The Rock’s return on tonight’s WWE SmackDown will be exciting for fans, but will come at the expense of many on the roster. WrestleVotes reports that WWE has adjusted the line-up to the February 21, SmackDown following the announcement of the Final Boss. There have been “rumblings” that a six-man tag-team match, pitting Cody Rhodes, Damian Priest & Braun Strowman vs. Solo Sikoa, Jacob Fatu & Tama Tonga has been cut.
A match pitting Liv Morgan against Naomi has also reportedly been cut, angering many fans of both women. On X, several fans shared their issue with the two women losing their time to a part-time performer in an already male-dominated program.
cancelling a womens match just for a man who shows up once a year to talk rubbish is part of the reason the hashtag #WWEWomenDeserveBetter is trending so massively. its so disrespectful to the women of this company to be pushed aside once again for men. do fucking better. pic.twitter.com/XZEC812TC6
THE ROCK NEEDS TO STOP INSERTING HIMSELF INTO THE ROSTER WHENEVER HE FEELS LIKE IT AT THE EXPENSE OF THE WOMEN!!!!!!! I SAID WHAT I SAID. https://t.co/MlEXxOkGAC
THE ROCK NEEDS TO STOP INSERTING HIMSELF INTO THE ROSTER WHENEVER HE FEELS LIKE IT AT THE EXPENSE OF THE WOMEN!!!!!!! I SAID WHAT I SAID. https://t.co/MlEXxOkGAC
THE ROCK NEEDS TO STOP INSERTING HIMSELF INTO THE ROSTER WHENEVER HE FEELS LIKE IT AT THE EXPENSE OF THE WOMEN!!!!!!! I SAID WHAT I SAID. https://t.co/MlEXxOkGAC
This backlash comes amid a wider conversation about the treatment of women in WWE. Several women in WWE are said to be frustrated with their current positions in the promotion. Some have also pointed out that the introduction of mid-card championships for the women have done little to help. The hashtag #WWEWomenDeserveBetter trended on X, as fans shared their agreement with those in the company who are feeling frustrated.
The Rock is one of the biggest stars in entertainment, and having him on SmackDown during WrestleMania season has left many excited. With that said, there are plenty of fans who are far from happy with the Final Boss taking the spotlight from full-time talent.
Do WWE fans want to see Logan Paul get his comeuppance in the ring, or do they just not want to see him at all. Paul himself thinks it is the latter. On a recent edition of his ImPaulsive podcast, Paul shared that he believes fans truly would rather see him gone from wrestling above anything else.
“I think I have go away heat. So, the only reason why it works is because I’m a great wrestler. There’s a handful of the audience that is genuinely like, ‘Get this guy out of here.'”
Go away heat occurs when fans legitimately dislike a wrestler to an extent that they would rather not see them in any role, even if they are getting beaten up. In the early 200s, Sean ‘X-Pac’ Waltman received so much go away heat that many dubbed it ‘X-Pac heat.’
A more recent example of go away heat is playing out in TNA Wrestling with fans wanting to see Tessa Blanchard gone rather than seeing the heel get beaten up. During the latest iMPACT, fans chanted “please don’t wrestle” at Blanchard when Santino Marella ordered Tessa to wrestle next week or be fired.
As for Paul, he will be a part of the Men’s Elimination Chamber match, set for the March 1, PLE in Toronto, Canada. With a WrestleMania 41 oportunity awaiting the victor, fans may soon be seeing much more of Logan Paul, despite his alleged go away heat.
The NXT-TNA collaboration will see one of the silver brand’s best and brightest challenge for the Knockouts World Championship at the upcoming Sacrifice event. During the February 20, edition of TNA iMPACT, Tessa Blanchard refused to wrestle her planned opponent for the show, much to the ire of the Orlando crowd. Knockouts Champion Masha Slamovich appeared to chastise Blanchard and made quick work out of Tessa’s would-be opponent.
