John Cena’s stunned fans by turning heel in March 2025 which marked his first time as a fully-fledged villain in over two decades. While the turn itself shocked fans, many felt that what followed failed to meet expectations.
Cena’s heel run began with an alliance with The Rock, though the “Final Boss” quickly disappeared from WWE television afterward. Speaking on UnSKripted, Cena’s father, John Cena Sr., reflected on his son’s final year in the ring.
“I think what he’s done is right, it’s good, it’s positive… Turning John Cena heel was a great idea. The shock factor was great.”
While Cena Sr. praised the turn itself, he agreed with fans who felt the follow-up fell flat.
“The storyline [after the turn] was destroyed. That was a very poor move in my opinion because it was a big gamble for everyone involved.”
Cena Sr. placed much of the blame on The Rock’s sudden absence, calling it a crushing blow to one of WWE’s biggest storylines in years.
“To see how it started, and then to see the characters who are involved no longer be present, the heel turn almost became non-essential. That was something I wasn’t really too hyped up on.”
Ultimately, Cena abandoned the heel turn ahead of SummerSlam 2025 and returned to the fan-favorite role that defined much of his career. With only a handful of appearances left before retirement, Cena is set to close out his legendary run as the beloved babyface, despite his father’s belief that the heel turn could have been so much more.
John Cena and AJ Styles will battle at WWE Crown Jewel: Perth, in what will be one of the \’Never Seen Seventeen\’s\’ final matches of his career. After the pair had a series of acclaimed matches in 2016 and early 2017, the two veterans are set to do battle one final time.
Cena had been pushing for the match, which Styles accepted, and Paul “Triple H” Levesque made it official on September 23. On X, Cena reflected on how the match—one long requested by fans for his retirement tour—was proof that WWE listens to its audience and that \”listening to our audience is ALWAYS what\’s best for business.\”
I want to thank @TripleH for being flexible here and rewarding the true driving force behind #CenavsStyles .. the FANS! 2 posts over 10m views and so many of you let yourself be heard! #WWECrownJewel Perth and @AJStylesOrg you will get my everything. Listening to our audience is…
Cena vs. Styles is the third match confirmed for Crown Jewel. The event will also feature the Men’s and Women’s Crown Jewel Championship matches, currently set as Cody Rhodes vs. Seth Rollins and Stephanie Vaquer vs. Tiffany Stratton.
With Cena nearing the end of his in-ring career, many fans have stressed that his remaining matches should feel meaningful. His clash with Brock Lesnar at WWE Wrestlepalooza drew criticism, as some felt Lesnar’s decisive win wasted a rare Cena appearance with no rematch likely.
Now, WWE has the opportunity to deliver by revisiting one of Cena’s most celebrated rivalries. WWE Crown Jewel: Perth takes place on Saturday, October 11, at the RAC Arena in Perth, Western Australia.
Roman Reigns is one of WWE’s most dominant stars and a first-ballot Hall of Famer in the making. However, despite his accomplishments, Reigns is absent from the 2025 PWI 500 rankings.
The top 20 names on this year’s list have been revealed, featuring several of Reigns’ past rivals, including Cody Rhodes (#1), Seth Rollins (#8), and CM Punk (#15). While the full list will be released later this year, fans should not expect “The Tribal Chief” to appear at all.
The reason is tied to PWI’s evaluation criteria. The ranking period ran from August 1, 2024, through July 31, 2025, with each wrestler required to have at least ten singles matches during that time. Reigns only competed eight times within the period, with just two of those matches being one-on-one singles bouts.
Meanwhile, Cody Rhodes has claimed the #1 spot for the second consecutive year. Currently in his second reign as Undisputed WWE Champion, Rhodes becomes only the fourth wrestler to top the list in back-to-back years, joining Bret Hart (1993–94), “Stone Cold” Steve Austin (1998–99), and John Cena (2006–07).
