicator defeated Jade Cargill on Night 2 of WrestleMania 42 at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, hitting the Riptide for the pinfall to end Cargill’s reign that had stretched past 165 days.

    The finish came after Cargill’s allies Mia Yim and B-Fab tried to swing the match in the champion’s favor, only for IYO SKY to sprint down and even the odds. With the interference cleared, Ripley connected with the Riptide and pinned Cargill clean to capture the title.

    RHIYO Pays Off at WrestleMania

    The result delivers the payoff WWE had been building since early April, when Ripley brought SKY over to SmackDown as her backup plan against the numbers game. Cargill described the trio as “allies of convenience” rather than a stable in the lead-up to the event, and that loose alliance proved unable to hold up under WrestleMania pressure.

    Ripley and SKY celebrated in the ring together after the bell. The RHIYO reunion has been one of the most over moments in the women’s division this year, though the heavy emphasis WWE has placed on the friendship has fans bracing for an eventual turn between the two.

    How the Match Played Out

    Cargill controlled the early exchanges with her power game, dropping Ripley with a shoulder block, bodyslam, and a Ripcord superkick into a facebuster. Ripley fired back with a dropkick that sent the champion to the floor, but Cargill answered with a snap scoop powerslam and a Blue Thunder Driver that nearly ended it.

    The two traded strikes from their knees in a heated exchange before Ripley connected with an enzuigiri and a spinebuster for a near fall. After the interference attempt was neutralized by SKY, Ripley landed the Riptide for the three count.

    Ripley Captures Title for First Time Since 2025

    The win marks Ripley’s first singles title reign since March 2025. She earned the WrestleMania shot by winning the Women’s Elimination Chamber on February 28 in Chicago, outlasting Alexa Bliss, Kiana James, Asuka, Tiffany Stratton, and Raquel Rodriguez.

    For Cargill, the loss ends a championship run that began on the November 1, 2025 edition of Saturday Night’s Main Event when she defeated Tiffany Stratton. She had not suffered a one-on-one defeat in roughly seven months heading into the match.

    What’s Next for SmackDown’s Women’s Division

    Ripley now leads the SmackDown women’s division as champion with SKY still primarily aligned with Raw. Tiffany Stratton remains a looming presence on the blue brand, and Cargill is expected to invoke her rematch clause.

    WrestleMania 42 streamed live on Peacock and ESPN from Allegiant Stadium across both nights of April 18 and 19. Full coverage of Night 1 results is available here.

  • Kurt Angle Reacts to Brock Lesnar’s Apparent WWE Retirement at WrestleMania 42

    Kurt Angle Reacts to Brock Lesnar’s Apparent WWE Retirement at WrestleMania 42

    Kurt Angle has sent a heartfelt message to Brock Lesnar after The Beast Incarnate appeared to signal his WWE retirement at WrestleMania 42.

    Angle posted on X on Sunday, writing: “Love you my brother. There will only be one like you. Enjoy retirement Brock.” The post included a throwback photo of the two together at WrestleMania XIX, where Lesnar defeated Angle for the WWE Championship in 2003.

    The tribute came hours after Lesnar lost to Oba Femi in the opening match of WrestleMania 42 Night 2 at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas. After the final bell, Lesnar remained seated in the ring as fans chanted “Thank you Brock,” before slowly removing his gloves and boots.

    The gesture is long associated with in-ring retirement.

    Lesnar Leaves Gear in the Ring

    The emotional scene played out in front of a packed Allegiant Stadium crowd. Lesnar’s longtime advocate Paul Heyman was also on hand for what appeared to be a farewell moment. WWE has not officially confirmed a retirement.

    Angle and Lesnar share one of the more storied rivalries in WWE history, dating back to 2002. The two faced off multiple times at the highest level, including their WrestleMania XIX main event in Seattle, which Lesnar won to capture the WWE Championship.

    Lesnar, 48, had hinted at a limited future with the company ahead of WrestleMania 42. Speaking on the Spittin’ Chiclets podcast, he said he was “grateful” to be back “for a short time” with WWE.

    Several other WWE names are expected to react publicly in the coming hours. Angle’s post, with over 131,000 views within hours of going live, captures the sentiment felt across the wrestling world as The Beast’s career appears to have come to a close.

  • Penta Wears Shao Kahn Mask For WrestleMania 42 Entrance

    Penta Wears Shao Kahn Mask For WrestleMania 42 Entrance

    Penta brought Mortal Kombat to WrestleMania 42.

    The Intercontinental Champion made a show-stopping entrance on Night 2 at Allegiant Stadium, stalking onto the stage in full Shao Kahn-inspired armor as part of WWE’s cross-promotion with the upcoming Mortal Kombat II film.