Before Slamovich could celebrate for too long, NXT’s Cora Jade ambushed the reigning Knockouts Champion. Santino Marella, TNA’s Director of Authority, would then announce that Jade will challenge Slamovich for the gold at Sacrifice on March 14.
Jade has previously shown interest in winning the TNA Knockouts Title, and will make history if she wins the gold. A victory at Sacrifice will make Jade the first-ever active WWE talent to win a title from TNA Wrestling. In the past, Izzi Dame, Wendy Choo, and Karmen Petrovic have challenged for the gold, but were unsuccessful.
Jade’s involvement with Genesis represents the strength of the TNA-WWE partnership, a multi-year deal that has already seen plenty of crossover. Whether Jade makes history at Sacrifice or not remains to be seen, but neither she nor Slamovich will hold back with the title on the line next month.
WWE NXT Champion Oba Femi was confronted by TNA X-Division Champion Moose on the February 18, edition of WWE NXT and now The Ruler has returned the favor. During the February 20 episode of TNA iMPACT Wrestling, Oba Femi made a surprise appearance, interrupting Moose to the delight of the live crowd in Orlando’s Full Sail University.
Although Femi didn’t get physical, his presence alone made Femi and The System running, leaving Femi to stand side-by-side with The Hardys and JDC. Following the confrontation, Santino Marella made a match for next week: Eddie Edwards, Brian Myers, and Moose will take on the Hardy Boys and Oba Femi.
Femi and Moose’s face-to-face on WWE NXT saw the pair vow that a match between the two is coming, with Moose adding that it’s just a few weeks away. Though no date has been confirmed, speculation is growing among fans that TNA Sacrifice on March 14 could be when this showdown takes place.
Femi’s arrival on iMPACT shows that even the top stars of NXT aren’t afraid to ‘cross the line’ as part of the WWE-TNA partnership. With a six-man tag-team match set for next week’s iMPACT, and the Hardys heading to NXT next week, fans have plenty to look forward to in this exciting crossover.
Posted February 21st, 2025 in TNA, NXT. Tagged: Oba Femi.
Cedric Alexander has been cut from WWE but now he is making waves in the world of free agency. It has been confirmed that Alexander has signed with the Paragon Talent Group, signaling his intent to stay active and explore new opportunities.
Alexander’s decision to sign with Paragon puts him in the company of top-tier talent who have also signed with the talent agency. Last year, CM Punk, Drew McIntyre, Tiffany Stratton, Liv Morgan, Damian Priest all signed with Paragon, as has Jade Cargill. Paragon, operated by former WWE Superstar Dean ‘Mojo Rawley’ Muhtadi, also played a key role in Alexa Bliss’ contract negotiations, culminating in her return at the 2025 WWE Royal Rumble Premium Live Event.
Cedric Alexander: All Elite?
While Alexander is ready to be represented in non-wrestling projects, his in-ring future could see him join AEW. Tony Khan’s first promotion is already home to the Hurt Syndicate, comprising of Alexander’s former allies Bobby Lashley, Shelton Benjamin, and MVP. Alexander himself has teased joining the group, leaving fans excited to see the high-flyer reunite with his peers.
Whatever comes next for Cedric Alexander, it is clear he’s just getting started. After many years with WWE, fans are excited to see what he can do, both in and out of the ring, now his days as a Superstar are in the past.
Would-be wrestlers will have the opportunity to learn from industry veteran Donovan Dijak as part of the ex-WWE Superstar’s new online wrestling academy. Speaking to The A2theK Wrestling Show, Dijak shared that the online courses will help aspiring wrestlers learn a vital side of the business outside of the ring.
“There’s a huge part of professional wrestling that’s mental and learning and applying concepts and psychology and even about the physicality. We can talk about the physicality and some of the pitfalls and things that I see.”
Dijak aims for his online courses to be an “introduction to professional wrestling” but acknowledged that it should not be a trainee’s only guide to the ring. Instead, Dijak hopes for his courses to be used in parallel to physical wrestling training to help craft an all-round talent.
