WWE Superstar Kevin Owens has officially accepted Sami Zayn’s challenge for a match at Elimination Chamber in Toronto. In an emotionally charged video recorded from his car, Owens addressed Zayn’s recent comments about his struggles, suggesting his former friend “doesn’t know what real pain is.”

Owens referenced his own recent hardships, including being betrayed by three former allies he considered brothers. “You want to go again? That’s perfect, let’s do that,” Owens declared, noting the significance of Toronto as the birthplace of their long-standing rivalry.

The confrontation ended with Owens ominously inviting Zayn to “come find me. Then you’ll know pain.”

Sami Zayn’s Challenge

Owens’ video was in response to this message from Sami Zayn released earlier in the evening. “Kevin, we both know that wasn’t about getting ahead or sending a message, that was trying to end my career.”

“When I’m cleared, me & you are gonna go again, and it’s not gonna be fun.”

The match is set to take place at WWE Elimination Chamber, adding another chapter to one of wrestling’s most compelling feuds.

During WWE SmackDown at Washington D.C.’s Capital One Arena (February 14, 2025), Trish Stratus appeared and announced her attendance at WWE Elimination Chamber in Toronto on March 1. In a segment with Wade Barrett, she discussed her Royal Rumble appearance before making the announcement.

WWE Elimination Chamber 2025 will take place on Saturday, March 1, 2025, at the Rogers Centre in Toronto, Canada. The event will start at 7 PM ET / 4 PM PT for US viewers. This will be WWE’s first event at Rogers Centre since WrestleMania X8 in 2002.

Trish Stratus has recently been active and open to wrestling again. After her appearance at the 2025 Royal Rumble, she expressed excitement about the fan reaction and mentioned it “felt really good” to be back in the ring.

Current Match Card

• Men’s Chamber Match: John Cena, CM Punk, Drew McIntyre, Logan Paul, and 2 TBD participants
• Women’s Chamber Match: Liv Morgan, Alexa Bliss, Bianca Belair, Bayley, and 2 TBD participants

The winners of both Chamber matches will earn world title matches at WrestleMania 41.

Would you like me to make any other refinements?

All Elite Wrestling (AEW) star Mercedes Moné appears to be addressing WWE’s recent talent acquisitions in a candid social media exchange. During a Q&A session, when asked about potential AEW recruitment targets, Moné responded:

“If I listed the people I wanted in AEW The other place would sign them.”

The comment appears to reference a pattern of WWE securing talent and collaborations that were reportedly in AEW’s sights. Two notable examples stand out: WWE’s recent signing of Stephanie Vaquer following her acclaimed match with Moné at AEW x NJPW Forbidden Door, and their collaboration with Megan Thee Stallion, who was reportedly in talks with AEW before WWE announced her “Neva Play” as SmackDown’s new theme song.

These developments have sparked discussion within the wrestling community about the competitive dynamics between the two major promotions in their pursuit of both wrestling and mainstream talent.

Moné’s tweet garnered significant engagement with over 183,000 views, suggesting widespread interest in her perspective on the industry’s talent acquisition landscape.

Mercedes Moné defends the AEW TBS Championship against Harley Cameron this Saturday at AEW Grand Slam Australia.

Tom Pestock’s WWE departure in 2024 was influenced by a single individual, according to the former Superstar. During an appearance on Busted Open Radio, Pestock, previously known as Baron Corbin, discussed his release.

“I believe there’s one person that made this decision or influenced this decision, and I think that’s what put me in the position I’m in now.”

Rather than being discouraged, the former U.S. Champion is using his release as motivation, stating he’s “not gonna let one person control me or my fate or my destiny.” Pestock vowed to demonstrate WWE’s error in releasing him, adding that “it’ll come back on them, whoever that person is.”

Pestock remains confident that his future accomplishments will make WWE regret their decision and potentially seek to bring him back. However, if a return does materialize, fans should expect a different persona entirely.