    Flanked by a blood-red stage and MK imagery across the video wall, Penta posed on the ramp in a horned skull helmet and custom gear before heading to the ring for the Intercontinental Championship Ladder Match.

    The presentation leaned all the way into the crossover. Mortal Kombat II branding has been visible throughout WrestleMania weekend, but Penta’s walkout gave the partnership its most prominent spotlight yet on the Allegiant Stadium stage.

    Penta went on to retain the Intercontinental Championship, climbing the ladder to retrieve the title and outlasting Je’Von Evans, Dragon Lee, JD McDonagh, Rusev, and Rey Mysterio in the six-man match.

    WWE’s Mortal Kombat II Partnership

    The entrance is the payoff to a promotional deal between WWE and Warner Bros. Fandango is currently selling a “WrestleMania Bundle” that pairs a theatrical ticket to WrestleMania 42 with an exclusive WWE T-shirt, while ticket buyers for Mortal Kombat II receive 750 Dragon Krystals for use in the Mortal Kombat 1 game.

    Mortal Kombat II arrives in theaters and IMAX on May 8, 2026. Directed by Simon McQuoid, the Warner Bros. and New Line sequel stars Karl Urban as Johnny Cage, with Martyn Ford playing Shao Kahn, the same villainous Outworld emperor whose imagery Penta channeled in Las Vegas.

    A Career Moment For Penta

    Even by WrestleMania’s high bar for spectacle, the Shao Kahn walkout immediately stood out as one of the weekend’s signature visuals. Paired with a successful title defense, the moment is tailor-made for replay packages, social clips, and Mortal Kombat II marketing heading into the film’s May release.

  • Brock Lesnar Retires After WrestleMania 42 Loss to Oba Femi

    Brock Lesnar Retires After WrestleMania 42 Loss to Oba Femi

    Brock Lesnar retires from WWE

    Brock Lesnar’s WWE career ended in the middle of the ring at Allegiant Stadium. The Beast retired Sunday night at WrestleMania 42 following a loss to Oba Femi, removing his gloves and boots and leaving them in the ring in the most understood visual in professional wrestling.

    Femi, in his WrestleMania debut, pinned Lesnar in 4:45 to open Night 2. Lesnar caught Femi with an F5, but as he rose to celebrate, Femi beat him to his feet, hit a massive chokeslam, and followed with Fall From Grace for the three count.

    Michael Cole’s call on commentary — “The fall from grace from Oba Femi to the Beast, Brock Lesnar” — landed with weight that the crowd inside the building already understood.

    The Boots and Gloves in the Ring

    Lesnar stayed in the ring after the bell. “Thank you Brock” chants rolled through Allegiant Stadium as he removed his gloves and boots and set them in the center of the ring. He raised his hands. He shared an emotional, long hug with Paul Heyman, his longtime advocate and the man who just moments earlier had done his final WrestleMania ring introductions. Lesnar gestured to the fans, waved, and slowly walked up the ramp, stopping to shake hands with fans along the way.

    A Career That Redefined the Main Event

    This is the end of one of the most consequential runs in modern wrestling history. Lesnar debuted in WWE in 2002 and won the WWE Championship at SummerSlam that year at age 25 — the youngest champion in company history at the time. He left for the NFL, returned in 2012, and spent the next decade as WWE’s ultimate part-time attraction.

    He ended The Undertaker’s undefeated WrestleMania streak at WrestleMania XXX. He is a former Universal Champion, Undisputed WWE Universal Champion, UFC Heavyweight Champion, and 2014 Royal Rumble winner.

    His WrestleMania ledger closes at 6-7 across 13 matches. His final televised appearance before Sunday came at WrestleMania 39, a win over Omos. He returned to WWE at SummerSlam 2025 by attacking John Cena after Cena dropped the Undisputed WWE Championship back to Cody Rhodes. He was 48 at WrestleMania 42.

    The Passing of the Torch

    Lesnar put Femi over clean at the biggest show of the year in under five minutes. That choice is the story. Femi entered the match as WWE’s hottest rising act, undefeated in singles action since his main roster debut in December and coming off a dominant 273-day reign as NXT North American Champion.

    He delivered his signature promo at the contract signing the week before the event — “I am the one. I have always been the one.” Lesnar handed him the torch in the biggest possible spot and left the boots behind to make it official.

    What Comes Next

    Lesnar’s retirement closes a chapter that touched every WWE era from the Ruthless Aggression years through the modern TKO era. For Femi, the runway is now clear. For Heyman, the client list just got shorter. For WWE, the weekend’s biggest emotional moment came in the opener, not the main event.

