Author: Mike Reichlin

WWE has officially announced the start of the WWE ID Championship Tournament, set to determine the first-ever ID Champions. The tournament will begin during WrestleMania 41 week with two independent wrestling events in Las Vegas.

The opening round kicks off at GCW: The Collective on Wednesday, April 16, at The Palms, followed by additional matches at FSW on Friday, April 18, at the FSW Arena after SmackDown.

WWE has confirmed several participants for the tournament, including Sean Legacy, Zayda Steel, Ice Williams, Jackson Drake, Brad Baylor & Ricky Smokes (Swipe Right), Zara Zakher, and Cappuccino Jones. More competitors and match details will be announced soon.

A few weeks ago, Paul “Triple H” Levesque unveiled the official WWE ID Championship title belts, adding further anticipation to the tournament. Fans can expect more updates as WrestleMania week approaches.

Vince McMahon was seen courtside at Madison Square Garden on Monday night during the New York Knicks vs. Miami Heat game. The former WWE chairman made a rare public appearance, drawing attention with his bold St. Patrick’s Day-inspired outfit and a noticeably different hairstyle.

McMahon, 79, was dressed in a green plaid jacket and matching green shirt in honor of the holiday. Fans also took note of his latest hair transformation. While his signature mustache—seen at the Super Bowl—was gone, his slicked-back black hair now features prominent silver streaks at the front.

The longtime wrestling executive has largely remained out of the spotlight since stepping away from WWE following the company’s merger with UFC under TKO Group Holdings. His appearance at the high-profile NBA game marks another rare outing since his exit from the business he helped build.

Cody Rhodes didn’t have the most eventful night on WWE RAW, but he made sure his message to John Cena was unmistakable. Addressing Cena, Rhodes made it clear he wanted to face the version of him that once defined WWE—not the weary and broken competitor he sees now. The Brussels crowd stood firmly behind Rhodes, delivering one of the most lopsided reactions in recent memory.

After RAW went off the air, Rhodes returned to the ring for a post-show dark match against Dominik Mysterio. The result was no surprise—Cody secured his 18th consecutive victory over Mysterio, continuing his dominance over The Judgment Day’s troublemaker.

Following the match, Rhodes engaged with the Belgian audience, emphasizing that their demand could influence WWE’s future live events in the region. “It’s all on you,” he told the crowd, hinting that fan enthusiasm plays a key role in event scheduling.

Meanwhile, Dominik had his own issues on RAW. He once again pushed for Penta to join The Judgment Day, but Finn Bálor quickly dismissed the idea.

WWE Raw emanated from the Forest National in Brussels, Belgium on March 17, 2025, delivering an action-packed show on the road to WrestleMania 41. Here are the key takeaways from today\’s episode:

John Cena\’s Magnetic Heel Turn

The show opened with John Cena making his first appearance since his shocking heel turn at Elimination Chamber. Despite turning heel, Cena maintained his traditional look and music, receiving nuclear heat from the Brussels crowd with chants of \”John Cena sucks\” and even some uncensored \”F*** you Cena\” chants.

Cena portrayed himself as the victim of an \”abusive relationship\” with fans for 25 years, claiming they made it easy for him to turn his back on them. His promo was met with intense hostility from the European crowd, creating an electric atmosphere reminiscent of ECW One Night Stand 2005.

Cody Rhodes eventually confronted Cena, reminding him that while fans gave him their worst, they also gave him their best. Rhodes demanded to be addressed as the \”Undisputed WWE Champion\” and declared that at WrestleMania 41, he wanted to fight the legend, not \”this whiny b*tch\”.

Championship Matches and Developments

Intercontinental Championship: Bron Breakker successfully defended his title against Finn Balor in the main event. Balor nearly had the match won until Dominik Mysterio accidentally knocked him from the top rope, allowing Breakker to hit a spear for the victory. Post-match, Penta confronted Breakker, setting up a potential future title match.

Women\’s World Championship: A contract signing between champion IYO SKY and Bianca Belair descended into chaos when Rhea Ripley made a surprise appearance. Ripley head-butted Belair and powerbombed SKY onto Belair through a table (which didn\’t break), then signed the contract herself before leaving.