“Maybe that door will open again and they’ll say, ‘Hey man, come on back.’ But if they do, they’re not getting Baron Corbin. That man is dead. They’re getting Bishop Dyer.”

The emergence of Bishop Dyer represents a fresh start for Pestock following his 12-year tenure with WWE. Having already made his mark at GCW Bloodsport, Dyer is determined to show WWE—and one particular decision-maker—the magnitude of their mistake.

As John Cena embarks on his farewell tour, WWE Intercontinental Champion Bron Breakker suggests the 16-time world champion might want to think twice about one final challenge.

Speaking with Muscle Man Malcolm on Muscle Memory, Breakker delivered an unambiguous message regarding any potential matchup with Cena.

“I just don’t think it’s very wise for John Cena,” Breakker said. “A lot of things have changed since SummerSlam. I know this is his farewell tour, and everyone’s celebrating the last year of John Cena, but if he wants to make it to the end of that year or make it to the end of this run, he probably should just stay away from me.”

When Malcolm acknowledged this bold statement, Breakker emphasized his point by highlighting the age difference between them.

“I wouldn’t want to face me if I was him,” he continued. “If I was 47 years old, I would not want to face me.”

Following his Intercontinental Championship victory at SummerSlam, Breakker initially challenged Cena directly. However, his recent statements have evolved from a simple challenge into what appears to be a calculated warning. While Cena has remained silent on the matter, speculation grows among WWE fans about whether this could set up one final significant challenge before the veteran superstar retires.

The wrestling world now watches with anticipation: Will the legendary Cena accept this implicit challenge, or will he opt to avoid what Breakker suggests would be a dangerous confrontation? Whatever the outcome, the Intercontinental Champion has successfully captured the WWE Universe’s attention.

Potential Challengers for John Cena in 2025

Several other wrestlers have expressed interest in facing John Cena during his 2025 retirement year:

• Matt Cardona, who previously shared screen time with Cena in 2012
• The Miz, hoping for one final match after their WrestleMania 27 main event in 2011
• RVD, who is ready for a rematch following their ECW One Night Stand 2006 encounter
• CM Punk, who hopes to team with Cena after their acclaimed previous matches.
• Zilla Fatu, who has expressed his desire to wrestle Cena before the legend retires.

Kurt Angle, despite his storied history with Cena, has confirmed he will not participate in any matches during the retirement tour due to health concerns.

WWE fans may have just gotten a glimpse of a future WrestleMania showdown.

Bron Breakker and Jacob Fatu came face-to-face in a tense moment on Raw, and the Intercontinental Champion wasted no time fueling speculation about a potential match between the two powerhouses. In an interview with with Muscle Man Malcolm on Muscle Memory, Breakker said:

“I think Jacob Fatu and I—that’s a match for WrestleMania. I think everyone will agree with that.”

Fatu, a dominant force with deep ties to WWE’s famed Anoa’i family, has long been considered a dream opponent for Breakker, who comes from his own legendary lineage as the son of Rick Steiner and nephew of Scott Steiner. The staredown on Raw was brief, but it sent the WWE Universe into a frenzy, with many hoping WWE will capitalize on the moment and book the match for WrestleMania.

While Breaker didn’t reveal any official plans, his confidence in the matchup suggests that it’s more than just a fantasy booking scenario. If WWE pulls the trigger, this could be a clash of two of the most intense competitors in the company today.

And if fans needed another reason to believe in Breaker’s dominance? The guy has his post-show routine down to a science. When asked about his go-to Waffle House order, Breaker served up:

“All-Star special, eggs over medium, sausage, white toast, blueberry waffle,” he said. “Sometimes scrambled eggs with cheese, but I don’t know—Jay’s been trying to get me to switch it up lately. I don’t know if I trust him.”

Whether it’s in the ring or at the Waffle House, Braun Breaker knows exactly what he wants. Now, it’s just a matter of whether WWE makes the match happen. Please?

