Author: Mike Reichlin

A high-stakes Intercontinental Championship match has been made official for WWE Raw, as Penta is set to challenge reigning champion Bron Breakker in what could have major WrestleMania implications.

Penta, who has remained undefeated since debuting in WWE this January, earned the title opportunity after a brutal No Disqualification win over Ludwig Kaiser. Following the match, Penta declared his intent to capture the Intercontinental Championship, setting the stage for a marquee clash.

Bron Breakker, currently in his second reign with the title, has held the championship since October 2024. He successfully defended it against Finn Bálor on Raw, capitalizing on an accidental distraction caused by Dominik Mysterio.

RAW General Manager Adam Pearce confirmed the title match across social media, locking in the marquee showdown.

The match signing follows the dramatic show-closing segment of last Monday’s broadcast, where Penta intervened to fend off The Judgment Day, preventing an ambush on Breakker. The moment ended with the two rivals face-to-face, setting the tone for their upcoming showdown.

Rhea Ripley has revealed her latest tattoo, a touching tribute to her beloved dog, dressed as Art the Clown from the horror film \”Terrifier.\” This new ink not only showcases Ripley\’s edgy style but also commemorates her deep bond with her furry friend.

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Ripley shared the tattoo on Instagram, explaining the emotional significance behind it. Her dog entered her life during a pivotal time, providing support and companionship. By choosing to dress her dog in the guise of Art the Clown, Ripley beautifully blends her passion for horror with her affection for her pet.

The timing of the tattoo is particularly notable as Ripley is currently embroiled in the high-stakes storyline leading up to WrestleMania 41, where she aims to join the Women’s World Title match against IYO SKY and Bianca Belair. Despite her busy schedule, Ripley took the time to get this meaningful tattoo, highlighting her ability to balance her personal life with her wrestling career.

Ripley’s tattoo is a testament to her unique personality, combining her love for horror and her cherished dog. Fans are wondering if WWE will explore more of Ripley’s personal side on TV, as her latest tattoo certainly reveals an intriguing glimpse into her life outside the ring.

Jade Cargill experienced her first-ever pinfall loss in a WWE singles match on the March 21, 2025 episode of SmackDown.

Liv Morgan secured the victory after Naomi interfered, attacking Cargill while the referee was distracted by Raquel Rodriguez. Morgan then delivered her finishing move, Oblivion, for the decisive pin.

Before this match, Cargill had never been pinned in WWE singles competition. Her only previous defeat in the company came during the Royal Rumble, where she was eliminated by Morgan.

During her tenure in AEW from 2020 to 2023, Cargill maintained an undefeated streak across 60 matches. That run ended when she lost the TBS Championship to Kris Statlander at Double or Nothing in May 2023, concluding a record-breaking 508-day title reign—the longest in AEW history.

She later suffered a second and final AEW loss to Statlander in a rematch on the September 15, 2023 episode of Rampage.

Karrion Kross has offered valuable insight for wrestlers aiming to break into WWE, drawing on his own experience transitioning from the independent circuit. After debuting with WWE in 2020, Kross noted that one of the most overlooked yet critical skills is learning to perform for television.

Appearing on The DeFalco Files podcast, Kross explained that many talents on the independent scene are unfamiliar with working in front of cameras—a fundamental aspect of WWE’s production.

“They have no idea how to work TV or cameras. That’s a whole other world that never even occurs to people,” he said, emphasizing the importance of knowing camera positioning and anticipating production cuts. “When I’m out there in the ring in WWE, my mind is also in the truck.”

Kross credited his early development to regular check-ins with trainer Joe DeFalco, who advised him to treat his training like a job and be open to feedback. One piece of advice stuck with him: be ready for anything.

“Before you go to WWE, you need to feel like if they ask you to do literally anything, you should be able to confidently do it,” Kross recalled. Whether it’s delivering a spontaneous promo or wrestling a last-minute Iron Man match, adaptability is key.

Kross Wants Sami Zayn at Wrestlemania 41

Alongside his insights, Kross revealed a personal goal—facing Sami Zayn at WrestleMania 41. He’s been targeting Zayn in recent months, hoping to meet him on WWE’s biggest stage. However, Zayn remains out of action after a storyline attack by Kevin Owens, hinting that his own path may lead elsewhere for now.