Reigns has won the top spot twice, though not in back-to-back years. In adition to taking the #1 spot in 2016 and 2022, he has ranked in the top 10 eight times.
As for Reigns, he has been absent from WWE programming since being attacked by The Vision at WWE Clash in Paris. Unless he increases his singles competition schedule, his absence from the PWI 500 may continue in future editions.
An investigation has begun after accusations of domestic abuse were made against TNA Wrestling\’s Masha Slamovich. On Tuesday, September 23, a friend of AKIRA, an independent wrestler and former partner of Slamovich, shared screenshots alleged to be between the ex-couple.
Masha is an abusive piece of shit who feels entitled to everything including a Ribera Jacket.
These messages have yet to be independently verified. In a statement to Sports Illustrated, TNA Wrestling shared:
“We take any allegations like this very seriously, and have begun an internal investigation.”
On X, Akira shared a lengthy statement, stating that he \”Kinda wanna throw up, kindwa want to go away forever.\” Akira\’s post discussed a toxic relationship with somebody but stopped short of using Slamovich\’s name.
I woke up to this and people asking me if I was okay. Kinda wanna throw up, kinda want to go away forever.
My friend held back for months because I asked her to, and I would have never said anything. I still really don’t want to. I didn’t want to lash out in anger, because I…
Slamovich has not publicly responded at this time. Masha signed with TNA in 2021 and is set to challenge Knockouts Champion Ash By Elegance at TNA Victory Road on September 27.
Adriana Rizzo is currently sidelined with an injury that will keep the WWE NXT Superstar out of action for several more months. During a Q&A with fans on social media, one fan asked, “When do you expect to be back in the ring?” Rizzo replied: “Sometime in the spring most likely.”
Back in August, Rizzo revealed that she had torn her ACL and meniscus, calling it a setback but “not the end.” This is only the latest challenge for the NXT star, who previously tore her Achilles in 2023 and suffered a partial ACL tear just a few months later.
A spring return would keep Rizzo out for at least another six months, though her absence could extend even longer. When sharing her latest injury update in August, she stated that she was ready to face the recovery process head-on and “come back 100% healthy for the first time in my WWE career.”
Rizzo was once part of the Tony D’Angelo Family, but with that faction now dissolved, her next steps in NXT remain unclear. For now, her in-ring future won’t be determined until well into 2025.
A petition to honor the life and legacy of the British Bulldog, Davey Boy Smith, has gathered thousands of signatures from dedicated fans. Created by Michael Finney, the petition seeks to have Smith added to the Walk of Fame in his hometown of Wigan, England.
Smith is remembered as one of the most successful and beloved wrestlers to come out of the United Kingdom. Speaking exclusively to SEScoops, Finney recalled the pride he felt seeing his fellow countryman perform in the ring.
\”As a British person myself, he respected me and our country. He was like our Superman or our late great Hulk Hogan.\”
Finney’s passion for Smith led him to launch a petition in 2013 for the wrestler’s posthumous induction into the WWE Hall of Fame. That campaign was ultimately successful, with Smith being inducted eight years later. Still, Finney wasn’t finished.
\”Davey\’s daughter [Georgia Smith] spoke about the Walk of Fame in Wigan, and a fan tagged me into Georgia\’s post and asked if I could get involved. I reached out to Georgia and asked if she would like me to get involved.\”
Finney\’s connection to the Smith\’s has been strong since his initial 2013 campaign, and he and the family remain close to this day. For Finney, having Smith honored in Wigan wouldn\’t just be for the late wrestler, but for those who knew him best.
\”They are good people, and we\’ve always had respect for each other in both our personal lives and through our campaigns. I really want this to happen for Georgia because she has so much love for her dad.\”
The campaign has drawn support from public figures across entertainment, politics, and professional wrestling. Former WCW World Champion David Arquette and WWE Hall of Famer Kurt Angle are among those backing the effort.