Catch WWE Intercontinental Champion Bron Breakker’s appearance on Muscle Memory:

WWE was reportedly planning Ricky Starks’ debut before his departure from AEW earlier this week. On Monday, PWInsider reported that Starks had left AEW and was free to perform elsewhere.

The following night on NXT, Starks surprised fans by making an unexpected appearance. He cut a promo but was not recognized by name, leading to speculation that WWE and Starks had either not agreed on terms to use his name or were in the process of deciding on a new one.

According to Wrestling Observer Newsletter‘s Dave Meltzer, WWE had originally planned for Starks to debut at a major NXT event later this year. However, those plans were accelerated as soon as he became available.

Meltzer wrote, “Even before his release, WWE had plans for Starks to debut in NXT at a major event later this year, but sped up the process as soon as he was available.”

It has been confirmed that Starks has been added to WWE’s internal roster under his current ring name. However, there is still a possibility that his identity could change.

Despite his talent and strong fan support, Starks struggled to reach the main event scene in AEW before being sidelined for nearly a year.

Big E has landed another movie role, this time teaming up with former UFC champion Randy Couture (The Expendables), Tommy Davidson (In Living Color), and Jennifer Esposito (Crash) in the family comedy F+.

Deadline.com reported the news today. Premiere Entertainment Group has licensed North American rights to the project, while Swen Studios produced the film. The story follows a group of young teenagers who plan the perfect heist by breaking into their middle school to alter their failing test grades.

Big E is joined in the cast by Wells Rappaport, Lily Jane, James Williams Jr., Lilly Tricano, and Cade Clark. Kenny Beaumont directed the film based on an original screenplay by Jonathan Davenport. Eli Lipnik produces for Swen Studios, with Jason M. Murphy producing for In The Dark Entertainment. Executive producers include Murray Lipnik, Amber Wilkins, Tim Wilkins, Dimiter Nikolov, Elias Axume, and Carlos Rincon for Premiere Entertainment.

While Big E is primarily known for his successful WWE career, he has also ventured into acting. He appeared in Escape the Undertaker (2021), a Netflix interactive movie featuring Big E alongside his New Day teammates Kofi Kingston and Xavier Woods as they attempt to survive a night in the Undertaker’s haunted mansion.

Big E reacted to the news by tweeting, “Blessed to be a part of this wonderful family film written by the absurdly talented @TheRealDavenpoe.” The former WWE Champion has been out of action since breaking his neck on SmackDown in March 2022.

Gunther, the reigning WWE World Heavyweight Champion, is gearing up for a challenging road to WrestleMania 41, with multiple steel cage title defenses scheduled before his showdown with 2025 Royal Rumble winner Jey Uso.

Steel Cage Match vs. Seth Rollins in Germany

As part of WWE’s European tour in March, Gunther will defend his championship in Germany against Seth Rollins inside a steel cage. The announcement was made via WWE Germany’s social media, adding another high-stakes battle to Gunther’s schedule.

CM Punk to Challenge Gunther in Austria

Gunther will also put his title on the line against CM Punk in Austria, marking a rematch from a previous live event main event. This matchup will take place in Gunther’s home country, making it a highly anticipated showdown for Austrian fans.

WrestleMania 41 Title Match Still Set

Despite these upcoming defenses, Gunther is still scheduled to defend the World Heavyweight Championship against Jey Uso at WrestleMania 41. However, with two major challengers ahead, his path to the grand stage remains uncertain.

WWE legend Michelle McCool is the second entrant of the WWE Hall of Fame class of 2025, as announced on ESPN’s Get Up.

The announcement was made by WWE creative head Triple H as both Michelle and her husband The Undertaker appeared at the show. The Game first discussed how Taker was involved in surprising him with the news of H’s own HOF induction earlier.