    Thank you, Brock.

  • WrestleMania 42 Night 2 Results: Reigns Wins Title, Lesnar Retires, Ripley Dethrones Cargill

    WrestleMania 42 Night 2 Results: Reigns Wins Title, Lesnar Retires, Ripley Dethrones Cargill

    WrestleMania 42 is in the books. Roman Reigns won the World Heavyweight Championship from CM Punk in a 33:57 main event, capping a Night 2 that also saw Brock Lesnar retire, Rhea Ripley dethrone Jade Cargill, “The Demon” Finn Balor get payback on Dominik Mysterio, Trick Williams take the US Title from Sami Zayn, and Penta retain the Intercontinental Championship in an instant-classic ladder match.

    Full Results

    • Oba Femi def. Brock Lesnar (Lesnar retires after the match)
    • Penta (c) def. Je’Von Evans, Rusev, Rey Mysterio, Dragon Lee, and JD McDonagh to retain the Intercontinental Championship (Ladder Match)
    • Trick Williams def. Sami Zayn (c) to win the United States Championship
    • “The Demon” Finn Balor def. Dominik Mysterio (Street Fight)
    • Rhea Ripley def. Jade Cargill (c) to win the WWE Women’s Championship
    • Roman Reigns def. CM Punk (c) to win the World Heavyweight Championship

    John Cena Opens Night 2

    Host John Cena returned in a suit to open Night 2, calling Night 1 “incredible” and noting the historic significance: this is the first WrestleMania ever to air on ESPN. Joe Jonas performed the national anthem.

    Oba Femi def. Brock Lesnar — Lesnar Retires After the Match

    A passing of the torch, then a goodbye. Oba Femi made his WrestleMania debut by pinning Brock Lesnar in 4:45, and Lesnar followed it with the most meaningful moment of his WWE career’s second act: leaving his gloves and boots in the ring to signal retirement.

    Alicia Taylor’s ring introductions were interrupted by Paul Heyman, who took over to do the honors for Lesnar. Lesnar got a massive pop from the Allegiant Stadium crowd. Femi got one just as loud, with “Oba! Oba!” chants filling the arena before the bell.

    The two locked up in a collar-and-elbow that turned into a stalemate before Lesnar shoved Femi off. They repeated the exchange, and Lesnar eventually carried Femi to the corner. Femi answered with running uppercuts, went back for a third, and Lesnar caught him with an F5. As Lesnar rose to celebrate, Femi got to his feet first, hit a massive chokeslam, and followed with the Fall From Grace for the pin.

    Lesnar stayed in the ring after the bell as “Thank you Brock” chants rolled through Allegiant Stadium. He took off his gloves, took off his boots, placed them in the center of the ring, shared an emotional hug with Heyman, and walked up the ramp stopping to shake hands with fans. This was Lesnar’s first televised WrestleMania since 2023 and his 13th overall. He finishes 6-7 at The Showcase of the Immortals. Full breakdown in our Brock Lesnar retirement report.

    Penta Retains Intercontinental Championship in Six-Man Ladder Match

    An instant classic. Penta became just the second Superstar in WrestleMania history to retain the Intercontinental Championship in a ladder match — joining Razor Ramon at WrestleMania X — outlasting Je’Von Evans, Rey Mysterio, Rusev, JD McDonagh, and Dragon Lee in 15:10.

    The match opened with Penta diving onto Rusev before the luchador trio (Penta, Dragon Lee, Rey Mysterio) took over on McDonagh. Rusev bridged a ladder from the apron to the announce table early. Dragon Lee hit a suicide tijeras over the ropes onto Evans. Mysterio countered Lee’s Styles Clash into a Frankensteiner. Rey later dropkicked Lee into a ladder and hit the 619, got hung in the rungs himself, and took a Lee dropkick. Penta launched Rey over his head to drive Rusev through a propped ladder on the floor.

    Inside, McDonagh hit a Spanish Fly off the ladder on Dragon Lee. Je’Von Evans answered with an OG Cutter off the top to pull Rusev off a ladder. Rey, hung in a Tree of Woe on a ladder, took a Dragon Lee springboard double stomp. Rusev hit a uranage on Evans from a bridged ladder to steel. The closing stretch saw Penta hit McDonagh with a Mexican Destroyer on top of a ladder, then catch Evans with the same move to clear the way. Penta climbed and retrieved his title to retain.

    Trick Williams def. Sami Zayn to Win the United States Championship

    Trick Williams won his first main-roster championship in his WrestleMania debut, dethroning Sami Zayn in about six minutes to become the new United States Champion. Lil Yachty accompanied Williams to the ring; Zayn walked out to the usual Vegas mix of boos and his own sung theme.