\”Kurt and Davey teamed up for a short time, and I knew Kurt always respected the business and the legends who were there before him.\”
With over 7,000 signatures, the petition has plenty of support, but that hasn\’t translated into a spot on the Walk of Fame yet. Instead, Finney shared that it\’s been radio silence from those who\’d be making the decision.
\”I haven\’t heard anything. I\’ve reached out to the MP of Wigan and had no success. I\’ve reached out to the council and even asked to travel to Wigan for a meeting to push for Davey to receive a Walk of Fame star, but I haven\’t heard back from them.\”
Still, Finney remains determined to see the first-ever WWE European Champion honored in his hometown. He believes a place on the Wigan Walk of Fame would be meaningful not only for Smith’s family and local fans but also for wrestling supporters worldwide.
\”Davey deserves that spot for everything he has done for British wrestling and for representing the UK… I want this to happen for the country, and for the fans from all over the world to come to the UK and pay their respects to Davey.\”
Finney concluded with a sentiment shared by many fans: when wrestling fans think of the UK, the British Bulldog immediately comes to mind.
\”Davey was — and always will be — the most outstanding British wrestler of all time.\”
Click here to find out more about the Wigan Walk of Fame petition, including how to show your support for the campaign to honor Davey Boy Smith.
New WWE Women\’s World Champion Stephanie Vaquer is ready to make history following her victory at WWE Wrestlepalooza. Appearing on Monday Night Raw, Vaquer soaked in the adulation of the live crowd. Vaquer then addressed her victory over IYO SKY in Indianapolis and was grateful for the support of the WWE Universe.
\”This championship represents the motivation and support you have all given me. And every single [one] of you celebrated with me at Wrestlepalooza and every single [one of] you cried with me. I need to say thank you.\”
Vaquer then turned her attention to the future and what she intends to be a lengthy reign as champion. After reaching the pinnacle of WWE Raw\’s women\’s division, less than a year after debuting in NXT, Vaquer is ready to make history.
\”My fire will be making history and nobody, I say nobody can stop me. La Primera! WWE Women\’s World Champion.\”
"Nobody can stop me." ?
NEW WWE Women's World Champion Stephanie Vaquer thanks the WWE Universe for their support and promises a long title reign! pic.twitter.com/mx3zOOX4IV
With this win, Vaquer has secured herself a place on the card at WWE Crown Jewel. The Women\’s World Champion will face the WWE Women\’s Champion on October 11 in Perth, Australia. A title match will take place on SmackDown between Tiffany Stratton, Jade Cargill, and Nia Jax.
Vaquer\’s road to the gold saw her win a battle royal at WWE Evolution before defeating SKY at Wrestlepalooza for the vacant gold. At one point, she had been scheduled to face Naomi at Clash in Paris, but Naomi\’s pregnancy changed plans.
Now, Vaquer will be the target of every woman on WWE Raw from former champions like SKY, Rhea Ripley, and Becky Lynch, to those yet to hold the gold. Nevertheless, the Women\’s World Champion remains confident that her reign won\’t just impress, but it will be historic.
The September 22, episode of WWE Raw will be one that Rhea Ripley won\’t want to remember anytime soon. Things started strong for the Australian Superstar, who was able to beat Asuka after the Empress accidentally struck her ally Kairi Sane.
Ripley ended Raw with a face full of paint, a fact that Bayley saw the funny side of. On X, Bayley shared that Ripley covered in the blue mist resembles a character from Avatar, but added that \’Mami\’ still looked pretty.
It wasn\’t just Ripley who was left worse for wear by Asuka, as the Empress confirmed her heel turn with an attack on IYO SKY. Once again taking to X, Bayley struggled to find sympathy for her Damage CTRL alum, as it was IYO and the faction that ousted Bayley in 2024.
With Bayley undergoing a character change in WWE, it remains to be seen how she will fit into the Ripley-Asuka-SKY program. Whatever\’s next for the Role Model, she certainly enjoyed what happened during WWE Raw.