The King of Kings joked that as the head of the company, he has the opportunity to get the last laugh, before announcing Michelle for the 2025 class:

“I wanted to come here today to take a moment to say, Michelle, The WrestleMania season is upon us, which means the Hall of Fame season is upon us. And I would like to tell you right now that you’ll be inducted into the 2025 Hall of Fame.”

Triple H credited McMcool’s influence on the advanced state of women’s professional wrestling, calling her “one of the women that transformed what we do.”

Triple H welcomes Michelle McCool to the WWE Hall of Fame on @GetUpESPN ?

"One of the women that transformed what we do." ? pic.twitter.com/A8y8sL7zGn

— ESPN (@espn) February 14, 2025

• I Hated It: Michelle McCool Reflects On Being Part of Cruel WWE Storyline

Michelle McCool’s WWE Career

Michelle McCool is a WWE veteran who is considered a trailblazer for women’s wrestling. A multi-time woman’s champion, the wrestling icon is the idol for many of the current WWE stars.

Having found her way into the business in 2004 through Divas Search, McCool quickly became a fan favorite. She was considered one of the top female stars of the Ruthless Aggression Era before she retired from active competition in 2011.

The retired wrestling star made history when she became the inaugural WWE Divas Champion at the 2008 Great American Bash event. Not only did she have a long reign with the title, but she also went on to win the Women’s Championship in 2009. Michelle then unified both the belts, securing her name in the history books as the first and so far, the only Unified Divas Champion.

SEScoops would like to congratulate Michelle McCool on the well-deserved induction.

• Reason Ricky Starks Was Not Referred By His Name On NXT

Rock band Downstait has released “Hart Won’t Quit,” a new song that will serve as Indi Hartwell’s entrance theme.

Hartwell (Samantha De Martin) was released by WWE in late 2024 after approximately five years with the company. During her time there, the Australian star held the NXT Women’s Championship and the NXT Women’s Tag Team Championship alongside Candice LeRae.

In a video on her new YouTube channel, Hartwell revealed she was blindsided by WWE’s decision to release her. “I didn’t see it coming at all, especially since I’d been on TV pretty regularly,” she said.

Despite the shock, Hartwell expressed gratitude for her WWE journey, saying, “It’s a bit bittersweet, but I’m choosing to focus on the good memories.”

She remains committed to professional wrestling and will feature Downstait’s “Hart Won’t Quit” as part of her presentation in the next chapter of her career.

Johnny Gargano Shares Heartfelt Farewell to Indi Hartwell

A new WWE docu-series may be coming to Netflix next year, according to a report from WWE insider Wrestlevotes. While neither WWE nor Netflix have officially announced the project, the report suggests that the series—described as a “modern-day vlog show”—will premiere in Spring 2025. The alleged focus will be WWE’s transition to Netflix and an inside look at the lives of its superstars, both in and out of the ring.

WWE recorded hours of behind-the-scenes footage at the Intuit Dome during the first weekend of January, potentially for use in this project. Additionally, current Women’s United States Champion Chelsea Green is reportedly among the featured talent.

WWE’s collaboration with Netflix began earlier this year with Monday Night RAW moving exclusively to the platform in the U.S., while international markets gained access to WWE’s content library. If accurate, this rumored docu-series would expand that partnership further.

As of now, WWE and Netflix have not publicly commented on the project. We have reached out to Netflix for confirmation and will provide updates as more information becomes available.

Michelle McCool has opened up about her own experience of dealing with obsessive fans at the airports.

The transgression of fans when approaching talents in public has been a topic of discussion recently. Especially for female talents it has become a huge problem in recent times. Stars such as Asuka have had to publicly condone such actions, making people concerned about their well-being.

The wrestling veteran also opened up about facing such troubles during a recent interview with Chris Van Vliet. Michelle McCool called such fans awful and noted how people don’t leave stars alone even when they’re with kids:

“People recognizing we were traveling on the road all the time. But man, it’s crazy. People just don’t have boundaries. It’s like, you appreciate and love the fans. You hear it from even the superstars today, but when you’re getting chased or followed and your kids are around, especially, it’s just like, Dude, come on.”