Notable Matches and Segments

• Penta def. Ludwig Kaiser in a brutal No Holds Barred match that featured a Death Valley Driver onto the announcer\’s desk and a devastating Back Drop. Post-match, Penta declared his intention to pursue the Intercontinental Championship.
• Dakota Kai def. Ivy Nile after the LWO (Rey Mysterio and Dragon Lee) distracted American Made, chasing Chad Gable through the crowd.
• Jey Uso squashed Austin Theory in seconds, followed by a confrontation with World Heavyweight Champion GUNTHER. After escaping GUNTHER\’s rear-naked choke, Jey momentarily seized the champion\’s title before tossing it back to him.
• Rey Mysterio & Dragon Lee def. The Creed Brothers. Post-match, a masked luchador (implied to be Chad Gable) attacked the LWO with a series of lucha maneuvers.
• Seth Rollins delivered a promo announcing that he would be heading to SmackDown this Friday in Bologna, Italy, where both CM Punk and Roman Reigns are scheduled to appear.

The European crowd was electric throughout the show, creating a special atmosphere as WWE continues its build toward WrestleMania 41.

TNA World Champion Joe Hendry is known for making surprise appearances whenever fans call his name, and his latest social media post has fueled speculation about a potential WWE Raw appearance next week.

During the March 17 episode of WWE Raw, Jey Uso quickly defeated Austin Theory before taking out both Theory and Grayson Waller. Later, an irate Waller challenged Uso to find a mystery partner to face him and Theory on the March 24 edition of Raw in Glasgow, Scotland.

Following the challenge, Hendry posted his signature \”Say His Name and He Appears\” GIF on Twitter, strongly hinting at a possible involvement in the match. Waller responded with a GIF expressing \”cringe,\” adding more intrigue to the situation.

Interestingly, Hendry is already scheduled to be in Glasgow on March 24 for a concert after Raw, leading many fans to believe he could be Jey Uso’s surprise tag team partner.

If Hendry does appear, it would mark one of the biggest TNA-WWE crossovers in recent memory. His surprise entry in the Royal Rumble already created buzz, and another WWE appearance would further cement his growing mainstream presence.

Ludwig Kaiser portrays a villain on WWE Raw, but European audiences—particularly in Germany—see him differently. During WWE\’s recent European tour, Kaiser has reportedly received hometown hero treatment at live events.

Kaiser, who performs as part of the Imperium faction alongside Giovanni Vinci, has deep connections to European wrestling. Before joining WWE, he competed as Marcel Barthel throughout Germany and other European territories, establishing himself as a technical wrestling specialist. His father, Axel Dieter, is a legendary figure in German wrestling, strengthening Kaiser\’s bond with European fans.

Despite being positioned as an antagonist on television, Kaiser and Imperium have gained appreciation from European audiences who connect with their wrestling style and presentation. While Kaiser remains a heel on Raw programming, his reception overseas demonstrates his growing global appeal.

WWE has history leveraging regional popularity, as seen with performers like Bret Hart, who received contrasting reactions in different markets during his career. The company could potentially utilize Kaiser\’s European popularity in similar fashion.

During European shows, Kaiser reportedly showcases more of his technical abilities rather than relying solely on villain tactics. This allows fans to appreciate the wrestling skills that sometimes get overshadowed in his role as Gunther\’s lieutenant on television.

While there\’s no indication WWE plans to change Kaiser\’s villainous character on television, his overseas popularity highlights the interesting dynamic between performer presentation and regional audience preferences.

WWE has confirmed a star-studded lineup for Monday Night Raw in Glasgow, Scotland, as part of the company’s European tour. The episode, airing live on Netflix from the OVO Hydro, will have a special start time of 4 p.m. ET/1 p.m. PT.

Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes and his WrestleMania 41 challenger John Cena will both be in attendance after their heated confrontation on Raw this week. This will mark Cena’s second appearance since his shocking heel turn. CM Punk is also set to appear on the show.

Women’s Intercontinental Championship Match Set

The Women’s Intercontinental Championship will be on the line as Lyra Valkyria defends against Raquel Rodriguez. Rodriguez secured the title shot by defeating Bayley in a number one contender’s match and has the opportunity to become a double champion, as she and Liv Morgan currently hold the WWE Women’s Tag Team titles.