When asked what he’ll be looking for in talent as part of the Dijak Wrestling Academy, the former WWE star had one word in mind: effort.
“I don’t need you to be the greatest wrestler in the world. I don’t need you to be the most charismatic person in the world. I need nothing besides 100% effort.”
Those willing to make the effort can learn more about the Dijak Wrestling Academy at the official website, including the full eight-week program that covers match basics and in-ring psycholgy. While Dijak’s career in the ring is far from over, the former WWE Superstar is ready to feast his eyes on the potential stars of the future.
Donovan Dijak was disappointed to be released from WWE in 2024, but isn’t going to hold too big of a grudge over what was ultimately a business decision. Speaking to The A2TheK Wrestling Show, Dijak reflected on his abrupt exit in June of last year.
“At the end of the day it’s a business decision, right? Of course I wanted to say. I made that very clear in in the the letter that I wrote and things like that.”
While Dijak’s days as a WWE Superstar are a thing of the past, his time with the company continues to prove beneficial. Not only did Dijak’s name in wrestling circles grow considerably thanks to his WWE run, but his time as a Superstar allowed for immense growth as a character.
“There was a ton of things that happen in WWE that are helping me to this day, right? Whether it be the the the picture of me in the jacket and the glasses with that character… all of that wouldn’t exist without the opportunity that I was given.”
Since his WWE exit, Dijak has wasted no time in re-establishing himself outside the Sports Entertainment juggernaut. With matches for Rev Pro, Beyond, House of Glory, MLW, Limitless, DPW, and more, Dijak is ready to prove his value in the ring, but will never forget how WWE helped him, and continues to help him to this day.
At Monopoly Events’ For The Love of Wrestling, Raj Dhesi spoke about his WWE run as Jinder Mahal and how his role in 3MB led to his unlikely WWE Championship victory. Dhesi shared that when he first heard about Heath Slater getting a band, he speculated who’d be cast. While he saw names like Johnny ‘Fandango’ Curtis and Jon Moxley as potential band members, the idea was not for him.
“I jokingly said watch all be in the band complete joke and lo and behold I found out that I was going to be a member of the band.”
Dhesi was distraught at the idea of being part of the comedy group, equating the idea to “career s*icide.” After this initial shock, however, Dhesi decided to embrace the role, for better and worse.
“You just have to embrace it and we actually embraced it too much where we thought we were legit rock stars which led to the downfall.”
The downfall in question saw Dhesi released in 2014, a setback that forced the wrestler to re-evaluate his life. After focusing himself on getting in better shape, Dhesi was rehired in 2016 and became WWE Champion the following year.
“Without 3MB, there would be no Maharaja, there would be no WWE Champion.”
Dhesi’s story highlights the importance of wrestlers embracing what they are given as even the most unlikely characters can rise up to become World Champion. With all three members of the band seeing success after the group’s split, Dhesi’s unlikely journey to the WWE Champion is a story that should inspire wrestlers on all rungs of the proverbial ladder.
Jacob Fatu has caught the attention of many since his arrival in WWE in 2024, and John ‘Bradshaw’ Layfield would love the chance to work with him. Speaking to Monopoly Events at For The Love of Wrestling 2025, the WWE Hall of Famer shared his amazement at Fatu’s work.
“Jacob Fatu to me is, just that kid is, a kid, I’m almost 60 so everybody’s a kid to me. [Fatu] is unbelievable. He’s unreal, how good he is. I’d love to work with Jacob Fatu.”
Fatu isn’t the only member of the extended Bloodline that has caught the eye of the former WWE Champion. In the interview, JBL also praised the rise of Jey Uso and shared that he hopes Jey becomes World Heavyweight Champion at WrestleMania 41. JBL has “loved him and his brother since they came in” and will no-doubt be YEETing along with countless others should Jey dethrone GUNTHER this April.