    Zayn sent Williams to the floor and teased a suicide dive early. Williams recovered and hit a Book End for the first near-fall. Zayn answered with a Blue Thunder Bomb. Zayn leaned heel hard, having to be restrained by the referee multiple times, and when Lil Yachty checked on Trick, Zayn cracked him from behind and drove Williams into the barricade. Zayn rammed Williams’ head into the ring post and dropped him on the apron with a brainbuster. Trick fought back and pulled it out. The double-turn finally landed on the biggest stage — Zayn full heel, Trick full babyface — and Williams leaves Allegiant Stadium a WrestleMania debutant and a champion.

    “The Demon” Finn Balor def. Dominik Mysterio (Street Fight)

    The Demon got his win back. Finn Balor beat Dominik Mysterio in 10:25, ending a two-match losing streak for the Demon persona (Roman Reigns in 2021, Edge at WrestleMania 39) that had threatened to retire the alter ego for good.

    Dominik walked out first carried on a throne by masked luchadors. Balor crawled to an illuminated heart on the stage sporting a spiked mohawk helmet over his traditional Demon paint, picked up a spiked skull staff, and walked through a curtain of red and black streamers.

    Once the bell rang, Balor pounced. He grabbed a kendo stick to hit Mysterio twice and dragged a table from under the ring. Mysterio cut him off and took over with the kendo stick, introduced three chairs, and beat down Balor. The two traded signature moves. Mysterio hit a frog splash for a near-fall, avoided a Coup de Grace attempt, and used a chair to set up a close two count.

    Dominik unloaded with a steel chair and went outside for a second table. As he set it up, Balor rose and turned the tables with a chair of his own. Balor put Mysterio’s head against a chair in the corner and drove him into the turnbuckle with a missile dropkick. He laid Dominik on the table, climbed up, and drilled the Coup de Grace through the table for the pin. The Judgment Day chapter closes with Balor getting his measure of revenge on the protege who got him kicked out of the faction.

    Rhea Ripley def. Jade Cargill to Win the WWE Women’s Championship

    Seven straight WrestleManias in a title match, and Rhea Ripley is champion again. The Eradicator ended Jade Cargill’s reign as WWE Women’s Champion, cutting short a title run that began when Cargill took the belt from Tiffany Stratton at Saturday Night’s Main Event last November.

    Cargill came out first in an elaborate robe, ditching it at the ring to taunt the crowd. Ripley followed to the second-biggest pop of the night behind Oba Femi, walking out in insane-asylum-inspired ring gear reading “Inmate: R. Ripley” with a pyro package behind her.

    They locked up slow and stared down before the action picked up. Cargill overpowered Ripley into the ropes, hit a shoulder tackle and a body slam. Ripley answered with a slam of her own and a basement dropkick that sent Cargill outside. Cargill turned it back around with a powerslam near-fall and worked Ripley over in the corner before dumping her to the floor. The Baddies (Michin and B-Fab) were at ringside for Cargill, with Iyo Sky in Ripley’s corner to neutralize the numbers game. Ripley leaves Las Vegas with her seventh women’s world title overall. Cargill’s reign ends at roughly 170 days.

    Main Event: Roman Reigns def. CM Punk to Win the World Heavyweight Championship

    Roman Reigns is a seven-time world champion. In his record 11th WrestleMania main event, Reigns ended CM Punk’s second World Heavyweight Championship reign at 169 days, pinning Punk clean in 33:57 with a running Spear to close WrestleMania 42.

    The entrances told the story before the bell. Reigns came out to a live stage setup — a woman sang while a man played piano and another played drums, as photos of the Anoa’i family’s Samoan dynasty (Peter Maivia, Afa, Sika, Yokozuna) flashed on the big screen. Punk followed with a video package set to AFI’s “Miseria Cantare: The Beginning,” his old ROH and AEW theme. He walked out in a white jacket paying tribute to Harley Race, his late dog Larry, and WWE staff who have passed, knelt on the stage and yelled “It’s clobberin’ time” before his Cult of Personality hit.

    They let the moment breathe. Both men stood in their corners for several seconds before slowly walking to the middle for a staredown. Punk mocked Reigns for using baby oil when he couldn’t get a grip. Reigns answered with a shoulder tackle and got in his face. Punk took over until Reigns hit a Samoan drop and slammed Punk’s head into the ring post. Punk returned the favor on the announce table. Reigns launched Punk into the crowd, Punk came back off the barricade with a diving takedown. Reigns missed a Superman Punch, and Punk hit a top-rope crossbody, signaled GTS.