2K has rolled out patch 1.06 for WWE 2K25, introducing a range of fixes and stability improvements across multiple modes. The update aims to resolve several issues reported by players since the game’s release earlier this month.

The patch enhances general stability and performance while addressing specific gameplay concerns. One notable fix corrects Bray Wyatt ‘23’s entrance animation during certain match types.

In MyRISE, missing Face Photo options have been restored. Universe Mode now allows proper arena changes during show edits, and MyGM resolves an issue where brand displays appeared incorrectly.

Creation Suite updates include fixes for The Rock ‘01’s motion unlock and custom video lockout errors. The patch also adjusts likeness issues for select characters.

Additionally, The Island mode received a fix for banners not displaying correctly.

The first downloadable content (DLC) pack for WWE 2K25 is expected to launch in May.

The Viper is poised to strike again. The 14-time World Champion has his sights set on WrestleMania 41, and he\’s not coming alone.

At Friday\’s WWE SmackDown taping from Bologna, Italy, Orton issued a challenge to his longtime rival Kevin Owens for a match at the upcoming event just 4 weeks away.

Owens came out in an RKO t-shirt and suggested that he and Orton team up at WrestleMania and make a run at the tag titles. Orton wasn\’t having any of it, and the official challenge was laid down.

A Rivalry Renewed

The bad blood between the two superstars has been simmering for months, dating back to their brief alliance heading into last year\’s WrestleMania 40.

The tensions between Orton and Owens reached a boiling point last summer at Bash in Berlin, where Owens brutally betrayed Cody Rhodes, sparking a vicious feud that eventually dragged in The Viper.

The two battled back and forth for months, culminating in a barbaric encounter at Survivor Series that left Orton with a serious neck injury.

Orton suffered cervical cord neurapraxia due to a package piledriver delivered by Owens during the match. The injury has kept The Apex Predator out of action for months, but now he\’s ready to settle the score on the grandest stage of them all.

The Orton vs. Owens clash adds even more star power to an already stacked WrestleMania 41 lineup. The current card features world championship bouts like Roman Reigns vs. Seth Rollins vs. CM Punk and Jey Uso vs. Gunther, as well as a dream match between Cody Rhodes and John Cena.

In one of his most charged interviews yet, Zilla Fatu pulled no punches when speaking on the internal dynamics of wrestling’s most powerful family.

Talking with MuscleManMalcolm for Muscle Memory, Fatu made a bold claim about WWE’s Solo Sikoa—accusing him of double-dealing his own blood.

“I think Solo is a snake,” Fatu said bluntly. “He’s playing both sides. And you know what happens when you play both sides, right? You go down and get exposed.”

The comments come amid speculation surrounding the on-and-off alliance between Solo Sikoa and Jacob Fatu, two prominent members of the Anoa’i dynasty. Zilla, himself a Bloodline descendant and the son of Umaga, believes Solo’s loyalty is a façade—and that Jacob will eventually see through it.

“When Jacob realizes that Solo is not really there for him… he might kill him,” Zilla warned.

Asked if he acknowledges Solo—mirroring Roman Reigns’ famous demand—Zilla didn’t hesitate: “Hell no.”

The explosive comments not only hint at personal rifts within the family but also open the door for future storyline developments, should Zilla eventually join WWE programming.

With House of Glory and Reality of Wrestling as his current battlegrounds, Fatu is carving his own path—but his sights seem firmly set on a bigger stage, where this drama could play out under even brighter lights.

Zilla Fatu isn’t backing down from what he sees as a blatant show of disrespect by WWE’s New Day. In a recent interview with MuscleManMalcolm on Muscle Memory, the House of Glory Crown Jewel Champion called out Kofi Kingston and Xavier Woods for actions he says crossed a line with his fanbase.

“This all started with Xavier Woods,” Fatu explained. “He came to my city, after the show was over, and threw down one of my fans\’ t-shirts on the ground. That was very unnecessary and very disrespectful, especially when you in my home city. I take that very personal.”

The tension escalated further when a clip surfaced of Kofi Kingston tossing a fan’s “Zilla Fatu thumbs down” foam finger. For Zilla, that felt targeted.

“You took one of my very special fans’ Zilla Fatu thumbs down foam finger and threw it on the ground. Yuck. Right? Yuck. And there were other fans he could’ve done that to—but he chose that one. It felt personal.”

