Dakota Kai, one of WWE’s most resilient and dynamic performers, is once again on the injured list following a tag team match on the January 20th episode of Raw. Teaming with IYO SKY against Zoey Stark and Shayna Baszler, Kai reportedly suffered an injury during the bout.

According to PWInsider.com, Kai was “hurt” during the match, with one source speculating that the issue may have stemmed from a rough bump taken on a missile dropkick. It was later confirmed to be a concussion. Kai has been pulled from WWE programming and was notably absent from this week’s Raw.

As of now, it’s unclear whether this injury will prevent Dakota Kai from participating in the 2025 Women’s Royal Rumble, which is set to take place this weekend. Kai’s potential absence would be a significant blow to both her and her faction, Damage CTRL, as the group has been a prominent force in WWE’s women’s division.

Kai’s latest setback is part of an unfortunate pattern in her career, as she has dealt with multiple significant injuries over the years:

1. Right ACL Tear – December 2018
   • Kai tore her ACL in her right knee during an NXT live event in Green Bay, Wisconsin. This injury sidelined her for over nine months, costing her a spot in the inaugural Women’s Tag Team Championship tournament.
2. Shoulder Injury – Late 2020
   • During her NXT run, Kai suffered a shoulder injury that briefly removed her from active competition. While not severe, it slowed her momentum during her growing partnership with Raquel González.
3. Left ACL Tear – May 2023
   • In a WWE Women’s Tag Team Championship match on SmackDown, Kai suffered a torn ACL in her left knee after a botched top-rope move. The injury required surgery and kept her out for 9–12 months, sidelining her for the remainder of 2023.

The trailer for Dave Bautista’s upcoming Hollywood project, In The Lost Lands, has officially been released. The film is written by Paul W.S. Anderson and Constantin Werner, based on the short story of the same name by renowned author George R. R. Martin.

The plot centers on a queen who, desperate to fulfill her desire for love, makes a bold move by enlisting the feared sorceress Gray Alys (Milla Jovovich). Gray Alys is tasked with venturing into the ghostly wilderness of the Lost Lands to acquire a magical power. Alongside her guide, the drifter Boyce (Dave Bautista), the two must navigate the perilous landscape and outwit both men and demons.

The cast also features Arly Jover, Amara Okereke, Fraser James, and others in supporting roles. Directed by Paul W.S. Anderson, the movie is set to hit theaters nationwide on March 7, 2025.

To get a glimpse of this epic fantasy adventure, you can watch the trailer here:

Bautista’s breakout moment came when he was cast as Drax the Destroyer in Marvel Studios’ Guardians of the Galaxy (2014). His portrayal of the literal-minded but lovable alien warrior won audiences over and showcased his comedic timing. Drax became a fan favorite, and Bautista reprised the role in subsequent Marvel films.

Bautista continued to land major roles, solidifying his status as one of Hollywood’s top action stars:

• Dune (2021): Played Glossu Rabban, a brutal enforcer in Denis Villeneuve’s epic adaptation of the sci-fi classic. He will reprise this role in Dune: Part Two (2024).
• Army of the Dead (2021): Starred as Scott Ward in Zack Snyder’s zombie heist film on Netflix.
• Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery (2022): Showcased his comedic and dramatic chops as Duke Cody in Rian Johnson’s murder-mystery ensemble.

Asuka appears to be edging closer to her return to in-ring action after an extended hiatus due to a knee injury.

According to Sean Ross Sapp of Fightful Select, creative plans involving Asuka have been discussed, including a potential tag team match, though that idea was reportedly scrapped. As of now, her official return date remains unclear.

The former champion underwent knee surgery last year following an injury that, despite speculation, did not immediately sideline her. Asuka continued competing, including at Backlash France in April, where she and her partner lost the WWE Women’s Tag Team titles to Bianca Belair and Jade Cargill. After announcing she would be taking a break to address the injury, Asuka underwent surgery and has since been focused on rehab. 

She has documented her recovery journey through vlogs on her YouTube channel, offering fans an inside look at her progress. Fightful added there have been no reports of Asuka training at the WWE Performance Center or any confirmation of her status for the Royal Rumble.

For now, fans can only wait and watch for updates as Asuka continues her road to recovery.

WWE Superstar Big E will be bringing the ‘Power of Positivity’ to Marvel after landing a role in Disney+’s Your Friendly Neighborhood Spiderman. Speaking to Brandon Davis, Jeff Trammell, the head writer of the new show, discussed working with the former WWE Champion.

“We’ve been recording him since a few years ago. I mean, the first time he recorded, he was still wearing the neck brace. We’re very fortunate to have E, he’s incredible, he’s been the absolute best to work with. I love him.”

On X, Big E confirmed the news and shared how excited he is to bring his voice to the animated series.

There’s no word on who Big E will voice on the show, but his role is another step for the former World Champion outside of the ring. In October 2024, Big E landed a role on Peacock’s Laid, showing that the injured wrestler still has plenty to give in entertainment.