    Reigns escaped the first GTS attempt with elbows, sent Punk into the ring post, and landed a Superman Punch for a near-fall. They traded submissions — Reigns countered a Spear attempt with a guillotine choke, Punk escaped and locked in the Anaconda Vice, Reigns reversed it back into a guillotine. They wiped each other out with tandem clotheslines as the crowd applauded.

    The finish turned when Punk leaned heel. He unwrapped his hand and threw the wrist tape at the referee to distract him, hit a low blow, and drilled Reigns with a GTS. Reigns kicked out. Punk followed with multiple elbow drops, shoved Reigns to the floor, climbed to the top and hit a big elbow through the announce table. Reigns answered with a powerbomb through the Spanish announce table.

    Back in the ring, Reigns won a back-and-forth sequence, got a near-fall, and trapped Punk in the corner with heavy clotheslines as the crowd counted along. Punk managed one last flurry — another GTS on Reigns — but when he hoisted Reigns up for a second GTS, he collapsed under the weight. Reigns recovered enough to hit a Spear but couldn’t make the cover. Both men stared each other down one more time. Reigns lined up, took a running start, and drove through Punk with a second Spear for the clean pin.

    Two days before the match, Reigns had said he’d leave WWE if he lost. Instead, he leaves WrestleMania 42 with his seventh world title and the world title picture flipped on its head.

    What’s Next

    WrestleMania 42 fallout kicks off on Raw Monday night. Roman Reigns, CM Punk, Oba Femi, Brock Lesnar, Rhea Ripley, Penta, Logan Paul, and Stephanie Vaquer are all advertised. SmackDown follows Friday. Stay tuned to SEScoops for full post-show coverage.

    How to Watch the Replay

    • United States: ESPN on-demand
    • International: Netflix
    • Venue: Allegiant Stadium, Las Vegas
  • Undertaker Chokeslams Tony Hinchcliffe Through Table At Kill TonyMania

    Undertaker Chokeslams Tony Hinchcliffe Through Table At Kill TonyMania

    The Undertaker made sure Kill Tony’s WrestleMania crossover delivered a genuine WWE moment. During Saturday night’s taping of Kill TonyMania at Dolby Live at Park MGM in Las Vegas, The Deadman chokeslammed host Tony Hinchcliffe through a table in front of the live crowd.

    The special, filmed immediately after Night 1 of WrestleMania 42 at Allegiant Stadium, is now listed on Netflix as Kill TonyMania and drops Monday, April 20 alongside the Raw after WrestleMania broadcast.

    Which WWE Names Showed Up

    Per PWInsider, the taping drew a heavy WWE contingent. The Undertaker, Triple H, Kane, Jey Uso, Nia Jax, and Sami Zayn were all in attendance for the comedy special, which blends Kill Tony’s standard open-mic format with WWE Superstars and Legends on the panel.

    Hinchcliffe, a lifelong WWE fan who has previously appeared on The Undertaker’s Six Feet Under podcast, has made his wrestling fandom a recurring bit on Kill Tony. Taking a chokeslam through a table from The Deadman himself is a logical escalation of that relationship.

    Undertaker Joining Kevin Hart Roast

    The taping also produced a separate news item. During Kill TonyMania, it was revealed that The Undertaker will take part in an upcoming roast of Kevin Hart, extending his recent run of mainstream crossover appearances.

    Kill TonyMania was first announced in March as a partnership between WWE, Hinchcliffe, and Netflix. The closed-doors event was held at Dolby Live at Park MGM on Saturday, April 18, timed to follow the opening night of WrestleMania 42.

    The special streams on Netflix beginning Monday.

  • Street Fight Stipulation Added to WrestleMania 42 Match

    Street Fight Stipulation Added to WrestleMania 42 Match

    A late change has been made to one of the matches on Night 2 of WWE WrestleMania 42.

    During the kickoff show ahead of Sunday’s event from Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, Raw general manager Adam Pearce informed Dominik Mysterio that his match against Finn Balor has been upgraded to a Street Fight stipulation.

    WWE confirmed the news on social media, writing: “A STREET FIGHT ? Better get ready for The Demon, @DomMysterio35!”

    The match was originally announced as a standard singles contest on the March 30 episode of Raw, when Balor issued the challenge after being ejected from The Judgment Day. Balor later revealed on the April 6 episode of Raw that he would summon The Demon for the first time since WrestleMania 39.

    Personal Feud Gets a Personal Stipulation

    The added stipulation reflects how personal the rivalry has become between the two former stablemates. Dominik pinned Balor at WrestleMania 41 last year in a Fatal 4-Way for the Intercontinental Championship, and the tension simmered until Balor was attacked and kicked out of the faction on the March 9 episode of Raw.