• The Undertaker Has Flimsy Defence On Recent Public Outing With Vince McMahon

The former Women’s Champion is not the only one who has spoken about such issues in recent time. Sonya Deville who was victim of an attempted kidnapping in 2020 recently discussed how stalking laws don’t provide a lot of protection to celebrities and called for a change.

Apart from this, Michelle McCool also talked about the early backstage reactions to her relationship with The Undertaker and expressed regret on being part of a cruel WWE storyline. You can check out what she said about the matter here.

• Reason Ricky Starks Was Not Referred By His Name On NXT

Veteran wrestler Mickie James has responded to NXT star Roxanne Perez naming her as a dream WrestleMania opponent, hinting that she may step back into the ring.

While James hasn’t competed in WWE since the 2022 Royal Rumble, she has made multiple backstage appearances at recent shows. Speaking with No Contest Wrestling, Perez listed several wrestling legends—AJ Lee, Lita, Trish Stratus, Chyna, and Mickie James—as her dream opponents. She specifically noted that matches against Stratus and James could be possible in 2025.

James acknowledged the mention on Twitter, playfully responding:

“You gonna make me dust off my working boots @roxanne_wwe ?”

The six-time WWE Women’s Champion last wrestled in September 2024, appearing for IWR on September 12. Meanwhile, Trish Stratus recently made her in-ring return at the 2025 Royal Rumble, where Perez delivered an impressive iron-woman performance.

With both Stratus and James potentially available for a future match, a high-profile showdown with Perez could be on the horizon.

WWE Women’s Champion Tiffany Stratton would love to do something with Sabrina Carpenter, whether it be in WWE or on the big screen. Speaking to Adrian Hernandez, Stratton was asked who should play her in a movie and picked the Espresso star.

 “It is only fitting to have Sabrina Carpenter play me in a future movie. Just because I get so many comparisons. A lot of my gear is inspired by her so there.”

When Hernandez teased Carpenter appearing at WrestleMania 41 and performing for Stratton, the WWE Women’s Champion made her plea to the music star.

“Sabrina Carpenter, if you are listening, sing my entrance music for me, or at least ‘Espresso,’ please, please, please. Like I don’t even care, whichever one you want, you can do it. If you want, we can totally match our outfits together. So yeah, Sabrina Carpenter, if you’re listening, please.”

Carpenter or no Carpenter, Stratton will have a key role at WrestleMania with all signs pointing to a showdown with Charlotte Flair. Taking on WWE’s most decorated woman of all time will certainly be a huge match for Stratton’s debut WrestleMania, and she’s hopeful that Carpenter will add some pizzazz to her arrival in Vegas.

Samantha Irvin would have not remained as a ring announcer in WWE if Vince McMahon was still running things, according to the announcer/musician. Speaking on Busted Open Radio, Irvin speculated as to how her WWE career could have been different had McMahon not been absent for much of her tenure.

“Vince would have taken her off of ring announcing. He would have been like, ‘Put her somewhere else and have her do something else.’ In my head, I always thought that’s what would happen.”

Irvin’s belief is that McMahon would have forseen a role for her bigger than ring announcing. Instead, WWE’s current administration only saw her as an announcer, which played a large role in her decision to leave in October 2024. Irvin herself has said that she hoped that announcing would lead into a role as a manager or General Manager, but that didn’t pan out.

While her time with WWE is over, Irvin shared on the show that “I’m not done with wrestling at all” but is focusing on projects outside the squared circle for the time being. This week, Irvin will release ‘Make Me,’ her first piece of music to be released since 2020.

Though many have suspected that Irvin will find her way to AEW alongside her fiancee Ricochet, that has yet to happen. Nevertheless, Irvin remains optimistic for a future in wrestling beyond ring announcing, and believes that would’ve happpened already under WWE’s previous adminstration.