Big E Breaks Silence On New Day Betrayal: I Don’t Recognize Them

Your Friendly Neighborhood Spiderman will follow the iconic web-slinger’s early days as a superhero as he tries to balance heroics and high-school life. The show will deviate from the popular Marvel Cinematic Universe as Peter Parker will be mentored by Norman Osborn instead of Tony Stark.

Your Friendly Neighborhood Spiderman will launch with a two episode premiere on Disney+ on January 29.

Major League Soccer (MLS) is moving its entire production operation to WWE’s state-of-the-art studios in Stamford, Connecticut. MLS Season Pass, the league’s Apple TV-based streaming service, will now be produced at The Studios at WWE. The 30,000 square-foot facility opened in April 2024.

Speaking to Sports Business Journal, Seth Bacon, MLS EVP of Media, addressed the move.

“The goal of moving to this new facility is to get everyone into one place, everyone working together, focused on how we produce the same amount of content at higher quality.”

Beyond MLS Season Pass, The Studios at WWE will also oversee graphics production for over 600 live matches per year, in addition to short-form content for MLS social media channels and other league content partners. This move comes amid MLS’ ten-year broadcasting deal with Apple Inc that was announced in 2022 and began with the 2023 season.

For decades, WWE has remained on the forefront of improving its production, including moving to HD in 2008. In 2024, Lee Fitting replaced Kevin Dunn as WWE’s Head of Production, and his work has been praised by fans and insiders alike.

MLS teaming up with WWE’s production powerhouse is an unexpected crossover but will see the soccer league benefit from WWE’s high quality level of production. It remains to be seen if WWE and MLS experience any crossover on-screen with this move to The Studios but fans know not to count anything out in this current era for the promotion.

Liv Morgan recently opened up about her journey from Hooters waitress to the top of WWE, a path that has shown her resilienc and determination. The former Women’s World Champion shared her inspiring story on the Pod Meets World podcast, where she spoke with hosts Will Friedle, Danielle Fishel, and Rider Strong about the moments that defined her career.

An Unlikely Start

Morgan’s WWE journey began in Hooters, where she’d meet renowned strength coach Joe DeFranco. After sharing her love of wrestling, Liv was invited to DeFranco’s gym where she “just kept up” with NFL athletes. Impressed by her grit, DeFranco, who trained Triple H, contacted WWE on her behalf, opening the door to her future.

Overcoming the WWE Tryout

Liv’s 2014 tryout was a gruelling three-day process that pushed her to the limit. On the podcast, Morgan recalled trying to stay focused when everyone around her seemed to be falling apart.

“People were vomiting, getting concussed, and I doubled up to keep things even in the ring.”

Despite being inexperienced, Morgan’s perserverance won out and she impressed WWE’s coaches. Not long after the tryout, she’d be offered a contract. Her on-screen debut would come not as a wrestler, but as a planted fan who jumped the barricade to get close to Tyler Breeze during his NXT TakeOver: Rival entrance in February 2015.

Living a Family Dream

Morgan had been a wrestling fan for years before reaching WWE, making her arrival a dream come true. On the podcast, Morgan recalled loving wrestling with her four older brothers, who remain her biggest supporters to this day.

 “It wasn’t just my dream—it was our family dream. The fact that one of us made it feels surreal to them.”

A Story of Resilience

Since her in-ring debut as ‘Local Competitor’ against Eva Marie on the November 4, 2015, episode of NXT, Morgan has risen to become one of WWE’s leading women. A spell of injuries in 2023 could not keep Morgan down, and 2024 saw her win both the Women’s World Championship and the first ever Women’s Crown Jewel Championship.

Now, attention turns to Morgan’s performance in this weekend’s 30-Woman Royal Rumble match, a match she was the runner-up in last year. Keep following SEScoops for all the latest WWE updates as the Road to WrestleMania heats up.

The 2025 WWE Royal Rumble is set to take place this Saturday, February 1, at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis. Over 60,000 wrestling fans will gather to witness history unfold. Each year, the event delivers unforgettable moments and newsworthy developments.

WWE’s first premium live event of the year kicks off the Road to WrestleMania. In addition to the high-stakes 30-man and 30-woman Royal Rumble battle royal matches, this year’s winter classic will feature a Ladder Match for the Undisputed WWE Championship and a Best of 3 Falls tag team dream match. The excitement is palpable as fans gear up for the action.

It’s all happening this weekend, and we’ve got you covered with this comprehensive guide to the 2025 WWE Royal Rumble.

How to Watch

Start Times

The 2025 WWE Royal Rumble is scheduled to begin at 6:00 PM (ET) local time. Start times in select regions include:

• Pacific US Time (PST): 3:00 PM
• UK (GMT): 11:00 PM
• Saudi Arabia (AST): 2:00 AM (next day, Sunday)
• India (IST): 4:30 AM (next day, Sunday)

Streaming Platforms

The event streams live around the globe on Netflix and Peacock:

• Netflix: For fans outside the U.S., the 2025 Royal Rumble will mark WWE’s first-ever Premium Live Event on Netflix.
• Peacock: Fans in the United States can catch all the action on Peacock, the home of Premium Live Events.

