Kevin Owens will get his Undisputed WWE Championship rematch at the Royal Rumble.
In the closing segment of Friday’s SmackDown, Owens and WWE Champion Cody Rhodes successfully lobbied Nick Aldis for a ladder match at Royal Rumble with the title belts of both competitors suspended above the ring.
Owens scored a visual pinfall over Rhodes at Saturday Night’s Main Event earlier this month after a referee bump took the primary official out of the match. On SmackDown, Owens was adamant that he wanted his title rematch in a scenario where the referee was not involved in counting the finish, with Rhodes suggesting the ladder match stipulation. Owens has been carrying around the “Winged Eagle” title belt used at Saturday Night’s Main Event since the show, claiming to be the real WWE Champion.
A men’s Royal Rumble match and women’s Rumble are the only other bouts certain for the 2025 Royal Rumble set for Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, Indiana on Saturday, February 1.
WWE Royal Rumble, Saturday, February 1 —
Men’s Royal Rumble match
Women’s Royal Rumble match
Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes defends against Kevin Owens in a ladder match
Cody Rhodes agreed to a title defense against Solo Sikoa at SummerSlam in a chaotic closing sequence on Friday’s SmackDown.
Jacob Fatu of Sikoa’s Bloodline faction attacked Tag Team Champions Tommaso Ciampa & Johnny Gargano following their title defense over A-Town Down Under in the SmackDown main event, setting the stage for a promo from Sikoa.
As Sikoa spoke surrounded by Fatu, Tama Tonga & Tonga Loa, Rhodes entered and announced that he wanted to defend the Undisputed WWE Championship against Sikoa at SummerSlam, pending official approval from GM Nick Aldis.
Rhodes then offered not to wait until SummerSlam, and squared up to The Bloodline. Rhodes quickly fell victim to a four-on-one attack. Randy Orton ran in for the save, but was put through the announce table by The Bloodline.
The Bloodline also tied Rhodes up in the ropes and forced him to watch as his ally Orton was put through the table. Video of the show-closing angle is embedded below.
A match for the WWE Championship is scheduled to take place at Clash at the Castle later this month.
Dave Meltzer is reporting that Cody Rhodes and AJ Styles will face off on June 15 in Glasgow following the show-closing angle that took place on Fridayâs SmackDown.
âThe Cody Rhodes vs. AJ Styles title match is scheduled for Clash at the Castle in Glasgow. It may be announced tonight, if not on Friday,â Meltzer reports.
On Friday, Styles came to the ring to tease his retirement, something he had been thinking about since being told he would be put back at the end of the line following his WWE Backlash loss to Rhodes. During his speech, Styles asked Rhodes to come to the ring, applauding him for his recent success. However, it was a ruse as Styles then attacked Rhodes as Luke Gallows and Karl Anderson, who were at ringside, held security back as Styles continued his assault.
Styles began a heel run earlier this year after taking time off, culminating in a match against LA Knight at WrestleMania. Until Friday, he had appeared distant to his fellow OC stablemates, often admonishing them.
At the end of this afternoonâs Elimination Chamber event, Brock Lesnar won the WWE Championship, last eliminating Austin Theory in the Elimination Chamber match. As Lesnar was posing with the championship, announcers pushed that it would be a champion vs. champion match, but didnât specify if the WWE Championship would also be on the line.
Lesnar originally won the WWE Championship at Day 1 back on January 1. At the Royal Rumble later that month, Lesnar lost the title to Bobby Lashley after Roman Reigns interfered. Lesnar was then inserted into the Elimination Chamber match.
Matches currently announced for WrestleMania, which will take place on April 2 and 3, include:
Brock Lesnar vs. Roman Reigns for the WWE and Universal Championships
Charlotte Flair vs. Ronda Rousey for the SmackDown Womenâs Championship
Becky Lynch vs. Bianca Belair for the Raw Womenâs Championship
After defeating Robert Roode and Dolph Ziggler on tonightâs Raw, Big E accepted the challenge that Drew McIntyre issued earlier in the show. Crown Jewel is set to take place on October 21 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
McIntyre and Big E first crossed paths last week on Raw. After Big E successfully retained the WWE Championship against Bobby Lashley in a steel cage match, McIntyre came out with his sword, pointing it at Big E. On tonightâs show, McIntyre thanked Big E for freeing the title from Lashley, but did point out that Big E cashed in his Money in the Bank contract to win the title. He then challenged Big E to a match at Crown Jewel.