Jordynne Grace has arrived in WWE, and now the former TNA Knockouts World Champion is excited at seeing her “bro” very soon. On X (formerly known as Twitter) Josh Alexander reflected on his jorney in wrestling and being signed to TNA Wrestling in 2019. In the comments, Grace shared that she couldn’t wait to see Alexander in the near future.

Grace’s comment spawned speculation that Josh Alexander could be the next high-profile name to siggn with WWE. One fan said that Alexander was needed “in NXT’s men’s division desperately” while another was excited at the idea of Alexander facing fellow powerhouse Bron Breakker.

Alexander’s contract with TNA Wrestling will expire on February 15, with this week’s iMPACT being promoted as hosting his final match with the promotion. The match saw Eric Young get the victory on the ‘Walking Weapon’ who remained laid out as TNA iMPACT went off the air.

A potential run in WWE opens up a lot of possibilities for Alexander, including a potential reunion with Ethan Page as The North. Whether it be in NXT or on WWE’s main roster, Alexander would be a huge acquisition for WWE, though there’s other options for him, including AEW or elsewhere.

On the Straight Talk Wrestling podcast, Alexander recently shared that he was supposed to appear for NXT last year but plans ultimately fell through. With Grace hoping to see Alexander soon, it remains to be seen if fans will see the former World Champion in a WWE ring in 2025.

The Undertaker has defended his recent meeting with Vince McMahon.

The former WWE owner recently made a rare public appearance, being spotted at the Super Bowl event. He wasn’t the only wrestling name at the show. Both The Dead Man and Shane McMahon were seen hanging out with the boss during the night. A lot of people were critical of this outing in light of Vince’s ongoing legal battle with ex-employee Janel Grant.

During a recent appearance on Busted Open Radio, the Hall of Famer tried to defend his meeting with the former WWE chairman. The Undertaker admitted that he was a guest of Vince McMahon at the event. Speaking about the horrific accusations against his former boss, the retired wrestling star claimed that he does not know anything about it:

“Look, I’m gonna get hate for that. Listen, I don’t know. I don’t know. People think, ‘Oh, you guys are so close you know [everything.]’ I don’t know what has been done, what hasn’t been done. We don’t talk about those things, right? But he is a friend of mine.”

• Reason Ricky Starks Was Not Referred By His Name On NXT

That’s The Way It Is: The Undertaker

The Undertaker discussed how Vince gave him an opportunity to make something of his life and the two became very good friends over the years. He also advised people critical of his continued friendship with McMahon to ‘get off their high horse’:

“So, I don’t know everything that’s happened, what’s going on, and I’m not the judge on this case. I’m not the judge. There’s only one judge. That’s the man upstairs. He’s gonna give us all whatever we deserve at the end, and that’s what it [is]. I think people in glass houses shouldn’t throw stones.

And I think if you really look at your life and people who get off their high horse and their righteousness on social media and everything else…I don’t have to agree with everything that people do. It doesn’t change the fact that I love somebody, and I’m friends with somebody. It doesn’t mean I’m gonna do the same things. But that’s the way it is.”

The former World Champion noted that the last time he met Vince was in Saudi Arabia right after the latter’s back surgery. Per Taker, the longtime wrestling executive looked ‘much better’ this time around and was more like the ‘old Vince’ he has known through the years. Addressing the people critical of him over the meeting, the Attitude Era star said that he doesn’t ‘give a shit’ about their opinion and said ‘I don’t conform, if you’re my friend, you’re my friend.’

• Sheamus Reunites With Former Teammate After AEW Release

Legendary WWE tag team Demolition, consisting of Ax (Bill Eadie) and Smash (Barry Darsow), is finally returning to WWE after decades of estrangement.

According to PWInsider, the fearsome duo has officially signed Legends contracts. These deals will provide the groundbreaking tag team with financial benefits for years to come and open up licensing opportunities that will see Demolition represented through WWE’s video games, action figures, and merchandise.