Matches

Here’s the confirmed match card for the 2025 WWE Royal Rumble:

Ladder Match for the Undisputed WWE Championship: Cody Rhodes (c) vs. Kevin Owens

Both the Undisputed WWE Championship and the iconic Winged Eagle title belt will be suspended above the ring, adding even more drama to this high-stakes ladder match showdown.

Men’s Royal Rumble Match

The traditional 30-man battle royal with championship implications is back. The stacked field of confirmed Royal Rumble entrants includes John Cena, CM Punk, Roman Reigns, Seth Rollins, Drew McIntyre, Jey Uso, Rey Mysterio, Sami Zayn, and more.

Women’s Royal Rumble Match

The 30-woman Royal Rumble match is equally loaded, featuring former winners and World Champions. Charlotte Flair, Liv Morgan, Bianca Belair, Bayley, Naomi, and Raquel Rodriguez are among the participants.

By the Numbers: WWE Women’s Royal Rumble

Two-Out-of-Three Falls for the WWE Tag Team Championship: #DIY (c) vs. Motor City Machine Guns

A best-of-three-falls format will determine the reigning tag team champions in what promises to be an intense showdown.

The Royal Rumble remains one of WWE’s most anticipated events, known for its unpredictability and its role in setting the stage for WrestleMania. Stay tuned to SEScoops for updates on the remaining participants and potential surprises leading up to the event.

At WWE Saturday Night’s Main Event, GUNTHER retained the World Heavyweight Championship against Jey Uso. Taking to X after the show, GUNTHER shared some advice for the Superstar he’s beaten on three separate occasions.

GUNTHER holds far more than three victories over Jey Uso if you include WWE live events and dark matches. Despite this, Jey remains confident that a World Championship will be his in the future. In post-match comments, the former Intercontinental Champion shared his plan for what’s next.

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Jey Uso has already declared for the Men’s Royal Rumble match, a bout he started in 2024. Despite his popularity, Jey will face immense competition, as top names including CM Punk, John Cena, and Roman Reigns have also declared forthe much-anticipated 30-Man contest.

2025 Royal Rumble Entrants: All Confirmed Superstars

Though Jey lost at Saturday Night’s Main Event, fans remain excited at the prospect of the former tag-team specialist holding a WWE World Championship one day. If this happens, Jey will join the likes of Edge, Jeff Hardy, and JBL as tag wrestlers who have gone on to become World Champions.

Stay tuned to SEScoops for the latest on Jey Uso, as fans can expect the ‘Main Event’ talent to continue his pursuit of a World Championship, despite GUNTHER’s warning.

WWE and TNA recently announced their multi-year partnership, which will see talent from both promotions ‘cross the line.’ On a recent edition of the Talk’n Shop podcast, Karl Anderson shared that this partnership is a dream come true, especially for stars in TNA.

“I don’t care what anybody thinks or says, any chance you get an opportunity to work with WWE, you’re getting a platform that people dream of getting.”

Luke Gallows, Anderson’s tag-team partner agreed, and shared that he had fun watching a recent TNA iMPACT, his first time watching in eight years. Gallows also looked ahead to this weekend’s Royal Rumble, which he predicts could see TNA involvement.

“They pulled the trigger on Joe Hendry. So now you wonder, does this feed into, and there’s speculation about this, a Joe Hendry surprise Royal Rumble appearance? I would have to think yes, correct?”

Hendry has already teased entering the Royal Rumble, and if he does, he will be proud to represent TNA Wrestling. Whether or not the viral star enters this weekend’s 30-Man match, fans can expect years of crossover between two promotions which were once bitter rivals. Wes Lee will be in action during this week’s episode of TNA iMPACT after costing his former allies the Rascalz on last week’s show.

Stay tuned to SEScoops for the latest on the WWE-TNA partnership and to see who crosses the line next.

Former NXT Champion Ilja Dragunov has been seen at the WWE Performance Center this week, sparking speculation about the status of his recovery from a torn ACL suffered in September 2024. According to Fightful Select, Dragunov has been present in full workout gear, though it remains unclear whether he is actively training for a return or undergoing routine evaluations.

Dragunov’s initial recovery timeline was estimated at six to nine months, but his presence at the facility has fueled rumors that he may be ahead of schedule. Recent reports suggested he had been training without the use of support gear, signaling significant progress in his rehabilitation.

The injury derailed Dragunov’s momentum on the main roster at a critical point, leaving fans eager for updates on his return. While there is no official word yet on WWE’s creative plans for him, the timing of his appearance at the Performance Center during WrestleMania season has raised eyebrows.

If Dragunov is nearing a return, his comeback could inject fresh energy into WWE programming. Known as “The Mad Dragon,” Dragunov is a fierce competitor, and fans are anticipating his return to action. Whether he’s gearing up for a surprise return or simply progressing in his recovery, his journey back to the ring is being closely watched.