    A Street Fight had been floated as a possible stipulation for the bout back in March, but WWE never officially confirmed it until Sunday’s kickoff show.

    Updated WrestleMania 42 Night 2 Lineup

    The full Night 2 card for Sunday, April 19, 2026:

    1. Oba Femi vs. Brock Lesnar
    2. Intercontinental Championship Ladder Match: Penta (c) vs. Je’Von Evans vs. Dragon Lee vs. JD McDonagh vs. Rusev vs. Rey Mysterio
    3. Finn Balor vs. Dominik Mysterio in a Street Fight
    4. United States Championship Match: Sami Zayn (c) vs. Trick Williams
    5. WWE Women’s Championship Match: Jade Cargill (c) vs. Rhea Ripley
    6. World Heavyweight Championship Match: CM Punk (c) vs. Roman Reigns

    WrestleMania 42 Night 2 streams live at 6 ET/3 PT on the ESPN app in the United States and on Netflix internationally.

  • R-Truth Rips ESPN’s Andreas Hale Over WrestleMania 42 Denial

    R-Truth Rips ESPN’s Andreas Hale Over WrestleMania 42 Denial

    R-Truth has become the first person tied to WWE or ESPN to publicly respond to the credential denial that kept ESPN combat sports reporter Andreas Hale from covering WrestleMania 42 this weekend in Las Vegas.

    Hale revealed Saturday afternoon on X that WWE had blocked his access to the event, posting that neither he nor ESPN had been given a reason. “I will not be covering #WrestleMania for ESPN,” Hale wrote. “WWE denied my credentials and blocked my access. Neither I nor ESPN has been told why. You can speculate on the reasons, but if you want answers, ask WWE.”

    On Sunday, Ron Killings offered an answer Hale probably was not looking for. Responding directly on social media, the WWE Tag Team Champion wrote, “Cause you a bitch ass That’s why… I said what I said.”

    It’s worth noting that X user Jay Squidz uncovered that Hale has been a longstanding, consistent R-Truth hater dating back over a decade.

    First Public Response From the WWE Side

    R-Truth’s reply stands out because WWE has not issued any official statement on the credential denial, and ESPN has stayed silent as well. No executive, broadcaster, or on-screen talent had commented publicly until Killings posted his response.

    Hale has been one of ESPN’s primary reporters covering WWE since the network’s $1.6 billion, five-year rights deal launched with Wrestlepalooza last September. His C grade review of that debut premium live event reportedly angered WWE and parent company TKO, and multiple outlets have reported that WWE pressured ESPN to drop letter grades from its coverage entirely. ESPN stopped grading WWE shows after Crown Jewel in October.

    Hale has also been a lead reporter on the Janel Grant lawsuit against Vince McMahon, including a recent story on Grant’s 40-page affidavit containing additional allegations against the former WWE chairman and ex-head of talent relations John Laurinaitis.

    WrestleMania 42 Fallout Continues

    WrestleMania 42 runs Saturday and Sunday from Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, with coverage streaming on ESPN Unlimited as part of WWE’s domestic rights deal. The first hour of each night also airs on ESPN’s linear channels.

    For more on how the story started, see our earlier coverage of WWE blocking Hale from WrestleMania 42 coverage.

  • Bron Breakker Sends Chilling Warning in First Statement Since WrestleMania 42 Return

    Bron Breakker Sends Chilling Warning in First Statement Since WrestleMania 42 Return

    Bron Breakker has broken his silence following his shocking return at WrestleMania 42, and he’s warning the WWE locker room that the version of himself they’re about to face is more dangerous than ever.

    Breakker made his first WWE appearance since the February 2 episode of Raw on Saturday night at Allegiant Stadium, storming the ringside area and spearing Seth Rollins in half during the Seth Rollins vs. GUNTHER match.

    The interference allowed GUNTHER to lock in the sleeper hold for the win, after which Breakker sprinted the length of the WrestleMania entrance ramp to deliver a second spear, then reunited with Paul Heyman at the top of the stage.

    The Bad Ass had been out of action for nearly three months following emergency hernia surgery. According to a report from Dave Meltzer of the Wrestling Observer, Breakker was actually cleared to compete in early April, but WWE opted to hold off rather than rush the Rollins program without a proper television build.

    Bron Breakker Talks Wrestlemania Return

    On Sunday, Breakker took to Instagram with gruelling training footage shot at Fury Performance Academy in Woodstock, Georgia, his hometown. Alongside the clips, he posted a lengthy statement that doubles as a mission statement for whatever comes next.