As for Fatu, his WrestleMania debut could see a showdown with Solo Sikoa in a match that could prove to be another pivotal turning point for the Bloodline. Time will tell whether JBL ever gets to work with Fatu, but with such a bright future, anything seems possible for the Samoan Werewolf.
WWE Hall of Famer Jacqueline is ready to get back in the ring one more time and has set her sights on WWE’s ‘Queen’ Charlotte Flair. Appearing at Monopoly Events’ For The Love of Wrestling, Jacqueline made her case to WWE’s most decorated female Superstar of all time.
“Charlotte, please give me my retirement match! Please give me my [retirement match.] Please bring it! I’m begging you, I’m begging you!”
Jacqueline, a former WWE Women’s and Cruiserweight Champion, last competed as part of the inaugural Women’s Royal Rumble in 2018. The 21st entry in the match, Jacqueline lasted 1:52 and scored no eliminations before being eliminated by Nia Jax.
As for Flair, her return from a career-threatening injury has seen her once again thrust into the main event, a source of contention among fans believing she has hogged the spotlight. After becoming the first-ever two-time Women’s Royal Rumble winner, Flair, a 14-time Women’s Champion, will challenge reigning Women’s Champion Tiffany Stratton at WrestleMania 41.
Whether Jacqueline gets her retirement match with Flair or not, the WWE Hall of Famer forged a legacy in wrestling as a trailblazer, including being the first African American woman to win gold in WWE. Stay tuned to SEScoops for the latest on Jacqueline, and whether a showdown with Flair is in her future.
After suffering a broken neck in 2022, Big E has remained a part of WWE’s product by serving as a correspondent on pre-shows and post-shows for Premium Live Events. Speaking to Kevin Iole, the former WWE Champion was able to focus on the positive side of things despite his injury.
“The cool thing now for me in this role is I do the pre-shows and post shows for all the PLEs… I get to be a fan again. I get to cover the card and I have a lot of fun with that. So I really enjoy it.”
Like many fans as well as those in WWE, Big E is looking ahead to WrestleMania 41, set to take place this April in Las Vegas. Big E shared that he’s “really excited” about the upcoming two-night mega-show, and discussed The Rock’s potential involvement.
“The Rock was heavily involved last year at WrestleMania. We’ll see if he’s involved at all [this year.]”
Rock or no Rock, WrestleMania 41 is shaping up to be another huge event with two title matches confirmed, and two more set to be finalized at Elimination Chamber on March 1 (which will also mark Big E’s 39th birthday.) Whatever comes this April, Big E will have a blast covering the event, both as a member of WWE’s on-screen team, and also as a diehard fan of pro wrestling.
Mercedes Moné retained her AEW TBS Title at Grand Slam: Australia against Harley Cameron and now the CEO has her next challenger lined up. During Wednesday’s Dynamite, Moné was being interviewed by Renee Paquette when a video aired featuring Stardom star Momo Watanabe issuing a challenge for the TBS Championship at next month’s Revolution pay-per-view in Los Angeles, California.
Watanabe was in attendance at Grand Slam: Australia and was shown at ringside during Moné’s successful title defense. After the CEO’s victory in Brisbane, Moné gloated in front of Watanabe, teasing a future showdown. On Dynamite, Moné wasn’t pleased with the surprise challenge, stating that if Watanabe wants an answer, she needs to show up on Dynamite.
If the match takes place, it won’t be the first time these two have faced off. Last August at Capital Collision, Moné successfully defended her NJPW Strong Women’s Championship against Watanabe. Mone still holds the title as one of the many championships in her possession.
AEW Revolution 2025 is set for March 9th, 2025, at the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles, California. This will be the sixth annual Revolution event and AEW’s first at the Crypto.com Arena.