Piper Niven has been sidelined with an injury since the August 22, 2025 episode of WWE SmackDown in Dublin, Ireland. Now, a concerning update has surfaced, with some fearing the setback could bring her wrestling career to an end.
On a recent episode of Wrestling Observer Live, Bryan Alvarez reported that there is internal concern within WWE that Niven’s injury may be career-threatening. This follows a report from Fightful Select, which confirmed that Niven is indeed injured, though the exact nature of the issue has not been publicly disclosed.
Niven, who began her pro-wrestling career in 2007, signed with WWE in 2019 as part of NXT UK. In 2021, she was called up to the main roster, where she was briefly paired with Eva Marie under the name “Doudrop.” More recently, Niven aligned with Chelsea Green, and together they captured the WWE Women’s Tag Team Championship.
In kayfabe, Green has explained Niven\’s absence from WWE TV, saying she is undergoing a covert mission for the \’Secret Hervice.\’ Green has also shared that she is fielding applicants to join the group, once again raising questions about the length of Piper\’s absence from TV.
Our beloved Head of SecHERity, Slaygent P, is currently out on a top-secret special assignment.
In her absence, the Secret Hervice will be accepting intel dossiers (a.k.a. resumes, for you dummies) and video submissions for a potential fill-in candidate.
With Niven out of action, Green has been working alongside Alba Fyre, the third member of the Secret Hervice. Stay tuned to SEScoops for the latest on Piper Niven and this unfortunate setback in her career.
Ticket prices for WWE events have been on the rise as of late, with TKO President Mark Shapiro recently sharing that the company has \”a lot of room\” to maximise profits. With the cheapest tickets for WrestleMania 42 starting at over $850, many fans have grown concerned that WWE is simply pricing out a large proportion of fans.
While speaking on the Inside the Ring podcast, MVP addressed concerns about WWE, including the growing number of ads at WWE PLEs. MVP, who is currently part of AEW, argued that the focus on profits is alienating fans, and this issue isn\’t just with WWE.
\”There’s been an emphasis on profit with the increasing corporatization of one side, without enough regard for the fans who helped make the company what it is. Sadly, that’s happening not just in wrestling.\”
MVP added that the NFL and NBA are also participants in this \’price-gouging.\’ The Hurt Syndicate member shared that thanks to \”price hikes,\” a father taking their kids to an NBA game, once a fun day out, is now a \”pretty substantial cut of your income.\”
WWE\’s record-breaking profits in recent years can\’t be ignored, but many feel that these records are coming at the expense of fans. With tickets increasing and WWE introducing ads during PLEs, as seen at the recent Wrestlepalooza event, WWE\’s focus on how much money they can squeeze out of fans remains the priority.
For MVP, the debate over ticket prices goes beyond pro wrestling. While wrestling has often been an entertainment enjoyed by fans of all classes, he fears that many fans who have supported the industry will ultimately be left behind.
The September 22 episode of WWE Raw ended in shocking fashion, as Asuka betrayed IYO SKY and ended a friendship that began long before either woman joined WWE. In the final moments of the show, Asuka struck Rhea Ripley with her trademark mist before delivering a spinning kick to SKY, her longtime ally and former protégé.
Footage taken after the broadcast showed Ripley and SKY checking on one another, drawing a loud reaction from the live crowd, who cheered to see two of WWE’s top women standing together.
Backstage, an emotional SKY broke down in tears as she reflected on Asuka’s betrayal.
\”We were friends. I thought we were friends. I believed we were friends, Asuka and Kairi don\’t want me. Devastated. No, but I wasn\’t helpful to them. I realized that today. This hurts more than losing a match. I just don\’t know. I\’m done.\”
Tension had been brewing for weeks, with Asuka claiming that SKY needed only her and Kairi Sane—not Ripley. But with SKY now cut off from some of her oldest allies and fresh off a loss in her bid for the Women’s World Title at Wrestlepalooza, her next move in WWE remains uncertain.