Former TNA World Champion Tessa Blanchard speaks highly of WWE Women’s World Champion Rhea Ripley, and discussed a potential clash between the two stars.

Blanchard, who recently returned to TNA at Final Resolution and defeated Jordynne Grace at Genesis, addressed the idea of a dream match during a recent appearance on the DeLoco Podcast.

When asked about a showdown with Ripley, Blanchard expressed admiration for the WWE star’s evolution.

“She’s phenomenal. I’ve watched some of her matches, and we actually did the first-ever Mae Young Classic for WWE together. But she was a different Rhea Ripley then. She was blonde hair, still tall, still built, still phenomenal in the ring.

But she has just transformed into this absolute powerhouse over there. So yeah, I would be down for that,” Blanchard remarked.

With WWE’s partnership with TNA making cross-promotional matches possible, the prospect of Ripley facing top TNA talent like Blanchard has generated significant excitement among wrestling fans.

The final WWE Raw before the 2025 Royal Rumble features multiple championship matches and high-profile returns. The action-packed lineup from the State Farm Arena in Atlanta, GA will see the War Raiders put their World Tag Team Championship on the line against The Judgment Day’s JD McDonagh and Dominik Mysterio, who steps in for an absent Finn Bálor.

Plus, Sami Zayn battles Drew McIntyre in what promises to be an intense singles match. In a major development, Logan Paul makes his official Raw debut on Netflix. The Maverick has been absent since losing the United States Championship at SummerSlam, and his return promises to make a significant impact.

Atlanta’s own Cody Rhodes returns home ahead of his Royal Rumble ladder match against Kevin Owens for the Undisputed WWE Championship. Additionally, Roman Reigns is set to appear for a special celebration related to the WWE 2K25 video game.

WWE Raw Preview: January 27, 2025

Confirmed matches and segments:

• WWE World Tag Team Championship: The War Raiders (c) vs. JD McDonagh & Dominik Mysterio
• WWE Women’s Tag Team Championship: Bianca Belair & Naomi (c) vs. Liv Morgan & Raquel Rodriguez
• Sami Zayn vs. Drew McIntyre
• Logan Paul makes his Raw debut
• Cody Rhodes appears ahead of Royal Rumble
• Roman Reigns returns for special celebration

Stay tuned to SEScoops for the latest WWE news on the road to this weekend’s 2025 Royal Rumble.

What Happened Last Week?

Ahead of tonight’s WWE Raw, here’s a quick recap of last week’s show:

• Rhea Ripley was ambushed by Nia Jax in the parking lot
• Jey Uso confronted Gunther and laid him out with a superkick
• Bayley declared herself for the Royal Rumble
• Bayley faced Nia Jax in singles competition

The Women’s Royal Rumble has become a cornerstone of WWE programming since its debut in 2018, showcasing groundbreaking moments and historic achievements. Over the years, 76 women have participated in this annual spectacle, cementing their legacies in the world of professional wrestling.

From the triumphs of seven winners to the monumental WrestleMania successes of five champions, the event has continued to elevate the status of women’s wrestling.

This article explores the defining moments of the Women’s Royal Rumble, highlighting record-breaking performances, notable entry positions, and the event’s influence on WWE’s biggest stage.

Debut and Participation: The Women’s Royal Rumble made its inaugural appearance in 2018. Since then, a total of 76 women have competed in this annual event.

Winners and Success Rate: Out of these participants, only 7 have emerged victorious, accounting for approximately 5.32% of all entrants.

WrestleMania Triumphs: Following their Royal Rumble victories, 5 women have successfully clinched World Championships at WrestleMania.

Notable Entry Positions:

• Number 1: Rhea Ripley stands out as the sole competitor to win the Royal Rumble starting from the number 1 position, achieving this feat in 2023.
• Number 3: This entry spot has produced winners like Bianca Belair in 2021 and Bayley in 2024.
• Number 28: Both Becky Lynch (2019) and Ronda Rousey (2022) secured their victories entering at number 28.

Elimination Records:

• Cumulative Eliminations: Rhea Ripley holds the record with a total of 20 eliminations across her Royal Rumble appearances.
• Single Match Eliminations: The record for most eliminations in a single match is shared by Bianca Belair and Shayna Baszler, each with 8 eliminations in 2020, and Nia Jax, who matched this number in 2024.

Match Duration Records

• Longest Single Match Time: In 2024, Bayley set a new record by lasting 1 hour, 3 minutes, and 3 seconds in the match.
• Longest Cumulative Time: Bianca Belair has accumulated a total time of 3 hours, 5 minutes, and 28 seconds across her Royal Rumble participations.
• Shortest Time in Match: Chelsea Green and Valhalla both hold the record for the shortest time spent in a match, each being eliminated in just 5 seconds in 2023 and 2024, respectively.

Host City: Tampa, Florida, has hosted the Women’s Royal Rumble twice, in 2021 and 2024, making it the city with the most events.