Roode and Ziggler then interrupted, with Ziggler saying that he wanted a thank you from both of them, pointing out how he helped both Big E and McIntyre throughout their careers. McIntyre and Big E refused, leading to the tag match.
Bryan Danielson, Adam Cole (Austin Jenkins), Ruby Soho (Dori Prange) and Minoru Suzuki were all unannounced surprises on AEWâs All Out on 9/5 from the NOW Arena in Hoffman Estates, IL.
The show may end up historical and certainly felt like it was historic in the building. It felt it just as much if not more watching on television with the announcers soundtrack. In the days that have passed, many have talked about it as the best U.S.-based PPV show in history and it has to be in the discussion. There have been a few better shows judged strictly by match quality, and itâs too soon to ascertain anything long-term of what it means. Short-term it led to Dynamite beating Raw for the first time ever same day in the same week.
But when you consider atmosphere, news value, crowd, announcing match depth and creativity, itâs a hard one to beat.
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TUESDAY NEWS UPDATE
WWE
Big E spoke to Robbie Fox of Barstool Sports about winning the WWE Championship on last nightâs episode of Raw. âI have been so grateful because I feel like Iâve grown a lot as a performer, even from three, four years ago, I feel so much more comfortable in so many different ways,â he said (h/t Post Wrestling). So, Iâm glad in many ways. Edge texted me and I donât wanna butcher the text but it was something about, you know, just like the fact that it took so long makes it so much sweeter and heâs right. Sure, it could have been cool to have this championship six, seven years ago, to be world champion, to be WWE Champ. But, to have felt that Iâm at a point now where I earned it and I put the work in and it doesnât feel handed to me makes the journey sweeter honestly. As clichĂŠ as it sounds, itâs more enjoyable because it feels like a long time coming.â
There was no post-show match after WWE Raw, with the show ending after Big E won the WWE Championship. A tag match pitting Damian Priest and RKBro against Bobby Lashley, AJ Styles, and Omos had been advertised locally but did not take place.
Matches taped for Main Event this week include Jaxson Ryker vs. Drew Gulak and Humberto Carillo and Angel Garza vs. Lucha House Party.
PWInsider reported that ahead of tonightâs NXT 2.0 launch, the Capitol Wrestling Center name for the WWE Performance Center has been dropped and will simply be referred to as âthe home of NXTâ. Additionally, they also reported that Kevin Dunn is at tonightâs TV taping.
Big E will be a part of Wednesdayâs The Bump.
WWE has trademarked the terms âLash Legendâ and âAndre Chase Universityâ.
Adweek has an article about WWEâs success on TikTok, which has surpassed the NBA in followers.
Samoa Joe talked to SportsNet in Canada about the upcoming changes to NXT, as well as his recent release from WWE and return to the NXT brand shortly after.
Drew McIntyre spoke with Newsday ahead of WWEâs debut at the UBS Arena on November 29.
Matches added to WWEâs YouTube page today include Rey Mysterio vs. Kane from the September 15, 2008 edition of Raw and John Morrison vs. Sheamus in a Falls Count Anywhere match from the September 13, 2010 edition of Raw.
Other Wrestling
This weekâs AEW Road to Dynamite, which focuses on Adam Cole vs. Frankie Kazarian, Shawn Spears vs. Darby Allin, Bryan Danielsonâs plans, and Leyla Hirsch vs. Jade Cargill.
Heelsâ fifth episode on Sunday brought in 79,000 viewers, the same number as last week. It brought in 27,000 viewers in the 18-49 demographic.
Jim Davies, a former Stampede Wrestling announcer with Ed Whalen, has passed away.