    “No matter how down that I may get. No matter how much pain I’ve had to go through. No matter how much adversity I’ve had to put myself through. All roads lead to the same place: WrestleMania.”

    “I came here to this building to Fury Performance to see how close that I can get to the line. See how far I can push myself.”

    “To see how much pain and suffering I can put my body through at the breaking point and how much further am I going to go? How far can I break myself down and destroy myself and push my mind in this process? How far am I willing to go? How tough really is Bron Breakker? How much of a dog really is Bron Breakker?”

    “I’m gonna remind the whole world who the f**k I am.”

    https://www.instagram.com/reel/DXUZdEmDhPq/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==

    Rollins Feud Now On

    Breakker’s attack on Rollins wasn’t a one-off. Paul Heyman confirmed on the WrestleMania 42 Night 1 Post-Show that he was the mastermind behind the assault, and that there are “not enough consequences” coming for Rollins in the weeks ahead.

    The Rollins vs. Breakker program was originally the plan for WrestleMania 42 before the hernia injury scrapped it. With Breakker now officially back and aligned with Heyman’s Vision, the match WWE put on ice last month appears to be next on the road out of Las Vegas.

    WrestleMania 42 Night 2 goes live Sunday, April 19 from Allegiant Stadium, headlined by CM Punk vs. Roman Reigns for the World Heavyweight Championship. Stay tuned to SEScoops for continued WrestleMania fallout coverage.

  • Van Hammer, Former WCW Star, Dies at 66

    Van Hammer, Former WCW Star, Dies at 66

    Mark “Van Hammer” Hildreth, best known to wrestling fans for his run in World Championship Wrestling in the 1990s, has passed away. He was 66.

    The news was announced Saturday by former WCW and WWE star Marc Mero, a longtime friend and training partner who broke into the business alongside Hildreth. Mero said on X that the cause of death has not yet been determined and is pending an autopsy.

    Marc Mero’s Tribute to Van Hammer

    Mero and Hildreth shared a personal history dating back more than three decades. The two trained together under Boris Malenko in Tampa, Florida, and Hildreth was the opponent in Mero’s 1991 WCW tryout match. Booker Dusty Rhodes liked what he saw and signed both men off that single match, reportedly handing Hildreth a $156,000 contract.

    “It is with a heavy heart that I share the passing of our dear friend, Mark Hildreth, known to so many as Van Hammer,” Mero wrote. “At this time, we are still awaiting answers regarding the cause, pending an autopsy.”

    “Mark was a fighter in every sense of the word. Life threw its share of challenges his way, but he had a resilience about him. He always found a way to rise, to push forward, to keep going.”

    Mero recalled Hildreth driving him eight hours to sign his first WCW contract after Rhodes called the office. “Mark didn’t hesitate, he drove me eight hours so I could sign my very first contract with World Championship Wrestling,” Mero wrote. “That’s the kind of person he was, loyal, selfless, and always there when it mattered most.”

    The two also lived together in Atlanta while coming up through the business. Mero added that both men were tapped to represent WCW on its United Kingdom tour, doing press appearances and promotional spots alongside music legend Gladys Knight.

    Van Hammer’s WCW Career

    Debuting for WCW in 1991, Hildreth was introduced as the rocker-inspired Van Hammer character and was quickly positioned as an imposing young powerhouse on WCW programming. Standing 6-foot-6 and billed at 280 pounds, he made his debut at Clash of the Champions XVI with a 39-second squash of Terrance Taylor.

    Hammer rattled off a 42-0 streak on house shows and television before Cactus Jack finally ended the run at Clash of the Champions XVII. He wrestled regularly on television through the early 1990s, working with names like Cactus Jack and appearing on major events including Clash of the Champions and Starrcade.

    He later resurfaced during WCW’s late-’90s era, returning in November 1997 as a member of Raven’s Flock. He also had a brief stint under the Major Stash persona and a run with the Misfits in Action before departing the company in the early 2000s.

    Life After Wrestling

    Away from the national spotlight, Hildreth continued to make select independent appearances and remained a nostalgic favorite for fans of early-’90s WCW, who remembered his unique presentation and rock-and-metal entrance aesthetic. He officially retired from the ring in 2009 after a final one-night comeback match in Maryland Championship Wrestling.

    Before wrestling, Hildreth served in the United States Navy. After hanging up the boots, he relocated to Boynton Beach, Florida, where he built a second career in the home exterior remodeling industry.

    While he never captured a major championship on the national stage, his look, presence, and timing during a formative era of WCW earned him a lasting place in the memories of longtime viewers. SEScoops extends its condolences to the family, friends, and fans of Mark “Van Hammer” Hildreth as the wrestling world remembers his contributions during a memorable chapter in WCW history.