Consistent Participants: Liv Morgan and Natalya are notable for having competed in all 7 Women’s Royal Rumble matches to date.

Cross-Promotional Appearances: The TNA Knockouts World Championship has been represented twice in the Royal Rumble: by Mickie James in 2022 and Jordynne Grace in 2024.

Debut Highlight: Jade Cargill made history in 2024 as the first woman to make her WWE debut during a Royal Rumble match.

Championship Victory Post-Rumble: Bianca Belair secured her first World Championship following her Royal Rumble win in 2021.

Charlotte Flair’s Return: The 2025 Royal Rumble marks Charlotte Flair’s return to the event after a 421-day hiatus since her victory in 2020.

These details underscore the significant milestones and evolving history of the Women’s Royal Rumble since its inception.

WWE fans may see former Divas Champion Michelle McCool return to action in the upcoming Women’s Royal Rumble match. McCool, who retired in 2011, recently teased a potential one-off comeback through a Twitter post.

The speculation arose after McCool shared a fan-made graphic of potential entrants in this year’s Women’s Royal Rumble, which listed her at the #10 spot. While McCool has never pursued a full-time return to wrestling, the concept of a single appearance piqued her interest. In her tweet, McCool wrote:

“REAL TALK – since retiring, I’ve never been in any ‘serious talks’ with anyone about another run….not saying it wouldn’t be nice?!?! Confident I can go, so here’s my question: All ya gotta do is ‘declare yourself’ these days for the Rumble?!? #FLAWLESS Sorry y’all, saw this & truly made me wonder! #wwe #royalrumble #isitreallythatsimple #whodoicall”

McCool, who made a brief appearance on this week’s SmackDown, was shown in the crowd during the broadcast. Notably, her husband, WWE legend The Undertaker, was also present at the event, though he remained backstage.

The Women’s Royal Rumble, now in its eighth year, has a history of welcoming returning legends. McCool’s potential involvement would be a major draw for fans eager to see the former champion back in action, even for just one night.

WWE Women’s World Champion Rhea Ripley is back in her element, reclaiming her title and setting her sights on the next chapter of her dominant reign. At WWE Saturday Night’s Main Event, Ripley successfully defended the WWE Women’s World Championship against Nia Jax, solidifying her status as a cornerstone of the women’s division.

In an exclusive post-match interview with Peter Rosenberg and Jackie Redmond, Ripley opened up about the significance of her win and the feeling of having the championship back in her possession. When asked if everything felt “as it should” now that she was champion again, Ripley responded with nostalgia:

“Yes, it does. It’s actually giving me flashbacks of Australia, of Elimination Chamber. Giving me good old flashbacks of 2024, 2023, before everything else happened.”

Ripley expressed how much she missed holding the championship, emphasizing its importance to her identity as a competitor:

“It’s always good to be on top, right? [Laughs] It feels fantastic. I’ve missed this championship, I’ve missed this Women’s World Championship. I was the first-ever Women’s World Champion, and I just feel like it belongs on my shoulder. It belongs in my bag, it belongs with me 24/7, so it’s real nice to be reunited.”

Eyes on WrestleMania 41

As Ripley looks ahead, the road to WrestleMania and the upcoming Royal Rumble loom large. She acknowledged the growing pool of challengers vying for a shot at her title, but Ripley remains unfazed. Confident and ready for any opponent, she shared her mindset:

“I’ve had a lot of friends backstab me before, I’ve had a lot of family members backstab me before. At the end of the day, everyone wants that WrestleMania golden ticket, and I don’t blame them. It’s a massive opportunity, it’s what everyone works for. I have a target on my back, and I’m not gonna hide from that fact.”

Ripley firmly stated her intention to enter WrestleMania 41 as champion and issued a warning to her future opponent:

“Whoever stands across the ring from me, they’re gonna have to be ready for ‘Mami’ because at the end of the day, ‘Mami’ is always on top.”

A Hint at a Men’s Royal Rumble Entry?

Ripley also hinted at the possibility of entering the Men’s Royal Rumble, showcasing her unrelenting ambition and knack for breaking barriers.

As the champion reaffirms her position atop WWE’s women’s division, the anticipation builds for who will step up to challenge Ripley on her path to WrestleMania glory.

Chris Masters says CM Punk worked him with his infamous pipebomb promo.

The Straight Edge Star has previously talked about The Masterpiece being one of the first people that he ran into after his iconic promo.

On an AEW Unrestricted episode, Punk had detailed how he had decided to take the side entrance to the backstage area instead of going through the curtain like usual, to add another layer to the mystique of the whole thing. Punk then ran into Masters who didn’t recognize him at first and seemed shocked by his words.

The former WWE star gave his side of the story during a recent appearance on Rewind Recap Relive podcast. He noted that he couldn’t recognize Punk because of the lack of lighting in the backstage area. Chris explained that his reaction was like an extra validation for the former AEW star:

“It was funny, because whatever I said to Punk completely validated his promo to him, because, you know, essentially he had worked me with the promo. Cause I was like, ‘Oh my God, what did he say? You know, you’re gonna get yourself fired.’