Fatu made it clear he’s not letting it slide.

“The fans and his family take it very personal… that won’t happen again,” he warned.

Though he acknowledged that his cousins are fans of Kofi, Zilla didn’t mince words: “Me? I don’t.”

With tensions rising and Zilla hinting at a broader feud, the spotlight is now on WWE to see if this real-life grudge crosses into televised territory.

Alexa Bliss has been absent from WWE television since her appearance at Elimination Chamber on March 1. Her return in the Royal Rumble marked the end of an extended break during which she welcomed her first child and dealt with health issues.

Following her latest match, Bliss was also pulled from a scheduled appearance at WWE World during WrestleMania 41 weekend, raising questions about her involvement in upcoming events.

While Bliss has assured fans that she\’s fine, and her WrestleMania status remains uncertain, new details suggest WWE has plans in place.

According to the Wrestling Observer, Bliss is expected to remain off television until she is integrated into the Wyatt Sicks faction on SmackDown. The group has also been absent from programming since December, reportedly due to injury-related issues.

A recent cryptic posts from the Wyatt Sicks on social media—including one reading, “We see you. Remember who you are. Remember what you know”—fueled speculation about Bliss reuniting with the faction, referencing her past alliance with Bray Wyatt.

As of now, no return date has been confirmed for Bliss or the Wyatt Sicks.

Tonight – WWE presents a special edition of SmackDown from Bologna, Italy\’s Unipol Arena. The show will air tape-delayed at its usual time, 8 ET/7 CT on the USA Network in the U.S. and on Netflix internationally.

Just four weeks out from WrestleMania 41, here are the key matches and appearances:

• Roman Reigns, CM Punk, and Seth Rollins: These three superstars will be in the same building, following Roman Reigns\’ dramatic return at Raw. Expect intense confrontations as they build towards a potential WrestleMania 41 triple threat match.
• Jade Cargill vs. Liv Morgan: Jade Cargill returns to action after a long hiatus, facing Liv Morgan. This match could see Cargill\’s undefeated streak in singles competition come under threat, possibly with interference from Naomi.
• Braun Strowman vs. Jacob Fatu: This heavyweight clash continues their long-standing feud. Jacob Fatu is gaining momentum towards a potential United States Championship match at WrestleMania 41.
• Zelina Vega vs. Piper Niven: Zelina Vega seeks to advance her storyline against Chelsea Green by defeating Piper Niven, a member of The Green Regime.

What Happened Last Week

Here’s a quick recap of what happened last week on WWE SmackDown:

• AND NEW: The Street Profits defeated DIY (Johnny Gargano and Tommaso Ciampa) to become the new WWE Tag Team Champions.
• Randy Orton vs. Carmelo Hayes: Randy Orton defeated Carmelo Hayes. After the match, Orton attempted to punt Hayes, but Kevin Owens intervened, saving Hayes.
• LA Knight, Braun Strowman, and Jimmy Uso vs. Solo Sikoa, Jacob Fatu, and Tama Tonga: This six-man tag team match ended in a brawl, with no clear winner, as tensions between these groups continued to escalate.
• Cody Rhodes on Miz TV: Cody Rhodes appeared on a special edition of Miz TV, discussing his reign as the Undisputed WWE Champion.
• Charlotte Flair vs. B-Fab: Charlotte Flair returned to action, facing B-Fab in a singles match.

Alexa Bliss is letting fans know she’s doing just fine after her scheduled WWE World appearance during WrestleMania 41 weekend was unexpectedly canceled.

After news broke that Bliss had been removed from the event lineup, she took to social media with a lighthearted response. Posting a GIF from the TV show Friends, Bliss quoted the famous line: “I’m fine, okay? I’m great!”—seemingly reassuring fans despite ongoing speculation about her WWE status.

Bliss was initially set to appear at WWE World at the Las Vegas Convention Center from April 17 to 21, but Fanatic Events, which handles bookings, confirmed she would no longer be attending. No official reason was given for the change.

The former Women’s Champion made a surprise return at the Royal Rumble earlier this year but has only competed twice since. Reports have suggested WWE had “major plans” for Bliss at WrestleMania 41, possibly linking her to the Wyatt Sicks faction. However, her absence from the WWE World schedule has raised further questions about her role in the event.