Latest AEW Revolution 2025 Card
AEW World Championship: Jon Moxley (c) vs. Cope (Adam Copeland)
MJF vs. “Hangman” Adam Page
AEW International Championship: Konosuke Takeshita (c) (with Don Callis) vs. Kenny Omega
WWE 2K25‘s Showcase Mode will focus on The Bloodline and the legendary Anoa’i family, one of wrestling’s greatest dynasties. Now, fans have learned what matches they can look forward to as part of the Bloodline Showcase in three exciting modes:
Relive History:
Yokozuna w/ Mr. Fuji vs. Hulk Hogan – King of the Ring ‘93;
Rocky Maivia vs. Hunter Hearst Helmsley – RAW February 13, 1997;
Nia Jax vs. Lyra Valkyria – Queen of the Ring ‘24;
The Usos vs. The New Day w/ Big E – Hell in a Cell ‘17;
Solo Sikoa vs. Carmelo Hayes w/ Trick Williams – NXT September 13, 2022.
Change History:
The Headshrinkers (Samu and Fatu) vs. The Steiner Bros – WrestleMania IX;
Rikishi vs. “Stone Cold” Steve Austin – No Mercy 2000;
Umaga w/ Armando Estrada vs. John Cena – New Year’s Revolution 2007;
Tamina vs. Natalya vs. Carmella vs. Charlotte Flair vs. Becky Lynch – Money in the Bank ‘17;
Naomi vs. Bayley – Super ShowDown ‘20;
Roman Reigns vs. Seth Rollins – Royal Rumble ‘22.
Create History:
“High Chief” Peter Miavia vs. George “The Animal” Steele;
The Wild Samoans (Afa and Sika) vs. The Dudley Boyz;
The OG Bloodline vs. New Bloodline in WarGames;
The Islanders (Haku and Tama) vs. The Street Profits;
And more!
WWE 2K25 is set to release on March 14, with the Deadman and Bloodline Editions of the game set to release one week early for eager gamers. With a roster of over 300 playable characters, this year’s game will be the literal biggest WWE game of all time, and one that will feature plenty from The Bloodline.
Former WWE manager Debra may have spent years helping heels but now her life is dedicated to putting the bad guys of real-life behind bars. Appearing at Monopoly Events’ For The Love of Wresting, Debra shared the unlikely path her life took after leaving wrestling.
“I ended up going to University of Alabama and I received a Bachelor [degree] and then I received a master of science in criminal justice. [Applause] From the University of Alabama, now I currently work for the District Attorney’s Office in New Orleans Louisiana so it’s been an interesting journey from wrestling to what I do now.”
Though Debra’s days in the wrestling inustry are in the past, the former WWE Women’s Champion had fond memories of her time. When asked by SoCal Val, Debra recalled being ‘Queen Deborah’ in WCW and working with Mick Foley as highlights of her career.
Debra also talked about the ‘puppies,’ the of-the-time description of her breasts that was brought up regularly on TV. While WWE’s stance of the sexualization of women has changed over the past decade or so, Debra simply chalked up her work with the puppies as “it was the Attitude Era.”
Today, the puppies are no longer a factor in Debra’s working life, but the legacy she built with fans continues to last to this day. Any would-be ne’erdowells should be wary of breaking the law in New Orleans, or find themselves face-to-face with the former WWE Women’s Champion.
Ricky Saints, the Absolute superstar formerly known as Ricky Starks, has opened up about his exit from All Elite Wrestling, a departure that came close to a year after his final match. Appearing on the Busted Open Radio podcast, Starks teased what led to his departure from the All-Elite promotion.
“There are some people who stuck their nose in my creative business that shouldn’t have happened. Veterans.”
Saints stopped short of naming these veterans, but was ready to discuss the matter further with them. The former AEW World Tag Team Champion shared that “if they got a problem with me, they got my number” and dared anyone with an issue to “text me about it.”
The departure of Ricky Saints in early 2025 came after the former World Tag Team Champion hadn’t been used since March 2024. Though Saints had been dealing early into his hiatus, he was cleared to wrestle for much of this break. In November 2024, Saints shared that he had theories behind his absence, but had not been told anything from management.