And I think as soon as he heard that, he knew that the promo went over just like, you know, like it was the validation. He knew. Like he already knew. But, you know, sometimes you just need that little extra thing. And I think I was that extra thing to like, you know, because he got me.”

Chris Masters was also asked about a potential Royal Rumble return. The heavyweight star revealed that he’s actually tried to get back into WWE the last few years. Masters expressed his disappointment over not getting another opportunity and said that he finds himself at a crossroads in his wrestling career.

• Chris Masters Shares Theory On Why John Cena Had Beef With Him

Getting success early in wrestling can be both a blessing and a curse for wrestlers. While some wrestlers like Randy Orton are able to convert the early opportunity into a legendary career, there are many others who are not able to take full advantage of it. A lot of such talents end up getting released and spend the rest of their careers chasing another shot at proving themselves. Former WWE star Chris Masters seems to be on the second list who has been chasing that opportunity so long that he is not sure if it’s worth it anymore.

The Masterpiece was asked about a potential return to WWE during a recent interview with Rewind Relive Recap podcast. Masters, who first signed with WWE in 2003 at the age of 20 talked about how he’s been trying to get back to a bigger platform for a while. However the 42-year-old is now at a point where he is not sure if he’ll ever get that opportunity again:

“I’d like to, man, I’ve tried to work for that. I was with NWA for a minute, and that gave me kind of a good, at least, platform to show what I can do. But it’s tough, man, because I look around the landscape now and I just, I don’t know where that opportunity is going to come from. It might not be in the cards.

It doesn’t mean I’m gonna walk away from wrestling. It’s just one of those things where wrestling can be…the career of a wrestler goes through a lot where, in terms of, it’s a love-hate relationship. You love it sometimes, but sometimes you don’t feel like it’s loving you back. I’ve definitely fallen back in love with wrestling,

But I’ve gotten to the point to now where I just don’t feel like it’s loving me back. I definitely feel like my ability is better than it’s ever been. If given the opportunity, I could do something. But the question is [if] that opportunity’s going to come and if it is, who’s it going to come from? I just, I don’t know,”

• Chris Masters Hopeful for Opportunity in WWE, AEW, or TNA Wrestling

This Can’t Be It: Chris Masters

Chris Masters last wrestled under a WWE banner in 2011. Since then, he’s had runs with TNA and NWA while also maintaining his presence in the independent scene. Though despite his love for the business, the heavyweight star finds himself at a crossroads, thinking about alternate career paths which may be more financially rewarding:

“No, yeah. I’m at a crossroads myself, personally. I’ve been on the indie scene for so long that, it’s gone to the point where I need something more. Because this can’t just be it. If this was just going to be it, then I have to pivot, or I have to, at least, do something else in addition to, if nothing else. It’s one of those things where you just never know what kind of surprises or what’s going to happen.

But at the same time, I don’t want to be 5-6-7, years from now, that guy who was like, kind of hoping for that next shot, but just never got it. Since then has just been dithering on the independent scene. And don’t get me wrong, the independent scene has been a lot of fun. But shoot, you’re gonna want something more,

Because you can’t, even with the independent scene you can only work about once or twice a week most times. So there’s just a lack of fulfilment and there’s not enough physical reimbursement, I mean, money just straight up. You’re not…You’re definitely not planning your retirement just on the independent wrestling scene.”

The wrestling veteran was also asked about a potential Royal Rumble spot. He revealed that he’s actually sent feelers in hopes of getting back after seeing a lot of his friends getting the opportunity in the last 3-4 years. He theorized, however, that the powers may be might not be sure about bringing him in, thinking that nobody would remember his earlier run.

• Chris Masters Shares Theory On Why John Cena Had Beef With Him

The Quotes in this article have been edited for clarity

Rhea Ripley has already reached the pinnacle of the WWE Women’s roster, but could the Men’s Royal Rumble be next in Mami’s sights? At WWE Saturday Night’s Main Event, Ripley retained the Women’s World Championship against Nia Jax.

In a post-match interview, it was brought up that Ripley doesn’t have a match at WWE Royal Rumble 2025, but in theory could enter the women’s match. Ripley, however, had other ideas, saying “I think it would be a bad decision. Maybe I’ll be in the men’s one.”

If Ripley were to compete in the Men’s Royal Rumble match, she’d become the 5th woman to do so. Chyna made history by competing in both the 1999 and 2000 Rumble matches, and Beth Phoenix would do the same in 2010. Kharma was a part of the match in 2012 while Nia Jax would take R-Truth’s spot in the Men’s match in 2019.

Ripley has never shied away from (literally) man-handling her male counterparts in WWE. Check out this video to see just how well Ripley would fare in the Men’s Royal Rumble match.

The Royal Rumble premium live event on February 1, at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis promises to be an exciting event with Rumbles and title matches. It remains to be seen if Ripley, who won the Women’s Royal Rumble in 2023, steps in the ring against the men of WWE next weekend.