Former WWE Champion Alberto El Patron has landed in the world of reality TV after recently being exiled from AAA. TV Azteca announced on X that Alberto will be part of the La Granja VIP on Azteca Uno. The show will see celebrities live on a farm, where they must survive their new surroundings as well as one another.
From the squared circle to the farm… the champion is ready to take on a new challenge. Can he dominate the farm like he dominates the ring? Get ready, because \”El Patrón\” arrives with everything.
De los cuadriláteros a la granja… el campeón está listo para enfrentarse a un nuevo reto.? ¿Podrá dominar la granja como domina el ring? Prepárense, porque "El Patrón" llega con todo. ??#LaGranjaVIP, estreno 12 de octubre por #AztecaUno. ? pic.twitter.com/kmFMuMwTuh
El Patron\’s role on the show comes after he was forced to leave AAA after losing to El Mesias on the July 25 episode of AAA Alianzas. Prior to this loss, Alberto had lost the AAA Mega Championship and WWE had avoided referencing him after announcing their acquisition of AAA during WrestleMania week.
CM Punk is no stranger to the world of comic books, and now he\’s ready to make a bloodied splash on the big screen. Appearing on GQ\’s YouTube channel, Punk was asked about his dream superhero role, and had one name in mind: Marvel\’s The Punisher.
\”Frank Castle wants to be CM Punk. No, not really. I want to be Frank Castle, The Punisher.\”
Punk’s choice may surprise some fans, given that his iconic “It’s Clobbering Time!” battle cry is borrowed from Marvel’s The Thing. Beyond those two characters, Punk has also contributed to Marvel Comics directly—writing a story for Thor Annual #1, co-writing a series featuring Drax the Destroyer, and penning a Master of Kung Fu one-shot starring Shang-Chi.
The worlds of WWE and Marvel have crossed paths many times. Dave Bautista’s Hollywood breakthrough came as Drax the Destroyer, years after his mentor Triple H appeared in 2004’s Blade: Trinity. More recently, Seth Rollins and Becky Lynch both filmed scenes for Marvel projects, though their roles were ultimately cut.
Natalya is one of the longest-serving members of the WWE roster, having made her television debut on SmackDown in 2008. Now, 17 years later, a major change could be coming for the Queen of Harts, according to her uncle Ross.
Speaking on the Wrestling Life with Ben Veal podcast, Ross discussed the grittier “Nattie Neidhart” persona that the WWE veteran has used at non-WWE events. Ross—Stu and Helen Hart’s tenth of 12 children—suggested that WWE could soon be “reinventing” his niece, potentially even bringing her back under a different name.
Speculation about Natalya’s WWE future comes after she was honored with the Lou Thesz Award at the 59th Cauliflower Alley Club reunion. Becoming the first female recipient of the award, Natalya earned high praise from her uncle, who said it celebrates “grit and hardness and real wrestling ability.” Unlike flashy gimmicks, the award recognizes the hard worker who can endure and go the distance.
Natalya’s gritty character has already delivered results in the ring. At WWE Worlds Collide II, Nattie defeated Apache to become the #1 contender for the AAA Reina de Reinas Championship. With more than eight years since her last singles title reign, a victory could finally break a difficult streak for the Canadian star.
On WWE programming, Natalya has recently been aligned with Maxxine Dupri. But with the possibility of a character reinvention on the horizon, her next chapter could mark a major turning point in an already storied career
After the match, Vaquer celebrated with her father, who had traveled from Chile to watch her perform. WWE NXT head Shawn Michaels later praised her victory on X, and Vaquer expressed gratitude to the family she found within WWE’s silver brand.
Thank you Jefe and thank you to my entire NXT family for always guiding me, supporting me, and pushing me to make my dreams come true. None of this would have been possible without you. ?? Gracias Shawn ?? https://t.co/nzYXfSQMMS
Michaels wasn’t the only name to acknowledge her achievement. On X, Vaquer also responded to congratulatory messages from Triple H, Stephanie McMahon, and the Bella Twins.