This signing marks a significant reconciliation between WWE and one of its most dominant tag teams from the 1980s. Previously, Eadie and Darsow were involved in legal battles with WWE, including a CTE lawsuit and a dispute over the Demolition name in the mid-90s.

This mending of fences is expected to culminate with a long-overdue WWE Hall of Fame induction for the face-painted powerhouses.

Samantha Irvin had one of the most memorable calls in WWE history when she announced Cody Rhodes as the new Undisputed WWE Champion at WrestleMania XL. However, she now looks back on that moment with regret, saying she let her emotions take over and felt she failed as an announcer.

“I was not there for work. I was literally there, like, just as me, just Sammie,” Irvin admitted on Busted Open.

“I started crying before the finish. I started crying when The Undertaker came out. And then Cody winning… it all just came crashing down. Every sad thing, every crazy thing, all the stuff in wrestling that you can’t talk about. It just all came out in that moment.”

Irvin felt so overwhelmed that she immediately questioned whether she belonged in the role.

“I felt absolutely terrible. I said—okay, I have to leave now, obviously. I’m done. Because I’m a terrible announcer. Because I prioritized being a fan in that moment.”

Her emotional delivery resonated with fans, making her one of WWE’s most beloved voices, but for Irvin, it was a sign that her future lay elsewhere.

Having moved on from WWE, she’s returning to her roots in music, with her debut single “Make Me” dropping on February 14.

WWE Hall of Famer Ric Flair offered candid thoughts on the women’s division during a recent appearance on Gabby AF, placing his daughter Charlotte Flair and Rhea Ripley in a class of their own.

“She’s so much better than… and that’s not to say the other girls aren’t good, but she and Rhea right now are the two best in the business,” Flair stated, highlighting Charlotte’s elite status.

While acknowledging former WWE star Sasha Banks (now Mercedes Moné), Flair maintained that with her departure, Charlotte and Rhea have emerged as the division’s clear standouts.

A two-time Royal Rumble winner and decorated champion, Charlotte made her return to WWE in January after recovering from injury. Flair revealed he watched her comeback match from a sports bar, overcome with emotion at seeing his daughter back in action.

Ric Flair Shocked to Learn He Suffered a Recent Heart Attack

“The Match to Make”

The Nature Boy particularly praised Charlotte’s WrestleMania 39 encounter with Ripley, declaring:

“They haven’t had a match like that in the women’s division that I’ve seen on TV anywhere since that match.”

Looking ahead to WrestleMania 41, Flair advocates for another Charlotte-Rhea confrontation, calling it “the match to make.” He also expressed interest in potential matchups with Bianca Belair and the long-anticipated showdown with Becky Lynch.

As WWE’s premier event approaches, the question remains whether the company will capitalize on Charlotte and Rhea’s proven in-ring chemistry.

WWE is gearing up for WrestleMania 41 in Las Vegas on April 19–20, 2025, but attention is already shifting to the location of WrestleMania 42 in 2026. While Minneapolis was initially considered for WrestleMania 41, WWE ultimately awarded the city SummerSlam 2026 instead.

According to WrestleVotes, WWE plans to host WrestleMania 42 at the Caesars Superdome in New Orleans, Louisiana. This would mark the third time the stadium has hosted the event, following WrestleMania 30 (2014) and WrestleMania 34 (2018). WWE is expected to officially announce the 2026 location before WrestleMania 41 takes place.

Long-Term Planning for New Orleans WrestleMania

A report from Fightful Select indicates that New Orleans has been in WWE’s long-term plans for WrestleMania 42 since Vince McMahon’s tenure leading the company. However, given the unexpected shift in plans for WrestleMania 41, some speculated whether this decision might change.

Additionally, WWE has reportedly informed some of its business partners about its 2026 plans. the The UK and Saudi Arabia are both eager to host WWE’s biggest spectacular of the year, but fans in those regions shouldn’t expect anything before 2028.