2025 Royal Rumble Entrants: All Confirmed Superstars

Nia Jax suggests that there are a couple of people in the WWE locker room that are not popular.

The former Women’s Champion recently had an interview with US Weekly. She was promoting her Saturday Night’s Main Event match against Women’s World Champion Rhea Ripley.

During the talk, Nia was asked if all the wrestlers get along backstage. The 2024 Queen of The Ring winner gave an interesting answer, suggesting that there are people who are not popular behind the scenes:

“Is this the politically right answer? Should I tell you the real tea? There might be a couple that we’re like, ‘Yo, sit outside. We don’t really want you in here,’ I’m not gonna say any names. We’ll keep it quiet.”

• Nia Jax Is ‘A Little Proud Of’ Tiffany Stratton After MITB Cash In

Though later on Nia Jax assured that there is genuine camaraderie among members of the women’s locker room and everyone is willing to help each other out:

“For the most part in our women’s locker room, we all get along, we’re willing to help each other out … If one of us is like, ‘Hey, I’m about to do a promo, a match and a brawl, I need food,’ the girls are like, ‘Hey, whatever you need.’ We do really support each other.”

Jax was unsuccessful in her quest to dethrone Ripley at the January 2025 edition of Saturday Night’s Main Event. We’ll have to see if Nia Jax, who is officially a SmackDown star continues making appearances on Raw after this or redirects her focus on Tiffany Stratton on the blue brand instead.

• Jonathan Coachman: Nia Jax Hates Me, She Worked To Get Me Rid Of Me

Braun Strowman was left a bloodied mess after his encounter with Jacob Fatu on the January 2025 edition of Saturday Night’s Main Event.

The two monsters held nothing back when going up against each other in a singles match during the show. Neither of them got the decisive lead in the first half of the match and they kept countering each other’s attacks. The action went outside the ring towards the ending of the bout when Fatu rolled out to recover from an attack by Strowman.

The Monster Among Men followed the Warewolf and delivered a Strowman Express, knocking his opponent into the barricade. He sent Jacob crashing through the announce table with a second Strowman Express. The former Universal Champion then signalled the third repetition of the move but this time, Fatu caught him with a Samoan Drop on the announce table.

After sending Strowman through the steel steps, Fatu got him back into the ring and delivered a running hip attack. Fatu continued with the move delivering not one but six hip attacks. As he set up for the seventh hip attack, the referee tried to stop him but the Samoan star threw the ref out of the ring. He then delivered two more hip attacks as the bell rang.

• Watch: What Happened With Cody Rhodes After Saturday Night’s Main Event Went Off Air

The Samoan Warewolf did not stop even after disqualification and he introduced a chair as the security ran down to try and stop him. Fatu took out one guard by throwing a chair at him and delivered a clothesline to another. Nick Aldis came out with more officials to hold Fatu back as Strowman was shown bleeding from mouth.

Braun slowly rolled out of the corner but this allowed Jacob Fatu to catch him with a moonsault. Fatu delivered another moonsault before leaving the ring. The Bloodline members however was not done yet. He returned to deliver yet another moonsault on his opponent before finally walking off, leaving Strowman a bloody and broken mess.

• Watch: Shawn Michaels Takes Out Kevin Owens With Sweet Chin Music At Saturday Night’s Main Event

Kevin Owens will join an elite group at the 2025 WWE Royal Rumble, regardless of if he leaves Indianapolis as the Undisputed WWE Champion. On February 1, Owens will challenge Cody Rhodes in a ladder match for the gold. Not only will Rhodes’ WWE Championship be on the line, but Owens’ ‘Real’ WWE Championship will also be suspended above the ring.

Whether he wins or loses, Owens will tie the record for the most Championship matches at the Royal Rumble. The showdown with Cody will be Owens’ eighth time competing for gold. His Rumble title match record breaks down as follows:

With this match, Owens will join Roman Reigns, Triple H, and The Miz for the most Royal Rumble championship matches at seven each. Owens will surpass Brock Lesnar and his former rival AJ Styles, who have competed in six championship matches at the iconic event.

H/T to @WWEStats for uncovering this stat. Stay tuned to SEScoops for more interesting wrestling facts and statistics.

The WWE Royal Rumble 2025 will take place on February 1, from Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapiolis, Indiana. With two Rumble matches and exciting championship matches, fans can expect an explosive start to the Road to WrestleMania 41.

Relive WWE Royal Rumble Finishes From The Past 20 Years

Cody Rhodes came out to show his appreciation for his friend Jey Uso after the January 2025 Saturday Night’s Main Event from San Antonio went off air.

The Yeet Man challenged Gunther for the World Heavyweight Championship in the main event of tonight’s show. Despite a valiant effort, the Bloodline star unfortunately came up short and the Ring General retained the title with two back-to-back Powerbombs.