I’ve fulfilled the dream of my life ? Thank you for believing in me, for always supporting me, and for taking care of all of us. I am deeply proud of my WWE family and I promise to be a worthy representative. This is only the beginning… La Primera is just getting started. ?? https://t.co/o5W4hxaXCW
Thank you for believing in me and for believing in an entire generation of women who worked tirelessly to make history in the ring. Thank you for being a true inspiration ?? Congratulations on your Hall of Fame induction so well deserved! ?? https://t.co/wdLs4hXByc
Now, with the Women’s World Championship on her shoulder, Vaquer stands at the top of WWE Raw’s women’s division. With Crown Jewel on the horizon and a match for the Crown Jewel Women’s Title looming, it appears more gold could be in her future.
On social media, Lynch claimed that the insect appeared in the final moments of the match and made it look as if she submitted. To add to her case, she accused referee Jessika Carr of “blatant bias,” sharing old and new photos of Carr with CM Punk as \’evidence\’ to her claim.
I have recovered the unedited footage which clearly shows that I was attacked by a rogue bee at the end of the match. I have not tapped out in over 6 years and if it wasn’t for the blatant bias of that crooked referee who so obviously saw that I was being ambushed by the vicious… pic.twitter.com/jLqfJdTv9p
While the match wasn’t for any championship, the victory for Punk and AJ could open the door to future title opportunities. The match marked AJ Lee\’s first in-ring performance since March 2015, and she and Punk went 3-0 as a tag-team.
According to Fightful Select, WWE sources were very happy with AJ’s performance, noting that she looked strong despite her decade-long absence. With a new deal in place, AJ is expected to wrestle more regularly moving forward.
As for Lynch, she remains WWE Women’s Intercontinental Champion—and despite this defeat, she’s already made it clear she doesn’t consider Wrestlepalooza a legitimate loss.
Piper Niven hasn\’t competed since the August 22, episode of WWE SmackDown, where she faced Charlotte Flair. According to Fightful Select, the former WWE Women’s Tag Team Champion is sidelined with an unspecified injury. With details about her injury unclear, Fightful added that \”they don’t know how bad it is at this point.”
On the September 19, episode of WWE SmackDown, Chelsea Green teamed up with Alba Fyre, which is usually Piper\’s role. The match saw Green and Fyre unsuccessfully challenge WWE Women\’s Tag Team Champions Alexa Bliss and Charlotte Flair.
Green has shared that she is looking for temporary replacements for Niven. Instead of sharing that Niven is injured, however, the Canadian has said that Niven, aka \’Slagent P\’ is \”out on a top-secret special assignment.\”
Our beloved Head of SecHERity, Slaygent P, is currently out on a top-secret special assignment.
In her absence, the Secret Hervice will be accepting intel dossiers (a.k.a. resumes, for you dummies) and video submissions for a potential fill-in candidate.
With Niven out of action, it remains to be seen what\’s next for the Secret Hervice, and whether Green will recruit a new member to the faction. We at SEScoops are wishing Piper Niven a speedy recovery.
Kylie Rae, who made history by becoming the very first WWE Women\’s ID Champion, won\’t be competing for some time due to being pregnant. On X, a fan asked Rae why she recently vacate the title she had held with Relentless Wrestling. Rae responded by sharing the news about her pregnancy, and shared a selfie of herself and a small \’baby bump.\’
While Rae\’s pregnancy resulted in her vacating the Relentless Wrestling title, there\’s been no change to her status as WWE Women\’s ID Champion as of writing. Rae won the gold on August 1, defeating Zara Zakher and Zayda Steel in the finals of a tournament at Game Changer Wrestling: The ID Showcase.
Rae has only competed once since becoming champion, which was as part of the September 3, episode of WWE Evolve where she beat Masyn Holiday. Outside of WWE, Rae has competed for STARDOM, House of Glory, TNA Wrestling, and Rev Pro, among others.