  • Pat McAfee Parties at 50 Cent Concert After WrestleMania 42

    Pat McAfee Parties at 50 Cent Concert After WrestleMania 42

    Pat McAfee was spotted partying at a 50 Cent concert in Las Vegas hours after taking a brutal beating at WrestleMania 42 on Saturday night. The former WWE commentator was seen celebrating alongside NBA star Tyrese Haliburton, still wearing a neck brace from the night’s events.

    A video circulating on social media shows McAfee in great spirits during the performance of 50 Cent’s hit song “Many Men.” The footage caught attention quickly given everything McAfee endured earlier in the evening during the Undisputed WWE Championship match between Cody Rhodes and Randy Orton.

    McAfee’s Chaotic WrestleMania Night

    During the main event, Rhodes delivered a Cross Rhodes that took McAfee out at ringside. Things escalated when Jelly Roll stormed in and hit an elbow drop that drove McAfee straight through the announce table.

    McAfee was stretchered out of the arena after the brutal sequence. He later returned wearing a referee shirt and attempted to help Orton during the final moments of the match, but Orton turned on him and dropped him with a sudden RKO.

    What’s Next for McAfee

    Per the pre-match stipulation tied to Orton’s title opportunity, WWE fans are not expected to see or hear from McAfee again following WrestleMania 42. The stipulation appears to have taken effect after the chaotic events of Saturday night.

    Haliburton had been sitting front row behind the announcer’s desk during WrestleMania, getting a close look at the chaos before joining McAfee at the concert later that night. Despite the brutal beating and uncertain WWE future, McAfee clearly didn’t let it stop him from enjoying WrestleMania weekend in Las Vegas.

  • Alexa Bliss Thanks Fans After WrestleMania 42 Bray Wyatt Tribute

    Alexa Bliss Thanks Fans After WrestleMania 42 Bray Wyatt Tribute

    Alexa Bliss took to social media following WrestleMania 42 Night One to share her gratitude for the opportunity to honor the late Bray Wyatt during her match with Charlotte Flair.

    While Bliss did not win the match, she expressed appreciation for the moments created during the event. She posted a heartfelt message on Instagram, thanking multiple people who made the tribute possible.

    She specifically acknowledged Charlotte Flair, her family, WWE, and the fans for their support.

    “Charlotte, Thank you for everything this year. For being with me through the laughs, the chaos, the no sleep, the not enough coffee, the fun & the always needed hugs. This may not have been our winning Mania, but l’ve won with having you by my side.” “Windham – thank you for impacting who I forever am as a person, as a performer & as a friend. Your vision lives on through the Wyatt’s & those who all love you. Always & Forever connected. Thank you Bray.”

    https://www.instagram.com/p/DXUTtIBFJlb/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==

    Bliss Reflects on WrestleMania Moment

    The tribute to Bray Wyatt marked an emotional moment at WrestleMania 42. Bliss and Wyatt had a memorable on-screen partnership during their time together in WWE, making the tribute particularly meaningful for both Bliss and longtime fans.

    The social media post highlighted Bliss’s appreciation for being able to honor Wyatt’s legacy on WWE’s biggest stage. Her message resonated with fans who continue to remember Wyatt’s impact on professional wrestling.

  • Cody Rhodes Suffers Eye Injury, Concussion at WrestleMania 42

    Cody Rhodes Suffers Eye Injury, Concussion at WrestleMania 42

    Cody Rhodes retained the Undisputed WWE Championship at WrestleMania 42, but the victory came at a significant cost. The champion suffered a severe eye injury and concussion during his main event match against Randy Orton on night one.

    Rhodes defeated Orton in a hard-fought showdown to keep his title, but the closing moments turned brutal. Late in the bout, Orton countered a Cody Cutter attempt with a perfectly timed RKO, halting Rhodes’ momentum.

    When cameras returned to Rhodes moments later, he was visibly busted open with blood pouring from his face. Despite the damage, the champion managed to regroup and connected with the Cross Rhodes to secure the victory.

    Post-Match Attack Escalates Damage

    The punishment continued after the bell. Orton snapped, striking Rhodes with the championship belt before delivering a vicious punt kick that left the champion laid out in the ring.

    Post-show footage showed Rhodes being evaluated by medical personnel with his left eye swollen completely shut. The severity of the injury became clear as WWE pulled him from his scheduled appearance at WWE World on Sunday.

    Peter Rosenberg noted during post-show coverage that Rhodes is expected to undergo concussion protocol.