For now, Bliss appears to be in good spirits, but fans will have to wait and see whether she plays a part in WrestleMania weekend.

When doctors told Nikki Bella her wrestling career was over, she refused to accept it.

“I wouldn’t accept no. My body wouldn’t even accept no,” she shared on The Nikki & Brie Show. “I knew I had more to give.”

After undergoing spinal surgery in 2016, Nikki faced six months in a neck brace. The recovery process was grueling, but her mindset kept her focused.

“There were nights I wanted to rip it off. I would lie in bed questioning everything. But I told myself, ‘This is temporary. I will be back.’”

Visualization became a key tool in her recovery. Nikki mentally rehearsed her WWE return, picturing every detail of her entrance at SummerSlam. She believes that mental strength helped her body heal.

“My trainer, Rob McIntyre, helped me train safely, even with my neck brace on. We found creative ways to work out, and I adjusted my diet to support bone healing.”

Just weeks after removing her brace, Nikki shocked fans with a surprise comeback at SummerSlam 2016. She credits her return to resilience and refusing to let an injury define her future.

“When we hear ‘no,’ it doesn’t mean stop. It means find another way.”

Her journey is a testament to the power of mental strength—proving that with determination, even the toughest obstacles can be overcome.

For years, Nikki Bella dominated WWE, performing high-impact moves and holding championship gold. But behind the scenes, she was unknowingly pushing her body to the brink—until doctors told her she had a career-ending injury.

“I was slowly breaking my neck, and no one knew it,” Nikki shared on The Nikki & Brie Show. “

I would wake up in the night with numb legs. I couldn’t move my toes or feet. Something was really wrong.”

During her 2015 WWE Divas Championship reign, Nikki began experiencing alarming symptoms, including sudden loss of strength mid-match. After undergoing medical evaluations, she was diagnosed with a shattered C6-C7 vertebrae—so severe that doctors warned her of paralysis.

“It wasn’t just a herniated disc—it was splattered,” she said. “If I kept wrestling, I was risking paralysis or worse.”

Most doctors advised spinal fusion surgery, but renowned neurosurgeon Dr. Juan Uribe offered a less invasive alternative. By operating through the front of her neck, he restored spinal fluid flow and gave her hope for a normal life—even if wrestling again was uncertain.

Nikki spent six months in a neck brace before making a triumphant return at SummerSlam 2016. Reflecting on her journey, she credits resilience and second opinions for saving her career.

“Everyone told me I was done. But I refused to accept no—and that’s why I made it back.”

After a complex spinal surgery, Nikki fought her way back to the ring, but she knows not all wrestlers get that chance.

“This business is tough. Sometimes, we don’t realize what we’ve done to our bodies until it’s too late.”

Though Nikki overcame her injury, her story highlights the hidden dangers of wrestling—and the sacrifices performers make to entertain fans.

A conspiracy theory has emerged in the world of combat sports, suggesting that UFC fighter Paddy Pimblett might be the secret son of late WWE superstar Owen Hart. The theory, which gained traction on Reddit, points to several intriguing coincidences, as one Reddit user noted:

\”Paddy Pimblett entered the world in January 1995 in England. Interestingly, just nine months before his birth, the WWF (now known as WWE) was touring Europe, with Owen Hart participating in that tour.\”

Both athletes stand at 5\’10\” and share a striking physical resemblance. The (understandably) skeptical commenters on the /r/Conspiracy subreddit were almost universally in agreement – \”This is a good one,\” reads the top reply.

The original poster on Reddit playfully suggests that if Pimblett executes a sharpshooter move on his upcoming opponent Michael Chandler, it would confirm the connection. Another commenter joked, \”Maybe he\’ll break out the piledriver instead,\” referencing one of Owen Hart\’s signature moves.

While the speculation is tongue-in-cheek, it highlights the enduring legacy of Owen Hart, who tragically passed away in 1999. Hart, known for his high-flying style and technical prowess, left an indelible mark on professional wrestling.

Pimblett, born on January 3, 1995, has carved his own path in mixed martial arts, becoming a rising star in the UFC\’s lightweight division. As he prepares for his upcoming bout against Michael Chandler on April 12, 2025, fans will undoubtedly be watching closely for any moves reminiscent of the legendary Owen Hart.