Naomi vacated the WWE Women\’s World Champion due to pregnancy, and it appears that Rae may soon experience a similar fate. We hear at SEScoops would like to share our congratulations to Rae on this joyous occasion.
Bret Hart has spent decades resenting Bill Goldberg and the infamous kick from their WCW Starrcade 1999 match, a move Hart argues ended his wrestling career. More than 25 years after suffering a concussion at Starrcade, the WWE Hall of Famer still hasn’t forgiven Goldberg for what he believes the former Universal Champion cost him.
Speaking to Inside the Ropes, Hart vented his frustration over how Goldberg was able to continue enjoying a lengthy career, securing high-profile, lucrative matches in Saudi Arabia while offering Bret nothing in return.
“When I hear about Bill Goldberg going to Saudi Arabia, making $3 million for a 10-minute match… you think he would have called me up and said, ‘Here, I’m going to send you something for it.’”
“He never once called me after it happened… he cost me, honestly, cost me $16 million in like two seconds and ended my career.”
While Hart did wrestle nine more times for WCW after the Starrcade match—including bouts with Kevin Nash, Sid Vicious, and Terry Funk—he maintains that Goldberg was ultimately responsible for the end of his career. While Goldberg was able to retire from the ring at the time he decided, Bret believes some financial compensation is in order.
Josh Barnett doesn’t need to chase wrestlers to fill a Bloodsport card—according to the UFC veteran, they come to him. Over the years, stars like Jon Moxley, MVP, Pete Dunne, and Natalya Neidhart have stepped into the unique Bloodsport environment.
Speaking to The A2theK Wrestling Show, Barnett explained that wrestlers frequently approach him about competing, even when it means working for far less than they’d earn elsewhere.
\”The reason why they\’re there is because they literally came to me saying, \’I want to be a part of this.\’ People that are paid massive amounts of money under contract from major organizations say, \’Yeah, we\’ll come and do this for substantially less to be a part of this because we think this is incredible. This is something that we desire and it\’s not some it\’s not an itch we can get scratched somewhere else.\’\”
Barnett called these wrestlers “the strongest example” of how Bloodsport has built credibility among both fans and talent. With participants from WWE, AEW, TNA Wrestling, and beyond, Barnett stressed that the event is not tied to any single company.
\”It\’s not full of WWE or AEW talent or it\’s not about any one organization. I have handpicked every single one of these these these wrestlers and matched them myself based on what I think is going to make the most interesting and most exciting matchups.\”
Originally created by Matt Riddle, Bloodsport has staged 14 shows as of August 2025. Its 15th installment is set for September 28 at London’s Electric Ballroom. With demand from wrestlers higher than ever, Barnett’s challenge is not finding talent—but deciding how to put together the most compelling fights.
Heyman made a surprise appearance before the match, personally introducing Lesnar ahead of the bout. In a post-show message, Heyman reiterated a point that the pair made over eleven years ago after Lesnar became the first man to beat The Undertaker at WrestleMania.
“Here’s what I’ll say about Brock. I said it the night after Brock Lesnar conquered The Undertaker’s undefeated streak at WrestleMania: Brock Lesnar is not here to put smiles on people’s faces. Brock Lesnar is here to put tears in the eyes of children.\”
Wrestlepalooza marked Lesnar’s first WWE match since SummerSlam 2023, where he lost to Cody Rhodes. In early 2024, he was pulled from creative plans, leading to his removal from the Men’s Royal Rumble and the cancellation of a reported feud with GUNTHER.
Lesnar’s two-year absence was tied to Janel Grant’s lawsuit, which repeatedly referenced the former UFC Champion. During Wrestlepalooza, one fan held up a sign reading, “he shouldn’t be here and we all know why,” a direct nod to the ongoing allegations against WWE and Vince McMahon.
Regardless of what fans may think, Lesnar is back, and his reunion with Heyman reunites one of the most successful pairings of all time. Now, Lesnar can look ahead to doing more in the ring, and making many more children tear up.