Valkyria, who became the inaugural Women’s Intercontinental Champion in January, has successfully defended her title against Dakota Kai and Ivy Nile.

Jey Uso’s Mystery Partner & More

Jey Uso is set for tag team action but will need to find a mystery partner to face Grayson Waller and Austin Theory, collectively known as A-Town Down Under. WWE has yet to reveal who will team with Uso, adding intrigue to the matchup.

With major names like Rhodes, Cena, and Punk, a championship match, and an ongoing mystery surrounding Uso’s partner, WWE Raw in Glasgow is shaping up to be a must-see event.

WWE\’s Ongoing Road to WrestleMania 41 European Tour

WWE is currently in the midst of a historic European tour that spans March 2025, bringing the Road to WrestleMania across the continent. The tour includes multiple TV tapings and live events across nine countries and 11 cities.

The European schedule includes additional Raw episodes on March 24 from Glasgow, Scotland and March 31 from London, England. SmackDown shows are being held in Bologna, Italy on March 21 and London, England on March 28.

This marks the first time in WWE history that Raw and SmackDown episodes will take place in Europe for three consecutive weeks, demonstrating the company\’s commitment to global expansion and recognition of the passionate European fanbase.

The Women’s World Championship match at WrestleMania 41 appears to have taken a major turn following a chaotic contract signing on WWE Raw in Brussels, Belgium.

The segment originally featured IYO SKY and Bianca Belair finalizing their title bout, which Belair earned by winning the Elimination Chamber on March 1.

SKY, who captured the championship from Rhea Ripley on the March 3 edition of Raw, signed the contract without issue. However, things escalated quickly when Ripley made a surprise appearance.

After laying out both SKY and Belair—powerbombing the champion onto her challenger—Ripley added her own signature to the contract. While Michael Cole questioned whether this officially altered the match, all signs point to a triple threat showdown at WrestleMania 41.

Monday’s episode of WWE Raw airs live from Forest National in Brussels, Belgium, featuring a special start time of 7:00 PM GMT/3:00 PM ET on Netflix.

The highly anticipated confrontation between John Cena and Cody Rhodes headlines the show. This marks the first time the two will be in the same building since Cena’s shocking heel turn at Elimination Chamber. Rhodes, the Undisputed WWE Champion, has expressed frustration over continuously addressing the attack and is eager to confront his WrestleMania opponent face-to-face.

WWE Raw Preview: March 17, 2025

• WWE Intercontinental Championship: Bron Breakker (c) vs. Finn Balor
• No Holds Barred Match: Penta vs. Ludwig Kaiser
• Jey Uso vs. Austin Theory
• Dakota Kai vs. Ivy Nile
• John Cena and Cody Rhodes confrontation

This episode marks WWE’s European tour stop in Belgium, featuring a special early start time for viewers worldwide. The show will air live on Netflix.

What Happened Last Week?

Ahead of WWE RAW live from Brussels, Belgium, here’s a quick recap of last week’s key moments:

• Jey Uso defeated Grayson Waller but was attacked post-match by World Heavyweight Champion Gunther.
• Dominik Mysterio arranged an Intercontinental Championship match between Bron Breakker and Finn Balor.
• Austin Theory ambushed Jey Uso following his victory over Grayson Waller.
• Dakota Kai suffered a loss to Women’s Intercontinental Champion Lyra Valkyria and was attacked by Ivy Nile afterward.

Former WWE Superstar Davey Boy Smith Jr., who has spent most of his wrestling career outside the WWE system despite his family\’s deep ties to the company, has announced his return to All Japan Pro Wrestling (AJPW).

Speaking on Cafe de Rene with Rene Dupree, Smith Jr. shared that he would be heading back to Japan later this month, continuing his run with AJPW under a five-month contract.

\”All Japan have been doing great, and I’m returning back for the Champion Carnival and then staying over until August. So I do five-month contracts with them at a time. So I stay over there for five months.

I’m going back [to Japan] March 26th. I’m back in Canada right now, just seeing some family, and then I’m gone away for about five months,\” Smith Jr. said.

Smith Jr. has competed in multiple tours with AJPW and previously held the AJPW Triple Crown Championship before Jun Saito dethroned him. The Champion Carnival is set to begin on April 9.