Saints has since left AEW and wasted no time in joining WWE NXT, where he will compete as Ricky Saints. While the Absolute One is ready to focus on his WWE future, including his upcoming debut match, there’s still bad blood between Saints and these unnamed veterans.
On the February 18, edition of WWE NXT, Ricky Starks signed a contract with the silver brand, where it was confirmed that his new name will be Ricky Saints. On Busted Open Radio, Saints addressed the name change, which he said is “as close as you’re going to get to Starks.”
“I like the name. I know a lot of people are going to be… It’s going to take time for them to get used to it.”
The Saints name holds significant meaning to the former AEW World Tag Team Champion, who is from New Orleans and “I want to pay respect that that as well. Saints also reassured fans that, despite the new name, his persona remains unchanged.
“The person doesn’t change. I’m still that guy, so it is what it is.”
Saints debuted in WWE NXT during the February 11, broadcast, though his name was not uttered by the commentators or the wrestler himself. This, alongside WWE avoiding mentioning him by name on social media, led fans to speculate that a change was coming.
Looking ahead, Ricky Saints is set to make his in-ring debut on the upcoming episode of NXT in Cincinnati, Ohio. In his debut match, he will team up with Je’Von Evans to face the duo of Wes Lee and Ethan Page, setting the stage for an exciting new chapter in his wrestling career.
The wrestling world tragically lost Windham ‘Bray Wyatt’ Rotunda in August 2023, who died at the young age of 36 years old. Speaking at Monopoly Events’ For The Love of Wrestling convention in the UK, Jake Roberts, who many saw a lot of in the Bray Wyatt character, reflected on Rotunda’s passing.
“What a loss, just an incredible loss. I loved it, I loved everything that he did. I couldn’t wait to see what he was going to do next. God man, that one hurt. That one hurts.”
Roberts’ comments echo the feelings of many in the wrestling world. After Rotunda’s passing, WWE and promotions Rotunda had never worked for paid tribute to the former World Champion. WWE would also share that proceeds from Bray Wyatt merch would go to support his widow JoJo Offerman and Windham’s four children.
As we approach the two-year anniversary of his passing, the Bray Wyatt character remains in the hearts of fans and Hall of Famers alike. Though fans will never have the chance to see him compete, the legacy left by Windham Rotunda can never be taken away.
Shawn Michaels last competed in the ring in 2018, but the Head of NXT has a couple of matches left in him, according to TNA Wrestling’s JDC. Speaking at Monopoly Events’ For the Love of Wrestling convention in the UK, JDC (formerly Fandango) shared that Michaels told him he has “one or two matches left” in him.” Though JDC doubts he’ll ever get the chance to face the two-time WWE Hall of Famer, he would love the opportunity.
“He’s the reason why I got into the business. So honestly, it’d probably never happen, but that would be my dream match.”
Michaels’ in-ring career took an extended break in 1998 due to a severe back injury and issues with substance abuses. After healing up and finding his faith, Michaels returned to action in 2002 and would remain an active talent until 2010.
Michaels’ final match came in 2018 when he and Triple H defeated the Brothers of Destruction at that year’s Crown Jewel. Many at the time were disappointed with the bout, not only for the four men under-delivering in the ring, but for Michaels ‘spoiling’ what had been a perfect career sendoff against The Undertaker at WrestleMania 26.
The Showstopper was part of the recent WWE Saturday Night’s Main Event, where he showed he can still rile up a crowd and hit Sweet Chin Music (a lesson Kevin Owens’ learned firsthand.) Whether Michaels ever competes again or not, the possibility is out there, according to JDC.
On the February 18, edition of WWE NXT, TNA’s X-Division Champion Moose made his stunning arrival, confronting NXT Champion Oba Femi. In an NXT Digitial Exclusive, Moose shared his excitement after finally making his presence felt in WWE.