Stephanie McMahon will be inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in April 2026, it has been confirmed. The announcement came during WWE Wrestlepalooza in Indianapolis, Indiana, and began with The Undertaker making a surprise appearance inside the Gainbridge Fieldhouse.
The Undertaker, a member of the 2022 class, sat with McMahon at ringside, and, after seeing Stephanie at the Canelo-Crawford fight, asked if she was following him. Getting down to business, The Undertaker shared the huge news.
“Are you ready? It’s my honor to announce that Stephanie McMahon is the first inductee in the 2026 WWE Hall of Fame.”
What a moment! ?
The Undertaker just revealed that Stephanie McMahon will be inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame next year in 2026! pic.twitter.com/3P7zuOSKah
McMahon is a former WWE Women\’s Champion, and held the title longer than anybody in the year 2000. On TV, she has also served as the General Manager of both SmackDown and Raw and has several high-profile matches to her name. McMahon has also held various corporate roles in WWE, including as Chief Brand Officer and CEO.
With her induction, Stephanie will join her husband Paul \’Triple H\’ Levesque, who was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame last year. With decades as part of WWE, McMahon will have plenty of stories to share at the WWE Hall of Fame ceremony in 2026.
AJ Lee proved that she\’s still got \’it\’ at WWE Wrestlepalooza by winning her first wrestling match in over a decade at the ESPN event. In the penultimate match of the night, Lee teamed with her husband CM Punk to defeat World Heavyweight Champion Seth Rollins and Women\’s Intercontinental Champion Becky Lynch.
You can check out some highlights of the match below.
Lee and Punk extended their underfeated streak as a team to 3-0 with their victory at Wrestlepalooza, which the pairing of Lynch and Rollins are now 3-1. AJ returned to WWE in early September 2025, and has signed a new contract with the promotion.
Lee didn\’t just get the win, but submitted Lynch to earn the victory. With a win over the Women\’s Intercontinental Champion to her name, it may be just a matter of time before the pair meet again, this time with gold on the line.
Stephanie Vaquer is the brand new WWE Women\’s World Champion after capturing the gold at WWE Wrestlepalooza with a win over IYO SKY. In the third match of the night, Vaquer won the title to kick off her first reign as Women\’s World Champion.
This win gives Vaquer her first taste of gold on WWE\’s main roster. She is a former NXT Women\’s and Women\’s North American Champion, and remains the only woman to have held both titles.
You can check out some highlights from the match below.
La Primera. ?
Stephanie Vaquer is ready to make history at #Wrestlepalooza!
The Women\’s World Champion had been vacated by Naomi, who was forced to give up the gold due to her pregnancy. Now Vaquer stands tall as the head of WWE Raw\’s women\’s division, while SKY will no doubt be hungry for a rematch for the gold.
John Cena\’s final time competing in Indianapolis would end in heartbreak thanks to the destructive force of Brock Lesnar. In the opening match of WWE Wrestlepalooza, the two former World Champions met in a match that had been building since Brock\’s return to WWE at SummerSlam.
Cena arrived with a gaggle of young fans dressed in the yellow and blue of the Pacers. While Lesnar arrived by himself, Paul Heyman reunited with Brock to deliver the introduction of the Beast Incarnate.
"Ladies and gentlemen…"
Paul Heyman just introduced Brock Lesnar at #Wrestlepalooza! ?
Lesnar and Cena held nothing back, with John delivering multiple AAs in an effort to earn his 100 victory at a Premium Live Event. When the tide turned, however, Lesnar flattened Cena with a series of F5s to cap off his return to WWE with a dominant victory.
After the match, Lesnar continued his assault, leaving young fans in tears at the Gainbridge Fieldhouse. Brock eventually left before Cena made his way to the back.
This match marked Lesnar and Cena\’s first match against one another at a PLE in over a decade. With John hitting a major roadblock as his retirement nears, time will tell what\’s next for the \’Never seen Seventeen\’ after this defeat.
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