The American Nightmare came out after Gunther had left the arena and the broadcast had come to an end. He cut a short promo for Uso who remained in the ring and proclaimed that Jey’s time will come one day:

“Michael Cole just said it, you guys all know it, you just watched that match. He said Jey Uso’s time will come. I know it doesn’t feel good Jey, I’ve been there. But you’re a champion to me, you’re a champion to everybody here, let’s hear it for my friend Jey Uso.”

• Cody Rhodes Explains When He Plans to Retire

Cody Rhodes then hugged Jey before turning his attention to Gabriel ‘Fluffy’ Iglesias who was sitting with the audience. Rhodes invited the celebrity to the ring and the three stars then played the crowd to end the show on a happy note.

The Undisputed WWE Champion had his own segment at tonight’s show before this where he signed the contract for his upcoming Royal Rumble match with Kevin Owens. The segment ended with the moderator Shawn Michaels getting physical and delivering a Sweet Chin Music. You can watch that here.

Kevin Owens got taken out by Shawn Michaels at the January 2025 Saturday Night’s Main Event from San Antonio, Texas.

The Heartbreak Kid moderated the contract signing segment between KO and Cody Rhodes for their upcoming Undisputed WWE Championship ladder match at Royal Rumble. Michaels claimed that his one job was to get both the contenders to sign the contract before introducing both the champion and the challenger.

Owens came out wearing a ‘Cody sucks eggs’ shirt, a play at old Dusty Rhodes insult from Dory Funk Jr. who used to call the American Dream an ‘egg-sucking dog.’ Shawn told both the stars to sit down but they refused. The WWE Hall of Famer then talked about their rivalry before prompting them to sign the contract which Cody did.

• Kevin Owens Says He Has Tried To Bring Shawn Michaels Out Of Retirement

Kevin however, opted to cut a promo taking objection to Rhodes saying that he takes ‘the easy way out.’ The former Universal Champion reminded Rhodes of their Bash In Berlin match and told Cody that he ‘quit’ WWE when things got tough. KO said that he’s taking everything from his former friend, to which Michaels responded saying that Owens sounds jealous.

The former NXT Champion then went off on HBK too, telling him that he won’t be a champion that ‘loses his smile.’ Kevin Owens finally signed the contract. A referee came out to take both the original WWE title and the Winged Eagle belt and hung them to a hook above the ring.

Shawn Michaels then tried to shake both their hands but Owens got a cheap shot in on Cody as the WWE Legend was interacting with him. HBK then shoved Owens and Kevin in response kicked Michaels. He set up the veteran for a package piledriver but Rhodes kicked him in the face. Shawn then removed his jacket and delivered a Sweet Chin Music to Kevin to end the segment.

A newly released teaser for WWE 2K25 has sparked excitement among wrestling game enthusiasts, hinting at the return of the much-loved “Chain Wrestling” mechanic.

Originally introduced in earlier installments of the WWE 2K series, this gameplay feature adds a layer of strategic depth by allowing players to engage in seamless grappling transitions, reminiscent of real-life wrestling sequences.

The teaser video, shared on WWE Games’ official social media, is captioned with a chain and wrestling emojis, features Cody Rhodes talking about “the return of Ch…” before getting cut off by Drew McIntyre, who tells him not to give the big secrets away.

This mechanic was praised in past titles for its ability to replicate the technical nuances of professional wrestling. Its absence in more recent releases left fans nostalgic for the feature’s strategic gameplay and immersive feel.

Although the teaser did not confirm further gameplay specifics, the return of Chain Wrestling suggests that WWE 2K25 may prioritize realism and technical authenticity.

Fans have already begun speculating about additional enhancements, including expanded move sets and improvements to animations.

The WWE 2K franchise has worked to rebuild its reputation following a turbulent launch of WWE 2K20. With recent entries receiving praise for their polished mechanics and innovative modes, the development team appears to be doubling down on features that elevate the series’ authenticity.

If Chain Wrestling is officially reintroduced, it could mark a major step forward in delivering a more nuanced and realistic wrestling experience.

WWE fans may soon witness a marquee singles match between Tiffany Stratton and Charlotte Flair. According to Fightful Select, the potential clash has been discussed for WWE WrestleMania 41. Stratton, who has often been compared to Flair, has cited the multi-time champion as her inspiration for becoming a wrestler. Over the years, Stratton has expressed her interest in facing Flair in several interviews.

Stratton’s meteoric rise in WWE has been one of the company’s standout stories. Since joining the main roster in 2024, she has achieved significant success, including winning the Women’s Money in the Bank match. She capped off the year by cashing in on Nia Jax to capture the WWE Women’s Championship at the start of 2025.

Charlotte Flair has been out of action for over a year due to a torn ACL, MCL, and meniscus suffered in a December 2023 match against Asuka. Flair has been preparing for her return, with WWE airing vignettes on SmackDown to build anticipation.

WWE WrestleMania 41 will take place as a two-night event on Saturday, April 19, and Sunday, April 20, 2025, at Allegiant Stadium. A match between Stratton and Flair would pit one of WWE’s brightest rising stars against a proven legend, making it a must-see event for fans.