Meanwhile, WrestleMania 41 will feature Jey Uso challenging Gunther for the World Heavyweight Championship after his Royal Rumble victory, while Charlotte Flair, the winner of the women’s Rumble, will also compete for a championship. The event will also mark John Cena’s final WrestleMania as an in-ring competitor before his planned retirement at the end of 2025.

With an official announcement expected soon, WWE looks set to bring WrestleMania back to one of its most iconic venues in 2026.

WWE broadcaster Jackie Redmond will not be appearing on Monday Night RAW this week as she fulfills her NHL coverage duties for TNT Sports.

Redmond, a backstage interviewer and on-air personality for WWE, also covers the National Hockey League for TNT. She is currently reporting from Montreal, where the NHL’s All-Star Weekend has transitioned into the new 4 Nations Faceoff tournament, which runs through February 20.

When asked by a fan on social media whether she would be absent from RAW this Monday, Redmond confirmed. “You assume correctly. No RAW for me this week. Got myself a #4Nations DOUBLE HEADER on TNT”

The tournament continues at Montreal’s Bell Centre through Saturday before shifting to Boston’s TD Garden next week. Monday’s matchups will feature Canada vs. Finland and Sweden vs. the United States.

Several of WWE’s top announcers hold jobs outside of professional wrestling, which creates scheduling conflicts. WWE Raw commentator Pat McAfee missed a recent episode due to call college football. Joe Tessitore will miss this week’s SmackDown to call the action for ESPN boxing from Madison Square Garden (Denys Berinchyk vs. Keyshawn Davis).

Unlike many WWE stars released on February 7, Sonya Deville wasn’t outright cut—her contract simply won’t be renewed when it expires later this month. This allows her to bypass the standard 90-day non-compete clause, meaning she can sign with any promotion or pursue other opportunities immediately.

Deville, whose real name is Daria Rae Berenato, has already begun distancing herself from her WWE persona. She recently changed her Twitter name back to her real name and has shared cryptic messages hinting at her next move.

After attending the Cobra Kai premiere, she posted, “…. See what’s next,” further fueling curiosity among fans. She also updated her bio to read, “To be continued …,” leaving her future open-ended. Here she is at the premiere along with AEW star Britt Baker, who has appeared in the series.

Since joining WWE in 2015 via Tough Enough, Deville transitioned from an in-ring competitor to an authority figure before winning the WWE Women’s Tag Team Championship with Chelsea Green in July 2023. However, an ACL injury cut her title reign short, keeping her out of action for much of her final WWE run.

Now that she’s officially leaving, speculation is growing about her next move. With her MMA background, strong mic skills, and mainstream appeal, Deville could fit well in AEW, TNA, or even a return to MMA. She also has ties to Hollywood, having appeared in reality TV and advocacy work, making acting another potential path.

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A post shared by Daria Berenato (@sonyadevillewwe)

Another WWE star has switched brands as part of the company’s extended transfer window. Veteran talent R-Truth has been moved to the SmackDown brand, according to PWInsider. We haven’t seen any public acknowledgement from WWE as of this writing, but he’ll be on SmackDown going forward.

This move reunites him with his former tag team partner, The Miz. Nearly a year ago, the duo won the Tag Team Titles at WrestleMania XL.

WWE introduced the transfer window program in late 2024, allowing for the general managers of Raw, SmackDown and NXT to negotiate the exchange of talent. Notable moves include Bayley, Grayson Waller, and Austin Theory transitioning from SmackDown to Raw, while Raw‘s Damian Priest, Drew McIntyre, and The Miz have moved to SmackDown. While stars like Roman Reigns, Kevin Owens, and Cody Rhodes have appeared on different brands, their transfers have yet to be officially confirmed.

R-Truth returned to WWE in 2008 and has been a mainstay ever since. He has won the WWE United States Championship twice, the WWE Tag Team Championship twice (once with Kofi Kingston and once with The Miz), and the WWE 24/7 Championship a record 54 times.