Big Damo, aka Killian Dain, told Wrestle Zone that he is currently unable to wrestle in the United States due to work visa issues. âIâve been making sure to be as active as possible and then obviously with the world about to reopen again, touch wood as best I can, then itâll be a lot easier for me,â he said. âBut my main issue is Iâm a foreigner living in the USA so thereâs still legal hurdles I have to make before I can get anywhere. That could be sorted within a week, it could be sorted within a couple of months and sadly thatâs the reality of the situation. Iâm here legally, but I wonât be able to work legally just for a little time yet, and that is something that weâre hoping to get sorted ASAPâŚ.Iâm really excited for whatâs next.”
Former co-host of The Bump Evan T. Mack, on his Ringer podcast MackMania, spoke about his departure from WWE. âIâm going through a professional transition,â he said (h/t Post Wrestling). âThatâs how I put it and I just wanted to take this moment to reflect on certain situations that happen in life, you know what Iâm saying? And the situation that was out of my control and no Iâm not jaded and no Iâm not bitter, those moments have passed. Iâm blessed, Iâm fortunate, I have my health, Iâm grateful to the man above without getting too philosophical, without getting too religious.â
WWE’s first episode of Raw back in front of fans could have a major star return, according to a report.
Fightful Select reports that as of today, Goldberg is scheduled to return to WWE Raw on Monday’s episode at the American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas.
The Fightful report also states that WWE’s current plan is to have Goldberg face Bobby Lashley for the WWE Championship at SummerSlam on Saturday, August 21 at Allegiant Stadium in Nevada. The report also states that Goldberg’s WWE contract runs through 2022 and calls for two matches per year.
Goldberg’s last WWE appearance came at Royal Rumble 2021 on January 31. He challenged Drew McIntyre for the WWE title on that show in a losing effort.
Goldberg wrestled twice in 2020, defeating The Fiend for the Universal title at Super ShowDown in Saudi Arabia in February, then dropping the title to Braun Strowman on night one of WrestleMania 36.
Goldberg also wrestled twice in 2019. He lost to The Undertaker at Super ShowDown in Saudi Arabia in June, then defeated Dolph Ziggler at SummerSlam in Toronto.
The Miz cashed in his Money in the Bank briefcase to defeat Drew McIntyre tonight at WWE Elimination Chamber to win the WWE Championship.
McIntyre had just won tonightâs Elimination Chamber, last eliminating AJ Styles after countering the Phenomenal forearm with his claymore kick. After the match, Lashley came in and attacked McIntyre, putting him in the Hurt Lock. It was at that moment the Miz came out and cashed his Money in the Bank briefcase. He won the title in under 30 seconds following the skull crushing finale.
This marks the end of Drew McIntyreâs second reign with the championship, which he won back on the November 15, 2020 edition of Raw, defeating Randy Orton. This is the second WWE title reign for The Miz, who won his first championship back in 2010.
The Miz had originally cashed in his Money in the Bank contract at WWE TLC back in December, turning the McIntyre-Styles TLC match into a triple threat match. McIntyre ended up winning that match. However, WWE officials later determined that the Money in the Bank briefcase has to be cashed in by the person who won it. Since John Morrison cashed the briefcase on behalf of the Miz, the cash-in was ruled invalid and Miz was able to keep the briefcase.
Drew McIntyre claimed his first WWE Championship in the main event of WrestleMania 36‘s second night, pinning Brock Lesnar after three straight Claymore kicks.
He fought off several straight Lesnar F5s before his barrage of kicks ended Lesnar’s latest title reign, one that began at the SmackDown on Fox premiere on October 4, 2019, when he pinned Kofi Kingston in seconds to kick off his fifth title reign.
McIntyre earned the title shot by virtue of his win at this year’s Royal Rumble.
The 34-year-old’s victory comes nearly six years after his unceremonial release in June 2014 ended his first run with the company. He returned to the WWE in April 2017 and was shown sitting in the crowd at NXT TakeOver: Orlando the night before WrestleMania 33. He would go on to win the NXT Championship in August 2017 at NXT TakeOver Brooklyn III.
With tonight’s win, he joins Seth Rollins as the only two men to have held both the NXT Championship and the WWE Championship.