“It’s been awesome. Great, great feeling. It’s been a long time coming, and I’m happy I’m finally here.”
During NXT, Femi and Moose agreed that a match between the two must happen. In the interview, Moose shared that he’s had his eyes on Femi for “a very long time” and doesn’t plan on waiting much longer to face The Ruler.
“In a few weeks, I feel like we will lock horns and we will see who the better man is.”
Moose has spent years as one of TNA’s leading names and now fans will get to see what he’s capable of against some of the top stars of WWE NXT. With the partnership between WWE and TNA set to last for years, fans can expect plenty more huge crossover moments like we saw this week.
Could WWE NXT Champion Oba Femi be the next to ‘cross the line’ and show up in TNA Wrestling? Don’t count it out according to the Ruler. After being confronted by TNA X-Division Champion Moose on the February 18, episode of WWE NXT, Femi teased showing up in TNA.
“Moose invaded my territory tonight. I think it’s time I invaded his.”
"Moose invaded my territory tonight. I think it's time I invaded his."
WWE NXT opened with an angry Femi addressing the attack on him by four masked men after his succesful title defense at NXT Judgment Day. Femi said that the four made a fatal error in that they didn’t finish the job. Though Femi demanded that the four men come out to the ring, he was confronted by Moose instead.
Though a match has been yet to be made between the two champion behemoths, it appears a showdown is inevitable. Fans can look forward to seeing two of the very best on their respective brands locking horns as the WWE-TNA partnership continues to prove to be stronger than ever.
WWE 2K25 will boast the largest roster in a WWE video game in history with over 300 playable characters as well as managers and other personalities. While the game will indeed be bigger than ever, not everyone competing for the promotion has made it into WWE 2K25.
Just three Superstars from WWE’s main roster will not be included in WWE 2K25 when the game hits shelves next month. The Motor City Machine Guns (Alex Shelley and Chris Sabin) will not be playable at launch. The former WWE Tag Team Champions joined the promotion in late 2024 and have been an intrinsic part of the SmackDown tag team roster ever since.
Penta is the third Superstar who won’t be a part of WWE 2K25 at launch. After a messy exit from AEW, the former Trios and Tag Team Champion arrived in WWE during the January 13, 2025, edition of WWE Raw. Since then, the masked star has quickly grown popular with the WWE Universe and was the Iron-Man in the 2025 Men’s Royal Rumble match after lasting over 42 minutes.
H/T to @SmackTalks for uncovering this stat. Stay tuned to SEScoops for more interesting wrestling facts and statistics.
The exclusion of these three Superstar isn’t about their talent, but rather that the three only arrived recently in WWE, well during the creation of WWE 2K25. Many have predicted that Penta and the Guns will be a part of upcoming DLC for the game.
WWE 2K25 is set to release on March 14, with the Deadman and Bloodline Editions of the game set to release one week early for eager gamers. While Penta and the Guns won’t be available at the start, fans shouldn’t be surprised to see the trio added as fully-fledged playable creations down the line.
Shane McMahon’s run of appearances in WWE video games has ended with WWE 2K25, breaking his streak since WWE 2K16. While WWE 2K25 will boast the largest wrestling video game roster in history, Shane, a former European and Hardcore Champion, is not part of the roster.
Though Shane’s exit marks the end of his streak in WWE video games, the McMahon family are not entirely gone. Stephanie McMahon remains as the sole McMahon family representative, appearing as both a playable character and manager.
The McMahon family’s reduced presence reflects recent changes, particularly regarding Vince McMahon. His appearances in the hit game series ended with WWE 2K24 following serious allegations in early 2024, which complicated that game’s development, especially its 40 Years of WrestleMania mode. Not only was Vince McMahon not a playable character, but WWE and 2K made great efforts to avoid using McMahon in archival footage.