A Career Spanning Multiple Promotions

Born Harry Francis Smith on August 2, 1985, Smith Jr. has built an impressive wrestling career across promotions worldwide. The son of wrestling legend Davey Boy Smith, he started training at age eight and made his professional debut at fifteen.

During his time in WWE, he competed under the names David Hart Smith and DH Smith, capturing the Unified Tag Team Championship with Tyson Kidd as part of The Hart Dynasty. After leaving WWE, he found success in New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW) as part of the Killer Elite Squad alongside Lance Archer, winning the IWGP Tag Team Championship three times.

Smith Jr. also had a strong run in Major League Wrestling (MLW), where he became a two-time Opera Cup winner and former MLW World Tag Team Champion. His tenure in AJPW has further solidified his legacy, as he won the Triple Crown Heavyweight Championship in November 2024, marking his first world title in a major promotion.

Newcastle United have drawn inspiration from WWE Champion Cody Rhodes as they celebrate their first major trophy in 56 years.

Rhodes completed his own journey at WrestleMania 40 by capturing the WWE Championship from Roman Reigns, fulfilling a dream that began when he returned to WWE in 2022. His mission was deeply personal, as he sought to win the title his legendary father, the late \”American\” Dream\” Dusty Rhodes, never held.

Before his WWE comeback, Rhodes played a pivotal role in launching AEW, cementing his status as a major force in professional wrestling. This marked a dramatic turnaround from his departure from WWE in 2016 when his career had stalled. His rise to superstardom was encapsulated by the mantra: “From undesirable to undeniable.”

Joelinton’s Redemption Mirrors Cody Rhodes’ Rise

Newcastle United embraced this same sentiment after their triumph in the League Cup final against Liverpool at Wembley Stadium. Brazilian midfielder Joelinton, once considered an expensive misfit, played a key role in the victory. A shift in position transformed his career, securing his place among club legends.

Acknowledging his remarkable journey, Newcastle’s social media team referenced Cody Rhodes’ famous phrase, celebrating Joelinton’s evolution “from undesirable to undeniable.”

Cody Rhodes Faces John Cena at WrestleMania 41

Meanwhile, Rhodes is set for a major showdown at WrestleMania 41, defending his WWE Championship against John Cena. Following Cena’s shocking betrayal at Elimination Chamber, where he aligned with The Rock, the two will finally cross paths on the March 17 edition of Raw, setting the stage for an explosive confrontation.

Liv Morgan sustained significant bruises and welts on her abdomen during Sunday’s “Road to WrestleMania” live event from ZAG Arena in Hannover, Germany. She tweeted a photo of the injury, with her face covered by her Women’s Tag Team championship. Her emojis make it clear her longtime rival Liv Morgan was behind the wounds.

This isn’t the first time Morgan has endured such physical tolls. During the recent Elimination Chamber match, she suffered notable bruises and welts, particularly after a forceful attack from fellow wrestler Bianca Belair, whose signature braid whip left visible marks on Morgan’s torso. 

Despite these injuries, Morgan continues to demonstrate she’s got a high threshold for pain and is willing to endure whatever it takes to get the W.

WWE star Sami Zayn recently shared a meal with actor Kieran Culkin, posting photos of their dinner on Twitter with the caption, “Fine company, fine food.” 

Zayn has been absent from WWE television since his loss to Kevin Owens at Elimination Chamber, where Owens delivered two powerbombs on the apron before pinning Zayn. Post-match, Owens attempted another attack, but Randy Orton intervened. Subsequently, WWE announced that Zayn was out indefinitely, with no specified timeline for his return. 

Kieran Culkin, known for his roles in film and television, is also a WWE enthusiast. He attended the WWE RAW on Netflix premiere in January, sharing a moment with CM Punk at ringside while celebrating his Golden Globes win. Culkin recently secured the Best Supporting Actor award at the 97th Academy Awards. His brother, Macaulay Culkin, also a WWE fan, attended WWE RAW at Madison Square Garden on March 10. 

The dinner between Zayn and Culkin has sparked discussions among fans regarding Zayn’s potential return to WWE. However, no official updates have been provided about his comeback.