WWE 2K25 is set to release on March 14, with the Deadman and Bloodline Editions of the game set to release one week early for eager gamers. While fans will have the chance to create Shane McMahon as part of the ‘Creation Suite,’ Shane O’Mac won’t be an official part of this year’s instalment in the franchise.
Ludwig Kaiser’s dramatic rise as a singles star has caught the attention of WWE Hall of Famer The Undertaker, the German Superstar has shared. On the Insight podcast, Kaiser recalled receiving high praise from the Phenom of WWE.
“Goosebumps, man. That’s crazy. The Undertaker tells you exactly what you need to hear. No sugarcoating.”
The WWE legend didn’t just offer compliments to Kaiser, who transitioned into a singles role in 2024. The Undertaker also gave Kaiser direct advice on how to elevate his game.
“He told me what I needed to do, and it was something I had already felt myself. He reassured me that I was on the right path.”
Though Kaiser stopped short of every detail of the meeting, he shared that the pair spoke for 20 minutes. Recognizing that the Undertaker didn’t have to speak to him, Kaiser called their talk a pivotal changing point in his career.
“He didn’t have to do that. He’s The Undertaker. But he cared. And that meant a lot to me… “If that meeting hadn’t happened, who knows? It was one of those moments in life where you go, ‘Man, this changes everything.’”
Ludwig Kaiser has spent most of his WWE career alongside Gunther—but could that ever change? In an interview with Chris Van Vliet on Insight, Kaiser spoke about his long-time partnership with the reigning World Heavyweight Champion.
“We go way back. People see us as a unit, but I had my fourth-ever match against him. We’ve battled across Europe before we ever teamed together in WWE.”
In 2024, Kaiser turned on Giovanni Vinci, another long-time ally, leaving fans to speculate that GUNTHER could be targeted by the German next. Despite GUNTHER holding Raw’s richest prize, Kaiser would be wary to get on the bad side of the ring general.
“It’s better to be on GUNTHER’s side than against him. Trust me on that.”
When pressed further on possibly turning on GUNTHER, Kaiser explained why he can’t see himself betraying his friend.
“I don’t think so. As a European, loyalty means a lot to me. And GUNTHER has helped me so much in my career.”
On the podcast, Van Vliet pointed out that WWE alliances rarely last forever, with even The New Day splitting last December after ten years of union. Kaiser joked that fans can “never say never” but for the time being “I stand by my words.”
With WrestleMania 41 approaching, GUNTHER’s focus is on Jey Uso and defending the World Heavyweight Championship against the popular star. With such a huge match on the horizon, GUNTHER won’t have to worry about being betrayed by Ludwig Kaiser, for now…
Ludwig Kaiser is ready to succeed as a singles competitor after spending years of his career as Imperium’s supporting cast. On the Insight podcast, Kaiser reflected on the past 12 months which have seen him focus on pursuing singles success.
“Everything I’ve accomplished, I had to work hard for. Nothing was given to me. I’ve been in the company for so long, but this past year, everything started clicking.”
The turning point came in early 2024 when an injury to Imperium partner Giovanni Vinci thrust Kaiser into the singles spotlight. A singles showdown with Kofi Kingston, who has seen success as part of a group and as a solo act, proved pivotal.
“I was told directly what they wanted to see from me that night. It was a test. And I showed them a side of me that had always been there but never had the chance to shine.”
Kaiser has since been able to battle top-tier talent, including Sheamus, Bron Breakker, and CM Punk at Madison Square Garden. Kaiser shared that ten years, he would’ve laughed if he was told he’d one day face CM Punk in MSG “but here we are.”
As for 2025, Kaiser is clear about his ambitions; he wants to do all he can over the year.
“My eyes are on the prize. I have everything it takes to be a major player. People forget—this singles run has really only been one year. Imagine what’s next.”
WWE has been growing its presence in Europe in recent years, with the continent set to play a huge role on the Road to WrestleMania 41. If Kaiser can keep injury free, 2025 could mark his ascension to the main event spotlight.
